Day 238: The Going to Bed Book

My daughter and I have been revisiting a lot of our old bedtime favorites these past few weeks, and I have realized that some of these gems have not yet been featured here on the blog. How I managed to overlook these, I don't know, but they certainly deserve a spot on our list of best books!

The Going to Bed Book is one of the first books we ever had in our children's library collection. It was a gift from one of my husband's high school students when we were expecting our son way back in 2007. Sandra Boynton books are well-known classics in the kids' lit world, and rightfully so. Those little board books are fun to read with their lively rhymes, colorful, short (perfect for the attention spans of the littlest readers), sturdy, and, if our copies are to be believed, great for chewing. While my kids have loved many of her books and several have been featured on here already, this is one of our favorites. My kids love seeing the classic Boynton animals get ready for bed, and my four year old daughter has decided that this is the book she likes to read to ME at bedtime.  I love it.

I loved these books when my children were babies, and they did, too. At the time, though, I underestimated these stories, thinking that they would be some of the first books my children would outgrow because were so short and simple. I have been so delighted to find that they continue to be favorites, but wonderful literacy resources, as well! These were some of the first books that my son read aloud on his own (he loved reading to his baby sister), and they are the first books with which my daughter has shown some of those important early literacy skills (such as pointing out words across the page from left to right as she "reads.") If you have fallen in love with these books when your little ones are babies, hang on to them. You just might find that they become your child's favorite bedtime stories to read to you one day. 

Day 179: Where's Spot?

As I looked at this story sitting next to the rocking chair in my daughter's room today, I thought, "What a great book.  It's amazing how much my kids continue to love this story.  I mean, really, do lift the flap books ever get old?  No signs of that here yet, anyway.  This should be on my holiday gift guide for sure.  I've written about Where's Spot? already, right?  Surely I have."  But lo and behold, when I checked the blog, I haven't yet featured this fabulous book.  I can't believe it!  So without further ado, let me just say that this is one children's classic that belongs on every baby's bookshelf.  If your children are anything like mine, they will enjoy Where's Spot? from their first few months through their first few years.  Spot has long been a favorite of both of my kids in plain old board book form, but add in the endless fun that is lifting the flaps and we've got a definite winner on our hands.  Its bright, simple illustrations and short text make it appealing to babies, while it's flaps call out to those little ones who are becoming more dextrous.  My little girl is two, and loves reading this book just as much now as she did over a year ago.  I probably couldn't even count the number of times we've read this story, but believe me when I say that opening the wardrobe doors and finding Steve the monkey hiding inside still brings a smile to her face every time.  My son is almost 5 and he still loves reading this book, too... only now it's because he can read it to his little sister all by himself.  So there you have it.  Where's Spot? is just an all-around great book.  I highly recommend the board book version if you can get it.  Ours is really quite sturdy, and even the flaps have held up well after much lifting.  This book makes a great baby or first birthday gift, or could even be a nice stocking stuffer for a little one's first Christmas.  I hope Spot brings as much joy and entertainment to your house as he has to ours!

Day 162: Ten Little Fingers and Ten Little Toes

My friend Julie recently introduced me to this book at a baby shower for one of our dear friends who is expecting her first child in just a few weeks.  I love baby showers, especially when they are for my closest friends, and also love the trend of having everyone bring a book to add to the new baby's library.  It's also a great way for me to get ideas about new books I should check out.  Julie raved about this one, and since I love some of Mem Fox's other books, I was happy to find it at our local library when we went earlier this week.  Ten Little Fingers and Ten Little Toes is a perfect baby gift, and I can't believe I've never read it before now!  Maybe it's the fact that my own little baby just turned two, but I almost get a little choked up reading it at the end.  Helen Oxenbury's illustrations are a perfect accompaniment to Mem Fox's sweet, charming text, and I don't know how anyone can get through this book without smiling and feeling all warm and happy inside.  "There was one little baby who was born far away.  And another who was born on the very next day.  And both of these babies, as everyone knows, had ten little fingers and ten little toes."  The story goes on to feature other babies born under different circumstances and in different places, always coming back to its gentle chorus about their ten little fingers and ten little toes.  The story is short with a lovely combination of rhyme and repetition, making it a wonderful read aloud for babies and toddlers.  Most of all, I love the message that all children are alike, no matter how different their lives or appearances might seem.  If you're looking for a great book to give to a new parent or baby, or even just to add to your own collection, we highly recommend this adorable story.

Day 127: Bear On a Bike

Books are some of my favorite things to give and receive as gifts.  With both Christmas and my son's birthday coming up, I have been trying to put together a list of gift ideas for him and my daughter.  We are fortunate to have many family members who love giving our children gifts, and this year, as in the past, I am putting many books at the top of that list.  I, of course, always like to get them each a few books, too.  One story that I am excited to give them this Christmas is Bear On a Bike by Stella Blackstone.  There are several books in the Bear series, but this one is our favorite.  In fact, when we were reading it today, my son said, "I want to jump in that book!"  Can't ask for a better endorsement than that!  My children just love following Bear as he travels around on various vehicles -- a bike, raft, steam train, boat, carriage, and rocket ship -- to different magical places.  For a book so simple, it is wonderfully descriptive, and the repetition and rhyming prose make it a wonderful read aloud for even the youngest readers.  "Bear on a bike, as happy as can be.  Where are you going, Bear?  Please wait for me!  I'm going to the market, where fruit and flowers are sold.  Where people buy fresh oranges and pots of marigold."  Then there is my favorite (the page my son wanted to jump into):  "I'm going to an island, where magic star fruits grow.  Where herons fish in secret groves and sparkling rivers flow."  Making the book even more engaging and fun to read are Debbie Harter's illustrations.  Bright, bold colors jump out of the page, instantly capturing kids' attention, and I love the way she incorporates black and white stripes and shapes into her pictures, as well.  Between Harter's striking illustrations and Blackstone's repetitive verse, this is one of those rare books that is equally appealing to babies and preschoolers.  I just love watching my son and daughter read it together!   Many of the Bear books are also available in foreign language versions, with the English words on one side of the page and French or Spanish on the other.  Bear books make great baby gifts and are fabulous additions to any child's library.  I can't wait to add them to ours!

Day 112: Listen, Listen

Fall has finally arrived here in New England and it is by far my favorite season of all!  It's why I love living here, and is what makes me tolerate the long, cold winters and those hot, humid summer days that can be so unbearable in a house without air conditioning.  The air turns crisp and the days, though growing shorter, are positively lovely.  I love the smell of the air as the nights get cooler and the leaves turn their gorgeous shades of yellow, orange, and red... even when I know that soon enough, we'll be spending countless hours raking them off of our lawn.  I love the sounds of leaves swishing and crunching under our feet, and the way the late-afternoon light hits the trees and makes those radiant colors glow.  The change in seasons can be magical, and I am always very happy to live in a place that has such variety among them.  Listen, Listen is a beautiful story that captures the wonderful sounds of the seasons as they gracefully turn from one to the next:  summer to autumn, winter to spring, and back to summer again.  Phillis Gershator's rhythmic verse and Alison Jay's beautiful illustrations complement each other perfectly, making Listen, Listen a delight to read, hear, and see.  "Listen, listen, what's that sound?  Insects singing all around! Chirp, chirp, churr, churr, buzz, buzz, whirr, whirr... Plop, plop, acorns drop.  Hurry, scurry, squirrels hop... Crunch, crunch, boots clomp.  Grown-ups shovel, children romp... Pop, pop, bulbs sprout.  Leaves grow, flowers shout."  The rolling verse is soothing and engaging to children at the same time, and Jay's crackle-varnish illustrations evoke a sense of timeless wonder and nostalgia.  Take your time to look at the pictures in this book, as well, for there are lovely little details to be found on each page.  Both my son and daughter love reading this story, and it is definitely one of our seasonal favorites.  My daughter loves hearing all of the different noises and sound effects throughout, and my son especially loves the hide and seek pages for each season that appear at the back of the book.  Available in both hardcover and a large board book format from Barefoot Books, Listen, Listen is a beautiful addition to any child's library.  What are your favorite sounds of the seasons?

Day 99: Starlight Sailor

"Star light, star bright, First star I see tonight, I wish I may, I wish I might, have the wish I wish tonight.  I wish I had a little boat!  Far away I'd drift and float, Where the great blue whales leap, And pirate ships lie sunken deep."  So begins the incredibly beautiful Starlight Sailor, a magical bedtime story of imagination and adventure.  Join a little boy and his dog as they set sail across the ocean blue to a distant dreamland, where unicorns prance, dragons fly, and mermaids swim.   James Mayhew's gentle lyrics are complemented by the gorgeous artwork of Jackie Morris, whose soothing illustrations are perfectly described as ethereal.  I feel calmer and sleepier just looking at the pictures alone.  I also loved Morris's dedication to her daughter (I presume), who happens to share the same birthday as my own little girl.  (Not that I needed another reason to love or want this book!)  Starlight Sailor is simply beautiful:  a lovely bedtime read that has quickly become one of my recent favorites.  It would also make a perfect baby or birthday gift.  Older children will love the instructions at the back of the book for how to make their own paper boat, as well.  "Star light, star bright, First star I see tonight, I follow you across the night, through my dreams 'til morning light."  Wishing you all sweet dreams tonight!

Day 63: Fuzzy Bee and Friends

Time for another favorite that is perfect for infants and young babies!  My daughter was completely mesmorized by this book as we read it before bed tonight, just as my son used to be.  She must have turned through all the pages ten times, touching and carefully studying each tactile feature along the way.  She was especially fascinated by the fly's shiny eyes and the snail's shimmery body!  (My son always loved the beetle's and dragonfly's wings.) There are several of these cloth books in the series by Priddy Books, and we were fortunate to receive all three as gifts:  Fuzzy Bee and Friends, Squishy Turtle and Friends, and Fluffy Chick and Friends.  (I listed them in our order of preference, but all three are good.)  They make a perfect first book for any baby for a variety of reasons.  The cloth pages are soft and easy for little fingers to grab and turn.  The colors are bold and the illustrations are simple yet striking, instantly grabbing baby's attention.  Each page features a different textured fabric or other tactile elements -- spindly spider legs,  shiny ladybug spots, satiny butterfly wings -- which are great for fostering a child's sensory awareness and curiosity.  The simple text has an easy rhythm to it, making it appealing to little ears, and perhaps most importantly, babies can chew on these books to their hearts' content.  My daughter doesn't discriminate -- she'll chew on any book -- but it's nice not to have to remove soggy little bits of board book from her mouth while she "reads."  My kids have loved these books from the beginning, and my son especially loves to sit and read them to his little sister now.  Endorsements don't get any cuter than that. 

Day 46: Someday

I've quickly come to the conclusion that my desire to feature wonderful mothering stories this week means it's time to stock up on my Kleenex supply.  If you've been following the blog from the beginning, you know by now that I cry easily when reading some stories, particularly if they are sad, happy, sappy, touching, or in any way emotional.  I am convinced that becoming a mother forever changes ones hormones, making such teary spells inevitable. (That's my excuse, at least.)  When I asked Facebook friends about their favorite stories to read as mothers, Katherine Schuknecht mentioned Alison McGhee's Someday, saying it was so beautiful, she wished she had written it for her own daughter.  I added it to my list, checked it out of the library today, and after just one read, couldn't agree more.   It is an amazingly touching story about the journey of parenthood and all the dreams we have for our children.  In fact, if I can make it through this post without tearing up, I'll be impressed.  Written by a mother to her daughter, Someday tells the story we will all live as parents; about the love we feel for our children from the day they are born, and our hopes that they will live full, complete lives.  It begins, "One day I counted your fingers and kissed each one," and soon enough, the beautiful child who was once a baby is all grown up with a child of her own.  "Sometimes, when you sleep, I watch you dream, and I dream too...  That someday you will dive into the cool, clear water of a lake... Someday your eyes will be filled with a joy so deep that they shine... Someday you will hear something so sad that you will fold up with sorrow..."  And here is where I really start to well up:  "Someday I will stand on this porch and watch your arms waving to me until I no longer see you."  Someday is beautiful, touching, and a must read for any mother, especially if she has a daughter.   I have already decided that this will be a perfect first birthday gift for my baby girl, and I'm tempted to order a copy for my own mom, as well... maybe even in time for Mother's Day.  Someday, maybe my mom and I will sit and read it with my daughter, and no doubt, smile and cry together.

Day 38: Guess How Much I Love You

I suppose this classic book falls into the category of one that everyone already knows about, but I think it is still worth sharing, nonetheless.  I knew this book would make our list from the beginning, but thought of it again today when looking at all the cute, plush Easter bunnies in the store.  (I know hares and bunnies are different and it's not an Easter book at all, but there you go.)  Sam McBratney's adorable story about Little Nutbrown Hare and his father has been a favorite of parents and children since it was first published in 1994. I remember reading this to my brothers when they were little, and was so happy to receive it as a baby gift when my son was about to be born.  There are many books dedicated to the boundless love between parent and child, but this story is one of my favorites.  Little Nutbrown Hare is trying to think of a way to show Big Nutbrown Hare just how much he loves him:  as high as he can reach, as wide as his arms can stretch, as high as he can hop.  Of course, Big Nutbrown Hare can always reach farther and wider and hop higher, but Little Nutbrown Hare is determined to find the perfect expression of his love.  I always make it a point to tell my little ones every day that I love them more than anything in the whole wide world, or as my son likes to say, "in the whole wide car," since to him, that is really the ultimate in love.  If you haven't discovered this delightful story yet, definitely check it out.  Seeing your little one stretch his arms out so far that he almost falls over while saying, "I love you THIS much" is bound to bring a smile to your face.

Day 29: That's not my...

I've been making it a point lately to find plenty of time to read to my daughter, who is 8 months old.  She is certainly exposed to many books and hears my son and I reading together at different times during the day, but she is at the age where she just wants to chew on all of his books and gets extremely frustrated when I won't let her.  (She's got her own collection she can drool on and try to eat.)  Some books we can all read together -- fortunately, my son still loves reading our board books, especially those he can read to us -- but a lot of his favorites these days aren't particularly suited to teething-crazy baby girls.  As a result, I really want to make sure that my daughter doesn't miss out on story times of her own.   I always read to her before putting her down for bed at night, and the Usborne Touchy-Feely "That's not my..." series is one of her favorites.  My son loved/loves them, too, and we have at least six of these titles:  That's not my... bear, puppy, bunny, snowman, polar bear, and monkey.  Oh, and we have That's not my penguin, too.  (We've gotten several of these as gifts.)  They make a perfect first book for newborns, with big, bright, simple illustrations and repetitive text.  Each page features a different texture that little ones can feel -- a scratchy tongue, soft ears, fluffy tail -- and the pages are super sturdy.  Most of our books are amazingly still intact after many reads, That's not my snowman and That's not my bear, excluded.  My son loved these the best!  I often wish the textured parts of the page were a bit bigger and there was more diversity in the adjectives used throughout the series, but the important thing is that babies and little ones love them just as they are.  With many titles to choose from, there is bound to be one in the series that your child will love.   They make great baby gifts, too!

Day 26: Time For Bed

I had never heard of Mem Fox until my friend Julie recommended this book, and apparently I've been missing out!  We found Time for Bed at our library in a lap-sized board book edition, which is perfect for reading to my two little ones at once.  It's a soothing, adorable, lullabye-of-a-story that is perfect for reading just before turning out the lights.  On each beautifully illustrated page, a different animal is getting its own little one ready for bed:  "It's time for bed, little sheep, little sheep.  The whole wide world is going to sleep."  The soft watercolor illustrations do a wonderful job of depicting the love animal parents feel for their babies, and I also love how it features animals we don't necessarily think of as sleeping (like fish, snakes, and bees.)  My son loves reciting the book along with me, and the rhythmic, gentle verses can't help but make you feel a little sleepy.  (Of course, reading stories makes me sleepy at just about any time of day!)  Although my 8-month old daughter would rather chew on the pages when we read it together at the moment, I have no doubt she will soon love reading this lovely book, too.

Day 19: I Am a Bunny

This is another wonderful story that was given to us as a baby shower gift.  (Thank you, Alisa!)  Our first featured Golden Book, I Am a Bunny follows the adorable red-overall-clad Nicholas throughout the seasons.  We have the sturdy board book version, which is perfect for even the youngest readers.  The story, written by Ole Risom, is very simple -- we learn about all the different things Nicholas likes to do throughout the year such as watch the birds, chase the butterflies, blow dandelion seeds into the air -- but it's Richard Scarry's amazing illustrations that really make this book for me.  We love many other Scarry titles, too, but in my opinion, this is his best artistic work by far.  The pictures are beautifully drawn and his attention to detail is amazing.  I just love the way every butterfly, bird, and frog is different, and his wonderful use of color makes it seem like I can feel the seasons changing as we turn the pages.  I even love the illustration on the back cover of Nicholas lying in the grass admiring a cricket.  It is a soothing and peaceful book to read and a great way to teach little ones about the seasons.  It's a perfect story to read before bed, too, as in the end, Nicholas curls up in his hollow tree to dream about spring.  What better book to feature on this first full day of spring as we watch the snow falling outside?  Hopefully we'll all be outside picking flowers soon, just like Nicholas.

Day 12: On the Night You Were Born

I'll be the first to admit that I'm a huge sap.   I cry easily.  Not in a wimpy kind of way, but in a sentimental/emotional kind of way.  When I was a little girl, I always thought it was really weird that my mom cried at the end of E.T.  Now I know why, of course, and I cry when he takes Gertie's flower and boards his ship, too.  I'm convinced that something about becoming a mom makes one cry more easily.  And every time I read On the Night You Were Born, I cry.  Every time.  I can't even get past the first page without getting choked up.  Whenever I pick up this beautiful story, I psyche myself up and am convinced I can make it through without crying this time.  I get through the first four lines just fine, but as soon as I get to the fifth line utter the words, "Life will never be the same," my eyes get teary and it's all over.  Consequently, I find that I don't actually read this story to my little ones all that often, even though I think it is one of the most beautiful children's books I've ever read.  It is touching, sentimental, poetic, and lovely in every way.  Kids like the soft, gentle rhymes and the gorgeous illustrations -- especially the dancing polar bears -- and the message that "you are the one and only ever you" is a wonderful one.  But to me, this is really more of a book for parents.  I love the way Tillman describes the magic and wonder of having a child, and every time I read it, it brings back the wave of love and amazement I felt the first time I held my little ones in my arms.  (Hence, the tears.)  I especially love the symbols and imagery she uses to show how the universe celebrated their arrival, from the moon that stays up until morning one day to the ladybug who lands and decides to stay.  "Or notice the bears asleep at the zoo.  It's because they've been dancing all night for you!"  No doubt, my kids will think it is weird that this book always makes me cry, but someday, I hope they will understand why.

Day 7: Brown Bear, Brown Bear, What Do You See?

Time to feature a fabulous book for the littlest of readers.  I would be surprised if anyone reading this hasn't heard of this classic story, but it is truly a wonderful book that deserves recognition.  This book is a rather sentimental one for me, as it is one of the very first books that truly engaged and captivated both of my children from the time they were born.  Even when they were just a few weeks old, I felt they truly connected to this story and loved reading it.  There is something magical about Martin's simple, rhythmic phrases and Carle's bold, collage-style images that make this a perfect first book for any child.  My seven month old daughter still loves to read (and chew on) this book, and I can just feel her brain taking it all in as she stares intently at the picture on each page, just my son used to do.  And even though he is now three, my son still loves reading this book with (and especially to) us.  Many thanks to my dear friend Alisa, who gave us this book before my son was born.  It is definitely a family favorite.

Day 1: Bear Wants More

I'm happy to feature this book as our very first great read!  I decided to make this fabulous story my first post for a few reasons.  First, my mom gave us this book when my son was born and we have adored it ever since.  In fact, we have read it so many times that I can easily recite it from memory, which comes in quite handy when we're still telling stories before bed after we've already turned out the light.   It's also a perfect first post, though, because it is about the arrival of spring... and who isn't yearning for spring sunshine and flowers right now?  Karma Wilson's rhyming story lines are delightful and Jane Chapman's illustrations are wonderful, too.  We just love reading about the silly bear and all of his friends!  In this story, the loveable Bear has just woken up quite hungry from his winter hibernation and can't get enough to eat.  After reading this one a few times, we were left wanting more, too, so we just had to go out and get some of the other books in the series.  While they are available in hardcover, some (including this one) are also available as board books; a good thing for a book as loved (and chewed upon) as this one!  In fact, it is one of my favorite books to give to friends as a baby gift.  I hope you enjoy it as much as we do!