Dolphin Explorer Boat and Dino Adventure Rig, Sprig Toys, $29.99 each; www.sprigtoys.com; ages 3 and up.

 

The simple design and faceless characters put imagination back into play. These two charming playsets elicit adventure in prehistoric and aquatic nature. They give children the basic tools to explore the world of pretend play without providing too much detail to limit creativity. The toothy grins of two dinosaurs set the tone for goofy play and animated adventures with Rex Jungle, the rugged wrangler with the Indiana Jones hat. Captain Owen, in the other playset, can “whale watch” in his dinghy or double-decker explorer boat.

 

Both figures and rigs are constructed from Sprigwood – an eco-friendly material of recycled plastics and reclaimed sawdust. Thanks to this material, the playsets have a natural wood scent that opens another sense to play. The pieces are quite durable and stable when standing on a table or floating in the water. They have a smooth texture, and are lightweight and easy to clean.  

Chicken Socks/Klutz, 2008; $12.95; www.scholastic.com. Just too silly, this activity book contains two cute pups made of non-tear paper, 12 whimsical dog outfits to punch out and put on, plus a vinyl dog carrier. Sets the stage for hours of fun and laughter.

Disney Princess Costume Organizer, Delta Children’s Products; $59.99; www.deltaenterprise.com.

This is a dream come true for children who love to dress up and for their parents who like to keep their homes organized! This pretty-in-pink costume closet comes with lots of little accents, fun knobs and storage baskets underneath. It’s so much fun for a little girl to have her very own special place to put all of her dress-up clothes. It even includes special cloth drawers for her tiara, wand and magic slippers. Our parent testers and judge loved how easy it was to assemble – in just 10 minutes. Their daughters loved the images of the Disney princesses that adorn the outside, as well as the mirror where they can watch themselves transform into princesses themselves!

“It’s so much fun for a little girl to have her very own, special place to put all of her dress-up clothes. It helps to teach children the organization skill of putting their belongings back into a closet, or a drawer, using a hanger.”
– Organization Judge

“It’s adorable! Little girls will love it! My daughter loves that all of her dress ups can go in this closet.”
– Mom Tester
 

Walt Disney Internet Group, 2007; free; www.disneyfairies.com; for ages 5 to 13. Requires: Web browser and Adobe Flash Player.
Move over princesses, the fairies are here! These kid-tested, very fun Flash games and video are available for free through your Web browser. At Disney Fairies, players can create a fairy from a wide selection of attributes, including hair, dress, wings, skin color, eyes and accessories such as flower bracelets. Kids can name and save their creations, sharing them with friends through email and then create a virtual home for it in Pixie Hollow. Their real fun begins when users explore and play casual games in the Pixie Hollow virtual world with Disney’s fairies, including Tinker Bell.
 

Dozy Dolphin™ On The Go ($23),
Gentle Giraffe™ On the Go ($23),
Gentle Giraffe™ ($28),

Cloud B, $23-$28; www.cloudb.com; ages 0 and up.

 

Children get a little bit of help soothing themselves to sleep as they cuddle with these plush friends. Made of bamboo fibers, these irresistible friends are softer than cotton. Each has a removable sound box that plays four different sounds, ranging from upbeat playtime to relaxing sleep. A combination of music, rhythmic beats and natural animal/nature sounds comfort and bring tranquility that guide a child to sleep. A timer can be set for 23 or 45 minutes, giving plenty of time to doze off to dreamland before the quiet sets in.

 

The “On the Go” version is smaller and has an attached Velcro strap for connecting to a stroller, car seat or elsewhere.
 

Digital Blue SNAP Video Camera, Digital Blue, $79.99; www.digiblue.com; ages 5 and up.

 

Now it’s easier than ever to be caught on film! This video camera can capture up to 30 minutes of viewing pleasure with one simple button. The 2-inch LCD screen is crystal clear and the downloaded video is a high-resolution stunner that can be uploaded to Facebook or YouTube with ease. The video camera comes with a docking station to recharge and software to load on your PC. The software allows you to doctor up your movies to make ants crawl on heads or an animated fire burning in the background. Frames and fun await children’s editing mania. This video cam is small, lightweight and easy to take with you to any recording-worthy moments! 

Family Fun!

Duck! Rabbit!, by Amy Krouse Rosenthal, illustrated by Tom Lichtenheld; Chronicle Books, 2009; $16.99; www.chroniclebooks.com.

 

This clever picture book will have every family member looking, and looking back again, because it’s a visual puzzle. Readers decide if they are looking at ducks or rabbits, which provides adults with an opportunity to discuss point of view and what’s “right” in a perspective. This book is perfect for sharing with the whole family and invites discussion, debate and lots of giggling.

Enjoy short films, animated versions of the author’s children’s books, and other fun distractions at www.whoisamy.wordpress.com. You can also see the illustrator’s books and glimpse how he creates them on his Web site at www.tomlichtenheld.com.

“This would be great for a lesson about understanding different points of view and understanding how different people might see something in different ways.”
 – Former principal
 

Best Bang for the Buck Winner!   

Hudson Entertainment, 2008; $29.99; www.hudsonent.com; for ages 6 to 14. Requires: Wii console. This great party game leverages the new kinds of gameplay and interactivity afforded by the Wii. Deca Sports features 10 different athletic events, including basketball, soccer, badminton, archery, kart racing, motocross, beach volleyball, figure skating, curling and snowboarding. 

 

For more fun with the Nintendo Wii, check out:

Family Fun Winner! 

The Secret Mountain, 2007; $12.98 CD, $16.95 Book/CD; www.thesecretmountain.com; for all ages. Songs by beloved contemporary artists ranging from Mary Chapin Carpenter and Carole King to Neil Young and Tom Waits are given new folk arrangements and woven into a warm musical security blanket that will grow with each child. A beautifully illustrated picture book is included.

$19.99; www.fatbraintoyco.com; for ages 3 and up. Uniformly sized, thin plastic squares have four notches each for building three-dimensional artistic structures. This unique building set appeals to many ages.

For more creative building fun, check out:

LaQ Free Style Pallet