I'm reading a book about marketing and children and it has a fascinating section about board books- you know, those little cardboard wonders that Graham loves. Here's an excerpt:

Chewables. These short, sturdy, chunky cardboard books are made to wirthstand regular gumming, but for reasons of liability as choking hazards, this benefit could not be explicitly advertised. The books were never referred to as "chewables" outside of industry converstations; to consumers, they were marketed as board books. Although they had been around since the 1970s, board books didn't become big business in children's publishing until the 19080s.

Isn't "chewable" a much more charming name? Here are Graham's recent favorites, in order of preference.

Le Zebre Malpoli (The Rude Zebra)



It's small enough for G to hold AND it's shaped like an animal. We love the fact that it's a story about an unapologetically cranky zebra.

10 Minutes to Bedtime



This book is by the author of Good Night Gorilla. It's busy, but G seems to love all the animals. This book is a bedtime must in our house.

The Rooster Struts


I found this book again while I was pregnant. We had it when I was growing up, and G seems to love it. My favorite page: "The sloth hardly moves at all."