Your Little Summer Reader: The Adventures of NooNoo

Chapter One

NooNoo had at least seven names when she was born in addition to the ones that appear on her birth certificate.

The other six and then some in no particular order were given to her by various members of the family because they simply were inclined to do this and also because it had been a family tradition for as long as anyone could remember: Nucci, Navahnoo, Navahnoonoo, Lil’Bean, Navy Bean, Navel and of course “The Nootch.”. Her real, given first name incidentally was “Navah,” and on occasion “Navah Bea,” but it was tacitly decided for reasons unbeknownst to anyone that this appellation might not be used with any frequency until she was more grown up, or grew into it as it were, at which time no doubt other nicknames, offshoots and terms of endearment would emerge, “Vivi” being a favorite frontrunner of her maternal grandmother. Two additional possibilities were Navalah and Navacita, although Navahnootchka and Navootchka surfaced one day, as Navah’s mother apparently was a great fan of Garbo.

NooNoo’s father was determined to teach her at least twenty-seven languages, and so this panoply of exotic monikers fit nicely into the family tableau, simultaneous translations and immersion methodologies to which she was privy on a daily basis. Ironically, since all this started from the time she was just a wee infant, in the beginning all NooNoo could answer in response to the ubiquitous and amazing pologlot chatter was a pure though intensely concentrated version of the sound “uh” in all its various incarnations-  a madcap series of staccato “uhs” and “ahs” and “oohs” uttered with a heavy baby inflection. Nonetheless, she seemed surprised that she could emit even this one syllable at the age of just a fraction over a month and possibly pleased too, though she did play it pretty close to the diaper at that point as babies often do.

When not attempting to improvise on the magical “uh” sound she had discovered- dare I say precociously!- one day while energetically exercising her arms and legs (and in answer to all the conversation going on around her), NooNoo aka Navahpooch became content simply to enjoy the barrage of unabashed, love struck baby babble being recited by a devoted assortment of blubbering companions and earnest diaper changers. Then with all the happy singsong cadences and made up words and sounds of extreme silliness presenting themselves to her little ear from any larger human near enough to hold, cuddle and shamelessly coo at her, she had an important realization: these blubbering, funny, idiotic beings leaning into the crib and hoisting her gently into the air in truth were great fun to hang with!