I am going to France in June & need to buy a present for a 1 year old girl and a 12 year old boy. Any suggestions on what or where to look?

Kids love different kinds of candy and gum. Pop CD's are a little less expensive here, as are DVD. If he doesn't have a portable CD player, you can get one here for about $30, and they cost much more there. Sports clothing is popular,especially baseball team from your city or state.

<BR>Mrs. H: Get comic books for the 12 year old. Some will become collectable and he can trade them too. They are affordable as well. Most any store/market will have them. I got our son a bunch while we were in Europe. The clothing in France is exquisite. If the little girl is special then go for it! Kids also like postcards and coloring books for the 1 year old.

Definitely clothing for the little one! Buying little girly things in Europe is so much fun. (I have 7 nieces--I should know.) Check out some of the soccer insignia stuff for the boy if he's at all into sports. Of course, all 12 year old boys that I've met (and I've taught a lot of them) seem to be most fascinated by those leftover foreign coins!

Believe it or not... the most well received gifts to my niece and nephew (ages 5 and 8)were berets, 'Paris' backpacks, Asterix comic books and history stories (tastefully done for their age)told at bedtime about the kings and queens, Picasso, Monet and the magic of the river Seine...I'm in real trouble now, because they are so entranced that they want 'Aunt Wendy' to take then at age 16! LOL! Of course we will all go...avec plaisir.

if the 12 yt old likes soccer, a french soccer jersey. my son is starting a small collection. also baseball caps with a team logo. for 1 yr old, little baby bateau (sp?) t-shirts, sold at french dept stores at a great price (compared to nyc anyway).

one more thing for the older child, any left over foreign coins.