Question on staining Pine and Aspen

[amav31]

I brought a Millstores Aspen student desk and a Pine bookcase.

This is my first staining project. After some research on google on the how-to's , I plan to use a Minwax wood conditioner and then use a water based stain on both furniture pieces. I want to buy a Maple Minwax stain.

1.Since the desk is Aspen and the Bookshelf is Pine, what should I do to make sure that the stain color matches. Will applying the wood conditioner help in making these different woods in showing a similar stain.?

2.Since the desk will be used by a kindergartner, I want a easy cleanup.
Will a poly finish give me a easy cleanup from all the crayons.
Should I use water based or oil based poly.? I would appreciate it if you could suggest the correct stains that I should pick.

Thanks in advance Amav

[artme]

Welcome to the madhouse amav31.
The only thing I know about Aspen is that it is in Colorado.