Games to Play With Baby

Title: Games to Play With Baby

Author: Jackie Silberg

Price: 14.95

Pages: 256 pages

Publisher: Gryphon House

Publishing Date: 2001

ISBN: 0876592558

Genre: Parenting

Subject: Baby Play

Annotation: A wonderful guide with hundreds of stimulating play ideas and activities for parents to use with their babies.

Evaluation: A book that gets right to the point in a simplistic, easy to follow activity book that can directly be shared with your child. Organized activities that have the appropriate age at the top of each are simplistically laid out in step-by-step directions. Starting the book is a brief overview of development. Included are simple illustrations to help make the directions more assessable. In the busy world of parenting this book is a welcome resource that doesn’t require a lot of time to use.

The New Parent: The Essential Guide for All First-Time Mothers and Fathers

Title: The New Parent

Author: Dr. Mariam Stoppard

Pages: 168

ISBN: 0789419971

Publisher: DK Adult

Publishing Date: 1998 (First Edition Date)

Genre: Parenting

Annotation: A visual guide by Doctor Mariam Stoppard that is an everything guide for new parents!

Evaluation: In this Dorling Kingsley book, better known as “DK,” famous British Doctor Mariam Stoppard brings us a guide that is full of visuals that make this resource for new parents a special tool. Covering the beginnings of pregnancy all the way to safe-proofing your home and developmental milestones, this illustrated guide will be a visual reference that will not only tell you about your child in the early ages, but will show you too.

They're Never Too Young for Books: A Guide to Children's Books for Ages 1 to 8

Title: They're Never Too Young for Books: A Guide to Children's Books for Ages 1 to 8

Author(s): McGovern, Edyth & Muller, Helen

Price: Varies (Out of Print)

Pages: 342

Publisher: Prometheus Books

Publisher Date: 1994

ISBN: 0879758589

World Cat Link: Here

Amazon Link: Here

Classification: Parenting/Literacy

Annotation: Packed with well over a thousand children’s titles, They're Never Too Young for Books, is a wonderful resource co-written by a librarian and a child development professor!

Evaluation: Covering the reasons why books affect children so positively (and why they are so greatly in need) both now in the future. It also presents titles divided by subjects and annotated for a more successful search. This book truly is an answer to almost any topic you may want to read and talk about with your child. It also has an entire section on how to have successful read-alouds and literacy enriching activities such as dramatic play and puppetry. Because it covers such a great age span (ages one to eight) it also included general expectations of different ages to consider when selecting titles. Though out of print, this book is readily available used or at libraries. I included links to both Amazon and WorldCat (see above) in this post to find it easily.

Great Books for Babies and Toddlers: More Than 500 Recommended Books for Your Child's First Three Years

Title: Great Books for Babies and Toddlers: More Than 500 Recommended Books for Your Child's First Three Years

Author: Odean

Price: $14.95

Pages: 337

Publisher: Ballantine Books

Publisher Date: 2003

ISBN: 0345452542

Classification: Parenting/Literacy

Annotation: A wonderful resource for parents that contains more then 500 annotated listings of young children's books (up to about age three). Included here are a variety that contains diverse genres and fun!

Evaluation: If you have ever been to a library you know how helpful the librarian can be in wading through the vast catalog of great books and recommending great books and (helping you with not so great books) for your children. Imagine having a librarian at your fingertips to recommend over 500 books for you and your child! And, if the only thing that slows your sharing of books to your baby is the fear “where do I begin” or even if you have a small library started and are ready to move on to more, this book is a wonderful resource! Books are separated by topics like nursery rhymes and picture books and each title is annotated with a brief summary. It also offers searching techniques, information on children’s book publishers, websites, and further reading for parents on this topic. A must have book on pre-literacy, early literacy development, and reading to your children at this age.

First Art: Art explorations for Toddlers and Twos

Title: First Art: Art explorations for Toddlers and Twos

Author: MaryAnn F. Kohl

Price: $14.95

ISBN: 0876592221

Publisher: Gryphon House

Publishing Date: 2002

Genre: Parenting and Activities

Subject: Art

Annotation: An easy to use guide for parents in first art activities and exploration for toddlers and two year olds. It's the process not the product!

Evaluation: Many parents think of art as a talent, special for those older children that show an interest. With this book, directed to the early years, redefines that notion. “It’s the process not the product” say this book of art explorations perfect for the little one. It explains the idea behind art for little ones, as well as how to use the book and how to set up for projects. It also illustrates how to do the projects and has some color picture examples. A fun and inspirational book for parents with great activities anyone can do with their little ones!

Caring for Your Baby and Young Child

Title: Caring for Your Baby and Young Child, Birth to Age Five

Authors: The American Academy of Pediatrics

Price: 22.95

Pages: 928

Publiser: Bantam

Date: 2009

Edition: 5th

ISBN: 0553386301

Genre: Parenting

Subject: Childhood Care

Annotation: The American Academy of Pediatric's mammoth up to date and comprehensive book and guide about childhood care.

Evaluation: The author, Steven P. Shelov, MD, MS, FAAP, is a Professor of Pediatrics at Mount Sinai School of Medicine, Chairman of Pediatrics at Maimonides Medical Center and Lutheran Medical Center, and Vice President of the Infants' and Children's Hospital of Brooklyn. This book is a resource that can answer any question you may have about children’s health, emergency situations, routine care, and the recently updated version has information on organic care and other trendy healthcare topics. A not to be missed guide this book is a trusted staple in parenting and childcare.

My First Hanukkah Board Book (My 1st Board Books)

Title: My First Hanukkah Board Book

(My 1st Board Books)

Author: DK

Price: $5.99

Pages: 36 pages

• Publisher: DK Preschool
• Publisher Date: August 29, 2005
• ISBN-10: 0756611059
• Classification: Board Book
• Annotation: A visual walk through the eight days of Hanukkah and all the things connected to the festival of lights.
• Evaluation: In the typical DK fashion, this learning book about Hannukah, is a feast of pictures that will warm your heart for longer then eight days! It's small and perfect for little hands which really does make it perfect as a "first" Hannukah book. Both an early literacy triumph in word and letter recognition as well as a fun way to introduce a religion!

Last Child in the Woods: Saving Our Children from Nature-Deficit Disorder

Title: Last Child in the Woods: Saving Our Children from Nature-Deficit Disorder
Author: Richard Louv
Publisher: ALGONQUIN BOOKS OF CHAPEL HILL
Publisher Date: 2008
Price: $14.95
Genre: Nature and Child Development

Annotation: This recipient of the 2008 Audubon Medal is an awakening book for parents to reconnect their children with nature and the affects of a nature-less phenomenon nature-deficit disorder which the author identified before writing this book.

Evaluation: This is a wonderful read for modern parents, especially those who live in cities or areas that don’t encourage outdoor play or connections to the natural world. Also, in a world that everything’s answer is given in digital forms from television to computers, parents are introduced to a natural answer to common current trends in illnesses such as “ADD.” An inspiring look at days gone by where we spent much more time playing outside and an encouraging goal to get our kids away from nature-deficit disorder (a clever play on the all to common “Attention Deficit Disorder”). Will get parents, teachers, and librarians thinking about new and interesting ways to share activities and play with children.

Author Website: http://richardlouv.com/

You Four-Year-Old: Wild and Wonderful

Title: You Four Year Old: Wild and Wonderful

Author: Ames

Price: $15.00

Pages: 160

Publishing Date: 1989 (First Edition Printing)

Publisher: Dell

ISBN: 0440506751

Genre: Non-Fiction

Subject: Parenting, Childhood

Annotation: Everything about your four year that makes them so wild and wonderful, we well as expert advice about the special developmental points during this time.

Evaluation: In this short, easy read, the authors address that particular age that is so “wild and wonderful.” From childhood behavioral techniques to development, as well as advice to help parents of four-year-olds, this book, which was co-written by doctors, offers insight into this particularly amazing time of growth, challenge, and loveable phases. This book is part of a wonderful series that starts at one-year-old and gives us a book for each age up to nine-years-old.

Games Babies Play

Title: Games Babies Play: From Birth to Twelve Months
Author: Vicki Lansky
Pub Date: 2001
Publisher: Deephaven: Book Peddlers

Price: $10.95

Genre: Parenting, Baby Play

Annotation: A small, easily portable playbook that can go where baby goes in almost any sized diaper bag.

Evaluation: Covering ages birth to twelve months, this book of games can be used by parents, grandparents, nannies, and even baby sitters with almost no experience in baby play. An instant play can be had with this little book that is filled with songs, fingerplays, lyrics, and movements that will enrich your child’s rapidly growing sense. There are no pictures, but the directions make it easy to follow. A great book choice as an intro into games baby play or to travel with.

Vicki Lansky's Practical Parenting Page: http://www.practicalparenting.com/

The Read Aloud Handbook

Title: The Read Aloud Handbook

Author: Jim Trelease

Price: $16.99

Pages: 432

Publisher: Penguin (Non-Classics)

Publishing Date: July 25, 2006

ISBN: 0143037390

Annotation: The who, why, what, how, do’s and don’ts of read-alouds for children. A handbook for parents, teachers, librarians, and care-givers.

Evaluation: I really like how the author looks at read alouds in this book and I think everybody can benefit from reading it. “How old must a child be before you start reading to him? That’s a question I am most often asked by parents. The next is: When is the child too old to be read too? In answer to the first question, I ask one of my own. When did you start talking to the child? Did you wait until he was six months old?” As you can see this classic book, already in it’s sixth edition, is a staple and a mid opener on the topic of reading aloud. Though not exclusively for babies or toddlers, it does address questions such as the one above, as well as, sets a primer for the way we view read-aloud for an entire childhood. And there is nothing wrong about developing ideas about the future and worth of read-alouds. In this book, Trelease covers the why, what, how and do’s and don’ts of read-alouds. He includes current trends, information on libraries of every kind, and a treasury of read-aloud ideas.

Author Website: http://www.trelease-on-reading.com/

Your Fussy Baby

Title: Your Fussy Baby

Author: Marc Weissbluth

ISBN: 0345463005

Price: $13.95

Pages: 243

Publisher: Ballantine Books

Publisher Date: 2003

ISBN: 0345463005

Classification: Parenting

Annotation: Written by a Doctor, this guide gives you the information you need to deal with and help your fussy baby during the sensitive first months.

Evaluation: You’re a new mom and/or dad and you want to play with your baby and do all the fun things parents do with babies to help them grow and learn. But, you can’t get your newborn or baby to stop crying! Is this normal? Are you doing something wrong? Written by Dr. Marc Weissbluth, this much needed guide will give you answers, research, and tools to help sooth your vulnerable baby, as well as, addressing some myths that parents hear about these sensitive first months. Help is on the way for this stressful situation that MANY parents go through in the early months.