Fredrick Elephant by Bholu is a little red and white buddy who is perfect for the holidays, or any time. These great toys are based on designs made by children in India, and each little elephant is made by seamstresses in India using fair trade practices. And, to top it off, it is adorable and unique. You can purchase one of these great little gifts for $54 at artebebe.com. Each toy measures approximately 20cm x 18cm.

I am having so much fun shopping for me soon-to-be four-year-old this holiday. While my older daughter has gotten to the point where she wants clothing and electronics, and my baby is too little to care, my middle daughter is the perfect age. Not only is the holiday season still magical for her, but there are just so many fun toys out there to feed her little imagination. Even with twice the gifts to buy (her birthday is a few days before Christmas), I am still finding tons of things she would love even though I’ve pretty much wrapped up my shopping. Such is the case with this Melissa and Doug Mailbox Set. I saw this at an educational toy store while I was shopping for my baby’s first birthday. So far, I have fought the temptation to buy it, but it just looks like so much fun. The set includes a mailbox (with key), “letters” and removable stamps. You can purchase one on sale for $26.95 at FatBrainToys.com and inspire some creative play.

I bought one of these for my oldest daughter when they first came out. She was never very interested in it, and I ended up freecycling it about a year ago. Of course, not long after I found it a new home, my middle daughter began expressing interest in having a video game system that she could play. She isn’t quite ready for our Wii, but she has a pretty good sense of how games work. So, I decided to give this system another try and bought her one for Christmas. The system has advanced a bit since we last owned one. It now includes a microphone and a writing pad. I guess we’ll see how it works out soon. While I’m not sure how much stock I put in this as an “education” system, it definitely offers fun that is a little more education-minded than many other game systems. There also quite a few games available for the system, which retail for approximately $20 each. You can purchase the set for $39.97 at WalMart.com.

Pottery Barn has a little Sales corner tucked away at the bottom of their list of items. Included in the sale are the Mini Wooden Vehicles for $14.99 each. Best of all, shipping is free on these items and they are eco-friendly wooden toys. The cute little crane is 6.5″ x 3.5″ x 3.5″ and the bulldozer and firetruck are of similar dimensions. Get them for your child’s holiday at PotteryBarnKids.com.

Here is a fun and practical gift for any imaginative little boy. This set from Books to Bed features a hardback copy of the beloved story Peter Pan as well as a pair of Peter Pan pajamas. What a great way to encourage reading and enjoy some snuggly winter evenings. It is available in sizes from 2T up to 7.  Several other book-themed sets are also available. You can purchase one for $44 at RonRobinson.com.

For my niece, whose name our youngest child drew for Christmas and who will soon be one, we found the loveliest gift. While perusing the bookstore, we came upon the Peter Rabbit Snuggle Book. Though it cost us a bit more at Chapters than it’s listed for on PotteryBarnKids.com, it’s worth it. It’s made of organic materials, is soft and snugly, and will be a joy for her parents to read to her. Have a gander at the well-known rabbit for $14.99.

I had rather forgotten about this toy, which both my oldest and middle daughter enjoyed. We were cleaning out our garage today and I came across this in a box of other musical instruments. My youngest, who will be one in another week, went crazy for it. The set includes a number of fun, colorful insect-themed instruments, which all stow away in a drum. The great thing is that none of them are too loud, so you can give your child free reign to make music. You can purchase the set in Target stores or online at Target.com. It retails for $19.99.

Here is a great deal on a high-quality musical instrument that both boys and girls will enjoy. The Today’s Tot Marching Drum comes with a drum stick and a strap for marching. This is sure to be a big hit. Available in red, blue, or green, this toy is on sale for just $8.20 (down from $49.99!) at babyage.com.

What a relief the other day when I was out Christmas shopping and I finally spotted a truck meant for ages 1 and up! I have been relentlessly searching for the right gifts for my youngest son and nothing in his interest range is age appropriate. The Mega Bloks Tiny N Tuff Transporters (Construction, Police, or Racer Race) are bright with big tires and dumping action, sure to attract a busy 14 month old. Though they’re listed at Amazon.com for $19.98, as a Canadian, I cannot shop there. I got mine at Zellers (they were also at The Real Canadian Superstore) for $12.99.

I love the colors, the patterns, the sweet animal figurines—the overall look of the Little People Musical Zoo Train. Fully equipped with animal sounds and music, it does seem like something that would delight a young child. We are definitely fans of trains in our house and have several already. My youngest son loves to push buttons to see his toys light up, move, and play music.  Especially popular are those that play music and move forward on their own. Found at ToysRUs.com and many other places, this train is $17.99 and a good option for baby’s second Christmas.

Who says girls can’t be super heroes? Even the most girlie of girls will enjoy saving the day in this cute cape from Ellie Bellie. Granted, an old towel or sheet can be just as much fun, but this custom-made cape, which comes in your choice of heart, star, or lightening bolt design, makes super hero status a bit more official. The fun accessory is machine washable, and closes with a magnet, so there are no ties or pins to fuss with. You can purchase one of these great little capes for $30 at jujubeaneboutique.com.

Here’s a holiday gift sure to please baby and parents: You can purchase a 19″ tall designer Bibsy Bear, wearing a “Worth the Weight” Hug-a-Bib, along with a Clippy Cloth, for the special price of $30 at HugABib.com. The Hug-a-Bib has a 100% woven cotton interlock front and a 100% cotton corduroy back, with a soft inner lining surrounding an inner waterproof layer. The bib measures 9” x 11” . Clippy Cloth is made of 100% cotton interlock front & back, with a soft inner lining surrounding an inner waterproof layer. With a 100% Copper rust-proof clip, it measures 12” x 29”. What more could you ask for: a cute stuffed bear, large bib providing extra protection, and large, absorbent burp cloth! The price is normally $58, but on sale for the holiday season for just $30.

I love this great doll pram from Pottery Barn Kids. I have a similar pram that my youngest two daughters used as infants, so it seems especially sweet to me. Little girls who love to do imitate the moms and dads that they see out in the world will enjoy the realism of this great gift. It is designed to fit dolls up to 19 inches, and looks like it would be easy to steer. You can bring this luxurious toy home for $79 at potterybarnkids.com.

We’ve already purchased a few books for our children for Christmas, but now that I’ve discovered Overstock.com, I think I’ll be buying more. Books are as low as just a couple of dollars and shipping is so low, you’ll wonder if it’s true. I’ve got my eye on The Very Busy Spider by Eric Carle for $4.76. Recommendations for when to order by in order to receive purchases by Christmas are available on the site, it’s fairly simple to navigate, and some pretty outstanding prices can be found.

These Baby Bunch Cupcake Onesies look like a great holiday gift idea. Although UpscaleBaby.com has reviewed them before, they never seem to go out of style. At Grand Gifts Galore, you can purchase a four-pack of cupcake onesies for just $38. They are available in boy or girl colors, and made of 100% cotton. Sizes are available for babies 0-6 months or up to 16 lbs. You can view these unique onesies at GrandGiftsGalore.com.