Jungle Drums by Graeme Base

Jungle Drums is the story of a little warthog named Ngiri who was teased by the other animals because he was small and plain. He is given a set of magical bongo drums by a wise old wildebeest who tells him they will makes his wishes come true, but not always as he would expect. So one night Ngiri plays the drums and what results is a chaotic mix up with all of the other animals in the jungle. This is a great story for older preschoolers and school aged children that teaches a lesson about being happy with who they are. As with all books by Graeme Base the illustrations are fantastic and he provides all sorts of interesting details for children and adults to discover within the pictures. Where to Buy: All of Base's books are readily available at bookstores nationwide. You of course can also find them through online outlets like Amazon.

Three Little Pigs Playset by Melissa and Doug

As a Speech Language Pathologist I'm always looking for toys that help to promote both the use and understanding of language skills. This is an excellent toy that can help support not only the development of story telling skills, but it is a great way to teach colours, matching, and counting abilities as well. What I really love about the toy is that you children can retell the story of the Three Little Pigs by acting it out with these soft, squeaky figures that are just the right size for toddlers hands. The pigs can b hidden in the plush houses and the wolf slides down the chimney - both of which are really fun activities for young children. Strengths: This is a great toy for promoting pretend play and story telling as well as for teaching some basic concepts. Weaknesses: The houses are made of a plush fabric that is a little hard to clean, but this only matters if you are using the toys with multiple children. Price: $27 - $30. Where to Buy: Melissa and Doug toys are widely available at many toy outlets such as Toys R Us as well as specialty toy stores. They can also be purchased online directly through the Melissa and Doug website (www.melissanddoug.com) or through a vendor like Amazon.

Rolling Reflections by Discovery Toys

Mirrors are always popular with infants. What could be more fun that being able to look at and talk to the baby in the mirror? This is a great non-breakable mirror that rolls and jingles with the slightest touch, so it's a wonderful way to promote tummy time and movement in young infants. Strengths: As I mentioned this is a great toy to promote tummy time. Even babies who don't like to be on their tummies for more than a few seconds, are often interested is watching their reflections, so this can help them to build a tolerance for tummy time. Weaknesses: The mirror is a bit small, so it's hard for baby to look at both his or her face and the face of a parent in the mirror at the same time. Price: $10 - $13. Where to Buy: Discovery Toys no longer manufactures this toy, but Megcos Toys makes a really similar product. It can be purchased online through Amazon.

Little Feet Like by Piggy Toes Press

This is another great giggle and grow book for infants and toddlers. It's actually advertised as a "Tootsie Touch and Feel Book", basically a texture book for feet. Just like "Little Hands Love", this book features large panels of textures (about 4.5 inches x 4.5 inches) that are easy for baby to feel. The textures themselves are unique as well. There is "fresh, green grass," "warm powdery sand," and crisp, crunchy leaves" to name just a few. Again the story pattern is predictable, which is highly popular with young children and the text is easy to follow, so it makes for a great "fill in the blank" book eventually.

Little Hands Love by Piggy Toes Press

This is an excellent texture book for infants and toddlers who enjoy having interesting textures to feel while they read. The thick cardboard pages play host to large texture pads (big enough for an entire hand of the child to feel the texture all at once) that include things like cardboard, tutu material, cotton, and crinkly flower petals. Each page starts with the text "Little hands love..." and then have a description of the texture featured. It's a predictable book filled with not so typical textures that will keep babies and toddlers coming back for more.

Oval Xylophone by Plan Toys

This is another well constructed wooden toy offered by Plan Toys. The keys are strung on a flexible strong and the wooden hammer is easy to attach to the side of the toy with a ribbon or string. This is a great first xylophone for younger infants (8 months+) because it is easy to strike and is light enough that it won't hurt if little fingers grab at the keys. Strengths: Because the keys are wooden they make a soft, somewhat muted tone when struck, so they aren't as jarring as the tones produced by a metal xylophone. Also, the materials used in the toy are non-toxic, so they don't pose a danger if a child still likes to mouth objects. Weaknesses: If you are looking for a xylophone that lets you play true sounding songs where the notes need to be "in tune" this is not the toy for you. The tone quality tends to be muddy because the keys are made of wood rather than metal. Price: $20 - $23 Where to Buy: Most specialty toy shops carry wooden toys like Plan, but the toys can also be found through retailers like Amazon. Silly Goose Toys (http://www.sillygoosetoys.com/) is an online outlet that carries a great range of wooden and specialty toys.

Russell's Christmas Magic by Rob Scotton

Russell the Sheep is finishing putting up the Christmas decorations, when suddenly there is a loud crash in Frogsbottom Field. Santa has crashed his sleigh and is afraid that Christmas will have to be canceled. Russell comes to the rescue by helping to fix the sleigh and making sure that Santa and his reindeer and sent safely on their way. It's a beautifully illustrated book, with expressive and detailed drawings. It's a great book for preschoolers, young school aged children, and anyone else who still believes in the magic of the Christmas spell.

Wombat Divine by Mem Fox

This is a story of a dear and bumbling Wombat who loves everything about Christmas, especially the Nativity play. When he is finally old enough to try out, the parts all seem to go to other animals. This is a touching story about how Wombat finally gets to participate in the play of his dreams and sends a Christmas message of joy and hope to all. It's a timeless story for preschoolers and older children that encourages you never to give up on your dreams.

The Nativity illustrated by Julie Vivas

This is a beautiful and biblically accurate portrayal of the story of the birth of Christ. The illustrations are delicate water colours that capture the tenderness of the story of a birth of a child. The text of the story comes from the King James Version of the Bible and the artwork is soft and enchanting. If you are looking for a story of the nativity, this is a must have for any bookshelf. What makes the story so brilliant is that the tale of the birth of Christ can be retold just through the pictures for younger children.

Olive, the Other Reindeer by J. Otto Seibold & Vivian Walsh

This is a charming holiday tale about a little dog named Oliver, who after hearing the line of a song (All of the other reindeer....) thinks she must be a reindeer, not a dog. So Olive heads to the North Pole to help Santa and his reindeer deliver their presents to boys and girls all around the world. The other reindeer are a little confused by Olive, but soon learn to appreciate her special talents. This is an excellent Christmas story for toddlers and preschoolers alike.