Childhood Classics

With a 20-month-old bookworm, I'm always on the lookout for good children's book. From before Little Miss B was born, her bookcase was full and we'd spend countless hours singing and reading to her in the womb. It was such a special, intimate way to connect to our first baby.

So it came as no surprise as the months passed and her love for singing and reading flourished. She loved the Baby Einstein books, especially Baby Einstein: Pretty Poems and Wonderful Words; she adored anything by Priddy Books like F is for Farm (Baby Touch and Feel) and Baby Says Peekaboo! and if you threw Elmo anywhere in that mix, she was sold. Man those books could keep her entertained for HOURS. We loved it.

Now that she's gotten older, her time is spent with plenty of singing (she likes to make sure she is the loudest in the house - and yes, you can here her all the way down the street), dancing (with all the junk in the trunk...er diaper, this girl can booty shake and yells NO! when we shut off the music) and reading. So like I said, I'm always on the lookout for a good children's book.

So a few months ago, at a Clothes Trading Party organized by our Mommy's group, I picked through the books and found a couple paperbook classics like The Itsy Bitsy Spider and It's Raining, It's Pouring (Nursery Rhyme) that looked like fun easy reads for her.

I'm sure you are all thinking, Ummm hello Heather...Paperbacks? And yes, I thought the same thing, but since they were free and looked like fun spins on classics nursery rhymes I thought I'd take the chance. And boy am I glad I did. Little Miss B LOVES them and being such fun twists on old childhood favorites, M and I love them too. And paperbacks? We wouldn't even know since she does pretty good with them (mind you we do have to keep a close eye on her while she reads them making sure she won't attempt to tear, eat or rip the books :)) I was so impressed with Iza Trapani's rhyming in The Itsy Bitsy Spider that I went out and bought a few of Miss B's other favorites as well, especially Row, Row, Row Your Boat. While not all of them deserve the A+ like The Itsy Bitsy Spider and Row, Row, Row Your Boat, they definitely keep the reading and singing intriguing for her (and us) and it's so fun to see her pick them up and read in song to herself, the dog, her baby and whoever will listen.

If you have kids, I definitely recommend Iza Trapani's various books and the one we have by Kin Eagle. They put a great, fun spin on some great childhood stories and songs and offer some great family time!