Happy Tuesday, kidlit friends! I don’t know about you, but I’m a bit burned out. December is such a busy month, and it seems like every free moment is packed with obligations, from visiting family to Christmas shopping to donating books. I’ve decided to take a two-week hiatus from social media to try and recoup some of my energy. I hope everyone has a wonderful holiday!
Quick announcement: Read Harder is back! Book Riot’s Read Harder Challenge is in its ninth year, with a set of 24 tasks that invite readers to expand their worldview through books. Read one book per task, or do some multi-tasking by counting one book for multiple tasks. It’s all fine! The point of the challenge is to push yourself to expand your horizons. Thank you to Thriftbooks for sponsoring Read Harder 2023.
To find the tasks and subscribe to our newsletter for tips and recommendations, visit Read Harder 2023. I’ve completed the last three or four challenges, and it’s been a fun way to diversify my reading!
Bookish Goods
Baby Mini Bookmark by NightOwlPaperGoods
If you’re gonna give a baby a bookmark, this wooden one is a good choice. Bookmark + teether= win win! This listing claims it will arrive before Christmas as of writing this newsletter. $4
New Releases
Busy Little Hands: Science Play!: Learning Activities for Preschoolers by Susan Edwards Richmond (activity book)
Of all the activity book collections I own, I use the science ones the most, probably because that’s where my knowledge base is weakest. This collection of science activities for preschoolers has lots of fun ideas, from making pulleys to an ice melt challenge to tracking rainwater and climate patterns. The illustrations and photographs are engaging, most of the materials needed are actually easy to find, and a few don’t even require any materials. I’ll definitely be digging into this one with my preschooler.
Hush, Little Hero by Annie Bailey, illustrated by Dawn Lo (board book)
This is an adorably illustrated bedtime board book. The little girl protagonist has had a long day of being a superhero, saving loveys from errant dogs and rehoming lost ladybugs. But after a long day of rescues and adventures, it’s time for this little hero to go to sleep.
For a more comprehensive list, check out our New Books newsletter!
Riot Recommendations
Here are some last-minute board book stocking stuffer ideas. I’ve tried them all out on my daughter’s stocking, and they fit! Amazon’s listing claims all of these should arrive by Christmas, as of writing this newsletter.
We Love Books! by Ingela P. Arrhenius
Each page of this little board book is a different size and shape, creating bookish landscapes. Scenes depict readers in a library, reading with caregivers on a park bench, and there’s even a kid hanging upside down on a tree branch with a book. While clearly this board book is for kids, I feel like if you’re also filling an adult book-lover’s stocking, this would be a fun addition!
Baby Basics: My Cuddly Fox by Lucie Brunellière
I am cheating: this is not a board book. It’s an adorable and soft cloth book fox lovey. This book was made to be cuddled by babies and toddlers. The short book on fox’s tummy is a sweet bedtime story. It would be an excellent gift for a baby’s first Christmas.
We are Little Feminists: How We Eat by Shuli de la Fuente-Lau
This is the most inclusive children’s book about eating I’ve ever seen. Photographs capture real children eating using a variety of utensils and feeding aids: bottles, GI tubes, chopsticks, hands, and more. I teared up when I saw the opening photograph of a mother pumping and feeding her newborn with a syringe, which is exactly how I initially fed my child. It’s a diverse, joyous celebration of eating. The entire We are Little Feminists board book series are essential for baby libraries in my opinion, but I am especially impressed by this one.
I’m the Boss! by Elise Gravel
I love collecting Elise Gravel’s children’s books. In her most recent board book, a very opinionated young monster knows exactly what is best all of the time. Unfortunately, the adult monsters see things a bit differently. This is a silly read-aloud every toddler caregiver will relate to.
We finally finished decorating my daughter’s room! She loves it. Those are cat and rainbow decals on the wall, and her loveys have gathered on the rug for reading time. My SO converted a pumpkin trick-or-treat bucket into a night light (at my daughter’s request), which you can see on the dresser. It’s my favorite room in the house now!
If you’d like to read more of my kidlit reviews, I’m on Instagram @BabyLibrarians, Twitter @AReaderlyMom, and blog irregularly at Baby Librarians. You can also read my Book Riot posts. If you’d like to drop me a line, my email is kingsbury.margaret@gmail.com.
Until next Tuesday!
Margaret Kingsbury