Summer Book Haul | Baby Edition

It’s finally September and Minot, North Dakota has decided to grace us all with thunderstorms and chilly weather. This can only mean one thing: fall is here! (Yes, I am that person who breaks out the fall decor at the start of September. This is a no judging zone).

Since I did not return back to work as an elementary paraprofessional this school year—and boy do I miss all those kiddos!—I had a bit of time to kill. I spent most of my summer traveling, but August and September were completely empty. I am not the type to sit around and do nothing, as much as I wish I were, so I returned to my old stomping grounds for a short while: Barnes & Noble Booksellers. Oh, the books, the cafe, the…discounts!

Yes, I may have bought more than my fair share of books over the past month or so, but it definitely didn’t help that Barnes & Noble recently had their Book Haul. Who can resist 50% off brand new books?! Not me. So, I took this opportunity to start baby boy’s library. I plan on trying to read to him every day, so a variety of books to choose from is a necessity! I mean, you can only read The Very Hungry Caterpillar so many times… (As a prior preschool teacher and classroom aide, I know this from experience).

So without further ado, here is the collection of books I have bought for the nursery library!

Crinkle Books

I purchased one fabric crinkle book called Giraffe and Friends. In addition to the crinkly pages, it makes a rattle noise when shook and has tags sewn into each page. I was told that once baby is able to grasp, these types of books will keep him very entertained. Besides Giraffe and Friends, I only have one other crinkle book that we received as a gift, but if he ends up loving them, I will definitely buy more!

Board Books

Okay, this may be where I started going a little overboard, but board books are sturdy and will last many years. At least, this is what I told myself as I kept piling them into my basket… I had to get a couple classics—The Very Hungry Caterpillar and Click, Clack, Moo: Cows That Type. I also picked up two feel-good books: I Love You Through and Through and Wherever You Go. I heard that high contrast pages are visually stimulating to babies, so I got Look Look and Baby Animals: Black and White. We also have one about sharing (Too Many Carrots), a nighttime favorite (Goodnight, Goodnight, Construction Site), and one full of mirrors (My First I See You). Finally, because I’m starting baby boy off early to be the best nerd he can be, I picked up This Little Scientist: A Discovery Primer. Time to learn about Marie Curie, Stephen Hawking, Albert Einstein, and more!

Picture Books

Now, picture books can get a little pricey (I’m talking upwards of $20 a pop), so I’m slightly more hesitant about buying them. However, there was a mighty fine selection on the 50% off book haul table at Barnes & Noble, so I went a little cray. We’re All Wonders, which is now a hit movie, was an obvious choice with a fantastic message. Moon’s First Friends is a charming story of how Moon waited centuries for a friend to visit—a perfect blend of adorable storytelling and space science. Hooray For You! is a celebration of, you guessed it, you! Finally, Mary Poppins is a Disney classic that I could never pass up.

In addition to those book haul picks, I also bought a fat stack of non-sale books (which were pretty much on sale—thank you, employee discount!). Now, Austin usually rolls his eyes when I come home with more books, but he insisted on a few Dr. Seuss choices, so I was quick to take advantage of his enthusiasm! He picked out Fox in Socks, Green Eggs and Ham, and How the Grinch Stole Christmas. He also added “that Scottish granny book” to the list: The Wonky Donkey. (If you don’t understand that reference, please watch this video. I promise you will not be disappointed).

I mentioned to a coworker that I love books that have positive messages for kids, but a lot of the ones I was finding were targeted toward girls (tons of fantastic books about being brave, fierce, and powerful!). She recommended Dear Boy, which I read and bought immediately. It has such great messages about compassion, respect, and individuality! I could not recommend this book more! Jason and Paris Rosenthal also wrote a companion story, Dear Girl, which I haven’t read but I’m sure is equally as amazing.

And rounding out the list is good ‘ol Chicka Chicka Boom Boom, an alphabet classic.

What are the must-have books in your children’s library? I would love to hear your suggestions!