Let's recommend Kid's Books for the new parents!!!

[dajaymann]

I thought I'd start this thread in honor of Lissa and Duckie's new arrival, but truth be told, I've wanted to start a thread like this for quite some time now.

Since I'm a huge book worm, and have been since I discovered the joy of the english language (around age 5) one the things I was most looking forward to after having a child of my own was introducing my kids to the wonders of books. Now, I don't want to sound like the bookmobile guy from South Park (known to others as the "Chicken Lover") here, but I started taking my daughter to the library a little over a year ago, right before she turned one, and she totally, totally loves it. So, needless to say, I have read way more than my fair share of childrens stories, so I'd like to point out a few true gems that I have encountered:

1. When Pigasso met Mootisse is probably my favorite book kid's that we actually own. It's about the rivalry between Pablo Picasso and Henri Matisse, except Picasso is a pig (Pigasso) and Matisse is a moose (Mootisse). It's a pretty spectalularly rendered and written book, fun and colorful enough for the kids but the way the main characters are always painted in the same manner of their representative artist really pleases the Art History major in me. I first found it at a local Publisher's Warehouse, didn't buy it, went back, it was gone, so I turned around and ordered it for my daughter from Amazon.

2. Punk Farm is a book I stumbled upon at our local library. Since then, this has been my favorite kid's book. I don't own it yet, but I'll probably order it for my daughter for Christmas (probably next week, when I get paid . The premise is pretty clear from the title. After Farmer Joe goes to bed, his animals get ready for a gig at the barn. The shout of "THANK YOU WISCONSIN" at the end of their show is just epic. This is just the best kid's book ever.

So, any more suggestions from you fine folk? Perhaps something you've held dear from your childhood? Stuff your baby sister just luuuurrrrrvvvves? I know most of the Mutant Community here doesn't have kids, but if you have something great to contribute, go for it! Give in to your inner child!!!

[PoolMan]

When we did the Gaiman night a few weeks back we bought a copy of The Wolves in the Walls, and that's a hilarious kids' book. It doesn't pander to the kids or talk down to them, tells a kind of creepy story, but empowers children to really stand up for themselves.

From my own childhood, I loved the Richard Scarry books. It was cool just to sit around and stare at those intricate pictures, so full of action and hidden little gags.

[Spiderdancer]

Sir Toby Jingle's Beastly Journey. It's an old book, but I still have my copy from when I was little. I bet you could find it on half.com. The humor is both hilariously wry for the adult reader and broad and cute for the kiddies. Love it.

[Doctor Teeth]

I would think that the wee Mutant would benefit from any of the following books:

• When We Were Very Young and Now We Are Six by A.A. Milne. My English grandma would read these to me whenever she was in town. Classics that last the test of time.
  
• Goodnight Moon. Full of simple language that sounds beautiful when read aloud.
  
• Some Robert Munsch books. Almost everyone knows I Love You Forever, and it's okay, but I really liked David's Father, The Paper Bag Princess, and 40 Below Zero.
  

[pfrsue]

I would recommend practicing Fox In Socks out loud now, before the kid understands english. There is definitely a knack to that. The absolute WORST book you could buy - and yet just about every new parent does - is Love You Forever, which Doctorteeth mentioned. Juvenile literature that equals a massive crying jag. Trust me on that. Don't torment yourself.

Spawn of Mutants 1 and 2 both really enjoyed Sleepy Dog, which I had memorized for quite a long time. I know there's one that's eluding me - I even went into SoM2's room to see if it was there. (Something or other "Upside Down"), but all I found of significance on her bookshelf was Star Wars Episode I, Wizardology and Mere Christianity. Her tastes have matured somewhat, I think. I'll ask her for suggestions on Thursday though.

[Head Mutant]

There was this book my dad used to read to us about a knight with pink (or pink polka-dotted) armor, going out to fight a dragon. I can't for the life of me remember the title or find it.

Our library's used book store has a load of children's books. I'll take a peek through for any of my faves.

[RobinFlamingo]

The True Story of the Three Little Pigs
The Velveteen Rabbit
Henry Hikes to Fitchburg
The Giving Tree (and anything Shel Silverstein)
The Paper Crane
The Book That Jack Wrote
The Amazing Bone
Make Way for Ducklings
Sylvester and the Magic Pebble
Grandfather's Journey
Strega Nona
My Little Sister Always Says No
The Keeping Quilt

[Spiderdancer]

See, I would put "Giving Tree" up there with "Love You Forever" on the list of Horrible Tear Jerkers, but maybe some children are less maudlin than I was. Ditto the other Silverstein, though.

Personally I would also vote for:

Koko's Kitten (with color photos - cute AND a true story!)
Outside Over There (Maurice Sendak) (Caldecott Honor Book) gorgeous artwork.
The Z Was Zapped - sort of an anarchic alphabet book.
Verdi - it's never too early to teach your children that big snakes are our friends.

[pfrsue]

Oh "Giving Tree" is another nastily subversive way to inflict angst on parents and offspring alike.

[duckie]

dajaymann said:

When Pigasso met Mootisse is probably my favorite book kid's that we actually own. It's about the rivalry between Pablo Picasso and Henri Matisse, except Picasso is a pig (Pigasso) and Matisse is a moose (Mootisse). It's a pretty spectalularly rendered and written book, fun and colorful enough for the kids but the way the main characters are always painted in the same manner of their representative artist really pleases the Art History major in me. I first found it at a local Publisher's Warehouse, didn't buy it, went back, it was gone, so I turned around and ordered it for my daughter from Amazon.

That sounds freakin' hilarious! Seriously, I enjoy both Picasso and Matisse, and saw the special collection in London a while back, which showed some of their works side by side. Excellent.

Hmmm, I wonder if there's a book that incorporates Dali's styles

As for some of the other suggestions, we have two copies of Goodnight Moon in our collection, and I have a special place in my heart for Make Way for Ducklings .

Keep 'em coming...

[dajaymann]

duckie said:

Hmmm, I wonder if there's a book that incorporates Dali's styles

I do know that there is a pretty kickass kid's book called "Dinner at Magritte's" that I checked out from the library for my daughter. The premise is exactly what the title says - a boy has dinner with his neighbor, Rene Magritte, the well-known surrealist. Guess who also stops by for dinner that same evening?





If you guessed Salvador Dali, you win a cookie!!!

[Ms. Jellybean]

I may have missed someone else saying it, but "Where the Wild Things Are" has always been a favorite of mine. And Jimmy Buffett's forays into children's books, "The Jolly Mon" and "Trouble Dolls", are also two that I grew up on. So I highly recommend them.

[duckie]

I think we may have to check out a few of these, after opening the XMas presents this week. I doubt any of our relatives would get us Pigasso and Mootisse or Dinner at Magritte's, but you never know about Where the Wild Things Are. I think all three of these (at a minimum) need to be added to our bookshelves.

Thanks for all the suggestions!!!

[firefly]

The Phantom Toll Booth
Esio Trot (and many other books by Roald Dahl)

[fiddlestix22]

Stellaluna, cute book about a young fruit bat who is raised by a mother bird and has to learn to do bird things, like not sleep upside down. It has lovely illustrations, some of which are quite amusing, especially the one where the baby birds try to sleep upside-down too. In the end she finds her bat family and realizes it's alright to be her bat-self. Awwwww...