If you've got kids -- or, heck, if you shop at Kohl's and have ever had to buy a present for a kid -- you likely know the Kohl's Cares for Kids series of plush toys and hardcover children's books. The department stores sell classic kid lit and related stuffed animals for a mere $5 and the proceeds benefit children's education and health initiatives around the country.
In short, everybody wins.
We've gotten a number of stuffed animals and even more great books via this brilliant program that not only raises much-needed funds for important causes, but encourages kids to read and to read great books.
In my house we love Seuss. In heavy rotation now: "The Sneetches and Other Stories" and "I Had Trouble in Getting to Solla Sollew."
We are certainly not unique in our passion for the good doctor's works and that's why the new batch of Dr. Seuss books and plush toys at Kohl's is great news.
Now through the end of the year, Kohl's has hardcover editions of "How the Grinch Stole Christmas!," "There's a Wocket in my Pocket!," "Oh Say Can You Say?" and "Thidwick the Big-Hearted Moose" available for, yup, $5.
And there are four new stuffed animals to go along with them: the Grinch, Thidwick and two others, also $5.
In 10 years, Kohl's Cares for Kids has used these cool bargains to raise more than $150 million for kids.
"By giving these great gifts that give back to children's health and education programs nationwide, Kohl's customers can easily and affordably capture the spirit of the season," said Julie Gardner, Kohl's executive vice president and chief marketing officer.
These four books and toys will make me a superstar at home on Christmas. Pick 'em up and you can be a superstar not only to your kids, too, but to the many kids that benefit from the program.
Born in Brooklyn, N.Y., where he lived until he was 17, Bobby received his BA-Mass Communications from UWM in 1989 and has lived in Walker's Point, Bay View, Enderis Park, South Milwaukee and on the East Side.
He has published three non-fiction books in Italy – including one about an event in Milwaukee history, which was published in the U.S. in autumn 2010. Four more books, all about Milwaukee, have been published by The History Press.
With his most recent band, The Yell Leaders, Bobby released four LPs and had a songs featured in episodes of TV's "Party of Five" and "Dawson's Creek," and films in Japan, South America and the U.S. The Yell Leaders were named the best unsigned band in their region by VH-1 as part of its Rock Across America 1998 Tour. Most recently, the band contributed tracks to a UK vinyl/CD tribute to the Redskins and collaborated on a track with Italian novelist Enrico Remmert.
He's produced three installments of the "OMCD" series of local music compilations for OnMilwaukee.com and in 2007 produced a CD of Italian music and poetry.
In 2005, he was awarded the City of Asti's (Italy) Journalism Prize for his work focusing on that area. He has also won awards from the Milwaukee Press Club.
He has be heard on 88Nine Radio Milwaukee talking about his "Urban Spelunking" series of stories, in that station's most popular podcast.
