I have to say that usually I am a huge fan of Harriet Ziefert’s work….which is why I was surprised by the content of one of her new books, Crab Cab (the latest in a series of flip books). This vivid pop art book works on words that rhyme. The first page shows a girl with two smaller characters — they all have blue snot running out of their noses…”snot” is tied to “tot”…ok…so keep going and then you’ll find an image of a “hot pot” paired with “snot pot” that depicts a witch dripping snot into her pot. I agree with School Library Journal’s comment that “Children will be instantly attracted to the bold, colorful pictures in these books”..but do you really need a picture book that focuses on snot?
Really? Words that rhyme with snot
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Would probably be Jakks Pacific upcoming home edition of Big Buck Hunter. Just like the arcade game, you’re good to go shooting Bambi from the comfort of your sofa with your toy rifle…maybe Governor Palin would like to invite New York’s Junior Senator Kirsten Gillibrand over as well.
As we walk the aisles at Javits, we quickly discovered a new trend in toyland. All things Egyptian are big again. Most looked really promising. The highlight for us was the new Playmobil Egyptian themed playset complete with a Pyramid (that opens up with lots of hidden compartments inside), a Sphinx, a Royal Ship and other really wonderfully executed accessory sets. They’ll be available for the holidays. We also saw Hieroglypics Blocks from Uncle Goose that looked right on target for kids interested in all things Egyptian. 
We look forward to testing both.
So good! By now most of you know that I really dread the days we review children’s audio. So much of it is painfully preachy–or about bodily functions. I get the importance of potty training…really I do, but how many songs, if any, need to focus on it? This is why I’m delighted to share this wonderful collection from Sandra Boynton and her partner Michael Ford. (I also apologize to my niece Ali–who had told me I really needed to listen to this weeks ago!) Here’s our full review:
Start your engines! Little Kids, the maker of all things bubbles, is introducing new battery operated Nascar Bubble Racers. The concept seems right on target for fans of all things Nascar…and then there’s the added bonus of bubbles… They also are introducing No-Spill Bubble Blitzers…for some reason I just love saying Bubble Blitzers…say it a few times and you’ll see what I mean. These are promised to come with “Bubble Booster Technology”…so that there is a continuous feed of bubble solution to the wand. There are purists that believe that the point of bubbles is to actually make the bubble happen the old fashion way—I take a more moderate position, knowing that sometimes it’s just so much fun to make a ton of bubbles all at once. 
This cheerful looking Bumble Bee looks promising to us and at a suggested retail of $39.99 it’s a well-priced active toy for older toddlers and preschoolers. One of our pet peeves at the moment is that most ride on/ride ins don’t really steer. Kids have to literally pick up their ride on and change directions. With four caster wheels, this one should respond well. Stay tuned….