Sophia-isms

Here's a sampling of her quirkier words and phrases:

"Tataaaaaa, you?" (Tiger, where are you?)

"Triteee, aaaa you?" (Trixie, where are you?)

"Mummyyyyy, wear!" (Mommy, put on the tiger puppet!)

"Lalaaa, bird!" (Look, Lalaaa. A bird.)

"Kiati, kiati!" (Carry, carry!)

"Light op!" (Turn off the lights!)

"Tubby!" (Strawberry!)

"Diap, diap!" (Cloth, cloth) refers to her security blanket.

"Euuwww!" (1. literally, euuuwww. 2. oil)

"Coke!" (Cold)

"Mah me!" (Excuse me)

Library Book Jackets

Since I've been borrowing books incessantly from the library, I've noticed and liked the way the books jackets are bound/covered/protected. It's a polypropylene cover and done in a different way that I normally bind my books and also from how Kino binds theirs.

I thought I'd figured it out and bought a roll to bind my own books here. It wasn't until this morning that I inspected the library books closer that I realized the library actually uses special library jackets from the US to bind their books: Gaylord Brothers library supplies.

Great, so I guess my figuring out the 'technique' was actually off by a mile. It's not a technique; they actually use specially designed lined book jackets to protect their book collection. Bummer for me. I'm not gonna spend US$40-50 (not including shipping) for a box of 100 lined book jackets.

Hm, I wonder if I can get some off the library? Probably not, knowing how kiasu the Singaporeans are. Oh well....

What Was That?!

"Diu!"

What?!!

"Diiuu!!"

What?!! I'm sure I didn't teach her THAT swear word!

"Diu!"
(While she looks like she's trying to pull off the tail of her puppet tiger.)

"Oh, TAIL!!!"

Singapore Is More Book-Happening Than Malaysia

I rest my case. I've always thought that Singapore was always more in-the-know and happening as far as books are concerned. Well, even the National Library has Daniel Waters' Generation Dead while I got no hits when I checked on Kino KL's database. And Kino S'pore has Meg Cabot's sequel, Being Nikki already in its database and on the shelves even though it was just launched on May 5. Cinda Williams Chima; Kino KL? Nada. Adrienne Maria Vrettos? Negative. Francisco X. Stork? Nope. The library has all of them. It even has Julie Linker, which of course, Kino KL does not. They should seriously think about replacing the person stocking or merchandising their YA section.

Need I say I couldn't find even a hint of Maggie Stiefvater's Lament when I was looking for it in KL last year? It's there now but of course, in the hardback version and not the cool paperback version.

I hope someone updated their online database coz I couldn't find Percy Jackson & The Last Olympian on it and I'd just bought a copy from Kino S'pore yesterday. If they don't have The Last Olympian there yet, then they are TOTALLY UNCOOL.

Generation Dead: Kiss Of Life is launching on May 12. I can expect KL NOT to have it on the shelves. I'm just wondering if I'll be able to wait till the library here gets it into their collection. If I don't, then I'll have to buy Generation Dead from Kino S'pore too. Sigh. And there I was commending myself on keeping my book spending in check.

Shucks, what the hell am I gonna do with the RM200 Kino KL gift voucher my sis got me for my birthday?!

The World Is Sophie's Sticker Book

There are some awesome sticker books out there and Sophia has quite a few of them. Some of the stickers are so pretty that I couldn't bear her sticking them on just any piece of paper, only to be thrown out once she's done with them. And I don't have any special mounting boards for her to display them on.

So I improvised.

So far, her farm animal stickers are all over Jack Prelutsky's My Dog May Be A Genius, quite fitting actually, since it's a book of Prelutsky's wacky poems. Seriously, the animals are dotted all over the front and back cover as well as the inside sleeves.

Her other, real-life looking stickers can be found on the inside of Alison Goodman's Dragoneye Reborn and most recently, Gayle Forman's If I Stay. How do you bring yourself to chuck away perfectly beautiful stickers of purple orchids, luscious red strawberries and jet-black cats?

You stick them on the insides of your book.

Books Bought

1. Percy Jackson & The Last Olympian - Rick Riordan
2. If I Stay - Gayle Forman
3. Recycle This Book: 100 Top Children's Book Authors Tell You How To Go Green

I Can Do It Myself, Thank You Very Much!

"Can Mommy help you with that?"

"No, no, no!"

"Why not?"

"NO!"

"How about this one?"

"Dowan!"

Library Haul

1. Eternal - Cynthia Leitich Smith
2. Airhead - Meg Cabot
3. Beige - Cecil Castellucci
4. Black Pearls: A Faerie Strand - Louise Hawes
5. Generation Dead - Daniel Waters
6. How To Ditch Your Fairy - Justine Larbalestier
7. Stop Me If You've Heard This One Before - David Yoo

Generous

I've been telling Jona to make sure that Sophia asks nicely whenever she wants something. The little monster is prone to demands.

"Put in!"

"Dowan!"

"Eat, eat!"

You get the picture.

Anyway, we've been consistently instructing her on her Ps & Qs and it's been paying off.

Occasionally, the little monster surprises us with a glimpse of her generosity, like today when Jona was sitting with her while she was eating some fries we doggy-bagged from the zoo. In the midst of eating her fries, she picks one up and offers it to Jona, quipping, "Jona, for you."

Needless to say, Jona was not only floored but thoroughly touched.

The kid can charm.

Strung Sentences

While in the stroller after a stint at the zoo's water park:

"Sophia eat rice cake."

Jona and I look at each other in amazement (she's pushing the stroller and I'm next to her; dad's walking in the front, as usual).

"OK, hang on Sophie; Mommy'll get your rice cake."

Wow.