Toddler's book: 好饿的小蛇 A very hungry snake by Miyanishi Tatsuya

This is a very very cute book by a Japanese author Miyanishi Tatsuya 宫西达也. If you're just starting to read to your young preschooler (as young as one year old), this is a good one. This is short but engaging. It touches on the concept of colors and shapes and also numbers. It is a very interactive book. Whenever J sees this book, he will make that 'eating' sound effect (啊呜”“咕嘟”) that I always do whenever I read for him. 

Miyanishi Tatsuya has written a lot of good books for little ones. Some of the ones I have been wanting to get include: 你永远是我的宝贝　and 你看起来好像很好吃。　Knowing that these books were originally authored in Japanese, I have always have this preconception that I wanted to get them in Chinese, so the translation doesn't run too far apart. Don't mind me. This is just me.

He is a very passionate author. Once, when being interviewed, he shared this with his readers, first, never erase whatever that you feel is imperfect, continue working on it and make it perfect; Secondly, be truthful, especially on what you're writing about (translated by myself). Here's the Chinese version: 他与学生分享了两个原则：第一，不要用橡皮擦去你认为不完美的画，要用笔在不完美之上继续创作；第二，要真诚，让笔下所有东西都与自己有一种情感关联。

One of his quotes that resonates with me is this: The recognition of the fact that the world is imperfect, is amazing. 知道了这个世界的不完美，　这本身就已经很美妙了。So let's not continue to dwell in our own or the world's imperfection, instead, let's work out something to make it perfect. 

Whenever, I think about this quote, I get reminded of the other book, which you MUST get, which is Leo Lionni's "A Color of His Own", a book that can be summed up with these few words by Lao Tzu, 

Be content with what you have; rejoice in the way things are. When you realize there is nothing lacking, the whole world belongs to you. 

Get this book if you have an infant or a toddler. Don't worry even if he is 5 or 6. It is a book that encourages your child's imagination and curiosity to blossom.Encourage him to contribute to the story, ask him what happens next. Let him makes the sound of eating. After a few read, encourage him to retell the story or his version of the story, or get him to add a new ending. Remember, there is no right or wrong to fantasy and imagination. 

After reading this book, enjoy yourselves with the free printables that comes along with the purchase of this book. I have made time and effort to create these fun printables that would encourage active learning. Many of these printables are perfect for "one-to-one correspondence" at home. If you're new to this phrase, check this out, the concept is so fundamental that we often don't put much thought to it. One-to-one correspondence is the ability to match one object to one (corresponding) number or object. 

Example: Placing 2 stars on the mat, when recognizing the number 2 displayed in column. 

This is a foundational math skills for preschoolers, or even those in kindergartens. I place emphasis on this as many children may have started knowing numbers from rote counting (memorizing numbers by counting from 1 to 10), but this is just like singing a song, and have no meaning or sense to them. Therefore, engaging in activities with these printables encourages hands-on learning and also promote problem-solving skills. 

In addition, I create plenty of crafts and coloring activities for lil J. Recent research demonstrated that arts and crafts in early childhood benefits: 

• Visual processing skills (eg pattern recognition, detection of sequences etc) - important skills for math and reading 
• Fine motor skills 
• Attention span, improves focus and working memory skills 

I now have 15 new and genuine copies of "A very hungry snake" 好饿的小蛇 in Chinese (全新正版精装版）available for sale. It's for sale in the form of "Book & Activities Pack RM35" including the following: 

• 1 x genuine hard-copy of "A very hungry snake" 好饿的小蛇 in chinese (new) 
• 1 x Soft copy of A very hungry snake printables (16 pages) including printables for race to 10, 20 and 30, color recognition, add, cut and paste, shape recognition, beginning letter clip cards and counting puzzle (to be emailed to you)
• 1 x pattern roller brush + a pot of toxin-free toddler-friendly water color (any color)  
• 1 x sheet of coiled snake coloring page + 1 pair of googly eye for your snake 

Price is not inclusive of postage. 

Painting snake with a pattern roller brush

Toddler's book: Runaway Bunny 逃家小兔 by Margaret Wise Brown

I love this book,I am not surprised it is still among the top selling toddler's books even though it was first published back in 1942! That's over 70 years ago! It's a book about a young bunny who wants to run away from his mom, yet the mommy bunny would still find a way to find him and continue to look over him. 

It is very few in words, very simple in language, even the illustrations felt very classic but it says soooo much about the love of a mom to a child. I had chills running through the back of my spine when I first flipped through it, it is so simple (I know, I have just mentioned this again), yet it is sooo touching! 

I was initially quite hesitant to introduce this book to little J, cos I did not want to give him any idea of 'running away'. But when I read it, I felt the language of love is so strong, it basically overwhelms the thought of wanting to run away. 

If you or your little toddler haven't yet owned this book, you gotta have it. 

As we read this book, I have also created some crafts and preschool printable packs for little J (32mo). They are perfect for preschoolers, or even those in kindergartens.

After reading the book, enjoy yourselves with the free printables that comes along with the purchase of this book. I have made time and effort to create these fun printables that would encourage active learning.Many of these printables are perfect for "one-to-one correspondence" at home. If you're new to this phrase, check this out, the concept is so fundamental that we often don't put much thought to it. One-to-one correspondence is the ability to match one object to one (corresponding) number or object. 

Example: Placing 2 stars on the mat, when recognizing the number 2 displayed in column. 

This is a foundational math skills for preschoolers, or even those in kindergartens. I place emphasis on this as many children may have started knowing numbers from rote counting (memorizing numbers by counting from 1 to 10), but this is just like singing a song, and have no meaning or sense to them. Therefore, engaging in activities with these printables encourages hands-on learning and also promote problem-solving skills. 

In addition, I create plenty of crafts and coloring activities for lil J. Recent research demonstrated that arts and crafts in early childhood benefits: 

• Visual processing skills (eg pattern recognition, detection of sequences etc) - important skills for math and reading 
• Fine motor skills 
• Attention span, improves focus and working memory skills 

Sponge painting on big R and little r. 

Color recognition and rabbit coloring activity. 

Shape recognition. 

Learning about directional / positional words. 

Sorting big R and little r. 

Prewriting practice. 

Simple counting or addition maths sheet 

Giraffe color matching pinwheel & mini giraffes set 

Sponge paint and easy wash water color paint. 

I now have 15 new and genuine copies of Runaway Bunny in Chinese (全新正版精装版）available for sale at RM35. It's for sale in the form of "Book & Activities Pack" including the following: 

• 1 x genuine hard-copy of Runaway Bunny in chinese (new) 
• 1 x set of bunny printables soft copy (18 pages) including printables for do-a-dot, race to 10/ 20, color recognition, prewriting practices, size sequences, directional words, counting, number puzzle, add, cut and paste, alphabet upper and lowercase matching and counting clip cards (to be emailed to you)
• 1 x giraffe color matching pinwheel and mini giraffes set (suitable for those aged 18mo - 4 year old)
• 1 x sponge paint + 1 mini pot of toxin-free child-friendly water color (any color)

*Price is not inclusive of postage.

A little about sponge painting: 

Aside from handprinting or finger painting, sponge painting is a wonderful way for young children as young as 12-18 months to explore colors (or even shapes). They do not need to have superior fine motor skills to make beautiful marks on paper. It is a very versatile art activity that cater to any lesson theme and can be enjoyed by children of all ages. I do not own those do-a-dot marker pen, so I have always let J use his sponge paint to paint on those dots. 

Toddler's book: Library lion 图书馆狮子 by Michelle Knudson

Beautiful and timeless illustrations by Kevin Hawkes. 

I found this story online a few months back right before we were going to a library. I wanted to introduce him what it's like to be in the library. This book was perfect. Both J and I love this heartwarming story. I have been looking for this book since then! I am so glad we finally got this in hardcopy. I know this book will be well-loved and read. It is in Chinese, but it comes with its English version (in a small little booklet) and along with an audio CD that reads it out in both English and Chinese Mandarin. Just get it, read it to your child and you'll know what I mean. Suitable for those aged 2 and above. J is turning 3 soon, I condense the lines and re-tell the story in my own words, while he flips through the beautiful illustrated storybook. 

I am beyond words when come to describe/ review this wonderful book. So I have decided to quote some of the reviews for this book from amazon.com. 

"...has a timeless quality and moral appeal that will assure its place in the future lists of classic storybooks for children" S Allen. 

"This is a simple story of a lion who went to the library. It is funny, well written and the illustrations are some of the best I have seen in sometime now. I have yet a child that did not like and enjoy this one. Even the non-readers like it read to them and enjoy the pictures" Blankenship. 

"In this charming storybook, children will learn that rules are to be followed, but sometimes it's okay to go against them if it's an emergency. The message is presented in a non-frightening manner that will warm children's hearts. We also learn that jealousy can cause problems. The library assistant, Mr. McBee, doesnt care for all the attention the lion has taken from him, and the consequences are laid out when he ignored the lion's pleas for help" C Fixemer. 

I now have 5 new and genuine copies of "Library Lion" 图书馆狮子 by Michelle Knudson in Chinese, hard-copy (全新正版精装版）available for sale, in the form of "Books & Activities Pack RM40" that includes the following: 

• 1x genuine hard-copy of "Library Lion" in Chinese (New)
• 1x little booklet of its English version 
• 1x audio CD (in both English and Chinese Mandarin) 
• 1x set of materials for lion craft (including orange yarn for lion's mane, water color paint brush, toxin-free washable yellow paint and paper plate) 
• 1x set of lion counting clip cards 

Price is not inclusive of postage. 

Toddler's Craft Books for Sale

Tear, Fold and Glue Craft Books 幼儿趣味小手工

• A pack of 6 "Tear, Fold & Glue Craft" Books (over 70 crafts) on these themes 6本撕、折、粘趣味小手工（超过70幼儿手工）：
• Animal 动物
• Building 建筑
• Transportation 交通工具
• Dinosaur 恐龙
• Household item 生活用品 
• Toys 玩具
• Suitable for those aged 3 and above 3岁以上适用 
• Activities that stimulates creativity and promotes bonding between parent/teacher and children 激发创造力及培养亲密亲子关系
• Strengthen fine motor skills development 培养动手能力
• Promotes visual motor integration and bilateral coordination skills 提升手眼协调 
• Easy to tear, easy to assemble 手工已切模，简单合成步骤
• Crafts are of stock card material, does not cause papercuts 手工纸厚实，不会割手
• No scissors required 不用剪刀的安全小手工

Each book is sold at RM9.90. A pack of 6 books is now available at Offer Price RM40 （Savings of about RM20). Offer price is limited to first 100 sets. Price is not inclusive of postage. 每本原卖RM9.90，现在整套6本仅售 RM40.(优惠价仅限首100套）。不包邮。

Just to share: This is the glue that we use to assemble the craft. It, or any glue similar to it, should be available at most stationary shops. I bought this at RM1.90. So nothing too fancy nor too expensive. 

Creamy paprika chicken and chickpea casserole

Can you see those little fingers there? J can't wait to have a bite at it.  

Off late, I have not been trying out any new recipes at all! Our lunch has been quite monotonous, so last night I blog-hopped a little to find inspiration for something different. I came across a fellow blogger mommy friend, Joyce who shared recipes for a very delicious looking chickpea ragout and chilli con carne. I have always loved chilli con carne, but I don't have any red kidney beans in stock, and I felt chilli con carne would tastes better off with minced beef and that's something I don't usually have in my freezer neither. Perhaps I can make the chickpea ragout. 

While cooking mine this morning, I felt that something is missing in terms of its flavor, so I added in ground cumin and ground paprika, and I served it with yummy yummy sour cream. When having it, I felt this dish is a cross between a ragout and a chilli con carne! Nonetheless, it turns out to be super yummy, much nicer beyond my expectation! Even little J (my little 31mo) loves it. He finishes everything on the plate. I thought he would like the crispy potato wedges, but he wasn't too keen this round. Instead, he loves the chicken and the casserole. This is definitely a 'must try' recipe, if you ask me. 

Oh, and I shouldn't forget to mention, it isn't hard to make. I think it took me around 45min from preparation (cutting the veg etc). I even had enough time to bake some banana and cinnamon cupcakes this morning, after preparing this casserole dish. 

Recipe (serves 2, one adult, one toddler, with some leftover that can be served with pasta for the toddler) 

• 2 chicken drumsticks 
• 4-5 cloves garlic, finely minced 
• 1/4 tsp ground cumin 
• 1/4 tsp ground paprika 
• 1/2 cup to 1 cup chicken stock 
• 3-4 tbsp cooked chickpeas* (Check method of cooking below) 
• 4 tomato, skin peeled and chopped into cubes 
• 1/2 onion, chopped into cubes 
• 3 fresh brown mushrooms, chopped into cubes 
• 1/2 carrot, peeled and sliced 
• Sour cream, about 2-3 tbsp, to serve (the more sour cream added, the more creamy it gets)
• Seasoning eg salt and pepper 

*To cook the chickpeas (the non pressure cooker way)

First, soak the chickpeas for around 6 hours in normal temperature water. Boil in hot water for about an hour or more, or until the chickpeas turn soft. 

1. Season the chicken drumsticks with salt, minced garlic, pepper and a little oyster sauce. 
2. Heat up about 2tbsp of grapeseed oil (or any cooking oil) in a frying pan. Brown drumsticks (about 5min). Remove from pan and place into an oven-proof casserole dish. 
3. Using the same heated pan, gently fry minced garlic, chopped onion until fragrant. Stir in carrot, tomato and mushrooms. Cover with lid and leave to brown for about 2-5min. 
4. Add in chicken stock. Season with ground cumin, ground paprika, salt and pepper. Simmer for about 15min. 
5. Preheat oven to 180degC. 
6. Pour the veg and sauce into the oven-proof casserole dish. 
7. Bake in oven for about 20min or until the drumsticks are thoroughly cooked. 
8. Serve with sour cream, pasta or rice, or potato dishes. 

With much delight, I am linking this post to the event, Little Thumbs Up organised by Bake for Happy Kids and My Little Favourite DIY, and hosted by Diana from the Domestic Goddess Wannabe. 

My toddler is not going to write at 3 (Numeral felt cards by ibabiesclub)

Earlier on this year, I was asked, 

'How old is J?'. 

'He's turning 3 this year', I answered. 

She asked again, 'Why aren't you sending him to a nursery? So he can learns to write and read.' 

Now, that's exactly the reason why I wasn't sending him to a nursery, I did not want him to write yet, at the tender age of 3!! Or 2 ish to be exact.

I myself only started going to school when I was 6, and that was probably the time I started learning to write. I remembered I knew how to spell 'Elephant' and I thought I was the smartest girl in class. At that time, no one told me I wasn't. 

Few weeks later, I met a friend with a son at about J's age. I casually asked, 'How's little K doing in nursery?'. She answered, 'He's good. He loves it there. But the teacher told me he hates writing!'. She continued to say, 'The teachers let him bring home some homework, and they are mainly tracing and writing sheets'. 

Exactly! How can a three year old loves writing when he is not developmentally or physically ready as yet? I am not too sure about this, but personally I am not going to force J to write before the age of 3. At the early stage, he won't be using the right force and strength from his fingers or even hands to write, majority of the force may be from the shoulder or the arm and it can be physically strenuous to the little one. 

At this stage at home, J is still doing mostly things that work on his fine and gross motor skills that would strengthen his little fingers and improve his dexterity, like scissor cutting, glue and pasting, water-painting (he is not keen on coloring with color pencils nor crayons, but he loves painting with water colors), play dough, scooping beans, jigsaw puzzles etc. Most importantly, these are 'FUN' to him! He barge me for these 'fun stuffs' everyday. My hubby is also quite stern that he does not want the boy to remembers his childhood being bogged with 'writing' and 'tracing' torture, because both of us grew up in 'kampung' with lots of outdoor fun stuffs, playing with dried leaves, muds, frogs in the drain and making cicak (lizard) ditch their tails. 

I strongly believe that he will come to a 'writing explosion' phase when he will yearns to write and trace. I later on met a Glenn Doman advocate dad who told me the same thing, 'Your 3 year old can read, but he doesn't need to write as yet, 'cos writing is an expression that will come much later on'. At the moment, he expresses himself through colors. 

Painting with sponge rollers

Painting with wheels

Fixing 3D animal puzzles 

*************************Few months later ******************************************

I am suspecting the 'writing explosion' phase is coming. But I am not rushing yet. I am just following his lead most of the times He has been gripping his pen and asking me to hold his hand to trace. He has drawn a few circles and semi circles quite orderly. At this point of time, I know exactly what he needs. He needs his tactile numerals and letters to play with (they are the very fundamental part of any Montessori curriculum that provides them with the sensory foundation, preparing them for writing).  See here to understand better. 

Each time he uses his fingers to trace the number or letter shape, a 'muscular memory' is developed and reinforced. This will translate to confidence during later attempts to write, as the hand and mind are both familiar with the movements required to form the numerals or the letters. 

I am very fortunate cos a mommy friend of mine from Johor had developed these for her daughter and they are also made available for sale! You see, that's the best thing about making new friends who are moms, especially when the kids are about the same age. I am sure we wouldn't have crossed path if it wasn't because of our little ones, we knew each other when the little ones was ready to embark on the 'eating solid' phase. 

This is what I do when I presented these 'Numeral Felt Cards' to little J. 

1. Place the numeral felt cards in order. If your little one is new to numerals, then introduce 3 numerals on each day. 
2. Sound out the numeral. 
3. Demonstrate to him the way it is written. 
4. Place the little cuties (cute lady bugs, owls and pegs are provided as part of the set) on the round slots and count out loudly. 
5. Then proceed with the next numeral. 

J traces the number 3. 

J counts. 

The set also comes with counting cards for the little ones, allowing them to work until 10. It comes together with the wooden pegs (not marked with numbers). I have used my own wooden pegs (as seen here in these photos) which I have previously marked with numbers for reinforcing number recognition. Again, playing with the wooden pegs is another activity that practices on the fine motor movements. This comes in especially handy when the little ones had been introduced to numerals using the felt cards and this would be an activity to reinforce the concept of counting and quantity. 

To know more about these goodies for your little curious toddlers, hop over to YJ's online blogshop here. There are also other busy bag items available for sale. There's another one that J owns and he absolutely loves it! It's the wooden blocks, somehow he calls them colorful lego. I will blog and share about that in another post. Give her facebook page a like. YJ and her partner (who's also a mom) are constantly sharing ideas on games and activities for their little cutie pies. 

Pumpkin and cashew pesto

Here's a superb creamy pasta sauce for your toddler if you're out of idea for his meals. I love making my own pasta sauces for my little J because this way, I can control the amount of seasoning that's added in, and I know exactly what's inside the sauce. The usual ones that I make are the bolognese and the creamy mushroom sauce. The pasta sauces I make are usually very simple cos I don't have too much time in the morning to prepare them, and other than these I also needed to make another dish for his breakfast. This morning, for an example, I made this delicious pumpkin and cashew pesto for his pasta lunch and I have also made a nice soft and fluffy pandan kikaku (hei pan) for his breakfast and late afternoon treat.  

I usually make extra portion of these pasta sauces, so that I can use them again for another pasta dish later on in the week. These pasta sauces are also okay to be kept frozen and are usually consumed within a week or two. 

For this creamy pumpkin and cashew pesto sauce, I have added in lots of garlic for seasoning purpose and also for a boost to his immune. Here's the recipe: 

• 3-4 tbsp raw organic cashew nuts, dry dried in a frying pan until they turn golden brown. Leave aside. 
• 2tbsp cooking oil, I used organic grapeseed oil 
• 3-5 cloves of garlic, finely minced 
• Seasoning eg herbs and salt 
• 200g pumpkin, cut into little cubes 
• 2 tomato, skin peeled and cut into little cubes 
• 1/2 cup of water 

Method: 

1. Heat the oil in a cooking pan. 
2. Stir in garlic, fry until fragrant but not too brown, stir in cubed pumpkin and tomato. Cover with lid to simmer for a few minutes. 
3. Pour in water to simmer for another few minutes. Season accordingly. 
4. Cool down and blend with toasted cashew nuts until it reaches a creamy consistency. Serve with pasta.