Mama Lisa's Books

Sheep Bones and Seashells were Toys in Iceland

Children in Iceland used to keep a little treasure chest called a vluskrn filled with leggur og skel, leg bones and seashells. The leg bones were usually from sheep. They were used to represent farm animals. Different bones stood for different animals. Calf bones represented horses, jaw [...]

Recipe for Icelandic Pancakes

Icelandic Pancakes are called Pnnukkur.  They're served for breakfast and also for special occasions. They're more like French crepes than thick American pancakes. These pancakes are mainly served two ways, either sprinkled with sugar and rolled up or covered in blueberry (or other [...]

Can Someone Help Translate an Icelandic Kids Song?

Nancy Bienski wrote me: Can anyone translate this Icelandic nursery song? Mér um hug og hjarta nú Mér um hug og hjarta nú hljómar sætir líða. Óma vorljóð óma þú út um grundir víða. Hljóma þar við [...]

The Origins of Some Scandinavian Finger and Toe Naming Rhymes

Julie and Beth wrote looking for the origins of two Scandinavian rhymes that are played with little kids while touching their toes. We're wondering if anyone's ever heard of these rhymes and perhaps knows what country they're from and/or anything else about their origins. Here's what Julie [...]

Mama Lisa's World News and Multimedia Features

A significant part of the Mama Lisa sites is a large collection of songs and nursery rhymes from around the world. We currently have about 750 songs from around 90 countries and cultures. When you consider how many languages there are in those cultures – that's a lot of information! In [...]

A New Nursery Rhyme from Iceland

I just received some nursery rhymes from Iceland. Since Iceland's not yet on Mama Lisa's World, I'll post one here now as a sneak preview. It's called My Little Sister Sigga. Here it is in Icelandic, followed by an English translation... Sigga litla systir mn (Icelandic) Sigga litla systir mn, [...]

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 [...]