My family is full of people from many cultures and we are always looking for new stories about various traditions to share with our kids. Hanukkah starts early this year on December 4. You and your kids can read about this holiday in Mark Binder’s new hard-bound edition of A Hanukkah Present, It includes 11 entertaining short stories and one longer novella.

I particularly like the story, A Present? For Chanukah? It’s the charming tale of a girl who wonders why she cannot get a Hanukkah present like other non-Jewish kids, only to learn that presents should not be mandatory or expected. The true reason for gift-giving can easily be lost amidst the mass commercialism that surrounds many holidays. This story will make you think about what is important and maybe why kids get Hanukkah presents now.

You can pick up your own copy of A Hanukkah Present and have Mark Binder autograph it at the following events:

Sunday, November 18 at 2pm
Reading and book signing at Barrington Books
Barrington Shopping Center, 184 County Rd., Barrington, RI

Sunday, November 25 at 2pm
Book signing at Books on the Square
471 Angell Street, Providence, RI

Tuesday, November 27 from 4:30 to 6:30pm
Book and CD Signing and ‘Taste of Hanukkah’
Whole Foods, North Main Street Providence, RI

Thursday, December 6 from 6 to 8 pm
Community Hanukkah Party at the Jewish Community Center of RI
401 Elmgrove Ave., Providence, RI

Bellani Maternity celebrates their one year anniversary by planning events for the whole family on Saturday, November 3. This event is all about growing, celebrating, and giving back to the community. Bring a new baby item or toy that will be donated to the Federal Hill House in Providence, Rhode Island (a social service agency that helps families improve their lives).

Enjoy music from Music Together and Kindermusic, face painting and a giant moon bounce for the children. Chair massages, special take home gifts and create a baby keepsake with Wiggle Toes.

Details
November 3, 2007 from 10 am - 1 pm
Bellani Maternity - 1276 Bald Hill Road, Warwick, RI
(401) 234-1279

I believe making arts and crafts part of our everyday lives is important. Whether you buy a handmade card to send to a friend or have a dining room table custom-designed for your home, you can support the arts at many levels and many different price points. But if we consumers continue to shop strictly by price (and who doesn’t love a deal) without caring who makes it, more and more products will be made overseas for cheap regardless of other, less obvious costs (think of all the recent toy recalls).

Help prevent this from happening and check out the Fine Furnishings Show at the Rhode Island Convention Center this weekend. Now in its twelfth year, this show brings together furniture makers and other artisans from around the country for three days to display and sell their work. I recently wrote about my past job co-running the Providence Craft Show, which operated alongside the Fine Furniture Show for three years. Although the craft show in name is no longer, my former partner has organized the craft section of this year’s furniture show. There is sure to be a range of unusual and beautiful things to choose from no matter what your particular style or budget.

Here is our Kidoinfo take on some cool things to check out:

Red Rover Clothing Co. | Fleece Children’s and Baby’s Clothing
Lovely colorful outerwear, accessories, and blankets for children and adults. Made from warm, lightweight, and washable Polartec(R) fabrics as well as several textured fleece fabrics from domestic mills. Accents are added with woven trims (designed at their studio), appliques of ultrasuede and buttons that are exclusive to their line. My boys have unfortunately outgrown their Red Rover hats and mittens - time for some new ones!
artist: Cindy Walsh
studio location: Framingham, MA
email: info@redroverclothing.com)
phone: 508-820-2542
website: www.redroverclothing.com

Underground Velvet | Holiday Stockings
Embossed holiday stockings made by hand from the finest velvets. Velvets are a rayon/polyester blend and iridescent, which means that the fabric is woven from two contrasting thread colors. When embossed, the nuances of color are apparent in bright highlights and colorful shadows. These sturdy and roomy stockings can be filled with holiday cheer for years. Each stocking contains a black rayon lining and has a black ribbon attached. At our house, we each have our own stocking.
artist: Amy Hedler
studio location: Arlington, MA
phone: 781-641-0580
email: amy@undergroundvelvet.com
website: www.undergroundvelvet.com

Karen Krieger Metals | “Hugs and Kisses” Game
The miniature pewter game board is about 1.25 x 1.25″ and comes with 10 pieces in lovely drawstring bag. Retail price - $12
artist: Karen Krieger
studio: Springfield, VT
phone: (802) 885-8777
email: kkmetals@vermontel.net
website: www.karenkrieger.com

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Here is a list of some fun local events!

Pumpkins in the Park
Friday, Oct. 26 and Saturday, Oct. 27, from 6:30 to 8:45 pm
Daggett Delights present Pumpkins in the Park with hundreds of jack-o’-lanterns. This a great place to take little kids. Although this show is not as grand as the thousands of pumpkins that used to be on display at the Roger WIlliams Park Zoo and are now currently on view at McCoy Stadium, little kids will still enjoy the music and the jack-o-lanterns without waiting in long lines or wading through the crowds at the larger events. This event runs concurrently with the Haunted Tunnel. On Saturday also check out the Carousel Fest from Noon to 5 pm at the Slater Park Carousel.
Daggett Farm (Located within Slater Park) - U.S. Route 1-A , Pawtucket, RI
(401) 728-0500, x 245
Admission: For Pumpkins in the Park - $5; free for children under 12.

Halloween Hike - Saturday, Oct. 27, starting at 5:30 pm
(Groups of 15 go off every 10 minutes)
A great alternative to the usual haunted houses. On the guided, mile-long hike through the eerie night forest, participants will encounter characters who will explore with you the myths, legends, and creatures associated with Halloween. These walks are great for young children and the whole family. (In the event of rain, the fun will be moved indoors, where the same skits will be performed in the Nature Center. The building will be transformed into an autumn setting, complete with pumpkins, hay and lanterns.) Refreshments, children’s activities, and a special treat (donated by Whole Foods Market) await your return.
Audubon Society of RI at the Caratunk Wildlife Refuge
- 301 Brown Avenue, Seekonk, MA
(401) 949-5454, ext. 3041
Admission: Registration is required to reserve a time. Spaces are limited. Program Fee: $9/member adult, $7/member child (12 and under); $14/non-member adult, $11/non-member child.

Halloween at the RISD Museum - Saturday, Oct. 27, from 11 am - 4 pm
Third Dimension: Halloween Costumes and Activities.
Children are encouraged to come dressed in costume to this day of art making with a Halloween twist. Discover sculptures of all times and places in the galleries guided by some mysterious mascots. In workshops make special Egyptian-inspired protective amulets or imaginative creatures from wire. At 3pm, the RISD Auditorium is the scene for a special marionette performance of “The Legend of Sleepy Hollow” by New York’s award-winning company “The Puppet People.” Halloween-themed activities for the entire family.
The RISD Museum of Art - 224 Benefit Street, Providence, RI
For more information, email Marianne Ruggiero at mruggier@risd.edu or call (401) 454-6674
Admission: The program is for families of all ages and all activities are absolutely free!

Spooky Zoo Sundays - Sunday, Oct. 28, from 11 am - 3 pm
Head to the zoo for some Halloween-themed family fun. Ghosts and goblins of all ages will enjoy Trick-or-Treat stations, a costume parade, live music, roaming entertainers, and other fun surprises around every corner. On October 28, meet Arthur, courtesy of RI PBS, and hear frighteningly fun music and more with Jordan Cannady.
Roger Williams Park Zoo - 1000 Elmwood Avenue, Providence, RI
(401) 785-3510
Admission: Activities are free with regular zoo admission. All children (12 and under) dressed in costume get in free.

Boo Bash - Sunday, Oct. 28, from 1 - 4 pm
A little bit spooky, and a whole lot of fun. Come in costume to the Children’s Museum Halloween party. Join the friendly witch for special treats in the Pumpkin Patch Cafe, meet scorpions, snakes, lizards and other creepy creatures, play bewitching games, create Halloween crafts to take home and much more! For ages 3 - 11.
Providence Children’s Museum - 100 South Street, Providence, RI.
(401) 273-5437
Admission: $6.50 per person (free for chidren under the age of 12 months). Free for members.

Halloween Storytelling and Parade - Wednesday, Oct. 31, at 4 pm
Join Books on the Square for some spooky storytelling, creepy crafts, and a parade around Wayland Square. Don’t forget to wear your costume! This party is for babies and toddlers…but moms and dads can dress up, too!
Books on the Square - 471 Angell Street, Providence, RI
(401) 331-9097
Admission: Free

Photo Caption: Meet characters and creatures who explore the myths and legends of Halloween on the Audubon Society of Rhode Island’s Mother Nature’s Halloween Hike. Audubon Caratunk Wildlife Refuge, Seekonk, MA.

The tooth fairy is one of those magical myths I remember from my childhood. I imagined that a small fairy similar to Tinker Bell, only quieter, would come into my room while I was asleep and exchange my tooth for a shiny quarter. But now that I have my own kids, I feel like I need a how-to manual for this tradition and fast. Our recent trip to the dentist revealed that both my boys have loose teeth. I am anticipating their many questions and have already managed to avoid several: Who is the Tooth Fairy? Is it a she or he? Is she small? Does she take the tooth? Where does it go? How come some kids get money? How much money? How come some kids get presents? I never really thought about the details or what other parents tell their kids until now.

Losing baby teeth is an important rite of passage for kids. I want to make it fun and magical for my kids like I remember it. I’ve learned a bit from talking to other parents, and my sons’ dentist. Children generally lose their first baby tooth between the ages of 5 and 7, although it can vary. In the United States, it seems the tooth is placed under the child’s pillow at bedtime – sometimes in a special container or Tooth Fairy pillow. During the night, only when the child is asleep, the Tooth Fairy visits and makes an exchange (usually monetary) for the tooth.
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FirstWorks is one of the many things I love about Providence. This amazing organization brings an array of arts to our city twice a year for kids of all ages to experience. Dedicated to firsts, FirstWorks’ mission is to connect arts to audiences - from kids appreciating the arts for the first time to artists premiering new works in our city. The festivals are full of innovation and unforgettable performing arts.

Months ago, I mentioned what a fan Kidoinfo is of the FirstWorksKids festival in June (a free day jam-packed with music, dance, crafts, theater, and more for kids). Well now it is time for the annual FirstWorksProv Festival. Although this festival is geared towards a slightly older audience (tweens and up), it offers something for everyone. At Kidoinfo we love the creative, learning time we spend with our kids, but we are also adults who need to feed our own creative souls.

Read on for your Kidoinfo guide to the 2007 FirstWorks Festival:

FirstWorksProv Festival: September 29 - November
Location: Downtown Providence performance spaces including PPAC, VMA, RISD Auditorium, Pell Chafee Performance Center and Beneficent Church.
Tickets are required for many of the events. Prices range from $18 – 50 with student rush the hour beforehand. Passes for the entire festival as well as group sales are available.
Visit FirstWorksProv or call 401-621-6123 (ArtTix).

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Sheira and Loli are larger than life rag doll twins from the award-winning public television show, Sheira & Loli’s Dittydoodle Works. Together with their lovable and colorful friends, Sheira and Loli teach children important life lessons, values, conflict resolution, and more through a mix of upbeat original music, witty humor, and engaging animated and live-action visuals.

I applaud the show’s creators for their imagination and for choosing to depict twins as individuals. As a mother of twins (and our numbers are increasing), I am amazed how often twins are still shown in identical outfits and portrayed as mischievous. This show breaks that stereotype, entertains our kids, and makes learning fun for the preschool set. You can watch Dittydoodle Works on Saturdays at 6am on Rhode Island PBS (WSBE).

And now the show is taking its unique brand of musical fun on the road to Providence-area kids and families! Dittydoodle Works Pajama Party Live, an energetic live revue, starring the cast of the award-winning public television children’s program, is a full-fledged theatrical extravaganza. The show features set designs from Broadway’s Donyale Werle, whose visionary work has contributed to many hit shows, including High Fidelity, Steel Magnolias, and Avenue Q. Parents and children are encouraged to come dressed in their favorite pajamas and to bring their dancing shoes!

Show details
Saturday, September 29, 2007, 2 pm (75 minutes)
VMA Arts & Cultural Center, 1 Avenue of the Arts, Downtown Providence
Tickets - buy online at www.tickets.com or by calling 800-919-6272
Ticket prices range from $20 to $35

A special contest for Kidoinfo readers!

Enter for your chance to win a family of four pack of tickets to see Dittydoodle Works Pajama Party Live at the VMA Arts & Cultural Center! Sing, laugh, and dance with your favorite characters from the hit children’s public television series as they throw a pajama party! The lucky winners also get to join the cast for an exclusive meet ’n greet before the show! For a full tour schedule and to purchase tickets online, log on to www.dittydoodle.com/livetour!

Owls, hawks, eagles, falcons, and other birds of prey are swooping down on Bristol this weekend accompanied by some of the most well known raptor experts from throughout New England. Many of these majestic birds will be showcased in live flight presentations and educational programs for families and bird lovers of all ages at The Audubon Society of Rhode Island during the 5th Annual Raptor Weekend. Many kids have only read about these awesome birds in books like Owl in Winnie the Pooh. What a great chance for kids and adults to see these birds up close.

In addition to special programming by raptor experts, there will be ongoing activities all weekend. Kids can visit Raptor Learning Stations and participate in crafts, face painting and tattoos, a raffle, refreshments, and much more!


Details
The Audubon Society of Rhode Island Environmental Education Center
1401 Hope Street (Route 114), Bristol, RI
September 8 and 9, 10 am to 4 pm
General Admission: $12.00 per adult, $6.00 per child
Two-Day pass: $20.00 per adult, $10.00 per child
ASRI Member Admission: $10.00 per adult, $5.00 per child
Two-Day pass: $18.00 per adult, $8.00 per child

Photo credit for the eagle (top) - Steve Shannon
Photo credit for the hawk (bottom) - Kim Botelho

And cupcakes. Now there is a new alternative for kids or adults with food allergies - free of eggs, dairy, peanuts, and tree nuts. Sophie-cakes were cooked up three years ago by Lynn and her mother-in-law shortly after Lynn’s daughter was diagnosed with a severe allergy to dairy and eggs. Wanting a special treat for Sophie’s first birthday, they were inspired to create the first Sophie-cake. Soon after they formed “Sophie-Cakes, Allergen-Free Bakery,” which specializes in cakes, cupcakes, and an understanding shoulder for other families to lean on. Choose chocolate or yellow cake with chocolate, vanilla, or crazy “colored” vanilla frosting.

My five-year old boys taste-tested the chocolate cupcakes with vanilla frosting and both agreed the cupcakes were yummy - tasty but not too sweet. One of my sons said he liked them enough to eat 10 cupcakes! His two-and-a-half-year-old cousin declared his cupcake was “super yummy!”

Lynn and her mother-in-law are currently experimenting with recipes that are gluten-free for those with wheat allergies and celiac disease.

A dozen cupcakes costs $20 and a 10″ double-layer round cake costs $45. More sizes available. To receive a complete menu and order your treats, email sophiecakesbakery@yahoo.com or call 401-942-0005.

Bats at the Beach by Brian Lies is full of summer fun and adventures at the beach. Even bats at the beach meet new friends, make sandcastles, fly kites, roast bugmallows and sing by the campfire. Brian’s captivating artwork and beachy verse will enchant kids of all ages.

Keep a look out this summer and you may catch a glimpse of the BATSmobile in a town near you! This cool black car with “Lillian,” the rooftop bat with the 12-foot wingspan, roams around New England stopping at bookstores for some edible bugmallows and some reading fun!

local schedule
• Wellesley Booksmith. Fri., July 6, 1 pm
82 Central Street, Wellesley, MA. (781) 431-1160
• Where the Sidewalk Ends. Wed., July 11, 10 am - 11:30 am
432 Main Street, Chatham, MA. (508) 945-0499
• The Brewster Book Store. Fri., July 13, 10 am - 12 pm
2648 Main Street, Brewster, MA. (508) 896-6543
• Bank Square Books. Sun., July 22, 1 pm - 3 pm
53 West Main Street, Mystic, CT. (860) 536-3795
• Baker Books. Wed., July 25, 10 am
69 State Rd (Route 6), Dartmouth, MA. (800) 339-6705

Check complete schedule. For a yummy project, trying making your own bugmallows.