Elizabeth Verdick

Author: Elizabeth Verdick   Illustrated by: Marieka Heinlen

Winner of the 2012 Creative Child Preferred Choice Award

Mealtime—“Yummy-in-the-tummy time”—is an opportunity to teach young children two major personal and social skills: nutrition and table manners. This cheerful board book sets the stage to guide little ones toward healthy eating and positive mealtime routines—and to make time shared around the table pleasant for all. Simple but important mealtime routines come to life as the toddlers in this book remember to wash their hands, use a napkin and silverware, stay at the table, and eat healthy foods. Toddlers also learn the one big rule for mealtime: Always try one bite (“You just might like it!”).

24 pages

Author: Elizabeth Verdick   Illustrated by: Marieka Heinlen

Ease the transition time from evening activities to bedtime with this warm and cozy get-ready-for-bed book. Aided by Mom and Dad, a sister and brother enjoy a little snack, relaxing baths, time for brushing teeth, stories, lullabies, back rubs, and hugs. Cheerful, soft illustrations and reassuring text set a tone that helps toddlers feel good about the daily bedtime routine of settling down to sleep. (As the narrator explains, “I do my best growing when I’m sleeping.”) In the morning, the children will yawn, stretch, and be a little bit bigger, a little bit stronger, and a little bit smarter—all because of a good night’s sleep.

24 pages

Author: Elizabeth Verdick   Illustrated by: Heinlen Marieka

Through rhythmic text and warm illustrations, this gentle, reassuring book offers toddlers simple tools to release strong feelings, express them, and calm themselves down. Children learn to use their calm-down place—a quiet space where they can take time out to cry, ask for a hug, sing to themselves or be rocked in a grown-up’s arms, talk about feelings, and breathe: “One, two, three . . . I’m calm as can be. I’m taking care of me.” After a break, toddlers will feel like new—and adults will, too.

24 pages