A 2008 NAPPA Gold Award for Parenting Resources has just been given to 'Travels with Baby: The Ultimate Guide for Planning Trips with Babies, Toddlers, and Preschool-Age Children' by Shelly Rivoli.

The National Parenting Publications Awards (NAPPA) is a program sponsored by Dominion Parenting Media and promoted in association with parenting publishers across the United States. As a NAPPA Gold Winner, 'Travels with Baby' will be featured this June as one of the top-recommended books for new parents in 30 regional parenting publications across the U.S. Shelly Rivoli, the author of 'Travels with Baby', says, "This is a great honor and a valuable distinction for any parenting resource."

Rivoli, a passionate traveler and mother of two, thought like many parents that she would have to sacrifice travel--at least to some extent--after having children. Seven months into motherhood, however, she and her husband Tim found themselves mounting an elephant and setting off for a short jungle tour in Thailand, baby and all.

Nevertheless, even experienced travelers like Rivoli encounter new and often unexpected challenges when traveling with babies and small children. 'Travels with Baby' tackles numerous logistical challenges head-on, such as how to get to and through the airport with small children and a small mountain of gear, and how to apply for a passport for someone whose eye color is yet to be determined and who can't support his head during the passport photo session.

"This guide is chock full of useful tips for traveling with babies and toddlers, what gear to bring (including specifics about car seats and a travel kit for carry-on), childproofing your accommodations, healthy travels, managing baggage on trains, and more," rave the editors at Travel for Kids, the online guide published by Globetracks (www.travelforkids.com).

'Travels with Baby' offers ample advice for family trips both far afield and close to home, with tips ranging from changing diapers on airplanes and handling ear infections far from home to planning trips based on various ages and choosing good baby gear for travel. "When you plan a trip with a baby or toddler, you make a lot of decisions that impact how much you are able to enjoy the vacation, and that's true whether you're traveling half-way around the world or half an hour away to a relative's home," says Rivoli.

Having been there and done that herself, Rivoli covers essential information for journeys by car, train, airplane, and cruise ship with babies and small children. As the Oakland Tribune reports, "... what differentiates Rivoli's book are the extra details, like comparison charts of different airlines and cruise lines." These details make it easy for parents to compare the perks offered by airlines (such as infant discounts for seats, complimentary diapers and baby food, and airline bassinets) and cruise lines (such as the availability of babysitting or children's programs and the minimum ages required).

"I just kept adding the things I wanted to know myself--and still do. If it was helpful for us, I knew it would make a great resource for other families," says Rivoli, who now boasts having changed diapers on four continents and a handful of islands. She continues publishing new travel tips in her syndicated blog, Travels with Baby Tips (www.travelswithbaby.com). Shelly Rivoli lives in the San Francisco Bay Area with her husband and two young daughters.

Earlier this month, 'Travels with Baby' was also nominated for two ForeWord Magazine Book of the Year Awards, which are considered by many to be among the most prestigious awards given to independent publishers. 'Travels with Baby' is currently 1 of 10 finalists in Travel Guides, and 1 of 13 finalists in Parenting Books in the competition. Rivoli, who joined the ranks of independent publishers last fall in order to bring Travels with Baby to the public, says, "It is very exciting, and validating, to be in the running with titles put out by Rough Guides, the American Academy of Pediatrics, and other notable publishers that have such a strong foothold in the industry."

More information about Shelly Rivoli and her new book, including a gallery of publicity photos, can be found at www.travelswithbaby.com. Information about the NAPPA Awards and ForeWord Magazine Book of the Year Awards is online at www.nappa.parenthood.com and www.forewordmagazine.com/awards. 'Travels with Baby' ($21.95, 316 pages) is available at Amazon.com and BarnesandNoble.com.