0 Books for the first 24 months : My Favourite Thing

Part of the #Write31Days challenge.
Book categories for the first 24 months.

My Favourite Thing

This is another category which can work magical wonders with babies who are already interested in reading and also can encourage the reluctant readers - can be thought as a bribe technique. Get a book on the child's favourite thing - could be a toy, an animal or just about anything. A picture book centered around that favourite thing or just featuring it can bring immense joy to the reader.

There are any picks from us in this category since to each his own favourite exists.

But some of our favourites reviewed in the blog earlier are

Babies fascinated by the dogs : Could do Emily Gravett Dogs.
Those by elephants could do : Elmer
Those by teddy bears could do ;Knuffle Bunny
Those by caterpillar could do The Hungry Caterpillar
Fascinated by Cats could do Matilda's Cat.
Those by Fishes/Sea could do Commotion in the Ocean ; Giles Andreae

0 Books for the first 24 months : Books with repetitive text

Part of the #Write31Days challenge.
Book categories for the first 24 months.

Books with repetitive text

This is another hit category as it offers the chance to the little ones to start picture reading. Books which have the same set of lines being repeated often are a joy to discover the capability of the child to say out those sentences easily - a moment of pride for the child and the parent, this!

These books , when read to, is best when paused at the repeated text and prompting the child to say it in baby-talk! So many picture books which offer scope for this in excellent style.

Our picks:

Pete the cat, I Love my White Shoes : Eric Litwin : 

The text , "Did Pete cry?, Goodneess No! He kept walking along and singing his song " followed by the "I Love by White shoes.." is great in this category. We have raved about Pete the Cat in the category of Singable, Danceable too. Our detailed review here.

Have you seen my Cat ? : Eric Carle.

 A boy who loses his cat goes around looking for his cat. The text "Have you seen my cat? and "This is not my cat" is repeated all through and is an adorable classic.

0 Books for the first 24 months : One laugh out loud book

Part of the write31days

Laugh out loud

Another must have category since the profound joy of giggling and laughing out loud with the child at this age is blissful. While we might be led to think that they may not take to humor, they can take us by surprise if we introduce in the right way , what more right that a picture book!

Our pick

no!David: David Shannon: a complete laugh out, this one, with only the 2 words No David, this is the book that every child at they age can best relate to. Amusing illustrations , everyday situations and the simplicity : this book is sure to be a laugh riot.

Detailed review here. ( posting from phone ) 

0 Books for the first 24 months : Books on Colors

Part of the #Write31Days challenge.
Book categories for the first 24 months.

Books on Colors.

Not for the only reason of knowing and learning colors, but for the sheer beauty some of these books bring - with its colorful pictures.

One book on Colors - A beautifully illustrated one at that - is a must have in a child's library. Take the "learning" colors bit as a bonus after your devour the pretty illustrations on these.

Our picks:

Blue Chameleon : An intelligently illustrated book on colors, with some bits of textures thrown in and also a book to show how a Chameleon changes colors - If your child can take his mind off the pretty, crafty illustrations - then there is more than a lesson on this by. Our detailed review here.


Freight Trains - Donald Crews : Another beautifully illustrated book on Freight Trains and its journey through the bridges, city and the night and day. Our detailed review here.

0 Books for the first 24 months : Going to bed books

Part of the Write31days series.

Going to bed book

In many of a household , books are used to ease the bed time
Tantrums. But, there also exist picture books which feature those tantrums or those that depict stories / pictures about going to bed.

Our picks

Tuck Me in : a beautiful lift the flap which brings out how animals get tucked in to bed. The cover page featuring a zebra being tucked under a end sheet is cuteness overload.


Going to bed: Sandra Boynton: in true Boynton style this is a great book with pretty illustrations and excellent rhyme.

The above 2 were loved in our home.
Detailed review and links will be updated soon
P.s: posting from mobile phone. 

0 Books for the first 24 months : Wordless

Part of the #Write31Days challenge.
Book categories for the first 24 months.

Wordless Books

Most of us might be skeptical about introducing wordless books at this age - We might think that to the child who can't yet read, a wordless book is as good as a one with words. But, one wordless book is a must own for your own good and it will grow on the child. 

Wordless books are a class part when it comes to illustrations and it is sheer joy to discover a wordless picture along with a child - especially ones older than about 18 months. As a parent, this has left in complete awe - the imagination that it gives to as a parent when you narrate it to a very young child and then as the child gets older letting him/her discover the story by themselves.

Though some wordless picture books should wait for advanced readers - there are a few which we can introduce that a very young age.

Our picks for the first 24 months:

Have you seen my duckling? - Nancy Tafuri

One of the ducklings wanders away and the momma duckling goes looking for it only to discover that the duckling has been all the while close to her - only she couldn't see it. The bubbling at as young as 18 months when read this book actually thought that the little duckling was playing a game of hide and seek with the mum. That is a true wordless book - left to the imagination of the reader.

Our detailed review here.

We have enjoyed this book to bits.

Where's Walrus? - Stephen Savage

Another wordless book for the very young - this one is hilarious too. A walrus escapes the zoo and disguises himself amidst dancers, painters, firemen , business men to fool the zoo keeper who is on the lookout for him. Intelligent illustrations and the imagination make this a lovely read. 

Our detailed review here.

0 Books for the first 24 months: Black and White

Part of the #Write31Days challenge.
Book categories for the first 24 months.

Black and White Pictures

Another perfect choice fort he wee-baby days. Babies first see black, white and shaded of grey. Books with black and white pictures will sure simulate them. In the little time that they stay awake during these days, these books are a perfect choice to keep them engaged.

Our picks:

Look! Look : Peter Leninthal : Has lovely black and white pictures of children smiling, hands reaching and the sun shining - very visually appealing pictures and is such a great choice for the first book.

Wee Gallery - Art cards : We haven't personally used these but have chanced upon them in bookstores and just love them. Beautifully illustrated penguins and pandas - these as cards make it perfect for the first few months.

0 Books for the first 24 months : Read, Sing and Dance

Part of the #Write31Days series in October.

This is a series of book categories for picture books in the first 24 months.

The next category is : Read, Sing and Dance.

Books which have verse that can be made up into a song of your own and even a couple of dance steps is great for babies - especially post 18 months and with those who wouldn't sit down to read a book.

Our pick is this category is undoubtedly Pete the Cat - He is lovable, singable, danceable and over all - Plain awesome. Pete the cat has been a huge success with the bubbling.

Our detailed review here and our #LoveBooks exchange package [orgainised by The Eductors' Spin On it ]was based on Pete the cat and On-Board the Mommyship loved it as much we did.

0 Books for the first 24 months: Touch and Feel books

Part of the Write31Days challenge.
Book categories for the first 24 months.

Touch and feel books

These are really great for this age group , especially during the baby months for the child to touch , feel and explore textures in the books. Touch and feel books are available in bright pictures which feature just about everything : toys, animals , babies ,: the key is to choose the category that your child loves.

Our picks

Peek-a-boo Moo: a lady bird book: this features farm animals and parts of the animal picture has textured touch and feel elements and was a great hit since the bubbling was a cow-lover .

This little fairy : this is a series which has " this little .." , we bought the fairy one since it had a lot of glittery wand and soft dress .

Posting from the phone , hence no links. Will update once access to laptop.

0 Books for the first 24 months: Books on Toys

Part of the #Write31Days series in October.
This is a series of book categories for picture books in the first 24 months.
Got to know from the Arts Tales FB page that today is "Take your teddy bear to work" day. Hence moved this category for today.

Our next category is "Books about Toys"

When it comes to picture books in the first 24 months, it is great to choose things that a child can best relate to, books based on things that an essential part of the child's everyday life - Isn't toys a good choice then? A blanket buddy, a soft toy, a rattle, a teether, a pounding toy, blocks , sometimes even books as toys - it has been a integral part or else atleast a passing phase in your baby's first 2 years.

Our pick:

Knuffle Bunny : Mo Willems : The first book that comes to mind when I think about toys. It is a 3 books series that is centered around Trixie from her toddlerhood to being an older child and how she always misplaces her loved, one of a kind Knuffle Bunny. (pronounced with the "K" not being silent). The first book is probably the best suited for the first 24 months since Trixie is a toddler who can't yet speak in legible full sentences in that book and struggles to get her dad to understand that she misplaced her Knuffle Bunny. Our detailed review here.

0 Books for the first 24 months : Momma Child Books

Part of the #Write31Days series in October.
This is a series of book categories for picture books in the first 24 months.
Our next category is Momma-Child book.

Well, if we talking about babies, they bond most instantly with the mum. Mum's kiss, hug, cuddle - well yes, mum's the word at that age. So can a picture book featuring momma and baby go wrong.

One momma-child book is a must own in your child's first library and there are so many beautiful books out there - written and illustration just as beautiful as the mother's love for the baby.

Our picks for the first 24 months in this category

1. The Runaway Bunny - Margaret Wise Brown : The story line is about a baby bunny which wants to run away from the momma and how the momma answers back on the forms she will take to be with the bunny, to protect the bunny - come what may. Doesn't it say it all? Till the baby reaches the stage to really get the story line and be touched by it, this book serves as a beautifully illustrated one to just watch the pictures - with alternate black and white illustrations - It is an treat to the eye. Later on, a game of identify the baby bunny who disguises himself among plants in the garden, snow in the mountain and a fish in the pond is a sheer pleasure with a young child. When you a growing reader, the re-read will guarantee touchy, cuddly and may be even teary eyed moments.
Our detailed review here.

2. A Bit Lost : Chris Haughton : Another beautifully illustrated, simple with repeated text book which is a story of a baby owl who falls off a nest and goes around describing his mother. A squirrel helps find the mother with all the identifications like big, pointy ears and big eyes.
The book can be fully picture read by a child who doesn't even know alphabets. Such is the effect of the subject in the book, repeated text and power of illustrations

 

0 Books for the first 24 months : Books on Animals

Part of the #Write31Days series in October.

This is a series of book categories for picture books in the first 24 months.


Books on Animals

After bright colorful pictures and faces of babies, children of less than 24 months take to animals very well. A book on animals or any one particular animal/pet the child loves is a must-own in your little one's library.

Our Picks:


Dear Zoo : Rod Campbell : A cute classic that doubles as a lift-the-flap is a story of a little boy who writes to the zoo asking for a pet. Zoo sends him an animal one by one in the mail box - the little ones delight by pulling up the mail box to see which animal. The boy then rejects each of them giving a reason - this gives opportunity aplenty to emote with the young ones with the snake being scary and a giraffe too tall and so on. Finally , the boy is happy with a puppy. 

Hippo has a Hat : Julia Donaldson : This is one of the few Julia Donaldson's which isn't a full fleged story book. This book also doubles as a humorous read. The book's illustrations feature a rather modern take on the animals having each animal dress up in clothes since they are on a shopping trip to shop for clothes for a party. One of our first book and loved to bits by the bubbling till today. Our detailed review here.

0 Books for the first 24 months : Lift the Flap/ Pull the tab

Part of the #Write31Days series in October. 

This is a series of book categories for picture books in the first 24 months.

Lift the Flap / Pull the Tab Books:

Roughly over 6 months, lift the flaps are great. Babies of that age love Peek-a-boo as a game and doing it with books makes it all the more fun. For a parent who seems to find difficulty with getting the child to get interested in books, a lift the flap one would do the trick.

While choosing lift the flap ones, there is no best pick. It is best to choose the ones that involve the objects/characters that your child likes. Choose ones which have babies hidden under the flaps, or a park scene with objects found in the park hidden under the flap or a one with animals. Gauge your child's current fascination and choose a lift the flap one in that category.

Our favourites have been 

1.  Peek-a-boo Happy Baby by Busy Baby : This one has been read, flaps lifted a zillion times and has had us giggling, cuddling, laughing and of course playing peek-a-boo for a long time since the first time we bought @4 months. The bubbling was baby crazy then. 

2. I feel Happy : Little Learners: This is a pull the tab book which talks about emotions on each page , also introduces the child to family members and friends . Our detailed review here.

0 A is for Ahlbergs - Peepo Review

Part of the A to Z of Picture book authors and illustrators.

This is the first author roundup at the Bubble Ink blog. 

An author round-up post will have the following sections:

Author/Illustrator introduction

Books that the picture book lover Bubble Ink has read : This will include books read at libraries, borrowed from friends or even bookshop reads :).

Books read to the Bubbling: Some of the books may not be age-appropriate for the bubbling, so the ones read to her will be listed here.

Bubble Ink pick: This is my favourite choosing only from the ones I have read by the author

Bubbling's pick: Bubbling favourite from the ones that have been read to her.
More reads that we think are great : This is also limited to the books that we have come to hear. Any suggestions on this are welcome as comments in the blog.

The Ahlbergs:
A husband-wife duo with Allan, the writer and Janet the illustrator.

Coutesy: http://www.teachingideas.co.uk/library/authors/janetandallanahlberg.htm

Pic courtesy: http://www.teachingideas.co.uk/library/authors/janetandallanahlberg.htm
Books that Bubble Ink has read :
Peepo, Each Peach Pear Plum, FunnyBones, Clothes Horse and other stories and The Pencil.

Books read to the Bubbling:
Peepo and Each Peach Pear Plum

Bubble Ink pick:
The Pencil (This is only Kid-Lit eBook that we own)


Bubbling pick:
Peepo


Some more that we think are great:
Starting School, Previously have been on our wish list.

This post will review the book - Peepo.

The Book:

Peepo is written by Allan Ahlberg and illustrated by Janet Ahlberg.




 The Bubble:
A perfect first book for babies , the book has a circle cut out on every page to have a peek on to what it happening around the baby. For babies, the baby illustrations are easy to relate to, for toddlers - peeping entertains, for older toddlers - it is a great game of guessing. 
The book features the activities of a baby from morning till bedtime and what he sees from his crib, in his high chair, in his push chair, at the park, on his sister's lap.It offers a small peep to what he sees the rest of the family doing and the following opens to the family scene. The book ends on a beautiful note with the baby put back to bed leaving the read guessing what he sees in his dream.

Bubble Ink's verdict:
We love the pretty and detail oriented illustrations. The page spread that shows the scene of the family has been done with a lot of attention to detail. Details to the extent of the baby's night suit being hung to warm on the oven door to the baby actually wearing it to bed when kissed good night. The text says the sisters are looking for a tin to go fishing and the next scene has the sisters sitting beside the pond fishing with the tin nearby. Details like this and the lovely rhyming text will sure have this book grow with the baby.
We bought ours at a book-sale.
We give it 4-bubbles.

Bubbling's verdict:
The bubbling didn't have this book as a baby but when she was about 2 years old when she still loved Peek-a-boo books and also had a liking for babies. So the book was an instant hit. She explains what the baby does on each page and we discuss the page which shows the rest of the family.
It is a bubbling-tantalizing-three.

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