Best Baby Gift: Book Basket #1

The very best baby gift in the entire world is the Book Basket!
Here's why:
♥One can never have enough books.
♥Everyone in the family can enjoy the gift, especially since the baby present is to celebrate the creation and union of a family.
♥Many books will last forever, to be past down to the next generation.
♥If a family starts reading to baby early, it will become an important part of that child's life; for example, reading books before bedtime.
♥The package (basket) will be used/reused. PC/Green thinking
♥I love to give a sampling of favorite books and they are:
1) Our Family Favorites
2) A Classic Children's Books
3) Interactive Books
4) Books that can be read by a sibling
5) Books that can be drooled, chewed, and whatever-ed on.

I bought extra copies of my children's favorite books for their baby memory boxes to be past down to their children.

Today starts a series of posts where I list my favorite books for book baskets.

The Wheels on the Bus
Paul O. Zelinsky
Dutton Juvenine 1990

This book was the favorite book for all three of my children.
What makes this book work so well is:
★It's so fun to pull, push, flip, and twirl all the movable parts.
★It's funny!
★Each page has so many details to see and discuss.
★Siblings love to "read" it to younger child.
★It doesn't take too long to read.

Goodnight, Moon
Margaret Wise Brown
Clement Hurd
Harper 1947
Many editions available.

Classic children's book that's a must for every library.
What makes this book work so well is:
★Children love the story and characters.
★Great calming night time story.
★Fantastic detail on each page to see and discuss.
★It doesn't take too long to read.
Edition shown comes with a plush bunny. How cute is that?

This Little Piggy: A Hand-Puppet board Book
Scholastic
Michelle Berg
Scholastic 2007


What makes this book work so well:
★Interactive books are fun!
★Three Little Pigs are very silly.
★Puppets add surprise. Babies love surprise!
★Small size, travels great.
★Easy to clean and is very well-made.



Pat the Bunny
Dorothy Kunhardt
Golden Books 1940

This book actually meets all my book categories.
What makes this book work so well:
★It's a family favorite, a classic, can be read by a sibling, is interactive, and can be drooled on.
★Surprisingly, it survives years of abuse.
★Small size, travels great
Edition shown comes with a perfect baby size bunny. How cool is that?

Baby Faces (Board Book)
DK Publishing 1998

The must have book for any diaper bag.
What makes this book work so well:
★Small size, travels great
★Easy to clean - whatever gets on it!
★Stands up to lots of abuse
★Babies LOVE to look at pictures of other babies!

What A Toy Inventor Does

I worked with Caleb Chung at Mattel a long, long time ago. This is a fun, entertaining video of a presentation about toy inventing by Caleb.

Don't miss the part about how his kids used to jump on his ToysRUs bags when he came home - to save them from destruction. My kids do the same thing! Do you think my daughter or her friends were scarred (or scared, if you prefer the typo) by the array of doll/teddy bear parts hanging in my office?

Future Avenue in Toy Design

This video really gets you thinking about the future of toy design. Many fantastic ways that this techology can be used.
Just think about it.
(Thanks, little brother, for the link!)

Scholastic Book Club Controversy

Scholastic Accused of Misusing Book Clubs

By MOTOKO RICH

Published: February 10, 2009

A consumer watchdog group accuses the children’s publisher of using its classroom book clubs to push video games, jewelry kits and toy cars.

As a mom very well-versed in the Scholastic Book Club fliers, all the items promoted support reading and books.
If your child wants the silly stuff and you don't, maybe that is a good time for a discussion about appropriate purchases. You don't really HAVE to buy the objectionable item.
I guess society just loves to complain.
Scholastic books ordered through school were some of my most cherished items from childhood!

Here's the link.

2008 Top Ten Trends #5

Scary Books and Toys

Darkness Slipped In
Ella Burfoot
Kingfisher June 2008







The Little Bit Scary People
Emily Jenkins (author) Alexandra Boiger (illustrator)
Hyperion Book CH September 2008






Art to Make You Scared
Elizabeth Newbury
Frances Lincoln February 2008

Of course, I had to get an art book in here.









Teddy Scares
Applehead Factory













Living Dead Dolls
Mezco Toyz

Mattel Aquires My Favorite Game

Last December, I blogged about my favorite game here. Included in that post were the top ten reasons why I love Blokus.

Well, here's one news report from two weeks ago announcing that Blokus was bought, by Mattel. I hope that this perfect game stays the same!


At the same time, Mattel announced that they also bought Whac-A-Mole from Bob's Space Racers. They plan on creating more games on the concept in the future. My kids have always loved Whac-A-Mole. I think it might be the pure simplicity of the game. I'm looking forward to see what Mattel comes up with.