Review: I Love My Mommy/I Love My Daddy by Sebastien Braun

Every couple years or so I get completely grossed out by my board book collection and decide to burn the entire thing and start over.

Okay, maybe I don't really burn it all, but it's tempting. The board books are right next to the play area, and get plenty of use and abuse. They can get pretty grody after just a short time! This week I did some heavy weeding while a volunteer hit them with the book cleaner, and Miss Becky put covers on the spines of those worth saving. 

Now I have lots of space, so I was pleased to see these two titles arrive in the mail:

9780062564245

9780062564252

Shane happened to be visiting me at work, so we cuddled up and read them together.

Sometimes daddies are loud and playful. Other times they are quiet and compassionate. And they are always loving. Sebastien Braun's appealing text and charming illustrations follow a day in the life of a bear and his bear cub in this celebration of the bond between father and child.

He immediately asked me to read them again, so I'd say they were a hit!

One of the things I weeded the board books for were heavy text. Just because a story makes a great picture book doesn't mean it's right for a board book! These are perfect, just a line of text per page, with sweet, colorful illustrations. The youngsters could easily be boys or girls, and the ways their parents interact with them ("My Mommy cuddles me...My Daddy sits with me") manage to be both specific and general at the same time. 

Charming addition to your personal or public library, and a perfect shower gift!*

*I Love My Mommy is available now, I Love My Daddy will be out May 2.

Review: Wee Gallery Safari by Surya Sajnani

9781609929169

$9.95

I have to start with a comment about durability. Normally I don't even catalog books with "lift the flap" or "moveable parts" or "pop-up" anywhere in their description, even if they are donated to the library. They just don't last long enough to make the processing worth it! This, however, may actually make it to the shelves.

The moveable parts in this case are sliding puzzle pieces.

The sliders are thick, and securely fastened in their little grooves. I was able to slide my thumbnail underneath them, but it was obvious it would take some determined prying to get them out. Not indestructible, but they look like they would last as long as most other board books.

I saw a comment on one review saying the pieces were too hard for little ones to slide, but the kids I tested this on had no problem (the advantage of being a librarian - multiple age groups always on hand as guinea pigs!) The limited choices make this a great early introduction to puzzles - no turning it the wrong way or trying to force it into a place it won't fit - and no lost pieces, hooray!

Each puzzle is paired with a riddle.

It occurred to me that this series might be particularly successful with kids who are working extra hard on language and fine motor skills, and I just happen to know a few of those. I handed this copy over to my favorite preschool teacher working with students with developmental delays, and asked her to let me know what she and her students thought. After a few weeks of heavy usage, she reported that the kiddos loved it, and that the sliding pieces held up very well. She did say that the binding itself seemed to be a bit thin, and that she already needed to tape it. Overall, however, a success!

This whole series would be great as a gift, paired with some toy animals like these:


LINK

Can't go wrong with Melissa and Doug!

Christmas Gifting: Board Books

Books always make a great gift for Christmas, either by themselves or paired up with something else. This year, I decided to run a few reports, and see what titles were the most popular at our library this year. Some are new, some are old classics. Today I am going to feature the most-checked-out board books.

Far and away, The Chickies series by Janee Trasler were the favorites. This made me happy, because I love them, too! Their puffy covers are sturdy and easy to clean, but feel great in chubby little hands. The most popular, for probably obvious reasons, was:

Trasler also has Bedtime, Dinner Time, Bath Time, and A New Chick for Chickies, as well as Big Chickie, Little Chickie. Give the whole set with a cute stuffed chick!

In second place:

9780545418782

There are also Star Wars board books for the alphabet and colors. Those would probably be on this list as well if they hadn't been lost! Pair them with a couple action figures, and they will probably be the last board books your little one outgrows.

9781858545035

An oldie, but obviously still a goodie. If you can't find a new copy of this one, try 

9780060837747

which was just a few steps behind it in line! You can give this one with a toy train, or with an engineer's cap (or a train whistle, if you live far enough away from the giftee).

9781419701511

This one came out a few years ago, and is still going strong. The simple pictures and two-color pages are perfect for a baby's visual development. And it's cute!

9780763674939

Anything by Patricelli. But especially this one. My kids love it. But, my kids are warped. So...gift accordingly.

Hope this gives you a few ideas. If you are a librarian also, what seems to be popular this year at your library? 

Stay tuned for some picture book favorites!