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Love these. They are manufactured in Brazil and thus for some reason, for which I cannot pinpoint, look to me like they belong on the soccer field. It's a hybrid of sock meets water shoe. (via Alpha Mom)

Updated Sep 3, 2007

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Buddha Board – Water Painting Art

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By Dooce for Alpha Mom

The Buddha Board is the perfect art surface for kids who don’t appreciate the fact that Mama spent a lot of money on that rug in the living room so that the couch would look like it matched the curtains, not so that they could practice tracing its patterns with an orange crayon. The laptop folds up to form a portable easel, and using a sturdy bamboo paintbrush dipped in nothing but water your child can create magical designs. Once the water evaporates the design disappears leaving a seemingly new surface, a clean slate. No mess.

The Buddha Board is amazingly clean. My daughter painted a few boards with the brush, but she eventually just dipped her fingers in the trough and created her masterpieces that way. She was able to fingerpaint without damaging her clothes or the color of her skin, without requiring a steam bath afterward. That’s all I ever wanted for Christmas. (via Alpha Mom Hot Spot)

Updated Sep 3, 2007

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Peacemonkey-D.I.Y Tees

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By Melissa Summers for Alpha Mom

Letting my daughter create her own t-shirt has been a lesson in letting go. When I first opened the package of Peace Monkey’s Do-It-Yourself Tees, I was instantly struck with the kind of crippling anxiety which will only grip an anally-retentive adult when faced with a permanent marker, a t-shirt and an enthusiastic seven-year-old.

In spite of my best intentions to squash any sense of spontaneity in my seven-year-old, Madison grabbed the marker and drew a picture of a dog. She drew a dog because my daughter never misses a chance to remind me that the only thing she would like in this world is a dog.

She may never have a dog but she now has her very own drawing of a dog on her shirt and it's given her a lot of joy. Maybe we can teach the drawing on her shirt to do tricks so it's nearly as exciting as a real dog? Okay, it's a really nice soft and sturdy cotton shirt but probably not as exciting as a puppy. (via Alpha Mom HotSpot)

Updated Sep 3, 2007

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Meltdown! CD by Justin Roberts

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By Matthew Baldwin (Defective Yeti) for Alpha Mom

His newest release, “Meltdown!” only reaffirms what he demonstrated in his previous four CDs: that the appeal of truly good music spans the generations, regardless of whether it's labeled as "children's."

Roberts fronted a small alt-folk band out of Minneapolis in a previous life, and the influence is unmistakable in “Meltdown!” The album also showcases the astonishing breadth of Robert's talent. One song sounds as if James Taylor is singing lead vocals for They Might Be Giants; another brings to mind Paul Simon's "Graceland." When my wife entered the room in the middle of "Sand Castles" and asked if it was a new single from Death Cab For Cutie, I knew we had a winner.

So it was time to send this one to the CEO for final approval. I queued up the CD while my 24-month son stood nearby, waiting to render judgement. For the first half of the opening song, "I Chalk," he simply stared at the stereo, rapt with attention. Then, as Roberts segued into the chorus, he began a stompy little dance, as if auditioning to become a contestant on "American Clogger." He alternated between intense concentration and merry jigging for the length of the album, and, the moment it ended, shouted "more music!" (via Alpha Mom HotSpot)

Updated Sep 3, 2007

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Encyclopedia Prehistorica: Sharks and Other Sea Monsters

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By Mrs. Kennedy of Fussy for Alpha Mom

You should have heard my son, Jackson, when he first got his hands on this pop-up book. He opened the first page and shouted, "WOW!" He turned the next page and became thoroughly entranced. "WOW," he said. I left him in silence at the dining room table to go unload the dishwasher and all I heard in the kitchen was, "WOW." Pause. "WOW." Pause. "WOW."

A week later and it's still the first thing he shows to whoever walks through the door. Every page of Robert Sabuda and Matthew Reinhart's Encyclopedia Prehistorica: Sharks and Other Sea Monsters is a show-stopper. You'd think one complex and gorgeous pop-up of a prehistoric crocodile leaping out of the water and snapping the tail off of an iguanadon (with accompanying text) would be enough for one page, but no. On opposite corners are two smaller, four-page pop-up mini-books describing two more ancient water creatures. Every page features one expertly crafted central pop-up creature and then two, three, or four smaller pop-up pages to open in each corner. It's like twenty-two books in one. (via Alpha Mom HotSpot)

Updated Sep 3, 2007

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Kids' Shoes by Preschoolians

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By JenB for Alpha Mom

Honestly though, I love the shoes, I love the website, but by far the coolest thing is designing your, I mean your child's, own shoe. You can pick the colors for all parts of the shoe; uppers, sides, tops, laces, straps, depending on the shoe style. I spent an ungodly amount of time on the site and soon as I was sent the url. This would actually be a great activity for you to do with your child as a fun new school year thing. They could help you pick the colors to match their knapsack or their favorite action figure. The sizes only go up to 10 and I would love to see them expand that. I think most kids (ok, parents too), would LOVE to pick out colors and styles to make their shoes exactly how they want them. (via Alpha Mom HotSpot)

Updated Sep 3, 2007

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The Grand Cape by Argington

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By Alice Bradley of Finslippy for Alpha Mom

Then, before I could put him into therapy, the Grand Cape arrived. Constructed of a space–age glittery material and featuring a triumphant gold star smack dab in the center, I had chosen to review it because I knew it would appeal to Henry’s superhero aspirations. It wasn’t until it arrived that I knew what it was really for.

Henry’s eyes widened when I showed him his new cape. “Put it on me put it on me put it on me!” he shouted, dancing around the box. When I finally got him still enough to tie it on, he stood, arms akimbo, and regarded himself in the mirror.

“Do you know who that is?” I asked him.

He rolled his eyes at me. “I’m Henry,” he sighed.

“Not just Henry,” I said. “You’re Henry the Good Guy,” I said.

He squinted at me. “How do you know?”

“Because. That’s a Good Guy cape.”

He beamed at his reflection. For the rest of the afternoon, he zoomed about the house, performing his various good–guy duties. He saved action figures from certain doom and grabbed block buildings in mid–topple. He gazed benevolently at the dog before kissing him on top of the head.

From that day onward, there was no more talk of him being a bad guy. And—for a little while, at least—I felt like a genius. (via Alpha Mom HotSpot)

Updated Sep 3, 2007

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