my favorite as a kid: Chester's Way by Kevin Henkes
favorites that we read to Squirms: any of the Mo Willems Pigeon Books Bedtime for Francis and A Birthday for Francis Say Hello to Zorro and Zorro Gets an Outfit (ZORRO IS A PUG, HOLLA!!) Unlovable (another pug book) Chick n Pug any of the Frog and Toad books
I loved the Church Mice books We got our niece some Richard Scarry books for Christmas, and she loves them. Good Night Gorilla (my go to gift for baby showers)
Goodnight Moon (hence my SN) - Yes, there's no plot, but the I find the cadence soothing.
The Giving Tree - for so many reasons - how to act, how not to act, how to give unconditional love
Where the Sidewalk Ends
Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day
Velveteen Rabbit
Corduroy
Harold and the Purple Crayon
I have to agree with you about those not being well liked
Personally, I think Good Night Moon should be banned. I do like Corduroy.
I despise Goodnight Moon (as do my children, thankfully), I have issues with the Giving Tree, and I agree that Velveteen Rabbit is too sad for either children or adults to be willingly subjected to. But what on earth is wrong with Alexander and the Terrible Horrible?