Animal Folktales: The Greedy Monkey

There are many variations of this folktale out there… but this is the version I remember. Stories tend to grow and change and evolve as they are told — that’s part of the wonder of the oral tradition. A hunter set out a simple trap: a glass bottle filled halfway with berries. Along came a slender, graceful crane and a shaggy, playful monkey. They saw the bottle of berries and both wanted some. “Let me use my long beak to get the berries,” Crane said. She reached into the bottle and carefully pinched a berry in the tip of her … Continue reading

More Viral Animal Emails: Heart Tuggers

Back in August I wrote about a certain type of email we all get: the forwards. You know what I’m talking about –the jokes and anecdotes that assure you they’re the funniest thing and you just have to read them. I probably delete 95% (if not more) of these without passing them on and making them even more “viral.” But some I just can’t resist sharing. Like now. Here’s some that tugged at my heart so much I not only forwarded them but felt the need to write about them. The Hippo and the Tortoise Remember the tsunami of 2004 … Continue reading

Curious George Tickle & Giggle Plush

I had been wanting to get my daughter a Curious George toy for the longest time. Nothing fancy — just a simple plush like the one I had when I was little. I found my old one recently, washed it, and gave it to her, but my mother had other ideas. She went out and bought my daughter the Curious George Tickle & Giggle Plush. Even though I sometimes miss the Curious Georges of old, I have to say that this George is definitely fun. This is a toy that makes my daughter laugh all of the time. The Curious … Continue reading