Oh no, B.B. King’s shoe is missing!   And almost everyone can relate to that! Sandra Boynton’s new book, song, and short movie is a rockin’ good time starring the legendary B.B. King, his guitar, Lucille, and a talented cast of sock puppets.  While everyone is busy belting out the blues about the lost shoe, Momsock is busy trying to help the King of Blues think where he left it.  In the closet, under the bed?  Of course, he finally spots it, but we knew where it was all along, and that’s what tickles our funny bones!  I reviewed this book and CD with my grandson, Coen, (he’s 21 months old) and he couldn’t take his eyes off this soulful group.

I just finished reading My Two-Year-Old Eats Octopus:  Raising Children Who Love to Eat EVERYTHING, by Nancy Tringali Piho.   I’ve written my share of articles on good nutrition and picky eaters so I wasn’t so keen on opening this book, but I’m very glad I did.  The book is informative not preachy, and Piho ends every section with “What I’ve Learned.”  She covers lots of topics from parental attitudes to the battle-of-wills encountered in many families over food issues.  She says “The concept of ‘flavor’ can be taught.”  And she believes that many “kid friendly” foods “dumb-down” childrens abilities to appreciate flavorful food.  The book compares jarred baby food with homemade, and she talks about recent studies that recommend presenting a new food to children numerous times, not just once or twice.  Piho also presents suggestions from top chefs, who are also parents,  on how to get children to become adventuresome eaters.  Now that I’ve finished the book, I’m hoping to pass on “What I’ve Learned.”

This book by Kevin Henkes has been around for a while, but I still laugh out loud when I read it.  Lilly loves school, fish sticks at lunch, and pointy pencils.  And she really loves Mr. Slinger, her cool teacher. But she has a bit of difficulty waiting for the appropriate time to share all of the things stashed in her purple plastic purse, like movie star sunglasses, and shiny quarters.  Lilly breaks a rule, finds herself in trouble, does a couple of mean things, and ends up putting herself in “the uncooperative chair” when she gets home from school.

This is a great read anytime, but at the beginning of school, it’s powerful.  Lilly is the child in all of us, and we all have difficult days.   But despite her faults, I’d love to have a classroom full of Lillys.

Book Review: Becoming The Parent You Want To Be, by Laura Davis  & Janis Keyser.
I keep trying to find a book I like better than this one for parents, but it never happens, and it’s been a number of years, now.  What a combination of authors––Laura Davis, a parent and stepparent and the author of best-selling books on healing, and Jane Keyser a mother and stepmother and (wonder of wonders) an early childhood teacher.
The book is developmentally appropriate throughout––a major consideration that often trips up the best and brightest authors.  Parents and professionals will find this book very helpful as they step forward on the incredible developmental journey with children!