An unusual lullaby…

Sunday, September 13th, 2009

Thank you, Readertotz, for highlighting this gorgeous video of one of my favorite singers, Andrea Bocelli, singing Sesame Street’s Elmo to sleep with a variation on one of his most well-known songs – very sweet and funny at the same time!

It also made me think of all those picture books where the baby just won’t go to sleep – like Hush! A Thai Lullaby by Minfong Ho, illustrated by Holly Meade (Orchard Books, 2000).

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Books at Bedtime: Hush! A Thai Lullaby

Sunday, August 17th, 2008

Hush! A Thai Lullaby, by Minfong Ho, illustrated by Holly MeadeWith our present focus on literacy and my avowal that it’s never to soon to start sharing a bedtime story, I feel it is time I put the spotlight on a book for that early age-group. In her last post on the Tiger’s Bookshelf, Janet asked about first bedtime stories and there are a couple of stories there to make you smile. When my two were small, I used to like finding stories that ended with everyone, especially the baby, going to sleep – hint, hint…

It took me a few moments to make the connection between Hush! – A Thai Lullaby (Scholastic, 2000) and The Clay Marble, the Tiger’s Choice for August, but as soon as I realised that they shared Minfong Ho as their author, it seemed too serendipitous to ignore and I knew it would have to be this week’s choice! It also offers a slightly subversive take on the let’s-get-baby-to-sleep ending since by the end of this one, everyone else is asleep except baby…

All the animals mother asks to hush make their noises in Thai, which children will find intriguing as well as fun to imitate. It’s a beautifully written book and the multi-layered illustrations by Holly Meade are also stunning (read reviews here). It could have the desired effect of settling little ones down to a good night’s sleep – but it could equally well raise a triumphant chortle and give the grown-ups a chance to snatch a few moments of shut-eye, even if it is just to be pounced upon and rudely awakened!

What special books do you recommend as bedtime stories for babies and toddlers?

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