Kidsguide Magazine’s Top 3 Picks For February

My Child ID. ($39.95, www.amberalert.com) The first three hours of a missing child case are the most critical, but according to the Department of Justice, it takes parents an average of two hours to collect and provide the information law enforcement needs to issue a missing child alert.

My Child ID cuts hours into minutes with a key chain-sized device that stores a child’s vital information (recent photos, medical records, emergency contact information, physical statistics like height, weight and blood type) in one portable and reliable location. Parents are guided through the set-up process by the device’s software program, so that in the worst-case scenario – a missing child – they can either physically submit the My Child ID device to local police or use its built-in e-mail function to transmit the information. The device, made by AmberAlert.com, syncs with the LEAP (Law Enforcement Alerting Portals) system connected to law enforcement agencies. To learn more about My Child ID, click here.

“Henry In Love,” by Peter McCarty ($16.99, HarperCollins) Adorably illustrated and written by New York Times best-selling author Peter McCarty, this picture book for kids 3-6 chronicles fuzzball Henry’s typical school day. Like most boys his age, he enjoys sports, loves hanging out with friends, and has his eye on a special little lady. His normal day becomes special when the prettiest girl in class, Chloe, is assigned to sit next to him.

“A Kid’s Guide To Latino Activities,” by Valerie Petrillo ($14.95, Chicago Review Press) Did you know America’s first immigrants weren’t the Pilgrims or the Jamestown settlers, but the Spanish who landed on the Floridian shore? Valerie Petrillo takes families on a fantastic ride through American and Latino history using native games, art projects, tasty recipes and mini-language lessons. Easy to read and chock-full of factoids and fun activities, Petrillo’s book is ideal for kids 7 and older.