• Calling all taste testers and lovers of jelly beans: Just how well do you know your favorite flavors? With Easter just one month away, there’s no better time to whet your appetite than with the latest version of a well-loved game that will put your taste buds in a tizzy. The BeanBoozled 4th Edition features two new flavor pairings that may perplex even the most seasoned palettes: Dead Fish with Strawberry Banana Smoothie and Spoiled Milk with Coconut. Sure, these beans may look like their counterparts, but can you really tell which one is the better half? Kids continue to love tempting their friends and family into sampling these eye-catching confectionaries…but most admit, it’s the yuck-inspired names that keep them coming back for more. With [&hellip

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    The annual school Science Fair is upon us once again, and that means it’s time to start thinking up clever topics. I’m always amazed how the lemon light bulb and potato-powered battery make their appearance every year. Maybe this year, they can head back to the produce department, and let another veggie take center stage…like the zucchini. Never Insult a Killer Zucchini! is a delightful new picture book that pays tribute to this elementary school rite of passage. If you’ve been wracking your brain to help your kid come up with a prize-worthy experiment, this book not only provides food for thought, but pokes fun at the craziness of kids (and parents!) trying to outdo their classmates. Readers will enjoy this riotous romp, as the [&hellip

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    Getting a cold is nothing to sneeze at it. And if you happen to live in a home with kids, chances are someone will come down with a case of the sniffles at some point this season. While we’ve been teaching our kids to cough and sneeze into the crook of their arm to prevent the spread of germs, it doesn’t exactly contain–shall we say–the contents of a running nose so well. Enter the Sneeve, a slip-on arm band that fits over a child’s shirt and gives kids ages 3-8 a designated spot for all those sneezes and coughs. Made from an anti-microbial material, it’s designed to kill most bacteria and viruses on contact. And because the Sneeve is disposable, it’s meant for one-time usage [&hellip

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    Barely a week into the New Year, and my resolution-keeping is off to a shaky start. After poring over home magazines and vowing to keep our little abode tidier than in past years, I admit to fighting a never-ending battle. With two school-aged kids and a husband who acquires more stuff than I can track, trying to keep up with the daily clutter is a job in and of itself. Even after de-Christmasing much of our house, I still can’t find a place for all of our odds and ends (sigh…). So, of course when the daily grind gets the better of me, I tend to seek out outlets that give me solace: my cat, a good book and anything that gets my creative juices [&hellip

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    It’s hard to believe that it will not only be a green Christmas this year, but possibly one of the warmest on records. And while it may be too soon to tell what January and February will bring, it doesn’t exactly put us in the seasonal mindset. If you’re looking to get into the holiday spirit –or are secretly hankering for a dusting of snow (don’t worry, we won’t tell)–two new picture books will surely satisfy your fix this season. The Tea Party in the Woods is a tender, unsuspecting story of a girl who sets out to deliver a pie to her grandmother. But before you think you’ve heard this one before, you can stop yourself right there. The lush watercolor imagery of this [&hellip

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    The holidays always usher in a new crop of kids’ movies, and that usually means a slew of toys to go along with them. If you have plans to take in Pixar’s The Good Dinosaur over the long weekend, don’t be surprised if TOMY’s line of dinosaur figures end up on the top of your kid’s wish list. Among the cast of characters is Arlo, an Apatosaurus who may be the runt of his family, but who proves that his small stature is no comparison to his big heart. Another favorite of ours is Forrest Woodbrush, whose branch-like horns enable him to pass for a tree. While he may be able to blend into the trees, we think this lovable creature will capture kids’ attention, [&hellip

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    Ever wonder what your cat does when you head out of the house for the day? If your answer is “sleep all day,” then clearly you don’t know Nature Cat. A natural extension of the Internet-based feline frenzy comes the latest animated television series from PBS Kids that’s kid-friendly and parent-approved. Centered around an ordinary house cat who transforms into a self-dubbed outdoor extraordinaire, this kitty is no slouch by any stretch of the imagination. Complete in a Robin Hood-esque get-up and an equally spirited energy that defies classic kitty stereotypes, Nature Cat and his gaggle of animal friends set out on a series of action-packed adventures that turn a basic backyard into a playground of non-stop fun. Voiced by SNL’s Taran Killam as Nature [&hellip

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    “One arm longer than the other.” That’s what my mom used to call house guests who came to dinner empty-handed. If there was one thing she sought to teach us kids, it was to always bring something when invited into someone’s home. Next week marks the beginning of a season where we spend more time visiting with family and friends than we do all year. I always like to have a stash of ready-to-go gifts on hand to show the host and hostess how much I appreciate their hospitality, whether it’s my sister or a member of my book group. Of course, finding that universal gift can be challenging, so I usually defer to something that accents the home. And for Thanksgiving, what better place [&hellip

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    Tis the season to play dress-up and look your holiday best..and that includes the kiddies, too. I don’t know about you, but short-sleeve velvet dresses don’t go over too well in my house, so I’m on the lookout for something playful and that’s fashionable, too. This year, Christmas comes early with an entire collection for boys and girls that will knock your toasty socks off. The Children’s Place is debuting colorful and snuggly sweaters, pants and fleece pull-overs that will stand up to the busy holiday social circuit. For girls, we’ve got our eye on these candy-colored leggings paired with a faux fur sweater. For boys, a bold-striped sweater and colored chinos make this a holiday worth celebrating. So forget those tug-of-wars when it comes [&hellip

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    When my husband was younger, his family celebrated Christmas…even though they are Jewish. His parents hung stockings by the fireplace, and his dad even dressed up as Santa for the neighborhood kids. (No Christmas tree, but enough to make him and his younger brother feel like they were not being left out of what felt like the rest of the world’s celebration.) I can’t imagine how he must felt, but I’m sure he and many other kids can relate to those same feelings shared by the title character in the delightful new picture book, Dear Santa, Love, Rachel Rosenstein. Determined to experience the joys of the season–especially a visit from Old St. Nick–she challenges her own family’s decision to remain faithful to its Jewish upbringing. [&hellip

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