Recent Articles
Raves: May, 2010
Diaper diaries Born Yesterday: The Diary of a Young Journalist by James Solheim; illustrated by Simon James. What do babies really think about? Here’s a playful glimpse in the form of a top-secret diary, “written by” a new baby: “Talk about unexpected! I was in the dark, thinking about my future ca
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Best of Baby! Your guide to the best goods and glee for the goo-goo set
Ah, new parenthood: sweet confusion, sleep deprivation and — I’ll say it — stickiness. You’re exhausted — but you have got to get out of the house. You dote on that baby — but, hey, you need some TLC, too. You had a baby, not a lobotomy! The good news: Our area is rich in great places that cater to
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Raves: April, 2010
La belle Q.bel When a big box of chocolate bars shows up in your office, you take one for the team and test them. Never less than a total pro, I tested and retested, and I have to say, Q.bel chocolates are outstanding. The wafer bars are a bit like Kit Kats — only with richer, deeper flavor and a
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Cheap thrills: Save money this summer
A few months ago, my husband and I were looking for a place to eat that was close to the theater where we were volunteer ushers. We ended up in a pricey spot, but since we were saving money by volunteering — seeing the show for free — we thought we’d make an exception. As we walked in, an employee m
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Raves: Cool new media for March
Ages 2–4 Roly Poly Pangolin by Anna Dewdny. A pangolin, in case you didn’t know, is a scaly anteater — endangered! — that spends most of the day rolled up in a ball. Some little kids can relate, and they’ll especially love this charming story about a critter that&rsq
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Raves: February, 2010
Chow, baby Indestructibles by Kaaren Pixton. Leave it to a Northwest mom to come up with a great new concept in “first” picture books! Made from a flexible, high-density fiber, Indestructibles are washable, lushly illustrated, richly textured and — you guessed it! — virtually indestructible. Babi
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Raves: New books and gear for the new year
Bear hug On the Night You Were Born by Nancy Tillman. As lovely and gentle as a lullaby, this sweet bedtime story by a Portland mom is now available as a board book. “On the night you were born . . . the night wind whispered, ‘Life will never be the same,’ because there had never
Read More »Going hybrid: Best bangs for the family buck
It’s a rarity to roam the highways and byways of Western Washington these days without noticing them: hybrids, the environmentally friendly, easier-on-the-gas automobiles that have lately become far more ubiquitous in carmakers’ inventories — and in family garages. As manufacturers line up to intro
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