Babble Celebrates First Book & Launch of Connected By Kids

Last Tuesday, Babble celebrated the release of our first book Dirt Is Good For You: True Stories of Surviving Parenthood, and the unveiling of our new Facebook application, Connected By Kids. The party, which was held at Elizabeth Restaurant, was a great celebration and congregation–writers, readers, new faces, old faces and Team Babble all gathered to toast what has undoubtedly been a great year for our site. (Thanks to you guys!)

Here are some photos and a video from the event. Enjoy!

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Author Lauren Myracle Talks ‘Controversial’ Tween Books

Young adult author Lauren Myracle is known for her best-selling (and controversial) ‘Internet Girls’ series: ttyl, ttfn, and l8r, g8r. Her most recent novel, Luv Ya Bunches, features four teen girls with real-life families and real-life problems. We talked to Myracle about her new tech-centric book, childrens’ reliance on the Web, and what it’s like to have your books banned. –Andrea Zimmerman

So, what was your inspiration to write your Luv Ya Bunches?

I had a couple of different motivating factors for this particular book. The first being that reading was my saving grace when I was a kid when my parents were going through their divorce. If I could see myself reflected in a book, or if I could see somebody being stronger, and braver, that was inspirational to me. That’s one of the things I always wanted to do for kids. Don’t pretty it up. Don’t be all “pat you on the head you cute little child,” but make it real so that you’ll let kids be good people. That’s my motivation.

My editor and I always have these awesome conversations. I told her I wanted to write a book about 5th grade girls and 5th grade in general. I think a lot of times when adults write about their own pasts, they forget that the present has moved on and changed so I wanted to reflect a classroom that was contemporary. I started naming my cast of characters—one girl is Muslim, one is half-Asian, one has two Moms and one has horrible problems with her Dad. My editor said, “Are there classrooms really like that?” And I said, “Heck, yeah.” So I didn’t want to be didactic. Or say, “Okay, let’s just be multicultural.” But rather, to say this is the way is it these days.

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3 Things Not To Do When Buying Your Kid A Dog

Expert: Victoria Stilwell, celebrity dog trainer and host of Animal Planet’s hit TV series, It’s Me Or The Dog.

1. Buying a dog when your child wants it…but you don’t.

“I always tell parents never ever get a dog for your child because your child wants it but you don’t. After the excitement phase passes, you’re left with a child who probably won’t look after it which means you’re going to be left doing the dirty work day-to-day. You’ll get angry and you’ll resent it. Let me stress: Only buy a dog if you’re really into it as well.”

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Halloween Children’s Book Round-Up 2009

As the weather chills, what better time to gather by the fireplace and indulge in some ghostly tales? Here are a few of our favorites to get your little ones amped up for the bewitching hour! –Andrea Zimmerman

1. Spooky, Spooky, Spooky by Cathy MacLennan. If your kid’s into the more grotesque aspects of Halloween—spider, flies, slugs—they’ll love this rhyming book with fantastic illustrations. (In fact, they might even inspire some fun costume ideas!)

2. Druscilla’s Halloween by Sally M. Walker. This is a story about a witch. But not any old witch—Druscilla, the oldest witch that ever lived. But she’s got a problem: Her creeky knees are spoiling all her Halloween surprises! If your kids like to laugh, this is a perfect book to cozy up to on Halloween eve.

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BREAKING: 6-Year-Old Flying Away In Hot-Air Balloon

Imagine your worst nightmare come true. A six-year-old boy named Falcon from Fort Collins, Colorado accidentally stepped into his family’s helium aircraft as it drifted into the sky. Officials say he may have fallen out, as the door on the balloon was unlocked. Investigation is still under way; watch the story unfold here.

Hopefully this story will have a happy ending.

UPDATE: The balloon landed with no boy in it.

Meet September Winners!

They came, they saw, they dressed to the nines. Here are our winners for the September Photo Contest: Dress Up!

The grand prize from The Mini Social goes to….. Continue reading »

Top This, Win Big

Yes, they went with the tuxedo shirt.

Excellent choice, and one that dudes can only get away with under the age of ten. How do you dress your kiddos up for a formal event? We want to see it and today is your last chance to show us on The Babble Playground. Our September Photo Contest: Dress Up is coming to a close as of midnight tonight and you’ve got to be in it to win it. What is “it?” Continue reading »

How We Live: Brussels

Today on Babble:

“How We Live: Brussels”

By Andrea Zimmerman.

A children’s book publisher’s fairytale Belgium home.

Read it here.

Dress Up for Dollars

This little lady is ready for her close up. Can we get an awwwww? Christenings, birthdays, first day of school . . . whatever special moment your kid is dressed for, share it with us at The Playground where you can enter the September Photo Contest: Dress Up. Why would you want to do that? Continue reading »

The First Haircut

Today on Babble:

“The First Haircut”

By Soni Sangha

We’re Sikh, so that trim is hard on a lot of levels.

Read it here.