Hi, my name is Kelly and I write about being a dad. Let me tell you 
Manuscript is complete. April is reading it for the first time.
Wednesday, November 19th, 2008
Bed Book
I just finished writing my first kids’ book. I won’t be looking for a literary agent, however, because I wrote this book just for Alleke. In fact, she is the main character in the story, and the book is about her new bedtime routine.
Discipline as training (not punishment)
I made a significant breakthrough in my thinking as a parent this summer while reading Ross Cambell’s book How to Really Love Your Child (recommended by Lisa). Campbell suggests that discipline and punishment are not the same thing. Punishment is one form of discipline, and one he uses only as a last resort. Instead, Campbell redefines discipline as training (my words).
The big switch for me has been taking a mental eraser and smudging out the word “discipline” and carefully writing in the word “training” and then in parentheses afterwards, as a note to myself, “(NOT punishment).”
What this change in thinking means to me is that disciplining Alleke really refers to my responsibility to train her in all things as she grows up. Discipline is not only punishing Alleke when she does something wrong, it begins much earlier with training her how to behave in the first place.
Moving Alleke to her own bed
Recently, April and I decided it was time for Alleke to sleep in her own bed the whole night, so we began thinking about how to help Alleke make this transition smoothly, to train her to sleep in her own bed in a way that made sense to her and us.
Since Alleke loves books, and I write, April suggested that I write a book for Alleke about moving into her own bed. So, that’s what I did, and here’s how I did it…
How to write a book for your child:
1. April and I spent some time re-reading the sleep chapters in a few of our favorite parenting books as well as some advice from friends in emails and online forums.
2. After some discussion, we outlined Alleke’s new bedtime routine together.
3. Using the outline, I wrote the story for the book and got April’s approval.
4. I took digital photos of Alleke acting out each part of her new bedtime routine (which involved a lot of giggling).
5. I created a photo book in iPhoto (I inserted the photos in sequence and added the text), then ordered a copy online. It cost 25€ and took about a week to arrive. If you don’t have a Mac, do a Google search for “photo book,” and you’ll find all kinds of companies that make photo books, like blurb and Shutterfly.
The Bed Book
I have a copy of The Bed Book online here if you would like to take a look at it:
Basically, every day we’ve been reading the book together, and two nights ago Alleke slept her first night in her “big bed.” I was actually surprised at how well the book worked. She anticipated each step of her new bedtime routine, often quoting the book to me—just in case I had forgotten what was supposed to come next.
As a final thought, I’m amazed at how much Alleke is capable of when I take the time to explain to her what’s happening.
MORE ON: alleke, attachment parenting, books, co-sleeping, discipline, how to, sleep
12 COMMENTS
That’s a great idea. I like your book, its great for teaching.
November 19, 2008 at 8:19 pm
What a great idea!!! You guys are such good parents! And I think I’ll have to check out that parenting book. Looks interesting!
November 19, 2008 at 11:08 pm
I love the book, the photos are so sweet and touching.
If you want a hard copy, just print the pages out with the words on them, then stick the photos on, and have them all laminated and bound together at a copy shop. It might be nice for Alleke to be able to look at the book by herself sometimes, and it will be a wonderful keepsake when she’s older.
November 20, 2008 at 3:04 am
Kelly and April, this book is so sweet and the photos are so beautiful. My goodness! I love what you say about Alleke being able to cope with things when she understands what is happening. That’s such a simple truth.
Anyway, you guys are amazing.
Much love.
November 21, 2008 at 5:04 pm
that is such a great idea! I may use it myself!
November 23, 2008 at 8:04 pm
I want MORE books! I want a book about getting ready for church and one about helping around the house and one about…. MORE MORE MORE said the mama in Iowa… 
Kelly, you are scruffy.
Like Jesus.
Very sweet book, and a very smart idea, reinforcing the bedtime routine. It’s amazing how well toddlers respond to a set routine — and even more amazing how it took me more than two years to figure that out when it came to my son’s bedtime.
Kelly,
I love, love, love the book. Great idea – creative and beautiful!
Happy Holidays to you all!
Julie
How did you get the text in? When I try to make a book using IPhoto (picture book), it wont let me put the text over the photo like in your book – it will only let me place the text below the photo.
Your book is beautiful!
December 8, 2008 at 8:30 pm
Mademoiselle Oulla – yeah, you’re right. I added the text to the photos before I put them in iPhoto, so I didn’t run into that problem. The different book “themes’ to give you some options, but not actually putting the text over the photos, at least as far as I can tell.
Blurb.com does allow you to put text over photos, I know. Or you could add the text to the photos like I did before putting them in iPhoto. You could do this in Pages or Powerpoint if you don’t have access to Photoshop or Photoshop Elements.
December 9, 2008 at 7:32 pmLEAVE YOUR COMMENT
Cara DeHaan said...
I LOVE IT! I kept pushing the “next page” button, wanting the book to go on. Earlier today I read a Wendell Berry essay about how technology so often impoverishes our lives (http://www.crosscurrents.org/berryspring2003.htm). I find his position compelling — but so too do I admire what you’ve pulled off with a camera and iPhoto. (Could you have accomplished “The Bed Book” without technology? Probably, but kids so love to see photos of themselves and their loved ones.) Sweet dreams to Alleke (and to Mama and Daddy!).
Thanks for sharing the book, Kelly, and the idea!
November 19, 2008 at 7:08 pm