UrbanBaby Buzz

In an age when children seem mesmerized by iPads and smart phones and things that go bleep and bloop, Press Here is giggly proof that they don’t need all that to have a good time. Readers are first instructed to do what the title says: Press here, with an arrow indicating a yellow dot. You do, you turn the page — and the dot has turned red!

Readers are next instructed to shake the book, turn it upside down, and do other actions, as the dots multiply, diminish, change colors, move across the page, and otherwise “react” to what you’ve just done. It’s a simple idea, but a powerful one: Kids and adults alike giggle wildly as they read this book. And it’s proved so popular that it all but flies off bookstore shelves, so the next time you see a copy, grab it: You may not be so lucky again!

Press Here, $10

Among the many, many reasons to be sad about Jim Henson’s tragic death: No more StoryTellers, ever. The dark fairy tale series was made in the late ’80s, but didn’t garner ratings high enough to make its giant price tag worth it. The studio pulled the plug on The StoryTeller after one 13-episode season and another with just 4 eps, and ever since bootlegs and VHS copies have been circulating. In 2006 the entire collection appeared on DVD, and are now on Netflix Streaming. But once you’ve seen all the episodes, that’s all you’ve got.

Except, now Archaia Comics, the same publisher that’s been putting out Fraggle Rock cartoon books, has come out with Jim Henson’s The StoryTeller graphic novel. More than 100 pages of juicy storytelling goodness, including (squee!) a story, The Witch Baby, adapted from one of three unused scripts written by Anthony Minghella for the original series.

Other stories include Puss in Boots, Japanese fable Motomoro the Peach Boy, and The Crane Wife, each rendered in atmospheric images and spare, carefully chosen words.

Jim Henson’s The StoryTeller, $20

As we wrap up 2011 we reflect on many things, but first - the best books. Reading with our children this year was never more of a pleasure with new treasures from Dr. Seuss, Tomie dePaola, Oliver Jeffers, and Shel Silverstein (to name a few). But we choose Lane Smith’s Grandpa Green as our 2011 top favorite.

It would be impossible to sort through all of the parenting book selections and choose just one as a 2011 favorite, but there are plenty on our bookshelf that we love and refer to often: The Art of Roughhousing by Anthony T. DeBenedet, M.D. & Lawrence J. Cohen, Ph.D., 50 Dangerous Things (you should let your children do) by Gever Tulley and Julie Spiegler, Torn: True Stories of Kids, Careers & the Conflict of Modern Motherhood edited by Ed. By Samantha Parent Walravens, and Welcome to Your Child’s Brain by Sandra Aamonth, Ph.D. and Sam Wang, Ph.D.

Here are some helpful and interesting lists to help you sort through what might be left to read before 2012:

Library Journal Best Books of 2011: Parenting

Library Journal Best Books of 2011: Top Ten

Library Journal Best Books of 2011: YA Lit for Adults
Famous Authors share their favorite book gifted to them – USA Today

Since this Newberry Award-winning book came out in 1979, moms and dads may have encountered it before. Maybe in school, where enraptured teachers read it aloud to their classes? If you have, you’re probably already running to buy it for your children. If you haven’t, Ellen Raskin’s comic mystery comes as a completely delightful surprise.

Raskin, who also illustrated children’s books, has a masterly way with characters, filling The Westing Game with more than a dozen, all vividly drawn and immersed in the book’s central mystery, how they are all connected to forbidding and presumably recently deceased paper products mogul Samuel Westing. There’s Chris, the wheelchair-bound bird-watcher who sees more than he bargains for through his binoculars. There’s Turtle, the ten-year-old firebrand who plays the stock market and kicks people who pull her braid. There’s J.J. Ford, the judge and James Hoo, the Chinese restauranteur, and Flora Baumbach, who has a secret past.

All these people have secrets, in fact, and the most cleverest of word-twisting puzzle-solvers may just solve the Westing Game before then end of the book. Even if you don’t, what fun to try.

Highlights from the boards for the week of Dec 1st – Dec 7th:

My Awful Overheard Comment Will Cause Permanent Damage to Relationship with DC… (55 Replies)
16 y/o son is going through a rough patch. To my great shame, last night, after yet another argument, I went into my bedroom and muttered something terrible about him under my breath, which he heard. I spent the rest of the night apologizing and telling him that I didn’t really mean it, that I am just frustrated with my inability to help him with what is bothering him. I think I did permanent damage to him and to our relationship.

Enrichment Instead of Recess… (13 Replies)
Recess is being replaced by enrichment at some public schools. What do you think of this trend?

I’m a Childless Aunt Who Wants Great Relationships and I’ll Provide Funds…(28 Replies)
I’m an aunt, and I probably won’t have kids of my own. My nieces and nephews will probably inherit me, and whatever money I don’t spend on myself and my retirement can go to whomever and whatever I wish. I hope that I can grow into a supportive aunt that they enjoy spending time with, and it would be an honor to be able to provide certain opportunities and contribute to DBs’ education and pay for summer school, camps, travel. As a parent, would you welcome something like this from your sister or SIL? I want to make sure I’m not overstepping my boundaries.

Get Over it Kid!… (16 Replies)
At what age can a child be expected to, for lack of a better term, “get over it!” As an example - if you are on the subway or bus, and your child is thirsty but you don’t have anything to give them - at what age do they learn to accept that instead of crying or screaming? And how do you help them get to that point?

Miscellany

People Who Don’t find out Gender in Advance Think They’re Superior (57 Replies)

The Video Game Question (21 Replies)

SIL, Please Stop Filming Us on iPhone! (5 Replies)

Naming My DD After Me (29 Replies)

Holiday outfits for baby are certainly not in short supply, but most of them are of the stiff-and-scratchy variety. You can get them on baby for a few photos, but then they’ll have to go if you don’t want to listen to baby grizzle all day. Do baby (and yourself!) a favor and settle on something comfy and cute instead.

Sozo offers its Holiday Bunting and Cap Sets in three designs: Frosty the Snowman, Santa Claus, and (pictured) Christmas Elf. What is bunting? Think Sweepea. Baby’s little head and legs will be cozy, covered, warm, and just totally fetching.

Fits newborn to 6 months.

Holiday Bunting and Cap, $30

One annoying thing about buying children’s toys is that they get too short for kids before they technically wear out. A play stove or work table that’s perfectly sized for your toddler is going to be way too low for him when he hits preschool.

That’s why this Grow-with-Me Tool Bench is such a nifty idea. The concept of play work can linger for a good long time, from the age when she can first grasp a tool and stand until she’s 7 or even beyond, so thanks to the special included leg extensions, the bench will get taller as she does. 

The bench grows to 34 inches in height, and includes all the tools you’ll need, made of sturdy wood and quality plastic, with magnets to hold them neatly in place on the bench. 

Grow-with-Me Tool Bench, $129

So many great new titles to share with you this year to help your family celebrate the holiday season. Remarkable illustrations grace these thoughtful tales - some new and others treasured classics worthy of these unique renditions. Enjoy the story of the first Rockefeller Center tree, a “Captain Santa” who delivered Christmas trees across Lake Michigan, intricately-cut paper illustrations of the traditional nativity story, new characters from Olivier Dunrea, and much more.

Lighthouse Christmas by Toni Buzzeo and Illustrations by Nancy Carpenter (Ages 5-8)

Available at Amazon.com and Independent Booksellers

A Christmas Tree for Pyn by Olivier Dunrea (Ages 3-8)

Available at Amazon.com and Independent Booksellers

The Carpenter’s Gift: A Christmas Tale about the Rockefeller Center Tree by David Rubel and Illustrated by Jim LaMarche (Ages 5-8)

Available at Amazon.com and Independent Booksellers

The Twelve Days of Christmas by Laurel Long (Ages 3-5)

Available at Amazon.com and Independent Booksellers

The Christmas Tree Ship by Carol Crane and Illustrated by Chris Ellison (Ages 6-10)

Available at Amazon.com and Independent Booksellers

Mary Engelbreit’s Nutcracker (All Ages)

Available at Amazon.com and Independent Booksellers

The Story of Christmas from the King James Bible and Illustrations by Pamela Dalton

Available at Amazon.com and Independent Booksellers

Chanukah Lights by Michael J. Rosen and Illustrated by Robert Sabuda (Ages 5 and up)

Available at Amazon.com and Independent Booksellers

Hanukkah, Oh Hanukkah by Olga Ivanov and Illustrated by Aleksey Ivanov

Available at Amazon.com and Independent Booksellers

Thanks to Jason Segal’s resurrection of the Muppet franchise, Generation X-ers have been able to pleasantly hear bits of their own childhood pop culture repeated by their very own children. Imagine, kindergarteners rambling on about Miss Piggy and Fozzie Bear rather than Dora and Spongebob!

Encourage this Muppet obsession with a pair of Adidas Superstar 2.0 Kermit Shoes, the almost punishingly stylish new sneaker. There’s a men’s version too, in all green, but this one settles for white with deep-green stripes, “The original hip hop” and a pic of Kermie emblazoned on the side, and, best of all, Kermit’s iconic collar cascading over the shoe’s tongue.

Adidas Superstar 2.0 Kermit Shoes, $50

Highlights from the boards for the week of Nov 24th – Nov 30th:

Leaving Kids Alone with Male Relatives… (42 Replies)
Does anyone here have a fear of leaving their children alone with male relatives? I left my dd (2.5) with my BIL (DH’s brother), FIL, and BIL’s three kids (boys 7, 6 and 2) for a few hours over the weekend while we were visiting out of state. I was extremely stressed out about it the entire time. My sister was abused by our uncle as a child and he tried to do the same to me, so I know where this stems from. But I’m not sure how to deal with it.

Frustrated with Out-of-Work DH… (19 Replies)
Feeling very frustrated with DH lately. I work FT. He’s been out of work for more than a year and is barely looking — he spends much of his time on home improvement projects, though to be fair he also spends a lot of time on after-school child care while I’m at work. I’d guess he applies for about one job a month. He doesn’t want to talk about it and says career counseling or therapy would be a waste of time.

Kid Great at School but Disrespectful at Home… (57 Replies)
My 7 yo DS is giving us lots of trouble at home by being disrespectful and defiant. He speaks rudely to us, torments his little sister–says things like “I hate you.” I emailed his teachers to ask how things are at school and they write back saying he is a delight and very engaging, has lots of friends, always happy. They asked if they could share my email with the school counselor.

Teaching Kids to Stand Up for Themselves… (74 Replies)
How do you teach your DC to stand up for him/her self when they are being teased/picked on by their classmates?

Miscellany

Mean Girls on the Bus (21 Replies)

As an Adult & Parent, What Do You Expect for Your Birthday? (18 Replies)

Did DH Stay with You Overnight After DC was Born? (26 Replies)