I've written before about how much I love the BabyLit Classic board book series by Jennifer Adams. They are Gigi's favorite books, and they are among my favorite gifts to give kids. There's something truly wonderful about hearing Gigi talk about the Mad Hatter, Darcy, Romeo, and Governesses. She had Pride and Prejudice (my favorite), Alice in Wonderland, Romeo and Juliet, and Jane Eyre. The illustrations, by Alison Oliver, are whimsical, bold and bright, and she has loved them.

So, you can imagine my excitement to discover that Jennifer had written more wonderful books! She sent the new ones right over for Gigi to enjoy. The new books are Moby Dick, Sense and Sensibility, and Wuthering Heights! They contain fun quotes from the stories, help teach about opposites, and weather. Gigi hasn't put them down for the past two weeks. 

Jennifer is generously offering to give away an entire set of the books (see details at the end of the post)!

 I am so intrigued by these books, and just love them. I asked Jennifer a few questions...

Q: I absolutely love every classic novel you’ve adapted into these children’s books and it’s obvious you love them too. What inspired you to do this series?

A: I do love the classics! I first wrote a book called Remarkably Jane: Notable Quotations on Jane Austen. It's a book about what famous writers had to say about Austen--those who love her and those who don't. Then I wrote Y is for Yorick: A Slightly Irreverent ABC Book for Grown-ups, which is a playful take on Shakespeare's plays and characters. Those two books spurred a discussion with my editor of what else we could do with Austen and Shakespeare, and classics for babies grew out of that.

Q. Are there plans for even more BabyLit Board Books? What other books do you dream about adapting?

Q. What does it feel like to know that little kids, like my daughter, know and ask for Pride and Prejudice, Alice in Wonderland, etc. at bed time, and that they’re sharing these well loved stories with their parents who love and enjoy them too?

A. I have to say that is my very favorite thing about authoring the BabyLit books. One mom wrote and said how happy it makes her to hear her little daughter say "Pemberley." One of my best friend's little girls just spent an elaborate amount of time telling me that Colonel Brandon is sad because his girlfriend won't marry him. I love the fact that when these adorable little people grow up and it's time to read the real classics, rather than being daunted or overwhelmed, they will turn to them as old friends.

Jennifer also offered up a fantastic giveaway for you all! She's giving away the WHOLE set of BabyLit board books. That includes 9 books: Pride and Prejudice, Alice in Wonderland, Dracula, A Christmas Carol, Moby Dick, Sense and Sensibility, Jane Eyre, Wuthering Heights, and Romeo and Juliet!

To enter the giveaway, like the BabyLit Facebook page and leave a comment below! I'll choose a winner at random next Wednesday! Good luck!

The winner is Jessica MG!

Thanks so much to everyone for entering! What a great giveaway. I loved reading all of your comments and thoughts on these fantastic books!

Today I'm over at Danielle's blog, Sometimes Sweet, participating in her Literate and Stylish series. Head over to read all about my favorite book! Thanks for having me, Danielle!

p.s. Thanks for your feedback on my "Simplify" thoughts yesterday. I am so appreciative of your input and support.

Just before we left for LA, I found these classic board books at our local book store. They had been tricky to track down so, as soon as I saw them, I snapped them up. They have quickly become Gigi's favorite "booooo"s. She loves to look at them and can frequently be found with them all in a row, flipping through the colorful pages. I love all of them, though I have to admit, Pride and Prejudice is my favorite... afterall one of Gigi's middle names is Bennet! I have read all these classics many times over, so it's wonderful to get to begin sharing them with her.

Pride and Prejudice, Jane Eyre, Alice in Wonderland, Romeo and Juliet. They're all wonderfully illustrated and contain classic quotes from the original stories.

After nearly five years of being Poppy's nanny I am stepping down from my post.  Her mom starts maternity leave today and I am offcially no longer Poppy's main childcare.  I am starting to feel okay about it.  I picked her up from school today and we spent the afternoon curled up on the couch reading Just Being Audrey.  In the past month we have watched Funny Face and Roman Holiday together.  She loved them both and walks around singing How To Be Lovely and Funny Face.  "You've got a lot of personality for me..."  I just love it.  She is so intruiged by Ms. Hepburn.  I am an avid Audrey lover.  I've read several of her biographies and Breakfast at Tiffany's got me through some really rough times.  Her grace, style and passion are an obvious inspiration.  Getting to share the "Audrey Experience" with Poppy was really special for me.  We've made plans to have an Audrey night and paint our nails, bake cookies, eat too much popcorn and watch Sabrina very soon.  With her love of all things Audrey ensured, my job is officially done.  It's been five wonderful years and I can't wait to see how our relationship developes into something new and marvelous.

When I had my bachelorette party luncheon, I opted to forgo to the traditional sexy undie gift program and, instead, I asked my family and friends who were attending to bring me a copy of their favorite book and to write on the inside cover why the book was really special to them.  This felt like an wonderful way to learn something new about the wonderful women in my life and a more meaningful gift then a lacy, leopard print thong.  Since I've been so busy in school, I've neglected my lovely little stack of books.  But now that I've cut back on my class load, I have a lot more time for reading novels!  As I read them, I'll share why they were so special to the people who gave them too me and what I loved about them.

Amy

Our Hearts Were Young and Gay from Shirley

Nancy and my Mom

My sister and I (with a bride and groom with pies glued to their faces in honor of the pie fight)

The Source by Michener (from Erika)

The Blue Sword by McKinley (from Nancy)... I've just started reading this novel and can't wait to share my thoughts on it with you.

Persuasion by Austen (from Aunt Sue)

Sadako and the Thousand Paper Cranes by Coerr (from Leah)

One Hundred Years of Solitude by Marquez (from Meghan)

Our Hearts Were Young and Gay by Skinner and Kimbrough (from Nana)

Crossing to Safety by Stegner (from Nancy)

Kitchen Table Wisdom by Remen (from Nancy)

Les Misérables by Hugo (from Linda)

I also got a couple of great cookbooks!

New World Provence (from Mom)

The Best International Recipe Cookbook (from Amy)

I'd like to take a moment today to express my undying love for Harry Potter!  In case it hasn't been clear in the past... I freakin' love Harry Potter.  My husband and I have read the books out loud to one another as they've come out in print and then anticipated each new film like true fans.  If you are one of the few people who hasn't read the books, do so immediately!  They are so much fun, they're well written and an absolute joy to read.  The films are all enjoyable and well made too and we've watched each of them more times than I should probably admit.  

After re-reading and listening to each of the books over the past few months, we've just now begun re-reading the final Harry Potter book, Harry Potter and the Deathly Hollows.   So... this morning I came across the newly released trailer for the first installment of the final film.  It looks so good that I just had to share it... I can't wait!

Harry Potter and the Deathly Hollows opens in theaters on November 19th, 2010.

IMDB Link to trailer for Harry Potter and the Deathly Hollows:

http://www.imdb.com/video/imdb/vi2799962393/

This past Summer while in Paris, I read My Life in France, Julia Child’s autobiography about learning to cook and the building of her successful career. Julia Child loved her husband, she loved to eat, loved to cook, loved the French people and pursued her life with incredible passion. Before I began reading this book, I really had no idea who Julia Child was. I knew she had a cooking show back in the day. I knew she had a unique voice and was tall. I did not know how inspired I would be by her passionate journey through life. She really grabbed onto life’s opportunities. More than that, she made opportunities for herself and wasn’t afraid to try anything. Julia was a unique, feisty, funny and fabulous woman.


Propelled by the idea for starting this blog and my new found love for Julia Child, I decided to read Julie and Julia by Julie Powell. The book is based on her blog in which she chronicled her Julie/Julia Project. As you are probably aware (since there was a blog, a book and movie made about this woman) Julie Powell cooked her way through Julia Child’s famous cookbook, Mastering the Art of French Cooking. I began reading her book and immediately found myself disliking Julie Powell. Each recipe she attempted was approached with pessimism. Each failure was reacted to with a near nervous breakdown, which often included the emasculation of her sweet and helpful husband. Each success was immediately followed with the negative thought that tomorrow was another day and another recipe/potential failure. I was hoping that as the book went on, Julie would have some epiphany, some revelation about her negative and self sabotaging tendencies and Julia would inspire her put on some rose colored glasses and change her ways. This never happened. I found Julie to be a negative, self absorbed, unkind woman. 


If you are at the bookstore or library, grab yourself a copy of My Life in France, but walk right by Julie Powell’s whiny collection of failures. 


I bought my own copy of Mastering the Art of French Cooking after reading My Life in France. I will never make half of the things in that cookbook especially aspic, anything with bone marrow, calf liver or anything that requires a special order from the butcher. But, when I do cook from it, I will do it with positivity. I’ll let you know how it goes.