This new line of Classic Pooh just came in from Kids Preferred. They are super soft. I love the large and small Pooh. I can’t ever remember seeing swirly designs in the plush of a teddy bear–so that’s kind of novel. I’m not sure how kids are going to react..our interns (all in their teens) grew up on the Disney version of Pooh and his friends. None of them considered these versions “real”….so we’ll have to see how our testers respond. They sure are soft!
Maybe because I grew up with my little Nutshell Library,
Nutshell Library by Maurice Sendak
I’ve always been fond of little books. There’s something so pleasing about them-especially when you’re small. So when we first received the Create Your Own 3 Bitty Books from Creativity for Kids, I was psyched. 
The kit is beautifully made–each of the books is hardcover and comes with 12 pages, kids can illustrate and/or use the pre-printed stickers to tell their own stories. The three little books come with their own holder. To watch our video discussion, click here. To read reviews of this kit and other new craft kits, visit www.toyportfolio.com. 
Egg Drop, written and charmingly illustrated by Mini Grey, is about an egg that wants to fly. He doesn’t listen to all the chicks that advise him to wait. So he travels and ultimately ends up at the top of a tower….and he jumps off…only to discover that he’s not flying but falling. Splat! He can’t be put back together again…but don’t worry, he doesn’t go to waste–he’s served as a fried egg. Really?
I guess this speaks to waiting, a tribute to Humpty Dumpty…and I guess not jumping off of towers.
Really?
When President Obama read the classic Where the Wild Things Are at the Easter Egg Hunt today–he really got into the spirit of the book–and, in fact, several kids according to news reports started crying.
Not that I feel good about kids crying–but it reminded me that when my parents brought this book home to me, it had to be banished from my bedroom. It was way too intense for me.
Now that Bo has happily arrived at the White House…here are some of favorite toy dogs just in case bringing home the real thing isn’t in the cards…
Biscuit was on our Platinum List last year and still keeps us company in the office. He’s extremely sweet but still pretty pricey.
New for Spring, from the same Furreal line is a smaller and much more affordable Lil’ Patter Pup. If the Gabor sisters were going to have a toy dog, this would be it…of course that dates me…so if you’re Paris Hilton…you get the idea. There is a Shih-Tsu and a Pomeranian…both bark and unlike Biscuit, they do walk! At $29.99 they are a good buy. 
We also still love Lucky–who is bigger than Lil’ Patter Pup and does many of the same tricks as Biscuit. Lucky is from Zizzle. 
And if a low tech pup will do the trick, we love the new Spot 
from Kids Preferred. This oversized delicious doll is $29.99.
And if you’re looking for a great book on dogs…I’m biased but I highly recommend my mom’s Have You Seen Dogs?
Joins my list of “really?” books for 2009. A new picture book from Erica S. Perl and illustrated by Henry Cole–captures a son peppering his Dad with Chicken Butt humor. I’d much prefer a good knock knock joke.
Keeping with our cultural obsession with bodily functions/parts…a new book about all the different types of rear ends at the zoo….with such verse as “There’s a rear for every deer”…”A caboose for every moose”… Really? Is this really the view of the zoo that you want your kids to focus on?