bear's favorite books: newborn to six months
-
Category
Fashion & Style
I've written before about how reading is such an important part of our day-to-day parenting, but I thought that this week, I'd go into a little bit more depth about the books that Bear has really enjoyed for his first six months.
Because, see: when you're a new parent, lots of people give you the books that they loved as a child. I'm not saying there's anything wrong with that -- it's an incredibly sweet and thoughtful gift and one that I'm always thrilled to receive.
But sometimes, the books that people loved as a five- or seven-year-old aren't right for an infant.
Because, you know. I'd love to say that our kid is a literary genius, but the fact is: when you hand him a book, sometimes he looks at the words and pictures.
But most of the time he just sticks it in his mouth.
But there are a few authors who seem to get babies, and if you're looking for a great new-mom gift (or just something to entertain your kiddo for a few extra seconds), here are two authors I particularly recommend.
Sandra Boynton: Sandra has become a household name for us, and her celebrity status is incredibly well-deserved. I can't even tell you how many hours we've spent reading and reciting her books to Bear: hands down, she is his favorite, bar none. Her books are simple, and they teach skills like counting, colors and animals -- and yet they're also fun, with twist endings and little personalities for each of the characters. My favorite, which Bear is perusing in the photo above, is Birthday Monsters -- so if you have a kiddo with a big day coming up, this would be a terrific gift!
Eric Hill: I confess, our copy of Where's Spot is a particularly special one -- it's the tattered, much-loved copy that I had as a kid. My mom saved it for somewhere close to three decades, and shipped it to me last winter, before our baby arrived. Bear loves this book and I do too -- there's something so sweet about seeing the pages that my mom taped together after my sister and I loved that book to tatters, and then letting my son have the same experience.
We also have a lot of tried-and-true favorites: The Giving Tree, The Little Engine That Could, and (of course!) Where the Wild Things Are. But more so than any book itself, the best part is sitting with our son and showing him new ideas, stories, and pictures, and helping him make them his own. So if you can, take a few minutes out of your day to read your child a bedtime story (or a morning, or afternoon story -- whatever works for you!) and help them develop a love of reading and learning that they will have for their whole lives.