for children

at Best Dolls for Kids

GIVES BACK

Rahel is the Ethiopian doll from the famous Hearts4Hearts Girls doll collection. She arrives with a friendship bracelet for your child.

Hearts for Hearts donates one dollar for every doll sold to charities in Ethiopia. Your child will love the doll, and your purchase provides a great opportunity to introduce the concepts that the Hearts for Hearts Dolls represent. Curator: Phyllis 

at The Caterpillar Lab  

These bright puzzles are themed around the amazing diversity of caterpillar colors that The Caterpillar Lab sees each year. Relish in the familiar greens of a bevy of charismatic caterpillar species. Each puzzle comes with a key to help identify all the caterpillars pictured. Purchase in 48 pieces for children or 252 pieces for the family. Sales of these puzzles and other items in the shop directly support The Caterpillar Lab's nonprofit mission. Curator: Laura  

at Piccolina

GIVES BACK 

Trailblazer Tees, illustrated by noteworthy female artists from across the globe, feature portraits of female visionaries, leaders, and pioneers in their fields. This Mae Jemison tee is just one of many. A portion of the proceeds from the sales of the shirts go back to support non-profit organizations that support girls, like Girls Write Now. Happily, the shirts are available in adult sizes too! Curator: Laural

at Papersource

This festive holiday kit features very cool vintage style printed campers that are all decked out for the holiday season. These cute campers make for great decor, and could also be used for gift toppers or tags. Kit includes pre-cut shapes and baker’s twine. Curator: Laural 

at Tadpole

This six-piece play set gives kids all the housekeeping tools they need to clean around the house - which they actually love! It helps them fulfill their natural desire to care for their environment. Curator: Phyllis 

at Annie's Blue Ribbon General Store  

Here is everything needed for delightful correspondence between generations. The box includes four back and forth correspondence flat cards, four unique letterhead sheets, and eight envelopes. From Annie’s Blue Ribbon General Store, woman owned and operated in Brooklyn, NY, since 2007. Curator: Laural 

at Wentworth Wooden Puzzles

In addition to the puzzle pieces, the 14 stand-up animals come with flashcards with information and trivia about the featured friends to help your little ones learn. Curator: Phyllis  

at Norman & Jules

It sings! The young child will be captivated when the tree sprouts soothing tones and mesmerizing movement. Great for hand-eye coordination. Curator: Phyllis 

at Baby Child

It's such fun to use locks like adults do! Your child will learn how to match colors while using fine motor skills to open the locks. Curator: Phyllis  

at Eureka Puzzles

These 24 magnetic PIXIO blocks in 5 colors will bring your child's  imagination to life. This is the perfect number of blocks for creating a man, a snail, a dragonfly, a chameleon, an ostrich, a dinosaur, a heron, or even a minotaur. For ages 6+. Curator: Phyllis

at Maisonette 

Putting together this 80-piece jigsaw puzzle is a blast! The pieces form the shape of a rocket measuring 23x15 inches. Both the rocket shaped box and the individual pieces feature foiling detail that give this gift an extra special touch. And the box looks great on a shelf. For ages 3+. Curator: Laural

by TruBalance

at The Grommet

It takes concentration and coordination to get the unpredictable, rotating magnetic bamboo discs to line up just right. This is the Junior Rainbow edition. Curator: Phyllis  

at The Caterpillar Lab

Caterpillars are REAL LIFE Pokemon! These beautiful and informative native caterpillar trading cards are created from TCL Director Sam Jaffe's photographs of caterpillars reared at the lab. Use them as a guide or trade them with friends. Choose from 10 unique sets, each containing 18 unique cards. Get 10 sets to collect all 180 different cards! Curator: Laura 

at Tiny Turns Paperie 

Educational AND creative play! The Ocean A to Z is an ocean-themed puzzle, playset and learning toy all in one. Each letter of the alphabet is represented on 26 chunky pieces that correspond with an animal or object found in or around the ocean. The letters are uppercase on one side and lowercase on the other. For ages 2+. Curator: Phyllis 

at The Evolution

Did you know that the humble house cricket Acheta domestica is easy to raise and is quite edible? In many places around Asia, Africa and the Middle East crickets are sold as a fried or roasted snack, and the eating of insects for protein is a much more sustainable practice than the raising of cattle for food. These Cricket Lollipops are made with sugar-free Maltitol and are available in four fine flavors — an unusual way to expand your palette. Curator: Laura

at Maisonette

Join creative young heroine Pepper Mint on her mission to Mars in this story-based STEM kit, part of the award winning Pepper Mint the Magnificent series. Build the models and then join Pepper as she embarks on a scientific journey involving 7 cool and wacky experiments. For ages 8+. Curator: Laural 

at National Gallery of Art

Help an interest in birds take flight as young players delight in this fun and educational memory game that matches pairs of beautifully illustrated birds from around the world. To play, place cards face down, try to remember where the match is located, and collect the most pairs to win. For ages 6+. Curator: Laural

at Magic Beans

Shift blocking cars and trucks out of your way to clear a path to the exit — a fun way to build problem-solving skills. Curator: Phyllis 

at Maxima

The classic game of Crazy Eights is even better with smiling mushrooms and bedheaded scallions. The adorable and inventive fruit and vegetable faces were created by Saxon Freymann (check out his books, too!). Curator: Phyllis  

at Henry Bear’s Park

Roar! Assemble 58 pieces to reveal a giant fire-breathing dragon stretching over 4 feet long. The oversized, durable, glare-free cardboard pieces are designed for small hands and big imaginations. Curator: Phyllis

at Maisonette  

Build your own motorized vehicles and machines, then control them with a wireless remote control unit. The kit comes with three motors, remote control unit, battery holder and 182 building pieces. Once you’ve built the 10 models in the instructions, you are on your way to designing your own remote control creations! For ages 8+. Curator: Laural

at Gamewright

Let the good times roll … sushi roll that is! Immediately approachable, easy to learn, quick to play - all ages will love this unique and delicious sushi-themed card game. It's an Oppenheim Toy Portfolio Platinum Award winner and is Parents Choice recommended. For 2 to 5 players, ages 8 and up. A party version is available for up to 8 players. Curator: Laural

at Eureka Puzzles

A stegosaurus AND volcanoes? How can you go wrong? Crocodile Creek’s Let’s Play puzzles have chunky wooden pieces that are perfect for both early learning and imaginative play. The puzzle also doubles as a wonderful playset with 6 stand-up pieces. Curator: Phyllis

at Magic Beans

Did you know that the Spirograph was invented in the 1880s? The toy has come and gone through the years, but it's back with a simplified design that helps little ones get started on their designs. Psychedelic! Curator: Phyllis

at Eugene Toy & Hobby

Remember this classic? Get ready to  watch, REMEMBER, repeat! Simon is the exciting electronic game of lights and sounds in which players must repeat random sequences of lights by pressing the colored pads in the correct order. The suspense builds as sequences get longer. Curator: Tina  

by Mary Westerhaus 

at Uncommon Goods

Make bath time a science experiment with this volcano that erupts with nontoxic, colorful fizzies. With every splish and splash, your little ones (over 4) will get a little lesson in plate tectonics! ;-) Curator: Phyllis

at Magic Beans

What would a toy selection be without this classic game? Set is a card game of visual perception in which players create sets of cards based on certain features on the cards. Whether you are considering color, number, shading, or shape, the cards will present you with a challenge to create groupings of three. Warning: Adults don’t have the upper hand in this game! Curator: Tina

at Uncommon Goods

H is for hydrogen, C is for carbon, and AU is for gold — which is what you’ll strike when you give this set as a gift. Flipping through the entertaining 16-page book, your favorite budding scientist will meet each of the 118 elements that make up everything in the universe. Curator: Phyllis 

by Möbi 

at The Grommet

Möbi is a fun, fast-paced tile game that helps kids (and grown-ups) learn and apply basic math skills.  Curator: Phyllis  

at The Toy Box

This imaginative design play set includes a corkboard, hammer, templates and 100 wooden tiles. Curator: Phyllis  

at Maisonette

This fun kit introduces curious kids to the world of physics and engineering using the STEM concepts of energy conservation and kinetic energy. Construct the balsa wood coaster and then let the marbles loose! For ages 9+. Curator: Laural 

at Amazon (sorry)

This warm or cool adjustable light comes in 4 sizes. With a USB port and touch control brightness, it's outta this world! Curator: Phyllis  

by Karen Katz

at Porter Square Books

During the seven days of Kwanzaa, the importance of family, friends, and community are celebrated. This sweet introduction to a very special holiday will help even the youngest child join in. Author and illustrator Karen Katz’s wonderful series of picture books offer a simple and fun way to get familiar with the traditions of holiday celebrations from different cultures. Curator: Laural 

by Roger Hargreaves

at Writer's Block Bookstore 

It's been 40 years since Adam Hargreaves asked his father, "What does a tickle look like?" That question inspired Roger Hargreaves to invent Mr. Tickle and all his friends in Mr. Men Land, and those quirky characters have sold millions of copies worldwide since. Mr. Topsy-Turvy and Mr. Silly are 2 of my family's favorites! Curator: Phyllis 

by Vashti Harrison

at Bookshop

This beautifully illustrated book introduces readers of all ages to 40 women who changed the world.  Featuring forty trailblazing black women in American history, Little Leaders educates and inspires as it relates true stories of breaking boundaries and achieving beyond expectations. Curator: Phyllis 

by Roger Hargreaves

at Writer's Block Bookstore  

Little Miss Sunshine is just one of the Little Miss characters who live in Mr. Men Land with a whole lot of charming and zany characters. Printed in small take-along formats, these books are easy enough for young readers, witty enough for humor-prone adults, and highly collectible for one and all. Curator: Phyllis 

by Saxton Freymann, Joost Elffers 

at Writer's Block Bookstore

Who hasn't looked at a fruit or vegetable and seen a funny face? In How Are You Peeling? the "natural personalities" of produce are enhanced with black-eyed pea eyes and a carved mouth, and then photographed in vivid colors. Parents can use these whimsical images to talk about different emotions or to help children to identify and articulate their moods. Adults will just plain be amused. Curator: Phyllis 

by Christie Matheson

at Writer's Block Bookstore

Introduce young children to the delights of birding through author and artist Christie Matheson’s beautifully illustrated picture book. A playful counting text and engaging search-and-find theme provide something new to discover on every page and lead readers to a satisfying surprise. Children will be inspired to return to Bird Watch again and again. Also available at your local independent bookseller. Curator: Laural

by Ellen Jackson 

at Writer's Block Bookstore

See what Cinder Edna can do without the help of a fairy godmother! Like Cinderella, who lives next door, Edna is forced to work for her wicked stepmother and stepsisters. She learns a thing or two from doing all that housework, such as how to make tuna casserole 16 different ways and how to get spots off everything from rugs to ladybugs. Then, the king announces that he will be giving a ball.... Curator: Phyllis

by Jessica Young 

at Writer's Block Bookstore

Follow one girl’s journey through her neighborhood as she explores what colors mean to different people. ls red angry, like a dragon’s burning breath? Or brave like a fire truck and a superhero cape? ls pink pretty or annoying? Brazilian-born artist Catia Chien provides her visual interpretation in this ode to colors and the unique ways we experience them. Curator: Tina

by Eric Litwin 

at Porter Square Books

With a song that is readymade for storytime, Pete loses his buttons one by one. But does he cry? "Goodness no." Another wonderful picture book by Eric Litwin with humorous illustrations by James Dean. Curator: Phyllis

by Saxton Freymann, Joost Elffers 

at Amazon (sorry)

A must read for dog lovers of all ages! Sweet pepper pooches and mango mutts are guaranteed to charm and delight. Chow down! Curator: Phyllis