Meet the Parents
And of course, The Ten-Year-Old Howell
Looking for a book for a child between the ages of 4 and 9?
Visit Caterpickles on Goodreads. There you will find all of the books we've reviewed over the years shelved according to the age at which my daughter read them.
Category Archives: Technology
What’s The Ten-Year-Old reading this week?
Thing Explainer by Randall Munroe Being able to explain complicated ideas in simple terms is one of my favorite art forms. In Thing Explainer, Randall Munroe sets out to explain how complicated stuff like the microwave (food-heating radio boxes), the International Space Station … Continue reading
Posted in Reading, Reviews: Books, Science, Technology, What the 9YO is reading
Tagged Randall Munroe, Thing Explainer
Leave a comment
Just another weekend at Caterpickles Central
Mommyo, frustrated while waiting for Daddyo’s iPad to download a dragon game for The (then) Seven-Year-Old: “Wow, is Daddyo’s iPad always this slow?” The (then) Seven-Year-Old: “No. It’s just slow on Saturdays. It takes the day off.” Related Links: Google … Continue reading
The Seven-Year-Old has had it with the iPad
The Seven-Year-Old, disgustedly: “I was going to use Daddyo’s iPad to do some reading. But it’s slower than a snail. A snail could get from the center of Paris to 5 inches from the center of Paris before that thing … Continue reading
“How do imaginary time machines work?”
Um… With your imagination? Any one got a better answer for The Five-Year-Old? She doesn’t like mine. Related Articles: Time Machine project for a child’s birthday (Kidlink.org) The Time Machine, by HG Wells (Wikipedia) Tardis (Wikipedia) Dr Who Tardis Schematic … Continue reading
Posted in Funny Stuff My Daughter Says, Technology
Tagged imagination, TARDIS, time machines
5 Comments
“Did some of the Victorian-time people use duct tape?”
After presenting me with a Victorian necklace crafted of the finest rainbow-splattered duct tape and yellow construction paper, The Five-Year-Old was naturally concerned about the authenticity of her work. “Mommyo, did the Victorian-time people use duct tape?” I didn’t know … Continue reading
Posted in Ask the iPhone, Technology
Tagged duck tape, duct tape, Queen Victoria, when was duct tape invented
3 Comments
“What does a new-fashioned gas mask look like?”
Several months ago, The Five-Year-Old and I were reading Stephen and Lucy Hawking’s children’s book George’s Secret Key to the Universe when we came across a picture of Dr. Reaper wearing an old-fashioned gas mask sort of like the one … Continue reading
Posted in Ask the iPhone, Technology
Tagged gas masks, science, Stephen Hawking, technology
3 Comments
Google vs. Siri
Mommyo, after yet another incident in which Google has accurately guessed what she wants to search for after she’s typed only three letters in her mobile browser: “Google is amazing.” The Five-Year-Old, authoritatively: “It’s not as amazing as Siri. Siri … Continue reading
It’s the Sound Stupid, and Other News of the Week
Just a quick set of links this morning as The Four-Year-Old is headed to the kitchen to begin her morning science experiment with or without me. So far she’s collected some sugar and salt. Personally I’m hoping she’ll add a … Continue reading
Posted in Science, Technology
Tagged birds, chameleons, Fordham Institute, science roundup, Space Shuttle, Stonehenge
Leave a comment
“How do they make cooking oil?”
Fun in the kitchen week continues with a look at another ingredient in homemade play-doh: Cooking oil. There are lots and lots of kinds of oils in the kitchen, each with their own fascinating manufacturing account, I’m sure, but for … Continue reading
Posted in Ask the iPhone, Technology
Tagged cooking oil, cooking with kids, how is vegetable oil made
Leave a comment
In which The Four-Year-Old uses Siri to send her first text
For those of you who have not yet met Siri, it’s a voice recognition application that you can use to operate the latest generation of iPhones. In this case, The Four-Year-Old commandeered her father’s iPhone and said something to it … Continue reading
Michael Howell
Shala Howell
