urbanmoms.ca Book Club

The Best Books for Baby

My pregnant sister is here visiting from the UK and we threw a baby shower for her on Saturday. The theme of the shower was Build Baby's Library and guests were asked to bring their favourite baby or children's book. Seeing all of these wonderful stories (which my 5.5 yr old and 9 yr old have been reading every night) reminded me that there is some great children's literature.

Listed below are the Top 5 from this weekend's event decided by my children.

1. The Munschworks Grand Treasury - By Robert Munsch

We all love Robert Munsch and what could be more fabulous than a book full of 15 Munsch classics including The Paper Bag Princess, David's Father, and Purple Green and Yellow. My kids never tire of these stories.

It gets even better! There are four of these treasuries featuring different Munsch stories. Definitely a must have for any child's library.

2. Toot and Puddle: On Top of the World - By Hollie Hobbie

We had never heard of pig pals Toot and Puddle before but now we are in love! These two best friends could not be more different but they still love and depend on each other. In this book Puddle, the homebody, sets off on a global adventure to find his best friend, Toot, the adventurer.

This charming book is full of lessons on friendship and the importance of home. We can't wait to read the rest of the series!


3. Olivia - By Ian Falconer

Another pig character, Olivia, is a spirited and curious little girl with a wonderful imagination. My kids are big fans of Olivia and her adventures.

What I loved about the version my sister received is that it was a board book. This is a great way to make sure these books are still around for your child to appreciate for years to come.

Make sure to check out other Olivia books like, our favourite, Olivia Saves the Circus.

4. The Going to Bed Book - By Sandra Boynton

We just couldn't talk about favourite baby books without mentioning Sandra Boynton. These were a staple for years in our hous and my kids still get a kick out of the silly pictures and rhymes. I love the fact that even after all of these years I can still recite every word to this book!

Other Boynton faves include Dinosaur's Binkit, Moo Baa Lalala, and Opposites but there are tons more!

5. The Giving Tree - By Shel Silverstein

This Shel Silverstein classic actually made both me and my 9-year-old cry. It is such a sweet story about innocence, love, and sacrifice. Plus, the illustrations are wonderful (also by Shel Silverstein) and encouraged my nearly 6-year-old with a vivid imagination to add her own spin on this tale.

Although the baby may not be ready for this book for a few years the wonderful illustrations and rhythm of the story will bring years of pleasure for the whole family.

There are SO many wonderful children's books out there! I would highly recommend this baby shower theme for anyone you know who is having their first child. Please share with us your recommendations in the comments below.

This post was written by Jen.

Sharing My Childhood Favourites With My Children - The Booky Trilogy

Reading is part of a regular bedtime routine at our house. One the whole family looks forward to. Whether it be a family affair sharing a great story book or the latest issue of Owl or Chirp or whether it be alone or two and two we try and read for at least a half an hour every night.

My son and I tend to love reading the classics together - Charlotte's Web, Anne of Green Gables, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, and The Lion the Witch and the Wardrobe to name a few.

Right now we are reading one of my all time favourite children's books. A gem of a story that takes place in Toronto during the Great Depression. This story offers so many opportunities for learning, reflection, and gratitude. My son and I have had many heart to hearts about the struggles of poverty and the power of a positive attitude.

The version we own (see pic to the left) is the Trilogy which includes The Scatterbrain Booky, With Love From Booky and As Ever, Booky. We both love the fact that the story takes place in our home town. Especially when we recognize some of the streets or events such as the (then) Eaton's Santa Claus Parade.

If you have a curious 8 or 9 year old this is a great book to read together. If you have a mature 10-12 year old who loves to read, the Booky Trilogy is a great addition to their library!

My 9 year old son says, "It's interesting to read about Booky because her life is very different than mine. She lives a long time ago and is very poor. Even though Booky is very poor she has a good attitude."

This review is by Jen.