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Often I hear parents lamenting, discussing, debating, or downright ranting about tolerable “kid’s music” or the lack thereof. Given the massive industry that is churning out an avalanche of crap entertainment for kids, you’d think that there would be a better and more coherent source for helping parents sort out the good stuff. A Rolling Stone for kids, of sorts. Perhaps we could call it Rolling Pebble?
I digress.
Before getting into publishing, I was in the toy business, and I spent nearly seven years working in a variety of different positions in one of the best independent toy businesses in the US–Henry Bear’s Park–headquartered in Cambridge, MA. Day in and day out I logged thousands of hours in those stores, and just about every minute of those thousands of hours was filled with kids music. Some good, and some–well–let’s not go there.
My criteria for great music for kids is pretty simple: it must stand up to repeated playing, over and over and over, without making the adult listener a) want to commit suicide because it’s so mind-numbingly saccharine, or b) bash their head into the wall because they can’t get the songs out ’cause they’re too damn catchy. Raffi, who I think is one of the most genius songrwriters for kids ever, falls into this latter category and so isn’t recommended below. Let me say for the record, however, that the song Baby Beluga is one of the most perfect kids songs ever written. Seriously. Kids love it, and it’s a blast to sing it to them.
Anyway, here is an essential dozen list of CDs I can confidently recommend, plus some extra stuff. They are great, everyone will enjoy them, and there’s quite a genre range so you can pick your poison. Many of the CDs are from series with additional offerings so you can go out and explore. I’m sure you have your own favorites that aren’t listed here, and if they pass the 1,000 play test, feel free to chime in below. Although I always support buying local if possible, I am including the Amazon links to my suggestions, because there you can listen to samples of every track. Enjoy!
One last note: There is nothing wrong with playing “real” music for kids. In fact, I think it’s a critical part of their cultural education. Why play a CD of kids singing reggae when you can just play great reggae? Like reading, kids will grow up loving music if they’re raised with lots of it around. Share what you love.
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These first two are from a great series by a company called Music for Little People, and they are compilations of original music, so no saccharine kiddie pap. They have a bunch of Genre CD’s also, “A Child’s Celebration of” Show Tunes, (singer)Song(writer), Dance Music, Classical, Silly Songs, Jazz, etc. These two are a good start but every CD in the series is awesome.
Music for Little People
ASIN: B000002M7Z
Favorite track: Garden Song by David Mallett
Music for Little People
ASIN: B000002M5Q
Favorite Track: St. Judy’s Comet by Paul Simon
*
I love Dan Zanes. He used to be in the Boston indie rock band the Del Fuegos, but he has seriously hit the big time with his CDs for kids. His theory as a musical pro with kids of his own was play good music that everyone will love. He’s right on, and he gets plenty of great musicians to go along like Cheryl Crow etc. It sounds just like an old fashioned hootenanny would sound if a rocker got it together. His song choices range far outside of traditional kid’s songs and his enthusiasm is infectious. (Even his hair is excited.) If he ever happens to be touring near you, it’s worth it to go, if only to see the legions of adoring five year olds in the mosh pit. Any of Dan’s CD’s are good (I particularly *heart* his sea shanty CD with kids singing about “beer and tabbaccy” below) but these two are a nice introduction:
Festival Five Records
ASIN: B000051ZNR
Favorite Track: Brown Girl in the Ring
Festival Five Records
ASIN: B000QMU214
Favorite Track: All for Me Grog
*
On a completely different vibe is Tony Bennett’s kid’s album. So smooth and hip you could play it at a cocktail party, and your guests might not even notice that he’s singing duets with the likes of Kermit the Frog and Rosie O’Donnell.
Sony
ASIN: B00000C285
Favorite Track: (It’s Only) A Paper Moon
*
Many people don’t know that Woody Guthrie wrote a large body of songs for his kids, and they are all really charming. His son Arlo has recorded many of them on this excellent CD which also includes some of the original recordings by Woody.
Rounder
ASIN: B0000003H1
Favorite Track: Howdi Do
*
There are a ton of lullaby CDs out there, and they are not created equal. I am a total sucker for this album, both because it is so great musically, but also because all the songs were recorded and in some cases written by famous male musicians for their children. The album has a subtle old style country bluegrass feel, but it’s not at all hokey—okay—the song Little Hands IS hokey, but you can play around it.
Daddy’s Sing Goodnight: A Father’s Collection of Sleepytime Songs
Sugarhill
ASIN: B000000F3B
Favorite Track: Nolabye by Jerry Douglas
*
Ah, the Putumayo Kids Present CDs. These comps of World Music by genre are completely awesome. There are many, many of these, all equally wonderful from all over the world, including Africa and Asia, so they can just pick what you like by genre. Bonus: because these are compilations, you can discover whole new areas of music by picking up the full titles by the artists on these albums you particularly like. These are a few of my personal favs:
Putumayo
ASIN: B00000JT4P
Favorite Track: Bongo Bong by Manu Chao
Putumayo
ASIN: B00008XESC
Favorite Track: Durme Durme (Brazil) – Fortuna
Putumayo
ASIN: B000B5UNH4
Favorite Track: Chatouiller Le Ciel Avec Toi – Alain Schneider
Putumayo
ASIN: B000CC4W7I
Favorite Track: Here Comes The Sun – The Burning Souls
*
And last but not least, this one speaks for itself all year round:
CBS
ASIN: B000ICLSMY
Favorite Track: Linus & Lucy
An alternative for our Non-Christian Brethren:
CBS
ASIN: B000000XDH
*
BONUS: As I look back on this list I realize it’s weighted more heavily to the folk end of things than rock. There are plenty of great original rock albums that are awesome for kids just as they are. Here’s a few suggestions, but any upbeat album with clean language will do the trick:
The Flaming Lips: Yoshimi Battles the Pink Robots
The Jackson 5: The Ultimate Collection
Various: Motown’s Greatest Hits
(This last album does include some innuendo, but it’s very fun overall. You might want to skip over Centerfold by J. Giles and avoid the inevitable explanation scene you will have to deal with eventually. But hits are hits for a reason and greatest hits collections are usually awesome for kids.)
One day recently I walked into my office and sitting on my bright red couch were copies of 365 Penguins and Cat and Fish Go to See. Two great books that looked great together. It made me wonder if I could come up with an Essential Dozen list of books that do awesome things with black and white illustration. The criteria for the list were pretty basic: 1) Great content; and 2) Great art. As a designer this was too good a challenge to pass up, so I spent some time thinking about it and perusing my bookshelf, and finally obsessively culling through the work of my favorite illustrators. And lo and behold, I had a FABULOUS list when I was finished! These books would ordinarily never wind up on a list together, so it was fun to pull them into a collection. Each and every one is a worthy addition to any book lover’s—or design lover’s—shelf.
365 PENGUINS by Jean-Luc Fromental, illustrated by Joëlle Jolivet
978-0810944602; Harry Abrams; November 2006; Ages 3-8; $17.95 HC
I wrote extensively about this wonderful book in a full review a few weeks ago, so let me just say that this is one of my favorite books of last year. It has the magic trio of great eye-popping art, fun concept, and hilarious writing.
A FARMER’S ALPHABET by Mary Azarian
978-0879233945; David R. Godine; October 2005; Ages 4-8; $19.95 HC
I could have chosen any of Mary Azarian’s work for this list, because her woodcuts embody the very definition of great use of positive and negative space in illustration. This book was commissioned by the Vermont Board of Education, and it depicts scenes from rural farm life in a series of 26 alphabet scenes. From Apple to Barn and Cow right through Zinnia, each illustration is a masterpiece of design and execution.
ALPHABET OF BOATS by James Dodds
978-0939510726; Mystic Seaport Museum; July 2002; Ages 3-7; $9.95 HC
This is probably the most obscure book on this list, but it is one of my treasured favorites. With a petite 5”x 5” trim, this book features lovely black and white woodcuts of 26 different kinds of boats from around the world, one for each letter of the alphabet. This little book feels like a prize left over from a salty old captain’s sea trunk.
CAT AND FISH GO TO SEE by Joan Grant, illustrated by Neil Curtis
978-1894965392; Simply Read Books; November 2006; Ages 4-8;$16.95 HC
This book is one of the most striking examples of black and white design that has crossed my desk in quite some time. Evocative of the illustrations of M.C. Escher and the batik designs of Southeast Asia, every illustration in this book pops off the page. The story is a lovely parable of friendship between two unlikely pals who are curious about where the waves go. Their journey of discovery is a wonderful tale of friendship, adventure, and the pleasures of being true to oneself.
FIVE FOR A LITTLE ONE by Chris Raschka
978-0689845994; Athaneum; June 2006; Ages 2-5; $16.95 HC
The “five” in the title refers to senses, and the “little one” is the very cute floppy eared bunny who is at the center of this sweet tale from Caldecott Award-winning illustrator Chris Raschka. With bouncy rhyming text, and good use of strong ink lines and cheery color accents, this book is a perfect introduction to the concept of senses for the youngest readers.
KITTEN’S FIRST FULL MOON by Kevin Henkes
978-0060588281; Greenwillow; March 2004; Ages 2-5; $15.99 HC
What to say about Kevin Henkes? Aside from being one of the most brilliant children’s book writers working today, he is also a genius when it comes to illustration. This gentle tale about a little kitten who mistakes the full moon for a bowl of milk won a Caldecott Medal, and deservedly so. The simplicity of the story is a part of its brilliance, as are the luminous black and white drawings with their effective use of line and shading.
LOOK, LOOK! by Peter Linethal
978-0525420286; Dutton; September 1998; Ages 1-3; $6.99 BB
The high-contrast papercut artwork in this bold board book, along with the striking use of red letters on a black and white ground make this title perfect for catching the attention of the very youngest readers. The images, like a cat stretching and flowers blooming are a surprise, and take this book out of the predictable run-of-the-mill offerings of board books for babies.
SCRIBBLES by Taro Gomi
978-0811855099; Chronicle; April 2006; All Ages; $18.95 PA
Taro Gomi is one of the most prolific illustrators on the international scene, known as much for his design of clothing and other consumer goods as for his more than 300 books for readers of all ages. This book is a magnificent 368 page invitation to creative exploration, with chunky lines and loose free flowing shapes. Part coloring book, part design study, and fun for children ages 2 to 102. Make sure you have some crayons handy.
THE RAVEN (Visions in Poetry Series) by Edgar Allen Poe, Illustrated by Ryan Price
978-1553374732; Kids Can Press; August 2006; Ages 12+; $16.95 HC
Part of the excellent Visions in Poetry Series, this handsome edition of Edgar Allen Poe’s brooding masterpiece is perfectly illustrated with Price’s shadowy dry point illustrations. The narrator’s decent into madness over the refrain “Nevermore” is a visceral, terrifying vision. I would also encourage you to check out the other titles in this series, including Jabberwocky, Casey at the Bat, The Highwayman, and the Lady of Shalott. Each poem has been given a striking illustrative reinterpretation that will appeal to YA readers.
THE STORY OF FERDINAND by Munro Leaf, illustrated by Robert Lawson
978-0670674244; Viking; January 1936; Ages 4-8; $17.99 HC
One of the most beloved stories of all time. Ferdinand would rather smell the roses than fight, but when he is stung by a bee, his stomping and snorting convince everyone that he is the fiercest bull around. When he is carted off to Madrid for a bull fight, hilarity ensues. Robert Lawson’s classic black and white illustrations have been updated with some subtle watercolor washes, but they retain all the wonderful charm that have made them a favorite for countless readers since 1936.
WHAT IS BLACK AND WHITE? By Petr Horacek
978-0763614607; Candlewick Press; June 2001; Ages 2-5; $4.99 BB
With inventive pairings of opposites and bold expressive artwork, this book is a great introduction to the concept of color opposites for the very youngest readers. What I love about this book is the way that the black and white stripes at the edge of each spread get tighter and tighter until the last spread reveals what is black AND white—a zebra of course! Fun and playful.
WHERE THE SIDEWALK ENDS by Shel Silverstein
978-0060572341; HarperCollins; January 2004; Ages 9-12; $17.99 HC
“If you are a dreamer, come in,
If you are a dreamer,
A wisher, a liar,
A hope-er, a pray-er,
A magic bean buyer . . . Come in . . .”
More than any other title on this list, this book holds a special place in my heart. It was my first experience of falling in love with poetry as a child, and the writing and offbeat illustrations are just as fresh today as they where when this book was first published in 1963. No good children’s book collection is complete without this infectious and brilliant anthology.
ADDENDUM 1/5:
I have already stared hearing from readers about additional B&W faves that belong on an essentials list so I will add them below. The truth is, I could probably come up with another dozen! (Feel free to e-mail me your sugestions.)
- Jumanji by Chris Van Allsburg
- Millions of Cats by Wanda Gag
- The Spider and the Fly by Tony diTerlizzi
- Make Way for Ducklings by Robert McClosky
- Blueberries for Sal by Robert McClosky
- Little Red Lighthouse and the Great Grey Bridge by H. Swift, illustrated by Lynn Ward
- Biggest Bear by Lynn Ward
Very often I am asked (by people outside the book industry) what I consider to be the quintessential list of first board books for very young children. This is one of those questions that everyone in the book industry has a favorite answer for, and I guarantee you everyone’s answer will be different. There are many wonderful board books out there, and other lovely books like PAT THE BUNNY and HAROLD AND THE PURPLE CRAYON which do not come in board book format, and so are not on this list although I certainly recommend them.
My list is made up of some obvious classics that no child should be without, and some newer titles that I think will be beloved enough to become classics in their own right. I adore each and every one of these books, and have read them with many children.
So, that being said, here is what I would buy for baby’s first board book dozen:
BIG LITTLE by Leslie Patricelli
0763619515; Candlewick Press; September 2003; $6.95
One of the more recent books on this list, but an instant classic that takes the big little concept and turns it on its laugh-out-loud ear with unexpected pairings and bright expressive art. One of a series including QUIET LOUD and YUMMY YUCKY.
BROWN BEAR, BROWN BEAR WHAT DO YOU SEE? by Bill Martin, illustrated by Eric Carle
0805047905; Henry Holt; September 1996; $7.95
Originally published in 1983, this book’s beautiful bold animal illustrations and predictive structure are surefire hits with children of all ages, and the story closes with a wonderful twist that brings it all home for the young reader. Stands up to reading over and over and over.
DUCK IN A TRUCK by Jez Alborough
1929132832; Kane Miller; September 2005; $7.99
What to do when a duck in a truck gets stuck in the muck? This rollicking rhyming tale is a satisfying read full of delicious wordplay and silliness from start to finish. Children love the percussive sound of the language and duck’s sticky problem. Originally published in hardcover in 2002.
GOODNIGHT MOON by Margaret Wise Brown, illustrated by Clement Hurd
0694003611; Harper; September 1991; $7.95
Written in 1947, this is one of the bestselling children’s books of all time, and with good reason. The most perfect bedtime story ever written, as little rabbit says goodnight to everything in sight in his warm and cozy bedroom. The poetry of the story is a magical call to sweet dreams and tender sleep.
GOOD NIGHT, GORILLA by Peggy Rathman
0399230033; Penguin; February 1996; $7.99
Wonderful and almost entirely wordless, children love this story about an exhausted zookeeper making his last round of the night to check on the animals. What he doesn’t know is that gorilla has taken his keys, and he and his wife are about to have some bedtime company. Young readers will enjoy telling this story back to you with each successive reading.
JAMBERRY by Bruce Degen
0694006513; HarperCollins; December 1994; $7.99
Starting with “One berry, Two berry, Pick me a blueberry,” and building to an absolute crescendo of rhyming brilliance, this book is an ode to anyone who has ever enjoyed a summer’s day, the company of a good friend, and a mouthful of fresh ripe berries. The delicious language in this book begs to be read aloud with enthusiasm, and I guarantee kids cannot resist dancing and singing along. Originally published in 1983.
PEEK-A-WHO? by Nina Laden
0811826023; Chronicle; February 2000; $6.95
A deceptively simple board book that makes playful use of a young child’s love of peek-a-boo. Each page has “Peek-a..” on the left, and a generous cutaway on the right that reveals only part of a hidden surprise, like the cow in “Peek a…Moo!”. Bright eye-catching illustrations and a mirror in the back (Peek-a…You!) make this one a keeper.
SO MANY BUNNIES by Rick Walton, illustrated by Paige Miglio
0688173640; HarperCollins; March 2000; $6.99
Although a lesser known title, this book is perhaps my favorite of the list. A twist on the old lady in the shoe, in this alphabet/counting book Mama Bunny has 26 children, which she tucks away for bed in every nook and cranny of her house. Starting with “1 was named Abel. He slept on the table” and continuing to “26 was named Zed. He slept on the shed”, this book’s lovely detailed illustrations and inventive rhymes make it a great bedtime read.
THE RUNAWAY BUNNY by Margaret Wise Brown, illustrated by Clement Hurd
0061074292; HarperCollins; February 1991; $6.99
Never out of print since its initial publication in 1942, this book is a reassuring testament to the power of a mother’s love. Little bunny decides to run away, but no matter what he says he will change into–a fish in a stream, a rock on a mountain, a bird in a tree–Mama rabbit knows how to find him. Perfect for very young children who are feeling separation anxiety.
THE SNOWY DAY by Ezra Jack Keats
0670867330; Penguin; January 1996; $6.99
The winner of the Caldecott Medal in 1963, this is one of the all-time great stories of a young boy’s adventure in the snowy city. The text is a wonderful example of writing the experience of a young child, without too much complication or explanation, and the artwork showcases Keats’ genius for design and color. This is a favorite no matter what the season or geographic location.
THE UP AND DOWN BOOK by Mary Blair
0375830057; Golden Books; August 2004; $5.99
Long out of print, with art by one of the great illustrators of the mid-20th century, the original artwork for this book was re-scanned from the Golden Books archives to produce this fun new edition. This book’s distinctive vertical shape is the perfect compliment to the exuberant illustrations, and the bouncy read-aloud text begs the reader’s voice to go up and down with each page. A great concept book.
THE VERY HUNGRY CATERPILLAR by Eric Carle
0399226907; Penguin; March 1994; $10.99
No board book collection would be complete without this story of an ambitious caterpillar who eats his way through a succession of items until his stomach aches and he can go no further. Young readers love the ingenious caterpillar holes on each page, the counting format, and the transformative payoff at the end. A masterpiece of great design and book engineering.
pixie stix kids pix 
Essential Dozen: New Parent(ing) Books
May 14, 2007 in Essential Booklists, General Comments | 6 comments
Hello from Babyland. I’m glad to be back.
It’s been a wild few weeks here at pixie stix, but I’m happy to say that it’s also been totally amazing, and our pixie is doing great! (see below)
In thinking about what would be my first post A.B. (after-baby), it seemed that the old adage “write from where you’re at” seemed particularly appropriate. So here’s a round up of the best new parenting books I’ve come across, and they all belong within arm’s reach for anyone expecting or recently delivered.
Let me say that I believe there is such a thing as too much reading when it comes to pregnancy and parenting books. Certainly there is no shortage of books out there that seem purposely calculated to overwhelm and scare the bejesus out of anyone who’s new to the baby game. I have found that the best books in this category combine sound advice with a level headed approach, and I completely embrace anything that delivers the above with some humor and honesty. A couple of these books will come in handy a little later on, but are so good they bear mentioning here. Any of these would be a great shower gift, or the salvation of a sleep-starved new parent. Enjoy!
THE BABY BOOK by William M. Sears, M.D. and Martha Sears
978-0316778008; Little Brown; March 2003; $21.95
This is the closest thing you will find to an owner’s manual for a baby. Covering everything from breast feeding to new baby care, and all kinds of parenting advice for both moms and dads, this is the definitive guide written by a husband and wife team who are a pediatrician and nurse respectively. Commonsensical and strongly supportive of the attachment parenting style of childrearing.
THE PREGNANCY BOOK by William M. Sears, M.D. and Martha Sears
978-0316779142; Little Brown; June 1997; $16.95
Written by the same team as THE BABY BOOK above, this book shines at giving grounded, sensible advice that looks at both the changing body and the changing feelings of a pregnant women. Covers everything from nutrition to exercise to picking a birth team. Strikes a better balance between information and advice than its main competition WHAT TO EXPECT WHEN YOU ARE EXPECTING, which can provide a little TOO much information at times.
THE HAPPIEST BABY ON THE BLOCK by Harvey Karp, M.D.
978-0553381467; Bantam; May 2003; $14.00
One of my biggest pre-birth fears was that I was going to get a fussy baby that I would be unable to soothe. This book is the bible for calming fussy babies in the first three months of life, and it is full of practical strategies for tapping into a newborn’s powerful relaxation reflexes. The theory here is that babies need another trimester before they are really ready to take on the world, so for the first stage, they love anything that duplicates their experience of being in the womb. This book is great reading for any soon to be parent.
BE PREPARED by Gary Greenberg and Jeannie Hayden
978-0743251549; Simon & Schuster; June 2004; $13.00
Often times dads are left high and dry when it comes to practical advice for dealing with the chaos a newborn brings to his life. If MacGyver wrote a book for new dads this would be it. Packed with practical information, developmental advice, and delivered mano-a-mano, this book is the perfect gift for the dad to be. My favorite tip: How to improvise a diaper from a tube sock and duct tape.
OPERATING INSTRUCTIONS by Anne Lamott
978-1400079094; Knopf; March 2005; $13.95
There is plenty of ink spilled about all of the beauty and sanctity of the birth process, the sweet names, the lovely showers, and the blissful birth stories. And then there is Anne Lamott, who has written one of the most honest, funny, heart wrenching, and ultimately redeeming books about how goddamn hard it is to survive the first year of single parenthood. At turns painful and uplifting, this is a brave book that makes it okay to admit that new parenthood is a messy, difficult thing. An amazing book.
GREAT LIES TO TELL SMALL KIDS by Andy Riley
978-0452286245; Penguin; January 2006; $11.00
This book is the perfect gift for anyone who appreciates a slightly darker take on parenthood. A totally hysterical litany of great lies that are just credible enough to fake out children. Like, if you put a piece of cheese in the DVD player, you will see a movie about cows. Great new dad gift.
HATCHED by Sloan Tanen
978-1596912779; Bloomsbury; April 2007; $14.95
A totally biting satire on new mommyhood from the author of BITTER WITH BAGGAGE SEEKS SAME. Tanen’s little photographic vignettes, featuring a cast of slightly neurotic fluffy yellow chicks, cast a jaundiced eye on the Eden of the new mommy experience. From the chick who can’t stand to look at one more onesie at her shower, to the exhausted hen who takes co-sleeping to a whole new level by crawling into her son’s crib, this book will have you laughing so hard you cry. “Goonight moon, hello martini!”
HOW TO TALK SO KIDS WILL LISTEN, AND LISTEN SO KIDS WILL TALK by Adele Faber
978-0380811960; HarperCollins; January 1999; $13.95
This book is really for a few years into the parenthood experience, but it is so good, I have to mention it here. This book is a boot camp communication program for teaching parents to effectively talk to their kids without crushing their feelings or creating poor communication patterns. Totally practical, this book is full of role plays, scenarios, and hands on ideas for putting its principles into action. It’s sold millions of copies, and there’s a reason.
THE TAO OF POOP by Vivian Elizabeth Glyck
978-1590302873; Shambala; March 2006; $16.95
This deceptively slight little tome is a wealth of support for new moms stuck at home with a baby. By taking a Buddhist approach, Glyck addresses many of the most common anxieties and stressors of new moms with thoughtful, honest, and supportive ideas about slowing down and being in the moment. Of all of the new baby books I received, I find that I return to this one over and over for reassurance.
THE NO CRY SLEEP SOLUTION by Elizabeth Pantley
978-0071381390; McGraw-Hill; March 2002; $14.95
The number one issue for parents of young children is sleep. Well-meaning strangers ask whether your baby sleeps thorough the night, and it seems at times like you will never get a full night of sleep ever again. Although there are dozens of books out there purporting to have the perfect plan for helping your child sleep, this book is head and shoulders above the rest for helping parents solve sleep problems with love and without harsh “cry-it-out” techniques.
SHE’S HAVING A BABY–AND I’M HAVING A BREAKDOWN by James Douglas Barron
978-0688158255; HarperCollins; June 1998; $11.95
Whereas women will happily read a pile of pregnancy books taller than the bed, many men want their information short, sweet, and bite-sized. They want all the good bits with no fluff. Well, this is the book for them. Concise and remarkably honest, the tips in this book are all numbered and broken into three sections– one for each trimester. As the title suggests, there is a healthy sense of humor here, but the information is excellent and delivered in the style of a best friend who is sharing his hard won knowledge. Great gift for the expectant dad.
COOL NAMES FOR BABIES by Pamela Satran and Linda Rosenkrantz
978-0312304393; St. Martin’s; August 2003; $9.95
Go to any bookstore with a parenting section, and you will see a shelf of baby naming books with titles like 50,001 BEST BABY NAMES, and 100,000+ BABY NAMES. But as anyone who has had to do it will tell you, finding a good name is really about quality, not quantity. This little book is a fun read, and does a great job of taking a fresh look at the baby naming game. With tons of offbeat lists like color names, music names, coolest cowboy names, coolest hero names, and an explanation of why names like Ivy are cooler than Ivana, this book is great for sparking a creative discussion of the future baby’s nome de plume.
And last but not least….. here’s our little pixie now.
She’s a blast.