TechWife Posted April 5 Share Posted April 5 It's been a long time since I've been to a baby shower. I would like to put together a book basket (think Wholehearted Child from back in the day) for this new little one. The parents-to-be are both readers, so I think they will appreciate it. I would appreciate recommendations for both classics and newer books that I might not be aware of. The more ideas I get, the more I have to choose from! My goals are to include some/all of these features: beautiful art living books non-fiction fiction board books picture books something like the old Gold 'n Honey Books (a publisher) So far, I have picked these two books, just to give you an idea: For the baby: Wishy Washy: A Board Book of First Colors For the parents: Wild Things and Castles in the Sky: A Guide to Choosing the Best Books for Children (I'm hoping it will be like Honey for a Child's Heart) What are your best ideas?? 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kassia Posted April 5 Share Posted April 5 I would recommend not giving Goodnight Moon. A friend of mine received so many copies of that one. Some were different versions (board book, pop up book, etc.), but way too many of the same book! Sounds like a lovely and thoughtful gift. 8 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
happypamama Posted April 5 Share Posted April 5 (edited) The Very Hungry Caterpillar is always my favorite. When I asked for some new classics for my younger guys (17 year gap between oldest and youngest here), people suggested Touch the Magic Tree, and it and its sequels have been big favorites. If your friends like Halloween, Goodnight Goon would be hilarious. My husband sent it to his college friend who became a dad for the first time in his 40s, and it was a hit. Dragons Love Tacos and anything by that author -- my Mr. Five requests them all the time (after eighty gazillion readings of Goodnight Goon). We have lovely, big hardback volumes of Winnie the Pooh, House at Pooh Corner, and the poetry books, and they would make nice gifts. We've always enjoyed Come Look With Me, Gladys Blizzard, and Lucy Mickelthwaite's art books too. For nonfiction, the books by the Cat and the Hat's Learning Library are pretty great. And the Sir Cumference series makes math fun and gentle. Also, Our Journey Westward has some great booklist for picture books for nonfiction: https://ourjourneywestward.com/living-literature-booklists/ I could be here all day. I'm sure I'm not the only one whose worse in the library than a kid in a candy shop, hahaha. Edited April 5 by happypamama 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
knitgrl Posted April 5 Share Posted April 5 Anything Sandra Boynton! 6 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kbutton Posted April 5 Share Posted April 5 If a book is both well known and available in the baby section of non-book stores, it’s a title they will get a million of, lol! My kids first learned to like books that had very concrete information (textured animals and such), and then they started liking repetition, such as The Little Red Hen. From there, they liked all kinds of things. Books that tell what people are thinking/feeling are always good! Books with flaps that open are fun. Richard Scarry books are great for a little bit older kids. Mine started quit early liking encyclopedic sorts of books on their level that they could browse in any order—they would point to pictures to get explanations and even reuse the books for different purposes later like identifying colors of objects or certain sounds or multiple words for the same thing. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Miss Tick Posted April 5 Share Posted April 5 I like giving board book versions of classics like Moby Dick or Jane Eyre in the belief that friendship arises from familiarity. If the parents have stem backgrounds you could look at books from the Scientific ABC's 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HomeAgain Posted April 5 Share Posted April 5 Some of our most read books were Sandra Boynton board books, Good Night, Good Night Construction Site, Ferdinand, Casey At The Bat, Everywhere Babies(? It's often up on the "banned" list for showing all times of families), and Indestructibles. The last are Tyvek books that can be thrown in the washer, chewed on, etc. They feel nearly like regular paper. I noticed Target selling several last time we were there. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
almondbutterandjelly Posted April 5 Share Posted April 5 Chicka Chicka Boom Boom Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cabercro Posted April 5 Share Posted April 5 We got plenty of "bedtime" books as gifts, but reading a book was part of our sleep routine for naps too. Finding a book specifically about napping was harder, but this was our favorite. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brittany1116 Posted April 5 Share Posted April 5 I always give Sandra Boynton's Going to Bed book. 5 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lucy the Valiant Posted April 5 Share Posted April 5 You've seen the BabyLit series, right? And also . . . I just purchased this from a lovely local bookstore for a new baby. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ScoutTN Posted April 5 Share Posted April 5 (edited) I often choose by illustrator and choose older books. Anything by Tasha Tudor Miss Rumphius Roxaboxen Owl Moon The Snowy Day and/or Whistle for Willie Single book editions of any of the stories in James Herriot’s Treasury for Children. Illus Ruth Brown The Big Red Barn Peter Spier’s People Bats at the Library Train Song Make Way for Ducklings Each Peach Pear Plum Owl Babies For a pricey gift: the small size complete boxed set of Beatrix Potter books. Edited April 5 by ScoutTN 5 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ScoutTN Posted April 5 Share Posted April 5 50 minutes ago, cabercro said: We got plenty of "bedtime" books as gifts, but reading a book was part of our sleep routine for naps too. Finding a book specifically about napping was harder, but this was our favorite. And The Napping House. 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
almondbutterandjelly Posted April 5 Share Posted April 5 House at Pooh Corner 4 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hilltopmom Posted April 5 Share Posted April 5 I just did this and chose all board books but not the usual Very Hungry Caterpillar, Brown bear, nor Goodnight Moon. I went with others that are good but not the top popular ones. I think I settled on about 10-12. 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Forget-Me-Not Posted April 5 Share Posted April 5 3 hours ago, Brittany1116 said: I always give Sandra Boynton's Going to Bed book. My youngest is 11 and I can still recite that book from memory! 4 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DawnM Posted April 5 Share Posted April 5 6 hours ago, knitgrl said: Anything Sandra Boynton! My son's favorite book was Moo Bah La La La. I think we read it 17,928 times! 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lori D. Posted April 5 Share Posted April 5 (edited) for picture books: What People Do All Day, or, Cars and Trucks and Things That Go -- by Richard Scarry; so fun for ages 2/3 up through ...? Animalia -- by Graem Base; an alphabet book with tons of images to look for on each page; another great one for ages 2/3 up through ages 6-8 for board books: Good Dog Carl -- by Alexandra Day (or other in the Carl series) Jamberry -- by Bruce Degan for golden books: 365 Bedtime Stories -- by Kathryn Jackson, illustrated by Richard Scarry The Monster at the End of This Book Edited April 6 by Lori D. 4 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alte Veste Academy Posted April 5 Share Posted April 5 Wynken, Blynken, & Nod by Eugene Field Block City by Robert Louis Stevenson The Swing by Robert Louis Stevenson The Owl and the Pussycat by Edward Lear Dr. Seuss's ABC (my favorite ABC book) The Maggie B by Irene Haas A Child's Book of Poems illustrated by Gym Fujikawa Richard Scarry's Best Mother Goose Ever (seriously, best ever, and huge) Favorite Nursery Rhymes from Mother Goose illustrated by Scott Gustafson (also a favorite, my favorite illustrator) 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TechWife Posted April 6 Author Share Posted April 6 4 hours ago, ScoutTN said: And The Napping House. That was the absolute best! 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TechWife Posted April 6 Author Share Posted April 6 5 hours ago, ScoutTN said: I often choose by illustrator and choose older books. Anything by Tasha Tudor Miss Rumphius Roxaboxen Owl Moon The Snowy Day and/or Whistle for Willie Single book editions of any of the stories in James Herriot’s Treasury for Children. Illus Ruth Brown The Big Red Barn Peter Spier’s People Bats at the Library Train Song Make Way for Ducklings Each Peach Pear Plum Owl Babies For a pricey gift: the small size complete boxed set of Beatrix Potter books. This is just the type of thing I needed to jog my memory. It makes me wish I could give a book shelf! 4 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TechWife Posted April 6 Author Share Posted April 6 8 hours ago, happypamama said: … We've always enjoyed Come Look With Me, Gladys Blizzard, and Lucy Mickelthwaite's art books too. I could be here all day. I'm sure I'm not the only one whose worse in the library than a kid in a candy shop, ha ha ha. We loved Lucy Mickelthwaite books. Sadly, I’m not seeing them on Amazon. I could spends $$$& on this if I’m not careful! 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ScoutTN Posted April 6 Share Posted April 6 A Child’s Garden of Verses, illus by Tasha Tudor. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TechWife Posted April 6 Author Share Posted April 6 6 hours ago, Lucy the Valiant said: You've seen the BabyLit series, right? And also . . . I just purchased this from a lovely local bookstore for a new baby. No, but I have now! And so cute! 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TechWife Posted April 6 Author Share Posted April 6 1 minute ago, ScoutTN said: A Child’s Garden of Verses, illus by Tasha Tudor. Absolutely! 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
frogger Posted April 6 Share Posted April 6 I don't think any of thesehave been mentioned. The little mouse, the red ripe strawberry, and the big hungry bear by Don Wood Blueberry Shoe by Ann Dixon If you like Margaret Brown, The Big Red Barn seems less popular than Goodnight Moon 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bambam Posted April 6 Share Posted April 6 I was going to suggest The Big Red Barn. And definitely a good poetry book. This was a favorite at our house. https://www.amazon.com/Read-Aloud-Rhymes-Very-Young-Prelutsky/dp/0399553576 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ScoutTN Posted April 6 Share Posted April 6 Time for Bed Wilfred Gordon McDonald Partridge both by Mem Fox 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Amethyst Posted April 6 Share Posted April 6 My niece’s baby shower is tomorrow. With her gift I am giving Jamberry. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
katilac Posted April 6 Share Posted April 6 When I know that they have room for it and are happy to build a collection, I will buy nice non-board, non-baby books. Fairy tales, myths, classics. I also like to give books that are specific to the area they live in, referencing local stories, places, traditions. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tina Posted April 6 Share Posted April 6 Good night Gorilla is my first choice. I second the big Richard Scarry Cars and Trucks and Things that Go. Harold and the Purple Crayon. 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ScoutTN Posted April 6 Share Posted April 6 ❤️ Goodnight Gorilla 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Momof4sweetkids Posted April 6 Share Posted April 6 Jamberry by Bruce Degen Dinnertime! By Sue Williams If they are Christians, Tales That Tell The Truth series makes board books Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cecropia Posted April 6 Share Posted April 6 Lots of good suggestions! Jan Brett's books are beautiful. We had The Mitten as a board book and it was always delightful to look at. Freight Train by Donald Crews -- a short, colorful read that's exciting! Some sort of lift-the-flap option 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kareni Posted April 6 Share Posted April 6 And if you want to give the parents a laugh ~ Baby Blues: This is Going to be Tougher Than We Thought Regards, Kareni Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
whitestavern Posted April 6 Share Posted April 6 Our favorite goodnight book! https://www.amazon.com/Good-Night-Mr-Dan-Yaccarino/dp/0152163867/ref=mp_s_a_1_1?crid=1RMG9FSQP6Z0F&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.3r4WctTD2smB0bnaMfX_qMdpcynZ0-9-5a8OX8nBhtrAxJKIZDgIaX69TNGKj9xGyPbEpLVmnJqs5Z10KX2qn5EHYsr8Mt3teDxrsm02U52hdsE5gRtzwNLAVmb0aGEtW9NhAzv7lyyzfRRhhpsElQlHOPEcXyF__JOYOcnlXXKe0yFDz1RCPNwz0P9xrozYNc3HHBGe7XjIVC1uBOjKgQ.r_h8WE2D4tbKinndvX-SM5RHUJOj86L23bpTx-aMb4E&dib_tag=se&keywords=good+night+mr+night&qid=1712400744&sprefix=good+night+mr+night%2Caps%2C75&sr=8-1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MercyA Posted April 6 Share Posted April 6 A few board books that have not been mentioned: Splash! Eric Carle's Does a Kangaroo Have a Mother Too? Global Babies A few special picture books: Our Animal Friends at Maple Hill Farm--the best book about farm animals ever written ❤️ Peter Spier's Oh, Were They Ever Happy!--so much fun, so many details! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
73349 Posted April 6 Share Posted April 6 Flap Your Wings is a parenting book disguised as a children's book. Poems to Learn by Heart Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Eilonwy Posted April 7 Share Posted April 7 We loved Sandra Boynton, but we also spent a lot of time reading Jill Barklem’s Brambly Hedge series, Winnie the Pooh, and Beatrix Potter stories. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Carol in Cal. Posted April 7 Share Posted April 7 Older books that are not SUPER well known that I loved: Beautiful illustrations with good stories: The Mitten Grandpa Bear’s Fantastic Scarf The Quilt Maker’s Gift I Love You As Much The Owl Babies Other catchy, clever, fun story books: The 500 Hats of Bartholomew Cubbins The Sneetches Sheep in a Jeep Anna Needs A Coat The 12 Dancing Princesses The Christmas Mouse (this is the old one from the 1960s) Sophie and Sammy’s Library Sleepover But Not The Hippopotamus Chicka Chicka Boom Boom Also, I scored an entire set of My Book House for my niece from a Buy Nothing group, and so now she has a library that will take her through age 11-12 or so. 12 volumes, very wholesome, gradual increase in difficulty starting with nursery rhymes. Highly recommended. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chris in VA Posted April 7 Share Posted April 7 Are there older children in the family? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TechWife Posted April 7 Author Share Posted April 7 12 minutes ago, Chris in VA said: Are there older children in the family? No. This is the first. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TechWife Posted April 7 Author Share Posted April 7 I just found out that Honey for a Child’s Heart was revised in 2021. The kindle version is only $2.99. 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Faith-manor Posted April 7 Share Posted April 7 I don't know if you can find any new ones since they have been discontinued, but all our toddlers loved the Usborne farm series with the little ducks, a duckling hiding on each page. It was centered around farm life and a train that went through the village. Super cute stories and artwork. I wish I could remember the name. I will see if I can find out if they are available. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Faith-manor Posted April 7 Share Posted April 7 Usborne Farmyard Tales 4 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TechWife Posted April 8 Author Share Posted April 8 I just love Honey for a Child’s Heart! It brings back so many memories. I need to trim my list down, though I’ve restrained from adding anything other than board books to the list. This is what I have so far: Hand, Hand, Fingers, Thumb by Al Perkins Kitten’s First Full Moon by Kevin Henkes Have You Seen My Cat? by Eric Carle Tomie’s Little Mother Goose by Tomie de Paola Ten, Nine, Eight by Molly Bang Inch by Inch by Leo Lionni 1 is One by Tasha Tudor Wishy Washy by Tabitha Paige 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sneezyone Posted April 9 Share Posted April 9 The Monster at the End of This Book is a hit with every toddler I’ve ever known. 🙂 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hilltopmom Posted April 13 Share Posted April 13 On 4/7/2024 at 5:19 PM, Faith-manor said: Usborne Farmyard Tales Aww.. I just donated ours to our neighborhood Little Free Library 🙂 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
footballmom Posted April 13 Share Posted April 13 Goodness, what a great thread with so many book memories from the days of littles! My eyes are a little misty 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TechWife Posted April 14 Author Share Posted April 14 The shower was this afternoon and it was lovely. I haven’t been to a baby shower in years. The “guest book” was a copy of Miss Rumphius” & each of us wrote a note on a different page. I learned that our mom-to-be loved that book as a child and carried it around with her. One of her sisters remembered and came up with the guest book idea. I highly recommend Honey for a Child’s Heart. I loved every minute I spent re-reading it this past week. I had forgotten how much it informed our family reading life. I thought I’d let you all know what I settled on after you offered so many wonderful ideas. I put everything in a rope basket from Target and lined it with three pretty burp cloths that matched the colors she chose for the baby’s room. Here’s the list: Honey for a Child’s Heart by Gladys Hunt with Mark Hunt Hand, Hand, Fingers, Thumb - by Al Perkins Kitten’s First Full Moon by Kevin Henkes Tomie’s Little Mother Goose by Tomie dePaola Inch by Inch by Leo Lionni 1 is One - by Tasha Tudor 4 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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