This weekend is Easter and I'm looking forward to spending some quality time with my family. It will be the first Easter for my darling niece so it will be an extra special gathering this year. We generally give out chocolate to the kids but my niece won't be able to enjoy it just yet. For non-edible gifts, Hallmark Canada has a bunch of really cute ideas that I know will be a hit with the little ones.

Check out the Squakin' Egg Droppin' Hen. Not only does she lay eggs, she dances and sings, too. It's a new rendition of "Whoomp, There it is!" which I think is hilarious. My kids loved it so much, I decided to bring it to work with me and showed it to my grade one and two students. It was a great opportunity to review some clothing (ie. un chapeau, un foulard), colours (ie. jaune, bleu, violet, orange, vert) and action words (ie. danse, chante, pond des oeufs). A number of the students were eager to point out that they had seen this at the Hallmark store in the mall near our school. Obviously, Mama Hen had left quite an impression.

 

The hen comes with three eggs that are easy to use. Just drop them in the compartment hidden beneath the scarf and watch them come out from her... um,... derrière? It regularly costs $30.95 but if you buy three Hallmark cards, you can purchase it for $15.95. They even have an Egg-cellent Mama Hen Book that coordinates with the plush toy.

Another gift I'm sure kids will love is the Interactive Storybook with Buddy. This Easter, meet Abigail. Abigail is a chatty acrobatic bunny who just can't wait to grow up. Watch her come to life as you read key words aloud from her books: Her newest book, Abigail and the Fashion Show, comes with an Abigail-sized purse for her to carry. Additional books include Abigail and the Balance Beam (book included), Abigail and the Tea Party and Abigail and the Lost Purse. And if you own an iPad or an iPhone, you can download the FREE storybook apps for Abigail, Watson, Cooper and more. Listen to the narrated story with animation, record your own voice or play interactive games. When you listen to the narration, the buddy will actually respond. My kids LOVE it!


Of course, Hallmark is a great place for greeting cards. Know any Chipmunks fans?