The Budget Bambino brings you the latest finds around the web:

- I was thrilled to find out Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library. Part of the the Dollywood Foundation, the Imagination Library provides one free book a month to children under the age of five in participating areas. Check out the website to find out if the Library is available in your community.

- Sticking with the book theme, if your kids are going stir crazy one afternoon, they might be entertained by Steve Mack’s Virtual ABC Book.

- Itzbeen is making its way around the mom blogs and product sites. Described as a multi-purpose nursery tools, it’s gadget that helps sleep-deprived parents remember when the next feed/change/nap is by a simple push of a button. It even helps nursing moms remember which side to feed from. Prices start at $25.99. Pretty handy. Even 15 months post partum, I could use one of these.

- Toy “R” Us is making more efforts to get their product in line with recent safety reports. They just released a press statement that they will be demanding manufacturers to meet more standards in terms of testing, the reduction of PCV in products and the elimination of nickel-cadmium batteries. Read the full press release here.

- Interesting piece on NPR about child’s play and self-regulation. With the commercialization of children’s toys, play time is no longer associated with running around in the back yard or pretending to fight monsters. Play time now equals toy time, which isn’t having the best effects on children’s ability to self-regulate. You might also want to listen in on a following piece on how creative play time helps children develops control. Both pieces can be heard on-line (for free obviously!).