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The Spokesman-Review Newspaper
Spokane, Washington  Est. May 19, 1883

Only 14 Days Left If Your Holiday Shopping Still Has You Stumped, Fear Not - Here Are Some Fun Ideas To Fit Under The Tree

Lynn Gibson Correspondent

With two weeks left until Christmas, the Inland Northwest has plenty to offer last-minute shoppers. There are gifts to be found in specialty stores and superstores, garden shops and pet shops, bookstores and music stores. For parents who are still scratching their heads over what to buy their little ones, we’ve put together a list that may inspire other ideas. Use it as a jumping-off point to compile your own list of unique gift items.

A new twist on the traditional jack-in-the-box has Curious George popping out when you turn the crank on this classic, brightly colored tin, by Schylling. We found it at Boo Radley’s in downtown Spokane for $24.95.

Let it snow, then hit the sledding hills with style. The LaserLuge offers a faster and more controlled ride than a traditional sled or toboggan and is the product of years of applied experience by the members of the Canadian Luge Association. The sleek design of the LaserLuge gives the rider the ability to maintain steering and instant braking. Lightweight and stable, it is suitable for ages 10 and up, and costs $79.99.

We found the LaserLuge at Big Five stores in Spokane; it’s also available on order through Nordic Track in NorthTown Mall or from the Nordic Track catalog, (800) 892-2174.

Collectors of Christmas villages should check out Santa’s Town, a new collection of whimsical dwellings and workshops available at Lamonts. The seven structures, including Santa’s Toy Works, the Reindeer Barn and the Elf Dormitory, are hand-sculptured and hand-painted in brilliant colors, priced at $15 each.

Etch-A-Sketch, a longtime favorite, has been miniaturized on a Magic Screen Wristwatch from Basic Fun company. On top is a digital clock and underneath the pop-up screen is a tiny, workable Etch-ASketch with two maneuver-knobs. We found it at Boo Radley’s for $8.95.

Experience the sounds of Christmas along with Mickey, Minnie and the gang. Disney’s new “Christmas Sing-Along” cassette includes 10 traditional carols and classic holiday songs as well as a beautifully illustrated lyric book, available at The Disney Store in NorthTown Mall for $10.98.

Super Sleuth Walkie-Talkies from Radio Shack are great for outdoor and indoor fun, featuring a talk/listen earphone for hands-free communication. The pair is $29.99.

The Talking Savings Bank is fun to use, encouraging youngsters to save their coins. The brightly colored bank “tells” the amount of each deposit, the savings total and when the savings goal has been reached. Available at Radio Shack for $19.99.

Kids 4 to 8 can go to school with the Peanuts characters to learn new words and solve challenging puzzles using the educational CD-ROM “Get Ready for School Charlie Brown!” - both PC and Mac compatible. The program features seven animated scenes, each with its own learning activity to reinforce spelling, reading and vocabulary. A 1,000-word picture dictionary clarifies phonics and definitions when each word is read by Charlie Brown and his friends.

The CD-ROM lists for $35 by Virgin Sound and Vision. For specific system requirements or to order, call (800) 814-3530. We also found it locally at Egghead Software in Spokane.

Fasten your seat belt as you begin a fantastic journey through the solar system in a challenging family game, Solarquest. Your mission is to acquire property, charge rent and build monopolies within individual planetary systems while monitoring your fuel source to prevent being stranded in space.

The Solarquest game board has the most comprehensive display of the solar system available and each property deed contains a complete description of the planet or moon.

For ages 8 and up, Solarquest retails for $29.95. We found it at Uncle’s Games and Puzzles Etc. in downtown Spokane.

The title of Peter Lippman’s new book “The Enchanted Castle” is perfectly named, for this sturdy little book in the shape of a multi-turreted castle is enchanting and invites curiosity.

It’s from Workman Publishing for $9.95. We found this treasure at Auntie’s Bookstore in Spokane and the Bookseller in Coeur d’Alene.