The Biz: Feature Articles

Many families with children understand the struggles of raising a picky eater. Some younger kids may only be interested in one or two dishes, while others will only eat food of specific colors or shapes. In older children, pickiness tends to be more about resistance to change, leading to an unwillingness to try unfamiliar foods. Parents of a picky eater generally want to fix the situation, but find that forcing the issue with threats and punishments is no use; they either have to wait it out or inspire the child to make a change using fun, interactive methods. The latter option is the premise of Joanne Oppenheim’s The Prince’s Breakfast.

As the world of nature disappears faster than we appear to be doing enough to stop it, stories of this part of life teach important lessons. Squirt the Otter is a true story of an orphaned baby critter who was found, in all places, in a farmer’s field. Tracy, a zookeeper, together with her dog Muffin, befriended the baby otter and took her into their home, caring for her to enable her to grow into a healthy adult. This warm tale by Tracy L. Mikowsky, the actual Tracy of the story, shows how compassion and friendship transcend the species, giving concrete examples of the bond between humans and animals and the benefits to both of forming close, caring connections.

Capitalizing on the importance of a child’s imagination, Box Play for Kids offers eco-friendly kids stickers to repurpose recyclables into fun, new toys. The company was inspired by owner Janette Harwell’s 2-year-old daughter and her love for stickers and a “penchant for playing with empty boxes.” Harwell continues, “I had an ‘aha’ moment that lead to the invention of Box Play for Kids.” Fortunately for Harwell’s daughter, both her parents are designers who have specialized in package design, branding and advertising for over 20 years.

The year was 1980, and robots were emerging as the new trend. The first of a flood of robot-related movies and TV shows had begun to appear, and the possibility of building, programming and even living side by side with robots was seen as a fantastic dream that might just come true. At the time, California-based company OWI was only 2 years young but already seeking out ways to expand their line of inventory and widen their customer base. OWI was ahead of its time in introducing kids to alternative energy through various solar-powered building projects. Products of this kind are still among their best sellers today.