Mama Speaks

Lisa Monet - "My Best Friend"

BFF

Lisa Monet is at it again with the remastered and eco-friendly repackaging of "My Best Friend - Songs To Grow On " [$15]. Like her previous works, the collection includes many traditional tunes as well as several composed by Monet, herself. In fact, these originals are the tracks that really stand out with the fun and snappy "Goin' To A Restaurant" and the heartwarming "Hearts and Hands - The Sign Language Song." Her lovely renditions of previously written songs include "We All Sing With The Same Voice" and a really excellent "La Bamba," the one bilingual piece of the group (for more of her Spanish and bilingual pieces be sure to check out the "Tingaleyo" CD). But the clear highlight of this collection is the title song, "My Best Friend," which is sweet, heartfelt, and layered. In fact, the first time it was played in our house I stopped what I was doing to come downstairs and find out what was so successfully taking me back to my own childhood memories of friendship bracelets and holding hands.

-Beth

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Win It!
We're giving away two copies of "My Best Friend." To enter, email giveaways[at]mamaspeaks.com with My Best Friend as your subject. Giveaway ends 3.18.09

Our Big Home - An Earth Poem

Connected to the Earth, connected to each other.

Linda Glaser's Earth poem, "Our Big Home," [$8] is a beautiful tribute to The Ultimate Mama, our Earth. In this gorgeous book, children learn that we are all connected - every person with every living thing, from ladybugs to weeds, earthworms to sunflowers - and that we all share our planet, a living thing in and of itself. Each page of this lyrical verse focuses on a different element: the air, the dirt, water, rain, night, life, etc. The writing is simple, yet poignant: "We all breathe Earth's air. Ahhh . . . . Doesn't it feel good to breathe?" Indeed.

These charming words are illustrated beautifully by Elisa Kleven, with the kinds of pictures that have so much going on that children (and adults) can just sit and pore over the details. The "soil" page, for example, includes images of gardens (both rural and urban), animals living underground, trees growing, a dog burying a bone, a pumpkin patch, rabbits burrowing; it's as endless as the myriad ways that we are dependent on the soil, yet somehow just as simple. And the illustrations gracefully span over several cultures and environments, emphasizing the vastness of our planet and reminding us that we are all here together no matter our differences.

"Our Big Home" is a wonderful, gentle way to introduce the notion of making eco-friendly choices to our children because "We all share one home, here on Earth. One precious living home." It is clear without being heavy-handed or preachy. Instead, it effectively communicates the connection we all have to one another and to every aspect of our planet in a fun, natural way that is enjoyable and, I have to admit, a little tear-jerking in its loveliness. We love Our Big Home.

-Beth

Excite Books

the site: Excite Books

the stuff: Excite is sort of like Netflix for kids books.

• Just choose a monthly membership plan [$5 shipping fee plus...]
  
  • 1 book per month [$5]
  • 2 books per month [$10]
  • 3 books per month [$15]
• Choose an age or grade level
  • Infant
  • Toddler
  • 1st - 5th Grade
  • Teen
  • Cookbooks
  • Puzzle Books
• The Books are shipped to your door
• You (or your kids) read them
• Best of all there's no need to return them! BUT after 12 books are shipped to you Excite will send you an envelope so you can donate some (or all, or none) of your books to school library in need.

the pros: All of the books are age appropriate by category and "teacher approved". You don't need to return anything, can cancel anytime and can try it out for a month for free!

the cons: This really is a great service but we were disappointed at the prevalence of character and movie/television themed books, especially in the infant and toddler categories.

Hitting The Road For The Holidays

With gas prices lower than we've seen them in sometime we've gotten word that many families will be hitting the road for the holidays for the first time in a long time. Of course, car rides, especially long ones, with the kids can be less than merry but some small comforts and distractions can go a long way. Our choices for happy, holiday travel:

No Fighting Fun

I Get Around Travel Activity Gift Set by Little Jet Set ($40)
This backpacked set is certain to get any trip started on the right foot. You little one will be occupied for some time reading the "I Get Around" board book. The easy travel journal allows your little one to document their days activity with space for a little bit of art work too. And of course, the stickers, LOTS of stickers to place in the journal or anywhere. This one will keep your kids busy and become a keepsake to boot.

Lap Desk from Room it Up ($28)
Best for kids in booster seats or regular belts this lap desk is the perfect surface on the go. The cushioned bottom will snuggle onto any lap and the sturdy, the smooth top is great for writing, coloring or having a snack and the built in cup holder will hold a standard can or travel cup or doubles as a great place to stash crayons or that trusty iPod.

Ring Flash Cards by Mudpuppy ($12)
With themes covering everything your little one could be into these flash cards offer endless possibilities for fun. One side features a whimsical image and word, the other a question or prompt to explore the picture. You can use them to build a story or as clues for a game of I spy and so much more.

The Comforts of Home, On the Open Road

Zoobie Pets ($34)
The snugglerific 3-in-1 pets are a plush, a pillow and a super soft blanket in one. Certain to become the best travel buddy a kid could have you might find yourself sneaking in some snuggles too.

Travel Rest Pillow ($27)
Sleeping upright and buckled in can be uncomfortable for those of us past the car seat stage. Travel Rest will solve all of that and stay in place while you sleep. This slim and smooth inflatable pillow curves just right and secures into place.

Nap Pack by Crafty Baby ($40)
When you finally reach your destination your little one can cuddle up in a space of their own for a long rest. Perfectly sized for 2-7 year olds this fleece blanket and attached pillow provide the perfect sleep place. While originally designed to fit a preschool mat or kindercot we've found this perfect for home and on the go too.

For snacks on the go check out our latest foodie feature.

Win it!
We're giving away a $25 gift certificate to Little Jet Set! To enter, email giveaways[at]mamaspeaks.com with Holiday Travel as your subject and let you know which one item available from Little Jet Set is first on your list. Giveaway ends 12.23.08

Don't Laugh At Me

Someday We'll All Have Perfect Wings

We all know it exists- teasing, bullying, kids that are just plain mean. I knew I'd encounter it at some point in my boy's life, I just didn't know that by the ripe old age of two my uber sensitive son would be on the opposite side of the playground meanie. It shocked me into the realization that we can build up our children all we can, give them an arsenal of kindness and confidence but when you get right down to it not being accepted by your peers as you are, for who you are, hurts.

And sometimes, while a Mama's words and embrace can be encouraging the words of another kid who's been there mean a whole lot more. Whether you've been on the side we've been on, or are the parent of the child who's gotten roped into the name-calling game one too many times, Don't Laugh at Me by Author/Songwriters Steve Seskin and Allen Shamblin is a beautifully told tale that hits home.

Told from the side of those getting laughed at, the girl with glasses, the boy in the wheelchair, the beggar on the corner all ask that we don't laugh at them, don't call them names, don't get our pleasure from their pain. It's most likely we've all been on both sides of the equation of some point, and the words hit home for readers big and small. Paired with Glin Dibley's gorgeous, exaggerate illustrations you'll find yourself and your kids reaching for this teachable tale of tolerance over and over again.

It doesn't stop with the picture book though. Included with the book is a CD and score featuring the story in song and an instrumental version for sing-a-longs. The tune has also become the anthem of the Don't Laugh at Me Program dedicated to granting each child and youth  a respectful, safe and compassionate climate of learning where their academic, social and emotional development can take place free of bullying, ridicule and violence.

So, while a book might not be all it takes to make it stop, it's certainly a start in teaching tolerance and compassion for those who might be a little different from ourselves.

Win it!
We're giving away a copy of this charming book! To enter, email giveaways[at]mamaspeaks.com with Don't Laugh as your subject. Let us know one of your tried and true methods for thwarting bullies or one thing you think schools should do to tame things. Giveaway ends 11.28.08

World Snacks Books

Some Foodies Start Early

I don't know how it is for you but we were blessed with a baby (now toddler) who likes to eat. He's happy to try new things and while he'll let you know if he doesn't like it, he'll dive right in and explore. This has made it so easy for us to travel, to eat out at ethnic restaurants, to cook "foreign" things at home. One of our favorite things to do as he gets older is to have a themed day or afternoon. We'll look up things about a certain country or culture. We'll dress up in the local styles, color pictures of the scenery, crack ourselves up butchering the language, read about where they live, what they do and what they eat and then we round out our day by cooking and eating a meal true to wherever our daily adventure has lead us.

All of this is made possible thanks to the internet and the library but nothing has been more of an asset than the series of World Snacks Books [$7 each] available from Tricycle Press. Author Amy Wilson Sanger's cool and colorful board books introduce toddlers to culture specific foods in the funnest of ways. The realistic, paper cut illustrations depict the variety of food and scenes and the sing-song rhymes take you on a tasty adventure that's not too sugary sweet.

There are currently seven books available (and we'd love to see more!) from the Japanese finger foods in First Book of Sushi and the Chinese delights in Yum Yum Yum Dim Sum to the mouth watering Indian treats in Chatt and Sweets your eyes will grow along with the rumbling in your belly. The entire series names the food in it's native tongue and as is the case with Hola Jalapeño pronunciation is included on the back of the book. Some of the foods may be as new to you as they are your tot so if you're wondering just what that polpettine is in Mangia! Mangia, you can turn to the back cover for some interpretation.

On that note, whether it's A Little Bit of Soul Food or a taste of tradtional Jewish Foods all you'll have to say is, "Let's Nosh!"

A Balloon for a Blunderbuss and What Colour is Your World

Timeless Tales

There is something about classic children's books that make me want to just curl up and read them over and over again. Maybe it's the nostalgia, but there's a lot to be said for the substance, the design that is missing in so much children's lit today. One of our favorite publishers, Phaidon, recently reissued two children's classics for the first time in forty years. Bob Gills masterpieces are just as relevant today.

"A Balloon for a Blunderbuss" [15] (written with Alastair Reed) is a beautiful, whimsical tale that encourages imagination. The inspiring tale follows a butterfly as it is traded for everything from a brass horn to aballoon to a small army to EVERYTHING! The narrative is captivating for kids and grown ups alike and the stark simple illustration draws your eye and lets your mind create the scenery all around.

"What Colour is Your World" [$15] will catch any budding designers eyes. The simplistic beauty of the book encourages children and their parents alike to to challenge the way they look at the world, to look at the color in a new way as it asks what people say about their own worlds compared with what a painter might say. The tale closes with the open ended question, "How do you feel? What Colour is Your World?", which creates a beautiful transition between the reading and real time imagination and discovery. We love the combined US/UK version that also highlights the way we spell key words (like color/colour) differently.

We hope that these classics are back to stay, we can definitely ensure that they'll be moving along our bookcases for generations to come.

Doorknob the Rabbit and the Carnival of Bugs

Carnival bugs, giggling mice, magical cats, oh my!

It's colorful, it's energetic, it's creative & it's sure to have your child picking it up time and time again. Written and illustrated by SerWacki, Doorknob the Rabbit and the Carnival of Bugs [$15] is a fun & entertaining read for all young children.

Doorknob the Rabbit loves dandelion tea, rubber ducks, and his pet flower, Sibbly. You and your child can follow along as a late night knock on the door brings a whirlwind of trouble to Doorknob's home in the way of bugs, mice & cats. He tries rules, calling for help, luring them with music and even tries flooding them out. But nothing works, until he calls on you. Your child can enjoy captivating pages with bright and colorful illustrations and detail that will having your child holding the page so they can take each scene in before moving on to the next. As the book comes to an end your child gets to save the day in a very fun way.

Join Doorknob and SerWacki in their first book and discover what all the fun is about. A wonderful book that is sure to secure a place on the bookshelf for years to come.

-Brittany

Petit Connoisseur

On The Baby Catwalk

It's vintage, it's smart, and it's a far cry from the basic shapes and colors of the usual board book. Petit Connoisseur's Fashion [$7] by Karen Salmansohn will have your baby's first words fit for Bryant Park. The fabulous artwork and fiercely clever pages are a must for any budding fashionista and fashionisto. What fun are numbers and animals when there's catwalks and Jimmy Choos to read about?

And it's never too early to introduce the littles to the finest of modern art. Karen Salmansohn's Art by Petit Connoisseur [$7] showcases the best of MoMA with a fun play on words giving a perfect Art 101 for the eclectic toddler set.

Both books are page turners with or without words, and although they are recommended for ages 0-3, new readers even up to age 5 or 6 will enjoy showing off their couture language skills.

-Steph

On That Day

A Book Of Hope For Children

How do you relate the tragedy of September 11th in a way that leaves young children with a sense of hope in tomorrow? Andrea Patel inspires in her first book "On That Day" [$13].

Many times we are deeply intrigued with the details and technicalities of tragedy, but without explaining away what happened or targeting any one event, Andrea acknowledges the bad and helps us move forward.

Simple yet captivating tissue paper art images combine with heart felt words to identify with complex feelings that we all have. As the book acknowledges, sometimes bad things happen in the world because people, having lost all hope, focus their lives on anger and hurtful actions.

The reactions and emotions brought about are tough, though the pages take a bright turn to show what good can come when we inspire hope and kindness into others. Encouraging thoughts of laughter, play and sharing are beautifully depicted to leave us with feelings of self worth and joy for life.

Join your children in this healing vision of hope for a brighter world!

-Brittany