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Local gift ideas for children

Books, games and puzzles at Dragonwings

This is one of many puppets for sale at Dragonwings Bookstore.
This is one of many puppets for sale at Dragonwings Bookstore.

Those in search of the perfect gift for that youngster on their list will find countless ideas at Dragonwings Bookstore.

The bookstore is located right in downtown Waupaca at 110 S. Main St., in the lower level of The Book Cellar.

There they will find books suitable for infants, as well as books for toddlers, early readers and teens.

Ellen Davis is the owner of Dragonwings Bookstore, and she said her store has a lot of board books.

Among her newest board book offerings is “Kitten’s First Full Moon” by Kevin Henkes, of Madison.

In this Caldecott Medal–winning book, Kitten sees her first full moon in the sky and thinks it is a bowl of milk.

“And for Christmas, there is ‘Little Santa’ by Jon Agee. It tells about Santa growing up,” Davis said. “I love it.”

Also out as a board book this year is Eric Carle’s “Dream Snow,” which is a Christmas story about a farmer who lives alone on a small farm with a few animals.

On a night near Christmas, the farmer falls asleep and dreams he is covered in a white blanket.

Davis said another Christmas board book is Walter Wick’s “Can You See What I See?”

Wick is known for his “I Spy” books, and this one includes both words and pictures, so children who cannot yet read may also enjoy it.

“These are great in the car,” Davis said.

A great idea of children for age 3 and up is a CAT Take-A-Part toy, such as a dump truck.

“Kids loves these,” Davis said. “They come with a plastic battery operated wrench to bolt all the parts together, so they build them.”

Dragonwings carries countless games.

Children ages 3 to 5 will aenjoy a cooperative game from the series she sells at her store.

Davis has carried some of these cooperatives games from the Peaceable Kingdom brand for some time and now has new ones as well.

She explained the idea behind this type of game.

“The players have to work together to save all the characters before something happens,” Davis said.

Those who visit Dragonwings will also discover puppets, cards and lots of puzzles.

“I’ve really expanded the puzzles,” Davis said.

Her store now features puzzles all the way up to 1,000 pieces, which it did not have before.

“I have puzzles from two pieces to 1,000 pieces and from several different companies, and they’re all super high quality,” she said.

Davis said the puzzle pieces fit together easily, which is important for children.

“They’re the kind of puzzles that you could hand down to your grandchildren. The prices are very reasonable,” she said. “I also have 200 to 500-piece puzzles with extra large pieces. They’re great for older people and for kids.”

They make great gifts.

“All three generations can do these because of the piece size,” Davis said. “And, the the kids won’t be so likely to lose the pieces.”

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