My favorite part of the day, hands down, is when my freshly bathed son is all snuggly in his PJs and he’s about to sit down in my lap to tuck into a good book before bed. My least favorite part, though, is when he goes to his bookcase and grabs the same book we read earlier that day and the night before (and the night before that). I almost always say, “That one? But do you want to try something new?” (Spoiler: He doesn’t.)

So I take a deep breath and remind myself about the research that says reading the same book to your kids over and over helps their brain development. And I dive into the world of Pete the Cat or Piggy and Gerald, and before we know it I’m wrapped up in the magic of that world, too.

We recently asked #TeamMotherly to share the best kids books their littles want to read over and over (and over) and you didn’t disappoint. Here’s what you’re reading (or, more likely, have already memorized):

The best kids books according to our kiddos

What the Ladybird Heard

What the Ladybird Heard by Julia Donaldson

Kim says: “He’s not even two yet and has it memorized!”

Don't Let the Pigeon Stay Up Late!

Don't Let the Pigeon Stay Up Late! by Mo Willems

Danielle says: “These are at least twice daily for weeks. More if they’re kept downstairs!”

Aliens Love Underpants

Aliens Love Underpants by Claire Freedman

Hope shares: “After two years of constant reading pages are missing and/or torn but he still keeps going to them.”Th

chicka chicka boom boom rhyming board book for babies

Chicka Chicka Boom Boom By Bill Martin Jr. and John Archambault

Nelly shares: “When I went to the hospital to have my daughter, my sister and brother-in-law watched my two boys. She FaceTimed me because they were crying and upset. They wanted mommy to read Chicka Chicka Boom Boom because Auntie Cj wasn’t doing it right.

“I cried as I recited Chicka Chicka boom boom from my hospital bed. I wanted so badly to be there to hug them and read it in person. They were really missing their mommy and were worried about the doctor cutting open my belly to get the baby out. I recited it all from memory of course. I cried. My sister cried. And my boys finally stopped crying.

“I went home two nights later and read it to them, never more happy to read the same book for the 315th time. ❤️”

Pig the Pug

Pig the Pug by Aaron Blabey

Michelle says: “We have them all and I swear he knows them word for word.”e

Pete the Cat: I Love My White Shoes

Pete the Cat: I Love My White Shoes by James Dean and Eric Litwin

Tara says: “Anything Pete the Cat and especially ‘I Love My White Shoes’!”

goodnight goodnight construction site book

Goodnight Goodnight, Construction Site

Nanako says: “Read it so many times I can recite the whole book!”

I Love You Night and Day

I Love You Night and Day by Smriti Prasadam-Halls

Samantha says: “I have read this book to my son at bedtime since I was pregnant and he’s 7.5 months. His eyes light up and he gets the biggest grin and laughs now when I show it to him. ❤️ It’s one of my favorite special times with him.”

We're Going on a Bear Hunt

We're Going on a Bear Hunt by Helen Oxenbury and Michael Rosen

Stefania shares: “My 3yo loves the book, the song, the movie and even the Bear Hunt yoga for a year. Needless to say, her 3rd birthday will be themed …you guessed it!”

Dragons Love Tacos book

Dragons Love Tacos by Adam Rubin

Neveen says: “My 1.5 yo loves [it].”

Little Penguin Gets the Hiccups

Little Penguin Gets the Hiccups by Tadgh Bentley

Rainy says: “Just had to hide [this book] bc we’ve been reading it on repeat (sometimes 4-5x in a row) lately.”

Little Friends: Home Sweet Home: A Lift-the-Flap Book

Little Friends: Home Sweet Home: A Lift-the-Flap Book by Roger Priddy

Pegah shares: “I can read it page by page without even looking at it. Pointless to read bc my impatient LO just goes to the flap lifting before I can finish a sentence!”

Never Touch A Dragon

Never Touch A Dragon

Lindsay says: “He doesn’t like to sit long enough to read unless there’s hands-on stuff involved.”

Bear Snores On

Bear Snores On by Karma Wilson

Mira shares: “Every time, over and over…”

The Monster at the End of This Book

The Monster at the End of This Book by Jon Stone

Rebecca says: “It’s so much fun to read as a parent too.”

Little Blue Truck book

Little Blue Truck by Alice Schertle

Kate says: “I have the Halloween one memorized haha.”

Brown Bear, Brown Bear, What Do You See? by Bill Martin Jr. & Eric Carle book

Brown Bear, Brown Bear, What Do You See? by Bill Martin Jr. & Eric Carle

Kristina says, “My 2-year-old can recite it from memory because we read it so much! It’s a game now when we aren’t even reading it. ‘What did the teacher see?’ ?”

very hungry caterpillar, a classic board book for babies

The Very Hungry Caterpillar by Eric Carle

Beejal says: “My 18-month-old daughter especially likes the page with all the food. It’s so cute to hear her trying to say what each item is.”

goodnight moon, a classic board book for babies

Goodnight Moon by Margaret Wise Brown

Charliena shares: “We have to read [it] every night…”

The Wonky Donkey

The Wonky Donkey by Craig Smith

Leann says: “My little one is just altogether a fan of reading already…”

May I Please Have A Cookie

May I Please Have A Cookie by Jennifer E. Morris

Monika shares: “[It’s] my daughter’s fav book.”

Ten Little Fingers and Ten Little Toes

Ten Little Fingers and Ten Little Toes by Helen Oxenbury

Shawn says: “It’s so sweet to count your LO’s fingers and toes and give three kisses at the end!”

Stick Man

Stick Man by Julia Donaldson

Rosemary shares: ” She loves all of [Julia Donaldson’s] books. We have most of them!”

Clifford's Bedtime Story Box

Clifford's Bedtime Story Box

Thais says: “It has been almost six months of big red dog every single night. Thankfully, there’s more than one book about Clifford.”

Alexander and the Terrible Horrible No Good Very Bad Day

Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day

Janet says: “I guess it was so easy to relate to!!!”

A version of this article was originally published on February 3, 2021. It has been updated.