If there's one thing our kids' rooms have in common, it's very packed bookshelves. Here are some of our favorite books, music and DVDs to help educate, inspire, and just keep kids cool. Kristen: Thanks to The Double Daring Book for Girls…
I don't do much overseas traveling. Okay, none, really. And I can't even blame my kids, since I barely did it before they were born, either. A passionate desire for a reduced carbon footprint or sheer laziness? I'll let you decide. But, …
We've been keeping our eyes open for those extra special holiday gifts, like for a baby's first Christmas. I'm very intrigued by Picture Book Originals which offers which offers original illustrations and signed giclee prints from childr…
Want an awesome holiday gift for a two-year old? Something he'll love and cherish and want to play with every free second? And it's also got to be totally affordable? Here's the idea of the century - and don't laugh. Children's scissors …
My kids love "writing books," and I love that they're being creative, but I don't always love the Don Music-esque cries of, No, it's supposed to be a yak and I can't draw it right! I'll never get it! Can you draw it for me? (Answer: No, …
If you're looking for a fun Halloween gift for the kids without the added benefits of tooth decay and hyperactivity, I just learned that the wonderful illustrator Stephen Britt has just taken on his first children's book, Over in the Hol…
Evidently reading to your kids is more than just reading to your kids. And seriously pedigreed educational consultant Diane W. Frankenstein explores her concept of "conversational reading" in her excellent resource, Reading Together: Eve…
I have to admit getting a little flush of pride knowing my daughters are willing to pick up earthworms and tickle those pillbugs until they roll into tight little balls. At least for now. So I was happy to see that The Bug Book and Bottl…
Browsing the Picasso Museum gift shop in Barcelona last week (I know, totally rubbing it in) I came across the most wonderful little book called Oh ! by Josse Goffin . I had an idea that my two year-old wouldn't be able to put it down an…
Pat the Bunny is the essential baby gift book for about a zillion people--including me--so it's not surprising that it's spawned a number of parodies. Now there's one more to add to the list: The very funny Pat the Beasti e . Henrik Dres…
I am so excited about artist Rufus Butler Seder's third "scanimation" book, Waddle! . Um, I mean my kids are. If you're not familiar with these so cool they're almost magic books, they blend engaging rhyming prose about animals with grap…
Even though I realize that the amazing Charley Harper Coloring Book is intended for younger audiences, it's so sophisticated that I can't help but want to save a couple of pages for me. American illustrator Charley Harper's "minimal real…
We love Oliver Chin, author of the Tales from the Chinese Zodiac Series. In his latest book, Baltazar and the Flying Pirates , Chin teams up with illustrator (and blogger!) Justin Roth in this, um, high-flying tale of adventure and fortu…
We're so happy to announce the twelve winners of the Shutterfly learning photobook contest. Each was drawn at random and yet, all so clever. Suddenly we want to go make like a hundred Shutterfly DIY photobooks ourselves. Thanks so much t…
With the kids heading back to school , the birthday party circuit will be starting up again. If your kid is old enough to read, you may understand my temptation to give other kids books rather than more toys. The problem is that while th…
We've been huge fans over the years of Shutterfly 's photobooks which make affordable gifts guaranteed to bring the tears (in a good way). And now they're getting the word out about the ability to turn the photobooks into make-your-own p…
Since I've become a parent, my delight with Peter Rabbit has been replaced with a desire to give him a time out for eating Farmer Brown's veggies and disobeying his mama. He's figuring out how to win we me over again though, by going gre…
If you've stumbled here, to our humble online abode after seeing our Editor-in-Chief Liz Gumbinner's appearance on the CBS Early Show this morning, we wanted to point you towards the wonderful customized gifts she was talking about. The …
We love Melissa Conroy's Wooberry dolls. The originals are not only designed from her child's sketches, they're also handmade. And beyond adorable. In a move that touches my writerly heart, the dolls have gone meta and returned to their …
I'm pretty sure there's nothing most kids love more than seeing their name or likeness in anything, hence the slew of personalized books that cram my daughter's bookshelves. Her most recent birthday gift was a personalized book found at …
I think the thing that bothers me the most about my kids begging for TV character clothes is that in a way, it makes them look like they watch a ton of television. Or really, like I let them watch a lot of television. Bring on the mommy …
We've all been there; the kid has found his Most Favorite Book Ever, and he wants to hear it over and over. Sure, you were a patient and loving model parent the first 5,000 times, but after that I think you get a pass. With One More Stor…
When my son was younger, he'd shuffle around the house balancing a stack of his favorite books in his overloaded arms. I was thrilled to have raised a mini bibliophile, but after seeing countless board books tumbling onto his little toes…
From skateboard and sneaker design to children's picture books, Australian artist Luke Feldman has created quite a cult following of his waif-like illustrated characters known as Skaffs. They hang in the Cartoon Art Museum, they delight …