Mommy, Draw Stars on My Tummy: Rhymes, Songs, and Touch-Play Activities to Stay Connected

Martine Groeneveld
PT Book Publishing (2009)
ISBN 9780982295908
Reviewed by Marcy Blesy for Reader Views (12/09)


“Mommy, Draw Stars on My Tummy” by Martine Groeneveld is a beautiful book.  Ms. Groeneveld uses her experience as a registered nurse and certified massage therapist to create an interactive book of rhymes, songs, and touch-play activities to help a parent bond with her child.
         
The book is divided into four sections:  rhymes, games, songs, and stories.  The activities are clearly stated in childlike verse or straightforward language with touch directions given clearly to the side in italics. 
      
Everything from the common known “Itsy Bitsy Spider” to original rhymes is included.  There are educational activities, too, such as “Animals, Letters, Numbers, and Word Painting” where the parent makes the stroke of a letter or number on the child’s back, and he must guess the number or letter.  Strokes are defined as to where on the body they should be used such as the back or arms in soft or firm touches and in which direction.
     
The author clearly states that sometimes children do not like the stimulation of touch and the child’s wishes should be honored.  The parent and child are also given flexibility to try what works best for the individual child and situation. 

I have older children now who barely have time for a hug, but for babies and young toddlers-preschoolers I think these activities would be quite fun.  I wish I had this book when my children were young.  I can imagine they would have asked to perform favored activities over and over.
       
What is also nice about this book is the research in the back that explains why touch is a basic human need and the benefits proper touch can have for a young child.  I found this statement particularly interesting:  “Cross-cultural studies have shown that Americans are some of the least tactile people in the world.  Could the solution to aggression and violence be right in our own hands?”
  
I highly recommend “Mommy, Draw Stars on My Tummy” both for Ms. Groeneveld’s activities and Mr. Brad Kunkle’s beautiful illustrations.  I will definitely be sharing this book with new parents. 

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