Turn it up, Doris!

After Christmas, my aunt and cousin and some of our very good friends (who are like other aunts and cousins) came to visit us, and brought with them a HEAP of presents for the baby. SO MUCH baby stuff. Clothes, bibs, itty bitty socks and a mechanical singing dog that Lu is both kind of horrified by and extremely attracted to.

They also brought a little pop-up book. Lu's "Aunt" Barbie sat down and read it to her. There's a wild-haired puppet in the middle. You can put your hand in it and make it sing. Learning to have confidence to sing out loud is the puppet's story.

The puppet's name is Doris. The book is called Turn It Up, Doris!


It isn't one of those childrens books that's made to stomp all over your hormones, but still, I got teary when I read it.

Because Doris was my grandmother's name. She was wild and wacky and crazy funny and it kills me that my little Lulu will never get to meet her. Reading a book with her name in it seemed like a sweet homage to her, a small but real way to keep her memory alive.

There are tons of kids books with "grandparent names" in them (including some beautiful vintage-y ones, which are my favorites). Ira, Alice, Harold, Clifford...the list goes on and on. What a touching baby shower or newborn present a book featuring a loved one's name might make--thoughtful, but without being too loaded or emotionally overwrought.

I love reading Turn It Up, Doris! to Lulu. Sometimes, after we've turned the last page, I tell her a little bit about her great-grandmother.

Sometimes, though, it's just nice to be able to say her name.


Is there a book that reminds you of somebody you love? Can you suggest other "name" books? Please post them in the comments!