Lies, damned lies, and a small child
Baobao lied to me. She looked me right in the eye, and lied to me. And not just once. What to do, what to do …? Read more
books
That was the year that was: Reading 2021
Promises, promises …
In which Papa Zesser looks back at a remarkable year in reading to Baobao (and of Baobao “reading” to herself and, sometimes, us), and commits to reviewing 26 books in the very near future!
Will he really do it? Only time will tell! Read more …
Imply, infer or, What! Me worry? (Letter #043)
In which Papa Zesser finds an un-posted letter written back on July 29th, which looks at his daughter’s slow progress towards speaking — and her earlier long road towards walking — and doesn’t much worry about either.
Why not? you might ask. Well, simply put, it’s the other things she does so well, so remarkably well. Read more …
Cancel Yertle the Turtle! Cancel Dr. Seuss! (Letter #036)
Cancel Seuss’ Turtle!
In which Papa Zesser considers his daughter’s reaction to Dr. Suess’s supposed classic, Yertle the Turtle, that book’s relationship to the Passion of the Christ, and wonders how he could have gone so wrong.
Duck? A-muck! (Letter #035)
Introduction to Duck Amuck
In which Papa Zesser reports on two walks to a (semi) local duck pond connected to the Rideau Canal, and their connection to some of Baobao’s books.
Not only does Baobao use some of her books as menus, she also uses them — somehow — to make abstract connections to pictures in her books with elements in the real world.
Case in point: She was thrilled when we told her we would take advantage of the Good Friday holiday, to take her on a family walk to see … ducks! Duck! Duck! Duck!
Papa’s Diary – January 28, 2021
No means no!
I’m sure most of us have unpleasant (or worse) memories of aunts or uncles who insisted on smothering us with unwelcome hugs and kisses when we were small. And too many of us had parents who insisted that we not “be mean” to that relative.
Recently, Baobao has been, playfully, saying No! to me. What’s a Papa to do?
Bésébodé! (Letter #031)
As a bad year for most of us in North America comes to a close (but a year which, I have to confess, was one of much joy for me personally) , I find myself posting a letter quite different from that I had hoped to write you on New Year’s Eve.
That was supposed to be a photo-rich retrospective, but I’m afraid it will have to wait. Meanwhile, I’ll reflect not on your general development but on a specific part of it. Namely, your penchant for correcting your parents’ mistakes.
Darling child, I dub thee Bésébodé!.
Review: Ne touche jamais un dinosaure!
In which Papa Zesser cuts his baby book reviewer’s teeth on a 12 page (counting covers) French-language picture-book. Can he keep the review as short as the book? Click the headline to find out!