It’s one of the first things kids learn to draw and adults continue to do so through the rest of their lives.

Here you can be simple or as elaborate as you would like. It will come to life and go on an adventure. When your stick man comes upon an obstacle, you are encouraged to draw other objects to help get your character out of trouble.

You can download the free Stickman app here. We have also discouvered the AppCrayon really helps those little hands!

Have fun!  Please send us a screen capture of your drawings so we can post them.  Better yet.  If you send us a drawing that involves dandelion we will send you a special discount code. Attack of the dandelions?

Happy drawing! We can’t wait to see what you come up with!

It’s Summertime and Wednesday Morning Story time is taking a summer vacation just like you!

We do have loads of new books arriving over the summer and can easily pull out a pillow or two anytime if you’d like to get comfy and read with your child.

We hope you’ll join us again come Fall.

Italian Day on the Drive! 12 – 8 pm Sunday, June 5, 2011!

We are getting super excited to see all the activities for Italian Day on Commercial Drive this coming Sunday. Last year’s Italian Day was one of the nicest events we’ve seen on The Drive in all these years! Totally family friendly plus, think of all the pizza and gelato…….

Come celebrate ‘all that is Italian’ from Venables to the Grandview cut on Commercial Drive, Vancouver’s original ‘Little Italy’. Join over 50,000 attendees on June 5th 2011 from noon until 8pm as ‘La Dolce Vita’ hits the street in style to include food, entertainment, fashion, specialty products, activities and much more. Share the spirit, pride and tradition as we pay tribute to the Italian community and the contributions made to this city as Vancouver celebrates its 125th birthday and Italians commemorate Italy’s 150th anniversary of unification. Viva l’Italia e benvenuti a tutti!

Don’t miss this years’ event!

Come and get a dandelion Kids balloon!

Ciao.

National Parks Project – Trailer from Ryan J. Noth on Vimeo.

In honour of the 100 year anniversary of Parks Canada (which, by the way, was the First National Parks Service in the World! Another reason we’re proud to be Canadian!) 13 short films have been created to capture Canada’s beauty and sound. Altogether 52 of Canada’s best musicians and filmmakers coast to coast worked on this project with each short film consisting of one film maker, three artists and one National Park. The creative quartets then spent 5 days in the parks exploring the sights, sounds of nature, collaborating on the music and images. The National Parks Project spans across Canada including each Province and Territory. A memorizing, breathtaking, and inspiring way to see the country we are lucky enough to call home.

Maria’s friend, Scott Smith, along with singer-songwriters Sarah Harmer, Bry Webb and Jim Guthrie were gifted the opportunity to capture the breathtaking beauty of Gwaii Haanas – National Park Reserve and Haida Heritage Site.

After an initial sold-out screening at the Vancity Theatre, these films will be shown again as part of DOXA Docuentary Film Festival this Sunday, May 15 at the Pacific Cinematheque at 4 pm. An afternoon event not to be missed and the only time we are able see these beauties on the big screen!

For more info, please visit http://nationalparksproject.ca for all the info and bio’s.  The films will be available online as of May 19, 2011.

In this imaginative ABC, acclaimed artist, designer and children’s author, Bruno Munari shows how fun letters can be. From an Ant on an Apple to a Blue Butterfly to a Cat in a Cage, Munari pairs words in whimsical ways until Fly frees itself from its page, lands on the Hat, buzzes near the Ice Cream and provides the final sound for Zzzzz.

About Wednesday Morning Story Time: We will be reading a different book from our vast (and growing!) selection of amazing children’s books on Wednesdays at 10:30 am at our Port Moody location. Try to swing by Wednesday mornings… and we’ll read to your child while you can enjoy the book, browse, shop or just daydream. If you like the book we’ve read, you will be able purchase it at a special price on the day of the reading.

Please RSVP with a phone call or email so we have an idea of how many pillows to put out.

We look forward to seeing you on Wednesday mornings!

Olives, trees, pickles, peas . . . What do they have in common? All of them are green! In her debut picture book, Laurie Rosenwald-a New York-based designer explores the world of color through humorous poetry and dynamic collages. Pink flamingos aspire to be ballerinas, yellow taxis screech to a halt at red stop signs, and black cats relax with the morning crossword puzzle.

More than just an introduction to basic colors, this book shows how colors interact and enrich our everyday lives. Clever rhyming text and bold, graphic illustrations are sure to make this book a favorite read-aloud.

About Wednesday Morning Story Time: We will be reading a different book from our vast (and growing!) selection of amazing childrens’  books on Wednesdays at 10:30 am at our Port Moody location. Try to swing by Wednesday mornings… and we’ll read to your child while you can enjoy the book, browse, shop or just daydream. If you like the book we’ve read, you will be able purchase it at a special price on the day of the reading.

Please RSVP with a phone call or email so we have an idea of how many pillows to put out.

We look forward to seeing you on Wednesday mornings!

Update: For the 2011 Holiday season, you can now create your wish lists on our online store – click here to learn more about it.

We know it’s sometimes hard to remember what special toys and other items are on your child’s wish list since they started making it in July! So we created a little wish list for Santa to make it easier for you and give your kids a project to do. Fill out the dandelion KIDS wish list and we will keep it on file for you. When your friends and family come into the store (or email us) wondering what to get your child for Christmas, we’ll have the answers! And we promise, we’ll check it twice!

You can download a PDF of the Christmas Wish List here.

We just love the UBC Botanical Gardens and have enjoyed every visit and event. This one is sure to be no different!

We’ll be roaming around in our spooky costumes for sure!

For more information, please visit http://www.ubcbotanicalgarden.org/community/003210.php

We can’t wait to head out to the UBC Botanical Garden this weekend for the 20th anniversary of the UBC Apple Festival. There will be over 37,000+ pounds of apples including 9000 pounds of the freshest yummiest organic apples around. Last year, there were apples as big as the kids’ heads. Now there’s a good healthy snack!

The event is on all weekend (October 16 and 17) from 11 am to 4pm. The Apple Festival includes free valet bike parking, a really awesome children’s area with all sorts of apple themed games, crafts and activities for the little ones. The delightful yoymama.ca will also be there with a craft table and super give-away. Plus, lively Grist to the Mill, will be playing a family friendly concert from 1-2pm on both days. Did we mention that there is also apple pie, hot apple cider and other delectable treats?

Unbelievably, admission is only $2.00 (kids 12 and under are free) and includes entrance to the whole, gorgeous Botanical Garden. If you haven’t had a chance to enjoy the Greenheart Canopy Walkway, there is a 15% discount with admission to the Apple Festival. It’s amazing.

If you would like to taste the over 60 varieties of heritage, new and “tried and true” varieties available, go early to the apple tasting. This yummy diversion is an additional $3.00 but we think it is entirely worth it. Yum.

For more information, call 604.822.4529.

See you there from noon to 6pm between Venables and 1st Avenue!

We don’t care how you get here…just don’t drive!