Gift Books: Reading for the Mom-to-Be
For baby shower wishing wells, add-on gifts or "just because," gift books offering practical advice, inspiration and/or a humorous look at motherhood should be a part of any gift retailer’s baby gift merchandise mix.
The Babysitter’s Handbook helps take the worry out of leaving baby in the hands of someone else. Although this book is written as a guideline for the sitter herself, it makes a perfect item to give to a new mom to pass along to a young sitter. It contains client list worksheets, guidelines, Daily Report forms, activities and games, and more. It’s a good how-to guide. Spiral bound. 128 pp. CQ Products, Waverly, IA.
Three offerings from Quirk Books, Philadelphia, are:
Margarita Mama, a fun recipe book of "Mocktails for Moms-to-Be " is by Alyssa Gusenoff. Pregnancy doesn’t mean having to skip cocktails with friends; it just means leaving out the alcohol. The book contains 60 delicious recipes designed for the mom-to-be. There are twists on traditional favorites such as Mudslides and Mimosas, as well as new concoctions — many with fun names such as Materni-tini and Expectant Elixir. The recipes are divided into three different chapters: Frozen Delights, On the Rocks and Martinis & More. Hardcover. $12.95.
The Rookie Mom’s Handbook by Heather Gibbs Flett and Whitney Moss provides 250 activities for new moms to enjoy with (and without) baby during their first year together. The ideas are geared to help moms maintain their own sense of self while getting comfortable and confident in their new role as a mother. Softcover. 218 pp. $14.95
The Pregancy Instruction Manual by Sarah Jordan with David Ufberg, M.D., is a whimsically illustrated, practical guide with "essential information, troubleshooting tips, and advice for parents-to-be." Chapters deal with each trimester, getting ready for baby, what dad’s need to know and more. This is a comprehensive guide in a readable and approachable format. Softcover. $15.95.
A gentle book of inspirational writings, 100 Sweet Nothings for Babyby Mina Parker presents sentiments and quotations from the likes of Jerry Seinfeld, Tom Stoppard and Vincent van Gogh. Hardcover. $14.95. Conari Press, San Francisco.
Also from Conari is Tips from a British Nanny by Penelope Fairchild. Illustrated with vintage Victorian line drawings, this tome filled with practical tips on child-rearing, nurturing and care from a pro. Hardcover. 95 pp. $9.95.
We often joke about how being a new mom often affects intelligence — and not for the better. Momnesia: A Humorous Guide to Surviving Your Post-Baby Brain takes a wonderfully irrevent look at this side of new motherhood. Authors Shannon Pauyette Seip and Adrienne Hedger provide amusing how-to tips and drawings that show moms that what they have is a common condition and it is not forever, nor is it serious. The book is lighthearted and offers a lot of fun. Hardcover. $12.99. Andrews McMeel, Kansas City, MO
Baby Face is a craft project book for the mother-to-be. It offers instructions and ideas for projects ranging from birth announcements to gift tags. It also presents tips on photo composition, graphic design and typography. Fully illustrated. Softcover. 160 pp. $21.95. Watson-Guptill, New York.
