Storytime: For Tots Whose Imaginations Run Wild

Do the stories made up by your little one rival the Brothers Grimm? 

If so, foster this creativity into non-mischievous channels!  These books are great examples of characters who use their imaginations and creative viewpoints to their advantage.

These tales will inspire their imaginations to take flight!


The Gruffalo, by Julia Donaldson

This story is a best seller throughout the UK, and upon reading it you'll know why.  Its a delightful tale of a little mouse who uses its imagination to outsmart predators of all shapes and sizes.  The colorful drawings and intriguing storyline will delight your kids and keep them entertained.

Frederick, by Leo Lionni

Some tales just get better with age.  This recipient of the Caldecott Honor Medal is a book that has amused children for years.  A little mouse, once disparaged as a day dreamer and a poet, becomes the greatest asset to his community when he's able to use his creativity and imagination to help them through the long cold winter.  Stated simply - its a great story, with great pictures & a great message.

 Abuela, by Arthur Dorros

While out with her grandmother a young girl wonders - what if I could fly?  And off they soar, traveling throughout a bustling city.  The mixed media illustrations are wonderfully detailed and the use of Spanish woven throughout the story adds an exciting educational aspect.

Storytime: Books for all the Tiny Dancers

If your little ones cant keep their feet still once the music starts, try adding these books to your storytime rotation.

Miss Tutu's Star, by Leslea Newman.
Little Selena loves to dance.  When enrolled in Miss Tutu's School of Dance she learns new choreography and prepares for an upcoming recital.  The book provides great messages related to working towards goals and overcoming fears.  This book is really quite funny and the illustrations are sure to put a smile on your little ones' faces! 

How Can You Dance, by Rick Walton
This is a great book of rhymes and dance inspiration.  It is full of colorful and creative drawings, and the author encourages children to create their own dance steps while moving like trees, foxes, frogs and more.  Get ready to dance like a kangaroo - hop hop hop!

My Name is Not Alexander, by Jennifer Fosberry
Through conversations with his father, a young boy lets his imagination run wild as he takes on the personas of his greatest heros - including Fred Astaire.  " I am FRED... the greatest, smoothest dancer there ever was!".  The concept, colors and content are all top notch.  And while its far away, keep it in mind as a great Fathers Day book selection.

Flora and the Flamingo by Molly Idle
This sweet book needs no words! Through interactive storytelling, Flora and her new friend learn about friendship and dance loved by tiny dances from coast to coast! Your little ones will love mimicking the graceful moves of this duo.

Real Parties: Curious George 1st Birthday

Birthday Boy ready to party!

Curious George was an obvious choice for KJ's parents when deciding a theme for their soon-to-be one year old.  The party was enjoyed by all, especially the birthday boy.

Are you curious too? Read & see more after the jump!

Throwback Thursday (#TBT)! Photo Shoot, 2012 Marathon Print

We at Beacon Street Baby love a good Throwback Thursday (#TBT)!

Check out below for our very first Marathon print back in 2012 -- my how time flies!

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Beacon Street Baby had a successful photo shoot today for our 2012 Marathon print!

The beautiful spring weather made White Stadium in Boston's Franklin Park the perfect background for this track & field shoot.  Here's a glimpse at some of the photographs:

But alas, not all pictures made the cut. We hope you enjoy these out takes as much as we do - sometimes even a fussy baby can be cute!

Top 10 Gifts for a One Year Old

Trying to find a perfect gift is tough - and its even tougher when your mommy brain cant remember one thing that your now 5 year old played with at 12 months!

Consider this your refresher course!

Here is a tried and true list of great gifts for any one year old:

Board Book - Good Night iPad
Chances are the parents got a copy (or two, or three) of Good Night Moon at their baby shower.  Fast forward a year or so, and this book just might be a little more fitting. Good Night iPad by Ann Droyd will put a smile on the parents face while also serve as that reminder we all need to unplug.

Wooden Activity Cube
Many brands make these toys, I am especially fond of the B Zany Zoo Activity Cube that is found at Target.  The cube is heavy and sturdy, and the flap doors are a major hit.  At the same time, each side has a different activity, and the top has a great tactile bead game.  Animals, colors, shapes - it has everything to keep 1 year olds entertained.

Stack and Roll Cups
At first glance thing toy seems basic and boring - dont be fooled.  I was amazed at the number of ways my son's preschool teacher used this item to teach.  Stack them, make them into balls, play pop the ball, hide the ball inside, teach numbers, teach colors -- the list goes on.  The toy can be used for kids 6 months and up, but with so many different ways to utilize it, it will be used for a number of years.

Levert Pajamas
You can never have enough pajamas! We especially like Levert Pajamas because, unlike others, the material actually improves with time.  No pilling, no scratchy fabric - I dont know how they do it, but they seem to get softer with each wash!  They have great designs and at a price point that wont break the bank - a real quality buy.

Straw Bottles
Once babies hit the one year mark, many start the transition from bottle to sippy cup and/or straw bottle.  A great product to try is the Monstraw's straw bottle.  One of the best things about this bottle is that it can be fully taken apart and washed - no little parts for yuck and guck to get stuck!

Swipe Toy Cell Phone
Yes, we recognize this post will probably be obsolete in a matter of days, but in the meantime - what does a one year old really want to play with?  Your phone!  For a long time the toy phones were virtually unrecognizable to today's kids - not anymore.  Vtech has created a great Swipe Cell Phone baby toy.  While I cant promise it will replace your little one's desire for you smart phone, it will entertain them in the meantime.

Diapers
Yes, its boring.  But yes, it is oh so practical and necessary!  If there is one thing that every one year old needs and every parent is tired of buying - its diapers.  So help a parent out, bring a box of diapers.  Not sure of the size -- chances are a 5 or 6 will suffice.  Better too big, they will grow into them eventually!

Growth Charts
Right around one the little ones start standing up - perfect time to start charting their growth.  There are so many options for growth charts, and many can be personalized.  This is also a perfect opportunity to support a small business / etsy store.  For example, check out CreativeByClair's personalized growth charts.  So adorable!

Cute Storage
Now granted, this is not on the top of the one year old's wishlist -- but I betcha its on his momma's!  Kids have so much stuff -- sooo much stuff!!  And it really can start to get cray cray around the one year mark.  Let's give a gift that is cute, functional and sanity-inducing.  A nice big basket that can be filled with toys, blocks, or even laundry (sooo much laundry!).  LoveJoyCreate has great fabric patterns and the cutest of storage containers.

Adirondack Chair
A outdoor take on an already popular gift - the kids chair.  Nothing says spring and summer in New England like an kids sized Adirondack chair! As most things available at Target, we love this design and the bright colors.   Bonus Points - if you're bringing this as a gift it would be oh so sweet of you to assemble it ahead of time! 

Storytime: For Tots with a Passport

Its wonderful to expose your children to many cultures and diverse communities.  If your little one loves to try new things, experience new cultures and learn new languages, why not encourage these interests through the library at your home. 

 
 Bee-Bim Bop, by Linda Sue Park

This is a charming story of a young child eager to help her mother grocery shop, prepare and cook dinner.   A wonderful addition to this story is the author's very own recipe for Bee-bim Bop to try with your own family.

Have You Seen My Cat?, by Eric Carle

As to be expected with Eric Carle, this story is delightful and beautifully illustrated.   A young boy visits different cultures throughout the globe searching for his cat, all along learning about native animals in different regions.

Whoever You Are, by Mem Fox

“Little one, whoever you are, wherever you are, there are little ones just like you all over the world"  - this is the wonderful lesson Mem Fox weaves throughout this colorful children's book.   The author points out differences and similarities throughout many cultures, and does so in a way that children can understand and learn from.




Do you have suggestions for great multicultural books?  We'd love to hear from you!

Puts the "OH!" in To-Go! Mom Hack for Feeding Babies on the Move

We're loving this genius all-in-one baby food dispensing "Squirt" spoon by Boon!

If you're hittin' the road or just heading to the park down the street and need some food to-go, pack up a Squirt with your baby's favorite yummies, put the cap on and you're ready to go!

Who needs to fill their diaper bag with spoons and jars and use both hands to feed their baby on the road? Not you!  Just squeeze a Squirt!  (Did we just say that!? Lol - yeah, we did!)


p.s. This handy tool is also BpA-free, Phthalate-free and PVC-free!

Cooking with Kids: Let Them Eat (Yogurt) Cake!

Bonjour!  We’ve just finished re-reading Bringing Up Bebe: One American Mother Discovers the Wisdom of French Parenting by Pamela Druckerman.   

We’ll let you decide what you make of this controversial guide to the essentials of French child-rearing – but one take away that everyone will enjoy is a recipe for gâteau au yaourt (Yogurt Cake)!   

One part of the book that we loved was the focus on engaging the family through food.  A ritual for many French families is to spend a portion of each weekend baking and cooking together, as a family.  The little ones learn to contribute in the kitchen as soon as they can lift a spoon!  

Gâteau au yaourt is a classic children’s recipe that bébés can make on their own (with a bit of loving oversight from their mamans and papas).

Gâteau au yaourt

• 2 six-ounce containers plain whole-milk yogurt (use the empty containers to measure the other ingredients)
• 2 eggs
• 2 containers of sugar
• 1 teaspoon vanilla
• Just under 1 container vegetable oil
• 4 containers of flour
• 1 ½ teaspoons baking powder
• Crème fraîche(optional)

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 

Preheat over to 375°F.

Use vegetable oil to grease 9-inch round cake pan or a loaf pan.

Gently combine the yogurt, eggs, sugar, vanilla, and oil.   

In a separate bowl, mix the flour and baking powder.  

Add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients; mix gently until ingredients are just combined (don’t over mix).   You can add 2 containers of frozen berries or 1 container of chocolate chips, or any flavoring you like.  

Bake for 35 minutes, then 5 minutes more if the cake doesn’t pass the knife test.  

Let it cool.  Serve with tea and a dollop of crème fraîche.

Love This: Non-Candy Easter Basket Filler

We at Beacon Street Baby are proponents of filling your little one's Easter baskets with items other than candy.  Not only will the items last longer, but come on, no child needs three pounds of sugar to celebrate the resurrection! 

A perfect example of non-candy Easter basket fillers is this adorable eco-friendly wood and felt bunny & duck kit by Topozoo.  The pieces are big and sturdy, the design is clean and bright.  It is like a puzzle for kids to assemble, and once they are put together your kids have these wonderful toys. 

So walk right past the aisles of green plastic 'grass' and skip those chocolate eggs filled with yolk-flavored corn syrup -- this is a basket filler that will put a smile on the faces of both your kids and their dentists!

Love This: Ride the Pony!

Offi Classic Baltic Rocking Horse

Some originals need a remix!

Perfect example - this modern take on the classic rocking horse. 

Clean lines, a safe seat, yet still adorable with the classic pony head.  Its a perfect addition to any nursery.

The rocking horse by Offi can be purchased here!

Feelin' Hot Hot Hot!

Here comes a heatwave!  In Boston that means one thing - SPRAYGROUNDS!  For wet fun in the sun, check out this list of free spraygrounds throughout Boston & all of Massachusetts.

To be the cutest thing at the sprayground, we suggest you dress your little girl in one of these vintage inspired bathing suits by Dagmar Daley:

Now, the sad truth is there just isn't the same selection of over the top cuteness when it comes to baby boy swimsuits - but these little European style swim trunks from Zara will set your guys apart from the crowd.

Mon Cher Pug for Mon Cher You!

These adorable little creatures by Mon Cher Pug make a unique and wonderful gift for anyone aged 0-101.  We love the handmade dolls and are having trouble choosing just one!  Which one is your favorite?

Love This: Snugglies by LuckyBoySunday

We love this collection of unique pillows and snuggle toys made by Copenhagen based company, LuckyBoySunday.

LuckyBoySunday products are hand knit by women in Bolivia.  The company partners with Bolivian women, uses local 100% baby alpaca wool and has created long term jobs at fair wages.  To view their entire product line and read more about the company, visit their website at http://www.luckyboysunday.dk/.

To buy LuckBoySunday products in the US, check out http://www.thumbeline.com.

Bargain/Brahmin Baby: Summertime Denim Dresses

Nothing is more adorable for a sunny day than a demin jumper with matching bloomers! These high - low options can meet any bank account.

For the bargain baby check out this lovely embroidered duo in a light blue denim at Zara for just $32.90.

For the brahmin baby you cant say no to this denim dress with plaid bottoms by Burberry priced at $143.00.

It's Safari Time!

We've just stumbled upon the most playful designs by P'kolino.  Their Tree Table with Giraffe and Zebra Chairs does not need to be tucked away into a kid-friendly zone, but can brighten up any living space with it's clean design and bright colors. 

Crystal Ships Bring Sweet Dreams

We admit that these may be a bit extravagant for a nursery, but we love them anyway!  Pottery Barn Kids has a collection of chandeliers that are sweet and whimsical.  Take a peek at the entire collection!

Rainy Days Call for Bright Prints!

Loving the cozy stroller blankets by Petunia Picklebottom -the Peaceful Portofino print is calming and cheerful!  Also, check out her shopper totes (love Holiday in the Hague) -they are perfect to pop under your stroller so you'll be ready to shop green!

Travel Smart!

When you're heading out for vacation this summer, don't forget to pack Prince Lionheart's Flexi Bath for your baby or toddler (ages 0-4).  This lightweight, foldable, BPA-free and portable tub comes in a variety of colors and will ensure that you don't run into any unpleasant surprises when the house you rented on the cape only has shower stalls!  Crisis averted!

Update your FLOR!

Today is the grand opening of FLOR in Boston! 

Get those creative juices flowing and add a pop of color to your nursery with their modular carpet tiles!

Thursday, April 26, 2012
6:00 - 8:00PM
236 Clarendon Street
Boston, MA 02116

Bicycle Mama!

It's gorgeous outside...go ahead, take your little ones on a picnic!

While you're at it, save yourself some time by using Poketo's Swedish Bicycle Basket  - it easily comes off of your bicycle and turns into a shopping basket.  You can put your little one in their bike seat, put a cozy blanket in the basket, travel to the store, let your bebe help pick out food for the picnic, use the basket to carry your shopping goodies, head straight to the park and use the basket to carry your food and blanket to the perfect spot.  Sounds like a great afternoon to us!