Henry in Love
Today, Kate highly recommends Henry in Love:
How do we learn about love? Not parental love -- something so fundamental that I assume it is part of us from birth (if not before) -- but romantic love? My daughter has started asking questions about love songs, about the composition of different families that we know, and about why Cinderella falls for the Prince even though he barely utters a word throughout their (admittedly brief) courtship.
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Music is a powerful trigger, and for me, They Might Be Giants immediately conjures memories of rocking out to their quirky tunes in college. And whether you're a longtime fan, or want to widen your kid's palette of musical options, together you'll no doubt enjoy TMBG's foray into family friendly music. TMBG plays at the 
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Stephanie Precourt projects remarkable light, positivity, and gratitude; qualities -- along with her lovely writing style and beautiful photography -- that make her blog 
Despite being a digital mom, I’m that mom; the one who refused to have anything but natural wooden and soft toys around Laurel as a baby, the one who has steered clear of anything battery operated since. Until recently. And while I remain a proponent of the learn through play philosophy via basic tools -- you’ll always find a plentiful supply of books, paper, paint, colored pencils, sculpting clay, dry pasta and beans + measuring cups, etc. at our house -- I now feel that it’s possible to merge certain electronics into the mix with Laurel; as a supplement, with benefits, and without taking over. 
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On mornings where Laurel resists waking up, one foolproof way to get her to roll over and open her eyes is to read aloud. She adores books and I love reading them to her, especially when they are as beautifully crafted as those by 
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Teaching Laurel empathy has always been very important to us, not only to help curb age appropriate but hurtful behaviors such as biting and hitting, but also simply to help her learn how to be a good friend and family member. And while she has embraced these lessons since toddlerhood (in daycare she always was quick to give a hug or rub a friend’s back if they were sad), we know we’ll need to revisit these themes through her young life. And for parents of tweens, here’s an interesting way to help teach compassion to kids: 
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From the looks of Laurel’s play dates and preschool, it certainly seems as if the boys are always the pirates. But that wasn’t always the case, and award winning local author Jane Yolen makes clear – with captivating detail and a historical look - in 
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Although the school year is just starting to wind down for many families, for others, the summer months represent a major change: the final phase before kindergarten. Today, 
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Whether you're disappointed that folk singer/songwriter 
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. This product is designed for kids 6 months - 4 years; read on for reviews from three of my mamas (with kids in the 14 month - 3.5 year range), and to learn how to win a Braincandy DVD:
With shows perfectly sandwiched around midday nap, you can catch Gwen & The Gang at 
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. Book collaborator Xinran Xue will be in Cambridge today through Friday for 
offers an elegantly illustrated introduction to Zen themes via the stories that new friend Stillwater the panda shares with three siblings. The reflective beauty of the stories will suit both kids and adults, and I love thinking of our wonderful friends (who hand delivered this book despite being on a crazed East Coast tour from the UK) every time Laurel climbs onto my lap for a read.
, from Boston-area publisher 
. 
. The finale included a fabulous allergy-friendly piggy cake:
. There’s no chapter dedicated to squirrel catching (which Jon humanely handled with a trash can and golf club for squirrel nudging), but Dangerous provides excellent fodder to bring back the marvelous, lazy days of summer inquiry, offering the how-to on everything from survival (e.g., knots, first aid, spy codes, tree houses), to gadgets (e.g., batteries, timers and tripwires), to literacy (e.g., grammar, poetry, Latin phrases), to sporting rules, to world history and landmarks, to tales of bravery and adventure. 
, which currently is one of her favorite books. This beautifully illustrated classic is a must have; in addition to offering a means for kids to learn about counting, food (Laurel of course goes nuts on the junk food bonanza page), and the cycle of life, more recently the book has helped us teach Laurel about being more aware of her body. Specifically, if she’s on a food bender, demanding more, we ask her whether she’s really hungry or if her belly is already full. And now she’ll pause for a moment, sometimes rub her belly or wiggle side to side, then tell us that she is, in fact, still hungry, or that she’s full and doesn’t want to get a stomach ache like the very hungry caterpillar. 
book + CD. This large format hardcover includes lyrics, colorful illustrations, music notation and chord charts for those who wish to play along, and tips for eco living. A mini edition of the book will be available in June, and a portion of the proceeds will benefit global conservation charities.
($5.95 at 
. We don’t make the cake nearly as frequently as we’d like to, but we’ve been spending a lot of 
($7.95 at 
($6.99 at 
” ($6.99 at Amazon) was a gift from a dear friend (long before the babe was around!) and is – without question – one of our favorite books. The illustrations bring character and expression to each and every pig; the text offers a clever rhyme scheme that will hold your babe’s attention while offering your brain some mental gymnastics to get the wording right on memorization.
"Miffy’s Magnifying Glass
? Multicultural education is a bargain at $7.95.
