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children's books
September 26, 2017
Mrs. G

A New Scholastic Early Chapter Book Mystery Series for Kids: Hilde Cracks the Case Hero Dog! + A Giveaway

I am thrilled to partner with Scholastic Branches on the launch of the new book Hero Dog! (Hilde Cracks the Case #1) and host this fun giveaway!

Hero Dog! (Hilde Cracks the Case #1)

By Hilde Lysiak with Matthew Lysiak

Release September 12, 2017

Recommended for ages 6-8

About Hero Dog!
Ten-year-old crime reporter Hilde Lysiak is starring in her very own Branches early chapter book series — inspired by news stories Hilde wrote in real life! In this first book, there’s been a break-in on Orange Street! Cupcakes have been stolen, and soon a pie goes missing, too. Hilde and her sister/photographer, Izzy, must interview witnesses and follow the clues. Can Hilde crack the case in time to post her news story online? Joanne Lew-Vriethoff’s personality-filled illustrations appear on every page, bringing Hilde’s adventures to life for young readers!

Reflection
Hero Dog was such a fun read aloud for us to read together!  We’ve read aloud a few other early chapter book mysteries before, but I love how nine year-old Hilde (it rhymes with build-y) jots down clues and fun notes in her notepad along the way making it easy for readers to stay engaged and follow along.  There are cute illustrations throughout, questions and activities to do after reading the book and a neat two chapter sneak peek of the second book in the series (Hilde Cracks the Case: Bear on the Loose).  Oh, and there’s also a great discussion guide to use at home and in the classroom.  You can download it here.

I also appreciate that the chapters are not too long which makes it great for bedtime reading at home.  We managed to squeeze in two short chapters per night and finished it in one week.  At the end of each chapter we couldn’t wait to find out what was going to happen next and ultimately how it would end.  Who stole those cupcakes and pies?  Will the bake-off bonanza be ruined?  Oh, the suspense!

I think the coolest thing about this book is that it’s actually written by a kid!  That’s right, Hilde Lysiak is a real-life kid reporter.  Her dad used to be a reporter in New York City which helped inspire Hilde to become a reporter too.  She created her very own newspaper for her hometown called the Orange Street News when she was just seven years old.  Today she has millions of readers!  Hilde know that to solve any crime or mystery you need to answer the six important questions: Who? What? When? Where? Why? and How?

Check this one out for your sleuth lovin’ little readers.  It may even inspire them to start their own newspaper for their hometown or write their own book!

CONNECT WITH SCHOLASTIC!

Visit the Official Site

Like Scholastic on Facebook

Follow Scholastic on Twitter and Instagram

Download the Classroom Guide to Growing Young Reporters.


ABOUT SCHOLASTIC BRANCHES

Branches is a unique line of books specifically designed for newly independent readers, typically kids ages 5 to 8. The Branches line is here to help you foster a love of reading in your kids and give them the tools they need to become life-long readers. Each book includes: easy-to-read text, simple plot lines, plenty of context cues, cliffhanger chapter endings, and purposeful illustrations (on every page!) that aid in reading comprehension.  Feeling like a successful reader will bolster your child’s self-confidence, which will lead to an increased interest in reading.

About the Author

Hilde Kate Lysiak is the reporter and publisher of the Orange Street News. Since starting her paper at the age of seven Hilde has written and published hundreds of stories in her hometown of Selinsgrove, Pennsylvania. Hilde has been recognized for her work in the New York Times, NBC Today Show, GMA, The Washington Post, and thousands of other media across the world.

THE GIVEAWAY!

One lucky reader will receive:

  • One (1) Copy of Hero Dog!

Open to US addresses only.
Prizing and samples provided by Scholastic.

Hilde Cracks the Case: Hero Dog! Book Giveaway

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Book Reviews
June 13, 2017
Mrs. G

I’m Going to Give You a Bear Hug! + A Book & Sleeping Bag Giveaway!

Disclosure: I received a complimentary review copy of this book from Zonderkidz and an additional copy for a reader giveaway. All opinions are my own.

I’m Going to Give You a Bear Hug! by Caroline B. Cooney, illustrated by Tim Warnes

Publisher: Zonderkidz
Pages: 32
Age Range: 4 – 8 years
Grade Level: Preschool – 3
Format: Hardcover

Synopsis
I’m Going to Give You a Bear Hug! is a playful and comforting bedtime book that imagines all the wonderful ways a child might give and receive a hug.

Whether it’s a big bear, gasp for air, knock over a chair hug or a wet and drippy, slimy, slippy fish hug, children will giggle their way through all the imaginative examples. Cooney’s sweet and simple rhymes encourage playful interaction between parent and child and ultimately help them wind down before they snuggle into bed and drift off to sleep.

Reflection
I think kisses, hugs and cuddles are all nurturing for the soul – especially at bedtime.  Bedtime is snuggle time at our house.  Each night we read books with our children and spend some time together one on one at the end of the day. Some nights any book will do, but there are those nights when we need an “extra special” book to help you them calm down.

I’m Going to Give You a Bear Hug! is an adorable story all about hugging.  It uses different animals and playful text to describe the different types of hugs.  Caroline Cooney’s expressive rhyming and gentle text is paired with Tim Warnes’s colorful illustrations to create a picture book that is perfect for bedtime reading.  I think there is a feeling of calm and relaxation thrown in with a little fun that accompanies the book.  I instinctively start reading it softly, almost to the point of a whisper towards the end. I can’t help hugging my kids a little closer as the Mama and the bear in the book snuggled and cuddled the little boy for the night.

This book helped me to remember that my children are only little for such a short time. Take the time now to snuggle and cuddle with them, because a time will come when they no longer want to.  Spoil your kids with plenty of bear hugs or cat hugs or horse hugs!

The Giveaway!
One (1) lucky winner will receive (See image of the prize pack below):

I’m Going to Give You a Bear Hug Book Giveaway

ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Caroline B. Cooney was born in New York, grew up in Connecticut, and now lives in South Carolina. Caroline is the author of 90 Young Adult novels in many genres, and her books have sold over fifteen million copies. I’m Going to Give You a Bear Hug! is her first picture book. It’s based on a verse she wrote for her own children, Louisa, Sayre and Harold, who are grown now.

LEARN MORE
Buy the book at Barnes & Noble
Follow ZonderKidz on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram
Like Caroline B. Cooney on Facebook
Watch the book trailer here on YouTube!
#BearHugBook

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children's books
May 23, 2017
Mrs. G

Celebrating 10 Years of Elephant & Piggie + An Instagram Giveaway!

Disclosure: This post is sponsored by Disney-Hyperion.

We love Elephant & Piggie at our house, and were so excited to partner with Disney-Hyperion on a sponsored post to celebrate 10 years of the series!  Can you believe this series has been around for 10 years?

Recently, the kids and I celebrated in a big way with our own Elephant & Piggie book party! The kids said their favorite part was pressing the good for nothing button (over and over again) while reading the latest Elephant & Piggie book entitled The Good for Nothing Button. So fun!  We also wore our party hats, ate yummy snacks, unwrapped our book presents in the adorable themed wrapping paper and of course, enjoyed story time.


How cute and fun is this Elephant & Piggie themed wrapping paper?

When it comes to Elephant and Piggie I may be a wee bit obsessed with them, more so than my kids, but they seem to love these books too. Apart from the humor, I love the simplicity of these books. The illustrations, expressions and word bubbles are so well done making reading simple for kids. Plus, they have a lot of repetition of sight words so they are great for beginning readers.  Our top 10 favorite books E&P books (in no particular order) are: I Broke My Trunk, Waiting is Not Easy, We Are in a Book, Let’s Go for a Drive, I Am Invited to a Party!, Should I Share My Ice Cream?, I Love My New Toy, The Thank You Book, I Really Like Slop and I Will Take a Nap.

Right now, we have an exciting giveaway taking place over on our Instagram page.  One (1) lucky winner will receive the following:

•The Good for Nothing Button
•4 books from the Elephant & Piggie series
•Plus Elephant & Piggie stress balls and temporary tattoos!

Want to use some of the fun printables we used at our book party?  You can download the free printables to make your own lanterns at home here!  You can find the free printable activity sheets here.

Be sure to follow along with all the fun celebrating 10 years of Elephant and Piggie by doing any of the following:

Visit the PigeonPresents.com website
Follow @The_Pigeon and @DisneyHyperion on Twitter
Follow @DisneyBooks on Instagram
Like @MoWillems on Facebook
Check out the hashtag #MoFun across Twitter, Facebook and Instagram!

Your turn: Have you read any of the Elephant and Piggie books to your kids? If so, what are some of your favorites? Feel free to let me know in the comments.

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Book Reviews
May 9, 2017
Mrs. G

Caring For Your Lion by Tammi Sauer + A Book Giveaway!

Caring For Your Lion by Tammi Sauer, illustrated by Troy Cummings

Publisher: Sterling Children’s Books
Pages: 32
Format: Hardcover
Age Level: 3 and up
Grade Level: Preschool and up

Synopsis
What happens when you expect an itty-bitty kitty . . . but get a lion instead?
It’s kitten delivery day, but—SURPRISE. Congratulations on your new LION! We know you ordered a kitten, but we ran out of those. Fortunately, the big cat comes with instructions—like, try very hard NOT to look like a zebra. Or a gazelle. And give your lion PLENTY of space to play. But soon the feathers and fur start flying and everything’s in chaos. Is there any way a lion could actually be a child’s purr-fect pet?

Reflection
Upon receiving this book, the first thing I noticed was the clever hidden cover underneath the book jacket that looks like the the top of a pizza box.  Apparently, a pizza company called Sergengeti Bros. has been caring for lions since 1925!  Even before reading this book, I knew it was going to be funny just by looking at the pizza toppings selected on the top of the “pizza box”: sausage, pepperoni, gazelle, giraffe, buffalo, zebra and rhino.

Caring For Your Lion is a cute and fun read aloud book for little readers.  It features a little boy who ordered a kitten from a pet delivery service, but receives a lion instead.  They’re practically the same thing – right?  The book is a funny step-by-step how-to guide that instructs little readers how to properly take care of a lion by following 14 “easy” steps.

Step 1. Take a deep breath.  Then carefully open the crate.
Step 2. Locate the enclosed feather.  Keep it handy in case of an emergency.
Step 3. Try very hard NOT to look like a zebra.  Or a gazelle.  Or a bunny.

When the little boy notices he has a picture of a bunny on his t-shirt, he immediately covers it up with the other button up shirt he has on.  My kids crack up whenever we get to this page and the page right after it.

The instructions listed throughout are funny and silly – perfect for the preschool/kindergarten crowd!  Since this book is presented in a step-by-step format, I think the digitally created illustrations are what make this book really come alive. They are so bright, cheerful, detailed and downright silly.  The additional black-and-white diagrams from the manual are shown as well which add even more humor to the story.

Be sure to check this book out with your little readers if you’re looking for a funny story.  Oh, and if you order a kitten, but receive a lion instead – no worries.  You’ll already have this handy manual that tells you exactly what to do!

The Giveaway!
Our friends at Sterling Children’s Books were generous enough to sponsor this giveaway to ONE (1) lucky winner! Enter for your chance to win a copy of Caring For Your Lion by Tammi Sauer.  Open to US and Canadian Residents age 18 and over.  Good Luck!

Caring For Your Lion Book Giveaway!

About the Author
A former teacher and library specialist, Tammi is an active blogger and highly involved in the children’s writer community.  Her local bookstore, Best of Books in Edmond, OK named July 9 Tammi Sauer Day!  Follow her on Twitter or visit her website.

About the Illustrator
Troy Cummings runs his own design studio, and his clients have included Time for Kids, New York Daily News, Random House, and the Cartoon Network.  He has written and/or illustrated several children’s books.  Troy lives in Greencastle, IN.  You can visit his website by clicking here.

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Book Reviews
May 4, 2017
Mrs. G

The Case of the Stinky Stench by Josh Funk + A Book Giveaway!

The Case of the Stinky Stench (Lady Pancake and Sir French Toast) by Josh Funk, illustrated by Brendan Kearney

Publisher: Sterling Children’s Books
Pages: 40
Format: Hardcover
Age Range: 5 – 8 years
Grade Level: Kindergarten – 3

Synopsis
There’s a stinky stench in the fridge–and our favorite foodie friends must solve a smelly mystery! Sir French Toast’s nephew, Inspector Croissant, begs him and Lady Pancake for help in finding the source of the foul odor. Could it be the devious Baron von Waffle? A fetid fish lurking in the bottom of Corn Chowder Lake? Featuring the same delectable wordplay and delicious art that won critical raves for Lady Pancake & Sir French Toast–this fun follow-up is an absolutely tasty treat for kids and adults alike!

Reflection
Let’s face it, opening your refrigerator and smelling spoiled food is awful, right?  But sometimes it’s easy to forget what’s in your refrigerator and how long it’s been there until one day you open the door and encounter a very unpleasant smell…ewwww!  When food overstays its welcome, it can eventually fill your fridge with a terrible odor and no one wants that especially not our favorite food detectives Lady Pancake and Sir French Toast.  In The Case of the Stinky Stench they’re on a mission to solve a smelly mystery.

I love the use of rhymes, fun food-related wordplay and the engaging illustrations featured throughout this book.

Back in the kitchen and deep in the fridge,
past Trifle Tower, across Taco Bridge,
on a vacation at Marshmallow Coast,
sat Lady Pancake beside Sir French Toast.

There are also some great vocabulary words for little readers you don’t often see in picture books like: nefarious, devious, knave, vicious, sleuthing, dejected, fermented, fathom, prevail and delectable.  I had to pull out the dictionary to look up the word nefarious…hahaha!

In the end, it’s Inspector Croissant who solves the mystery AND does a good deed for his fellow foodie friend.  My kids and I really enjoyed reading this entertaining and funny mystery.  It’s currently our new favorite breakfast time read aloud book – so fun!  Just make sure you have some food or snacks nearby after reading it in case your kids start asking for something to eat immediately after like mine do!  Want to enter for your chance to win a copy of this book?  See our giveaway listed below.

THE GIVEAWAY!
Our friends at Sterling Children’s Books were generous enough to sponsor this giveaway to ONE (1) lucky winner! Enter for your chance to win a copy of The Case of the Stinky Stench written by Josh Funk.  Open to US and Canadian Residents age 18 and over.  Good Luck!

The Case of the Stinky Stench Book Giveaway

Connect with The Author!
Josh Funk spends his days writing computer code and his free time writing picture book rhymes.  Visit Josh’s website or find him on Twitter.

Connect with the Illustrator!
Brendan Kearney specializes in illustrating children’s books.  He currently lives in the UK.  Visit his website or find him on Twitter.

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children's books
March 10, 2017
Mrs. G

Lucky Leprechaun: How to Trap a Leprechaun Book Giveaway!

Giveaway HopWelcome to the 1st annual Lucky Leprechaun Giveaway Hop hosted by SaraLee’s Deals Steals & Giveaways. This is an open themed hop with NO minimum prize value. Enter to win the prize Grand Prize by our host for that lucky man in your life. Manscaped – The Perfect Package is sponsoring the prize. So be sure to enter the giveaway here than hop on over and enter all the other great prizes today!

I’m so excited to be a part of of the “Lucky Leprechaun” blog hop and to sponsor a copy of the book How to Trap a Leprechaun by Sue Fliess as my personal contribution.

About the Book


Legend has it that if you catch a leprechaun, he’ll grant you a wish. But, be careful! Leprechauns are full of trickery. To catch one, you’ll need to be clever in crafting your trap. Grab some glitter and glue and get prepared for your wily holiday visitors!

On the night before St. Patrick’s Day, leprechauns show up to steal your treasures and then disappear as quickly as they came. However, if you’re careful you might be able to catch one and then he’ll grant you a wish. You’ll have to be sneaky and set just the right trap to trap a leprechaun.

Sue Fliess’s read-aloud text and Emma Randall’s whimsical illustrations will provide much fun for young readers eager to catch their very own leprechaun! But beware: leprechauns may leave you with nothing but a cardboard box and a shoe or two.

Enter the giveaway here!

How to Trap a Leprechaun

Also, be sure to enter for your chance to win the grand prize and visit some of the other amazing bloggers involved in the giveaway blog hop!

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Books for Adults
March 6, 2017
Mrs. G

Book of the Month Club + An Instagram Giveaway!

Disclosure: I was chosen to be part of a campaign to promote literacy and the joy of reading by Acceleration Partners. Any opinions expressed are my own.  I received the products mentioned in this post for free from Book of the Month. This post also contains affiliate links and I will be compensated if you make a purchase after clicking on my links.

I’m so excited to finally try out the Book of the Month Club!  Book of the Month is a subscription box-style book club dedicated to helping avid readers find great new fiction and non-fiction titles. I love that it exposes me to a variety of new titles that weren’t previously on my radar.  They work hard to bring their members books that are truly worth reading—well-written, immersive stories that will transport you, give you thrills, and tug at your heartstrings—and they have been championing literacy for over 90 years!

Each month, their panel of Judges selects 5 great new books. Selections are announced on the first of the month, and members can choose which book they would like to receive. All plans include: 1 hardcover book of your choice each month, and free shipping.  Members can also add up to 2 books to their monthly box for an additional cost.  They also have affordable gift memberships available for easy gift giving to your fellow bookworms.

If you want to try it out for yourself, you can sign up now (using my referral link) and choose from the 5 best books of the month!  You can also enter my Instagram giveaway and enter to win one of five FREE 3-month subscription boxes I’m giving away (US residents only).  But hurry, the giveaway ends on Tuesday, March 7th at 11:59pm.  Good Luck!

Your turn: Are you a member of Book of the Month Club?  What’s the thing you like best about the club?  Feel free to share in the comments.

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Book Reviews
March 2, 2017
Mrs. G

Work Pause Thrive: How to Pause for Parenthood Without Killing Your Career + A Giveaway!


Work Pause Thrive: How to Pause for Parenthood Without Killing Your Career by Lisen Stromberg

The first time I found out I was pregnant with my daughter I wondered how becoming a parent would alter my everyday life. Even though I was elated to be pregnant, a part of me was afraid of all the unknowns. More specifically, I was worried about how I would manage having work/life balance especially when my son came around just 15 months after having my daughter. Perhaps you can relate.

This book dispels the outdated thinking of putting our family first means we’ll be forced to abandon our careers. No longer should women be afraid to live the lives they want to lead just because they have children. Read this book to find out how you can build a career and have a family without killing or abandoning your career.

With Stromberg’s guidance, you’ll learn:

  • Who pauses and how and why
  • How pausing can enrich both your career and your life
  • How to innovate your own path by strategically incorporating a pause into your career
  • What we can—and need—to do as a society to make it pausing possible for more people to achieve their personal and professional goals

The workplace is changing, slowly.  Many workplaces now offer more flexibility for working moms, parental leave is on the rise and so are return-to-work internships.  This book covers those topics and so much more.  It helps you get clear on what it is you truly want and provides tips on choosing the right career and company to fit your needs.  The backmatter includes a an interesting and useful appendix that summarizes the results from a recent “women on the rise” study.  The goal of the study conducted was to ascertain how highly qualified women are integrating kids with careers and assess whether pausing for parenthood does actually kill a career.

The Giveaway!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Giveaway details:

  • Prizes: One of 15 copies of Work PAUSE Thrive by Lisen Stromberg ($25 ARV)
  • Dates: February 21, 2017 – March 11, 2017
  • Entry Options: Readers may enter the giveaway via the widget with the following options:
    • Tweet a message
  • Notification: Winners will be randomly selected and notified by CLEVER by March 14, 2017
  • Terms & Conditions: The official Terms & Conditions are included in the widget; here is the high-level eligibility criteria:
    • Age 18+
    • US resident only
    • Only one winner per household

I was selected for this opportunity as a member of CLEVER and the content and opinions expressed here are all my own.

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Books for Adults
February 2, 2017
Mrs. G

P.S. I Love You Giveaway: Win a Copy of Ladies Drawing Night!

The Hopping Bloggers is hosting a mega Valentine’s Day giveaway blog hop called P.S. I Love You.  I’m so excited to be a part of it and to sponsor a copy of the book Ladies Drawing Night by Julia Rothman as my personal contribution.

About the Book


Speaking directly to today’s explosion of creativity, Ladies Drawing Night is for women looking to deepen their creative connections and expressions. Join rock star illustrators Julia Rothman, Leah Goren, and Rachael Cole for ten evenings of fun and art-making. The nights are led by two talented guest artists and themed around a particular topic, from large-scale ink painting to making art with kids. Samantha Hahn, Mary Kate McDevitt, Joana Avillez, and many more share their expertise. Each chapter includes loads of exciting artwork, insights about drawing, and instructions for that night’s project. A rare peek into the minds and sketchbooks of some of the best female illustrators working today, this inspiring volume is an irresistible invitation to host your own Ladies Drawing Night!

Enter the giveaway here!

Ladies Drawing Night Book Giveaway

Also, be sure to enter for your chance to win the grand prize and visit some of the other amazing bloggers involved in the giveaway blog hop!

****************************************************************************************

Welcome to the P.S. I Love You Giveaway Hop brought to you by The Hopping Bloggers!

Hosted By: Mama Smith’s and Women and Their Pretties

Co-Hosted By: Everyday Life, Crazy Busy Family Life, Life with 5 Monkies, & The Robin’s Nest Designs

Sponsored By: Teach My

CLICK THE ABOVE IMAGE TO ENTER TO WIN THE GRAND PRIZE.

GRAND PRIZE: Two Teach My Deluxe Learning Kits
Choose between Teach My Baby, Toddler, Preschooler, and Kindergartener Deluxe Learning Kits

Teach My are makers of award winning learning tools that help your child get a head start! Their products teach babies, toddlers and preschoolers the basic skills, things like; the alphabet, colors, shapes, numbers, reading and even math! Their aim is to encourage early learning, parent child interaction, self-esteem and help children to develop fine motor skills and excellent hand eye coordination. Bond. Teach. Play… 20 minutes a day! Purchase here.

Each giveaway has a value of a minimum of $15, however some are worth much more. Be sure to enter to win all of them because there is no limit to how many you can win. GOOD LUCK!

Are you a blogger looking to connect with brands? Join The Hopping Bloggers database and get started today!
Are you a brand looking to connect with a network of over 1,000 professional bloggers? Click here to see all that we have to offer and get your personalized quote!

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family fun
February 1, 2017
Mrs. G

3 eeBoo Products Your Children Will Love + A Giveaway!

I initially found out about eeBoo products a couple of years ago while doing an online search for educational toys for kids.  eeBoo is an award-winning toy manufacturer located in New York City.  They make beautifully designed crafts, games, and toys.  All of their products feature cheerful, contemporary, and vintage-inspired designs. In addition to their design focus, all of eeBoo’s products are made of high quality and durable materials.

Being a literacy advocate, I am also pleased to know eeBoo hires well-known children’s book illustrators to design their products.  How great is that?  So if you like books and beautiful art as much as I do then I think you’ll love eeBoo products too.

With the winter season in full effect here in the Northeast, I like to keep the kids busy with lots of indoor activities, games and puzzles.  Our friends over at eeBoo were generous enough to send us a few of their products to try.  We received a 100-piece Children of the World Puzzle, I Never Forget a Face Matching Game, and a set of Good Citizenship Flash Cards.

First Product: I Never Forget a Face Matching Game
My kids are obsessed with playing the I Never Forget a Face matching game!  There are a total of 24 pairs to match up, but I like to break it up and let the kids do 12 pairs at a time so it’s not as overwhelming.  As they get older (around age 5) I think they’ll be able to handle matching up all 24 pairs at once.  The kids love seeing all of the colorful smiling faces of children from countries all over the world.  I love that the game is designed to teach spatial awareness, to help develop memory skills and sharpen recognition.  I also appreciate the fact that the pieces are made with soy-based inks and 90% recycled greyboard.

Second Product: 100-Piece Children of the World Puzzle
We also enjoy putting together the 100-Piece Children of the World puzzle as a group.  It allows us to learn about geography and diversity at the same time.  It’s also a nice conversation starter to talk about where people live around the world.  We also like to discuss different ways to celebrate differences and find similarities among the different cultures.

Third Product: Good Citizenship Flash Cards
The Good Citizenship Flash Cards are fun too.  I find the cards to be useful as they help reinforce some of the values we’ve already been trying to instill in the children over the past few years.  The cards are two-sided and focus on teaching appropriate behavior, unselfish values, and social responsibility. The front of each card starts a sentence which is finished on the back of the card.

Here are some examples:

When someone seems left out…
Ask, “Do you want to play?”

When you see a chore that can be done…
Pitch in and help with chores when you see them.

When playing ANY game…
Never Cheat. Always do your best.

As you can see eeBoo offers a unique collection of toys and gifts that inspire literacy, drawing, imaginative play, and more.  Simply put, they create toys and gifts that children will affectionately remember.  For more information about eeBoo or their products, please visit: http://eeboo.com/

Your turn: Do you and your kids have a favorite eeBoo product?  Feel free to share in the comments.

The Giveaway!!!
To enter the giveaway to receive the same bundle of eeBoo products featured in this post, follow us over on Instagram for all of the details.  All you need to do is tag two (or more) friends in the comments section of each of the daily posts on Instagram.  You can also answer the bonus question for an additional entry.  The giveaway for this particular prize bundle starts today, February 1, 2017 and ends February 2, 2017 at 12:00am midnight.  Open to all US residents age 18 and over.  Good Luck!

P.S. This giveaway is part of our #28daysofgiveaways for Black History Month which starts on February 1, 2017 and ends on February 28, 2017.  All month long on Instagram we’re hosting a daily giveaway.  The prizes have generously been donated by 30+ sponsors.  You can enter to win diverse books, children’s book subscription boxes, games, multicultural dolls and more!

 

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children's books
December 5, 2016
Mrs. G

Celebrate Computer Science Education Week With Your Kids + A Brightly Giveaway!

cseweek

There’s always a reason to celebrate, right?  Well, this week the kids and I will be celebrating Computer Science Education Week which will be observed December 5 – 11th this year.  One of the ways I’ll be celebrating is by participating in the Hour of Code.  Want to join in on the fun?

In December 2013 the folks at Code.org started the first ever Hour of Code event, described as “a global movement reaching tens of millions of students in 180+ countries. Anyone, anywhere can organize an Hour of Code event. One-hour tutorials are available in over 40 languages. No experience needed. Ages 4 to 104.” Sounds amazing, right?

If you didn’t already know, I work full-time as a Computer Programmer and have over 15 years of technology experience.  In other words, I’m a true geek at heart.  As a parent, I understand not only the importance of reading, but also the importance of teaching your children about technology.  Today, we live in a world surrounded by technology: mobile phones, tablets, laptops, iPads, desktop computers, Smart TVs, etc.  Computer science and the technologies it encompasses lie at the heart of our economy, communication and daily lives.

As the digital age has transformed our world and workforce, many U.S. K–12 schools have fallen behind in preparing students with the fundamental computer science knowledge and skills they need for future success. To be a well-educated citizen as we move toward an ever-more computing-intensive world and to be prepared for the jobs of the 21st Century, people must have a deeper understanding of the fundamentals of computer science.  Understanding computers has become increasingly important not only for those who want to pursue careers as programmers, but also for those who want to jump into other fields, which are becoming more and more entangled with and influenced by technology.

So as parents and caregivers, what can we do to help our kids become little computer whizzes?  Don’t solely rely on your child’s school to help them learn.  Remember, your are your children’s first teacher.  I believe in giving kids meaningful, high-quality, and creative experiences with technology and fostering skills that enable them to be more successful throughout their lives.

One thing you can do is read STEM and STEAM focused books with your children.  I love this list of 17 STEM focused books from Brightly and this one which is specifically for girls.  Another fun thing you can do is have family coding nights.  This consists of watching a fun one-hour tutorial with your kids or letting them do it on their own.  The tutorials on code.org provides a variety of hour-long tutorials for students of all ages..  They require minimal preparation time and they are self-guided allowing students to work independently at their own pace and skill-level.

And just in case you need even more reasons to get your kids excited about computers here’s a few:

  • Learning to code is fun (and cool)!
  • Computers and coding gives kids an outlet for their creativity and imagination.
  • Learning to code provides a setting for kids to practice problem-solving skills, the engineering process, teamwork, & collaborative skills.
  • Coding is a very rewarding talent that can enhance the value of any individual in any profession, as it is a key 21st century skill.
  • Your kids can be active creators of technology, rather than just passive users of it.

Your turn: Does your child have an interest in computer science?  Feel free to share in the comments.

The giveaway!
For Computer Science Education Week, I’ve teamed up with our friends over at Brightly to bring you and your little computer whizzes this amazing giveaway!  One lucky winner will win two STEM focused books: Coding Games in Scratch and Minecraft Exploded Builds: Medieval Fortress along with a Brightly tote bag.  Use the entry form listed below or go here to enter.  Giveaway ends on December 31, 2016.  Good luck!


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November 15, 2016
Mrs. G

Holiday Gift Guide Series: My Reading Adventures Journal + A Giveaway!

myreadingadventuresjournal
Photo Credit: luandbeanread.com

Are you guys following Lu and Bean Read yet?  They have a wonderful podcast where they introduce you to new authors and children’s stories.  They also have a lovely website and Instagram account that I’ve been following for a few months now.  Today, we’re featuring their brand new reading journal for kids in our holiday gift guide series.

Do you keep track of the books you read on your own or the ones you read with your kids?  I keep track using an Excel spreadsheet that I’ve been using for a few years now.  I know, it’s old school, but it gets the job done.  One day I’ll finally purchase a reading journal for myself.  For now, I’ll live vicariously through my kids and help them log their books in their My Reading Adventures kids journal from luandbeanread.com.  I think it’s a great way to spark or enhance a child’s interest in reading.

The My Reading Adventures kids reading journal offers kids space and prompts to write, draw and reflect on a year’s worth of reading. The journal allows kids to record 52 books—one for every week of the year—as well as completing several fun writing and drawing exercises. It’s designed for kids of every age. Younger kids may choose to complete the book with an adult. For the youngest kiddos, each section provides space to draw responses. Older readers may wish to use the journal on their own or with an adult. They are given the option of drawing and writing to spark their creativity.

Details:

  • 124 pages
  • Spiral bound
  • 6 x 9 inches
  • Space to record 52 books
  • Options to write, draw or both
  • Younger readers can record pictures books with the help of an adult
  • Older readers can complete the entries alone or with an adult
  • Fun extras!

Since we read well over 52 children’s books in a year, this journal will serve as a record of our favorite 52 books we’ll read next year along with any specific reactions the kids had.  I can’t wait to start filling up our journal!

Perhaps you’d like to give this journal as a gift during the upcoming holiday season. Wouldn’t it be fun to pair the journal with a nice pen/pencil or markers and a favorite book?  Thankfully our new friends at luandbeanread.com are graciously offering to giveaway one FREE journal to a lucky reader.  So. One of you lovely readers will walk away with a brand new reading journal! Keep it. Or give it. Or buy a few and stick them under the tree.  Makes a great holiday gift for little readers.  Good luck!

Connect with Lu and Bean Read!

Website | Twitter | Instagram | Facebook

My Reading Adventures Journal

Your turn:  Let me whether you already keep a reading journal for your kids, or why you think it would be good to start. I look forward to hearing your responses!

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