Totoro

I don't normally post about videos, but wanted to post about My Neighbor Totoro. Hayao Miyazaki created a movie about two young sisters, who act like real sisters not tv sitcom children. Ten year old Satsuki and four year old Mei have moved to the country with their father a college professor. Their mother is in the hospital. The fact that they miss their mother and her upcoming return home is part of the story but her illness isn't dwelled on. They make new friends and explore the area.

The girls met a Totoro, a spirit of the forest. He and his friends are fuzzy creatures of various sizes. The girls have various adventures with the Totoro. When Mei gets lost trying to go to the hospital, Totoro helps Satsuki find her.

The animation is lovely and the pace is nice for a toddler. My three year old was a little concerned when Mei got lost the first time we watched it. Now she is just waiting for the "kittycat bus" to show up and take Satsuki to Mei. She is still too young to worry about the mother being sick. Also the illness is buffered by the number of adults caring and supporting the girls.

Manatee morning

Manatee morning showcases the mantees of Crystal River in Florida. Aronsky tells of the gentle mantees and their life in the river. It is a nice nature book for toddlers as it doesn't focus on too much science, but just the morning in the life of a mother and calf. However it doesn't turn them into characters with human attributes. My daughter enjoyed it.