What do you see? Eric Carle pajamas looking at me!

Thanks to Gymboree for sponsoring today’s discussion.

Mommy, mommy what do you see? I see…

a pile of pillows,

a stack of books,

a glowing night light,

two sets of little bare feet,

two pairs of soft pajamas, and

two little boys looking at me! That’s what I see!

Before I had children, I taught middle schoolers. To see some of my boy students hold books and reading in such disdain, I worried if I had boys, they might not love reading the way I did growing up (still do!). My favorite thing in all the world, was when my dad came home from work with a B. Dalton Booksellers bag under his arm. I KNEW, knew-knew-knew with giddy delight that a fresh new Bobbsey Twins or Nancy Drew book waiting to be cracked open (I loved how the pages were stiff and completely untouched-feeling!).

Unfortunately, I am indeed so old that The World of Eric Carle did not touch my world as a child. Go ahead, you can feel sorry for me – I do! Eric Carle swiftly became one of my most beloved children’s author/illustrators when I became a new mom. We’ve about worn our copy of The Very Hungry Caterpillar board book out, but I refuse to part with it – it’s going in their baby box!

When our first son was very small, we used to flip back and forth between the cocoon and the butterfly page over and over, screaming out: “Cocoon?! … BUTTERFLY!” Time after time, the transformation never failed to delight.

Our second son helped us discover a different Eric Carle book that is our newest favorite. You may not have heard of it, but it’s a gem you need to read. Papa, Please Get the Moon For Me. It’s sweet and playful and touching all by turns. Our two year old for months has lisped out the phrase, “Pa-pa… ah GET the MOON for me?!”

I credit this gorgeously illustrated picture book for creating his unending fascination with the moon and night sky. Every time we’re outside at night, he searches the heavens for that glowing orb. Reaches out baby hands and repeats in his breathless baby voice: “ah get the moon? Ah hold it? Hold it in-a my HAND! I catch it!”

Now my four-year-old is “reading” (from memory of course!) The Very Hungry Caterpillar to his brother… it’s the sweetest sight this mama ever did see! They love books!

Truly, there is nothing quite like instilling a love a reading in your own children!

As if Eric Carle books were not a delight in and of themselves, I was squealing with joy the day I heard that The World of Eric Carle and Gymboree have teamed up to offer Eric Carle sleepwear and Eric Carle playwear! Yes, you heard me true! Eric Carle pajamas – not a dream (and coming soon in ADULT sizes!)! Now we can read Carle books to our littlies and put them to bed snuggled inside rainbow striped Hungry Caterpillar PJs.

My little one snuggles up with moons and stars all over his chubby legs. I finally got the moon for him!

The partnership between Gymboree and the World of Eric Carle brings two iconic, parent-trusted brands together and builds on Gymboree’s rich heritage in colorful, quality clothing that parents love and children never want to stop wearing.

Gymboree In-Store Eric Carle Event!

Today is September 5th, and if you’re reading this before 10 a.m., I’d encourage you to keep your kids in their PJs and jump in the car straight to your nearest Gymboree store! Why? Because today only, every Gymboree store is hosting an in-store event dedicated to the playfulness of Eric Carle’s books!

When: 9/5/2014, 10:00 am-Noon

Where: All Gymboree store locations

What: An Eric Carle themed craft and story time reading of The Very Hungry Caterpillar

Even more Eric Carle Fun!

For any time Eric Carle play, download and print these Eric Carle coloring sheets and activities! Coloring, connect-the-dots, mazes, memory game, and Create A World printables!

Eric Carle #WhatDoYouSee Photo Contest!

Inspired by Eric Carle’s Brown Bear, Brown Bear, What Do You See, from 9/2-9/30, The World of Eric Carle and Gymboree will be hosting a photo contest, where we are encouraging parents to help their little ones take a picture of what they see.

Entrants can submit a photo via Twitter, Instagram, Tumblr or via our designated direct photo upload site, using the hashtag #WhatDoYouSee.

Download our iPhone app so you and your little one can add some Eric Carle fun to your photos and play a caterpillar game!

Entrants of the #WhatDoYouSee contest will have the chance of winning one of ten Eric Carle gift baskets including: A House for Hermit Crab book, a signed copy of The Very Hungry Caterpillar book, figurines, stickers, The Very Hungry Caterpillar Sippy Cup, Chunky Colored Pencils, Match and Munch Game, Place Mats Book, and Stage & Play (Approximate Retail Value (“ARV”) $144.99).

The winners will be announced at the end of the contest period, which is 9/30/14.

Thanks to Gymboree for sponsoring today’s discussion.