May, 2008

picture book / preschool / toddlers — No Comments
19
May 08

REVIEW: Thomas and Friends: Railway Rhymes

railway-rhymes.jpg

My son received this as a special book from Hubby. Needless to say, it’s his FAVOURITE book which I have to tote everywhere we go!

This thick, cased board book (36 pages) has a variety of long and short rhymes, including a haiku, about Thomas the Tank Engine and his friends on the Isle of Sodor. He got to know most of the characters from this book, rather than from the TV, as we don’t subscribe to the Cartoon Network etc.

Starting with the names of each train (poem titles), we’ve progressed to some of the shorter rhymes that this Mum can muster just before bedtime.

Some of the verses rhyme, some of them don’t – children learn that the English language is a mix of both poetry and prose.

If you want to know all about Thomas and his friends, “Thomas & Friends: Railway Rhymes” is definitely the book to read. Your toddler or preschooler will LOVE you and the idea of reading the book again and again and again!

The bold and colourful illustrations are very eye-catching and detailed – the book is our reference should I challenge my 20 month old toddler on the name of ANY train in Thomas’ town of Sodor!

While the vocabulary centers around the railway and the English countryside, little Thomas fans will also learn useful terms about being on the road, numbers and positive values like being a “really useful” person, teamwork and even gender issues through “Emily”!

His favourite rhyme is “Bertie” because of this poem has short, staccato beats and various onomatopeia (sounds) in it. He’s had the poem memorized that whenever I read it, he chimes in with the words that he can pronounce.

A must-have for Thomas’ fans! Be warned of the added load on top of the trains you’re already carrying around but this book is a money-for-value buy :-)

RAILWAY RHYMES – Illustrated by Richard Courtney; Original poems by R. Schuyley Hooke
ISBN: 9-780375-831751

Buy “Railway Rhymes” and other books for your Thomas fan now:

Adult / Chapter book / Non-fiction — No Comments
11
May 08

REVIEW: Still Me by Christopher Reeve

When I read that Christopher Reeve became completely paralyzed after he fell off a horse in 1995, I was shocked. Who wouldn’t be? After all, he was Superman. He could turn back time. He could bring Lois Lane back to life. He could freeze fire. He could fit 3 bad aliens into a thin sheet of glass.

I immediately bought his autobiography the moment it was released 3 years after his accident. What I love most about autobiographies is the insight you get of a celebrity – that behind each and every shiny star is a walking, waking human behind it.

I read in “Still Me” that Superman (just like his persona) loves to joke. He loves horses.

He had 2 wives and his second one, Dana, stood by him from the moment of his injury till his very last day. That was his greatest fear – to be left alone by the one he loved. He prepared for it and he also suffered from a great deal of insecurity. He acknowledged that he is one of luckiest man on earth.

His kids are beautiful! His son, Matthew, is as handsome as him and his daughter, Al, is a real beauty. His youngest, Will, looks like a cheeky little boy.

I enjoyed reading about his early days on stage (real drama, not TV) and his endearing friendship with Robin Williams.

He was also an arts activist – he led a rally to support 77 Chilean actors, directors, and playwrights sentenced to death by the dictator Augusto Pinochet for criticizing his regime in their works. With the media coverage, their death sentences were cancelled. He’d saved their lives!

For someone who had everything going for him – looks, love, success, fatherhood – the fall must have been devastating. Thankfully, he picked up the pieces and moved on to switch roles from actor to director, speaker to writer, victim to activist…

He never stopped living – or loving. Despite his divorce, he maintained close ties with his children and this is evident from the loving relationship his new family had with each other. It’s not every day you read about kids from a first marriage getting on with mother/child from a second marriage.

I remember watching him appear on TV for the Emmy awards with my father. One of my favourite movies is “Somewhere in Time” where he co-starred with Jane Seymour, one of my parents’ favourite actresses.

I remember Hubby searching the original VCD for me as a surprise present. I still have it!

We all felt sad when Superman died in 2004. While we may know him as Superman, we’re now more aware of spinal cord injuries after what happened to him. Through his work, his life and his struggle, Christopher Reeve (baby nickname “Tophy”) showed us that he really was the Man of Steel.

Read the autobiography of “Superman”

Still Me by Christopher Reeve
ISBN: 0-345-43241-X

babies / preschool / toddlers — 5 Comments
9
May 08

Reading to your baby…

Good morning! How do you start reading to a baby? Choose the times when both you and Baby are awake and free of any chores. This is quality time spent with your child - choose the best time that suits both of you. All you need is 15 minutes.

For Hubby, it’s usually late afternoons when both of them are alert while I need a nap. He enjoyed entertaining Lucas during this time.

Your Baby Can Read!15 minutes before bedtime is best for me. If Lucas’ bedtime is 8.00 pm (about 3-4 months old), I’d bring him to the room at about 7.45 pm. I’d switch off the lights and settle him next to me. His chubby legs are wrapped around a bolster and he’s happily sucking his pacifier, with big eyes turned towards me.

I face him and softly sing 3-4 nursery rhymes or songs. My favourites were “Edelweiss”, “Rock a bye, baby” and “Seek Ye First”. These gentle songs lulled both of us to sleep.

Remember to avoid action songs as it’ll perk Baby up, keep him awake and then, you’ll get Mr. Cranky!

At other times, you can also try:

1. Reading your newspaper aloud - just pretend you’re a newscaster or better yet, a sports commentator and read aloud the section you’re on. Babies just love their mother’s or father’s voices and will be entertained while you catch up on the latest scoop!

Initially, Hubby wasn’t sure how to do it and I encouraged him to start with his *favourite* sports pages. Soon, he was reading to Lucas the latest exploits of La Liga, Liverpool or whatever shenanigans his then favourite Chelsea coach, Jose Mourinho, was up to.

“See, Lucas…this is Ronaldo. Wah…he’s a very good footballer you know but now he has a sports injury and he’s not playing as well as he used to. What’s a sports injury? Erm…he fell down and broke his leg. His leg pain-pain, ouch, hor?”

I love watching father and son bond through this special session!

2. Reciting nursery rhymes - I love to sing but I know many Mums who’d pay money or throw in a sickie (medical leave) just to avoid karaoke sessions :-) If you have a sing-song voice, then sing your favourite rhymes to baby.

Rhymes are an introduction to the sounds and rhythm of language. Also, as they grow older, babies will:
- associate the rhymes with happy times spent with Mummy and Daddy;
- feel secure when the rhymes are recited. Anything familiar comforts them and you’ll be amazed by how fast Baby stops crying when you start reciting a rhyme in a soft, soothing voice;
- pick up language learning faster as the rich vocabulary in the rhymes give them a head start
- feel confident about themselves when they start reading because they can point out so many things in the book!

You can also work in some actions using baby’s arms and legs (best to start when baby is about 2 months old as both of you have settled into your new roles and Baby is not swaddled up).

A cheap and easy start is the Ladybird Favourite Nursery Rhymes – it’s small, it’s colourful and it only costs RM9.90 ( less than US$4). Slowly, your toddler will claim ownership of the book and you’re well on your way to developing an independent reader!

You will also give your child a headstart to preschool since he or she will master them by age 3 or 4 :-)

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