One of the loveliest shower gifts we've seen in a while, this deluxe memory box by Petit Collage includes an album for storing photos and recording milestones, a drawer for keeping important records, and glassine envelopes and stickers for preserving treasured keepsakes (like that itsy-bitsy hospital bracelet). $50,
Chronicle Books.

12:00 AM,
September 21, 2009
The perfect antidote to the back-to-school blues, Atomic Soda's photo album invites your kids to compile their favorite shots and memories from summer adventures and getaways. $30,
Jasper + Black.

12:00 AM,
September 07, 2009
They may not eat the yams on their dinner plates, but we're sure your kids will love Francine Prose's new tale
Rhino, Rhino, Sweet Potato. Roy is a little boy growing up in a village where they eat nothing but sweet potatoes, until a rowdy herd of rhinos invades in search of some 'taters of their own. Roy must convince his neighbors to find a peaceful solution and live in harmony with the animals. Charming illustrations and a message of bravery and compassion will make this book a bedtime favorite.
$14,
Amazon.
12:00 AM,
July 31, 2009
The World According to Your Child turns your little one's drawings and ideas into a professionally typeset hardcover book. He'll delight in seeing his name and his work in print, you'll cherish the time capsule of his shaky handwriting and musings on becoming a fireman when he grows up. The kit comes with color markers, drawing sheets, and instructions on returning the materials for publishing; you'll get the final result just three weeks later. $30,
I See Me.
12:00 AM,
July 23, 2009
Kolo's Essex travel book comes with two section inserts: photo-sleeve pages and lined journal pages. It's the perfect combo for recording a memorable trip, sure, but we love it even more as a hybrid baby book and brag book for the mom who wants a low-maintenance (no glue sticks, glitter pens, or photo corners!) record of baby's first months. $25,
Kolo.
12:00 AM,
July 14, 2009
With 100 recipes from America's best smokehouses, pits, shacks, rib joints, roadhouses, and restaurants, he'll have enough fresh ideas for a season of grilling! $14, Amazon.
12:00 AM,
June 18, 2009

Even if the thought of any kind of bed bugs completely freaks you out, we think your kids will be charmed by this story of little insects that live in and old blanket. Plus, the book evokes the coziness of the bugs' texture-rich world through the mixture of a felted wool technique and an amalgam of appliqué, fabrics, and stitching. $10, Amazon.
Be sure to check out our reviews of the best classic, fiction, and other children's books.
12:00 AM,
June 08, 2009
If Sarah Magid's cakes taste anywhere near as good as they look, we're in for a sweet summer indeed. $21, Barnes and Noble.
Check out kid-friendly dessert ideas from Magid on our food blog, One Little Bite.
10:21 AM,
June 02, 2009

The beautiful illustrations and design of this book will capture the imaginations of your little paleontologists, ahem, readers and take them on a prehistoric journey back in time. It even comes with a tri-fold timeline that outlines the key historic ages, mini booklets with little known dinosaur facts, and a giant foldout poster that includes various life-size dino-footprints. $20, Through The Magic Door.
12:00 AM,
April 29, 2009