Leeanthro's Holiday Shopping Guide

Want to know what’s on my shopping list this holiday season? With a few exceptions, I tried to go low-tech this year. Books and wooden toys top my list. Of course there are still a few tech toys and plastic toys. How can that be avoided in this day and age?

Below you’ll find my list with a description of each item, opinions, links, and maybe even a discount. Happy shopping!
Love,
Leeanthro

High Tech Toys
ClickStart computer (Leap Frog $50-60 plus additional software for $20 per title)
First computer for kids. Features QWERTY keyboard and mouse. Software teaches early reading and math skills. Plugs into the TV, not your computer. Not connected to internet. Ages 3 to 6. My daughter told Santa she wants "the dog computer."

Low Tech Wooden Toys
Automoblox cars ($8 and up depending on model)
I’m buying these for everyone, including my daughter. I bought the minis (12 of them to be exact), but the full-size models are very cool! They are wooden cars that can be taken apart and reconfigured. Great for a child's imagination and coordination. Definitely built to be an heirloom to be passed on. Ages 3 & up.



Horses Stamp Set (Melissa and Doug $8-10)
For my horse-loving niece. Comes with stamp pad, stamps, and colored pencils. Ages 4 year & up.
Low Tech Plastic Toys
Little People 'Twas the Night Before Christmas Story Set (Fisher Price online exclusive $25)
Set includes Santa, an elf, nine reindeer, sleigh, and storybook. My daughter loves Little People and loves reindeer. She's actually getting this as soon as it arrives so that she can play with it before Christmas. My six-year-old niece has this set, but wasn't ready to hand it down yet. Ages 1 year & up.


Brilliant Basics Shake and Stack Tractor (Fisher Price $8)
A cow, pig, and chicken can be stacked onto this tractor. Ages 6 month & up.


Brilliant Basics Shake and Stack Firetruck (Fisher Price $8)
A kitty, dalmatian, and mouse can be stacked onto this firetruck. Ages 6 month & up.



Personalized Books
Here There Be Pirates personalized children's book (Flatten Me $33)
While the story isn't going to win a Newbery Medal, what is cool and different about this personalized book is how truly personal it is. You upload a picture of your child and they become one of the pirates in the story. The photos are wonderfully colorful. Any child would delight in seeing themselves (literally) in this story.


My Very Own Name personalized children's book (I See Me $30) (For free shipping, a $6.95 value, enter coupon code NFP255)
A different animal brings each letter of your child's name. Simple story, detailed artwork. Includes child's birthday.


My Very Own Fairy Tale personalized children's book (I See Me $30) (For free shipping, a $6.95 value, enter coupon code NFP255)
A different fairy brings each letter of your child's name. Each fairy proclaims the virtue of the princess that they are thinking of. Girly, but this feminist mommy liked the virtues (beauty wasn't one of them!). I loved illustrations of the flower fairies.


Other Books
Diary of a Fly (I already bought my nephew Diary of a Worm and Diary of a Spider.)
The New Adventures of Curious George
Junie B. Jones's First Box Set Ever

(This was written by Leeanthro who can be read at Soy is the New Black where she dishes about family, food, foraging, and frivolity. While many of the products she discusses are sold only through boutique or specialty stores, some are widely available at national stores and online.)