Board Books Represent

In a recent ALSC blog post, Raina Tuakoi reflected on why board books are just as important as other children's literature for older kids in representing more than just a narrow view.

She writes "Board books introduce new parents and their little babies to early literacy, initiating the joy of reading. They provide caregivers with the opportunity to connect and engage with little ones in a way that is mutually beneficial. The past few years board books written by authors of color and/or depict children of color have substantially increased. The significance of culturally diverse board books emphasizes the beauty of differences in addition to teaching the basics. The positive impacts of representation in board books is countless as it increases cultural awareness, appreciation of diversity, and promotes a sense of belonging in literature for all children. I believe when children see themselves reflected in stories it builds their self-confidence and will reassure them that their presence, their voice is in society is truly valuable. Board books with representation give children the early stepping stones to weave stories of their own into reality."

To read more of her thoughts, please stop here. [More Than Just a Board Book. Tuakoi, Raina. ALSC blog. October 27, 2023.]

Tots "Step Up" to Picture Books

Littles can be tough on books. That's why board books are so great. But how does one help them transition to the more easily damaged picture books without destruction following?  

Photo: Amy Steinbauer. ALSC blog

In a recent ALSC blog post, Amy Steinbauer shared how she solved that problem with withdrawn (but still in good condition) books serving as "practice books" in the library. She writes "I often hear parents or caregivers say that they want their toddlers/preschoolers to move past board books and into picture books, but they are concerned that the books are too delicate for their child’s use. They know the toddler death grip is real or notorious destructive preschoolers may accidentally or not, tear or rip the pages of picture books. These fears may sound important to patrons who don’t want to destroy precious books or who may worry about a fine, but at the library, we want books to be read, and used, and enjoyed! (Even if they are sometimes destroyed]."

To read the full post, please stop here. [Practice Picture Books. Steinbauer, Amy. ALSC blog. April 7, 2023]

Brooke's Books - Board Books

Brooke Newberry, La Crosse Public Library, is back with her monthly column sharing recommendations on great picture books for your collection. 

My heart belongs to board books! These small but mighty books are perfect for our youngest patrons. These are a few of my favorite board books from the year so far. 

Hello Baby Animals, Who are you?

Loes Botman

Duo Press, 2021

Meet some adorable baby animals -- a wobbly foal, a playful kid, muddy piglets and many more. Young children will love seeing familiar baby animals, discovering new ones and learning their special names.

Dog's First Baby: A Board Book

Natalie Nelson

Quirk Books, 2021

Welcoming a new baby to the family isn’t always easy. When his humans bring home someone new, Dog is determined to sniff out the truth. Is this arrival another dog, or something else? As Dog investigates, he might just find a new friend in this loud, silly creature.

My Heart Beats

Rina Singh

Orca, 2021

No matter what language we speak, no matter where we live in the world, our hearts beat with the same rhythm. A beautiful photographic board book featuring babies from all over the world and the sounds their hearts make as they beat with love.

City Baby

Laurie Elmquist 

Orca, 2021

Bustling streets, lively squares and busy restaurants are baby’s playground when they are in the big city. So much to see and do as baby’s stroller navigates the crowded avenues or baby takes a break in a quiet park to blow bubbles and chase pigeons. Rhyming verse from Laurie Elmquist takes the reader on a journey through a festive big city.

Everyone’s Sleepy but the Baby

Tracy C. Gold

Familius, 2021

After a long day, the whole family is ready to hit the hay . . . except for the baby. Why is it so hard to get the baby to sleep? With hilarious illustrations that might hit a little too close to home for new parents, Everyone’s Sleepy but the Baby is the perfect, true-to-life bedtime story that will help even the most reluctant sleeper wind down for bed.

Families Grow

Dan Saks

Rise x Penguin, 2021

This warm appreciation of love invites the youngest readers to share in the joy and excitement of expecting families. The lyrical, rhyming text subtly references pregnancy, surrogacy, and adoption, gently touching on the different ways a family can grow. The book's celebratory yet comforting tone incites both appreciation and understanding, leaving readers with a lasting message of unconditional familial love.

Brooke's Books - Mindfulness and Yoga

Brooke Newberry, La Crosse Public Library, is back with her monthly column sharing recommendations on great picture books for your collection. 

As we shift into summer planning mode, I hope everyone enjoys a recent sampling of yoga/meditation/breathing books. When things are beginning to seem overwhelming (like the last 13 months of our lives!), remember to take a breath. 

Yoga Animals: A Wild Introduction to Kid-Friendly Poses

Paige Towler

National Geographic 2020

Step-by-step instructions explain each animal inspired yoga pose in this clever picture books. Real life photos of animals will engage children in acting out each move and make any accompanying noise. 

The Three Little Yogis and the Wolf Who Lost His Breath

Susan Verde

Abrams, 2020

This retelling of the classic tale focuses on what might have happened if the wolf had taken a few minutes to meditate instead of huff and puff. Children will likely identify with the wolf’s big emotions and this title would work well in a storytime setting. 

 

Yoga Bunny: Simple Poses for Little Ones

Sarah Jane Hinder

Sounds True, 2020

The next book in this popular board book series compares woodland creatures to animal poses. Little ones will delight in copying the body movements and identifying the animals. 

 

I Breathe

Susie Brooks

Kane Miller, 2020 

This title is perfect for introducing child-friendly yoga poses and breathing techniques. This text is perfect for children and adults who need some assistance in controlling big emotions. 

Yoga Baby

Amanda Flinn

Beaming Books 2020

This rhyming board book describes a baby and mother’s journey through a yoga practice. A guide in the back further encourages and guides caregivers into incorporating yoga into daily life with a young child.  

Throw-it Thursday: For the Love of Board Books!

Parents love board books. Small children love board books. But let’s face it. Board books get some of the roughest treatment in the library. Babies and toddlers aren’t the gentlest of creatures. These books get tossed around, pulled apart, and sucked on and chewed more than any other collection in the library (at least, this is true in my experience). Therefore, we should constantly be monitoring these items for condition as they are checked out and returned. They are practically self-weeding. 

 

The spine on this board book is obviously damaged and was not worth fixing. 

I really like that the board book collection tends to weed itself. When they are bent and torn in half, it’s time to go. When they are chewed and slimy, chuck ‘em out the door-I mean come on! Would YOU want to give your child something another kid has salivated all over? Especially these days?! Sometimes board books might look grungy or be sticky from little fingers full of food. If you want to try to clean them, good for you! But sometimes, cleaning them just isn't enough and no matter what you do, they still look grungy or are still sticky. If that’s the case, just let them go. At least you can say you tried. 

 

This board book has obviously seen better days. The edge is soggy and waterlogged and the inside page has also been damaged as a result. 

Weeding by condition gets rid of most of the problem items in this particular collection. For most people, this will seem good enough but it’s still a good idea to run a report once a year or so to see if there are any board books that just aren’t getting checked out (and if you have anything show up on this list, WHY ARE YOU STILL HOLDING ON TO IT?! Those kids and parents obviously don’t want it, so throw it out!) By weeding out all the gross looking board books, you can make it look like a whole new collection of shiny, exciting titles for your little people to discover!  

Guest post by: Ashley Borman, Technical Services Librarian, Clintonville Public Library