We’ve loved watching the journey of San Francisco bay area writer Rachel Sarah as she found love and had her second daughter. She is the author of Single Mom Seeking: Play Dates, Blind Dates, and Other Dispatches from the Dating World (Seal Press, 2007) optioned by 20th Century Fox. The mother of two beautiful daughters, who are 12 years apart, Rachel has recently completed her first YA novel. She has written for Family Circle, American Baby, The Washington Post, and BabyCenter.com. We’re overjoyed to get some reading tips from this super cool mama.
One of my FAVORITE authors is Todd Parr. I love everything by him. His books “grow” on kids. My six-month-old loves to look at his illustrations. My older daughter loved his books through second grade. These days, I’m reading The Mommy Book to Baby Camille.
Ages 2-5 | Publisher: Little, Brown Books for Young Readers | May 1, 2010
Babette Cole is a hilarious and profound writer and illustrator from England. As the mother of two daughters, I love the message that Cole imparts to girls. Princess Smartypants gives a whole new angle to the traditional fairy tale princess: this Princess doesn’t want to get married. She’d rather live with her pets. When her parents demand that she find herself a husband, the Princess sets all of these funny tasks for her horde of suitors. When Prince Swashbuckle accomplishes all of the challenges, he’s in for quite a surprise.
Ages 4 and up | Publisher: Putnam Juvenile | July 7, 2005
This book came as a gift from a teacher-friend, and I’m grateful that she introduced our family to Peter Reynolds’ story and watercolors. In The Dot, a little girl is frustrated in art class. After she announces that she “CAN’T draw,” her teacher magically opens her world by saying, “Just make a mark and see where it takes you.” My older daughter loves art, and I hope to instill the same love in her baby sister.
All Ages | Publisher: Candlewick Press | September 15, 2003
I admit it: farting jokes make me laugh. My older daughter still wants a dog, and I think that “Walter” – who passes gas morning, noon, and night – is as close as we’re going to get.
Ages 5-8 | Publisher: North Atlantic Books | November 28, 2001
One of my daughters is biracial, so I’m always looking for books with girls who look like her. Shades of Black – by wife and husband Sandra and Myles Pinkney – is a photo book that shows the beauty and uniqueness of children who are “gingery brown like a cookie,” “brassy yellow like popcorn,” and… yes, “black” like “creamy white like vanilla ice cream.”
Nicki Richesin is the author and editor of four anthologies; Crush, What I Would Tell Her, Because I Love Her, and The May Queen. She is the San Francisco correspondent for Du Jour and a frequent contributor to Sunset,The Horn Book, 7×7, The Huffington Post, and Daily Candy. Find her online athttps://nickirichesin.com/.
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Nicki Richesin is a freelance writer and editor based in San Francisco. She writes personal essays and pieces on lifestyle, parenting, and pop culture for Sunset, DuJour, 7×7, Daily Candy, and The Huffington Post. She is also the author and editor of The May Queen, Because I Love Her, What I Would Tell Her, and Crush. You can find her online at http://www.nickirichesin.com
The Mommy Book 
Princess Smartypants 
The Dot
Walter the Farting Dog
Shades of Black: A Celebration of Our Children 