Great Books ...

I love books and so does My Sunshine. I love to give out books as gifts because I believe that they are very important for the young and the old alike. Two books that I came across that I am loving are both by a woman who I believe is just purely and simply awesome. She is a dancer, singer, actor producer and a true diva extraordinaire. Debbie Allen is also an alumnus of my school, Howard University, so that makes her extra special! :0)

For those who love picture books for the artwork, Kadir Nelson is the illustrator for both of these books. His artwork is phenomenal, so that is a plus for me. I truly belive that these two books would be a wonderful addition to your little one's library:

Dancing in the Wings - Sassy is a long-legged girl who always has something to say. She wants to be a ballerina more than anything, but she worries that her too-large feet, too-long legs, and even her big mouth will keep her from her dream. When a famous director comes to visit her class, Sassy does her best to get his attention with her high jumps and bright leotard. Her first attempts are definitely not appreciated, but with Sassy's persistence, she just might be able to win him over.

Brothers of the Kinght - Reverend Knight can't understand why his twelve sons' sneakers are torn to threads each and every morning, and the boys aren't talking. They know their father would surely put an end to their all-night dance parties. Maybe Sunday, a pretty new nanny with a knack for cleaning, cooking, and getting to the bottom of household mysteries, can crack the case. This cool, clever modern fable bursts with vibrant artwork and text as energetic as the twelve toe-tapping Knight brothers themselves. "Nelson's exuberant figures fill his stage-like scenes. This is a high-flying alternative to the tale's usual dainty renditions." ( Kirkus Reviews )

Images and summaries are from the Bag O' Books Co. website. To order these books click here!

Holiday Hair Candy...

Every little girl loves candy! Treat your mini diva to some holiday hair treats from The Mocha Mommy's favorite mompreneuers. Check these out:

This "Feliz Navidad" clip set from Tip Top Lollipop comes with one embroidered button clip and one bow clip. It's perfect for tiny heads and can also be made as a barrette for bigger girls. This seller lets you chose the font type, as well as the clip type. Visit Tip Top Lollipop's etsy shop here!

Lemons and Lollis is have having a storewide clearance sale on all of their handmade hair candy. I'm loving this "Miss Glitzy" piece (top,) and how cute is "Miss Pinky?" Check out the Lemons and Lollis etsy store here.

Mama Bird thinks this bright red beanie with the peony from My Sweet Pea and Company is haute! Loves the genuine Swarovski crystal in the center of the peony. Check out mysweetpeaandcompany.com for goodies galore!

Toys We Love...

My litte Sunshine just turned for and I am in LOVE with one of the gifts that she received. It's the Barbie for President 2008 doll! Not only am I loving the fact that the person who bought it made sure she was black, I love the fact that she has her "White House" outfit, which is very fly. She also has a gala ballgown which is very cute, as well. What's great about this Barbie collector's item is that it also comes with an informational sheet from The White House Project, which gives a list of suggestions on ways to involve girls in the election process, and how to reinforce the importance of our girls making their voices heard and understanding that they can be anything the want to be. For the little girls in your life the Barbie for President doll is a sure bet. Click here to order.

For the little man in your life I am loving the Barak Obama action figure doll! While I don't understand why they had to make his head so darned big, I am loving the fact that there is even a doll of him at all. I came across this picture while I was looking for a pic of the Barbie doll. I'm not sure if it comes with anything, but I still think it's cool nonetheless. I think there are some big kids out there that might even like this. Click here to order.

"A Santa Like Me"

Do you want your little one to get a letter from a Santa that actually looks like them? I mean, I don't know about ya'll, but we only do mocha dolls in my house. That means mocha Barbie's, mocha Baby Alive's (Sunshine named hers Dinah?) and all other "people dolls" must come in a shade that matches my child's! Well if you're anal like me about the color thing, then you should definitely visit the website http://www.dollslikeme.com/ where they have all kinds of wonderfully lovely things for children of color. One of their items of special note is their letter from Santa which you can order with a black, asian or latino Santa!

It comes postmarked from the North Pole. You can add the names of two of your child's best friends, their good deeds, an item from their wish list and it is "hand signed" by Santa. Now, the hubby and I have not come to a consensus on the whole Santa thing - do we really want to pretend that some fat guy in a red suit is paying for the gifts we (a.k.a. the hubby) worked so hard to pay for? She's just now getting to the age where she understands all the hoopla surrounding the different holidays and I'm not sure how we're going to handle it. But for those who are okay with it, the letters are only $5.99, but you must order by December 10, 2008. Click here to order.

Fabulous Book Find...

My daughter loves books. I started reading to her when she was in the womb and she popped out with a bookmark in hand -- okay, maybe not so much. But she really loves books. Her one-year-old brother, on the other hand, loves to destroy them. Now, I love to shop and buy my kids lovely, wonderful things, but times are hard and we have been in buckle-down-mode when it comes to our finances. I am certain many of you can relate - don't act brand new! Well, I don't know about you, but I can't afford to keep buying books for my little Sunshine when the-book-destroyer continues to tear them apart. So one day, after watching one of Oprah's 'saving money' shows, I decided that my family needed start going to the library instead of buying books and magazines. How excited was Sunshine when we ventured to Uptown/Downtown Charlotte and entered ImaginOn, a center that houses the Children's Public Library and The Children's Theater of Charlotte. She was so excited when she was handed her very own, very special library card! That place is awesome. "Loves it!"

Anyhoo, I digress, from the original intention of this post. Upon our first visit to ImaginOn I found the book, Grace for President, which was written by Kelly DiPucchio and Illustrated by one of my favorites, LeUyen Pham.



After taking this book home it quickly became one of Sunshine's favorites, and we usually get anywhere from 20-30 books when we go to the library. Grace for President, tells the story of Grace who sets out to become president of her 2nd grade class after learning that there has never been a woman in the U.S. Presidency. Through Grace's journey we learn about the electoral system and how it works. Now, don't get me wrong, my three year old still has no clue what a delegate is, but after reading this book she understands that there is hope that someone of her gender and her color can become president. And since this book was neither written nor illustrated by an african-american, I truly appreciate the fact that Grace is black. I'm telling you, I love this book! FYI, please don't confuse me with someone who writes reviews for money, because I am not the one. I really just love to share great things with great people. With the most historic presidential election looming around the corner, don't miss out on an excellent opportunity to involve your children in the process. You can find out more about this book by clicking on the picture. For those of you on a budget, like me, support your local library! Oh yeah, register to vote before it's too late!