by Sherry North, illustrated by Marcellus Hall; Abrams Books for Young Readers, 2008; $15.95; www.hnabooks.com. A mother shares her wishes for her baby in this celebration of a parent’s love for a child.

$29.99; www.spinmaster.com; for ages 8 and up. This remote-control car really has the “wow” factor – it can drive up a wall or upside-down on the ceiling! High-speed air flowing under the car creates the suction effect that allows the car to defy gravity. The remote can direct the car forward, backward or in circles, and it doubles as the car charger. Headlights indicate when the unit needs recharging. For optimal performance, the car requires a large, smooth surface with no obstacles. Truly amazing!

Never Take a Shark to the Dentist (and Other Things Not to Do), by Judi Barrett, illustrated by John Nickle; Atheneum/Simon & Schuster, 2008; $16.99; www.simonsayskids.com. Funny, self-explanatory truths about animals spring from the mind of the beloved author of Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs. Among the things that you should “never, ever, ever do” are to sit next to a porcupine on the subway or hold hands with a lobster. Children will join in the silliness and come up with equally humorous aphorisms of their own.

$19.99; www.blueorangegames.com; for ages 8 and up. Roll two dice, add them up and strategically flip down any combination of numbered tiles that total the roll. Don’t touch a tile on the second row unless the tile in front has been shut. Try to be the one to flip down the last tiles during your turn and shut the box! Play alone or with up to six players.

written by Jon Scieszka, illustrated by David Gordon, Loren Long and David Shannon; Simon & Schuster Children’s Publishing, 2008; $16.99; www.simonsays.com. Big trucks Jack and Dan spend the day doing what they do best – smashing, crashing and playing.

B-books; $7.95/issue, $26/year; www.kikimag.com. This quarterly journal for ’tween girls features grooming tips and articles that empower readers to develop their own personal styles and gain self-confidence. Each issue highlights a different international destination, from fashion capitals to countries with fascinating cultures, customs and dress.

 

Make Your Own Animal Puppets, Creativity for Kids, $17.99, www.creativityforkids.com; ages 3 and up.

 

Three chenille-soft socks are waiting to be dressed in accoutrements of self-adhesive felt shapes, wiggly eyes and fuzzy fur. The animal body parts, including ears, snouts, and other accessories all stick extraordinarily well and don’t fall off during the puppet show that’s sure to follow. Just peel and stick, but make sure the destination of the pieces is your final decision because they cannot be repositioned once placed. The kit supplies enough materials to make a cow, pig, and elephant, or to create your own animal menagerie. Parents will appreciate that his art kit leaves little mess to clean up and sparks imaginative play even after the activity of creating is done.
 

Best Bang for the Buck Winner! 

$19.99; www.innovativekids.com; for ages 8 and up. Enjoy smart fun in this fast-paced game that tests your memory. Laugh ’til it aches as you make noises, act things out, make up stories, compose lists and play with words. Game comes in a fold-up, easy-to-store format and includes a book loaded with memory tips and tricks.

"There are so many different angles, it’s a fresh game every time you play." - judge comment

$79.99; www.intellitoys.com; for ages 2 and up. This soft bear will be your child’s companion during playtime and bedtime for years to come. Not only is he cuddly, he recites up to four hours of songs and stories, and plays games such as “Simon Says” – thanks to electronics tucked into his back. Parents can customize the bear’s responses with their child’s name, favorite music and stories, by using the included software (PC and Mac compatible) and USB port on the bear. Kids can engage the bear in interactive games by pressing his hands and feet to respond. An online store allows parents to purchase additional songs and stories, available in a choice of languages.

Alphabet Train Floor Puzzle & CD, Twin Sisters Productions, $14.99; www.twinsisters.com; ages 4 and up.

 

All aboard this train for a ride of fun and learning! The lateral puzzle helps children learn the alphabet with self-correcting order pieces. Each puzzle piece is a separate train car that is occupied by an animal friend depicting that letter. Separate pieces help children learn at their own pace and can be used a few at a time. 

 

An included CD provides many songs relating to the alphabet and has 52 well-designed print-out pages full of activities to help children practice writing letters. Each page includes activity ideas that families can try at to emphasize each letter.