Zane loves to “read” every nap time and evening. He loves to “read” himself to sleep. He will look through the pages over and over. He even memorizes what is on the pages. Which our little boy has a huge library for his age, but he can tell you about the monkey’s eating pop-a-cicles and ice cream in the Eight Silly Monkey Jumping on the Bed book.

Every night he gets to pick two books to read or sometimes I will pick one and he gets to pick one. But every night we read two books while he sits in my lap and we are in the rocking chair. Zarek either sits on the floor or in his new crib if he is awake and listens too.

Zane’s favorite book right now is I Love You Because You’re You by Liza Baker. He has wanted me to read him this book every night for weeks now. Which I love reading this book to him it is beautifully written and filled with such love. It’s a great way to end the day especially if Mommy or Zaney were not having a good day. The book ends,

“I love you any way you feel,
no matter what you do.
I love you because you’re you.”

I know that our little reader will always be a big reader. He has a wonderful imagination and when he can read the words I think he will love books even more.

Wow, the BEA was amazing. I got so many books it’s not even funny. I could go into all of the details. I could talk about almost taking a too long ride on the local buses into the bad part of town. I could go on about my first ride on a subway. I could talk about how I felt the “famous” authors. I could tell you some great stories about the nicest people I met while standing in lines for hours. But I’m not.

I will say I was amazed at how many books there were there. And I have to say it was so hard to not take every single one when I learn they were free. Below I have listed most of the books I brought back in my luggage. And we shipped up another 50 pounds of books. I may give reviews of the books as I make it through them but for now here is my first edition of what I got.

For Zane:

• Maisy’s Color Collection
• Bluebird’s Nest
• Clean-up Time (SIGNED)
• Three Little Catepillars
• Maisy’s Favorite Animals
• Meet Jack Truck (SIGNED)
• Where does Maisy Live
• Five Little Ladybugs (I really like this one)

• Dino Pop-up Faces (the book becomes a mask!)
• The Glittery, Crittery Pop-up Counting Book

Here are the books open. They are great pop-up books.

• Gingerbread Friends (SIGNED)
• In Your Seat Mr. Pete
• Shawn Sheep (SIGNED)
• Michael Recycle (SIGNED)
• The Adventures of Calli (Probably going to Halle)
• The Right Shoe for Me
• Good Morning, Good Night

Jan Brett’s signature blends in so much you don’t even realize it’s signed.

• Fairy Fantasy Coloring Book (for Cindy)
• Fairy Godsister (Maybe for Cindy)
• American Terrorist (for Mark)
• Party Favors (for Mark)
• Classroom Management (for one of the teachers I know)
• Alice in Wonderland (SIGNED) (I got 2 one for Andrea and one for Erica)
• Bee Movie Coloring book (Probably for Dylan)
• wood (For Deanie & Debbie’s library)
• I’m fine with God…It’s the Christians I don’t Like (For Deanie & Debbie’s library)
• Staging your Comeback (SIGNED)

These are one of the bags we used. I got a couple for Steve who’s a big dragon collector.

My Books:

• Pilage
• Daily Guidepost 2008
• The Lost Unicorn
• Click
• Welcome to your World, Baby (SIGNED)
• Echo Park
• Merlin’s Dragon
• Bone (Erica’s is SIGNED
• Fairies and Magical Creatures Pop-Up (See some of the pages below)

TJ’s Books:

• This is the Part when you Pretend to add Value (SIGNED)
• Hellboy (SIGNED)
• Buff Dad (lol)
• Blood (01)
• Amulet (This is actually mine) (SIGNED)
• Election Daze (SIGNED)

Look he even drew in it.

• A map I got for TJ’s Map wall

For my coworkers:

• The Bat who wore Glasses (written by a 5 year old)
• Peanut Coloring Books