I'm a huge fan of The Diane Rehm Show which airs weekdays on WUNC from 10-12. Ms. Rehm always has the best guests talking about topics that I'm interested in and the show on community in August was no exception. That day one of her guests was author Susan Pinker. Pinker's new book is called The Village Effect: How Face-To-Face Contact Can Make Us Healthier, Happier, and Smarter. Totally up my community-minded alley, right? Here's my review.

In short, I love this book. That's (almost) all you need to know. Seriously. But if you must know more about the why and determine whether or not you must read this book (yes), keep reading.

Introverts might not like this book. In The Village Effect Pinker is essentially saying your connection with others is what determines health and happiness. And not just your connection with your family, although that's part of it. Your connection to the broader world including family but also friends, co-workers, neighbors, other church members, book club buddies, fellow gym rats, etc. Other people are not "hell" but vital ingredients for a happy, healthy life.

The Village Effect looks at moms relationship with babies, teens and screen time, charming swindlers, sufferers from chronic disease and others as she delves into how the inter-personal contact that we have influences us. Pinker explores why dining with friends feels good to us (provided they are the “right” friends!), how pregnancy can actually be contagious, why kangaroo care is so good for mom and baby and what is about men dying more frequently after the death of their wife than women do after their husband dies.

Pinker closes this must-read by looking at how we can create the village effect in our own lives. Some of that list that I think are the most pertinent for moms, especially new moms, are: “create a village of diverse relationships” and “adjust the ratio of face-to-face to screen communication, according to your temperament, just as you adjust how much and what you eat according to your appetite”. I say “pertinent” because new moms are still coming to terms with our changing identity. So “diverse relationships” and “face-to-face time" take on new meanings and I think, increased importance. Being a new mom can be very isolating. If you were hesitant before about joining a group or making new mom friends, Pinker’s book shows us just how important it is for us to be with other people.

Speaking of face-to-face time, Toddler Group starts Saturday January 3. Join a new community (along with your toddler!) and a small group of other moms for 6 sessions as we sort out toddlering together, with plenty of resources, support, community and self-care along the way.

It's so easy to get sucked into the hype of being a new mom. We're told that we need to be the best advocate for our child(ren) which involves the "small" stuff like knowing signs of readiness for solids as well as the "larger" issues like keeping up on the latest information related to children's health. So when someone comes along with something that feels like it might be a timesaver AND help our child at the same time, many of us feel compelled to seize upon it. But, sadly, in spite of Baby Einstein's lofty promises, a new article in The Atlantic confirms that no, babies cannot learn to read at three months.

Sometimes, it's articles like these that reminds me to take a step backward and just enjoy the moments with my daughter as they happen. In that vein, below are 6 books for you and your baby that I've found offer a good jumping off point into reading:

Little Blue Truck by Alice Schertle and Jill McElmurry - I read this book for the first time to Elisabeth at 3 months after I saw it at my sister Sarah's house. Plot: a friendly blue truck talks to everyone and helps out a larger truck who isn't as friendly. Yes, a little bit of an advanced storyline for a newborn but the rhyme-y nature, pithy life lessons ("now I know a lot depends on a helping hand from a few good friends,") and gender neutral characters sucked me in! I now know this book by heart and can recite it on call whenever stuck in a traffic jam or an unfriendly airport. Elisabeth still loves it.
Tumble Bumble by Felicia Bond - Another one we started reading at 3 months. Plot: animal characters find unexpected adventures (and unlikely friendships!) with each other on a sunny afternoon. Very fun, gender neutral and also catchy. Another one I know by heart and can recite anywhere.
Mama, Do You Love Me? by Barbara M Jossee & Barbara Lavallee - One of our favorites that I have been reading to Elisabeth since she was born. Plot: a little girl tests mom and mom continues to reassure that mom's love is forever. Endlessly sweet and beautifully illustrated. Mom and daughter appear to be Native American which is also nice. A very simple book with lots of opportunities for discussion.
Good Night Moon by Margaret Wise Brown - A classic that I loved as a child and one which we started early, early with Elisabeth. Plot: A gender neutral bunny getting ready for bed bids good night to pretty much everything ("goodnight stars, goodnight air,") before finally ready for sleep. Lots of simple, easy to understand language with words to learn and repeat. Repetitive but not boring.
Each Peach Pear Plum by Allan Ahlberg & Janet Ahlberg- One of my favorites that went off my radar until recently. Plot: Several fairy tale and folk characters (Mother Hubbard, Cinderella, Wicked Witch, Robin Hood, etc. ) join in to form a sweet, rhyming story which is engaging and fun. Great opportunities to ask baby/toddler what he sees as he gets older ("where are the bunnies?" or "Show me where the broom is.").
Roadwork by Sally Sutton- A recent discovery. Plot: a crew of men and women build a road from start to finish with amazing sound affects along the way. Wow, what is not to be crazy about in this board book? There is a nice repetition, lot of action, beautiful illustrations and a crew who works together on each page to achieve the goal. Elisabeth loves the sound affects on each page.

While your baby may not learn to read at 3 months, it is important to read to her, as this piece featured on WUNC recently explored. Remember, too, that when you read together, she is learning new words as well as a love of books. These little seeds are like so many as a parent that you plant on a daily basis which hopefully will stay with your child for life.

What are your favorites? What would you add to this list? Leave a comment below.

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