WWRW: Party Animals by Katie Davis

Okay, guys, for the record, I don't usually have strong opinions of picture books. They've all got colorful pictures, a narration, and a separate laminated cover that annoys you when it falls off.

Party Animals generates a strong feeling. Of nausea.

It's just so... random.

Okay, the plot is that there's a party at the barnyard. The ant thinks he's the only one not invited, but it turns out to be a surprise birthday party for him. It's chock full of preschool "education" by mentioning colors and numbers. Here's an example:

"Two purple frogs croaking, "Will there be dancing?" and tossing a salad for the party." 

The annoying thing is the randomness factor. Like, why are the frogs talking about dancing, or making a salad? They're not making even something like fly pie?

At the number six, there are "Six red ponies neighing, "Let's play Pin the Tail On the Donkey!" and playing Frisbee before the party."

Pin the tail on the donkey? What does that have to do with ponies? Oh, but don't forget, they're also playing Frisbee.

Hmm. That's not confusing.

At ten and eleven, there are ten hens laying eggs for the party. Already, you're wondering, "Are they eating a lot of eggs at the party or something? Strange." But then, at eleven, the eggs hatch and there are chicks making eggshell salad, thereby making number ten make no sense (officially) and, eggshell salad? Oh, I admit, the chicks are cute (one has an eggshell on it's head covering its eyes, bringing to mind Mare-Bear's hairdo), but... random.

So, if you're looking for an educational preschool picture book, I recommend not even considering Party Animals. It'll save you a lot of anguish and trouble.

      

What We're Reading Wednesday : A Little Princess by Frances Hodgson Burnett

We all know what modern kid's books are like. The main character is a 'rebel' who thinks her parents are mean, everything is unfair, and who spends her dinnertime crying in her room, all the while being a jerk herself.

From the very first pages of A Little Princess, you can tell Sara Crewe is of a different breed.

She is only seven at the beginning, but already her father is her best friend, she's very polite, and completely unspoiled by her father's riches. When she has to stay at Miss Minchin's Seminary for Girl's, although she doesn't want to, she stays without complaint.

Sara has an imagination. She is kind to three most shunned beings at the seminary; Lottie the crybaby, Ermengarde the school dunce, and Becky, the slave-like maid. Even when the misfortunes of her father's death and the loss of her fortune strike, turning her into a penniless orphan, she is still polite. Her version of rebelling against Miss Minchin's keeping her like a slave is to not rebel, which infuriates Miss Minchin. She even swallows her pride and and accepts a sixpence from a boy mistaking her for a beggar!

Of course the plot is entertaining, and has a happy ending involving the finding of her father's friend and the return of Sara's riches, but the real jewel behind the story is Sara herself, who is a real role model while still staying on a human scale.

So long, modern books. I'm sticking with Sara.

 

Thanks Be

So this is my poem I've written for school. Tell me what you think...

I am thankful for dreams and dolphins, for days and nights,and delphiniums, for dinners and donuts, and diaries.

I am thankful for silver moons, and red rosy fires, and clear lakes, and green leaves.

For magic and mysteries, for stars and stories, and family and forgiveness most of all.

Understanding Babies- the Nova Edition

I have always wondered what Ceci thinks about. Now there's not much need to, because she's *sniff* learning to talk. She still has some gibberish words she uses, though, of course. And this is what I'm here to talk about. Welcome to Understanding Babies!
You should know Ceci (and I believe I speak for many others as well) likes animals that are soft.
Oh, yes, she does. She can say only soft animal names, such as dog and chickie, and... what other animal does she say?

For babies, going outside and playing messy games is the funnest thing ever. Just listen to their coos (and screams) to go "OUTSIDE!" Watch them at every spare moment to make sure they don't get absolutely covered with mud and water. I've gotten in trouble for this many times, folks.

When Ceci says "DINK!" that means drink. So far her favorite is bottled water in a sippy cup. Why is this? Notable sisters still do not know.

The things Ceci likes are too numerous to say, but I'll tell you one thing. She'll climb up on the couch and yell, "Bow Bow!" which means she wants to watch her favorite TV show, Blues Clues. Why are kids attracted to silly talking random household items? I don't know, because if it really happened it would be likely to scare the bejeezus out of them.

This has been an episode of Understanding Babies: the Nova Edition.

Windy Day Haiku

On a windy day, you just want to write a haiku.

Breezes whisper by,
Leaves falling from the branches,
Windy, sunny day.

Ceci's Adventures on Saturday

Well, it's that day of the week again. The extra fun have- no- idea- what -you'll- do -today day. In other words, it's SATURDAY!

Starring in this post is Ceci, who ran around in circles and spun several times for 10 minutes today.

So a game Ceci played was 'Don't Let the Alligators Get You!' Our cinderblocks were arranged in a circle and walked on. She fell down a lot. Who can blame her? They were 2 inches apart!

It was the windiest I'd ever encountered. Ceci kept on falling down when the wind blew in her direction. It was the cutest thing imaginable.

She tried to ride Tuff and Chevy, our dogs, around the house. Their fluffy, big behinds knocked her over. I was all for letting her ride them, but certain parents of mine were not.

When she took her nap today, I was sorry to have to stop looking at her cherub-style cuteness. But I'm looking forward to next Saturday now, and so is Ceci.

Funny Things Friday

Paul: Who lives in the old house in California?
Katie: Just some grouchy old lady.
Paul: Oh. So Mama, then?