Reviewing Sandra Boynton

Reading to our kids before bed is one of the best activities we can do with them in their childhood. The rhythmic conversation we can create every time we open a little board book. Or the captivating adventures that story books can create in our minds in a matter of minutes. This avenue of parenting is free, but yet so priceless in its ability to calm the day and defuse frustration (I nearly killed Ryder today. The problems were equally me as they were him – two different agendas, I’ll leave it at that). But after thirty minutes of tickling monsters, counting monkeys and sympathizing with a pig who wanted nothing more than to clean his room, we were liking each other again. Of course, feety-pajamas help a great deal too!

I would like to take this opportunity to review an author we have very much enjoyed over the years. Some of her titles are closer to our heart than others, but overall this lady has captured the fun of bedtime reading. I know nothing about her, I couldn’t pick her out in a crowd, and yet she is very dear to our family.

Sandra Boynton has authored many board books (board books are harder paged books that your child can grab without ripping, bite them without too much damage, and toss across the room with little bruising. “We don’t step on books! Get off that book!” is something we have worked towards.)

These books have spunk, amazing rhythm and super cute illustrations. As it says on the back of each title “Serious silliness for all ages” and this lady isn’t kidding. I guarantee they will get stuck in your head and appear in your thoughts at the most fantastic times – during important business meetings, while brushing your teeth, or even hearing random words like “yawn” “time” “oops!” will get you giggling to yourself in no time (“Pajama Time! Oh yes! Its Pajama Time! Pa…” See I’m doing it already!) Each book is approximately twelve pages long and $6 each.

The Going to Bed Book

The Going to Bed Book is set on Noah’s Ark, although Noah is completely MIA during the story and has left certain exercising, pajama wearing, teeth-brushing critters to go through their evening bedtime routine. Diligently “hang[ing] their towels on the wall and finding pajamas big and small” these animals know how to make bedtime fun. They do not leave a setting sun as an excuse to miss out on exercise for the day; no, no, these furry dudes are determined, “And when the moon is on the rise, they all go up…to exercise!” They exude diligence, comradery, and don the most adorable threads one can, well, don for bedtime.

Pajama Time!

Definitely the inspired cousin to “The Going to Bed Book“, Pajama Time encores more amazing pajamas with wiggly-giggly fun!

“Some are fuzzy. Some are not. But we can all pajammy in whatever we’ve got! Ooooo yes, it’s Pajama Time!”

One could say that this book promotes a vain attitude towards the awesomeness of pajamas. It could even be linked to our culture wearing their bed clothes to class or the grocery store, but frankly, after you have read this gem you will not frown at another pj-wearing-college-critter again!

“…wearing our pajamas and looking so fine. Pajammy to the left…pajammy to the right…you can have a party in your dreams tonight!”

I do wonder if Sandra Boynton is the either the worst dancer in the world or just loves freakishly strange moves. Either way, anyone who can celebrate the kid-shuffle, the toddler-trot, the wiggling-wonder, or the potty-dancer is a-okay in my book…or her’s…ya get what I’m saying here!

Barnyard Dance!

Barnyard Dance! lets any physically awkward kid know that dancing doesn’t have to be perfect. If a clucking chicken or mooing cow is a bazillion times worse off than he or she then there is no excuse but to let lose! This book is best read with your worst country accent and your squeakiest western warble.

“Bounce with the bunny. Strut with the duck. Spin with the chickens now – CLUCK CLUCK CLUCK!”

This hoe-down is spoon-clacking, boot smacking, fantastically-yapping fun! fun! fun! Even the half asleep donkey looks nearly revived by the end of the book! ‘Cause what could be less motivating than “turning with a cow in a patch of clover…” Not much. Truly. Not much.

Blue Hat, Green Hat and a slightly larger board book Snoozers are wonderfully awkward in every way. Blue Hat, Green Hat features a turkey who cannot grasp the concept of getting dressed. His reply is always “Oops!” and it brings out the best giggles in those watching his curious behavior. Snoozers is a quick compilation of seven short, short, and even shorter bedtime stories. Six out of seven rock my world (The Big Yawn – she uses the word “pteranodon”, need I say more. And Silly Lullaby – there are sneakers in the freezer…You are curious aren’t you? You should be). I don’t care for the second story about “I’m Not Tired”, if it wasn’t connected to stories one and three I’d rip it out, its just too realistic. Whiney. There, I said it.

Drum roll please…. louder… Louder!… there ya go!

Go put on your best pair of pajamas and get ready for Ms. Boynton’s best of the best. Cream o’ the crop. The bee’s knees (man, wouldn’t he look good in a pair of pajamas…anyways…). The next book is THE BEST.

Snuggle Puppy!

The only disservice you could do to this book is to sing it quietly in the store when you are deciding if I am truly right about this assessment. You must promise to read it out loud, with heart, and most appropriately to a small child near by – really, any one will do, just find one!

“Well I have a thing to tell you, and it won’t take long –
The way I feel about you is kind of a song.
It starts with an OOO and ends with a KISS
and all along the middle, it goes something likes this…”

This sweet love song takes place in a kitchen, between a big dog and little puppy-dog. The dog must be someone amazing because it is staring at the small fur-ball puppy with absolute love and affection while that pup is COVERED in cookie dough, chocolate chip I might add. The dog proceeds to tell her pal a little secret and I tell ya, I howl this book as if its my last day on earth:

“OOO! Snuggle Puppy of Mine! Everything About You is Especially Fine! I love what you are! I love what you do! Fuzzy little Snuggle Puppy, I love you!”

She is so moved she instantly goes into an encore and that pup is melting along with the butter sitting on that kitchen counter. That pup will have ZERO doubts his momma loves him something fierce. And even if that momma dog loses some outward gusto many years down the road, just the sight of a chocolate chip cookie will have the pup in fits of awe and wonderment. He will remember his mother’s celebrated declaration of his existence well before he had done anything measured as success in the outside world. The pup that had ruined her kitchen on a weekday afternoon (probably while she had a lot of other things to do!) and she still found it in her to celebrate that pup just because.

“I love what you are. I love what you do…
(now Loud!) OOOOOOO I love you! [BIG SMOOCH!]