Our Must Haves For February

Art isn't always two-dimensional, so why should books about it be? Patricia Geis's new Meet the Artist series kicks off with biographies of Pablo Picasso and Alexander Calder ($17, originally $25). The books, which will be released on Feb. 4, not only feature biographical information on two beloved artists, they feature three-dimensional versions of their work, so kids can see Calder's most important sculptures pop up on the page, lift flaps to see some of his drawings, and actually design some of their own work with the included instructions.

We love a great collaboration, so when we heard that French slipper-maker Collegien and Israeli cool kids designer Nununu were working together, we got pretty excited. The Nununu Slippers ($30) have nonslip spikes on the bottom and soft socks on top, making them great for both cold Winter mornings and new walkers who are making their way around the house.

We haven't met a mom who doesn't love Boon's Grass. The grass-like drying rack is perfect for airing out bottles, sippy cups, and the rest of your little one's accessories. But when some kitchens aren't quite as roomy as others, so that's why Boon's introducing the Patch ($16) this month. A narrower, longer version of Grass, it's designed for smaller spaces so everyone can enjoy the cute yet functional design.

Just because your kids can't get on the field, doesn't mean they can't get in on some football action. NFL Rush Zone, the popular Nicktoons show, features real players' voices in an animated series about the 32 NFL teams and the guardians who defend them. This week, Rush Zone comes to life for football fans with the new Kickoff Trading Card Game ($4-$110). Players become their favorite guardians and battle each other on the field for the most touchdowns. The dice game has kids roll to determine whose field they'll play on, and then turn over their cards to determine if they're on offense or defense.