Emily the Chickadee

Carol Zelaya; Illustrations by Kristin Metcalf
Richlee Publishing

This is a three part series of true stories based on the author's own backyard experiences. She wrote these books after watching a very special chickadee who built nests in the most interesting places.

Each book is a natural progression in the life of a black-capped chickadee, as told from a young girl's point of view. We are introduced to Emily the chickadee in the first book, and learn about her nesting habits as she welcomes her new family. The second book teaches us how humans can help provide birds with life essentials, which is a great lesson for children to learn. The third book details when the author moved ... and along followed Emily!

These are simple stories with sweet illustrations. The rhyming verse in the first book is irritating with every sentence ending with same sound (me, be, tree, chickadee) but thankfully the author moves past this for the next two books. Emily and her caretaker are depicted in true to life, brightly colored drawings.

It's wonderful that the author is so appreciative of her own backyard that she was inspired to create these stories. These books can open a child's eyes to a whole new world right outside their window. The last page in each book is My Chickadee Log, which provides readers an opportunity to keep track of their own chickadee sightings.




1. Emily Waits For Her Family
2. Caring For Emily's Family
3. Emily's New Home

Fireman Sam Saves the Day

HIT Entertainment
$14.98

Everyone's favorite firefighter is back with five great new episodes! As usual, Fireman Sam and his trusty crew have their hands full helping the citizens of Pontypandy. I find it surprising that this is the only firefighter themed children's show on the air today. Aren't scads of little boys fascinated with fire trucks and rescue? With such a limited selection, we should be glad Fireman Sam is so entertaining!

There are several aspects that make this series particularly appealing. There's a great foreign humor (this is a Welsh production) alive here that is very different from our typical U.S. cartoons. The characters are all lovable (and troublesome) small town people with lovable personalities and funny catchphrases that never fail to deliver some action.

No job is too big or too small for these brave firefighters. Sam and the rest of the firefighters help out by teaching the local kids about camping safety and helping a friend in need who cannot swim. Of course, troublesome Norman creates creates some trouble by trying to show off. While trying to rescue Rosa the Cat Rosa from the tree, Norman winds up getting stuck alongside her, and the fire brigade has to rescue them both.

Episodes: Fields of Fire; Norman's Invisible Friend; High Jinx; Pizza Palaver; Firefighter of Tomorrow. Bonus episode: Roary the Racing Car - Roary Takes Off!

Run time: 50 minutes
Release date: January 13, 2009

The Food Nanny Rescues Dinner

Liz Edmunds
Palmer/Pletsch

Liz Edmunds has raised seven children and credits a consistent dinner time as an integral part of keeping her family connected. Dubbed the Food Nanny, her main goal is to help other families find their way to the same success at mealtimes. This entails providing menus and proven recipes, assisting with food budgets, as well as offering advice on organizing pantries and stocking up on kitchen supplies. She is committed to giving families the help they need to make dinner time a priority.

Liz believes that the key to putting a great dinner on the table night after night is meal planning. Did you know that the biggest obstacle to most home cooks is deciding what to prepare? Narrow the focus and make the decisions easier by assigning each night of the week a theme. Liz has been using the following schedule for nearly thirty years! Accordingly, the recipes in the book are organized by these groups and color coded for ease.

Monday: Comfort Food

Tuesday: Italian Night
Wednesday: Fish & Meatless
Thursday: Mexican Night
Friday: Pizza Night
Saturday: Grill Night
Sunday: Family Traditions

The Food Nanny's concept is simple: map out meal schedules for two weeks at a time. For guidance, see her sample two week dinner plan here. Using the categories provided, select recipes for each night of the week. Write down your choices. Make a grocery list and go shopping. Stick to it. It really is that easy. Being prepared is half the battle, and having the right tools is essential!

This book was created as a meal planning tool that everyone can use to create healthy and affordable dinners for their families. You will discover this is an excellent collection of recipes that are practical, but definitely not dull. A wide range of recipes are presented here, including side dishes, desserts and snacks. You will certainly find plenty of dishes that will fit your family's tastes and make dinner times a breeze.

Click here to see the title of every single recipe in the book, as organized by group. Printable two-week blank menu plans here. Printable blank grocery lists here. Let the Food Nanny rescue your family!

Shoelace Lock

Shoelace Lock.com
$6.99 for two pair

Have you ever received a product that lives up perfectly to your expectations? When it arrives, it looks like the photo and most importantly, works exactly as promised? Introducing the Shoelace Lock, a simple clipping system that eliminates the need for shoe tying. This is a wonderful solution for young children, older folks, or people with special needs.

The Shoelace Lock is accompanied by clear, detailed instructions which are easy to follow. Lace up your shoes with the provided laces, slipping the ends into the Lacer as the instructions indicate. The Lacer is a two piece plastic clip that will now take the place of tying your shoes. The neat part is this design allows for a nice bow, which makes it appear as if your shoes are tied. Once properly installed, just unclip the Lacer to relax the bow and remove your shoes. The shoelaces are firmly gripped by the Lacer and cannot slide off.

I am so impressed by this product. It seems like a simple idea and yet a brilliant solution to a specific problem. For people who are physically unable to tie shoes, $6.99 buys a lot of freedom. They are able to adapt any pair of shoes to their capabilities, rather than being forced them to wear velcro flapped shoes, or rely on others for help. The instructions are easy to follow and the product performs exactly as promised - 100% guaranteed.

Artichoke Boy

Scott Mickelson
Boyds Mills Press

If you are one of those people that judge a book by its cover (guilty as charged here) you would probably assume this is going to be a fairly odd book. It most certainly is. What would you expect from a book written entirely about artichokes? I also need to say that this book is fantastic. In addition to being strange, it also manages to be clever, humorous and downright delightful.

This is the story of Artichoke Boy, whose life was filled with artichoke joy. Each page contains just a single line of text describing one thing in this strange boy's life that is, you guessed it, made of artichokes. A wonderful full-page illustration supports each claim, so we get the inside view on his artichoke elbows and artichoke hair, an artichoke toothbrush and artichoke derriere!

I love that Scott Mickelson came up with this crazy idea, added some strange but wonderful illustrations and produced one heck of a children's book. It's a simple concept, but one that is completely and totally out of left field. The adults in our group were every bit as smitten with this book as the kids were. We laughed and laughed and wondered what exactly goes on in the author's head.

This is extremely clever and a wonderful departure from the ordinary. My absolute favorite type of children's book! This is Scott Mickelson's first picture book. We shall certainly look forward to seeing what other projects he has up his sleeve.

Barney Once Upon a Dino Tale

HIT Entertainment
$14.98

This old dog has learned some new tricks! In this disc, Barney steps outside the box and into a fairy wonderland. Instead of the usual playground format, Barney and his friends enter an enchanted world of classic fairy tales.

When Princess Rosey decides to host a party for her kingdom, she finds that she needs help finding the best fairy tales in the land. Of course, Barney and his friends can be counted on to lend a big purple hand! Barney is joined by BJ, Baby Bop and playground friends David and Tracy to show us how fun it can be to play make-believe. They perform their own interpretation of classic fairy tales we all know and love: Alice in Wonderland, Cinderella, The Lion and the Mouse, The Fisherman and His Wife, The Emperor's Contest and Princess Pumpernickel.

As always, Barney demonstrates the characteristics you want your children to learn are important: kindness to others, sharing, and creativity. There is something special about a character and program that have been around for twenty years, and continue to be one of the top rated programs today.

The DVD special feature is a sing-along jukebox that features thirteen terrific Barney tunes! Get ready for some karaoke fun, the big purple dinosaur way.

Run time: 52 minutes
Release date: January 6, 2009

Plant Secrets

Emily Goodman
Charlesbridge

This book offers a wonderfully insightful look into the life cycle of plants. We begin with seeds. If they receive the proper amounts of water, sun and air, they will grow into plants. Plants produce flowers, which in turn, create fruit. Inside each fruit is .... you guessed it - seeds!

The explanations are worded very simply, which makes this an ideal read for younger children. For each step, the same four common plants are used as the example, so we can "see" how they appear in each set of the process. And what a great way to learn this process! We watch as the seeds of rose, oak, pea and tomato progress from seeds that are difficult to distinguish into plants which vary greatly in appearance.

The explanations are accompanied by big, bold illustrations in vivid colors. The kids in our group had a great time identifying the flowers, fruits and leaves pictures on each page. Even if a reader is too young to truly grasp the plant cycle, he or she will still enjoy these beautiful drawings.

The plant cycle is a fascinating process, and this book offers a great introduction. The simple presentation and engaging photos make this book an ideal choice for any young gardener.

Available in both hardcover and paperback.

Ophelia

Ingrid & Dieter Schubert
Lemniscaat/Boyds Mills Press

Ophelia's friend Kevin is experiencing some discomfort. While Ophelia is rushing to soothe him, she runs into Meerkat, who then turns to Frog. As the friends meet, their misunderstanding of Kevin's problem continues to escalate! This is the forest version of the game "telephone," with each animal upping the ante by adding a new ailment.

A stomachache turns into terrible cramps with a sore throat, which leads to Kevin breaking his leg by falling out of a tree ... and so on. What began as butterflies in Kevin's tummy quickly snowballs into a deadly disease.

The children in our reading group were giggling wildly each time a new animal appeared on the scene, speculating what each fresh interpretation would be.The kids were energized by the ongoing action, their eyes wide with anticipation. It's wonderful finding a book that can grab the attention of an entire group.

Aside from being entertaining, this is also beautifully illustrated. Each animal is drawn to appear perfectly charming in his or her own way. Meerkat has somehow managed to lay his paws on a penguin shaped hot water bottle, which he tightly clutches for Kevin, while Frog lugs a teapot about.

This is a sweet read about a group of animals properly concerned about their friend and yet terribly misguided. And how does Kevin fare? It turns out his tummy trouble stemmed from being a bit nervous about being in love! All that fuss about .. well, love usually is a bit of a fuss, isn't it?

BOOST® Kid Essentials Drink

Nestlé Healthcare Nutrition

If you have a picky eater, you understand all too well the frustrations of the dinner table. Constantly bargaining and battling to get more food in, while worrying that your child is not getting the proper nutrients.

Good news from Nestle! Introducing a brand new child friendly drink that provides 25 essential vitamins and minerals, 7 grams of protein, plus key antioxidants. Even the straw is healthy, containing probiotics - live microorganisms containing potentially beneficial bacteria or yeasts - clinically shown to help strengthen immune systems.

Whew! That's the nutritional breakdown. Obviously an exceptionally healthy choice, but how do these taste? In a word - mmmmmm. Available in chocolate, strawberry or vanilla, these are sweet, with the texture of slightly thickened milk. They passed our stringent "picky kid" test with flying colors. Coincidentally, they also passed our less stringent "chocolate loving adult" test.

I'm quite sure that I am not the only mother who enjoys fooling my children with healthy foods disguised as treats. Part of my success must be credited to the fun, bright packaging (also very sturdy) and the fancy extendable straw. The net effect: very cool for kids.

Although we are excited about these because of Captain Picky, they would also be ideal for children who are struggling to gain weight or very active kids who just need that boost of extra nutrition to maintain their busy schedules.

These are readily available in most grocery & convenience stores, but if you have a problem finding them, call Nestlé Nutrition at 1-800-247-7893.

Not All Animals are Blue

Beatrice Boutignon
Kane/Miller

The format used here makes for an unusual book, albeit a pretty interesting one. Initially I wasn't quite sure what to make of it, but the response from our test group was unanimous. The kids absolutely loved it! Their response coupled with the fabulous illustrations completely won me over.

Each page (twenty pages total) has five animals pictured together with a unifying phrase, such as Five Monkeys Hanging Around. Directly opposite the photo page are five statements or comments, which describe each animal individually. Some of the statements are simplistic, while others require more thought. The reader's job? Why, to match each descriptive phrase to the animal it pertains to. And this is a very fun job, indeed! Here, give it a try with Five Friends Caught in the Rain:

Who hates to get wet?
He's blowing away!
Whose umbrella shines like the sun?
He likes to feel the raindrops on his face,
But he just like the puddles.

Subtitled A Big Book of Little Differences, this is an interactive book meant to spark discussion about colors, movement, attitude and accessories. At the turn of each page, the children in our group were scrutinizing the drawings, eagerly awaiting each statement to be read aloud. They loved examining the tiny details that set each animal apart from the group. In addition to being adorable, this book is also very clever, and certainly meets its goal of discussion through discovery. A sure winner!

NatureTech

Infinity Entertainment Group & Smithsonian Networks
$24.98

Every creature in nature requires energy. Biomimetics is the science of applying designs from nature to solve problems in engineering, materials science, medicine, and other fields. Scientists closely study plants and animals in nature in order to replicate their systems.

Thanks to Smithsonian Networks, we learn how a moth's eye has microscopic corrugations that reduce light reflection. The process was replicated in a lab and that technology is now being built into anti-glare screens on our equipment.

Termites use mud mixed with saliva to build colonies. Through careful tunnel placement, they are able to control humidity and temperature in their structures. Researchers dissect one of their mounds to learn exactly how it is constructed, so that we may use their techniques for our own needs.

This video does an awesome job of showing the detailed ways in which scientists study nature and then transform this knowledge into objects with true use in our world. Nature is full of amazing materials. It is fascinating to find how much we can learn and adapt from what already exists. See for yourself how sharks inspire swimsuits, fish become cars and airplanes take the shape of birds. It's amazing!

Nature can transform the way we live. Ten of millions of species exist, all of which have secrets to unlock. The diversity of life is humanity's greatest resource. Scientists are looking at nature for inspiration and finding the answers to modern problems in totally unexpected ways!

Smithsonian Channel has three clips from the series available to watch online here. Check it out for yourself!

Run time: 3 hours
Release date: January 13, 2009

Dot in Larryland - The Big Book of an Odd-Sized Friendship

Patricia Marx; Illustrated by Roz Chast
Bloomsbury Children's Books

Written by a former Saturday Night Live writer, this book is every bit as quirky as you might expect. In fact, Larry bears a moderate resemblance to Will Ferrell ....

Dot in Larryland is the story of a highly unlikely friendship. Actually, before that happens, it is first the story of two unusual but likable people. Dot is so teeny-tiny that she must be indexed on "The Chart of Tinies" just to be seen by the readers. Larry is taller than a two story house and chats with the clouds. The size difference between these two people is so vast - how can they possibly meet?

This book zips along on a crazy path, with bold colors and zany patterns. Made up words are common - zot, krot, flajillion, milli-micro, squintillion and glot all make an appearance. In addition to the written story line, the characters (including inanimate objects) also add their own comments via word bubbles.

I like that she also introduces some words you don't typically see in children's books, such as clambered, endeavor, greetings, kvetch and paramecium. The illustrations are almost cartoon like, drawn in varying sizes with bursts of color.

The end result of all this craziness is a fun book with a lot of action on every page. This book is guaranteed to be loved by children, and offers enough humor to keep most adults equally entertained.

Bob the Builder Race to the Finish

HIT Entertainment
$14.98

Bob is back! This busy builder always has a new project in the works and and this happens to be a very important one. Sunflower Valley will be hosting the Sunflower Valley Games ... if they had a proper sports stadium, that is. Bob and the Can-Do Crew step up to construct that brand new sports stadium from the ground up.

Building the new stadium is such a big job that Bob needs to add two new machines to his crew - Gripper the crane and Grabber the excavator. Both are from the city and have to learn how to put aside some of their big city ways to fit in with the others.

As always, Bob the Builder serves as an example that cooperation and teamwork are fundamental to getting the job done. The crew must sort out their problems in order to band together and work effectively as a group. Will they get the job done on time?

For parents, the key phrase here is "Never-before-seen-on-tv movie." This disc is not a compilation of Bob the Builder shows your kids may or may not have already seen. This is a fresh, guaranteed-to-hold-their-attention, hour long movie available exclusively on dvd. Yay for Bob and his new footage!

Release date: January 6, 2009
Run time: 60 minutes

Froggy Green

Anna Walker
Kane/Miller

This is a new breed of book appropriately dubbed "Toddler Tales." Measuring in at 8" x 8", these books are slightly larger than board books, but with much thinner pages. The durable pages are slightly glossy and easily wipe clean (yay for parents!). This format is ideal for children wanting to move past board books, but who are not quite ready for traditional picture books.

Froggy Green revolves around a subject that seems to be universally appealing to children - COLOR! Not everyone favors the same color, which is what makes the world so fun. The turn of each page reveals a child showing off his or her personal favorite. Lucy likes polka dot orange (as evidenced by her matching cat), while Milly's favorite is sunshine yellow. You'll have to read on to find who adores froggy green ...

The format is simple and very pleasing to the eye. The adorable illustrations are paired with short lines of text, which keeps the focus on the fabulous hues. This is a wonderful book that will easily capture a child's attention and have them noticing colors everywhere!

Visit Kane/Miller to browse the other titles in their wonderfully innovative Toddler Tales format.

Chenille Bibs

LuLusWoobies
$10

I am head over heels in love with these gorgeous chenille bibs! Handmade by Etsy seller LulusWoobies, these are truly one of a kind baby goodness. Are they not the most luscious things you have ever laid eyes on?

Available in several colors, each bib is sewn from super soft and absorbent ribbed cotton chenille, backed with cotton terry. A sweet pair of gorgeous frosted cupcakes is appliqued on the chenille front, with coordinating rickrack trim bringing up the bottom. A velcro closure safely secures the back. Sized to fit newborn up to two years. Dimensions: 8" wide, 12" from top to bottom.

We all know of the unspoken competition that accompanies every baby shower to be the guest who brings the most adorable gift. Show up with one of these beautifully wrapped goodies and you are unbeatable. And really, at this moderate price, a bib or two could easily be the tip of the iceberg to a larger basket of goodies.

Creator Tobie brazenly remarks "Perfect for the little birthday boy or girl! Great absorbent protection from yummy sloppy dessert or drippy fruit!" Yikes - these almost seem too beautiful for that treatment, but they are completely machine washable ...

LulusWoobies Etsy shop offers a dazzling array of handmade hats, bibs, burp cloths and blankets. She pairs cool designer prints with the softest fabrics and yarns. Her hope is that each item she creates will become the cherished treasure of someone small. Take a peek inside her shop to see if there is something special waiting there for your special someone.

If I Were You

Richard Hamilton; Illustrations by Babette Cole
Bloomsbury Children's Books

The front cover bills this book as "A Daddy-Daughter Story," but the fun certainly is not limited to just that audience. Many groups of people will certainly find the humor in a hairy-legged tutu clad man.

One night at bedtime, Daisy's dad uses the expression "If I were you ..." and it quickly snowballs into a wildly imaginative conversation. Daisy dreams up what she would do as the adult in charge. Her plans include eating sundaes for dinner, visiting the zoo and (at the top of her list) dressing her dad in a pink tutu and parading him around the neighborhood.

On the flip side, Daisy's dad imagines the fun he would have if their roles were reversed. Washing the dishes and making the beds would be replaced with watching television and bouncing on the beds. Sure there's the tutu, but zero responsibilities! Ah, to be a kid again.

The illustrations of what the two envision for each other are pure Babette Cole, who is never less than totally delightful. We especially love the orange house cat, whose sole purpose is to prance about on stubby legs looking chubby.

The clever drawings rolled up with rhyming text make for a rollicking good time. But best of all are the conversations this book will spark with young readers. What would they plan if they were in charge? And how would you behave as the child?

Eeboo Wall Cards

Sugarplum Dreams
$27

Alphabet wall cards from Eeboo are a terrific choice for the nursery, playroom or child's bedroom. These are especially wonderful because they serve a dual purpose - a unique decoration and a tool for learning the alphabet in a really fun way!

The cards are quite large - each one is 8" x 10". Because they are printed on nice thick card stock, it is not necessary to frame them prior to hanging. They look wonderful arranged as a border around the perimeter of a room, or placed more loosely in groups about the room. Whichever method you choose, the bright colors and whimsical drawings will add a special touch.

Not just for babies, children that are already familiar with the alphabet can also enjoy these. We have the animal parade set and our four year old is occupied with spelling out the words on each card. The animals range from the familiar to the unusual, all brightly colored and visually appealing.

A perfectly designed gift box contains twenty-six cards tied with a ribbon. They make a fabulous baby shower gift! Available from Sugarplum Dreams in three designs: Animal Parade, Flowers, and Read to Me. Which is your favorite?

While We Were Out

Ho Baek Lee
Kane/Miller

This is a wonderfully imaginative story about a pet rabbit who takes advantage of her family's absence. After they leave one afternoon, she slips inside to explore the apartment and experience the things she has longed to try.

The illustrations are absolutely hilarious - the rabbit enjoying a treat on the couch, applying lipstick, reading books and playing with toys. The activities are just so un-bunny-like and ridiculous that you can't help but laugh. She leans back on the couch, sitting just like a human would, with a bag of chips wedged between her paws.

Right before the family returns, the bunny slips back into her place, hoping to keep her visit a secret. But will she remain undetected? It seems as if she has inadvertently left behind a trail of evidence.

The very best part of this book is how it get the readers engaged in imagining the wild things that might happen in their own homes. Does the dog browse the cupboards and eat the best snacks? Does the hamster build block towers and conduct toy car races on the wood floors? The possibilities are endless ....