My stepdaughter, a special education teacher specializing in reading & writing, recently told us that reading to a baby is one of the best gifts you can give a child. She'd made the remark after hearing we'd read to Etta every night while I was pregnant. We'd done it because we'd heard that babies can hear your voice in utero and may even recognize a familiar book once born. We liked the idea of her knowing our voices and having a book we could read early on that may feel familiar. Turns out, there are a whole host of other benefits to reading in infancy as well!
I have great memories of being read to and exploring books on my own as a small child. A few childhood favorites come to mind like The Little Red Hen, The Best Nest, The Country Bunny and the Little Gold Shoes. When I was pregnant, I imagined it would be easy reading to a baby, but it actually took me about 6 weeks before I figured out how to do it. At first, I fumbled with how to hold the book so she could see the pictures and I could read the words, but one day it clicked when I laid down on the carpet at her level and held the book above us so we could both see the same thing. Ever since it's a favorite activity. I love watching her eyes widen with the turn of each page and hearing her coo back as I read the words.
I also naively never realized how physical having a new baby would be. I've spent more time sitting, kneeling or outright stretched out on the floor than I ever imagined. Thankfully, a plush carpet gives these "older mom" joints some cushion. The one in Etta's nursery is from Rugs USA — the pattern is traditional but the weave is muted, giving it a more modern feel that fits in with the style of our home & decor.
We've used our books as interchangeable decor on Etta's nursery shelves and keep a small bin of books within reach on the floor to curl up with. Below I've rounded up a complete list of what's in our own growing library and a shortlist of classics many of you have recommended we add.
Our Library:
- Dreamers Board Boxed Set, The Wonderful Things You Will Be — beautifully illustrated tales by Emily Martin, one of my longtime favorite artists.
- Wish — a sweet story about parents in waiting; one we love that ties in with our own IVF journey and other untraditional paths to parenthood.
- We Are the Gardeners
- ABC What Can She Be
- The Tortoise and the Hare
- The Tale of Peter Rabbit
- Oh the Places You'll Go
- The Velveteen Rabbit
- Giraffes can't Dance
- Goodnight Moon
- Hare & Tortoise
- Little Red Barn
- Hugs & Kisses
Fun to Read Aloud:
ANYTHING by Nancy Tillman and Emma Dodd — friends of mine sent me books by each just after Etta was born and I immediately bought more in the series'. These books read to the child from the parents' perspective and have a way of articulating the unbounded love and acceptance one feels for their children. These are the few we have, but I want them all:
- Wherever You Are, My Love will Find You
- I'd Know You Anywhere, My Love
- You're Here for a Reason
- When You Were Born
- More and More
- Love
Recommendations + Classics:
- Big Red Barn — another classic by the same author as Goodnight Moon
- Harold and the Purple Crayon — one of Tim's childhood favorites
- Guess How Much I Love You
- Where the Wild Things Are
- The Chronicles of Narnia
- Sandra Boynton Books
- I Love You Forever
- The Giving Tree
- Runaway Bunny
- Do Crocs Kiss?
- The Best Nest
- Rainbow Fish
- Maple
What else are you reading and loving with your littles? Find more pics of Etta's nursery with a complete source list here.
Today's post is in collaboration with Rugs USA, a leader in the rug industry with a commitment to quality at affordable pricing — and a whole host of designs to choose from be it modern, traditional or somewhere in-between. The images in today's post were captured by our talented friend and photographer, Ali Williamson of Alisandra Photography.
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