Author Michelle Sinclair Colman and illustrator Nathalie Dion have devised an adorable series of board books published by Tricycle Press ($6.95). Anyone shopping for a new baby gift is sure to find one that will appeal to the parents of the new addition, because the books highlight all sorts of personalities, trends, and interests of today’s parents: Beach Babies Wear Sunglasses, Urban Babies Wear Black, Jet Set Babies Wear Wings, Sporty Babies Wear Sweats, Artsy Babies Wear Paint, Rocker Babies Wear Jeans, Eco Babies Wear Green, Foodie Babies Wear Bibs, Country Babies Wear Plaid, and of course, Winter Babies Wear Layers. Dion’s illustrations put a baby spin on Colman’s words that any parent will recognize. Winter babies may make angels, but the baby shown on that particular page is anything but. It’s a cute series; the babies represent a range of ethnicities although culturally these books are definitely American. But you see what I mean, right? We all have foodies, artists, frequent flyers, environmentalists, musicians, outdoorsy types, and sports enthusiasts in our lives. Your New York friends will smile knowingly at Urban Babies, your California friends will appreciate Beach Babies, and Winter Babies is perfect for anyone who lives somewhere up North, or wishes they did.
Our bookstore is near the beach and summer is our busiest season. We feature a range of books about the beach, marine animals, lighthouses, mermaids, sailing, tide pools, seals, hermit crabs. My favorite board book is I’m the Biggest Thing in the Ocean by Kevin Sherry (Dial Books, $6.99). A giant squid proudly proclaims that he is bigger than all the other marine animals and the boasts continue, until he encounters a whale. This is a silver-lining type of squid though and the resolution will amuse adults and children alike. The illustrations are bright and bold, minimal enough for very young readers, but with details and expressions that will delight older toddlers. (Ages 6 mo. – 3 yrs.)