Gift guidance that doesn't kowtow to the marketers

Parents Choice has just published its Holiday Gift Guide and I want to single it out for a bunch of reasons.

First, parents should know that this isn't a company that is selling space to the highest bidder. This a site created by the Parents' Choice Foundation, a non-profit near Baltimore whose mission is to create a non-commercial clearinghouse of media and toys that truly delight.

Second, the guide is just plain pretty to look at and well-designed. Not only does it offer the "search by age" feature that is mandatory for choosing smart, age-appropriate toys for kids. It also allows you to "search by interest," diving right into sections with titles like "block, gears and gadgets," "ride-ons," and "pretend play." (The product finder gives you many other ways to search, too, like by the manufacturer of a product or how high it ranks by Parents' Choice reviewers.)

And third, well, I must admit that I'm a biased fan. This fall I started doing some writing and reviewing for Parents' Choice. I'm proud to be working for an organization that goes beyond the hype of new toys and media to figure out which ones are really worthwhile.

So here's my recommendation to anyone out there shopping for young kids. Take a look! But first, enjoy your Thanksgiving feast. Gobble, gobble!