Personalized books are everywhere, but just how often are they written by best-selling children's authors? Fans of Sandra Boynton's clever and well-illustrated board books — The Belly Button Book and Snuggle Puppy being two of her most popular ones — can now give their tots a truly one-of-a-kind masterpiece created by the children's book superstar. For the author's latest book, Are You A Cow? ($20), parents and gift-givers can provide a lil one's name and two photographs to have the tome's text and dedication line customized specifically for the budding literary connoisseur. The entire book can be previewed online prior to purchasing, allowing grown-ups to see just where junior's face will appear among the cows, penguins, and hippos that grace the funny book's pages.
Sugarbaby: Noah from NYC
Our Sugarbaby this week hails from the Big Apple!
Noah, born February 15, 2006 in Manhattan, is quite a big boy these days and enjoys playing the guitar, romping around the playground, strutting along the balance beam at the gym, and dancing. He likes to shake his tiny tush to Little Maestros “Jump-In”, Justin Roberts “Meltdown”, and the Beatles “Ob li di, Ob la da”.
When he's not making music, he enjoys playing with fire trucks, cars, blocks, and his new kitchen set and grocery cart. His favorite stuffed animal is his Gund My First Puppy that he has slept with since he was one-day-old. To hear more about adorable Noah just read more
Lil Tip: Family Calendar
When you've got a family of three, four or more — it's hard to remember everyone's dental appointments, ballet classes and soccer practices so get organized with a family calendar.
Sandra Boynton's 2008 calendar is separated by month and by date with a column for each member of the family. And, it includes her signature illustrations, a magnetic phone list for the fridge and 500 stickers to highlight everything from birthday parties to doctor appointments.
For $11, the 16-month calendar helps kids keep track of their activities and mom to manage everyone's comings and goings.
Texts and Tunes: Sandra Boynton
I can't get enough of Sandra Boynton. In addition to her books being silly and insanely creative, they are great bait to get your babe hooked on reading. She may not learn the ABCs from Snuggle Puppy, but she will learn to love the ritual of reading it with you, which is a first step to reading.
Each board book is short and sweet — easy enough to read five of them before bedtime. Once you read one, you'll want to run out and buy the rest. And before you know it, you'll have the whole Boynton collection memorized. It's amazing how many of my father friends can, and will, sing parts of Snuggle Puppy on demand. "Ooooh Sandra Boyton of mine, every book by you is especially fine!"