A not-so-fishy story for your favorite toddler
‘Pop-Up Lefferts’ events
Caribbean Life, JULY 3-9, 2020 25
By Terri Schlichenmeyer
You can teach a bird to
sing along with your favorite
songs.
Dogs love to learn new
tricks, if you’ve got the
patience; cats, too, but that
might take longer. If you’ve
got a pet pony, you can do all
kinds of things together, and
even a gerbil or hamster is fun
to play with. If you’ve got an
aquarium, though, there’s not
a whole lot of snuggling going
on, and you can’t walk a guppy
or throw a ball for it. Still,
when people ask you why you
love your fish, you know the
answer. In “Bubble Kisses” by
Vanessa Williams, illustrated
by Tara Nicole Whitaker, you’ll
know you’re not alone.
Oh, how she loved her pet!
Other kids had dogs
that WOOFed and cats that
scratched. They had frogs and
guinea pigs or hamsters or
ponies. Other kids had regular
kinds of pets, but this little
girl had special pet: she had a
goldfish named Sal.
The thing was, Sal wasn’t
just a fish. She was a “pal.”
Now, you might think a fish
is not nearly as much fun as a
puppy or a kitten. You might
think that you can’t play with
a fish. A goldfish isn’t like a
bird or a deer that you watch
from your window but that
was okay. The girl and Sal
had fun, especially when they
played “lots of games together,”
although mostly pretend
ones.
But the biggest reason
she loved Sal, though, was
because Sal gave the girl “bubble
kisses as she swims… in
the water.” Sometimes in her
dreams, the little girl swam
like a mermaid with Sal, and
they visited other mermaids
for those “delicious” bubble
kisses. She thought it was sad
that from other “people’s lives
such things are missing,” but
she was lucky.
She had Sal, right by her
bedside. All night long…
There is one very important
thing parents need to know
about “Bubble Kisses,” and it’s
in two parts: as a book, this
is really a no-go. It’s repetitive
and not very interesting
to read. But as a book-withaccompanying
CD, it’s stellar
and your preschooler will
adore it.
Indeed, this book itself is
mostly a vehicle for author
Vanessa Williams’ song, which
follows the words in this book
identically — meaning, basically,
that when your child
requests it, you’ll be required
to read song lyrics aloud. So
many “bub-bub-bub-bub-bubble”
recitations might make
you want to call it a day and
head for the shower.
But then, breathe deep and
remember that you’re not a
two-year-old. Williams’ words
are perfect for silly-singing,
and the bouncy, light,
super-memorable song is one
your toddler will warble everywhere,
all the time. With
book-in-hand — and it’ll be in
their hands often — kids can
sing and follow along as you
both admire the adorable artwork
by Tara Nicole Whitaker.
Just beware that this isn’t a
one-and-done book. It’s going
to be repeatedly requested and
you might get an earworm
from it. Still, just one round of
“Bubble Kisses” and your toddler
to-preschooler will sing
its praises.
“Vanessa Williams
Presents Bubble Kisses”
by Vanessa Williams,
illustrated by Tara Nicole
Whitaker
c.2020, Sterling $17.95
/ $24.95
Canada 32 pages + CD
Book cover of “Vanessa Williams Presents Bubble Kisses”
by Vanessa Williams.
Prospect Park Alliance in announcing the
launch of Pop-Up Lefferts, which brings free family
programs focused on Brooklyn’s rich culture
and history, started virtually this June with its
second annual partnership with caribBEING, a
Flatbush-based cultural organization that builds
awareness and fosters Caribbean heritage, as part
of National Caribbean-American Heritage Month.
Virtual Pop-Up Lefferts: Caribbean Candle
Making
Sunday July 5, 2 pm
All ages, Free
Register: prospectpark.org/popup-lefferts
Relax and enjoy a guided candle-making class
with local maker Perry Boyce (Guyanese-American).
Participants will try their hand at every step
of the candle making process and create a custom
candle of their very own, and then join Boyce for a
moderated conversation about growing up in Flatbush,
her art and practice.
Virtual Pop-Up Lefferts: Stories from the Caribbean
Sunday July 12, 2 pm
All ages, Free
Register: prospectpark.org/popup-lefferts
Hear a selection of wise and witty Caribbean
stories, as told by beloved storyteller Tammy Hall,
then join us for a moderated conversation with
Hall about the inspiration for these stories.
Lefferts Historic House is an 18th-century
farmhouse that features a working garden, historic
artifacts, period rooms and exhibits. The museum
focuses on the lives of the people that lived and
worked on the land including the Lenape, Dutch
settlers and enslaved Africans. The museum is
jointly operated by Prospect Park Alliance and the
Historic House Trust of New York City. Prospect
Park Alliance will undertake the restoration of the
house, which will include capital improvements
— replacing the roof, restoring the exterior of the
building, and repairing paths and drainage surrounding
the house — as well as re-envisioning
the public programming to provide a living history
of Brooklyn from the 18th century to present day.
About caribBEING
Founded in 2012, caribBEING builds cultural
awareness and fosters Caribbean heritage through
Film + Art + Culture. This creative hub is a fullyintegrated,
award-winning group that has partnered
with Brooklyn Museum, the James Beard
Foundation and other cultural partners. Learn
more at caribbeing.com.
About Prospect Park Alliance
Prospect Park Alliance is the non-profit organization
that sustains, restores and advances Prospect
Park, Brooklyn’s Backyard, in partnership
with the City of New York. The Alliance provides
critical staff and resources that keep the Park
green and vibrant for the diverse communities that
call Brooklyn home. Learn more at prospectpark.
org.
About NewYork-Presbyterian
Brooklyn Methodist Hospital
NewYork-Presbyterian Brooklyn Methodist
Hospital has been providing outstanding medical
care to the surrounding communities for over
130 years. Located in Park Slope, Brooklyn, the
591-bed teaching hospital is affiliated with Weill
Cornell Medicine and provides specialized services
in advanced and minimally invasive surgery, neurosciences,
orthopedics, digestive and liver disorders,
and cancer and cardiac care. Learn more at
nyp.org/brooklyn.
‘Bubble Kisses’ author Vanessa Williams. Rod Spicer
/caribbeing.com
/popup-lefferts
/popup-lefferts
/brooklyn