5 Children’s Authors for a Happy, Thriving Baby

The stories written by these 5 children’s authors have been a part of many happy, thriving babies’ lives. They have endured and some of them have educated and entertained babies and children for almost three generations.

You just can’t go wrong choosing books by these 5 children’s authors. Hence, adding them to your baby’s library will help them thrive and be happy, too.

In a previous post, we talked about how to choose a good book. All of these authors’ stories fit that checklist. Therefore, they are worthy of being read over and over.

“To me, re-reading my favorite books is like spending time with my best friends. I’d never be satisfied to limit myself to just one experience each with my favorite people.”

C. S. Lewis

The stories for babies and toddlers that these 5 children’s authors have written are timeless. Their subject matter speaks to children on a personal level. The authors have stepped into the child’s world and written about everyday things.

I have many memories of my children when they were little. My most cherished memory is the three of us snuggling in the big bed with a stack of books. Believe it or not, I read 4 of the 5 children’s authors to MY children when they were babies.

That started when they were babies and continued until they were at least 11 or 12 years. I found out many things during our reading time.

When they were old enough to talk, I asked them questions about the story and what they thought about it. As they grew older, the discussions would lead to other conversations. I found out what made them happy or what their concerns might be.

Books Become Children’s Friends

Books create opportunities to teach not just the story, but about life itself. Be aware of and seize these teaching moments right from the time your baby is born. Books become like friends that will help you teach your child.

Margaret Wise Brown Understood the World of Children

The first author friend we will meet is Margaret Wise Brown (1910-1952). She began her teaching career at the Bank Street Experimental School in New Your City.

There she learned about the “here and now” style of writing children’s books. This style emphasized children reading and learning about the world around them “here and now”.

Previously, so much of children’s literature had been fairy tales and nursery rhymes. Those genres of writing certainly have their value. Most definitely there are lessons to be learned from Beauty and the Beast.

But, this new style of writing gave children a different way of exploring their world right where they were. Margaret Wise Brown understood children and their world.

Two Bunnies Help Babies Thrive and Be Happy!

Brown wrote many children’s books. The most popular and enduring of these books are Goodnight Moon and Runaway Bunny.

Goodnight Moon focuses on a little bunny saying goodnight to all his friends and everything in his room. This delightful story is a representation of the bedtime rituals that play our for parents and children all over the world.

Runaway Bunny is a simple story about how much our little ones desire our attention. It also confirms how far a parent will go to find, protect, and love their little ones. Seems like a story for both parent and baby!

It is interesting that Brown used animals as the main characters in many of her stories. In that way, a child of any race or gender could imagine that they were part of the story.

In many ways, Margaret Wise Brown was far ahead of her time. Sadly, she died from a blood clot that occurred after a surgery.

She wrote about one hundred children’s books. But, how much more could she have contributed to children’s literature, had she not met and untimely death?

Eric Carle Brings Nature to Children’s Books

Second on our author list is Eric Carle (1929-present). If you are not familiar with Eric Carle, you will need only one exposure to his work. It will firmly plant it in you mind forever!

Carle works in collage technique using hand-painted papers. He then cuts and layers them to create bright images for his stories.

Some of his books have die-cut pages, twinkling lights, and even lifelike nature sounds. They truly are spectacular works of art, as well as, a story.

His stories are usually centered on nature as most small children are curious about the world around them. As you read Eric Carle’s book, you can sense his wonder and concern for children everywhere.

Eric Carle was born in the U.S. However, his family moved to Germany when he was six years old. He was raised and educated there. He attended the prestigious art school, Akademie der bildenden Kunste (Academy of Visual Arts) in Stuttgart.

in 1952, hr returned to New York. He was a graphic designer at The New York Times. Following that, he was the art director of an advertising agency.

Educator and author, Bill Martin, Jr. called Eric Carle after seeing a picture of a red lobster that he had created for an ad. It was exactly the type of illustration Martin wanted for a new book her had written: Brown Bear, Brown Bear, What Do You See?

Then A Very Hungry Caterpillar Made Babies Happy

They then worked together on many of Martin’s other books. It wasn’t long after that, Eric, began writing his own stories and illustrating them.

His first book was 1, 2, 3, to the Zoo. Next, came The Very Hungry Caterpillar. This is probably Eric Carle’s most popular book.

It has been translated into 66 languages and sold over 50 million copies since it was first published in 1969. Eric has illustrated more than 70 books most of which he also wrote.

Other Eric Carle books for your baby’s library:

• The Tiny Seed
• Dream Snow
• The Mixed-Up Chameleon
• The Grouchy Ladybug
• The Very Busy Spider
• A House for Hermit Crab
• The Very Quiet Cricket
• The Very Lonely Firefly

Mem Fox and “Reading Magic”

Our third author is Mem Fox (1946-present). Mem Fox began her higher education as a drama student. Later, she switched to studying children’s literature.

Her first book, Possum Magic, was actually an assignment for a class. But, publishers rejected it nine times in five years!

However, it went on to become the best-selling children’s book in Australia (and still is). And, she has written over 40 more!

Mem Fox’s switch to children’s literature led to her focus on how children best learn to read and write. Literacy became her passion!

I highly recommend to you her book: Reading Magic: how your child can learn to read before school and other read aloud miracles. She now spends her time giving presentations all over the world. In those presentations, she encourages parent, teachers, and others to read aloud to children 0-5 years old.

Some of Mem Fox’s most popular books:

• Possum Magic
• Where Is Green Sheep?
• Ten Little Fingers and Ten Little Toes
• Time for Bed
• Hello Baby!
• Ducks Away!

Sandra Boynton and Her Cartoon Characters

The fourth author on our list is Sandra Boynton (1953-present). She grew up in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

In college, Sandra majored in English. She then studied drama in graduate school and intended to become a theater director.

However, life happened, as it tends to do. Sandra married and had her first child.

Next, she became interested in greeting card design. She had always been a bit of a doodler and her cartoon animal characters were very endearing.

Sandra Loves Her Hippos!

Her most notable greeting card design has four animals on it. The message reads “Hippo Birdie Two Ewes”. I’m sure you have seen it. It is a play on the words “Happy Birthday to You”. Do you know that, to date, that greeting card has sold over ten million copies?!

Who knew that “hippopotami” would figure so prominently in Boynton’s next endeavor and make her really famous? She then took these greeting card cartoon characters and wrote stories about them in her children’s books!

Sandra Boynton’s books are for children. But, sometimes you get the feeling she is talking to adults as well.

Her genius is understanding the ups and downs of the daily life of children. She then beautifully puts it into rhyme. The text is just so upbeat and plain fun to read!

Sandra Boynton has written SO many books! So, I decided to list my favorites. I think they will become your favorites, too.

Some Sandra Boynton Books:

• Hippos Go Berserk!
• Blue Hat, Green Hat-(this one is so super simple that as soon as your toddler can talk very well at all, they will understand and mostly be able to read this aloud with you AND it’s super funny!)
• Doggies
• The Going to Bed Book
• But Not the Hippopotamus
• Birthday Monsters!-(they aren’t scary)
• Snoozers (really quick bedtime stories)
• Pajama Time!
• Snuggle Puppy!
• Belly Button Book!
• What’s Wrong? Little Pookie?
• Let’s Dance, Little Pookie

Matthew Van Fleet Goes All Interactive!

Finally, our fifth children’s author is Matthew Van Fleet. Matthew has designed the most gorgeous ever board books for babies and toddlers!

They are so colorful and very engaging because they are designed to be interactive. Children can pull, lift, press, touch, and even sniff the pages of the books. They introduce basic concepts of letters, numbers, shapes, colors, opposites, etc.

I could rave all day about these books! But, I thought I would let Matthew Van Fleet tell you about his books instead.

Last, but not least, some fun books from Matthew Van Fleet:

• One Yellow Lion
• Fuzzy Yellow Ducklings
• Spotted Yellow Frogs (I detect a theme here!)
• Tails
• Chomp Goes the Alligator
• Oscar the Octopus (very cute!)
• Sniff (yes, you actually sniff the pages as part of the fun!)
• Alphabet

The Common Thread

There is a common thread that runs through all of these authors’ lives. They all display a genuine love, understanding, and concern for babies and children in all their books.

These 5 authors know what babies and children need to learn in order to thrive and be happy. So their mission is to help parents teach those things to their babies. They write so the beauty of words and ideas can become a part of every child’s life.

Dr. Suzuki and the Mother-Tongue Method of Education

They remind me of Dr. Suzuki and the love and concern he felt for the babies and children of the world. So much so, that he poured his heart and soul into the Mother-Tongue Method of Education.

He applied its principles to learning to play an instrument. It has also been used to develop the Suzuki Early Childhood Education (SECE) program for babies 0-3 years old.

Suzuki’s dream was that, from birth, the beauty of music could be a part of every child’s life. SECE brings engaging and educational books into the program, as well.

Bring all that beauty into your baby’s life. Indeed, bring it into your whole family’s life.

So read the wonderful books while you are listening to the beautiful music. Most of all, love each other well.

The world is in desperate need of beauty in this time of pandemic. These are the things that can occupy your time for the good.

They can ward off anxiety and depression. They can also spur us on to do the hard things and come out on the other side stronger and better people.

Now is the time to read these 5 children’s authors books to your baby. Their stories will help you bring words and ideas alive for your baby. Then, they can be happy and thrive.

On the “Beautiful Heart Musical Journey” with you,

Susan

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