I’m still sick and a walking embodiment of Sick Dumb. (Similar to Tired Dumb, but with an added layer of phlegm and annoyance.)

Weeks ago, a friend asked me for children’s book recommendations starring animals to give out as gifts this year. I pretended to mull it over, before unleashing the following list. We go through a lot of books.

All of them achieve the trifecta of beautiful illustrations; poetic, insightful prose; and good lessons. In other words: gift worthy and parent approved.

Books that worked for us at age 2 were always straightforward with simple plot lines. Irony and inside jokes are entirely lost on age 2, maybe older kids get it? I always look for books with beautiful images and language, but that tell a simple story that Bean will be able to follow. Whether she understands the book factors heavily into how much she asks for it.

Here were our favorite animal books from 2015:

Fletcher and the Snowflake Christmas by Julia Rawlinson. Fletcher is a recurring character in books, and they’re all very sweet books. This book is about all the forest friends coming together to help Santa find the bunny family’s new home (they had to move due to a fallen branch). Santa still finds them, but all the concerned animals still show up with gifts for the bunnies. The bunny family invites everyone in for a party to thank them. Adorable book, and a great message.

Pete the Cat: I Love My White Shoes by James Dean. Bean’s been obsessed with Pete the Cat from ages 1 to forever. Pete is a chill cat who doesn’t let things get to him. All’s cool. This was our favorite, with a catchy jingle.

Big Red Barn by Margaret Wise Brown. Bean LOVED this book about farm animals, just going through their day. Beautiful illustrations of pastures and barns and great for kids that are into farm animals. (This is written by the same author as Goodnight Moon, so most parents would recognize the author.)

The Lion and the Bird by Marianne Dubuc. Sweet story about a bird who gets lost during the annual flight north, and a lonely lion that comes and protects her through the winter (teaching seasons) and they become unlikely friends. In the spring, the bird rejoins her flock. When fall comes, lonely lion wonders if he’ll see his friend again. Lo and behold! She comes back!

Hank Finds an Egg by Rebecca Dudley. A strikingly beautiful and very simple sweet story about a little bear that finds an egg in the woods and can’t reach the nest to put the egg back. Bear protects egg through the night and then engineers a solution to put the egg back. Mama Bird flies back. Egg rejoins fellow eggs. Then they hatch! One of them flies down to thank Bear. The book is all photographs of miniature scenes — beautifully done — and it is so freaking precious.

How Rocket Learned to Read by Tad Hills. We went through a Rocket the Dog period. I love everything by Tad Hills. This book is about learning and teaching and making new shy friends. It’s just beautiful.

We’re Going on a Bear Hunt by Michael Rosen and Helen Oxenbury. A family goes on a bear hunt (it’s a common camp song) and trudges through tall grass/swamps, then has to quickly run away from the bear. Bean thought it was so funny, and Dave still sings it to her when we’re out walking and makes her go through obstacles.

Do Unto Otters by Laurie Keller. It’s a manners book, using otters (“others”) as stewards of good manners. It’s so freaking cute and has great lessons, presented in cheeky and funny ways.

Owl Moon by Jane Yolen. A little girl and her daddy go on a nighttime hike to see an owl. Lots of descriptive language but still poetically simple. Just wonderful at teaching the glory and magic of nature. (This is a Caldecott Award Winner.)

Do you have any favorite books about animals? Add any suggestions below!