Inscribing books as keepsakes

[growltigersontheloose]

Hi,

I'd like to start a tradition of giving my boy a lovely inscribed book for his birthday each year. Any ideas of which books to start with please (he is 1 in a month)? Ideally I'd like a nice story with excellent illustrations that he'll like for a few years.

I'm gutted I've already bought him Where the Wild Things Are, because I would have chosen that. I actually feel quite sad about it. But that is the type of thing I'm thinking of.

[JennyPiccolo]

Why don't you just write a wee message on the inside whenever you get him a new book? Rather than doing it once a year?

[growltigersontheloose]

I buy him a new book most weeks. I'm not sure I can come up with that many messages!

I want to get him a 'special' book each birthday, a keepsake. Other ideas are The Gift - Carol Ann Duffy or The Giving Tree- Shel Silverstein.

[Campaspe]

What a beautiful idea. How about a gorgeous, illustrated collection of nursery rhymes for his first birthday? I'm sure when he's grown up, he will love and treasure those books with the messages from you.

[growltigersontheloose]

Do you have a particular one in mind? It's a good idea, I need to have a good browse to find one, I don't remember one from when I was a kid. Thanks

[Tigresswoods]

We got DS The Tiger Who Came to Tea, Mog the Forgetful Cat & The Night Before Christmas on his 1st Christmas when he was 10m. It's always nice now, a few years on, to see our writing in them.

[youbethemummylion]

Winnie the Pooh?

[TheSydenhamSet]

Can't go wrong with Shirley Hughes! How about one of her Alfie stories

[OldRoan]

We got DP's nieces and nephews books for their first birthdays:
Brambly Hedge 4 seasons collection
Paddington Bear Treasury
Winnie the Pooh collection

You'll have to go to amazon or a second hand place (Abe books can give you a list) to find it, but the Cloth of Dreams was one of my favourite books when I was young. It's a collection of modern fairy tale type stories with the most stunning illustrations.

It sounds awful, but don't write in it until anyone else has given him a present (if they are going to). You don't want to end up with 5 inscribed copies of Winnie the Pooh, all non-returnable. He won't know if you write the message a week later.

[growltigersontheloose]

Some great suggestions there, thank you :-)

And good advice about waiting until other presents are in! He is likely to get books from other members of the family, so it could easily happen!

[growltigersontheloose]

OldRoan - is this it?
www.amazon.co.uk/The-Cloth-Of-Dreams-Children/dp/0316889016?tag=mumsnet&ascsubtag=mnforum-21

[OldRoan]

Yes!

It's so wonderful.

[growltigersontheloose]

I've just bought a copy for £2.80! Used but very good condition apparently. I'm not sure if this will be 'the' book until I've seen it, but I'm always up for reading new fairy tales :-)

[OldRoan]

Oh I hope you enjoy it. All I will say now is that the main picture for the story about fish is etched into my mind 20 years later...

[Periwinkle007]

Poems for Young Children
www.mileskelly.net/products-page/age-5-7/poems-for-young-children/

[mamadou]

Just putting forward a suggestion for a nursery rhyme book called 'Lavender's Blue' compiled by Kathleen Lines. It's a hardback book with wonderful illustrations. Not very expensive ( I think I paid £7 on amazon) and I've given it as a gift to a few newborns, I think it's a lovely gift and perfect for a one year old