Fun Finds for December 2008
Parent & Child's favorite global toys, plus the best books, CDs, DVDs, and tech
TOYS
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Biofino Fabric Foods
Introduce food from around the world to your little one with these fabric playsets. Foods include Italian ravioli and Turkish kebab (or gyro). HABA, $13; $14. Age 5 and up.
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Culture Club Kids
Perfect traveling companions, these 9-inch dolls are cuddly and portable. Made of soft tricot with yarn hair and culturally correct details, this ever-expanding line inspires imaginative on-the-go fun. North American Bear, $12 each. Ages 3 to 8.
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Middle Eastern Block Set
Domes, arches, and steps evoke the look of ancient Persia, Syria, or Egypt and the spell of magic carpets. Fifty wooden pieces come in 13 different shapes. HABA, $25. Age 3 and up.
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Turnip Nesting Dolls
Each piece in this storytelling set reveals a scene from a famous Russian fairy tale about a family and a giant turnip they’re trying to pull out of the ground. Hand-painted by a Ukrainian artist. Crafted Toys, $60. Age 3 and up.
TECH
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Ultimate WALL•E
Crammed with sensors, this 18” replica of the star of the film WALL•E responds to your child’s preprogrammed commands. He can’t compact your trash, but he can chat, blast music, dance, and motor around your home. Disney, $250. Age 8 and up.
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Tâke Secret Diary
Tweens’ innermost thoughts are locked away with this digital diary—an update on the classic format. The standard-sized USB flash drive requires a PIN to be entered before it unlocks. Windows only. Black Box Innovations, $60. Age 10 and up.
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EyeClops BioniCam
Turn your TV into a giant microscope with this year’s edition of the EyeClops. New features include 3 magnification levels, a built-in color LCD screen, and a USB flash drive, so you can save images. Jakks Pacific, $80. Age 8 and up.
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Leapster 2
With a separate SD card, this version of Leapster lets you log on and compare your child’s scores to other players’ or track progress on the Leapfrog Learning Path. Includes 2 built-in games. LeapFrog, $70. Ages 4 to 8.
CDS & DVDS
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Ballet Shoes
Emma Watson (Harry Potter’s Hermione) stars as one of three orphaned girls raised as sisters in 1930s London. A tale of ambition against all odds; great for mother and daughter bonding time. Koch, $25. Age 10 and up.
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Brown Bear & Friends
The popular Bill Martin, Jr./Eric Carle book series is now available on audio. Academy-Award winner and mother Gwyneth Paltrow voices these favorite bears in her audiobook debut. Macmillan, $15. Ages 2 to 5.
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Blue Moo
Author/illustrator Sandra Boynton and collaborator Michael Ford creatively imagine 17 silly songs with the spirit of the jukebox era. Legendary greats perform: B. B. King mourns a lost shoe, Davy Jones plays a penguin instead of a Monkee, and more. Rounder, $12. All ages.
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Liberty’s Kids
This PBS-aired animated DVD series follows two teens in the midst of the American Revolution. Celebrities voice famous characters like Ben Franklin (Walter Cronkite) and John Adams (Billy Crystal). Shout! Factory, $60. Age 5 and up.
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Spanish for Beginners
In these award-winning Spanish immersion DVDs, lively host/teacher Maria engages her cast of kids in zany animal stories and games with folk songs, humor, and puppets. Whistlefritz, $20 each. Ages 2 to 5.
BOOKS
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Peanut by David Lucas
When Peanut, a tiny monkey, awakes by himself, the world seems full of danger. But then Peanut meets Beetle, and he begins to see the magic around him. Candlewick, $16. Ages 4 to 8.
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The Great Paper Caper by Oliver Jeffers
Branches start disappearing from the forest, leading the woodland creatures to investigate. The culprit is caught and confesses . . . he’s using them to make paper airplanes. HarperCollins, $18. Ages 4 to 8.
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An Extremely Wintery Winter Activity Kit by Lauren Child
With the snow melted away, Lola declares that she wants to have snow always. Charlie helps her realize all she’d give up if her wish came true. Includes story, game, and glittery crafts. Penguin, $20. Ages 5 to 10.
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The One and Only Marigold by Florence Parry Heide
An opinionated little monkey named Marigold stars in four stories. Marigold is singular in her thinking, but universal in her childhood antics and appeal. Random House, $17. Ages 4 to 8.
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A Penguin Story by Antoinette Portis
Edna’s arctic world is entirely black, white, and blue. Surely there must be something else! Edna looks. When she finds a brilliant hue, she eagerly shares it with the penguin community. HarperCollins, $18. Ages 4 to 8.
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Knuckleheads by Joan Holub
This zany retelling of familiar fairy tales involves a pun-fest about hands and fingers in both words and comic illustrations. From Handsel and Gretel to Handerella and Thumbelina, there are giggles galore. Irresistible! Chronicle, $16. Ages 6 to 10.
FASHION
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1. Cable layette, Egg Baby, $69.
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2. Fancy Coat, Kiwi Industries, $92.
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3. Boiled wool ruffle bag, Garnet Hill, $38.
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4. Purple damask t-dress, Baby Lulu, $40.
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5. Metallic polka-dot jumper, The Children’s Place, $20. Girls’ holiday tights, Lands’ End, $10.
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6. Iwaki pants, Tea Collection, $49.
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7. Jules shirt, bobinette, $43.
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8. Mary Jane and Kane baby shoes, Rileyroos, $30–$35.
