Thomas & Friends: Hop on Board Songs and Stories

Lionsgate and HIT Entertainment
$14.98

This isn't your regular garden variety Thomas & Friends. This disc offers two classic Thomas & Friends stories and seven sing-a-long renditions! Also included is a bonus musical CD, so the kids can jam to their favorite Thomas tunes on their own.

Each sing-along song on the DVD features the lyrics on the screen, complete with bouncing steam cloud to keep the beat. When Thomas and his friends are hard at work, they enjoy listening to music and love to sing-along. Now you can offer the same experience to your children (minus the hard work). Kids will love being able to participate as the trains belt out their favorites.


The two traditional episodes are Peter Sam and the Refreshment Lady and Bulldog. Then get ready to sing-along to the Thomas’ Anthem, It's Great to Be an Engine, Gone Fishing, Let's Have a Race, Toby, The Island Song and He’s a Really Useful Engine. The accompanying music CD includes the last five songs.

The Thomas & Friends animated series is focused on teaching timeless life lessons of discovery, friendship and cooperation. Children are invited to enter a world of imagination through the tracks of a train and the words of a story. Get on board and start singing!

Itty Bitty

Candlewick Press
Cece Bell

Itty Bitty is just that - the tiniest little pup ever. He's so minute that he has trouble finding a place to call home. Even the smallest spaces seem cavernous to his tiny frame.

One day, Itty Bitty finds an enormous bone that would make the perfect hollowed out house for a little guy. After much nibbling and chewing, the discarded bone is transformed into a very satisfactory dwelling. There's just one little problem. The bone may be the perfect size, but it sure isn't cozy or warm - it's just plain empty.

Itty Bitty may be small, but he's an excellent problem solver. He immediately sets off in his walnut shell of a car (we said he was tiny!) directly to a great big department store. Once inside, he is dismayed to find everything of gigantic proportion ... until he spots the sign pointing to the Teeny Weeny Department. Itty Bitty is delighted to to find this particular department is filled to the brim with just the right sized furnishings!

Our pint sized friend buys himself a tiny table and a teeny-weeny rug. He finds a miniature patterned sofa and a infinitesimal polka-dotted lamp. Oh, this will be a very snazzy bone, indeed! Itty Bitty manages to pack all of this (don't ask me how) into his walnut car and scoots straight home. Voila, his eye for decor has transformed an empty bone into a magnificently warm and cozy home.


This book is every bit as cute as you imagine it would be. This is a smaller edition, but at 8 x 6, it's a good size and not too small like some books can be. The colors are bright and the details are engaging. I love Itty Bitty's home furnishing choices - the rainbow hued rug and daisy festooned sofa are so cheery. He makes himself a great home using his imagination and sharp teeth. Itty Bitty may be small in stature, but he's huge in charm!

Bob the Builder: Truck Teamwork

Lionsgate and HIT Entertainment
$14.98

Well, Bob has really upped the ante! With his newest DVD comes ... a neat toy truck tucked right in on top. This is pretty darn good thinking - offer the onscreen fun of his crew paired with a physical collectible to enjoy later.

This disc includes five episodes that have never been aired on television before. If you're like me, the discs with this content are truly the most valuable. There's nothing more disappointing than popping in a new DVD, only to be met with"Oh, I've already seen this one." Not here. This is fresh content, guaranteed to buy you 57 minutes of quiet time.


The adventures here have Bob and his Can-Do Crew dipping their hands (and wheels) into all sorts of new activities. They work on constructing an entire ice cream parlor (complete with traditional giant ice cream cone on top) and an exercise park at Bobland Bay. Scoop, Muck, Gripper, Grabber, Bristle Flex and Tumbler find that working together, they can get nearly any job done!

Episodes: Scoop's Best Team Ever, Go Mr. Bentley Go, Packer's Trailer Trouble, Muck's Machine Wash, Breezy Bristle

A Splendid Friend Indeed

Boyds Mills Press
Suzanne Bloom

Have you ever been happily engrossed in your book, only to be rudely interrupted by the outside world? Bear is in this unenviable position. He desperately wants to read, but his friend Goose just won't let him. She peppers him with questions about his activities, even going as far as standing on his head and plucking the book right out of his paws.

Sigh. Although Bear looks very cross, he gently abandons the book and decides to write in his journal instead. Not so fast - Goose simply won't be ignored! She continues to ask questions, sticking her bill where it doesn't belong and just being just generally all around annoying. Poor Bear. He looks more exasperated with the turn of each page.


Goose may be a non-stop talker and a big annoyance, but she is also a very sweet friend. While Bear is thinking angry thoughts, Goose is doing nice things. She prepares a snack for them to share and produces a lovely note that reads "I like you. Indeed I do. You are my splendid friend." Bear's heart melts and the two friends share a big hug before setting down together with their picnic.

This is a sweet story that we can all relate to. Sometimes we may need to be reminded that our friends deserve some extra love and attention. The large font and expressive illustrations make this an ideal read for young children. Not to mention that Goose's actions and Bear's reactions make for a pretty funny read. Everyone enjoys a nuisance now and then, right?

Winner of the following awards:

• ALA Notable Children's Book
• One Hundred Books for Reading and Sharing —New York Public Library
• PA One Book, Every Young Child sponsored by the Pennsylvania Dept. of Education
• Texas 2x2 Reading List—Texas Library Association
• Theodor Seuss Geisel Honor Book
• 2008 NY State Reading Association's Charlotte Award Nominee

Shaun the Sheep: Sheep on the Loose

Lionsgate and HIT Entertainment
$14.98

We loved Off the Baa! and laughed ourselves silly at Back in the Ba-a-th, so imagine our delight when we found out Shawn is back with a whole new set of escapades! Shawn and his adventurous flock are getting in all sorts of trouble, leaving the Farmer and Blitzer in a tangle, as usual.

The sheep are engaged in all sorts of fun activities, from attending the county fair to organizing a big dance in the barn. They have the ability to inject humor and mischief into the dullest of activities. Cleaning the sheep field and handling chores around the barn are suddenly FUN with Shaun and his crew.

The Oscar winning creators of Wallace and Gromit have created a masterpiece of mayhem with Shaun and his followers. The characters don't need to talk to be downright hilarious. Join the fun on the farmyard with this newest collection of sheep-tacular six episodes.





Sheep On the Loose - When the flock attends the local fun fair, it is up to Shaun and Shirley to convince the Farmer that they are actually just out to pasture.

Saturday Night Shaun - Shaun finds the Farmer’s old record player in the dump and organizes a rave in the barn, but trouble attends in form of those Naughty Pigs.

Tidy Up - Farmer orders Bitzer to clean up the sheep field, but then he makes the mistake of asking Shaun and flock to assist.

Shaun the Farmer - When the Farmer is sick, Shaun takes over handling the daily farm chores, with typical disastrous results.

Camping Chaos - An unfriendly camper sets up his tent in the sheep's field. When he goes off exploring, Shaun and the flock decide to do some exploring of their own.

You Can't Stand the Heat - The flock is desperate to cool down on a particularly hot day. Standing in the way of the Sheep Dip is a sun-bathing Farmer!

The special features are particularly interesting on this disc:

Building a Pig - chief model maker Harriet Thomas demonstrates the process of making a naughty pig out of plasticine.

The Mini-Making of Shaun - a behind-the-scenes look at how the series is animated and produced. We get to see episode clips, character models and model makers.

Oddly

Candlewick Press
Joyce Dunbar; Illustrations by Patrick Benson

This is an apt title, as this book is definitely filled with odd little characters. Fortunately, they are also sweet and adorable, which makes their oddities that much more endearing. You can tell with one glance at the cover what you are in for - both by title and illustration.

There are four main characters: the Lostlet, the Strangelet, the Oddlet and a little boy. The Lostlet aimlessly twirls a golden leaf, not quite sure what he is hoping for. The Strangelet clutches a smooth white pebble, dreaming of the unknown. The Oddlet dances in the wavelets with his pink shell, wishing for ... what? Each feels an empty place in their heart that their special possessions cannot fill.


A little boy comes running down the beach, the sight of which shocks the creatures. Never in their lost, strange, odd little worlds have they ever laid eyes on a boy before. And this is one distraught, lost little boy. The little boy knows exactly what he is hoping and wishing for. He wants to be home with his mom, surrounded by her love. The Lostlet, the Strangelet and the Oddlet are mystified by these words. One by one, they offer their treasured possessions to the boy in an effort to make him feel better. In return, the boy shows them love. The Lostlet becomes a Foundlet, the Strangelet is transformed into a Snuglet and the Oddlet is now known as a Huglet.

Yep, it's a strange little story with crazy little characters. They aren't recognizable as any animals we might be familiar with, and yet they are still oddly (to borrow a term) cute. The Lostlet has furry stripes and a pointy nose, while the Stranglet sports crazy green fur and what looks to be a broccoli crown atop his head. The Oddlet is blandly colored, but pleasingly plump and soft.

This goes to show that love can transform even the oddest and strangest creatures into happy beings. This is a gentle story that children will certainly embrace. The ending puts a great emphasis on how content a loving home can make us all feel.

Duck! Rabbit!

Chronicle Books
Amy Krouse Rosenthal & Tom Lichtenheld

As you may notice from the cover, the main drawing presents an ambiguous figure in which the brain switches between seeing a rabbit and a duck. Honestly, when I saw this book for the first time I didn't see the duck at all. The rabbit jumped right out at me and I really had to concentrate before I could see the duck.

The old rabbit/duck illusion has been around for a long time, but the animals have never been drawn this cute before. Plus they do fun stuff that helps you see the duck vs the rabbit. It's easy to identify the duck when he has a crust of bread poised in his bill. Or is the rabbit ready to nibble the carrot stick? Shortly thereafter, we hear animal noises, quacks alternating with rabbit-like sniffing. The argument over the type gets so heated that the animal in question is scared clean away.

This is a super simple, fun twist on an old classic. Kids will have the best time debating which animal it is they see and their reasons why. I'm definitely on the rabbit side of the fence, but open to hearing the duck point of view. Watch the video below for a quick read, or visit the mini-site from Chronicle Books for even more fun!


VIDEO

Oh No! Time to Go! A Book of Goodbyes

Rebecca Doughty
Random House

Ciao. Auf Wiedersehen. Sayonara. Adios. No matter the language, goodbyes can be difficult to say. Everyone loves to voice the hellos, but the words don't roll off the tongue quite as easily when it's time to leave.

There isn't so much of a story line here, but rather an introduction to the friends and family of one unnamed little boy and how those people choose to say hello and goodbye. Auntie Lou says yoo-hoo and toodle-oo, while Granny sticks with Later, gater! Many people have their own unique way of saying they must leave. Some like to use hand signals while others dole out hugs. Even dogs know how to use a wagging tail or growling as greetings. Our kids were cracking up at the dog page in particular. They loved "They lift a leg or sniff a rear." as well as the accompanying illustrations.


There's no sense getting angry or snarly when it's parting time. It's not so bad saying goodbye when there is always the chance to say hello again. And maybe the next meetings will be opportunities to make new friends and you will find all sorts of ways to say nice to meet you! So toss off your Take it easy! knowing there is probably a fresh Howdy waiting around the corner.


This is a terrific book for children who are prone to temper tantrums when leaving an event, which seems to be a fairly common problem. It does a great job playing up fun ways to say goodbye, in addition to focusing on new meetings in the future. This would also be a good choice if you know a child's friend or neighbor will be moving, as he deals with that situation at the end of the book.

Dr. Dolittle: Million Dollar Mutts

20th Century Fox Home Entertainment
$22.98

Maya Dolittle, the daughter of the infamous Dr. Dolittle, is all grown up. If you remember from the original movie, Maya has the ability to communicate with animals, just like her dad. No matter what type of animal it is, she can understand what they are trying to say just as if they were talking to her.

Naturally, with this type of gift, Maya's dream in life is to help animals. As such, she is heading off to college to become a veterinarian when she finds out how much schooling a vet requires before they start working with animals. Discouraged, Maya seeks to find a way around all that pesky schooling so she can interact with animals right away. Helping a cat down from a tree lands Maya on the local news, which garners the attention of Tiffany, a teenage heiress (think Paris Hilton). After Maya helps Tiffany's dog regain happiness, they form a partnership and head into Hollywood.

Maya and Tiffany make the rounds, helping celebrities with their animals. As Maya becomes more well known, she starts to crave the attention and college is looking like more of a dim prospect. There is talk of having her own television show and Maya is blinded by the glitz and glitter of Los Angeles. It takes the help of her faithful dog Lucky to remember what her life should be about and get back on track.


I like that the same actress (Kyla Pratt) who played Maya in the first two Dolittle movies has reclaimed her role here. And Norm MacDonald continues to provide the voice for Maya's sidekick Lucky. It pretty much boils down to one thing: if you find animals who talk to be humorous, this movie would be an excellent choice. If talking animals aren't your thing - find a different movie to watch. Our group of kids were giggling darn near uncontrollably. Talking cats and dogs really tickle the funny bone of any kid under ten years of age. Throw a talking monkey in there and you have a runaway hit.

DVD Release Date: May 19, 2009
Run Time: 87 minutes

Bradley McGogg the Very Fine Frog

Tundra Books
Tim Beiser; Illustrated by Rachel Berman

Bradley McGogg, is a very fine frog who lives in a very fine bog. One of the reasons his bog is so fine is that it is filled to the brim with good things to eat. But on this particular day, the fine frog wakes up needing to refuel, and finds his cupboard unusually bare. Not a snail or mosquito in the house. What's a hungry frog to do?

Bradley ponders the problem and then has a remarkable idea - he will set out in the bog and beg food from the other animals who live nearby! Luckily, his neighbors are the friendly sort and more than happy to share the snacks they have on hand. The problem is, a frog's idea of a tasty treat may not be the same as those of another animal.


Bradley's first stop is at the house of Miss Mouse. She serves him *gasp* rye crackers and cheddar cheese. Who could ever eat such a revolting dish? Bradley quickly devises an excuse to avoid the dreaded cheese and heads over to bear and hare's place. These two join forces to offer a plate of honey covered carrots. That's not any better than Miss Mouse's offering! Bradley decides not to even ask the cow, after he notices her chomping on grass and clover. Unsuccessful, Bradley returns home with a empty tummy. Imagine his delight to find his log crawling with infestation. He dines on worms, mosquitoes, roaches and fleas.

His food mission unsuccessful, Bradley returns home with a empty tummy. Imagine his delight to find his log crawling with infestation. He gleefully dines on worms, mosquitoes, roaches and fleas. This just goes to show that everyone has their own tastes and what works for one might not work for another.

The illustrations are beautifully done. The animals are drawn quite realistically, but in a most whimsical way. McGogg wears red and pink striped overalls and sandals while rabbit sports an elaborate costume of checkered vest, tie and burnt orange topcoat. This is a sweet story and a great way to teach children that everyone is different. Just as bears and frogs eat different foods, we humans have varied ideas and opinions that won't always be the same as our friends.

Rice, rice, baby!

USA Rice Federation

In our quest to become healthier eaters, we have discovered rice has become an ingredient we turn to time and time again. The fact that rice is available in so many types and forms makes it an incredibly versatile food. Rice is sodium, cholesterol and gluten-free. It is also nutrient-dense, contributing over 15 vitamins and minerals, including folic acid and other B-vitamins, iron and zinc. Plus, rice contains only a trace of fat and has no trans fat or saturated fat. Go rice!

Not only is rice a healthy food, it is also cheap and easy to store. A half-cup cooked serving of white or brown rice costs approximately ten cents. Is that ridiculous? We store our rice in air tight plastic tubs and have never had a problem with bugs or spoilage. White rice will keep nearly indefinitely while whole grain rice has a shelf life of 6 months. You may also freeze uncooked rice to extend that period.

A few people (fine, it was me) have complained that brown rice is more difficult to cook than white rice. We recommend that you try Alton Brown's Baked Brown Rice Recipe. This is a no-fail recipe that yields fluffy, tender brown rice every time. And since it's baked, no babysitting a pot on the stove, or discovering a pot of scorched rice that you failed to watch closely enough (me again).

There are endless combinations for dishes using rice. We use brown and jasmine rice in rice bowls, stir-frys and salads, while I prefer arborio for puddings and risottos. Check out USA Rice Federation for dozens of great rice recipes. Cheddar Rice Latkes and Rice Stuffed Fish Fillets are shown above.

Simple Foods for Busy Familes

Ten Speed Press
Jeanette Bessinger, CHHC and Tracee Yablon-Brenner, RD, CHHC

Every once in awhile a wonderful, eye-opening book comes along that changes our lives for the better. Without a doubt, this is one of those books. Dubbed "The Whole Life Nutrition Approach" this book details how to start feeding your family simple, healthy foods on a consistent basis. Simply put, better foods means healthier kids. This guide shows how you can easily take the steps to get on the path of making healthy cooking part of your everyday routine.

I'm as bad as the next parent at getting caught up in the hustle and bustle of everyday life. We too easily forget that what we are feeding our children and ourselves could be so much better by just investing some time and thought. And really, when you make the commitment to improve your diet, you may find that the changes are much easier to implement that you had imagined.

The book is presented in two manageable sections. Part one introduces the five principles of Whole Life Nutrition: Quality, Balance, Seasonality, Quantity and Routine. The goal of Whole Life Nutrition is to teach you how to live your life in the most health-enhancing way possible, with the least amount of effort. When you apply these principles to your eating habits, you should start to feel more balanced and complete. This part of the book also served to make me feel incredibly guilty. If it is this easy to make better choices and feed my family a much healthier diet - why did I wait so long to implement this? Work through that parent guilt and keep reading, it's totally worth it.

Part two is the kitchen guide. This includes directives on cooking methods and tools, plus a guide to beneficial foods - vegetables, grains, beans and spices. Along with an explanation of each ingredient, you will find basic recipes and mix and match charts for dishes like salads, pastas, soups and cereals. Once you get used to the mix and match approach, you probably won't even need to consult the book. The cut and toss method works perfectly in our house and makes for quick meals.

This book really opened my eyes to how important it is to change our eating habits to focus on eating natural foods over processed foods. The life in food gives us life, and the fresher the foods, the more life energy and nutrient content they will contain. I particularly liked the guides to whole grains and beans. For us, the key to becoming better eaters is getting into a good routine, without giving ourselves the option to purchase convenience foods. We still have pizza for dinner, but now it is a homemade crust with lots of veggies. Our french fries are yukon gold and sweet potato planks roasted in the oven. For desserts we have been experimenting with desserts where fruit as the star - like cobblers and crisps.

I found this to be a fascinating read and an invaluable resource. After initially feeling guilty (and lazy) while reading the first chapters, I began to feel inspired. It was empowering to realize the changes would be pretty easy to make and we could start eating better! We aren't perfect, but our eating habits have made a huge leap in quality, which we can feel every day.

Little Jet Set Sale!

Sale - 50% off Everything!

There is currently a big sale going on at LittleJetSet.com with 50% off every item in stock! You will find stylish, functional and useful products, but you should probably hurry because things seem to be going pretty fast. Still some great items available like Belt Bags by Haba, gym bags by Sigikid, plus assorted games and toys!

Big Rabbit's Bad Mood

Chronicle Books
Ramona Badescu; Illustrated by Delphine Durand

Have you ever been at the mercy of one of those bleak, awful moods that totally consumes you? A mood that is dark and mean, and try as you might, you just can't seem to shake? Big Rabbit has a big, bad mood just like that, which is following him around closely. He desperately tries to shake it off , but this is the hairy, clingy type that refuses to budge. What's a bunny to do?

Luckily for the readers, this bad mood happens to be a visible monster that stalks Big Rabbit all about his house. He is tall, with a shaggy gray body and his arms are so long that his knuckles drag on the floor. You can tell by the dopey smile on his face that he just loves tormenting Big Rabbit and prefers to spend his day ruining someone else's!


Big Rabbit calls his friend Squirrel, thinking maybe talking to a good friend will shake this stink off. But Squirrel doesn't answer his phone. Big Rabbit's Bad Mood tells him that's because Squirrel is probably whooping it up with Bear, munching on tea and cookies, having too good of a time to include a grumpy bunny like himself! Grrr. Big Rabbit's bad mood is so beastly that it cannot even be soothed by music or mindless television. After much deliberation, Rabbit knows the only solution is to ... call Big Mommy.


Big Rabbit's Mommy is the best sort: she makes the best pancakes, smells of springtime and always has time for her son. It is an unpleasant surprise for Big Rabbit to hear that she is too busy on this particular day to chat on the telephone. She tells Big Rabbit that she will have to call him back when she has finished with her very important duty. What could be more urgent than being stalked by the biggest, darkest mood in town???

This is the lowest level of low, to be ignored by your own mother. Just as Big Rabbit is working out his own solution to tricking his bad mood away, his doorbell rings. He opens his door to find a very big, very pleasant surprise. And in the midst of his happiness, he realizes the big gray monster is nowhere to be found.


If you won't agree that these are terrific illustrations, then we have a problem. This book could be wordless and I would still declare it a winner. Everything the bad mood does is funny - he devours the radio, lounges on the couch eating chips and treats the vacuum cleaner as if it were a pony. Children should laugh at the concept of a bad mood (which everyone is subject to) being a tangible presence. Big Rabbit is going through what we all go through, but in a much funnier way. Very clever and most enjoyable!

As always, Chronicle Books offers a little bit of extra fun. Check out their checklist of 5 Ways to Chase Away a Bad Mood.

Let's Do Nothing

Candlewick Press
Tony Fucile

Best friends Frankie and Sal have played every board game they own, read all their comic books, baked enough cookies to feel slightly sick and are now stumped as to what to attack next. They decide to do ... nothing. The plan is to sit perfectly still, no moving, no talking. And how does it go? Hilariously, thanks to Frankie and his over-active imagination.

Sal is the mastermind behind this non-activity and explains how they will undertake doing nothing. They will pretend to be stone statues, the type typically seen in a park. This is a good idea, until Frankie's imagination invents a pigeon or twelve. He nearly falls off his chair by shooing the offenders with his vigorous arm flailing. That's okay, Frankie has a better idea. They will pretend to be two giant redwood trees in the middle of the forest. No pigeons there. There may be no pigeons, but there is a little dog who mistakes Frankie's tree for a fire hydrant, if you catch my drift.

The boys continue on this way, with Sal brainstorming and Frankie's inability to carry out the plan. His vibrant imagination makes it terribly difficult to sit still, even while pretending to be a statue or a building. Even if he could sit perfectly still as a regular person, he's still blinking and breathing. The boys come to the sudden realization that ... it's impossible to do nothing. And if that is impossible, well, they might as well do something!


The illustrations are incredibly clever and attractive. The way the boys are drawn cracks me up. The brains of the duo is skinny little Sal, clad in a red and white striped shirt and classic retro sneakers. His faithful follower Frankie is a foot shorter, with thick black rimmed glasses and his stomach perpetually peeping out from underneath his t-shirt. As you can tell in the photo above, the glasses make it easy to tell the boys apart on the pages where they are inanimate objects.

We loved this book. It's realistic, smart and funny. Tony Fucile wrote that the book was based on two bored boys from his childhood - one being himself and the other his friend Steve. Read his interview in its entirety here.