Toddler Book Club: For Moms in Need of a Quicker Read

I’m in a monthly book club, which is pretty comical because I have about 37 seconds of free time a day. I do however love some good girl time over a glass of wine, so even if I have to cram in six chapters and stay up until midnight the night before our meeting, I’ll make it work.

I always joke that when it’s my turn to suggest a book title, I’m going to recommend something along the lines of “Go, Dog. Go!” because these days that’s more my speed.

Then I got to thinking, why not start a book club for littles? I love reading to my son and am always looking for good titles and developmental activities that hold his interest and make him forget his urge to destroy my living room for five minutes. Plus, while wine is great, let’s consider the possibilities of snacks to pass around while discussing something a little lighter than “The Kite Runner.” So, top off everyone’s sippy cup with some more milk, refill the bowl of Goldfish and get ready for Toddler Book Club.

For our June read, I chose the book we received from the Imagination Library program, “Dog Wants to Play” by Christine McDonnell. If you haven’t received this title yet, you can also purchase it on Amazon.

At 24 pages, “Dog Wants to Play” is a quick read for your average toddler and a two-night read if you have one with an extremely short attention span, like mine.

The plot revolves around a puppy who (surprise) wants to play, but has trouble finding a friend with the energy to do so in the various farm animals he approaches. Without giving the entire plot away, the ending is a heartwarming one that teaches the lesson that persistence pays off.

“Dog Wants to Play” is appropriate for ages 9 months to 3 years old.

Things we liked about it:

Colorful illustrations
Short sentences that rhyme
Incorporation of many different animals in the story
Board book perfect for little hands (and chewing)

Discussion questions:

What does a dog (and the other animals in the book) say?
What color is the dog?
Where is the ball?
Why is the dog sad?
What made the dog happy?
What is the name of your dog?

Recommendations for Book Club menu pairings:

Homemade Puppy Chow (Chex Muddy Buddies)
Dog bone shaped snacks – anything that’s easy to cut into shapes (mini PB & J sandwiches, cucumbers or cheese slices work well)
Mini hot dogs
Your child’s favorite salty snack served in a dog bowl

Follow up activities: