A Babysitter for Billy Bear

We just got in A Babysitter for Billy Bear, by Miriam Moss; it is a sweet book that would be great for preparing a young child for the experience of staying home with a babysitter for the first time. Moss's gentle prose follows Billy Bear through the evening as his mother gets him ready for bed and then goes to her pottery class, leaving him with a friend. He can't sleep, and goes downstairs, telling the babysitter he is worried his mother won't be able to find her way home in the dark. She reassures him, showing him the streetlights and the moon and stars, and he goes to sleep. Nothing groundbreaking, but the story would help to get a child comfortable with the idea of going to bed without Mom.

For the Parents Who Are Best at Everything!

Mom and Dad are no longer left out of the fun. Written in the same style as The Boys' Book and The Girls' Book, we now have The Moms' Book and The Dads' Book! These books claim to have "gathered the most essential tricks of the trade from some of the world's best [parents]. The result: a humorous handbook full of wisdom and wit."

For moms: You'll find sections on everything from waking kids up in the morning and putting them to bed at night to "things not to do to your kids," as well as party planning, cooking, shopping, and finding time for yourself.

For dads: Sections such as "How to Change a Diaper," "How to Avoid Changing a Dirty Diaper," "How to Teach Your Child to Ride a Bike," "Ten Best Threats," "Pocket Money--What it Will Cost You!" and "Ten Best Bribes."

These would make great Mother's Day, Father's Day or baby shower gifts.