Polliwogged || Category || Reading

Do you suffer from “momnesia?”

Are you a forgetful mom? I sure am! Just this week I forgot an important conference call, and it’s not uncommon for me to forget to pick my oldest girls up from school. Is it a bad sign if my eleven-year-old leaves me post-it notes on the microwave to remind me? After four kids I’ve definitely seen a loss in brainpower, so I can totally relate to Momnesia: A Humorous Guide to Surviving Your Post-Baby Brain by Shannon Payette Seip and Adrienne Hedger.

And I don’t think “post-baby” only refers to those first few months after childbirth. For me it’s continued years after and is probably now a permanent condition. Momnesia is a how-to guide with fun anecdotes and a sense of humor to which all sleep-deprived moms can relate. It even has brain boosters, tips, and lists that will help any new or “more experienced” mom learn to live with her new condition.

Though “momnesia” may be curable with 9-hour nights of sleep, a healthy diet and lots of quiet time, for many of us these cures are far from reach. To help us survive I recommend a good dose of Momnesia: A Humorous Guide to Surviving Your Post-Baby Brain, because when all is said and done, if you’re not laughing you’re crying!

You can purchase Momnesia for about $10 from Amazon.com. - Emily H.

Momnesia: A Humorous Guide to Surviving Your Post-Pregnancy Brain

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One tree, one little world: Innovative Kids’ “Green Start” books

Earth Day is just around the corner (Wednesday!), and there's no reason to leave our littlest planet-dwellers out of the discussion. I firmly believe it’s never too early to start teaching children about nature and the world around them. But how do you do that with an infant who is more interested in splashing water than conserving it?

Innovative Kids has a wonderful board book collection called Green Start that features four books with thick recycled cardboard pages ,all related to nature. One of the books, One Tree, tells the story of a single tree growing in a meadow, and at first glance this little tree appears very lonely. As you flip the pages your child will discover this tree is really the center of life for a variety of animals. From its insect-nibbled leaves to sheltering branches, the little tree is anything but lonely. It is a little world for a lot of little creatures! You and your child will learn how many living things depend on this small-but-oh-so-important tree throughout the year.

Green Start’s One Tree is a wonderful way to celebrate Earth Day with your little one. The other books in the collection include Baby Animals, In the Garden and The Five Senses. You can purchase One Tree and any other books in the Green Start collection for $7 each from Amazon.com. That’s a great price for a little infant-friendly (i.e., board book), “all-natural” education! - Emily H.

Green Start: One Tree

New books for young readers on sale

New reads for the younger set are rolling out (and on sale!) at Amazon. Little Chick is a book by Amy Hest, the three time Christopher Award winning author. Little Chick explores the feeling of disappointment with love and understanding by Old-Auntie. The illustrations are sure to capture the attention of young readers (or listeners, as it may be) and the story is sure to be appreciated by toddlers as well. Little Chick is on sale at Amazon for $12, 32% off the regular price.

Also on sale at Amazon is Ten Barnyard Babies, by Roger Priddy, 25% off for $12. This more traditional board book features the sounds of 10 different animals while teaching children numbers and counting. Both of these books are eligible for Free Super Saver Shipping, and many more titles are on sale. Happy reading! - Jenn

Picture books at great prices on Amazon

Several of Amazon's Best Books of 2008: Editors' Top 10 Picture Books are on sale at great discounts.

Dinosaur vs. Bedtime by Bob Shea (on sale for $11, 32% off the regular price) is sure to keep the interest of babies and small children with its bright mixed media like illustrations. This book follows Dinosaur as he takes on the ever unpopular bedtime. It's a treat to watch self-assured Dinosaur try to overcome the time to sleep!

Charley Harper ABC's, by renowned modern artist Charlie Harper, is another great book for babies and is currently 32% off for about $10. This book features the wildlife prints for which Harper is famous alongside letters of the alphabet. Parents as well as children are sure to enjoy this book.

These books (along with many others on sale at Amazon) are eligible for Free Super Saver Shipping. Just purchase $25 worth of eligible items and standard shipping is of no cost to you. Be sure to check them out! - Jenn