Playtime Rhymes for Little People: So Beloved, We Had to Buy Two

An alternate subtitle for this post might have been, "My toddler loved it to death."  Little B got this book as a gift from my mom at 6 months, and at 14 months, we are already on our second copy thanks to the heavy wear and tear it received after many joyful readings.

While this hardcover collection of songs, nursery rhymes, lap bounces, and finger plays is not terribly sturdy, it is a delightful collection that caregivers and infants and toddlers will enjoy again and again.  Clare Beaton's illustrations are painstakingly created with antique fabrics and exude charm and nostalgia.  The book arrives with a CD of the poems and rhymes.  The CD is a great bonus to the book and an additional way for your child to enjoy it, but not my favorite of B's music options.  Small notes on each page teach parents the movements to each rhyme.  This book would make a great baby gift!

Who Loves It:
Infants and toddlers and those who care for them -- this is a great book for songs to sing while bouncing a smiley baby on your lap.  This is also a great resource for early childhood teachers.

Why We Love It:

• Gorgeous illustrations
• Nursery rhymes support phonemic awareness
• Parents and caregivers can use this book to learn songs and lap bounces that children will enjoy again and again, long after the book is put away
• Suggested movements for each rhyme will help engage active children in reading

Activity Suggestions:

• Let an older toddler or preschool age look at the book while listening to the CD
• Learn a couple of the lap bounces or finger plays well, and enjoy them while you are stuck trying to entertain a wiggly toddler in line at the grocery store, at the doctor's office, etc.

The Best Books for 0-3 Months

Yes, you read that right!  We're about to talk about reading to newborns.  Crazy, right?  When are you supposed to read in between all the feeding, the diapers, more feeding, and more diapers?  And of course, parents are generally completely exhausted throughout this time.

Somehow though, in our house, we managed to read to B beginning the weekend we brought him home from the hospital.  It was a great way to bond, especially for my husband.  I nursed and thus took care of much of the feeding, which left my husband delegated to diapers (NOT FUN) and reading (FUN).  Reading to our newborn provided him with visual stimulation and lots of language.  Once we all got settled into a bit of a routine (around 6 weeks or so), reading was a great "play" activity for our increasingly wakeful infant.  Most of all, reading with a newborn got us all started into the good habit of reading often.

I remember that one of the early challenges of reading was positioning, since B could not hold his head up yet.  We often read to him while he sat in his bouncy chair.  We worried a little less about the format of books, since B was not yet touching books or turning pages -- paperbacks and hardcovers worked out just as well as board books.  I learned that when you are recently post-partum, it is best to avoid overly emotional books (such as Robert Munsch's Love You Forever).  We had some major waterworks one night!

Black and white books are great for this age, as young infants can see black, white, and red best!  It is not worth it to buy too many of these though, as this phase passes quickly and you'll prefer in the long run to own books with richer content.  Wordless books with very simple pictures are also favorites, as you can simply label the pictures with your baby.  Without further adieu, here are our top books for newborns:

1. Mommies and Their Babies, by Guido Van Genetchen.  A sweet black and white book with slightly more content than some of the other ones out there...a lovely read for new moms!

2.  Daddies and Their Babies, by Guido Van Genetchen  Similar to the above, but dads get a turn in this one!

3. Freight Train, by Donald Crews  Simple text and bright pictures with plenty of contrast make this book appealing to newborns, but unlike other books intended for the youngest readers, you will still be reading this one throughout the toddler years.

4. Kid O Forest Friends Wooden Book  With simple pictures, this wordless book was the first book my husband read to B.  It was an early favorite, as they enjoyed looking at each animal together.

5. Goodnight Moon, by Margaret Wise Brown  It is never too early to get started with this classic!

Ask Mr. Bear: Timeless Story, Vintage Pictures

Ask Mr. Bear was originally published by Marjorie Flack in the early 1930's, but has not lost its charm with young children (or those who read to them).  Young Danny is preparing for his mother's birthday.  He asks many farm animal friends for suggestions, but still cannot find the perfect gift.  Finally, Mrs. Cow suggests
that Danny ask Mr. Bear.  Danny ventures through the woods alone (and with a hint of trepidation), but thanks to Mr. Bear's suggestion, is able to find just the perfect gift for his mother.

This is a sweet story to read around the time of a birthday or a visit to a farm.  It is not overly moralistic, but a great way for children to be reminded that the best gifts are not always material items.  The pictures are charming but definitely vintage.  Older preschool aged children might not be easily won over by them but adult readers will enjoy reminiscing about their own childhood picture books.

Who Loves It:
This book is perfect for ages 1-4, and accessible on various levels.  My 14 month old is already enamored with it and has asked for it again and again.

Why We Love It:

• Repetitive language
• Predictable text
• Older toddlers will be able to chime in as you read a build literacy skills
• Simple "home-adventure-home" story arc.  The book begins with Danny at home, follows him on his adventure, and returns home with him when he gives his gift to his mother.
• Charming, vintage pictures

Activity Suggestions...

• Younger toddlers can build language by practicing animal sounds as each animal is introduced and  labeling each animal
• Older preschool aged children (in a small group) can take on the roles of Danny and the various animals and act the story out as you read
• Children of all ages might enjoy a visit to a farm and talking about the different necessities we gain from animals
• Use a felt set, stuffed animals, or puppets to retell the story.