Mama Reads

So, we went on down to New Orleans a deux to attend the French Quarter Festival.  (We used to go quite regularly but got distracted by the whole having a child thing.)  It was, as usual, fantastic.  Just wandering around the Quarter and stumbling upon great music at every turn.  Fantastic food, even at the vendor stands at the festival.  Wander up by the river for a little breeze and watch my favorite New Orleans Band the Tin Men.   Also fantastic was the 6 nights with only two of us in the bed, and being able to wander around without keeping an eye on another person!  And we mustn’t forget the blessed absence of repetitive chatter!

I always buy a book for Frankie when we go on vacation.  This trip’s find is Jazz Cats.  With colorful graphics, a great spoken jazz rhythm, and references to New Orleans landmarks such as Jackson Square, it captures the feeling of jazz at its finest. 

Down in New Orleans where the sounds are sweet,
In a back-alley corner off of Bourbon Street, there’s some hipster kitties (they don’t chase no rats).
They make swinging music — ‘cuase they’re Jazz Cats!

Jazz Cats!
Swingin’ Jazz Cats!

I love reading this to her because it’s fun to say “Jazz Cats, swingin’ Jazz cats!” Or “Jazz Cats, sleepy Jazz Cats!”   It’s also nice to have things to show her about the place Mama and Daddy like to visit.  Speaking of showing her New Orleans, I loved, loved The Princess and the Frog (Single Disc Widescreen). 

Ok, so to recap this very rambling post:  Love vacation, love New Orleans, love Jazz Cats, love Princess and the Frog!  Happy Summer!

Frankie:  Mama, When will this family die?
Mama: I don’t know. Probably not for a long time
Frankie: Well, Papa is really old so he will probably die faster than us.
Mama: Well, that’s probably true. We’ll probably be a little sad then.
Frankie: Why?
Mama: Because Papa won’t be with us anymore and
Frankie: (interrupts) And we love him and we will miss him
Mama: Yes, and so that will probably make us a little sad
Frankie: (with tears in her voice) and he won’t be able to give me lemon drops anymore
Mama: Right, and
Frankie: (feeling perkier) But his desk will still be here and I can maybe sneak over and get one.

Papa & Frankie -- 94 1/2 & 3 1/2

 

Dear Easter Bunny,  I know you were probably freezing your tail off since it was only 17 degrees, but next year can you please remember to take your garbage with you so I don’t have to think on my feet so early in the morning?  Thanks for hiding the eggs inside by the way. 

Also, could you please turn back time?  Because you know that tiny little baby we brought home from the hospital last week?  Well, today we bought her a bicycle.  Something that  big girls ride.  How did we get here so fast?  She never really took to the tricycle, but she rode her bike around the block many, many times this afternoon (as the blisters on the back of my heels from my new shoes can attest).   Also, she picks up words like pedestrians way too fast.  We did have to have a talk with Daddy since he taught her the word vagina, because he didn’t like any of the options Mama came up with.  Which was ok until she tipped over on her bike and started crying and howling “I hurt my vagina!”  much louder than Mama was comfortable with.   So we had a talk about how that word makes some people nervous so she decided she would just whisper it in Mama’s ear.  She loves to whisper things lately. 

Well, I guess that’s all for now.  Oh, could you please tell the tooth fairy to ignore Frankie’s wish for a new tooth?  I don’t think we are ready for that yet. 

Love, Mama

Update:  Monday morning snow is dashing the dreams of our young cyclist!

I’m thinking I’m really cool about now since I was asked to contribute to the March MamaVoices column over at Today’s Mama.    The subject was “3 Books You Could Read Over and Over”.  I had a lot of fun doing it and I was surprised at how many of the other choices I was not familiar with!  Tell me, what are your favorite books to read again?

Push: A Novel – I desperately wish I had never read this book.  I keep thinking about it and not in a good way.  More in a it’s bothering my protected little life by making me think about disturbing things way.  I know that it’s good for me to step outside my comfort zone but I don’t like it! 

I’ll probably give away spoilers in this review so stop reading now if you are going to read this book – The main character Precious is having her second child by her father who started abusing her at an early age.  Her mother is also abusive not only verbally and physically but sexually as well.   She is 16 and still in junior high from being held back and now they want to kick her out because of the pregnancy.   Someone finally gets her into an alternative program where she is able to work on her literacy.  Some readers find this story inspirational as she’s working to “get out”.  I find that unlikely and my heart just breaks at the innocence lost and the thought of anyone treating a child like that.  And I can’t stop thinking about it and I really want to stop thinking about it!  I guess that means it was a good book? 

Coming home late from work, little naked girl dances into the room….
“Mama!  You’re Home!”
“Look!  I’m naked ALL over my body!”
shows me her feet
“Even on my bummy bum bum!”
shows me the cutest bum in the world then laughs uproariously.

How did I get to be this lucky?

Starting with I’d Tell You I Love You, But Then I’d Have to Kill You, Ally Carter’s Gallagher Girls Series is fun, escapist fiction that will thrill the hearts of teen girls everywhere.  Cammie Morgan attends the prestigious Gallagher Academy for Exceptional Young Women, an all-girls private school.   What the outside world does not know is that the Gallagher Academy is really a school for spies.  With classes such as covert operations and advanced encryption and having to speak one of 14 different languages every night at dinner, the students at Gallagher are ready for anything except what to do if a boy likes you.  I personally would prefer a little more spy stuff, but your typical teen would probably find the mix just about right.  The first book is mostly a stand-alone but the author does start to develop a little deeper story arc as the series progresses.  I’m always up for some “comfort food” reading so I will be checking out book #4 when it comes out this summer!

Frankie’s new favorite bedtime story is Princess Hyacinth (The Surprising Tale of a Girl Who Floated). 

Princess Hyacinth had a problem.
Well, you’re saying, everyone has a problem. But this was an unusual problem. Oh, she didn’t look unusual, that wasn’t it. She had two eyes, with a nose between them and a mouth under that– you know, the usual things in the usual arrangement.
In fact, if she wasn’t all dressed up in her Princess clothes, you’d think she was just anybody.
So what was the problem?
Princess Hyacinth floated.

First of all, I love it that the princess has a problem instead of some poor girl who becomes a princess and lives happily ever after.  Because of the floating thing, she cannot go about like the other children and often must be strapped down or wear weighted gowns and a heavy crown which makes it so she can hardly move.  I’m a little uncomfortable with the fact that the balloon man will do what she asks just because she’s the princess but that is a minor thing in an otherwise fabulous book.  I love the theme that “things” do not make you free and that after the adventures are had and the friendships made, she still has a problem.

The problem about the floating was never solved, and that’s too bad.
But Princess Hyacinth was never bored again.
Good.

The illustrations are quirky and the princess looks like an ordinary girl.  The text itself is also part of the fun of the story as it changes color, size, placement on the page, adds iltalics etc. which makes it quite fun as a read aloud.  We have been reading it at least twice a day since getting it from the library and not only does Frankie keep requesting it, but Mama is willing to keep reading it.  Always an ideal situation!

Do you remember when you were a kid and you read A Wrinkle in Time or The Chronicles of Narnia or A Wizard of Earthsea or A Ring of Endless Light for the first time?  It’s like that.  The 2010 Newbery Medal Winner, When You Reach Me by Rebecca Stead is just like that.  It has just enough magic, just enough mystery, just enough regular girl trying to figure out herself and the world.  It is one of the most solid books I have read in some time and I cannot wait for all those kids out there to read it and say “This is my favorite book, ever!”   And they will, because it is just that good!

The story is set in New York City in 1979.  The author said in an interview that was because she wanted the characters to have a certain amount of autonomy as she did growing up in the city and didn’t think it would be believeable in today’s culture.  Miranda’s best friend Sal doesn’t want to hang out with her anymore and she is starting to recieve strange notes that seem to predict the future.  She keeps re-reading a Wrinkle in Time and the way the author ties together the two stories is excellent.  As Miranda navigates the tricky world of 6th grade and new friendships the mystery unfolds itself until it reaches the exceptional ending which made me want to turn around and re-read the book immediately.  If you have middle readers, or a grownup who appreciates a good read, be sure to introduce them to this book!