Books for Babies: more feedback

Alex

My newly born daughter and myself would like to thank you for the black and white baby’s first focus book donated to new Mums and babies. Alex absolutely loves it and looks at it very contentedly (it’s fabulous!). She looks at the book in her bassinette when she wakes and when she goes to sleep. She looks at it when getting her nappy changed. She talks to the chicken when on her floor mat.

December 2004

Cameron, Tarryn and the Books for Babies project

Both my children received the Black and White Board Books as babies and they quickly became among their favourites - as indicated today by their "well loved" appearance.

Cameron, now nearly 4 years old, will often sit with his sister Tarryn, 2 years old, and go through one of the books with her, asking Tarryn to count the kittens (and enjoying knowing more than her for a change!).

When Cam was very young, he pointed out to me that the shapes that I had always referred to as "stars" in the "Black on White" book were in fact, to his mind, Shrewsbury biscuits… and when I look at them now I know he is right!

Leonne, Cameron and Tarryn
September 2000

Jessica and the Books for Babies project

Jessica is now 16 weeks old and just loves her board books – thanks to the Christchurch City Libraries Books for Babies project.

Her favourite book is titled Who are they? by Tana Hoban, a gift from the Christchurch City Libraries which Jessica received soon after birth while in hospital. I have been showing this book to Jessica since she was one week old and I soon became aware that her favourite page was mother duck with her babies! She became totally absorbed and at first she started off just focusing on one page but now she looks from one page to the other and back again.

I find the board books are just great and they are easily held or can be propped up. They are also very strong and easy for little fingers to grasp. Last week, at 15 weeks, Jessica began to grasp the pages by herself and now reaches out to flip the pages.

I have also been showing Jessica, since she was about 10 weeks of age, smaller coloured board books which she also enjoys.

Showing her the board books each day has been a special time for our family and we know she really enjoys this time. She sits on our laps and gets so excited with her little arms and feet waving around. She 'talks' away to us now and reaches out to touch the pictures.

Thanks to this special scheme from the Christchurch City Libraries from one of your newest members!

Robyn and Jessica
27 March 2000

St George’s Maternity Hospital, Christchurch

The staff at St George’s Maternity, congratulate you on the occasion of the 10th birthday of the Books for Babies project. It is our privilege to be associated with this venture. From as early as their first day of life we have seen babies studying the pictures in the books intently. This is a wonderful way of introducing young families to the world of books and our wonderful library.

St George Staff
11 April 2000

Lisa

I am writing to thank you for the black and white book we received. I showed it to our baby boy at three days old and he stared at it for ages. If he catches sight of it on his change table he stops crying. Looking at it also seems to make him more alert, waking him up to finish feeding. It's fascinating to see him react like this so young.