How to: read stories to your babes like a professional

This is part of a series on online entertainment alternatives to The Easies: dear Diego and Netflix.

Storyline Online: Picture books, not sure how they get chosen, are read by members of the Screen Actors Guild. The book's illustrations are somewhat animated and follow the story.

I like that the kids can navigate it themselves (though I think it could be still cleaner and simpler), that it's hearing books read aloud, and the length is good for short distrations--most are not longer than seven to ten minutes long. There are "activities" that go along with each story, many of which are just discussion jumping-off points.

(Tangent: remind me to write something about 

the importance of / how to create family mythologies)

Storynory: A British site, where we've mostly enjoyed the "classic" section--Rudyard Kipling's Just So Stories. Professionally recorded, but no illustrations, so nice to do while you're working on a puzzle or drawing, or just spacing out on the couch.

Sparkle Stories: A monthly story subscription, like an audio magazine for your kids. I'm so happy somebody is doing this, and I *love* magazines, so I'm not sure why I haven't subscribed to this. But we've really enjoyed the sample stories in the meanwhile. They tend to have a lefty/green/touchy-feely bent--just fine by me (but still, makes me chuckle at the self-conciousness sometimes).


What makes them fun to listen to?
Of course, it's starts with a good story.
For many of them it's a voice I recognise, or learn to, after a couple stories.
Third, the readers tend to read much more slowly than I do with my two on the couch.
Fourth, they use their voice to make drama, create feeling, invent the characters with different voices. I especially loved the way this happened in the book "Knots on a Counting Rope," from Storyline Online.

Google, my dear homepage, I love you but we must part

A way to earn pennies (that add up) for your organization of choice just by doing the internet searches you normally do everyday. I heard about it through La Leche League International, but I know Amnesty In'tl is also listed.

www.goodsearch.com

Love in motion

And some other afore-promised places to go for lovin' motion:

Dan Zanes videos;
Justin Roberts on YouTube;
and our beloved Elizabeth Mitchell on youtube here and here.
There's also Father Goose, who has a new cd coming out, and you can hear clips at danzanes.com, but we usually youtube him here and here. The first audio clip here also makes me laugh. Why haven't we yet bought a Father Goose album? I ask you.
Obnoxious perhaps, but we got a lot of mileage (har har) out of this one. Pretty catchy.
Oh, and one other Dan Zanes tune you can only get on youtube: DZ for Heifer International!

A few not-child-specific videos we regularly groove to:
I'm From Barcelona
All these things that I have done (there are other versions, this one's a well done concert video)
Can you read my mind


Andy's been going through a very thorough Annie phase, as in the Broadway musical from the seventies, so Scout's been walking around belting (I think . . .) "Tomorrow, tomorrow, I love ya". But I figured you could look that one up on your own, should you feel the need.

Chutney

Green Chutney
1 1.2 bunches of cilantro, washed, keep stems
2tbs lemon juice (fresh is best!)
1tsp salt
1tbs sugar
2-3 jalepenos (whole)
1 cup spanish peanuts

Blend cilantro, add peanuts, etc until all well blended, add extra jalepenos or lemon or both to taste. Keep in airtight jar in fridge or freeze in airtight container for up to 3 weeks.
Use with rice or Indian dishes, or for a quick lunch of Mumbai Tea Sandwiches, spread on toasted bread with provolone, tomatoes, lettuce and cucumber!

Eats.

FOOD. We are becoming all about food. "De doo, deekoo, dake ou" are all very happy versions of "thank you mommy, for the yummy organic, ground flaxseed mixed into my whole natural yogurt with omega3 granola!" Ok, not every time, but he is happy. Today most of the food ended up on the floor while I strung thin knitting yarn up around the chandelier and to each corner of the room for the spider web effect in preparation for our halloween month. Could there be a happier child totally in control of what went in his mouth and what went on down to the floor?
Hints. . .
Is easy to add ground flaxseed to anything, just stir in a tbs. Need more greens? Blend a handful of spinach with some orange juice; good for you and the sippy cup! We also like Odwalla superfood (costco, 6$) add 1/2 water. Also, peel a banana to let little fingers hold but cut off the excess length so its not a big umbrella of peel; easier access to the good stuff.

Well, what do you think:

Is it worth trying to make this beautiful and functional for us? I've been messing with the colors in the html (either of you know much html?) but it's not there yet.

Shall we keep messing with this, or try a different server? I want to get posting, and see what great things you have to post. Leah, your cd is our new fav. We must have listened to it at least 150 times already.

lurv,
mamaJoh