All aboard the Dinosaur Train

by Jen Rabulan-Bertram

The Dinosaur Train, a new tv series for preschoolers from the Jim Henson Company, is set to debut on September 7 on PBS Kids, just in time for the new school year. The CGI-animated series, aimed at 3-6 year olds, will combine two preschoolers’ favorites—trains and dinosaurs—while encouraging interest in science, specifically natural history and paleontology.

dtrainThe Dinosaur Train’s premise follows Buddy, who is adopted by Mr. and Mrs. Pteranodon, and brought to their nest to hatch at the same time as his new siblings, Tiny, Shiny and Don. The show will follow the family’s adventures as they travel around in the Dinosaur Train checking out the prehistoric world and learning about other dinosaurs along the way.

This isn’t the Jim Henson Company’s first foray with CGI animation.  In fact,buddy perhaps one of their most notable new shows, the parent and kid favorite, Sid the Science Kid, is a CGI-animated show that focuses on science, and was recently nominated for 2009 Daytime Emmy for Outstanding Children’s Animated Program.
If the popularity of the Emmy-nominated Sid the Science Kid is any indication, I have a feeling that The Dinosaur Train will be a another big hit and a great natural history-focused addition in the educational media sector.

The full website is expected to launch in August, but in the meantime, be sure to meet Buddy and the gang on The Dinosaur Train’s preliminary website.

Photo credit: PBS

Children’s Book Week

by Jen Rabulan-Bertram

cbw-4c-2009Children’s Book Week is well underway this week, which got me thinking about all of our current favorite books, as well as my own classic favorites.  The Elmo books, the Sandra Boynton books and the Barefoot books, they’re all great.  But as a book lover, who’s now a mom, I hope my love for books rubs off.  I try to foster good reading habits with frequent visits to the library, reading as often as I can and reading WITH him daily.  I love being surrounded by newspapers, magazines and books–lots of books.  Judging by the way the kid scales the couch to get to our bookcase to “read” my books, I think we’re on to something.

One of my all time favorite children’s books is, hands down, Where the Wild Things Are by Maurice Sendak. I love that book and can’t WAIT to relive the story with the kid.   Max’s adventures illuminated my imagination as a kid, and it’s sure to illuminate many more kids’ lives with the movie version’s October release.  I love how the book is described as, one of those truly rare books that can be enjoyed equally by a child and a grown-up.  As exciting as it is that Where the Wild Things was made into a movie, (by one of my favorite directors no less –Spike Jonze who’s done everything from Beastie Boys videos to award winning movies like Being John Malkovich) the book version will always be my favorite.

But, check out the trailer!  It looks pretty good!


So, favorite children’s books?  I want to hear ’em.  What excites you? What are yours and what are the kids’ favorites?

Yummi Bears Organics

by Jen Rabulan-Bertram

As kids, my brothers and I took the good ol’ Flintstone Vitamins, which, if I remember correctly, were one of the only options for vitamins for kids way back when. Since then, the kid market has flourished with so many innovative products, including those of Hero Nutritionals, the creators of the first gummy vitamins.

yummivitamins1Hero Nutritionals has recently added Yummi Bears Organics to their Yummi Bears Gummy Vitamins product line. The organic option is GMO-Free, as well as allergen, gluten and casein free.  The Yummi Bears Organics are manufactured with natural flavors and colors, too.  The organic product line is gelatin free and vegetarian approved, so parents, rest assured, there are no harmful pesticides, no insecticides, no growth hormones and no antibiotics added to the gummy vitamins.

The organic product line touts five different varieties, including the Multi-Vitamin & Mineral; Immunity Shield; Brain Boost; Super Vision and Bone Builder. The vitamins are best recommended for kids over 2 years old. Hero Nutritionals, including the Yummi Bears Vitamins and the new organic products can be found at health food stores and great stores like Whole Foods.

Moms and dads, the gummy vitamins are so popular, they even offer Slice of Life Gummy Vitamins for Adults.

Don’t forget to check out the $1 off coupon they have, too.

Wellness Wednesday

by Jen Rabulan-Bertram

I’ve been so inundated lately with press releases and content ideas (which is awesome!), so in an effort to organize future NKT content and have some semblance of a comprehensive calendar of topics to cover, I will slowly but surely introduce daily topics.  Today, and hopefully more Wednesdays to follow, will be Wellness Wednesday which will include products and suggestions on promoting wellness for kids.

The “wellness” umbrella is quite large, so even though it’s still a broad topic, it should give us a chance to cover new and innovative products a little more effectively.  I’m so excited to announce another great giveaway and review, so stay tuned this afternoon!

Y Water? Why, of course!

by Jen Rabulan-Bertram

What do you get when you combine a nutritious drink that can be multi-purposed as a toy? Well, besides my kid’s sippy cup.

I’m talking about Y Water.
ywater1

On first impression, I was so intrigued by the eye-catching packaging. It’s almost like abstract art that contains a kiddie drink. In a similar vein of the wildly popular Vitamin Water, Y Water drinks, which are aimed at kids, are organic, low calorie beverages with vitamins and minerals. Y Water which hit the shelves in 2008 comes from Venice Beach, Ca. Y Water can be bought at various Whole Foods and health food stores on the West Coast, and seems to be making its way here on the East Coast.

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Google Doodle: What I Wish for the World

by Jen Rabulan-Bertram

The fun folks at Google have done it again. This time, they’re tugging at my heart strings with their latest Google Doodle competition. This year’s theme, What I Wish for the World, encouraged students in K-12 to mesh their doodled ideas with Google’s logo. As a company that dreams big and thinks big, it’s no surprise that the finalists’ entries are nothing short of amazing—as is the national winner’s prize!

The National Winner will win a $15,000 college scholarship to be used at the school of their choice, a trip to the Google New York Office, a laptop computer, and a t-shirt printed with their doodle. Google will also award the winner’s school a $25,000 technology grant towards the establishment/improvement of a computer lab.

It’s so hard to choose, but I think this is my favorite:

lowery_k_tn

The artist is 5 year old Miriam Elizabeth Lowery from Austin Peay Elementary in TN. She says her wish for the world is that everyone would get along and treat one another in a nice and loving way. We could all be friends!

I second that, Miriam!

You can check out all Google Doodle finalists and vote for your favorite until the end of the week.

Little Allergies Allergen Block

by Jen Rabulan-Bertram

If you’re my pal on Facebook or Twitter, you may have already heard how we spent the entire day and night last Friday. We fulfilled my personal nightmare by spending the day at the pediatrician and later the ER due to a case of hives that spread all over the kid’s body as a result of unexplained allergies. What looked like the Chicken Pox or something similar, our poor kid was miserable and itched every single inch of his body. The doctors suggested that the kid most likely has outdoor allergies, which will need to undergo testing. Now we know!

laproductHad I not been so distracted by said allergies and subsequent visits to the pediatrician and ER, I would have had a chance to sort through the generous swag bag that I received from last week’s Mom’s Nite Out. In it, I received a box of Little Allergies Allergen Block. Little Allergies Allergen Block is a gentle, water-based gel which is applied topically. It’s drug-free, making it safe to use with other medications since there are no side effects.

Ironic or impeccable timing, I’m not sure, but I definitely can’t wait to check it out.

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Michelle Obama visits Sesame Street

by Jen Rabulan-Bertram

Michelle Obama Sesame StreetIn between meeting with diplomats and helping to promote the President’s new foreign policies, the First Lady took some time out last week to visit Elmo and the gang at Sesame Street. Michelle Obama visited Sesame Street to tape a Public Service Announcement with Elmo as part of Sesame Workshop’s Healthy Habits For Life initiative. Mrs. Obama and Elmo discussed eating right, exercising regularly and being a healthy and positive role model for children.

“If you want your child to have healthy habits, practice healthy habits, because you’re your child’s role model,” The First Lady suggests in the PSA.

I thought the news about planting an organic garden at the White House was pretty cool, but Mrs. Obama’s visit to Sesame Street is just as much a highlight for her, as it is for her fans!

(photo credit: Richard Termine)

Hasbro will be one to watch

by Jen Rabulan-Bertram

…quite literally, perhaps.

logo_1

discovery_logo_1It was reported last week that Hasbro and Discovery Communications are partnering up to launch a new tv network and website, built around toys that many of us—and now, our kids—have grown to love. New programming will be based on shows, toys and games such as Romper Room, Trivial Pursuit, Cranium, My little Pony, G.I. Joe, Transformers, among others.
Discovery Kids Channel, which currently touts shows such as Bindi the Jungle Girl and Hip Hop Harry will be replaced by the yet-to-be-named channel that is set to debut in 2010.

Moms and dads, what are your thoughts on this new format?