California Kids!

December 2013

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CALIFORNIA KIDS! Family Fun Guide • DECEMBER 2013

Table of Contents Wordsearch: Happy Holidays and Merry Ho Ho!...page 7 Make it Yourself!.................................page 8 The Book Report: It's Almost Christmas!

by Connie Goldsmith..........................page 9 Perfect Holiday Presents for Kids .................................................... page 11–13 Who Wrote That? Christopher Cheng

by Patricia Newman........................ page 15 Calendar of Events....................... page 20 Parties! Parties!........................ page 22–23

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www.valcomnews.com Publisher: George Macko General Manager: Kathleen Egan Contributing Writers: .

Connie Goldsmith, Patricia Newman Art Director: John Ochoa • Graphic Artist: Ryan Wunn Sales Manager: Patty Colmer Advertising: Jen Henry • 916-429-9901 Distribution/Subscriptions: George Macko Cover Photo: Mihail Kozuharov (http://www.flickr.com/photos/beyonder/8329577419) http://www.flickr.com/people/beyonder/

California Kids! is published monthly and distributed to more than 1,000 locations in the Sacramento Valley, including all of Sacramento County, and portions of Yolo (Davis and Woodland), Placer (Auburn, Newcastle, Rocklin and Roseville), El Dorado (Cameron Park, El Dorado Hills, Placerville), and Nevada (Grass Valley, Nevada City) counties.

Subscriptions are available for $30/year. Mail prepaid check or money order to California Kids!, 2709 Riverside Boulevard, Sacramento, CA 95818. Make sure to specify the person and address to which you wish issues to be mailed.

Deadlines for advertising and calendar listings are the 25th of the month prior to publication. Calendar listings should be mailed to 2709 Riverside Boulevard, Sacramento, CA 95818, faxed to (916) 429-9906, or e-mailed to kathleen@valcomnews.com.

Copyright 2013 by Valley Community Newspapers Inc., 2709 Riverside Boulevard, Sacramento, CA 95818. Phone: (916) 429-9901. Fax: (916) 429-9906.

E-mail:kathleen@valcomnews.com. All rights reserved. Reproduction in whole or in part without written permission is prohibited.

DECEMBER 2013 • CALIFORNIA KIDS! Family Fun Guide

Give the Gif t of Membershi p!

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Fairytale Town events W inter Wonderland, Thursday to Sunday, December 12 to 15 and 19 to 22, 1 to 7 p.m.

Celebrate the holiday season at Fairytale Town!

The storybook park will be trimmed with festive dĂŠcor and lit up with a dazzling

display of lights, starting at dusk. Enjoy hands-on craft activities, holiday vendors, and more at this family holiday event. Two of Santa’s reindeer will visit on December 14 and 15. Visit with Santa in his workshop on December 14 and 15 and

21 and 22. This is a special ticketed event. Tickets are $5 for nonmembers, and members receive 2-for-1 admission. Children 1 and under are free. Please note: During Winter Wonderland, Fairytale Town’s operating hours are from 1 to 7 p.m.

Visit www.fairytaletown. org for more information.

Free Admission Day, Tuesday, December 24, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

On Christmas Eve, Fairytale Town gives the gift of free admission to visiting guests. For more information, visit www.fairytaletown.org or call (916) 808-7462.

CALIFORNIA KIDS! Family Fun Guide • DECEMBER 2013

Have fun coloring!

DECEMBER 2013 • CALIFORNIA KIDS! Family Fun Guide

December events at Maidu Museum & Historic Site • New Exhibit: “Maidu Museum Collections Exhibit” Exhibit Show Dates: Through January 3 This exhibit from the archives and collections of the Maidu Museum & Historic Site includes artwork from well-known Native American artists such as Frank Day, Stan Padilla, Larry Rodriguez, and Paul Stone. Each piece represents and reflects important elements of tribal tradition, embedded within a vitality of vibrant colors, textures and creativity.

• Continuing Exhibit: “Traditional Arts of Jeremy Peconom, Mountain Maidu Artist” Exhibit Show Dates: Through January 6 Jeremy Peconom is a local Maidu Indian artist who has created an amazing collection of traditional tools, weapons and regalia. Jeremy developed his artistic expression of his culture from learning the traditional knowledge passed down to him by his ancestors.

Jeremy continues to follow the traditions of his people in many ways and he believes that the old time ways are more important now than ever.

• All Nations Native Craft Fair, Saturday, December 7, 10 a.m. – 4 p.m. Native American artisans from California tribes and the Cherokee Nation will be selling contemporary jewelry, basketry, and other handmade crafts from traditional materials. Free entertainment includes: tribal drumming, traditional music and singing and free children’s activities. Door prizes will be available throughout the day.

• Museum Free Days: December 1719, 9 a.m. - 4 p.m. Enjoy FREE admission, FREE guided tours at 10 a.m. and FREE children’s activities all day.

• Holiday Closures: Maidu Museum & Historic Site will close early on December 24 at 2 p.m. and will reopen on January 2.

Museum hours are Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 4p.m., Saturday, 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., 3rd Saturdays 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. Guided Tours Saturdays at 10 a.m. Self-guided tours on weekdays. Admission is $4.50 adults, $4 senior/child, $2 after 2 p.m. The museum is located at 1970 Johnson Ranch Drive, Roseville.

For more information, call (916) 774-5934 or visit www.roseville.ca.us/indianmuseum.

Call Jen for ad rates 429-9901

H

oliday Magic at the Sacramento Zoo, Saturday, December 14, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Bundle up the family and come enjoy the holiday season at the Zoo! • Zoofari Market will be open at 10 a.m. for Sacramento Zoo Member shopping. Members recieve a 25% discount with their Membership card. Excludes books, disposable cameras, sunscreen, sunglasses, Fair Trade, and promotional, discounted or sale items.

• Food and Toy Drive: Bring a new, unwrapped toy or non-perishable food item and receive a $1 off your Zoo admission.

• Animal Enrichments: Animals will get special treats delivered to them and staff will be on hand to share facts, secrets and answer your questions.

Schedule of Enrichments, all enrichments will happen at the animals exhibit: 10:30 a.m. - Orangutans 11:00 a.m. - Red River Hogs & Bongos 11:30 a.m.

- Black & White Ruffed Lemurs 12:00 p.m. - Sumatran Tigers 12:30 p.m. - Kangaroos & Emus 1:00 p.m.

- Giant Anteaters 1:30 p.m.

- Lions 2:00 p.m. - River Ot-

ters 2:30 p.m. - Giraffes 3:00 p.m. - Ground Hornbills **Visitors Tip: Keep an eye out for off-schedule enrichments that will be placed on exhibit at the zoo keeper’s convenience.

• PJ Party Christmas Eve, December 24, 10 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Celebrate Christmas Eve at the Zoo, and you don’t even have to change out of your pajamas! That’s right, admission is free and we will be in our best pjs. Join us! Zoo closes at 1:30 pm.

• Zoo Closed on Christmas Day, December 25, the Sacramento Zoo will be closed in observance of Christmas Day. Regular winter hours of 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. will resume on Thursday December 26.

Merry Christmas from the Zoo! For more information, visit www.saczoo.org

CALIFORNIA KIDS! Family Fun Guide • DECEMBER 2013

Effie Yeaw Nature Center SPECIAL EVENT! December 7, Saturday, HOLIDAY SALE, 9 a.m .to 4 p.m.

Help support the Nature Center and pick up some bargains for nature lovers and children on your gift list. All profits from this annual sale benefit the Nature Center’s educational programs. Choose from many beautiful and unique new shop items as well as special guest vendors.

Winter Break Adventures!

The Under the Oaks Kids Camps give children the opportunity to experience, discover and ex-plore the great outdoors.

Each camp is focused on different nature-related themes with hands-on explorations, hikes, games, with crafts and stories.

For more information call (916) 489-4918 or visit SacNatureCenter.net

Free Weekend Activities

December 8, Sunday, 1:30 p.m. - Critter Corner Have you ever wondered where the animals in the Nature Center come from? Join the staff for this program to meet some of their critters and learn why these animals are unable to return to the wild.

December 14, Saturday, 10:30 a.m., Return of the Salmon Join the staff for returning guest speaker Chris Fitzer for a talk about Chinook salmon and steelhead that make annual spawning runs in the American River. Learn their life history and ecology of these two amazing fish species as well as a brief overview on the changes to their historical habitat in the American River.

December 15, Sunday, 1:30 p.m., Birding for Families Bring the family out to join special guest guides from the Sacramento Audubon Society for a birding walk. Birdwatchers of all levels welcomed.

December 21, Saturday, 10:30 a.m., Winter Wonders It’s the first day of winter. Come join a Naturalist for a brisk hike to see what beautiful changes the new season brings.

December 22, Sunday, 1:30 p.m., Build a Backyard Birdfeeder Create a natural bird feeder from pine cones and learn about what birds need to survive the winter. A fun craft for kids of all ages. Supplies are limited. Peanut butter will be used.

December 28, Saturday, 10:30 a.m., Tisssssssss the Season Have you been missing the cold-blooded critters that have been hiding out this winter? Come in to see and learn all about the Nature Centers reptiles that are awake and warm.

December 29, Sunday, 1:30 p.m., Coyote Tales Join the staff for a program all about an animal some people may call the Trickster. Learn about this animal, hear some coyote tales, and get a close-up look at a coyote pelt, skull and even a mounted specimen. Then hit the trails with a Naturalist to search for tracks and scat of these wild canines.

Effie Yeaw Nature Center is located at California Avenue and Tarshes Drive, Carmichael. For more information, call (916) 489-4918 or visit www.sacnaturecenter.net. Donations gratefully accepted. There is a $5 per car County entrance fee into Ancil Hoffman Park (free to members).

DECEMBER 2013 • CALIFORNIA KIDS! Family Fun Guide

Send us your Photos!

California Kids! is looking for themed photos to use for our monthly publication.

This is your BIG chance to land a cover shot!

For more info please contact kathleen@valcomnews.com

Happy Holiday! and Merry Ho! Ho!

H

ey kids! It’s that exciting time of the year again, time for holiday activities and decorating your house and putting up lights! And all those yummy holiday cookies! Can’t wait! To help you get in the holiday spirit, we’ve put together a word seach just for you. How many words can you find that have to do with the holiday?

Look carefully, words can appear vertically, horizontally, diagonally, backward, and upside-down.

E E C P R E S E N T S T R Z K

S S L N S D N A L R A G E W S

U U I F T B E V N T N D E C E

O G T N O K W Z N I T E D A E

H A O I G H R E K N A C N N R

D R Y Y K C E N B S C O I D T

Candy canes Christmas trees Decorations Elf Family Gingerbread house Holly

A C S L I T A N S E L R E Y S

E O O I N V T R T L A A R C A

R O L M G D H A O T U T M A M

B K M A L Y E H C L S I N N T

R I D F C W S U R P S O S E S

E E K S N O W M A N Q N L S I

Hang stockings Jingle bells North Pole Presents Red lights Reindeer

G J I N G L E B E L L S C K R

N H S G N I K C O T S G N A H

I N O R T H P O L E N L B Z C

G O M T L S C S H O L L Y R P

C E L F R E D L I G H T S Q C

Santa Claus Sing carols Snowman Sugar cookie Tinsel Toys Wreath

Make it yourself!

Candy Cane Amaryllis

Snowman Paperwhites

Frosted Snowflakes

You will need:

What you will need:

You will need:

Amaryllis Bulb, red ceramic vase (7” dia. x 6” h), red and white 1” pompoms (approx. 300), marker, ruler, glue, soil water

3 Paperwhite bulbs, 3 glass vases (3” dia. x 9” h), green and white/frosted stones, snowflake stencil, spray paint - frosted window, scotch tape, water

4 Paperwhite Bulbs, Glass Vase (6” dia. x 8” h), snowman Jel stickies, snowflake stickers, decorative vine/wreath, soil, water

You will need to: With ruler and marker, mark a diagonal line on vase with dots. Glue a row of white pompoms along dotted line. Glue a row of red pompoms directly next to the white row. Continue alternating red and white all around the entire vase ,until covered. Fill vase 2/3 full with soil. Place bulb into soil. Leave top 2/3 of bulb exposed. Add 1 c. of water to vase. Place vase in sunny area. Add ½1 c. water every few days to keep soil moist (not soaking). Watch grow- takes approximately 6 weeks to flower.

Holiday Fencing You will need:

You will need to:

You will need to: Place Jel stickies on glass vase. Place snowflake stickers on vase. Fill vase 1/3 full with soil. Place paperwhite bulbs into soil. Press into soil, leave top 2/3 of bulbs exposed. Add 1/2 c. of water into glass vase. Place vase in sunny area. Wrap decorative vine around base of vase. Add ½-1 c. water every few days to keep soil moist (not soaking). Watch grow- takes approximately 3 weeks to flower.

Tape stencil on glass vase. Spray paint stencil and let dry.

Repeat on all vases.

Place stones in each vase, about 3” high.

Add water to each vase, fill to just below the bottom of the bulbs. Place vases in sunny area. Add more water if water level reduces (approx. every week). Watch grow, takes approximately 3 weeks to flower.

Santa’s Helper You will need:

Amaryllis Bulb, circular Styrofoam (8”dia. x 4” h), glass jar (4” dia. x 3” h), decorative sticks, marker, knife, glue, water

Amaryllis Bulb, terra cotta pot and saucer (7” dia. x 6” h), red paint, white faux fur (2”x 24”), black ribbon (1” x 22”), scissors, buckle, glue, soil

You will need to:

You will need to:

With marker, trace bottom of glass jar onto center of foam circle.

With knife cut around the traced mark and cut an “X” shape inside the traced area. Remove 4 inches of foam to fit glass vase. Glue each stick onto outside of foam. Alternating patterns until foam is covered.

Place glass jar inside foam. Add 1/3 c. of water into glass jar. Place Amaryllis in jar. (Water should only touch the roots not the bulb.) Place in sunny area. Add more water if water level reduces (approx. every week). Watch grow, it takes approximately 6 weeks to flower.

Paint pot and saucer red. Let dry. Put glue onto center of ribbon and adhere to the center of pot. With scissors cut small slits, every 3”, along the bottom of ribbon. (This helps keep ribbon flat) Continue to glue ribbon around entire pot. Adhere buckle to ribbon with glue.

Adhere fur along top rim of pot with glue. Fill pot with 2/3rd full of soil. Add bulb and little more soil. (2/3rd of bulb should be exposed.) Add 1 c. water to soil. Place pot in sunny area. Add ½-1 c. water every few days to keep soil moist (not soaking). Watch grow- takes approximately 6 weeks to flower.

By Dig.Drop.Done, the educational campaign about flower bulbs.

CALIFORNIA KIDS! Family Fun Guide • DECEMBER 2013

THE BOOK REPORT

It’s almost Christmas!

By Connie Goldsmith

A

re you having a hard time finding that last-minute gift for a friend’s child, a favorite niece or nephew? Look no further than your local bookstore.

Think about making books part of your Christmas tradition; they live on to become cherished treasures. You’re sure to find books to delight each discerning munchkin. Check out the feast of Christmas books available this season.

“Dinosaur Christmas,” by Jerry Pallota, illustrated by Howard McWilliam. (Scholastic).

It seems that kids never tire of reading about dinosaurs.

This quirky story opens with a simple letter to Santa. “Dear Santa, what did you use to pull your sleigh before you had reindeer?” Santa’s reindeer do a fine job, but he remembers the good old days when dinosaurs pulled his sleigh!

The triceratops was steady, but slow. The pterosaurs flew too high. The stegosaurus was really point and spiky, and the T-rex wouldn’t stop licking Santa! Each dinosaur picture is filled with fun Christmas details – look at them closely! The final picture of Santa and the dinos peering in at the sleeping girl is adorable.

“Deck the Walls: A Wacky Christmas Carol,” by Erin Dealey, illustrated by Nick Ward. (Sleeping Bear Press). Forget about the traditional Christmas family dinner in which halls are decked with holly! Turn a holiday favorite upside down and see what you get: an outrageously hilarious, not so traditional dinner where rambunctious little cousins have a monstrous food fight. “Deck the walls with mashed potatoes. Fa la la la la la la la la. Make a snowman with tomatoes. Fa la la la la la la la la.” The detailed and lively cartoonish illustrations are a perfect match the text. Olive fingers. Stolen cookies. Food hockey. Puzzled parents. This story has all the makings of a new classic.

“The Christmas Cat,” by Maryann Macdonald, illustrated by Amy June Bates. (Dial). Try this book for a new look at the Nativity. “Jesus was beautiful, like all babies. And like all babies, he cried.” Mary rocked him.

Pigeons cooed for him, and the donkey brayed. Nothing could calm baby Jesus until a kitten crept from the shadows. Anyone who has cuddled with a purring cat knows what happened next.

Not only did Jesus stop crying, the pair became good friends.

The author describes how she came to write this lovely story.

Renaissance artist Leonardo da Vinci sketched many drawings of La Madonna del Gatto (the Madonna of the cat) which show Mary holding baby Jesus who holds a cat. The softly-colored art radiates light and love from every page. Don’t miss the end paper that shows the shepherds in the field watching Bethlehem.

“Santa Duck,” by David Milgrim. (Nancy Paulson). This sturdy board book is perfect for the smallest hands. It’s the day before Christmas and Nicolas Duck forgot to tell Santa what he wants for Christmas. When he rushes off to find Santa he finds instead a genuine official Santa costume on his doorstep. Animal after animal stops Nicholas to give him their own wish lists. Chicken wants a helicopter and a hang glider. Cat wants a mouse and a canary.

Rabbit wants a carrot cake the size of a football field! Nicholas finally finds Santa and rattles off all the animals’ Christmas lists – except his own. The digital ink and oil pastel drawings are a perfect match for the lively text cartoon drawings.

“The 12 days of Christmas,” by Jane Cabrera. (Holiday House).

Each Christmas brings forth a new version of this beloved song.

This one is funny and innovative, and sure to tickle young funny bones! We have a pear tree, but no partridge. “On the third day of Christmas, my true love gave to me 3 cute cats, 2 drumming dogs, and a party in a pear tree.” We’ve got skiing squirrels,

DECEMBER 2013 • CALIFORNIA KIDS! Family Fun Guide

snoozing bears, and elves a-baking! The animals are cheerful, simply-drawn, yet colorful and humorous. Cutest of all may be the 4 magic mice, conjuring up a boodle of smartly-wrapped gifts.

Sheet music for the 12 days of Christmas, set to the author’s lyrics is included. Don’t miss the end papers, which visually extend the story line giving listeners a chance to describe the action in their own words.

“Cinders: a Chicken Cinderella,”

by Jan Brett. (Penguin). Renowned author/illustrator Jan Brett’s Cinderella Christmas book is truly original. First, she sets it in Russia during a snowy winter, making for a gorgeous backdrop. Secondly, Cinders and her family are chickens, but chickens unlike any other. They live in a cozy heated house. They talk. They get invitations to royal parties! Just like the traditional

Cinderella story, Cinders is left behind when the other chickens ready themselves for Prince Cockerel’s ball. Cinder’s fairy godmother is a white silkie who changes pigeons into footmen and mice into liverymen driving the troika of ducks. Brett’s rendering of the Russian landscape and architecture, and the chickens and their gowns is lushly elegant. The center four-page fold-out of Cinders and Prince Cockerel is spectacular. ** Reviewer’s pick of the month**

“The Family Christmas Treasury.”

(Houghton Mifflin Harcourt).

This hefty book (nearly 300 pages) comes with its own CD of Christmas music and eight beloved stories interspersed with words to eight well-known carols. Enjoy original art and stories such as, Merry Christmas, Curious George; The Finest

Christmas Tree; Lyle at Christmas; Merry Christmas, Ollie; and Merry Christmas, Strega Nona.

This anthology of well-known holiday stories and music is truly a Christmas treasure meant for a family to keep and to pass down to the next generation! It’s also the ideal gift for friends and relatives with children.

Connie Goldsmith (www.conniegoldsmith.com) lives in Carmichael where she writes for adults and children. Her newest nonfiction juvenile books, “Bombs over Bikini: the world’s first nuclear disaster,” and “Traumatic Brain Injury: from concussion to coma,” are coming out in the spring. Other books include: “Battling Malaria: on the Front Lines Against a Global Killer,” and “Influenza,” one of the USA Today Health Reports series. Her books can be found in school and public libraries, and at online booksellers.

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CALIFORNIA KIDS! Family Fun Guide • DECEMBER 2013

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Skwooshi– Let’s have some fun!

The whole family is all smiles with Skwooshi.

Parents love the new, creative, messfree dough that keeps their children occupied for hours. Kids love to skwoosh it and stretch it as far as their imagination will take them.

Skwooshi is the cool new compound from Irwin Toy that stretches, molds, and shapes into amazing detail with no mess and will never dry out. With 10 colors available, there is no telling what creation will be brought to life.

Individual packs as well as larger activity sets available for maximum fun and creativity.

Skwooshi is recommended for children 4 years and up and ranges in price from $2.99 to $29.99. Now available at retail. To learn more about Skwooshi, visit http://skwooshi.com or https:// www.facebook.com/Skwooshi.

Sesame Street: Fairytale fun Celebrate the holidays with Despicable Me 2! available now!

The holiday season just got even brighter Complete with Special Bonus Feature: CinderElmo!

Abby goes on an adventure through everyone’s favorite fairytales and nursery rhymes as Warner Bros. Home Entertainment and Sesame Workshop, the nonprofit educational organization behind Sesame Street, release Sesame Street: Fairytale Fun on DVD. Sesame Street: Fairytale Fun has more than 2 hours of educational and engaging content including Mother Goose, Hansel and Gretel, Jack Be Nimble and more!

After hearing a story about turning frogs into princes with a kiss, Abby wonders if this magic could work on Oscar the Grouch himself as Elmo and Abby’s journey begins! From helping Mother Goose create a rhyme, to memory games with Hansel and Gretel, these learning adventures can all be found in this fun-packed DVD. The dvd can be purchased at http://www. wbshop.com

Y Glider XL is awesome!

Snake Oil - It Cures what Ails Ya!

T h e Y Glider XL is an advanced three-wheeled scooter for kids ages 5 to 9 years old. It features Yvolution’s unique patented “Lean to Steer” technology for easy steering, giving the rider total control to carve or cruise. With a reinforced riding deck with builtin grips, two-toned enhanced front wheels and an extra-wide rear wheel, this performance scooter offers a smooth ride and provides an enhanced experience versus traditional two wheel scooters. An adjustable handle bar with rubber grips makes Y Glider XL perfect for riders of varying heights. The easy-stop rear wheel braking system allows kids to both have fun and be safe. Ages 5+ (max weight 88 lbs). Available in red/black, pink/black or green/black. Available at Toys“R”Us stores nationwide and online at www.Toysrus.com/Yvolution.

Get your family and friends together for non-stop laughs with a new board game from Out of the Box Games, Snake Oil! In the Old West, sly snake oil salesmen had the special talent of getting even the most skeptical customer to buy the most dubious product. In Snake Oil, the new, popular, family-friendly board game from Out of the Box Games, that’s exactly what players get to do. One player draws a card and becomes the customer, while the other players each select two Word Cards from their hands to create a product to pitch to the Customer. Laughter erupts as each player attempts to persuade the Customer that their item is the best. The Customer picks their favorite item, and that player is awarded the Customer Card.

The player with the most Customer Cards wins! Ages 10+. Snake Oil! is available at most specialty game stores. For more information or to purchase the game, visit http:// www.otb-games.com

DECEMBER 2013 • CALIFORNIA KIDS! Family Fun Guide

with Despicable Me 2, on Blu-ray™ and Bluray 3D™ Combo Packs, DVD and Digital HD including UltraViolet™, from Universal Studios Home Entertainment. In addition to more than 45 minutes of hilarious and insightful bonus features, Blu-ray Combo Packs will include, from the makers of Despicable Me, three all-new mini-movies starring the film series’ breakout stars, the mischievous but lovable Minions.

Gru, his adorable girls, and the mischievous Minions are back with a cast of unforgettable new characters in the blockbuster sequel to the worldwide phenomenon.

From Universal Studios Home Entertainment.

New puzzles from Recent Toys!

Check out two new puzzles from Recent Toys. Gear Shift is deceptively difficult. The rotation of the eight interlocking gears is a seemingly simple operation. However, once you discover that the core can be pulled apart, the difficulty skyrockets; as this function changes the shape of the puzzle by allowing each gear to move independently. Gear Cube requires twelve 90 degree turns to complete one full rotation, using a full gear mechanism. It’s simply brilliant.

Recent Toys specializes in producing innovative, mentally stimulating, cutting-edge brainteasers. While all of their puzzles are characterized by high-quality, edgy designs, and clever game play, each puzzle is unique in concept and offers an entirely new challenge. www.recenttoysonline.com Ages 8+

Uncle Milton lights up the holiday Wall Friends – Mickey Mouse Watch and listen as your child’s favorite Disney Junior and Mickey Mouse Clubhouse character, Mickey Mouse, lights up and talks to them in their room! They can talk to him too: then push the remote control to hear his next fun, familiar phrase. Features auto shut-off and remote control. Ages 3+ Wild Walls – Full Power Aerial Pursuit (Iron Man) Create an awesome light and sound experience on your wall like you’ve never seen. Use the peel’n stick decals to design the Iron Man Full Power Aerial Pursuit scene. Blue energy ray light effects, just like Iron man’s Repulsor Ray technology, gently fade in and out, illuminating your wall. With flying combat sound effects, the synchronized light and sounds bring the scene to life. Features auto shut-off. Iron Man decal is over 23 inches high and the light effect spreads over 20 sq. feet. Ages 5+ Spider-Man Web Creator Lab Get ready to create your own spider webs. Liquify, inject, and extract your own webs using the Spider-Man Web Creator Lab. Sticky or stretchy? Web balls or web nets? Red or blue webs? You decide. Then let the web adventure begin.

The all-inclusive web lab has everything you need to create the webs, including reusable web material to use again and again. Ages 6+ Toys can be found at Toys "R" us and Amazon.com.

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Developmental toys for the smallest Disney fans!

The Alpha And Omega Movie

Limited Holiday Edition Available

Snuggle up together and enjoy a brand new journey the whole family can share this howl-iday season with Alpha and Omega 2: A Howl-iday Adventure from Lionsgate Home Entertainment.

Kate and Humphrey and their three wolf cubs (Stinky, Claudette and Runt) are happily preparing to celebrate their first winter holidays together when their smallest cub, Runt, mysteriously disappears. They must now go on a new journey across the wilderness to find and bring back Runt before the winter festivities begin at home. It’s their greatest adventure yet, filled with action and suspense as well as plenty of the humor and heartwarming moments that made the original.

The Blu-ray Combo Pack and DVD, containing all-new special features that include a behind the scenes look at the making of Alpha and Omega 2, fun wolf trivia and an “Are you an Alpha or an Omega?” quiz plus a sneak peek at future Alpha and Omega adventures, is available exclusively at Walmart locations nationwide.

DreamWorks Holiday Collection available for the first time. This limited edition collection features four holiday favorites in one DVD gift set.

The glittering box set includes: Shrek The Halls, Merry Madagascar, Kung Fu Panda Holiday and Dragons Holiday: Gift of the Night Fury as well as bonus features including games, music videos and more!

Start a new holiday tradition! Bring the family together in front of the fire and get cozy —The DreamWorks Holiday Collection provides hours of entertainment for all ages. Celebrate the season with Shrek, Alex, Po, Toothless and more.

You can find the holiday collection at all major retailers where DVDs are sold; Walmart, Best Buy, Target and on Amazon.

Cute zombie collectibles with special powers!

Bringing zombies to real life and entertain ment to the teen and tween market, Kids Preferred launched a new brand at Comic-Con this year called “Yarn Zombies.” This line of collectibles, known as JUJUz™, are equipped with unique “mojo-protecting” special powers. Yarn Zombies LLC, was formed by toy veterans John Lee (founder of Learning Curve Toys, Callaway Digital Arts and Bambini Partners), and Jerry Welch, (former owner of FAO Schwarz and CEO of Zany Brainy and the Right Start).

Yarn Zombies are designed to make teens and tweens feel empowered in a world they can’t control. Each JUJU is designed by and imbued with special powers to ward off ‘bad stuff’ that can ruin an otherwise good day. For example, one shown, Muffy JUJU, protects against all forms of facial anxiety, forehead flare-ups, and hair where it don’t belong. MUFFY the beautiful, wards against feeling down about your own looks and helps teens redefine beauty, reminding everyone that they are beautiful just the way they are. Characters include FANGz, ANITA, BRAD AND ANGIE, ROXY, LOBEz, COUNT, SKIP, MUFFY, and SOKz. You can purchase yarn zombies at Hot Topic - www.HotTopic.com. For more information, visit the website at www.kidspreferred.com.

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Stuffed toys that give back!

A new line of plush stuffed toys that teaches kids a lesson about how to be charitable has already donated $95,000 to charity in just its first year!

Monkeez Makes a Difference is a cuddly, cute collection of sock monkey characters. There are more than 90 stuffed characters to choose from - including owls, kangaroos, monkeys and bears.

With each cuddly character, comes a special code for your child to redeem at www.monkeezandfriends.com. This is “junior philanthropy” at its finest – as your child is empowered to select a charity to which they’d like to contribute.

Then, Monkeez Makes a Difference donates 10 percent of the wholesale cost of the toy to that charity. The three charity partners are: Alex’s Lemonade Stand Foundation, Samaritan’s Purse, and Best Friends Animal Society. The stuffed characters come in several sizes.

They’re extremely high quality (sold at fine stores such as Nordstrom & Neiman Marcus), ranging from $3 to $100.

Dive into the Holiday Season with Octonauts!

Octonauts, now airing on the Disney Junior block of the Disney Channel, is taking America’s preschool set by storm. Working closely with NOAA (National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration), and advised by a team of marine biologists, Octonauts features fast-paced, high-peril action grounded in scientific discovery and true-to-life exploration of the natural world.

The Octonauts live in an undersea base, the Octopod, where they go on adventures with the help of a fleet of aquatic vehicles. Kids can have fun playing with the Octopod Playset, from Fisher Price, featuring over 10 pay pieces and 10 phrases and OctoAlert sound effect. It is available at Toys R Us. The first-ever Octonauts DVD from NCircle can be found at Toys R Us. You can find more information about Octonauts at www.octonauts.com.

The new developmental activity toys featuring beloved Disney characters Mickey and Minnie, Pooh and Friends, Nemo, Squirt and Dumbo will delight both babies and parents alike!

Kids Preferred designs each item to make early childhood exploration a memorable and exciting activity full of new experience that encourages growth and discovery during playtime. Each developmental toy offers a new world of color, sound, movement and enjoyment, plus teethers for their newest fans.

And they would be a perfect gift for any little ones in your life! As an example, this adorable Minnie Mouse character shown is brightly colored, and includes a mirror, crinkle textures, a chime, teethers and textured rings. Use at home or while traveling with convenient onthe-go clip. You purchase them at a Kids Preferred Store on Amazon. com. Go to: http://www.amazon. com/Kids-Preferred-DisneyActivity-Minnie.

Meet Peppa!

Bedtime Peppa Bedtime has never been cozier!

This soft and cuddly plush Peppa f r o m Fisher-Price will sing a sweet lullaby at bedtime. Give her a squeeze and her cheeks will light up as she counts sheep. When it’s time to start a brand new day, just pick Peppa up and she’ll sing a wake-up song. Sold exclusively at Toys R’ Us. Muddy Puddles Bathtime Peppa - Bath time has never been more fun with this new toy from Fisher Price! Help Peppa get clean after a day spent in muddy puddles! Also includes a George water-squirter, a scrub brush and a bathtub caddy that sticks on tub walls. Sold exclusively at Toys R’ Us.

CALIFORNIA KIDS! Family Fun Guide • DECEMBER 2013

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New products from Techno Source NFL RUSH ZONE Board Game (Techno Source) Backed by the power of the NFL, the NFL RUSH ZONE Board Game brings home the Battle of the Gridiron as the first board game to truly capture the excitement on the field, teaching players the rules of NFL football along the way. Fun for the whole family, players split into teams and a coin flip starts the game. The offense rolls dice to keep the drive alive, while the defense tries to sack the quarterback and force a turnover. Includes all 32 NFL teams – suit up as your favorite team and score as many points as possible before the game is over at the end of the 4th quarter to win. For two to six players (split into two teams). Average playtime: 20-30 minutes per game. Ages 7+. You can purchase this game at Toys R Us, Kmart and Target.

At Toys“R”Us stores nationwide and online at www.Toysrus.com/Yvolution.

Flying Pterodactly!

Ride in style at the skate park!

ANIMAL PLANET™ R E M O T E CONTROL FLYING PTERODACTYL Soar to new heights with the Remote Control Flying Pterodactyl! This prehistoric reptile flies with the power of wireless radio-control technology, while built-in propellers provide extra precision and stability.

The dual joystick transmitter is easy to handle, even for beginners. Wireless precision speed control and foam construction makes this flying creature easy to use and durable. It also comes with built in rechargeable batteries and charges directly from the remote.

Age 8+ Available at Toys R Us.

Show off your new moves with this Untamed skateboard from Airwalk. Made with sturdy 9-ply maple deck and smooth gliding ABEC-3 bearings, you can rock your board in style through the park or neighborhood. For more information and purchases, visit Amazon.com.

Power Rangers Morph Through 20 Years

A Fun-Filled Adventure –THE SMURFS 2

The number one boys live-action series returns for its 20th anniversary season with an all-new series, Power Rangers Megaforce currently airing on Nickelodeon.

Power Rangers Megaforce: Ultimate Team Power – Volume 1 includes the first four episodes of Power Rangers Megaforce from Lionsgate Home Entertainment. Power Rangers Megaforce: Ultimate Team Power – Volume 1 includes the “Power Rangers Morph Through 20 Years” featurette.

Sony Pictures Animation’s THE SMURFS 2 arrives on 3D™ combo pack*, Blu-ray™ combo pack*, DVD and Digital HD UltraViolet™ from Sony Pictures Home Entertainment. This heartwarming new adventure reunites the world’s favorite three apple-high creatures, bringing loads of laughs for every member of the family.

Only included on the 3D and Blu-ray combo packs is Sony Pictures Animations’ animated Smurfs mini-movie, “The Legend of Smurfy Hollow.” In this minimovie inspired by the classic tale “The Legend of Sleepy Hollow,” the Smurfs learn the traditional values of friendship and family. The combo packs also come with three all-new, kid-friendly featurettes, including “The Puurrfect Companion: Azreal’s Tail,” showing how Gargamel’s sidekick was created, from the live-action cat to the digital double, and how actor Frank Welker brought the character to life.

For more information or to purchase visit Amazon.

Link to purchase: Power Rangers Megaforce from Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Power-RangersMegaforce-Ultimate-Team/dp/B00DRCYCRU

New from ENDLESS GAMES!

It’s a fun, fast frenzy!

TENZI- The rules are simple, and fun for the whole family! Great for 2-4 players, and everyone gets ten dice. Someone says, “go,” and then everyone rolls and rolls as fast as they can until someone gets all their dice on the same number (10 3’s for example). The first player to do this shouts “TENZI” and wins the game! Named the 2012 Toy of the Year

by ASTRA (American Toy Retailing Association) and 2013 Game of the Year by Learning Express. For more information, visit www.tenzi.com Ages 7+ DECEMBER 2013 • CALIFORNIA KIDS! Family Fun Guide

Board games are always a great holiday gift, and Endless Games is always on the cutting edge of games that are fun for the whole family. For ages 3 to 103, Endless Games offers card, dice, party, word, strategy, trivia, survey and pop culture games for everyone!

New games like Korner’D, a proud partner of Autism Speaks, is a great challenge for everyone, including those with special needs. Korner’D is a puzzle that’s also a game! A challenging game of pattern, perception, and discovery. The rules are simple, just match the colors on the tile to the pattern on the board. It brings excitement with each new discovery, and frustration each time you find yourself KORNER’D! Ages 8+ And, Oddly Obvious, the wild new party game where all the answers are right in front of you. One player reads clues while the other players race to spot the correct answers on a game card. The trick, the answers are each in different fonts and colors, written up, down, and even upside down. Shout out the most correct answers to win. It’s not as easy as you think! Ages 12+ Other great travel games and board games at www. endlessgames.com.

Small Frys the perfect stocking stuffer!

The Build-aBear Smallfrys collection of limited edition, small-sized, prestuffed pals are perfectly priced and pop easily into stockings.

New for the holidays are Festive Elf, Hot Cocoa Moose, Toy Soldier and Merry Mint Pup. Animal lovers will love finding a mini Pink Pal Hippo or Snuggly Panda in their stockings Christmas morning. Dress smallfrys in a variety of outfits and accessories.

For more information visit www. buildabear.com or visit a Build-ABear store in your area

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CALIFORNIA KIDS! Family Fun Guide • DECEMBER 2013

Who wrote that?

The Creators of Your Child’s Favorite Books Featuring Christopher Cheng

By Patricia Newman

W

hen Christopher Cheng enters a room, the first thing one notices is his long braid. “I haven’t cut my hair in thirteen-plus years,” he says. The second thing one notices is his smile. “I guess I have always been a pretty positive person. I look past the bad and see the good…in people, the environment, in life.” When he begins to speak in his lovely Australian accent, his energy and enthusiasm for life and learning infuse every syllable.

Cheng studied to be a teacher, but there were no classrooms available after graduation. Instead, he began an eight-year career as an educator at the Taronga Zoo in Sydney, Australia. He taught thousands of children about monkeys, pythons, kangaroos, wombats, bats, possums, lizards and more.

During his tenure at the zoo, he wrote several brochures, informational articles, and teachers’ guides. Then Scholastic came calling with a book idea.

Throughout college Cheng’s children’s literature professor encouraged him to share his stories and he still has copies of his books from childhood, so writing for children seemed like a natural fit. “It wasn’t until my first book came out, Eyespy Book of Night Creatures, that I realized that writing for kids was so very way cool!”

One book became four books, and Cheng was hooked.

His life, the environment, the zoo, and the children he met there became fodder for stories. The genesis for One Child began during a conversation with some students while Cheng worked at the zoo.

They questioned whether one

person could make a difference in the world. Cheng’s positive outlook on life would not allow him to believe otherwise, and he set out to prove his case in his book.

Cheng loves museums, and like many authors, finds inspiration in them. In association with Powerhouse Museum, Cheng wrote Australia’s Greatest Inventions and Innovations.

Everyone knows that Vegemite (a dark brown spread made with yeast and vegetable extracts, with added spices and minerals) is an Aussie invention, but Cheng wanted to showcase the stories behind other Aussie feats, such as WiFi, dual flush toilets, a blood glucose monitor, and spray on skin for burn victims.

The initial idea for Sounds Spooky came from strange sounds on Cheng’s roof. “We gets lots of sounds on our tin roof, but these were really, really strange,” he says. He scribbled down several ideas for the sounds, playing with words and onomatopoeia. But for anyone who believes that

DECEMBER 2013 • CALIFORNIA KIDS! Family Fun Guide

writing a picture book is easy because it’s short, Sounds Spooky contradicts that theory. It took Cheng ten years to perfect the suspense, the rhythm, and the scary mood of the story.

Research is a huge part of Cheng’s writing process. While writing New Gold Mountain and The Melting Pot, two historical fiction titles, Cheng says, “I spent ginormous amounts of time researching…I spent three months buried in our oldest library and in the national archives uncovering letters and documents and reference material to add to my accumulated knowledge. I read stacks of newspapers of the day (1860s) and copied heaps, and then spent the next three months writing and rewriting and rewriting and rewriting the manuscript.”

One of the many thrills Cheng experienced while working on these projects was the librarians’ enthusiasm at unearthing a new source or suggesting a new research tactic.

Sometimes, however, Cheng’s research takes a more practical turn. Python is his lyrical ode to a fascinating creature, and the Taronga Zoo was his library.

“Living with the wonderfully glorious slithery animal for [almost] eight years taught me nearly all that I needed to know,” Cheng says. “I just love the massage that an adult diamond python gives while slithering across the shoulders!”

Cheng welcomes editorial feedback on his work. “I cannot do without my editors. I need my editors. I adore my editors,” he says. “That said, I have been more stubborn as I have progressed. Where I once always said ‘yes’ [to changes], I now say, ‘let’s think about that.’ Then we to and fro. Sometimes I stick to my guns, other times I agree with their suggestions.”

The morning hours are Cheng’s creative time, and

he takes full advantage of a quiet house after his wife, also a teacher, leaves for work. “I kick my wife off to school, answer emails, and then I write for the morning disturbed only by a freshly brewed pot of tea (read here, no teabags).” Cheng takes great pride in making his own lunch—no fast food--unless it is a “boys’ lunch day” in which case, he meets his neighbor at a local café. Although he may edit a manuscript later in the day, he says “my gray cells are stuffed and my synapses are totally not firing by the afternoon.” When his wife returns home from school, they catch up over afternoon tea.

Cheng sums up writing in one sentence, “I have the best

job in the world!” He masterfully communicates this enthusiasm in every book.

Next month: Heather Montgomery Patricia Newman visits schools!

Her newest books Navy SEALs: Elite Operations and Army Special Forces: Elite Operations are now available. Other titles include: Jingle the Brass, recommended by the Smithsonian National American History Museum; Nugget on the Flight Deck, recipient of the California Reading Association’s Eureka! Silver Honor Award for excellence in children’s nonfiction; Energy Lab: Biofuels and Energy Lab: Water Power. Visit her website at www.patriciamnewman. com for more information.

LEARN MORE ABOUT christopher cheng Visit: www.chrischeng.com

SELECTIONS FROM Christopher Cheng’s LIBRARY Water, AFCC Publications, 2013.

Python, Candlewick, 2013.

Sounds Spooky, Random House, 2012.

Australia’s Greatest Inventions and Innovations, Random House, 2012.

60 Classic Australia Poems, Random House, 2011.

The Melting Pot, Scholastic, 2007.

30 Amazing Australian Animals, Random House, 2007.

New Gold Mountain, Scholastic, 2005.

One Child, Era Publications, 1997.

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CALIFORNIA KIDS! Family Fun Guide • DECEMBER 2013

Effie Yeaw Nature Center offers the perfect gift!

Discovery Museum S Science & Space Center activities • Rip Roarin’ Rockets!, Saturday and Sunday, December 7 and 8
Steve Ainsworth and Kay Tracey, both official NASA Science Ambassadors, are at the museum to talk with visitors about rocketry. Catch their noon and 2 p.m. presentations about rockets. In the Space Quest! exhibit, little ones pretend to fly in our rocket ship play station while wearing astronaut costumes. Test your aeronautical engineering skills by building a simple straw rocket and launching it. Your admission includes a planetarium show (1 and 3 p.m., ages 4 and older). • Meet A Scientist!, Saturday and Sunday, December 14 and 15
Visit the Discovery Museum this weekend to meet some amazing scientists from UC Davis. Multiple scientists are available each day to interact with your family, sharing their research and offering a hands-on activity to connect you with current science in our community. Children 12 and under receive a souvenir pin once they complete a “science passportâ€?. This is a wonderful opportunity to have children meet a real scientist. Please join the staff for this exciting event. Planetarium shows are at 1 or 3 p.m. for ages 4 and older. • Paper Drop Decoration, Saturday - Tuesday, December 21 to 24
Begin your winter break by making a keepsake holiday decoration. Kids 12 and under enjoy constructing a paper drop ornament. Hang it in the house to remind you of your day at the Discovery Museum. Multiple colors of construction papers are available to represent different winter holidays.

Admission includes an animal presentation at noon and 2 p.m., the Space Quest! exhibit and planetarium shows at 1 and 3 p.m. (for ages 4 and older).

implify your holiday gift giving and feel good about supporting environmental education programs at the Effie Yeaw Nature Center with these 5 great gift ideas!  • Go on a holiday gift shopping spree at the annual Holiday Gift Sale Saturday, December 7, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Free parking, refreshments and guest vendors sweeten the deals on the expanded selection of toys, books, jewelry, clothing and other unique items. Some supplies are limited so come early for the best selection.

• A gift certificate for the Discovery Gift Shop Let the folks on your gift list pick out something just right from our wonderful selection.

Call 489-4918 to purchase a gift certificate over the telephone and have it mailed or stop by and pick one up. The perfect size for tucking into a holiday card or stocking. • An Effie Yeaw Nature Center animal adoption Adoption packages include a variety of goodies and can be purchased at the Nature Center or online. The center can even send the adoption package directly to the gift recipient with your name as the giver. More information and order form at: http://www.sacnaturecenter.net/visitthecenter/ ourresidentanimals.html • A membership to the American River Natural History Association.

Benefits include free parking in Ancil Hoffman Park for one year, the quarterly ACORN newsletter, discounts in the Discovery Gift Shop, as well as discounts on special events and programs at the Nature Center.Â

• For smaller nature-lovers – A reservation in one of the Winter Under the Oaks kids camps. The camps give children the opportunity to experience, discover and explore the great outdoors. Each camp is focused on different nature-related themes with hands-on activities and explorations, hikes and games, with crafts and stories. See details at website: www.sacnaturecenter.net/wintercamp2013. html  The Effie Yeaw Nature Center is open 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., Tuesday through Sunday. CLOSED Christmas Day, December 25. It is located at 2850 San Lorenzo Way, Carmichael.

• New Year’s Banner, Thursday and Friday, December 26 and 27
Make the end of 2013 memorable by visiting the Discovery Museum with family and friends.

Explore exhibits, a nature walk and the craft room. Kids 12 and under color and assemble a New Year Banner to take home. Admission includes an animal presentation at noon and 2 p.m., the Space Quest! exhibit and planetarium shows at 1 and 3 p.m. (for ages 4 and older). • Winter Scienceland, Saturday - Tuesday, December 28 - 31
It may not snow often in Sacramento but that does not mean that we cannot celebrate the science of snow. Learn a bit about snowflakes. As a take home, children 12 and under craft a Jack Frost wand. Admission includes these activities, an animal presentation at noon and 2 p.m., the Space Quest! exhibit and planetarium shows at 1 and 3 p.m. (for ages 4 and older).

The Discover Museum Science and Space Center is open 10 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Science Discovery activities are from noon to 4 p.m. The museum is located at 3615 Auburn Boulevard, Sacramento. Admission is $8 adults (18+), $7 seniors (60+), $7 teens (13-17), $6 children (4-12), $0 children (3 and under). Activities are ages appropriate for 4 to 12 years old. For more information, call (916) 808-3942 or visit www.thediscovery.org.


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DECEMBER 2013 • CALIFORNIA KIDS! Family Fun Guide

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Delicious cakes for the holiday!

E

ach uniquely baked to perfection and full of flavor, Dockside Market’s cakes are an easy solution to any holiday shopping problem. The cakes come in flavors such as: Key Lime, Sunrise Orange/Chocolate Chocolate Chip, Calypso Coconut, Honeybell Orange, Chocolate Chocolate Chip, Captains Chocolate Chip, Island Rum Cake, Key Largo Lemon and Cabana Banana Nut.

The Product line includes: • Towers- Great gift idea including a combination of cakes in either Chocolate, Honeybell or Key Lime flavors all wrapped up in a festive bow, making it the perfect last minute gift.

• Bundt Cakes- Great as a gift or just for yourself these cakes come in all flavors, the most famous being Key Lime.

• Mini Sample Pack- Not sure which flavor you like best?

These mini- cakes come in packs of six or eight and have a variety of all tropical flavors.

Dockside Market bakes them one at a time to ensure they are moist, full of a rich taste and texture. The use of only the freshest ingredients and genuine Key Lime Juice makes Key Lime the most famous flavor at Dockside Market as well as their #1 seller. These cakes are perfect for holidays, parties, gifts or even a personal treat!

For more information, call 1-800-813-2253 or visit www.docksidemarket.com.

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CALIFORNIA KIDS! Family Fun Guide • DECEMBER 2013

Parenting Topic: Bring Books To Life With Interactive Reading A Message from First 5 Sacramento

W

hen children are actively part of the storytelling experience, it helps their brains to develop and prepares them to read independently later.

And they like it better!

So when you read with your children, try asking them questions that will help them to think about the story and relate the stories to their life experiences.

The best questions don’t have one right answer. Ask questions that prompt your child to think about the story and express an opinion.

Doing this helps children to practice language, develop bigger vocabular-

DECEMBER 2013 • CALIFORNIA KIDS! Family Fun Guide

ies, and develop a love of books and reading aloud together.

Try these interactive reading tips and watch stories come to life for your child: 1. Before you read the book, look at some of the pictures and ask, “What do you think the story will be about?”

2. While you read the book, stop occasionally and look at the pictures.

For example, if you were reading “The Three Little Pigs,” you might stop and ask “Look at this picture!

How do you know that the wolf is having a hard time blowing down the house?” (e.g., the wolf’s face, the brick house is standing, the pigs are laughing...) or you might ask

“Can you remember a time when you tried to blow something?” (e.g., bubbles, birthday candles).

3. When you finish reading the book, you might ask, “What would you use to build your house?” Then take it a step further, “Tell me more about why you chose to build your house out of that.”

Spend quality time together while encouraging the magic of reading at the Library. There are 26 libraries in Sacramento County. See locations at www.saclibrary.org.

About First 5 Sacramento Research shows that a child’s brain develops most dramatically in the first five years and what parents and care-

givers do during these years to support their child’s growth will have a meaningful impact throughout life. Based on this research, California voters passed Proposition 10 in 1998, adding a 50 cents-per-pack tax on tobacco products to support programs for expectant parents and children ages zero to five.

In the last year, First 5 Sacramento distributed approximately $14 million a year in Prop 10 revenues to programs and services that meet local needs.

Each county has a First 5 Children and Families Commission providing unique local services for that county.

Surrounding First 5’s include: First 5 Yolo: 530-669-2475; First 5 Placer: 530-745-1304; and First 5 El Dorado: 530-672-8298.

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Calendar of Events Arts & Crafts December 22, Build a Backyard Birdfeeder, 1:30 p.m., 2850 San Lorenzo Way, Carmichael. Come to the Effie Yeaw Nature Center and create a natural bird feeder from pine cones and learn about what birds need to survive the winter. A fun craft for kids of all ages.

Supplies are limited. Peanut butter will be used. For more information, call (916) 489-4918.

Critter Events December 8, Critter Corner, 1:30 p.m., 2850 San Lorenzo Way, Carmichael. Have you ever wondered where the animals in the Effie Yeaw Nature Center come form? Join the staff for htis program to meet some of their critters and learn why these animals are unable to return to the wild. For more information, call (916) 489-4918.

December 14, Return of the Salmon, 10:30 a.m., 2850 San

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Lorenzo Way, Carmichael. Join the staff at Effie Yeaw Nature Center for returning guess speaker Chris Fitzer for a talk about Chinook salmon and steelhead that make annual spawning runs in the American River. Learn their life history and ecology of these two amazing fish species as well as a brief overview on the changes to their historical habitat in the American River. For more information, call (916) 489-4918.

December 15, Birding for Families, 1:30 p.m., 2850 San Lorenzo Way, Carmichael. Bring the family out to join special guest guides from the Sacramento Audubon Society for a birding walk. Birdwatchers of all ages welcome. For more information, call (916) 489-4918.

December 28, Tissssssssss the Season, 10:30 a.m., 2850 San Lorenzo Way, Carmichael. Have you been missing the cold-blooded critters that have been hiding out this winter? Come to the Effie Yeaw Nature Center to see and learn all about the Nature Centers reptiles that are awake and warm. For more information, call (916) 489-4918.

December 29, Coyote Tales, 1:30 p.m., 2850 San Lorenzo Way, Carmichael. Join the staff

at the Effie Yeaw Nature Center for a program all about an animal some people may call the Trickster. Learn about this animal, hear some coyote tales, and get a close-up look at a coyote pelt, skull and even a mounted specimen. Then hit the trails with a naturalist to search for tracks and scat of these wild canines. For more information, call (916) 489-4918.

Nature Events December 8, Plants with a Purpose, 1:30 p.m, 2850 San Lorenzo Way, Carmichael. Join a naturalist at the Effie Yeaw Nature center for a walk and discover how the Native Californians used plants for food, fiber and medicine. Learn how the Native people “tended” the landscape so it would continue to provide a bountiful harvest.

For more information, call (916) 489-4918 or visit www. sacnaturecenter.net.

December 21, Winter Wonders, 10:30 a.m., 2850 San Lorenzo Way, Carmichael. It’s the first day of winter. Come to the Effie Yeaw Nature Center and join a naturalist for a brisk hike to see

what beautiful changes the new season brings. For more information, call (916) 489-4918.

Special Events December 12 to 15 and 19 to 22, Winter Wonderland, 1 to 7 p.m., 3901 Land Park Drive, Sacramento. Celebrate the holiday season at Fairytale Town. Enjoy hands-on craft activities, holiday vendors, and more at this family holiday event. This is a special ticketed event. Tickets are $5. Children 1 and under are free. The storybook park will be trimmed with festive décor and lit up with a dazzling display of lights, starting at dusk. Visit with Santa in his workshop on December 14, 15, 21 and 22. For more information, call (916) 808-7462 or visit www. fairytaletown.org.

December 24, Free Admission Day, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., 3901 Land Park Drive, Sacramento.

On Christmas Eve, Fairytale Town gives the gift of free admission to visiting guests. For more information, visit www. fairytaletown.org or call (916) 808-7462.

December 31, Homework Zone, 3:30 p.m., 6700 Auburn Boulevard, Citrus Heights. Are you struggling with a school assignment? Come to the Sylvan Oaks Library and get free homework coaching from the Homework Zone. They offer free homework assignments in all subjects on a drop-in basis for grades 1 to 8. Come to the Homework Zone to build your confidence and get better grades. For more information, call (916) 264-2920.

December 31, Family Game Night, 5 p.m., 6700 Auburn Boulevard, Citrus Heights. Every Tuesday evening, the Sylvan Oaks Library puts family games out in the Children’s Area. Playing board games is fun, quality time that helps young children build early literacy skills while strengthening the reading skills of the older children. For more information, call (916) 264-2920.

Storytime Events December 31, Stay and Play and Storytime, 10:15 a.m., 7335 Gloria Drive, Sacramento. “Stay and Play” is an unstructured social time at the Robbie Waters Pocket Greenhaven Library, for babies and toddlers (ages 0 and up) and their caretakers. Developmental toys and board books will be available. These informal play sessions will be immediately followed by a storytime for babies and toddlers (ages 0-3) and their caretakers/families, except on the last Tuesday of each month, when there is a special performance by Mister Cooper.

December 31, Baby Yoga and Storytime, 10:15 a.m., 6700 Auburn Boulevard, Citrus Heights. Come to the Sylvan Oaks Library dressed to move, as we do gentle exercises with mothers and babies aged birth to 12 months. Please bring a towel and a willingness to move with your baby. Yoga mats optional, but encouraged. The yoga session will be followed by a brief story and a few songs/fingerplays. For more information, call (916) 264-2920.

CALIFORNIA KIDS! Family Fun Guide • DECEMBER 2013

DECEMBER 2013 • CALIFORNIA KIDS! Family Fun Guide

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Parties!

Parties!

Parties!

Parties!

Parties!

Parties!

Parties!

Parties!

Cupcake Birthday Party www.birthdaypartyideas4kids.com

G

reat Cupcake birthday party ideas sprinkled with fun party games, activities, goodie and party favor ideas. Mix them all together for a great Cupcake birthday party!

Invitations for a Cupcake Party • Buy or make cute cupcake shaped invitations. Fill out the invitation and then include some confetti in the envelope.

• Buy Mike and Ike candies and stick on large address labels printed with the party information. The Mike and Ikes look like cupcake sprinkles. ‘ • Print out party information on white paper so that you can cut them out into 1 1/2 x 3” inch strips. Wrap the end of the paper around a toothpick and then glue to secure. Stick the toothpick with the party information into mini cupcakes.

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Decorations for a Cupcake Party • For the cake table buy a brown tablecloth or buy brown fabric and lay across the table (cupcake). On top of that lay a smaller pink tablecloth (frosting) and then sprinkle confetti or sequins on top for the sprinkles. Cover with a clear plastic tablecloth.

• Hang white Christmas lights around the room - place brown bow in between the lights.

• Tie different colored balloons at each chair to look like sprinkles.

Cupcake Sprinkle Toss Buy or make small colorful beanbags (stuff with rice or pinto beans) about 3”x3”. Set a clean cupcake / muffin baking pan on the floor and place numbers in each cup - the first row would be 1, second row 2, third row 3 and so on. Place a piece of tape on the floor about 4 feet from the cupcake pan and have guests line up behind it. The object is to throw the beanbags (give the first person in line 3 beanbags) into the cupcake pan and try to get the highest score. Total the numbers that the bean bags land in. The beanbags could make a colorful party favor.

Sprinkle Relay Race Buy very large jelly beans or you can use Mike and Ike candies for this relay race. Place a container

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filled with an equal amount of candies. Divide the guests into two teams and have them line up behind a start mark. Place another container far away from the start mark. Give the first player on each team a wooden spoon and have them balance as many “sprinkles” as they can on the spoon while running to the opposite container. If they drop any they have to bring them all back to the start and place them in the start container. Then the next person in line starts the race. Then first team with all of their “sprinkles” in the opposite container wins. Count the sprinkles to be sure none were dropped during the game.

Games for a Cupcake Party Cupcake Piñata Piñata’s are always fun and especially when they are cupcake shaped!

Pin the Candle on the Cupcake Played like Pin the Tail on the Donkey. Make a large cupcake from poster board…or a poster of a cupcake…and hang on the wall. Cut out candles and put double stick tape on the back of each one.

(Make sure they are different colors or they place numbers on them so you can tell them apart). Blindfold the guests one at a time and have them try and place their candle on top of the cupcake. Closest to the center wins!

CALIFORNIA KIDS! Family Fun Guide • DECEMBER 2013

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Wish Upon a Star party www.birthdaypartyideas4kids.com

Invitation Ideas - Stick silver star stickers on a dark blue invitation. Print party information on the inside and include silver star shaped confetti inside. Inside the invitation write “We wished upon a star that you would be at ________’s (insert birthday childs’ name) party!

Decoration Ideas - Decorate with blue, black, silver and white. Use helium balloons with stars printed on them or draw stars on black balloons with a white paint marker. Buy a large light up star and place it high in the trees of the party venue so everyone can see it when they arrive. Have a sign in the front yard that says “Wishing Star ... Make a Wish!” so they can stop and wish on the star before they enter. Hang strings of smaller lights in all the trees and bushes to make it look like it is a starry night.

• Use a blue table cloth on the party table and put glitter down the center.

• Hang strings of lights from the ceiling and around the party table.

• Make star shaped wands and place them at each place setting.

• Make smaller star shaped wands and print out the name of the foods you are serving in the center and place in or near the bowls / plates of food.

Activities - Wishes for a Star -Set up a table in the party area with star shaped paper (about 4” x 4”) and different colored markers and pens. Ask each guest to write a birthday wish or blessing for the birthday child. After the party take the birthday wishes and make a scrapbook page or frame them. Crafts - Star Dust Art - Make stardust art with sand art necklaces, paintings or containers. Find kits in fun colors and let guests make a necklace, painting or container to take home as a party favor.

Wish Upon a Star Party Games Star Tag - Played like traditional tag except the player who is “it” holds a star shaped wand. They must tag the other players with the wand. Once players are tagged they must freeze and can’t move until another player comes by and tags them. When everyone is frozen a new “it” is chosen.

Star Hop - To play this relay race game guests are divided into two teams. Each team is given two large star shapes that are cut out of poster board. At a distance from where the teams are lined up place two cones or objects that the players will have to go around before they go back to their team. Players will use only the two stars to move across the playing area - they will have to put one star down, step on to it, then place the next star in front

DECEMBER 2013 • CALIFORNIA KIDS! Family Fun Guide

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of them, step on it and reach back to pick up the first star. The first team with all of it’s players completing the relay wins.

Star Treasure Hunt - Before the party hide lots of star shaped items (make from cardboard or use plastic stars) all over the backyard or area where the party is being held. When it gets dark give each child a flashlight and tell them to search for the hidden items. Provide sacks or bags for the kids to hold their treasure (use black or dark blue paper bags and let the kids decorate them with stars during the beginning of the party when guests are arriving). Write numbers on the stars that correspond with prizes. After the treasure hunt the party guests can trade their stars for prizes that match the number on the back of their stars.

Party Food Ideas - Bake large star shaped cookies and let the kids decorate them with icing and different types of sprinkles.

Star shaped pasta is fun with several different sauces that the kids can choose from. Party Favors - Pretty star ornament, star themed notebook or journal to write down their wishes, star themed pens Goody / Loot Bag Ideas - Chinese food containers in blue - draw on stars with a white paint marker, star shaped container

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