Milestones

 In your child's early years, her growth and development will cover many milestones big and small. From her first smile, to her first word, when she takes her first steps or cuts her first tooth. These are the precious moments in a child's life that parents treasure. Milestones also include birthdays, your child's first toilet/potty experience, and going to school for the first time. Your child will enjoy and identify with the following books about some of these experiences.

I Don't Want to Go to School!
Author: Stephanie Blake
Publisher: New York: Random House Children’s Books, c2009
Call No.: JP BLA
Summary: Despite his parents' many assurances, Simon does not want to attend his first day of school. But as he settles in, the day turns out so much better than he expected. By school's end, he is having so much fun he can't bear to go home! Children will love this fun and cheeky story and the simple cartoon-like characters.

Off to First Grade
Author: Louise Borden
Publisher: New York: Margaret K. McElderry Books, c2008
Call No.: JP BOR
Summary: A collection of short passages, with the perspectives of different children from a first grade class. Some are excited and eagerly anticipate the first day of school while others experience first day jitters. A good book to reassure children that though they have different feelings about going to school, these feelings are all normal.

It's Your First Day of School, Annie Claire
Author: Nancy White Carlstrom
Publisher: New York: Abrams Books for Young Readers, 2009
Call No.: JP CAR
Summary: Annie Claire is apprehensive about going to school for the first time. She has a great many questions and worries that her first day will not turn out well. Mama reassures her every concern and tells her that Mama loves her just the way she is. A sweet and heart-warming story to share with every child who is about to start school.

Once Upon a Potty: Boy / Once Upon a Potty: Girl
Author: Alona Frankel
Publisher: New York: HarperFestival, 1980, c1979
Call No.: JP 649 FRA
Summary: A potty training classic that is available in both boy and girl editions. The author had created this book as a companion to her own child's toilet training process. She starts her story with a boy and the parts of his body, and works her way through changing his diapers while he was a baby to presenting the potty when he got older. Read this to your child when you first introduce the potty.

Potty Animals: What to Know When You've Gotta Go!
Author: Hope Vestergaard
Publisher: New York: Sterling Publishing, 2010
Call No.: JP 649 VES
Summary: Happy that your child is toilet trained? But what about all the other issues: aiming, taking too long on the toilet or waiting too long before using the toilet? A reminder in larger font is printed whenever a problem behaviour is surfaced (example: Be sure to lift up the seat!).

Happy Birthday to You!
Author: Marianne Richmond
Publisher: Minneapolis, Minn.: Marianne Richmond Studios, c2007
Call No.: JP RIC
Summary: What do you do on your birthday? A birthday is a celebration of oneself and the author presents the many ways children can have fun doing so. From eating cake, having parties, to hoping for presents. This book also pays tribute to what is really worth celebrating – the extraordinary person behind the birthday.

How Many Sleeps?
Author: Amber Stewart
Publisher: Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2005
Call No.: JP STE
Summary: Toast just can't wait for his birthday to happen. He doesn't understand the concept of time and asks mummy "how many sleeps till my birthday?" His mother explains the passing of time in his terms, and before he knows it, his birthday is on the very next day. Parents of children anxious for their coming birthdays will appreciate this book!

I Love Birthdays!
Author: Anna Walker
Publisher: London: HarperCollins Children's, 2009
Call No.: JP WAL
Summary: A simple picture book to share with young toddlers. Ollie is having a birthday and his friends come to celebrate the special day with him. Games, party hats and balloons add to the party fun! Young children will love the adorable animals in this book.

Jake Starts School
Author: Michael Wright
Publisher: New York: Feiwel and Friends, 2008
Call No.: JP WRI
Summary: Jake is nervous about his first day at school. Very nervous. He doesn't want his parents to leave him there alone, and Mom and Dad end up tagging along to all the activities. That is until his teacher finally breaks the ice with a special story. Jake comes out of his shell and becomes a confident, school-loving boy by year's end.

My Wobbly Tooth Must Not Ever NEVER Fall Out
Author: Lauren Child
Publisher: New York: Grosset & Dunlap, 2006
Call No.: JP CHI
Summary: Lola does not want her wobbly tooth to ever fall out. She feels that she needs all her teeth until she finds out about the tooth fairy. Her friend gets a coin for her tooth and she wants a coin too. In fact, she knows just what to buy with it! But she loses her tooth before bedtime. Will she ever get a coin to buy what she wants?

Maisy Goes to Preschool
Author: Lucy Cousins
Publisher: Somerville, Mass.: Candlewick Press, 2009
Call No.: JP COU
Summary: Maisy and her friends attend their first day of preschool and have loads of fun joining in the school activities. A good book to help young children get familiar with the concept and routines of school. The bright and colourful illustrations make this a friendly read!

Nappy Duck and Potty Piggy
Creator: Bernette G. Ford
Publisher: London: Boxer, 2007
Call No.: JP FOR
Summary: Ducky wants to play with Piggy but he is busy on his potty. She plays alone for a while before knocking on the toilet door again. But Piggy is still on his potty! Suddenly, Ducky realizes that her nappy feels cold and wet. She kicks it off and decides that she too wants a potty.

Potty!
Author: Mylo Freeman
Publisher: Berkeley, CA: Tricycle, 2009
Call No.: JP FRE
Summary: A potty is found in the middle of the jungle with a note "Only the best bottom will fit on this potty". This prompts the jungle animals to try sitting on it but none of their bottoms fit. A little boy comes to sit on it and it fits perfectly! Use this book to encourage the little ones to sit on their potties – do they fit?

Peek-a-Poo: What's in Your Nappy?
Author: Guido van Genechten
Publisher: London: Bloomsbury, 2009
Call No.: JP GEN
Summary: Children will laugh out loud at the cute characters in this lift-the-flap story. Inquisitive mouse wears diapers. But he also wants to know what's in his friends' diapers so he goes around looking into each animal friend's soiled diaper. Mouse's friends then ask to look into his diaper but it's empty! That's when they find out he's using the potty and they all want a go.

Happy Birthday, Sam
Author: Pat Hutchins
Publisher: New York: Greenwillow Books, c1978
Call No.: JP HUT
Summary: It is Sam's birthday and he is a whole year older. He eagerly tries to reach for the things he couldn’t before like switching on the light, turning on the water tap, and sailing his new boat in the kitchen sink. But a present from Grandpa changes all that. Did he grow taller? An insightful read for children who can't wait to grow up.

Off to Kindergarten
Author: Tony Johnston
Publisher: New York: Scholastic, c2007
Call No.: JP JOH
Summary: Told in a first person narrative, this story is about a boy who is preparing for his first day at school and wants to bring all his favourite things with him. His bear, pillow, books, toys, even his sandbox and swings! His mother assures him that he will find all these things in school and he ends up bringing only one thing – himself.

Little Donkey and the Birthday Present
Author: Rindert Kromhout
Publisher: New York; London: North-South Books, c2007
Call No.: JP KRO
Summary: Little donkey picks out a kite as a birthday present for his friend, Jackie. But he soon decides that he wants to keep it for himself. He comes up with many other ideas to swap the birthday present but mama donkey gently reminds him to give the kite to his friend. All ends well when the two friends fly the new kite together.

Best Baby Ever
Author: David Milgrim
Publisher: New York, N.Y.: G.P.Putnam's Sons, 2009
Call No.: JP MIL
Summary: All parents will identify with the joys of watching their baby accomplish little and big milestones in this book. Baby's first smile, first steps, first words are causes for celebration for all parents alike. An endearing book for parents to enjoy by themselves or with a child.

Amelia Bedelia's First Day of School
Author: Herman Parish
Publisher: New York, N.Y.: Greenwillow Books, c2009
Call No.: JP PAR
Summary: Fans of Amelia Bedelia will enjoy this latest addition to the series. It's the first day of school and Amelia is brimming with enthusiasm. She misunderstands many of the things that the teacher tells her and even glues herself to her seat! However these do not dampen her spirit, and she can’t wait to get back to school.