Top 10 (Plus) Christmas Books for Children

This isn't a scientific list by any stretch of the imagination. It's just my family's Top 10 (plus an extra) Christmas books. I hope some of them are yours too, but if I missed one of your family's favorites, please share it with all of us in the comments.

1. How the Grinch Stole Christmas by Dr. Seuss
2. The Night Before Christmas by Clement C. Moore (and many different illustrators)
3. The Polar Express by Chris Van Allsburg 
4. Merry Christmas Mom and Dad by Mercer Mayer
5. The Mitten by Jan Brett
6. A Charlie Brown Christmas by Charles M. Schultz
7. The Littlest Christmas Tree by Janie Jasin
8. Bear Stays Up for Christmas by Karma Wilson and Jane Chapman
9. Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer by Kristen L. Depken (Golden Books) or Rick Bunsen (Little Golden Books)
10. Snowmen at Night by Caralyn Buehner and Mark Buehner 
11. Christmas Cricket by Eve Bunting and Timothy Bush

Find these...and other Christmas Classics...at Amazon.com. 

-Lisa Bakewell

Tuesday's Top 10: Sites for Parenting Information

As parents, we are always looking for parenting information. Below, I've listed a Top 10 list, in no particular order, of sites that may be helpful to you and your family. The list contains government and organization sites. If you have a favorite Parenting Website, feel free to list it in the comments.

1. Health Information for Girls: Girlshealth.gov was created in 2002 by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ (HHS) Office on Women’s Health  (OWH) to help girls (ages 10 to 16) learn about health, growing up and issues they may face. Girlshealth.gov promotes healthy and positive behaviors in girls, giving them reliable and useful health information in a fun, easy-to-understand way. The website also provides information to parents and educators to help them teach girls about healthy living.
2. Expecting Parents: Find information about pregnancy, breastfeeding, postpartum depression and more.
3. Adoptive Parents: Find national and international adoption resources.
4. Babies and Preschoolers: Get information about car seats, recalls, vaccines, and more.
5. Teens: Learn about internet safety; get resources on alcohol and drug prevention; search for colleges; and more.
6. Young Adults: Get information about grants and financial aid; learn about drinking prevention; and more.
7. American Accademy of Pediatrics (AAP): From asthma to immunization, find out more about what AAP recommends for your children's health.
8. Social Networking: Keeping Your Kids Safe: Parents sometimes can feel outpaced by their technologically savvy kids. Technology aside, there are lessons that parents can teach to help kids stay safer as they socialize online.
9. U.S. Government Web sites for Parents and Educators: This site contains a comprehensive list of government resources for kids.
10. Parents of Children with Special Needs: Parents of children with special needs are often advocates for their children’s education and medical care. The included Federal agencies, national organizations, publications and websites provide information for parents of children with special needs about inclusion, parent support, parent advocacy, and medical conditions. Additional resources are available via the NCCIC’s Online Library at http://nccic.acf.hhs.gov/library/index.cfm?do=oll.search.

ADDITIONAL RESOURCES:

1. Nemour's Websites: These sites include Kid's Health, Teen Health, Parenting Information, and an Educator's site. If you're looking for information you can trust about kids and teens that's free of "doctor speak," you've come to the right place. KidsHealth is the most-visited site on the Web for information about health, behavior, and development from before birth through the teen years.
2. Parents' Information at ED.gov: ED's mission is to promote student achievement and preparation for global competitiveness by fostering educational excellence and ensuring equal access.
3. A Parent's Guide to Internet Safety from the FBI: Our children are our nation's most valuable asset. They represent the bright future of our country and hold our hopes for a better nation. Our children are also the most vulnerable members of society. Protecting our children against the fear of crime and from becoming victims of crime must be a national priority.

-Lisa Bakewell

Tuesday's Top 10: Children's Books and Family Movies

The holidays are fast approaching, and most of us have children to buy gifts for (whether they're our own or not). I don't know about you, but I've always thought that books make awesome gifts...and they come in all price ranges, so they fit any budget. Also, movies are a great way to give a gift of love or share some family time without breaking the bank.

Here are lists of the Top 10 Children's Books and Top 10 Family Movies:

Top 10 Children's Books

1.       Cabin Fever (Diary of a Wimpy Kid Series #6) (11/15/2011) by Jeff Kinney

2.       The LEGO Ideas Book (9/19/2011) by Dorling Kindersley Publishing Staff

3.       Every Thing On It (9/20/2011) by Shel Silverstein

4.       Tuesdays at the Castle (10/25/2011) by Jessica Day George

5.       NG Kids Ultimate Weird but True: 1,000 Wild & Wacky Facts and Photos (9/13/2011) by National Geographic

6.       Wonderstruck (9/13/2011) by Brian Selznick

7.       The Invention of Hugo Cabret (3/1/2007) by Brian Selznick

8.       Have You Filled a Bucket Today?: A Guide to Daily Happiness for Kids (5/28/2006) by Carol McCloud

9.       Darth Paper Strikes Back: An Origami Yoda Book (B&N Exclusive Edition) (8/23/2011) by Tom Angleberger

10.   The Lost Hero (Heroes of Olympus Series #1) (10/12/2010) by Rick Riordan

Plus one...

11.   Where the Sidewalk Ends: 30th Anniversary Special Edition (1/20/2004) by Shel Silverstein

    Gathered from Barnes and Noble 

Top 10 Family Movies

1.       It's a Wonderful Life (1946)         

2.       Toy Story 3 (2010)           

3.       Spirited Away (2001)     

4.       WALL·E (2008)  

5.       Back to the Future (1985)            

6.       The Kid (1921)  

7.       Up (2009)           

8.       The Gold Rush (1925)    

9.       The Lion King (1994)       

10.   The Wizard of Oz (1939)

Plus one...                

11.   Toy Story (1995)

Gathered from IMDb.com (Genre: Family)

Are your favorites on either of these lists? If not, what are your favorite children's books and family movies? 


-Lisa Bakewell