RUBY IN HER OWN TIME
Young readers tag along with little Ruby the duck who shows them that they, too, in their own time will learn how to do the things their brothers, sisters, or peers can do. Ruby sets her own pace learning how to eat, swim, and fly until eventually she surpasses her siblings and claims her independence in this simple yet moving story about growing up. Ages 1-7. By Jonathan Emmett; Scholastic Press; www.scholastic.com; $16.

THE RING BEAR: A RASCALLY WEDDING ADVENTURE
Westley has a terrific imagination and loves playing pirate with his single mom until one day Westley learns that the house’s frequent visitor, Stan, wants to marry his mom. Asked to be the ring bearer, Westley finds himself not only confused about the definition of the word but also about his feelings regarding the wedding. Westley decides to be a bear rather than a bearer until he finds out what a cool guy Stan is. Ages 4-8. By David Michael Slater; Flashlight Press/Independent Publishers Group; www.FlashlightPress.com; $16.1.

1. DEAR TOOTH FAIRY
Holly is reluctant to give her first tooth to the Tooth Fairy. In this interactive and creative book children can pull out the letters of correspondence between Holly and the Tooth Fairy—learning in the process all there is to know about the Tooth Fairy’s kingdom. The last letter contains a gold coin received by Holly for her tooth. Ages 6-11. By Alan Durant; Candlewick Press; www.candlewick.com; $15.2.

2. GUITAR GIRL
When charismatic bad-boy Dean joins seventeen-year-old Molly’s band, The Hormones, their album shoots to the top of the charts. But Molly soon finds out that fame is a rocky path laden with pitfalls. Readers explore Molly’s issues with first love, screaming fans, over-exposure, and sleazy managers. Ages 14+. By Sarra Manning; Dutton Children’s Books; www.penguin.com; $16.

TREES OF LIFE—SONGS OF FRIENDSHIP & THE EARTH
This Parent’s Choice award-winning album encourages children to delve into the interconnection of the world, community, and nature. The CD booklet contains song explanations and participation tips. Steve Schuch makes beautiful music with acoustic guitar, violin, viola, and hand percussion. An all-star cast of musicians and children’s chorus make the album an exceptionally good listen. Ages K-5. By Steve Schuch; www.NightHeron.com; $15.3.

3. A WORLD OF HAPPINESS
The album’s intention is to inspire children to meet their potential and treat others with love and respect. Sixteen original songs, poems, and sketches represent a continuation of the 1970’s soundtrack “Free to Be You and Me.” A host of celebrities such as Deborah Harry, Perry Farrell, Magic Johnson, Lou Rawls, Lisa Loeb, Samuel Jackson, Gary Oldman, and many others perform on the album. A percentage of proceeds benefit a children’s charity of the celebrities choice. All ages. Buena Vista Records/HyLo Productions; www.disneyrecords.com; $19.

THADDEUS REX’S “MARTIAN TELEVISION INVASION”
Containing most of the hit songs from T-Rex’s performances on the Emmy Award-winning PBS kids’ show, “The Friday Zone,” this great album for children has upbeat music that’s as entertaining as it is educational. Rex sees his music as a wonderful opportunity for kids to turn off the tube and get to dancing to music promoting healthy attitudes towards family, friends, and learning. All ages. By Think 4 Fun Productions; www.Think4Fun.com; $15.

4. BOBBY’S WORLD—CLASSIC SCRATCH ‘N’ SNIFF EPISODES
Creator Howie Mandel selected five of his all-time favorite, action-packed episodes from Fox TV’s Bobby’s World. The DVD features more than 100 minutes of rough and tumble wholesome fun, as well as a “Can You Guess the Smell” scratch and sniff card to transport viewers into the extra-sensory experience. Ages 4-10. By Anchor Bay Entertainment; www.anchorbayentertainment.com; DVD $10.5.

5. LOOK OUT, CLIFFORD AND BIG FUN IN THE SUN
Enjoy eight entertaining episodes of Clifford the Big Red Dog who shows the gang how to enjoy the summer and how to make things better in times of trouble. Titles include Clifford’s Charm School; Best Paw Forward; Clifford’s Hiccups; An Itchy Patch; Camping It Up; Hooray for Cleo; Home Is Where the Fun Is; and Lights Out. Ages 3+. By Scholastic/Artisan Entertainment; www.scholastic.com; DVD $15; VHS, $10.

WIZARD OF OZ SERIES
Narrated by Margot Kidder, the hand-drawn animated series is based on L. Frank Baum’s classic books—The Wonderful Wizard of Oz, The Marvelous Land of Oz, Ozma of Oz, and The Emerald City of Oz. Final productions were directed by two time, academy-award-nominated Gerald Potterson and contains music from the late Hagood Hardy. Margie Goldick, Ph.D. served as an educational and psychological consultant for the film making certain that the film was appropriate for young viewers. Ages 4+. By Lightyear Entertainment/Warner Home Video; www.Lightyear.com; DVD, $9.97 each; 4-DVD box set $26.92.

DREAM PEARLS
Lost a tooth? This novel product offers parents a charming way to celebrate a daughter’s dental milestones. This keepsake package includes a sterling silver and Swarovski crystal handcrafted charm bracelet with a dangling sterling fairy; 12 tiny pearl charms (the tooth fairy leaves in exchange for each lost tooth); a pink organza bag to tuck under her pillow; a tiny note from the tooth fairy explaining the bracelet; and a book that explains how and why fairies transform teeth into dream pearls. Made by Julie Kentera/Dream Pearls; www.DreamPearls.com or 866/546-6707; $40 plus shipping/handling.

HIS NEEDS, HER NEEDS FOR PARENTS
This best-seller offers parents tips on how to stay in love while working together to help your children to thrive. Topics include: romance, meeting intimate needs, agreeing on values and child-training methods, finding time, being fair with household tasks, raising stepchildren, handling kids with ADHD, and dealing with intrusive in-laws. By Willard F. Harley, Jr.; Revell/Baker Book House; www.bakerbooks.com; $20.

THE COMPLETE KID’S ALLERGY & ASTHMA GUIDE
This comprehensive book contains the latest treatments and studies. It focuses on learning how to diagnose the most common allergic conditions; allergy testing methods; how allergies/asthma develops; hereditary links; specifics on allergic conditions; medications; controlling the household environment; and educating children. By Dr. Milton Gold, General Editor; Robert Rose Inc./Firefly Books, Ltd.; www.fireflybooks.com; $18.