Book Review: Good Morning Toucan

We have many lift-the-flap books in our house, and not many last too long. If you are a book publisher, you should do what the Katz books do and glue the flaps to the pages, so that they will be easily destroyed. This will ensure that the books only last a few months in any household, and you will never have to see them on the used book shelf, or even handed down from sibling to sibling.
If, however, you are not a book publisher and you do like books that last, check out this book. Amazingly enough, someone invented the lift-the flap book that flaps as part of the seam of the page rather than a haphazardly glued on piece. So, based on the ingenuity of the design, I give this book the thumbs-up.
And then there's the content. Really, the plot could be better. The main character, the Toucan, just basically goes around asking who is waking up all over the place. And saying good morning to everyone. There isn't a lot of depth to Toucan's character, except that he feeds his babies in the end. What a great dad. I know he's a he because I looked at the website.
Oh, and my son loves the book. Babies are into color and simple things, and not really depth of character. So I guess I'll put my other thumb up as well.

Germaphobic Parents?

I don't know how parents can be germaphobes. Maybe it's just because I'm not one to wipe my doorknobs and grocery cart handles, so I therefore categorize myself as a non-phobic of germs sort of parent. After watching my infant crawl all over the hospital waiting room and/or doctor's office, touching everything in sight only to immediately stick his finger in my mouth (on more than one occasion), I can only imagine the horror a germaphobic mother would endure in such a situation. That being said, if you are a germaphobic mother, please do not read any further.
If you are not, but want to try something fun, read on.
Go the the public library. Look for a germaphobic parent (most likely a mother). She will be wiping things down with an antibiotic moistened cloth and/or telling her child(ren) not to put things in their mouth(s). Say this to her: "Really, the safest way to keep germs off the children is to not bring them to the library at all! As a matter of fact, we wouldn't be here right now, except my child is quite sick already, so I figured he wouldn't catch anything else if we came here!" Then, try to get your child to sneeze on her child(ren) on cue. Then giggle.

Book Review: The Going to Bed Book

I like to read this book with an accent, somewhere between Scottish and Australian, or a combination. Maybe a little pirate in there too. Especially for the last page, "The moon is high (pronounced "I"), the sea is deep, we rock and rock and rock to sleep". Aaaaar. Matey.
My son loves this book also. The illustrations are great. We also have the book Moo Baaa La La La by the same author but he's not too into that one.

Book Review: I Love You, Stinky Face

We got this book as a gift, and it has been one of our favorites to read for bedtime. My son especially likes the swamp creature. I like to read it in a southern accent. It seems like it was written in with a southern accent.
The little boy in the book asks his mama if he were all sorts of terrible things: a super smelly skunk, a meat-eatin' dinosaur, a green alien from Mars, a one-eyed monster, would she still love him? Her answers are the perfect replies.
If you have a boy and could only have one book, this is the book to get.

Book Review: Chocolate Mousse for Greedy Goose

I found this book at the library and it's as good as it sounds. It's colorful, simple, and fun to read in different voices. There are lots of animals and kids are sure to love the wittiness of it. It's also clever how they carry the animals over from the previous pages and the next pages so you can see what's coming up next. Definitely makes a great present for anyone with an infant or toddler!

Conversating!

Today my son is 1 year, 4.5 months old. He can say a handful of words, especially if he is repeating me. I wasn't really sure if he knew the meaning of any of those words, except maybe "momma" and "dadda" (Which he says with much more enthusiasm than I know how to relay in typed format). Now I know that he does in fact, know what words mean! Here's why:
I put him in the bathtub full of warm water. He said "hot!" Wow, you know what "hot" means! I told him. Then he squatted and said "uh-oh". And I was like, what do you mean "uh-oh"? Then I discovered what he meant and spent the next several minutes cleaning up and draining the bath water. I also think this means somebody might be ready to start potty training!