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Books and Bibs: Halloween Edition

By Casey Corey

Spooky Season is upon us. To celebrate, we’ve paired some children’s halloween books with our modern baby bib sets. It’s like a book club but for our babies. That works, right? Some of the things I look for in children’s books before I commit to a a recommendation are: how is the plot? Will I mind reading this 50 times before Halloween? (Major bonus for humor). How’s the character development? Can my children relate? What’s the message? What kind of themes or lessons can my children pick up from reading it? 

halloween themed bibs shown with children's halloween themed book and pumpkins

Using the above criteria, we settled on two children’s books and a third suggestion (more on that below). The first is Vampirina Ballerina by Anne Marie Pace. A strong female lead trying something new supported by her large family? It’s quirky and cute. And there’s pink on the cover so my four year old was immediately in love. We’ve read this one a number of times and I’m still not sick of it. We paired this lovely read with two Casey Sheila Quilts bib sets: Purple Dino Babies Bib Set and the Wild Things Baby Bib Set. 

Dinosaurs are always appropriate for spooky season. The purples in this set are rich and luxurious and will translate nicely into the winter. 

The black and golds in the Wild Things set are a weakness for me. I’m obsessed. And the crowns bib is a great option if your family is dressing up as royalty or as Max from Where the Wild Things Are for Halloween. My daughter is dressing up as a princess this year and she could not be more excited. We got my son a dragon costume and so far, he is petrified of it. 

orange baby bib sets shown with a children's halloween themed book

The second book, Bonaparte Falls Apart by Margery Cuyler, is a personal favorite. The main skeletal character is scared about surviving school when all of his limbs keep falling off. His friends relentlessly try to come up with solutions to help him. Children solving problems without adult intervention? Check. Friends being supportive and kind? Check, check. We paired this book with the Orange Dino Babies Bib Set and the Turtle Dude Babies Bib Set. 

The oranges in both sets fit in nicely with the spooky season orange color. And the orange solid color in both sets remains relevant for the rest of fall. *The solid orange bib in the Orange Dino Babies Bib Set is a reddish orange while the Turtle Dude Babies Bib Set has a bright orange solid. 

teal baby bib sets shown to raise food allergy awareness

And last but perhaps the most important, is the teal set for this Halloween’s Books and Bibs series. It’s not a children’s book, but it was a book I needed as a new mom to a small child with food allergies. Allergic Girl by Sloane Miller helped give me confidence that we could raise my daughter without food being a stressful trigger for her. Neither my husband nor I had any personal experience with food allergies, and we desperately needed guidance. I also loved Don’t Kiss the Birthday Girl by Sandra Beasley. She walked me through her life managing food allergies and made it easier to process how to keep my daughter safe without creating too much anxiety. 

 

The Teal Pumpkin Project was created to help raise food allergy awareness. By putting out a teal pumpkin at Halloween, you are letting families know you are giving out candy or toys that are safe from the top 8 allergens. So, we included the Pop Babies Bib Set and the Taco Babies Bib Set for this book suggestion. Unintentionally, they’re both food related sets. They were really chosen for the teal solid color bib in each set. 

If you have any questions or a recommendation for a children’s book about allergies, I’d love to hear them: casey@caseysheilaquilts.com. Wishing you and your families a very fun and safe Halloween. 

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Books & Bibs

By Casey Corey

Books & Bibs

When Alice was born I questioned whether I should be reading to this really cute, but kind of a sleep, eat, poop/fart machine. I felt kind of silly talking out loud to myself- even sillier when I made up voices for the characters. She didn’t smile or give any indication that enjoyed the activity. But, I embraced the notion that kids are sponges and kept on. I can tell you that both of my kids now love books. At 3.5 years old, Alice will have you read all day to her. At 1.5 years old, Dylan loves to rip the pages out. You gotta start somewhere. 

If you’re embracing the books, then when do you read to your kids? Do you follow the popular “Bs” sleep routine: bath, book, bottle or some version thereof? Do you make-up your own story time circle when you’ve done all the activities and its only 10 am. Do you go to the local library’s story time? Maybe after nap #4 of the day? We’ve dabbled in all of the above.

What I read largely depends on the time of day. Am I desperate for a quick bed time so I can go rest for 15 minutes before cleaning up from the day? If so, then I reach for a quick book- Sandra Boynton is always good to me in that regard. If I’m starting nap time early because we’ve done all the things and the kids are destroying the house, then I’ll go for a longer one to stretch us to nap time. Maybe some Berenstain Bears. If it’s a middle of the day circle story time, then a long one with lots of characters to act out. Love the George and Martha collection.

However you break it down-  books are such a big part of our everyday lives. There are lessons to learn, heroes to love, villains to hate, dance moves to try out… stories to be told. I find them downright inspiring. Hello, Where the Wild Things Are and Pout Pout Fish collections. Even if you’re not purchasing from one of story-inspired collections, there are some really great books that might go with one of our bib sets for a unique and truly thoughtful gift (baby shower gift? new baby’s arrival gift? momma is finally accepting visitors gift? can’t visit but want the parents to know you’re thinking of them gift?):

1. Tiny T. Rex and the Impossible Hug by Jonathan Stutzman

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Dino Babies Bib Sets.

                                         T. rex book and Dino baby bibs

 

A small T-Rex wants to give his sad, very best friend a hug, but his arms are so small. He spends most of the book working at it until he figures out how to best give his friend a hug. Doesn’t that just pull at the heart strings? The Orange and Purple Dino Babies are just waiting to give your babe a hug and comfort (I feel like I have to plug how soft our fabric is here and how the both Fleece and Terry Cloth backings are organic cotton). 

2. Wherever You Are My Love Will Find You by Nancy Tillman

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Pink Rainbow Babies Bib Set

wherever you are my love will find you   

 My doula gave me this book the morning Dylan was born. It’s a really sweet read on the unconditional love between a parent and child. The artwork is so good, too. The Pink Rainbow Babies sends a similar message with the sweet pink and gold rainbows. Hope, love, and growth. As Mr. Rogers says, “Everyone longs to be loved. And the greatest thing we can is to let people know they are loved and capable of loving.” Oh baby, you are so loved. 

3. Big Dog…Little Dog by P.D. Eastman

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Party Babies Bib Set

 Big Dog Little Dog by P.D. Eastman

Two friends (okay, dogs) who are very different in their physical attributes and have opposite tastes love to go adventuring and spend time together. One night, they’re both in beds that are not quite right (a la Goldie Locks) and a helpful, observant bird swoops in at the end to point out the simple solution (switch beds). The Party Babies Bib Set sends a similar adventure friendship vibe. Lots of balloon animals that are different in color and facing different ways, but they’re all there having a party and enjoying their time with you and babe. 

mice family reading a bedtime story

Let me know if you have a particular book or bib in mind that I didn't mention here. Happy to help pair them up! Just send an email to casey@caseysheilaquilts.com.

Also, I am really excited for when I get to start chapter books with the kids. I’ve been waiting and waiting to introduce Alice in Wonderland to her namesake. 

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