Children’s Book Readathon With This Is My Truth Now– Picture Books (Week 1)

Happy Saturday!

I think I was supposed to do this yesterday, but Shhh… don’t tell Jay!  Jay is hosting a Children’s book readathon this month and is featuring much loved classics, award winning storybooks and storybooks written by fellow bloggers.  It’s a fun and well-organised event.  If you haven’t check it out as yet, click here for more info.

This week’s recommended books are:

• Where the Wild Things Are by Maurice Sendak
• Oh the Places You’ll Go by Dr. Seuss
• Goodnight Moon by Margaret Wise Brown

 

 

 

 

 

I have to be honest, I’ve only read Goodnight Moon from the original list.  Somehow Where the Wild Things Are never crossed my path before.   I had all intentions of downloading the audiobook version last night to listen, but for some reason the sale wouldn’t go through on Audible! I was very disappointed.

While Oh the Places You’ll Go is the original Sr. Seuss book, the one I’ve read over and over again is actually an adapted version called Oh, Baby, the Places You’ll Go.  The rhythm and rhymes follow the original and make for a delightful story.

Artfully adapted almost entirely from Ted Geisel’s work, this introduction to the world of Dr. Seuss is a must for expectant parents and new babies! In simple rhymed verse, author Tish Rabe extolls the joys awaiting newborns when they meet the Cat in the Hat, Horton the Elephant, Yertle the Turtle, the Great Birthday Bird, the Grinch, and twenty-five other beloved Seuss characters. Written to be read aloud to babies and babies-to-be (yes, babies in utero!), the book includes a brief introduction by Mrs. Dr. Seuss—Audrey Geisel—revealing how she and Ted were fascinated by the idea that babies could hear sounds while still in the womb—and might actually respond to the voices of their parents. A perfect gift for baby showers and newborns, Oh, Baby, the Places You’ll Go! is the ideal way to nurture a love of reading and Dr. Seuss in the very youngest children!

 

I took the blurb to heart and bought this book to read to my first son while I was pregnant.  Many nights, either I or my husband would read it to him.  We still read it to him as a baby.  We repeated the process with the next two boys as well.  But baby number 3, may have gotten a few less readings in. 🙈  It’s still a favourite on our bookshelf and son number 2 often asks me to read his ‘baby book’ for him.

The pictures are bright and colourful.  Text and images are well-placed for easy reading.  Thankfully, my sons did not expect to see places like Motta-fa-Potta-fa-Pell or visit Yertle the Turtle, after they were born, but reading about these delightful creatures and places was enchanting.  I think this book would make for a wonderful baby shower present!

 

Goodnight Moon was another one I read to my boys.

In a great green room, tucked away in bed, is a little bunny. “Goodnight room, goodnight moon.” And to all the familiar things in the softly lit room—to the picture of the three little bears sitting on chairs, to the clocks and his socks, to the mittens and the kittens, to everything one by one—the little bunny says goodnight.

In this classic of children’s literature, beloved by generations of readers and listeners, the quiet poetry of the words and the gentle, lulling illustrations combine to make a perfect book for the end of the day.

 

This is definitely a favourite in our house… well… was.  They seem to think they’re too old for it now.  I love reading this story.  The rhythm of the words and verses do instill a certain lull.  The last lines almost seem to beg to be whispered. I like the simple illustrations and the alternating colour and black and white pages.  I ended up buying the translated Spanish version as well, Buenas Noches, Luna.  The calming rhythm is also captured in the translation.  I recommend both versions!

 

I will try to get my hands on a copy of Where the Wild Things Are by Maurice Sendak and will, hopefully, post about it when I do!

Don’t forget to check out Jay’s page for more info on the Readathon and to link up with other participants.