Mama Lisa's Books

People in Bermuda Fly Homemade Kites on Good Friday

On Good Friday, two days before Easter Sunday, people of all ages in Bermuda fly their own homemade kites. It symbolizes the ascension of Jesus into heaven. The kites are made using flat sticks, glue, string and different colors of tissue paper. The shape of the kites are usually hexagonal, [...]

New Recordings of Some American Songs

Heather was nice enough to send me a few recordings of some American children's songs that she did. She sent me mp3's of the following songs: I'm Popeye the Sailor Man (Spoof) Don't Put Your Trash in My Backyard/Fish and Chips and Vinegar Animal Fair Home on the Range/Oh Give Me a Home (the [...]

Symbolic Foods Eaten Around the World for New Years

In many parts of the world, the foods eaten on New Years Eve and New Years Day have important symbolic meanings. These symbols seem to fall into several major categories. The first class symbolizes financial prosperity. This type of food is round like coins. Often, the dish will be round beans, [...]

Can Anyone Help with a Cuban Rhyme/Finger Play that starts with “Chiquitica así”?

Jeannie Backer wrote to us for help with a Cuban Finger Play. Here's her note... My mother from Cuba used to sing a song/rhyme to usthat I only partially remember, maybe you have heard something similar. It's not a song as much as a cute thing that a child says to adult to ask for

The [...]

About the Song “Cooma Lotta Veesay”

We received the note below with the song “Cooma Lotta Veesay”. Many variations of this song exist, including “Kumala Vista”. It also shares lyrics with the action song called “Flee, Fly, Flo“. Here's the email: “In the late 1950s, we lived near a [...]

Does anyone know this version of Catalina Matelina?

Dennis Lytle wrote to us asking for information about a rhyme: “Any info on the rhyme my parents taught us would be appreciated... I tell you bout vat girl of mine vat looks so sveet and dress so fine, vat come from Dootchland on the Rhine a couple of veeks ago. Her eyes are blue [...]

Make a Dragon Card for The Chinese New Year

The Chinese New Year is on February 10th this year. It's the year of the Dragon! The dragon symbolizes power, nobility and ambition. Since dragons are so cool, I decided to make homemade cards featuring them. Fortunately, there's a free tutorial online showing how to draw one. You can purchase [...]

Most Popular Christmas Cookies by State in the USA

Google Trends has released a map of the Christmas cookies most searched for by state. It's interesting how popular Italian Christmas cookies are along the east coast. There's more variety in the westward states. Though interestingly, and perhaps unsurprisingly, the favorite cookies in New Mexico [...]

Some Riddles in French and English

Here are some French riddles with English versions that were shared by Monique in France. Answers can be found by scrolling down... 1. For me, yesterday comes after today, what am I? In French: Pour moi, hier vient aprs aujourd'hui, que suis-je? 2. What can you catch and never throw? In French: [...]