Monday, February 6, 2023

Norbert: How Do We Love thee? Let Us Count the Ways...

Grandson Norbert turns two this week and what a fine boy he is. With those blue eyes, one dimple and an infectious laugh, Ed and I can't help but love him to pieces. And it's not just us. It's his mom and dad, big sister, other grandparents, aunts and uncles, teachers and friends. He loves well and is well loved, that's for sure. 

In celebration of his birthday, I wanted to create a board book that helps him learn to count, based on all the things he loves at Farm Dover. Ed offered to help with the writing, Jack and Kasia signed up to illustrate it and Mary volunteered to design the pages. So from Shelby County to Berlin to Brooklyn, we each offered our gifts to make Norbert one very special gift. 

It was a hit. 


Here are a couple of sample page from his book. 




One swing in a maple tree
Push me higher, higher Bee

Two funny greyhounds visiting from Red Hook
They like to come, run and look

Three woodpeckers feasting on the feeder
Way easier than pecking through the cedar

Four raccoons sneaking in the garden
without even asking for your pardon

Five killdeer eggs nesting on the drive
Won't be long 'til the little birds fly

Six tiny mice tucked in the straw
taking a nap, that's all

Seven coyote pups howling at the moonlight
They like to stay up all through the night

Eight wiggling worms breaking up the soil
They enjoy this kind of toil

Nine colorful vegetables and fruits
All the makings for yummy soups

Ten asparagus spears popped up overnight
Oh, what a delicious sight!

Eleven peas in a pod ready to eat
They're so fresh and taste so sweet

Twelve brown bunnies hopping down the trails
All you see are bobbing cotton tails

Thirteen honey bees pollinating flowers
All they need now are some showers

Fourteen juicy strawberries ready and ripe
We love to eat them day and night.

_________________

Counting at Farm Dover continues a series of books that we have made for Hazel and Norbert.




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