Dads Read Too

JER: “ Marilyn’s Monster ” by author Michelle Knudsen and illustrator Matt Phelan was a recommendation from a librarian at the Alexandria Duncan Branch Library.  I can see why it is one of her favorites.  Although Marilyn didn’t have a Monster yet, she wasn’t too worried because a lot of kids in her class didn’t have one either.  You have to wait for your monster to find you, that was just how it worked.  But Marilyn started to become despondent after her best efforts to be presentable and punctual (to make sure her Monster could find her) still ended up with her being the last person in her class without a Monster.  Your Monster was supposed to find you, but Marilyn decided she was going to set out to look anyways. Great book to help re-frame “monsters” as friendly companions and “how good it would be to have [a] monster beside her [in the dark]”.

JER: “ Tickle My Ears ” by Jörg Mühle is one of the best interactive children’s books I’ve come across.  Ejler caught onto the interactive cues really quickly: you need to tap Little Rabbit on the shoulder, clap your hands, say “Hoppity-hop”, give Little Rabbit’s ears a tickle, gently stroke Little Rabbit’s back (Ejler’s favorite), and more before telling Little Rabbit to “Sleep tight”. This book is definitely worth tracking down for a 1-3 year old.

JER: “ The Going to Bed Book” by Sandra Boynton is one of my favorite bedtime boardbooks.  It has a great rhythm, and it always makes me smile when they all “go up to exercise”.