ZOONI CELEBRATES CHILDHOOD

That's their motto, not mine, but I think it works.

I've been doing some contract work for Zooni since June; here's my official (and honest) review, posted on several websites:

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With names like Puppy Love, Leo the Lion, Firecracker and Kate's Moss, it's obvious that Zooniwear.com, a company created by a sister team in San Francisco, is having fun with their hats.

But it doesn't just go as far as the names, they've hit the other biggies, too. They get points for their eco-friendly, kid-friendly, handmade materials, and for donating a portion of profits to national and international children's charities.

Okay, that's all terrific, but, of course, the real question is: How do the kids like them?

Well, let's just say that when my girlfriend mailed my 5-year-old daughter the Panda Monium hat, my daughter squealed. She squealed and begged to put it on and ran to the mirror. She loved the super-soft yarn that gives the hat a fuzzy feel, but mostly she loved that she could see the panda ears as if they were her own and that there was a cute little panda face on the back of her head. It was a huge hit.

That was last month. Since then, she's worn it to the beach on a few windy evenings, and, come winter, I know she'll be wearing it often. (And I'm glad -- it makes everybody smile to look at it.)

This hat looks adorable on a 5-year-old, but I'll admit I also can't wait to give one as a shower gift for a baby or as a birthday gift for a toddler. At $30- $40, these hats make a unique statement, especially if you know a kid (or parent!) who's really hip or spirited -- and picking out the perfect style could be half the fun.

(If you've read this far and you like the product, go to www. zooniwear.com with this coupon code, LUVZOONI, for a 15% discount.)