“What we remember from childhood we remember forever – permanent ghosts, stamped, inked, imprinted, eternally seen.” ~Cynthia Ozick
My mother who is kind of not into children except for her own, read this to me and Garrett almost every night before bed. She read Caps for Sale with great enthusiasm and exuberance. She interspersed this story with stories from growing up in West Virginia (a tractor ran into her house) and Queens (the day she almost drowned and when she got home she was hit by a car and was wheelchair bound for the rest of the summer). This is the book I give to all of my favorite kiddos. Am I a total nerd for being that faux-aunt who would rather give books instead of clothing?
I mean clothes are cute and all but their clothes cost the same as big people clothes and last for all of .035% of their lifespan. I’d prefer to give the gift that keeps on giving.
17 Comments
Books are perfect! I love for my children to receive them – even my oldest who is about to turn 20 (years not months).
I love “Caps for Sale!”
This was one of my favourite stories in elementary school. I was even in a production of it in a school assembly. I’d forgotten about it until now!
This is the one I insisted on having read to me until my mother hid it: http://www.amazon.com/But-Elephants-Once-Upon-Time/dp/1563832747/ref=pd_bbs_sr_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1238467114&sr=8-1
But No Elephants. I think I might still know the whole thing by heart.
I’ve given books quite a bit, but I admit that I cannot resist the allure of little outfits for small children. Especially adult clothes for tiny bodies. And if it’s got a matching hat? Other people’s kids in hats I’ve bought. I don’t think it gets better than that, for me.
This book is awesome! I just read it to my girl last week and she loved it too!
I am right there with you. I have two nephews and another one on the way. I am all about the books.
“Am I a total nerd for being that faux-aunt who would rather give books instead of clothing?”
My two daughters would rather receive books than ANYTHING. We’re working on training the little nieces up to feel the same way.
Keep giving books. Disney books do not count. Help train ‘em up right!
Excellent idea. I’m partial to The Giving Tree and The Diggingest Dog. Mostly, just because I like to say, “Diggingest”.
Totally remember loving “caps for sale.” And my mom crying every time she read “The Giving Tree.” Today, books are my children’s FAVORITE gift. You are exactly, 100% correct.
Books are by far superior gifts to clothes! The book only has to sit on a shelf. The clothes have to get trotted out whenever the giver comes to visit whether or not the kid likes what he/she is being forced to wear and, really, weren’t we all traumatized by being forced to put on something someone else bought us at some point in our childhoods?
Books are the best gifts! My sister works in a book store, so she is definitely the nerdy aunt giving out books every chance she gets. And I love it! I have to find this book, because I’ve never heard of it.
I loved that book when I was a kid too. I was so excited when I found it in a bookstore a few years ago! I promptly gave it to every kid in the family.
Also, at least you give books. That means the kids get to open SOMETHING.
We give books to kids who are not in our family. And the poor children who are? They get a card with the balance of the college savings account we manage for them. They could really care less.
What surprised me about making that decision is that the parents? Some are supportive and contribute to the accounts as well. Some are not-so-supportive, but tolerate it because, well, we’re the only ones doing the college saving. And some? Have asked us if we could stop saving and investing money for their kids and just buy toys, like “cool” relatives.
Love love love Caps for Sale!
Books are my #1 kids gift. I’m a librarian who used to be a preschool teacher so I guess it’s par for the course!!
Books are the BEST! The gift of reading, what could be better? (says the high school teacher who encounters illiteracy every day of her life) Anything by Robert McCloskey (eg Make Way For Ducklings!), ‘Rain Makes Applesauce’, and, of course, the Frances the Badger series
Soo late in commenting but this book was one of my faves too!! We sat around the table at Easter talking about it because another friend gave it as a gift and no one else had ever heard of it!
Books are the best gifts…ever. I always write in mine so the child will remember where they got it (Whenever I hold a baby shower I ask the guests to bring a book instead of a card – baby gets a head start on reading! 
)
My mom always told me to give books as gifts rather than clothes. Apparently everyone gives clothes as gifts and babies never get a chance to wear them. And mothers always seem to be appreciative of books.