The List: For babies and kids
"Dinosaur" book • Dan Kainen’s Photicular technology makes dinosaurs come to life in this stunning book filled with facts and moving images. $25.95 at Amazon.
Fortnite phone case • Yes, parents everywhere loathe Fortnite, the video game du jour. But kids love it, and they'll love these cool phone cases. $8.95 at Battle Royale Shop.
Pop Socket • These little buttons stick to the back of your phone and pop out to make it easier to hold. Buy one of their "Pop for Purpose" designs, and some of your money will also go to charity. $15.00 at Pop Socket.
Streetrod vintage convertible golf cart • You've never seen a golf cart like this before. The Streetrod Vintage Convertible Electric Golf Cart has a cooler under the hood and will surely be the coolest ride around. $17,999.99 at Costco.
Rollplay 6V Porsche 918 • What child wouldn't want to zoom around in a battery-powered Porsche 918? It goes 2½ mph, has an MP3 connector, working headlights, realistic engine sound and a horn. For kids up to 77 pounds. $199.99 at Amazon.com.
Selma's Dolls • This dolll company focuses on inclusion and acceptance.. Each doll also comes with a book, “First Day of School” which is a story about how Selma’s new friends she meets in her dream help her overcome her first day of school fears. The book also includes “conversation starters” so parents can talk to their kids about culture, religion and physical and mental disabilities without having to be experts. There are three dolls available. This is Annie, who has Down Syndrome. $39.99 at Selma's Dolls.
Neon chess pieces • Add some personality to the classic board game with these mix-and-match chess pieces, which come in eye-popping hues such as fuchsia, turquoise and indigo. $5.00 at Q Boutique, 4652 Maryland Avenue.
Pingy the penguin • Who can resist this round-bellied penguin who wibbles and wabbles but never loses his sweetly surprised expression? Pingy perks up any space but is especially wonderful in a child’s room, where he never turns down a hug. $435.00 at Centro, 4727 McPherson Avenue.
Rocky rocking horse • Give young cowboys and cowgirls an early start in the modern design aesthetic with this rich brown polyethylene rocking horse. Rocky wears a hemp rope around his neck and also comes in white or black. $1,316.00 at Centro, 4727 McPherson Avenue.
Flow rings • This modern take on the Slinky toy is a great stocking stuffer for kids, tweens or teens. Play with it at your desk to relieve stress or grab the hand of a partner and let it roll and flow up and down your arms. $7.99 at Amazon.
Sunflower kit • Teach kids to love gardening with this sunflower kit . Specially packaged in a canvas backpack, the kit contains sunflower seeds, organic soil, cotton gloves, a trowel and a recycled tea bag planter. $44.95 at Williams-Sonoma.
Button name tag • Label your gifts with a custom button you can design yourself. All types of sizes are available and prices vary depending on how many you buy and how many images you upload. The Cherokee Street location offers a special $5 price for walk-in customers. $5.00 at Buttonmakers.net, 2608 Cherokee Street, St. Louis.
Rock and Roll It Piano • The perfect gift for a young aspiring musician, this piano can roll up and travel anywhere. $60.00 at City Sprouts, 8807 Ladue Road.
Felt Pig Ballerina • Brighten up a kid's (or adult's) desk with this felt pig figurine. $15.00 at The Spotted Pig, 9218 Clayton Road.
Children’s storybook coasters • Whether you are a kid or just a kid at heart, these storybook coasters will take you back to your favorite childhood tales. Curl up with a beverage and a good book — maybe one that’s depicted on these locally made coasters. $4.00 at Afterwords Books, 441 East Vandalia Street, Edwardsville.
Edwardsville author’s books for children • Shop local, read local: It’s easy to do with nature-themed books for children by former teacher and Edwardsville resident Jennifer Ward. Her titles include “Feathers and Hair: What Animals Wear,” and her latest, “Mama Dug a Little Den,” but she has many others available. $17.99 at Afterwords Books, 441 East Vandalia Street, Edwardsville.
Big Bunny musical storyteller • This Big Bunny “edutainment” toy is a sweet multitasker for children up to 1 year old. It comes with a remote control and is preloaded with songs and rhymes, plus soothing white noises to lull your little one to sleep. Prefer your own music? It’s also a speaker that you can use to share a playlist. You can even record stories, so your baby can hear the voices of a mom, dad or grandma and grandpa. And did we mention it’s a nightlight, too? $74.99 at Happy Up, 6654-A Edwardsville Crossing Drive, Edwardsville.
Storybook onesies • Don’t just read to your children, let them wear your childhood favorites, too. These adorable onesies have colorful designs from storybook classics including “The Very Hungry Caterpillar,” “Curious George” and “The Poky Little Puppy.” $20.00 at Circa, 128 East Main Street, Belleville.
Kingdomino game • In this family game for ages 8 and up, players build a kingdom out of dominoes that feature fields, lakes and caves full of treasure. Built a kingdom with the most strategically placed crowns to win. $19.99 at Wizard's Wagon, 6388 Delmar Boulevard, University City.
"Stories for Boys Who Dare to be Different" • This book by Ben Brooks is full of colorful illustrations and short biographies of boys who grew up to be men who changed the world for the better: Harvey Milk, Bill Gates and environmental activist Swampy, just to name a few of the 76. $16.99 at Subterranean Books, 6275 Delmar Boulevard, University City.
Enamel deer pin • This adorable, enamel deer pin, by Austin-based LuxCups, gives a nod to vintage Disney and the Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer television classic. $10.00 at OSO: A Style Lab, 6321 Delmar Boulevard, University City.
Personalized wooden train • Perfect to decorate a child's room or as a toy, this wooden train set can be personalized with cars for each letter of the child's name. Five-piece set is shown, but additional letters are available for $3.95. $29.75 at Meant to Be, 111 Market Street, Kimmswick.
Personal LED string lights • Add a playful touch to any space by sliding these letter tiles to create a personal, lighted message. They are battery-operated, so no need for an outlet or extension cord. $12.99 at Saks Off 5th, 18521 Outlet Boulevard, No. 306, Chesterfield.
Graphic adventure book featuring the Magic House • "Neener, Neener, Neene"r by Paul Manchester is a new graphic adventure book featuring the Magic House and exclusively sold at the Magic House. $10.00 at The Magic House, 516 South Kirkwood Road.
Lolli and Pops Classic Ribbon Candy • A festive and favorite assortment of time-honored confections are packaged in a retro-looking box. $10.00 at Lolli & Pops, 29 West County Center, Des Peres.
Stink bombz • Indulge the lowbrow humorist in your life with a Stink Bomz, which each contain a "collectible fart friend" that make three unique fart noises and come with their own "silly smell." $9.99 at Tomy.
Maven Jax artisan-made cold process soap • No two batches of soap at Maven look alike, and an array of fun scents — such as Jax, the shop's classic fragrance for guys — means there's a soap for every body. They're handcrafted and made with plant "fats" (shea butter, coconut oil, rice bran oil and olive oil) instead of animal lard, and minimal packaging means little waste. (6.5 ounces) $9.00 at Maven Bath & Candle Co., 7290 Manchester Road, Maplewood.
Tiny Arcade Game • It's a mini version (about 4 1/2 inches tall) of the classic arcade game Galaga complete with a mini joystick. $24.99 at Amazon.
"Absolutely Everything!" • Subtitled "A History of Earth, Dinosaurs, Rulers, Robots and Other Things Too Numerous to Mention," this 352-page hardback volume by Christopher Lloyd will keep little ones (or curious grown-ups) busy for a while. It's filled with fun full-color illustrations, photographs and annotated graphics. $21.99 at The Book House.
Lörby USB charger • Now that so many of our electronics are jockeying for space at the electrical outlet, Ikea's Lörby USB charger can really come in handy. Just attach it with its magnet, self-adhesive tape or clamp, and plug in up to three devices. Its electrical cord is 6.2 feet long. Available in red, black, yellow or white. $12.99 at Ikea, 1 Ikea Way.