The Newest Titles for The Newest Parents

Bears on Chairs by Shirley Parenteau, illus. by David Walker. Four adorable bears have four perfect chairs. All is well—until big brown bear arrives, and there is none for that bear. What to do? With charming pastel illustrations, the rhythm and rhyme of this board book should make it a classic. (Candlewick)

Eric Carle New Baby Birth Announcements by Eric Carle. Perfect for spring, these announcements with Carle’s trademark animals are simple and beautiful. A wonderful gift, especially when pairing them with Caterpillar and Butterfly Invites and Thank You Cards. (Chronicle)

Cinderella Ate My Daughter by Peggy Orenstein. The author of Schoolgirls delivers once again with a stunning revelation on the early sexualization of girls. Researching the topic of gender influences on young children, Orenstein took notes on Disney princess movies, American Girl Place, toy fairs, beauty contests, concerts, Webkinz, Facebook and much more. What results is not a “feminine power” book, but a fascinating look at a parent wholly invested in finding realistic ways to navigate complex and vicious cultural expectations of our very youngest. (Harper Collins)

In My Forest by Sarah Gillingham and Lorena Siminovich. This dynamic duo has created another irresistible board book for the very young. A sweet fawn nestles down in its home. But what makes it so cozy? The die-cut pages reveal all the reasons why. Try the other titles in this series as well. (Chronicle)

Click, Clack, Moo: Cows That Type and More Fun on the Farm! Distributed by New Video. This collection of books turned into video is impressive and features 17 favorites by the likes of Doreen Cronin, Lois Ehlert, Betsy Lewin, Steve Kellogg and more. Narrators include Abigail Breslin, Helen Hunt, Hank Azaria, and Amanda Plummer. Included in the set are Spanish versions of three of the stories. The set of three DVDs is perfect for travel. (Scholastic)

Julie Andrews’ Collection of Poems, Songs, and Lullabies by Julie Andrews and Emma Watson Hamilton, illus. by Jim McMullan. Winner of the 2010 Grammy Award for Best Spoken Word Album for Children, this masterpiece is an Andrews collaboration with her daughter Hamilton. Together they have produced an audio memoir of classic poetry and song that is a fine example of a strong audio that allows a child to “read along” with the book. (Hachette Audio)

Julie Hubble is enjoying Spring in Leawood, KS.