PARTIES WITH A BOOK THEME...

A month ago, I helped throw a baby shower for my niece, who is expecting a boy any day now! She and her husband already have two adorable beagles and decorated their nursery with puppies, so we went with the theme, "Snips and Snails and Puppy Dog Tails".  I found an adorable card on Etsy, that I built the "boy theme" around: we decorated with neutral tones and blues and...books!

I love this set of miniature Golden Books!

The unfinished wooden toys were purchased at a craft store.

We decked out the tables with small children's books, plants, stuffed animal puppies, and wooden toys.  On the invitation, we asked everyone to bring a picture book in lieu of a card.  I purchased a cute ex-libris puppy rubber stamp and as they arrived, each guest made a bookplate to adhere in their "book/card" to the baby.

This all got me thinking about the endless possibilities for book-themed baby showers and birthday parties!  You could go with general Nursery Rhymes or specific stories: Peter Rabbit, Curious George, Dr. Seuss, Winnie the Pooh, Alice in Wonderland, Peter Pan... the choices are endless.

Martha Stewart has some really cute ideas for book- themed baby showers on her WEBSITE.  For more birthday party ideas using stories, click HERE).

Think of all the fun food you could serve at a Storytime Tea (like Miss Spider's Tea Party)...how cute the picture book would look set up next to the dishes you serve!  (Let me know what I left out!)




MENU IDEAS (WITH ACCOMPANYING BOOKS):
Blueberry Scones
Madeleine tea cakes
Chocolate desserts or candy
Strawberries and whipped cream
Chocolate chip cookies
Crustless jam sandwiches
Melon balls (watermelon, honeydew, and cantaloupe) - served in a halved out watermelon
Baby carrots and dip...

Blueberries for Sal 


Madeline


Charlie and the Chocolate Factory


The Little Mouse, the Red Ripe Strawberry, and the Big Hungry Bear!


If you Give a Mouse a Cookie


Bread and Jam for Frances


The Very Hungry Caterpillar


The Carrot Seed

A BOOK REVIEW I CAN'T RESIST SHARING, BY AN EXPERT ON THE SUBJECT!

One of my favorite picture book author/illustrators, Carol Baicker-McKee has written a wonderful and very informative review of an absolutely delightful children's book, A POCKETFUL OF POSIES, A TREASURY OF NURSERY RHYMES and its creative author/artist, Salley Mavor.  (I can't wait to get my hands on this book!)  You can read Carol's post HERE at Route 19 Writers.  You can also find her on her fun blog, Doodles and Noodles.

Carol said she loves giving nursery rhyme books as baby gifts, and I wholeheartedly agree!  One other title that I've recommended is: BABY DAYS: A QUILT OF RHYMES AND PICTURES, BY BELINDA DOWNES.  Either of these books fits in the new baby gift/shower gift category.  The new mother will love it as much as her child in the years to come!

NEW BEGINNINGS

January always gets me thinking about New Beginnings - a chance for assessment and resolutions, a time to appreciate the past year in retrospect and to anticipate the upcoming year and the change we will strive for in our lives.

Perhaps because we have also just celebrated Nativity, the New Year brings to mind new birth and hope.

These two children's books reflect that appreciation and anticipation of new beginnings - in the birth of babies...

JANUARY'S CHILD by Andrea Alban Gosline, illustrated by Lisa Burnett Bossi. 

"You were born in your very own month of the year and the world was waiting to welcome you here with daydreams and wishes and circles of love and in turn you brought a gift from above...." 

Every day is someone's birthday, which January's Child celebrates with creative attributes for each month of the year. More positive than the traditional "Monday's Child" rhyme, and geared for families to share among youngest and oldest members, this is a beautifully illustrated treasury, perfect as a gift for birthdays or new babies.

ON THE NIGHT YOU WERE BORN by Nancy Tillman.

On the night you were born, the moon smiled with such wonder that the stars peeked in to see you and the night wind whispered, "Life will never be the same..."

The sweet rhyming text of this book celebrates and praises the uniqueness of a newborn.  Creation - polar bears, giraffes, geese, the moon, the wind - is shown as jubilant in the poetry and rich illustrations of this beautiful book (also a wonderful baby shower or birthday gift)!