The most adorable bedtime story party ever!

As a parent or educator (or both) you are going to LOVE this!


One of my best friends is having a baby soon, and I volunteered to have a baby shower for her. Now if you haven't noticed yet, I rarely do things the traditional way.


I started thinking about what material things my friend treasures and one item that immediately came to my mind was her love of books. She is a homeschooling mom who has a book collection that I only dream of having. (I have been in the education field for 20 years and her collection even surpasses mine.)


I searched on-line for "books" and "baby shower" and look what I found at Hostess with the Mostess


Tabletop 



Isn't this the most adorable theme for a baby shower ever?

After seeing this post, ideas immediately raced through my mind. Each guest will wear pajamas along with slippers! The cutest PJ's will win a prize. She can open her gifts in a rocking chair. We will serve cookies and milk for dessert. Each guest can bring her favorite bedtime story for a gift, and my friend will have a basket of books to take home for her baby. For a game, I will read excerpts from popular children's bedtime stories and the guests have to name the title. 



What else can you do with these ideas?  

When I taught first grade, my students came to school dressed in their pajamas for a read-a-thon. I have also used this idea at home with my kids when I homeschool. My kids actually like having a read-a-thon once every few months. During the cold months, they sip hot chocolate while reading. Other times my older boys build tents in our family room and read books while laying in their comfy sleeping bags. Some of the baby shower ideas mentioned above can be incorporated during these special days of school.



UPDATE
The bedtime stories baby shower was a big success!

I wore my Blogging Babe PJs from the TBA Blog Shop. (They were delivered 15 minutes before I left for the party- I was thrilled!)

Look at how cute the table/bed was!

Isn't my friend the prettiest pregnant person ever? 

And we made tons of cookies with coffee punch- so yummy together. 

We played games about books. One favorite was "Name that Book Title."



 You have to try it!The game was such a hit! Every mother, teacher, and even older children will love playing this!


      ~Name that Children's Book~


Book Title Synonym
Actual Book Title
Author
Place that the footpath terminates

Shel Silverstein
Tiny females

Louisa May Alcott
Pleasant twilight, celestial body

Margaret Wise Brown
An explanation of the circumstances that allowed a killjoy to burglarize December 25th

Dr. Seuss
The color spectrum aquatic dweller

Marcus Pfister
The considerably famished butterfly

Eric Carle
Estimate the amount of affection I hold for thee

Sam McBratney 
The blizzardy 24 hours

Ezra Jack Keats
The arctic nonstop

Chris Van Allsburg
The location of the untamed figures existence

Maurice Sendak 
In case you supply a rodent a baked good

Laura Joffe Numeroff
The unattractive hatchling

Hans Christian Andersen
The miniature motor that was capable

Watty Piper
The small abode located upon the grassland

Laura Ingalls Wilder
A crease in chronology

Madeleine L'Engle
Chuck and the confectionery manufacturing plant

Ronald Dahl
The Native American inside the cabinet

Lynne Reid Banks












                       ~Answers~

Book Title Synonym
Actual Book Title
Author
Place that the footpath terminates
Where the Sidewalk Ends
Shel Silverstein
Tiny females
Little Women
Louisa May Alcott
Pleasant twilight, celestial body
Goodnight Moon
Margaret Wise Brown
An explanation of the circumstances that allowed a killjoy to burglarize December 25th
How the Grinch Stole Christmas
Dr. Seuss
The color spectrum aquatic dweller
The Rainbow Fish
Marcus Pfister
The considerably famished butterfly
The Very Hungry Caterpillar
Eric Carle
Estimate the amount of affection I hold for thee
Guess How Much I Love You
Sam McBratney 
The blizzardy 24 hours
The Snowy Day
Ezra Jack Keats 
The arctic nonstop
The Polar Express
Chris Van Allsburg
The location of the untamed figures existence
Where the Wild Things Are
Maurice Sendak 
In case you supply a rodent a baked good
If You Give A Mouse A Cookie
Laura Joffe Numeroff
The unattractive hatchling
The Ugly Duckling
Hans Christian Andersen
The miniature motor that was capable
The Little Engine That Could
Watty Piper
The small abode located upon the grassland
Little House on the Prairie
Laura Ingalls Wilder
A crease in chronology
A Wrinkle In Time
Madeleine L'Engle
Chuck and the confectionery manufacturing plant
Charlie and the Chocolate Factory
Ronald Dahl
The Native American inside the cabinet
The Indian In The Cupboard
Lynne Reid Banks

This game was adapted from www.sporcle.com 

CLICK HERE to print on Google Docs.
(It would not format perfectly, sorry.)

And the prizes were The Book Whisperer


and gift cards from Barnes and Noble and Starbucks
(coffee/tea and books just go together).

What a fun night!
Photobucket