Hooked on books? Visit Hook On Books!

Have you been to a place that stirs up those buried interest, passion and dreams and you leave the place feeling so happy and alive? 

The Foong Family visited 童言童语 (Hook On Books) a few weeks back and it is one of those places. It was especially so for Mama Esther (me!) who used to be a Chinese Teacher.

Personally, I find Chinese Language a very beautiful and Creative language. Think about it, which language's written characters were originated from how the object or scenario looks like? And how a portion of the character can tell you its material or the pronounciation? Just the word "carry" can be expressed in different degree in Chinese: 拿、提、扛、背、带、载、搬、抱、拎、抬！

Sadly, the Foong kids' level of Chinese language is not that great. Lack of exposure and environment to speak and limited time to practise (we only have our evenings as a dual income family) could be reasons (but cannot be convenient excuses).

Creating interest is important. With interest comes motivation and learning will be a joy. :) Saw this place on my NIE lecturer's Facebook and off we went!

What welcomed us at first sight are those big 卡通体 words! 童言童语！I felt as though I was in Taiwan!

“这是属于你的华文华语小天地…”

Before you enter, this beautiful board gives you the instruction how you can enjoy this space.

At Hook On Books, other than purchasing books and stationeries, you can also go to a little corner to take a read. The books here are donated by public and quite a big collection of different genres.

From top left: books for sale, starioneries and traditional games, surprise bags and recommended reads.

Even the toilet is nicely done with a soundtrack of birds chirping playing in the background.

If you thought that this is just a book shop, you are so wrong! You can handmake notebooks, cards and dried flower bouquets at a very reasonable price. :)

Notebooks

There are two sizes that you can opt for: 

A5 for $8.50

A4 for $9.90-10.90

You can choose the papers for the cover and inner pages. I especially like the inner pages: single lines, Chinese squares or calendar. 

The shop was very generous with the materials provided. Dried flowers, little wooden decorations and animal templates that the ladies cut out themselves!

A special mention of the ladies at the shop! They were patient and spoke very pleasantly. Nathan and Phoebe had a fun time just decorating and drawing!

Here are their beautiful end products that the ladies have bound together using strings and little brunches!

We were in the shop for a good 1.5hrs and we ended the session with a yummilicious fruit juice!

Here's the details of the shop! Don't say I bo-Jio! :)

Let's pop some corn!

POP POP POP!

When I was young, my mum used to pop corn kernels once in a Long while. We didn't have a pot with a transparent glass lid so each time, I would just stay near to hear the sound of the kernels popping and hitting the lid. The sound tickled me and it was always a very happy moment for me. 😆😆

Last night, I decided to make some popcorn with the kids and I found this confirm-won't-fail method that would make sure your popcorn comes out not burned and will be crispy!

And I'm gonna share it with you!!!!!

You need:

(1) corn kernels (cheap cheap from Sheng siong)

(2) canola oil (don't use olive oil, it burns too fast!)

(3) butter (I used salted butter to give some balance to the sweetness)

(4) icing sugar

Making the sweet but light coating

I used a microwave-safe container with lid that would be used to store the popcorn later because I don't want to wash so many things.

Melt some butter in the microwave and stir in the icing sugar until totally dissolved. I added a little bit of water to aide the dissolving process. 

Before

After

Now we are going to pop pop pop the kernels!

Step 1: Pour some canola oil in the deep pan on medium high heat

Step 2: Put in 3 kernels and wait for them to pop. 

The reason for this step is to Ensure the heat is just right for the actual popping.

Step 3: *important* Pour in the amount of kernels you wish to pop AND remove from heat and count 30 secs!

The kids and I counted together loudly and as we counted, the popping started! The kids went crazy, going into this all giggly mode!

Step 4: Return pot to medium heat and shake the pot here and there to trigger more popping. You could tilt the lid a little to let the air out so the popcorn will be even crispier and drier. 

Step 5: when the intervals between the popping drags out to a few seconds, remove from heat.

Step 6: Pour the popcorn into the coating mixture we prepared in the beginning and keep tossing until evenly coated!

You are done!

Look at these happy faces!

I had to stop the kids before they polished off the entire box!

You could make the session more meaningful by teaching about:

(1) POPCORN (when corn pops, it become pop-corn!)

(2) 爆米花

The popcorn indeed looks like a flower (although I was told there are the mushroom species and butterfly species and the kernel we used belong to the butterfly shaped popcorn, I cannot be confusing them by saying 爆米蝶！).

So 玉米🌽 ➡️爆炸💥➡️爆米 ➡️像花🌸🌼➡️爆米花🍿！

Alright, now it's your turn to try! Have fun!

Language game: Smack the Alphabets!

Last Friday we went to Phoebe's school for "Sharing and Learning" and we learnt a language game that we wanna share with all the parents!

Smack the alphabet!

Things to make:

(1) Alphabet Tiles with Velcro backing

(2) Individual Gloves

 

Phoebe's hand is small so we traced and cut out her palm from foam paper for thickness and added a piece of felt cloth so the Velcro can stick onto the palm.

How to play:

1) Lay the alphabet tiles facing down

 

2) Players take turns to smack a tile

 

3) based on the letter stuck on the glove, say a word starting with the letter (e.g. D- dog)

 

 

*You can increase the difficulty by setting criteria for each player. Phoebe could say any word starting with the letter but for Nathan, he has to say a word with at least two syllabi.

*You can also add in time limit (like 10seconds). If the player was not able to say the word before the time is up, he/she will not get to keep the tile.

4) Player with the most tiles wins!

Last night, after all the tiles had been picked up, we added one more task for Nathan. He had to make 3 words with the tiles he collected. 

 

 

Easy easy but lotsa fun! 🤗🤗

You could even start with arranging the alphabets and sing the ABC song before starting. 

Go try it out and share with us how we can create more ways to use this set of materials! :)

Follow us on instagram!

Papa Elvin: @elvinfoong

Mama Esther: @estherlaoshi

Facebook page: The Foong Family

Blessing For You! Diaper bag NOT! (Review)

Yup. I know you must be feeling surprised.

"Why is Esther still using bags from the famous diaper bag from Korea?"

"Nathan and Phoebe are already too old for all the milk bottles and food jars?"

"Why do you still need the insulated compartments?"

EXACTLY. I DO NOT NEED THOSE!

What many people do not know about the Korean brand BlessingForYou is that they don't just have diaper bags!

Psst... I used to own a BFY polka dot backpack when I gave birth to Phoebe. During the end of my maternity leave, our family decided to go Hong Kong for a short holiday. It was the BEST decision to abandon the shoulder sling maternity bag for a good backpack. My hands were free to carry the kids, to clean them up and even take photos, not having to worry about the bag falling off my shoulder! AND all the compartments were helpful in organising our things and it was really convenient. 

I received these bags last Friday, from thelittleonesinmylife (tlo.com.sg) who is the sole distributor of BlessingForYou bags in Singapore. I saw the prints and felt the texture of the bag and I knew it must be from BlessingForYou.

What I did not expect was I have received three bags and they are ALL NOT DIAPER BAGS!

 

(1) Shoulder sling bag *New Design*

Man.. I felt so privileged because this bag is not up on the Korean website yet and TLO has already brought them into Singapore for launch during the baby fair this weekend. AND I am one of the first few to own this. lalalalalalala...

 

 

I love love love this bag. 

 

What surprised me about this bag are:

(i) It is super light weight but yet the material is thick. 

I am someone who needs to drink quite a bit and with a big bottle of water in your bag (especially sling bags), it can be quite strenuous on the shoulder. This bag can take the weight of my bottle of water and yet it was not too heavy. The thick material feels hardy and strong enough to withstand wear and tear too!

(ii) Water proof material

It was raining at the later part of our visit to gardens by the bay that day. The contents inside the bag was dry and I witness the water droplets just sliding off the exterior of the bag. For whatever remaining, all I did was wipe them off with tissue and it was all dry and ready for use!

(iii) The short handles 

I like that I can wear my bag in different style and based on needs of the moment. Do you know how useful it is when you can hook your wrist on one short handle to grab your items in the bag? You got to try this action to appreciate the handles!

(iv) Details

Other than the 360 degrees free turning hook for the shoulder strap (means it will never be entangled), your zipper track will NEVER fray! It is literally a metal piece securing the end!

(2) Hessed Mommy Sling Pouch

Just the name alone is so beautiful because it sounds like the Hebrew word "Hesed"!

Do you know "Hesed" is the Hebrew word for lovingkindness? That just totally encapsulates what motherhood is about. :) (Fine, I like to link everything to lovey dovey things!)

 

 

When I saw this thin strap sling pouch, it reminds me a lot of the j*j*b* sling that I have. Difference is the material is a lot thicker, water-proof, more securing stitches and additional compartment on the outside. AND very importantly, half the retail price.

I like it also that it is tastefully designed and fashionable, despite having little doggies all over. 

 

The holding capacity is actually quite good. These are the things that went in!

 

(Big wallet, wet wipes, tissue pack, pouch with keys/lippie/medicine, Ribena sweets and my phone!)

Another use for this bag is to be my lunch hour bag! I really do not like holding a wallet, staff pass, tissue and handphone in my hand when I go for lunch with colleagues. So having this bag in my office is so useful!

 

(Here's me being challenged to take a quick shot in the middle of the road)

(3) Mono Backpack

 

You won't believe who this is for.

NATHAN FOONG!~

 

Nathan has a stuffed toy doggie that he hugs to sleep every night. And one of the doggie prints on the bag looks exactly like his doggie!

 

As mentioned earlier, this material for Blessing For You bags is lightweight, thick and water proof. It is not just suitable for diaper bags that hold one million things that the baby and mama need but also suitable as a school bag!

 

There are quite a number of compartments both inside and outside which is definitely helpful for young children to organise their things better.

What I like most is the soft air mesh material backing. Back will not feel warm with the air flow in between. The shoulder strap has a generous cushioned portion but lined with a slightly stiff fabric to prevent the straps from slipping off the shoulder.

 

The bag fits A4 size files and books comfortably too!

Awww... why my son so cute? WAIT. You need to stop growing up so fast!

 

In case you are wondering if there is only this one print, there are so many more! TLO.com.sg has shown me many more prints and I guarantee you that there is definitely one that you will like.

OK. NOW FOR THE MOST IMPORTANT PART OF THIS POST.

DISCOUNT! 😍

These bags (including the very useful diaper bags) will be launched during the Baby Fair @ EXPO from 7th to 9th April! There will be a 20% discount if you purchase on site from TLO.com.sg Booth A03!

Here are the prices BEFORE the discount

(1) Shoulder sling bag $50

(2) Hessed Mommy Sling Pouch $35

(3) Mono bag pack $105

Register your interest to attend the event on TLO.com.sg 's event page now~! TLO.com.sg BABY MARKET

If you are unable to go for the event, do not fret! You can also get it on TLO.com.sg BUT the bags will only be released in limited quantities every fortnightly.

I love my BlessingForYou bags!