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When we think of Scholastic, we can't help but remember the great Book Fairs we enjoyed at school when we were kids. It's great to see our own children get excited each year when they get to pick out a few books or simple toys. Recognizing the importance of literacy, Scholastic, Inc., New York, N.Y., offers quality merchandise that educates, entertains, and motivates youngsters. You don't have to wait for the annual sale at your child's school; great affordable products for kids and families are available online at The Scholastic Store (www.scholastlcstore.com).

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We forever are enamored with Walter Wick's engaging photographs in the popular I Spy series. In I Spy A to Z, young readers can use the simple picture clues to recognize the letter and letter-sound featured on each page. For example, for the "a" sound, we are greeted with "I spy deer antlers, a thimble hat, three silver snowflakes, and a little white cat. "The easy-to-read riddles by Jean Mar-zollo, paired with 46 object-tilled pictures, combine to create a book your child will want to experience over and over. Recommended for ages four and up, the 56-page, hardcover book is priced at $13.99.

Even kids with just a little bit of artistic talent can create pictures, ornaments, and other holiday items with the Klutz: Christmas Velvet Art ($19.95). The book comes with six colorful markers, and the napped velvet makes it impossible to go outside the lines. The colors come out looking crisp and clean, and the pages make beautiful gifts and adornments. This Christmas activity book comes with eight festive velvet designs, punch--out ornaments, fun greeting cards, and a picture frame. Tips are given for the various ways to use the markers to create new colors by overlapping; make fine lines and dots to add details; fill bigger spaces by holding the marker on a slant; etc. It also gives instructions for adding ribbons to hang the picture frame and ornaments. For more information, visit www.klutz.com.

Also from Klutz is The Encyclopedia of Immaturity Volume 2. This book--the complete guide to never growing up--offers all new shenanigans with more than 400 pages of skills, activities, mischief, and secret knowledge. Kids will learn things like how to make a leaf popper; or how to wreak havoc at an adult party by using a corkscrew to make a squirter out of a water bottle, coupled with a suggestion to shake up bubbly water, put it back in the drink tub, sit back, and watch...