When the Snow Meister arrives, find these titles to captivate you and your little ones.
The Baby Bump: 100s of Secrets to Surviving Those 9 Long Months by Carley Roney and the editors of www.TheBump.com. Tired of the same rocking chair on the cover of What to Expect…? Here’s a book for Today’s Mom-to-Be. With strong design features, and a slick smaller size, it entices without overwhelming. Divided into trimesters, with that ever important “after delivery” section, the content has been selected from a popular website. Lots of charts, checklists and resources. A perfect gift. (Chronicle)
Play All Day by Taro Gomi. The famed author of Scribbles and Doodles scores again with an incredible book of punch-out and play ideas. You cannot believe that so many games, toys, finger puppets and boxes can come out of one book. Bright colors and card stock make the punch outs more stable than expected. And as always, Gomi’s art is distinctively creative and engaging. A sure bet. (Chronicle)
Little Lost Owl by Chris Haughton. Do you remember the classic book Are You My Mother? Haughton has taken the idea and made it his own with this cool book using pencil and digital art. Many of the adorable creatures in bright colors have the features that make up Little Owl’s Mommy, but not all of them. Where can she be? (Candlewick)
Heading Home with Your Newborn by Laura A. Jana and Jennifer Shu. Full of “parent-tested, pediatrician approved” information, this newborn book has a light touch, which is remarkable. With chapter titles such as “Going with the Flow” (about breastfeeding) and “What Goes In Must Come Out” (guess the topic?), new parents have answers to all their brand new questions right at their fingertips. (American Academy of Pediatrics)
Leave Your Sleep by Natalie Merchant. The mesmerizingly throaty singer from 10,000 Maniacs has a beautiful new 2-CD set that will surprise you. That English major aspect to her song-writing has steered her toward classic children’s poetry which she has set to music. But not just any music – dulcimers, fiddles, even uileann pipes! The wide range of musical styles, from Celtic to Cajun, transports. Listen for Wynton Marsalis, too!
A Family of Readers: The Book Lovers Guide to Children’s and Young Adult Literature by Roger Sutton and Martha Parravano. If you are a new parent and want your children to love reading, pick up this book. Written by the editors of the Horn Book Magazine, the recognized source in children’s literature, this title helps you wade through endless titles to find the books that will hook your child. The rock stars of the Kid Lit world (Maurice Sendak, Katherine Patterson and many others) also weigh in on the subject they know best. (Candlewick)
Julie Hubble keeps warm in Leawood, KS.