HSmomNY Posted August 10, 2009 Share Posted August 10, 2009 I am tring to make a peace offering to my sister. We are both expecting a little boys this fall, so I though I would get her a collection of picture books she could read with her new son. BUT I am worried that she might be offended by some of my choices SOooo. I was hope a secular liberal or two might be willing to look over the list and see it any of my choices might be offensive. My sister is very liberal and very secular and she has a very non-traditional lifestyle. I would really like to not offend her. I would rather change the books. I got all the books off the Caldecott medal winners list. A story, A story - Gail E. Haley White Snow, Bright Snow - Alvin Tresselt Blueberries for Sal- Robert McCloskey Hey, Al - Arthur Yorinks Black and White - David Mcaulay One Fine Day - Nonny Hogrogian Sam, Bangs & Moonshine - Evaline Ness May I bring a Friend? - Beatrice de Regniers A tree Is Nice - Janice may Udry Once a Mouse - Marcia Brown Tuesday - David Wiesner My friend rabbit - Eric Rohmann Ox Cart Man - Donald Hall Always room for one more - Sorche Nic Lesodhas the Little Island- Golden MacDonald Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Caitilin Posted August 10, 2009 Share Posted August 10, 2009 As a kinda-secular liberal, I think your list looks excellent. :) For me, though, excellence in writing trumps agenda every time, so I cannot speak for her. :) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LibraryLover Posted August 10, 2009 Share Posted August 10, 2009 (edited) Those look lovely. Some fav books I give as gifts are: More More More said the Baby! Goodnight Moon The Napping House Good Night, Gorilla Ten Minutes Until Bedtime Make Way For Ducklings The Mitten Annie and the Wild Animals I could go on, lol, but I'll leave it at this: anything by Shirley Hughes, especially any Alfie book. I am not sure what you mean by her lifestyle. Is she is gay? One of my fav picture books of all time is Everywhere Babies! It shows babies of every ethncity being loved and cared for. There are wonderful drawings of babies in front-packs, backpacks, slings, strollers, and who are having bottles, nursing etc etc. There is even a cute drawing of two women lwith a baby looking absolutely exhausted. It's such a real depiction. I chuckle every-time. You can see it here: http://www.amazon.com/Everywhere-Babies-Susan-Meyers/dp/0152022260#reader Edited August 11, 2009 by LibraryLover Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Perry Posted August 10, 2009 Share Posted August 10, 2009 The list looks great to me although I'm not familiar with a couple of those. I'm secular/liberal, and it would be hard to offend me with any book, unless you were clearly trying to mock my beliefs or lifestyle. I think you're fine. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Carrie12345 Posted August 10, 2009 Share Posted August 10, 2009 The list looks great to me although I'm not familiar with a couple of those. I'm secular/liberal, and it would be hard to offend me with any book, unless you were clearly trying to mock my beliefs or lifestyle. I think you're fine. :iagree: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Carol in Cal. Posted August 10, 2009 Share Posted August 10, 2009 I admire your intent! If you want to give some books that a secular liberal might really appreciate, one to look at would be "Old Turtle." It's a beautiful book about environmentalism, but very liberal. My DH bought it when DD was very young, and I didn't read it to her because I was concerned about it theologically, but I liked it for myself. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LaxMom Posted August 10, 2009 Share Posted August 10, 2009 The list looks great to me although I'm not familiar with a couple of those. I'm secular/liberal, and it would be hard to offend me with any book, unless you were clearly trying to mock my beliefs or lifestyle. I think you're fine. Me, too. I would also add the entire Sandra Boynton collection. We had so much fun with those when my kids were tiny. I think I can still recite them from memory (they probably can, too). My absolute favorite for real littles is On the Day You Were Born. I weep every time I read it, and it is one of my favorite gifts for new parents. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dirtroad Posted August 10, 2009 Share Posted August 10, 2009 What about Dr Seuss? Fox in Socks. Cat in the Hat, Hop on Pop books. My son loved them. They rhyme have funny illustrations for little eyes and are easy to read... plus can be great for early reading programs when school days arrive. DS loved any books about wheels when he was just a tiny little thing. He loved the pictures and one of his first words was wheels b/c of one of those little readers. So funny. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
momto4girls Posted August 10, 2009 Share Posted August 10, 2009 The list looks great to me although I'm not familiar with a couple of those. I'm secular/liberal, and it would be hard to offend me with any book, unless you were clearly trying to mock my beliefs or lifestyle. I think you're fine. :iagree: I'm secular/liberal and those books look nice. It's nice that you take her beliefs into consideration - lots of the gift books we got at first were My First Book of Prayers, etc., and even that didn't offend me... Your list looks great! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
astrid Posted August 10, 2009 Share Posted August 10, 2009 The list looks great to me although I'm not familiar with a couple of those. I'm secular/liberal, and it would be hard to offend me with any book, unless you were clearly trying to mock my beliefs or lifestyle. I think you're fine. My thoughts exactly, Perry. astrid Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Barb_ Posted August 10, 2009 Share Posted August 10, 2009 My absolute favorite for real littles is On the Day You Were Born. I weep every time I read it, and it is one of my favorite gifts for new parents. I agree. We used to read this on birthdays, but now that my oldest kids are grown or about there, I can't even hear the title without choking up. Barb Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Deidre in GA Posted August 10, 2009 Share Posted August 10, 2009 My absolute favorite for real littles is On the Day You Were Born. I weep every time I read it, and it is one of my favorite gifts for new parents. my son was given this book at birth and i have read it to him on his birthday every year. at 15, he still insisted i do this. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brooke3193 Posted August 10, 2009 Share Posted August 10, 2009 OK, I'll show my stupidity and admit I've only read "Blueberries for Sal." Soooo, not being familiar with the other selections, I may be saying something that is obviously unnecessary... Your OP seemed to focus on you two having boys and reading to her son. If you were trying to choose books with boys in them, "Sal" is a girl. If you were just looking for quality lit., B for S doesn't offend this secular liberal. Best of luck with your peace offering. :) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tatertotschool Posted August 10, 2009 Share Posted August 10, 2009 How about Everywhere Babies? It's about as liberal as you can get where it concerns children's books. I'm a Christian Liberal- oxymoron right? I am a professional librarian, and I'd be pleased as pie to receive any of those books. I agree- it is less about agenda. You could also look into ALA recommended books on their website. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Marylou Posted August 10, 2009 Share Posted August 10, 2009 How 'bout an Amazon giftcard :001_smile: ? Very safe. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
astrid Posted August 10, 2009 Share Posted August 10, 2009 I'm a Christian Liberal- oxymoron right? Nope, not in my book! I do not believe that the two are mutually exclusive. I'm right there with ya! astrid Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
OhM Posted August 10, 2009 Share Posted August 10, 2009 Me, too. I would also add the entire Sandra Boynton collection. We had so much fun with those when my kids were tiny. I think I can still recite them from memory (they probably can, too). Oo, oo, oo! I have to second these. Every single one of them is goofy fun-ness! We had an audio tape (it was a while ago!) with songs of the books. Fun, fun, fun! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tatertotschool Posted August 10, 2009 Share Posted August 10, 2009 Ditto to Boynton. We checked her song book out of the library 2 years ago- Philadelphia Chickens, and DH requested I go back and get it this past weekend. My DD is 3 and can "read" the books herself. We've had to buy many copies of Moo, Baa, La La La because she carried it everywhere and lost it several times. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tutor Posted August 10, 2009 Share Posted August 10, 2009 ... "Old Turtle." It's a beautiful book about environmentalism, but very liberal. I tend to identify with Joel Salatin's description of himself, "Christian-libertarian-environmentalist-lunatic farmer" (well, everything but the "farmer" part :D ), and Old Turtle is one of our favorites, too. We always give books as baby gifts. Some of our favorites are: The Story of Little Babaji Goodnight Moon Guess How Much I Love You or anything by Dr. Suess or Eric Carle Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
emmsmama Posted August 10, 2009 Share Posted August 10, 2009 I second the recommendation for "Guess How Much I Love You". Other hits in my house that haven't been mentioned are: Love You Forever by Robert Munsch Stone Soup by Jon Muth Kiss Goodnight by Amy Hest On the Night You Were Born by Nancy Tillman (different from the other book recommended with the similar title) The Little Engine that Could by Watty Piper Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KarenNC Posted August 10, 2009 Share Posted August 10, 2009 "Grandfather Twilight" is one of our all time favorite books http://www.bhberger.com/children/books/bks_gt.htm Of the books you listed, we liked The Ox Cart Man and we have loved all of Gail Haley's books. I haven't read the others. The Boynton books are wonderful as well. I know it's popular, but "Love You Forever" has always struck me as really creepy (and not in a good way). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
elizabeth Posted August 10, 2009 Share Posted August 10, 2009 "Grandfather Twilight" is one of our all time favorite bookshttp://www.bhberger.com/children/books/bks_gt.htm Of the books you listed, we liked The Ox Cart Man and we have loved all of Gail Haley's books. I haven't read the others. The Boynton books are wonderful as well. I know it's popular, but "Love You Forever" has always struck me as really creepy (and not in a good way). I am delighted to see someone else loves Grandfather Twilight it is a beautiful book.:iagree: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
OrganicAnn Posted August 11, 2009 Share Posted August 11, 2009 Your list seems for older more pre-k, K and 1st graders. Which is fine especially if your are trying to give a keepsake book. You might want to include a book or two for younger kids. We always read books about various animals going to sleep and books with pictures of babies more than any other type of book for the first 1 years or so. There are also books made out of cloth that are great for babies. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Carol in Cal. Posted August 11, 2009 Share Posted August 11, 2009 ...that I give OFTEN is "Grandpa Bear's Fantastic Scarf." It is about how your life is a combination of your experiences, what you have inherited (traits) from your family, and your choices. It makes this case through a gorgeously illustrated picture book that shows a beloved grandfather bear teaching his grandson how to weave a scarf that represents his life. This book originally caught my eye because I have been a weaver, but I keep giving it because it is so beautiful and true in every way. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
elfgivas Posted August 11, 2009 Share Posted August 11, 2009 Nope, not in my book! I do not believe that the two are mutually exclusive. I'm right there with ya! astrid ooooooh, goood, that makes 3 :001_smile: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
elfgivas Posted August 11, 2009 Share Posted August 11, 2009 the Before Five in a Row books almost all became best loved in our household. i read them to them from the time they were really, really small. Jessie Bear what will you wear? was an unexpected favourite! ann Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sherry in OH Posted August 11, 2009 Share Posted August 11, 2009 The books are not offensive. I agree with OrganicAnn. If your goal is start your nephew's personal library, the books are great. If you are looking for read aloud books for a baby or toddler, these are not good choices. Some favorites in our house have been Freight train (Donald Crews), Babies (Gyo Fugikawa), the Going to Bed Book (Sandra Boynton), Goodnight Moon (Margaret Wise Brown) , and the Very Hungry Caterpillar (Eric Carle). All of these are available in board book versions. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LibraryLover Posted August 11, 2009 Share Posted August 11, 2009 Nope, not in my book! I do not believe that the two are mutually exclusive. I'm right there with ya! astrid Yes. There is a world of difference between Worshipping Christ and following the actual teachings of Jesus. In fact, there is a book by a liberal Pastor entitled Saving Jesus from The Church. Absolutely worth a read. http://browseinside.harpercollins.com/index.aspx?isbn13=9780061568213 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Caitilin Posted August 11, 2009 Share Posted August 11, 2009 Count me too! :) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Impish Posted August 11, 2009 Share Posted August 11, 2009 "Love You Forever" by Robert Munsch is an absolute must have. Each of my babies had a copy bought for them before they were born, and I wrote inside the front cover when they were a day or two old. I love him as an author, and most of his books are wonderful, and hilarious...I've yet to get sick of having to reread one of his books for the 10,000,000 time. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LibraryLover Posted August 11, 2009 Share Posted August 11, 2009 (edited) Count me too! :) You would probably really enjoy Saving Jesus from The Church. The author speaks of following the path of Jesus' love, not the fundamentalist dogma that has been rewritten by man. A Christianity were one doesn't have to hold up dead fetus signs, burn heretics at the stake, can see Evolution as the How, and not the Why, or worry about hating the sin while you say you love the gay 'sinner'. It's enough to make one weep with hope. Edited August 11, 2009 by LibraryLover Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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