Some guys were born to be dads. Despite all the complaints of men who can’t commit to having children or caring for the ones they already have, there are a select few who have daddyhood in their soul…and not just procreative ability in their, um, jeans. Long before Scarlett arrived, her daddy was learning how to care for her. When we started sitting for a friend’s new baby, Nick didn’t have any small people experience--never changed a diaper, never fixed a bottle, never gave a bath, never even held a really tiny one--but he stepped up admirably. I thought when we agreed to help that “we” actually meant “me,” but I forgot who I was dealing with. Nick took the same teachable, focused approach to childcare that he does to everything he considers important and knew most of wha
t I learned through years of parenting my own kids in no time. I felt comfortable long before I ever imagined I would leaving them to their own devices, knowing that the little guy was in good hands. That experience made Nick realize he had a Scarlett-shaped spot no one else could fill and he spoke of wanting to be a dad many times in the next year or so. And never has any little girl been more loved. In Laura Krauss Melmed’s The Rainbabies, a man and his wife have everything they could ever want but it isn’t enough until their magical, rain-dancing daughter comes along. Sometimes it happens that way.
http://www.amazon.com/Rainbabies-Laura-Krauss-Melmed/dp/0688107559
http://www.laurakraussmelmed.com/
Every once in awhile I like to use my Picture Book Saturday in a themed way, typically based around a holiday, but often due to the finding of more fabulous bedtime books. This category of the children's book genre is one of my favorites, so I'm also on the lookout for more wonderful titles to add to my bedtime book shelf (which just happens to be filled to the brim already...ahhh I need more shelves). Enjoy!
Good Night, Baby Ruby written and illustrated by Rohan Henry has a concept that many authors have followed before, with a child that is supposed to go to bed, but attempts to escape her parents and stay up later. The unique part of this one is one the very cool illustrations, done in very simple black line drawings with an infusion of baby blue, yellow, and a touch of red color. Definitely going to be attractive to babies looking at the pictures...something I'm always looking for. I want the littlest ones I'm reading the book to, to be interested, even if it's only for a few seconds.
Your kids will enjoy not only looking at the illustrations, but also trying to find out where Baby Ruby went. Very good for bedtime!
Good Night, Baby Ruby
Rohan Henry
32 pages
Picture Book
Abrams Books
9780810983236
March 2009
Sleepsong, written by George Ella Ryan and illustrated by Peter Catalanotto, is definitely a sweet choice for reading to your kids before they go to sleep. Based around an actual song, written by the author and included on the last page, you can either sing it...or talk it, as I did.
Following the simple routine of getting a young girl into bed and asleep, the reader sees the usual tasks: putting away play, turning out the light, but we also get to see animals, on the bottom of the page, doing the same actions as the little girl. Burrowing underground to sleep, flying home to their nests. Very sweet for a one on one reading at night.
Sleepsong
George Ella Lyon
40 pages
Picture book
Atheneum
9780689869730
December 2008
Finally, My Love Will Be with You, written by Laura Krauss Melmed and illustrated by Henri Sorensen, is not exactly a "bedtime" book in the sense that it's about going to sleep, but one that I think would be perfect for reading at bedtime, especially between a father and a son.
Different animal daddies explain to their sons that even though, someday, they'll be off doing their own thing, his love will always be them. The different animals are always fun for kids to look at and their sweet promises to their sons are just adorable.
Not only is this great to read before putting your little ones down for the night, but I also think this one would make an awesome baby shower gift. Several friends of mine are expecting now and I'm guessing they'll probably be getting a copy of this with their gifts!
My Love Will Be with You
Laura Krauss Melmed
24 pages
Picture book
HarperCollins
9780061552601
April 2009
To learn more about any of these titles or to purchase, click on the book covers above to link to Amazon.
Some guys were born to be dads. Despite all the complaints of men who can’t commit to having children or caring for the ones they already have, there are a select few who have daddyhood in their soul…and not just procreative ability in their, um, jeans. Long before Scarlett arrived, her daddy was learning how to care for her. When we started sitting for a friend’s new baby, Nick didn’t have any small people experience--never changed a diaper, never fixed a bottle, never gave a bath, never even held a really tiny one--but he stepped up admirably. I thought when we agreed to help that “we” actually meant “me,” but I forgot who I was dealing with. Nick took the same teachable, focused approach to childcare that he does to everything he considers important and knew most of wha
t I learned through years of parenting my own kids in no time. I felt comfortable long before I ever imagined I would leaving them to their own devices, knowing that the little guy was in good hands. That experience made Nick realize he had a Scarlett-shaped spot no one else could fill and he spoke of wanting to be a dad many times in the next year or so. And never has any little girl been more loved. In Laura Krauss Melmed’s The Rainbabies, a man and his wife have everything they could ever want but it isn’t enough until their magical, rain-dancing daughter comes along. Sometimes it happens that way.
