My friend is having her baby shower next month and the hostess asked that instead of cards to go with the gifts you buy a book for their LO. So what are some of your favorite books to read your kids?
The hosts for my shower did this for me. I was worried people would think it was poor etiquette but I found out later my SIL included a really cute poem that made it seem a little less "tacky." I really appreciated it and everyone seemed to have fun with it. Its neat now reading G a book, and seeing the inscription of who got it for her and why.
The hosts for my shower did this for me. I was worried people would think it was poor etiquette but I found out later my SIL included a really cute poem that made it seem a little less "tacky." I really appreciated it and everyone seemed to have fun with it. Its neat now reading G a book, and seeing the inscription of who got it for her and why.
Good Night Moon was always my favorite.
Yes, that is what the host did (her MIL). I can see how it can be viewed as tacky but I usually go into these events saying I would like to spend x amount of money. So if they want me to buy a book I will and the rest of the money will go towards whatever else I decide to buy.
Tacky or not this friend's MIL planned and is hosting it. I have know this friend for 27 years and they have been TTC for almost 10 years and had all but given up. I couldn't be happier for them so any and all book suggestions are appreciated.
The giving tee makes me so sad, I love the if you give a mouse, moose, pig books and cloudy with a chance of meatballs. Please get the original though cuz the illustrations are better. Nothing worse than a book based on a movie based on a book. Love the movie though
The Napping House is a favorite. Font get a popular book for fear of duplicates. I also love love love The Monster at the End of the Book. It was my fav as a kid. It's a Golden Book about Grover!!
I had this for my shower as well. Cards can cost $5 a used book can be less then this and when you write a personalized message to baby in it the child has a lifetime reminder not a card that is stuffed in a box somewhere. I don't think it's tacky at all.
The Napping House is a favorite. Font get a popular book for fear of duplicates. I also love love love The Monster at the End of the Book. It was my fav as a kid. It's a Golden Book about Grover!!
This was also my fav book and I found it in my pile of kids books I saved (I'm a teacher). I have it on LOs bookshelf.
I also think you should avoid popular books to avoid a duplicate. What about an older book. I like the don't let the pigeon drive the bus series.
I don't think it's tacky at all. I've been to multiple showers like this. DS1 loves mike mulligan and the steam shovel, Dr. Seuss, and each peach pear plum. I find that board books were our go-to books for the first two years.
I can't believe how many think it's not tacky to tell people what to spend their money on!
I was given On The Night You Were Born, and it is a beautiful book. I think too many people will go with the better known classics, like Love You Forever.
The books instead of cards thing actually doesn't bug me, but I am vehemently anti cards. They are a waste of money and paper and resources and you might as well pay to fill landfills. I'd rather spend 5 bucks on a book, or what I usually do, sticky note on a 5$ bill and write something along the lines of I figured you'd rather have this instead of a card that will be dumped in the trash a couple hours later
The books instead of cards thing actually doesn't bug me, but I am vehemently anti cards. They are a waste of money and paper and resources and you might as well pay to fill landfills. I'd rather spend 5 bucks on a book, or what I usually do, sticky note on a 5$ bill and write something along the lines of I figured you'd rather have this instead of a card that will be dumped in the trash a couple hours later
Aw. I love cards! I have every card I've ever received (my mom also saved/saves cards). I have a big shoe box in my keepsake box that is full of cards! I put all the cards from my wedding on a ring so I can flip through them whenever I want. I guess I'm weird!
I wouldn't dig the book thing, because when I see handwriting in books, it makes me stabby.
I like old school books.... Amelia Bedelia (anyone else read those?) or Disney book series are my favorite.
Or, you could get the "oh the places you'll go" book, but if expect duplicates of that- it's very common.
Married DH : 7/7/12; 3 fur babies (2 dogs and 1 cat) DS born 9/3/13; DD born 7/22/15; LO due 5/28/18 FS (age 5) and FD (age 2) to become AS/AD very soon!
I don't think this is tacky at all. The host (not the recipient) is trying to orchestrate a neat little theme that is very personal. I'm sure the couple and their LO will treasure the books. And board books are cheap.
I mean, anyone who registered could be considered tacky by some people's logic...they are asking for specific gifts too. I never registered for gifts. It felt weird. Just NMS.
Meh.
DS1 received "Personal penguin" by Susan boynton (sp?). It's super cute. And it's actually a song too. He's loved it since he was a little guy.
The book idea is great. Like a PP said - cards can cost $5-6 bucks anyways. Why not give a book instead. My mom kept all the cards I got as a kid and of all the things in my memory box / these are the least interesting.
The hostess for my shower did this as well. (Well they didn't say don't bring a card, just asked guests to bring their favorite childhood book for Baby Lastname) I loved it and the guests loved it too. I don't think it was tacky.
I love The Pokey Little Puppy, Caps for Sale, Chicka Chicka Boom Boom, and anything Dr. Suess of course!
Ok, people keep saying "board books are cheap" or whatever. If you don't care about telling people how to spend their money, think about this. What happens when the MTB has 20 cheap children's books, some probably doubles, that are all personally inscribed? What happens when LO outgrows them or destroys them as kids do? Do you sell them, toss them, keep them in a box to never look at again? For my shower we had one classic (where the sidewalk ends) that everyone signed and wrote messages in during the shower. I now have one keepsake book to treasure. If mom wants books, she can register for books.
Lots of DDs books were inscribed to someone else. I'm okay with that. To me it just means it's a loved book.
We have baskets and baskets of books all over the house. I don't think there's such thing as too many books. Exposure just helps to cultivate a love of reading.
And I've never actually seen a duplicate given at a book shower. People were pretty creative on the books they gifted.
Ok, people keep saying "board books are cheap" or whatever. If you don't care about telling people how to spend their money, think about this. What happens when the MTB has 20 cheap children's books, some probably doubles, that are all personally inscribed? What happens when LO outgrows them or destroys them as kids do? Do you sell them, toss them, keep them in a box to never look at again? For my shower we had one classic (where the sidewalk ends) that everyone signed and wrote messages in during the shower. I now have one keepsake book to treasure. If mom wants books, she can register for books.
I dont feel its telling people how to spend their money in a bad way. Most people buy cards, and a book is the same price with so much more use. When they are done, they can donate them, to the library or goodwill. If it were cards, it would be in the garbage, I dont see people throwing away books just because they are inscribed.
Ok, people keep saying "board books are cheap" or whatever. If you don't care about telling people how to spend their money, think about this. What happens when the MTB has 20 cheap children's books, some probably doubles, that are all personally inscribed? What happens when LO outgrows them or destroys them as kids do? Do you sell them, toss them, keep them in a box to never look at again? For my shower we had one classic (where the sidewalk ends) that everyone signed and wrote messages in during the shower. I now have one keepsake book to treasure. If mom wants books, she can register for books.
Lots of DDs books were inscribed to someone else. I'm okay with that. To me it just means it's a loved book.
We have baskets and baskets of books all over the house. I don't think there's such thing as too many books. Exposure just helps to cultivate a love of reading.
And I've never actually seen a duplicate given at a book shower. People were pretty creative on the books they gifted.
I*'m oldschool with my favorite; The velveteen rabbit. My mom used to read it to me all the time and it was the first book I bought my LO.
Engaged 10/2/1202 BFP (a lil quicker than expected) 12/7/2012 Married to my best friend 12/24/2012 Beautiful baby girl arrived 8/15/2013 BFP #2 3/13/2016
Ok, people keep saying "board books are cheap" or whatever. If you don't care about telling people how to spend their money, think about this. What happens when the MTB has 20 cheap children's books, some probably doubles, that are all personally inscribed? What happens when LO outgrows them or destroys them as kids do? Do you sell them, toss them, keep them in a box to never look at again? For my shower we had one classic (where the sidewalk ends) that everyone signed and wrote messages in during the shower. I now have one keepsake book to treasure. If mom wants books, she can register for books.
I loved that the teachers and staff at my school got LO "On the Night You Were Born" and all of them signed it with sweet messages. It is nice to have 1 book from my shower that we will keep instead of lots of cards that I would never get around to scrapbooking before he turns 18 anyways!
Re: Baby Shower -- Books
1. Tell your friend it's terrible etiquette to demand what people bring. So they are supposed to bring two gifts instead of one?
2. Love you forever.
Yes, that is what the host did (her MIL). I can see how it can be viewed as tacky but I usually go into these events saying I would like to spend x amount of money. So if they want me to buy a book I will and the rest of the money will go towards whatever else I decide to buy.
BFP 3/29/2014 2u2 Let's do this!
Also I love Washington queen
I also love love love The Monster at the End of the Book. It was my fav as a kid. It's a Golden Book about Grover!!
*Mo Willems books
I also think you should avoid popular books to avoid a duplicate. What about an older book. I like the don't let the pigeon drive the bus series.
I love "do you know how much I love you".
But that's just me and I hate waste. I'm also just not a card person...
https://www.cottonbabies.com/product_info.php?products_id=3412
DD's/my favorites are:
Miss Rumphius
The Little Red Hen
The Little House
The Relatives Came
My son has always loved Very Hungry Caterpillar. My daughter loves the Llama Llama books. Goodnight Moon is a good one too.
Or, you could get the "oh the places you'll go" book, but if expect duplicates of that- it's very common.
DS born 9/3/13; DD born 7/22/15; LO due 5/28/18
FS (age 5) and FD (age 2) to become AS/AD very soon!
I mean, anyone who registered could be considered tacky by some people's logic...they are asking for specific gifts too. I never registered for gifts. It felt weird. Just NMS.
Meh.
DS1 received "Personal penguin" by Susan boynton (sp?). It's super cute. And it's actually a song too. He's loved it since he was a little guy.
____________________________________________________
TTC#1 09/2011 * BFP 12/1/13* DD born 08/02/13 // TTC#2 10/2013 * BFP 12/22/14 * EDD 08/30/15
Thanks everyone for some great suggestions!
I love The Pokey Little Puppy, Caps for Sale, Chicka Chicka Boom Boom, and anything Dr. Suess of course!
DD2 8.22.13
MMC 1.4.17 at 16w
Expecting #3, EDD 1.29.18
Lots of DDs books were inscribed to someone else. I'm okay with that. To me it just means it's a loved book. We have baskets and baskets of books all over the house. I don't think there's such thing as too many books. Exposure just helps to cultivate a love of reading. And I've never actually seen a duplicate given at a book shower. People were pretty creative on the books they gifted.
DD2 8.22.13
MMC 1.4.17 at 16w
Expecting #3, EDD 1.29.18
Engaged 10/2/1202
BFP (a lil quicker than expected) 12/7/2012
Married to my best friend 12/24/2012
Beautiful baby girl arrived 8/15/2013
BFP #2 3/13/2016
I loved that the teachers and staff at my school got LO "On the Night You Were Born" and all of them signed it with sweet messages. It is nice to have 1 book from my shower that we will keep instead of lots of cards that I would never get around to scrapbooking before he turns 18 anyways!