Anonymous wrote:I love the book The Giving Tree.

Me too. This is the first gift I bought for my baby when I found out I was pregnant.

Dear Zoo
Sandra Boynton board books
Black and white board books
Anything lift the flap

Grandfather Twilight, it is a beautiful book and perfect for bed time!

I always buy books for much older kids (like "David Copperfield").

Anonymous wrote:First, I wouldn't write on the book. That poor mom is going to have to keep all those books if they're personalized (most people MIGHT get a handful of such books, but not from everybody at the shower)!

For some of the classics, like Dr. Seuss, I don't mind writing in the book. Those books are typically kept. However, if you don't want to write in the book, what I will usually do is get a piece of cardstock and cut out a rectangle that fits on the inside cover of the book. Then I will make loops of painter's tape (sticky side out) for each corner, and then put the card into the front cover. I write my message on that. It will stay in for a long time, and if they want to donate the book, they can take the card out and keep or trash the card and the book will be unmarked. You can custom cut the card to fit the book either small like a printer's plate, or larger and shaped like the book so that it just leaves a border of the book liner around the card.

Corduroy
Blueberries for Sal
Make Way for Ducklings

my favorite book recommendation website is amightygirl.com --and not just for girls!

I agree that you don't need to focus on newborn books, unless you have one that is off-beat. My DD loved "Bear on a Bike" as an infant, and I had never heard of it before, so that's often my go-to if I want to give a baby book.

Other options are classic authors or stories for preschool kids. Think Maurice Sendak or Robert McCloskey or Kevin Henkes. My SIL is not a huge reader, so I've made a point of giving a book to my niece for every Christmas and birthday. It's been fun. For Christmas last year I got a bound version of all the Winnie the Pooh stories.

Also, this is one of my favorite blogs: http://annieandaunt.blogspot.com/ The aunt is the head bookseller for the Barston's Child's Play toy stores which all have amazing book collections. They have lots of great ideas including their own reviews/discussions of the books.

I need something to write but don't have much space to write it. It needs to be short and sweet?

My best friend is doing the book instead of cards thing and I bought the ugly duckling. I always thought it was good for kids because it teaches them no matter how different they are, they are still beautiful.

I have baby shower coming up for my best friend and I was lost on what book too because I wanted to get something that meant something...The mom to be means the world to me. I found a book that got me all choked up (granted I'm also pregnant and super hormonal) "If I could keep you little..." by Marianne Richmond. Still not sure what to write...

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote: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.

My older DD read them last summer (age 9) and loved them.

OP here. Did she mention if any of the dated references confused her at all? Sometimes I would be puzzled when reading it, but that didn't diminish my love for it at all. Elizabeth Enright was my idol, I even wrote her a "fan" letter once and was a tiny bit crushed when I didn't get an answer. (Because when you're 10 years old you totally think you'll hear back!)

Anonymous wrote: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.

My older DD read them last summer (age 9) and loved them.

Anonymous wrote:First, I wouldn't write on the book. That poor mom is going to have to keep all those books if they're personalized (most people MIGHT get a handful of such books, but not from everybody at the shower)!

Second, you mentioned a book you loved (Melendy Family) which I've never heard of, which is a good thing. That will be an original idea that won't be duplicated. And don't be afraid to get a book for an older child. He'll probably be inundated with baby board books.

OP here. I think I'm going to do that (go with The Melendy Family). It meant so much to me that I think I'll be able to make the note more heartfelt.

I also don't like the idea of writing directly in the book because ink fades over time. I was thinking about attaching some kind of little card to it and having the note printed out instead of using ink. Wish I was artsy and could think of a cute idea for how to present the note.

First, I wouldn't write on the book. That poor mom is going to have to keep all those books if they're personalized (most people MIGHT get a handful of such books, but not from everybody at the shower)!

Second, you mentioned a book you loved (Melendy Family) which I've never heard of, which is a good thing. That will be an original idea that won't be duplicated. And don't be afraid to get a book for an older child. He'll probably be inundated with baby board books.