Apple-Eye Productions, 2007; 60 min.; $19.99; www.gustaferyellowgold.com; for ages 5 to 8. Pop tunes with silly lyrics and social conscientiousness from illustrator/songwriter Morgan Taylor explore a range of tempos and styles.  Each song portrays some aspect of the life of Gustafer Yellowgold, an animated alien. Enjoyable for adults as well as kids, this title encourages you to slow down and tap into your feelings. Packaged with a separate audio CD. And for more Gustafer, check out 2007 NAPPA Gold winner Gustafer Yellowgold's Wide Wild World.

Parent’s comment: “Entertaining for kids of all ages. Enjoyable music mixed with social awareness.”
 

The Biscuit Brothers: Go Make Music Vol. 2

Good Things Happen!, Les Julian, Jump Right Over The Mooon Music, 2009; $15; www.lesjulian.com; ages 7 and up.

Each of the 14 songs in this highly entertaining and exceptionally produced album is a mini-story of positive values, surprising heroes and feel-good music. Julian’s strong clear baritone voice is a standout – a beacon sending out upbeat messages in these superbly clever songs. I can’t wait to hear more from him!
 

by Tonya Hurley; Little, Brown Books for Young Readers, 2008; $17.99; www.lb-kids.com. This beautifully packaged novel is oh-so-witty. Charlotte Usher, invisible in her high school, discovers that visibility and popularity are just as big a deal in the afterworld.

Best Bang for the Buck Winner!

$19.95; www.learningresources.com; for ages 3 and up. Five games teach shapes, patterns and matching skills using delightfully delicious-looking cookie shapes, double-sided cards and a spinner. Includes many game options for many hours of play.

For more matching fun, check out:

Match Up! Concentration Game

Gardening Mama, Majesco Entertainment and Cooking Mama, Ltd., 2009; $29.99; www.gardeningmama.com; ages 6 and up.

 

Requires: Nintendo DS. According to one of our young game testers, this extension of the wildly popular “Cooking Mama” franchise is “wicked fun!” Players “grow, harvest and enjoy” huge variety of fruits, vegetables and flowers in what’s billed as the first gardening game, ever. Using the stylus, which acts as a gardening tool, players plant, water, fertilize, prune and eliminate pests in Mama’s garden through different challenges, including “Let’s Get Growing” and “Make It Fancy.” Advancing through levels unlocks special features, such as being able to change Mama’s outfits. 

$14.99; www.hasbrotoyshop.com; for ages 6 and up. This traditional guessing game has added new face options to its usual line of suspects, including monsters, animals, funny faces, household gadgets and kids. Electronic “yes” and “no” buttons, sound effects and a timer make for intense play. A flip-open easel design makes for portability and easy storage.

For more matching fun, check out:

Goodie Games Cookie Shapes

Generation Cures, Children’s Hospital Boston, 2008; free; www.kids.generationcures.com; ages 8 to 12.

 

This site has a strong mission: to raise awareness as to how young people and families can raise funds for research at Children’s Hospital that find cures for childhood illnesses. There is a lot of great content, and the games and interactive media are kid-friendly, although the site itself is less so and navigation is a bit tricky at first. But the media for kids is well-designed and very engaging; the messaging of the site is consistent and kids definitely learn about helping others. Additionally, the site is socially responsible and has information relevant to parents, as well as kids.

“The games are fun and the animation is cool. I like that the site tries to get kids involved in raising money to help sick children. It shows that it’s pretty easy to get your friends and other kids at school interested in helping to raise money, too.”
– Kid Tester
 

Good Egg, by Barney Saltzberg; Workman, 2009; $9.95; www.workman.com. 

Barney Saltzberg has created an adorable interactive board book for ages 2 to 5, following the adventures of an endearing little egg. The egg moves as directed (it sit, speaks, catches, etc.) and has Velcro catches, pulls, cutouts, lifts and pull-tabs for interactive fun while showing how this good egg performs. There’s even a fun surprise at the end that will crack you up!

 

Grandpa, What’s That Sound in the Middle of the Night?, by Naomi Singlehurst, illustrated by Victoria Jamieson; Trellis Publishing, 2008; $14.95; www.trellispublishing.com. While visiting their grandfather’s farm, two imaginative children hear loud, late-night sounds and go searching. What they discover are fun and fearsome creatures.

Meadowbrook Press, 1999; free; www.gigglepoetry.com; for ages 7 to 12. Requires: Standard Web browser.
There aren’t many bells and whistles at this “Web 1.0” site, which offers basic low-bandwidth text and images. But, just as one can’t judge a book by its cover, neither can one totally appreciate the rich content in fundamental, even classic sites like Giggle Poetry. On this site, kids can opt to read and rate poetry in different categories, such as “Potty Poems,” “School Poems” and “Scary Poems.” They can choose other sections that feature interviews with real poets or opportunities to dramatize a poem with their friends. “Poetry Class” helps parents and teachers plan lessons and start discussions so youngsters discover their own creative style and learn how to write limericks and “Giggle Raps.” The site also features some mini-games (“How fast can you and your friends say these tongue twister poems?”) among other fun activities.