Here we are, in the middle of our Big Gay DC trip, enjoying some middle class hetero family life bliss outside of Charlottesville, VA. When we were planning this trip, we realized it had been almost a year since we’d seen my oBFF (the o is for original, as compared to my pregnant lesbian BFF, featured in the censored tweets) and her adorable little monkey in real life. We’ve, of course, been following his growth and development via texts and Facebook, but that is simply not the same.
Hanging out at Parkero’s place, it’s not very hard to figure out this is a family that values books. I decided maybe I’d see if I could figure out which books I’d sent (and check my progress, see if I’d taken care of him every month). So, this is what I found (with a few comments by Parkero’s mom).
Before the official start…Mouse Paint by Ellen Stoll Walsh
April: Peas On Earth by Todd H. Doodler
The first official selection was also featured in our #WaitingForBabyBookCollection.
May: Where The Wild Things Are by Maurice Sendak
I picked this one the in the same month as we got ‘In the Night Kitchen,’ just after Maurice Sendak passed away. Apparently this is one of Parkero’s favorites…seems he doesn’t find the Wild Things the least bit scary or intimidating, even flashed them one of his earliest smiles.
June: Seriously, Just Go to Sleep by Adam Mansbach
The description on the cover, ‘The children’s version of the #1 New York Times best-selling classic,’ might overstate the impact of the original, but they are both pretty awesome. I picked this one when both Parkero and his mom were having trouble sleeping through the night.
July/August: Clifford y Los Sonidos de Los Animales and Clifford y Los Opuestos by Norman Bridwell
These two were inspired by my childhood love of the big red dog, and chosen in honor of Parkero’s trilingual mom (she speaks English, Spanish AND French).
September: Yummy YUCKY by Leslie Patricelli
The quote on the back of this one says: ‘Some things are yummy. Some things are yucky. Everything is fun.’ Kind of also sums up life philosophy in Parkero’s family. At first I was a little worried about labeling things as good or bad. But, the only legitimate food item in the yucky category is hot sauce, which I fully expect Parkero to learn to love as much as his mom does.
And then I got into a little rut and picked two (mediocre) seasonal options:
October: Biscuit Visits the Pumpkin Patch by Alyssa Satin Capucilli, pictures by Pat Schories
I sent this with a little pumpkin romper to make up for the uninspired book selection.
November: Five Silly Turkeys by Salina Yoon
The best part of this book is the sparkly, crinkly turkey tail feathers that act like tabs to help you turn the pages.
December: Everyone Eats! by Julia Kuo
The book where you learn that all your favorite forest animals eat all the same things you do!
Her next request: the sequel to December’s selection. Um, which one would that be?
Jessica
January 18, 2013
Oh my, he is adorable!