Fast Five: Picture Books That Have Influenced Our Family Conversations

Some books have become so much of my family’s lives that certain quotes have made it into our everyday conversations. Here are a few we still talk about, years later, and the lines we say over and over again:


Andrew’s Bath – David McPhail

“Andrew was forever having trouble with his bath.” Anytime my boys have a classmate or teammate named Andrew, I can’t help but say this, oh, at least a hundred times.


Little Bear – Else Holmelund Minarik

“You can’t have that wish, my Little Bear.”


One Duck Stuck – Phyllis Root

From this book we’ve created “Are you stuck like a duck?” or “You’re a stuck duck.”


One Fish, Two Fish, Red Fish, Blue Fish – Dr. Seuss

Thanks to this book, very time I hear someone say, “in the dark,” I have to add the words “with Clark.” 


How Did you Get So Big, So Soon? – Anne Bowen

The title says it all. If a day passes and I haven’t said this aloud, I’ve certainly thought it.


What books have become a part of your family conversation?