As a first-time mom, I had no idea what to register for as I felt like I was drowning in a sea of babydom. But one thing I was sure of .... bring on the books!
My best shower was when guests were asked to bring their children's book as a gift. I knew I wanted to raise a little reader, but let's face it, once you reach a certain age, you don't spend much time reading Dr. Seuss and Good Night Moon, so my children's lit skills were a little rusty.
Friends frequently ask me my top picks, so here are my top 5. Maybe you've heard of some, others might be a surprise. In my opinion, you owe it to your unborn child and yourself to purchase these because they are educational AND great fun to read. These books are most appropriate for younger kids. Coming in my next blog are books more appropriate for the 5-year old set.
My top pick:
1. The Very Hungry Caterpillar by Eric Carle-- This is a classic, and there's a great reason for that. Dylan gets such a kick out of reading how the caterpillar gets fatter and fatter and cheers as the butterfly takes flight. I must say if stranded on a deserted island I would want a library of Carle. Carle is some kind of cross between a biology teacher and cool English lit guy who has a knack for taking events that occur in nature and writing about it in a way that is easy for kids to understand. His colorful illustrations ROCK!!! http://www.eric-carle.com/
2. Snuggle Puppy! (a love song) by Sandra Boynton -- Another author I'd want on the island with me. This is like a big warm hug wrapped up in a board book. I love that Dylan is 5 and still likes me to read this book to him. It's worth pointing out Boynton has put this book to music in kind of Broadway CD for the younger set called "Philadelphia Chickens." http://sandraboynton.com/sboynton/index.html
3. Hello, Hello by Dan Zanes and Donald Saaf -- Known more for his music than books, we first discovered Dan Zanes singing "Jump Up" on an old episode of Sesame Street. This man has saved my life by producing children's music that is actually LISTENABLE! His latest Spanish-language CD is amazing. "Hello, Hello" actually is a song turned into a book with a great message of acceptance with wonderful illustrations. Check him out! http://danzanes.com
4. Chicka Chicka Boom Boom by Bill Martin Jr., John Archambault, and Lois Ehlert -- The race is on and all the letters of the alphabet want to get to the top of the coconut tree. Rhythmic and great fun to read. Kids love yelling out the title -- it's just so fun to say! http://www.johnarchambault.com/
5. Where is Baby's Belly Button? by Karen Katz-- Dylan loved lifting the flaps on this board book to learn parts of the body. Very colorful and loads of fun. http://www.karenkatz.com/
Happy reading to all!!!