parent hacks

Happy to Be Nappy and Other Stories of Me
Entertains while teaching kids to appreciate differences. Here's Jonathan's review.

Conn and Hal Iggulden: The Dangerous Book for Boys
A field guide for a life of curiosity and adventure. My review.

Animal Hospital (Parents)
Parenthackers with toddlers and preschoolers give this toy a big thumbs-up. Years of "play value."

Alton Brown: I'm Just Here for the Food: Version 2.0
Parenthackers love Alton Brown. Not just what to cook, but how and why.

John Gottman, PhD: And Baby Makes Three: The Six-Step Plan for Preserving Marital Intimacy and Rekindling Romance After Baby Arrives
Says Michael: "The Gottman Institute has studied thousands of families over extended periods of time in order to find what really works in marriage and childrearing. I know I sound like an ad for the guy, but his work is a breath of fresh air in an area filled with chatter and nonsense."

Freddi Zeiler: A Kid's Guide to Giving
Robyn says: "It has seemed to really get my daughter thinking about charitable giving and wanting to find ways to volunteer and give back in the community. Pretty cool stuff."

Lorna J. Sass: Lorna Sass' Short-Cut Vegetarian: Great Taste in No Time
Ridiculously simple, delicious food.

Marky Sparky Toys Doink-It Darts
A magnetic dart board that actually works. Great for encouraging in-your-head addition.

Oball
A Parent Hacks reader reminded me just how much we love this ball. Fun indoors, outdoors, for all ages.

iTouchless Hands-Free Trash Can
This trash can opens when you pass your hand in front of the sensor, then self-closes. My review.

LeapFrog Word Whammer Fridge Phonics Set
Another winner from Leapfrog. Fun way to learn letters and build simple words.

CD: Meltdown! (Justin Roberts)
Clever lyrics with sound along the lines of kiddie James Taylor with a soupçon of Paul Simon.

Baby Bjorn Bib
Comfy despite being made out of soft, molded plastic. Catches all drips, rinses clean.

David Borgenicht: How to Con Your Kid: Simple Scams for Mealtime, Bedtime, Bathtime -- Anytime!
This book puts a playful spin on the creative ways in which we get our kids to see things our way. From the same publisher as The Baby Owner's Manual, a Parent Hacks favorite.

Robie H. Harris: It's So Amazing: A Book About Eggs, Sperm, Birth, Babies, and Families
Sex ed (and much more) for kids. Cartoon illustration and friendly dialogue keep it light but never patronizing.

DVD: Nausicaa of the Valley of the Wind (Hayao Miyazaki)
Nausicaa heads the list of my favorite strong princess characters.

Philips DECT Baby Monitor SCD589
If you can afford the steep price, this monitor will deliver crystal-clear sound with zero interference (among other things). My review.

DVD: Portland at Play
Visiting or relocating to our fair City of Roses? Friend and mamapreneur Robyn Taylor Barbon of Folklore Media produced this award-winning DVD that shows off a full range of Portland's great indoor and outdoor family activities.

Sanjay Patel: The Little Book of Hindu Deities: From the Goddess of Wealth to the Sacred Cow
Pixar animator Patel introduces kids to Ganesha and the Gang. (Thanks for the heads-up, Patti.)

Lise Eliot: What's Going on in There? : How the Brain and Mind Develop in the First Five Years of Life
Very popular book with Parent Hacks readers. Here's a snippet.

Sabuda and Reinhart: Encyclopedia Prehistorica Sharks and Other Sea Monsters: The Definitive Pop-Up
If you've never seen a Sabuda pop-up book, do yourself a favor and get thee to a bookstore. The illustration and complicated engineering is unparalleled. Good book for older kids.

Ann Douglas: Sleep Solutions for Your Baby, Toddler and Preschooler: The Ultimate No-Worry Approach for Each Age and Stage (Mother of All Solutions)
The best sleep book. Period. My review.

Captain Bogg and Salty: Pegleg Tango
My daughter calls it "yar-har music," I call it awesome. My review of a recent live show.

Children's EarPlanes
If your kid's ears hurt as the airplane begins its descent, try these soft earplugs. We've had mixed results -- helped one kid, didn't help the other -- but I know parents who swear by them.

Roger Price: Super Silly Mad Libs Junior
Giggles while learning grammar. My review.

Nava Atlas: Everyday Traditions: Simple Family Rituals for Connection and Comfort
Down-to-earth ideas for integrating simple rituals into family life. My review.

William C. Martin: The Parent's Tao Te Ching: Ancient Advice for Modern Parents : A New Interpretation
A soothing reminder to slow down, listen, accept, and simplify.

Audrey Penn: The Kissing Hand
A comforting, gentle story for little ones anxious about spending time away from home. Ideal for kids first heading off to school, day care, a field trip, or a sleepover.

Cornelia Funke: The Princess Knight
The perfect counterpoint to all those wimpy princesses. Booklist Editor's Choice, Books for Youth Awards.

Leapster L-Max Handheld Learning Game System
Hot Leapster action! Dual screens, multiple skill levels, and can connect to the TV. Ages 4-10

Leapster Multimedia Learning System
Both our kids (3 and almost 7) love this educational handheld game -- despite the allure of the Gameboy DS.

Healthy Care Booster Seat
Better than a highchair -- this doesn't hog the floor space in your kitchen and it's easy to clean.

Kolcraft: Universal Infant Car Seat Carrier
Must-have while your baby's in an infant car seat. Don't even buy a regular stroller till he/she is six months old.

Catherine Newman: Waiting for Birdy: A Year of Frantic Tedium, Neurotic Angst, and the Wild Magic of Growing a Family
"Funny" doesn't even begin to describe this enthralling motherhood tale. Good thing she has a blog, too.

Lynne Truss: Eats, Shoots & Leaves: Why, Commas Really Do Make a Difference!
I read the grownup version of this book and adored it. This picture book gives 4-8 year-olds the opportunity to appreciate a well-placed comma.

Cadoo
Super-fun board game from the makers of Cranium. Draw pictures, mold shapes out of clay, play-act, solve puzzles and brainteasers, search for household items, and engage in a bit of strategic tic-tac-toe. Perfect for younger readers (ages 7 and up).

Shel Silverstein: Runny Babbit : A Billy Sook
Giggles all around. Read aloud to beginning readers; they'll proudly point out the "mistakes."

Allison Pearson: I Don't Know How She Does It
I'm probably the last mother in the world to read this hilarious novel, but in case I'm not, I suggest you buy and read it IMMEDIATELY.

Strollometer
Nifty stroller odometer and speedometer. Here's our post.

Joan Blades, Kristin Rowe-Finkbeiner: The Motherhood Manifesto
A well-researched agenda that lays out how we can join together to advocate for common-sense, family-friendly policies. In conjunction with Momsrising.org.

Andrea Buchanan (Editor): It's a Girl: Women Writers on Raising Daughters
Be sure to read the comments generated by my review -- one of the best discussions I've been a part of around kids and gender.

Andrea Buchanan (Editor): It's a Boy: Women Writers on Raising Sons
Here's my review.

Andrea Buchanan and Amy Hudock (Editors): Literary Mama: Reading for the Maternally Inclined
My review.

Lynley Dodd: Hairy Maclary And Zachary Quack
Clever, lyrical rhymes make this book a pleasure to read out loud.

Case Logic Auto "Litter Chute"
Keeps the car free of granola bar wrappers. The real thing doesn't look like a uterus and fallopian tubes, as this picture does.

Swissmar Borner V-Slicer Plus
Makes perfect sushi carrots. Kids also appreciate thinly-sliced vegies, which this does flawlessly.

Dr. Seuss: Horton Hears a Who
The first book that changed my world. If an entire civilization could live on a speck of dust, then...

LeapStart Learning Table
Nice, jazzy music. Great for when babies start standing.

Swimmy... and More Classic Leo Lionni Stories (Scholastic Video Collection)
Swimmy, "It's Mine!", Frederick the Mouse and other stories, all done in magical animation that brings the books to life.

Cooshie Booster & Travel Bag
Comfy, lightweight, simple.

Ed Emberley's Drawing Book of Animals
With step-by-step instructions consisting of lines and simple shapes, Ed Emberley shows kids how to draw an amazing array of real and imagined animals. My review.

Mollie Katzen: Salad People And More Real Recipes: A New Cookbook for Preschoolers & Up
Followup to the adorable Pretend Soup, this is kid-friendly cooking at its best.

Christie Mellor: The Three Martini Playdate: A Practical Guide to Happy Parenting
Three Parent Hacks readers said this was their favorite parenting book.

Paul Scharff: The Two Kings: A Chess Story, How to Play and a Fold-Out Chess Set
Chess instruction through clever storytelling and beautiful illustrations. My review.

Aquadoodle
Draw with water.

William Kotzwinkle: Walter, the Farting Dog
Requested daily when our son was four.

Apple 30 GB Video iPod
You know you want one. For the kids, of course. Here's why.

My Neighbor Totoro (2-Disc Set) (DVD)
The best Miyazaki film for little ones. Gorgeous animation depicting rural Japanese life. My thoughts on two other favorites, Kiki's Delivery Service and Nausicaa.

Ellyn Satter: Child of Mine: Feeding With Love and Good Sense
Common sense approach to feeding babies, kids, and teens. Bottom line: don't make it a power struggle. My review.

Louis, M.D. Borgenicht: The Baby Owner's Manual: Operating Instructions, Trouble-Shooting Tips, and Advice on First-Year Maintenance
Parenting tips for geeks. Here's what two Parent Hacks readers say about the book.

Wendy Mogel: The Blessing of a Skinned Knee: Using Jewish Teachings to Raise Self-Reliant Children
Highly recommended. My review.

Ian Falconer: Olivia
We never tire of this pig with an attitude.

Jo Anne Nordling: Taking Charge: Caring Discipline That Works -- At Home and at School (Third Edition)
Firm but loving, and very common sensical.

Turecki/Tonner: The Difficult Child : Expanded and Revised Edition
Unfortunate title, but the content is excellent, straightforward, and non-judgemental.

BabyBjorn City Black Carrier
Hands-free parenting.

Trish Kuffner: The Preschooler's Busy Book
How to pass those summer (and rainy and snowy) days. My review of the Busy Books.

Trish Kuffner: The Toddler's Busy Book
Sanity-saver for parents of toddlers.

TiVo TCD540080 Series2 80-Hour Digital Video Recorder
If Parent Hacks leaves you with one golden nugget of wisdom, it's to BUY TIVO NOW!!! I swear TiVo taught my kid to read.