Dec 16 2008
Tools Of the Trade Tuesday
Books. In my opinion there is absolutely nothing in the world that is a greater tool for a Parent than books. You give a child a book and teach them to love reading and you give them the world. I devour books myself and I started reading to my oldest Monster before she was even born. I still read to them all the time and bedtime stories to the youngest are a nightly routine. The older two always seem to wander by and listen as well, though they are to big for them they tell me. My list of bed time books varies slightly, but here are the ones that are a constant.
Snoozers by Sandra Boynton
A collection of silly poems and songs. Perfect start to a goodnight routine, not a book to induce sleep but a great way to get their attention and work out some of that pre sleep energy.
Guess How Much I Love You by Sam McBratney 
Big nut brown hare, and little nut brown hare go back and forth over who loves whom the most, and come up with creative ways to express it.
Goodnight Moon by Margaret Wise Brown 
A classic, the simple rhyming poem with simple and colorful images that slowly darken as the room settles into sleep and everyone has been wished a goodnight, including the moon.
When I’m Sleepy by Jane R. Howard 
A little girl imagines all the ways she might sleep if she where an animal, from curled up like a cat to the ledge of a mountain like a goat to hanging upside down like a bat just to name a few, until she decides beds are the perfect place for little girls to be. The illustrations Lynne Cherry has created for this book are rich and whimsical. A beautiful book.
Time For Bed by Mem Fox 
“It’s time for bed little mouse little mouse, darkness is falling all over the house…” An absolutely sweet book written in rhyme about mother animals tucking their little ones in to sleep. Jane Dyer’s illustrations are beautiful watercolor and pencil works with amazing attention to detail that captures a the expressions of love and care perfectly.
And finally a set of books for Moms. I have jokingly referred to them as the Baby Bibles, but the The What to Expect series of books have answered more questions and come in more handy than any other parenting book I have. And as a book whore, I’ve had more than a few books on the subject. All my copies of these books are highlighted, dog eared and filled with notes. One of the few sets I saw fit to buy all of. Now if they would just write one on teenagers…..
And those are a few tools of the trade. Happy Tuesday.
