a bounty of books

When you fly your family to the other side of the world needing to pack baby gear, summer clothes, winter clothes, and Christmas presents… luggage space becomes very, very precious.

And when your child is the first great-grandchild/grandchild/nephew/great-nephew/second cousin/etc… Then that little boy is sure to be doted on by all adoring family members.

At any time of year there would be gifts for this golden boy… but at Christmas, all the more so.

And since books are a logical, easy gift to pack back into suitcases… we came home with these:

Twenty-nine new books. And we love every single one of them.

This kid has the best library I’ve ever seen for an 11-month-old with no older siblings.

Luckily, he also loves books… listening to them being read aloud, reading them himself, turning the pages, studying the pictures, emptying them out of the bookshelf, putting them back in the bookshelf, showing them to mama, bringing them to daddy…

In fact, just yesterday it went suddenly quiet where Levi was playing. I immediately went over to see what mischief he had found... only to see him on the floor, books scattered around him, with Mr. Brown Can Moo in one hand and Brown Bear in the other.

Levi is definitely a book-lover.

And—thanks to friends and family who doubled our children’s library—mama and daddy are enjoying reading so much more these days too. (You can only read The Very Hungry Caterpillar so many times.)

Some of Levi’s current faves:

• Mr. Brown Can Moo, Can You?
• Brown Bear, Brown Bear
• 10 Little Fingers, 10 Little Toes
• Where the Wild Things Are
• Gossie & Gertie
• Eight Little Monkeys
• Raffi song books: The Wheels on the Bus, Down By the Bay
• The Very Hungry Caterpillar

Some of Mama’s current faves:

• On the Night You Were Born
• The Growing Tree
• Oh, the Places You’ll Go
• Dr. Seuss’ ABCs
• Whoever You Are
• Mr. Brown Can Moo, Can You?

I have loved books for 33 years now and it delights me to no end that Levi is starting life with a healthy attitude toward reading and a great interest in books.

Dear friends, what are you doing to help your children develop an interest in reading and imagining through story? What are your current favorite children's books?

reading up a storm,

adriel booker | the mommyhood memos | 2010 
do not reproduce without written permission