Parker Shines On

Wow!

Sometimes, I’m at a total loss for words.

Actually, I’m often at a loss for words because Parker’s journey has truly been indescribable!

We have a special announcement today, something I’ve been dying to share.

Without further adieu, Parker’s latest book is available for pre-order and is scheduled to be published on October 19, 2021! Parker Shines On: Another Extraordinary Moment is an uplifting story about Parker making a new friend and learning about self-expression, opening your heart, and helping others. In this book, readers get a front-row seat to Parker Curry and her love for being a big sister. She gets to play dress-up with her little sister, Ava, and piano with her baby brother, Cash. Parker loves to dance, twirling and leaping and spinning in joy. But when a dancer joins her class and needs her help, Parker wonders if she has what it takes to be not only a real dancer but a real friend. This inspirational picture book has an afterword by prima ballerina and New York Times bestselling author Misty Copeland.

Isn’t the cover art to Parker Shines On: Another Extraordinary Moment adorable?! Illustrator Brittany Jackson is truly exceptional. I love how she made my children’s characters in the book come to life!

Thank you for your continued support of our family and Parker’s grand book-writing dreams. We are so, so thankful for every message, share, comment, like, purchase, and kind words.

Wishing you a happy Friday, a happy Friday indeed.

Click here to pre-order Parker Shines On: Another Extraordinary Moment.

Guide to Baby’s First Ten Books

I’ll admit it might be a bit unusual, but I enjoyed purchasing books before my first baby was born. I don’t regret it a bit. In fact, I believe that her baby book library and my commitment to reading to her for at least 30 minutes a day truly inspired her love for books. Now, all those same beloved baby and board books fill her baby brother’s bookshelves!

I realize buying books is a luxury, but if your current budget does not allow for book purchases often, there are many ways to receive free books for your baby and littles. There are programs like Books from Birth which provide “all children under the age of five who live in Washington, D.C. a free book each month from birth until they turn five” and the Little Free Library, a non-profit that “expands book access for all through a global network of volunteer-led little libraries.” Not only as a new parent but also as your littles get older, a library card is a great way to explore the kind of books that spark their interest, capture their attention, and inspire them most. You can also find board books, baby books, and early reader books seriously discounted at your local HomeGoods, Marshalls, or Five Below.

Below are ten of my personal favorite baby books that every baby library should have, and they are listed in no particular order. I hope some of these wonderful books make their way onto your little’s bookshelves!

1. Goodnight Moon

2. Chicka Chicka Boom Boom

3. The Very Hungry Caterpillar

4. The Going to Bed Book

5. Please Baby Please

6. Brown Bear Brown Bear What Do You See?

7. I Kissed The Baby

8. More More More Said The Baby

9. The Snowy Day

10. Guess How Much I Love You

“May your life be full of laughter and your shelves be full of books.”

Baby Book Nook: Before + After

Every baby room, nursery, or corner in the master dedicated to the baby needs a book nook. I loved our first baby nursery so much! I still swoon over the pictures to this day. It was my Pinterest dreams come true minus the uber small square footage. And when I say small, I mean teeny tiny! This book nook was my favorite corner of her little nursery, and it was so simple to create. I transformed what was essentially dead space in this corner of her room and created a colorful, stylish, and inexpensive book nook with some of her very first books. The framed artwork is original art I created when I was a little girl and could be found all over Parker’s nursery. Continue reading for all the details on how to re-create this nursery book nook!

To create the kid-like framed artwork, you can use some of your own artwork (that is, if your mama hoarded artwork from your childhood). Or you can create original artwork, use artwork of a younger family member, or purchase an art print that looks like it was created by a child. For the artwork framing, I used a simple and inexpensive white RIBBA frame from Ikea.

Since the nursery was super small, I did not want to waste any space on a bookshelf. So, the invisible floating shelves were the perfect solution! I recommend one of the heavy-duty or thicker lucite shelf options because board books can be heavier than standard picture books. I have decorated all my littles’ rooms with these invisible shelves, and I included a few options that I recommend below.

I hope your baby’s space is full of books, and if you can’t accommodate a baby library yet, find a few of your favorite books and place them nearby or in a basket for easy access. If you need any suggestions on your baby’s first books, read my blog entry, Guide to Baby’s First Ten Books.