Featured books

Featured Websites

.: Reader Views Kids

Provides book reviews, by kids, for kids

.: Inside Scoop Live

Provides live author interviews for podcast

.: Authors Access

Provides interviews with experts in the publishing industry

.: Midwest Book Review

Provides post-publication reviews

.: Reader Views

Provides book reviews and author publicity

.: LR Communication Design

Provides professional website design and development

.: Blogging Authors

Provides a place where writers and readers meet

.: Review The Book

Provides 5 books reviews on 10 different sites

.: Best Sellers World

Provides book reviews and author features

.: Feathered Quill Book Reviews

Provides book reviews and author features

reviews

Mommy, Draw Stars on My Tummy

Martine Groeneveld
PT Book Publishing (2009)
ISBN 9780982295908
Reviewed by Kam Aures for Rebeccasreads.com (11/09)

In the Introduction to “Mommy, Draw Stars on My Tummy,” author Martine Groeneveld tells us about the role positive touch plays in her family.  She had searched for books on the subject of combining touch with play but was unable to find any other than those about infant and child massage.  Therefore, she decided to write her own book on the topic.

Her work is divided up into four parts:  Rhymes, Games, Songs, and Stories.  All of the sections are fairly similar as each involves reciting or playing with your child and gives instructions for the accompanying positive touches for each activity.   At the end of the book, Groeneveld presents research studies supporting the theory that touch is beneficial to children.  Some of the benefits are that it stimulates brain development and improves cognitive performance

One of my children’s favorite activities is in the Rhyme section and is entitled “Five Little Caterpillars.”  To give you an example of how it works here is the text with the accompanying touches in parenthesis:  “Five little caterpillars crawling by my door. (Stroke with your whole hand down the back.) (Light stroke up.)  One walked away, (Walk with two fingers down the back.)  then there were four. (Light stroke up.)”  The rhyme continues on until the last caterpillar walks away.  Groeneveld offers variations to use for different age groups.  For instance, for two-year-olds you can let your child fill in some of the words and for four-year-olds you can encourage them say what number comes next. 

There are so many great activities in this book that I could go on and on with wonderful examples but I will let you discover them for yourself!  This truly is a fun book that will strengthen the parent-child bond and promote healthy child development.  I don’t think that there was even one activity in the entire work that my children did not enjoy.  In fact, they have wanted me to repeatedly do certain sections over and over and over.  “Mommy, Draw Stars on My Tummy” is definitely a hit in our house and I will be purchasing more copies to give as gifts!  I highly recommend this creative book!


.: Blog