ABC Nature Activity Cards. Caz Buckingham & Andrea Pinnington, $16.99

An entertaining and highly original set of learning-to-read flashcards.

These beautiful flashcards have an original natural history twist and humour that makes letter learning surprisingly enjoyable. Their unique foldover design makes them perfect for sharing and for putting up around the home to help reinforce letter learning. Inside the cards are activities based on essential preschool concepts such as colours, shapes, numbers, counting, matching and sorting. Suitable for ages 2 to 5 years.

Active Baby, Healthy Brain: 135 Fun Exercises and Activities to Maximize Your Child's Brain Development from Birth through Age 5½. Margaret Sassé, $23.95

Active Baby, Healthy Brain presents 135 massages, exercises, and activities that engage your child's love of play while also stimulating his or her brain development in multiple areas.

All Together Singing in the Kitchen: Creative Ways to Make Music as a Family. Nerissa Nields & Katryna Nields, $25.95

Discover the fun of family music! Music is not only fun, but it's also a wonderful way to family harmony and connection — it can soothe a crying baby, engage an active toddler, entertain during long car rides and help everyone get through daily chores. This delightful book has all the tools you'll need — including a CD with 30 songs — to get you started.

The Artist’s Way for Parents: Raising Creative Children. Julia Cameron & Emma Lively, $28.50

The Artist's Way for Parents provides an ongoing spiritual toolkit that parents can enter — and re-enter — at any pace and at any point in their child’s early years. According to Cameron, “Every child is creative — and every parent is creative. Focusing on parents and their children from birth to age twelve, The Artist's Way for Parents builds on the foundation of The Artist’s Way and shares it with the next generation. Using spiritual concepts and practical tools, this book will assist parents as they guide their children to greater creativity.

Baby Development: Everything You Need to Know. Claire Halsey, $16.95 (birth to 2)

Maximize your baby's physical, cognitive, and emotional potential — and have fun together — with this book full of easy and practical games and activities.

Baby Play for Every Day: 365 Activities for the First Year. Susannah Steel, $25.00

Banish boredom, encourage your baby's development and have fun being a parent with this treasure trove of ideas. This irresistible book contains an inspiring, age-appropriate activity for every single day of your baby's first year, with baby games and beneficial activities for babies from newborn to 12 months. Don't buy expensive toys which are soon forgotten, use everyday objects to stimulate your baby's growing imagination. No matter your budget, there are activities ranging from indoor and outdoor, to craft and messy play, to nutrition and pampering, to memory making and music. Follow it through day-by-day or dip in and out when the mood takes you. Featuring great advice and creative ideas for mums and dads. With creative ideas and fun colours, Baby Play for Every Day is the perfect companion for parents and child carers with a new baby.

Banish Boredom: Activities to Do with Kids That You'll Actually Enjoy. Rebecca Green, $27.95

Taking a lighthearted approach to the serious business of parenting, Banish Boredom helps parents find activities that they enjoy, while their children learn and have fun. Green suggests ways for parents to maintain their own identities and pursue their own interests while raising children who are creative, confident, and independent thinkers.  Although it offers valuable tips to parents, this book is not a parenting book. Rather, it’s a source of inspiration and new ideas for parents who are looking for fun and educational activities that they can do with their kids, but that are also fun and interesting for the parents themselves.  The book emphasizes adapting activities to suit the particular interests of each child, while also taking into account the personality of the parent.

Beginner Puzzle: Garden Bugs. Petit Collage, $18.00 (ages 2+)

Beginner Puzzle: Construction. Petit Collage, $18.00 (ages 2+)

These progressive puzzles grow with your child. Toddlers can start with the three-piece puzzle, and then move on to the four, five, and six-piece puzzles. Bright and cheerful, these playful puzzles are made from recycled materials, and printed with vegetable inks.

Brain Games for Your Child: Over 200 Fun Games to Play. Robert Fisher, $18.95

From music and art games, treasure hunts and card games, to word games and number fun, here are games that can create family memories and build children's thinking, number, language and social skills.

Brain Quest for Threes. Chris Welles Feder & Susan Bishay, $17.95 (ages 3-4)

300 questions and answers to get a smart start.

The Budding Artist. Edited by Laura Laxton, $11.95

Curious kids will delight in the wonder of the creative process with the fifty art-inspiring activities in THE BUDDING ARTIST. With great ways for you and your young artist to create beautiful memories together, this book shows parents and kids how to paint with bubbles, create glue webs, make a blooming tablecloth, and construct homemade paper valentines. Perfect for ages three to six, this fun-filled introduction to arts and crafts features easy-to-follow instructions and easy-to-find materials that will help you and your child have as much fun creating art as viewing the finished product!

Camp Granny. Sharon Lovejoy, $21.95

Make leaf rubbings, blow jumbo bubbles, bake Moon Pizzas, create a firefly lantern. More than an activity book, Camp Granny is an interactivity book, filled with 130 projects that connect grandparents and grandchildren through nature — in the kitchen, the garden, and the art room.

Illustrated with evocative photographs and the author’s watercolors, Camp Granny is a book about being adventurous, about being curious, about noticing and really seeing things — about instilling a lifelong sense of wonder. 

Children of the World Memory Game: Learn 36 Ways to Say "Hello"! Illustrated by Sophie Fatus, $19.99 (ages 4-7)

Inspired by the popular sing along title If You’re Happy and You Know It!, this memory game utilizes one of the greatest attributes of the book — the adorable children from all over the world — to encourage memory and matching skills.

The Creative Family: How to Encourage Imagination and Nurture Family Connections. Amanda Soule, $23.00

With just the simple tools around you — your imagination, basic art supplies, household objects, and natural materials — you can transform your family life, and have so much more fun!

Perfect for all families, the wide range of projects presented here offers ideas for imaginative play, art and crafts, nature explorations, and family celebrations. This book embraces a whole new way of living that will engage your children's imagination, celebrate their achievements, and help you to express love and gratitude for each other as a family.

Creative Play the Steiner Waldorf Way: Expertise and Toy Projects for Your 2-4 Year Old. Christopher Clouder & Janni Nicol, $16.99

Creative Play the Steiner Waldorf Way is the ideal book for parents who want their children to develop their creativity and imagination through play. It teaches you how to let your child develop according to the Steiner theory, which helps children to fulfil themselves naturally and holistically in mind, body and spirit. Each chapter covers a different element of your child's development and includes an expert summary of Steiner theory and how it relates to children and parents today. You will find instructions for how to make over 20 beautiful toys from natural materials to encourage your child to develop creativity, awareness, confidence and imagination.

Curious Jane: Science + Design + Engineering for Inquisitive Girls. Curious Jane, $23.99

Calling all creative, curious, confident girls everywhere!

Packed with inventive fun, the 34 hands-on projects in this book introduce science + design = engineering concepts. Learn how to construct a wind-up rubber band car, create an incredible cloud in a jar, mix up a batch of invisible ink, and so much more! Curious Jane brings interactive projects and DIY fun to girls everywhere — for making, creating, designing, and inventing.

Dig Your Hands in the Dirt: a Manual for Making Art Out of Earth. Kiko Denzer, $19.50

Brief, elegant, and generously illustrated with drawings and 32 pages of color photos, this is a book for teachers, parents, builders, artists, and kids of all ages. Looking past the pictures of giddy, muddy fun, Dig Your Hands In the Dirt offers substantial and serious inspiration and practical lessons for artists, teachers, students, and designers, as well as builders interested in natural materials like adobe and its British counterpart, "cob."

Do It Now! CRAFTS: Cool Art Projects & Tasty Snacks. Sarah Hines Stephens & Bethany Mann, $7.99

69 awesome art activities and yummy recipes that you can make today.

Do It Now! SCIENCE: Wild Experiments & Outdoor Adventures. Sarah Hines Stephens & Bethany Mann, $7.99

82 wacky investigations and cool explorations in nature.

EAT NAP PLAY: How to Get Even More Out of Your Child's Day for Less. Robyn Spizman & Evelyn Sacks, $20.95

Written by moms for moms, this timely guide centers on back-to-basics philosophies: spend quality time with your kids and spend less money. This is a fun-filled adventure, jam-packed with clever, cost-effective, low-maintenance, often nostalgic ideas you can easily slip into your existing routine. Eat, Nap, Play shows you how to turn everyday mayhem into precious moments to build memories, foster growth, strengthen bonds, and just have fun.

Even More Fizzle, Bubble, Pop & WOW! Simple Science Experiments for Young Children. Lisa Murphy, $28.95 (ages 3-12)

Excite young learners with this collection of more than 80 simple science experiments that promote learning and call for materials that are likely already in your classroom or kitchen. Each fun activity includes simple instructions and a clear explanation of the experiment — and many include variations and helpful hints. 

Experimenting with Babies: 50 Amazing Science Projects You Can Perform on Your Kid. Shaun Gallagher, $22.00

This fascinating and hands-on guide shows you how to recreate landmark scientific studies on cognitive, motor, language, and behavioral development — using your own bundle of joy as the research subject. Simple, engaging, and fun for both baby and parents, each project sheds light on how your child is acquiring new skills — everything from recognizing faces, voices, and shapes to understanding new words, learning to walk, and even distinguishing between right and wrong. Whether your little research subject is a newborn, a few months old, or a toddler, these simple, surprising projects will help you see the world through your baby’s eyes.

15 Minutes Outside: 365 Ways to Get Out of the House and Connect with Your Kids. Rebecca Cohen, $25.50

What if you got outside every day, and what if you could get your kids to come along? It sounds modest, but the effects, as dynamic outdoor spokesperson Rebecca Cohen herself can testify, are profound. This inspiring collection of activities gives families an idea for every day of the year, requiring little planning, no expertise and relatively little resources (time, cash, or patience!), no matter where they live. Simple and inspiring, this book is bursting with hundreds of easy ways to get your family out into nature a little bit every day.

50 Dangerous Things (You Should Let Your Children Do). Gever Tulley & Julie Spiegler, $21.00

In a time when children are too often coddled, 50 Dangerous Things (You Should Let Your Children Do) reminds readers that climbing trees is good for the soul, and that a pocket knife is not a weapon. Full of exciting ways children can explore the world around them, this book explains how to "Play with Fire" and "Taste Electricity" while learning about safety. With easy-to-follow instructions, it includes:

• Activities, like walking a tightrope
• Skills, like throwing a spear
• Projects, like melting glass
• Experiences, like sleeping in the wild

50 Fantastic Things to Do with Babies. Sally & Phill Featherstone, $19.95

These simple, engaging activities will delight you and your baby.

50 Fantastic Things to Do with Pre-Schoolers. Sally & Phill Featherstone, $19.95

Playtime is fun time — and it offers lots of opportunities for preschoolers to learn. Each activity in this fun book features related facts about your child's development and suggestions for more delightful ideas that will encourage exploration of their world.

50 Fantastic Things to Do with Toddlers. Sally & Phil Featherstone, $19.95

There are few things as delightful as being alongside your children as they experiment and learn. This book encourages using everyday items to help young ones in their enthusiastic exploration of the world around them.

52 Boredom Busters for Kids! Lynn Gordon, $8.95

Packed with creative suggestions for both indoor and outdoor activities, this illustrated deck will provide the inspiration needed for those boredom-buster days. Perfect for any day — rain or shine — these cards will keep kids engaged and entertained.

The Fitness Fun Busy Book: 365 Fun Physical Activities for Toddlers and Preschoolers. Trish Kuffner, $11.95

This book provides a wealth of creative, fun, lively activities that provide alternatives to watching TV, playing video games, and other sedentary activities.

500 Five Minute Games: Quick and Easy Activities for 3-6 Year Olds. Jackie Silberg, $26.95

These games are easy, fun, developmentally appropriate and promote learning in just five spare minutes of the day. Children unwind, get the wiggles out, communicate and build self-esteem as they have fun. Each game indicates the particular skill developed.

Games to Play with Babies. Jackie Silberg, $19.95

Over 240 fun-filled games include lots of hugs and kisses to help babies bond with their caregivers and parents as they develop necessary skills. Babies experience the interaction and nurturing they need for healthy self-esteem. This book encourages the development of happy, trusting babies who will become happy, trusting toddlers. If there's a baby in your child care center or in your family, you won't want to miss these wonderful games.

Games to Play with Toddlers. Jackie Silberg, $17.50

Completely revised with all-new illustrations and 50 new games, this indispensable book helps you develop areas important for the growth of your 12-to 24-month-old-areas such as language, creativity, coordination, confidence, problem-solving, and gross motor skills. You and your toddler will experience the joy of discovery on every fun-filled page!

Games to Play with Two Year Olds.  Jackie Silberg, $18.95

This revised and updated edition, featuring all-new illustrations and 40 new games, is packed with opportunities to build confidence and to enhance language, coordination, social interactions, and problem-solving skills. games to Play with Two Year Olds is a must-have for anyone caring for a child between the ages of two and three. Turn ordinary, everyday routines into fun learning experiences!

Geek Mom: Projects, Tips, and Adventures for Moms and Their 21st-Century Families. Natania Barron, Kathy Ceceri, Corrina Lawson & Jenny Williams, $23.99

Fabulous and fun, Geek Mom explores the many fun and interesting ways that digital-age parents and kids can get their geek on together. Imaginative ideas for all ages and budgets include thrifty Halloween costumes, homemade lava lamps, hobbit feasts, and magical role-playing games. With six sections spanning everything from home-science experiments to superheroes, this comprehensive handbook from the editors of Wired.com’s popular GeekMom blog is packed with ideas guaranteed to inspire a love of learning and discovery. Along the way, parents will also find important tips on topics such as determining safe online communities for children, organizing a home learning center, and encouraging girls to love science.  Being geeky is all about exploring the world with endless curiosity. Geek Mom is your invitation to introducing the same sense of wonder and imagination to the next generation.

Get Outside: the Kids Guide to Fun in the Great Outdoors. Jane Drake & Ann Love, illustrated by Heather Collins, $17.95

Armed with Get Outside, a kid will never say, "I'm bored!" again. This book is a key to the world of fun beyond the front door. Activities are divided into four categories (Nature Lover, Outdoor Fun and Games, Cozy Inside and Look to the Sky), where readers will find instructions for making things like sundials, bird feeders and kites, as well as rules for games such as 500 Up, Spud and Shinny. 

Accompanying these descriptions are fun facts and scientific, historic and cultural context. The passage on playing jacks, for example, includes a sidebar about a similar game played by the ancient Greeks. Children in Northern climes will love learning to play traditional First Nations winter games and be thrilled to find out how to create a backyard ice rink. It's a wealth of fun and fascination that will captivate any young person — who won't mind ditching the video game for the great outdoors.

The Giant Book of Creativity for Kids: 500 Activities to Encourage Creativity in Kids Ages 2-12 — Play, Pretend, Draw, Dance, Sing, Write, Build, Tinker. Bobbi Conner, $25.95

Creativity is an essential ingredient for a happy childhood, and this is the ultimate collection of ideas for arts and crafts, building and tinkering, writing and rhyming, singing and dancing, and more! With 500 unplugged, hands-on activities for children ages two to twelve, this book goes beyond the simple arts and crafts found in most kids’ creativity books and offers fun ideas for a generous range of imaginative and creative play — all in one giant book.

You have the power to encourage creativity in your child’s daily life, whether you feel creative yourself or not. This book is your guide for being a creativity mentor, your handbook for raising kids rich with creative habits and skills, and your toolbox full of ideas and activities. So say YES to creativity! Encourage your child to dabble in all kinds of activities, and discover the magic and beauty of imagination.

Go Out and Play! Favorite Outdoor Games from KaBOOM! $13.00

KaBOOM is an organization with a passion for creating outdoor play spaces and getting families outside. In Go Out and Play! they have collected 70 well-loved games that will get kids and parents outside and having fun.

Go Outside and Play: Why Kids Don’t and Why They Should. Patty Goffinet, $16.95

Children used to spend most of their free time outdoors. Playing. They had adventures. They explored. They got dirty. Childhood has changed and today’s kids live their lives indoors. Kids are entertained, but the excitement, enthusiasm, and physical benefits are gone.

This cheerful and encouraging book will help you discover why this is happening — and why it shouldn’t be. Most importantly the book shows you what you can do about it.

Going to Montréal and Québec City: Travel Guide and Journal for Kids. T. Attard & B. Grabowski, $18.95

Going to Ottawa: Travel Guide and Journal for Kids. T. Attard & B. Grabowski, $18.95

Going to Toronto: Travel Guide and Journal for Kids. T. Attard & B. Grabowski, $18.95

These delightful travel guides will engage young people with brief histories, facts and interesting tidbits of information on key historical sights of Ottawa and Toronto. A variety of activities will keep kids interested, involved and engaged, and the journal will become a treasured memory and keepsake of a vacation.

The Homegrown Preschooler: Teaching Your Kids in the Places They Live. Kathy Lee & Lesli Richards, $35.95

Find exciting learning opportunities in everyday occurrences, from using laundry to teach sorting to exploring growth cycles in the garden, with the easy-to-organize, simple-to-start ideas, advice, and activities in The Homegrown Preschooler. As straightforward as a parenting how-to book and as easily applicable as a set curriculum, The Homegrown Preschooler will inspire parents to use their homes as classrooms and take advantage of the naturally rich learning opportunities existing in everyday life.

With organizational tips, recipes, and more than 200 easy-to-pull-together activities, homeschool educators will have everything they need to offer a well-rounded preschool education rivaling the best classroom experience. Convenient charts and checklists to document children’s growth ensure that there are no gaps in educational, social, or physical development.

How Many Ways Can You Make Five? A Parent’s Guide to Exploring Math with Children’s Books. Sally Anderson, $17.95

In a world filled with patterns, shapes, sequences, and numbers — math is all around us. From an early age, children begin to notice and make connections between math concepts and everyday life, asking: How many? How high? How long?  How much?

Children’s books can bring math concepts to life. With the help of the stories and activities in How Many ways Can You Make Five young children will have a blast exploring the world of math. Use favorite children’s books to investigate patterns and puzzles, learn how to subtract, and make maps.

How to Raise Monarch Butterflies: a Step-by-Step Guide for Kids. Carol Pasternak, $8.95

Observing a Monarch butterfly as it transforms itself from a black, white and yellow caterpillar and emerges from a chrysalis as a vivid orange, black and white butterfly is among the most thrilling experiences that nature offers. Raising Monarch butterflies from eggs collected from milkweed leaves, or from caterpillars plucked from the plant, is made easy with the help of this detailed guide to locating and hatching this distinctive insect.

With more than 50 unique, close-up photographs readers will learn about the life cycle of the Monarch and how to encourage populations in their own backyards, with tips on which plants to grow, as well as the care and feeding of their pet caterpillars. How to Raise Monarch Butterflies explains what threats face Monarchs and how readers can help conserve the Monarch's feeding grounds from encroachment.

Humpty Who? A Crash Course in 80 Nursery Rhymes for Clueless Moms and Dads. Jennifer Griffin, $15.50

Humpty Who? is a classic course in Mother Goose and more, featuring poems, rhymes, songs, lullabies, rounds and riddles — and a 35-song CD starring a rollicking ensemble of musical Moms!

I Can Play It: Music Games and Activities to Help Your Child Learn. Patricia Shehan Campbell & Maja Pitamic, $21.50

Let the music play and watch the fun begin! Written by a college music professor and an author/teacher with over 18 years of experience teaching the Montessori Method, I Can Play It helps children explore their natural ability to interact with their environments as they make sweet musical sounds. Current scientific research has proven the importance of the musical experience in children’s neuromuscular growth, cognitive-intellectual grasp, and social-emotional development. Plus, it’s just so much fun! Each of the activities in this book are designed to inspire expressiveness, curiosity, imagination, and musicality. Based on sound principles of early childhood development and focused on preschoolers and kindergarteners, I Can Play It will help introduce three- to five-year-olds to music in a joyful, hands-on way.

This enjoyable guide to musical exploration is packed with kid-pleasing, skill-building activities that will keep them laughing, singing, and moving all day long. Open up the world of music to children and watch them learn how to express themselves in entertaining, educational, and enriching ways. 

The Incredible Math Games Book. DK Publishing, $18.99

Kid-approved games that instill first math concepts. The amazing interactive paper engineering in The Incredible Math Games Book will capture and hold your child's attention, making practicing math and play one and the same. With games like Zip to Zero, Shape Stepper, Math Maze, Times Tables Tug-of-War and more, kids will learn key math concepts while having a blast. Roll the dice, move the counters, lift-the-flaps, and learn with this fun-filled, extra-cool math game book for children ages 6-9. Everybody wins!

The Kids' Book of Questions. Gregory Stock, $13.95

Kids love to be asked questions almost as much as they love to ask them. And asking is important — parents know the value of having meaningful conversations with their kids, especially as family time is under continuous assault from gadgets and devices. Now the book that solves those needs is back — announcing a fresh new edition of The Kids’ Book of Questions. Including subjects like the Internet, school violence, and climate change, the book remains a timeless treasure.

Here is a collection of questions designed to challenge, entertain, provoke, and expand young minds. These are the questions that let kids discover how they feel; let people know what they think; raise issues that everyone loves to discuss, including:

• Thorny dilemmas: Would you rather have a job you didn’t like that paid a lot or a job you loved that paid just enough to get by?
• Embarrassing challenges: Would you kiss someone in front of your whole class for $250?
• Provocative ideas: What things do you think your parents do just to set an example for you?
• Intriguing fantasies: If you could text any famous person and be sure they’d read and answer your text, who would you write to and what would you say?

Kids & Nature In a Jar®: Easy Ways to Love and Learn About the Outdoors. $14.99

Green ideas, fresh facts, inspiring quotations, and nature activities will stir kids to explore nature.

Let Them Be Eaten By Bears: a Fearless Guide to Taking Our Kids Into the Great Outdoors. Peter Brown Hoffmeister, $17.00

This inspiring guide to helping kids enjoy nature and appreciate the great outdoors is drawn from the author’s experiences as an educator, guide, writer, and father. Focusing on fun, Hoffmeister offers a simple, practical introduction to hiking, camping, and all-around exploring that will help parents feel empowered and capable. Whether you’re a veteran outdoors person, a first-time hiker, or anything in between, get ready to put your sneakers on, turn off the video games, and rediscover the simple, overpowering joy of going out to play.

Let's Go Outside! Jennifer Ward, illustrated by Susie Ghahremani, $17.95

Let's Go Outside offers a range of activities perfect for fun in the city, the country and everything in between. Get outside and run, jump, play, explore, dance, hike or camp with your pre-teen and engage your child in outdoor activities and projects that will get the whole family closer to nature.

Let's Play with Numbers. Joanna Babb, $9.99

A playbook to build numeracy for 3-7 year olds, including counting, measuring, sizes, shapes, patterns, groups and how to tell time.

Look At Us Now: a Creative Family Journal. Bernadette Noll, $22.00

An interactive journal for families to complete together, to foster connection, reflection, and creative fun. Filled with creative prompts and lively illustrations that will engage both parents and kids, this illustrated journal presents activities that bring families together, as well as helps them create a keepsake to cherish for years to come.

Lucy in the City: a Story about Developing Spatial Thinking Skills. Julie Dillemuth, $13.95

One night, Lucy the raccoon follows her family out of their den, headed for the best garbage bins in town. Distracted by a jar of peanut butter, she gets separated from her family. How will she ever find her way back to her family and her cozy den? With the help of a friendly owl and his bird's-eye view, Lucy tunes into the world around her and navigates herself home!

Reading this book with your children will help them develop their own spatial thinking skills — how we think about and understand the world around us and use concepts of space for problem solving. Early exposure to spatial concepts can help foster this type of cognitive development in children and boost their math and science learning as they progress through school. Includes a Note to Parents, Caregivers, and Professionals with more information about spatial concepts, as well as questions, games, and activities designed to encourage children's spatial thinking skills.

Made to Play! Handmade Toys & Crafts for Growing Imaginations. Joel Henriques, $18.95

From the creative mind of Joel Henriques come these small, simple-to-make projects with big results! These playful projects are sure to spark creative discovery, encourage open-ended play and delight the young people in your life.

Make Stuff Together: 24 Simple Projects to Create as a Family. Bernadette Noll & Kathie Sever, $23.99

Slow down, reconnect and get back to basics. One of the best ways for families to share experiences and meaningful time together is through crafting. This book invites you to look around your house you're your neighbourhood to discover materials that are just waiting to find a new life.

Whether you're a parent looking for innovative projects for your kids, or an advocate of the slow family movement, Make Stuff Together gives you 24 fun, versatile projects that help you build family connections while being creative and crafty.

Making & Tinkering with STEM: Solving Design Challenges with Young Children. Cate Heroman, $26.95 (ages 3-8)

Can you build a sturdy house that is safe from the big, bad wolf?

Imagine your dream car. What special features does it have? What can you use to create it?

Teaching and learning STEM subjects (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics) is more accessible than ever before! Children will be inspired, delighted, and challenged as they use everyday materials and STEM concepts to design and build solutions to problems faced by characters in their favorite books. This practical, hands-on resource includes:

• 25 engineering design challenges appropriate for children ages 3–8
• Suggestions for creating a makerspace environment where children can tinker with materials, use tools to make creations, and improve on their ideas
• A list of 100 picture books that encourage STEM-rich exploration and learning
• Questions and ideas for expanding children’s understanding of STEM concepts
• A planning template so you can create your own design challenges
• Use engaging children’s books together with the guidance and ideas in this book to extend children’s problem-solving skills and creative thinking
• Extras!

Muddy Boots: Outdoor Activities for Children. Lisa Gardner Walsh, $21.95

No child can walk through a puddle of mud without a gigantic smile, and while the stuff might be the spring-time bane of grownups, children just love mud. Muddy Boots targets kids and families who value outdoor exploration and grandparents who long for their grandchildren to have the same unfettered time in nature as they did. The book features a wide range of hands-on activities for kids, including mud play, forts, animal tracking and forest wisdom, foraging, insects and worms, bird watching and bird feeding, and many small things for kids to make. Although not primarily about mud, the activities do encourage all hands to get dirty as they explore the world around them.

My Daddy is a Pretzel: Yoga for Parents and Kids. Baron Baptiste, Illustrated by Sophie Fatus, $10.99

Limber up with this unique, child-friendly yoga book! Created for parents and children to share together, but also suitable for adults and older children to use alone, My Daddy Is a Pretzel not only introduces a range of postures, it also connects the practices to everyday life, showing how families can integrate their yoga with their activities in the world. A light-hearted look at yoga, yet one with a lasting message, My Daddy Is a Pretzel is a wonderful introduction to yoga for readers of all shapes and sizes.

My First Art Activity Book. Clare Youngs, $21.95 (ages 7++)

This book will show you all the different ways you can make fabulous pictures that you will be proud of. You’ll find lots of ideas in Pretty Prints — from using sponge cloths to bubble wrap and potatoes. Then have fun trying out the projects in Painting Fun, where you can get messy with the ink blot aliens and wet tissue paper pictures, and create fabulous pictures like the oil pastel owl. In Beach and Vacation Art, you can make use of natural materials that you find while you’re playing, such as driftwood and shells, plus have a go at the seagull postcards to send to your friends. Finally, use scraps of paper, photos, and magazine pages in Paper and Collage Art for super creations, including a photo collage that would be a great gift and homemade picture frames to display all your new pieces of art. All the projects are easy to follow with artworks to guide you along the way; plus, each one has a grade so you can start with the easiest and then move on as your artistic skills develop.

My First Block Puzzle: Barnyard. Petit Collage, $18.00 (ages 2+)

My First Block Puzzle: Beep Zoom. Petit Collage, $18.00 (ages 2+)

These chunky blocks are n engaging first puzzle for toddlers. Little hands will enjoy stacking play, and toddlers can grow into puzzle makers by arranging the blocks into four different puzzles.  These delightful puzzles with eye-catching patterns and icons are made from recycled materials, and printed with vegetable inks.

My First Book of My Body: Discover How Your Body Works with 35 Fun Projects and Experiments. Susan Akass & Frances Butcher, $19.95 (ages 7+)

This fascinating and informative book offers children an amazing insight into how their body works. Susan Akass and Frances Butcher make learning fun with 35 engaging experiments that give a thorough understanding of body systems and anatomy. In Chapter 1, The Senses, activities include finding your blind spot, getting dizzy, and making snot! In Chapter 2, The Control Center, children get to test their reflexes and memories, and trick their brain with optical illusions. In Chapter 3, Your Skeleton and Muscles, they can investigate their muscles, joints, and ligaments. Chapter 4, Fueling the Machine, explains why teeth are vulnerable to a bad diet and includes how to make a digestive system, including the poop! In Chapter 5, All Systems Go, there's fantastic fake blood, pulse-testing, and how to make a simple stethoscope. As well as exciting experiments, children will be informed by the anatomical artworks, mind-boggling facts, and invaluable health information throughout.

My First Brain Quest. Chris Welles Feder & Susan Bishay, $17.95 (ages 2-3)

350 questions to build your toddler's word skills.

My First Nature Activity Book. Susan Akass, Editor, $21.95 (ages 7++)

Discover the natural world with My First Nature Activity Book. Start with In The Garden — build an insect hotel for creepy crawlies, make fairy posies and create a wheelbarrow vegetable garden. Growing Fun has projects for plants that can be grown in small spaces, from growing a cress caterpillar in an old egg box on the windowsill to transforming your old rain boots into containers for tulips and daffodils. The Outdoors Indoors includes craft ideas for things you've collected — butterfly shell magnets, pine cone animals and an autumn leaf picture frame. Finally, head to Outdoor Crafts and Games with activities for camping, from a secret trail and a wigwam for your teddies, and for the beach, such as playing pebble games and creating seaweed creatures. Every project has a skill level of 1, 2, or 3, and comes with easy-to-read instructions and adorable, step-by-step artworks that will guide you along the way.

Nature's Playground: Activities, Crafts and Games to Encourage Children to Get Outdoors. Fiona Danks & Jo Schofeld, $21.95

This wonderful book leads parents, teachers and children through fields, across streams, and over mountains. From making a dam with sticks and stones to cairn lanterns on the beach at night, Nature's Playground is packed with activities, games, crafts and adventures that will bring children outdoors for year-round fun and bring back memories of one of the chief joys of childhood for adults — exploring the natural world.

Once Upon a Touch: Story Massage for Children. Mary Atkinson & Sandra Hooper, $22.95

A fun and creative way to increase general well-being, improve concentration and self-awareness, and encourage relaxation in children aged 3-11, this book offers a hands-on guide to story massage. Central to the book are step-by-step, illustrated instructions for ten easy-to-learn basic strokes which are given through clothes on the back, head, shoulders and arms. These basic strokes have then been used to create over 25 story massages which vary in length and complexity. The stories range from traditional tales such as 'Humpty Dumpty' to hands-on learning stories such as 'Deep in the Rainforest.' The massages can be carried out by adults in one-to-one or group sessions, or taught to children to practice on each other. An enjoyable and interactive way of sharing the benefits and safe and appropriate use of positive touch with all children.

100 Games to Play. Rebecca Gilpin, $9.95

Over 100 games that children can play in groups or in pairs such as ‘what’s that noise?’ and ‘ship-to-shore’, as well as paper games. Each page has clear, step-by-step rules of play, as well as colourful illustrations. Perfect for parties and big groups, this book will also keep children occupied for hours during quieter times. A fun-filled book of exciting games for outdoors and in, that children will love to play again and again.

The 101 Coolest Simple Science Experiments: Awesome Things to Do with Your Parents, Babysitters and Other Adults. Rachel Miller, Holly Homer & Janie Harrington, $29.50 (ages 5-12)

You’ll have the time of your life conducting these incredible, wacky and fun experiments with your parents, teachers, babysitters and other adults. You’ll investigate, answer your questions and expand your knowledge using everyday household items. You can do things both indoors and outdoors. The handy mess meter, preparation times and notes on the level of supervision will keep your parents happy, and you safe. Experimenting is really fun, and you will have a blast being a scientist! You will be so entertained, you might not notice you’re also learning important things about the world around you.

150+ Screen-Free Activities for Kids. Asia Citro, $25.99

Remember the days when a cardboard box and an active imagination were all kids needed to have fun? With this book, bring back the good ol' days while developing your child's creativity, skills, and sense of adventure. Featuring step-by-step instructions and 4-color photographs, each budget-friendly game and activity will keep children giggling and learning all day long. Best of all, no one will complain about turning off the TV or computer with entertaining activities, like:

• Edible Natural Dye Fingerpaint
• Rainbow Noodles
• Fizzing Ocean World
• Pumpkin Play Clay
• Mix and Match Robots

Complete with dozens of indoor and outdoor exercises, 150+ Screen-Free Activities for Kids will help parents and children alike step away from their devices and step into endless afternoons of family fun!

1001 Fun Ways to Play: Quick, Easy Activities for Your Baby and Child. Susan Davis & Nancy Wilson Hall, $19.95

The best way to teach children — through play — also happens to be the most fun! This new book from Gymboree is full of entertaining, enriching activities for children from birth to five years. 1001 FUN WAYS TO PLAY is a must-have resource that will give babies, toddlers and preschoolers hours of fun.

123 Nature Activity Cards. Caz Buckingham & Andrea Pinnington, $16.99

Beautiful nature cards that help to develop first number and counting skills.

Each flashcard features an engaging number-related activity that will help children learn as they play based on essential first number concepts such as counting, adding, patterns, shapes, opposites, sorting and sizes. This title is perfect for parents who want to foster a love of nature in their children. Suitable for ages 2 to 5 years.

Ooey Gooey® Tooey : 140 Exciting Hands-on Activity Ideas for Young Children. Lisa Murphy, $32.95 (ages 3-8)

No matter what age group you work with, this book will be a valuable addition to your resource shelf. With 140 activities for you to do with children, Ooey Gooey® Tooey is chock full of art ideas and sensory tub concoctions, and sure to become an early childhood classic!

Also: The Ooey Gooey® Handbook: Identifying and Creating Child-centered Environments. Lisa Murphy, $25.95 (ages 3-8)

Outdoor Math: Fun Activities for Every Season. Emma AdBåge, $16.95

In this innovative book, Emma AdBåge encourages children to get outside, where they can have fun interacting with the natural world while learning math. AdBåge has created twenty-two outdoor activities, organized by season. Through play, children will learn about numeracy and arithmetic, as well as math concepts such as shapes, time, greater/less than, even and odd numbers, patterns and grids. The activities have simple-to-follow instructions and are accompanied by adorable illustrations that provide clear visual demonstrations. Many of the activities can be done in pairs or groups, promoting teamwork and cooperation. A list of activities in the back matter indexes the activities and categorizes them by the math skills they develop.

Outdoor Parents, Outdoor Kids: a Guide to Getting Your Kids Active in the Great Outdoors. Eugene Buchanan, $20.50

With an informative and entertaining look at biking, camping, swimming, paddling, fishing, snow sports, hiking, climbing and more, Eugene Buchanan extends parents a helping hand in getting their kids outside and instilling in them a respect for their health and the environment. It's a fantastic guide toconnecting with kids and nature.

Outdoor Play for 1-3 Year Olds: How to Set Up and Run Your own Outdoor Toddler Group. Isabel Hopwood-Stephens, $43.50

We are all mindful of the increasing news coverage of outdoor play and its benefits, but how can you go beyond the sandpit and hopscotch to create a magical and creative experience for the children in your care? This book provides all the encouragement you will need to set up and run an outdoor toddler group. It provides a step-by-step guide to selecting an appropriate site, resourcing the outside area, devising age-appropriate activities, planning activities and the legal requirements involved. Including an overview of the developmental milestones of babies and toddlers, it shows you how you can meet their specific needs.

The Parenting 5: Sensory Motor Play for Little People. Ruth Barker, $28.95

This simple guide to activities that enhance sensory motor play offers practical ideas, captured in clear text and colourful photos. The perfect book for parents and caregivers of young children, it gives you the knowledge you need for their best start in life. The early years lay the foundation for a child's neurological and physical wellbeing. The Parenting 5: Sensory Motor Play for Little People assists parents and caregivers in in creating a fun learning environment for preschoolers - at home or in childcare settings.

Play with Me While I’m Three: Making Connections with Three-Year-Olds. Deborah McNelis, $13.95

Let's Learn More While I’m Four: Making Connections with Four-Year-Olds. Deborah McNelis, $13.95

Help Me Thrive While I’m Five: Making Connections with Five-Year-Olds. Deborah McNelis, $13.95

The Playdate Busy Book. Lisa Hanson & Heather Kempskie, $11.95

200 fun activities for kids of different ages to do with their friends and siblings at home, daycare, and school.

Playful Learning: Develop Your Child's Sense of Joy and Wonder.  Mariah Bruehl, $25.95

Simple activities to promote reading, writing, math, science and social skills in children ages 4 to 8.

Playful Moments: a Collection of Spontaneous Games to Play with Your Young. Barbara Sher, Illustrated by Nhorleen Bitco, $12.95

Over 50 spontaneous, easy and fun games to play with young people from birth to age twelve, that will enrich your relationship and enhance motor, social, and cognitive development.

Ready, Set, Play! Parents and Children Bonding through Sports. Mark Schereth & Mark Preisler, $24.95

A heartfelt book that will inspire families to find creative and fun ways to stay active together. Featuring essays by (and about) top athletes and their children.

Recipes for Play: Creative Activities for Small Hands and Big Imaginations. Rachel Summer & Ruth Mitchener, $22.95

An important part of childhood is being curious and trying out new experiences. What do things taste, feel, smell, sound like? What happens when you add red to blue, mix earth with water, or drop a blob of paint from a great height? These childhood experiments are vital for development and provide hours of entertainment. Recipes for Play contains easy and inexpensive ideas for engaging your child’s senses. Many wonderful hours can be spent playing with natural ingredients found in your kitchen cupboard or backyard garden. Make your own face paint in minutes, whip up a batch of oozy slime, create clouds of color with rainbow rice, and so much more.

Sisters Rachel Sumner and Ruth Mitchener have created Recipes for Play for parents and teachers — or anyone with a child in their life — who want to encourage tactile learning but don’t want their lives to be controlled by chaos. Each recipe has easy-to-follow instructions for setting up activities and simple steps for cleaning up once the fun is finished.

The Rhythm of Family: Discovering a Sense of Wonder through the Seasons. Amanda Blake Soule & Stephen Soule, $22.95

Many of us with busy families yearn for a slower and simpler life with our kids. The Rhythm of Family is a guide to living such a life for any family.

Following the course of a year through the passing of the seasons, this book explores the ways we can create deep family connections and meaningful memories through living in tune with the cycles of nature. From stomping around in mud boots in the spring to gathering around the woodstove in winter, our activities naturally change from season to season—from the rhythms of the seasons comes the rhythms in our homes, our hearts, our families, and our every day. Paying attention to these changes slows us down, inspires new types of creative play and exploration, instills a sense of family togetherness, and deepens an awareness of nature and self that can make our lives, days, family, and earth grow stronger.

The Rhythm of Family explores what we learn and can gain as parents and families by encouraging and experiencing creativity and nature exploration with our children, the seasons can provide us with a rhythm that brings us close to the Earth and closer to our children.

Sneaky Fitness: Fun, Foolproof Ways to Slip Fitness into Your Child's Everyday Life. Missy Chase Lapine & Larysa Didio, $25.00

Sneaky strategies for fitting in more exercise and calorie-burning activities into their child's daily routine, including:

• Age-appropriate exercises and games to get any resistant little exerciser up and moving (with targeted chapters for preschoolers, grade-school kids and 'tweens)
• Tips on specific toys and games that encourage exercise
• More healthy (and sneaky) recipes for fueling newly-active kids

Spark Your Imagination Original Story Starters.  Tamara Vukusic & Erin Brûlé, $10.99

This award-winning series of 50 open-ended scenarios is designed to kick-start imagination, encourage problem-solving and get kids talking.  They are being used for more than story-telling… people love them for dress-up play, art projects, drama, public-speaking and as writing prompts. (Ages 4+)

Spark Your Imagination SUPER Story Starters. Tamara Vukusic & Erin Brûlé, $10.99

This set of 24 Story Starters offers simpler scenarios and illustrated visual cues to help younger and non-verbal children. (Ages 3+)

Start Smart: Building Brain Power in the Early Years. Jackie Silberg, $23.95

Did you know that emotions boost our memory? Or that small muscle exercises help the brain develop? Early experiences contribute to the structure of the brain and its capacities. The quality, quantity, and consistency of stimulation will determine, to a large extent, the number of brain synapses that are formed and how those connections will function. This is true for both cognitive and emotional development, and the effect is lifelong.

Start Smart offers simple, straightforward ways to boost brain power with active exploration, repetition, sensory exploration, and direct experience. Revised to reflect the latest research about how children learn, the new edition of this classic bestseller offers explanations on how and why these activities help the brain develop.

Steam Train, Dream Train Puzzle. Sherry Duskey & Tom Lichtenheld, $21.99

All aboard the dream train! This 12-piece, two-sided puzzle includes boxcars, engines, tankers, tenders, cabooses and more. this sturdy, playful puzzle offers countless possibilities, and sweet, silly dreams.

Tell Me a Story in the Dark: a Guide for Creating Magical Bedtime Stories for Young Children. John Olive, $26.95

Tonight, don't read your child a story. Instead, dim the light, lie down, and create storytelling magic. Weave a spell that will enchant your child. Written by an award-winning playwright, Tell Me A Story In The Dark provides you with every tool you need to tell great and entertaining stories. In a time when parents want to spend more quality time with their children, Tell Me A Story In The Dark:

• Shows you how to prepare and tell a story
• Communicates the enormous benefits — ending the bedtime battle of wills, building vocabulary, making room for effective parenting moments
• Provides a treasure trove of stories that parents (and grandparents) can adapt for their children
• Teaches you how to make up and tell your own stories

Things to Make and Do with Your Children: 150 Activities That You and Your Child Will Love. Myleene Klass, $16.99

Whether you have five minutes or five days, this book is packed with inspiring and fun activities that will keep you and your child busy. If you are constantly wracking your brains for ways to keep your children entertained, this book will give you lots of new ideas for activities, both indoors and out, and often on the spur of the moment. None of them are expensive or complicated and most don't need a truck-load of ingredients or special equipment. All the activities are high in early learning content as well as being fun.

Think Like a Baby: 33 Simple Research Experiments You Can Do at Home to Better Understand Your Child's Developing Mind. Amber Ankowski & Andy Ankowski, $19.95

Raising a baby is joyful, amazing... and ridiculously difficult. But with some insight into what's actually going on inside your little one's head, your job as a parent can become a little bit easier—and a lot more fun. In Think Like a Baby, coauthors Amber and Andy Ankowski — The Doctor and the Dad — show parents how to re-create classic child development experiments using common household items.

These simple step-by-step experiments apply from the third trimester through age seven and beyond and help parents understand their children's physical, cognitive, language, and social development. Amazed parents won't just read about how their kids are behaving, changing, and thinking at various stages, they'll actually see it for themselves while interacting and having fun with them at the same time.

Time to Create: Hands-On Explorations in Process Art for Young Children. Christie Burnett, $34.95

Forget stuffy, structured craft activities; your child needs time to create! Rather than merely teaching your child to name colors and to hold a pencil, the hands-on process art experiences in Time to Create encourage discovery through a variety of art media, including drawing, painting, print making, collage, and sculpture. With ideas for encouraging creativity, advice for choosing the right art project, and suggestions for minimizing the mess, you and your child will be on your way to fun-to-do art explorations in no time! 

Tinkerlab: a Hands-On Guide for Little Inventors. Rachel Doorley, $25.95

Design, Build, Concoct, and Discover — 55 creative experiments for curious kids! Kids are natural tinkerers. They experiment, explore, test, and play — and learn a great deal in the process through problem-solving and hands-on experiments. From art making to simple robot building, magic potion testing, and nature exploration, this book is about creative experiments, in all fields, that help kids explore the world. Perfect for young children up to age six.

Toshi's Little Treasures. Nadine Robert, illustrated by Aki, $18.95

In this appealing search-and-find informational picture book, readers join a little boy named Toshi as he and his grandmother explore six of their favorite places — the riverbank, the town, the forest, the country, the park and the beach. At each location, Toshi finds treasures to add to his collection, from a dragonfly wing to a glittery rock to a guitar pick. Best of all, his grandmother always knows what everything is!

Mixing fiction and nonfiction, this book is the perfect resource for life science lessons on habitats and the environment. It encourages observation skills, curiosity and critical thinking — building blocks for studying science. This book would be a terrific inspiration for a trip around the neighborhood in which children can find, identify and draw treasures of their own. It could also be used as a starting point for storytelling, in which children imagine the story of a treasure — Toshi's or their own —  before it was found.

303 Tween-Approved Exercises & Active Games. Kimberly Wechsler, $17.95

303 Tween-Approved Exercises & Active Games is written specifically for children ages 9-12 years old. Kimberley Wechsler, a specialist in kid’s fitness, took into account the fundamental attributes of being a child while developing these exercises. They grow, mature, and develop skills at different ages, so what may be skill appropriate for one child could be harmful for another child. These exercises reflect the emotional, social, physical level of this age group.  Tweens can choose from many styles of fitness: mind/body, military style fitness, sports performance, functional resistance, strength training, plyometric style, outdoor challenges, circuit/interval/obstacle course training.  By giving each challenge/game a point value, ‘tweens can freely choose their exercises and will receive a complete workout each and every time. Teachers and parents can join in on the fun too!

365 Days of Creative Play. Sheila Ellison & Judith Gray, $23.99

This amazing resource of fun and thoughtful activities for kids ages two years and up will help encourage their creativity and learning through play. Using only safe, simple household supplies, 365 Days of Creative Play is great for parents, grandparents and childcare providers.

365 Toddler Activities That Inspire Creativity. Joni Levine, $21.50

Games, projects, and pastimes that encourage a child's learning and imagination.

Unplugged Play: No Batteries – No Plugs – Pure Fun. Bobbi Conner, $22.95

710 games and activities for ages 12 months to 10 years that stretch the imagination, spark creativity, build strong bodies and forge deep friendships.

Well Played: the Ultimate Guide to Awakening Your Family's Playful Spirit. Meredith Sinclair, $24.99

In our age of digital addiction, many of us have lost our ability to be spontaneous. More parents are complaining that they no longer even remember how to play with their children, or their spouse, and even with their own friends. In Well Played, Meredith Sinclair helps families relearn what used to come naturally and shows how to find happiness through play. For children, playing comes naturally, or at least it used to. But today that kind of easy-going fun is harder to come by, for both kids and their parents. With hectic lifestyles and constant technology overload, families have simply forgotten how to play. The solution? Relearn how to integrate fun and creative play into our day-to-day lives.

Packed with fun and engaging line drawings, entertaining DIY projects, and hundreds of lists and tips on capturing the game-changing joy of goofing off, Well Played is an indispensable guide for families to incorporate quality fun and playtime into our daily lives. 

Where Does My Shadow Sleep? A Parent’s Guide to Exploring Science with Children’s Books. Sally Anderson, $17.95

Young children are investigators by nature, just like scientists. They are curious about the world around them and eager to explore. With the help of the stories and activities in Where Does My Shadow Sleep?  you can use favorite children’s books to help young children observe, wonder, ask questions, talk about, and explore the world of science.

The Wiggle & Giggle Busy Book: 365 Fun, Physical Activities for Toddlers & Preschoolers. Trish Kuffner, $12.95

The Preschooler's Busy Book: 365 Creative Learning Games and Activities to Keep Your 3 to 6 Year Old Busy. Trish Kuffner, $13.95

These BUSY BOOKS by Trish Kuffner are packed with creative, fun, simple activities to keep toddlers and preschoolers busy. Terrific alternatives to watching TV or playing video games, the books show parents and care providers how to encourage physical, emotional and cognitive growth and stimulate a child's natural curiosity.

Wooden Puzzles

Farm Friends Wooden Puzzle. Innovative Kids, $19.99 (ages 18 mos.+)

Little Dinosaurs Wooden Puzzle. Innovative Kids, $22.99 (ages 18 mos.+)

Mighty Mixer Wooden Puzzle. Innovative Kids, $19.99 (ages 3+)

Playful Pals Wooden Puzzle. Innovative Kids, $22.99 (ages 2+)

Shape Parade Wooden Puzzle. Innovative Kids, $22.99 (ages 12 mos.+)

Made with wood from sustainable forests, these colourful puzzles are packaged in a reusable carry-along case that you can shelf like a book — no more lost puzzle pieces!!