I was impressed by the children's book Bluebird by Bob Staake recently but at first glance it was just a book with a bird on each page, okay, um, kinda boring , a wordless picture book? Boy was I wrong.
You might think, "How do I read a wordless book to my baby?" Well, it's about being a bit creative.
When I read picture books, which are fun for little hands to rip up, I put Phoenix in the jumper, so he can sit and jump and listen and I can sit back a little and hold up the book for him to see the illustrations, but not touch. Take in with his heart.
While Phoenix looked at the illustrations of Bluebird I created the words based on the actions on the page, the illustrations had a unique graphic feel with blues and grays and reading this book was sort of like reading a graphic novel.
When reading this story of a bird and boy I used a similar tone that I use when reading The Giving Tree.
I would say, "The bird is following the boy, the bird is on the mailbox waiting for the boy, the bird is ontop of the street sign looking down at the boy and the people walking by."
The boy ends up in Central Park. I love that this book is a New York City book, by the way.
"The bird and the boy go to the park and the boy buys a sailboat and plays with it in the pool."
The bird gets hurt when a bunch of mean boys, bullies, attempt to steal the boy's sailboat and the boy is deeply sad about this. I was sad too, shocked, my tone of voice for sad and Phoenix noticed. The poor bird.
Then a flock of birds of all different colors (a perfect moment to share the colors of each bird with your baby) appear and help the boy bring the bird to heaven, or into the clouds where his soul is set free. Or to wherever you want to say the bird goes is up to you. The boy goes up high in the sky too...
You can create your own words to go with the illustrations as you read to your baby, and let the illustrations guide you and use your own imagination to intrigue your baby. By watching, looking, observing there is so much to take in and see and share together.
Phoenix loved it when I said the word bluebird over and over, he giggled so hard each time. :)
When reading use your tone of voice to enhance emotion and your facial expressions, suddenly a wordless book becomes a special moment to bond with your baby.
~Isobella & Phoenix
Did You Know: Get ready, Saturday morning storytelling at the Hans Christian Andersen statue in Central Park begins in June, I plan to check it out with Phoenix and will review for the www.phoenixbabybookclub.blogspot.com check out the schedule here: http://www.hcastorycenter.org/storytelling-schedule.html Central Park and 72nd street
Don't let your baby hold you back, instead engage your baby in all you want to do. I understand that it's tough when you become a parent and you have to say no to the things you did when you were just you, but get into the mindset that you as a parent can still enjoy the things you used to enjoy. Go to museums, go to events, go to that sample sale for Jimmy Choo's (just get there early cause the line is CRAZY) and live your life together in joy and observe and discover and do something exciting together each day, exciting can be something simple too, like touching the bark of trees at the park, something I love to do with my son because the texture of trees feels so cool. Also, it's okay to bring your baby in adult situations, I mean come on of course ALL places but there is a lot to do and your baby can come along as long as you are prepared make sure baby is already fed, changed, happy and know where the exits or bathrooms are just in case...but I think it's great to take your baby to museums especially, and I love singing twinkle, twinkle little star as Phoenix looks at Starry Night, here are some books I say on Mommypoppins.com based on taking your kids to the museum: http://mommypoppins.com/kids-books-nyc-museums-childrens-books-moma-metropolitan-guggenheim
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