Who's on First? Say Daddy by Michael Shoulders

On the day I was born, Mother welcomed me into the world with tears of joy and read me my first book.

She said, "This is a book about life--and how wonderful love is."

When Mother closed the last page, she held me close and whispered, "Say Mommy, say Mommy!" She hoped "Mommy" would be my first word.

Baby Bear is a much-loved child, with an extended family just waiting to hold him, read him a story, and teach him his first word. Daddy Bear has his own first storybook ready, one about promises and how daddies make them come true. "Say Daddy, say Daddy," he smiles, hoping that "Daddy" would be my first word.

Brother Bear, Aunt Grace Bear, Uncle Roy Bear, and Grandma Bear all bring their own chosen books to read to Baby, each with its own wonderful message, and each followed by a whispered suggestion: "Say Brother," "Say Grace," "Say Uncle." Even wise Grandma Bear has the same agenda:

When Grandma rocked me for the first time..., she said, "This is a book about families--and how they celebrate our joys and hug our tears away. .... A family's love is forever.

Say Nana! say Nana!"

But when his first birthday rolls around and Baby Bear opens his first gift, he instinctively knows how to satisfy his kin without slighting anyone.

"BOOK!" I said.

"What's that I hear?" Daddy asked.

"BOOK!! I said again.

Everybody cheered. Everybody danced.

"Now," said Daddy, "say DADDY!"

Daddy just won't give up!

Author Michael Shoulders' Say Daddy! (Picture Books) (Sleeping Bear Press, 2008) is a book for Father's Day which sweetly includes the whole family, with their affection and aspirations for the new child among them. Artist Teri Weidner's soft, charming illustrations, from the pregnant couple walking nervously to the hospital to the loving storytime scenes with Daddy, Brother, Auntie, Uncle, and Grandma as the baby grows are the essence of family love. A strong story for Father's Day or for any day in the year.

Michael Shoulders is also the author of V Is For Volunteer: A Tennessee Alphabet Edition 1. (Discover America State By State. Alphabet Series) and D Is for Drum: A Native American Alphabet (Sleeping Bear Alphabets).

Sweet Dreams: Goodnight, Baby Bear by Michael Shoulders

Momma Bear loves Baby Bear more than she loves honey oatmeal raisin cookies.

And she really loves honey oatmeal raisin cookies.

The members of Baby Bear's family have two things in common--they all love honey oatmeal raisin cookies, and they all love Baby Bear.

Momma and Baby Bear love the butterflies that come to enjoy the butterfly bush they plant and the birds who keep warm in the snug houses they build for them. And after their day in the sun, Momma tucks her cub in with a warm honey raisin oatmeal cookie and a special book before she kisses Baby Bear good night.

Daddy Bear needs Baby's help hooking up the toy tractor and its trail, digging a hole to plant an acorn to grow tall, and at the end of the day, Daddy, too, says good night with a cookie and a special story.

Brother Bear flies his kite in the ocean breeze with his little brother and reads him a story; Aunt Grace take him to the aquarium and answers all his questions before tucking him in with his cookie and a story about dolphins; and Uncle Roy shares his clown costumes and makeup, teaches Baby Bear the trick of how to making scarves disappear and leaves him with a cookie and a bedtime special joke only they share:

Knock Knock!

Who's there?

Police.

Police who?

Police don't eat honey oatmeal raisin cookies without ME!

And Nana? She loves eating oatmeal cookies with Baby Bear better than anyone. And she not only tucks him into bed. She lies right down beside him and catches up with all she's missed since her last visit. Nana doesn't stop with just one special book, either. She reads on and on, until, just as Momma, Daddy, and Brother Bear come looking for her, Nana and Baby Bear fall fast asleep together.

Goodnight, Baby Bear.

While cookies in bed may not be everyone's idea of a bedtime routine, the cookies are symbolic of the sweetness of a familiar ritual that make bedtime go better for all, and Michael Shoulders' forthcoming Goodnight Baby Bear (Sleeping Bear Press, 2010), with its portrait of a warm and nurturing extended family, is a great way to recall the events of the day and prepare for sweet dreams. As in his earlier and equally delightful Say Daddy! (Picture Books), (see my posted review here) Shoulder's gentle story of a close-knit and loving family and Teri Weidner's lovely and cozy pastel illustrations are a comforting and soothing way to both remember--and say goodbye--to the day.

[Note: Michael Shoulders' recipe for honey oatmeal raisin cookies is appended.]

Shoulders' other books include D Is for Drum: A Native American Alphabet (Alphabet Books), V is for Volunteer: A Tennessee Alphabet [V IS FOR VOLUNTEER], and 1 Mississippi, 2 Mississippi: A Mississippi Numbers Book (Count Your Way Across the USA).