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Teaching Children Civic Responsibility: Boomer and Halley Election Day Book Review

January 18, 2012 By 2 Comments

By Summer:

Elections are in the air. I know you MIGHT already be sick of hearing about Decision 2012, but some of us have budding political science majors who need more information. The dog and cat duo of Boomer and Halley offer you their third book about Election Day. Your child will love learning more about elections and civic responsibility.

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This is our first Boomer and Halley story so we were only a little lost on their history and background, but it’s not hard to guess that they were strays taken in by a couple who can care for them properly and have room in their hearts to love this cleaver set of pets. Speaking of responsibility, that is one of the “PAWS” author Mary Jane McKittrick tries to help instill into each story in the Boomer and Halley series.

PAWS are marked with a pawprint and indicate a time to “pause”, get it? Clever little play on words! In Boomer and Halley: Election Day children will learn about honesty, forgiveness, responsibility, and pet care. Each book comes with a bookmark in the beginning which offers questions about each basic life lesson. Such as HONESTY: Why is it important to tell the truth? What happens when the mayor doesn’t tell the truth?

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Boomer and Halley: Election is 49-pages long and designed for children 4-8YO. In addition to the text Boomer and Halley: Election offers a forward for the parents, “Little Lessons. Big Results.” information for parents, a bookmark with life lesson questions, continued education and activities via their website (as noted on the second to last page), and a preview of book four.

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The characters, Boomer and Halley, kept my 5YO son interested, but I wish the book was split into chapters as we couldn’t read the whole book at once. There were noticeable places to stop but younger readers might not get the hint. The illustrations by Bob Ostrom are not colored in, which I think would’ve helped keep my son’s interest longer but your child (if you feel comfortable with it) could color in the illustrations. Overall I think this is a cute little, educational series.

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My Mom Start Review Grade of Boomer and Halley: Election Day (Book 3):

About Summer:

Summer is very active in our Local MOMS Club chapter, she is the mother of two adorable active boys, and is always thinking of ways to help others. She is a friend, a wife, and always busy as all mommies are. She is very active on Facebook, addicted to Geocaching and very interested in organic and green living while cooking up a storm

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Super Sneaky Uses for Everyday Things by Cy Tymony

December 28, 2011 By 11 Comments

Review By Summer:

My husband is an engineer and loves to tinker around the house with his dad when they either visit us or when we visit them. My oldest son (almost 5YO) is following in his footsteps and we fondly call him MacGyver once a week for his “inventions”. I’d say 50% of these inventions are LEGO created, but the other half are from things found around the house.

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Do you have a child like my MacGyver? Cy Tymony, the author of SUPER SNEAKY Uses for Everyday Things, was also a child-MacGyver; he spent time reading comic books; studying sciences –auto mechanics, electronics, video and audio technology, computer science; learning and practicing martial arts as well as security and survival techniques as a child turning him into the Renaissance man he is today.

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Tymony has crafted mainly projects that can be completed in just minutes using common items already found around the house. For instance, turn paperclips into batteries, levitating picture frame, an alarm, or games like foosball or vibrating football. Other inventions include Radio-Controlled Car Projects, Flying Disc, Mini Boomerang, Electrical Generator, and Wild, Wild Vest among many other inventions. If you want a taste for the types of projects you and/or your child would be in for than you should check out Tymony’s Free Projects and Super Gadgets.

Super Sneaky Uses for Everyday Things is the eighth book in this “sneaky” series. Cy Tymony has also authored SNEAKY Uses for Everyday Things, SNEAKIER Uses for Everyday Things, SNEAKIEST Uses for Everyday Things, The SNEAKY Book for Boys, The SNEAKY Book for Girls, Sneaky Science Tricks, and Sneaky Green Uses for Everyday Things.

About Summer:

Summer is very active in our Local MOMS Club chapter, she is the mother of two adorable active boys, and is always thinking of ways to help others. She is a friend, a wife, and always busy as all mommies are. She is very active on Facebook, addicted to Geocaching and very interested in organic and green living while cooking up a storm

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The Stocked Kitchen: One Grocery List Endless Recipes by Sarah Kallio and Stacey Krastins

July 17, 2011 By 11 Comments

How many times had that happened to you that 3.30-4.00 p.m. rolled around and you had absolutely no idea what is for dinner? You aimlessly flipped through your favorite cookbooks just to find that you don’t have half of the ingredients to make some of those deliciously looking meals that peek back at you from the colored photographs. This happened to me way too many times. If you like to eat and you enjoy delicious and simple meals, this cookbook will be your best friend in the kitchen.

The Stocked KitchenThe Stocked Kitchen captures a simple and brilliant idea: fill up your pantry from the grocery list found in the back of the book and you will be able to make any of the 300 delicious dishes presented in this collection of receipts. Easy-peasy! I have a repertoire of meals and dishes I make over and over – don’t we all? – but this book encourages me to expand and still stay on the quick, affordable and delicious side of feeding my family.

The book starts with a simple and easy way to stock your kitchen – first get rid of what you don’t need, or items you haven’t used (and wasted your money on to use for one dish 6 month ago). Then clean, organize, shop and cook away. So I am a cook and I think my pantry is well stocked for success (and I still encounter the question of ‘what’s for dinner?’ more than 3 times a week). So to put the book to the test I went through the shopping list and surprisingly found that I have more than 90% of the Stocked Kitchen ingredients in my pantry right now. The list is simple enough to accommodate dietary restrictions such as low-fat, low-sodium, organic choices (or my little guy to has multiple food allergies) by purchasing the regular items you always buy.

An extensive glossary at the beginning of the book will allow you to understand your ingredients if you are a rookie or even a good old cook who needs a refresher. The book features the following receipt categories:

· Appetizers (like Hot Stuffed Mushroom Dip)
· Salads (like Mediterranean Rice Salad)
· Soups, Stews, Chilies, and Breads (like Roasted Red Pepper Bisque)
· Pastas and Pizzas (like Lemon Dill Seafood Pasta)
· Chicken, Meat, and Seafood (like Moroccan Roll-Up)
· Beans, Potatoes, Rice, and Veggies (like Spicy Bell Pepper Boats)
· Desserts (like Ginger Pear Crisp)
· Breakfast or Brunch (this is a super interesting section with amazing sweet and savory ideas like coffee cakes and delicious bakes)

The cooking instructions are easy to follow and each page has a communication box, providing cooking or serving suggestions. This is a really handy addition to the receipts that will help you to gain confidence and even venture out into the open sea of improvisation (one of my favorite kitchen skills). I like the personal touches to the book as the authors share their experiences and practices.

Yes, this cookbook is for you:

· If you are a beginner cook and you want to have a cooking and shopping system to get you off to a great start
· If you are looking for a quicker easier way of putting dinner on the table – by getting organized
· If you don’t go to the grocery store more than once a week.
· If you like simple meals without the fancy ingredients
· If you like to improvise – this book is a great source of ideas

No, this cookbook is not for you:

· If you like unique ingredients and flavors
· If you are a visual person and you need a picture of every meal in the book before you want to make it (there are some pictures grouped in the middle of the book but not on every page)
· If you mostly prefer fresh foods over canned and frozen options

The book is for purchase at Barnes and Noble and Amazon.

We received a sample free to us to facilitate this review.

About Orshi:

Orshi is a teacher at UCIC where she works daily with children. She shows a great love for children as she has three of her own. She also loves Facebook, gardening and baking. She was born and grew up in Hungary and now lives across the street.

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Astro The Steller Sea Lion By Jeanne Walker Harvey illustrated by Shennen Bersani

June 27, 2011 By 2 Comments

Astro is a Steller Sea Lion who lost his momma when he was only a few days old. His luck of being found by volunteers from the Sausalito Marine Mammal Center makes him a ‘people sea lion’ forever. At 10 month of age, he was attempted to be released back into the wild over and over just to return to the same place, the Marine Mammal Center every time. After failed attempts, Astro’s caretakers understand that this friendly sea lion has been around people for his whole life and living in the wild will never be a happy option for him. Steller sea lions are a threatened species so through Astro, scientist were given the opportunity to learn about these unique animals and prepare him for his final home, to become a beloved character of the Mystic Aquarium in Connecticut.

Astro The Sea Lion Book CoverAstro the Steller Sea Lion is a lovely and educational read. I love new stories, especially stories that teach us, raise questions and intrigue us in many ways. My daughter is five now and her understanding of complex concepts has been developing rapidly. What does it mean to be an endangered species? How does Astro feel about going back to the wild? Why is this story so touching on many levels? At a young age, children get so attached to emotions and while this story provides many avenues for learning, Astro’s happiness is what touched my children the most. For older children, this book is just loaded with useful information about sea lions, what it takes to care for them, how to train them and the moral responsibilities that we have as humans to protect and care for animals. The book is beautifully illustrated with very realistic pictures, capturing emotions perfectly and fully embracing diversity.

Being a teacher, I was itching to design a lesson plan around this book …. Just to find out that the Sylvan Dell Publishing Company had 30 pages worth of online resources to put this book into the spotlight of any classroom. I might just have to do it next year …. I am so sure it will be an amazing touch to our science curriculum.

First time author, Jeanne Walker Harvey, perfectly captures her readers with this book with the help of her award-winning illustrator, Shenne Bersani.

Sample received to facilitate this review.

About Orshi:

Orshi is a teacher at UCIC where she works daily with children. She shows a great love for children as she has three of her own. She also loves Facebook, gardening and baking. She was born and grew up in Hungary and now lives across the street.

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The Dragon and the Turtle Children’s Book Review

January 28, 2011 By 3 Comments

By Summer:

I’m so blessed that both of my children – 4 years old and 18 months old – love to read. My sons have never met a book they don’t like, which is great for early literacy and preparation for school. My sons “read” books all the time alone just looking through the book and possibly (and hopefully) recalling the stories in their heads as they thumb through each page slowly.

clip_image002A new addition to our library is The Dragon and the Turtle: Go On Safari, which is the second book about friends Roger and Padraig in what looks to be the beginning of a series of adventures. My sons, especially the 4 year old, are into dragons so this was one of the main draws for them to read this book. In this adventure of the Dragon and the Turtle, they are camping out in a surprise location where they keep coming in contact with the rarest of beasts in their natural habitat. Together they learn there really isn’t anything to be afraid of on their camping experience, especially if they’re together. The book claims to help children with their fears, but I don’t think the book really addresses this topic, not in text or picture; I had a lot of explaining to do throughout the book about the imaginary animals they were creating by combining animals such as a raccoon and an elephant.

In The Dragon and the Turtle: Go On Safari the pictures are colorful and eye catching for both parents and kids alike. However, I did find, as the reader, that the text seemed more British than American English; for my kids it didn’t seem to draw them out of the story though I did have to concentrate more on my reading as this makes it difficult for me to become captivated. I also feel many of the concepts on the book are unspoken and I had to tell my sons what was happening instead of the story explaining it, clip_image004even through suggestion.

I do like that the authors have taken plain, old story telling to the next level. At the end of the book they have an interaction page where parents are encouraged to make the story real to the child through real life questions and occurrences. However, this is only scratching the surface for how children can become braver and overcome fear. On the Dragon and Turtle website you can expand your child’s adventures with games, crafts, coloring, mazes, and puzzles; and your adventures as you expand your child’s learning.

You can currently find The Dragon and the Turtle: Go On Safari on Amazon.com for about $9 plus free shipping with Amazon Prime. Also check out the original adventure, The Dragon and the Turtle. You can also purchase these fine titles at Barnes and Noble and Christianbook.com*.

* Though this book seems to claim to be a Christian book the only reference to God, Christianity, or the Bible is a verse on the back cover, Deuteronomy 31:6.

The Dragon and the Turtle: Go On Safari book was supplied to me by WaterBrook Press in order to write this review.

About Summer:

Summer is the President of our Local MOMS Club chapter, she is the mother of two adorable active boys, and is always thinking of ways to help others. She is a friend, a wife, and always busy as all mommies are. She is very active on Facebook, addicted to Geocaching and very interested in organic and green living.

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Reading to my children

April 4, 2009 By 1 Comment

 

We read all sorts of books to our children. We don’t do it as part of a bed time routine like most families do. We just read whenever they bring us a book and ask us to read. My daughter just loves to read the books to herself or read them to her brother. I’ve been excited lately just because Miles is actually starting to sit in my lap and listen to the books. He has a problem sitting still. He is always on the go and learning about the world around him, so having him sit in my lap and listen to the words and look and point at the pictures if very encouraging.

Thanks to Team Mom we have two new books in our library. These two books are both by Leslie Patricelli. Leslie write books that are extremely simple. The books are mostly pictures with very few words. The pictures are so colorful and invite my children to ask questions and point out objects they recognize and say their name. We already had one of her books so I’ll just tell you about all three.

But first, more about Leslie:

After reading her bio, I found that she lives in the Seattle area, (that’s near me) and she wanted to become an artist for the longest time. You know in middle school you have to take some kind of career test. Well, hers said she should go into forestry. She challenged every questions until it said she should be a graphic artist (writer and illustrator were not options). I find that very humorous.

About the Books:

Yummy YuckyThe one we have been reading for over a year is Yummy Yucky. Yummy Yucky goes through each page naming things that are either yummy or yucky. We are teaching our daughter about Mr. Yuck, so we have changed one of the pages from “Mommy’s coffee is yucky” to Mommy’s coffee is yummy. Because she is after my coffee every day knowing that it already tastes good.

 

 Higher! Higher!

Higher! Higher! is a new book from Leslie that was fun to read to Zoe. The little girl gets to spend the day with her daddy and wants to go higher higher on the swing. She gets to see a lot of interesting things on her way to outer space. Then she comes back down and says “again”. My daughter loves to say again.

 

 

Baby Happy Baby Sad

Finally we have Baby Happy Baby Sad. For this book, we had fun reading it as well. Different things in the book reminded my husband and I of different things that make our kids happy and sad. Miles is out of Juice, Baby miles is sad. It’s a great way to start working with your child on emotions.

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Wordless Wednesday – My Photographer

March 24, 2009 By 24 Comments

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Chicken Soup Teen Series Giveaway

March 19, 2009 By 52 Comments


Chicken Soup for the Soul: Teens Talk Getting In… To College

Chicken Soup for the Soul: Teens Talk High School

Chicken Soup for the Soul: Teens Talk Middle School

I have been given copies for all three of these books. I have one of each to give away.

Product Description
The stories in this book cover topics important to the 12 to 14-year-old age range, including regrets and lessons learned, discovering the opposite sex, cliques and popularity, and new privileges and responsibilities such as jobs, cell phones, and grades.About the Author
Jack Canfield is the cocreator of The Chicken Soup for the Soul® series, developing 40 New York Times bestsellers including 11 that went to #1. He is America’s leading expert in creating peak performances for entrepreneurs, corporate leaders, managers, sales professionals, employees, and educators, who has helped hundreds of thousands of individuals the world over achieve their dreams during the last 30 years. Canfield is a popular radio and TV-talk show guest, having appeared on Oprah, Fox & Friends, CNN, and others. He is also a syndicated columnist through King Features and has a nationally syndicated radio show. He lives in Santa Barbara, California.

Chicken Soup for the Soul: Teens Talk Middle School offers candid stories from tweens about starting middle school, first crushes, mean girls and more. These inspiring stories remind the readers that middle school is all about change, rolling with the punches, and savoring the last few years of life as a kid.

another review

“Middle school is such a difficult time for nearly every child. Somehow, with patience and perseverence, we survive it. I wish I had a copy of this book 16 years ago. It would have been nice to relate to someone else – even if only through written word. ”

Parents, arm your middle schoolers. Buy them “Teens Talk Middle School.” Let them know that we have been there too and that their problems are important.

Chicken Soup for the Soul: Teens Talk High School is here to help with a variety of all new stories about real-life from teens dealing with regrets and lessons learned, self-image and self-acceptance, family relationships and more. It reminds readers that even though high school has it blemishes, it’s guaranteed that other teens are facing the same issues.

Chicken Soup for the Soul: Teens Talk Getting In…to College offers the comfort that high school teens and their parents need during a crucial milestone in their lives. Filled with real stories about the pressures of applying to college, and how teens just like them overcame their doubts and fears, it’s the heartwarming “support group” every high school applicant (and their parents) can turn to as they cram, apply, and eagerly wait to hear back from colleges across the country.

Other Reviews

“Admissions how-to books abound, yet Chicken Soup for the Soul: Teens Talk Getting In…to College reminds us that the best counsel of all comes from reading the real stories of those who have known first-hand the anxiety and uncertainty of the college application process. This reassuring collection shows high school students and their parents that there is no single right approach or perfect school and that it’s the “who” that counts the most, notâ?­ theâ?­ ‘how’…orâ?­ ‘where.’”– Sally Rubenstone, Senior Advisor, College Confidential (collegeconfidential.com)

“Finally, a resource that focuses on the process and experience of applying to college instead of on how to get in. Authentic, emotive, and entertaining — a necessary read for all college bound students.”– Ryan Chang, Founder & CEO, Ivy Consulting Group

“What a valuable addition to that big stack of SAT, ACT, and college guides! Chicken Soup for the Soul: Teens Talk Getting In… to College really puts the whole college application process in perspective. Insight can make the unknown a very fun and rewarding experience, and that’s exactly what this book will give you.”– Kent Healy, co-author of The Success Principles for Teens and “Cool Stuff” They Should Teach In School

3 winners will win one of the books in the “Teen Talk” Series.

To enter

leave a comment telling me which one you would like to win before April 4, 2009.

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Filed Under: book review, Chicken Soup, giveaway

Still a Family A guide to parenting through divorce giveaway.

March 17, 2009 By 24 Comments



I had the chance to read Still a Family A guide to parenting through divorce and want to give my book to one of my readers. I am not divorced and I have no plans to get a divorce. I grew up in a family that was divorced. My mom has been divorced twice and lived with a man for a few years, so I know all about heart ache, feeling pulled in one direction or another by a parent.

I was too young when my parents got divorced for them to try and sit down and explain it to me, but I was old enough to realize they were arguing A LOT. I remember one time I started crying because of something on tv and they started arguing over who made me cry. That made me cry harder.

I find that Lisa discusses topics that are important to all parents. How does arguing in front of your children affect your kids and taking time for yourself. We all need to do that. My parents also used me as the go between. Good grief there was a lot of tension in my family. Now I find myself being the most passive, not wanting to get into an argument person there is. I just give in. That’s me.

I also find that you should not talk about about the other parent in front of your child. It is more important to teach your children love and respect than hatred and anger. I often wonder how I came out the way I did. Anyways this is a good book.

Book Description from Amazon:

Book Description: from Amazon

Divorce can have a devastating effect on children. Yet for families who carefully consider and manage the intricacies associated with this difficult and upsetting time, the family, as seen from the child’s perspective, can remain strong, healthy, and as loving and supportive as it ever was.

Still a Family clearly and concisely lays out the specific emotions and reactions parents need to anticipate from their children while going through separation, divorce, and its aftermath. Rather than weighing parents down with complicated plans, confusing information, and legal terminology, this book takes a common-sense approach, providing readers in a state of emotional distress with the practical, down-to-earth advice they need to sensibly and comfortingly guide their children through this often painful process. The book covers the most common mistakes divorcing parents tend to make, as well as addressing special issues that come up for kids of different age groups. This is a much-needed repository of wisdom and practical counsel for any family going through a time of height­ened feelings and fragile relationships.


Dr. Reynolds is a marriage and family therapist who teaches a mandatory class for all divorcing parents through the Connecticut Council of Family Service Agencies. She knows her topic well, and she presents her material in a reader-friendly manner that will appeal to parents from all walks of life

Enter:

Tell me a good parenting tip Giveaway ends March 25, 2009

Filed Under: advice, book review, giveaway, parenting

Preacher’s Creatures Children’s Book Giveaway

March 14, 2009 By 11 Comments

I have another children’s book to giveaway. Preacher’s Creature strikes on Sunday. How do your kids feel about going to church every Sunday? Do they love it? Do they hate it, do they have any idea what’s really going on?

With hilarious stories and nutty pictures, the Tales from the Back Pew series offers kid’s a unique view of church. Enjoy plenty of giggles with your child—and learn fun, important truths about God, church, and the Bible. Mom is taking me to church this Sunday. I’ve heard a lot about church. You have to stand up, sit down, and kneel a hundred times. It’s called being in the service—I’m too young to be drafted!

Preacher’s Creature strikes on Sunday is all about church through the eyes of a child. These are crazy monster drawings and it’s cute. I think it would be better for children older than my two year old, it would be great as a first reader book. There is a lot for children to look at in the pictures though. ;-)

About the Author:

Mike Thaler believes that story writing and riddles are the most useful tools in stimulating children’s awareness of language and its creative use. An award-winning author and illustrator, Mike travels the world sharing his message with teachers and children.

Mike has written over 140 books for children of all ages. He has also created word play games, software, and audiocassettes. He created and wrote “Letterman” for TV’s Electric Co. In addition, he launched the Jell-O Reading Rocket Program to motivate children to read.

Mike was born in Los Angeles in 1936. After moving to New York City, he started his professional career drawing cartoons for adults. A children’s book editor saw one of these cartoons and encouraged Mike to write children’s books. The attempt was successful and Magic Boy was published in 1962. 140 books later, Mike has been called “one of the most creative people in children’s books today.” Thaler now lives in Canby, Oregon, surrounded by his family, friends, and yellow, his favorite color.

Would you like to win one?

Visit Mike Thaler’s page on Scholastic and tell me about another book that he has written.

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Filed Under: book review, giveaway, Mike Thaler, Preacher's Creature Strikes on Sunday
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