Each month, we celebrate a birthday of literary significance. “Any time you can get kids curious, they’re going to pay attention and focus in a different way,” writes Blue Balliett. Balliett is the American author of several bestselling and acclaimed mystery novels, including “Chasing Vermeer,” “The Wright 3,” “The Calder …

Birthday parties are supposed to be fun, but of course, there is often a fair amount of behind-the-scenes work (from parents) to make sure the day is both a good time and a good memory. With that in mind, we asked area parents for their best birthday party advice and …

Girl Scouts in Howard County have spent the past few weeks learning about the basics of business in a program called BizKids. They are learning how to craft a business plan, create a product and then market that product to potential customers. This five-week program culminates in a special Market …

Here are a few things that we are excited about this week: Alex the Chimp. The Maryland Zoo has a new chimpanzee, Alex, who comes to Baltimore from the Potawatomi Zoo in South Bend, Indiana. He recently completed his 30-day quarantine and has now joined the rest of the chimpanzee …

Our Teachers of the Year contest is back! Click here to enter your favorite teacher. Tell us why she or he deserves to win. There’s no time to waste: The deadline is Friday, June 7. We look forward to reading your entry. Winners will be announced in our September issue! …

Last month, all 19 Baltimore County Public Library branches collected formal wear for teens who would like to attend their school dances, but might not have the money to purchase prom attire. The collection exceeded expectation: More than 900 dresses, in sizes 0 to 20, were donated as well as …

It’s a workday morning and your mind races with thoughts of chauffeuring the kids around, managing a new project at work, renovating the basement — or maybe all of the above. You try to keep your worrisome thoughts at bay — after all, it’s not even 8 a.m. yet — …

The Girl Scouts are getting ready to once again sponsor Biz Kidz, a five-week series that teaches young female entrepreneurs in grades three to 12 how to craft a business plan, develop marketing, create a pop-up and essentially be the boss. The class culminates in Market Day with a “Shark …

At this year’s Parenting Media Association conference, Baltimore’s Child received 18 awards, including a Gold Award for Overall Writing and for our magazine’s calendar. Also receiving the Gold Award was B’More Healthy writer Courtney McGee, who won for her story, “When a Parent Is Ill.” McGee shares how she told …

I’ve been teaching “Hamlet” recently — Shakespeare’s well-known play about the murder of the title character’s father by his brother and the fallout as Hamlet is rendered maddened both by the truth and his task to “revenge [this] foul and most unnatural murder.” Perhaps the most unfortunate victim of the …