One Monday Morning

A rainy day classic.  Your child can learn the days of the week as a growing royal retinue drops by to visit a young boy who is constantly out doing nothing special on the Lower East Side  - like riding the subway, watching laundry dry, staring into store windows.   Originally published in 1967.

Every child needs this book: One Monday Morning   

Fleet Foxes

With beautiful choral harmonies, impressive arrangements, and Grimm nature themes, the Fleet Foxes debut full-length is a perfect album to spin for your little one for some quality - or quiet - time.   For parents, this may remind you of The Band or The Byrds (also wholesome for the kiddies).       

Check them out:   Fleet Foxes

Keba Keba (Gaudy Tawdry)

A picture book courtesy of the Takashi Murakami corporation.  The story is by Yujin Kitagawa, a Japanese pop artist.  Murakami contributes his trademark (literally) illustrations.  KebaKeba (Gaudy Tawdry) is a weird balloon-like creature inflated with color (he resembles Elmer the patchwork elephant). KebaKeba is weird and has no friends, but gives of his many colors to help others in need.  He gives the sun red and the sky blue.  He gives away the last of his colors to the flowers.  In the end, a deflated KebaKeba becomes a happy white ghost cloud and sails away keeping watch over his new friends.   It's cool.  It's collectable.  

Hint: It's a little difficult to get your hands on a copy in the states, but they have copies now at the Brooklyn Museum gift shop as part of the Murakami show.  

Caps for Sale

In addition to contemporary picture books that rock, I plan to regularly feature some classic picture books on Posterband.  Books like these need no introduction, perhaps, but it never hurts to be reminded of good thing.   And of course some of these books may be new to you. Myself, I missed out on Caps for Sale as a child.  But thanks to a gift from a friend, my son hasn't.

There are billions of picture books about monkeys, because it's really difficult to go wrong with any book about monkeys.  But if you plan to buy just one book this year about monkeys and the inherent conformism of consumer capitalism, make it this one.      

Buy this book: Caps for Sale: A Tale of a Peddler, Some Monkeys and Their Monkey Business 

Rockabye Baby! Lullaby Renditions of the Pixies

The Pixies for babies.  Oh, BABY!  It's EDUCATIONAL!  Check out Rockabye Baby Music.  They have lullaby versions of The Ramones, The Cure, Bob Marley...you name it.  

Buy the Pixies for your baby: Rockabye Baby! Lullaby Renditions of The Pixies  

Mermaids On Parade

I came across this a couple of weeks late, but I'm so excited to feature a picture book about Coney Island's (in)famous Mermaid Parade!  As to be expected, this is a sanitized account of this festive (but often naughty) event.  The Mermaid Parades that I've attended have certainly been colorful to say the very least; and so are the wonderful illustrations here.  Changes are coming to Coney Island, but at least it will forever be a magical childlike kingdom in this book.  I encourage you to share this magic with your child.  

Buy this book: Mermaids on Parade