A Letter Writing Campaign.

One of my new favorite things to do is watch Noggin's Little Bill for an hour in the afternoon, snuggling with Bean on my bed, either with the fan directed on us (when it's pretty hot outside) or with the air conditioner in my window rattling away (when it's so oppressive outside and I'm so grumpy and sweaty inside).

One of the new things that I dread, by the way, is the series of commercials Noggin is playing for The Fresh Beat Band, who were previously marketed as the Jumparounds. Jesus. Their perky dances and earnest lip-synching is more than I can take. I'm all, "No! Enough!" Their "show" begins in August and I've already had it with their retro colors that pop and their enormous, HAPPY smiles. Marley, of course, hops around with them.

Anyhow, Little Bill. That show is delightful. I love that little kid and his family. He's got a great giggle and is an accurate representation of a preschooler: he's curious about budding flowers, excited about baby bunnies, and grumpy about naptime. A recent episode featured Little Bill excited about the mail coming, then wishing he had gotten a letter of his own. So he drew a picture to send to his friend, and then talked about it at school and ended up getting a few letters. And that was it. Each show is chill and unhurried. His parents are so relaxed and supportive; they never raise their voices (which is pretty inaccurate, but calming and instructive). I totally have a thing for his dad, an animated, bald, black man. (I have also always loved Gordon on Sesame Street, as played by Roscoe Orman, so make of that what you will.)

So, inspired by Little Bill's postal treasure, Marley drew a series of pictures to send to her friends yesterday afternoon. We'll mail them off this afternoon and see what happens. Probably, the kids (ranging in ages from one to five) will open their letters and wonder what on earth they're looking at. Although she sometimes draws landscapes, like the spooky castle she made for Todd last weekend, or maps and carnival rides, Marley's in the middle of a serious abstract phase. I'm always saying, "Oooh. I like all the blue you used there!" And then adding, "Um, what is that?"