Storybook Baby Shower

Since I usually like to go a different route from the traditional baby shower, this soon-to-be-mom got one that built her baby's library! 

The invites were fun!  I only wish I had the time/means to use a typewriter to write the details instead.  I ordered THESE and THESE and then added "instructions" to the front about what type of shower it was, requesting that they bring a book for the baby as the gift(and a receipt in case of duplicates).

I used baby blocks to spell out the shower theme "once upon a baby..."  and then I made a banner using pages from an old nursery rhyme book.

(These pictures don't do it justice.  It was super cute.)

My friends and I made food to match a story and then placed the book nearby to show the correlation. For some I added food labels in addition using a storybook font.

Food/Book
cookies and cheesecake/ If You Give a Mouse a Cookie
deviled eggs & bacon bits/ Green Eggs & Ham
edemame/ Jack and the Beanstalk
pumpkin muffins/ Cinderella
fruit salad/ Hungry Caterpillar
veggie tray/ Peter Rabbit
bread/ Little Red Hen
juice with a sign that says drink me/ Alice in Wonderland

Styled books were obviously the decor!

I printed THESE out on sticker paper and once all the books were opened, I had the guests write their name and message to the baby inside the one they gave.

*For an additional activity my friend had a craft station where hand puppets were made to go along with three different stories for the mom to have as well.

It all turned out to be so lovely and meaningful. It's so sweet to know that books that hold a special place in our hearts were gifted in such a fun way.

The End.

PS. I think this is an appropriate baby shower theme if she already had a traditional one (like in this case), or if it's after the 2nd or 3rd child. That way the mom doesn't feel too sad that she didn't receive clothes or diapers;)