When Brittany Musholt told me she once read a cookbook to her 2-year-old nephew simply because he handed it to her, I knew we were kindred spirits. Baby-led weaning? Try baby-led reading. As she put it during our conversation, âAny book that you pick up and read to your kid is a great book.â
Iâm all for approaches that make good parenting feel easier, and thatâs what I love about the speech-language pathologistâs new Babyâs First Year Book Club program. Musholt, who's also a childrenâs book author, guides new parents month by month through book selections, outlining the milestones that each title is designed to support. No more decision fatigue in the board-book aisle. No more spending on stories that fall flat. Just a smart, concise, expert-backed starter library.
Read more about Babyâs First Book Club below, plus another local writerâand proud granddadâwhoâs making his own literary mark. And if youâre ready to sink into the festive fun, donât miss our top event picks and a magical holiday train experience that just might become your next family tradition.
đ Speaking of: Our December Playdate is this Friday! Join your fellow St. Louis Family readers for the ultimate kidsâ holiday partyâcomplete with Santa photos, holiday craft stations, a hot cocoa bar, a Blues slapshot game, and more. Tickets are just $5 per child, adults get in free, and proceeds benefit local toy drives. Get your tickets here.
Wishing you a wonderful week with the ones you love.
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Things to Do
For even more great ideas for things to do this week, subscribe to our Weekend newsletter, delivered every Thursday. And if youâre looking for classic seasonal activities, check out our below guides.
SPONSOREDSee Americaâs top skaters compete at the 2026 U.S. Figure Skating Championships, January 7â11 at Enterprise Center in St. Louis! Purchase tickets.
A MESSAGE FROM JOHNNY MORRIS' WONDERS OF WILDLIFE NATIONAL MUSEUM & AQUARIUM
America's Best Aquarium transforms for the holiday season
In Springfield, Missouri, Wonders of Wildlife has transformed into Sea of Lights Enchanted Christmas, surrounding guests with glowing exhibits, festive displays and educational wildlife momentsâan unforgettable holiday experience worth the short trip from St. Louis!
A new baby book club is helping St. Louis parents make reading feel doableânot daunting
Local speech-language pathologist and childrenâs author Brittany Musholt created Babyâs First Year Book Club, a $5 printable guide that walks parents month by month through which books to read, why they matter, and how to actually use them in everyday life. Itâs designed for tired, overwhelmed new parents who want to support early languageâbut donât have time to wade through a thousand reviews.
đ¶ What It Is
A 12-month reading roadmap for babyâs first year
Speech-therapistâapproved book picks
Short, practical explanations of what each book supports
Designed to make reading aloud feel simple, not stressful
đ§ Why It Helps Babies
Supports early communication and language milestones
Builds social-emotional skills from Day 1
Encourages attention, listening, and interactionânot just âgetting through a storyâ
đ Why Parents Love It
Cuts through the overwhelm: âJust tell me what to read at each age.â
Explains milestones in plain language
Works whether you buy the books or just check them out from the library
Helps parents feel confident instead of guilty about reading routines
đ Baby Shower Gold
$5 guide = easy add-on gift
Pair with a few or all of the recommended books
Be the friend who brings something sweet and actually useful
St. Louis Childrenâs Choirs: Shaping the next generation of artists and leaders
The local program gives kids the chance to perform on the worldâs greatest stages, learn from master educators, and build lifelong friendships. Learn more and audition today.
GRANDPA MAGIC
How Dan OâNeill accidentally wrote his first picture book
A St. Louis sportswriting legend has wandered into a whole new arena: picture books. Longtime St. LouisPost-Dispatch columnist Dan OâNeillâknown for covering the Cardinals, Blues, and every game in betweenâfound unexpected inspiration in his first granddaughter. Years of playful rhyming turned into his debut childrenâs book, The Day Avery Rose Lost Her Nose, a sweet mystery rooted not in fantasy but in the real-world connection between a mom and her child.
đ¶ The Inspiration: The book began as silly rhymes for his granddaughter Avery. Four years and seven more grandkids later, the story finally clicked.
âïž The Journey: The book was written in stops and startsâsometimes set aside for more than a year. OâNeill says the breakthrough came when he tied it to the classic âI got your noseâ game.
đ What Makes the Book Unique: As a kid-friendly mystery rooted in everyday life, thereâs no talking toys or monsters, just a real girl and her momâa refreshing standout in a sea of fantasy-driven childrenâs books.
đš The Creative Team: OâNeill found his illustrator, German artist Matea Anic, via Upwork. The entire collaboration happened online.
đ Why Kids (and Parents) Love It: Relatable humor and real-world play combine with simple, rhythmic storytelling that's perfect for read-alouds. The book celebrates the small, silly rituals that build lifelong bonds.
Find the perfect gift at Paramount Jewelersâwhere every piece tells a story. From sparkling diamonds to timeless classics and rare vintage treasures, discover beautifully crafted jewelry that celebrates the moments and people who matter most. Visit Paramount Jewelers.
Good Shepherd School for Children is a nonprofit improving kindergarten readiness and life skills in an inclusive setting since 1967. Attend their Open House on Thursday, January 8 at 7 p.m, to learn more. Inquire today.
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