Kid Picks with Philip Potempa for Wednesday, Oct. 26, 2011

Here's our weekly showcase of the latest and greatest new selections in media for youth.

From books and games to educational toys and DVDs, there's never a dull moment for active and eager young minds.

This week, a new line of plush dolls teaches about children around the world who live in poverty, while a picture book provides a look at nature's delicate designs and a new storybook about a closet creature is perfect for Halloween reading.

Toy

TrashCanKidz, $69.95, Ages 6 and older

TrashCanKidz Plush Toys by Sean Roelofsz and Hannes Soll

This new line of toys has a social message delivered with each adoring plush doll. TrashCanKidz is a line of hand-stitched, lovingly crafted dolls that depict the plight of 150 million youth around the world, including 1.6 million homeless kids in the United States, that live in abject poverty and homelessness. Using Ambassador Code #319547380, there are 100 of these 14-inch dolls available to adopt with your donation, and 20 percent of the proceeds from each doll go to helping children around the world through partnerships with Earthkidz International and WorldVision. These CarryMeKidz come with a reusable trash can case that can be worn as a backpack, a blanket, adoption certificate and a booklet. Go toTrashCanKidz.com.

BOOKS

MacMillan Publishing, $12.99, Ages 9 to 12

"Wonkenstein: The Creature From My Closet" by Obert Skye

Rob is a 12-year-old "underachiever." But some weird sounds from his closet serve as the invitation to a whole new world in this 240-page hardcover illustrated novel. From all those books his parents have given him and that he's never read, a new creation is alive and eager to meet Rob. And he's a cross between the title characters from "Frankenstein" and "Willy Wonka." It's in stores or at abituneven.com.

Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, $16.99, Ages 4 to 8

"Swirl by Swirl: Spirals in Nature" by Joyce Sidman

Beautiful illustrations by Beth Krommes help guide young readers through this 40-page hardcover explaining the natural lines and designs all around, from snail shells to logs and flowers, ferns and water waves. Explanations about the delicate flow of a spider's web to the sturdy curl of a sheep's horn fascinate. It's in stores now or at hmhbooks.com.

The opinions expressed are solely those of the writer. He can be reached at philip.potempa@nwi.com or (219) 852-4327.