The Talking Walnut

purr-fect reading: lola gets a cat

Pamela Brill — Fri, 27 Jan 2017 21:07:47 +0000

I enjoy reading with my kids any day of the year, but this particular season is even more fun to snuggle up with a good book. I remember back when they were younger and we’d tear through a pile of picture books in one sitting. If you and your little one are ready for a sweet new story, be sure to check out Lola Gets a Cat. The latest book in the Lola series, it’s the charming tale of a precocious preschooler who’s been itching for a cat of her own, and does everything she can to prove that she is responsible enough. At first glance, readers will understand just how committed she is: Her bedroom is outfitted in all things feline, including Lola herself…right down to the barrettes in her hair. She takes her job of potential pet owner rather seriously by researching cat care-taking at the library and putting this newfound information to practice at home. After demonstrating how devoted, knowledgeable and, most importantly, kindhearted she truly is, Lola finally reaps her well-earned reward. Readers’ hearts will melt at the expression on the chosen kitty’s face in anticipation of finding a home. (I couldn’t help but recall my own experience of laying eyes on our shelter cat, who happens to resemble the gray furred Makeda.) Of course, like any pet adoption story, Lola learns the art of patience as her furry friend gets accustomed to her new surroundings, a gentle reminder for those considering adding a pet to their own family. Before long, Lola’s new bestie has settled in and as the story ends, it’s as though Makeda has been with her the entire time. An endearing story with lovely illustrations, Lola Gets a Cat may not be the most fitting title for this book. It’s more ‘Lola Gains a Friend’…and more.

In a Nutshell: A love letter for kitty fans everywhere. A perfect pick just in time for Valentine’s Day, Lola Gets a Cat is geared at ages 2-5.

how sweet it is: peaceable kingdom valentines

Pamela Brill — Mon, 23 Jan 2017 19:49:14 +0000

I heart Valentine’s Day. As a kid, I couldn’t wait until my teacher gave us permission to “deliver” our handmade cards to our classmates. After school, I would lay out my collection of candy-colored notes on the living room floor, re-reading the silly phrases like “You’re purr-fect, Valentine” from a cartoon cat. (It was almost as fun as cataloguing my Halloween candy, yet oddly more satisfying.) Later, once I became a mom, I relished the chance to transform an ordinary shoe box into a mailbox festooned with pink and red hearts for my preschooler, hoping she too would come to savor the holiday steeped only in sweetness and love. As my daughter grew and developed tastes of her own, I recalled helping her select her own cards, and winced a little as construction paper hearts gave way to television characters in day-glo brights and holograms of peace signs and emojis. Now as the seasoned mother of two, I admittedly miss those days of Valentines that spoke to simpler times and realize that my vote doesn’t count for much when it comes to “cool cards.” Maybe that’s why the new Valentines line from Peaceable Kingdom is such a treat for sentimental saps like me. From the scratch ‘n sniff variety of cookies and cream and cherry cupcakes, to the ones with a little something extra like a game of tic tac toe, these cards pack plenty of fun with a little bit of nostalgia thrown in. Each set contains 28 cards and envelopes–enough for an entire class and then some. I’ll gladly take the leftovers.

In a Nutshell: Valentine’s Day just got a whole lot sweeter. This classroom-ready collection of kids’ cards has something for everyone.

instant winter: seedling create your own snowflake fairy wand

Pamela Brill — Fri, 13 Jan 2017 16:56:10 +0000

Last weekend, we had our first taste of winter for the season: enough snow to pile up for making snow angels and going sledding. And then just like that, it was gone! Fluffy mounds of powdery white quickly turned into muddy puddles, with only dirty, wet tire tracks as proof of their existence. Temperatures soared into the balmy 50s, threatening to turn this winter on its end. So, what’s a snowstorm-loving kid to do without a winter wonderland? Create her own, of course, and we have just the magic touch to get the snowball rolling. Seedling’s Create Your Own Snowflake Fairy Wand puts the power of pretend play into your child’s hand–literally–by providing all the essentials to fashion a decorative wand. From white felt and colorful ribbons, to rhinestones and a cut-out snowflake, these ingredients help make a magical stick bound to be the envy of snow fairies everywhere. (Full disclosure: We are a big fan of Seedling craft kits, not only for their beautiful packaging but their top-notch materials that stand up to creative kids’ play.) This kit is perfect for an indoor snow day activity, a sick day boredom buster or even a way to extend the fun of a day spent outside. So, if Mother Nature isn’t complying with your kids’ requests to make it snow, give them a reason to look forward to the next big storm.

In a Nutshell: Take that, global warming! Here’s the perfect antidote to post-holiday, I-don’t-have-anything-to-do blues.

a-maze-ing play: seedling design your own marble maze

Pamela Brill — Thu, 22 Dec 2016 15:48:53 +0000

If you’ve been putting off trying to find a gift for the tween/teen in your life, we feel your pain. Gone are the days of cuddly stuffed animals, fashion dolls and action figures…now it seems like all your kid cares about is his phone! If you refuse to resort to a token gift card (good for you!), but don’t exactly want to go to the end’s of the earth either, consider this creative choice that just begs to be played with. Seedling’s Design Your Own Marble Maze gets big points in our book. First, it takes the puzzle concept to another level (literally) by letting kids construct and design their own tabletop-sized maze. They can position walls, add traps and designate stop and start points to create a challenging course. Then, just add marbles and see just who can master this maze! If your kid is into building, but has outgrown his Legos, this set may be the perfect match for his advanced skill set–and that will make you a proud parent. And if your smarty pants is suddenly experiencing smartphone withdrawal, he can download the free Maze app and use the bonus Virtual Reality Viewer to check out his mastery in action. See, everybody wins in this game.

In a Nutshell: Don’t go lose your marbles over finding the perfect present for your tween/teen. This marble-lous maze is a smart choice.

experiments express: little passports science expeditions

Pamela Brill — Mon, 19 Dec 2016 20:56:52 +0000

The clock is ticking, and you still haven’t found that perfect gift for the kid in your life. (Yes, it’s officially time to give up on those Hatchimals arriving any time soon.) If you’re looking for something unconventional, that doesn’t involve batteries and that you don’t even have to wrap, we’ve got the gift for you. Introducing Little Passports Science Expeditions, the all-in-one curiosity kit that will intrigue and fascinate budding scientists on a regular basis. Available as a monthly subscription, this series provides all the tools necessary for kids ages 9 and up to perform themed experiments right in their own home. For starters, they will receive a science case and lab notebook to keep tabs on their experiments in progress. Then, each month, they’ll be able to dabble in a different activity–from forensic science and rockets, to caves and crystals and northern lights and magnetism–and document their work as they go. And when they’ve completed one set and are awaiting the next delivery, they’ll have access to bonus online content for even more science fun. How’s that for being a gift that keeps on giving?

In a Nutshell: Get ready to give yourself a pat on the back for the Coolest Gift Ever. Little Passports Science Expeditions are available in three monthly subscription options and will be delivered right to your child’s door.

wear your heart on your sleeve: creativity for kids emoji bracelets

Pamela Brill — Thu, 08 Dec 2016 21:56:17 +0000

The clock is ticking and if you’re like me, you’ve put off your holiday shopping for as long as humanly possible. (I’m usually not a procrastinator, but the annual Christmas rush can bring out the worst in even the best of us ). If you caught that emoji, then you’ll appreciate the latest crafting craze that truly lets kids speak their own language. Creativity for Kids Emoji Bracelets is a fun, inexpensive gift for the hard-to-please tween or tween-to-be. This kit comes with colorful gel cord that’s perfectly stretchy to show off the 70 emoji-faced beads: enough to make five unique bracelets to suit your kid’s mood du jour. It works just as well as a sleepover party crowd pleaser as it does for a sick day or solo activity when you’re snowed in (heaven forbid). So, whether you’re polishing off your holiday gift list or just getting started, put this easy-to-ship, easy-to-use crafting kit in the must-have column for your daughter, niece or anyone who appreciates the difference between an eye roll and a wink. LOL.

In a Nutshell: This love-to-get, love-to-give kit is a top choice for crafty kids. Creativity for Kids Emoji Bracelets retails for $9.99.

collectible countdown: disney tsum tsum advent calendar

Pamela Brill — Fri, 18 Nov 2016 19:19:20 +0000

You know it’s almost Christmas when supermarket pumpkins and mums are being swapped out in favor of wreaths, miniature trees and bags of red and green candies. Seeing those holiday Hershey kisses reminds me that, once again, I packed away our advent calendar in a box that I can’t get my hands on in time for December 1st! It’s one of those kinds with pockets for each day that you can fill with small toys, candy or other trinkets…but it seems to have lost its original allure (in my house, at least). If your family is in the market for a new way to countdown to Christmas, consider one of the latest trends in collectible toys to mark the season. The Disney Tsum Tsum Advent Calendar is high on my 8-year-old’s list this year. (If you’re not familiar with this line, they are the plush, stackable faces of your favorite Disney characters, from Mickey Mouse and Friends, to the Frozen cast of characters.) The advent calendar is set in a gingerbread theme and comes with 18 different sized Tsum Tsum figures in holiday dress, along with 6 holiday accessories. Kids can pop open each cardboard window and create a playful scene as they count the days until Santa’s arrival. Once the holidays are over and done, you can save the calendar to corral all those critters. No need to clean up all those candy wrappers this year. Unless, of course, you decide to dip into your kids’ stockings…

In a Nutshell: The Christmas countdown just got real! Here’s a fun way for your resident collector to celebrate the season.

turkey day by the book: thanksgiving: the holiday at the heart of the american experience

Pamela Brill — Tue, 15 Nov 2016 21:58:32 +0000

As I watched a cascade of wet leaves swirling around outside my window earlier this morning, it dawned on me: Thanksgiving is next week. If you find yourself staring mindlessly at grocery store displays of cranberry sauce and canned pumpkins, you’re not alone. It seems like so many people are walking around in a daze, feeling like they’d much rather fast-forward past the holidays this year. A strange time though it may be, I can’t imagine skipping the one day of the year when families and friends come together to celebrate and give thanks for all they already have. Pardon the expression, but forgoing Thanksgiving would seem to be un-American…and that’s definitely not the message I want to share with my kids. For those of you who will be sharing a special meal next Thursday, I invite you to check out a poignant new book that couldn’t have come at a better time. Melanie Kirkpatrick’s Thanksgiving: The Holiday at the Heart of the American Experience is a rich history of the holiday that reminds us of our storied roots and humble beginnings. Chapter after chapter contains detailed nuggets of the American celebration, from the arrival of the pilgrims, to the advent of the first Turkey Bowl. Historic readings that beg to be read aloud at the Thanksgiving table are as satisfying as mom’s apple pie…speaking of which, there’s even a noteworthy collection of recipes dating back to the 1800s. (If you ever wanted to try your hand at pumpkin pudding, now’s your chance.) Thumbing through this book, it’s difficult not to see just how far our country has come. Think of it as a slice of hope during a confusing, uncertain time; an extra dollop of whipped cream is optional.

In a Nutshell: Forget your cookbook; this book just might get you in the mood for Thanksgiving dinner. Makes a great hostess gift–or for yourself.

the house that jane built: goldieblox invention mansion

Pamela Brill — Fri, 11 Nov 2016 21:50:18 +0000

I remember that Christmas like it was yesterday. I had asked Santa for the Barbie Dream House, but instead received a Barbie Townhouse. I wasn’t entirely disappointed that I didn’t get exactly what I had written in my letter to him, but more because the house didn’t seem to work as I thought it should. The elevator didn’t go up without banging from side to side, and my dolls kept falling out. Some of the furnishings weren’t three-dimensional, but instead were printed onto the walls (seriously, how’s a girl supposed to hang up her sparkly evening gown without a real closet?). That might have been the very year that I began to lose interest in playing dolls, but looking back, I don’t begrudge Barbie for turning me off. If anything, I think it’s when I started drawing more and doodling houses that I dreamed I could build myself. Lucky for today’s girls, they can actually turn those fantasies into a reality. GoldieBlox’s Invention Mansion is the dream home your daughter was meant to have. With over 350 pieces and a book of detailed construction ideas to whet her appetite, this kit nixes the entire idea of a starter home by letting your resident architect take the lead and design to her heart’s content. There’s a trap door, zipline, balcony, bridges and even a climbing wall that will help take her building skills to the next level–literally. No matter how your child designs it, she’s sure to believe ‘there’s no place like home.’

In a Nutshell: Unleash your child’s imagination with a make-your-own-home set that leaves plenty of room for creative play.

beauty and the beasts: hard candy trolls collection

Pamela Brill — Thu, 03 Nov 2016 21:20:48 +0000

It’s almost Friday, and that means we’re getting ready for the weekend. If your family is like mine, we’re always tuned into what movies are coming out and this time, it’s Trolls. I’m still trying to convince my 8-year-old to go see it–I mean, how can you not like these crazy, colorful little rascals?–so we’ll see what happens there. In the meantime, my 12-year-old is totally on board, and that might just have something to do with the cool new beauty products we just received. Hard Candy’s Trolls Collection has plenty of playful choices to let you experiment with a look that’s as fun as the movie promises to be. From the Mood Lip Balm and Marbelized Lipstick, to the Hair Chalk Tin and Poppin’ Pigments, each product is designed in the spirit of the movie and offers the perfect excuse to spice up your beauty routine. So, pass the popcorn and enjoy the show.

In a Nutshell: Why should your kids have all the fun? This new line of movie-inspired cosmetics will tickle your fancy.