Your guide to activities and fun things to do with your preschoolers, toddlers and kids in boston, MA

Meet Children's Author Michael Chesworth and Win a Copy of His Book!

March 02, 2009

We have recently become fans of everything Michael Chesworth.   An amazing author and illustrator of children's books, he has written and illustrated four of his own books, and provided beautiful illustrations for dozens more.  

Alphaboat, written by the illustrator himself, is a wonderful combination of great puns (you'll marvel in amazement at these!) as well as artfully visualized jokes.  Not only is it appealing to kids, it's fun to read to them!

Chesworth has been illustrating children's books since 1989 and hit a home run when not only illustrating, but also writing Alphaboat himself.  Also on his list of "authored" and illustrated books is Rainy Day Dream.  This book will allow you to teach your children about the English language and rhymes, as well as provide great snuggle time with your little ones.  And he's a Bostonian to boot!!  (ok, Amherst, Ma. is local enough.  J)

I have to admit, we are huge fans of the library because it enables us to read loads of books in a cost-effective way ... however ... since learning of Michael Chesworth, we are adding the entire list of his books to our "wish lists".  We will be proudly displaying all things Chesworth on our bookshelves!

Win it!! 

Would you like a chance to win your very own copy of Alphaboat?

Simply send an email to beingsavvyboston@savvysource.com  letting us know the title of another Michael Chesworth illustrated book.  Please put Alphaboat in the Subject.  The winner will be chosen and notified directly on March 6th, 2009.

I'm Turning Green!

by Jill Notkin

December 15, 2008

The other day I was watching TV (gasp!) with my preschooler, and Caillou or Barney, or someone under 4 feet tall was talking about recycling. They were displaying the triangular recycling symbol prominently and I thought to myself (not for the first time) that TV is actually not all bad for kids. In fact, my child learned the word "recycling" that day last week. Since then, she knows what  Read more...

Wild Weekends

by Jill Notkin

December 11, 2008

So far we have no plans for the upcoming weekend. Not that we don't have plenty to do with the holidays coming up and all the fun stuff going on around town. Faneuil Hall is hosting the 4 th Annual Candy Land Tournament sponsored by Hasbro, this weekend. Head to the famous shopping spot and play Candy Land, win prizes, sample local treats, and listen to a local choir. Kids can play  Read more...

Savvy Boston Book Picks

by Jill Notkin

December 04, 2008

Oh, the Places You'll Go! By Dr. Seuss . What's so great about this Dr. Seuss book is that it's an ideal gift for any child, or an adult embarking on a new adventure. It's almost the quintessential Seuss book! As with all these tongue-twister reads, this story is fun to read and listen to, and will quickly become your preschooler's favorite. The Three Snow Bears by Jan Brett . My  Read more...

MARTHA IS BACK!

by Jill Notkin

November 30, 2008

Looking for something GREAT to do today? Please join Martha for Juice & Cookies TODAY Green Planet Kids - Needham Drop in anytime between Noon and 3:00 pm. No Reservations Necessary! For those of you who missed the author event last week, Martha the dog* will be back tomorrow. Martha is the main character of Martha Speaks , a  Read more...

Boston By The Book

by Jill Notkin

November 25, 2008

In case you haven't noticed, this month's Savvy theme is all about ABC's, literacy, and reading and books in general. The beauty of this topic is that there are so many books for children that have Boston as a central theme. If you're looking to instill a little city-loyalty in your kids, you may want to add these to your home library: Make Way for Ducklings by Robert McCloskey . A  Read more...

Savvy Boston Book Picks

by Jill Notkin

November 24, 2008

Where the Sidewalk Ends . Absolutely every child should own this wonderful book of silly poems and stories by She Silverstein. A total classic by any standards, your Shel Silverstein experience is not complete without his other memorable compilations. Hilarious and unique, your child will keep this book forever (I did!). And The Giving Tree - also a must-have. Make Way for Ducklings  Read more...

Wild Weekends

by Jill Notkin

November 20, 2008

Funny story (if you have young kids) - last weekend we had a new baby party on the schedule at 10am on Sunday. So, at 8am, we got up and started getting ready to get out of the house by 9:30 in order to be in Southie for 10. You know, 2 adults, 2 kids under 3, these things take careful orchestrating! But we did it. At 10am prompt, we rap on our friends' door only to find them in the pj's,  Read more...

Book Nooks & Story-times

by Jill Notkin

November 11, 2008

Research shows that children who are read to from an early age have a larger vocabulary and better language skills when they begin school. They are also more interested in books and enjoy reading activities more than a child who is read to less. This is a big deal when it comes to school readiness, so why not add to your child's appetite for books by making it fun? There are so many  Read more...

Discovering Nature

by Jill Notkin

October 03, 2008

How curious is your little one? Extremely, I bet. This is the perfect time to begin teaching and exploring nature! And as the leaves start turning colors, there's plenty to discover, even in your own back yard. Feel like an outing? There are plenty of spots to check out if you want to discover nature, and they're just about everywhere you look! The Boston Common, the Arnold Arboretum  Read more...

Wild Weekends

by Jill Notkin

September 25, 2008

Are the weeks flying by in your house too? It just seems like Friday creeps up faster than ever and I barely have time to recuperate from one weekend when I'm making plans for another! Hopefully you're enjoying what's left of the warm-ish weather. I must say, I love dressing in fall clothes and it seems like the kids are enjoying their new (adorable) duds too! Anyhow, a few weekend ideas  Read more...

Always by Ann Stott

by Jill Notkin

September 17, 2008

There is nothing more special than a first book. I still have many of mine and hope to instill my love of books in my own children. Part of that is finding wonderful stories to share with them, beginning from a young age. As a toddler, my own daughter has her favorites already, and as parents, my husband and I are doing all we can to ensure that our younger daughter develops the same  Read more...

Wild Weekends

by Jill Notkin

September 12, 2008

Aaaah. Can you smell fall in the air? I can, and I must say, I love it. The crisp weather, the slight reddening of the bushes, the fun traditional autumn activities. The season lends itself to hundreds of great outings, and here are a few ideas for this weekend: Curious George Day . The Boston Public Library in Copley Square hosts Curious George on Saturday, September 13 th ! A  Read more...

Get Out and Make Some New Friends!

by Jill Notkin

September 09, 2008

September is the most perfect time to make new friends. School, parks and playgrounds, playgroups and classes all offer great opportunities to hook up with some new friends. Here are a few places for finding new buddies and having fun: 1. Magic Beans . I know it's a store but it's a store with a wonderful play space and plenty of scheduled drop-in classes. In Brookline,  Read more...

Wild Weekends

by Jill Notkin

September 04, 2008

This was a big week for many of us. Back-to-school was a major theme, and now we all need to blow off some steam and have some fun. Fall is the perfect time to hit the town for events and activities, preferably of the outdoor variety. Here's what's up for this weekend: Head North for Peabody's 16 th annual Kid's Day , taking place at Leather City Common. The day promises activities  Read more...

Long Car Ride? 5 Great Ways To Put Your CD/DVD Player To Work.

by Jill Notkin

July 15, 2008

With gas prices high and steadily climbing, many families have canceled or opted for closer vacation destinations this summer. Around Boston are hundreds of nearby spots and I know my family is still getting in the car and going. Thing is, how do you get from point A to point B without the kids getting antsy in the backseat? Our solution? Stories! 1) Take Marlo Thomas on  Read more...

Weekend Fun -- June 14th & 15th

by Jill Notkin

June 12, 2008

If you're like me, you like to start planning for the weekend early. Here are some activities happening in the area for this Saturday and Sunday: 29 th Annual Cambridge River Festival . Having checked out this event last summer, I can tell you firsthand this is a FUN outing! Set-up along the banks of the Charles River , the free celebration features all kinds of musical,  Read more...

5 Father's Day Ideas

by Jill Notkin

June 10, 2008

In a city like Boston, there's no shortage of great things to do at any time. Father's day activities around town just add to that list. 1. Father's Day Story Time . Bring dad to this story time celebrating fathers in our families. Activities will include books, crafts and games. Saturday, June 14 from 11am to 12pm, Barnes and Noble, Chestnut Hill Mall. Free. 170  Read more...

Book nooks for tots: Best story times and reading rooms in Boston

by Jill Notkin

May 16, 2008

When the weather is cold or rainy and we're getting a little stir-crazy, we often seek out a good story-hour or bookstore. Some of our favorites are: Pottery Barn Kids Every Tuesday from 10:00 10:30 is story time at PBK. Kids of all ages are welcome, but I've noticed it's mostly toddlers between the ages of 2 and 4. Best of all, there's tons of fun stuff for kids to play with  Read more...

Favorite Things of 2008

by Jill Notkin

January 02, 2008

Best Toy : Caring Corner's Mrs. Goodbee Dollhouse is getting many miles of use in our living room. The kids never tire of playing with the figurines and making up storylines. Mrs. Goodbee's encouraging words are a constant reminder for good manners and proper behavior. For more on Mrs. Goodbee, click here . Best Trip : Hands down, Ogunquit, Maine . Just over an hour from home,  Read more...