An amazing new publishing company has emerged, focusing on babies and
toddlers and I would like to proudly introduce to you the world of
Cottage Door Press. Each book they create focuses on one or more skills and developmental
milestones of our youngest readers which they highlight on the back of each
book, known as the
Early Bird Learning Guide. The company focuses on books for children ages 0-4 and really hones in on what those children are learning and strengthening every day. With six different categories of
books you are sure to find something appropriate for your little ones (and you
may love every book offered so much you just might want to collect them all).
Here are a few titles for each type of series:
I: Babies Love Series
These Lift-The-Flap books are perfect for baby’s first year. Titles in
the series include Things That Go, Animals and First Words. They have sturdy pages and flaps (definitely not a
rip-the-flap kind of book!) and I personally love that the text is full
sentences and real content, not just words to teach vocabulary.
II: I Can Do It Books
These books are perfect for the toddler learning to do things on his
own. They are all relatable, brightly illustrated and encourage children to
grow.
Good Night Octopus goes
through a typical nighttime routine, cleaning up toys, bath time, pajamas,
story time and a kiss goodnight.
The Peas Say Please focuses
on table manners. It has an engaging rhyming scheme and is filled with
relatable pictures including a booster seat, sippy cup and bib.
Everybody Potties is a great
book for introducing toilet training. It brings up knowing and understanding
the feeling of having to go, making on a toilet, flushing and washing up
afterwards. (I personally noticed there is no mention of wiping but that gives
the reader the opportunity to share that with that child as they read
together.)
III: Sing and Smile Stories
These books with familiar texts will get your toddlers singing and
dancing, enhancing vocabulary skills in the most engaging way. They are also
designed with a cut out handle so they are easy for young ones to hold and
carry with them everywhere.
In the book Wheels on the Bus
the circus is coming to town! The book is interactive and encourages children
to move like the characters on the page or make fun noises. It is the perfect
sing-along read-aloud.
In Old MacDonald Had a Band
the farm is filled with animals’ sounds and musical instruments making this the
noisiest farm in town! The text is fun and encourages musical expression. Also a
perfect read-aloud.
Twinkle Twinkle Little Star
is sure to be your child’s new favorite bedtime story. Fairy tale themed
illustrations accompany this sweet nighttime lullaby.
IV: Look, Look Baby – Point and
Match
A baby’s first I Spy book that teaches matching, pointing and other
early math skills. Titles in this series include Zoom! Zoom! (Things that go), Whiskers
and Tails (Animals) and Sunny Day
(Things found outdoors). Every book builds vocabulary and is essentially a game
that informally teaches numbers, colors, shapes and anything else you spot on
the pages. There are suggestions on how to use the books on the inside cover
and the really bright two page spreads are extremely inviting to young eyes. I strongly
suggest this series, it is so much fun and takes story time with your child to
a new level.
V: Tabbed Board Books
These books have a unique border making them more appealing on a
bookshelf. Books in this series are:
ABC Animal Party – a story incorporating
the alphabet and animals. It is a cute story about the animals preparing a
surprise party for their friend and the alphabet on the last page has a picture
of each animal that corresponds to the letters (except for K and X. I understand X can be hard but Kangaroo, Koala? There are animals that start with the letter K!)
Big Day for Baby maps out a
typical day in a toddler’s life including waking up, getting dressed, eating,
playing and bedtime routine. The last page spread highlights vocabulary and
common pictures that babies and toddlers can surely identify.
123 Count With Me – count from
one to ten with these adorable animals! I love the playful rhyming scheme in
the text but no matter how many times I read this book, I always cringe at the “mousies”
because the word is “mice”!
VI: Padded Board Books
These softer (but still sturdy!) board books are perfect for cuddling
up and reading as a family.
Grandma Wishes – almost
prayer-like, a grandmother wishes on a star that her baby grows up to be happy,
healthy and a good person. If you know a grandmother, this book MUST be shared
with her!
My Little Beast – every parent
lives through these moments. Your child does something to set you off – a toy
in the toilet, a new box of cereal spilled on the floor, coloring on the walls…
(Is this just my kids?) This book is an adorable reminder that no matter how “beastly”
the act, parents never stop loving their children and never cease to remind
their children about that simple fact. I personally do not love the title (I
don’t think it is particularly nice to refer to a child as a “beast”) but the
pictures are cute and the text really resonates with many families.
The Moon Sees You and Me
reiterates to children the idea that whether you are close by or far away there
is always a sense of security between a parent and a child. This book sends a
really positive and loving message to young ones.
In addition to these series, they also sell book and toy gift sets and button sound books. I really love the books that Cottage Door Press has to offer and I am
excited for future titles to add to my toddler’s personal library. You can
purchase Cottage Door Press Books on their website, Amazon, Kohl’s and other
fine retailers.
