Spring is turning to summer so there’s no better time than the present to teach your kids about plants and gardening. Don’t have a backyard or proper garden? No worries, check out Inhabitots’ post on Leafy Wonders’ Mini Garden Kit.

We’re all somewhat obsessed about our health and what we eat… often to the point of being unhealthy. UrbanBabyBuzz posted a quick review of “Feed the Belly,” a book of 70 recipes designed to address cravings and satisfy nutritional needs before and during pregnancy. I’m not recommending the book as I haven’t read it, but hey, maybe its worth a look. While on the topic of books, why not take a peek at Momnesia posted via CoolMomPicks.

Elephants and dominoes… born to be together? Via MyMomShops. It seems that Elephants aren’t the only african creatures made out of wood… CoolMomPicks posted about this wooden giraffe toy set not long ago. In fact I don’t see why the two shouldn’t be matched. You could easily haul those dominoes in the giraffe’s slick trailer.

Some kids like sailboats, others lust after canoes or speedboats. Something tells me there’s a kid or two here in Vancouver that might enjoy the chance to pilot one of those huge tankers that anchor out in English Bay… and it seems a lucky few might get a chance. Check out the Replica Oil Supertankers posted over at LikeCool! Man. I’d love to give one of these a shot.

So I heard that the initial cut of Where the Wild Things Are was deemed too much for kids when the entire theater of children screening it left terrified. Likely a reasonable assessment.

Based on the video below I suspect that the current version may still be a bit much for some children. Spike Jonze. Where the Wild Things Are.

Just a quick post… this book is a must-have.

I bought a couple copies over the holidays and gifted them out to stellar reviews. While I’m sure the first impulse is to give this to a youngster you know, let me assure you that it will be appreciated by those single older guys in your circle as well. This kid brings humor to what can be an especially touchy subject with someone who’s recently broken up, or just generally tends to struggle with relationships.

Anyway, use it as you see fit, but next time you find yourself in a book store take a moment or two to have a look at How to Talk to Girls.

I came across SpoonSisters.com via Babyccino and headed straight for the parenting section. Most of the items I found were pretty tongue-in-cheek, but they’re worth a look for sure.

Humpty Who? promises ‘a crash course in 80 nursery rhymes (Georgie Porgie, The Itsy-Bitsy Spider, Contrary Mary… wait, what?) for clueless moms and dads.’ I have to be honest, I didn’t realize there were 80 nursery rhymes, so I already have reason to give this one a shot. The only downside I can think of is that the filler included to get to 80 includes all those morbid post-war rhymes that we recite without knowing their history.

The Baby Owner’s Manual includes step-by-step instructions and diagrams on how to care for your baby.

Baby-Gami claims to teach the art of swaddling. Call it what you like, this one’s all about turning yourself into a hippie… with style. I have to admit that I get nervous when I see parents with kids in these contraptions, especially at the grocer. On more than one occasion I’ve been near certain the kid was going to fall on his head when mom bent to pick up some dropped fruit.

I can’t refuse anything Uglydoll-related… ever since buying a box of Target dolls (the one-eyed octopus with chest hair) I’ve been a fan and evangelize them whenever I can. As such I was surprised to see the variety of Uglydoll merchandise out there today.

Some examples:
The Ugly Guide to the Uglyverse
Ugly Guide to Things That Go and Things That Should Go But Don’t
How to Draw Uglydoll Kit: Ugly Drawings in a Few Easy Steps
Hey Ugly!: Notebook Set
Uglydoll Card Game
Hey Ugly!: Postcard Box

Porn For New Moms promises a lot but in my opinion is somewhat misleading. I have my thoughts as to what constitutes porn, and those thoughts have little to do with what is presented in the pages of this book. That said, I know during pregnancy hormones can do crazy things with one’s system… so by all means have at it!

The book published by the Cambridge Women’s Pornography Cooperative is currently on sale at Amazon.com and should put a smile on the face of any new mother you gift it to.

Related books in the series include:
Porn For Women

Porn For Women (30 Postcards)

Porn For Women: Fantasy Coupons

XXX Porn for Women: Hotter, Hunkier, and More Helpful Around the House!

Geez… ok, this is getting ridiculous.

Or cave woman.
My Hungry! is exactly the type of book I would buy if I came across it in a bookstore, and who could blame me? A child’s book with a little cave boy on the cover and the promise of simple cave dialogue inside. The upside? A quick read with the potential for humour. The downside? A child who will insist on speaking like Captain Caveman for the coming several months… worth it? You’ll have to decide for yourself.

Maybe this is one of those gifts for someone else’s kids

I think I’m losing the ability distinguish between cool finds online and weird crap randomly posted. Case in point? When I first saw this strangely simple child’s colouring book of admittedly “lousy” animals I reacted with “Ha! That’s kind of cool…” but it slowly transitioned into “What the hell… why would I bookmark that?”

Don’t give me that look. I know you’re struggling with the same thing right now.

Props to Swissmiss for feeding me this and letting me know I’m spending too much time online.

Ok, well maybe not must buy, but must email.
I know more than a few fathers who should hit Amazon asap to grab a few copies of this one for the coffee table. Want a new NAS? Grease the wheels a bit with Mommy, Why is There a Server in the House?.

The reviews are definitely mixed, but I suspect most people buying this aren’t doing so for the content… and at $5.95 who really cares?