Book Reviews

January 3, 2016

Mrs. G

Love Thy Fro by Casey Elisha: A Book Review

Love Thy Fro
Written by Casey Elisha, illustrated by Aliecee Cummings

Synopsis
Aimed at girls ages 5-8, Love Thy Fro is about a young girl named Kemi who absolutely loves her big, beautiful, curly afro hair! It’s a simple book with a simple message, the aim is to teach girls the importance of loving themselves and embracing their “non-typical” hair from a young age.

Background
Love Thy Fro debuted for the first time in South East London on December 6, 2015. The very next day the book was completely SOLD OUT. Casey was inspired to write the book based on conversations she had with several people and her own personal reflections on her past issues related to self-love and her hair.

“My decision to write Love Thy Fro was a very random one stemming from my realization that, if I were to become a mother to a daughter anytime soon, I would have a really hard time teaching her to be comfortable in her own skin due to the images of beauty that society constantly throws at us. I wanted my future daughters to know and appreciate their unique beauty, so I chose to create something that I felt would help show them this.” ~Casey Elisha

Reflection
I want my daughter to embrace the hair that naturally grows out of her head and to believe, with confidence, that there is nothing wrong with her hair despite what others may say. Luckily, my daughter absolutely LOVES her hair at the moment. I hope it stays that way for years to come.

I like to think I’m the main reason why my daughter feels so good about her hair. How narcissistic of me, right? Seriously though, I do take good care of my hair and I’ve been wearing it in its natural state for the past six years now. Perhaps by seeing me take care of my hair it in turn made my daughter feel good about hers. In addition, I am constantly telling her how beautiful her hair is hoping it will sink into her head. I think its safe to say it has, at least for now.

I also read beautiful natural hair books like Love Thy Fro to my daughter frequently. As I’ve stated on this blog before, it’s important for me to let my children see characters who look like them in books. That’s especially true when it comes to teaching my daughter about hair. She simply won’t see characters with her hair type featured in princess books. That’s why I’m so glad authors like Casey Elisha and others are on the forefront writing positive and inspirational books for young girls with afro-textured hair.

The first day when the book arrived in the mail I opened it and read through it quickly on my own. Later that night I read with my daughter and we both enjoyed it immensely. I definitely think the book resonated with my daughter because Sundays are the same day I wash and style her hair for the week just like little Kemi in the book.

Throughout the book, Kemi explains the process her mum (mom) follows to shampoo, condition, moisturize and style her hair. We love the rhyming text as well as the gorgeous illustrations that really help bring the book to life. I especially loved that Kemi’s mom let her decide what style she wanted to wear in her hair. How empowering for little Kemi to tell her mom exactly how she wanted to wear her hair -in an afro!

There is also an activity section in the back of the book for girls to: draw a picture of their fro and write a few sentences describing reasons why they love their fro. It’s also worth mentioning that since Casey is a British author located in London, there are some words that are spelled differently than from what we use in the United States like: mummy (mommy), moistrises (moisturizes), colour (color), favourite (favorite) and canerows (cornrows). This was not annoying at all to me though – just wanted to make you aware of it.

Kudos to Casey Elisha on recognizing the need for positive, self-esteem books like this one and for representing for curly girls everywhere. With the help of books like Love Thy Fro, I will continue to show my daughter curly images to help reinforce her natural beauty.

Connect with Casey Elisha on Instagram or her website!

For all inquiries, please contact Casey Elisha directly at: CElishaBooks@gmail.com

Order a copy of the book here.

Your turn: Have you read this book yet? How do you teach your daughter(s) or the little girls in your life to love their afro-textured hair? Feel free to share in the comments.

Giveaway: Win an Autographed Copy of Love Thy Fro!
I’m thrilled to be hosting my first giveaway of 2016! To enter to win this book simply follow the instructions listed in the Rafflecopter giveaway below. Contest ends Thursday, January 14th at 11:59pm. Good luck!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

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Book Reviews

January 3, 2016

Mrs. G

My First Book Series: A Book Review

Back in November 2015, I introduced you to author Sophie Helenek when I featured her as the literacy expert for the month. In addition to being an award-winning author, Sophie is an elite athlete, former banker, Everest summiteer, runway model, and mother. Also, her daughter happens to go to the same preschool as my son – how cool is that?

Sophie recently wrote an entire series of children’s board books called My First Book. There are several books in the series including: My First Book Sky Wonders, My First Book Fruits, My First Book Musical Instruments, My First Book Shapes, My First Book Christmas (Kindle edition) and My First Book Pets (Kindle edition).

Summary
Each book in the My First Book series is designed to stimulate and captivate baby from birth to toddlerhood, while fueling inspiration and knowledge of your bundle of joy surroundings.

These board books have received top accolades honoring excellence in family-friendly products, and prestigious awards for its innovation, attention to quality, and educational properties which seals only the very best in reading excellence.

Background
At birth, babies are very nearsighted; that is why they are interested in bold black and white shapes and high contrast patterns. Eager to learn more, Sophie read a bunch of studies on speech development, child temperament, and babies’ milestones. Gathering all this information, she developed and designed My First Books series from a baby’s perspective. She wanted to write an engaging book that promotes bonding and supports an infant’s developmental growth milestones: vision, memory, speech, and social skills.

They are not just picture books or bedtime stories, but rather activity books conceived to stimulate a baby’s senses.

Here how it works:

At first, a baby will enjoy simple illustrations with black-and-white and high-contrast patterns designed especially for the very young to focus on.
As babies gets older, their brains learn to distinguish bright primary colors and will start identifying the illustrations with the words you read, which triggers their memory process.
Each picture is accompanied by a simple word that babies will love repeating and which helps their speech development.
The last pages show all the illustrations together, which also helps the baby’s memory process.
My First Book series offers a special feature for toddlers, as they can write on the book with a white board pen, wipe it, and write again!

Reflection
The first thing that surprised me about these books is the way both of my kids gravitated towards them. The first night we read them the kids eagerly wanted to read them again and again…no exaggeration. Perhaps they are attracted to the bright and bold colors of the illustrations or the simplicity of books, I’m not sure. Whatever it is, they like them and so do I.

My children are slowly outgrowing board books as they’re getting older, but I think these books are perfect for babies and toddlers alike. Of course for the youngest readers, you won’t have to worry about these books being slobbered upon, crinkled up, ripped, or worse. These board books provide a sturdy option for the smallest of the small while still offering the opportunity to expose your child to good books.

My three-year old daughter can read all of the words and name the objects in each book without any assistance from me. My son can name the colors, identify the shapes, name the fruits and instruments, but he’s not at the reading stage yet.

I also enjoy using these books for both letter recognition and counting with the kids too. In addition, I like to incorporate theme-related songs like “Apples and Bananas” (when we’re reading the My First Book Fruits book) and activities to expand on the topic of each book. As an added bonus, toddlers and preschoolers can even use a dry erase marker on these books and then wipe them clean when they’re ready to practice handwriting.

If you have an infant or know someone who will be giving birth to a baby in the coming months, I’d highly recommend this children’s book series to help with those important developmental growth milestones.

To learn more about author Sophie Helenek connect with her on social media:
Website: www.nurserybooks.net
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/nurserybooks
Twitter: @nurserybooks

Your turn: Have you read any of the books in this series with your little readers? Do you still read board books with your children? Feel free to share in the comments.

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December 31, 2015

Mrs. G

What Is Your Word for 2016?

I cannot believe today is the last day of 2015! Where did the year go, seriously? This morning I spent some time writing down my goals and dreams for the new year ahead in my new journal. I also chose two words to help me focus and realize my goals. I chose two words because it was really hard for me to narrow it down to just one.

If you follow me on Instagram you may have noticed I posted my favorite adult book of 2015 a few days ago. I chose The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up: The Japanese Art of Decluttering and Organizing by Marie Kondo. In this book, the author suggests you should only be surrounded by things that spark joy in your heart. Therefore, the first word I’ve chosen for 2016 is joy.

I want to create more joy daily in all areas of my life. I’m only going to focus on each day one day at a time and those things that bring me joy right that very moment. Because I don’t know how my life will be a day from now, 30 days from now or even 5 or 10 years into the future.

But I do know that waking up an hour earlier helps me prepare better for the day ahead. I do know that when I force myself to exercise before work I’m more productive. I do know how I love seeing the look on my kids’ faces when they learn something new or accomplish something on their own. I do know how much I love having clean and organized spaces. I do know that I love to eat delicious food. I do know that I love technology (most of the time), writing code, and solving problems. I do know that when I put my phone away at home I’m more focused, less distracted, more present to enjoy my husband, our home, and the kids. I do know that reading, writing, and blogging bring me joy. I do know how beautiful I feel when I let my skin breathe, free from the make-up, free from the grime. I do know that I love discovering and learning new things. I do know that smiling at strangers and giving to others has never made me feel worse, only better.

I do know most of the things that bring me joy, but I’m sure there are others have have yet to be discovered. So I’m hoping those things will be revealed to me next year. Also, for 2016, I’m letting go of wondering when the joy of “success” will make it’s way to me or when it’ll be “my turn” to have or do certain things. Because there’s no joy in wondering. There’s no joy in trying to figure out the who, the when, the why and the how.

Really, the only joy is in the now. And that’s where I choose to be.

I understand and acknowledge I’ve already had much success in many areas of my life, but I have other hopes and dreams that have yet to be realized. I have faith they will come to pass, but I’m simply letting go and allowing them to happen in their due season (still keeping them on my list of dreams and goals though).

The other word I chose is reach.

Next year I want to reach above what I know I’m capable of, beyond even what I think I might be capable of and create some AMAZING things. I also want to reach out to others more – build networks, create genuine, meaningful and lasting relationships both online and in-person. I want to reach more people via my blog and social media. I want to reach for my goals and actually achieve them – not just set them on January 1st and forget about them. I want to reach above and beyond at work and not just be average or mediocre. Simply put, I want to reach and stretch myself in all areas of my life knowing what my limitations are so I won’t get burned out.

Cheers to an epic 2016! Wishing you and yours a very Happy New Year. See you in 2016!

Your turn: What is your word(s) for the new year? What are you most looking forward to? Feel free to share in the comments.

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Books for Adults

December 31, 2015

Mrs. G

What I’m Reading (in January 2016)

Like many of you, I see the new year as an exciting opportunity to set some epic goals for the year ahead. This year is no different and one I’m very excited by is my goal to read for at least 30 minutes every day in 2016. This 30 minutes won’t include reading children’s books with the kids either. I’m talking about reading books just for me whether they be physical books, e-books, or audio books.

Here are my picks for January 2016:

Year of Yes: How to Dance It Out, Stand In the Sun and Be Your Own Person by Shonda Rhimes

I LOVE anything that Shonda Rhimes is involved with (especially Scandal) so I’m sure I’m going to enjoy reading this gem. I’ve heard nothing but great things about this one!

Synopsis: This poignant, intimate, and hilarious memoir explores Shonda’s life before her Year of Yes—from her nerdy, book-loving childhood creating imaginary friends to her devotion to creating television characters who reflected the world she saw around her. And it chronicles her life after her Year of Yes had begun—when Shonda forced herself out of the house and onto the stage, appearing on Jimmy Kimmel Live, and giving the Dartmouth Commencement speech; when she learned to say yes to her health, yes to play and she stepped out of the shadows and into the sun; when she learned to explore, empower, applaud, and love her truest self. Yes.

This wildly candid and compulsively readable book reveals how the mega talented Shonda Rhimes, an unexpected introvert, achieved badassery worthy of a Shondaland character. And how you can, too.

Wake Up Happy: The Dream Big, Win Big Guide to Transforming Your Life by Michael Strahan

I never watched Michael Strahan play football for the New York Giants, but ever since he started hosting the morning show with Kelly Ripa I started following and discovered I adore him. He’s appears to be such an optimistic, down-to-earth, easy-going guy. Therefore, I’m interested to read this and learn more about him and his views on life and dreaming big.

Synopsis: In Wake Up Happy, Michael shares personal stories about how he gets and stays motivated and how readers can do the same in their quest to attain their life goals. Inspiring and chock full of advice that will help the reader make significant strides toward pursuing his or her dream, Wake Up Happy is a book no one, young or old, male or female will want to miss.

Best Friends Forever by Kimberla Lawson Roby

If possible, I like to have at least one fiction book in the mix of books I’m reading during any given month. I enjoyed reading some of Kimberla Lawson Roby’s books in the past so I’m excited to read her latest book. Sounds like a good one!

Synopsis: Things are falling apart in the Richardson household. Angry arguments between Celine and her husband, Keith, have become routine. She resents that he’s working long hours and staying out all night, and he accuses her of not giving him the attention he deserves. Their marriage is at a cross-roads and Celine worries how her 10-year-old daughter, Kassie, will be affected.

But the situation turns devastating when Celine is diagnosed with breast cancer. As her relationship with Keith deteriorates, Celine worries that she’ll be left to navigate the difficult process of cancer treatment alone. But comfort and support come in the form of Celine’s best friend, Lauren. They’ve been attached at the hip since they were children and it is Lauren who’s there for Celine in her darkest moments.

Now, Celine will be forced to make tough decisions-about her marriage and otherwise-and for the first time in her life, she wants to give up. Lauren vows to help by any means necessary and makes the kind of sacrifice only a best friend can. But will it be too late?

Your turn: What are your reading goals for the new year? What books do you think I should read in 2016? If you have any suggestions please feel free to share in the comments.

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children's books

December 10, 2015

Mrs. G

Holiday Gift Guide Series: Coloring Books and Flash Cards for African-American Kids!

If you follow my blog, you may have noticed I feature a variety of children’s and adult books on my blog. I do not believe in discrimination or segregation of any kind, especially when it comes to books. And although I read a variety of different books with my kids, I get really excited whenever I come across books or different items that feature multicultural or African-American children. Why? Because growing up as a kid there weren’t many dolls, coloring books, cartoon characters, or flash cards for multicultural children. Thankfully, today there are more options available for parents and children to choose from. Check out these fantastic stocking stuffers listed below!

Coloring and Activity Books
The kids and I LOVE this series of coloring and activity books by Crystal Swain-Bates! She’s the author of the popular children’s book Big Hair, Don’t Care. Crystal founded a black-owned publishing company called Goldest Karat Publishing. Their mission is to fill a critical niche in African-American literature by providing books that fill the untapped needs of young African-American boys and girls in stories they will want to read again and again.

Not only can kids color in the pages, but they can also do fun activities like filling in the missing vowels to discover hidden sentences, draw pictures, and write their own stories. My kids are still a bit young to do most of the activities, but we’re holing on to these beauties until they are a bit older. I’d say these are perfect for children ages 5 – 9. However, if you like coloring books like I do even adults would enjoy these. A real treat!

Interesting in ordering these coloring books for your little readers, church group or school?
The Colorful Adventures of Cody & Jay
The Colorful Adventures of Zoe & Star
Color My Fro
Black Fairy Tales

ABC Me Flashcards

I came across these amazing ABC Me Flash Cards on Instagram. Have you seen these yet?

Designed to be used in a myriad of ways, ABC Me Flashcards are illustrated in vibrant colors with easy to understand wording on the back. They begin with the alphabet but A isn’t for apple. This time, A is for Africa. And so from A to Z or from Africa to Zora Neal Hurston, younger children can learn their ABC’s and older children can use the same cards to learn about their history.

Mom and teacher Leilani Brooks came up with the idea to create these flashcards. While looking for ways to teach her children about their history and culture, she discovered that there weren’t enough resources for teaching African-American history to young children. After purchasing a set of flashcards depicting American Presidents and seeing our 44th President, Barack Obama represented, Leilani was inspired. She called long time friend, educator and historian, Stevi Meredith. Brooks told Meredith she had an idea to make flashcards about African American accomplishments and culture. After some brainstorming, the two came up with what is now ABC Me Flashcards: The African American Edition.

I hope you enjoyed these two stocking stuffer ideas! The beauty of stocking stuffers is that they don’t have to be off someone’s list and they can range in price from $1 to $100 or more. More importantly, they can be fun, quirky, sweet, one-of-a-kind, and just from you.

Happy shopping and happy stuffing!

For more information about Crystal Swain-Bates click here to visit her website. You can also follow her on Facebook and Instagram.

Interested in purchasing ABC Me Flashcards? Click here to visit their website. You can also follow ABC Me Flashcards on Instagram and Facebook.

Disclaimer: This is not a sponsored post. All opinions expressed are my own.

Your turn: Did you enjoy this post? What are you planning to put in your little ones stockings this year? Feel free to share in the comments.

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Book Reviews

December 8, 2015

Mrs. G

Sandy Hook Elementary School Anniversary: Two Children’s Books to Read

December 14th will mark the three-year anniversary of the horrific mass shooting at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown, Connecticut. I’ve lived in Connecticut all my life so that particular shooting hit especially close to home for me.

Talking to your children about tragedies is a daunting task, but I think it’s necessary especially as they get older. When I think about all of the tragedies I’ve lived through prior to becoming a mom: Columbine, 9/11, Virginia Tech, University of Arizona, and countless others I can’t help but think how different I feel now that I have children. What am I supposed to tell my kids? Has this become the “new normal”? I certainly hope not. Luckily, my kids are still young so they don’t really understand.

If you’re looking for books to read with your children in recognition of the Sandy Hook anniversary, may I suggest two books that bring messages of hope and renewal to children and families affected by the tragedy.

Good Dogs, Great Listeners: The Story of Charlotte, Lily and the Litter
by Renata Bowers with JoAnn and Joel Bacon

Book Synopsis
Charlotte loves dogs, especially her loving and loyal dog, Lily. And she loves adventure, especially with Lily and her Litter of six stuffed dogs in tow. But, she doesn’t love to read.

Charlotte has a pesky habit of abandoning a book in favor of a distraction. Paired with her dogs and her bold imagination, that distraction has a way of turning into a grand adventure. But when Lily gets hurt on one of their adventures, Charlotte relies on her imagination and her heart to find a way to love Lily back to health…and discovers a love for reading along the way – along with her beloved companions.

Book Background
This is a charming story from Joel and JoAnn Bacon, parents to 6 year-old Charlotte Bacon who was one of the children who lost their lives on December 14, 2012 in Sandy Hook, CT. The family decided to focus on the things their daughter loved most, which was dogs.

Good Dogs, Great Listeners is a story of imagination, kindness and boldness, created to inspire the story – and the reader – in us all. The book tells the story of Charlotte and how Charlotte’s Litter was started.

Charlotte’s Litter was founded following the 2012 Sandy Hook tragedy. The organization supports therapy dog programs in educational and societal settings by connecting resources and experienced people, while providing input and guidance to parents and educators. The Bacon family has founded and developed a number of projects to honor their spirited Charlotte, share her joy and beauty, and advocate for what has helped them most as they grieve.

Reflection
The kids and I truly enjoyed reading this book. It’s such a wonderful story with precious illustrations to match. Even though little Charlotte doesn’t like to read in the beginning she certainly has a vivid imagination and great sense of adventure. In an effort to avoid reading books, Charlotte uses her imagination to go on elaborate adventures with her dogs. Lily and the Litter faithfully follow Charlotte with each new “adventure” they go on until one day when Lily breaks her leg. That’s when Charlotte’s love of reading begins as way to keep Lily company while she rested so her leg could heal.

I think this is a great book to read with children who may be reluctant to read. I’d also recommend this for little readers who may want to become a veterinarian or those who love dogs.

The Dogs of Newtown
by Guy A. Bacon

Charlotte’s brother Guy Bacon also has his own book, “The Dogs Of Newtown” which describes the therapy dogs that greeted him when he went back to school. Guy is an 11 year-old boy who is a student at Reed Intermediate School in Newtown, CT. He dedicated this book to his sister, Charlotte Bacon who was one of the 20 children who lost their lives at Sandy Hook Elementary School.

Book Synopsis
The sadness in Newtown got a little bit better because of the therapy dogs that came to visit from around America. The Dogs of Newtown is packed full of beautiful photography is the product of long, snuggle-filled interview sessions, and the mutual love that was, and still is, shared by Guy and the dogs of Newtown. A student at Reed Intermediate School in Newtown, Connecticut, Guy shares the story of some of the most special therapy dogs that visited him and his friends at school and helped lick the tears away.

Book Background
Following the tragedy, therapy dogs were brought to school to help comfort the grieving children, one being Charlotte’s older brother, Guy. The dogs sat patiently as students read to them, petted them, and spoke to them, and provided a much-needed calming presence for both children and teachers. Once the Bacons witnessed the wonderful influence of the dogs, they knew Charlotte had something to do with it, as she had loved animals fiercely – especially dogs. The Bacon family hopes to promote the use of therapy dogs to aid in both children’s literacy as well as emotional support.

Reflection
I enjoyed reading about each one of the therapy dogs featured in this book, but the kids loved looking at the pictures the most. We’re just a dog loving family. The Dogs of Newtown is a true story about each of the heroic therapy dogs who helped students to feel safe coming back to school. The dogs and their owners spent every day for the rest of the school year in service to the staff and students of the school. How awesome is that!

I never realized the wonderful effects therapy dogs could have on people prior to reading the foreward message written in this book. It’s so beautifully written that it actually made me tear up a bit. The rest of the book includes photographs of the therapy dogs as well as a brief description about each one.

Overall, I think both of these books can help spark a conversation with your children about the Sandy Hook Elementary anniversary whether they are still in diapers or elementary school.

Please continue to hold our friends and neighbors here in Connecticut close to your heart, especially as we enter the holiday season.

For more information about both of these books, visit gooddogsgreatlisteners.com and charlotteslitter.org, and connect with Charlotte’s Litter and Good Dogs, Great Listeners on Facebook.

Good Dogs, Great Listeners and The Dogs of Newtown can also be purchased on Amazon.

Your turn: Did you enjoy this post? How do you talk to your children about tragic events that occur? What are some of your go-to children’s books to read? Feel free to share in the comments.

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holiday gift guide series

December 8, 2015

Mrs. G

Holiday Gift Guide Series: 4 Children’s Book Subscription Boxes

Are you planning to gift your little readers with a book subscription box this holiday season?

I love kids’ monthly subscription boxes because they offer unique educational experiences. They can give kids of all ages the chance to learn by doing fun projects, crafts and activities. Many subscription boxes on the market today are designed to include everything you need to spend quality time together with your children.

Subscription boxes make great last minute gifts for out of town family members, discerning nieces and nephews, your own kids, and just about anyone else. Kids love receiving packages in the mail and how fun for them to know know that they’ll be receiving packages long after the holidays are over. Today, there are subscription boxes that appeal to all sorts of different interests and passions.

Below are some of my favorite book subscription boxes for kids. Please note this is NOT a sponsored post and all opinions expressed are my own.

Cocoa Mocha Kids (October 2016 Update: This subscription box is no longer available.)

I found out about this wonderful subscription box on Instagram. Cocoa Mocha Kids is the first monthly “Surprise” product & book service specially tailored for children of color. When you subscribe to Cocoa Mocha Kids know that 100% of the net profit will help send children to STEM (Science, Technology Engineering, Mathematics ) programs throughout the United States. Every month your child will receive a box of products, art, books, samples & surprises.

To get started, simply sign up as a subscriber and your special Cocoa Mocha Kid will receive a new crate every month! Currently, the crates are available for children ages 2-11 for both boys and girls. They also plan to carry crates for babies soon.

Bee Mee Bookshelf (October 2016 Update: This subscription box is no longer available.)

Be Mee Bookshelf is a diverse children’s book subscription service that offers a curriculum to educate and empower children.

Each month the experts at Bee Me Bookshelf select a dynamic theme to focus on and we curate a collection of diverse books with protagonists of color around this theme. Next, they design curriculum cards for each book with vocabulary words, reading comprehension questions, discussion questions, and activity suggestions. Their goal is to create a space for young readers rooted in empowerment and education, that helps them cultivate a love of themselves, others, and reading.

You have the option of choosing a Bee Me Bundle for ages 4-8 years or a Bitty Bee Bundle for ages 0-3 years. You can also select how often you would like to receive a bundle: once, once per month for 3 months/6 months/9 months, etc.

Bookroo

Bookroo makes reading exciting for kids and affordable and convenient for parents. Each box contains either 3 board books or 2 picture books and the combined retail value of the books always exceeds the subscription price.

Bookroo offers 3 different subscription types to choose from: month-to-month, 3 month, and 6 months.

Check out my recent review of Bookroo here to learn more.

The Story Box

I’ll be reviewing this subscription box and providing more information soon, but I wanted to include them in my list now so you can check them out.

When you subscribe to The Story Box, your family will receive a monthly box that is curated by a nationally certified speech-language pathologist. Each box contains 2 children’s books and a guide for parents. Use the books and guide to make the most of your family reading time, enhance your child’s language skills, and improve your child’s chances of becoming a successful reader. The books in their boxes are most appropriate for children between the ages of 1-year old and 7-years old.

A portion of each subscription fee is used to purchase books and other educational materials to benefit children with disabilities and children from low-income families.

Your Turn: Do you have a favorite kids book subscription box? Is there an awesome subscription book box for kids missing from my list? Please let me know in the comments.

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Uncategorized

November 23, 2015

Mrs. G

Xfinity Lunch N’ Learn: Using Media as a Learning Tool

The phrase “screen time” is often associated with being negative, especially in today’s society. Growing up as a kid, we did have some television rules in place like: we were only allowed to watch “G” rated and “PG-13” rated movies. Relative to my childhood, limits on screen time have become increasingly restrictive and confusing. At least to me anyway.

Since I work in the technology field, it’s important to me that my children are familiar with technology and know how to use it. At the same time, I don’t want to overdo it and let my kids overdose on having too much screen time.

The iPad, Kindle, and various other tablets have opened up a world of “educational” screen time. For this reason, I totally subscribe to the new “transmedia approach” that some schools and colleges have recently adopted. Basically, the transmedia approach uses different forms of media to teach and reinforce key concepts.

For example, using the transmedia approach, you can let your kids watch a 1o-15 minute episode of a TV show, then move to an app that reinforces the lessons from the TV show, and then extrapolate on the topic in your lesson plan, workbook, read a book, or do another learning activity.

Recently, I was invited to attend an exclusive Lunch N’ Learn event at the Home of Distinction with a few other fellow mom bloggers in my state. The event was sponsored by Comcast (my local cable provider). Being a current Comcast subscriber I was excited to attend this event for a few reasons: 1) I’d have the opportunity to network with other local bloggers in my area. 2) I wanted to learn about some new features my family could take advantage of. 3) I was excited to learn more about the X1 platform because I think it’s a great way to incorporate the transmedia approach with my children at home and on-the-go.

The Lunch N’ Learn consisted of three different segments:

1) Xfinity X1
2) Xfinity Home
3) Xfinity Mobile Apps

First, I’ll provide a brief description about each segment, then I’ll tell you how I think you can apply it to your family and the transmedia approach.

Xfinity X1

During this segment I learned about the new voice-activated remote control. That’s right, you can “talk” to the remote and tell it what to do. How cool is that? For example, you can say the name of your favorite show, tell it to turn to a specific channel, and so much more! It’s also bi-lingual, but only understands English and Spanish at the present time.

I also learned more about the Kids Zone which is a safe place for kids to independently explore their favorite shows and discover new ones too. Although my kids still don’t know how to maneuver the entire remote, I would feel safe leaving the room knowing the television was tuned to the Kids Zone. Also, since you can activate the parental controls you won’t have to worry about your kids changing the channel to another program outsize of the “zone”.

It was also interesting to learn about the new integration of displaying movie ratings and reviews directly onto your TV. It’s similar to the Rotten Tomatoes movie ratings you may have seen online. This is so helpful for parents to determine what content is appropriate for different age ranges.

How to incorporate the transmedia approach: Using Xfinity X1 you can watch a television show with your children at home.

Xfinity Home

The Xfinity Home Security System is a steal starting at just $30 a month. Using a mobile device, laptop, or desktop computer you can do things like: turn on/off the lights, arm/disarm your security system, control the temperature, and even view a live video feed to see what’s happening in your home in real-time.

You also set up notifications to let you know when a door is opened and receive other e-mail/text alerts related to your home. Some of the other security features they provide are: 24-hour monitoring, door/window sensors, water sensors, glass break sensors, smart thermostats, indoor and outdoor cameras and smart light switches.

How to incorporate the transmedia approach: Using Xfinity Home you can teach your children about video cameras and how they work. It’s also a great learning opportunity to teach kids about security and the importance of being safe.

Xfinity Mobile Apps

With Xfinity mobile apps television shows and movies can be watched on your smartphone or tablet making it a truly portable experience! And the best part is you and kids can can watch your favorite shows even if there is no internet connection available! Simply download your favorites including DVR recordings and then watch them at any time whenever you want! Another cool feature is the ability to share live stream video and photos with other Xfinity subscribers using Xfinity Share.

I was completely surprised at how much I learned about Xfinity and all they have to offer in a short two-hour period. For me, learning about the Xfinity Wifi app and downloading your DVR recordings were truly game changers! Having the kids favorite shows available at my fingertips at anytime when I need them to sit quietly will definitely come in handy.

How to incorporate the transmedia approach: Using Xfinity Mobile Apps you can you can watch a show with your children on-the-go.

So you see, screen time isn’t such a bad thing, right? The truth is in today’s tech-savvy world kids will ultimately have access to screens. There’s not much we can do about that except be aware of how they’re using them, AND get creative with ways to keep them occupied (and ourselves sane) both with and without screens.

Let Xfinity show you how media can be an amazing tool for learning when used correctly.

P.S. If you live in Connecticut, you can tour the Home of Distinction during one of their public tours. See their website for more information.

Disclaimer: This post is sponsored by Comcast. All opinions expressed are my own.

Your turn: Have you tried Xfinity TV yet? How are you and the kids enjoying it? Do you limit screen time in your home? Feel free to share in the comments.

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Audio Books

November 19, 2015

Mrs. G

Our Latest Obsession: Playaway Bookpacks!

If you follow me on Instagram, you may have seen an image I posted a few days ago about Playaway audio bookpacks. Playaway is a better listening experience combining an easy-to-use player with an entire audiobook(s). Each bookpack comes with books (or one single book), a player, and a AAA battery. You just plug in a pair of headphones!

The audio book(s) are already pre-loaded on the player so there’s nothing to download…just put in the battery, plug in your headphones and press play. Easy, peasy! My local library carries a variety of Playaway bookpacks for both children and adults. So far we’ve enjoyed listening to classic books like Make Way for Ducklings, The Cricket in Times Square, and more modern books like Don’t Let the Pigeon Drive the Bus.

Prior to finding out about Playaway the kids and I hadn’t really explored audiobooks much . I actually thought about purchasing a subscription through an audio book service before in the past, but now there’s no need to spend that extra money when I can just go to the library and check out a Playaway bookpack.

The player has 5 different narration speeds so you can find the reading pace that best suits your needs. You can also adjust the volume, reverse by chapter, fast forward to the next chapter, and rewind/fast forward within the chapter.

Playaway bookpacks are ideal for any upcoming travel by car, plane, bus, or train. Everyone can listen to their own audiobook on the go! They are also ideal for long commutes to work.

Check out your local library to see if they carry these wonderful audiobook packs. We’re obsessed with these gems! If they’re not available at your library – request them!

For more information about Playaway bookpacks check out their website here.

Disclaimer: This is not a sponsored post. All opinions expressed are my own.

Your turn: Have you ever heard of Playaway? What’s your favorite way to listen to audiobooks? Feel free to share in the comments.

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product reviews

November 17, 2015

Mrs. G

Interactive Growth Charts for Kids Plus a Discount!

Sometimes when I look at my kids it doesn’t seem like they’re growing that much. I think that’s because I see them everyday so I don’t notice the difference as much as a person who hasn’t seen them in a few months. It’s only when I look back at photos from previous months/years that I notice they are in fact growing like weeds and it sort of makes me want to burst into tears! I love the fact that they are growing and learning new things and coming into their own, but its happening so quickly. If you’re a parent, I am sure you understand.

Since I never had an official growth chart growing up, I knew I wanted one for each of my children. As a kid, I remember having a wall in our apartment where we would measure how tall we were. It was always so fun to see how much we had grown. But then we moved and the wall went away… as did our “growth chart.” I wanted something for my kids that could move with us, but was still simple and easy to store. The interactive growth chart from PaperRamma is perfect because it simply rolls up and you can store it away.

Here’s the proof image I received which shows the entire growth chart from top to bottom.

I recently came across PaperRamma and instantly fell in love with their interactive, info-graphic style growth charts for kids. They are so beautiful, chic, and modern. Gone are the days when you just used a growth chart to record your height…that’s so 20th century! With this growth chart, you can keep track of milestones, favorite things, first words, birth stats, and more!

Each chart is customizable and printed on canvas. You can pick the colors, customize with your child’s name, pick a world or US map and can pick almost anything to put at the top for design from flowers to a graphic that fits your nursery decor.

I love the overall concept behind this growth chart – it’s a keepsake you can move from home to home (or room to room) with you. You can also write down notes (using an oil-based marker or pen), add photos and remember all those cute and funny moments for the whole family to look back on.

My growth chart arrived within a few days in a sturdy cardboard package and I couldn’t wait to get it open! Once out of the package, I was instantly impressed with it. The colors are beautiful and the design is flawless. I can tell the chart was made to last. Their design gurus use rich, vibrant inks which will help to preserve the design for years to come.

I truly love the interactive growth chart we received and it is so much nicer and more creative than the other charts I had been finding in stores and online. I’m sure it’s something my children will also treasure for years to come. Order a personalized growth chart for your little ones today before they grow any more! Makes a great gift for holidays, birthdays, or baby showers.

Interested in ordering a chart? Well, you’re in luck! Our friends at PaperRamma have graciously provided a discount code for all of my readers to use. Just visit their website to browse their collection and use the code READ10 in order to receive 10% off of their collection interactive growth charts. Offer ends Jan 31, 2016.

Connect with PaperRamma!
Website
Facebook
Instagram

Disclaimer: I received a complimentary growth chart in exchange for an honest review. All opinions expressed are my own.

Your turn: How do you guys document your kids growth and milestones… or do you? Feel free to share in the comments.

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family fun

November 16, 2015

Mrs. G

Take Your Child to a Bookstore Day: December 5th

We’ve all heard of “Take Your Child to Work Day” and “Take Your Child to the Library Day”, but did you know the first Saturday in December is designated for “Take Your Child to a Bookstore Day”? If you have heard of it, then maybe I’m just a little late to the party, but if you haven’t – read on!

Unfortunately, the kids and I may not be able to participate this year as we already have a kid’s birthday party scheduled as well as a another event planned later that day. However, I wanted to let all of you know about it in case you want to take your little ones to a participating bookstore near you.

Saturday, December 5th, is the sixth annual Take Your Child to a Bookstore Day. Founded by novelist Jenny Milchman, TYCBD has grown from 80 stores participating in its first year to 700 this year across all 50 states, Canada, Europe and Australia. Milchman was inspired by taking her own young children to bookstores: “Did all children know the pleasure of spending time in a bookstore? I wanted to begin a holiday that would expose as many kids as possible to this joy.”

Each bookstore plans their own events, a mix of everything from story time, giveaways, children’s author visits and even a few canine companions for kids to read to. Participating stores can be found on this interactive map.

What a great initiative that encourages families across the country to visit their local bookstores as a way to encourage literacy and love of reading. I love this idea and totally support it!

While I do purchase some books online from Amazon, I still enjoy physically going into a bookstore. Online shopping just can’t beat things like: face-to-face interaction with friendly, knowledgeable staff, comfortable and bright reading nooks and spaces to unwind, an array of refreshments, in-store author events, and of course, story time for the little ones.

Have I convinced you to check it out yet? If there is a child in your life, won’t you consider taking him/her to a bookstore this December 5th? I hope you’ll join me in spreading the word about this wonderful event.

For more information about Take Your Child to the Bookstore Day go here.

Your turn: How often do you take your little readers to the bookstore? Have you attended a Take Your Child to the Bookstore Day event in the past? Feel free to share in the comments.

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Book Reviews

November 14, 2015

Mrs. G

Stunning Braids: A Book Review

Since I have a daughter and I’m a natural hair enthusiast, it was inevitable that I at some point I was going to write a post about hairstyling books. I own a few hairstyling books in my personal home library so I was excited to have the opportunity to review Monaé Everett’s book Stunning Braids.

Synopsis
Nothing impresses like an intricate braid. Whether you’re looking for a fun way to fix up day-old hair, a chic look for a night out on the town or a dazzling do for your wedding day, the braid is the way to go. In this DIY guide, New York City celebrity hairstylist and YouTube sensation Monaé Everett presents easy-to-follow instructions and step-by-step photos for creating beautiful looks. Up your skills as you master a range of braiding techniques for any hair type, including:

•Five-Braid Updo
•Diagonal Lace Braid
•Fancy Fauxhawk
•Fringe Lace Braid
•French Fishtail Pony

Reflection
Stunning Braids is a beautiful publication that includes step-by-step illustrated tutorials for 25 braided hairstyles. I love the fact that each style is accompanied by color photographs on different models with various hair types and textures. I think this book also does a great job of describing different styling tools and equipment that is needed to achieve each style.

I tried out several of the hairstyles on my own hair and was pleasantly surprised at how they turned out. I’ll definitely be wearing these styles at various holiday parties I’ll be attending over the next few weeks. This book is my new go-to book when I want to style my hair in a cute, chic, braided style for weddings or other special occasions.

The photographs are professional quality and they’re not over-styled as they perhaps would be in a fashion magazine, making them seem achievable – even to some women who may be ponytail kinda girls. I think this book is great for tweens, teens, and adult women especially if you like braided hairstyles with a touch of elegance that are not too overwhelming. I suspect the intended audience for this book is teens and adults, but the tutorials are so well laid out that they can be followed by all ages with ease. A must-have for your home library collection if you’re into hair as much as I am.

About the Author

Monaé Everett knows how to bring out the beauty in everyone. Her celebrity clients have include: Taraji P. Henson, Mariah Carey, Connie Britton, Lauren Graham, and more. Her expert opinion has been featured in major publications such as: Huffington Post, Redbook.com, and Essence magazine. To help make women look and feel their best, she regularly blogs at HairandMakeupBlog.com and uploads beauty tutorials to YouTube.

Connect with Monaé!
Website: MonaeEverett.com
E-Mail: Monae@HairandMakeupBlog.com
Stunning Braids Press Release

Find Her on Social Media!
YouTube Instagram FaceBook Twitter Pinterest Google+ LinkedIn

Your turn: Did you enjoy this post? Do you like to experiment with your hair and try new styles or do you usually play it safe and wear your hair the same way all of the time? Feel free to share in the comments.

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Love Thy Fro by Casey Elisha: A Book Review

My First Book Series: A Book Review

What Is Your Word for 2016?

What I’m Reading (in January 2016)

Holiday Gift Guide Series: Coloring Books and Flash Cards for African-American Kids!

Sandy Hook Elementary School Anniversary: Two Children’s Books to Read

Holiday Gift Guide Series: 4 Children’s Book Subscription Boxes

Xfinity Lunch N’ Learn: Using Media as a Learning Tool

Our Latest Obsession: Playaway Bookpacks!

Interactive Growth Charts for Kids Plus a Discount!

Take Your Child to a Bookstore Day: December 5th

Stunning Braids: A Book Review

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