I Want My Light On! By Tony Ross

This addresses a common childhood fear of ghosts in the room at bedtime. The Little Princess is sure there is a ghost under her bed and wants her light left on. Everyone in the house tries to tell her ghosts don't exist, but she isn't convinced. Well it turns out there is a ghost in her room, but the ghost is just as afraid of her as she is of it. The ghost runs back to where he lives in the castle and says, "Mom, Mom, I've seen a little girl!" Mom replies, "Don't be silly, there are no such things as little girls!"

My 4 year old asked to read this often, calling it "the spooky book". I think he was a little bit scared of the ghost, but was intrigued by the story. It made him laugh every time to find out that the ghost was afraid of the little girl too.

Alphabet Under Construction by Denise Fleming

This is just another clever and adorable ABC book. A funny little buck-toothed mouse is busy working on the letters of the alphabet. He airbrushes the A, buttons the B, and carves the C...working all the to Z. Great illustrations and great fun. I don't think I will ever tire of discovering new ABC books.

Owen by Kevin Henkes

I've truly grown to love Kevin Henkes' stories. I think kids can really relate to his mousey little characters that experience all the same things that they do. Owen had a fuzzy yellow blanket that he carried everywhere. Fuzzy played with him, helped him become invisible and helped him through scary things like going to the dentist. But the nosy neighbor Mrs. Tweezers thought Owen was too old for a blanket. She offered his parents all kinds of advice like giving it to the Blanket Fairy and dipping it in vinegar. But Owen still found a way to hang on to Fuzzy. When it was almost time to start school, Owen's mom came up with the perfect solution- cutting Fuzzy into little handkerchiefs that he could still hold and use when he needed them.

Many children cling to something for comfort and companionship, whether it be a blanket, or a doll or a stuffed animal. I carried a blanket until it was literally torn to sheds. In our house, "Taggie" is my son's best friend. I think it is fine for kids to have a "lovey", but there will come a time when they need to learn to separate from it. Owen is the perfect little mouse to help them do it.