Devon Garrison plays in the pool at the clubhouse of his sub-division in Montgomery, Ala., Tuesday, June 14, 2011. Garrison wears sunscreen with an SPF factor of 100. Credit: AP

WASHINGTON (AP) - Help is on the way to consumers confused by the jumble of sun protection numbers, symbols and other claims on sunscreens. Starting next summer, consumers can start looking for SPF 15 bottles with the label "broad spectrum" and feel confident they're being protected from an increased risk of cancer.

Currently, standards of protection apply only to one part of the sun's spectrum, ultraviolet B rays, which cause sunburn. Under new rules published Tuesday, they will also have to protect against the more penetrating ultraviolet A rays associated with skin cancer.

The guidelines, which spent more than 30 years in bureaucratic limbo, are designed to enhance the effectiveness of sunscreens and make them easier to use.

The key takeaway for consumers: Look for a sun protection factor, or SPF, of 15 and above that also says "broad spectrum." That's the new buzzword from the Food and Drug Administration to describe a product that does an acceptable job blocking both types of damaging rays.

Starting next summer, sunscreens with less than an SPF of 15 or that aren't "broad spectrum" will have to carry a warning label: "This product has been shown only to help prevent sunburn, not skin cancer or early skin aging."

That will help people like Paul Woodburn, 55, who says he mainly buys brands he trusts and judges sun screen by one factor

"The SPF number is what counts for me," the Indianapolis resident said as he sat next to a public pool. "Beyond the SPF, I don't think anybody really watches." Woodburn said he wasn't familiar with the difference between UVA and UVB rays or the broad spectrum label.

"These changes to sunscreen labels are an important part of helping consumers have the information they need so they can choose the right sun protection for themselves and their families," said Dr. Janet Woodcock, director of FDA's drug division.

The new regulations require testing for the more dangerous ultraviolet A rays, which can penetrate glass and pose the greatest risk of skin cancer and premature aging. Now, the FDA only requires testing for ultraviolet B rays that cause sunburn. That's what the familiar SPF measure is based on.

"For the first time, the FDA has clearly defined the testing required to make a broad-spectrum protection claim in a sunscreen and indicate which type of sunscreen can reduce skin cancer risk," said Dr. Ronald L. Moy, president of The American Academy of Dermatology Association.

Under the new rules:

- The FDA will prohibit sunscreen marketing claims like "waterproof" and "sweatproof," which the agency said "are exaggerations of performance."

- The FDA also proposes capping the highest SPF value at 50, unless companies can provide results of further testing that support a higher number.

- FDA says manufacturers must phase out a four-star system currently used by some companies to rate UVA protection.

In reviewing more than 3,000 comments submitted to the agency, the FDA decided the star system was too confusing. Instead, protection against UVA should be proportional to protection against UVB, which is already measured using SPF.

The SPF figure indicates the amount of sun exposure needed to cause sunburn on sunscreen-protected skin compared with unprotected skin. For example, an SPF rating of 30 means it would take the person 30 times longer to burn wearing sunscreen than with exposed skin.

The rules were decades in the making.

FDA announced its intent to draft sunscreen rules in 1978 and published them in 1999. The agency delayed finalizing its guidelines for years until it could address issues concerning both UVA and UVB protection.

Some consumer advocates complained that the agency's final guidelines were less strict than draft proposals circulated over the years.

"About 20 percent of products that meet the new FDA standards could not be sold in Europe, where UVA standards are strict," said David Andrews, senior scientist with the Environmental Working Group.

Many companies have already adopted the some of the labeling outlined by the government. For example, all Coppertone products from Merck & Co.'s Schering-Plough unit and Neutrogena sunscreens from Johnson & Johnson already boast "broad spectrum UVA and UVB protection."

Most dermatologists recommend a broad spectrum, water-resistant sunscreen of SPF 30 or higher every two hours while outside.

Last year an estimated 68,130 people in the U.S. were diagnosed with melanoma - the most dangerous form of skin cancer - and an estimated 8,700 died, according to the National Cancer Institute. Nearly $2 billion is spent treating the disease each year.

Copyright 2011 The Associated Press. The information contained in the AP news report may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or otherwise distributed without the prior written authority of The Associated Press. This article was written by MATTHEW PERRONE, Associated Press. All active hyperlinks have been inserted by AOL.

Want to get the latest ParentDish news and advice? Sign up for our newsletter!

Permalink | Email this | Comments

Permalink | Email this | Comments

What teacher gifts will make the grade? Credit: Getty Images

Permalink | Email this | Comments

Do you know where your children are? Foursquare does! Credit: AP

• Location apps let kids post their actual, physical location.
• According to a 2010 study by McAfee Inc., 69 percent of kids ages 13 to 17 have included their physical location in their social networking status update.
• Safety and privacy are the major areas of concern.
• Marketers use these programs to send highly targeted ads.
• If you're going to use them, set privacy controls to the strictest settings.

And that's what makes location sharing a no-go for kids and teens. These programs bring up two big issues: safety and privacy. Since they let you post your location, they can expose your kid's whereabouts to anyone they "friend" -- or, in some cases, to any other user of the program. Also, advertisers are already using social mapping to target users with ads and incentives to visit their businesses (most of which are bars and restaurants).

Foursquare was one of the first entries into the location-sharing game. Here's how it works: When you sign up, you import contacts from other programs like Facebook, Twitter and Gmail. Using Foursquare's mobile website or its smartphone app, you "check in" -- send a message saying where you are and what you're doing -- and the program alerts your friends to tell them where they can find you. (Foursquare does allows you to hide your location, so you can check in without revealing it.) Foursquare uses a gaming motif, which makes it especially appealing for kids.

Facebook Places is available on iPhones or accessible through the company's touch.facebook.com site. It gives you the option of sharing your location with your Facebook friends and checking specific locations to see if your friends are there. For users younger than 17, Places is an "opt in" feature, meaning you have to enable it to use it. But make sure you check your kid's privacy settings anyway.

Gowalla works very much the same way as Foursquare, with a gaming aspect that rewards people for visiting certain places and doing interesting things. Unlike Foursquare's more finely customizable privacy settings, Gowalla's privacy settings are either on or off -- allowing people to view you or not. But Gowalla retains certain features that are publicly available even if you've checked "off." For example, if you recommend something, your recommendation appears under your user name.

Another popular program in this category is Loopt, which is currently only available as a downloadable app with phones using GPS. It's also geared more for singles looking for relationships -- the personal profile asks you to check boxes indicating your relationship status and what type of relationship you're looking for.

Like Facebook, Loopt gives its users the ability to send messages to friends, and while its ability to connect people face-to-face is highly targeted, it does offer fairly customizable privacy settings, including the ability to hide your location and block people.

What Parents Need to Know

1. These programs aren't for your kids. Ignore the "ratings" you may see online. The apps must be downloaded, and even though they're free, you'll get a receipt for it, so you'll know whether it's been installed. Either way, check your child's phone for these apps. You need to know what they're doing.

2. If you think it's OK for your kid to use one of these apps, then you must make sure that their privacy settings are set to the strictest options (as in, designated "friends only). That said, there are no guarantees that your child will be 100% protected from strangers or unwanted advertisers.

3. Since the programs allow users to post directly to Facebook or Twitter from any location, questions of safety and responsible behavior must be addressed. You don't want someone telling everyone about a party at someone else's house.

4. Finally, don't our kids have enough ads in their lives? These programs have the ability to send highly targeted ads -- to your kids' favorite store at the mall, for example. Constant advertising has a tendency to give people the "gimmes." Reinforce the fact that they can use the word "no."

Permalink | Email this | Comments

RoseArt Creative Craft Pack Credit: RoseArt

Permalink | Email this | Comments

Stock your playroom with dress-up clothes. Credit: Getty Images

Longing for the perfect playroom? You don't need to look much further than some creative toys and simple-but-effective storage systems.

Creating a great area for your kids has less to do with space and more to do with the kind of toys and games you stock it with, says Stacy Test, a Texas mom of three and creator of the website Kids Stuff World.

Adding toys that encourage creative play are the first step to creating your child's dream playroom -- without offending the grown-ups' design sensibilities.

"The toys in the perfect playroom encourage learning and imaginative play, but still look attractive enough to be left out on display," Test says. "When selecting toys, be sure to choose items you can think of at least three ways to play with. This way you get triple the use."

Triple the use also takes up one-third the space, she adds, pointing out that although the toys may look great on display, creating an organized space will help when it comes time to clean up. Storage bins that can be assembled into multiple configurations, depending on the size and shape of your room, are a good choice. Test recommends the Trofast System from IKEA or the kinds of colorful plastic bins and baskets that can be found at most big-box retailers.

Test shares another tip for families that may face space challenges: Change the toys out every week to keep your child interested in them, and also to increase their "shelf life." Do this by sorting the toys into groups -- animals, trains, cars -- and place them in clear locking storage bins.

"Rotate one or two toy bins into the room at a time," Test suggests.

Toy bins not in use can be stored in a hall closet, the basement or the garage, she adds.

If you do have a lot of space to work with, California-based interior designer Michelle Workman says parents should get creative. Paint a mural on the wall, use decorative wall stickers or drape fabric to spark your child's imagination. Use bold colors and fun accessories to complete the theme, and look to unusual sources for inspiration.

Kids love to role-play, and so Test recommends creating an extensive dress-up box for your child's playroom. Buy clearance-rack costumes after Halloween or give the kids your own discarded clothing, she says.

"Outfits that allow your children to act out life as an adult will work wonders for their changing personalities," Test says. "[Occupational] outfits such as firefighters or nurse's uniforms work as well as dresses for acting out fantasy roles."

Want to get the latest ParentDish news and advice? Sign up for our newsletter!

Permalink | Email this | Comments

Credit: Victoria Kann, Harper Collins

Permalink | Email this | Comments

Credit: CafePress.com

Credit: CafePress.com

Credit: MyShirtHelps.com

Credit: Hide & Seek Clothing

Credit: Merchline.com

Permalink | Email this | Comments

Vote now for your favorite Children's Books. Credit: Amazon

• "Even Monsters Need Haircuts" by Matthew McElligott (Walker)
• "Hot Rod Hamster" by Cynthia Lord, illustrated by Derek Anderson (Scholastic Press)
• "How Rocket Learned to Read" by Tad Hills (Schwartz & Wade/ Random House)
• "Little Pink Pup" by Johanna Kerby (Putnam/Penguin)
• "Shark vs. Train" by Chris Barton, illustrated by Tom Lichtenheld (Little, Brown)

• "Babymouse # 12: Burns Rubber" by Jennifer L. Holm and Matthew Holm (Random House)
• "Bad Kitty vs. Uncle Murray: The Uproar at the Front Door" by Nick Bruel (Roaring Brook/Macmillan)
• "Encyclopedia Mythologica: Gods & Heroes" by Matthew Reinhart and Robert Sabuda (Candlewick)
• "Finally" by Wendy Mass (Scholastic Press)
• "Lunch Lady and the Summer Camp Shakedown" by Jarrett J. Krosoczka (Knopf/Random House)

• "Big Nate: In a Class by Himself" by Lincoln Peirce (HarperCollins)
• "It's a Book" by Lane Smith (Roaring Brook/Macmillan)
• "The Red Pyramid (The Kane ChroncilesChronicles, Book 1)" by Rick Riordan (Disney-Hyperion)
• "Smile" by Raina Telgemeier (Graphix/Scholastic)
• "Zebrafish" by Peter H. Reynolds and FableVision (Atheneum/Simon & Schuster)

• "Burned (House of Night, Book 7)" by P.C. Cast and Kristin Cast (St. Martin's Griffin/Macmillan)
• "Fang (A Maximum Ride Novel)" by James Patterson (Little, Brown)
• "Mockingjay (The Final Book of The Hunger Games)" by Suzanne Collins (Scholastic Press)
• "Spirit Bound (Vampire Academy, Book 5)" by Richelle Mead (Razorbill/Penguin)
• "Will Grayson, Will Grayson" by John Green and David Levithan (Dutton/Penguin)

• Cassandra Clare for "Clockwork Angel (The Infernal Devices, Book 1)" (McElderry/Simon & Schuster)
• Suzanne Collins for "Mockingjay (The Final Book of The Hunger Games)" (Scholastic Press)
• Jeff Kinney for "Diary of a Wimpy Kid: The Ugly Truth" (Amulet/Abrams)
• Stephenie Meyer for "The Short Second Life of Bree Tanner" (Megan Tingley/Little, Brown)
• Rick Riordan for "The Lost Hero (The Heroes of Olympus, Book 1)" (Disney-Hyperion)

• Robin Preiss Glasser for "Fancy Nancy and the Fabulous Fashion Boutique" (HarperCollins)
• Loren Long for "Of Thee I Sing: A Letter to My Daughters" (Knopf/Random House)
• Nancy Tillman for "Wherever You Are: My Love Will Find You" (Feiwel & Friends/Macmillan)
• David Wiesner for "Art & Max" (Clarion/Houghton Mifflin Harcourt)
• Mo Willems for "Knuffle Bunny Free: An Unexpected Diversion" (Balzer + Bray/HarperCollins)

Permalink | Email this | Comments

Soothe your child's stuffy nose with a calming eucalyptus bath. Credit: Amazon

Permalink | Email this | Comments

Anne Frank's story is one that every child should read. Credit: Amazon

1. 1."The Abracadabra Kid: A Writer's Life" by Sid Fleischman (1996): An autobiography of a writer who started life as a magician.


2. 2."The Adventures of Pinocchio" by Carlo Collodi (1925): The original story of the wooden boy who wishes to become real. Note that this parable is less sweet and kind than the the Disney version.


3. 3."Abel's Island" by William Steig (1976): An artist mouse is swept away by rains, which strand him on an island.


4. 4."Aesop & Company: Scenes from His Legendary Life" by Barbara Bader, illustrated by Arthur Geisert (1991): This book of 19 fables set against the backdrop of morals and Geisert's unadorned animals, also describes the history of Aesop's fables.


5. 5."Afternoon of the Elves" by Janet Taylor Lisle (1989): The story of a the budding friendship between Sara-Kate and Hilary.


6. 6."Alan and Naomi" by Myron Levoy (1977): Set in World War II, Naomi is a refugee from Paris who moves to New York and her friendship with Alan.


7. 7."Alice's Adventures in Wonderland" by Lewis Carroll (1865): Alice was bored when she followed a rabbit down into a hole with amazing adventures that followed.


8. 8."All-of-a-Kind Family" by Sidney Taylor, illustrated by Helen John (1951): This story features a family of immigrants -- five daughters and a son -- living in New York in the early part of the last century.


9. 9."Amber Brown Is Not a Crayon" by Paula Danziger, illustrated by Tony Ross (1994): Amber's best friend Justin is moving away.


10. 10."Anastasia Krupnik" by Lois Lowry (1984): The first Anastasia book in the series that tells of the daily life of a 10-year-old.


11. 11."And Then What Happened, Paul Revere?" By Jean Fritz, illustrated by Margot Tomes (1973): The ins-and-outs of Paul Revere's famous ride, including details of things he forgot to do.


12. 12."Animal Fare: Zoological Nonsense Poems" by Jane Yolen, illustrated by Janet Street (1994): Colorful imaginary animals and a clever use of words make this a fun read-aloud book.


13. 13."Anne Frank: The Diary of a Young Girl" by Anne Frank (1958): Written by a young girl whose family hid in an attic during Nazi occupation, this is an amazing document of life during World War II


14. 14."Author: A True Story" by Helen Lester (1977): A light-hearted treatment about Lester's path to writing children's books.


15. 15."A Bear Called Paddington" by Michael Bond, illustrated by Peggy Fortnum (1960): This book sets in motion the hilarious adventures of a bear from darkest Peru who was found in Paddington Station by the Browns.


16. 16."Because of Winn-Dixie" by Kate DiCamillo (2000): A dog changes the lives of Opal and her preacher father.


17. 17."The Black Stallion" by Walter Farley, illustrated By Keith Ward (1941): Shipwrecked, Alec and the horse learn to co-exist in this first of 19 in the popular series.


18. 18."Bridge to Terabithia"by Katherine Paterson, illustrated by Donna Diamond (1977): This Newbery Medal winner tells of Jess and Leslie's friendship, which end when Leslie is accidentally killed.


19. 19."Bud, Not Buddy" by Christopher Paul Curtis (1999): A foster child runs away, making his way to where he believes his father is.


20. 20."A Child's Calendar" by John Updike, illustrated by Trina Schart Hyman (1999): Celebrating each month with a verse, this Caldecott Honor book is set in New England.


21. 21."Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs" by Judith Barrett, illustrated by Ron Barrett (1978): Meals arrive from the sky in the enchanted land of Chewandswallow, according to Grandpa, but what will happen if the weather changes?


22. 22."Charlie and the Chocolate Factory" by Roald Dahl, illustrated by Quentin Blake (1963): Charlie Bucket wins a chance to visit Willy Wonka's factory. "Charlie and the Great Glass Elevator" is the sequel to this classic.


23. 23."The Complete Fairy Tales" by Charles Perrault (1797): First published in 1797, these 11 French fairy tales, including Little Red Riding Hood and Sleeping Beauty, are decidedly different from the modern-day adaptations. However, the morals are well worth a read.


24. 24."The Conch Bearer" by Chitra Banerjee Divakaruni (2005): Anand, an Indian boy, leaves behind some terrible life challenges as he journeys to return a magical conch shell.


25. 25."The Curious Garden" by Peter Brown (2009): Liam, a little boy, starts tending an unloved garden, which greens the gray world around him.


26. 26."D'Aulaire's Book of Greek Myths" by Ingri and Parin D'Aulaire (1962): For children, this is the standard book about Zeus and other Greek deities. "D'Aulaire's Norse Gods and Giants" is a definite companion work to seek out.


27. 27."Diary of a Wimpy Kid" by Jeff Kinney (2007): This comic "journal" of Greg Heffley's life has led Kinney to create a popular, funny series.


28. 28."Diego" by Jonah Winter, illustrated Jeanette Winter, Spanish text by Amy Prince (1991): A vivid, accessible bilingual book about the life of the artist Diego Rivera.


29. 29."A Drop of Water" by Walter Wick (1997): Wick, well-known as the photographer of the I Spy series, trains his lens on science experiments that will have children looking at water in a new way.


30. 30."The Fairy Tales of Hans Christian Andersen" by Hans Christian Andersen (1835): In 1835, Andersen started publishing these beloved tales, such as "The Little Mermaid" and "The Ugly Duckling."


31. 31."Fairy Tales" by Wilhelm Grimm and Jakob Grimm (1812): Readers started enjoying the Grimm brothers' tales in the early 1800s and they have remained well-known with "Rapunzel" and "The Twelve Dancing Princesses."


32. 32."The Fantastic Undersea Life of Jacques Cousteau" by Dan Yaccarino (2009): Colorfully illustrated and educational, this book about the life undersea and its famous explorer is sure to please any adventurer.


33. 33. "Five Children and It" by E. Nesbit (1902): Five children discover It, which grants wishes. Two other books follow this one: "The Phoenix and the Carpet" and "The Story of the Amulet."


34. 34. "A Girl Named Disaster" by Nancy Farmer (1998): The journeys of Nhamo, an 11-year-old Shona girl, who flees Mozambique for Zimbabwe.


35. 35."The Giving Tree" by Shel Silverstein (1964): The meaning of this story about a boy and a tree grows deeper with each reading.


36. 36."Granny Torrelli Makes Soup" by Sharon Creech (2003): A wise grandmother imparts her knowledge to her granddaughter while cooking soup.


37. 37."Half Magic" by Edward Eager, illustrated by N. M. Bodecker (1954): After four children wished on an ancient coin, their summer vacation just became a lot more interesting.


38. 38."Harriet the Spy" by Louise Fitzhugh (1964): An endearing book about Harriet, who wants to grow up to be a writer. Successive books follow, such as "The Long Secret."


39. 39."Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone" by J.K. Rowling, illustrated by Mary Grandpre (1998): Boarding-school happenings of a boy-wizard. The first of a wildly popular series.


40. 40."Hatchet" by Gary Paulsen (1987): A plane crashes, leaving a 13-year-old boy to survive in the wild. This is the Newbery Honor winner that sets the stage for the books Paulsen writes later about the same boy.


41. 41."The Hatmaker's Sign: A Story of Benjamin Franklin" by Candace Fleming (1998): A retelling of a parable Benjamin Franklin told to Thomas Jefferson as the Declaration of Independence was being criticized.


42. 42."Hawk, I'm Your Brother" by Byrd Baylor, illustrated by Peter Parnall (1976): A Caldecott Honor winner about Rudy, who captures a hawk, but later learns what it means to be free.


43. 43."Henry Huggins" by Beverly Cleary (1950): Henry adopts Ribsy in this first of a series, "Henry and Ribsy" and "Henry and the Clubhouse."


44. 44."A History of US" by Joy Hakim (2007): Any one of this 11-volume series is a solid addition to history-lover bookshelves.


45. 45."The Hobbit" by J.R.R. Tolkien (1938): The story of Bilbo Baggins and the Hobbits, which serves as a launching off point for the "Lord of the Rings" trilogy.


46. 46."Home Run: The Story of Babe Ruth" by Robert Burleigh and Mike Wimmer (1998): An enjoyable treatment of the legendary baseball player.


47. 47."The Hospital Book" by James Howe, illustrated by Mal Warshaw (1981): In a no-nonsense way, this book and its later edition, introduce children to the hospital and various procedures.


48. 48."The House with a Clock on Its Walls" by John Bellairs, illustrated by Edward Gorey (1973): The beginning mystery in a series of a dozen about an orphaned boy living with his uncle, who is a wizard.


49. 49."How Many Days to America?: A Thanksgiving Story" by Eve Bunting, illustrated by Beth Peck (1988): A nice re-telling of the Pilgrims' arrival to America, with a reminder of the meaning of Thanksgiving.


50. 50."How Many Spots Does a Leopard Have? And Other Tales" by Julius Lester and David Shannon (1989): A collection of a dozen folktales from African and Jewish traditions, re-told by an author of Jewish and African heritage.


51. 51."The Hundred Dresses" by Eleanor Estes, illustrated by Louis Slobodkin (1944): A Newbery Honor Book about Wanda Petronski, in a faded dress, claims to the classmates who taunt her when she said she had 100 dresses at home.


52. 52."The Indian in the Cupboard" by Lynne Reid Banks, illustrated by Brock Cole (1981): When Omri, a little boy, puts a toy Indian in a magic cupboard, it comes alive and all sorts of adventures ensue.


53. 53."The Ink Drinker" by Eric Sanvoisin, illustrated by Martin Matje (2002): A boy enlisted to watch his father's bookstore sees a customer drink a book, leaving its pages blank.


54. 54."The Iron Giant" by Ted Hughes and Andrew Davidson (1968): A giant takes on a monster in this allegory written by the British poet laureate.


55. 55."Island of the Blue Dolphins" by Scott O'Dell (1960): This novel is based on the real life of a girl who spent 18 years on an island off the California coast.


56. 56."It's Disgusting - and We Ate It! True Food Facts from Around the World - and Throughout History!" By James Soleheim, illustrated by Eric Brace (1998): A wacky yet informative book about past, present and ... what's that growing in your refrigerator?


57. 57."It's Like This, Cat" by Emily Cheney Neville (1963): Dave, a 14-year-old who lives in New York City, gets a cat. The electric family relationships ring true, which is probably one reason this book won the Newbery Medal.


58. 58."Jelly Belly" by Robert Kimmel Smith, illustrated by Bob Jones (1981): An overweight boy who is sent to a diet camp ends up learning much about life.


59. 59."Johnny Tremain" by Esther Forbes, illustrated by Lynd Ward (1943): Set in Revolutionary America, a silversmith apprentice is pulled into the fray of the political situation.


60. 60."Journey to America" by Sonia Levitin, illustrated by Charles Robinson (1970):Fleeing Nazi Germany, the Platts made their way to the United States. This fictional immigrant family reappears in "Silver Days" and in "Annie's Promise."


61. 61."Joyful Noise: Poems for Two Voices" by Paul Fleischman, illustrated by Eric Beddows (1992): Insects invade this award-winning collection of poetry about bugs.


62. 62."The Jungle Book" by Rudyard Kipling (1894): Mowgli joins a wolf pack and learns to live in the jungle in this exotic telling of the boy's journeys among the wild animals.


63. 63."Kids on Strike!" by Susan Campbell Bartoletti (1999): Children and their involvement in several of the American labor strikes.


64. 64."Leonardo da Vinci" by Diane Stanley (1996): A well-told biography of a fascinating artist.


65. 65."A Light in the Attic" by Shel Silverstein (1981): An award-winning collection of rhymes from the master of fun rhymes. Kids will have trouble putting this one down and will probably enjoy reading them aloud.


66. 66."Little House in the Big Woods" by Laura Ingalls Wilder, illustrated by Garth Williams (1953): This autobiographical tale is the starting point for Wilder's continuing series of adventures and survival on the frontier.


67. 67."The Little Prince" by Antoine de Saint-Exupery (1943): A French tale about a prince who arrives from outerspace.


68. 68."A Little Princess" by Frances Hodgson Burnett (1963): By the author of "The Secret Garden," this is a classic tale of Sara Crewe adjusting to shifting fortunes.


69. 69."Little Women" by Louisa May Alcott (1868): The story of the March sisters growing up during the Civil War.


70. 70."A Long Way From Chicago" by Richard Peck (1998): Annual visits to grandmother's, where amazing things seem to keep happening.


71. 71."The Magic School Bus Inside the Human Body" by Joanna Cole, illustrated by Bruce Degen (1989): Another trip on the magic bus with Mrs. Frizzle, who takes her students along for the exploration of the body.


72. 72."Mary and the Mouse, the Mouse and Mary" by Beverly Donofrio, illustrated by Barbara McClintock (2007): A gentle, simple story of Mary and the Mouse living alongside each other.


73. 73."Mary Poppins" by P.L. Travers (1934): The lovable British nanny with magical qualities. The successful first novel hatched the succeeding sequels.


74. 74."The Merry Adventures of Robin Hood" by Howard Pyle (1883): Episodes in and characters from the life of the British legend known for his stealing from the rich and giving to the poor.


75. 75."Misty of Chincoteague" by Marguerite Henry, illustrated By Wesley Dennis (1947): The wild horses of Chincoteague Island, along with the Beebe children, inhabit this novel about the horse Misty.


76. 76."The Moffats" by Eleanor Estes, illustrated by Louis Slobodkin (1941): Daily activities of the four Moffat children and their widowed mother.


77. 77."Mrs. Frisby and the Rats of NIMH" by Robert C. O'Brien, illustrated by Zena Bernstein (1971): This novel about rats of the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) and a mouse won a Newbery Medal.


78. 78."Mrs. Piggle-Wiggle" by Betty MacDonald, illustrated by Hilary Knight (1957): A good book for those learning to read, Mrs. Piggle-Wiggle is the kindly woman who seems to delight and handle many a child's mischief. MacDonald wrote several sequels.


79. 79."Peter Pan" by J.M. Barrie (1911): Various illustrators have depicted Peter Pan and the rest of the Lost Boys, along with the Darling family, in this adventurous tale.


80. 80."Pippi Longstocking" by Astrid Lindgren (1944): This is the story of a lovable, wacky Swedish girl who has a generous heart and a fun outlook on life.


81. 81."The Princess and the Goblin" by George MacDonald (1871): Goblins threaten the home of a young princess.


82. 82."Princess Hyacinth: The Surprising Tale of a Girl who Floated" by Florence Parry Heide, illustrated by Lane Smith (2009): What do you do with a princess who floats? Try to keep her grounded.


83. 83."The Quicksand Book" by Tomie dePaola (1977): Jungle Boy sets about to rescue Jungle Girl from quicksand, from the author of "Strega Nona."


84. 84."Rabbit Hill" by Robert Lawson (1944): This award-winning book about Rabbit Hill and the creatures -- big and small -- that inhabit it.


85. 85."Robinson Crusoe" by Daniel Defoe (1719): A fictional account of a man stranded on an island for nearly three decades. It's considered to be the first English novel.


86. 86."Sadako and the Thousand Paper Cranes" by Eleanor Coerr and Ronald Himler (1979): Coerr recounts the true story of a victim of the Hiroshima atomic bomb, who is told about healing the sick by folding a thousand paper cranes.


87. 87."The Secret Garden" by Frances H. Burnett (1912): Mary, an orphan sent to live in the Yorkshire countryside, discovers a secret garden.


88. 88."The Stinky Cheese Man and Other Fairly Stupid Tales" by John Scieszka, illustrated by Lane Smith (1992): Fairy tales set on their, well, tails. For instance, the ugly duckling doesn't become a beautiful swan.


89. 89."Stuart Little" by E. B. White, illustrated by Garth Williams (1945): The Littles love their son, even if he does look a lot like a mouse. Stuart has impressive adventures, sure to capture your child's imagination.


90. 90."The Sun" by Seymour Simon (1986): One in a series of books with breathtaking photos of the natural world, which Seymour deftly explains without dumbing down the subject for kids.


91. 91."The Twenty-One Balloons" by William Pene Du Bois (1947): Professor Sherman lands on Krakatoa, learning about all sorts of balloon inventions.


92. 92."The Trumpet of the Swan" by E. B. White, illustrated by Edward Frascino (1970): A swan born without the ability to trumpet, befriends Sam who takes him to school.


93. 93."A Wave in Her Pocket: Stories from Trinidad" by Lynn Joseph (1991): Rich in West Indies lore, this is a collection of stories.


94. 94."The Wind in the Willows" by Kenneth Grahame (1908): Captivating adventures among Rat, Mole, Toad and Badger -- friends who live along a riverbank. Many editions are available with delightful illustrations.


95. 95."Winnie-the-Pooh" by A. A. Milne, illustrated by Ernest H. Shepard (1926): Winnie-the-Pooh, the bear belonging to Christopher Robin, has lots of adventures with his friends, including Piglet and Tigger.


96. 96."The Wonderful Wizard of Oz" by L. Frank Baum (1900): Select an illustrator for this classic read and don't forget to pick up one of the 13 sequels to the Oz story, including "Ozma of Oz" and "The Patchwork Girl of Oz."


97. 97."A Wrinkle in Time" by Madeleine L'Engle (1962): "It was a dark and stormy night" when a visitor comes calling to the Wallaces.


98. 98."The Yearling" by Marjorie Kinnan Rawlings, illustrated by N. C. Wyeth (1938):The winner of a Pulitzer Prize, this novel tells of Jody, a boy in Florida, who wants to save the animals he loves.


99. 99."You Read to Me and I'll Read to You: 20th Century Stories to Share" by Janet Schulman (2001): A compilation of many well-loved stories and books is perfect for the bookshelves of those learning to read while still loving the possibilities of being read to.


100. 100."Zlateh the Goat and Other Stories" by Isaac Bashevis Singer, illustrated by Maurice Sendak (1966): A read-aloud collection of traditional folk stories.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

Some goodies included in the Kymaro Prize Pack Credit: Kymaro

Permalink | Email this | Comments

Mix 'em, match 'em, trade 'em! Credit: Whomp!

Max - Bleep Bot! Credit: Whomp!

Permalink | Email this | Comments

Permalink | Email this | Comments

Toy Industry Association

Toy Industry Association

Toy Industry Association

Toy Industry Association

Toy Industry Association

Toy Industry Association

Toy Industry Association

Permalink | Email this | Comments

Toy Industry Association

Toy Industry Association

Toy Industry Association

Toy Industry Association

Toy Industry Association

Toy Industry Association

Permalink | Email this | Comments

Toy Industry Association

Toy Industry Association

Toy Industry Association

Toy Industry Association

Toy Industry Association

Toy Industry Association

Permalink | Email this | Comments

Toy Industry Association

Toy Industry Association

Toy Industry Association

Toy Industry Association

Toy Industry Association

Toy Industry Association

Toy Industry Association

Permalink | Email this | Comments

Toy Industry Association

Toy Industry Association

Toy Industry Association

Toy Industry Association

Toy Industry Association

Toy Industry Association

Toy Industry Association

Permalink | Email this | Comments

Toy Industry Association

Toy Industry Association

Toy Industry Association

Toy Industry Association

Toy Industry Association

Toy Industry Association

Toy Industry Association

Permalink | Email this | Comments