6. Giraffes Can't Dance

6. Giraffes Can't Dance by Giles Andreae. Illustrated by Guy Parker-Rees.

If  you know anything about me, it's that I used to have crazy self-esteem issues. I felt pretty worthless and I hated, hated, hated my body. When I lived in Montreal July 2011-June 2012, I learned of my self-worth. I had a self esteem vlog for a little bit, and later transitioned it to a blog. I haven't updated the blog since I announced my pregnancy last June. I'd love to post about loving yourself post partum, but who has the time?!

Anyway, I've gone on this tangent because the giraffe in this story, named Gerald, feels sad that he can't dance like the other animals in the story.

"Gerald swallowed bravely
as we walked toward the floor.
But the lions saw him coming,
and they soon began to roar.

'Hey, look at clumsy Gerald,'
the animals all sneered.
'Giraffes can't dance, you silly fool!
Oh, Gerald, you're so weird.'

Gerald simply froze up.
He was rooted to the spot.
They're right, he thought, I'm useless.
Oh, I feel like such a clot."

Basically, the animals are all dicks and push Gerald away because he dances differently than the other animals. Gerald gets very sad and walks away. He later finds a cricket, who gives him some great advice while he's looking up at the moon.

"'Excuse me!' coughed a cricket
who'd seen Gerald earlier on.
'But sometimes when you're different
you just need a different song.'

'Listen to the swaying
grass and listen to the trees.
To me the sweetest music is
those branches in the breeze.'

'So imagine that the lovely
moon is playing just for you-
everything makes music
if you really want it to.'

The cricket starts playing a violin, and Gerald dances with delight. He doesn't care what he looks like. He doesn't care what other animals may think. He dances like no ones watching, and to his surprise, all the other animals love his dancing! Gerald closes the book by teaching the other animals how to dance like he does. He says, "We all can dance when we find music that we love."

I think this book teaches confidence. Once you dance and do things for yourself, without fear of judgement, is when you can really excel and find your inner happiness. And sometimes you need that push from a parent, spouse, or eavesdropping cricket.

And it was when I finally came to terms with my body and started loving it without judgement or hate that I truly felt happiness. I pushed myself initially, but I've constantly needed pushes from my husband to keep up this way of thinking. Kids can learn a lot from Gerald, and I hope this book will be one of Jenny's favorites.

5. Llama Llama Red Pajama

5. Llama Llama Red Pajama by Anna Dewdney

I have a real soft spot for this book. I read it for my Children's Literature class in grad school, loved it then, love it now. It's really quite sad knowing there won't be any new Llama Llama books, since Anna Dewdney passed away last year. Thankfully, her legacy will live on through her story telling.
Llama Llama books always have great rhyme and rhythm. This is no difference. Just saying "llama," "pajama," "drama," and "mama" repetitivly through out this story brings pure joy to this mama. When a story flows and sings this nicely, it really increases its rereadability.

My favorite illustration is one that shows Mama Llama running up the stairs to her Baby Llama. So much action and excitement! It makes me laugh, as it's so relatable. When your baby is "weeping, wailing," you "run, run, RUN!"

This book also has a lesson. Don't worry so much if Mama isn't jumping to your aid. Baby Llama learns patience. I know baby's as small as Jenny don't really have any sense of patience, as she's only 4 months old. But when she gets older... this book will be awesome.

1-4. Contrast Board Books

1. Spots and Dots by Art Baby
2. Look Look! by Peter Linenthal
3. Look Look Outside! by Peter Linenthal
4. Look at the Animals! by Peter Linenthal

The first 4 books I read to my daughter were all high contrast board books. These were given to me by a former coworker and friend for my baby shower last summer. I love getting books from youth librarians, they really know their stuff.

Spots and Dots can't really be read to Jenny. Because there are no words. Each page has different shapes in high contrasting colors like black, white, pink, yellow, red, and blue. It's just something to look at. Down the road, it'll be a great book to help her count and to learn shapes, but for right now, it's simply to stimulate her eyes and brain. It helps her eyes to focus. Boring book for me, but pretty interesting to her.

Nightmare fuel

The 3 books by Peter Linenthal are also black and white with one additional color, red, green, or yellow. These are much more interesting for mommy to read. Why? Because words. I actually really like the dark line illustrations, with the exception of one. The sun. It's terrifying.

I noticed Look Look Outside has punctuation, while the others do not. I might be knit-picking... but that's weird.

Overall, solid books. They'll be really great for when Jenny starts counting and learning animal sounds. Until then, they're just great to look at.

Welcome

Jenny at work with me, ordering books. No big deal.

My daughter was born on December 6th, 2016. She was 9 pounds, 1 ounce, and 21 inches long. She's perfect, and I can't imagine life without her.

I was born April 24th, 1989. I was 9 pounds, 9 ounces. I am not perfect. I've recently left my job as a youth services manager at the most perfect library to spend time with my daughter and to raise her while my husband is working. I've got a chore chart (to feel accomplished), and one thing on that chart is "self care." Everyday, I will take time to make sure I treat myself. That can be a hot shower, a cup of coffee, taking a walk, or reading books.

My boss (soon to be former boss), really urged me to stay in the field as best as I can, so when I apply for jobs when the kids are in school, I will still appeal to potential employers. I've always wanted to start a book review blog. Now is the perfect time.

I want to instill a love of books and reading in my daughter. I want her to appreciate libraries and feel the library magic when she walks through those doors. I want to read to my daughter.

Reading to Jenny will serve as self care. Reading to Jenny will help me stay relevant in my field. This blog will be a review and record of books I read to my daughter.