Dig into a doggone hilarious book that’s fit for the entire family. Marley’s Storybook Treasury contains six I Can Read! stories detailing the mischievous misadventures of the playful pooch your kids may recognize from the big screen. In this literary treasure trove, author John Grogan and illustrator Richard Cowdrey fill 192 pages with laugh-out-loud tales of Marley’s life in suburbia. Young readers will have a blast getting lost in this richly illustrated action-packed book loaded with colorful pictures that come alive with each turn of the page. Marley means well, but that doesn’t make life with the crazy canine any … Continue reading →

How do you know if your child understands the true meaning of Thanksgiving? Before digging into their Turkey Day spread, many families go around the dinner table and share moments of gratitude. Kids are then put on the spot and forced to share one thing they are thankful for while a gaggle of extended guests stare them down. The end result: Typically, a long stretch of silence followed by a string of “ums,” “ers,” “ahs,” and more silence. If you are lucky, you’ll hear a barely audible, “toys” or a regurgitation of whatever the person ahead of your shy child … Continue reading →

How to torture a dog in three easy steps: Step 1: Take her to a relay race where the batons are painted bright red and people keep yelling: “Stick!” Step 2: Make her sit in a large grassy area while dozens of playful children run circles around him. Step 3: Tell her repeatedly to “sit” and “stay.” Oh, the horror! Yet, author Grace Gilman is far from a contributor to the horror genre. Rather, she is simply weaving a story which features Dixie the dog’s latest adventure, and this one is a doozy for the exuberant pup. In Dixie Wins … Continue reading →

It’s raining teeth around here. Teeny-tiny, itsy-bitsy pearly whites belonging to a child who was absolutely convinced that she would go to her grave with all of her baby teeth intact. My 8-year-old has turned into a human slot machine, except when you pull her arm she spits out teeth instead of quarters. Which is not to say that she hasn’t made out like a pachislo addict. Who needs to hit the jackpot on a real one-arm bandit when you’ve got the Tooth Fairy making sure you win big when you loose little choppers? My daughter’s teeth have been falling … Continue reading →

Chompo Bars, spelling “ice cream” with a “q” and a “p”, made-up songs, and internal torment about sharing with a sibling… oh, the memories. I’ve missed you Frances. It’s been decades since I journeyed to the whimsical world of Frances the badger, and returning is like slipping into a well-worn pair of cozy footed flannel pajamas. The warm, fuzzy feeling envelopes you like a mother’s hug. Interestingly, that feeling hasn’t diminished over time. When I flipped to the first page of A Birthday for Frances, it was like taking a stroll down memory lane. Still, it’s hard to believe it’s … Continue reading →

For some kids, getting a book in their Christmas stocking is about as exciting as receiving underwear, a toothbrush, or an apple. Fortunately, it doesn’t have to be this way. Shatter the myth this holiday season by gifting your good guy or gal with the following super reads that pit bad blood against legendary super heroes: Superman Classic: Attack of the Toyman Don’t let the name fool you. Toyman is no Santa Claus. In fact, the diabolical villain is trying to play all of Metropolis. His first move: Unleash an attack by attaching explosives to remote-control cars. Toyman’s evil plan … Continue reading →

If you give a mouse a pumpkin… he’s going to make pie? Pancakes? Donuts? Cookies? Wrong, wrong, wrong, and wrong. Wrong book, right series. The oh-so right collection of If You Give A… books is growing, just in time for Halloween. It’s Pumpkin Day, Mouse! features the same feisty rodent from the award-winning children’s classic, If You Give A Mouse A Cookie; however, the story doesn’t employ the same trademark circular format used in the popular series. Not that young readers will miss it. The colorful board book has its own Halloween-themed hook that will keep your kids at the … Continue reading →

What’s in a name? If you are my young daughter, not so much. In her world, playing the name game is a piece of cake because what you see is typically what you get. Case in point: Her stuffed dinosaur’s name is Dino; her fuzzy black lab = Blackie; her plastic fish-shaped bath toy, Fishy; and her life-sized plush monkey, you guessed it–Monks. Of course, not all kids are able to slap a moniker on a prized possession as quickly and easily as my kid does. In fact, for some children, the task of naming a beloved toy is serious … Continue reading →

There’s nothing quite like a package full of pink to beat the summer blues. Enter Pinkalicious: Pink-a-Rama. The new box set filled with five fabulous Pinkalicious titles is the perfect addition to a family vacation. Whether you are traveling by air, land or sea, the collection of Level One, I Can Read stories by Victoria Kann couldn’t be easier to tote. Not only can your pretty princess escape to the world of Pinkalicious during a family getaway, she can do so in style. Pink-a-Rama comes packaged in a sturdy box with Velcro closures and a hot pink handle. Inside the … Continue reading →