Hugs and Kisses for Mary Murphy

I Kissed the Baby! by Mary Murphy has been a favorite book of both my boys. It's got simple lyrical text, bold and contrasting illustrations, and a warm lovey feeling emanating from it's pages. A perfect shower gift (matched with a Plum Tot bib, perhaps?)

Check it out here.

Look, Look! Our New Favorite Book!

Just the other day, my youngest son grabbed this book off our bookshelf, toddled it over to me, and, in his little baby way (a series of earnest grunts) insisted that I read it to him. Look, Look! is perfect for even the littlest munchkins with it's bold illustrations, simple text, and high contrast pages in black, white, and red. It's definitely a favorite in our house.

For a look at "Look, Look!", look here.

Blocks and Books all Rolled into One

Dylan, my ten month old, has recently discovered the colorful box sitting on the playroom bookshelf. Inside there are 26 little board books representing each letter of the alphabet. The books are perfectly sized for little hands and can be stacked, grabbed, and chewed, in addition to being read. Check out ABC Block Books for your little one.

Baby Books for Spring

These two little books are made their way into my youngest son's Easter basket. I'm a total sucker for children's books and these are two of my current favorites.

In My Nest is one of those books that looks like a piece of art to be displayed on a child's bedroom wall. Only it's a book about a little bird and it's nest. A bluebird finger puppet peaks through on each page and adds a unique tactile element to this book.

Busy Chickens is part of the "Busy" series of animal books and is geared for little ones. It's got wonderful photos of chickens in action, great vocabulary, rhyming text, and a hint of humor (My personal favorite, "chicken zooming" cracks me up every time I see it.) I haven't read any of the other books in the "Busy" series, but I'm willing to bet they're high quality as well.

A Magazine for Wee Ones

National Geographic Little Kids

'Santa' got our oldest son a subscription to Little Kids Magazine and let me tell you --what a hit! His latest issue came yesterday and we were both thrilled. He loves getting mail just for him and wants to read through the whole thing right away. I love it for the content--great photos, a non-fiction emphasis, vocabulary building, pre-reading skills, logic activities, science experiments, a multicultural focus, etc. I could go on and on.... It's geared for the preschool set and just won a Parents' Choice Gold Award in 2008. The only downside? It only comes out once every two months.

Wonderful Winter Book for Kids

Winter's Tale by Robert Sabuda is a magical book that takes the pop-up concept to a whole new level. Simple, poetic text pairs with intricate pop-up scenes complete with shiny, glittery loveliness. This book is really a piece of art I'd recommend to parents of slightly older children who can resist tearing the pages.

Begin Smart Series--Books for Babies

The Begin Smart Series is a new developmental book series for babies and toddlers. These books are grouped by age (0 to 6 months, 6 to 12 months and so on) and feature bright, contrasting colors, different textures, and simple shapes and concepts to help stimulate baby's mind and start the reading process early. Check out What Does Baby See? and Faces--a couple of my personal favorites!

Fabulous Kid Book

Pie in the Sky by Lois Ehlert

This book is about both the seasonal development of a cherry tree and the actual making of a pie. The unique paper collage illustrations are absolutely beautiful. Although it's essentially a story book, it also encompasses many non-fiction elements, including labels, and a recipe for cherry pie. As an added bonus, the cover's punched out pie holes are the perfect size for little fingers!

Earth Day Books for Kids

There are many kid books that focus on recycling and Earth Day. Here are a few recommendations for younger children.

On the Day You Were Born by Debra Frasier
A peaceful book about the joyful greeting of a newborn child.

I Love Our Earth by Bill Martin Jr.and Michael R. Sampson
A stunning non-fiction book with beautiful photos and lyrical text.

Clifford's Spring Cleanup
By Norman Bridwell
Part of the popular Clifford series, this book focuses on Earth Day.

A Fabulous (and Hilarious) Kid Book

Knuffle Bunny

by Mo Willems

This months book pick is on our son's current list of favorites. It's a picture book that tells the story of a young toddler named Trixie and her favorite toy, Knuffle Bunny. Trixie and her dad walk to the laundromat with a basket of dirty clothes and accidentally leave Knuffle Bunny which, as you may guess, becomes a BIG problem for the whole family. The illustrations are actually a combination of black and white photography with cartoonish illustrations that do a supurb job of helping to tell the story. It's a humorous tale that both parents and children will relate to and enjoy.

My New Favorite (Kid) Book

Yummy YUCKY by Leslie Patricelli (Patricelli has also written BIG Little and Quiet LOUD).

Put simply, I LOVE THIS BOOK! We got this for my son when he was teeny tiny and it's been a favorite since the get-go. It is an opposites book that focuses on the yummy and yucky things in everyday life. Leslie Patricelli adds a twist with adorable illustrations and a sense of humor both kids and parents appreciate. It's published as a board book so it's sturdy (and yummy) enough for little ones who like to chew on everything!

Non-fiction for Munchkins

Did you know that over 85% of what we adults read and write is non-fiction? So it would make sense to expose children at a very young age to lots of non-fiction books. Yet, the vast majority of children's books are fiction. Now, don't get me wrong--most children love fictional stories. But kids need to experience non-fiction as well. And children, even the teeny ones, are so curious about the world around them, so why not?

BabyGenius Series by DK Books (Series includes titles such as Colors, Baby Animals, Shapes, Numbers among others)

My pick for this month is the BabyGenius series of books published by DK books. We have the Baby Animals and the Colors book in our home. This series uses vivid photographs, simple text, and rich vocabulary. These books are geared for the 0-18 month set but my 2 1/2 year old still likes reading them and is now pointing out the letters he's learning in the headings on each page. Very engaging books for your smart cookie!

Holiday Book Ideas

Ok, so I'll admit it. I am a children's book junkie. Being a former teacher and a mother of a two year old, it's hard not to notice all the wonderful books that are published for kids. I always have my eyes and ears open for great books and here are a couple that stand out for the holiday season.

Gingerbread Baby by Jan Brett
This book is currently one of Alex's favorites. It is the familiar tale of the Gingerbread cookie that escapes the oven and wreaks havoc on an entire town. This version by Brett is beautifully illustrated in her signature style, complete with a detailed gingerbread border on every page. There is also a little gingerbread house on the last page that opens to reveal the surprise ending. We own the board book but this book comes in a standard size as well.

Dream Snow by Eric Carle
As with many Eric Carle books, this one weaves in multiple elements. Dream Snow is perfect for little ones and includes counting, prediction, and a little Christmas magic. Alex loves this book's colorful illustrations, animals, and the button on the last page that plays the beautiful sound of chimes when pushed.

Both these books are currently in print and could be found at your local bookstore.