Coastal Carolinas Play - NOT READY
Want to raise a nature-loving child? We hear you. Toys, books, and activities inspired by the vibrant ecosystems and cities of the Mid-Atlantic - D.C., Maryland, Virginia, and Delaware.
Introduce the animals and plants of the Chesapeake Bay, Atlantic coast, forests and shrublands to your little ones. These curated picks help kids connect with place through play, reading, and exploration. Your support through affiliate purchases with Bookshop.org, Amazon, and other partners helps us continue curating amazing local products for families.
The story of a sea turtle hatchling making its way to the ocean, and growing into a mother sea turtle who lays her own eggs on a dark beach. Some scenes remind me of the drama of David Attenborough's "Planet Earth" series! Beautifully illustrated. Good for 4+.
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How adorable are these Aw Shucks! Oyster Pajamas! Oysters will become as familiar as ladybugs with these cozy cotton pajamas from Little Hometown. Offered in sized 1T-5T.
Buy from Little Hometown
What's an osprey? It's a special kind of hawk that is unusually good as fishing. Perfect for the Chesapeake Bay waters. Your kiddo will delight in Osprey Adventure, a picture book of a young boy and his father working to save a young osprey. Buy from Amazon
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We love Wild Republic’s realistically designed yet cuddly stuffed animals. This soft red fox makes the perfect snuggle buddy, and a fun reminder to keep your eyes peeled at dusk, when you might spot a real fox darting through your own urban or suburban neighborhood.Buy on Wild Republic
Buy on Amazon
Can you believe that a tiny acorn becomes a mighty oak tree? A perfect metaphor the blink-and-you'll-miss-it nature of childhood. Savor your tiny acorns and help them build appreciation for the oak tree with Wee Gallery's Crinkle Acorn Teether.
Buy from Wee Gallery
Pairie dog plush by Wild Republic. Cute and social rodents that live in underground "cities". Their burrowing creates habitats for other species, like owls and ferrets. Buy from Wild Republic
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Realistic, huggable, and ready for adventures, introduce this Chipmunk Plush from the earliest days. We may take them for granted, but in addition to being adorable, they help disperse seeds and support new growth. (They also serve as food for other animals in the food chain, but you can save that fact for when your little one is a bit older!) Buy from Wild Republic
Buy from The National Park Store
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Visit Theodore Roosevelt Island in DC. < 2 mile hiking loop + parking available + stroller friendly + free. What's not to love? Information from the NPS
We love a good deer sighting. Introduce the species early to your littlest one with this Crochet Deer Teether & Rattle from Blueberry Hill. Hand-crocheted and features a baby-safe beech wood ring. Buy from Maisonette
Buy from Blueberry Hill
Visit the Maryland Science Center in Baltimore, where kids (and adults) can explore the natural wonders of the Chesapeake Bay and beyond. Don't miss the Kids Room with special activities featuring local wildlife for young children. Buy Maryland Science Center Tickets
A great white shark figurine from schleich. These apex predators pass by the mid-atlantic coast as part of their annual migration - following warmer waters north to New England in the summers, and then wintering - like a good snowbird - down the southeast Atlantic coast. We love these figurines starting with young toddlers - perfect for playtime and bathtime. Buy from Amazon
Buy from schleich
Beautiful felt wool mobile hand-crafted by Nepali artisans, featuring adorable woodland creatures. Perfect for a nursery. Buy from Ganapati Crafts Co.
The journey of a leaf as fall arrives. A lovely meditation on autumn. Read it again and again. Recommended for 4+.Buy from Bookshop.org
Buy from Amazon.com
Maryland's state flower, the Black-eyed Susan, is the star of this burp cloth (for babies) and bib (for older babies and young toddlers) combo from Little Hometown. Super soft bamboo and organic cotton. Don't be surprised if your little one is soon pointing out these flower friends in the wild! Buy from Little Hometown
Did you know that oysters filture pollution from the water? Nature's very own underwater vaccuum cleaner. This delightful picture book, How the Oysters Saved the Bay, combines real science with storytelling (our favorite) to show young readers how oysters can help save the Chesapeake Bay. Buy from Amazon
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Stuffed osprey stuffed animal from Wild Republic, with authentic bird call audio. Pair with the Osprey Adventure book listed above! Perfect for preparing for a visit to the Chesapeake. Buy from Wild Republic
Buy from Amazon
Look how cute! A white-tailed fawn from schleich. Fawns are typically born in the spring or early summer, and their spotted coats help them to camouflage while their mom forages for food. Buy from Amazon
Buy from schleich
Beautiful illustrations and digestable facts about the majestic humpback whale are to be found in Humpback Whale in the Young Zoologist series. Can you believe these creatures have been sited in the Chesapeake, and even in the Potomac River?! They migrate around the mid-atlantic in the spring and summer months, so go test your luck and see if you will be blessed with a sighting. Buy from Bookshop.org
Buy from Amazon
River otter figurine by schleich. Cute, playful, love to eat fish. Can be found in the Chesapeake Bay and its surrounding waterways, in the Potomac River, and other rivers, streams, lakes and marshes in the area. Buy from Amazon
Buy from schleich
Woodland activity block by Wee Gallery. This soft block is great for a newborn, with its high-contrast illustrations of a squirrel, a fox, an owl, and leaves. Non-toxic and made of organic cotton. Buy from Amazon
Buy from Wee Gallery
Red fox figurine from schleich. So alert - look at that stance! You may spot these in forested areas, and they are increasingly seen in the suburbs. Buy from Amazon
Buy from schleich
A male mallard duck is called a drake, which we did not know until recently. Drakes are common sites in coastal marshes, inland waterways, urban parks, man-made ponds, and wherever else there is suitable water throughout the Mid-Atlantic. They even stick around in the winter. This drake figurine from schleich is a perfect introduction to this common waterfowl - your little one will be happy to quickly recognize one in the wild.
Buy from Amazon
Buy from schleich
This picture book, Hurricane, is set on a North Carolina barrier island, but should be required reading for all families that live in hurricane-prone areas! Jason Chin tells the story, beautifully illustrated of course, of how a small community prepares for a hurricane, including how the hurricane begins and grows, where forecasts come from and how they are reached, and how communities can respond if impacted. Informative and surprisingly hopeful. Best for 5+.
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