One of the best things about doing weekly babytimes is that I’m always discovering great new books to share with my patrons! Here are a few new-to-me babytime favourites.
Quiet As a Mouse
A lot of the families in my storytimes are learning English together, and this adorable board book is a fantastic addition to my programs as it shares several common animal-based idiomatic expressions using wonderfully rhythmic rhyming phrases and very cute animal illustrations. It is unfortunately a smaller board book, though, so it might not work as well with gigantic crowds, but it’s definitely worth recommending! It can also be a great conversation starters, as participants can share different idiomatic expressions from their own languages and cultures.
Canada 1 2 3
OK, this counting board book is probably only going to be of interest to my fellow Canadian storytimers, but my participants really got a kick out of this one, with several saying they wanted to purchase a copy to give as a gift to other newcomer families they knew. It’s definitely a bit stereotypical, and does feed into a some of the common tropes surrounding Canada – there’s hockey, there’s a mention of freezing temperatures, there are Mounties and sled dogs and polar bears. BUT the illustrations really are quite nice – in the illustration for “six hockey players”, for example, boys and girls with a variety of skin tones are shown playing together, and in the illustration for “8 Mounties”, there’s again a good variation in skin tones represented, as well as a bearded Mountie wearing a turban, and a female Mountie wearing a headscarf. So, while it doesn’t exactly break new group in terms of Canadian imagery (it rarely ever snows where I live!), the diversity of the illustrations is very much appreciated. It’s also a larger format board book, which is good for larger storytimes.
No Matter What / Always
This book apparently has two titles, depending on where you live, so I’m including both here. OK, truth time – I’m not the biggest fan of these books. I mean, wow are they sugary, syrupy sweet. But a lot of my patrons just adore them, and storytime isn’t really about me, after all! This board book is part of a series by Emma Dodd that’s all about how much caregivers love their babies. Which, if you didn’t already know, is a lot. I like this one the best out of the bunch because it has the shortest, most streamlined text, and babies do find the shiny elements on each page quite fascinating. Still, be warned. These books are sweet.
Singing in the Rain
This illustrated version of the classic song originally performed by Gene Kelly is a true delight. When I share this with my babytimes, I invite my patrons to sway their babies in time with the rhythm of the song, which makes for a very gentle and soothing experience, perfect for wrapping up an energetic program. Also, as we do live in one of the wettest places on earth, a song celebrating the joys of a rainy day is always a winner here!
Thank You Bees
What a lovely book about gratitude! Toni Yuly encourages even the littlest of readers to say “thank you” to the Earth for all the wonderful things it gives us. Bees give us honey. Thank you bees! The clouds give us rain. Thank you clouds! Very simple, repetitive text, with darling papercut illustrations, make this a real storytime winner. Toddlers and preschoolers can also be encouraged to join in on the different thank you’s. Just lovely.
What are some great new-to-you baby books I should check out?