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Thanksgiving provides a wonderful opportunity to teach your child about history, encourage reading, and show her the importance of family. Want to find out how to get learning back on the menu? Check out Thanksgiving Central. more

November 28, 2009

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Wooden Blocks

These days, kids are surrounded 24/7 by high tech gizmos and beeping "educational" toys. What a joy to find these low-tech beauties - high quality wood blocks with embossed images. Comes in the alphabet and numbers and Nursery Rhymes sets. Read more »

Fifteen Puzzle

First invented in 1880, this pocket-sized numerical puzzle became wildly popular in the 1930's. Now it's making a comeback with this retro version. Read more »

DMC-03 Multifunction Pedometer

Give your child's exercise routine a tech upgrade with this snazzy pedometer. Read more »

Decorate-Your-Own Wooden Jigsaw Puzzle

This puzzle-painting kit is an exercise in uncomplicated fun, and contains everything your child needs to paint a puzzle design that can be taken apart and put back together again and again. Read more »

The Miles Between

Mary E. Pearson

Funny, articulate and well-written, The Miles Between tackles deep philosophical questions with a light and clever tone. A great road trip movie...only in book form! Read more »

Gyroscope Twin Pack

A vintage throwback with some very current fun potential, this double gyroscope kit brings back the cool science contraption that's been on the market since 1917. Read more »

Come Back Soon

Daniel Schallau

When Elephant gets an invitation to visit his penguin pals in faraway Icetown, he sets sail immediately. Gorgeous artwork and a silly premise make this a delight for young readers. Read more »

Knit-it Mice Kit

These three rodents won't keep you up at night and they won't nibble through your cupboards. What they will do is help teach your newbie knitter the basics. Read more »

Boochie Outdoor Game

This may be the most fun outdoor game you'll play all year. Read more »

Geomate Jr.

The Geomate Jr. does one thing and one thing only: geocaching. With just 3 buttons and a 1 1/2 inch screen, it weighs a mere 3 ounces and primarily shows the bare basics. Read more »

When You Reach Me

Rebecca Stead

This gem of a novel pulses with edge-of-the-seat intrigue, complex characters, and the intricacies of middle school friendship. Funny, exceptionally well-written...in short one of the best books for young readers we've seen all year. Read more »

The Secret of Zoom

Lynne Jonell

Part mystery, part comedy, part science fiction, and a whole lot of adventure, this book is a surefire hit. Read more »

Build-it Rocket Kit

This creative art project transforms into a sturdy, all-wood rocket, able to withstand plenty of pretend play. Read more »

Top This!

Practice thinking outside of the box with this frustratingly fun and challenging puzzle game, meant for a single player. Read more »

Pinball Painter

This activity kit adds some major excitement to the act of painting, by letting kids shoot giant pinballs at globs of paint. Read more »

Faery Rebels: Spell Hunter

R.J. Anderson

Full of fantasy, adventure, romance, and as strong a heroine as they come, this is one book your child will be hard pressed to put down. Read more »

Wax Drawing Kit

Packed up pretty with oil pastels, wooden frames, and colored and natural beeswax, this kit takes young artists step-by-step through the process of creating a picture inspired by an Ancient Greek wax technique. Read more »

Tub Tunes Water Drums

Grab your drumsticks, it's bath time! This set of two plastic and foam drums floats in the bathtub, giving kids a solid introduction to percussion in the midst of soaping up. Read more »

Pocket Watercolor Set

Get your child started with this kid-friendly kit, which contains 18 half-pans of pigment and a brush in an easy-to-tote aluminum tin. Read more »

Raspberries

Jay O'Callahan and Will Moses

This infectious concoction tells the tale of a magical fruit that makes everyone, from a shy old man to a nasty little bully, jump into the air singing, "Raspberries!" the moment they get a taste. Read more »

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