Ickle Me Pickle Me Tickle Me Too

So, we've definitely learned that Emma likes being read to, especially fun sounds. In fact, I've discovered that I like reading to her. Even things that I wouldn't necessarily think of immediately for a baby can become perfect for reading. Like a few weeks ago I read her a chapter ("The Pinch Bug") from Tom Sawyer and we were both smiling all through. The other night I read her "The Congo" by Vachel Lindsay, which has all kinds of fun up and down rhythms ("Boomlay boomlay boomlay BOOM!"). And number one on her hit list so far:

"Ickle Me, Pickle Me, Tickle Me Too"

Ickle Me, Pickle Me, Tickle Me too,
Went for a ride in a flying shoe,
"Hooray!"
"What fun!"
"It's time we flew!"
Said Ickle Me, Pickle Me, Tickle Me too.

Ickle was captain,
Pickle was crew,
And Tickle served coffee
and mulligan stew
As higher
And higher
And higher they flew,
Ickle Me, Pickle Me, Tickle Me too.

Ickle Me, Pickle Me, Tickle Me too,
Over the sun and beyond the blue.
"Hold on!"
"Stay in!"
"I hope we do!"
Cried Ickle Me, Pickle Me, Tickle Me too.

Ickle Me, Pickle Me, Tickle Me too
Never returned to the world they knew,
And nobody knows what's happened to
Dear Ickle Me, Pickle Me, Tickle Me too.

Written by Shel Silverstein (1930-1999)

I think in this one it's that "oo" sound (shoe, flew, knew). Reminds us all of the scrunchy, stretchy, pursed lips face she used to make when she was tiny. Matt Huuuuuuuuuuughes!