Dig into a doggone hilarious book that’s fit for the entire family. Marley’s Storybook Treasury contains six I Can Read! stories detailing the mischievous misadventures of the playful pooch your kids may recognize from the big screen. In this literary treasure trove, author John Grogan and illustrator Richard Cowdrey fill 192 pages with laugh-out-loud tales of Marley’s life in suburbia. Young readers will have a blast getting lost in this richly illustrated action-packed book loaded with colorful pictures that come alive with each turn of the page. Marley means well, but that doesn’t make life with the crazy canine any … Continue reading →

How do you know if your child understands the true meaning of Thanksgiving? Before digging into their Turkey Day spread, many families go around the dinner table and share moments of gratitude. Kids are then put on the spot and forced to share one thing they are thankful for while a gaggle of extended guests stare them down. The end result: Typically, a long stretch of silence followed by a string of “ums,” “ers,” “ahs,” and more silence. If you are lucky, you’ll hear a barely audible, “toys” or a regurgitation of whatever the person ahead of your shy child … Continue reading →

How to torture a dog in three easy steps: Step 1: Take her to a relay race where the batons are painted bright red and people keep yelling: “Stick!” Step 2: Make her sit in a large grassy area while dozens of playful children run circles around him. Step 3: Tell her repeatedly to “sit” and “stay.” Oh, the horror! Yet, author Grace Gilman is far from a contributor to the horror genre. Rather, she is simply weaving a story which features Dixie the dog’s latest adventure, and this one is a doozy for the exuberant pup. In Dixie Wins … Continue reading →

It’s raining teeth around here. Teeny-tiny, itsy-bitsy pearly whites belonging to a child who was absolutely convinced that she would go to her grave with all of her baby teeth intact. My 8-year-old has turned into a human slot machine, except when you pull her arm she spits out teeth instead of quarters. Which is not to say that she hasn’t made out like a pachislo addict. Who needs to hit the jackpot on a real one-arm bandit when you’ve got the Tooth Fairy making sure you win big when you loose little choppers? My daughter’s teeth have been falling … Continue reading →

Know how you can become THE. COOLEST. PARENT. EVER. without having to go into debt, break the law, compromise your child’s body parts or abandon morality? Buy your kid this for Christmas: One Direction: Behind the Scenes is about as close to Niall Horan, Zayn Malik, Liam Payne, Harry Styles and Louis Tomlinson, as most tweens and teens will get without winning a radio contest, paying off a financially-strapped member of the band’s security detail or falling asleep while listening to “What Makes You Beautiful.” The book is packed with never-before-seen photos, exclusive interviews, and more importantly, inside information on … Continue reading →

Justin Beiber is a free man. And by free I mean you still have a chance to become Mrs. Justin Bieber. Christmas has come early for billions of the Beib’s ferociously loyal female fans. According to reports, the uber-popular singing sensation and his girlfriend of nearly two years, actress Selena Gomez, split late last week. Yes, ladies, hope is still alive. Now, get out there and celebrate by wrapping your arms around the 18-year-old’s latest love letter to you–his nearest and dearest supporters. Just Getting Started by Justin Bieber is your key to what makes this boy toy tick. The … Continue reading →

Chompo Bars, spelling “ice cream” with a “q” and a “p”, made-up songs, and internal torment about sharing with a sibling… oh, the memories. I’ve missed you Frances. It’s been decades since I journeyed to the whimsical world of Frances the badger, and returning is like slipping into a well-worn pair of cozy footed flannel pajamas. The warm, fuzzy feeling envelopes you like a mother’s hug. Interestingly, that feeling hasn’t diminished over time. When I flipped to the first page of A Birthday for Frances, it was like taking a stroll down memory lane. Still, it’s hard to believe it’s … Continue reading →

For some kids, getting a book in their Christmas stocking is about as exciting as receiving underwear, a toothbrush, or an apple. Fortunately, it doesn’t have to be this way. Shatter the myth this holiday season by gifting your good guy or gal with the following super reads that pit bad blood against legendary super heroes: Superman Classic: Attack of the Toyman Don’t let the name fool you. Toyman is no Santa Claus. In fact, the diabolical villain is trying to play all of Metropolis. His first move: Unleash an attack by attaching explosives to remote-control cars. Toyman’s evil plan … Continue reading →

Halloween can be a challenging time for young children. Dressing up and collecting candy is a blast, but having to deal with spooky sights and sounds is often more trick than treat. My daughter is no exception. She’s the kid who’ll open wide to cram four fun-sized chocolate bars in her mouth at one time, but slams her eyes shut when we get anywhere near a Halloween Express store. The cacophony of cackling witches and wailing zombies, not to mention the bloody limbs, exposed guts and skeletal remains of errant pirates are enough to make any kid cringe. Author Susan … Continue reading →