Best baby books 0-2 years

I have spent a long time thinking about and experimenting with, as a nanny and a parent, which books are the most liked, most exciting, well-written and illustrated baby books for little ones. These are my favorites.
*This list is always under revision. Please feel free to suggest more!

ABC: A Child's First Alphabet Book by, Alison Jay - I also have 123 and Picture This. Her books are beautiful, imaginative and fun. My son loves these more than other board book we have. I'm not sure why it's hard to find them now.

A Sick Day for Amos McGee - probably my favorite children's book right now. About a gentle man who works at a zoo and makes friends with the animals. When he gets sick, they take turns caring for him. Very sweet and the illustrations are incredible.

Along a Long Road - this book is all about the incredible illustrations as a man takes a long bicycle ride through different terrain. It's a minimal story but the pictures are so good. Best for 2 years and up.

Baby's Numbers - Karen Katz - simple pictures for babies learning to count.

Baby Talk - of all the babies faces books (which they love), this one seems to captivate them the most. It has colored flaps that lift up and sideways which makes it more interactive.

Barnyard Dance - Sandra Boynton - a fun, energetic, rhyming book about dancing!

Beautiful Oops! - a great story about how a mistake leads to unexpected treasures. Encouraging and very texturally engaging. A great lesson for art and life.

Brown Bear

Bear Snores On - has a nice story about a bear sleeping through a little party in his lair.  You can use silly voices. Part of a series.

Blue Hat, Green Hat - this book is simple and funny. A turkey does something silly on each page. As they get older they will appreciate the humor.

Blueberries for Sal - one of my favorites as a kid. A story about a boy who goes blueberry picking with his mom...and wanders off only to run into another young thing away from its mother. Sweet and touching.

Cat at Night - probably best for 2 years +, but wonderful illustrations about a cat's adventures at night and how they see differently than we do in the dark. A great book that will be read a lot in our house in years to come.

charley harper's abcs

charley harper's 123

Corduroy - one of my favorites as a child, Corduroy is the story of a bear in a department store who desperately wants to find a home...and one day a little girl spots him...

Do Crocs Kiss? - a large, colorful, simple lift-the-flap book about what sounds animals make. Very entertaining for babies with the flaps and big animal faces and sounds you can make. See also: Do Cows Meow?

Do Mice Eat Rice? - a wonderful, rhyming story about eating different foods. It asks if different animals would eat different foods. It's a pleasure to hear and the illustrations are huge and funny and great.

The Dot - A touching story about a little girl who thinks she can't draw until her teacher encourages her to "make a mark and see where it takes you". It has a message that with a little support, you can achieve more than you ever thought. Made me tear up.

Dwell Studio: What's Inside? Neighborhood - once baby is old enough, there's a lot to look at and name in this book.

Eating the Alphabet - I'm really into watercolor illustrations...and food. So I love this book. I tried it out on my son a few months ago and he wasn't blown away by it. But I'll bet some babies would be.

Finn Throws A Fit - we just got this book as a gift, and it's hilarious and has the BEST illustrations! It's all about a little toddler who has a bad day, throws an enormous fit, and then can't remember what he was upset about. Great for kids and adults to read.

First Words - picture book with lots to look at.

Freight Train - a small board book with great illustrations and a simple story about trains. The kids learn colors as they read. A classic.

The Gift of Nothing - this isn't just a charming kids book, this is a touching, sweet look at love and how to care for someone. It's a great book all around.

Goodnight Moon - what's to say? The perfect good night book.

The Goodnight Train - this book is a simple ride on a train where everyone is getting ready to sleep and saying goodnight. The pace and rhyming lull you into a sleepy state.

Harold and the Purple Crayon

I Am a Bunny - retro Scarry illustrations and talks about seasons. Just a sweet little bunny enjoying the seasons.

Iggy Peck Architect - best for those around 2 years +. This is a hilarious story about a precocious young boy, Ignatius, who begins building things at a very young age despite being discouraged and it comes in handy one day in a crisis. Very clever and one of my personal favorites.

I Like Toys - concentrates on shapes.

Indestructibles books-** great for teething and chewers, watercolor illustrations and no words.

Jamberry - a lovely, rhyming book about a bear and boy finding berries for jam. Simple and pleasing with bright, colorful pictures.

Knuffle Bunny - set in Brooklyn and a great story with awesome photos and illustrations.

The Little Mouse, The Red Ripe Strawberry, and The Big, Hungry Bear - large book with great illustrations about a mouse who wants to hide a strawberry from an unseen bear.

Llama Llama Red Pajama - rhyming, funny story that teaches baby why Mama/Papa may not always be available.

Miss Rumphius - this book is a great treasure. Best for kids a couple of years older than 2...but I'm marking it anyway because it's such a beautiful story.

My Friend Rabbit - a very simple story about friends and getting into trouble; great illustrations.

The Napping House - like The House in the Night, this book is a rhythmic story about a house in which everyone is napping. It's a silly story about what happens when too many creatures nap on top of one another.

Now I Am Big - a retro styled board book with simple colors and illustrations, this is an 8-page book about how a boy used to be little but now he can do different things. My son really enjoys it. There is also one about a girl called I Can Do It Myself.

Olivia - the Olivia series is awesome. This is the first book of the series and it introduces Olivia, the sassy, energetic, non-conformist little pig who wins over your heart.

One Gorilla - the pictures in this book are amazing! And if your child likes monkeys, this is the one to get.

Otis - a wonderful story about a tractor and friendship. I love this story and can't wait until my son is old enough to listen to it.

Owl Moon - a beautiful, quiet story about a boy and his father going out in the snow to listen for owls. Probably best for 2 years +.

Peek-a-Who?- a small board book with holes in the pages so you can play peek-a-boo while reading. It's a very simple story good for young babies.

Planting A Rainbow - this might be best for 2 years + but the watercolor illustrations are amazing and it's about gardening and growing food. I'll be getting this for my son once he can understand what it's about since we garden and grow food ourselves!

Richard Scarry's Cars and Trucks and Things That Go - the ultimate in vehicle silliness.

Runaway Bunny - Margaret Wise Brown - this one i'm nostalgic for because it was a special one for me and my mother. It's about a little bunny who wants to make sure Mama would find him and love him no matter what shape he takes or where he goes.

Splish Splash- has texture on each page. It's simple but I like it.

Spring Is Here - a simple, beautiful story on seasons and nature. This is my personal favorite by Taro Gomi, whose books I love. I also really like My Friends/Mis Amigos, Mommy Mommy!, and Peekaboo.

Stone Soup - originally published in 1947 this is a story about a group of soldiers who outwit a village with their cunning. It's probably best for kids 2+, but it is one of my favorites.

Ten Little Ladybugs - a rhyming, counting down of ladybugs with 3D ladybugs to touch on each page, this book is very pleasing for kids learning to understand words. I think it may be out of print now but could probably be found at the library.

The House in the Night - a beautiful black and white illustrated book that, as a friend described, is like a poem. It's rhythmic and soothing. My son is not quite there yet at 11+ months, he still needs a faster page turning time. But i LOVE this book and I'm sure he will too as he gets older. Now that I know about this book, I will always give it as a shower gift. Beautiful.

The Very Hungry Caterpillar

There's No Such Thing As A Dragon - this was one of my favorite books as a kid. Great illustrations and I loved the idea that grown ups didn't believe the boy when it was obvious they were wrong. WRONG!

Time for Bed - a soothing bedtime story with great, magical illustrations. My son doesn't like it yet, but I think he will as he gets older and has more of a grasp on language.

Trains - a small board book good for young babies, this is a simple explanation and illustrations of what trains are, do and how they work.

Trains Go - great watercolor illustrations! A large board book. My son LOVES this book. You make the sounds that different trains make. See also: Trucks Go & Diggers Go.

What Does Baby See?

Where Is Baby's Belly Button? - Karen Katz

Where The Wild Things Are - Maurice Sendak - a treasure and a classic.

Wherever You Are: My Love Will Find You - good luck not crying while reading this to your child/ren.

Who's In The Farmyard? - a board book with holes and lots of sounds to make. my son loves this book, we keep renewing it from the library.

And last but not least here's a link to a list of the top best books to give someone at a baby shower which has most of the above books and many more great ones.

I dreamed

that my friend Lemon and I came up with the rapper name "Satisfied Lepsky" and woke up laughing.

That's all.

Soup weather

With Fall comes a change in diet. I'm watching what I eat in an attempt to be more healthy for the 800th time. And that combined with dropping temps means soup.

Tonight, after a good day, I made split pea soup from Saved By Soup. It's super yummy and was so easy I can't believe it. Here's the recipe:

2 tsp canola or corn oil
1 medium-sized onion, chopped finely
2 medium-sized carrots, cut in half lengthwise, and sliced 1/2" thick
1 rib celery, trimmed and finely chopped
2 cups split peas, rinsed and picked over
4 cups defatted chicken or vegetable broth, preferably homemade
2 cups cold water
salt, pepper
(i added some chopped organic ham)

heat the oil in a heavy bottomed saucepan over medium-high heat. add onions, carrots and celery, stirring, until vegetables begin to soften, about 2 to 3 mins. add the split peas, broth and water and bring to a boil. partially cover the saucepan, reduce heat to medium-low, and simmer until soup is thick, about 45 minutes. season with salt and pepper to taste before serving.

sooooo easy and yum!

i'll try more from this cookbook and let you know how they are.

a storm has its way

so as you already know, new york was hit by hurricane sandy and turned into a noreaster or something like that. i was here, in my apartment with my husband and newborn, and it was not fun. at all. but we, unlike many other NYers, fared well with no flooding and no damage to our home. so all in all, it was just a terrifying night for yours truly. i've never experienced wind like that in my life and i've been through several hurricanes, including one on cape cod.

so as new york recovers from the damage that was done by the hurricane, i continue my little life taking care of my son. because i'm a SAHM (that's stay at home mom for those of you who don't read parenting blogs and websites), my little orbit is pretty small these days. so the lack of subway doesn't really affect me. i take walks and call people and pretty much attend to the needs of my two and a half month old son. sometimes it's the best feeling in the world and sometimes i want to smash my head against the wall. often within minutes of one another.

i have been drinking lemon water. this is the kind of thing that is mildly exciting to someone who only leaves the house to push a stroller around prospect park. i feel like it's healthy and found this on pinterest and thought i'd share it. because of course, if it's on the internet, then it's true.

i'm having my one hour of freedom before i have to go to bed so i can wake up and feed my son so i'm not going to post long.

here's a little something that made me smile when reading about the hurricane aftermath. i love cats. and i love that they band together, which they totally do unlike the stereotypes about their affect. i have three of them, i should know.

it was this part, in particular, that made me grin. picture this:

"In fact, in the eye—when the eye of the storm passed over Atlantic City, apparently, according to one of the security guards at a casino, 25 cats were walking single file down the boardwalk looking just fine. And he said the cats he looks after—Pepper, Pewee—they’re all fine.”

now, how awesome is that? 

a smoother smoothie

i'm OBSESSED with the smoothies i've been making.

i've decided to start adding whey protein powder to them after hearing about it from friends and reading about it online to make a smoothie more of a meal. it really works. i'm able to go much longer after having a smoothie before eating again if i add the protein powder.

i bought blue bonnet's chocolate flavored whey protein and add 1 scoop of that per person. today i made one with lots of frozen cherries (a great combo with the chocolate), a Tbs of unsweetened cocoa per person, 1 banana, about 1/2 cup of frozen strawberries, some cold water and a few Tbs of flax seed (sometimes i add honey and cinnamon too but not today). DELICIOUS.

i have to stop myself from making them more than once/day. that's how good it is. but it's super chocolatey. i hear the vanilla flavor is good too. but seriously, this is good shit.

i'm already looking forward to one tomorrow. mmmm...chocolate whey powder.

mini corn.

last night as we were eating chinese food my husband and i had this conversation.

me: what the hell are mini corn anyway?
him: what?
me: what are mini corn? are they really mini corns?
him: (sigh) yes.
me: oh.

a new friend.

today was a good day and a hard day ... again.

right now brooklyn is shrouded in fog. i love fog so much, and miss it from my days in san francisco. we only get a few days of fog per year and right now it's cool and misty and you can barely see a few blocks away. i love it.

my mom's best friend visited me this morning and met my son. she brought me this guy. i opened the door and she was holding it in her arms. i burst out laughing.

 it was so good to see her. she's a lovely person. she held my baby, cooing over him and talking to him. it was wonderful to see. she had never been to my current apartment and looked all around commenting on different things. she saw the wall of photos i have of my mother and stopped, quiet for a moment. she said softly, 'how beautiful...i've never seen these pictures.' and held up a hand, got tears in her eyes and looked at me, shaking her head. then she kept studying them and smiling.

we had a great visit. she shared some of her experiences as a wife and mother and listened to mine thus far. the time passed quickly and when she left i was sad to see her go.

after she left i was more tired than i've been in weeks. i could have slept for days. my son was tired and fussy and i didn't get the nap i hoped for, but we managed through the hours, took a walk in the evening as the fog rolled in. i talked with friends who listened to my difficulties as a new mom and gave me good advice.

and i returned to our quiet apartment with my tired son. i saw the photos on the wall of my mom and found myself crying. seeing her friend had brought back to me just how real and wonderful she had been, had made real the fact that she won't meet my son. i will tell him all about her and shower him with the love i know she would've bestowed upon him, but it's not the same.

sometimes people say that i should remember that if she were alive today it wouldn't be like the rose-colored nostalgic memories i have of her. (they should see some of my memories.) it would be fraught with all the complexities of a real world relationship. and i know that. i don't need rose-colored. the thing people don't realize is that even if she were alive and we fought and disagreed and were at odds it would be worlds better than this. because right now there is me with photos on my wall having a one sided conversation. and all there is on the other side of that is silence. interminable, relentless silence. i'll take the complexities of real world any day over that never ending mute reality.

it was so good to see her friend and have her in my space. to remember what it's like to have an older person who has known you for your whole life see a change in you, reach out and share some of it with you. i loved that.

the rest of the day was hard for me. and now i'm exhausted. but i had to write this down so i don't forget. as my son fell asleep on my body tonight i felt such tenderness looking down at him. his chubby cheeks, his little arm flung across my body. i am often filled with so much love i feel like i'm going to burst and the deepest, most intense feeling of dread. i can't protect him enough. but i hope i can hold onto the memories of these nights when i nurse him to sleep. how he snuggles into my body and sighs so contentedly. what a muffin.