Goodnight Moon and Other Stories by HBO

“Does everybody dream?” asks a little boy in a studio interview.  “We all dream, every night, even though you may not remember it. But, hey, I mean, like, dreams are very important,” answers another one.

My question is, “How does HBO know kids so well?!”

This charming DVD has been one my Maya’s favorites this past year so we decided to gift all her little friends for the holidays.

I had originally recorded the half hour special from HBO. Around the time we ran out of space on our DVR, I realized I could buy the DVD from Amazon.

In its core, the performances bring together childhood classics like Goodnight Moon and There’s a Nightmare in My Closet with Hollywood stars like Susan Sarandon and Billy Crystal. You’ll also hear Tony Bennett, Aaron Neville and Lauryn Hill singing.

What makes the DVD so special for everyone, parents and kids, are the studio interviews with children peppered throughout the program. These kids are so smart, so perceptive, so special — like most kids are! Their interpretations of life lessons are charming, laughter-inducing, truly magical. We never tire of watching this! It is the perfect end to many a busy day.

You can now buy it on Amazon for an unbeliavable $6.47. Money well spent!

Our Favorite Books: Where Do Balloons Go?

“Where do balloons go when you let them go free? It can happen by accident. It happened to me.” This is how this Jamie Lee Curtis classic starts. I’m calling it a classic because it was released in 2000 and has been a favorite of preschool teachers since.

In fact, even though Maya and I discovered “Where Do Balloons Go? An Uplifting Mystery” completely by accident, even before the book became a classroom project, it was pretty clear that the story’s beautiful melody and unique mystery would make it a bedtime favorite. For both of us!

You may have heard about this book already: it’s a fun little ditty about what could balloons possibly be doing when they float free in the sky. Speculation abounds as soon as you turn the first page: “do they catch a cold? …. do they get married and make balloon heirs?…. do they tango with airplanes or cha cha with birds?” The rhymes are entertaining for most three and four year olds and the accompanying removable stickers allow them to engage in a quiet activity before bedtime making up colorful balloon faces.

What fascinates me about the book though is the last spread. It features the illustration of a warm, genuine hug between the parent and child, and reads “Where do balloons go? It’s a mystery, I know. So just hold on tight till you have to let go.”

I might be reading too much into it but I have to admit that I get teary eyed every time I read these last words. It reminds me of how fleeting time with our children is and suddenly the balloon becomes a metaphor for Maya as I feel the tears welling up.

So in short, I’m as addicted to this book as little Maya and it definitely makes it on Our Favorite Books list. Now available in hardcover on Amazon for only $11.55.

Our Favorite Books: Knuffle Bunny

One of my favorite things about this book is that it takes place in Brooklyn where I used to live. Of course, that was before I got married and had my daughter. However I remember the torturous trips to the laundromat like they were yesterday. Lugging the overstuffed laundry duffel four flights of stairs down a wal-up brownstone and then dragging it four blocks through the park was so unbearable that I only did laundry every two weeks, which of course made the whole experience even worse.

Mo Willems’ Knuffle Bunny is about a trip to the laundromat with Trixie, the charming toddler. The illustrations of the characters are set against black and white photography of actual places in Brooklyn, which brings a level of reality to the drama that ensues. The book is the perfect length for adults to read without falling asleep and keeps babies, toddlers and preschoolers alike entertained. You will definitely get repeated requests for it.