Granny Penguin's Library

In honor of our visit to the Granny's house, I thought I'd share her growing collection of books about grandmothers, grandmas, nanas, etc. Jax already enjoys hearing familiar stories, and the collection is fun because it offers something special to them and their relationship. Unfortunately she only has 10... and one that's not REALLY a kid book (So we'll squeeze it into a Top 11). I'm linking to Amazon again, just for informational purposes.

I'm writing this post so you can get to my favorites first. Lets just say that Granny has started collecting books and rather than a true "Top" 11, these would be the "Only" 11.

1. Piglet and Granny

by Margaret Wild

This is probably my favorite, and definitely Jax and Granny's favorite so far. The story is about a little pig waiting to spend time with his Granny. We get to hear all about the fun things Granny has taught him as a parade of farm animals help him wait. When we find out what has taken so long, it is a delightful surprise for them to enjoy together. I am sure I'll hear it a thousand times more in the years to come... and I'm looking forward to that.

2. Good Granny, Bad Granny

by Mary McHugh

This one's not really a children's book, but more of one from the humor section. Each page spread has a comparison of what "Good" Granny would to as opposed to "Bad" Granny. Some are funnier than others and, of course, the truth probably lies somewhere between any two extremes. Nice for a good laugh for a new grandmother.

3. My Granny's Purse

by P. H. Hanson

This is more of a board book with flip out goodies than a classic book. It is an imagined purse with all manner of fun things that you might (or might not) expect to find in a delightful purse. It brought back memories of time with my own Grandma; knowing there would be gum, and tiny paper and tiny scissors for paper dolls all within that magic bag.

4. WHAT! Cried Granny: An Almost Bedtime Story

by Kate Lum

This book just stinkin' hilarious. The idea is that a grandmother tries to get her grandson to go to sleep. He inevitably finds an excuse why he cannot which shocks the grandmother so much that she goes to hyperbolic lengths to fix it. I'm sure this is destined to be a favorite because it is just so much fun to repeat the title phrase with each scenario.

5. Our Granny

by Margaret Wild

The social worker in me just eats this book up. It is all about the diversity of grandmothers. It includes descriptions of all manner; from physical, to emotional, to where one might live. The pictures are a rollicking good time and made me giggle right out loud. I'm a big fan of celebrating what makes us unique and, goodness knows, grandmothers are some of the most unique among us.

6. Banjo Granny

by Sarah Martin Busse and Jacqueline Briggs Martin

This is the delightful tale of a Granny traveling with her Banjo to be with her grandson, Owen. It probably has not only my favorite paintings of those listed here, but also the best word pictures. How can you not love a "grandbaby, who goes wiggly, jiggly, all-around giggly and tip over tumble for bluegrass music?"

7. In Grandmother's Arms

by Jayne C. Shelton

This fanciful book is a reflection of reading with Grandmother's and is a summary of the Reading Rainbow song... you know "I can go anywhere, just take a look, it's in a book..." I like how it emphasizes the security and whimsy of reading together, even if it's not the most catchy or interesting of the books with similar themes.

8. My Granny Went to Market: A Roung-the-World Counting Rhyme

by Stella Blackstone and Christopher Corr

This book has child-like art and a fun rhyme of what a traveling Granny might bring back from around the world. This is a fun little read-aloud that I'm sure will be more fun as Jax gets a little older and more familiar with repetition. This would also be fun with a child old enough to use a map or globe to locate the various places the Granny visits. (It's the last of the books I'd actually recommend.)

9. A Day at Gramma's

by Marcia Cate Overstreet

This book has lovely illustrations but was so sappy sweet I was concerned about my upping my son's chances of diabetes. The little story is simple enough, but the prayers on each page in the paintings are a little over the top. Not really one for mass appeal, but a really nice thought none the less.

10. I'm Glad I'm Your Grandma

by Bill & Kathy Horlacher

This is a Christian based Early Reader "Level 1." Each page shows a different Grandma and Grandchild/ren and states times the Granmda is glad she's "your Grandma." It mostly makes me want to write a mean version stating times Grandma's aren't so glad: "When I'm selling my heirlooms to help you make bail..."

11. Granny's Fish Story

by Phyllis LaFarge

This is a cute mini-chapter book about a little girl staying over night with her Granny. The plot is simple and easy to follow, but not very exciting. If you're looking for a nondescript way to burn some time, this book is a good choice. There's probably a good reason the last reprint was 1977.

Do you have a favorite grandparent book? Have any special relationship books you love to share? Got thoughts on any of these books?

Rookery Reading: 11 Parenting Books Better Than "What to Expect"

I love to read. I want my son to love to read. Not just stories and fiction: I'm an infoholic... I can't get enough information on anything. So, besides the topics I've covered thus far, on of the things other expectant or new moms ask is if I can recommend any good books. Short answer: Yes! Long answer: I've read probably close to a hundred-a hundred and fifty books on pregnancy and parenting outside of my Master's degree in Social Work with Children and Families. Most of them are helpful, but not that exciting or different from the rest. (I will resist the urge to rant against "What to Expect When You're Expecting." My one note is that it tends to scare the crap out of expectant Mom's and isn't all that accurate.)

This is just my short list, I'm sure there will be another whole post on the topic at some point, but, for now, here are a few recommended reads linked to amazon dot com. (I don't get a commission or anything, and I tend to be a library junkie to feed my infoholic needs, but giving the link at least gets you to a page with the ISBN and what not).

If you're looking for something informative and/or pregnancy related that will make you laugh... which is secretly WAY more important than discussing changes in hair follicles, I recommend checking out:

Belly Laughs
by Jenny McCarthy

I love this one because it's got super short chapters so you feel like you're getting somewhere, and it stays really light hearted. I don't agree with everything she does/says, but it's a nice, informative, read.

Sippy Cups Are Not for Chardonnay: And Other Things I Had to Learn as a New Mom
by Stefanie Wilder-Taylor

This just had me laughing outloud and reading whole portions to complete strangers. By far the funniest short honest look at becoming a mom I read the whole time I was pregnant.

If you're still in need of a giggle, along with some quite practical type tips, my husband and I really enjoyed:

The Worst-Case Scenario Survival Handbook: Parenting
by Joshua Piven, David Borgenict, and Sarah Jordan

If you're looking for one of the best books on natural child birth, I send folks to check out:

Husband-Coached Childbirth: The Bradley Method of Natural Childbirth
by Robert A. Bradley, Marjie Hathaway, Jay Hathaway, and James Hathaway

(Of course, you should probably know that I was Bradley baby, my parents were Bradley instructors, and this was the method we used with Jax...) Disclaimer aside, it is a good basic look at the philosophies behind low/no intervention birth.

When thinking about parenting philosophy, I felt like it was important to find out what research had to say, and make sure I wasn't just assuming my cultural norms were best because, well, I saw them as norms.

Our Babies, Ourselves: How Biology and Culture Shape the Way We Parent
by Meredith F. Small

Looks at humans and how we best function. It delves into some great research on things like breastfeeding and co-sleeping. I love that it looks at both research and anthropology. But, if you're really into anthropology, I cannot reccomend enough:

A World of Babies: Imagined Childcare Guides for Seven Societies
by Judy S. DeLoache and Alma Gottlieb

This book was an absolute delight. Written by a psychologist and an anthropologist who wrote "Dr. Spock" like guides from the perspective of other cultures. Very insightful things that make you reconsider why we do what we do. For example, if you lived in an African tribe you might feel the need to give your child daily enemas... it's the right and healthy thing to do! Really good for opening one's mind and rethinking one's Western ways without feeling judged.

After checking out the research on co-sleeping I was really intrigued, but still quite fearful, this book looks at not only the benefits of sleep sharing, but how it effects children and families in the long term:

Good Nights
by Maria Goodavage and Dr. Jay Gordon

And, because my greatest fear as a new parent was SIDS, I would be remiss if I did not share with you the book that helped me calm WAY down by feeling like there were things I could do to at least lower my risk:

SIDS
by William Sears, M.D.

Although I admit I did not actually read it cover to cover, the best and most comprehensive resource on breastfeeding has just been updated in a new edition:

The Womanly Art of Breastfeeding
by La Leche League International

Although I try to avoid bringing up religion, or at least getting preachy, I had several friends who asked if I could recommend something with a Christian perspective:

The Complete Book of Christian Parenting and Child Care: A Medical and Moral Guide to Raising Happy Healthy Children
by William Sears and Martha Sears

And, last but not least, just when you think you've got things about figured out, a book to shake your assumptions to your core, but leave you much better informed:

Nurture Shock: New Thinking About Children
by Po Bronson and Ashley Merryman

Is there another topic for which you wish you had a good book reccomendation? Got other great books you always recommend to new parents? Post them in the comments below!