Baby Danced the Polka

See this book at Amazon.com

First, I want to thank my friend Susan for recommending Karen Beaumont's book, Baby Danced the Polka!  This is a sweet book with wonderful text, artwork and lift-the-flap details that make it a delightful book to read with our own children or to share as a gift.

Baby Danced the Polka tells the cute and fun story of a couple with their little baby living on an old-fashioned farm.  The farm is an interesting setting, and ma and pa are trying to do their chores -- interesting chores, like starching long johns and fixing chow...  and baby is supposed to be taking a nap... but... baby wants to DANCE!!!!  And so, baby dances all through naptime with a variety of toy animals, cat, pig, cow and sheep.

In the end, the whole family dances the night away together.

Nearly every page has a lift-the-flap that shows baby dancing and dancing.

I love this book for the great words and lift-the-flaps and also the happy family relationship, along with the real and very familiar situation of mom and dad tring to get some things done during naptme.

Mommy's Favorite Children's Books earns a commission on Amazon.com sales. Thanks for reading!

A book for Father's Day -- I Love My Daddy by Sebastien Braun

I've got to say, Infant Bibliophile is on top of things -- I visited today to find Father's Day books -- a topic that would very possibly have completely slipped my mind until the week of.  I so admire the organized!  

Anyway, I have a single addition to the Bibliophile's list.  It's a beautiful, beautiful picture book called I Love My Daddy by Sebastien Braun.  

See this book at Amazon.com

Just look at the gorgeous images! Beautiful color! Each spread depicts a father bear and baby bear spending time together in sweet everyday moments.

The boys have enjoyed this book, especially, "My daddy tickles me!"  

I discovered this great-looking book when it was sold at Pottery Barn Kids a couple years ago -- those home decor style-makers picked a winner!   Since this purchase I have perused the PBK book selections a few more times -- I didn't find anything that grabbed me as much,  but kudos to PBK for making shelf space in its stores for children's books.

Added:  When is Father's Day this year, anyway?  I went and looked it up -- June 21!  Mark your calendars!

(Also, yes, today is Memorial Day!  Yes, I have the holidays all mixed-up! We do not have any books about flags, the USA or patriotism!  It's a huge deficiency in our collection.    And my husband was an Army reserve tank commander.  I have one book about Abraham Lincoln, that's it!  Any suggestions?)

The Lunch Box Surprise

"I love to share!"
-My four-year-old during a reading of The Lunch Box Surprise

The Lunch Box Surprise is an early reader book that is part of the First Grade Friends series. We got our copy as part of our family's exploration into "first reader" type books for my almost four-year-old. Out of several we have read, The Lunch Box Surprise is a clear favorite with a great message.

The First Grade Friends are a group of first graders (all with names that rhyme!) and the stories are about their experiences. In The Lunch Box Surprise, Sams mother forgot to pack his lunch, and he feels sad and mad. The other children choose to share their lunches with him, and Sam has a great lunch after all. The story details each child's lunch, which also gives a nice representation of the variety of foods that people eat. (Maybe my kids will get more enthusiastic at dinnertime -- my oldest does seem more curious about foods during our reads.)

The only downside I've found to The Lunch Box Surprise (and the First Grade Friends) is that the rhyming names are difficult for me to read-aloud -- I think I do better with Fox in Socks than with these kids' names -- Sam, Pam, Jan, Dan, Kim, Max.... (I think!) It sounds simple, but it's more challenging than you would think!

Overall, we are very pleased with The Lunch Box Surprise and recommend it as a good book for reading-aloud to preschoolers and as a first reader.

Mama Mama, Papa Papa

Here is another great board book for babies and toddlers with beautiful text and illustrations. Mama Mama, Papa Papa by Jean Marzollo, illustrated by Laura Regan, features gorgeous artwork of animal parents with their babies. Half of the book shows mother animals with their young, and the book flips over to feature animal fathers with their babies.

The text is simple and soothing, with rhyming phrases beginning with Mama, Mama or Papa, Papa, and describing the sweet gentle care that parents give their children. Mama Mama, Papa Papa is a truly beautiful children's book.

Mama Mama/Papa Papa Flip Board Book (Flip Board Books (HarperFestival))