I was excited to learn about Freedom to Read Week, an “annual event that encourages … to think about and reaffirm their commitment to intellectual freedom.”  Then I realized that it was just for Canadians.  Now, I love books and appreciate Canada, so I’ve decided to celebrate the opportunities I have to read, think, and [...]

We listen to a lot of music here at the collective, and I’m picky. I persistently avoid exposing the children to anything I’m not willing to hear 357 more times lest they fall in love with it and require that I play track 8 over and over and over until my ears bleed. With [...]

Follow the Line through the House
Written and Illustrated by Laura Ljungkvist
Ages 3-9
See the little tail on the bottom of the ‘F’ up there? The one in ‘Follow’? That’s the beginning of the line, which carries you through the house, the kitchen, the toolbox, the toy box (to mention a few places), out into [...]

Every Friday
Written and Illustrated by Dan Yaccarino

ages 3-7
“Friday is my favorite day” this book begins, as the son takes you through the ins and outs of his Friday father-son ritual. Be it rain or shine, the pair leave the house, walk through the city past their favorite sites (the toy store for son, sporting [...]

I got a great question from Susannah, mother of a little teether:
i do have question for you…whats your best recs for teething toys? is there a particular website or brand of toys i should look for?

Great question! If you haven’t noticed, I love to give advice (as my close friends will attest [...]

Fascinating Creatures
By Frances England
suitable for all ages (even mommies and daddies!)
We love music around our house. There’s always something playing in the kitchen, in the car, downstairs in the playroom…the big kids even wake up to music (although I should really change that CD, I’m getting sick of it!). I think it makes [...]

No No Yes Yes
Written and Illustrated by Leslie Patricelli
0-3 years, board book
Playing with bath toys in the potty = no no. Sitting on the potty = yes yes. Leslie Patricelli’s newest book gives plenty of fun, visual examples of happy baby behavior. Each pair of pages shows the happy baby (boy? [...]

Little Pea
Written by Amy Krouse Rosenthal, Illustrated by Jen Corace
ages 2-5
“Little Pea” is the sweet story of a regular little pea-guy and his pea-parents. He does regular little guy things, playing at the playground with his pea-pals, snuggling with Mama Pea, roughhousing with Papa Pea. When it came to dinner, though, he hated [...]