More recommendations

I've had a running list of great kids books and some other recommendations I wanted to share, so I thought I'd better quick write a post before I forget!

A Child's Day: an alphabet of play by Ida Pearle. With each letter, an action like "jump", "dance", "catch" and "swim" is depicted. I absolutely adore the illustrations in this book. They are all cut-paper collages and I especially love that the children are of many ethnicities. I am seriously contemplating buying 2 copies of this book - 1 for reading, and 1 to dismantle and frame and pages for Nora's room or a future playroom.

The reason this book caught my eye at the library was because I had recently purchased this album...

You are my Little Bird by Elizabeth Mitchell (Ida Pearle did the cover art). I stumbled upon this album listening to a children's station I had created on Pandora. I had found some other children's bands that I could stand, but I was blown away by this music - I mean, I actually listen to this when Nora's napping and love it! Folksy, pared-down and not over-the-top sugary sweet, my kind of music. And, from the smile on Nora's face whenever I turn it on, I think she likes it too!

How do you Wokka-Wokka? by Elizabeth Bluemle. We've been reading this one several times a day for a week, and I'm just not getting tired of it. It makes me smile every time. A couple lines:

How do you wokka-wokka?

I wokka-wokka like a clock go ticka-tocka, pitta-patta, time-no-matta, picka-pocka-ticka-tocka

If only I had a little more rhythm, the lines would probably sound even better, but Nora doesn't seem to mind.

This last one I hesitate to "recommend" since kids under 2 are technically not supposed to watch t.v. But, who among us has not used the glowing screen as a short-term babysitter at some point in our parenting lives? I am so thankful for Netflix "instant play" to be able to quickly pull up a short show for Nora to watch while I make dinner or wash up breakfast dishes. This is Pingu, a claymation-style show about a penguin and his antics. It is originally from Sweden. Not necessarily going to contribute to language development, but Nora is highly entertained!