Ella's First 10 Books*

As most of you know, I am a teacher.  And as many of you know, I also love to read.  I have said many times (and said to my mom again last night) that if Ella ends up with an overabundance of anything, I want it to be books.  So from the beginning of this process, I have been picking up a book here and there for Ella's library.  I didn't want to go bananas, because I know she will receive some as gifts, but I had some that I specifically wanted to get for her myself.

Without further adieu, Ella's first 10 books (all links are from Amazon.com, and this is not a sponsored post, I just figured they were the easiest to link to!):

1.  On the Night You Were Born, by Nancy Tillman

I really, really love this book.  It is great for kids who have been adopted, as it is not a typical "the night I was born" story, and it is such a beautiful story about how special each child is and how the night they were born is magical.  (When I read it to my nephew I told him that he was born in the morning and it was just as magical, and he could just change the words.)

2.  Wherever You Are, My Love Will Find You, by Nancy Tillman

Another really great book about loving your kid.  It's a sweet, whimsical story told in fun language and with great pictures.  Who doesn't love great pictures?

3. The Monster at the End of this Book, starring lovable, furry old Grover

In the interest of full disclosure, I bought this book a couple of years ago.  I can't remember why, but I think it was because maybe my nieces and nephew had never read it?  At any rate.  I decided to be nice and put it in Ella's pile.  It was one of my favorites when I was little.  I have a lot of memories of my mom reading this book to me.  She was (and I imagine still is) great at reading this book!

4. The Very Cranky Bear, by Nick Bland

I bought this book probably my first or second year of teaching from the Scholastic Book Fair at school.  It is my favorite fun kids' book.  And if I'm being honest, I really debated giving this to Ella.  Okay, not really.  But seriously.  It's the best book ever.  I keep saying I am going to be the Very Cranky Bear for Halloween one year.  Maybe this year...

5.  My First Chinese New Year, by Karen Katz

This is a great little book that helped me learn about Chinese New Year this year.  I know it will help me teach Ella in the future.  Plus, the pictures are really cute.  

6.  Ella Bella Ballerina and the Nutcracker, by James Mayhew

This book was on sale after Christmas, and it looked cute.  It's more young elementary than toddler, as far as number of words and the attention span it will require to get through it, but it is a sweet little story about a ballerina named Ella who enters the world of the Nutcracker.  And who doesn't love a book with their own name in it?

7.-9. Ella the Elegant Elephant, Ella Sets Sail, and Ella Sets the Stage, by Carmela and Steven D'Amico

These were gifts from my mom for Christmas.  I knew she wanted to do gifts for Ella, but I didn't really know what she might need yet, so I mentioned the first book, and my mom was able to find all three!  They are just really cute books about an elephant named Ella with an elegant hat, and all the adventures she has.  Apparently there is a Disney Junior TV show too.  Which hey, maybe that means there's birthday party themed materials?  :)

10.  Humpty Dumpty (Indestructibles book), by Jonas Sickler

This book is really cool.  It's a picture only book, but it is the story of Humpty Dumpty set on the Great Wall of China!  I thought it was neat to take a classic nursery rhyme and put a spin on it that includes Ella's home country.  This company makes a lot of really neat stories, and all of their nursery rhymes are set in other countries (Hickory Dickory Dock is set in London, England; Mary Had a Little Lamb is set in Africa).  I am excited about this book.  

So there you have it!  Ella's first ten books.  I hope she has many, many more to read soon!

*Not to be confused with Ella's Top 10 Books, because those may end up being completely different.