Recently in Books Category

A friend of mine sent me the link to these make-your-own board books and I have become obsessed over the last few days trying to write my own book for my two tots. The Me And My Peeps board books are fully customizable with picture AND text. If you are not so inclined, there are templates available - you just provide the pictures. I began by just trying to personalize the text in the templates and somehow I ventured into trying to write prose in rhyme. I did come up with a few that were pretty good: "The doctors told us you were a boy, and then you arrived and we jumped for joy!"; "You love to sing Twinkle Twinkle Little Star, And daddy plays along on his guitar"; and "Taking a nap on daddy's head, Is so much nicer than any bed". You can see how fun this is! And we all know how tots love to look at pictures of themselves. You can make books with family members who are far away so your tots don't forget them or make it educational with objects and vocabulary that is important to you. If I can muster up more inspiration, I would love to make these as gifts! Start making your own at Me and My Peeps, $27.95 plus $5 for shipping.

I loved Highlights magazines growing up and now I can entertain my kids with the same fun fascination I enjoyed. I actually never "had" them, I didn't have a subscription, I just read them at the doctor's office. But my daughter loves doing mazes, puzzles and other games so why not indulge her with brainy activities? I mean, it's as if she thinks broccoli is a treat! (She actually does like broccoli, thankfully). There is the new Highlights High Five™ Subscription for Preschoolers ages 2-6 and of course the original Highlights Magazine. The subscription prices are $26.04 for one year, $49.68 for 2 years and $69.84 for 3 years (prices are the same for either magazine). There is a special promotion going on now, all subscriptions come with a Free Hidden Pictures Calendar and Stickers! And with coupon code "SAVE" you get a $10 discount on purchases of $75 or more, $15 off of 100 or more and $20 off of $150 or more. They also have a bunch of toys and activities books so this discount applies to everything. You can Shop for Highlights products by age. Click here!. Why not get a gift that keeps coming for an entire year!

By Guest Blogger, Jess Brooks (mother of an adorable 1 year old boy)

What a great combination of practical, no nonsense advice on sleep, schedules, older siblings -- you name it -- all told with a sense of humor. It is never preachy, just helpful -- like the advice you'd get from your best friend when you're crying because your life is suddenly out of control. Obviously, I don't have twins, but even as a parent of one, I found it incredibly useful. And I'd recommend for parents across the spectrum -- from folks who really are overwhelmed to parents who feel like they know what they're doing. My son is pretty easy, but even I appreciated her advice on schedules and sleep.

In addition to reading the book, I've met Meghan's (the author) kids, and they are awesome. Smart, inquisitive, polite (!!), even nice to each other -- and yet still these gorgeous, boisterous, happy, active, confident kids. And Meghan's a rockstar. Again, picture your best friend. Someone who tells it like it is; doesn't judge you; just offers support. Because she's been in the trenches and has gotten to the other side. Juggling Twins: The Best Tips, Tricks, and Strategies from Pregnancy to the Toddler Years at Amazon for $11.53..

Gia Giasullo, a mom and graphic designer, wants your tots' unwanted art! She is working on a book called Untitled_1 A Collection of Children's Rejected Drawings, which is pretty much self explanatory but just to be repetitive, it is a book of children's drawings that were thrown out for whatever reasons. She realized that these "rejects" were actually more interesting because of why they were rejected, like the picture above, the ponytail on the girl is "too big". We all have a pile of these in the house, what better way to cherish one of the pieces than to have it be a part of a book? If you would like to include your children's precious rejects which will now become prized artwork in her book, you can contact her by email. The jump page has full details and instructions on how all this works, or you can click here to download the pdf file of the same instruction sheet.

Personalized touches are always what sets apart good gifts from great gifts, which is why I love "The First Adventures of Incredible You". For about $30 you can get this award-winning, full-color, hardcover book containing over 20 places that may be personalized to include details about the people and places that are most special to your child. Best of all it was created by two mommies! Love mama-entrepreneurs! Some of the personalized items include your family's favorite sports team, music, vacation spot, park, and even your nearby zoo! You are also given the opportunity to include your child's parents, grandparents, siblings, and friends in the story and there is a dedication page so that the child will always remember who gave them the special book! Click here to see first-hand what you can personalize. As for the story the book tells, The First Adventures of Incredible You is described by their website as a delightful, rhyming personalized children's book about the everyday experiences and sensations of a young child. From splashing in rain puddles to cheering on a favorite team to smelling a favorite family food, the personalized storybook tells the story of this child's first several years of life.

Use coupon code -- "adventures20" -- and save 20% on all orders until 8/31/2008!

I have already gone on 3 big trips this summer with my kids and I am telling you, this is all you need. Well, not ALL you need, but if you've got this with you on the plane and in the car, you will make it. If you do not already have a Mess-Free Magic Board ($5.99 but comes in many variety packs ranging in price), get to the store immediately!! These "magic" paper boards will turn into a colorfully painted page with just plain water. There is a fun brush with water dispenser so your tot will feel like Van Gogh as he creates a perfectly painted scene every time. The best part is, once it dries, he can start all over. Perfect for summer travel because the only mess is water, so it also cools them off when they spill.

My favorite sunscreen (and I have them all) is the Mustela High Protection Sun Lotion SPF 50 ($15). I have not had any problems with sunburns and this does not have harsh ingredients found in drugstore sunscreen for kids. It stays on all day, I know because I am not good about re-applying every 2 hours. We have gone to the beach in Hawaii for a full 4 hours without lobster skin of any kind.

This by far is the best invention in children's products! The
TravelJohn Jr.-Disposable Potty ( 6 pack) ($9.99) will save you from accidents and from having to use nasty gas station bathrooms (it is also perfect for amusement parks, if you have waited in line for 2 hours you will know that Murphy's law dictates that once you get to the front of the line, your tot will need to use the bathroom "RIGHT NOW"). This little doo-dad cups right up to your tot's privates to catch the pee-pee without a single drop coming out. There is a powder that becomes a gel so there is no sloshing mess if you cannot find a trashcan right away. I have a girl so, yes, it does work for the ladies as well. She actually loves it. To answer your fears of embarrassment (as I was before I used it), it is actually a very concealed operation so there is no need to worry about the crowds seeing this go down.

If you are flying, you must have the CARES airline approved seat belt ($74.95). It turns the regular plane seat into a 5-point harness in a quick minute. I just flew the new Virgin America and they told me that this was the ONLY seatbelt they approve of. Avoiding bringing your 30 lbs giant car seat on the plane? Totally priceless.

Happy Travels!

I wish this book had been out when I did my nursery! Luckily, I am planning on remodeling my house in a year and will be able to use some of these ideas for my girls' rooms. What I love about the styles in this book is that they are not at all babyish; they are sophisticated, yet serene and perfect for kids. You can almost use this book for your entire family's bedrooms. My favorite is what they call "Audacious Vintage." It is a combination of florals, antique art and hand-crafted items, like the hand-hooked rug! There is a mix of florals and stripes, so it is very updated, rather than grandmotherly. There are so many interesting ideas, like adding lucite furniture (end tables and magazine holders, etc.) which if you think about it, is perfect for kids! Clean, fun and tres chic! This book has totally inspired me -- you can mix the ideas to suit your own style. For example, I am incorporating the lucite furniture into the Audacious Vintage look! This book isn't just a bunch of beautiful pictures (which it also is), but it is an amazing how-to guide to get the look you want. Chapter 2 is named "a design formula," and it gives you step-by-step instructions on how to build a room, like determining your style, picking a focal point, color combinations, deciding the mood and how to choose wall treatments, among other strategies. Even if you are not in the market for a new room, this would make a wonderful gift for expectant parents. At Amazon for $19.77. Click here if you would like to get a catalog of all the amazing Serena & Lily products.

Reading has been the one thing that I have been totally diligent about with my kids and it has paid off more than I could have imagined. My 3 year old daughter is in love with books and thinks it is such a treat to sit and read books with mommy and daddy. We have no routine except the book reading routine before bedtime. We now include our 7 month old daughter so it has become the most special time of the day for the whole family. Like every parent, I buy a lot of books to keep her engaged. I was given a set of books from Barefoot Books recently and it has been the more provocative of anything we have ever read! I mean, we just recently graduated Goodnight Moon (everyone can recite that one, right?). She now wants more and I am not going to let this opportunity pass by to open her little world to the big wide world we live in. Barefoot Books incorporate different cultures and points of views in the stories without hitting you over the head with it. It tells the story which happens to be set in a certain country. The illustrations are soothing and a throw back to old school drawings, which I absolutely love (they can overload themselves with graphics everywhere else). Many books come with CD of songs or read alongs. One of my favorites is Mama Panya's Pancakes, a story about the beauty and rewards of sharing and generosity. There were a few that made my daughter ask a lot of questions that I couldn't answer to her satisfaction but isn't it wonderful to push young minds to the edge? Like Herb, the Vegetarian Dragon. The verdict is still out for me on this book,

All our kids have done this, they "read" a book and make up their own story for it (even those who can actually read do this). Now you can make it official with this ingenious and creative Think It Ink It books. You pick a book with story pictures you like and ink your child's copy! You do everything online with easy to follow instructions, you even add a biography, dedication, photo along with the title and name of the author, like a real book. Kids are so smart and limitless with their imaginations, it is wonderful that you have a chance to capture that. Think of the things they will learn from this process, I have never written a book but I have thought about it and the steps involved require a lot of thinking. It is only $29.95, a cheap lesson that they will benefit from for many years. It allows them to feel like real writers and who knows, maybe you have given birth to the next generation's Mark Twain! Begin the process of being a published writer.

As if we didn't just eat our way through the holidays, Valentine's (a.k.a. a great excuse to eat chocolate) is just around the corner. Last year my daughter received a bucket of Hershey Kisses from her Bigsy (Grandpa). While a very sweet gesture, my daughter wanted to eat the entire bucket the moment it was delivered. When she wasn't looking, I threw most of them away and hid the rest for special treats. This year instead of sweets give something meaningful that will last a lifetime. I highly recommend The First Adventures of Incredible You ($32.95), a wonderful personalized book from Custom Made for Kids. We received one and now it is a must read every night before bedtime. The story flows through various activities a child will do with various family members. My 3 year old daughter can't believe all of her loved ones are a part of the story. My 1 year old son doesn't get it yet, but I know he will love it soon. Personalizing and ordering is very easy. Complete a simple questionnaire online and submit the order. Available at Custom Made for Kids.

Tot Snob Coupon Code: Type ts15 (note: code is case sensitive) to receive a 15% discount. Offer expires February 5.