Where's Spot? Right Here!

Happy Birthday to Eric Hill, author of the "Spot" books!

Eric Hill was born on September 7, 1927 in London, and educated at Pooles Park Elementary and Tollington Park Central schools until the outbreak of World War II. At 16 he joined an art studio as a messenger, where he was encouraged to draw cartoons in his spare time.

After a spell in the airforce, Eric returned to the studio to work on his cartoons, which soon began to be published in national magazines and newspapers. He started a weekly strip for the London magazine Illustrated and did small story sketches for Lilliput. After a year, he left the studio and joined the art department of an advertising agency as a visualizer.

In 1976 Eric’s son Christopher was born, and by the time Christopher was two his Dad was making up stories about the adventures of a small puppy to read to him at bedtime - and Spot was born!

Although initially created just as a story to please his son, Where’s Spot? was actually published as a children’s book in 1980 and started a new publishing concept of ‘interactive books for babies’.

My grandson loves my (youngest son's) old copy of Spot's First Words!

The innovative lift-the-flap concept, combined with the simple story and quirky, charming illustrations, helped Where’s Spot? become an instant hit with young children and within weeks it was at the top of the UK best-seller list.

Take time to visit the "Fun With Spot" website dedicated to this puppy and his books...there are even free downloads available for a Spot Party!

I also love this slide show from The Guardian, in which you can watch Eric Hill sketching and explaining about how he fell into writing children's book almost by accident!

[biography source here]

Chewable Books for Teething Babies? You Choose.

Copyright by CartoonStock
(used with permission)

In my past post "How to Find the Best Books for Babies and Toddlers", I recommended lots of great board book titles to choose from because they have sturdy pages for little hands and mouths.

Well...when my grandson's first tooth appeared he was barely five months old!  We'd sit down to read his little board books with him, and suddenly all he wanted to do was chomp on them.  "Gumming" the books was one thing, but we witnessed first hand how all-out gnawing with sharp little teeth could eventually take its toll on even the sturdiest board books!

My daughter and I decided to go on a search for some soft cloth books,hoping to preserve our board books past the teething stage (and for later grandchildren, right??)

We were happy to discover lots of soft book choices for babies at our local bookstore -- many more than when my own children were little!  

Here are some benefits of soft books for young (teething) babies:  

Light-weight cloth books are easier for young babies to hold than board books.

They're chewable!

They're washable!

Pages are squishy and easy to turn.

Plastic versions are perfect for the bath.

The books are easy to stuff into a crowded diaper bag.

They make for a great game of hide-and-seek.

These days at almost eight months old (and working on tooth #4), my baby grandson seems to have pretty much gotten book chewing out of his system.  Since we let him chew on the soft books to his heart's content, he again loves sitting and listening while we read him board books.

He's also started holding his board books and turning the pages on his own - often using his feet!

Board books vs. soft books? Whatever you choose for your baby to chew, choose wisely...

Go here to read my post about what to look for in choosing the BEST books for babies and toddlers.  And click here for some of our personal favorites.

And follow these "Tips for Reading Aloud to Babies and Toddlers" - from Jim Trelease:

1. Your main objective is to teach your child to love the printed word. 
2. Pretend you’re having a party to introduce the world to your child and books are the guests you’re introducing. 
3. Attention spans are built over pages and pages, not overnight. 
4. Caress the child while reading. 
5. Point to objects on the page while reading.
6. The story becomes clearer with repeat readings.
7. Board books are meant to be handled and chewed on.
8. Make certain times ritually story times — bed time, bath time, potty time, nap time, or snack time.

Baby on the Brain

Since the birth of my grandson has me in Baby Land right now, I thought it would be a perfect day to highlight some of my favorite baby books - feel free to add to the list!  I'd love your input. 

Little Peter finally had a good night of sleep, and he and my daughter are taking a nap right now; so I'll start with this precious book...

Whisper softly, 

take a peep, 

the babies are all fast asleep...

ALL ASLEEP by Joanna Walsh (baby-toddler board book). The gentle text is about all babies - from tall babies to small babies, from babies asleep in cars, to babies snoozing under the stars. It's a perfect bedtime rhythmical board book story for babies everywhere. I also love that babies of all ethnicities are represented in the illustrations.

Dream of purple twilight skies,

a bedtime kiss from butterflies.

Caterpillars in cocoons

are tucked in tight beneath the moon.

SWEET DREAMS LULLABY (toddler-preschool)
This imaginative, peaceful bedtime book invites a bunny (tucked snugly into bed) to dream of comforting scenes from nature's nighttime.  Each page reveals a delightful dreamscape for children to imagine as they drift off to sleep with the lulling, rhyming text.

You were born in your very own month of the year and the world was
waiting to welcome you here with daydreams and wishes and circles
of love and in turn you brought a gift from above.... 

JANUARY'S CHILD by Andrea Alban Gosline, illustrated by Lisa Burnett Bossi. Every day is someone's birthday, a fact this book celebrates with creative attributes for each month of the year. More positive than the traditional "Monday's Child" rhyme, and geared for families to share among youngest and oldest members, this is a beautifully illustrated treasury, perfect as a gift for birthdays or new babies.

On the night you were born, the moon smiled with such wonder
that the stars peeked in to see you and the night wind whispered,
"Life will never be the same..."

ON THE NIGHT YOU WERE BORN (baby/toddler) board book by Nancy Tillman. This is an exceptional book. The sweet rhyming text of this book celebrates and praises the uniqueness of a newborn.  All of creation - polar bears, giraffes, geese, the moon, the wind - is shown as jubilant in the poetry and rich illustrations of this gorgeous book (also makes a wonderful baby shower or birthday gift)!

You can read my post "How to Find the Best Books for Babies and Toddlers" HERE (it includes a list of some of our family favorites).

Past posts about books for babies:

Click HERE to read about Helen Oxenbury's wonderful books for babies/toddlers.

Books about Dads and Babies, click HERE.

 Go HERE for not one, but two "Goodnight" books from Margaret Wise Brown.

I'll leave you with one of the most popular baby books of all time:

Pat the Bunny by Doroty Kunhardt, has been a classic baby's first gift for over 60 years - click here to read the story of how this interactive book came to be written.

Waiting for the Little Someone who will fill these shoes...

Today was a cozy day:  my French Press wore a cozy this morning and my feet got to wear slippers!  Nice to finally have some fall weather!

I spent the morning digging through, washing, and sorting old treasures that had been stashed away in plastic storage bins out in our garage...

Hard to believe my oldest son wore these little guys 27 years ago;

now they're all washed and ready for our little Peter Ensley, whose due date is tomorrow!

In between loads of laundry and after breakfast,

I cooked, (freezing for later)

and cleaned,

hoping my daughter was resting - and almost done nesting!  (We'll see, since after eight weeks on bed rest she is now up and around, but Baby Peter is taking his sweet time coming!)

These board books (each with a finger puppet) by Sara Gillingham and Lorena Siminovich are just adorable! (baby - 3 years old) Layered die-cut pages allow a peek at all the colorful things that make up each animal's home, and an adorable folk-art style finger puppet make these books perfect for baby/toddler reading and playtime fun.

HUGS FOR DADS!

There are lots of ways that parents nurture and hug their offspring -- not just with arms! But no matter how the embrace is made, one thing remains the same: all hugs are given with love.  Told in sweet rhyme with soft pictures: hugs with noses (elephants) and hugs in red roses (ladybugs) show that from the largest animals to the small bug, hugs are important to all! This sturdy board book (best for toddlers) shows how all sorts of animals express affection for one another. I love this little book for Father's Day, because even though it's about all kinds creatures, the last page shows a Dad hugging his child. (Written by Lorie Ann Grove and illustrated by Rebecca Malone)

If you'd like to read my post about Father's Day choices for older readers and Dads-who-love-baseball, CLICK HERE.   Last year I posted "Celebrating Dads", with a variety of picture books for kids up to age 8.  Another great Father's Day book is THE FATHERS ARE COMING HOME, from my recent post about Margaret Wise Brown.

The board book choices listed below are more great stories for First-Time Dads or any Dads with children, ages baby-4 years old:


DADDY HUGS

DADDY KISSES

DADDY CUDDLES

CHRISTMAS IN THE MANGER

A cute board book for babies and toddlers - with artwork by the illustrator of the IF YOU GIVE A MOUSE A COOKIE books, Felicia Bond:

CHRISTMAS IN THE MANGER by Nola Buck.  Sweet and gentle telling of the Nativity story for the very youngest, a "pat and peek" book with a rhyming text from the point of view of the animals, shepherds, Mary and Joseph.  The last line is so sweet,

"I am the baby asleep in the hay, and I am the reason for Christmas Day".

CRADLE SONGS AND LULLABYS

The other day as I was driving home on one of our many crowded freeways, a beautiful piano piece began playing on our local classical radio station.  Immediately I began to relax to it's slow, rocking rhythm.  It reminded me a little bit of the music I enjoyed so much in the recent Disney movie UP.  If you liked that, you'll like this!  It's Chopin's Berceuse, which is translated "Cradle Song" or "Lullaby".

As soon as I got home, I googled the piece and found a fun artwork montage and recording of the music. The montage (artwork by Vladstudio) starts with some winter and Christmas scenes - which reminds me:  tomorrow, November 15th,  I "unveil" my list of Christmas book faves, FORTY BOOKS FOR FORTY DAYS.  Remember to "Comment away for my Advent Giveaway" on today's and tomorrow's posts.  (Winner to be announced on November 16.)

Click HERE to listen and watch BERCEUSE.


OF COURSE, I HAD TO SHARE A COUPLE OF CUTE BEDTIME STORIES FOR YOU.  What were your favorites?

SWEET DREAMS LULLABY (toddler-preschool)
This imaginative, peaceful bedtime book invites a bunny (tucked snugly into bed) to dream of comforting scenes from nature's nighttime.  Each page reveals a delightful dreamscape for children to imagine as they drift off to sleep with the lulling, rhyming text...

"Dream of purple twilight skies,

a bedtime kiss from butterflies.

Caterpillars in cocoons

are tucked in tight beneath the moon."

ALL ASLEEP by Joanna Walsh (baby-toddler).
The gentle text is about all babies - from tall babies to small babies, from babies asleep in cars, to babies snoozing under the stars. It's a perfect bedtime rhythmical board book story for babies everywhere. I also love that it represents multi-ethnic babies.






Youtube Link:  Chopin's Berceuse (or "Cradle Song")