Too many young people don’t vote, in fact, barely a quarter of them made it to the polls in the last midterm election. Voter apathy led Mary Jane McKittrick to help rectify it by writing Election Day, part of the Boomer and Halley series. The book’s main characters, Boomerang, an Australian Shepherd dog, and Halley’s Comet, a silver streak of a cat, help teach kids important values in an easy-to-understand, fun-filled way. By putting Election Day on their book shelves, retailers can help parents open an important dialogue and frame questions that make the conversation and its implications stick in kids’ minds.

Remember the tale about how a tiny pea kept a princess from sleeping soundly? The restless royal could not sleep the whole night and woke up achy and cranky. Think is would help if the pea were organic? Offering eco-friendly products to help little ones sleep makes sense for everyone. When children have a restful night and wake refreshed, the day gets off to a wonderful start. We are showcasing some terrific companies that make little ones’ nights silent and peaceful. With a bit of help from Greenbuds Baby, Woolly Boo, Crib Critters and New Jammies, children drift to the land of sweetest dreams.

Most companies would be hard-put to identify the current economic season as a boom-time. However, there have been some bright spots in the current economy, largely thanks to small and medium sized businesses. It’s all about who you know and how you get your message out there, which is a long-standing reason that so many independent manufacturers foster relationships with experienced sales representative associations.Three sales rep firms that are thriving, Carolina Baby, The Coffs, and Annette & Associates, demonstrate how they help other companies flourish.

It’s not just tree huggers that want innovative organic gifts for new “little monkeys”. So, why not offer one from the expert? Soft organic crib bedding and accessories from Janey Baby by Jane Goodall™ offer a reminder of what it’s like to get back to nature. Janey Baby by Jane Goodall debuted in October and features a crib mattress pad, sheets, receiving blankets, bibs and contoured changing-table covers. The products feature whimsical drawings of endangered species discussed in Dr. Goodall’s book, Hope for Animals and Their World.