While I’ve managed to control the hoarding tendencies in my life for the most part, my kids’ library collections have swelled beyond containment–books saved since the days of closing my classroom and joined by many others over the years–classics and Caldecotts, chapter books and board books. Since we don’t have a room solely dedicated to housing books (wouldn’t that be amazing though?), I’ve started to whittle our collection down to favorites, passing books we don’t read as much on to friends and preschools and houses that need books. But the one collection I’m hanging on to–cherishing its last term of service before my kids have officially moved on–is the board book collection. I love miniature things to begin with, but add those thick pages and the chubby little fingers that turn them and you have yourself a childhood rite of passage. Goodnight Moon and Guess How Much I Love You and Five Little Monkeys.
If the books in our home follow the story line of Toy Story, then our board books are happy right now–thrilled to be the chosen source of entertainment, validated by Dash’s love for them.
The favorite though–the leader of the board books, the Sheriff Woody of the bunch? His “Dashy book”–the Mini Book of Names and Faces from Pinhole Press.
Like our other favorite board books, his Dash book has thick, kid-friendly pages that are easy to turn, but the best part is what’s in it–his people.
Photos of his sisters and brothers and grandmas and grandpas and friends–people he loves, family he doesn’t get to see a lot and names and letters he’s beginning to recognize.
The book is durable, colorful, and I love that it’s spiral bound, making page-flipping an easy task.
Pinhole Press is one of our favorite places to shop for photo gifts (I just made a wall calendar for next year, and it’s gorgeous!). I have high standards when it comes to picture quality in printed products–colors and sharpness and page thickness, and Pinhole Press Mini Books delivered. I love our little Dashy book, and it’s quickly become a family favorite. Nella even ran and got it to show her babysitter as soon as she arrived the other day.
And when we’ve grown out of board books and it comes time to pass our collection on to younger friends? This baby isn’t going anywhere. Our own timeless little classic.
And now that I officially said Christmas on the blog–pause for all the dancing lady emoticons–how about this little book hanging out of the stocking? Baby stockings are hard to fill–I mean how many rattles and biter biscuits can you put in there? But this? This mini book was made for baby and toddler stockings. And the best part? Order your Mini Book by November 20, 2015 and use code Kelle, and you’ll get $5 off. How ’bout them apples? Rather, roasted chestnuts.
Don’t forget to include your pets! (Dash’s favorite page)
I love these, does anyone know if there is anywhere in the UK who does anything similar?
OMG! I was wanting to make a board book like this and could not find a place to print board books, THANKS!
Get out of my brain! I was trying to think last night where I had seen a place to customize board books. I’m a foster parent and have been hoping to find a solution to making a life book for younger children showing and explaining their history and all the people in their life. These are perfect. Thank you for sharing this.
I LOVE these books. I’ve been an ETST reader since my first daughter was born around the same time as Nella. Originally in the UK, now in NZ.
Readership of this blog is well and truly international which is awesome. It does mean though that a lot of your sponsored posts work only for your US/North America readers. I get it, the internet is way ahead of commerce when it comes to crossing borders. But maybe you need to start saying ‘only for my US/Canadian readers’ in your posts so I can stave off the disappointment of going to the linked sites to read the shipping options?
But I am off to hunt for someone who can do a similar thing in my neck of the woods. Thanks for the inspiration x
I live in NZ too; your could try the YouShop service of NZPost. For the US company you’ll be just like a US customer.
Where can I find nice soft cotton pj’s like your kids wear?? I want them for Christmas.
Thanks!!
I made one to give to our newest daughter when we meet her at her Eastern European orphanage in the next few months. That way she can have something fun and easy to remember who is who, including her brothers and sister whom she hasn’t met yet! Hopefully it makes it to England in time!
Did you order the glossy or matte version? I am leaning toward matte, but want to know what you decided on. Thanks for sharing, Kelle! Love your blog and cannot wait to buy this for my niece’s very first Christmas!