Discovering the Magic of Words with What Does Baby Say?
As a mom of two little ones, bedtime can often feel like a tricky balancing act. Some nights, it’s a race against time, while other nights, calm fills the air like a blanket. Recently, I found myself snuggled up with my youngest, who’s now 18 months old, simply craving that cherished quiet moment together. That’s when we opened Karen Katz’s delightful lift-the-flap book, What Does Baby Say?, and boy, it turned out to be one of those magical reading adventures!
The premise is charmingly simple: each spread features a different baby expressing a range of emotions and needs through delightful sounds and words. There’s a cranky baby who says, “Waah-waah!” and a cuddly one who softly coos, “Ma-ma!” As my toddler lifted each flap, her eyes widened in delight, and I could almost see her little brain connecting dots—this immediate engagement is what makes Katz’s books a hit in our household.
Let’s talk about Katz’s illustrations for a second—they’re vivid, cheerful, and so expressive! The colors and cartoonish style breathe life into each page, capturing the essence of babyhood in a whimsical way. You can’t help but smile when you see the joyful, wide-eyed babies, and honestly, I’d find myself mimicking their sounds as we read. It was a two-way street of laughter and play, which added to the book’s joy.
One of our favorite moments occurred when we reached the page with the “happy baby.” Before I could even ask, my little one exclaimed, “Happy!” and popped open the flap. It was heartwarming to see her connecting the word with her own emotions, all while encouraging her to express herself more. That simple lift of a flap turned reading time into a magnificent dialogue about feelings, something all of us parents are constantly striving to nurture.
I appreciate that this book caters not just to the words but to the underlying emotions babies express throughout the day. It sparked giggles, silly sound imitations, and even a “What does baby say when they’re hungry?” game we now play during snack time—a little ritual bubbling with excitement.
However, I do wish the flaps were a tad easier for tiny fingers to navigate. Sometimes, lifting them is a challenge even for me, which can lead to a few frayed tempers. But knowing how much joy it brings our evenings, it’s a small hurdle I gladly overlook.
In conclusion, I highly recommend What Does Baby Say? to parents of toddlers and preschoolers looking for engaging, interactive reading material. Whether your little one loves to mimic sounds like mine or simply enjoys colorful illustrations, this book promises to keep the giggles alive! It hasn’t just been a one-time read for us; this is quickly becoming a cherished part of our bedtime routine.
Overall, it’s a sweet reminder of this fleeting time in our children’s lives, where every sound and reaction they make is a building block toward their future. Happy reading, mamas!
Discover the joy of reading with baby! >>
