In my last post, I wrote that I would like to look for more books for babies.
A few days later, I received a thoughtful gift for my son from a friend of mine whom I hadn’t seen for half a year. It was this cute sensory book printed in black, white and a touch of yellow only. What a nice choice!
I was curious why, especially because I’d remember reading an article that vivid colours would usually be used for toys and books for toddlers. This is because it takes several months for new-borns to start recognizing different colours, and pastel colours are the last to be recognized.
However, I discovered that this book was actually suitable for new-borns who still don’t even see colours. According to another article I found today, illustrations in black and white have high contrast and thus can be recognized by new-borns. They can also help develop the vision and stimulate the brain of babies.
Indeed, I see this trick in this book. By pulling cards built in to each page whose background is white, another illustration in black background flashes. My son enjoys this trick a lot. For the first time with a book, he laughed out loud!
As this is a book for babies, narratives are extremely simple. It starts from “buongiorno (good morning),” followed by “mi vesto (I get dressed).” In this way, the book describes a typical day of a baby over the 16 pages.
My favourite part is “leggiamo,” which comes before the last page, “buonanotte (good night).” While all the other verbs are subjected to the baby in the first-person singular form, this is written in the first-person plural form of the verb “leggere (to read)”. So, it implies that the baby reads with mum or dad before bed!
A day of a baby is really a repetition of simple things. But what a difference we would see in one week, in one month, and in one year!
What about my every-day life? Well, it’s quite restless! As it is so for all mums, I hardly ever have an hour of total silence while the baby is awake.
So, where do I write this blog? Usually outside. As soon as the harsh winter passed, I learned to create some “me time” while my son sleeps peacefully in his baby car.
A laptop, notebook and some books to read must not be forgotten whenever we go for a walk. Every single bench and park in the city has become my office.
However, the open-air office is not always a good solution if the sun doesn't shine. This week has been rainy, windy and cloudy and we haven't been able to stay outside very much.
Perhaps the legend of this church in our neighbourhood, ”When the Madonna of San Luca comes down, it rains in Bologna,” is true.
As an annual ritual event, now the Madonna of the church is staying in the Metropolitan Cathedral of Saint Peter, which is the main cathedral of Bologna, in the city centre. She goes back to the hilltop tomorrow, so hopefully more sunny days come next week.
By the way, this dorm of the Church (you can actually see it in the last photo of this previous post about the picnic book) is an iconic landmark of Bologna. As soon as I see it on the highway, or from the airplane landing at BLQ and from the train entering the central station, I feel that I am home.
That’s all for today. Alla prossima, buona giornata!
Written and Illustrated by Raffaella Castagna
Published in March 2020 by Lapis