A summer splasher

Down by the cool of the pool starts with Frog yelling Wheeeee and dancing. With each go round a new animal joins in the fun. Duck went flap, Frog went wheeee and so on! Of course, they eventually all fall in the pond, but the fun doesn't stop. Mitton and Parker-Rees have written a colourful and exuberant book.

Taking a walk - twice

I want to recommend two picture books about taking a walk with mommy.

"Jonathan and his mommy" tells the tale of a boy taking a walk through his neighborhood with his mother. It isn't just a regular walk. They take GREAT BIG GIANT STEPS. They walk in itsy bitsy baby steps. And there are so many other fun ways to walk down the street! The affection between he and his mom as they travel around the neighborhood is evident. My daughter often has to be read this book twice at nap time. It is by Irene Small-Hector.

"Will you carry me?" by Heleen Van Rossum is a book I picked out because my daughter wants "up" so often. Thomas has been playing hard at the park all morning and now that it is time to go home he wants to be carried. His playful mother comes up with a number of ways to get home that encourage him to do it himself. You see them jumping through the park, "swimming" past the school and more. The pictures are wacky and as playful as the story.

Juliette says good night

Claire Masurel's delightful Juliette from Christmas is Coming stars in this tale of getting ready for bed. Juliette is ready to tuck herself in and realizes her toy companions are missing. So she off around the house to round up her friends. When it is time to say good night at your house, give Good Night a read.

Music for toddlers

Laurie Berkner is the toddler music queen of our house, but she has a rival. Nickel Creek's recording Little Cowpoke is currently in the hot one hundred during our daycare drive time. The fact that kids are singing on this collection of cowboy standards adds to the appeal of this early recording by the band.