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’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!
I was ecstatic (that’s fancy for happy) when I saw this book was coming out in time for the holiday season. We love the Fancy Nancy books and Fancy Nancy: Splendiferous Christmas
is a nice addition to the series. Nancy and her family are decorating their house and picking out a Christmas Tree.
“I love Christmas so much. It is important to find a tree with a wonderful aroma. (That’s a fancy word for smell.) I think bigger is always better. but my dad says we must compromise. That means we end up with the tree my mom wants”
While they wait for Grandpa to get there so they can decorate the tree, they make delectable cookies (that’s fancy for yummy) go caroling (that’s fancy for singing Christmas songs) and plead (like begging only fancier) to put the tree topper on. Unfortunately, patience wears thin and disaster strikes. But Grandpa saves the day with a lesson about improvising (that’s fancy for using whatever’s on hand) and making memories.
The illustrations are fabulous (that’s fancy for great) as always but I think the story hiccups in place and is not as strong as usual. Still, Nancy shines and introduces some fancy vocabulary, making us look forward to the spring and more Fancy Nancy titles.
Poodlena
“In a big city high rise
On the very top floor
Lived a pink, fluffy poodle,–
Poodlena Pompadour.”
Thus begins a delightful look into the world of a pampered poodle in the city. The rhymes are fun but what little girls really love are the illustrations. Poodlena with her mountain of pink fluffy hair gets prettied up everyday for her walk. She goes to the dog park to be seen but never plays with the other dogs. Fortunately, one muddy day she gets knocked down and discovers the joy of getting a little dirty. From then on she primps less so she has more time to play. More time to play, a good lesson for all of us!
