Babies | Page 6 of 22

Christmas Parade brings this classic world some seasonal charm

Sandra Boynton is a book treasure. She’s been publishing her distinctive animals with their happy faces, catchy songs, giddy situations and comfort-book food since the early 70’s. Christmas Parade takes her menagerie of critters and puts them center stage in the parade that goes past the pig’s house. They hear the big booms and are initially scared, but then squeal with delight when they realize what’s really happening. If you’ve got a newborn through crawler this is one of the Christmas books that they’ll grow up with and fall asleep to.

Boynton Board book magic

Pocket Piggies Christmas! brings home the board book bacon

When I think back to the baby shower gifts we received there were some that rose above others. At both ends of the spectrum were an expensive glass vase and a 24-pack of Hot Wheels. The Hot Wheels cars both boys played with for hours and that vase is in the kitchen where it catches coins, spare batteries or other non-elegant things that it’s not suited for. Somewhere in the middle of these gifts are the board books that our boys enjoyed. In that vein, Pocket Piggies Christmas! is a board book that knows its audience and really delivers the bacon.

Pocket Piggies Christmas! Is seasonal, board book, comfort food for those newborns through toddlers.

Cute Pigs. Christmas Board Book. Happy Babies.

Spooky Pants, gets kids laughing while they’re reading

TPR. I remember being taught that when I first started teaching ESL. Essentially, TPR is engaging tactile senses, like touching or physically moving something to reinforce a new concept. Spooky Pants, A Turn the Wheel Book is a board book that takes that principle, gives it laughs and a fun Halloween board book vibe to educate and entertain crawlers through pre-k.

Crawlers, toddlers and pre-k, come get yer spooky sillies

Zits Screentime is a treasury of laughs for middle school and up

Even before I had children I was reading Zits. Back then I enjoyed reading it because teenager Jeremy’s slacker behavior was something that I could relate to from my recent past. It was the late 90s and I was somewhere after college, but before getting a proper job and light-years away from maturing. While that last one is still in question, I’m still a fan of Zits, but for an entirely new litany of reasons that all revolve around children. They’re my children, as well as my nieces and nephews. The latter two I’ve seen go through or are going through their teenage years. The oldest of my children are knocking on the doors of teenage-dom and that makes Zit funny on a whole new level. The latest Zits collection, Screetime is out now and succeeds regardless of where you are in life, as long as you’re older than nine.

Zits Screentime is funny, comic strip for ages 12 and up

You’re My Little Baby, keeps the classics coming from Eric Carle

Eric Carle is an institution. When people mention board books for infants The Very Hungry Caterpillar is one of the first that they’ll say. His illustrations are some of the first styles of art that kids will recognize. If Sandra Boynton is the queen of board books then Eric Carle is the godfather. Thankfully, this is a friendly competition and the only horses that’ll be seen will be at the farm or playing with other critters who are there to amuse crawlers. From the World of Eric Carle comes You’re My Little Baby. This board book has the hallmark look of classic Carle but adds touch-and-feel or other interactive elements that will further make those crawlers learn to love to read.

You’re My Little Baby is the latest from the World of Eric Carle and is just as timeless as you remember, regardless of when that was.

There is a difference in board books-and this is near the top

Superhero Playbook, super traits from heroes that kids can benefit from

Our children, in no way shape or form want to actively talk about emotions. Both of our boys can sense an upcoming talk on emotions or feelings from a mile away. And for two kids who don’t want to talk about emotions, they sure get emotional when it needs to be discussed. Granted, part of that stems from the fact that talking about your feelings could lead some kids to question their strengths or magnify their faults. That’s the beauty of Superhero Playbook by Randall Lotowycz with illustrations by Tim Palin. It looks at a myriad of superheroes, as well as their superpowers and presents it in a way that kids aged nine and up can learn from.

It’s more learning than super and equal parts both

Your Nose! is classic Boynton whimsy and joy

Sandra Boynton is the queen of board books. We’ve still got the board books that our now 10 year-old read when he was crawling across the floor. He’s sitting here beside me as I write this and commented that he remembered her books. Not to fact check him, but I went through the books that she’s written and illustrated and sure enough, the ones that I know are upstairs (in the secret box of baby stuff) were the ones that said he remembered. While it’s certainly possible to have all of her books, we only have eight of them, with many of their corners chewed, just a little bit. Your Nose! Is somewhere north of release number 75 for Boynton and continues the timeless quality and charm as her classics.

Sandra Boynton, queen of the board book, is back with your nose!

My Best Friend is a classic in the making illustrated book for 3-8

Is it possible for a book’s title to be onomatopoeia? Consider My Best Friend from Julie Fogliano with illustrations by Jillian Tamaki. It’s a children’s illustrated book that’s geared for ages four through eight, but will demo younger to those audiences and readers who are open to it. The text will be simple for those on the older range to read. That age isn’t really the ones who’ll get the most out of the book.

A word that sounds like what it is, or in this case, a book