A monkey scarf. Not just a regular-old flat scarf with a monkey image on it, this is a furry, stole-like monkey with arms, legs, and a cute little face. And it happens to be the softest thing you've ever felt in your whole life. (Not that I steal it to cuddle with during nap-time or anything, ahem.)
And two books: The Quiet Book and The Loud Book both written by Deborah Underwood and illustrated by Renata Liwska. They are simple in format, but so clever and complex in both evocative emotion and illustration. I really love them.
My daughter is too young to love them, or so I thought after the first few attempts at reading them. But then one day she asked for them. Now she often asks for them. She whispers while we read the quiet book and shouts while we read the loud book. (Might I suggest that if you are using them near bedtime, start with the Loud Book and work your way quieter and quieter as you move through and to the quiet book.)
Each scene really captures a feeling and a sound. I know they will take on more and more meaning for my daughter as she has more life experiences, so I imagine older children would still love these books. And what a fun activity to try to come up with your own quiets and louds.
The book is good at avoiding the common, expected ones... so I really had to think hard to come up with some quiets and louds that are meaningful to us right now. But so you get a feel for the book, here are a few quiets and louds from our lives:
-- Hugging your favorite stuffed animal quiet.
-- Buckle in and color quiet. (That's what we call sitting in her highchair, "buckle in" but it also extends to car seats shopping carts and strollers)
-- Dance to Zangalewa loud. (Next time you need a dance party, grab some noisy shaker and go to that link)
-- Being loud just to practice being loud loud.
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