What to write in a book for a shower gift?

[Anonymous]

I've been invited to my niece's baby shower and she has suggested that, in lieu of cards, the guest bring a children's book with a personalized note written in it.

I'm at a loss; I'm not good at stuff like this and was wondering if anyone has any ideas? I'm not that close to this niece but I do want to come up with something thoughtful and enduring. (We do not know the baby's sex.)

[Anonymous]

Dear Baby Lastname,

I am your great aunt (your name) I am so excited to meet you and share my favorite book with you. I hope you love it as much as I did when I was a little girl. OR I hope you love to read as much as I did when I was a child, reading can take you on many adventures.

All my love,
Great Aunt (your name)


Also avoid the standard good night moon, cat & the hat

[Anonymous]

That's a really sweet note, PP, thank you!

I also want to avoid an "obvious" choice for a book, any suggestions? My children are grown and it's been a while since I was in the know on good titles -- any good recent ones you can recommend?

[Anonymous]

As for book recommendations, are there are any that you remember reading often to your own children when they were younger? Or, although it's going further back, any you can remember from when you were younger?

[Anonymous]

Well when I was growing up I loved Dr. Seuss, was mesmerized by his rhymes and would beg people to read them to me over and over. But then I grew up to be a language geek, so I'm not sure how universal their appeal might be, especially to this up-and-coming generation.

Actually, my all-time favorite childhood book was "The Melendy Family" by Elizabeth Enright, and the sequels. I read them dozens of times and never tired of them. But they're dated, written in the 1940s with references that perplexed me even back in the 60s-70s.

[Anonymous]

I'm the note poster, hope it gives you a good place to start.
I love the list the association of libraries puts out, maybe you will see something you like http://www.ala.org/alsc/awardsgrants/notalists/ncb

[Anonymous]

I love the book The Giving Tree.

[Anonymous]

I think first PP had it right. A simple, "can't wait to meet you and looking forward to sharing books and memories" kind of thing. I love all things Shel Silverstein. I also love "click clack, moo" and "duck for president" they are so funny.

[Anonymous]

I really love City Dog, County Frog by Mo Willems. The illustrations are beautiful watercolors and there is not too much text which means you can read it early to baby.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I love the book The Giving Tree.

I got 4 copies of the giving tree, along with 3 good night moon and 3 the places you will go at my book shower - I wanted no gifts my friends insisted on books.

[Anonymous]

Thanks everyone, I appreciate all the input!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I love the book The Giving Tree.

I HATE the book The Giving Tree.

[Anonymous]

And To think that I saw it on mulberry st- all time fave growing up with great memories of reading it with my dad constantly!

[Anonymous]

All of Mo Willems books are great!

[Anonymous]

Dr. Suess is great! "Are You My Mother?" was my favorite book as a child. I think it's nicest to get a classic book that you enjoyed as a child, and then your note can mention that you liked the book as a child.

I like classics, but skip the obvious ones--consider Mo Willems, Dr. Suess (but NOT *Oh, the Places You'll Go!*), and Robert McCloskey. If you're up for a little sense of humor, some recent books I like include *I Want My Hat Back," *This is Not My Hat,* and "Z is for Moose.*