droolicious : animals

Get a 'Peace' of This Puppy

JeanneSager — Thu, 21 May 2009 16:30:00 GMT

I've seen some kooky recreations of the peace symbol, but this canine critter takes the cake.

The Peace Puppy tee from Buddhi Wear will center your little pup for some serious downward dog.

Made of organic cotton, the youth tees come in peaceful sky blue or natural, or you can stretch your way over to pick up a Peace Kitty tee.

The tees are $28.50, and for every purchase, Buddhi Wear plants a tree! We give this tee . . . and the tree . . . two woofs up.

Check out more peaceful tees for tots:
The Best Woodstock Tees for The Fortieth Anniversary

Can't See the ABCs for All the Trees

JeanneSager — Tue, 12 May 2009 15:01:00 GMT

What do you do will those alphabet charts when your kids are already reading? With the Trees and ABCs posters from Blue Sky Rocket, you leave 'em up.

After all - you have to look hard to see the ABCs for all the trees. The animal antics of all the critters make these prints fun for tots who love to play I Spy. And for parents, there's the added bonus that the animals make this art last beyond the toddler years (they'd make a funky office print).

Get them from Blue Sky Rocket - an 8x10 is $20.

Bye-Bye, Plastic: Reusable Organic Sandwich Bags

Aaron Burgess — Fri, 08 May 2009 19:30:00 GMT

Assuming your kids' snacks and sandwiches lean toward the dry variety, this reusable 100% organic unbleached-cotton sandwich bag seems like a sound idea for reducing plastic waste. Not sure how well it'd hold up against a drippy PB&J, but that's a problem your washing machine can solve.

$5.99 from Bebeloosh's Etsy shop.

Music on the Half Shell

JeanneSager — Fri, 24 Apr 2009 16:29:00 GMT

Who knew you could listen to rap music and think "awwww, that's so cute?"

OK, I probably shouldn't have my iPod tuned to Biggie when it's plugged into my daughter's iTurtle, but come on. Who doesn't want to see a turtle dance?

The newest critter in the Hasbro line of animal iPod music players for kids has already earned my vote for best of the bunch. The little turtle (and I do mean little, this thing fits in my palm) bumps around to the beat and let's you know what he's "thinking" with musical riffs. If he's hungry for more tunes, he lets you know. When he likes their pick, he bobs his little head, taps his tiny feet and his shell goes bumpity bump.

Add the light show on his shell, and you can paint this turtle happy (unless you touch his tail).

The player itself gives off a pretty decent sound, and it's only $21.99 at Amazon.

Rescue Pets Let Kids be Heroes and/or Pet Owners

Whit Honea — Sun, 19 Apr 2009 13:03:00 GMT

Does your child have pet wishes unanswered? It happens.

Now is your chance to set things right. Kind of.

Rescue Pets allow children to adopt a plush pet and register them online. They also allow children to go above and beyond the typical role of pet owner and venture into the world of veterinary science. It's educational!

Warning - the animals actually whimper and whine and it's only sweet for about 20 seconds. Still, they're awfully cute when they're quite.

Eco for the Next Generation

JeanneSager — Mon, 30 Mar 2009 20:34:00 GMT

I confess. I'm a sap. All that "our children are our future" mumbo jumbo makes me weepy.

So the designs by Meghan Stein Webster at Eco-Generation Kids were bound to pull at my heartstrings (oh yeah, and my pocketbook). Webster suffered a double whammy when she lost her dad to cancer that doctors linked to environmental causes then got pregnant - only to learn she couldn't spend time in her beautiful garden because doctors were worried for the life of her child.

Now she's a mom and designer, covering organic cotton tees in messages for the future printed with low-impact inks and dyes.

All it takes is one look at the penguins asking "where will they march," and you've got me (and no, I'm not pregnant, but thanks for asking!). This is precisely WHY I didn't watch March of the Penguins, by the way.If you sway Seussian, check out One Fish, Two Fish, Red Fish, No Fish.

All the tees are made for kids so Webster can impress the messages of our world on its future.

Get any of the tees at Eco-Generation Kids.

Meerkat Plush

AmandaHill — Tue, 24 Mar 2009 01:00:00 GMT

For reasons I'll never understand, my daughter is obsessed with the show MeerKat Manor. In fact, she's obsessed with Meerkats in general, which to me is quasi-creepy, because, hello, Meerkats? But if you also have a Meerkat loving little one, they might like the Meerkat plush.

You can find the Meerkat plush at the Discovery Store.

Pond Pals

Lisa Mulcahy — Fri, 20 Mar 2009 18:45:00 GMT

Stacking seems to be a universal skill that babies are always trying to refine. Here’s a set of stacking pond critters that will help do just that.

Featuring “smart magnets” that allow the pieces to be stacked in any order The Lamaze Pond Stackers, $16.99, are an easy way to introduce stacking. No matter how a child puts them together they stick. There’s also a lesson to be had about colors, shapes and animal characteristics.

Big Deal: Fauna Clothing And Pillows On Sale

Chris Ford — Mon, 09 Mar 2009 18:04:00 GMT

Fauna is the NYC-based company that makes pillows and clothing with animal prints that use photos of actual animals. They're kind of one of those things you either love or hate, and for those that fall into the former category, I just discovered a bunch of their products on sale over at Design Public.

You can get some of the Fauna pillows for as low as $31, but my favorite are the Baby Onesies and Kids T-Shirts. The Cat T-Shirt is $10 off the regular price as well as the Cat Onesie. But there are also bunnies, squirrels and even pigeons to choose from too. All are perfect for your little hipster this spring.

Check out products from Fauna, on sale now at DesignPublic.com

Zen Shorts by Jon J. Muth

Chris Ford — Tue, 03 Mar 2009 00:30:00 GMT

I almost never write about books on Droolicious (which should probably change come to think of it), and with this book I am probably late to the party, but it is so great I had to evangelize it a bit more. Zen Shorts by Jon J. Muth is the story of a panda named Stillwater, and the three short tales he tells children.

The book itself is beautifully illustrated in watercolors, with each of the individual stories illustrated with sort of asian brush-strokes. The stories are simple, peaceful tales not meant to teach as much as show different ways of looking at situations that kids find themselves in all the time. It's rare that my kids and I actually discuss a book after reading it the previous night, but with Zen Shorts we ended up talking about examples in our lives where the stories apply.

It is easily the best book I've bought for my kids in the last year, and I highly recommend it. In fact, the newer book from Jon J. Muth is out now too - Zen Ties. Read about that one on Babble here.

Zen Shorts, $15.23 for the collector's edition from Amazon.com

Felt Pets Hairclip Set

AmandaHill — Sat, 21 Feb 2009 00:00:00 GMT

This set of felt pets hairclips might be great for your little pet lover. It comes with both a dog and cat. I love the tiny hairclip look. They are great for holding back chunks of hair without pulling all of it into a pony tail. Click behind the fold to find out where you can order these adorable and inexpensive set of Felt Pet Hairclips.

You can find this set for just $8.00 by clicking over to A Babe is Born.

Oliver the Octopus

AmandaHill — Thu, 12 Feb 2009 14:00:00 GMT

Oliver the Octopus is an 8-legged crocheted wonder. He would make a great addition to any nursery or a great toy for your child to tote around. I love all of the colors in the combinations of yarn.

Click behind the fold to read more.

Oliver can be found at Nadia's Place, an awesome Etsy Shop. He is crocheted from acrylic yarn. His body is around 3 1/2" tall and each of his legs is 4 1/2" long. Bonus: it can be handwashed.

Classic Wooden Toys Collapse and Spring Back To Life

Chris Ford — Tue, 10 Feb 2009 22:30:00 GMT

You know what they say, "What's old is new again." I'm not that old, but when I was a kid I used to be fascinated with these types of little wooden toys - the kind that seem to collapse when you push the bottom but then spring to life again when you let go. Now you can get a few of them for your kids too - and at a price that won't break the bank.

The Petra Toys Press Puppets come in a Rhino, Giraffe, Red Dog and Elephant version. They would be great for an inexpensive little gift or even a party favor. Actually, it's kind of a pricey party favor, but they're cool nonetheless.

Petra Toys Wooden Press Puppets, $18 from BlackWagon.com

Decorative Outlet Covers For The Home

Lisa Estall — Tue, 10 Feb 2009 16:54:00 GMT

Socket-Lockits have put a new spin on outlet covers. Their decorative covers for the home are meant to be attractive as well as hopefully prevent your child from touching them. If you're worried that a child might want to take it out, they have a self locking barb that will secure the plug into the outlet.

The covers also have a convenient pressure-button release for easy removal and are...

printed with non-toxic ink.

The zebra and giraffe outlet covers are part of their Safari collection. If you don't like animals they have other designs including ones with owls, flowers and polka dots.

Priced at $5.99 you can buy them at the following sites: www.amazon.com, www.fuzzyme.com amd www.kangaroodle.com.

Zoo Pops Tame Heat or Sore Throats

Heather Kuldell — Wed, 04 Feb 2009 17:32:00 GMT

I know, I know: It’s winter. Why am I posting about frozen treats? First of all, my family occasionally likes to eat freezy cold treats even when it’s freezy cold outside. Second, freezy cold treats are an excellent way to soothe sore throats associated with sneezy colds.

These Zoo Pops are an excellent DIY frozen treat option. Pour the liquid (and sugar content) of your choice into each 3D mold, freeze for six hours and remove your lion, polar bear, elephant or monkey. The set comes with eight recipes or you can experiment with your own flavor creations.

Available at Perpetual Kid for $14.99.

Keep Warm With Spyder's Bitsy Animal Mittens

Lisa Estall — Thu, 29 Jan 2009 21:30:00 GMT

The Itsy Bitsy spider has never looked so cute in the cold! These cool looking Spyder Bitsy Animal Mittens for girls give hand protection and promote playfulness.

They come in color sweet pink/persimmon and cost $40.

Continue reading and see the boys version...

The gloves feature Velcro gauntlet closure, elastisized wrist and is made of stretch twill and ThermaWeb™ Insulation.

You can buy them at Spyder.

Twinkle Kids Hair Accessories

Lisa Estall — Thu, 29 Jan 2009 05:16:00 GMT

Now that I have a baby girl, I occasionally look for cute hair accessories to put in her hair when it gets long enough. I discovered these adorable hair clips by Twinkle Kids, Their handmade wool felt hair snaps and bands come in different styles.

Your child can wear animals, treats, initials or swanky snaps in their hair and be the unique one at playgroup. I particulary like their cow and duck snaps.

$15 for set of two.

Visit twinkle-kids.com

3-D Moose Puzzle for Your Mantle

Lisa Mulcahy — Wed, 28 Jan 2009 12:28:00 GMT

I don’t condone hunting, but I can’t get enough of the mounted animal head trend. Designers have been very creative in using alternative materials to create the look without sacrificing real animals. Why not get the kids involved by building their own moose mantle piece.

From Cardboard Safari, the 3-D Moose Puzzle, which comes in three sizes that range from $14-$48, is a set of laser cut pieces that when assembled create a unique trophy to mount on the wall. This would be great in a kid’s room if you’re going for the summer camp/lodge look.

Bookworm Series: Bright Baby Learning Box

Cathy Hale — Tue, 27 Jan 2009 20:00:00 GMT

Your baby will love this set of goodies from Priddy Books. Gift box includes board book, touch & feel book, cloth book, bath book, shaker teether and more. Explore numbers, letters, animals and first words - all in one convenient colorful box. A great starting point for your baby's book collection or a wonderful baby shower gift. Shop Barnes & Noble.

CES 2009: Paro Theraputic Robots Help Very Sick Kids

Chris Ford — Fri, 23 Jan 2009 22:30:00 GMT

The therapeutic benefits of pets and animals has been documented. But most hospitals won't let animals in, especially in places like intensive care units. Paro Therapeutic Robots from Japan are now trying to bridge that gap, and give kids (as well as the elderly or anyone else who may be very ill) some comfort during tough times.

The Paro robot has five different sensors, which allows it to perceive people and respond to stimulus. They are as soft and cuddly as they seem, and recharge through the "pacifier" in their mouths (as pictured).

The Paro Therapeutic Robot will be available in the US later this year. They're being marketed to hospitals and other care facilities (not consumers) and will cost around $6,000.00. Check them out at ParoRobots.com.

CES 2009: iMini Pet Includes A Singing Plush Robotic Obama

Chris Ford — Mon, 12 Jan 2009 14:30:00 GMT

CES is also a place for is foreign companies (especially Asian) to showcase their products to a US retailers. And this one was one of the more odd offerings. The iMini Pet is a radio alarm clock with an iPod docking station. Oh, and they're plush. Oh, and the robotic animals on top wiggle and move their mouths to whatever music is playing.

And yes, that's supposed to be a plush Barack Obama on top. You can tell by the t-shirt that says "Change."

The iMini Pet will have an MSRP of $99, but it is not yet available in the US (but feel free to keep your fingers crossed).

Read all of the posts from CES 2009 the Consumer Electronics Showcase on Babble.com here.

The Babble Review: Put Cheekeyes Under Your Tree

editors — Tue, 09 Dec 2008 20:25:00 GMT

My grandfather had a wood shop and every Christmas there were golf tee puzzles under the tree; and once a stunning doll house that would go for thousands at Neiman Marcus today. When I got a load of The Cheekeyes I cursed myself for unloading grandpa’s toys at garage sales and then promptly coveted all six animal sets for my daughter. Elizabeth talked about these wooden wonders before but they just scream ‘holiday gift’ and here they are again, for your consideration.

These wooden and artistic toys come in Arctic, Africa, Dino, Farm and Forest. Their environments are also simply but beautifully made from the fir trees to the icebergs, so you can go with a theme or pretend you’re on LOST and mix the polar bear with the murula tree. - April Peveteaux

Get it at Oompa Toys for $29.99.

Star Baby: Nicole Ritchie’s Daughter Bites Into A Giraffe

SunnyChanel — Sat, 29 Nov 2008 16:22:00 GMT

Nicole Ritchie was out and about in West Hollywood with her 10-month old daughter Harlow. Looks like the little baby was a wee bit hungry, and she was in the mood for some vintage giraffe. Harlow took a bite out of Sophie the Giraffe Natural Rubber Safe Baby Infant Teething Toy. The French have been making Sophie since 1961 and it has been a soothing teething toy for generations with over 10 million being sold, and each one is still made by hand. You can feed your kid one for $19.95 here.

Indoor Fun: Safari Mini Golf

Lisa Mulcahy — Tue, 18 Nov 2008 13:30:00 GMT

Here in New York it’s getting pretty chilly. Personally I don’t mind the cold, but now that I have a rambunctious toddler I’m desperately searching for indoor activities that will get us through the winter. This mini golf set might be the perfect occupier that also unleashes some energy.

With obstacles like a swinging monkey and a giraffe head, the Safari Adventure Mini-Golf Set from Kid Galaxy is a great way to recreate the fun of a full-blown mini-golf course at home. All parts are made of foam so the damage should be minimal.

$26.39 at Amazon.

Eight-Legged Learning

Lisa Mulcahy — Mon, 17 Nov 2008 15:18:00 GMT

Anything that combines colors, numbers and animals keeps my two-year old occupied for hours (well, maybe a few precious minutes that seem like hours).

Now that he’s has mastered basic puzzles he’s moved on to more complex ones like Imagiplay’s Count Octopus Puzzle, $19.95. The challenge keeps him interested and I’m always amazed by how he counts, names the colors and assembles the octopus all at once.