No No Yes Yes is a board book with those thick cardboard like pages that the little ones cannot tear. That is a very important criteria for me - since N is a very active toddler who out of curiosity grabs the pages of a book a little forcefully at times. He is getting better with time :)
The book has a few daily activities sorted into what is OK to do (Yes Yes) and what is not (No No). A little baby in his diaper shows all the actions. N is able to relate to the baby so its even more fun!
Everyday things like eating food, colouring with crayons, playing with other kids, reading books, playing with animals, bath time, going poo poo and going out with mommy daddy are represented in the book. On the left side is shown how not to do it (say, no crayons on the wall) and on the right side is the correct way (crayons on the paper). Some of the illustrations are funny yet effective.
You might find some of the activities not relevant to your lifestyle - say, you don't have cats or dogs at home; you can skip those pages and read them later when the kids are more aware.
For toddlers (ages 1 to 2) one or two big pictures and a few words are ideal as beginner books. No No Yes Yes fits this criteria perfectly. The pictures are big and clear. The book was hand-lettered by the author. Even S who isn't a book reader (at all!) loves reading this one out to N.
I have 3 other books from the same author - Quiet Loud, Big Little, Yummy Yucky which follow a similar pattern as No No Yes Yes. N enjoys reading all of them - he can read them a million times!
Name of the book: No No Yes Yes
Author: Leslie Patricelli
Publisher: Candlewick Press
Recommended for ages: 1 to 3
... are recharged and refreshed respectively!
I uploaded a fresh and latest set of songs on to my IPod after about 5 years (yes I am very lazy).
But once I did that I felt alive and active! And I wondered what made me wait for so long - maybe the fact that I didn't use it so much before now.
Sometimes things like reorganizing and de-cluttering do help - at least for me they are therapeutic - especially when you have a sick and cranky (with viral fever) toddler at home.
Cleaning up my closet has the same effect.
What works for you? What helps you recharge yourself?
Okay! So I am very excited, very very excited about two things.
I am looking forward to one - start painting and two - going to the Strand Monsoon book festival (They have an up to-80% sale).
I am all set with materials needed to paint - pencil, eraser, sharpener, drawing paper, brushes, water colours and oil pastels. This sudden desire for painting was a result of trying to find a new hobby and lack of good paintings for my new apartment. So maybe I can create something that I like and put it up.
Ah! Now you might be thinking "she must be a very talented painter". Not exactly! I am an amateur. But I do have a lot of passion and ideas. And I did go to a few hobby drawing classes when I was in school.
And my other latest passion is collecting books for my home library. So the Strand book sale is going to be an awesome opportunity.
Plus I will be going there with a friend whose company I really enjoy, so that's a double bonus!
And I would love to pick up some good books for N. I am reaching that stage where I could close my eyes and read out all his books.
Thinking about going there is already giving me a high, wonder what'll happen once I get there!
Sunday being a holiday S decided to spend some "quality" time with N.
N took out his latest favourite playing object *Play Doh* and set it in front of S.
S was very amused at the sight of colourful clay and with child-like enthusiasm started playing with it.
I left the 2 of them to take care of the day's breakfast (which by the way was Aaloo Poori).
When I got back this is what I saw -
This was described to me as a yellow man sitting on a green chair (a chair with no legs to be precise). There is a red table on a white carpet (with carpet like texture) in front of him.
And here is the table with a cup of tea on it -
The tea cup was not a regular (read boring) cup like the ones in my kitchen. It was designer as you can see with blue polka dots et all. The cup was made by my sister who was the guest artist.
Another orange man joined the first man for tea but he was soon transformed into a ball to play catch -
I must say I was pleasantly surprised at the creativity!
Last night N slept through the night in his room.
Today morning, at around 7 he tiptoed into our room and then climbed up into our bed.
I asked him a very rhetorical question "Did my pumpkin sleep in his room last night?"
"Yesssssss" said N.
"Was it fun?"
"Yessssss. Nini Minnie" ('Nini' means sleep in N's language).
"Who's Minnie?" said S.
N went into his room and brought back a pink-dress-wearing Minnie mouse toy with him (Minnie mouse as in Mickey mouse's companion).
S and I looked at each other and exchanged a glance which felt like "If that's what it takes to get you to sleep through the night in your room, we don't mind you sleeping with Minnie."
