With summer vacation fast approaching, I'm thinking about parents (myself included) pressed to find something fun and different to do with their kids, be it at the beach, in the car or even in a restaurant. Here's one sticky solution from Chronicle Books and Paul Frank Industries. If your kids go crazy over Julius the monkey, then they'll flip over this Julius! Pop-Up Sticker Activity Kit. Included in this portable package of plenty are a pop-up tropical island scene with 2 sticker sheets to decorate it (plus another 8 on separate sheets to stick in the activity book). With mazes…

Okay, so I'm still stuck on Mother's Day, humor me. From the editors of LIFE Books comes LIFE With Mother (Time Inc. Home Entertainment, $17.95), densely packed with pictures of mothers throughout the last few decades in poignant and playful poses. Accompanying almost every photo are quotes and proverbs such as my personal favorite: "God could not be everywhere and therefore he made mothers." These, plus the varied selection of portraits from the past and present - from Diana, Princess of Wales to a Maryland mom of triplets - serve to celebrate moms around the world. This multi-faceted look at…

HANDSTAND KIDS CHINESE COOKBOOK LAUNCH PARTY!! What: Join TOTZ Only in celebrating the launch of the third cookbook in the Handstand Kids Cookbook series. The Chinese Cookbook is packaged in a large takeout box with chopsticks!  Kids, aged 3 to 10, will make yummy, organic treats including spring rolls and Chinese noodle clusters! Where: Totz Only, 3009 W Magnolia Blvd., Burbank, 91505 When: Wednesday, May 13th, 2009, 3:30 pm- 5:00 pm Cost: FREE! AND receive 10% off ALL Handstand Kids purchases that day. Sign Up: Handstand Kids - (818) 917-7200 to make reservations or for more information email info@handstandkids.com. Space…

Announcing the Earth Day contest winner! Congratulations go out to lucky Maria Angulo of Alhambra. She's won the interactive EARTH DVD game, the EARTH padded activity book (both in conjunction with Disneynature's new documentary film, EARTH)and the PLANET EARTH 3 Disc boxed DVD set. Thank you to everyone who entered. Please continue reading the blog to find out when and what my next contest for blog readers only will be!

Okay, an informal parent poll - do you know any child who likes to apologize (or adult for that matter)? I bet my kids are not the only ones who steer clear of that five letter word which is exactly why Martha Doesn't Say Sorry! by Samantha Berger is so very spot on. The terrific water color illustrations by Bruce Whatley add to this charming and humorous book's appeal. Make no mistake about it, this feisty little otter has lots to offer in lots of other ways: she gives hugs, she shares a snack (a biggie in our household), but…

In this beautiful World Vision Early Reader book called Mom and Me in collaboration with Tundra Books of Canada, young children can read or be read to while admiring the touching pictures on every page. Author Marla Stewart Konrad has captured in text what the numerous photographers have captured in photos from around the world.     We see mom beaming with pride, carrying and feeding her children or simply doing what moms do best, comforting her child in a warm embrace. While the women portrayed may not dress the same or look the same as you or I, they share…

Get Lit at the Raising Readers Festival (From our May Calendar section edited by Michael Berick) Santa Monica College will be the place to be for book lovers old and young (but especially the young ones) May 9 during the annual Raising Readers: A Literacy Festival. Since 2001, the nonprofit child care resource and referral agency Connections for Children (in collaboration with Santa Monica College and Association for the Education of Young Children/North Bay Chapter) has been presenting this special day that celebrates reading and literacy in a number of ways. There will be storytellers, theater groups, musicians and, of…

Freckles, Fun and Julianne Moore Looking for something different to do with Mom or Grandma this weekend? Why not join actress and mother, Julianne Moore this Mother's Day, May 10th from 11 am- 1 pm at the Ralph Lauren store 141 N. Robertson Blvd, West Hollywood. Moore will be reading and signing her Freckleface Strawberry books, plus there will be some neat Freckleface activities there for the kids, too! This event, a partnership between Bloomsbury, Cookie magazine and Ralph Lauren, promises to be fun for the entire family. For my frank Freckleface confessions and book reviews, please check back next…