Sardines – A Hide and Seek Game

Sardines is a reverse version of the normal Hide and Seek game. The kid who is “It” hides while all of the other children count to 25 or 50. When they finish counting they all go looking for the one who is “It”. Anyone who finds the kid who’s “It” squeezes into his hiding... Read more »

Remember Bazooka Gum?

When I ask if you remember Bazooka gum, I mean do you remember the whole experience of it? Do you remember going to the stationary store as a young kid and buying it? It was the one thing you could always afford. I think it cost 3 cents a piece (it was a... Read more »

The Mystery Ship at Ground Zero and the Tradition of Coins being Good Luck

Last month a ship from the 1700’s was found in the Ground Zero construction site in New York. The ship was probably sunk at the site in an effort to extend the land in Manhattan in the early 19th century. It’s called The Mystery Ship and it’s now being studied at a lab... Read more »

Please Share Your Version of “I Had a Little Mule, His Name Was Jack”

There seem to be different versions of “I Had a Little Mule”. I’d love to learn more of them! Here are the first two lines which seem to be in most versions… I had a little mule, his name was Jack. I rode his tail to save his back. Here’s the version from The Journal... Read more »

Cluck Old Hen an Appalachian Folk Song with a Video

Here’s a cool song from the South with a video and lyrics… My old hen’s a good old hen She lay eggs for railroad men Sometimes eight, sometimes ten She lay eggs for railroad men. Cluck old hen, cluck and squall Ain’t laid an egg since late last fall. Cluck old hen, cluck and sing Ain’t laid an egg since late last spring. My... Read more »

Never Give a Floppy-Dead-Fish Handshake!

My grandfather taught me a long time ago as a kid to always give a firm handshake. Thinking back, it’s a bit surprising. He was born in the early 1900’s. He was quite conservative. Yet he taught his young granddaughter to never ever give what I call a floppy-dead-fish handshake.... Read more »

Does Anyone Know a Funny French Poem?

Someone wrote on our Facebook Group, “Bonjour! May I know a poem that’s really funny for kids in French?” I asked Monique in France who used to teach 1st grade and she responded: It depends on the age of the kids and I’m not really sure that what French people find funny will sound funny to other... Read more »

Video of an Iraqi Musician Playing the Oud

Here’s a video of Rahim AlHaj from Iraq playing a musical instrument called the Oud. The Oud is a string instrument that’s pear shaped. It’s used in Middle Eastern music. Enjoy! Mama Lisa Read more »

Multilingual Fairy Tale Recordings

Librivox just released another bunch of recordings of fairy tales in various languages, including Hungarian, Russian, German, English, Italian and Portuguese (with links to the text of each tale). This is the 3rd collection they’ve posted. Fairy Tale Collection #1 also includes recordings in Latvian, Danish, Romanian, Yiddish and French. You can also... Read more »

Can Anyone Help with a Hungarian Lullaby?

Andrew Gaspar wrote to me asking for help with the lyrics to a lullaby from Hungary: Dear Lisa I too am looking for a Hungarian Lullaby. I have written the words as well as I remember them in Hungarian and English below. Can you please help me find the correct version? Thank you very much Andrew Gaspar (Gáspár... Read more »