Automoblox® cars are a reinvention of the classic wooden toy car – a fusion of heirloom craftsmanship and ultra-modern styling, transformed into a mix-and-match design system that allows kids to create their own unique car styles. There are six cars in the core line: the red C9 (coupe), blue S9 (sedan), green T9 (truck), orange A9 (compact), purple X9 (SUV), and aqua blue M9 (minivan). The cars are predominantly made of Beechwood, with ABS plastic, Lexan polycarbonate plastic and Santopreme rubber.

Since its successful launch, Automoblox® has received a number of toy and design awards, including the prestigious Oppenheim Toy Portfolio Platinum Award (their highest level) and the Parents Choice Silver Honor Award, to name a few. You can see the cars in detail and check out all our awards on our website at: www.automoblox.com

Automoblox Company, LLC is proud to introduce two new lines this fall: the Automoblox® Minis and the R-line. We also have an addition to the core line, the X9X. All cars are targeted toward ages 3-7.

PURCHASING INFORMATION

Online store can be found here.

USA readers can locate a retailer in their area by clicking here.

UK readers please click here.

Success Through Play comments:

We would like to thank the Automoblox® Company, LLC for sending us a box of automoblox® car samples for this review. Upon evaluation of the automoblox ® cars, we were impressed with the innovative design, solid construction and attention to detail and it’s no surprise to us why they have won so many awards!.

The developmental value of the automoblox® cars are limitless. The beauty of the automoblox® cars lies in their ability to be mixed and matched with other models and with the addition of the extension kit, the number of potential designs and combinations are endless.

Many toys on the market are passive toys; high tech battery operated plastic toys which require very little participation on the part of your child. We commend the Automoblox® Company for developing toys which promote active participation: fine-motor dexterity and imaginative play. Your child will have a wonderful opportunity to refine his pincer skills while manipulating the figurines in the car, develop good hand strength and proprioceptive input into his/her joints while pulling apart the components and reassembling them, refine their bilateral hand coordination, develop motor planning skills, visual-motor development and higher level functions: logic, problem solving, reasoning, judgment, concentration all while having so much fun.

Our child test panel consisting of both girls and boys aged 4 through age 10, were eager to test out the automoblox® cars. The children’s faces lit up when they saw the various models. Soon their eager hands were pulling apart the car components and their imaginations took off; creating original and creative designs.

The parents were equally impressed and many knelt down and started playing with the cars as well. They commented how refreshing it was to see their children play with non battery operated toys. They all acknowledged how the automoblox® cars held their children’s interest and attention and allowed them an opportunity to “expand their minds”.

The girls in our test panel were excited to be playing with the cars and their parents commented that this was the first time that their daughters had shown any interest at all in playing with cars!!

Automoblox® cars will make fantastic Holiday Gifts this season. Gift Certificates are also available. Print out automoblox designs here to create a coloring book for your child!

To learn more, please visit:

www.automoblox.com

We would like to personally thank Tina Noelle Mezzina for her assistance with this review. We hope to review the NEW Mini Line next year. Stay tuned.

Founded in London in July 2006 the aim here at Bamboo Baby is to provide you with eco-friendly and sustainable products, that are good for the environment but also good for you and your children. We have chosen products for you that we hope will help you feel gorgeous, that are also practical and products that are cute and kind for baby!

We offer Re-usable Nappies/Diapers which have the following features:

*60% more absorbent than cotton
*Dry 20% faster
*No chemicals on your baby’s skin
*Antibacterial fabric
*Naturally Organic
*Biodegradable
*Sustainable

Our Collection:

Organic, sustainable and super eco-friendly, Bamboo fabric is gorgeously soft. Choose from cute baby wear made of bamboo, soy and organic cotton. We have 100% bamboo blankets – these blankets are sooo cuddly! For Big Tummy Mummies there’s glamorous bamboo and organic cotton maternity wear. All the fabrics we use (bamboo, hemp, soy and organic cotton) are sustainable, biodegradable and where possible organic. All the fabrics are gorgeously soft and wearable with the added bonus of being super earth friendly!

The cosmetics we sell do not contain any harsh chemicals such as SLS, parabens or mineral oil. Our products are biodegradable and organic. Our baby ranges are mild and effective on baby’s delicate skin and kind to the environment.

Bamboo Fabric:

Our Bamboo Fabric is grown in China, where our factory built a bamboo plantation to enable strict control to be kept over the growing of the plant. It is managed in accordance to the international organic standard of OCIA/NOP and the bamboo is of 100% natural growth without the use of any pesticides or chemicals. Our fibre and mill are all Oeko-Tex Certified. This guarantees no harmful chemicals have been used in the processing. Our dyes are azo-free which are non-toxic and eco-friendly. Our fabric has been tested by SGS – the result shows the fabric is without any harmful chemicals and also skin-friendly, much better than normal dyed cotton fabrics. Finished bamboo fabric is hypoallergenic.

Formaldehyde, a known carcinogen is one of the worst chemicals used in fabric production and we can guarantee we NEVER use this noxious chemical.

The factory manufactures bamboo fiber strictly according to ISO9000 and ISO14000. Our factory also has voluntary community initiatives, pays almost twice the going rate and offers private healthcare to all workers and families. This combination is highly unusual. The workforce is stable and loyal, with very low staff turnover.

Now a reminder of why we love bamboo so much!

Bamboo is the fastest growing plant on earth. It grows everywhere! It can grow at sea level, all the way up to 12,000 feet. It grows on every continent; the only place you won’t find it is the North and South poles. One of bamboo’s sadder places in history was as the first plant to re-grow after the atomic blast in Hiroshima, but this shows the plant’s sustainability and resilience. It likes both wet and dry conditions – it can handle from 30-250 inches of annual rainfall. It is rain-fed only.

Compare this to cotton which is a thirsty plant consuming vast amounts of water, a scarce and valuable resource in many parts of the world. Cotton crops in Australia simply fail, after using up all the water around. Too much heavy rainfall can also affect cotton crops. This applies to conventional and organically grown cotton. Bamboo stalks mature in just 3-5 years, and as it is a species of grass, like your lawn, the plant does not die when it is cut down. Most trees take 25-70 years to mature and so are hard to replenish at the same rate as which we are cutting them down. Not so with bamboo! Bamboo is also a great CO2 absorber, and releases 35% more oxygen than the same size stand of trees.

Bamboo is naturally less vulnerable to insects and other pests and grows so fast that fertilizer and pesticides become obsolete. Conventional cotton uses 25% of the world’s insecticides as cotton is attacked by so many insects. Even organic cotton is susceptible to insects – particularly the boll worm and boll weevil. It has to be carefully grown to be protected without the use of chemicals. On top of all the insecticide, cotton is also sprayed with 10% of the world’s pesticides too. And then fertilizer too! Many of the chemicals used are known carcinogens. Cotton farming contributes to thousands of deaths every year for the people who work with it.

Bamboo grows an amazing root system, helping to prevent soil erosion. It can be grown on damaged soil overgrazed by livestock. It produces a crop every single year and once harvested, the roots are left intact to sprout new shoots again and again, keeping the top soil intact and the land happy. Bamboo is also a great building material. It’s almost as strong as soft steel and is stronger than oak. In Costa Rica, 1000 houses are built annually from 60 hectares of bamboo plantation. For most wood we would take 500 hectares to build the same number of houses. Following an earthquake in 1992 in Limon, Costa Rica, virtually all the houses were destroyed except for the bamboo ones! Bamboo is the most durable hardwood and is great for all kinds of flooring and furniture. Bamboo provides nutrition for millions worldwide. It can be used to make paper.

It also has healing properties. No other plant (except maybe hemp!) can rival the utility of bamboo. Cotton has only a few uses and most cotton is used for clothing and apparel. Compared to cotton we hope you will agree that bamboo fabric is well worth considering as a clothing option!

What properties do these fabrics contain which are superior to cotton or other common fabrics used for clothes?

All three fabrics contain amazing properties including being antibacterial, thermo regulating, eco-friendly and sustainable, as they are all renewable natural resources. As well as these great factors the fabrics are also super soft against your skin, creating gorgeous and desirable garments to own. The lack of chemicals used in production means they are suitable for the most sensitive skins.

Is the Bamboo used in your clothes, the same bamboo that panda’s eat?

No – the bamboo species used to make clothes is called Phyllostachys Pubescens or easier to remember Moso bamboo. This is grown in a different region of China to where the Giant Panda lives and grows too high for the panda’s to reach.

Product Feature:

Success Through Play™ will be highlighting the Bamboo Bump (Maternity Apparel) from Bamboo Baby today.

The Bamboo Bump!

Gorgeous gift box containing 6 essential maternity items:

1. Dress
2. Trousers
3. Skirt
4. Belly Band
5. T-shirt
6. Vest top.

Whilst getting a basic maternity wardrobe that you can mix and match with other items. The fabric is 95% bamboo, 5% elastane and is sooo soft and comfortable you will want to wear these clothes after the baby is born too! A great gift for a newly pregnant woman. Available in white, black, blue or berry red.

For additional Maternity Apparel, please click here.

PURCHASING DETAILS:

*www.bamboo-baby.co.uk

*Click here to find a retailer in your country.

If you are unable to find a retailer in your country, please email bamboo-baby@hotmail.co.uk for assistance.

Success Through Play™ comments:

We are proud to introduce our readers to an ethical company with such integrity. Bamboo Baby offers an extensive line of beautiful, designer bamboo apparel. To view their catalog, please click here. We decided to highlight the Bamboo Bump Maternity Collection today, because pregnant mums-to-be from every corner of the world have told us how comfy bamboo fabric is against their skin! Bamboo has many wonderful qualities, of particular note for pregnant women is bamboo’s ability to keep the skin cool; perfect for any pregnant woman. Bamboo is the most sustainable all-natural plant fiber on earth and has an amazing silky softness.

The Bamboo Bump arrived beautifully packaged in a box, tied with a ribbon and would make a terrific gift for any pregnant woman. The Bamboo Bump contains 6 versatile basic pieces that will form the foundation of your pregnancy wardrobe.

We distributed the Bamboo Bump to 2 pregnant mums-to-be who were delighted with the design, fabric and top quality stitching of the maternity collection. Neither mums-to-be had ever seen or felt bamboo fabric before and were instantly sold! “The fabric is so soft and drapes over my belly beautifully; very flattering”. The 5% spandex (and 95% bamboo fabric) will ensure that each piece grows beautifully with your belly!

The Dress is elegant and beautiful! Add some accessories and you are ready for a night on the town or a fancy occasion.

The trousers/pants feature a roll-top waist which can sit over or under your bump. They can be dressed up with heels, paired with sneakers for a workout or worn as everyday wear.

The skirt can be dressed up with heels or worn with flats. The skirt is so comfy that you will reach for it post-partum.

The tank top and T-Shirt are great basic pieces that you will reach for time and time again. The tank and T-Shirt are beautifully designed and feature ruching detail on the sides which makes for a very flattering effect!

Hollywood celebs can be seen in similiar tanks and tops with ruching details! Both items will expand beautifully with your growing belly and can be paired with jeans for a trendy look.

This belly band is super comfy and very useful.

It can be worn under any top, and allows you to continue to wear your non-maternity tops and cover your bump throughout your pregnancy. Our pregnant mums-to-be found the belly band to come in handy and they were so pleased that they were able to wear their non-maternity tops, without their bare bellies peaking out underneath!

“Other belly bands have really irritated my skin, but the bamboo fabric is so silky and soft and I have suffered no irritation at all…I highly recommend it”. PLEASE NOTE: these bands are to cover your bump and allow you to wear non-maternity tops. They are not for support of your bump or holding up trousers 🙂

We would like to thank Bamboo Baby for sending us the Bamboo Bump all the way from London, UK! We hope to be able to feature additional products from Bamboo Baby in the future.

To learn more, please visit:

www.bamboo-baby.co.uk

PlanToys made with sensitivity toward our environment

Plan Creations Co. Ltd, founded in 1981 is the manufacturer and distributor of educational wooden toys under the brand ‘PlanToys’. Our company creates toys that inspire imagination along with being environmentally responsible and maintaining good values. With PlanToys’ innovation and quality, our toys have been welcomed into the hearts of many children around the world. We do our best to make a positive impact on all areas such as the nature or the working environment. In every stage of production, from selecting materials to making the toys, we aim to satisfy all parties rather than targeting only business gains.

PlanToys selects environmentally-friendly materials:

* Preservative-Free Rubber wood

PlanToys is the first and only manufacturer to use chemical-free wood taken from rubber trees that no longer provides latex. Most of the rubber trees that stop producing latex are 25 years old and would be cut down and burnt to make weak quality coal that is ecologically harmful. PlanToys has raised the value of rubber wood to its highest and helped sustain a healthy ecosystem.

* E0 (Non-Formaldehyde Glue)

PlanToys realizes the harm of Formaldehyde glue often found in wooden toys. We are the first to come up with special materials and process to remove the glue from our wood. This is for the safety of all children which is PlanToy’s top concern.

* Water Based Color

PlanToys uses non-toxic and environmentally-friendly colors that are safe for children of all ages, including those under 3 years old.

* Recyclable Package

The increasing waste level around the world is damaging the environment and deteriorating ours and the future generation’s quality of life. That is why PlanToys chooses to use recyclable packages that can be re-used to help reduce waste.

PlanToys’ products are produced under environmentally responsible conditions:

PlanToys received ISO 9001 (Quality Management) in every of our production stage simply because we care–from choosing chemical-free preservatives to maintain the wood to wood conversion, detailing, erasing edges, and assembling products according to the required standards. We apply non-toxic colors that are harmless to children’s health and wellbeing. Before the production is complete, all PlanToys pass quality standard check before being packaged and delivered. PlanToys has recently been certified with ISO 14001 (Environmental Management). This reflects the company’s determination in managing safe and ecologically-aware productions and activities. PlanToys recognizes the importance of our employees and our society.

Social Contribution

PlanToys is encouraging the building of a supportive environment by establishing institutions and organizations that promote learning and the development of children.

Success Through Play™ will be highlighting 3 toys today from the extensive PlayToys Catalog:

Product Descriptions (provided by PlanToys)

Hammer Balls

A curved wooden box with three colourful balls and 1 mallet. This toy helps children to improve hand-eye coordination caligning, slotting, aiming, it will be 2 great fun to pound the ball and they roll out through one path. Safe for ages 1 year and up

Dancing Alligator

While being pulled, the wooden pieces make rhythmic click-clack sound. Toddlers can pull it along on a two-foot leash while learning to walk. Safe for ages 18 months and up

Fish Castanet

Beautiful clapping sound can be produced by this cute Fish Castanet. This can be played along with other PlanToys musical toys. Safe for ages 2 year and up

PURCHASING INFORMATION:

USA:
Amazon.com
J.T. Puffins

Canada:

PLAYWELL ENTERPRISES LTD.
Phone 416-439-0044
Fax 416-439-4656
E-mail pelca@rogers.com
Contact Person Mr. Henry Lim

UK:
www.marbel.co.uk

Australia:
www.teaching.com.au

South Africa:
Think Toys
36 Kya North Park, Bernie Street,
Kya Sand, South Africa
Tel: 27 11 708 4884 / 5
Fax: 27 11 708 4989
E-mail: jenny.g@global.co.za
Contact: Ms. Jenny

Success Through Play™ comments:

With the holiday season around the corner and in light of the recalls of toys made in China, parents around the world are wondering which toys are safe for their children. Look no further, because we have found an affordable, eco-friendly toy company for you…..PlanToys. We give PlanToys a standing ovation for their commitment to eco-friendly wooden toys that are developmentally stimulating and fun to play with.

PlanToys make ideal gifts this holiday season!

Hammer Balls:
This beautifully made toy is heirloom quality and will last for many years. The base is stable and provides a solid foundation for endless hours of play. The balls are a good size and provide a “just right” challenge for a 1 + year old! Many Hammer Ball products on the market are poorly constructed and feature balls that are far too small and are potentially unsafe. This is not the case with this beautiful set. Your 1 year old will enjoy pounding the balls with the “hammer” while working on his eye hand coordination, bilateral hand coordination, motor planning and upper extremity strength and endurance.

Dancing Alligator:

This award winning pull along toy will delight your toddler! The ideal age to give a toddler a pull along toy is approximately 2-3 months after they have mastered walking! They will require fairly good balance skills before they will be able to pull the toy along effectively. Pull Along toys are wonderful for encouraging gross motor skills; your toddler will be motivated to walk more. The auditory feedback provided by the delightful clickity-click sound (hardwood floors provide the best sound), along with the unique movement patterns of the alligator will provide positive reinforcement for your toddler who will be inspired to take his new pet for a walk! Your toddler will be using many additional skills such as refining his balance skills, using eye hand coordination, motor planning and upper extremity strength and endurance all while having fun! The 4 yellow wooden wheel have rubber for better traction. No batteries are required…just good old fashioned mechanics make this toy one of our favorites!

Fish Castanets:

Your toddler will enjoy “clapping” along to the beat of the music or a tune with the unique fish castanets from PlanToys. The fish castanets are available in pink, blue and green! Your child will have the opportunity to work on developing his rhythm, coordination skills and a variety of fine motor skills all while developing a great love of music! Older children will be attracted to the fish castanets and will be able to play with them as they are on the larger side. They can be played along with the PlanToys Xylophone, Concertina, and the Solid Drum Set.

Tips for playing:

Toddlers will enjoy holding the castanet in 2 hands and using both hands to make a clapping sound! To encourage finger isolation, set the castanet down on a level surface and encourage your toddler to press down using one finger to make a sound!

PlanToys Online Magazine

PlanToys has an online Magazine which can be accessed here.

We would like to thank PlanToys for sending us samples for this review. In addition, to Diana Ukalovic for her assistance with this article. We will be featuring additional PlanToy Products in the months to come, so please stay tuned!

To see the full catalog of PlanToys please visit:

www.plantoys.com

The Svan® of Sweden came to fruition when Swedish designers Anders Fallman and Kjell Hagstrom joined together to create functional yet stylish furniture for children. The Svan style features bent wood because of its strength and security, and because it’s an attractive, natural and lightweight material that stays true to Swedish design. The Svan® line (high chair, bouncer, scooter and mini-furniture) is sleek, beautiful and complementary to any home design.

Svan® High Chair/Youth Chair Product Description:

* Adjustable seat depth and footrest for supreme comfort
* Wooden tray and dishwasher safe plastic tray cover included
* Converts to a youth chair
* For ages 6 months and up
* Available in five stain finishes -whitewash, natural, cherry, mahogany, espresso
* Plastic tray cover (included) is phthalate-free.

Accessories (purchased separately)
Cushions for comfort.

PURCHASING DETAILS:

To find a retailer in the USA or Canada please click here.

Other countries, please click here.

Success Through Play™ comments:

We would like to thank ScandinavianChild™ for sending us a sample of the Svan Chair. Our team experienced outstanding customer service from their staff and we won’t hesitate to recommend this highly reputable company. The Svan Chair immediately caught the eye of our consultant Engineer (PhD), who was eager to start assembling the chair. Our engineer was impressed to see that not only did the Svan Chair arrive with a fully descriptive manual, but boasts a instructional and informational DVD as well. The DVD shows the parts and assembly process in great detail, which is unique and very useful. This double approach allows the customer to follow along by watching the DVD while assembling the product, which is so helpful.

The Success Through Play™ team observed our engineers’ expressions and the intense level of concentration when he viewed the instructional and informational DVD! The Engineer remarked that the Mechanical Design Team who designed the Svan Chair are top notch and he was immediately impressed with the adjustability of the chair which is suitable for a 6 month old and adjust to fit an older child. The adjustable options makes this chair the most ergonomic High and Youth Chair on the international market, bar none.

Our Engineer wasted no time assembling the Svan® Chair and decided to assemble the Chair in the High Chair mode, as we would be distributing the chair to a family who have a 1 year old daughter, Taylor, and a 3 year old son, Max. Assembly was simple, thanks to the excellent written and visual instructions. “The addition of the DVD, make the chair a cinch to put together”. While assembling the Svan® Chair, the engineer commented on the wood’s high quality and the smoothness of the component wood pieces”. He added that “the laminated veneer lumber (LVL) won’t twist over time like cheaper wooden high chairs and is lightweight yet very stable. This chair should last for generations and is heirloom quality.”

Upon assembly, the engineer commented on the chair’s excellent stability and he marveled at the genius design which allows this chair to be so adjustable. The optional Svan® cushions are available is many beautiful colors to compliment your Svan Chair and provide comfort and support. We commend Svan for making a cushion which is PBDE free.

The Svan® Chair features an adjustable seat depth, seat height, and footrest for ergonomic and comfortable seating from age 6 months to teen.

The adjustable features allow you to customize the chair to your baby and child’s body; providing your baby and child with the best postural support available on the international market. The Three-point harness allows your child’s upper body to move freely without compromising safety. It is essential to ensure that your baby and child are adequately supported during mealtimes, because if their current chair lacks adequate support, your baby/child will be working so hard to stay upright and attempt to get in a comfortable position, that they will lack the energy, focus and attention to eat their meals.

The Svan® Chair converts from High Chair mode to Youth Chair “Booster Mode” with some simple modifications, for years of use. It was now time to distribute the chair to the parent panel. Our engineer spent a few minutes explaining to the family how to adjust the chair to fit their 9 month old daughter, Taylor and their 3 year old son, Max. Our occupational therapist recommended settings to ensure that both children were seated in the most ergonomic and supportive position as possible! The importance of the adjustable footrest was emphasized.

Why is an Adjustable Footrest so imperative?

Why is an ample, stable adjustable footrest so imperative? If you child’s feet are being supported, he will be able to focus on the task of eating. If an adjustable footrest is not present or is inadequate, he will spend the majority of his energy trying to keep himself upright and will tire himself out. Would you be comfortable eating all of your meals while your legs are dangling?

Another stand out feature of the Svan® High Chair, which it’s competitor does not feature, is that with the Svan® Chair, parents can choose to use the Tray Table when their baby is young, which will help to contain the mess and then as the baby gets older they can store the tray on the back and bring the Chair up to the family dining table, so that baby can dine with them. Once again, this illustrates the myriad of choices that the Svan® Chair offers families and attests to the brilliant design of the chair.

After a few weeks, we checked back with the parent test panel for their feedback. Prior to testing the Svan® Chair, the family had been using a high end plastic high chair and a booster seat for their child. Their plastic high chair and booster seat are typical of the majority of the high chairs and booster seats on the market in that both lack a footrest, adjustable features and are designed for limited use. Contrast this to the Svan® Chair and you will quickly see how it’s exceptional design, ergonomic features and long term use set it apart. The parents were thrilled with the adjustability of the Svan® High Chair and could immediately see a vast improvement in Taylor’s posture during mealtime and the addition of the Svan® Footrest translated into a more successful mealtime experience for her baby. “I can definitely see that my baby is more comfortable and better supported in the Svan Chair and the footrest is providing her body with support and improving her posture. She is now able to concentrate her attention on eating and not on trying to balance herself or attempting to obtain a more comfortable position.” The dad commented that he really liked how adjustable the chair is and he is able to essentially customize the chair to their baby, something that could never be accomplished before.

The parents then converted the same Svan® Chair into the Youth mode for Max, with some simple adjustments and having the DVD and instructional booklet to guide them, made the process simple. Our engineer was on hand to supervise. Max was excited to see his new chair and he had waited so patiently to test it out. Prior to using the Svan® Youth Chair, the toddler has been sitting in a typical booster seat which lacked a footrest. He too was distracted during mealtimes and had complained that he plastic booster was really uncomfortable. “Mealtimes were a mission”, stated the family. The Svan® Youth Chair was a welcome addition to their family. Both the parents and the child agreed how comfortable and supportive the Svan® Youth Chair is and once again, the addition of the adjustable footrest made all the difference in terms of the child’s overall posture and support. “Max is more attentive during meals and doesn’t wiggle anymore-Thank you Svan!” The parents were amazed that one chair can be converted into either a High Chair or Youth Chair and offered so many adjustable features that made it a clear winner with them.

Svan® Chair – where beauty and function collide.

The Svan® Chair is the ideal Holiday Gift to give this season and will make a practical and stylish gift that will last for many generations to come. The Svan® Chair can be easily converted into a Youth Chair when your child is 18 months and has sufficient postural control to sit in the chair. The Youth Chair adjust to fit a toddler right through to a young adult with ease, making the Svan® Chair an excellent buy.

For more information, please visit:

www.SvanUSA.com

or www.Svan.com

200 Recipes for Healthy and Heart One-Pot Meals That are Ready When You Are.

Book Description (provided by the publisher)

It’s no secret that millions of Americans swear by their slow cookers – in fact, Rival, the self-proclaimed maker of “America’s #1 Slow Cooker,” has sold more than 81 million slow cookers since 1971. As this appliance becomes essential to every modern kitchen, home cooks are looking for more and more ways to apply the slow cooker’s unbeatable convenience to something other than the standard tough cut of inexpensive meat seasoned with a can of soup. At last, with Fresh from the Vegetarian Slow Cooker, vegetarian cookbook author and cooking class instructor Robin Robertson provides us with an exciting array of new recipes. These dishes will appeal to the 12 million American vegetarians searching for ways to incorporate the slow cooker into their kitchen as well as anyone simply craving a delicious (and deliciously easy) meal alternative.

Slow cooking is perfectly suited to vegetarian food and healthy cooking because it is a foolproof way to prepare the extraordinary range of beans, grains, greens, and vegetables available. In fact, the extended, gentle cooking time concentrates the nutrients already present in these foods and brings out the flavors of diverse ingredients, allowing them to mingle and intensify in preparations such as Spicy White Bean and Sweet Potato Stew with Collards, Vegetarian Paella, and Balsamic-Glazed Carrots and Parsnips. Chapters on appetizers, condiments, breakfasts, desserts, and beverages prove that, from Savory Spinach Pâté with Garlic to Brandy-Laced Pear Brown Betty, the dishes coming out of the slow cooker are as widely varied as the ingredients going into it

Robin Robertson has written numerous cookbooks, including Vegan Planet, The Vegetarian Meat & Potatoes Cookbook, and The Sacred Kitchen. She is a vegetarian-cooking instructor and former chef, who lives in Virginia Beach, Virginia.

* Paperback: 288 pages
* Publisher: Harvard Common Press (January 2004)
* Language: English
* ISBN-10: 1558322566
* ISBN-13: 978-1558322561

PURCHASING DETAILS:
Amazon

Success Through Play™ comments:

Slow Cooking…we had heard about “that way of cooking” from our parents and grandparents, but every staff member admitted that they had never tried cooking in a slow cooker before. We are very open to new cooking experiences and decided to dive right in. We would like to thank The Harvard Common Press for sending us a review copy. The Author introduces us to the concept of slow cooking in her intro and explains the various sizes, uses and types of slow cookers that are available on the market. It is important to follow the instructions for proper usage with all slow cookers and the author gives a great run down of the essential points. The author prefers the traditional slow cookers which have a “low, high and warmer” dial and comments that the new generation multi-cookers are not true slow cookers. We headed down to Walmart and were impressed with the high quality slow cookers that were on offer. We decided to buy a 4 quart slow cooker. We tested out 3 recipes from this book and were literally “blown away” by the slow cookers ability to deliver nutritious, delicious meals that were so simple to make and fit in perfectly with our super busy schedules.

We tried the “Almost Irish Stew” first, which the adult staff were really impressed with. The white wine, white beans and kale complimented each other beautifully and our taste testers thought that we had slaved over a hot stove for hours! We made this meal several times over the next month, due to popular demand.

Almost Irish Stew

The second recipe that we tried was the “Mac and Cheese Florentine”. This meal was creamy and smooth and satisfied our need for comfort food. This recipe was a great hit with the kids! The only problem is that we didn’t make enough!

Mac and Cheese Florentine

Since we are huge South Indian Food fans, we couldn’t resist trying the “What a Dal” recipe. This dal was flavorful and aromatic and conjured up memories from our trip to India. The dal tasted even better on day 2. We paired this with our home made Roti, spinach curry and and topped the meal off with a Mango Lassi.

What a Dal

We are convinced that slow cooking is the best kept secret for busy families who are on tight schedules, yet still wish to cook nutritious foods for their family. There is something inherently satisfying about not having to worry about what’s for dinner or resorting to eating out/take out when you have a warm slow cooked meal to come home to in the evening. Research is showing that well balanced, plant biased diets are the best way to reduce your risk of developing heart disease and increasing your longevity. Regardless of whether you are vegetarian or not, this book will teach you how to create fantastic meals that are a cinch to prepare and will surely impress each member of your family! Robin Robertson is a culinary genius and we hope to review additional cookbooks of hers in the future.

We are slow cooker converts now and are off to purchase a 6 quart slow cooker so that we can try out some of the delectable desserts in the book and expand our rapporteur.

Holiday Gift Idea.

Pair this book with a Slow Cooker and you are sure to wow the recipient and introduce him or her to a healthy, simple, way of cooking.

To-Go Ware® offer non-plastic, reusable eatingware including a bamboo utensil set and 2-tier stainless steel food carrier.

“Our mission is to make available innovative products that provide a solution, tell a great story, and are enjoyable to use. To-Go Ware® seeks to stimulate positive practices for the way people live in relationship with themselves, their neighbors and the planet. We hope to empower people to participate in the process of changing the world they live in by providing them the tools to do so.”

Product Descriptions (provided by To-Go Ware):

To-Go Ware® 2 Tier Stainless Steel Food Carrier

How often do you find yourself tossing away food containers? Even if you pack your own lunch, are you reusing containers and packaging, or finding yourself creating more waste than you might like to? The To-Go Ware® 2-Tier Stainless Steel Food Carrier is a great way to take your food to-go. Stainless steel is highly resilient, so this carrier will be with you for a long time—and it won’t leach toxins like many plastics can. Great for both hot and cold food; the two separate units allow you to keep your side dish from running into your main course, and there is also a handy removable plate. Its sturdy handle and light weight make this item convenient and easy to carry. Take it with you to the office, to school, while camping or picnicking . . . why not bring it into your favorite take-out place and get it to-go in your To-Go Ware®, rather than in a disposable container?

Bamboo Utensil Set

This utensil set is a toolkit to help reduce your ecological footprint and keep you connected to the world. Enjoy eating with organic utensils made of bamboo, which is highly durable and can be grown and harvested sustainably. “Throwaway” plastic cutlery consists of petrochemicals harmful to the environment, as well as contributing to wasteful habits that feed the landfill rather than nourishing our lives. In addition, the holder itself has been produced by WEAVE, a women’s cooperative on the Thai-Burma border. By purchasing this utensil set, you will have
contributed to their advancement and empowerment, and made a positive impact to global community.

Bamboo Flatware & Chopsticks

–Heat and stain resistant, won’t impart or absorb flavors
–Lightweight, strong and long lasting
–Hand finished with top grade natural, food-safe wood oil

PURCHASING:

USA and Canadian Readers can shop online by visiting the To-Go Ware® website, or use the new zipcode locator on the retailers page to find a store near you.

Success Through Play™ comments:

We are kicking off our Holiday Gifts Topic of the Month with 2 fabulous products from To-Go Ware®. We would like to thank To-Go Ware® for sending us samples. We asked Stephanie Bernstein, Founder & CEO of To-Go Ware®, what advice could she offer our readers in terms of being more eco-friendly when shopping, eating etc?

Stephanie: “Turn down things being given to you that can be thrown away — bring your own. Plastic shopping bags, coffee cups, utensils — even electing no receipt at check out can lighten your ecological footprint”.

Our test panel of working professionals (Dan and Amanda) were eager to test drive the Stainless Steel Food Carrier along with the Bamboo Utensil Set. Dan, admitted that he had struggled to find a food container that didn’t look feminine and as a result, resorted to eating out daily. Dan really liked the Food Carrier and commented that the look was stylish, functional and he felt confident toting it to work. Dan was thrilled with the amount of money that he was saving weekly, by making his own lunch vs buying it daily. Amanda had been taking disposable lunch containers to work and was keen to find an eco-friendly container that she could keep on reusing. Both Dan and Amanda were in awe of the beautiful Bamboo Utensil Set, which rolls up for storage. They were both equally impressed with the high quality products that were lightweight and convenient to take to work. Work colleagues made a beeline to sit next to them at work and everyone wanted to know where they could get theirs!

We applaud To-Go Ware for supporting WEAVE: Women’s Education for Advancement and Empowerment (WEAVE) which “strives to create a world where empowered women and their children are free to exercise their rights and live peacefully in a just, humane and equitable society.” To learn more about WEAVE, please click here. To-Go Ware® Products are affordable and will make a wonderful, eco-friendly gift that you will feel great giving!

To see additional items for sale, please visit:

www.to-goware.com

Another exciting month has flown by! A highlight was reporting on the Gentle Birth Baby Expo and International Motherbaby Festival held in Portland, Oregon which we attended at the end of September. We are very excited to have launched our first ever contest for our UK readers (see below). During the month of October 2007, we featured a wide range of fabulous books, toys, CD’s and DVD’s. We have listed them here for your reference. We would like to thank all the companies featured for sending us product samples.

Click on each link to be directed to the post!

Baby Expo and International Motherbaby Film Festival

I Am Grateful Recipes and Lifestyle of Café Gratitude

BOIKIDO® TOYS

I-Qube®

WHAT BABIES WANT

speesees

SoftPlay®: Interactive cloth products for kids!

WIN A PAPATUM BABY OR TODDLER CARRIER!

Messages from the Heart Soft Books by Sandra Magsamen

Sensory Processing Disorder: An Interview with an Exerpt

The Out-of-Sync Child Book Series

Easy Exercises for Pregnancy

Eating for Pregnancy

What can you look forward to next month? During the month of November, we will be highlighting Fabulous Holiday Shopping Gifts for every member of the family. Stay Tuned!!

An Essential Guide to Nutrition with Recipes for the Whole Family by Catherine Jones and Rose Ann Hudson, R.D., L.D.

Book Description (provided by the publishers)

The only cookbook and nutrition guide crafted to the specific needs and challenges of today’s generation of mothers-to-be. Every pregnant woman recognizes that what she eats, drinks, and does with her body directly affects the baby developing within her. Yet mothers-to-be between juggling work, other children, and their many other responsibilities—often don’t have the time they’d like to devote to their nutrition. Now, Eating for Pregnancy addresses nutritional needs of pregnant women today, helping them to navigate through frozen-food aisles and prepared-food sections and to create healthy, easy homemade meals. Key features of this essential guide include:

• Reassuring, up-to-date nutritional information for pregnancy and breast feeding.
• Shopping and eating tips to keep nutrient intake high and unnecessary weight-gain to a minimum.
• Guilt-free, smart-choice convenience and semi-prepared food options to make preparing a homemade meal fast and easy
• Six sections with 120 recipes that are high in vitamins, iron, calcium, protein, and fiber, and contain moderate amounts of fat, sodium, and sugar.
• Suggestions for substitution, time-saving shortcuts, and how to make a dish more kid-friendly.
• Nutrition information that highlights “What’s in this for baby and me” and includes complete nutritional breakdowns and meal-planning advice.
• ADA exchange values and diabetic tips for pregnant women with gestational diabetes.
• A vegetarian chapter with essential advice for pregnant vegetarians and inspiring recipes.

# Paperback: 320 pages
# Publisher: Da Capo Lifelong Books
# Language: English
# ISBN-10: 1569245118
# ISBN-13: 978-1569245118

PURCHASING:

USA

UK

Success Through Play™ comments:

Catherine Jones, an accomplished chef and mother of two and Rose Ann Hudson, R.D., L.D., a perinatal nutritionist and mother of two, combine their skills in this fantastic recipe book for the entire family. The dynamic duo offer creative, delicious and easy to prepare recipes, which feature full nutritional information including diabetic exchange info. Each recipe asks the question “What’s in this for baby and me?” and is followed with a list of vitamins and minerals. Readers will find the cooking and storage tips very useful. A highlight of the book is that each recipe features a section called “Complete Meal Ideas”. Here the authors offer suggestions for additional items which they encourage you to serve with that particular meal, which is customized to each recipe. This unique approach ensures that the meal will be nutritionally balanced. The Appendix features very useful reference charts including: BMI charts, Vitamin A and C fruit and vegetable sources, nondairy calcium sources, breakfast cereals that contain 100 percent of the daily value of folic acid, food safety tips and many more useful references.

If you are interested in improving your diet and learning how to make simple, nutritional meals, this book is for you, regardless of whether you are pregnant or not!

We tested 3 vegetarian recipes and were very impressed with our results!

Green Slip Pea Soup

We used the slow cooker option

Roasted Marinated Vegetables

Sautéed Tofu and Portobello Mushrooms on a Bed of Greens

All 3 recipes were very easy to prepare, using ingredients that we had in our pantry. Our staff enjoyed each delicious meal and enjoyed hearing how nutritional each meal was. We would like to thank Sean Maher from Da Capo Press for sending us a review copy of this book.

By Janet Balaskas Photographs by Anthea Sieveking. Janet Balaskas is an internationally renowned pioneer of natural childbirth and the founder and director of the Active Birth Centre .The centre is famous for the unique and innovative environment it offers new parents both before and after birth. Janet is the author of numerous articles and books, including Active Birth, The Encyclopedia of Pregnancy and Childbirth, Natural Pregnancy, Water Birth and Preparing for Birth with Yoga.

Book Description (by Frances Lincoln Publishers):

A guide for every woman who wishes to approach the birth of her baby feeling fit, relaxed and confident: it offers a simple, safe and reliable programme of exercises which, followed throughout pregnancy, should reduce stress and fatigue and increase fitness and suppleness.

Publication Details:

Frances Lincoln
ISBN:9780711210486
Format: 222 mm x 222 mm (8.7 inches x 8.7 inches)
Binding: Paperback
96 pages
85 photographs

BIC Code:VFMG, VFXB
BISAC Code:HEA041000

PURCHASING:

UK
USA
Australia

Success Through Play comments:
In this book, Easy Exercises for Pregnancy, Janet Balaskas offers pregnant readers an exercise program to improve their posture, flexibility and breathing. The exercises are gentle, yet effective and will help prepare the mom for the changes that the body goes through pregnancy as well as prepare her for labor. There is a section for individual exercise, along with exercises that can be performed with a partner. The author, who has decades of experience teaching pregnant women how to exercise safely, along her with personal experiences, offers tips and helpful hints about exercising safely, maintaining a good posture and connecting to your partner and baby, which will carry you through your entire pregnancy and labor.

We assigned a pregnant woman in our panel, Laura, with the task of trying out the exercises. We requested that she show her midwife/doctor the book to get their approval. Laura is 4 months pregnant and was eager to put the exercises to the test. Laura commented that the instructions in the book are very clear and the illustrations made it easy for her to grasp the concept and complete the exercises safety. Laura leads a busy lifestyle and was pleased that was able to incorporate some exercises and positioning into her everyday life, which helped her to save time. She felt energized after doing the stretches and exercises in the book and along with gentle swimming and walking several times a week, felt that she had a great fitness plan. Laura expressed that her favorite exercises were the ones that she could perform with her partner and she particularly enjoyed the section of the book which offered massage suggestions and positions for labor. Laura would highly recommend this book to anyone who is pregnant. Please consult your midwife/doctor before starting this or any other exercise program.

Carol Stock Kranowitz, M.A., has been a preschool teacher for more than 25 years. She has developed an innovative program to screen young children for Sensory Processing Disorder, and writes and speaks regularly about the subject. She has an M.A. in Education and Human Development. She has also written many articles on sensory processing, child development, and preschool curricula for magazines such as Parenting, Sesame Street Magazine, Child Care Information Exchange, and Family Circle, and for Internet websites, including www.child.com and www.SPDnetwork.org

Carol is the Editor-in-Chief of S.I. Focus, the international magazine focusing on sensory integration/sensory processing. This quarterly includes articles about therapy techniques, clinical breakthroughs, success stories, and in-depth interviews. For more information, see www.SIfocus.com

A graduate of Barnard College, Carol has an M.A. in Education and Human Development from The George Washington University.

She is on the following Boards:

* The KID Foundation
* Developmental Delay Resources (DDR)
* St. Columba’s Nursery School
* National Autism Association (NAA)
* Nonverbal Learning Disorders Association (NLDA)

Carol gives lectures across the USA. She lives in Bethesda, Maryland, and has two wonderful sons and daughters-in-law and four enchanting grandchildren.

For more information, please visit:

www.out-of-sync-child.com

BOOK DESCRIPTIONS

Out-of-Sync Child, 2nd Edition BOOK

Carol Stock Kranowitz, MA
Revised and Updated Edition, Perigee, 2005.

The groundbreaking book that explains Sensory Procesing Disorder (SPD) – and presents a drug-free approach that offers hope for parents – now revised and updated.

* Does your child exhibit… Over-responsivity – or under-responsivity – to touch or movement? A child with SPD may be a “sensory avoider,” withdrawing from touch, refusing to wear certain clothing, avoiding active games – or he may be a “sensory disregarder,” needing a jump-start to get moving.

* Over-responsivity – or under-responsivity – to sounds, sights, taste, or smell? She may cover her ears or eyes, be a picky eater, or seem oblivious to sensory clues.

* Cravings for sensation? The “sensory seeker” may crave sensations, constantly playing in mud, cramming food in his mouth, seeking movement.

* Poor sensory discrimination? She may not sense the difference between objects or experiences – unaware of what she’s holding unless she looks, and unable to sense when she’s falling or how to catch herself.

* Unusually high or low activity level? The child may be constantly on the go – wearing out everyone around him – or move slowly and tire easily, showing little interest in the world.

* Problems with posture or motor coordination? He may slouch, move awkwardly, seem careless or accident-prone.

These are often the first clues to Sensory Processing Disorder – a common, but frequently misdiagnosed, problem in which the central nervous system misinterprets messages from the senses. The Out-of-Sync Child offers comprehensive, clear information for parents and professionals – and a drug-free treatment approach for children. This revised edition includes new sections on vision and hearing, picky eaters, and coexisting disorders such as autism and Asperger’s syndrome, among other topics.

Out-of-Sync Child Has Fun, 2nd Edition

Carol Stock Kranowitz, MA
2nd edition, Perigee, 2006.

The first accessible guide to examine SPD, The Out-of-Sync Child touched the hearts and lives of thousands of families. Carol Stock Kranowitz continues her significant work with its companion volume, The Out-of-Sync Child Has Fun, which presents about 150 playful activities specially designed for kids with SPD. Each activity in this inspiring and practical book is SAFE (Sensory-motor, Appropriate, Fun, and Easy) to help develop and organize a child’s brain and body. Whether your child faces challenges with touch, balance, movement, body position, vision, hearing, smell and taste, motor planning, or other sensory problems, this book presents lively and engaging ways to bring fun and play to everyday situations. This 2nd edition, revised in 2006, includes new activities, along with updated information on which activities are most appropriate for children with coexisting conditions including Asperger’s and autism, and more.

PURCHASING:

The books are available in many bookstores such as Barnes & Noble, or on amazon.com. Readers can also order any of Carol’s publications through www.SensoryResources.com, which will fulfill orders quickly, even overseas.

Success Through Play™ comments:

Out-of-Sync Child, 2nd Edition BOOK

The author has a way of describing Sensory Processing Disorder (SPD) in simple terminology that won’t overwhelm the reader. Handy check-lists, tables diagrams and comparisons help the reader to understand the concepts presented. The author shares how a parent can obtain a diagnosis and treatment options are explored. There is a wonderful glossary which you will refer to time and time again which will help to demystify the related terminology. The resource section has listings of catalogs, organizations and internet resources which are invaluable. The author points out that this book is not just for parents and lists teachers, medical doctors, occupational therapists, psychologists, grandparents, baby-sitters, and anyone else who cared for an “out-of-sync-child” as an appropriate audience. This book should become part of the syllabus of every single institution that offers child centric programs.The New York Times comments:”The Out-of-Sync Child has become the parents’ bible to SPD” and we couldn’t have said it any better. This book will empower parents to be the best advocate for their child and is the most comprehensive user friendly guide on the subject of SPD that is available on the international market to date.

Out-of-Sync Child Has Fun, 2nd Edition

This book is a treasure chest of creative, fun, and simple activities for children with SPD. The author, along with children, parents, occupational and physical therapists, optometrists, speech/language therapists and educators share their favorite Sensory-motor, Appropriate, Fun and Easy (SAFE) activities designed for children with SPD. Each “SAFE” activity is very well presented and includes the developmental age, materials needed, preparation guidelines and suggestions for how your child can participate in the activity. Ideas for each sensory system are presented (tactile, vestibular, proprioceptive, visual, auditory and olfactory) along with sensory related skills (oral-motor, motor planning, fine motor, bilateral coordination and crossing the midline). We highly recommended this book to ANYONE who has a child/grandchild or works with children, regardless of whether the child has sensory issues because the activities presented utilize common household products (food ingredients, cardboard etc) that make for engaging and creative play that has almost been forgotten in our modern, tech related society! We will be featuring a few activities from this book in the months to come!

These outstanding one-of-a-kind books are essential buys that will prove to be invaluable.