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.

Love This: Upcycle with Box Play

Box Play stickers in action!

How many times have you put that same old dinged up toy in front of your kids understanding why they dont want to play with it again?  But at the same time, you look around any given room in your home, and you know there is no need for more toys.

While waiting out time to reintroduce the same toys anew, try these great stickers from Box Play.  Apply to the trash you find in your home, and presto-change-o, a new toy appears!  Such a great idea and such a practical way to teach kids about reusing and re-purposing.

Storytime: Books for Animal Lovers

Would your little one rather play with the dog than any of his fancy gadgets?  

Rather chase squirrels in the park than dig in the sand box with friends?  

Sounds like you have an animal lover on your hands!  Foster his/her interest with these books.  And in the future, when you're the proud parent of a veterinarian, send us a thank you card!

  

Brown Bear, Brown Bear, What Do You See?, Bill Martin Jr. & Eric Carle
A beautifully illustrated story with wonderful rhymes.  It will entertain children with colorful drawings of brown bears, green frogs and even purple cats.  The rhyming text is perfect for building vocabulary through repetition.

I Want My Hat Back, by John Klassen

What is a bear to do when he has lost his hat and wants it back?  Well, he must ask all his animal friends if they've seen it.  This charming book is not only a great tool for learning animals, but also for teaching patience and manners.

Nighty Night, Noah, by Molly Schaar Idle

The whimsical illustrations in this book sets it apart from the pack.  Travel with Noah as he wishes good night to each animal in the alphabet.  The colorful images will spark your children's imagination, and chances are they may add some new animals to their repertoire.  

All Kinds of Kisses by Nancy Tafuri
The sweet and quiet book is wonderful for sick-day snuggles, and bedtime stories.  Explore calming and gentle momma and baby moments on the farm and have fun teaching your child how to kiss like a bunny, a cow and even a mouse (eep!)!

Love This: Kickstarter Projects for Kids

 

Kickstarter is a website that helps artists, musicians, filmmakers, designers, and other creators find the resources and support they need to make their ideas a reality. 

There are some really cool projects focused on children / mothers / families on Kickstarter.  Here are some current highlights:

 
ScrubBugs:

 

Invented by a Mom to help keep her kids healthier throughout the year, Scrub Bugs are creating an entirely new category of healthy hygiene for kids.  According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, hands are the #1 carriers of sickness causing germs.  Despite this, kids don't actually wash their hands well enough to remove all the germs.  Scrub Bugs to the rescue!!!  Scrub Bugs make hand washing both more effective and more fun. They are the new critical component to every kid's hygiene routine.

Such an awesome idea.  I cringe sometimes when I watch my kids 'wash' their hands. If I'm not there over their shoulder there is a good chance they are breezing their hands through the water and moving on - disgusting.  A scrub bug is something I think they would totally use, just as that superman toothbrush gets my son to actually brush his teeth!


Penny Powers:

 

PENNY POWERS is the superpowered alter ego of fourth grader Penelope Powski. No one knows Penelope's secret except for her superpowered sidekick, and cat, Pepper. Together, these two heroes protect their school and their neighborhood from the forces of evil as PENNY POWERS and HYPER-CAT!

We love a girl super hero -- even more so one whose sidekick is her cat!  Awesome drawings and a funny storyline, something we can imagine kids really enjoying.

 

Kind Doll:

 

We have created soft and huggable dolls to team up with your children to be a force for good. Each doll comes with a bag of heart tokens that are given away as an act of kindness. Plus, for each doll purchased a doll will be donated to a child less fortunate.

Not only are the dolls really cute, we love the idea of inspiring your children to commit acts of kindness while giving back to those in need.  The back story of the founders is heartwarming and inspiring.  Best of luck to Kind Doll!

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Inspired to fund one of these projects?  For as little as $5.00 you can take part in KickStarting a dream.  Let us know about your favorite Kickstarter projects!

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!

Go Ahead...Let Them Use Glass!

Have we banned all tupperware? Nope!
Can you find our kids eating off of plastic plates? Yes!
But on occasion, lets pull out the good stuff!

Now we can let them eat from real plates with ease.  Give your little ones a boost by supplying them with Duralex's Glass Toddler Dishware found on Mighty Nest (a one-stop shop for learning how to make your nest healthy and then buying the supplies to do so).

The French have been trusting their bebes with Duralex's dishware since 1946!  Not only are they free of lead and BPA, they are also 2.5x stronger than glass!

Now, don't you think it's time for Junior to pitch in by clearing his plate?

Love This: Custom Baby Quilt

Boston Baby Quilt, by Haptic Lab

When left to choose between flowery pastels and football graphics choosing baby bedding can be underwhelming for parents who like a modern house, not Mickey Mouse.

 Don't fret, Beacon Street Baby has the answer - Haptic Lab.  Not only are the designs crisp, linear and colorful - but yes, they are maps!

Beacon Street Baby loves the Boston Baby Quilt (pictured above), but many other cities and regions are available.  And it gets better - Haptic Labs will customize the quilts with your little one's name, birth date and even mark 3 personalized locations on the map.

How great is that - Love This!

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.

Love This: Father's Day DIY

Most Dads dont ask for too much on Father's Day, right?  No brunch, no breakfast in bed, no flowers... but most Dad's appreciate a little DIY, and all Dads will love a handmade gift on Father's Day.

Here is an excellent idea for a great Father's Day present - homemade handkerchiefs.  Check out the details at Paper Stitch!

Once you've finished your handmade handkerchiefs, head over to All for the Boys for this free printable to be personalized by your little ones!

Return of the Rag Dolls

We are delighted by the beautiful and unique rag dolls from French toy maker Moulin Roty.
 
The dolls are handmade and decorated with unique traits including button eyes, embroidered mouths, and some even have the loveliest little freckled faces.   Dressed to the nines with their unmistakably ruffled hair, these dolls are the perfect addition to any tea party.  Collect them all!


Available for purchase in the US at My Sweet Muffin.