Nothing could possibly fit that bill, you think. That's why this year, I'm suggesting traveling stocking stuffers to read or listen to rather than play with. Parents benefit, too. If a too-long car trip is on your holiday agenda, here's your chance to hear what all the Harry Potter fuss is about.
Old books can be just as entertaining.
Ask grandma to have some of your childhood favorite books on hand when you arrive to read to the kids, spurring family stories of holidays long past. A children's cookbook might also be a good bet for a grandma or aunt who wants to share the joys of the kitchen with a youngster while they're visiting, librarians suggest. Grandparents often tell prize-winning children's book author Susan Wojciechowski they add holiday books each year to their collection bought especially for visiting grandchildren. If you're visiting family, try a book about families, suggests Julie Cummins, who oversees children's services for the New York Public Library, the nation's largest circulating library with 85 branches. Of course there are plenty of holiday titles to choose from, too.