1. Latest Posts
  2. »
  3. 2014
  4. »
  5. November

One Cool Friend

One Cool Friend

by Toni Buzzeo

My daughter and I had the great pleasure of meeting author Toni Buzzeo last week at a Young Authors Festival here in Michigan.  She shared some very useful tips for young writers, and she shared a lot about her own process as an author.  Read More

Moonyeen

Hi, there –

Big fan of the site! I’m wondering if you have any information on the name “Moonyeen?” It was my grandmother’s middle name but I have no idea where it comes from or what it means.

Thank you,
Karen Siddiqi

Hi Karen,

Moonyeen was an unusual name that turned up briefly in the U.S. Read More

A Horse named Joepie

Hi Jennifer

I’m a horse rider, and at a stable yard where I work, I met a stallion by the name of Joepie. I’ve been trying to find the meaning of his name ever since. He was born in the Netherlands, and I assume it is a Dutch name. Read More

Baby’s First Music Player

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Most every adult has had the experience of being driven nuts by a toddler toy that plays the same song over. And over. And over. Ralph Waldo Emerson wasn’t referring to tykes in his quote, “A foolish consistency is the hobgoblin of little minds…”–but it’s an apt description nevertheless. Read More

Dr. Who Name

Jennifer,
I absolutely love your website! I was watching Dr. Who the other day and one of the characters names was Cathica. I can’t find any information on the name – if it is even a name used before or if it was made up for Dr Who. Read More

Eureka! A new name.

Hi Jennifer!
I am a frequent visitor of your site, as I love looking up different names and getting story inspiration. I am currently reading a book with main character, Eureka, which I think is a beautiful and unique name. Would you mind telling me what it means and adding it to your site?  Read More

Send those baby pics more simply

Having a new baby introduces a lot of complications — including sending photos of your infant to all your friends and relatives, on all the various services they might be using.

A new service named KidPost aims to simplify that for you, by consolidating all the shots on all the sites, and sending them in one email message to those people such as your grandparents who might not be the most tech-savvy…

You can still share photos wherever you like — just add the hashtag “#kidpost” and those pictures are later consolidated into a daily message. Read More

Take a hike, baby!

Some baby carriers area almost baby-sized — but the Bitybean is an “ultracompact” carrier that can fit in purse when not in use.

It’s made of machine-washable nylon/polyester, with an optional fleece infant liner.

It weighs just 8 ounces and is “smaller than a water bottle,” but it will let you front- or rear-carry for infants 3 months old, from 8-40 pounds, with anatomically designed shoulder and waist straps. Read More

Thanksgiving Book Roundup

Thanksgiving is nearly here, and we all have so many reasons to be thankful.  For one, there are really great books for our children.  Another? There are really great books about Thanksgiving for us to sit and read with our children as the tryptophan coma wears off.  Read More

Baby A and Baby B

Hi Jennifer,
Your website is wonderful, and I’m in awe of the amazing work that you do. As an aspiring author, I am constantly scouring your website to find names for my characters. Since I’m only twenty years old, I’m not going to be naming children of my own anytime soon, but I find your website incredibly helpful for my fictional family. Read More

Both Big and Mini Bilibos

All right, you’re asking, “What the heck is a Bilibo and why does it come in two sizes anyhow?”

The Bilibo “combines a rocking chair, spinning top, cradle and tunnel in one single toy,” says its maker Kid O.

Bilibo arouses curiosity, engages the imagination and playfully trains basic motor skills and balance, the company adds. Read More

Start singing, baby!

This gadget is more than just an amplified microphone: turn the mic on “and a glowing baby-animal will appear on the mirror with a mic in the hand” to join your tot in a tune.

And it’s more than just songs: With its Activity Cube Center, “everywhere baby turns there is something to do and learn,” maker WolVol says. Read More

Otis and the Scarecrow

Otis and the Scarecrow

by Loren Long

Fans of Loren Long’s popular Otis series have a new seasonally-appropriate book to read!  Otis and the Scarecrow is Long’s seventh book featuring a beloved, sensitive tractor and his friends on the farm.   All are beautifully illustrated and give wonderful models for social and emotional behavior. Read More