My daughter met Henry Colangelo when she was in college. They traveled the world together, teasing and supporting each other.
Then Henry met Claire and I think everyone who knew Henry fell as much in love with her as he did. My generous daughter shared these dear friends at waffle breakfasts and pizza grill nights. Henry and Claire invited us to their home for a marvelous chicken pot pie.
We were all happy for them and sad for us when Henry landed his first choice for residency in Colorado and Claire found a job, too.
Henry and Claire have had the most playful way of including friends (and friends’ parents) in the joy of their baby to come. Yesterday they cane back to Chapel Hill for a shower. I’ve packed up a big box of the newest baby titles and thought to share these books with those expecting new babies, grandchildren, or attending celebrations for babies soon to arrive.
Books Every Baby Should Have:
Mother Goose
There’s a reason these classic poems have endured–rhythm and rhyme renew them generation after generation.
Danna Smith’s Mother Goose’s Pajama Party (Doubleday, 0-6) has a story of all the familiar (and a few not so familiar) Mother Goose characters who arrive to spend an overnight with her. After a tender goodnight, the rhymes of the story’s stars follow.
Iona Opie’s Snuggle Up with Mother Goose (Candlewick) has sixteen familiar rhymes illustrated by Rosemary Wells in a sturdy board book. Her recognizable (and adorable) bunny illustrations evoke warm cuddling sharing.
Counting Books
Babies grow into counting books. They begin by naming the objects and later count them. New in board book is Anthony Browne’s One Gorilla: A Counting Book (Candlewick, ages 1-5).
Browne, who adores drawing primates, counts from 1 gorilla to 10 lemurs, and last a self-portrait that represents the connection he feels. The book ends with a full page spread showing human diversity.
Early Tales
Early stories are part of a baby-raising tradition. These rhythmic, simple tales endure because they speak to children.
Classic Children’s Tales is produced Penguin to commemorate 150 years of publishing. Early tales from Beatrix Potter, Randolph Caldecott, Kate Greenaway and Edward Lear are all proceeded with introductions by today’s well-known authors and illustrators.
Concept Books
Early learning about colors, shapes and more has become more fun because of the range of playful innovative concept books.
Case, in point? Ashley Evanson’s Hello World series introduces concepts and cities at the same time (all of these listed below are from Grosset & Dunlap, ages 0-2). This graphically pleasing series is enjoyable for parents to share as they expose new babies to both ideas and cities that the child may one day see.
