Turn the Page Tuesday: Bear Snores On
The title of this one alone makes me giggle.
It's easy to see why Bear might be confused. In Bear Snores On (compare prices) by Karma Wilson and illustrated by Jane Chapman, he wakes up from his slumber one cold winter to night to find that a whole bunch of animals -- a badger, a mouse, a hare and more -- are having a perfectly wonderful time in his cave -- without him.
This perfectly sweet tale features a surprise ending that is sure to delight everyone who reads it. Great for reading at bedtime, naptime or even when you just want to snuggle up and cuddle, Bear's story, along with the warm, interesting illustrations are pleasers, and one you'll want to read again and again.
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Book cover image: PriceGrabber/Little Simon/Simon & Schuster
Getting Ready for Black Friday Shopping?
You might have a preschooler in your life, but chances are when it comes to holiday shopping, you have a lot of folks to think of. Other children, nieces, nephews, parents, grandparents, babysitters, teachers -- at holiday time it's fun to share the joy! As you get ready to do your holiday shopping, consider these great gift guides, put together by the experts on the About.com Parenting Channel. Happy shopping!
For Everyone on Your List:
- Give Cheap Gifts Without Looking Cheap
- Best Boyfriend/Girlfriend Gifts
- Top Inexpensive Gifts for Teachers, Coaches and Parent Volunteers
Gifts for Her:
Gifts for Tweens, Teens and Young Adults:
- 10 Great Stocking Stuffers for College Kids"
- Holiday Gifts Under $30 for College Kids & Young Adults
- Christmas Gift Ideas for Teens
- Christmas Gift Ideas for Teen Boys
- Christmas Gift Ideas for Teen Girls
- Gift Ideas for Tweens
Gifts for Kids:
- Active Toys for School-Aged Kids
- Active Toys for Toddlers and Preschoolers
- Top Gifts for Crafty Kids
- Top Preschool Board Games
- Educational Toys for Preschoolers
- Electronic Gifts and Games for Kids
- Electronic Gifts and Games for Preschoolers
- Classic Toys for Today's Kids
- Books That Keep Kids Busy
- Educational Kids Games for Grade Schoolers
Gifts for the Whole Family:
- Active Toys for the Whole Family
- Affordable Parent-Child Gifts
- Board Games That Are Fun for Parents, Too
- Video Games for the Whole Family
Gifts for Baby:
- Inexpensive Baby Clothes Gifts
- Gifts for Grandbaby's First Year
- Commemorative Gifts for Baby's First Christmas
Gifts for Grandparents:
Movies for the Family
- DVDs/Blu-rays for Preschoolers
- DVDs/Blu-rays for Kids Ages 6-9
- Disney Classic Re-releases - 2009
- Awesome Collector's Editions and DVD/Blu-ray Gift Sets - 2009
- New Christmas Movie Releases
Do you shop on Black Friday? What are you buying this year?
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Image: Photodisc/Tim Hall
Friday Find: Disney Musical Hand Wash Timers
With Disney Musical Hand Wash Timers (manufacturer site), you won't have to worry if your little one is spending enough time with her hands under the sink. The device, which snaps on to soap dispensers (think SoftSoap, Dial and other labels), plays music and lights up for 20 seconds, helping your preschooler (and you) wash hands for the amount of time recommended by most pediatricians.
The timers are $3.99 each, are available in Lighting McQueen and Ariel motifs, and according to the manufacturer, are good for over 1,000 washings each.
How do you teach your preschooler to wash her hands?
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Image: Healthy Hands
Turn the Page Tuesday: T is for Turkey
Turkey, pilgrims, Indians -- common words that you hear around Thanksgiving time, but what do they all mean? How do they all fit together? T Is for Turkey (publisher's site) by Tanya Stone and illustrated by Gerald Kelley, takes a look at the first Thanksgiving through the eyes of an elementary school play. Clever rhymes and illustrations help tell the tale and explain how Thanksgiving came to be on a basic level that preschoolers of all ages will understand and appreciate.
How do you explain Thanksgiving to your preschooler?
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Book cover image: Penguin Group
Noggin Switch to Nick Jr. Not A Smooth Transition (for Preschoolers)
For many preschoolers, change is not a good thing. Late in September, beloved preschool network Noggin switched its name to Nick Jr.
It's been over six weeks now and I'm still being inundated with e-mails and comments on my blog post announcing the news. Despite that the channel changed in name only, it seems that you (and your preschoolers), aren't happy.
Although everything is seemingly the same -- no commercials, 24-hour programming, Moose and Zee, nearly identical programming -- there are some little ones who are rejecting their once favorite television network, instead wishing they could still "use their Noggin." One mom says her son doesn't believe her when she tells him that the station is the same one he used to watch. Another says her little one is missing the online experience of noggin.com -- point your browser at that address and you'll be directed to a happy Moose A. Moose who will fill you in on the change.
Why the reason for the change? A press release from Nick Jr. says, "We're making this name change to strengthen the existing connection between Nickelodeon, our educational mission, and our preschool offerings on-air and online." Many parents didn't realize that Nickelodeon has always owned Noggin, so it's natural I suppose, that the network wants to keep everything nice and neat under one brand name.
Lots parents are cynical for the reasoning behind the move. One e-mail I got questioned the change, saying that as a parent, she liked that Noggin was seemingly independent from Nickelodeon. By switching the name to Nick Jr. she wrote, "my kids are just sucked into their megacorporation that much sooner," a thought echo by poster "Jim" who wrote:
"Don't like it one bit! Noggin was a name brand I was proud of. The Nick Jr. re-band was some marketing person trying to earn a pay check. If it's not broke, then leave it alone! But no, now we what to make sure that the Nick name brand is in front of the kids from day one."
What do you think? Did your preschooler realize there was a change? Take our poll and share your thoughts in the comments section below!
Friday Find: Pacific Play Bed Tents
There are a lot of products out there that make me wish that I was a kid again and the bed tents from Pacific Bay (compare prices), definitely fall into that category.
These are such fun, featuring all different themes including a surf scene, a tree house, a cottage and my personal favorite, a pirate ship. Attachable to a twin bed, the tents have graphics inside and out which make them perfect for play, as well as a cozy spot to settle in to sleep for the night.
Where does your preschooler sleep?
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Image: Pacific Play/PriceGrabber
Thrifty Thursday: Free Shipping from Online Vendors
I love the convenience that online shopping provides. I can sit in my living room in my pajamas and shop for everyone in my family without the hassle of crowds, parking and long lines (even better, I can order stuff for my kids while they sit right beside me unawares). What I don't like about it is paying for shipping.
CouponSherpa.com, a site that provides coupons for not only online shopping but for printing and mobile applications, has complied a list of online stores that have free shipping -- some are for all orders, others have minimum purchases. The site also has put together a list of holiday shipping deadlines for dozens of sites including standard, express and fastest shipping options.
"The list is designed to help consumers plan their holiday shopping," said Luke Knowles, who co-founded Coupon Sherpa with his brother, Jesse Knowles. "Different stores have different guidelines. Some will ship items as late as Dec. 20, for example, while others (such as merchants who make personalized gifts) require orders by Dec. 7-8."
Have you started your holiday shopping?
More Thrifty Thursday on the About.com Parenting Channel:
- Check Grocery Coupons for Savings on Gifts
- Check Out Clearance Racks with Your Teens
- Save Money on Baby by Decluttering
- American Girl Offers Budget-Conscious Gifts
- Take Advantage of Free Shipping This Holiday Season
- Plan Now, Black Friday Deals Already Circulating
- Shop Early for Savings on Holiday Gifts
Sesame Street 40th Anniversary Exhibit at the Brooklyn Public Library
When it comes to celebrating 40 years on the air, the party never stops for the folks at Sesame Workshop. In collaboration with The Jim Henson Company and the Jim Henson Legacy, Sesame Workshop and the Brooklyn Public Library will present a three-month exhibition of memorabilia at the Central Library at 10 Grand Army Plaza. The display will include family programs, and a limited-edition Elmo-themed library card that will be released on Saturday, November 14.
"We are thrilled to partner with Sesame Street to celebrate their 40th anniversary," said Dionne Mack-Harvin," Executive Director, Brooklyn Public Library. "BPL and Sesame Workshop share a longtime commitment to children's education and early literacy development. Our alliance to create a limited-edition Sesame Street library card is not only a unique opportunity to celebrate the program's reach across generations, but an exciting moment to cultivate a new set of young Brooklynites into lifelong learners and readers."
The exhibit, Sesame Street: A Celebration of 40 Years of Life on the Street, will be on display through February 21, 2010 and will include original, never publicly displayed Sesame Street memorabilia such as show scripts, sheet music and animation cels art.
Brooklyn Public Library will also give out 100,000 limited-edition bookmarks at all 60 branches while supplies last.
Brooklyn Borough President Marty Markowitz said, "The sun always shines on Brooklyn, so there's no better place to celebrate the show that has been giving us 'sunny days, sweeping the clouds away' for 40 years. I am proud to say that this special Sesame Street exhibit will be brought to you by the letters B, P and L."
For more information call 718-230-2100.
Related:
Turn the Page Tuesday: Sesame Street: A Celebration of 40 Years of Life on the Street
This one is probably geared more at the grownups, rather than the kids, but Sesame Street: A Celebration of 40 Years of Life on the Street (compare prices) by Louise Gikow does offer something for everyone.
This tremendous behind-the-scenes tome offers an insiders view of Sesame Street, featuring never-seen-before photos, scripts and drawings right from the desk of Jim Henson and Sesame Workshop. It's great for fans past and present, as well as those who are interested in the history of television. There are 1,500 photographs of everything -- muppets, cast members, sets -- you name it, it is in there.
Are there Sesame Street fans in your house?
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Image: Black Dog & Leventhal Publishers
Sesame Street Season 40 Premieres Tuesday, November 10
Sunny days will once again be on their way tomorrow, when Sesame Street starts its 40th season tomorrow, Tuesday, November 10.
Quite a bit has changed between then and now, and I'm not just talking about the clothes or the color of Oscar the Grouch (check out the photo from season one -- he was orange!). The folks over at Sesame Workshop have put together a list of 40 Things You Didn't Know About Sesame Street, that includes some pretty cool facts about the show, with some interesting nuggets:
- Bert has more than 368 bottle caps in his collection.
- Oscar was just as grouchy in 1969 as he is today. His first words on the show were "Don't bang on my can! Go away."
- Cameraman Frankie Biando has been filming Sesame Street since the first season and still operates Camera 1 on today's set.
- All of the Sesame Street Muppets have four fingers, except Cookie Monster, who has five.
Search engine giant Google has even gotten in on the celebrating, featuring "Google Doodles" of different muppets this week. Honorees have included Big Bird, Cookie Monster and the Count.
What is your favorite Sesame Street memory?
Related:
- Using Sesame Street to Teach Your Preschooler
- A Visit to the Sesame Street set
- Happy Birthday Sesame Street!
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Image: Richard Termine