Begin Smart Books: Developmental Book Series
Friday, January 09, 2009 Posted by Felicia
Graham is a book lover! Just ask my mom or dad their experience with that! He loves to grab books from his book basket and bring them to you one after the other! My husband and I came home from our anniversary to find both of my parents passed out on the couch with a HUGE stack of books on the coffee table! I asked what happened...they said, "He just kept bringing us books to read... all night long!"
So, I set out to find the best books for him! If he is going to be reading, I want him to have the right equipment! Begin Smart Books is not just another reading program, this company has truly taken the time and done the research to come up with a system that gives your child what they need developmentally! What I love about these books is that each one tells you why that particular book is important to your child's age! It even gives tips on how to use this book with your child for the best results! I also love that when you are shopping for a book, all you have to do is look at the age categories! Also, the quality of how well made these books are is truly beyond compare! Each book has at least one sturdy foam piece within the board for added durability! This was the first thing my husband commented on!
Newborn to 6 months: In the first 6 months babies' eyes focus, they begin to notice the difference between voices and their mouths and hands are used for exploration! Here are the books we reviewed in this category:
Baby Faces: This book is what it says! A book of adorable baby faces with different expressions. It also features black and white patterns around the edges for visual stimulation and it folds completely out so that your baby can see the faces all at once or one at a time! This would be a great tummy time companion! This book helps inhance tracking, object recognition, and bonding to name a few!
Hello, Baby!: This book features babies playing peek-a-boo with simple words, "baby, where's baby, there's baby, peek-a-boo". So many babies love the game of peek-a-boo and this also teaches a child about object permanence!
6-12 Months: Words start to make sense and your child can sit-up and turn pages!
Quack! Quack!: This book starts to teach your baby all about animals and the sounds they make! It has shiney pages with texture and bold colors that babies love! Some of Graham's favorite first books were animal books!
What Does Baby Do?: This is one of my favorites! It is a lift-the-flap book that talks about typical things a baby would want to do, "Baby sees a kitty. What does baby do? Baby makes nice. Nice Kitty!" This book gets you involved and helps babies learn to match words and actions!
12-18 Months: Toddlers can now hold books and tell you which ones they want to read! They are starting to understand the concepts of color and number.
Splish-Splash: A wonderful rhyming, flowing feeling is what this book has! It's about a baby bear getting in the bath and ready for bed. This helps with creative play and language skills. It also gets mom and dad involved!
18-24 Months: Toddlers truly know what they want to read at this point! They are learning their numbers, letters, shapes and colors!
Feet Are Neat!: This one is Graham's FAVORITE! It has a fun rhyming feel that talks about all the things are feet can do! The last page actually says "Hooray for those" (talking about our toes) and Graham will grab this one out of the basket and open it up and shout "Hooray!" This book is great for getting your child involved (moving feet) and helps with language imitation and stimulation (the "Hooray" example).
Who Am I?: This adoreable book has cut-outs for your eyes! You become the animal! I love how this book really gets everyone invloved! Once you've put the "mask" on, your toddler will want to too! This is a great book for learning animal recognition.
One Two: Graham is also very found of this book! He has started learning his numbers and this has help to reinforce what he has learned. He is actually starting to develop the concept of counting and not just the name of the numbers. This book features concrete objects (ball, duck, rattle) with numbers. There might be one rattle and the next page there are two rattles. You count along with your child!
These books truly work and they take all of the guess work out of choosing! They help foster learning at an appropriate level. These would be an excellent idea for baby showers and first birthday party gifts! I am always looking for unique and educational ideas for gifts!
So, I set out to find the best books for him! If he is going to be reading, I want him to have the right equipment! Begin Smart Books is not just another reading program, this company has truly taken the time and done the research to come up with a system that gives your child what they need developmentally! What I love about these books is that each one tells you why that particular book is important to your child's age! It even gives tips on how to use this book with your child for the best results! I also love that when you are shopping for a book, all you have to do is look at the age categories! Also, the quality of how well made these books are is truly beyond compare! Each book has at least one sturdy foam piece within the board for added durability! This was the first thing my husband commented on!
Newborn to 6 months: In the first 6 months babies' eyes focus, they begin to notice the difference between voices and their mouths and hands are used for exploration! Here are the books we reviewed in this category:
Baby Faces: This book is what it says! A book of adorable baby faces with different expressions. It also features black and white patterns around the edges for visual stimulation and it folds completely out so that your baby can see the faces all at once or one at a time! This would be a great tummy time companion! This book helps inhance tracking, object recognition, and bonding to name a few!
Hello, Baby!: This book features babies playing peek-a-boo with simple words, "baby, where's baby, there's baby, peek-a-boo". So many babies love the game of peek-a-boo and this also teaches a child about object permanence!
6-12 Months: Words start to make sense and your child can sit-up and turn pages!
Quack! Quack!: This book starts to teach your baby all about animals and the sounds they make! It has shiney pages with texture and bold colors that babies love! Some of Graham's favorite first books were animal books!
What Does Baby Do?: This is one of my favorites! It is a lift-the-flap book that talks about typical things a baby would want to do, "Baby sees a kitty. What does baby do? Baby makes nice. Nice Kitty!" This book gets you involved and helps babies learn to match words and actions!
12-18 Months: Toddlers can now hold books and tell you which ones they want to read! They are starting to understand the concepts of color and number.
Splish-Splash: A wonderful rhyming, flowing feeling is what this book has! It's about a baby bear getting in the bath and ready for bed. This helps with creative play and language skills. It also gets mom and dad involved!
18-24 Months: Toddlers truly know what they want to read at this point! They are learning their numbers, letters, shapes and colors!
Feet Are Neat!: This one is Graham's FAVORITE! It has a fun rhyming feel that talks about all the things are feet can do! The last page actually says "Hooray for those" (talking about our toes) and Graham will grab this one out of the basket and open it up and shout "Hooray!" This book is great for getting your child involved (moving feet) and helps with language imitation and stimulation (the "Hooray" example).
Who Am I?: This adoreable book has cut-outs for your eyes! You become the animal! I love how this book really gets everyone invloved! Once you've put the "mask" on, your toddler will want to too! This is a great book for learning animal recognition.
One Two: Graham is also very found of this book! He has started learning his numbers and this has help to reinforce what he has learned. He is actually starting to develop the concept of counting and not just the name of the numbers. This book features concrete objects (ball, duck, rattle) with numbers. There might be one rattle and the next page there are two rattles. You count along with your child!These books truly work and they take all of the guess work out of choosing! They help foster learning at an appropriate level. These would be an excellent idea for baby showers and first birthday party gifts! I am always looking for unique and educational ideas for gifts!
Giveaway closed and winner chosen!
January 9, 2009 12:05 AM
The look at me book is cute.
January 9, 2009 12:06 AM
I have the mom time button.
January 9, 2009 12:06 AM
I follow on blogger.
January 9, 2009 12:06 AM
I subscribe.
January 9, 2009 12:08 AM
The What Does Baby See book looks great because it is visivally stimulating and has pictures of animals (my husband's family lives on a small farm).
January 9, 2009 12:09 AM
I'm a subscriber.
January 9, 2009 12:09 AM
I'm a follower.
January 9, 2009 12:11 AM
I'm following you on Twitter and tweeted: http://twitter.com/amandatinkerbel/status/1106121605
January 9, 2009 12:12 AM
I have your Mom Time in 09 button:
http://babygiveaway.blogspot.com/
January 9, 2009 12:13 AM
I have your main button:
http://babygiveaway.blogspot.com/
January 9, 2009 12:19 AM
I like What Does Baby See for my son--it's perfect for his age and he loves books that have high contrast images--plus I get to teach him some animal names!
January 9, 2009 12:19 AM
I subscribe
January 9, 2009 12:20 AM
I follow you
January 9, 2009 12:21 AM
I have the Mom Time button
January 9, 2009 12:21 AM
I have your regular button too http://tinyurl.com/5t9lye
January 9, 2009 12:33 AM
Mommy and Me looks great. These books are just what I need!
shannipooh@gmail.com
January 9, 2009 12:33 AM
I am a subscriber.
January 9, 2009 12:33 AM
I follow you on blogger.
January 9, 2009 12:41 AM
Love the Play by Shapes 18-24, Caden is just getting into sitting and reading books. This would be perfect for him. :)
January 9, 2009 12:42 AM
I'm a follower on Blogger. But where are we going? Does it feel like we've gone in circles ... LOL.
January 9, 2009 12:43 AM
I have the '09 button under Mom's that Rock, because you do!
January 9, 2009 12:44 AM
Gotcha Go Graham also under mom's that rock!
January 9, 2009 1:31 AM
January 9, 2009 1:32 AM
I would definitely want the "Play Shapes/Formas de Jugar book
I love it because it is in both English and Spanish and at the moment I'm teaching my kids spanish so this would help alot
January 9, 2009 1:35 AM
I subscribe
January 9, 2009 1:35 AM
I follow you on blogger
January 9, 2009 1:37 AM
I have your "mom Time in '09" button
January 9, 2009 1:37 AM
I have your go Graham go button
January 9, 2009 1:40 AM
Twittered: http://twitter.com/calliesan/status/1106243359
January 9, 2009 7:52 AM
I'd love the All Gone book. My boy needs to learn this concept!!
January 9, 2009 7:53 AM
I subscribe
January 9, 2009 7:53 AM
I follow
January 9, 2009 7:54 AM
I follow on twitter and tweeted! (kgail11)
January 9, 2009 8:01 AM
I liked the mommy and me book for 18-24 month old. shows them other mothers loving their babies.
barbaraeford@yahoo.com
January 9, 2009 8:01 AM
I am a subscriber
barbaraeford@yahoo.com
January 9, 2009 8:12 AM
I like mommy and me. My son loves animals and likes to see mommy animals and baby animals together!
January 9, 2009 8:12 AM
I am a subscriber! Thanks =)
January 9, 2009 9:11 AM
I would like All Gone I would want it for my younger children, the children I watch and my grandchildren. Thanks
January 9, 2009 9:11 AM
I follow
January 9, 2009 9:11 AM
I subscribe.
January 9, 2009 9:19 AM
I like Moo! Moo! What Are You? it teaches animal recognition and think my son would like it
January 9, 2009 9:19 AM
I follow on blogger
January 9, 2009 9:20 AM
I am a subscriber
January 9, 2009 9:33 AM
Those look like cool books, but I don't usually participate in contests. Good luck with your giveaway, though!
January 9, 2009 9:45 AM
I would like What Does Baby Say b/c my little guy is right on that verge of talking. We're encouraging him in that direction, and so any book that aids us would be wonderful!
grabbagreviews (@) live dot come
January 9, 2009 9:49 AM
tweet tweet!
January 9, 2009 9:54 AM
I like the 0-6 month book/cards "Look!" I think it's great that there are talking point ideas and games on them to play with your baby. Thanks for the chance!
jenniebrewer at gmail dot com
January 9, 2009 9:55 AM
I follow!
January 9, 2009 9:55 AM
I subscribe!
January 9, 2009 9:56 AM
I've got the 09 button on my blog!
jenniebrewer at gmail dot com
January 9, 2009 10:23 AM
I would like Baby plays pat pat for my son!
January 9, 2009 10:23 AM
Im a subscriber!
January 9, 2009 10:23 AM
I follow you!
January 9, 2009 10:24 AM
I have your Mom time in 09 button here, www.myspace.com/mom2anutball
January 9, 2009 10:26 AM
Play Colors because it is in English and Spanish!
speak2erin(at)gmail(dot)com
speak2erin(at)gmail(dot)com
January 9, 2009 10:33 AM
i have mom time in o9 1/2
speak2erin(at)gmail(dot)com
January 9, 2009 10:34 AM
i have mom time in 09 2/2
speak2erin(at)gmail(dot)com
January 9, 2009 10:34 AM
i have your button
speak2erin(at)gmail(dot)com
January 9, 2009 10:34 AM
i follow you on blogger
speak2erin(at)gmail(dot)com
January 9, 2009 10:47 AM
My girls and I would love to have the Mommy and Me book; because we love to cuddle and read together.
January 9, 2009 11:22 AM
I like the look at me book, my son loves animals!
January 9, 2009 11:22 AM
I follow
January 9, 2009 11:23 AM
I subscribe
January 9, 2009 11:23 AM
I have the mom time 09 button
January 9, 2009 11:24 AM
I have the grahm to go buttom
January 9, 2009 12:49 PM
I like the night, night baby book
January 9, 2009 12:49 PM
i subscribe
January 9, 2009 12:52 PM
I like the look at me book, because my kids love to make funny faces.
beverly.stein2@gmail.com
January 9, 2009 1:21 PM
I like the Night Night Baby book. My step daughter just had a son and this would be great for her and her little one!
Thanks so much!
nancyrobster@gmail.com
January 9, 2009 1:21 PM
I follow your blog!
Thanks
nancyrobster@gmail.com
January 9, 2009 1:22 PM
I subscribe via email!
Thanks
nancyrobster@gmail.com
January 9, 2009 1:25 PM
I sent out an email and ccd you!
Thanks
nancyrobster@gmail.com
January 9, 2009 4:58 PM
I like "Look At Me", books need to be fun and this book offers interaction as well as reading.
January 9, 2009 5:23 PM
i would like the look at me book for my nephew
January 9, 2009 5:23 PM
email subscriber
January 9, 2009 5:24 PM
blog follower
January 9, 2009 5:24 PM
http://twitter.com/valerie2350/status/1107836497
January 9, 2009 5:25 PM
mom time button entry 1
http://sweeps4bloggers.blogspot.com/
January 9, 2009 5:25 PM
mom time button entry 2
http://sweeps4bloggers.blogspot.com/
January 9, 2009 5:26 PM
go graham button
http://sweeps4bloggers.blogspot.com/
January 9, 2009 5:46 PM
All Gone would be a great book for my grandson. He does know food and he would love seeing these pictures. Thank you so much!
January 9, 2009 5:46 PM
I'm a subscriber.
January 9, 2009 7:14 PM
i like the mom time button
January 9, 2009 9:05 PM
Moo Moo What are You because Lucas loves making animal sounds!
January 9, 2009 9:09 PM
play shapes because right now my little boy loves watching the Barney shape episode.
tvollowitz at aol dot com
January 9, 2009 11:50 PM
I love Night Night Baby because I think it wold be a perfect bedtime book!
January 9, 2009 11:50 PM
I subscribe!
January 9, 2009 11:50 PM
I am a follower!
January 9, 2009 11:51 PM
I also have your Mom Time button.
www.mamasmoneysavers.com
January 9, 2009 11:51 PM
And I have Go Graham Go!
www.mamasmoneysavers.com
January 9, 2009 11:51 PM
And I stumbled!
January 10, 2009 12:28 AM
I like the "All Gone" baby book. Thats a favorite phrase in our house right now! I also like how the site is categorized by age, neat!
kayceewilliams AT gmail DOT COM
January 10, 2009 12:28 AM
I follow you! :)
kayceewilliams AT gmail DOT COM
January 10, 2009 1:00 AM
I like the Look at Me book for kids 18-24 months. My daughter loves books about animals and I like these books because of the extra quality you mentioned. I can't tell you how many books we have that easily fall apart.
footejennifer at hotmail.com
January 10, 2009 1:01 AM
I am an email subscriber.
footejennifer at hotmail.com
January 10, 2009 1:01 AM
I am now following you on Blogger.
footejennifer at hotmail.com
January 10, 2009 1:05 AM
I love the play colors because it is also a puzzle.
January 10, 2009 1:16 AM
What does baby see due to the pictures.
January 10, 2009 4:02 AM
I think my daughter would like Yummy Yummy... she's been saying, "num num num" while she eats and it's so cute! :-)
ladyufshalott at yahoo.com
January 10, 2009 4:02 AM
I'm a subscriber!
ladyufshalott at yahoo.com
January 10, 2009 4:03 AM
I'm a follower!
ladyufshalott at yahoo.com
January 10, 2009 4:04 AM
I follow you on Twitter and I tweeted! (kindred_spirit)
ladyufshalott at yahoo.com
January 10, 2009 4:05 AM
Your button is in my sidebar!
ladyufshalott at yahoo.com
January 10, 2009 4:06 AM
Stumbled this post! (ambereyes)
ladyufshalott at yahoo.com
January 10, 2009 6:17 AM
I am so out of it. I do not have a clue what this Twitter is you speak of, but I shall venture on to find it. I would love to read any books that you have reviewed and/or written.
January 10, 2009 3:26 PM
i like yummy yummy for ages 6-12 months. i looved introducing my son to food and now i cant wait to do the same with my daughter in a few months.
hiccupapparel@yahoo.com
January 10, 2009 3:27 PM
i am subscribed via email
hiccupapparel@yahoo.com
January 10, 2009 3:27 PM
i follow this blog
hiccupapparel@yahoo.com
January 10, 2009 5:48 PM
i subscribe.
TRigell at aol dot com
January 10, 2009 7:53 PM
I love, love, love the Smart Books.
For here I will choose the Moo, Moo What Are You book. The die cut holes let the child peek through to touch and feel the animals on the next page. I combines the child's sense of anticipation, animal recognition, touch...all in one little book!
January 10, 2009 8:07 PM
I really like the play shapes. I like how it teaches the shapes and shoes the relation to items baby see's in everyday life. I have a book giveaways going on right now you should check out.
thanks for the entry
tonyamcrain [at] aol [dot] com
January 10, 2009 8:10 PM
I follow
tonyamcrain [at] aol [dot] com
January 10, 2009 8:10 PM
I have your button
tonyamcrain [at] aol [dot] com
January 10, 2009 8:13 PM
I added the event button
tonyamcrain [at] aol [dot] com
January 10, 2009 10:28 PM
I like the "What does Baby Say?" book, because it helps with language development for 12-18 month olds.
elissa at huebert dot org
January 10, 2009 10:28 PM
I'm a subscriber!
elissa at huebert dot org
January 10, 2009 11:08 PM
Love the Mommy and Me book - it would be great to read with my little one! Has animals in there, fosters communication and independence - what more can you ask for in a book?
January 10, 2009 11:08 PM
I am a subscriber.
January 10, 2009 11:09 PM
Follow you on blogger.
January 11, 2009 12:16 AM
The Play Shapes Book looks fun and educational! Please enter me in your delightful book giveaway drawing. Many thanks.....Cindi
jchoppes[at]hotmail[dot]com
January 11, 2009 12:16 AM
I am a subscriber! Thanks, Cindi
jchoppes[at]hotmail[dot]com
January 11, 2009 11:45 AM
I am always looking for great gifts for my kids and niece and nephew. I like to purchase a combination of fun and educational things. this would fall nicely into the educational category.
January 11, 2009 11:45 AM
I follow
January 11, 2009 11:45 AM
I subscribe!
January 11, 2009 3:57 PM
Look at me looks both fun + and educational!
January 11, 2009 11:33 PM
The "All Gone" book for 12-18 months sounds fun. The little one always does the "all gone" sign when she finishes eating, or putting things away.
January 11, 2009 11:34 PM
I subscribe via e-mail.
January 12, 2009 4:47 PM
I'd like the - Mommy and Me. my grandson would like the mommy animals and their babies
tiramisu392 (at) yahoo.com
January 13, 2009 1:08 PM
I would love the Baby Plays Pat-Pat from the very first books! I'd give it to my SIL, who is expecting their first child next month!
January 13, 2009 1:08 PM
I'm an email subscriber!
January 13, 2009 1:09 PM
I'm following you on blogger!
January 13, 2009 2:35 PM
LOVE the mom time button :)
ktgonyea at gmail.com
January 13, 2009 5:13 PM
I like the mommy and me book, because we have lots of daddy and me books, but none abouot mommy
January 13, 2009 5:13 PM
I follow
January 14, 2009 7:23 AM
I like the book "Faces" for my daughter's newborn.
pkildow at gmail dot com
January 14, 2009 4:02 PM
i would also like to check out daddy and me
January 14, 2009 4:25 PM
I like the book Faces.
January 15, 2009 12:01 AM
I would like Play Shapes because it is written in english and spanish. We are teaching our daughter spanish.
shan_da(at)hotmail(dot)com
January 15, 2009 12:02 AM
I am following
shan_da(at)hotmail(dot)com
January 15, 2009 5:16 AM
i'd love to have the Yummy Yummy book! I like the pretzel teether it comes with -- my baby likes to gnaw on his books (& everythign else), so i think he'd enjoy this!
January 15, 2009 5:16 AM
i subscribe!
January 15, 2009 5:17 AM
i follow you on blogger!
January 15, 2009 5:20 AM
follow on twitter and tweeted!
http://twitter.com/aplotaxisamomum/status/1120664853
January 15, 2009 5:21 AM
i have the Mom Time in 09 button!
http://munkeybaby.blogspot.com/
January 15, 2009 5:21 AM
i have your regular button!
http://munkeybaby.blogspot.com/
January 15, 2009 5:22 AM
i stumbled! (aplotaxisamomum)
January 15, 2009 5:06 PM
youngest would love the look at me book
January 15, 2009 6:10 PM
Mommy & Me looks good as do any of the ones you reviewed
rosans4@comcast.net
January 15, 2009 6:11 PM
I'm a subscriber via e-mail
rosans4@comcast.net
January 15, 2009 6:12 PM
I follow your blog
rosans4@comcast.net
January 15, 2009 6:22 PM
I e-mailed 3 friends and cc'd you aboutthe giveaway
rosans4@comcast.net
January 15, 2009 11:55 PM
i would love to get the Mommy and Me book to share with my kids
January 15, 2009 11:57 PM
cdrury@gmail.com
What Does Baby See is perfect for my grandson
January 15, 2009 11:57 PM
cdrury@gmail.com
i subscribe
January 16, 2009 1:55 PM
January 16, 2009 1:57 PM
I'd love to have "What Does Baby See"?, my son would enjoy looking at the pictures of the animals.
January 16, 2009 1:59 PM
I am a subscriber.
January 16, 2009 1:59 PM
I'm also a Blogger follower.
January 16, 2009 5:10 PM
look at me book. my son would love it.
January 16, 2009 5:10 PM
subscriber
January 16, 2009 6:23 PM
I want the mommy and me book!
January 16, 2009 6:24 PM
I am now following!
January 16, 2009 6:24 PM
I so love "Look At Me"!!! This is such a perfect boy for my growing ds who loves to interact with the universe at large! : )))
Thanks so much for this fabulous give~away! : )))
leahita[at]gmail[dot]com
January 16, 2009 6:25 PM
I also subscribe! : )))
leahita[at]gmail[dot]com
January 16, 2009 6:25 PM
I stumbled this give~away! : )))
http://leahita.stumbleupon.com/
leahita[at]gmail[dot]com
January 16, 2009 6:26 PM
I love following you on TWITTER....username leahita.
And, I TWITTERED about this fabulous give~away.
http://twitter.com/leahita/status/1124996439
Thanks again! : )))
leahita[at]gmail[dot]com
January 16, 2009 8:04 PM
I think the book, "Mommy and Me" looks great for toddlers. Kids love animals and the Adult/baby relationships are special.
January 16, 2009 8:59 PM
Daddy and Me sounds fantastic for 18 months-24 months
candieluster(at)gmail(dot)com
January 16, 2009 10:04 PM
Look at Me! You can never read to much with your child!
January 16, 2009 10:42 PM
My daughter would love "Night-Night, Baby"…I like that the book is soft too! Would make a great bedtime story!