Showing posts with label Reading. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Reading. Show all posts

Six for the Grandbabes

You know that it is almost Dear Hubby's 50th birthday. Add in Thanksgiving in the same week. Well of course that means we will get to see family and have the Grandbabes here for a short visit. I love that! I can not wait til our youngest grandbabe gets to be part of that too. It will be so exciting to have him running around here. Maybe I can talk to his mom to come down for a few days with him this time around.

 But we will be running from house to house also. I have two house sitting placements during this time. Yeah, holidays are busy for everyone. Especially when they are going out of town to see their families but the doggies are still at home. That is where I come in. Thankfully I can have my family with me when I house sit for my friends. I am taking a box of toys and a stack of books for the Grandbabes. I thought you would love to see the latest ones. Especially with the holidays coming up. You may see the just right one for your own lil one too.

 Good People Everywhere, for children aged 3 to 8, is a Triple National Award-Winner, having been selected for a "Teachers Choice Award", a "Mom's Choice Award", and a "Moonbeam Children's Book Award." It shares a soothing story that nurtures awareness of--and gratitude for--the many caring people in our lives. Each page delightfully unfolds with vibrant, engaging illustrations and endearing text that warms hearts, stimulates awareness, and inspires young and old alike to contribute to a world of compassion and beauty. Quite cleverly, it gets kids thinking of how they can and do contribute to the world as well. The result: children will discover a different way of looking at the world and their place in it, fostering a sense of calm and happiness.

 The Lima Bear Stories Series is a recent winner of the "Peace Corps Children's Book of the Year Award". The latest addition to this series is The Labyrinth. Within a few sentences, you and your young reader will be smiling. The witty, engaging rhyme draws you in, but as always with The Lima Bear Stories Series, it is the story that will keep your collective interest. As with The Megasaurus, How Back-Back Got His Name, and The Cave Monster (the other titles in the series), The Labyrinth delivers an important message: one of forgiveness! It is rare when a children's series of books comes around that make a difference in your life and the life of your child.

 Helping toddlers learn their ABCs is one of the first "teaching" tasks parents undertake. While there are a number of alphabet books on the market, there hasn't been one quite like Healthy Foods from A to Z / Comida sana de la A a la Z. This book is the winner of a "Mom's Choice Award", a "Creative Child Magazine Award", a "National Parenting Publications (NAPPA) Award", and a "Moonbeam Children's Book Award". Imaginative FUN faces of healthy foods surrounded by food vocabulary in both languages serve to draw the children into the world of healthy eating, while the bilingual approach helps to address a large audience and introduce children to a new language and culture. Designed to encourage children at an early age to eat healthy foods--as well as learn their ABCs--the book features 18 charming faces that depict a range of emotions children ages 3-6 (and older) can understand. There is also an interactive segment called "Now Make Your Own Healthy Food Face!" It challenges the imagination of young readers to create their own food faces using a template and six simple steps.

 Create With Maisy by Lucy Collins for ages 2-5 years. Why does Maisy keep a Big Box of Everything, filled with glitter, sequins, foil, stickers, paint, brushes, paper, and tons more stuff? Because she loves to make things! Children as young as two will be thrilled to follow her lead, thanks to a brand-new Maisy format featuring both familiar illustrations and photographs by Lucy Cousins. Here are crystal-clear steps for creating seventeen simple crafts, highlighted by photos of the end result. Enjoy making things from painted pebbles to paper lanterns, food collages to feathered masks, and wax-relief paintings to wonderful vegetable animals. As spectacular looking as it is hands-on, here is an activity book sure to please parents as much as it does Maisy’s little fans.

 The Adventures of Little Nutbrown Hare by Sam McBratney for ages 3 years and up. Just like young children everywhere, Little Nutbrown Hare likes to explore, play, venture out into the world, and sometimes just savor the comfort of being at home with loved ones. But whatever he does, and wherever he goes, Big Nutbrown Hare is always there to cheer him on. In a beautiful jacketed Guess How Much I Love You storybook, here are four heartwarming new stories that little readers (and their bigger companions) will instantly relate to.

 Charley’s First Night by Amy Hest for ages 3-6 years. On Charley’s first night, Henry carries his new puppy in his old baby blanket all the way to his house. He shows Charley every room, saying, "This is home, Charley." He says that a lot so that Charley will know that he is home. Henry’s parents are very clear about who will be walking and feeding Charley (Henry will, and he can’t wait). They are also very clear about where Charley will be sleeping: Charley will be sleeping in the kitchen. But when the crying starts in the middle of the night, Henry knows right away that it’s Charley! And it looks like his parents’ idea about where Charley is going to sleep may have to change. With warmth, humor, and endearing simplicity, Amy Hest tells a tale familiar to everyone who has loved a puppy, while Helen Oxenbury renders each tender gesture and charming detail in a beauty of a book that children will be eager to take home.

 Make that free BOOKS!

Lifting the Veil

Today I need to talk to fellow Texan and author Cory Putman Oakes.  And find out how she is managing to control what is happening around me.  I understand that reading a good story can come to life in your mind.  But for the story to actually start effecting the environment around me is too weird. 

Okay I will explain.  I finished reading the uncorrected proof of 'The Veil' last night.  It will be released November 1st of this year.  I so fell into the story right at the start.  Now I have read other books where our world and another world seem to overlap.  It is not something that I find very believable.  But I did love that this story focused heavy on the 'earth' side of what was going on.  I loved learning some of the special characteristics of the Annorasi race.  But I never really did understand why they had to stay so secret.  Maybe I will get more of that in the next book.  This will be a great young adult read.  I can see where they will accept this new world very quickly.

What really wowed me out was that the Annorasi coexisted with the human world with lil upset.  There are a few ways to know if an Annorasi is around you.  It seems they interact with electricity.  Lights flicker, go out even, TV reception messes up and the such.  Now here is the part where Cory and I have to have a talk.  First off let me say that what I am fixing to say DID happen and no I was not drinking.  Last night I was finishing reading 'The Veil' while soaking in the spa tub where I am staying.  There are 3 lights in the ceiling there.  Well one went out.  Odd but I thought that it must need to be changed.  Just my luck with with over 12 foot ceiling.  But you know, lights go out.  THEN it came back ON!  Weird!  Now I was all alone on the far end of the house.  I was a bit shaken up but kept reading and relaxing.  Then another light went out.....then a second.....and finally the third went out.   I screamed then....really loud.  Dear Hubby came a running of course.  I explained all that had happened.  He turned the switch off and on but nothing happened.  Well I started to dry off and get dressed with him with me.  You now what.....one light came back on.  Yes, just one of them.  They are all on the same switch. 

Cory would you be kind enough not to send an Annorasi with the books to the reviewers.  Or at least make the visible.  As it has really freaked me out.  HA HA  Thanks for letting me review your book.  Let me know when the next book comes out.  I want to learn more.  As all know, these are unpaid.  I have the books and that is all I receive.  Oh and folks, pop over and check out Cory's Writers Block Brownie recipe,

Back To School Giveaway

I wanted to share some good news with you.

For years, “do-gooder” moms and book lovers have shopped Better World Books for its big discounts and even bigger impact on the environment and literacy.  And now the company has some seriously good news to share.  But first – for those who don’t already know – here’s how it works.  Better World Books collects discarded books from libraries and campuses around the country, and sells them on BetterWorldBooks.com. For every book they sell, a cut of the money goes back to the library or campus it came from, and another goes to non-profit literacy organizations like Books for Africa.  Consider the fact that they sell millions of books every year – and those dollars start to add up.  Which leads me to the point of this post.

Since its launch in 2003, Better World Books has raised millions for libraries and literacy – and in a few days, it will hit the TEN MILLION dollar mark! They’ve even got a cute ticker on the homepage “counting up” to $10 million…looks like it’s just a few days away.  That huge pile of cash is in addition to Better World Books’ contribution to the environment – the company’s business model has helped divert over 40 million books from landfills!  To celebrate its big milestone, the company is planning an exciting announcement on August 15. Check back in with them then to find out what it is!

Princess Emma turned 5 just about a week ago and had her party at the local bowling alley. It was her first time to bowl and she just had the best time. She got a a lot of wonderful gifts but one of her favorites (and her moms, the Other Mother) is an early reading program called Start to Read. It is put out by School Zone publishing and is just a great little set. It came with five books to read, 1 comprehension book, a read along/song cd and a parent guide.  Level 1 books are designed for emergent readers, ages 4-6, and have limited vocabulary – each book introduces between 9 and 50 words. Utilizing short, one-line sentences, the titles in level 1 provide simple picture clues that significantly support the text.
 
Fun Features & Big Benefits

·         Memorable stories and characters

·         3-step approach to reading

·         Comprehension workbook activities

·         Story narration on audio CD

·         Whimsical, age-appropriate songs

I can't really say if it is helping her learn to read since we have only had it a short while but I can say she has really been enjoying it a lot. She loves the books that are in it!  We should see how it is working soon since Princess Emma will be entering school this month.

And while thinking of back to school, I have a lil surprise for Princess Emma and College Girl.  They are both going to have Back To School greeting cards sent to them.  P.E. for her first day of school.  And C.G. for returning back to college and living on campus.  I know they both will love getting the mail letting them know how much we love them.  And sharing our pride in them too!  What do you think? 
Here is Princess Emmas,

And College Girls,

This was fun.  I went online to Greeting Card Universe to find the right cards.  I then was able to personalize them.  Text, messages and even color and type face.  Next I put in the info to have them shipped directly to Princess Emma.  College Girls will come to my home with it's own envelope.  I have to wait til I have her mailing address at school to send hers to her. 
By the way, FREE SHIPPING when you order 10+ cards - use code 2011AUGSHIP10 - Ends Friday (U.S. only).  I am also going to share with you.  You see you can win 2 greeting cards for your own special occasion.  Easy peasy!  Just leave me a comment below on what you would use your cards for.  And make sure you leave an email so I can reach you too!  Extra entry?  Well like Greeting Card Universe on Facebook, leave them a comment and send me the link that you did.  Simple as that!

I do have to thank all that have helped me here.  For the giveaway hosting from Greeting Card Universe.  And thanks to School Zone for letting me help out Princess Emma.  Of course I did not get paid.  But was happy to have the products to review.  You check out these folks.  They treated me well and I am sure they will do the same for you.

Update On Randy Kazandy

I was telling you about Randy Kazandy today. Well I spoke to the author and she updated me with what will be coming up for Randy Kazandy.
I just thought you would like to know what to look forward to after reading Randy Kazandy, Where are Your Glasses?


From Rhonda Fischer- Author
Randy Kazandy will be getting his teeth cleaned and I have a dentist in town who wants to have a book signing in his office around Halloween to tell the ghostly news. This dentist would make a great character. Randy getting braces, yes? I need input for the series. All ideas are welcome. I also won the book of 2009 Book of Excellence Award with Creative Child's Magazine and won an award with the Children's Arts and Illustrators Museum in St. Louis Missouri. Things are looking up. I am up for about 4 more awards. I am keeping my fingers crossed! AND TOES!


Comes A Horseman

"Cooking is an art, but you eat it too"Image by *MizzEl* via Flickr

I adore reading. And I am lucky enough to have friends like Nessa who will share their books with me. Sad to say, I am not reading fast enough these days. So my to be read pile is stacking up on me. My bedside table looks like the Leaning Tower of Pisa.

I have recently read a book that Nessa awarded me. It is an interesting thriller that is from a Christian writer named, Robert Liparulo. He is new to me but I see he has written 3 thrillers so far and 4 young adult books. Comes a Horseman was extra special due to an autograph name plate. It made me feel extra special to have that lil jewel.


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