I come from a bookish family, enjoying an upbringing where reading was considered to be the ultimate sporting pursuit, and where every household nook and cranny was crammed with a life-history of books, from the trashiest novel to the most highbrow doctrines of Greek philosophy (our shelves were nothing if not egalitarian, and we relished them all).
Thus I learned the facts of life mostly from Judy Blume novels, and yet was extremely well-read about world history from our travelling-salesman set of Encyclopedia Britannica, the 90′s print forerunner of Wikipedia. Sadly, volume 12 vanished without trace at some point meaning that anything listed under ‘M: Malachite – Mycenae’ will forever be a gap in my knowledge.
It’s perhaps no surprise that Harry is showing signs of being a book-lover, who delights in being read to (and in pretend-reading to us). At 3yrs old he already has a small but precious handful of books which have marked the various stages in his life and which have been transient obsessions, and I wanted to capture those memories before they fade and get swallowed up into the general joyous mayhem of childhood. I designed some simple bookplates to stick in the cover papers of his favourite books, recording the memories associated with them, so that he (and we) can look back on these in the years to come…
Harry’s first ever book was a picture book by the inimitable Emily Grevatte, whose simply rhyming and repetition tickled the then 6-month old Harry and produced a chortle which turned into a full belly-laugh, and culminated in such hysteria that in time I only had to pick up the book for H to start giggling. Any new mum will tell you that whoever can make their babies laugh is a friend for life, so Grevatte’s books will always have a special place in my heart. The Gruffalo was another hands-down favourite..
The bookplates themselves were printed onto standard white paper and I then used a glue stick to paste them into the dog-eared and well-loved books. If you want to do this and don’t have the time or inclination to make your own, there’s a downloadable version below which you can simply print out and fill in (minus the picture of Harry, of course!)
Download by clicking on the attachment; I’ve saved this a PDF with 6 labels per sheet; these should fit most books.
As I pack Harry’s old baby books into the loft for the next generation, it’s lovely to think that the family stories behind the storybooks themselves are captured and waiting to be rediscovered.
Other things… it’s been a snowy week here in Britain, with a huge blanket of snow falling thickly for several days. Nurseries and schools closed, fires were lit, and we took to the fields and hills to make the most of it. We decided to go to the local park (Windsor Great Park; home to the Queen and some stunning landscapes) just as dusk was falling, and we had the place to ourselves; it was indescribably beautiful..
We came across this couple, absorbed in the beauty of the winter landscape…
..and obviously in the early stages of a great romance…
We taught Harry the art of the snowball fight – something I’m sure we’ll regret before long – before heading home for crumpets, tea and to admire how beautiful everything looks in our snowy garden, including Harry’s new playhouse – a secondhand one which I spruced up with curtains, carpet and a weather vane; it was Harry’s 3rd birthday present and he’s very house-proud; even delivery men get invited in for a cup of tea and a story…
Yet another wonderful idea Kate, thanks for sharing. Right I’m off with glue stick and bookplates in hand to create some memories in our own library. I have just shown Harry’s house to my daughter and she said wow mummy can we have one pleeeeeaasssee!! I feel a summer project coming on!
Thanks Nicole! And your comment about your daughter made me smile; that’s EXACTLY how we ended up getting Harry one for his birthday; he became devoted to one at a friend’s house and desperate to have his own front door as soon as a birthday or Christmas came around… happy construction in the Summer!
Love this post – books are best! I’m told that it is easier for new readers to learn if you use upper and lower case letters (eg like this sentence as I don’t feel I explained that well) rather than CAPTIALS. That said, I do love your chosen typeface – and besides children get to be confident readers willing to enjoy nostalgia in the blink of an eye, so really what type you choose doesn’t matter much. Nicola http://homemadekids.wordpress.com
Love the bookplates! The wintery photos are beautiful too…we’re in the middle of a heat wave so no lovely snow for us!
Thank you! And I envy you your heatwave… our snow became slush and then chilly damp, so all the romance is gone and I’m craving heat and that feeling of being warm in my bones…. it’s still months away here!
So cute Kate! Really great idea. My daughter is just learning how to read and it’s fascinating to see her excitement over it. It brings back all kinds of memories of my nerdy self hanging out in the library (and yes Judy Blume, Beverly Cleary, Ann M. Martin…oh God I could go on).
Send some snow to Canada please. It’s a travesty of an embarrassment that we’re not living up to the nickname of the Great White North. There is grass on my front lawn. And I want that playhouse for myself.
What a fabulous idea with the book plates they really bring back the reading memories. Like you we’ve been snowed on here in Suffolk and loving it. Although my almost 2 year isn’t sure about walking in it my 3 and a half year old loves everything about it.
We were big fans of reading when our children were young and still are. My only regret is that I didn’t save some of their favourite books to pass on to my non-existant grandchildren. Harry is one lucky little boy. The snow photos are amazining.
That’s not a playhouse! That’s another house entirely. What a lucky little boy, and well done you on creating such a cute space!
Reblogged this on The Painted Rabbit.
You live near me, will look out for you in the park! Lovely photos.
Oh, I love the snow couple! And Harry’s house, and of course the book plates. Very nice idea.
So much book love here! Warms my heart. And that playhouse!
What a lovely idea. My 2yo loves books! I love your wintery photos. They remind me of the year we lived in London. We loved the week it snowed and went to Holland Park every day. And, that playhouse is just too cute!
This is such a lovely idea (as always!)
And we love ‘You Choose’ too…
Delightful post . . . from first to last.
I found myself in this post. I was just the same, knowing every single word by heart. Wonderful idea. When I’ll have children, I’ll do this, and I vow to try to be a mum who does a lot of DIY.
Such a lovely post. Thank you so much for the pdf. I will definitely be using them. I find it amazing how my 15 month old son already has firm favourites. I will love recording his little antics too- ‘The Gruffalo’ always gets a kiss goodnight and finding the mouse on each page of ‘Goodnight Moon’ is SO exciting every single time.
Kate, you have a lovely life! I never thought of doing book plates for my daughter’s childhood books, of which many were mine, and of which we have many altogether. I will be doing them now, though! Also, the sign on Harry’s house reminds me of one of my favourite books. I wonder if you know it.
http://books.google.com/books/about/The_Little_House.html?id=T35LXwAACAAJ
The playhouse looks super cute and cosy!
Your blog is so fun and colorful. Your creativity is boundless.
Thanks so much. I love the couple on the bench.
Brilliant ideas!! (yet again) What a great find on the Harry’s home…and the photos of the snow couple – sweet. We too have recently taught our (recently turned 3) son the art of snowball making…I too feel we may regret it sooner, than later…enjoy the snow while it lasts.
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That playhouse…. is the most wonderful second hand playhouse I’ve ever seen. You’re giving him such a wonderful and memorable childhood. What does his playhouse look like inside?
What a great idea! Thanks for sharing it with all of us!
Love
Dina
This is absolutely charming. I wish I’d known of it when my children were young.
Just found this on MPMK – what an awesome idea!!!
Kate, thank you so very much for the wonderful bookplates PDF. We have 5 grandchildren who are 3 and under so these will come in very handy. Capturing the love of each book for these kids is a great idea!! Your blog is fabulous & I’m sending along my applause!