Once Upon A Monday

This weeks book is: Baby Colors by Rachael Hale

This is a wonderful book for young infants. It's full of beautiful baby pictures and extremely bright, eye catching colors! It's such a simple book, that tells a new short story on each page. It teaches the reader colors by having the baby on the page wearing or around a specific colored item and the color word is capitalized on each page which helps them learn to spell that specific color. (I also try and sing the "color song" for each color)  It is a hard cover book, which is perfect for our 7 month old, who loves to "turn" the pages and loves to teeth on everything she can get her hands on too.

Claire (7 months) thinks this was one of my first books that really caught my attention. I love to read it at night time with my mommy!

Megan and Eric think this is a great book. We have read it to Claire ever since she was born. Now she is days away from 7 months old and she still loves it. She is really content when reading this book, she loves to help turn the pages! She also gets excited and talks to each baby on the pages!

M and E rating: 5 out of 5 stars

Once Upon A Monday

This weeks kids book is: Miss. Spider's Tea Party by David Kirk

This is a wonderful book, full of beautiful colors. It is a counting book but more importantly it teach the reader a very important life lesson - to give everyone a chance, no matter who they are. When I taught preschool, this was one of the children's favorite. It is a tad wordy for preschool students but the lesson within is so important (so I would always use fun voices for all the insects within the story). The brightness of the bugs usually keep a preschool aged child pretty entertained.

Claire (6 1/2 months) thinks it is pretty long to keep my attention right now but the pictures are very pretty to look at!

Megan and Eric think this is a great book, with great meaning. We feel it is for older kids, but even now and then we get it off the shelf and read it to Claire. We think she will get more meaning out of the story when she is a bit older but for now the "pretty bright" pictures and fun voices will have to do for now!

M & E rating: 3.5 out of 5 stars

Once Upon A Monday

This weeks book is: If You Give a Moose a Muffin by Laura  Numeroff

This "newly classic" kid's book would be a great addition to any kid's bookshelf. It's simply about a Moose that wants a cupcake, but as soon as he asks for a one it reminds him of something else he likes or wants.The story continues in this pattern until it comes back full circle with the Moose remembering that he wants a muffin! With great illustration, this book is great to read and to look at, over and over again!

Claire (6 months) thinks that is a wonderful book. I just got it for Christmas but it's already one of my favorites. Plus, I got a really cute moose stuffed animal to go with it!

Megan and Eric think this is a great book. It's a fun collection to read. Claire has 4 books with 4 stuffed animals to match. All the books are similar but not in the sense where it gets boring to read one right after the next. We think these books are great for kids of all ages. If you haven't given them a try, please do. You will find them quite amusing!

Megan and Eric rating 4 out of 5 stars

Once Upon A Monday

This weeks book is: Oh, The Thinks You Can Think! by Dr. Suess.

Who doesn't like a good old fashion Dr.Suess book. I remember that his books were some of the first books I could read all by myself. I loved all Dr. Suess books. Oh, The Thinks You Can Think! is a great book no matter what age you are reading to. It is full of fantasy and fun with a lot of colorful pictures! As with all books by Dr. Suess, you find yourself rhythmically saying all the rhymes as each page goes by.The rhymes don't always make sense, but that's half the fun of his books. Warning! May cause tongue to be tied!

Claire (6 months) thinks this book is silly with very colorful pictures. Mom laughs a lot when she tries to say all the funny words.

Megan and Eric think that the Dr. Suess book collection is one that every family should have on their bookshelf. No matter if you're 6 months old or 26 years old, Dr. Suess books are a great read.

Megan and Eric rating: 5 out of 5 stars

Once Upon a Monday

This week's book is Pat the Bunny by Dorothy Kunhardt.

Pat the Bunny is a simple, interactive kid's book. It looks like a storybook from the 1950's. One page describes an action the characters are doing, while the next page asks you, the reader, to perform the previous action. From patting the bunny, smelling flowers, to saying, "good bye".

Claire (5 1/2 months) thinks that Pat the Bunny is a great book. I love all the pages because there is something for me to do, smell, or touch on each page.

Megan and Eric think that Pat the Bunny is a great, first read. It is simple, interactive, and interesting for kids of all ages. We feel this book is great for kids who are just starting to read because they can see and do the action after they read it. Which helps learn the reader to learn the meaning of what they are reading.

Megan and Eric rating 4 out of 5 stars.

Once Upon A Monday

This weeks book is Hippos Go Berserk by Sandra Boynton.

Hippos Go Berserk is a simple, colorful, couting book. Page one starts out with one hippo and from there adds hippos in nurmerical order. The book hits it's climax when all the hippos are gathered and they "Go Berserk!". After the party, the hippos slowly start to leave until again there is only one hippo left.

Claire's (5 1/2 months) thinks the hippos are really funny and cute! I can hold the book because it's small. I even got a hippo stuffed animal to go with it! Thanks Carl and Brita!

Megan and Eric think that we like the way the book progresses and then regresses with the number of hippos. It's a good way of introducing numbers and counting without being boring. It's a small, infant friendly book with sturdy pages. Your child should not be able to demolish the book at this point. The illustrations are cute and enjoyable. We recommend this book.

M & E Rating - 5 out of 5 stars

Once Upon A Monday

I will be reviewing a children's book that we read to Claire every Monday, hence "Once Upon A Monday". I will discuss Claire's reactions to the book, as well as Eric and My thoughts. We have read to Claire ever since she was born. We feel it is very important for a child, no matter what their age to be read to. Give the books we review at try, you never now when you will find your child's favorite new read!

This week's book is My Nose, My Toes, and Me!An Interactive Book for Little Ones Written by Frida Bing.

My Nose, My Toes, and Me! is a very infant friendly book. It's short, colorful, and interactive; everything that is perfect for your little one. As you go through the story, each page asks a question like, "What is behind the bright sunglasses?" On the opposite page is a fold down picture that answers the question like, "My eyes!" As your child gets older, he/she will be able to find out the answer all by themselves, as they learn their body parts. My Nose, My Toes, and Me! is a very durable book that a child of any age should not be able to destroy!

Claire (5 months) thinks, "My Nose, My Toes, and Me! is a very colorful, big book. I love how it tastes but even  more how it sounds."

Eric and I think this a good book for an infant under a year. The colorful pages and cartoon characters really capture Claire's attention. She even loves to flip the pages herself!

M and E Rating - 4 out of 5 stars