Reader Experiences
"Ms. Groeneveld's 'playful touching' guide offers parents and other caretakers a tender way of connecting with, and staying connected to, our most beloved treasures. She does much more than providing us with joyful songs, stories, rhymes and games. By coupling play and touch she provides us with a lifelong lesson in human interaction that ensures our children will feel loved. this is a delightfuk book that will leave you and your children smiling."
Paula Kashtan, McLean, VA (children ages 9, 6 and 2 years old)
"This unique and lovely book is filled with easy to use, well thought out methods of connecting with your child. The rhymes are sweet and fun for your kid to remember, and the opportunity to be in close contact and play together is so welcome as they grow older. As the mother of an energetic 2,5 year old boy, I have found that the methods offered for friendly, healthy touch are valuable in many ways. Some kids don't want to sit still and cuddle much. The chance to be close and pal around in a playful, safe way is wonderful."
Alexandra Jamieson, Brook lyn, NY (2 1/2 year old child)
"It is a great concept and a great book. We have been reading and doing the strokes every night at bedtime and wow has it improved our bedtime routine. My Olivia is tough sometimes at bed but she has been looking forward to our massage time. She settles down very quickly and falls asleep fast afterwards. We love it! I can't see how anyone wouldn't love it. I think it be a great gift too for new and old parents (like me)."
Sarah Ongiri, Bethlehem, PA (children ages 13, 5 and 22 months old)
"This book has a great set of rhymes and songs that are easy to remember. They are short, interactive sequences that provide opportunities to connect with your child through loving touch. We touch our children all the time but it is refreshing to have a playful book such as this guide us through touching with intention."
Lynn King, South Bend, IN (8 months old child)
"I LOVE this book. As a practicing massage therapist for nearly 20 years, I know what to do in terms of touching my children, but am sometimes too busy that I forget to use touch as a means of play. I also love to give massage books to expectant and new parents, but feel that the ones on the market are intimidating for people who do not practice massage for a living. Martine Groeneveld’s book, Mommy, Draw Stars on My Tummy, bridges the gap perfectly. It gives parents permission to have fun with touching their children. Her rhymes are easy to remember, and her tips are very helpful. My 3 year old daughter begs me to “do that song” (“Goodnight”) when I put her to bed at night now. This is definitely the book I will reach for when giving a gift to parents of young children."
Maury Stephan, Suwanee, GA (3 years old child)
"In these busy times, a lot of touch between my children and me is reduced to 'practical' gestures: picking the little one up when she is tired, cleaning a wound from a bike accident, applying sunscreen or helping with buckling up in the car seat. The only time touching gently without a purpose is before bedtime or when we find a few quit minutes during the day.
After the intense closeness of touch of the (extended) breastfeeding years, there seems to be a tactile void - that my children try to fill as best as they can: My son will come to me when I'm standing in the kitchen peeling vegetables, sucking his thumb and trying at all costs to stroke my leg or my back. Or my little daughter will go to the extend of hitting or pinching hard to engage me into touch.
It has been a joy to use this little book as guidance for improving our bonding and attachment; my children greatly enjoy having their favorite bedtime stories and songs enhanced with gentle strokes, and appreciate the playful quality time with one parent. For me, it has been very helpful to have a map on how to touch my little ones in a nourishing and relaxing way."
Christine Mangold, Malibu, CA (children ages 6 and 2 1/2 years old)
"This book is a starting point from which to create my own dramas, playtime and musical adventures. My (older) kids, who love to be tickled, cuddled and massaged despite my skill level, enjoyed it all, especially the songs and games asking for more and repeats. The only improvement on this book would be to make it longer with the inclusion of more rhymes, songs and stories."
Shannon Yee, Livonia, MI (children ages 4, 2 1/2 and 6 weeks)
"I liked the lay-out of the book very much - rhymes and verses in one column, and coordinating hand movements in the other column. In terms of content, I loved the fact that the rhymes are clever, non violent (think five little monkeys jumping on the bed, or Pop - goes the weasel...) and my favorite - and teach/reinforce concepts like counting, learning body parts, story telling, etc."
Grace Ting, Los Angeles, CA (18 months old child)
