Artful Board Books with Literary Flair

While shopping at The Spotty Dog Books & Ale* last week, I came across the following board book:

exhibit A

In the evenings, either pre or post bathtime depending on the degree of Poppy’s uncleanness, I summon an air of caring authority and announce to Poppy that we are going to read a book together.  Until recently, this has been the only book in the house that's truly at her level:

exhibit B

the apple and....

boat tour gets old.  it's just that these nouns aren't very inspiring-  

In these less dynamic board books, we see a picture of an apple next to the word ‘apple’.  And hey, I get it; apple is a useful and necessary word.  It’s just that...it’s not that exciting for me.  Enter BabyLit.

There're still only 1 or 2 words per page, but the pictures don’t look as if they hailed from Microsoft Word '95’s clip art gallery.  

Sherlock Holmes in his carriage that has wheels- 

that's Sherlock Holmes descending the stairs!

We all know that we should be doing it ALL THE TIME, and we want to; we really do.  It's just...the apple and boat tour get rather dull night after night.  It’s just more likely that I’ll read to my toddler if it's from an artful baby book with some literary flavor.  And who knows; maybe this early exposure will translate into an interest in Shakespeare that will resurface in her 5th grade english class**. 

if given a choice, I’m gonna read this to my 19 month old-

The goal with the BabyLit board books is the same as it is with the more traditional board books: to upload a few more words into Poppy's little noggin.  So thank you, BabyLit, for decreasing the likelihood that I’ll skip the reading and just plop Poppy in front of TV (a last resort that both common sense and The American Society of Pediatrics discourage).








*a charming little bookstore in Upstate New York.  
http://www.thespottydog.com/blog/
Cute huh?


**In answer to your question, yes.  Yes, I know that there's little chance of that actually  happening.



BabyLit's series of 12 literature-inspired board books were illustrated by Alison Oliver.
http://pure-sugar.com/illustration/books/

http://www.babylit.com/shop-books/

Poppy's First Haircut

I wanted to get little Poppy O. some bangs in order to avoid the frequent and unsavory experience of her hair ending up in food and in her nose.  The thing is though, now Poppy looks like Jonathan Taylor Thomas.  Okay, maybe not that bad – but she certainly looks like she's headed for the softball field.  

'this cape with sea creatures on it does nothing for my figure.'

'i'm not gonna wear the cape anymore'

JTT

'how's my hair?'

Poppy's hairstylist is Ms. Ginger of 'Miss Ginger's Kids Cutz'.  After Poppy's haircut, Ms. Ginger put Poppy's old hair in an envelope and handed it to me.  I'm not sure what I'm supposed to do with it.  Am I supposed to save it just in case I need to put a spell on her when she's an angsty teenager?


www.gingerkidscutz.com

Grandparent Nomenclature: The Seven Granddaddy Dwarfs

Mothers who are on the cusp of grandmotherhood see their upcoming role as an opportunity to step outside of themselves a bit – and what better way to begin the adventure than the selection of her grandmother nickname (the ultimate consolation prize for not being consulted on the selection of her grandchild's name).  

Should she go with something traditional, like 'Grandma', 'Granny', or 'Grandmother'?  Or should she go with something like Nana, Neenee, Grams, or Grammy?  

Some grandmothers (in search for a means of self expression) ask themselves ‘Why not make it something jazzy?’.  

In her book Battle Hymn of The Tiger Mother, Amy Chua describes her mother-in-law as having been gorgeous when she was young; reminiscent of Rita Hayworth (whoever that is).  Florence was witty, well put together, and had a keen art eye.  Amy Chua's daughters, as per Florence's request, called their grandmother 'Popo'.  I think that the name 'Popo’ is pretty cool actually, edgy even.  And it probably wasn’t too big a leap for a chic woman like Florence.  

And now a word on a separate, simpler task: the naming of the grandfather.  If I were going to be a grandfather, I'd select my new name from The Seven Granddaddy Dwarfs list.  Not only are these grandfather names practical, they're pretty festive too:  

1. Grumpy*
2. Doc
3. Sneezy
4. Dopey
5. Sleepy
6. Slouchy
7. Grouchy

*This is Poppy's grandfather's name.  He's actually not a grumpy person...but the name still suits him.  

Yep, future grandfathers have it easier on the nickname front.  Maybe we should come up with a Seven Grandmother Dwarves list!