Books with a fun twist . . . .

My search for the perfect baby gift is over! I have fallen in love with these books by Amy Krouse Rosenthal. Both are simply told stories about facing very typical dinnertime and bedtime dilemmas, but with an unusually fun twist. For Little Pea, meals are difficult. He hates candy! "If you don't finish your candy, you can't have dessert," says Mama Pea. Negotiating his quota down to five cellophane-wrapped pieces, Little Pea proceeds to choke them down--"Three. Plck. Four. Pheh."--then jumps for joy at dessert's arrival--a heaping bowl of spinach.  

All Little Owl wants is to go to bed at a reasonable hour, like his friends do. But no. . . Mama and Papa say little owls have to stay up late and play. So Little Owl spends all night jumping on his bed, playing on the jungle gym, and doing tricks on his skateboard, but he's hooting mad about it! Children who have a hard time going to bed will love this fun twist on this common dilemma. Expect bursts of hilarity from young listeners.  Both of these books will be my go-to baby gifts of the year.