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By Mom Unplugged, January 29, 2008 1:25 pm

My 7 year-old daughter is a picky reader. She is reluctant to read any book that looks like it might be scary, suspenseful, or have any kind of a plot twist at all. I am assuming that this high level of sensitivity is just a phase. But in the meantime, it can make chapter book choices somewhat limited.

While searching for books for her Christmas book gift bag, I stumbled upon this. A story about a fairy with the lovely name of Tiptoes Lightly, how threatening could that possibly be?

My instincts were correct and this book proved to be a sheer delight to read…for all of us! My daughter opened it and then couldn’t put it down. She began reading it to her 5 year-old brother who was equally as riveted, and the two of them began requesting that I read it to them at bedtime too. I came to really look forward to our evening reads and the latest Tiptoes adventure. In fact I was sad when we finished, and really find that I miss Tiptoes! (Time to buy the other books in the series!)

The Tales of Tiptoes Lightly is actually a collection of three stories about Tiptoes and her friends: The Bee Who Lost his Buzz, Pumpkin Crow, and Lucy Goose and the Half-Egg. Each tale is composed of many short chapters (most just two or three pages) which makes it nice for bedtime, even on nights where you are running late, or to read to young children with limited attention spans.

The stories are all very sweet and innocent, yet really funny too! The magic and wonder of nature and the seasons is a constant theme throughout the book. The characters are all very lovable and appealing, with names like Jeremy Mouse (an always-hungry mouse), Pine Cone and Pepper Pot (gnomes who sleep with their long beards wrapped around their heads for warmth), Pins and Needles (house fairies who sleep in a pin cushion), and Ompliant (an elephant).

I honestly have nothing but wonderful things to say about this book. These are stories that your children will want to hear over and over again. The adventures of Tiptoes will spark the imagination of your little ones, and you too!

An interesting note: As we read, I felt that these tales had a real “Waldorfy” feel about them. I was very interested to read in the author’s note at the end of the book (reprinted on his website here), that Tiptoes was indeed “born” at a Waldorf school. Reg Down was a eurythmy teacher in several Waldorf schools, which is where he began inventing the tales of Tiptoes and her friends.

I am so happy that Mr. Down decided to publish these magical stories so that we may all enjoy them. If you want to sample some of Reg Down’s work, visit his website: http://www.tiptoes-lightly.net where you can download some sample chapters from his books. Also be sure to scroll down to the bottom of the stories page where you’ll find quite a few other stories and plays to download (all free too!).

(Also: You can visit Mr. Down’s website for a list of local stores that carry his books, as well as some smaller online bookstores.)

Comments (3)

By Mom Unplugged, December 14, 2007 12:54 pm

I just bought the whole set of these for my almost two-year old. They were so lovely that I couldn’t wait for Christmas to bring them out!

These books are refreshingly simple. There are four in the series, one for each season. There are no words, only lovely drawings of children engaged in fun activities appropriate to the season of the book.

There is lots to see and talk about, from picking out objects and colors, to discussing seasons, weather, clothing, nature, activities and play! My daughter loves these and will sit and pore of the pages with great interest.

Another thing I really like about these books is the fact that they are sturdy board books. This is good for us, since I think ours will get a lot of love and use!

Thank you to Greenemother of The Owl and the PussyCat, where I first learned of the series. I urge you to read her thoughts on these lovely books. I am grateful for your recommendation!

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By Mom Unplugged, October 18, 2007 8:57 pm

I was astonished to discover that this book was first published in 1906. The language (translated from the original German), although formal, does not feel 100 years-old!

This simple story follows mother nature and “the root-children,” tiny flower fairy-like tots, as they prepare for spring. We then watch the children dance and play all summer long until the cold fall winds send them back down under the earth for their winter’s sleep.

Younger children will enjoy the lovely art-nouveau illustrations while older ones will want to hear the peaceful story over and over. My 5 and 7 year-old frequently ask for this book!

Waldorf families will appreciate the “cycle of nature” theme.

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By Mom Unplugged, July 15, 2007 10:36 am

This is a book that can be read on many different levels.

You could take the tale literally and say that it is about the life-cycle of an acorn. Or you could take a more metaphysical view and say that the book teaches how we are all part of one another, all made up of the same “stuff”…we are all one with nature and each other. Maybe this is a tale of letting go of fears and realizing how far you can go. You could even say the story is a life and death metaphor.

Whatever you choose to see in this lovely book, your kids will see a beautiful, comforting story, vividly illustrated, of a single little acorn and all it becomes…even after death.

Comments (4)

By Mom Unplugged, June 21, 2007 6:59 am

I am always on the look-out for good books of activities that I don’t have time to do with my kids. One day…when the baby is a little older…not that I am wishing her precious babyhood away! But, I digress.

I stumbled upon this one at Amazon and I really like it! It is Earthways: Simple Environmental Activities for Young Children by Carol Petrash. Here is a quote from the back cover: “This book is “filled with hands-on nature crafts and seasonal activities to enhance environmental awareness. The activities are carefully written and beautifully illustrated. Children play with the elements of earth, air, and water. They develop a respect for nature, for the earth and for all living creatures. they experience the awe and wonder of the world around them.”

While this may be quite an ambitious description of the book, I can tell you from a Mom’s (rather than a publisher’s) perspective, that it is a really cool book. Will it instantly turn my children into little green protectors of Mother Earth? Maybe not. But I do firmly believe that the more children learn about nature, the more respect they will have for it. Teaching children early on to appreciate the beauty of life and nature can only help the planet in the long run.

One of the things I really like about this book, and what sets it apart from other similar books that I have seen, is that the chapters are organized by season. Plus, each season has subsections: The Whole Earth Home and Classroom, Bringing Nature In: The Season’s Garden, Bringing Nature In: Seasonal Crafts, and Supplying the Missing Links. This makes it easy to find projects that are seasonally appropriate.

The “Supplying the Missing Links” idea is another feature which sets this book apart from other “nature crafts” books. The introduction describes this as providing “activities that will allow the children to connect a product which they often use and usually purchase in a store with the source and process from which it comes. The aim is that they will then have a subtle understanding of their strong connections with and dependence on the Earth and an experience of making things for themselves.”

I love this concept! My children are always asking me where things come from, and these projects can actually teach them a little bit about some of it. One of the more ambitious projects in this category is: “From Wheat to Bread” (no, Mom doesn’t go to Safeway for a bag of flour, the kids thresh and grind wheat themselves, then bake their homemade flour into bread).

Wow! I thought I was being “crunchy-frontier-mom” when I, on very rare occasion, bake bread from scratch without my machine. Now the bar is raised! If we do this experiment (not that wheat on the stalk will be easy to come by where I live - especially for a non A-lister like me), will the kids expect me to make my own flour every time I feel domestic enough to make bread? Hmm…could be a dangerous precedent to set, but cool idea nonetheless!

There is a similar project with Indian Corn (we can probably get that here): string necklaces of corn kernels, grind the corn and make corn bread, use the husks to make corn husk dolls, then grate the cobs to make a corn cob powder for play cooking. How about learning about wool, apples, pumpkins, and butter?

If you don’t have the time or ambition to make your own flour, then you will be happy to find other, more manageable projects here too. Some examples: FALL - leaf banners, leaf crowns, nature’s people, lanterns. WINTER - pine cone bird feeders, tissue paper transparencies, finger knitting, yarn dolls. SPRING - wind wands, pinwheels, kites, dish gardens, pressed flower cards. SUMMER - shooting star streamer balls, walnut boats, butterfly crowns, parachute people, paper birds.

I really love this book. Anyone who wants to unplug their children and tune them into nature needs this book. I know that any Waldorf or homeschooling family would love it too. Please check it out, I think you will be pleased!