Peek-a-Who?

Title: Peek-A Who?
Author: Nina Laden
Publish Date: February 1, 2000
Publisher: Chronicle Books
Pages: 10
ISBN: 0811826023

Price: $6.95

Age Range: 0-4
Classification: Board Book

Annotation: This interactive book is filled with simple, bright illustrations and a baby guesses and turns the easy to hold chunky pages to fine out the question, Peek-a-WHO? A moo, a zoo, a YOU!

Evaluation: This book is super cute and encourages exploration, surprise, and play. It's takes the "Peek-a-Boo" game to the next level. It supports parent-baby & toddler bonding. The little die-cut opening that keeps you guessing what's on the other side is a perfect baby-hand sized hole that supports both predictive literacy skills and fine motor skills.

Autor Website: http://www.ninaladen.com/

Super-Safe Color Viewers

Title: Super-Safe Color Viewers
Author: N/A
Publish Date: N/A
Publisher: N/A
Pages: N/A
Item Number: DD657 (Lakeshore Learning)

Price: $19.95
Classification: Toy
Age Range: infant - kindergarten / 6 mos. - 5 yrs.

Annotation: This exploratory fun toy that is safe and durable allows baby to grip and view the world in a variety of colors.

Evaluation: Super easy to hold, shatterproof and safe, this toy is a wonderful tool for education, developmentally appropriate play and exploration for baby and parent!

Link to Product: http://www.lakeshorelearning.com/seo/ca|searchResults~~p|DD657~~.jsp

Baby Band

Title: Baby Band

Author: N/A
Publish Date: N/A
Publisher: N/A
Pages: N/A
Item Number: RE623 (Lakeshore Learning)

Price: $21.99
Classification: Toy
Age Range: infant - preschool / birth - 3 yrs.

Annotation: Shaped perfectly for baby hands this little set of musical toys will be a first groove inducer.

Evaluation: These tools are not only fun to play and experiment with but they will encourage vital developmental skills little ones need. Movement encourages expression and fine motor skill development while providing fun and excitement! This would be a great addition to the toy chest while really being a masked pre-literacy tool! Move over sneaky chef, we're sneaky literacy players!

Link to Product: http://www.lakeshorelearning.com/seo/ca|searchResults~~p|RE623~~.jsp

Giant Soft Building Blocks

Title: Giant Soft Building Blocks

Author: Lakeshore Learning

Product Number: GB619

Price: $129.00

Age Range for Toy: 9 Months-6 Years

Annotation: Building "sky high" soft mounds of fun with these super safe, giant building blocks.

Evaluation: It never fails, building blocks are always a hit with kids. But, with younger kids jumbo size blocks are better for motor skills but they are still hard and sometimes dangerous. These blocks are developmentally appropriate in more then one way. The Largest block is just over 11 inches. The only draw back is they are extremely expensive. A great reason to find a library and join their "Family Place" program. There are sure to be some soft giant blocks in that workshop!

Link to Product: Here

Find a Family Place Library: http://www.familyplacelibraries.org/

Shapes Discovery Boxes

Title: Shapes Discovery Boxes

Product Number: GG487

Price: $49.95

Age Group: Infant - Preschool / 9 mos. - 3 yrs.

Annotation: Concepts like shapes and colors are prettily packaged in a fun toy that encourage family play as well as independent play.

Evaluation: The colorful boxes are about five inches tall and packed with color coordinated items (and some familiar one too-like faux crayons, waffles, or wheels). Developmentally, babies and toddlers explore everything from color and shaped recognition, to putting things in and out of boxes, opening and shutting, and much much more. Creativity and exploration take over in this wonderful (and safe) learning toy! The outside is a washable vinyl and all together there are 16 pieces.

Link to Item on Lakeshore Learning: Here

Get Up And Dance

• Format: Closed-captioned, Color, DVD, NTSC
• Language: English
• Region: Region 1 (U.S. and Canada only.)
  
• Aspect Ratio: 1.33:1
• Number of discs: 1
• Rated: Unrated
• Studio: Sesame Street
• DVD Release Date: March 7, 2003
• Run Time: 30 minutes
• ASIN: B000I5XCZC
• Annotation: Come to Big Bird's party and dance it up!
• Evaluation: With all the kinds of DVDs, books, music, Fingerplays and all, there are few chances for kids to get up and move and dance, but at a level they can do it! It's developmentally appropriate for little bodies, with dances like I'm a little airplane, Birdland jump and Doin' the grouch! Should be fun, great exercise, and a wonderful way to get some energy out!

First Art: Art explorations for Toddlers and Twos

Title: First Art: Art explorations for Toddlers and Twos

Author: MaryAnn F. Kohl

Price: $14.95

ISBN: 0876592221

Publisher: Gryphon House

Publishing Date: 2002

Genre: Parenting and Activities

Subject: Art

Annotation: An easy to use guide for parents in first art activities and exploration for toddlers and two year olds. It's the process not the product!

Evaluation: Many parents think of art as a talent, special for those older children that show an interest. With this book, directed to the early years, redefines that notion. “It’s the process not the product” say this book of art explorations perfect for the little one. It explains the idea behind art for little ones, as well as how to use the book and how to set up for projects. It also illustrates how to do the projects and has some color picture examples. A fun and inspirational book for parents with great activities anyone can do with their little ones!