Books
May 19, 2009
The Happiest Baby on the Block
Who wouldn't want the happiest baby on the block? The title says it all. A screaming baby can make even the most calm parent go insane. Dr. Karp's book will give you several strategies to help you calm your baby so you can both get some rest. You'll also get to know what the word looks like from your baby's perspective which will help strengthen your bond with your baby.
See also: Infant sleep
April 20, 2009
What to Expect When Mommy's Having a Baby
Expecting your first baby is exciting. Expecting the second or third can be overwhelming. You can just imagine how an older brother or sister might feel. Can you say...sibling issues? What to Expect When Mommy's Having a Baby can help your child understand how things will change when the new little baby comes home. Angus, the Answer Dog, is able to explain the changes in a simple straightforward way that will put your young child at ease. Also, at 32 pages, the book is just the right length to keep your child interested. Before you know it, you can turn the big brother or sister into your happy little helper.
April 17, 2009
WOOF WOOF
It's never to early to start reading to your baby. Reading Woof Woof is a great way introduce your baby to words and images. The black and white colors combined with the sound of your voice will naturally draw your baby's attention. The foam pages are a little more forgiving of little teeth that might be chewing on the book too. As your baby grows, you can use the images to teach him about the animals inside. Woof Woof is a book that you and your baby can enjoy for years to come.
March 25, 2009
Gift Lit
Want to give the gift of literature to a child you know? if so, Gift Lit is the perfect idea for you. You buy a 3, 6, or 12 month subscription, and every month a new book will be sent. You can choose the age you are interested in, and there are categories you can choose from there such as picture books or books for boys. If you like the idea, this can go way past childhood. You can buy for young adult, adults, family books, or even create your own package. You can also be reassured that only the best books are being chosen. They have literary experts who make the choices, so you don't have to worry about something inappropriate being sent. The company also donates 10% of their profits to organizations that promote literacy. We think this is such a great idea and will be using it for all the gifts we give in the future.
February 19, 2009
Max and Ruby: Bunny Cakes
Anderson, like many kids his age, is fascinated with the TV show Max and Ruby. I think that he might really like a few of the books by Rosemary Wells that inspired the series. For example, in Bunny Cakes, Max learns a invaluable lesson--in his irresistible way! For Grandma's birthday, Max wants to make her an earthworm birthday cake. His sister Ruby is going to make an angel surprise cake with raspberry-fluff icing. When Grandma ends up with two cakes, guess which one she'll eat first? This full-color paperback book has all the delightful illustrations that inspired the unique TV show.
January 5, 2009
The No-Cry Nap Solution
Why didn't this book exist when Andy was first born? The No-Cry Nap Solution: Guaranteed Gentle Ways to Solve All Your Naptime Problems
is for you if your child is not taking naps. We all know that naps are so important both for the child and for the mother's sanity. It took me four months to get Andy napping on his own, and they were the four hardest months of my life. This book is helpful for more than just infancy though. It'll help you out through the preschool years. It is definitely something I will buy and read before I have my next child!
December 3, 2008
Little Bunny Press
Personalized books are always a great gift for a child. We have one that we reviewed last year, The First Adventures of Incredible You that has been a favorite in our house for a long time now. There is another company that does something similar that we think looks pretty impressive, Little Bunny Press. In their books, your family are the main characters, and you even use your own pictures. There are three different books to choose from, Zoo, Baby Animals, and Underwater Adventure (which can include two children if you have siblings). Each book is digitally printed on 100% recycled paper and bound in a softcover book. To ensure Christmas delivery, make sure to order by December 5!
December 1, 2008
Christmas Board Books
Now it's time for the Christmas books! We're focusing on ones that have been released since last year's holiday season, so these are all ones you probably don't have in your collection already. First up is Santa's Workshop, which is all about what goes on in the workshop to get ready for Christmas.
Amazing Baby: Jingle Bell Baby! features a cd as well as the book, so your child can learn Christmas carols as he reads.
Finally, Christmas Peekaboo is interactive with flaps that reveal presents and babies. Great for baby's first Christmas!
Hanukkah Books
If you and your children celebrate Hanukkah, you probably are interested in some books that will help explain the holiday to them at an early age. We've found three that look pretty decent. First there's Where Is Baby's Dreidel?: A Lift-the-Flap Book, a fun and interactive hide-and-seek book perfect for a baby.
My First Hanukkah Board Book will teach counting, shapes, and colors while also explaining the Festival of Lights.
Finally, in Hanukkah, Oh Hanukkah!, your child will learn about the traditions and festivities that celebrate this fun holiday.
November 14, 2008
Thanksgiving Books
We like to read Andy stories about the holidays we celebrate as we get closer to the date. If you do the same, here are some good options for you! First there is Today Is Thanksgiving!, which encourages children to give thanks.
Thanksgiving Is for Giving Thanks is a celebration of friends and family and what brings them together.
Five Silly Turkeys is a counting book about turkeys doing silly things.
My First Thanksgiving teaches a bit of the history associated with the holiday.
The Turkey Ball is a fun trip with turkeys as they prepare for a ball.
The Story of Thanksgiving helps teach your child about the first Thanksgiving.
This is Thanksgiving uses rhythm of The House That Jack Built and rhyme to describe a big family gathering on Thanksgiving Day.
And finally, Turkey Time! focuses on what everyone loves, the food!
October 6, 2008
Halloween Books
Looking for some books to introduce your little one to Halloween? Some ones that I think look good include Touch and Feel Halloween (these are always a favorite in our household), My Halloween Sound Book, Scratch and Sniff Halloween, A Spooktacular Halloween, Halloween, and Peter Rabbit's Halloween. If there are any others that you like, leave a comment to let our other readers know!
October 3, 2008
Juggling Twins: The Best Tips, Tricks, and Strategies from Pregnancy to the Toddler Years
When I first discovered I was pregnant, one of my biggest fears was that I would have twins. I had even convinced myself that I was early on and was terrified of how I would manage in a tiny apartment. I did only have one child in that pregnancy, but when I see my friends who have twins juggling two car seats and double strollers, that panic comes back. If you know someone who has twins or is pregnant with them, a good gift would be Juggling Twins: The Best Tips, Tricks, and Strategies from Pregnancy to the Toddler Years. This book helps parents with such issues as breastfeeding twins, how to deal with getting them in and out of the car easily and safely, how to get them both on the same schedule, when to find time to sleep, and other helpful hints. It is also written by a friend of a friend of ours, which makes it just that more special for us. Try it out and let us know what you think!
September 25, 2008
The Woollyhoodwinks: vs. The Dark Patch
The Woollyhoodwinks vs. The Dark Patch is a new book from the childrens' publisher Immedium. We've reviewed a couple of their books in the past. We've always been delighted, and with this book we are again. Written by collaborators Asa Sanchez and Phil Dumesnil, the Woolyhoodwinks are five cuddly creatures who live in the Black North Forest. When a piece of the sky falls to the earth, a Dark Patch appears and begins to grow, disturbing the Woolyhoodwinks carefree existence. The five friends take turns trying to solve this strange mystery, and do in an inventive way!
The Woollyhoodwinks themselves a species of plush woodland critter created by San Francisco artist, Jeff Root. Each character is handmade, so each one is unique. You can buy each one separately, or all together over at the Woollyhoodwinks shop.
August 28, 2008
Giftlit
Need a good idea for a child's present? Try Giftlit, a book of the month club that gears the gift towards the age of the child. Choose between babies, 2-5, and older ages. In each age group, there are different options grouped by theme and age. You can buy a 3 month, 6 month, or 12 month subscription. It's also great because any book can be substituted or returned. The books are chosen by advisory board of librarians, educators, authors, and industry experts. There's also groups for young adults, adults, and families too, so you can use this site to do all your holiday shopping or birthday gifts for your entire family!
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