Kid's Home Library: From Sing-a-ma-jigs to Back to the Future and Pinkalicious, These Family Gifts Rock

Fun

Kid's Home Library
From Sing-a-ma-jigs to Back to the Future and Pinkalicious, These Family Gifts Rock
Lee Littlewood More

10-11-15

Holiday shoppers are starting earlier and earlier every year. These new books and activity kits (plus a DVD set and wacky singing toys) make smart and fun gifts for kids.

"Blinky-Bugs" by Ken Murphy; illustrated by Alexander Tarrant; Chronicle Books; $19.99.

Blinkybugs are fuzzy, brightly colored, illuminated pets that kids can build while learning about electricity and circuits. The instructional book is set up in cartoon-like pictures to appeal to young readers, while the supply kit comes with plenty of pipe cleaners (for legs), colorful pompoms, feathers, wire and more. Best of all, lithium batteries are included, so there's no need for a last-minute trip to the corner store.

Though the finished lit-up blinkybugs are a blast, the book also includes alternative ways to embellish the friends, plus more science projects with the creatures. A fantastic mesh of science learning and hip electronic fun, "Blinky-Bugs" makes an inventive gift set that's perfect for kids ages 8 and up.

"Make Your Own Music Video" by Kaitlyn Nichols; Klutz; 50 pages; $16.99.

Rockers will love this cool new Klutz kit, which includes a spiral-bound, photo-packed book, a green screen for special effects, downloadable backgrounds and free editing software for concocting home music videos. Plenty of background info on different music types — rock, pop, country and hip-hop — is here, with other entries spelling out all the elements of a music video: how to get into "rock star" character and how to edit video directions.

Klutz's funny, clear photographs show the before and after of the rocker look, presenting creative ideas for themed video backgrounds. A lively and cool gift for any young film or music director, Nichols' all-inclusive kit rocks!

Other fun and new Klutz kits include "Doodle Wire" ($14.99), a hands-on kit that lets kids loop, curl, coil and swirl colorful, soft steel wire into 16 different creations. Best of all, the wire lasts through repeated manipulations, making this is a long-lasting kit perfect for travel or rainy days.

"The Truth about My Name" (Klutz; $16.99) includes a spiral-bound book where girls can learn all about what their names say about them. Entries include: "What's Your Candy Name?" "Is Your Name Really You?" and "What's Your Vampire Name?" The kit also offers five fun name-related charms.

"Charm Chains" (Klutz; $19.99) is a jewelry-making gift for girls 10 and up. It helps them create simple wire creations and includes beads.

"Pinkalicious: The Perfectly Pink Collection" from HarperCollins; $15.99.

Victoria Kann's popular "Pinkalicious" book series has now expanded into toys and gifts. This boxed kit includes three paperback books ("School Rules," "Tickled Pink" and "Pinkalicious and the Pink Drink"), dozens of stickers, a color-it-yourself poster and double-sided crayons — making it a must-have gift for young fans. Affordably priced for all it offers, "The Perfectly Pink Collection" is a surefire pleaser for 5- to 8-year-old "Pinkalicious" fans.

"Back to the Future 25th Anniversary Trilogy" from Universal Studios Home Entertainment; approx. $45.

For the first time ever, the past, present and future collide in high definition with all three DVDs in the "Back to the Future" movie series. With an all-new six-part documentary featuring never-before-seen interviews, and over two hours of new bonus features, the trilogy is available in Blu-ray and DVD sets. A truly adventurous gift for anyone, the 25th anniversary movie set will thrill any family.

"The Sing-a-ma-jigs!" from Fisher-Price; $12.99 each.

At first glance, these only look like colorful, wacky plush creatures. But upon squeezing their bellies, they chatter, sing notes and even harmonize with other sing-a-ma-jigs. Hilarious looking — with cute little teeth and scrunchy-made mouths — the colorful toys are best when singing songs together, like "Oh! Susanna" and "On Top of Old Smokey." Funnier the more you have (all five are different from each other), "Sing-a-ma-jigs" are perfect gifts for kids ages 3 and up.

To find out more about Lee Littlewood and read features by other Creators Syndicate writers and cartoonists, visit the Creators Syndicate website at www.creators.com.

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