28. Sunny Day Rainbows Double Rainbow Maker Solar-powered with suction cups for windows. Spinning Swarovski crystals cast a spectrum of colors. No rain required. ($38, ages 8 and up, www.momastore.org, 800-447-MOMA)

Especially
^for Kids

Books, movies and music to inspire lifelong love and respect for Mother Nature.

BOOKS, DVDS, CDS

Christmas Eve Blizzard by

Andrea Vlahakis A boy rescues a stranded cardinal. Includes a how-to section about backyard birding. ($15.95, ages 4 to 8, Sylvan Dell, 2005)

The Wartville Wizard by Don Madden

Garbage can be a curse, and no one knows that better than the Wartville Wizard. ($6.99, ages 4 to 8, Aladdin Paperbacks, 1993)

Flush by Carl Hiaasen

The Newbery Honor–winning author writes a tale about a family’s battle against a sewage-dumping casino boat. ($16.95, grade 5 and up, Knopf, 2005)

The Encyclopedia of Animals

Offers 475 lush color photographs and

1,700 color illustrations to satisfy voracious minds. ($39.95, all ages, University of California Press, 2004)

29. Slow but Sure Counting Snail Puzzle Made in Sri Lanka from old rubber trees that have been felled to make room for new ones. Purchases help aid tsunami rebuilding efforts. ($14.99, ages 3 to 6, www.ecoexpress.com, 800-733-3495)

The Man Who Planted Trees, Deluxe Edition by Frederic Back,

DVD boxed set

The title feature, an Academy Award– winning animated film, is about a man who patiently plants trees and transforms the landscape around him. Eight other shorts by filmmaker Back are also included. ($49.99, all ages, CBC Radio Canada, 2004)

FernGully—The Last Rainforest DVD Fairy people race to rescue the rain forest in this animated film. ($9.98, all ages, Fox Home Entertainment, 2002)

“Show Me the Wild!” Family DVD Game Interactive DVD features National Geographic wildlife footage and facts. ($29.95, ages 6 and up, National Geographic, 2005)

Baby Beluga CD by Raffi

This Raffi classic includes his hit song about the threatened Beluga whale. An illustrated sing-along book is available separately. ($14.98, ages 1 and up, Rounder Records, 1996)