It's Sidewalk Sale Time on Larchmont!

Come one, come all!  It's that time of the year when we drag out the tables, but some great merchandise on it, and sell it for 60% off of the original price.  What could be better?  This year we have tons of rain gear ready to leave the shop and go home with you (it's always nice to be prepared for those rainy days that unexpectedly show up), plus some doggy toys, baby toys, and other assorted odds and ends.  We're ready to make room for new goodies, including Halloween treats and tricks!  And speaking of treats, we may have been given a sneak preview of next year's line of _______.  We can't tell you just yet what we're referring to, but we will say that it's one of our best-selling lines and we're SUPER excited about them.  We may even be getting some of them in the shop this fall, so stay tuned for that :)

You can read "I Can Read!" books!

I mean, we never were in doubt that you could, but with our complete restock of these great stories, now you can go literarily crazy!  This series of books from HarperCollins is known as the series to go

to for young readers;  all of their books are sectioned off by reading levels to make it easy for parents to know which book is best for their budding bookworm.

Our only complaint about these books is that there are just too many to pick from!  They're all great in their own ways, and trying to get the right mix of classic books and newer stories is tougher than you think.  We hope you'll enjoy what we selected, and to give you an idea what you could be reading right now, here's some titles that we'd like to highlight for you (without giving away the whole story, of course).

Pete the Cat: Pete at the Beach

Pete the Cat is a rather new series of books out there whose aim to teach kids that no matter what, "It's all good" at the end of the day.  Which is a lesson that all of us needs to be reminded of from time to time!  Take the relaxed and optimistic approach to life's little setbacks, and learn to overcome them to enjoy it all.  It's all about getting back on your surfboard and riding the waves, as Pete finds out.  If you're really anti-beach, there are many other Pete the Cat titles to check out as well.

Biscuit Finds a Friend

Who doesn't want to be friends with Biscuit?  He's well-mannered, wears his collar with class, and unlike nearly every other dog in every other dog book out there, doesn't meet an untimely end.  The Biscuit books are fantastic for toddlers and pre-schoolers because so much of the writing is done in Biscuit's own voice.  And Biscuit is a dog, so there's a whole lot of 'woofs' in this story.  And wait til you hear what his new friend says.  It'll 'quack' you up!!!

My Little Pony: A Secret Gift

No, they can't knit, even though it would be an interesting gift to have and something a bit unprecedented in the equine world.  This book is all about the pony friends coming together to do something nice for their friend's birthday to let her know how much they value her.  It isn't about the amount of money you spend; it's about the time spent caring for someone and sharing your memories together for the rest of your lives.  Awwwwwww!

Stuart Little: Stuart at the Library

Lots of little going on in the Beginning Level #1 section.  But little do you know how much drama is in this story!  Stuart loves to read, but is scared of owls.  Owls hang out in libraries.  Once Stuart moves past this dilemma, another arises when he finds out that THE OWL CAN'T READ.  What will happen now that the owl's secret is out?  Will Stuart help him learn to read, or be turned into owl pellets?  You'll have to read this one to find out, but in case you're losing sleep over this, I will say that there have been more Stuart Little books out since this one so that should give you a pretty good idea as to the ending.

No Fighting, No Biting!

Now here's a truly timeless tale.  As you can probably deduce from the title, proper manners and behavior are what are taught in this book.  When siblings act up, what's an aunt to do but tell them stories of sibling alligators who also bicker and bite and how that's not the way to go about things.  Written by the author of the Little Bear series, and illustrated by Maurice Sendak, if you have more than one child, this book is an investment worth investing in.  Storytelling at its most powerful/finest!

Calling Doctor Amelia Bedelia

Oh Amelia Bedelia, you really do take things literally!  In a world where that word is used far too often and usually incorrectly, this book is a must read.  It's also great for readers whose first language isn't English to teach them common phrases that don't always translate to what you think they might mean.  And really, giving Miss Bedelia a job in a hospital was never going to be anything but funny (nothing tragic happens, promise!).

The Drinking Gourd

There's a noticeable different from Level 2 to Level 3 books, not only in actual grammar and vocabulary, but also in story.  The themes are much more serious and thought provoking.  The Drinking Gourd is a classic story of slavery and the fight to abolish it.  It forces the reader to question what society says is right vs. what they believe to be right.  The young boy at the center of this story follows his heart and puts his own life at risk to give an enslaved family the right to human rights and recognizes that the law stating that they aren't people but property is wrong.  Don't be afraid of the heavier theme.  It's a difficult yet necessary story to tell, and this book does it beautifully and in a way that encourages the reader to consider their own views on the world and humanity.

The Josefina Story Quilt

What happens when you're forced to decide?  That's the big question that begins this story of a pioneering family traveling west.  Every decision plays a huge role in their fate, and ultimately their valuing of friendship (yes, with a chicken) and caring for others keeps them safe and sound.  And in the end, it's the stories they are a part of and the memories they choose to cherish that become a part of their figurative and actual quilt.  Warning: the loss of a pet is dealt with in this story, but it's about appreciating them when they were alive that makes up the heart of this story.

Sooooo, why are you still reading this?  Go read a proper book :)

A little-known line with a lot of heart: Baby Baazaar

We carry a lot of lines that pull their products from smaller companies to create a one-stop shop experience for retailers (such as Toysmith, who carried B.Toys., Pustefix, etc.), but how about a smaller company that compiles products from individual artisans and village groups?  That would be Baby Baazar, a company founded by Supriya Himatsingka, a New Yorker originally from India who would source out toys from small groups back home to bring to children in the U.S.  As a result of this, she decided to start up a company that would seek out hard-to-find eco-conscious, unique, and worldly children's products from small companies and entrepreneurs.  Quality, design and a low carbon footprint are the main focus, as are providing jobs and livelihoods for the  local artisans and encouraging the growth and continuation of their traditional methods.

One method of toy-making that Baby Baazaar champions is lacware, a traditional handicraft over 200 years old of wooden articles turned on the lathe and finished with lac.  The Bibbo toy is a great example of this method.  Made of Hale wood that is not treated chemically and is seasoned and used directly to make the toys, it also employs Lac, a natural resin, that is used for the finish by blending natural dyes and has been used in India for thousands of years. The non-profit company that produces these toys is a member of the World Fair Trade Organization. 

All of these points are why we love this company and their mission.  As as small business ourselves, we understand the difficulty in getting noticed and creating a positive force within our community.  We're always thankful for those times when someone stands up and says, "Hey, check these guys out, they're special!", and we absolutely appreciate that someone had the courage to give these artisans a voice outside of their local circle so that we can all benefit!  Each piece of Baby Baazaar's lines are special and one-of-a-kind, so if you're looking for something that no one else will have, swing by our Manhattan Beach shop and give this line some support :)  Most of the information obtained for this little blog post is directly from Baby Baazaar's website, http://www.babybaazaar.com/pages/about-us, so check that out as well!

Kick off the fall right with Kikkerland, Fred, and DCI!

 

We have gadgets galore in our shops right now!  As many of you are resuming school, or simply coming back from vacation and thinking, "Why am I here?", we have some neat new desk toys to entertain you during the readjustment back to working hours.  Or to help your overcome your  existential crisis if you're really questioning things.

The great thing about Kikkerland, Fred, and DCI (also known as Decor Craft) is that they make fun things that are also functional.  Mini speakers to hook up to your iPod/ iPhone, no-battery robot flashlights, LED bike lights, a portable mini computer mouse, and our owner's favorite, the Magic Soap are all useful additions to your routine (and if your kids/ significant other argues that they can't do the dishes or chop up veggies because their hands will smell of garlic or onion afterwards, the Magic Soap is your answer back to them).  Somewhat less useful in a practical sense but delightful to your senses are the Music Boxes from Kikkerland, available not only in a selection of classic tunes but also in a DIY Music Box kit that allows you to create your own songs.

But back to food things.  Fred and Kikkerland both do some pretty spectacular kitchen items.  If we could carry all of their food items, we would, but some just don't make sense for us to have, so we stick to the more whimsical, like the Manatea loose-leaf tea infuser.  We've been hearing sniffles already, so this little guy is great to have on hand when you want a great cup of tea to help chase away colds and allergies.  Or if you just happen to love tea in general.  Or manatees in general.  And of course, how could we not have Undead Fred Zombie Cookie Cutters?  Zombies are still quite popular, though one wonders if they would be received with the same amount of enthusiasm should they actually appear in real life, and we imagine that some pretty interesting cookies will be made with these.  Bonus points if you can make a jam-filled one.  The Tea Cup Cake silicone cupcake mould is another fun way to serve up a treat (perfect for a tea party, that's for sure), and if you're in the mood for hanging up some decorations for your little party, we have the Catwalk Cat Paperclips to use.  Also fun for photos, the Fuzzy Face Frame, which allows you to turn your loved ones into versions of Wooly Willy.  Bonus points if you use this with your wedding photos.  And then just for fun, we also have the yellow and black 'Do Not Cross' scarf, and the quirky cute Ear Buds from DCI to keep your music flowing in style.

So check out these, and much more, soon, because we've already heard people planning out their Christmas and Chanukah gifts, so if you see if now, snatch it up!

Check us out in print (or digitally) in L.A. Parent!

A few weeks ago we met a super sweet mom in our shop in with her young daughter who was happily playing away with the trains on the train table.  Which isn't a surprise... this happens quite ofter as a matter of fact!  But we were surprised to find out that she's from L.A. Parent, a publication that has both an online and print version of their magazine available for parents to reference for tips and interesting tidbits about being a parent in Los Angeles.  And that's the story of how the lovely Erin Mahoney Harris came to Larchmont and chose to feature us in her article about great family-friendly spots in Larchmont Village.  So check out our mention, and don't forget to read the rest of the article to find out more about our awesome neighbors and why you should be visiting all of us next time you're in this part of town: http://www.laparent.com/article/step-back-from-the-bustle-in-larchmont-village.html

We're mentioned in Red Tricycle!

We love Red Tricycle, and not just because they featured us in their article, A Beach Town Filled With Family Fun, but because they are a genuinely great resource for Los Angeles parents to help them find out what they can do with their kids in the city.  They're fantastic at mentioning lesser-known attractions and activities around town, so if you haven't checked them out yet, well, here's one article that we're naturally going to recommend reading first ;)


http://redtri.com/los-angeles/manhattan-beach/