I’m not going to lie to you. When Ellie first strolled up to me with one of these little Les Petits Fairytales board books in her chunky little hands, I turned my nose up. Girlfriend is three years old, which feels a little too old for books with pages that have just a word or two on them—especially since she regularly sits through full-length picture books.
Still, she was excited to recognize Rapunzel on the cover since she’s been obsessed with Tangled lately. So I let her bring it up into the cafe at Barnes and Noble while we read some books and the girls split a cookie.
I almost spit out my coffee when we sat down and she proceeded to turn through the book and tell the whole story of Rapunzel. As Samantha and I read a few other books, Ellie stayed focused on Rapunzel. She retold the story again and again with a few extra details here and there as she noticed different details in the pictures.
That’s when I stepped back and wondered Who the hell am I? Who am I to tell her she’s too old for something she’s excited about?
These books have really cute illustrations and while there are only a few descriptive words throughout, they’re important words that get to the core of the story. That’s what these books are really good for. They are a great, basic introduction to classic fairy tales.
Ellie is obsessed and has already decided that she needs all of the books in the series (which includes The Little Mermaid, Cinderella, Snow White and more). Now that I’ve seen how excited it gets her about books and storytelling, I’ll make sure that happens.
Another big plus for me is that the illustrations are simple but adorable. They help expand on the story without being too overwhelming for little guys. I love to see what Ellie notices in the pictures and how it changes how she tells the story each time.
Also, these books will look super cute displayed on a shelf in the girls room once they’re in lighter rotation—and the fact that they’re classic fairy tales will make Sam way less likely to object to the baby factor.
Whenever someone has a baby or I need a gift for a kid, I try to make sure I include a book (I’m That Guy). These are seriously perfect for baby showers, new moms and toddlers. Anything that encourages storytelling and introduces stories at a young age is A-OK in my book!
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Hi! I'm Jen, a freelance writer and girl mom who loves reading the newest children’s books as much as I love a good psychological thriller. I believe fiercely in the power of kindness, empathy, and really good quality chocolate. When I'm not knee-deep in glittery crafts and girl talk, you can probably find me sprawled out on my couch in the middle of a Netflix marathon with dark chocolate smeared on my face. The struggle is real. 
I love watching my 2.5 year old daughter read. Sometimes it surprises me how much she knows of a story. She also knows what some book titles are.
Isn’t it amazing?! It boggles my mind how much my three year old remembers from a single reading of a book.
Also, it’s always fun to see what sticks out to them and which parts they don’t pay as much attention to!