Mama Lisa's Books

Learn 40 Languages for Free on the Internet

Open Culture has a page of free language learning links covering 40 languages. Here are some of the languages you can find links for... Arabic, English, Chinese, French, Spanish, Bulgarian, Catalan, Danish, Dutch, Esperanto, Finnish, Gaelic, German, Hebrew, Hindi, Hungarian, Indonesian, Irish, [...]

Noche de paz – Silent Night in Spanish with an MP3 Recording

Noche de paz is the Spanish version of Silent Night. This Christmas Carol was originally written in German in 1816 by Joseph Mohr. It was called Stille Nacht. Below you can listen to Noche de paz, read the Spanish lyrics and then a literal English translation of the Spanish version. MP3 [...]

Jeringonza – A Spanish Word Game Like Pig Latin, with Portuguese and Italian Versions

Jeringonza (aka jerigonza) is played in Spain and throughout Latin America. It's also found in Portuguese speaking Brazil and even in Italy. It's a secret language for kids – just like the English word game Pig Latin. (I'm going to make all the changes to the words in bold below to help [...]

Only a Mother's Love – A Spanish Poem with an MP3 Recording

It's May, the month for Mothers Day around the world! Here's a Spanish poem called “Slo el Amor de Una Madre”. You'll find it below in the original Spanish, with an English translation and an MP3 recording of it being recited in Spanish... Slo el Amor de Una Madre Slo el amor de una [...]

De colores – All the Colors – Spanish Song about Springtime

I was inspired to post De colores now because of a drawing my daughter created the other day – it made me think of All the Colors! The song is a celebration of the colors of Spring! This song is originally from Spain. The first translation below was done to fit the tune, so you

The [...]

RIP Jorge Guerra (1942 – 2009) – Chilean Actor Beloved by Children

Gerardo wrote to me sharing the sad news about Jorge Guerra... Dear Lisa, The Pin Pon song was created in 1965 by Jorge Guerra a Chilean actor that also created the character of a boy doll. Jorge Guerra died yesterday February 6 at the age of 66 years. He was recognized for his contribution to [...]

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 [...]