Year-end Book Shopping

It's December!!! My mood is always getting more cheerful in this month. I guess anyone feel same too. More holidays... more sales... and more shopping (good reason to spend $$ for festive preparation).

Ever since we have our 1st child, I think 50% of our shopping budget is spent on the kid's food (milk), apparels, toys and books. So I always question whether RM1k "tax relief" on each child is fairly sufficient to ease our pockets. Also because of this, I'm much glad to spend more in buying books for my boy which I can get "tax deduction" accumulated up to RM1k. Therefore, it's good to check if you still have some "amounts" to fill up by the year-end for this category.

"Wow wow..." that's my boy 1st response when I showed him the new books. He was so excited and couldn't wait to flip them (yeap, he can't read yet, haha..). Still I find Kinokuniya bookstore@ Suria KLCC is the best place to look for children story books.

Book Review: The Gruffalo & Gruffalo's Child

Book Review # 9:

The Gruffalo & The Gruffalo's Child

by Ju

lia Donaldson

By learning more, my boy can express the feeling of "Fear" in conjunction with dark room/corner or being left alone. He understands the "creatures" like Monster, Dragon and even Gruffalo are all scary and make people frightened. Sometimes, he will pretend to make "ghost-face" and scare us as if he was one of the scary creatures.

Well, I think my boy learn about the concept from the books like The Gruffalo (1st) and The Gruffalo's Child (2nd). The stories are humour. Just read them to find out how a small creature like the mouse can scare away the big terrified creature like the gruffalo as well as to fool the other animals like snake, owl and fox.

Besides, they are great to learn about the characteristics and habitats of these animals.

Book Review: Maisy, Charley and the Wobbly Tooth

Book Review # 8:

Maisy, Charley and the Wobbly Tooth

by Lucy Cousins

I buy this book because I want to teach my boy to brush his teeth. He knows Maisy and Cyril from other Lucy's books so I think this one can comfort him to take up the challenge (with the characters).

In this book, many friends (include Maisy and Cyril) accompany Charley to see a dentist. All of them are given a demonstration of how to brush teeth by the nurse. Up... Down... Back... Front... then rinse and spit. Now I practise these steps with my boy every time he brushes teeth.

Overall, it's a lovely and simple picture book about a visit to dentist plus it depicts the simple steps of teeth-brushing.

Book Review: Olivia

Book Review # 7:

Olivia

by Ian Falconer

It's a lovely picture book with simple narrations about a pig

named Olivia (sounded like a girl's book?). What she does? And how she wears people and herself out. Indeed, "Olivia" has caught my boy's attention so much. He is attracted to those

different kinds of actions and poses (in pictures) done by Olivia over the pages. My boy

will imitate some of her actions or poses then show the acts to me in the midst of reading.

It's my favourite read too. I like the last scene the most which my boy and I can follow and copy together (just like Olivia's mother read a book for her bedtime). After Olivia's mother finished reading, she gave Olivia a kiss and said "I love you". Olivia did either too. Same to us.

p/s: This book is much easier than "The Gruffalo" and "Lost and Found". Absolutely a good bedtime book for girls.. as well as for boys like my boy.

Book Review: Edward Built A Rocketship

Book Review # 6:

Edward Built A Rocketship

by Michael Rack

My sister-in-law bought 2 books for our boy last month. Amongst the two, I choose (my boy likes too) this book for his daily read list whilst I keep t

he other (too long) in the book shelf. *Note: If you are a taxpayer, it's good to buy children books as birthday/fullmoon presents because you are entitled up to RM1k allowance for tax relief. Also it's good to instill reading habit amongst the little ones.

Through reading this book, my boy and I as if joining the adventurous boy,

Edward (and his teddy bear) to explore the space (out of the Earth). It's a simple story to introduce the related terms like the planets (Mercury, Mars, Saturn ect), the asteroids, the meteor shower, the astronauts, the satellite and the UFO too.

As usual, my boy always quotes a word or a phrase that he learns from a book. For this book, his fave is "Kaa-boom" ....a sound that describes the rocketship flies off to the space from the ground. Let's count!!! 3,2,1... Kaa-boom...

Book Review: How Dinosaurs Play with Their Friends?

Book Review # 5: How Dinosaurs Play With Their Friends? by Jane Yolen & Mark Teague

First of all, to whom is interested in buying Leapfrog's Tag Junior, now it's the best time to get it from Mothercare (Sales last till the end of June).

* Tag Junior & 1 Tag Junior's book set for RM 129. (Normal RM 179)

* Tag Junior's Book (any titles) for RM 25. (Normal RM 32)

This is the latest title I bought for my boy. I like it because it introduces different types of Dinosaurs and most importantly the Tag Junior can pronounce those complicated names of Dinosaurs like Cryolophosaurus, Stegosaurus, Tyrannosaurus and others.

Also, this book is good for teaching young kids how to "play nice" with their friends. Although young kids are always forgiven being the reason of "too young" to learn about the rules, parents are responsible to instill good manners or moral values to their children as early as possible. Sooner, they meet and social with others at the playground or in the school. As parents, we don't want to see that our children are refused or neglected by their friends one day. We want our kids make more friends and to be popular amongst their social circles.

Through reading this book, you can explain to your little one how to play nice with other small friends in public. Let your little one know how important it is to share and queue.

Book Review: Dr.Suess's ABC

Book Review # 4: Dr.Seuss's ABC (An Amazing Alphabet Book)

I have bought few titles from Dr.Seuss's collection. Included this one. But I still haven't read it to my 2y.o boy because I think he's still young to adapt the "amazing part" of this book. In this book, you can find many weird animals (not seen in the real world) with funny/silly names. Really amazing... Nevertheless, the author is brilliant to write the playful sentences which create tongue-twisted fun as well as to attract the young readers with his wild n crazy drawings. Definitely I want to read it to my boy when he grows older (ie 4 y.o).

Never expected that his daddy has downloaded an i-book app from Mac-Apple (for iphone or ipad). No doubt that my boy was so attracted to view the i-book version of "Dr.Seuss ABC". I-book can be viewed via 3 different options, "Read-to-me", "Read-it-myself" and "Auto-play". For my boy, he was delighted because of the "touch" effect which can play "sounds"... which he can't get it from the normal book. But it aroused his interest to read this book.

Last night, my boy wanted his daddy to read this book. So his daddy held the book but my boy who sat on his lap was moving his index finger on the pages... then asked "why no sound?". Hilarious... (I looked at my hubby -- his i-book's fault) My hubby entertained his little boy and said "you point it again".. once my boy point at an image or a sentence, my hubby will read.. as if using "Read-it-myself" @ i-book. But there's a little argument arisen with 1st alphabet.
His daddy read: Aunt Annie's Alligator..
My boy said: Ooi.... crocodile! (point to the picture, see left)
His daddy repeated: Alligator. It's alligator.
My boy opposed: No, crocodile!
I explained: Crocodile and alligator look "same". (how to explain?)
My boy finally said: Aunt Annie's Alligator Crocodile. (haha, agreed to me?)
I decided to continue reading this book to him (not to wait till 4 y.o). I like how the book conveys uppercase and lowercase letters and produces the fun words in rhyme.

Book Review: We're Going On A Bear Hunt

Book Review # 3: We're Going on A Bear Hunt by Michael Rosen

This book was just purchased 2 months ago. It's a nice and humor short story for young readers to follow the flows from beginning to the end. The story is about a family who took on an adventure to trail a bear but was later chased after by the bear.

I like this book. Through reading this book, my boy learns many new phrases like "go over", "go under", "go through", "go upstairs", "back downstairs", "open the door" and "shut the door". These phrases are so commonly applied in our daily activities. Anytime I will rehearse the actions with my boy when I see there's a chance. Like coming back from outside, I'll quote "Quick, shut the door, don't let the bear come in!" when we enter house; or sometimes, i forgot to pick up something from downstairs, I'll say "Oh no, I forgot to take xxx, back downstairs!". Soon and sooner, he understands how to use these phrases too. *Tips: Try to use the same words/phrases of a book with your little ones in daily activities whenever there's a chance to impress them.

After reading this book, my boy also quotes his own favourite phrase - "What's that?". By that time, questioning power is at his peak. He never stops using this phrase every hour every day. Until one day, I don't tell him the answer but I ask him the same. Just pretending that I'm curious to know too... at least, he's thinking too to tell me the answer. When he tells me the correct answer, I'd praise him then he will be happy. A win-win situation.

Book Review: Lost and Found by Oliver Jeffers

Book Review # 2: Lost and Found by Oliver Jeffers

I just bought this book and never expected to read it so early to my 2 y.o+ boy. Not only he has some new books to read, I was doubted if he could handle it (which content is longer and deeper; in fact, Room on the broom is harder than this one).

Just few nights after the arrival of new books (include this one), he saw the 'penguin' on the cover and therefore he took this book from the book shelf. Well, I or his daddy has to read the book since he's given the right to choose book to read from our mini home library.

Mrs Montessori is right on her saying 'a child's brain is like a sponge". At younger age, a little brain can absorb any sorts of information at ease and pace... never be contented. So we read the full story to him whenever he brings this book to us. One night after a shower, I walked out from the bathroom while my boy just finished his bedtime story (of this book) with daddy. He came to me with arms open wide and said.

My boy: Mommy, hug me, like penguin"
Me: Like penguin? Penguin hugged who?
My boy: Penguin hugged boy.

From that night, I changed my review about this book. It fits for younger children. Just read it and share the things you see ... the feelings you feel from the book. Like the big ship, the south pole (where penguins live), the boat... and the words like lost, found, sad, happy and hug. Whenever we finish reading this book, we give each other a hug.

Read List For My Boy - Volume 3

Yes, more new books for my boy..... Can he digest so many?

Recently, I don't pick books to read for him. I let him to decide. Quite amazing to observe him do so. He goes to the book shelf and simultaneously he tells the books while looking for them.. either "Gruffalo bear" (refers 'Gruffalo's Child') & "Witch" (refers 'Room on the broom') or "Caterpillar" & "10 little rubber ducks"... sometimes he opts for older ones like "Brown bear","Peter Rabbit" & "3 Little pigs". He could remember the books I have read to him.

Read list - Volume 3:
1) Maisy Goes to the Playground (Hardcover) by Lucy Cousins
2) Maisy, Charley and the Wobbly Tooth (Hardcover) by Lucy Cousins
3) The Tiger who Came to Tea (Softcover) by Judith Kerr
4) 'The Cat in The Hat' Picture Book & CD set by Theodor Geisel
5) Dr Suess's ABC - An Amazing Alphabet Book (Mini Board book) by Theodor Geisel
6) The Gruffalo (board book) by Julia Donaldson

Book Review: Dear Zoo by Rod Campbell

Book Review # 1: Dear Zoo by Rod Campbell

This book was just arrived with other new books I ordered from Littlereadingnook yesterday. My boy chose to read this book amongst the new arrivals. Maybe he was attracted with those animals (illustrations) hiding behind those windows (openings).

It's kinda peek-a-boo book and suitably read by 1-2 years old. Quite a good one to teach your little one about some animals through illustrations. For a 2 y.o toddler, my boy managed to name out most of the animals.

For elder kids (2-5 y.o), the names of animals are not printed for each illustrated animal in this book but they can learn different adjective words relating to each illustrated animal in the descriptions. Such as big for elephant, tall for giraffe and jumpy for frog.

Play n Learn: Introduce Opposites

My boy is recovering from FHMD... no, he has recovered indeed. Yesterday, he not only finished a bowl of porridge but also ate 3 mini bananas. Glad to see him gaining some appetite. And today he's being active (mischievous too) again, talking a lot and playing a lot.

Today is public holiday and therefore my parents are free at home. In the evening, he asked his "gong gong" (grandfather or my dad) to take him out for a bicycle ride. "Gong gong" offered to fetch him on his big old bike, but my little boy insisted to ride his own small bike on the road. I tried to coax him in riding with "gong gong" but eventually we gave in. Why??

I said: Come on, ride on gong-gong's bicycle.
My boy: It is big bicycle, I don't want. I want this small one. (Then, he pulled his little bike to the porch.)

Weeks ago, he just learned to describe those vehicles which are bigger than his daddy's car as "big car" such as vans, MPVs and four-wheels. *He started to use "big" word after reading "Gruffalo's Child" - quote "big bad mouse". Today, he can differentiate the words of "Big" and "Small". Remarkably using "Opposite" to describe things and even to express his little logical mindset. Most obvious is he can answer with "Yes" or "No" to the questions.

As such, I think I could introduce Dr.Suess's beginner opposite cards to him very soon.

Let's Be "The Very Hungry Caterpillar"!

I spotted a rack full of Eric Carle's books and related products at a mall in Tokyo. All prints about "The Very Hungry Caterpillar" are seen on various stationery and toys like note pads, rulers, pens, pencil cases, puzzles., toys, lunch boxes and so on. It must be quite popular reviewed amongst the local parents and children.

Frankly speaking, as a parent, I assure that this book is a must-read or must-have for you little one. And it's very good to be read through many years. The contents are ultimately riches in all sorts of knowledge (maths, days of a week, the life cycle of caterpillar, name of some fruits & food, the meaning of "hungry"). How could you miss this one?

I'm planning to conduct some study projects based on this book for my boy. And I think of inviting my friends' kids to join us too. Let's be the very hungry caterpillar!

Come To Know Dr. Seuss

Who is Dr. Seuss? It is a pen's name of Theodor Geisel (1904-1991) in his popular children books' Dr. Seuss's series. Mr Geisel was famous for his rhyming stories (poetic meter) and he's also a great cartoonist who created the imaginative characters in Dr. Seuss's books. Some of the widely known titles are "The Cat in The Hat", "Hop on Pop", "Green Eggs and Ham" and "How the Grinch Stole Christmas". Young readers may find these extraordinary lines in Dr. Seuss's books are more interesting than those conventional texts. Watch out, your tongue or his/her little tongue may get twisted!

You can view the complete titles from the official website: www.seussville.com and from there you and your kids could explore many on-site games and even download some activity sheets. Or you may search the video clips from Youtube for watching some of the Dr. Seuss's titles. Watch one here.

Read List For My Boy - Volume 2

A Very Growing Mini Library: Treasures from littleRedReadingNook

Huh??? Are we going to raise a little bookworm? Looking at the book rack... We simply wish to pamper his love of books as early as in the childhood. If he loves books, he will love reading and surely he will treasure the books in the rack. Since his birth, I placed books (one in each place) in his surrounding such as beside his cot, inside our car and my nursery bag. Reading to him is my pleasure time. Today, he likes to carry book around and even picks his favourite one. His current fave word is "fire" which he learned it from "Room on the Broom" and "The Gruffalo's Child". Almost every night he asks us to read the books.

Recently, I found an online blog-bookstore (littleRedReadingNook, check my blog list) which covers a wide variety of children books. The prices are reasonable and the blogstore's owner is very helpful to source other titles (which are yet available in the blogstore). And promptly I received my books. Let's see what new books I have bought for my boy (or to feed the very growing mini library).*click the titles for book's details
Read list - Volume 2:
1) Maisy's Train (Board book) by Lucy Cousins
2) Lost and Found (Board book) by Oliver Jeffers
3) The Cat In The Hat (Pop-up Board book) by Theodor Geisel

Read List For My Boy - Volume 1

My boy is 2+ now. As told previously, I started to get more books for him. Last saturday, we went to meet a friend at KLCC and later we went to the Kinokuniya bookstore. Since I had a list of books' titles in hand, I went straight to the children book's department to look for them one by one.

So happily we carried a bag full of books back home. On the night, my boy requested me to read one of them. Hooray, our mini library expands again!

Here's a list of the new books for my boy, Read list - Volume 1:
1. Brown Bear, Brown Bear. What Do You See? (Board book) by Bill Martin, Jr ; Eric Carle








2. 10 Little Rubber Ducks (Board book) by Eric Carle











3. Maisy's Fire Engine (Board book) by Lucy Cousins









4. We're Going on a Bear Hunt (Board book) by Michael Rosen ; illustrator: Helen Oxenbury








5. The Gruffalo's Child (Board book) by Julia Donaldson ; illustrator: Alex Scheffler










6. Room The Broom (Board book) by Julia Donaldson ; illustrator: Alex Scheffler









7. Dear Zoo (Board book) by Rod Campbell









8. The Very Hungry Caterpillar (Board book) by Eric Carle

Furniture: A Mini Library

IKEA "HENSVIK" storage unit

The 1st piece furniture we bought for our new baby is a 4 Tiers rack in white from IKEA. It recalled me to a funny story.

I told my hubby that I need a space to put the baby/parenting's magazines and books (which increase monthly) in our bedroom. He didn't allow it at first as there's a "pantang larang" rule of not moving furniture and hammering things in the house during pregnancy. Finally my hubby gave in and let me buy it. One night we brought this rack home and he assembled it then moved it to our bedroom. What happened next? Our courteous neighbour gave him a lesson about the "pantang larang" once she saw him watering in the garden next day. She overheard the noisy hammering sound last night.Oh no, it's indeed my fault. Sorry hubby.

Nevertheless, I'm glad that we have bought this rack. Other than restaurants, I think the next frequently visited place is book stores. Buying book is like a therapy to ease my tension and fear during the whole 9 months. It's so nice to look and read the parenting books as well as the children books.

The 2nd book I purchased and read for my new baby is "The Tale of Peter Rabbit" by Beatrix Potter but I selected the sound book version. Since then, I would buy any bunny-related books and even a flush bunny from IKEA. Don't you think the design of this rack look quite old English? Ya, partly I was inspired by Beatrix Potter's collections.

Now, this rack is nearly full in capacity (80% books and magazines) and I'm thinking how to convince my hubby to buy a small book rack for my boy's playroom. My current choice is IKEA's "MAMMUT" red shelf.

Children Book: Brown Bear, Brown Bear. What Do You See?

Brown Bear, Brown Bear. What Do You See? by Bill Martin Jr, Eric Carle

2 months ago, we celebrated our boy's 2 year old birthday. At age of 2, he can run faster; he can speak in sentence; he can tell out his name and our names (even his both grandparents' names). What a milestone... And I noticed that the books which have been used in the past 2 years (*2 story books, 1 nursery rhymes and 5 baby picture books) are no longer satisfying him. He can continue to read the words or some sentences once we pause at certain lines or paragraphs.

1st stage (0 - 12 months) :

• Read words/sentences with pitch and point at the words while reading
• Sing nursery rhymes and do actions along ie: Ten Little Indians, Old MacDonald's, Twinkle Twinkle Little Star, Baa Baa Black Sheep, Intcy Wincy Spider, ABC's song etc
  

2nd stage (12 - 24 months) :

• Pause to read the last word(s) in sentences and let your little ones say (in early days they may not get it correctly but they will memorise all after more practices).
• Sing or read more rhymes with actions ie: Row Your Boat, Five Little Monkeys, The Wheels On The Bus etc
  

It's time to introduce more books (more words/sentences) to my little boy. So I went online to search for the titles. The 1st batch of books (from an internet bookstore) arrived a week after Chinese New Year and one of the books is from the famous author of "The Very Hungry Caterpillar", Eric Carle. We read this to him every day and after a week, he is able to tell us the animals once we mention the colour. We ask "Brown..." then he answers "Bear" or "Blue..." then he answers "Horse". Sometimes, we read the 1st page then lift up the next page to let him see the next animal and he'll tell what it is. Thus, i think this is quite an interesting book to instil your little one's reading interest.

It's a good one to learn about colours and animals.