Author Archives: Jeff Bogle

Playing Shop

Over the past several weeks the toy cash register, a gift from Santa Claus for Christmas 2006, has finally been seeing it’s first major action this year. This is as a result of the toy-repositioning project of autumn ’07 (also called never-ending home reconstruction). The cash register has helped turn our home, and virtually everything in it, into a pretend retail superstore – like Wal-Mart only with employee health insurance and really low prices – most everything in our house apparently will cost you somewhere between one and 8 cents! My girl, wife and I take turns playing customer and … Continue reading →

The Best of Children’s Literature – Olive the Other Reindeer (Deluxe Edition)

Olive was a favorite in my house last year and now Chronicle Books has upped the ante by creating a hardback, pop-up version of this modern day holiday classic – to celebrate the book’s 10th Anniversary. Let’s take a look inside and see if it worth its weight and its hefty price tag ($19.95 – although I’m sure it can be had for cheaper online) Olive the Other Reindeer – Deluxe Edition By J. Otto Seibold and Vivian Walsh I must admit, off the top, that I love the story of Olive. I must also admit that I was apprehensive … Continue reading →

The Family Fun Week in Review

With the holiday season just around the corner the Family Fun crew here at Families dot com can be found putting ribbons on terrific fun activities and stuffing the Fun blog with interesting gift ideas (get it – ribbons and stuffing!) This week, the Fun writers touch on both Thanksgiving and Christmas and sprinkle in a book review (a fair number of kids books will be featured prominently over the next couple months – any of which will make a terrific gift for a little book lover). Get caught up on the week that was: Kindness and appreciation are beautiful … Continue reading →

It’s Beginning to look a lot like Christmas!

The shopping malls are beginning to get ready for he holiday season, which means Santa’s photo booths are being constructed and wreaths, giant inflatable Reindeer and over-sized and over-decorated trees are sprouting up all over the place. It may seem too soon for you, but honestly this might be the best time to enjoy the sights of Christmastime – before the crowds thicken, before the parking becomes scarce and before the repetitious music is piped in! Just today, my gang headed to the mall to place a quick order in Eddie Bauer (no shipping costs when you place an order … Continue reading →

The Best of Children’s Literature – Bagel’s Lucky Hat

Books rule, TV drools! Here is a write-up of one of the best kiddie books to come across my desk over the past couple weeks. This one will make an awesome Christmas gift for a smart youngster and/or a fan of comic books anywhere between age three and nine. Bagel’s Lucky Hat By Hector Mumbly The story of Mr. Mumbly, the book’s author and artist, is nearly as fantastic as the story of Bagel, our lead character, and his lucky hat. Mr. Mumbly, you see, had never put pen to paper and crafted a children’s book before this one. He … Continue reading →

Playing With Last Year’s Toys

When I was growing up, my mom would always make a joke around this time of year. She would say that I would all of a sudden start playing with the bundle of toys I received during the previous Christmas and birthday season (I was born 3 weeks after December 25th). She would go on to claim that I would abandon much of the presents by Spring, if not sooner, only to return to them the following winter as a way of ensuring that my parents once again spend too much money at the toy store. While I don’t doubt … Continue reading →

Silly-Silly-Bo-Billy, Banana-Fanna-Fo-Filly…THE NAME GAME!

(Note to editor: don’t even bother spell-checking this one!) Oh what fun the name game can be with a preschooler still learning words, sounds, rhythms and rhymes. This is, quite possibly, my oldest girl’s favorite pastime right now. She is mildly obsessed with taking every single family member or schoolmate’s name, animal, food item and proper noun she has stored away in her brain and running it through the semi-famous and ever-enduring Name Game! The Name Game is simple and fun to play. Start with smaller, game-friendly words and names like Mickey, Billy, etc. Soon your kids will get the … Continue reading →

Family Fun Week in Review

Pumpkins and the looming Halloween holiday are right in the Family Fun bloggers wheelhouse and as a result this past week saw numerous fun articles designed to help get your family ready for the spooky 31st. Lauri suggests a pumpkin carving party in place of, or in addition to, a traditional Halloween costume party. Any parent of a preschool-age child probably knows how much kids that age love to paint. Here is a terrific idea for a magical Halloween painting project, courtesy of Lauri. If you have run out of wall space in your home, consider turning your windows into … Continue reading →

Opposite Day

This fantastically fun idea is inspired by a clever new tune by veteran kid’s singer/songwriter Steve Roslek (aka SteveSongs). In the track, off SteveSongs’ excellent new disc “Marvelous Day!” we hear about what life would be like if we put shoes on our head, shirts on our legs and our pancakes tried to eat us instead of the other way around. The song is so much fun and so is the idea to flip the script on the daily routine of life. Try switching places with your kids for a spell, having them make dinner (but make it breakfast food!), … Continue reading →

Discovering New Music with and for Your Kids

One of the pleasures of my life has been discovering bands and artists, becoming vested in their music then watching them evolve as musicians and, in some cases, as people. It can be so very rewarding to find a band, singer or musician (local or national) that is relatively unknown and then fall in love with their style, lyrics, live performances and records. You can feel a deep connection to that act, because you were on board early. It is like having a little secret that is wonderful and brings a tremendous amount of joy. To share this with others … Continue reading →