This is a find-it alphabet book with a twist. The challenge is to find each letter of the alphabet in very realistic paintings of scenes of city-life (New York City is the inspiration). Some letters are very obvious, others not so easy.
I did an experiment, and upon opening the book randomly, the letters were hidden well enough that I couldn’t always figure out what I should be looking for. But if I went through the book in order so that I KNEW what was supposed to come next, it was easy (for me as an adult), but often quite cleverly disguised.
This is a really fun book for pre-readers (no words, just letters to search for) and readers alike. It is a great travel book, or one to keep in the car. It really makes both kids and adults learn to look at everyday objects with new eyes.
The artwork is truly amazing and each page is a pleasure to look at. No wonder it is a Caldecott Honor Book!
Book Recommendations, alphabet, art, award winner, children's books, educational, exceptional illustrations, find-it book, travel activity, young children
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alphabet books, Alphabet City, Book Recommendations, children's books, find-it books, New York City, Stephan T. Johnson, Stephen Johnson, travel activities, travel toys
This clever toy is really a work of art. The manufacturer (The Orb Factory) says: “The multicolored beads represent the many beautiful colors of humanity. As you manipulate this orb, think about the possibility of world peace. The series of seven rings represent the continents and oceans.”
While I would love to imagine that this toy could induce a meditative state in my darlings as they contemplate world peace, I fear that the reality is that they just think it’s cool!
Children can manipulate this wire and bead disk into different shapes or a sphere. Kids aren’t going to take this out at home and play for hours, but it is a good diversion for travel or restaurants and it is small enough to put in your purse.
Adults can’t resist picking it up either. A creative friend of mine actually wears one as a bracelet!
The object of this classic game is to get four in a row vertically, horizontally, or diagonally. This tiny version comes in a little 4″ x 5.5″ tin that is ideal for travel or a stocking stuffer.
I generally prefer travel toys with very few small pieces, so all these little balls could be a car or airplane disaster. I only recommend this as a travel toy for children old enough to manage the balls without spills (also not good around babies). But for older kids, or even adults, this is a great game!
Haba, Toy Recommendations, brands, classic toy, family games, games, stocking stuffer, tin game (Haba), travel activity, wood
| European toys, family games, Four in a Row, games, German toys, Haba, stocking stuffer, tin game (Haba), Toy Recommendations, Toy Recommendations, travel toys, wooden toys
I wish I had invented these.
We discovered Wikki Stix when we were staying at a hotel in San Diego. They gave them out in the restaurant instead of crayons. My kids (3 and 5 at the time) thought they were WAY more cool than crayons and a coloring place mat.
What a simple idea! They are simply bits of colored string covered with a wax coating thick enough for them to bend and stay in position! Like a candle wick, hence the name I suppose. Kids can make all kinds of things with them.
We use them in restaurants, the car, my purse, anywhere that an instant emergency diversion might be needed. They also make great stocking-stuffers. Santa brought some this past Christmas. Available in primary and neon colors.
This one is very simple and has been around for a long time. I believe that string games exist in just about every culture. Really all you need is a piece of string, but this set is nice because it comes with a sturdy string as well as a book of instructions.
The instructions are simply presented and well-illustrated so that children can learn the two person Cat’s Cradle game as well as how to make string-figures like Witch’s Broom, Eiffel Tower, and Jacob’s Ladder.
This makes a great travel game (it is easy to pack a string!) or stocking stuffer. My 6 year-old loved it and has taught her friends how to play. It brought back memories for me too. I discovered that I can still remember how to make Cat’s Whiskers after 30+ years!
This second book, is nice to have too:
Toy Recommendations, classic toy, stocking stuffer, travel activity
| Book Recommendations, Book Recommendations, cat's cradle, classic toys, Klutz books, simplicity, stocking stuffer, String Games, Toy Recommendations, Toy Recommendations, travel toys
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