Texas Triangle Play - NOT READY
Want to raise a nature-loving child? We hear you. Toys, books, and activities inspired by the vibrant ecosystems around Houston, Dallas, and Austin, TX.
Introduce the animals and plants of the Texas Hill Country, Gulf Coast, East Texas forests and coastal plains 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.
We love this fun boardbook, Along the Riverbank, that gives us a peek into the lives of otters, beavers, crayfish, and other creatures living in the river ecosystem. Perfect for 3–6 year olds.
Buy from Bookshop.orgBuy from Amazon
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
Buy from Bookshop.org
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
The armadillo is such a unique little creature. Small mammals with tough armor, they love to eat insects. You might be able to spot them in parks around dawn and dusk, but make sure you don't get too close because these are one of the only animals known to carry leprosy. So, this armadillo figurine is a good stand-in for the real thing! Buy from Amazon
Buy from schleich
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
Buy from Amazon
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
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
Buy from Bookshop.org
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
A sweet adventure of a picture book about a fearless little girl who goes searching for a gator in the bayou. Houstonites who spend time near the bayou or drive out to the Louisiana swamp may recognize the flora and fauna - possums, frogs, sandhill cranes, ducks, and snakes - all leading up to that iconic gator encounter (though we know alligator sightings in Houston itself are pretty rare!). Lively illustrations and interactive storytelling make this a great one for read-aloud. Best for 4+. 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
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
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
