Holiday Gift Ideas: PLAY.

For kids - or, in some cases, kids at heart: a book about the wonderful world of words; a cooking set for make-believe crepes; and a pair of sweet snow-white mittens (with claws!). 

Clockwise, from top left: Baby fox print, $25 for 8.5" x 11"; Wool fleece bonnet, $44; Craftspring ram, $32; "Sparkle and Spin," $15.95; Glitter bounce ball, $5; Pancake Shop set, $67.50; Wood camera, $32; Wooden train toy, $98; Animal mittens, $48; Baby bunny doll, $20.

Further, three charities that benefit children:

-First Book, which distributes reading material to needy kids.

-PeacePlayers International, whose mission is to "unite, educate and inspire young people in divided communities through basketball."

-The Make-A-Wish Foundation.

Tomorrow, gifts for music fans...

Atypical Toys.

Equal parts sweet and strange: Atelier Volvox's inside-out stuffed animals (they call them "outsiders"), 

and these hand-crocheted appliances, available at Blue Tree (the turntable plays Frank Sinatra).

Play time.