Colors by Xavier Deneux

What a treat this new board book is! Each page contains a simple cut out of an object from nature. The cut out fits neatly into its home on the facing page.

Atticus loves to run his fingers over the cut outs. The babies can trace the shape of each brightly colored object with their fingers. It is a visually pleasing book; a perfect gift for a baby or toddler.

Beautiful Oops!

Barney Saltzberg is a favorite of Atticus's. He loves his new Beautiful Oops! 

This is a simple tale that teaches children it is o.k. to make a mistake. Not only is it o.k., sometimes new and wonderful things come from mistakes. Page after page begins with a mistake that leads to something lovely, which is found by lifting a flap, tearing paper, lifting a bent corner, seeing a pop up, etc. This is a great book for both Ivy and Atticus. Ivy loves it because she is a budding artist who loves to see the creative process. A smash for all children!

Happy Birthday, Little Choo Choo

My little baby turned one last week. Where did the time go? One of Atticus's favorite books has been Petr Horacek's Choo Choo. It is a lovely board book about passengers boarding a train and riding through the countryside, into a tunnel, and back out into the lovely sunshine at a beach. The mountains are cut out, and Atticus loves to run his fingers over them. He also likes to stick his hands through the cut out tunnel. A must have for every one year old!

Melissa Guion

Ivy had the pleasure of meeting Melissa Guion at the Blue Bunny last week. She wrote and illustrated Baby Penguins Everywhere!, which we had signed for Ivy's baby brother, Atticus, since it came in a board book edition! It is a lovely book about a lonely little penguin who finds a hat. When one baby penguin after another pops out, the little penguin is overjoyed with the company. She soon realizes (much like I do...especially today on a snow day!) that a little alone time is good for the soul. Ivy, the four-year-old who asked for art lessons, was thrilled to meet an illustrator. Not only did Ivy meet her, but Melissa taught her how to draw a penguin. Ivy was so thrilled by this that she has been drawing penguins in her spare time all week at school. A wonderful book by a wonderful illustrator who takes the time to inspire others.

Dogs

Atticus loves dogs, thanks to his Gram's dog, Pulgita. It is no surprise that Matthew Van Fleet's touch and feel book Dog is a huge hit. Simple rhyming text, fluffy dogs, soft dogs, wagging dog tails, etc. Atticus reaches for this book over and over - one of his absolute favorites!

The Little Reindeer Finger Puppet Book

Ivy was never interested in these finger puppet books by Chronicle Books, but Atticus, a man of action, loves these. He lunges for the little reindeer on every page, attempting to eat him. It makes him laugh when you move the reindeer as well. I am not sure he is getting much out of the one or two rhyming sentences in the book, but a book is a book!!

Baby's First Christmas

Not the most exciting board book, but a colorful expression of Christmas nonetheless. Baby's First Christmas contains beautiful photographs of various items associated with Christmas. Great for a young baby! Merry Christmas from Atticus's crib to yours.

Ideals Publications