On Babies and Books

Everything’s coming up babies!  The past nine months have seen two new granddaughters join our family.  Is it any wonder that every time I see a lady in waiting (for her own big event), I feel a thrill of anticipation on her behalf?  Or that I cannot resist peeking into a stroller at the tiny occupant(s)?  Or that merely looking at baby clothes displayed in a store window or online makes me smile inside (and outside as well)?

If this is my state of mind when I come across anything baby, you can imagine what happens when the encounter involves books that are: (a) on the topic of the diaper set, or (b) of interest to those not yet old enough to read on their own.  Join (or humor) me as I talk about a few of my favorites!

Leave it to the Berenstains to come up with not one, but two marvelous books about the new baby experience.  The first, a 1974 classic, introduces Sister Bear to the family and the world.   And in Baby Makes Five, the prolific writers address the sensitive topic of jealousy on the part of an older sibling–and do it well.  Of course, Sister discovers there is much to like about her new little sibling.

Simple text and adorable photos depicting the activities of a chubby-cheeked baby and a rabbit make up this gem by Adele Arun Greenspun and her daughter Joanie Schwarz.  The result is an irresistible book that parents will love sharing with their babies, toddlers, and preschoolers.

 

 

 

There are more out there: but I have an urge to go out and buy some “baby” books for my grandkids.

Don’t forget to visit www.http://bookandagarden.com for reviews of great books for kids of all ages.

Happy Grandparents Day!

When an email message from one of my favorite publishers alerted me to the fact that September 9 is Grandparents Day, I thought about writing a post in tribute to the members of this wonderful group.  Then it hit me: I also belong to the Grandparents Club! 

And a magnificent association it is.  No other group in the world is composed of individuals whose only criterion for membership is such a pleasurable one: to have children who have grown up and had young’uns of their own. Anyone who has held a new grandchild for the first time understands the unbelievable sensation.

When a child is born, and we welcome him or her into our family, the joy is so complete and all-encompassing that it is impossible to imagine it being any greater. And the euphoria repeats itself with the birth of every family member. Just like the room in Daddy’s and Mommy’s hearts grow to make room for each new child.

But then those kids grow up, marry, and lo and behold! A new generation is on the way. When the big day (or night, as happened with our first grandchild) arrives, and the most spectacular news comes, the joy surpasses even that surrounding the birth of the little tyke’s parent. Perhaps it’s because we feel we have arrived, or been successful as parents, or happy for the child we love, or thrilled that we have someone else to shower with our affection, or some other reason altogether. The reason doesn’t matter, does it?

So, even though my husband and I are members of this most delightful of associations, I offer a tribute to all grandparents and great-grandparents. For if seeing the child of your child is a cause of celebration, the child of your grandchild is exponentially so. Thank you, Mom and my mother-in-law, for being wonderful mothers, grandmas, and great-grandmas. May you (and we) enjoy all of the children and grandchildren in our lives.

The Birthday Season

That’s how I’ve come to think of this time of year. After all, four of our five children were born in late spring. It’s fitting: at the season when the world is bursting forth with flowers, grass, leaves, and deliciously warm weather, our family added a new member (or two, the glorious day we had twins) to its ranks. And it was perfect: I did not need to wait for a balmy day to take the little one(s) out for a stroll.

But those happy, hectic days are in the distant past. Those spring babies (and their autumn sibling, born on a picture-perfect October day) are adults now, and there are parents among them. Our most recent grandchild is a springtime baby, and we will finally meet her this week. So, even as we again celebrate the miracle that each of our children is, we rejoice in the even more amazing one: the children of those children.

A New Arrival

We are grandparents once again.  Last week, our son and daughter-in-law became the parents of a little baby girl.  We have not seen the newborn yet, but hope to make a trip to visit the family as soon as we can.

I just finished reading a phenomenal novel that I can’t wait to share with everyone.  It’s called Inside Out & Back Again by Thanhha Lai.  Somewhat autobiographical, it tells the story of ten-year-old Kim Ha’s escape with her family from Saigon (one step ahead of the invading North) to the United States.  The young protagonist narrates the tale in free verse, and it’s a blockbuster.  A more detailed review can be found at my site: http://bookandagarden.com.  Check it out and share this gem with a young reader in your life!

Neverending Thanksgiving

The day Americans set aside to express our thanks for the good things and wonderful people in our lives has passed.  However, if I needed a reminder that every day contains something–or someone–for which to be grateful, I have received not one but many.  Reminder number one: our married son and our Florida son-in-law came to town for a convention, and each brought a child along.  Happiness is having your almost-five-year-old and almost-four-year-old grandsons meet for the first time since the younger was a baby, and enjoy each other’s company.  And the icing on the cake: the youngsters were pleased to see us older folks.  Reminder number two: A not-quite-three-year-old granddaughter wants to call Grandma, and carries on an intelligent conversation.  But that isn’t surprising: she’s a book lover.  Reminder number three: My husband (who had to work today) took one look at the piles of dishes overflowing in the sink and took pity on me–and washed every last one himself last night.  Enough said.  Reminder number four: The weather says October even though the calendar says late November.  We are expected to have two more days of spring before we have a reality check.

I’m making a resolution: to try to think of at least one thing every day that I am (or should be) thankful for.  I wonder if anyone will notice.

October Is Birthday Month

When we think of October, many things come to mind.  Fall.  Brightly colored leaves.  Cooler temperatures.  Football season.  Homecoming games.  (I read a news story about a newly crowned high school Homecoming Queen who, being a member of her school’s football team, scored the winning field goal for her team.)  The World Series.  Columbus Day.  Yom Kippur.  Succos.  (Some years, this one included.)

You may have your own additional reasons for finding this colorful month special.  For me, it is birthdays.  One of our children (our youngest) and two of our grandchildren entered the world in October, and the icing on the (birthday) cake is that a grandson shares a birthday with our son.  Very special. 

Speaking of birthdays, some great children’s and young adult authors were born in October.  To mention a few:

Julie Andrews Edwards, October 1

This star of stage and screen has been penning picture books and children’s novels for some forty years.  Several of her popular titles include the fantasy The Last of the Really Great Whangdoodles, Little Bo and its two sequels, and the recent sparkly picture books, A Very Fairy Princess and The Very Fairy Princess Takes the Stage.

Joseph Bruchac, October 16

Versatile is a word that aptly describes the Abenaki storyteller.  His repertoire includes the delightful-with-a-message picture book Turtle’s Race with Beaver, The Arrow Over the Door, a middle-grade historical novel, and the thrillingly spooky Whisper in the Dark and The Dark Pond.  Interesting how libraries and librarians make cameo appearances in more than one of his novels.

Dan Gutman, October 19

While many of this author’s books have a sports theme, some of his best have nothing to do with things athletic: The Kid Who Ran for President and its sequel, The Kid Who Became President, two funny but thought-provoking novels that have been election-year hits since the original’s 1996 publication; and Race for the Sky: the Kitty Hawk Diaries of Johnny Moore, a fictional journal written by a real-life teen who witnessed the Wright brothers’ first flight.

Steven Kellogg, October 26

This incomparable author and illustrator has put his pen–and pencil and brush–to many classic and recent picture books.  Yankee Doodle receives a fresh look accompanied by Kellogg’s illustrations, and The Pied Piper’s Magic, a new, almost unrecognizable, version of the original tale, is a delight.  And the younger set will love the Clorinda books (written by Robert Kinerk).

“Librarians have always been among the most thoughtful and helpful people.  They are teachers without a classroom.  No libraries, no progress.”–Willard Scott

October is–

  

And Now, Back to the Books

In the event that readers of my last post were wondering about the conspicuous absence of any book recommendations, rest assured that philosophical musings have not taken the place of discussions about noteworthy reading.  To prove my point, here are some outstanding titles that are perfect for this time of year.

A little caterpillar has just hatched, and she knows only one thing: she’s gotta go to Mexico!  Other critters either have no idea what or where Mexico is, or how it’s possible for such a tiny thing to get there, but that does not deter our heroine.  When, after a long sleep, the caterpillar awakens with beautiful wings, she joins millions like herself on an amazing journey–and, in the spring, turns around and flies back!  This kid-friendly look at one of the most incredible migrations on our planet is a feast for the eyes.  Ages 5-8

Tony’s family has an annual tradition: to have a picnic at the Statue of Liberty every October in honor of the monument’s birthday.  Tony doesn’t think much of the idea; it’s much too cold for a picnic, and he doesn’t understand why it means so much to Grandma anyway.  But then he meets some new immigrants who help him understand the importance of the statue to families–like his–who have come from another land.  Ages 5-9

Donny’s grandmother is coming to visit, and the little boy is concerned: he knows he can never measure up to his grandma’s proper behavior.  But kids will be kids, and when he enters the room where she is staying, Donny can’t resist having some fun with the balls of yarn she has left there–with the result that, before he knows it, there is a tangled mess of yarn everywhere.  His angry mother orders him to undo the damage.  Just when the job seems hopeless, his grandma comes to help with a story of how she herself–to Donny’s astonishment–got into a similar situation with her own grandmother.  A perfect story about forgiveness for this season when Jews the world over are looking inside and looking ahead to a new year of fresh beginnings and all the blessings that life can bring.

May this new year bring you and your loved ones health, happiness, and all good things.

Grandchildren

At that awesome moment of birth, when we gaze upon our newborn for the first time, we believe that nothing can transcend the feelings of joy, wonder, love, and gratitude we experience.  And that holds true, even though these emotions reemerge with the arrival of each child: no other phenomenon can quite compare with the birth of a child.

No other phenomenon, that is, until the first grandchild is born.  At this moment that defies description, all the emotions that burst forth with a child’s birth are renewed, and multiplied, when that child becomes a parent.  Milestones that delight Mommy and Daddy are boundless sources of joy and pride for Grandma and Grandpa.  Nothing can compare with answering the phone and discovering that a little grandchild is on the other end and wants to talk to the grandfolks, and ends the conversation with “I love you” and a kiss.  Talk about ecstasy. . .

As our home is happily full of grandchildren this week, we have had many opportunities to enjoy the youngsters.  When, after their extended visit comes to an end (as it must), and our lives return to normal, we are sure to feel the void left by their return home.  The silence will be deafening, I am sure.  But for now, let us revel in the presence of these magnificent little people who have filled our hearts with joy and love since their arrival in our family.