Russell's Book Basket
Visit Russell's Book Basket for great recommendations for ages birth through three!
Print up this list and bring it to the bookstore to find great baby shower gifts, or take it to the library to locate read-alouds for your own babies or toddlers! Russell has been read aloud to since he was two weeks old, and looks forward to being a "puppet story man" when he grows up. These are some of his favorites.
No, David! by David Shannon
Inspired by a book he wrote when the only words he could write were "no" and "David," Shannon celebrates breathtaking naughtiness and subsequent unconditional love in its finest rendering since Sendak'sWhere the Wild Things Are (another great book).
Goodnight, Gorilla by Peggy Rathmann
Gorilla releases all the animals from the zoo to join Papa Zookeeper for an
unexpected slumber party. Notice how Gorilla matches the color key to the lock. Look at the "Ernie" doll in Armadillo's pen! Can you find the balloon in almost every picture? This is a book that can be looked at again and again; new delights await every visit to the night-time zoo.
Come Along, Daisy by Jane Simmons
Daisy is a formidable explorer, but when adventures get out of hand, Mama duck is closer than Daisy thinks.
Papa, Please Get the Moon for Me by Eric Carle
When Monica wants the moon to play with her, Papa gets right on scheduling a playdate. Creative paper engineering makes this book extra exciting. Of course, check out the classic The Very Hungry Caterpillar by this same author.
Feely Bugs by David Carter
Russell loves all of David Carter's books, but this trip into the world of texture was Russell's original favorite.
Curious George's Are You Curious? illustrated by H.A. Rey
Do you ever feel happy? Are you sometimes silly? Have you ever been naughty, so you need a time out? Don't worry, George has, too, in this comforting book about moods.
Ten, Nine, Eight by Molly Bang
A little girl counts backwards to sleep taking cues from the cozy things in her room. This was one of Russell's earliest favorites. I still remember when his toes were the same size as the toes on the illustration!
Sam's Cookie by Barbro Lindgren
Havoc ensues as a hungry dog confiscates Sam's beloved bakery treat! Mommy comes to the rescue. Eva Eriksson's illustrations really capture the emotions of a small child. Check out all the books in Lindgren's Sam series, they are all wonderful.
Hush! A Thai Lullaby by Minfong Ho
In this repetitious bedtime rhyme, a mother implores the neighborhood animals, from mosquito to elephant, to quiet down so her baby can sleep. Russell loves to join in the telling, and your child will, too!
Other Favorites from Russell's Book Basket
Oh My Oh My Oh Dinosaurs! by Sandra Boynton (Check out all her board books!)
Noah's Ark by Lucy Cousins (Also check out her nursery rhyme board books!)
A, You're Adorable by Buddy Kaye, Fred Wyse and Sidney Lippman
Stella and Roy by Ashley Wolff
Whistle for Willie and The Snowy Day, both by Ezra Jack Keats
Owl Babies and We're Going On a Bear Hunt by Martin Waddell
Max's Dragon Shirt and the whole Max series by Rosemary Wells
I Love You, Sun, I Love You, Moon by Karen Pandell
Ollie All Over by Denis Roche
Is That Josie? by Keiko Narahashi
A Lot of Otters by Barbara Helen Berger
The Nutshell Library by Maurice Sendak
Chicka Chicka Boom Boom and Brown Bear, Brown Bear, What Do You See, both by Bill Martin Jr.
The Mr. Men and Little Miss series by Roger Hargreaves (extremely imaginative and economically priced books! They are fun to read and fun to collect. Mommy is not partial to the "Little Miss" series, but Russell likes them.)
The Wee Little Woman by Byron Barton (Check out all his books! Bold illustrations.)
Changes, Changes by Pat Hutchins
If You Give A Mouse a Cookie by Laura Joffe Numeroff
The Spot series by Eric Hill
Freight Train by Donald Crews (Check out all his books!)
Take Me For a Ride by Michel Gay (A hard-to-find author, but worth the hunt. His book Night Ride is also wonderful.)
Brown Cow, Green Grass ,Yellow, Mellow Sun by Ellen Jackson
Good Dog, Carl by Alexandra Day (All the Carl books are delightful!)
Richard Scarry's Pig Will and Pig Won't: A Book of Manners by Richard Scarry (Russell is a big Richard Scarry fan!)
Also, try baby board books by Neil Ricklen (such as Baby's Big and Little)and Tom Arma (Animal Time! and Tykeosaurs)! Babies looove pictures of other babies!
WHERE IS GOODNIGHT MOON? Russell doesn't like it! He never did! He prefers Sun Is Falling, Night Is Calling by Laura Leuck.
Share "Baby Books" in Your Community!
A teacher told me about a program she initiated at her school. Using grant money, she bought multiple copies of "baby books." She called a monthly meeting for parents and provided child care in the next room. Then she demonstrated to parents how to read aloud to their little ones: putting a child on a lap or right beside, showing pictures as the story is read, discussing details on each page. Afterward, all the children were brought in and parents practiced reading the book to them. Each family took home a copy of the book to keep at the end of the meeting! This teacher said she bought some copies of the book in Spanish for Spanish-speaking parents, and had a translator there to help communicate her read-aloud hints. I think this is a great idea, and it can be adapted to be run by play groups.
Another great way to share "baby books" is to "adopt" a teenage mother and treat her to a basket of books that will encourage a love of reading for her and her baby. How about throwing in a lullaby cassette and an application for a public library card? You can get the name of a deserving teenage mommy by calling your local high school counseling department, public aid, the Department of Children and Family Services or your pediatrician or clinic.
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