Dante’s Shelf: March 2021 Favorites

I thought it would be fun to share some of Dante’s favorite books every month. He tends to have a few favorites at a time and we read them over and over. This way, parents & teachers can learn about some picture books they might want to share with their kids and I got a built-in memory of his favorites over time. Win, win!

Dante’s top 3 books for March 2021

To the Moon and Back for You by Emilia Bechrakis Serhant, E.G. Keller
Published by Little Simon, Workman Publishing Company Genres: Picture Books
Format: Hardcover
Source: Purchased
Goodreads

For any parent who has struggled on their journey to have a baby, Million Dollar Listing star Emilia Bechrakis Serhant's debut picture book poignantly explores her own difficulty conceiving and her life-changing experiences with IVF.

I swam through the deepest ocean.I climbed the tallest mountain.Finding you was a journey.And meeting you was my greatest joy.
In this picture book, illustrated by the #1 New York Times bestselling artist of A Day in the Life of Marlon Bundo, families of different shapes, colors, and sizes must cross deserts, navigate rough seasons, and climb mountains--all to find their miracle babies. Emilia's story reminds us that, despite the challenges and complications often thrown our way, hope will always prevail. To the Moon and Back for You combines a timeless feel with a timely subject, and is poised to become a modern classic for years to come.

This book is everything I was hoping it would be when I saw it online. The pictures are beautiful and the words tell so beautifully and simply the feelings any parent who struggled to conceive/deliver/adopt their little ones would want their child to know. It says, I don’t just love you, I fought for you and treasure you. You weren’t a happy accident, you were wanted. Fiercely.

It was a gift to him from me for Christmas and I really thought it would be years before he loved it. Instead, it’s his favorite book right now. Whenever I tell him to pick out a book to read, this is the first one he brings me. Maybe he understands more than I realize? There’s this one page that makes him giggle every time and I can’t figure out what’s funny about it.

My only wish is that the book were available as a board book. Dante loves to turn the pages, but regular paper sticks and tears so easily. Perhaps after a few years in production, they’ll add formats.

Pajama Time! by Sandra Boynton
Published by Workman Publishing Company on April 1, 2000
Genres: Picture Books
Pages: 24
Format: Hardcover
Source: Purchased
Goodreads

Pajama Time! is a good-night book with the irrepressible language, the inimitable illustrations, the irresistible cast of characters only Sandra Boynton could create.
A jump-roping chicken and a pig on a swing. A Scottie in plaid pajamas and an elephant in a fuzzy one-piece with feet. And in sing-along nuttiness reminiscent of Barnyard Dance!, it's time to head to bed-to the beat: Pajammy to the left. Pajammy to the right. Jamma jamma jamma jamma P!J! Everybody's wearing them for dancing tonight. Jamma jamma jamma jamma P!J!
Oversized lap edition also available—perfect for reading aloud!

This is another favorite and was a instant hit, as are all Sandra Boynton books so far. It’s a fun one to read, with a great rhythm and rhyme. And it’s good for pointing out colors and stripes and polka dots, etc. It has a couple pages with a chant on it and we always dance and giggle that part. I also like that as the book ends you’re supposed to whisper – because it’s bed time. Makes it a good, last book right before bed. We read it other times too, but almost always at bedtime.

Dear Zoo: A Lift-the-Flap Book by Rod Campbell
Published by Little Simon on May 8, 2007
Genres: Picture Books
Pages: 18
Format: Hardcover
Source: Purchased
Goodreads

A child writes to the zoo for a pet. The zoo send a series of unsuitable pets, revealed behind flaps in the form of crates and packing cases. These animals are all sent back for different reasons, except the last one, which is perfect!
Dear Zoo is twenty-five years old -- and still as popular as ever!
And with an updated look, this children's classic is sure to delight a new generation of readers!

This is another book we got for Dante at Christmas time and it was an instant hit – and still is 3 months later! It has interactive flaps to “open” the packages and see what animals the zoo sent, so it’s fun for little hands. I think it’s one that will be good later when he’s talking too, so he can name all the animals. The (former) Kinder teacher in me loves it for the vocabulary: each animal has to go back because it’s too… big, tall, naughty, etc. Really great descriptive vocabulary builder.

Related Posts