My favorite books to give at a baby shower

Why am I passionate about this?

I am a mom who always dreamed of becoming a writer, but was too scared to try until I met my baby. The overwhelming urge to express my love for her in what I have always considered the most sacred way, through writing, became too much to contain. I wanted to create a meaningful experience not only for my child, but for all children; one where they could be nestled in their parents’ arms, engaged in the most significant pastime, and where they could understand for the first time how much they were loved from the very beginning.


I wrote...

When You Were in My Belly

By Kara Michelle Liu, Hanji Kim (illustrator),

Book cover of When You Were in My Belly

What is my book about?

When You Were in My Belly shares the story of three families as they prepare for the arrival of their new baby. Through each activity, whether it is deliberating over the namesake or selecting the perfect crib, each family can barely contain their excitement. Somewhere between the sound of the heartbeat at the doctor’s office and each felt movement in the belly, the parents are spellbound and know their lives will never be the same. It is the universal story of parental love, evident from the very beginning.

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The books I picked & why

Book cover of The Good Sleeper: The Essential Guide to Sleep for Your Baby (and You)

Kara Michelle Liu Why did I love this book?

The Good Sleeper was recommended to me by a mom in my neighborhood who instantly noticed that I was struggling with my new role. While my daughter was keeping me up most of the night, her baby was actually sleeping for sustained periods of time in his crib. Sure enough, after reading this book, I was finally able to understand the science behind what was happening with my baby and how I could best meet her needs. I read and reread each chapter as I tried the strategies until I found the right ones for my child. It’s no exaggeration to say that getting sleep changed my world! Pass this book along and give a new parent the gift of sleep.

By Janet Krone Kennedy,

Why should I read it?

1 author picked The Good Sleeper as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it.

What is this book about?

This is a refreshingly straightforward method for training infants to become great sleepers for life, inspired by clinical psychologist Janet Kennedy's popular psychotherapy practice, NYC Sleep Doctor. Cry it out or co-sleep? Bassinet or swing? White noise machine or Bach? How many hours anyway? For something so important, there's too much conflicting information about how best to get your baby to sleep through the night and nap successfully during the day. This book is a straightforward, no-nonsense answer to one of the biggest challenges new parents face when they welcome a brand new baby home. This book is written for…


Book cover of On the Night You Were Born

Kara Michelle Liu Why did I love this book?

As parents, we want our children to somehow fathom the immensity of our love and carry it with them throughout their lives. Each time I read this book to my child as a baby and especially now as a three-year-old, I feel like I am able to convey how special she is and how the world was never the same after the day she was born. The beautiful language selected is captivating for the listener and the message so pithy, that I find myself expressing many of the lines in a mere whisper.

By Nancy Tillman,

Why should I read it?

3 authors picked On the Night You Were Born as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it. This book is for kids age 1, 2, 3, and 4.

What is this book about?

On the night you were born,
the moon smiled with such wonder
that the stars peeked in to see you
and the night wind whispered.
"Life will never be the same."
On the night you were born, the whole world came alive with thanksgiving. The moon stayed up till morning. The geese flew home to celebrate. Polar bears danced.
On the night you were born you brought wonder and magic to the world. Here is a book that celebrates you. It is meant to be carried wherever life takes you, over all the roads, through all the years.
This debut…


Book cover of Baby-Led Weaning: The Essential Guide

Kara Michelle Liu Why did I love this book?

While baby-led weaning can be a little out of the ordinary and is definitely not right for every child, this book is an interesting read for a new parent. Coming from an early childhood background in education, I was fascinated by the prospect of my child being able to essentially play with her food while activating her five senses and honing her fine motor skills all at the same time. The book helped me to understand how to slowly introduce new foods while babies naturally wean off of milk. Best of all, as a family, we ate healthier as a result!

Let’s face it, Baby-led Weaning is not for everyone, but just think of the freedom that you could be potentially providing since your friend could be completely avoiding spoon-feeding and purchasing canned baby food.

By Gill Rapley, Tracey Murkett,

Why should I read it?

1 author picked Baby-Led Weaning as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it.

What is this book about?

The fully updated and revised edition of Baby-led Weaning is a practical and authoritative guide to introducing solid food, enabling your child to grow up a happy and confident eater. It shows parents why baby-led weaning makes sense and gives them the confidence to trust their baby's natural skills and instincts.

Filled with practical tips for getting started and the low-down on what to expect, Baby-led Weaning explodes the myth that babies need to be spoon-fed and shows why self-feeding from the start is the healthiest way for your child to develop. Your baby is allowed to decide how much…


Book cover of Oh Crap! Potty Training

Kara Michelle Liu Why did I love this book?

I know, I know  – potty training might seem a long time off, but before your expecting friend knows it, the need to begin potty training will be upon them, and trust me it is not for the faint of heart. What better way to face potty training than to laugh through each chapter of this hilarious, brilliant book? With the six-step process shared in the book, we were easily able to get our daughter ready for daycare in plenty of time. So tell your friend to set it aside and believe me they will thank you later.

By Jamie Glowacki,

Why should I read it?

1 author picked Oh Crap! Potty Training as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it.

What is this book about?

"Straight up, parent tested, and funny to boot, Jamie gives you all the information you need." -Amber Dusick, author of Parenting: Illustrated with Crappy Pictures

A proven six-step plan to help you toilet train your preschooler quickly and successfully, from potty-training expert, Pied Piper of Poop, and social worker Jamie Glowacki.

Worried about potty training? Let Jamie Glowacki, potty-training expert, show you how it's done. Her 6-step, proven process to get your toddler out of diapers and onto the toilet has already worked for tens of thousands of kids and their parents. Here's the good news: your child is probably…


Book cover of Eyes That Kiss in the Corners

Kara Michelle Liu Why did I love this book?

This all-around stunning picture book is representative of the last type of book that I believe to be the most meaningful to give at a baby shower. Find a book, whether it was planned to be read to a baby or not, that focuses at the heart of what is special about the baby and provides a great way to celebrate the baby’s uniqueness throughout their life.

Eyes that Kiss in the Corners is a revolutionary text that celebrates the beautiful shape of the character’s eyes, her incredible familial bond, and the story of her ancestors. As long as the book touches the parent’s soul, then the book will be read and reread countless times to their child, and what better gift is there than that?

By Joanna Ho, Dung Ho (illustrator),

Why should I read it?

1 author picked Eyes That Kiss in the Corners as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it. This book is for kids age 4, 5, 6, and 7.

What is this book about?

A New York Times Bestseller and #1 Indie Bestseller * A School Library Journal Best Book of 2021 * Included in NPR's 2021 Books We Love List * Featured in Forbes, Oprah Daily, The Cut, and Book Riot * Golden Poppy Book Award Winner * Featured in Chicago Public Library's Best Books of 2021 * 2021 Nerdie Award Winner * A Kirkus Children's Best Book of 2021

This lyrical, stunning picture book tells a story about learning to love and celebrate your Asian-shaped eyes, in the spirit of Hair Love by Matthew A. Cherry, and is a celebration of diversity.…


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Traumatization and Its Aftermath: A Systemic Approach to Understanding and Treating Trauma Disorders

By Antonieta Contreras,

Book cover of Traumatization and Its Aftermath: A Systemic Approach to Understanding and Treating Trauma Disorders

Antonieta Contreras Author Of Traumatization and Its Aftermath: A Systemic Approach to Understanding and Treating Trauma Disorders

New book alert!

Why am I passionate about this?

As a trauma therapist and dedicated researcher, I love uncovering valuable insights within lesser-known books. There are hidden gems, free from the pressure of commercial success, crafted by authors deeply committed to research, understanding, and the art of writing itself. Their dedication resonates with me, as I believe in the profound value of information and the power of critical thinking. Through my own book, Traumatization and Its Aftermath, I aim to emphasize that psychological concepts often lose their depth in translation and my mission is spreading awareness and fostering a deeper understanding of trauma and its intricate facets. With that idea in mind, I chose these five titles. 

Antonieta's book list on uncovering the human experience and exploring the depths of trauma

What is my book about?

A fresh take on the difference between trauma and hardship in order to help accurately spot the difference and avoid over-generalizations.

The book integrates the latest findings in brain science, child development, psycho-social context, theory, and clinical experiences to make the case that trauma is much more than a cluster of symptoms to be tamed, but instead best understood as development gone off course, away from growth and towards (only) survival.

This book prompts a profound shift in perception, inviting to view trauma as an intricate and diverse experience, a point of view that ultimately leads to sharper treatment and, hopefully, more healing. It encourages a transition from asking, "What happened to you?" to the deeper question, "What is your relationship with what happened to you?"

Traumatization and Its Aftermath: A Systemic Approach to Understanding and Treating Trauma Disorders

By Antonieta Contreras,

What is this book about?

The book is comprehensive, bold, and practical-a much-needed resource for the assessment and treatment of trauma. Instead of the traditional focus on the overall importance of healing, Traumatization and its Aftermath decodes why some people don't heal as easily as others, analyzes the various failures of diagnosis, and explains how to make therapeutic interventions truly effective.

This book offers a systemic deep dive into traumatization that clarifies myths and misinformation about the entire spectrum of trauma and provides both clinicians and non-clinicians with the right level of validation, preventive measures, conceptualization methodology, assessment tools, and healing facts that have not…


5 book lists we think you will like!

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