Bookish Baby Shower

Back in July I got to help throw a baby shower for a couple of friends who had new babies (the 4th baby for both).  Neither of them "needed" a shower, so the focus wasn't on gifts, but on having a fun party.  And really, any excuse to have a party... and a children's book themed party?  seriously, I swoon.

I got to work with my friends Heidi and Jen, and it all came together beautifully I think.  It was a fun night!  Congrats to the new mamas!!

The amazing Heidi.

Jen, holding Logan, with mama Kira.

My jobs were to help with food, decorations, and be in charge of a couple of games.

One game was a phrase-dropping game.  Each person was given a piece of paper with a phrase from a children's book and they had to say it in conversation without anyone noticing.

The phrases:

• “Tell me about me…tell me about things I once did” (Little Bear)
• "I just wanted to be sure of you.” (Winnie the Pooh)
• “Even though she was a cow” (Ferdinand)
•  “Even in Australia.” (Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day)
• "You never can tell with bees." (Winnie the Pooh)
• I think I can, I think I can” (The Little Engine that Could)
• “most of your hair has been loved off” (The Velveteen Rabbit)
• “We will call him Clark.” (One Fish, Two Fish, Red Fish, Blue Fish)
• “George was fond of peeking in windows.” (George & Martha)
•  “I’ve always wanted a friend.” (Corduroy) 
•  “I guess I've always wanted to live in a palace.” (Corduroy)
• “I’ll eat you up, I love you so.” (Where the Wild Things Are)
• “You've nothing to do and I do need a rest”  (Horton Hatches the Egg)
• “Would you like them here or there?” (Green Eggs and Ham)
• “Your Majesty. Please…I don’t like to complain.” (Yertle the Turtle)
• “What big eyes you have.” (Little Red Riding Hood)
• “Then I shall do it myself.” (Little Red Hen)
• “Someone’s been sitting in my chair.” (Goldilocks and the Three Bears)
• “…and he huffed...” (The Three Little Pigs)

(The ones in bold were said successfully.)



Ellie with mama Jill.

My brother does fantastic scavenger hunts, and I decided to follow in his footsteps for my other game. I came up with a list of 25 book themed items to hide around the living room. I had so much fun planning it and hiding things!!



The Piggywig's nose ring

Things hidden:

1. The Owl and Pussycat’s Runcible Spoon
2. Corduroy’s Button
3. The Hungry Caterpillar’s Leaf
4. Madeline’s Eiffel Tower
5. Winnie the Pooh’s Hunny Dipper
6. Harold’s Purple Crayon
7. The Hungry Caterpillar’s Strawberry
8. Chicka Chicka Boom Boom’s Letter “B”
9. Strega Nona’s Pasta
10. Goodnight Moon’s Red Balloon
11. Papa Bear’s Porridge
12.  The Little Engine (that could)
13.  Humpty Dumpty’s Shell
14. Francis’ Knife (for spreading jam, of course)
15. Mother Goose’s Feather
16. Jack’s Magic Bean
17. The Piggy-wig’s Nose Ring
18. The Mouse’s Milk Straw
19. Sam-I-Am’s Ham and Egg Plate
20. Mr. Macgregor’s Lucky Rabbit’s Foot
21. Sal’s Blueberry Pail
22. The Little Red Hen’s Grain of Wheat
23. Max’s Wild Thing Crown
24. The Three Pigs’ Brick
25. Fancy Nancy’s Necklace

The Owl and Pussycat's runcible spoon

Heidi also did a baby-themed scattergories game, which was fun.

Game prizes were little bundles of books tied with a ribbon and had a quote on top:

Children are made readers on the laps of their parents

 

For décor we had books and book-related toys on display (Heidi has a shelf above her dining table that was just perfect!).  Heidi made a book-page pennant/banner thing which added a lot and was super awesome. 

I made a "Little Red Hen" birdhouse (for my Mom, but we used it for the shower before I gave it to her). 

{bookshelf before}

I also made a little bookshelf to use on the food table.  I got it at a moving sale for $2 and then painted it.  Mr. Fox added trim, and I added a deco-paper backing.  I think it turned out cute, and added some extra fun to the food table.

(cutest photobomb EVER, little Owl.)

The shelf sat like this in the living room for a few days, and this was a common view. 
The babies both LOVED climbing on it!

(The food wasn't completely in place for this picture,
but it shows a view of the whole table area.)
{Bookshelf: after}

Each food referenced a specific book, and Jen made cute little book covers to clip next to the appropriate food.
 

 

 

 

The foods:

• Milk and Chocolate Chip Cookies .....If You Give a Mouse a Cookie
• Pigs in a Blanket.................................The Three Little Pigs
• Fruit Salad..........................................The Hungry Caterpillar
• Swedish Fish......................................One Fish, Two Fish, Red Fish, Blue Fish
• Mini Quiche.......................................Green Eggs & Ham
• Veggie Platter....................................Peter Cottontail
• Blueberries.........................................Blueberries for Sal
• Meatballs...........................................Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs

Heidi made  a super rich and delicious chocolate raspberry cake with an adorable mini-book-cover bunting strung up on top.  mmmm, it was so very good!

It was fun...both the preparation and the actual night.  Hooray for cute new babies (and hooray for fun parties!). 

Welcome to the world, Ellie and Logan!