Lisa Wong

Okay, I admit I spend my fair share of time on my iPhone, between the Total Baby app, Facebook, email and Words with Friends. But I have just found a new addiction… which could pay off in terms of a new stroller, toy box or bike! 

Me Wee Tree is Babybot’s newest app for iOS and Android. The concept is simple: take care of a Christmas tree by watering, feeding and loving it. Kind of like a holiday Tamagotchi. 

There are six adorable trees to choose from, and you can name your tree(s). Mine are called Merry, Jiminey and Beyonce. At first, it’s just a little hole in the snow, but before long, you have the cutest little trees to call your own. 

After 12 days, you can start decorating. Each ornament will cost you points, which you accumulate with all the watering and loving each day. This is where it gets really interesting. 

Starting December 1st, Babybot will give away 25 free prizes a day for 12 days. You shake your tree, and see if you’re a winner! 

Then on Christmas Day, you shake your tree to see what “Santabot” left for you! It may be a promo code for babybot.com, or if you’re lucky, it could be a new stroller! (You do have to earn enough points to get the Bugaboo ornament, so this is where your addiction could pay off.)  

See more details and download here. 

Square Inch Design has created the most gorgeous, minimalist posters of classic fairy tales like Little Red Riding Hood, Goldilocks and the Three Bears, and others. I would love a collection of these in my house! 

Here are some gorgeous wall decals that Babybot and Blik are cooking up right now! Can’t wait until they come out! 

Remember that awesome blog, Mila’s Daydreams? While on maternity leave, this mom created the most amazing photos while her newborn Mila napped during the day. The result was the most beautiful and creative photos I’ve ever seen anyone take of their baby. 

The blog’s popularity skyrocketed, and the mom ended up taking all her photos down after countless people started abusing usage rights, using her daughter’s image for things without asking including banner ads! 

I don’t blame her. What started out as fun hobby spun out of control, and she removed the photos to protect her baby. 

Now she has decided to publish a book called When My Baby Dreams containing all the photos. What a great idea, and I’m so glad something good came out of it for them! 

Finally… an alternative to Sophie the Giraffe. Organic, natural and a little hipster.

There’s something so adorable about fake felt food.

Okay, I admit it. I’m kind of obsessed with kids’ books right now. I was back when I was a kid, and I think I love them even more now as a parent.

Spring Is Here by Taro Gomi. This guys is best known for “Everyone Poops.” I haven’t read that one, but his other books are so beautiful and poetic that you want to cover them in plastic and keep them forever.

Charley Harper ABCs: Skinny Edition by Charley Harper. Not your typical alphabet book. Beautifully illustrated, this is one you’d want to keep on your coffee table.  

Very Hungry Caterpillar by Eric Carle. I think this makes everyone’s list. It’s the story of a hungry caterpillar that eats his way to becoming a butterfly.

The Incredible Book Eating Boy by Oliver Jeffers. Henry love books. Not reading them, but eating them! A great, fantastical story that captures kids’ and grown-ups’ imaginations.

More Bears! by Kenn Nesbitt. The writer of this story is not anti-bear, but the audience seems to demand more furry creatures than he is wanting to write about.  

One by Kathryn Otoshi. Another gorgeous book that you can’t imagine is a kids’ book. Beautifully colours, moving story and a simple lesson for kids to learn.

I’ve really been interested in the more beautiful, simple books for babies. Are there any design-y books that you love and recommend?

Adding to my list of favorite kids books:

Boo Hoo Bird by Jeremy Tankard. I love Jeremy Tankard! The illustrations are beautiful and his writing is simple, funny and relatable.

Me Hungry! by Jeremy Tankard. Another great book! Edwin the caveboy is hungry, but must fend for himself when his parents are too busy.

Russell The Sheep Board Book by Rob Scotton. Russell can’t sleep… so he counts sheep.  

Grandpa and Me: A Lift-the-Flap Book by Karen Katz. You’re baking pizza with Grandpa, but have to find everything to make it!  

Where Is Baby’s Birthday Cake?: A Lift-the-Flap Book by Karen Katz. In this story, Baby is looking high and low for her birthday cake. Where has it gone? ;)  

Brown Bear, Brown Bear, What Do You See?: 25th Anniversary Edition by Eric Carle. A lovely book to learn the colours and names of different animals.  

My Friends by Taro Gomi. I love this illustrator. In this story, a little girl learns all of life’s important things from her friends.  

A Book of Sleep by Il Sung Na. A lovely book about all the animals in the forest and how they sleep at night.  

Where’s Spot by Eric Hill. In this story, it’s Spot the dog that’s missing.

I come across all these cute stuffed animals and wonder, are they for my daughter, or really for me?

I’ve been raiding the local library and placing tons of holds on baby books. If you’re gonna be reading a book a zillion times, it better be a good one, right?

Here are some more favourites:

Sing a Song of Mother Goose by Barbara Reid. A compliation of old school nursery rhymes. Do kids even learn these anymore?

Grumpy Bird by Jeremy Tankard. A great little story about a Grumpy Bird who finds solace from some good friends.

Where Is the Green Sheep? by Mem Fox and Judy Horacek. I admit it, I’m a sucker for books that rhyme.

Moo, Baa, La La La! by Sandra Boynton. Simple in concept: what sounds do all the animals make?

What do you look for in a good baby book?