Toddler book-shopping

I recently took advantage of a "mom's night out" sale at the local Chapters - as frugal as I am, there is nothing better to me than a brand-new book. Stiff spines. That new book smell you get. And since I'm a re-reader of novels, I so don't feel guilty buying a new book for my "library".

But this isn't about shopping for me.

(Well, I did buy one for me - but just ONE)

The rest of my purchases were for the girls. $200 worth. (And that's with the 25% discount).

(Yes, we like our books)

But this isn't about my book-shopping habits or trying to justify the amount I spend on books... It's a shout-out to all my fantabulous friends on Facebook who gave me so many suggestions and new authors to take a look at.

You see, aside from the odd book here and there, Maddie has been making do with her current bookstash that essentially hasn't changed since she was a baby. That's not to say all her books are baby books - she was given a shedload of Disney Golden Books in her first year. And Dr. Seuss. And some Curious George. And let's not forget the recent Princess book obsession.

So she's good - but her bookcase is getting mighty full. And with her new fondness of the longer stories (that's not to say we don't break out a Sandra Boynton "Going to Bed" book for old times' sake every once in a while) - but I'm getting a bit sick of Disney stories. Especially the roster of Cinderella, Peter Pan and Snow White that she favours. Because really? There's only so much Disney you can take.

And so I picked up some Jillian Jiggs, Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day, Each Peach Pear Plum and yes, another Disney Princess book.

Of course, Katie wasn't left out - she got a new Karen Katz, I Love You More, Ten Little Fingers & Ten Little Toes, Goodnight Moon (yes SHOCKINGLY we didn't have it) and several others.

But thanks to all the reco's I received, there are so many more I'm excited to look for now:

• The Pirate & The Penguin by Patricia Storms
• 10 Big Toes & A Prince's Nose by Nancy Gow
• The Gruffalo by Julia Donaldson
• Lost and Found by Oliver Jeffers
• Where the Sidewalk Ends by Shel Silverstein
• Don't Let the Pigeon Drive the Bus by Mo Willems
• Barnyard Collection by Doreen Cronin
• Fancy Nancy by Jane O'Connor
• And of COURSE some more Robert Munsch - too many to list...

I love the simplicity and sweetness of the board books but oh, the memories some of the toddler books give me. I practically well up when I read her my old "Monster at the end of this book". And as I looked at the Robert Munsch titles in the bookstore I swear I could smell my old school library. I was such a little reader as a kid - I loved getting to pick out books in that half hour or whatever it was they would give us. And I swear that's when my compulsive shopping habits began, because I would just pile books high into a pile and check out the maximum amount every time because I could never decide on just one. 

So yes, baby books are fun. Toddler books are exciting. I can't wait to give both my girls their Christmas stockings this year...

xxoo.S