Reading roundup

[hamsterwoman]

40. Olga Gromyko, Vernye Vragi (Faithful Enemies) -- I started reading my Gromyko backlog after finishing Kosmobioluhi, and this was very enjoyable, but not as much fun as KB, even though it's probably the better book.

Comments

[aome]

I had absolutely NO success in finding good action figures for any of those fandoms; there was some mostly girly Hunger Games stuff on clearance at the toy store, but nothing that really appealed. At B&N I found a bookmark/pen set for Hobbit with Thorin (bkmark) and the key to the cave (the pen), which I bought, but there was nothing for HG. I also got O both 9 and 10 for Ranger's Apprentice. For L we got the pink/green book she wanted, a set of earrings and two headbands. (O got more books and less stuff; L got the reverse.) Nothing was really that expensive, so I'll get the HP playing cards in the next couple of days.

And don't get me wrong - if you DO get Two a stuffed animal, he'll be ECSTATIC. Especially for penguins. So ... I take back my restriction. It's not like Two's not going to get more stuffed animals elsewhere, anyway. ;) (And one of the non-penguin things he wants eventually - ie if you have trouble getting other things on the list and want another alternative - is this (overpriced) moon plush.)

MiniPlu spotted Holes at B&N and again reiterated how much she wanted it. She's never read anything by the author before (except I read aloud Wayside School once when they were younger - but it never really caught on with them), so I'm not sure what else by Sachar would appeal. But since she's so enamored by Holes, I'm thinking that if you DID want to get a second book, Small Steps might have more immediate appeal, anyway. (Not that you need to get a second book - just saying this since I'm not sure what you'll end up aiming for.)

[hamsterwoman]

No worries about action figures -- he loves them, but I feel like O has plenty. He will be very happy with the Ranger books and small stuff like the cards. And what you have for L sounds perfect, too.

I think I'm going to try for Holes, and Small Steps and/or a different Sachar book (they're all out in paperback, so) -- I took a poll with the rodents, and the three of us unanimously agreed on The Boy Who Lost His Face being our favorite, so I'm thinking that one if not Small Steps? (Or I can do Small Steps and the second book

BTW, Amazon helpfully reminded me that there's a (very decent -- the rodents and I liked it) Holes movie, too. You think MiniPlu would be interested? (maybe not for the holidays, 'cos I'm ending up with way more ideas for MiniPlu than for Two, but at some point in the future, like for her birthday? Assuming I can remember things that far away... XD)

I love the moon plushy! Since I'm floundering a bit with Two stuff (L and I went shopping at Claire's today and got MiniPlu dangly earrings and some nail art stuff, though not pens sadly, as they don't seem to have those), and Two needs both a holiday present and a birthday present, I may well go for that (as a fellow stuffed animal lover...)

BTW, on the subject of Two and robots/ninjas, how does Two feel about Lego Hero Factory type things like this? Or ninja Lego stuff like this or this?

[aome]

Two does sometimes build with Legos (we have a neutral set with the basic bricks, not specialized kits that make any particular thing) but doesn't really know much about the Ninjago universe. (And definitely nothing about the Hero Factory.) So ... I'm not sure? Maybe?

When I was doing some research into the robotics stuff, I came across a product called Zoob - seems to be another one of those open-ended building products, in which to make vehicles and other things. The price range varies widely depending on the set, might be more than you want to spend.

For later consideration: Do you have a Five Below store near you? (Not sure their national distribution.) Anyway, they carry the Ty "beanie ballz" - stuffed animals in ball shape, like this penguin (which Two has). Two spotted one that looks like a yellow smilie - I *think* it was at Five Below - and he really wants one. (The biofeedback specialist has a smilie pillow, which Two took to immediately.) Online, it seems to be harder to find the little one, ~5" diameter - not the keychain clip nor the much larger (and expensive) versions, but if you happen to see it wandering around, I'm sure that would make an excellent birthday gift. Two also loves plush Puffles, since you mentioned liking stuffies. (Just type "puffle" into Amazon. He already has red, mint green, an aqua one, a small purple and a yellow one in a viking hat.)

Don't jump for the Holes movie just yet, because I'm wondering if MiniPlu will get to see that at school once they finish the book - in which case, we can find out in advance whether she liked that enough to own it. Hopefully one of us can remember that when July rolls around!

[hamsterwoman]

OK, I think I found the smilie on Amazon (it's adorable!), so I think I'll bundle that with the Robotics book and a spy-y activity book I found for the holiday present and go with the moon plushie and a spy gear thing for his birthday.

And for MiniPlu, Holes and The Boy Who Lost His Face (it looks like Small Steps is aimed at a slightly older age group, so maybe wait for her birthday or so), and Claire's swag. (Good point on the movie! It's sitting in my Amazon "save for later" cart, so hopefully that will remind me if nothing else will :)

And thank you for the answer re: dates -- I will probably just aim to mail things when you're almost due to return, and that way it should get to you both in time and while you're already back.