At the beginning of December I pulled out all my favorite wintry-themed books, like any good teacher would. I stacked up The Snowy Day by Ezra Jack Keats, The Polar Express, by Chris Van Allsburg, and of course several Jan Brett texts including The Mitten, The Hat, and Gingerbread Baby. I chose books for their gorgeous art, and rich literary language – and of course their ability to set the mood for the holidays. Of all the book in our house, Baby L.'s favorite was... drum roll please….a simple board book called Where Is Baby’s Christmas Present? by Karen Katz that we had received as an unmarked present in the mail – something must have gone wrong when somebody ordered us a gift online. Either that, or it was a present from Santa.
L. loved looking at the pictures in all her books, but with this particular book she would squeal with delight after we read each page – which of course delighted us too!Over the next several weeks, Brinton and I read Where Is Baby’s Christmas Present? about a thousand times. When we took Baby L. to Vermont to visit her grandparents and aunts and uncles, they all heard W.I.B.C.P? a few thousand times as well.
By the time New Year’s came around, it was time for a new book. So, when I was at the bookstore, I stocked up on Karen Katz books, figuring if L. liked W.I.B.C.P, then she would love Where’s Baby’s Birthday Cake? and Counting Kisses, and Mommy Hugs.
Sure enough. All these books were a hit. Baby’s first favorite author.
Thanks Karen Katz, wherever you are! (And thanks Santa for introducing us to her!)
Babies love books about other babies!
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