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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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My Monster Burrufu by Alberto Corral Children’s Book Review

December 23, 2011 By 7 Comments

By Summer:

I love children’s books. My children and I love to read together but sometimes I get offers to read books beyond my children’s intelligence and attention span. For my 5YO, My Monster Burrufu is one of those books, but before you dismiss this review allow me to stop you – read on! I LOVED reading this book; for an adult or accelerated reader this 83 page novel will quickly please you on a rainy/snowy/cold day.

Alberto Corral has a BIG winner here! Love, love, loved it! I’m also not the only one; on Amazon My Monster Burrufu has 5 stars after 21 reviews. If you need one last present for your elementary school student LET THIS BE IT (recommended reading level is ages 9 and up).

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Most children move into a new house and hear new noises and perhaps worry about monsters! But that’s okay, because everyone knows that having a monster in your house is good luck. So luckily 7YO Olivia moves into a house with a monster in it! The never scary monster is Buffufu (as you may have guessed; Ha!) and he’s a writer. When Olivia discovers Burrufu he could care less about befriending the child, but his icy heart begins to melt for her persistence in kindness and friendship.IMG_9165

My Monster Burrufu is just a warm story, but in the middle a true morality of the books stands out when Alberto Corral writes:

And that was because no one, apart from Olivia knew him. Sadly, when met with the unknown, most people’s first reaction is fear.
They don’t even notice that maybe they are standing in front of their new best friend. (p.62)

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Knowing that he was the reason for those people’s screams broke his heart.
However, there was one thing he didn’t know. It wasn’t him. It was prejudice. If people would get to know him like Olivia did, they would soon realize that there was no reason to be afraid. (p.63)

My Mom Start Review Grade of the My Monster Burrufu book: A++++

My Monster Burrufu is just spell binding as you enjoy the text and Alessandra Sorrentino’s illustrations. You can find out more about My Monster Burrufu on the book’s website and Facebook page. The publisher, Petite Grande Idée, can also be found on Twitter @PGIdee; My Monster Burrufu is their first book.

We at Mom Start would also like to thank the publisher and PR company for providing an extra copy of My Monster Burrufu to be given to a local school in need as a literacy donation.

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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Disney’s Winnie The Pooh Book Review

December 11, 2011 By 4 Comments

By Summer,

Which came first, the chicken or the egg? Which came first, the book or the movie?

The new Winnie the Pooh animated feature, now also has a book which follows the adventures of the Hundred-Acre Wood gang. Though you can now get the book, the feature did have a theatrical release as well as a DVD release all happening this year. Sure you may have other Pooh related memorabilia, but you should also add this book to your collection. The title is Disney’s Winnie the Pooh A Hundred-Acre Treasury.

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To address my original line on this post, in this case the book was released (May 2011) before the movie (July 2011), however tomAto – toMato. HA! I do believe, however, the movie came first in more of a story form as the book was adapted by Lisa Ann Marsoli.

The book is divided into three sections – Something Is Missing!; Tails, Tricks, and Traps; and Lost and Found – which are each 38 pages long:

* In Something Is Missing! all the Hundred-Acre Wood friends learn of Eeyore’s missing tail and begin to devise a plan for recover or replace it, and the prize will be a pot of honey.
* Tails, Tricks, and Traps has Eeyore trying on all of the tails his friends have brought to help win the honey pot prize. A tail is picked as Eeyore’s replacement but it all begins to unravel, and this misadventure lands Pooh at Christopher Robin’s doorstep and a note which becomes misinterpreted by Owl to say that Christopher Robin has been kidnapped by a Backson, which is a horrible, terrifying monster. So the gang has to rescue Christopher Robin, and they have a plan! Also, since Eeroye’s tail is missing again Tigger tries to “tiggerize” him.
* Lost and Found has all the friends trapped inside their own Backson trap! All except Christopher Robin, of course, and Tigger who is actually dressed like a Backson on accident. Though Piglet manages to escape the hole, he and Tigger find their way back into the pit. Yet, all the friends do get out and Christopher Robin “magically” appears because he was just supposed to be “back soon” not kidnapped by a Backson. And what do you know, Eeroye’s tail was just hanging out all along.

Disney’s Winnie the Pooh A Hundred-Acre Wood Treasury is a great way for your children to keep “re-playing” the movie when they’re not having screen time. My 2YO loves to look through this book all the time (see him sleeping with it on his lap). My 4YO will sit with me and read the entire book in one sitting; great bonding time. I loved the movie and I love the book.

My Mom Start Review Grade of Disney’s Winnie the Pooh A Hundred-Acre Wood Treasury Book: A+

As I’m writing this, Amazon only has 11 copies left at the price of only $10.87.

Lastly, we’d like to thank Disney and their PR company for providing an extra copy of Disney’s Winnie the Pooh A Hundred-Acre Wood Treasury to be given to a local school in need as a literacy donation.

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Summer Reading: Hailey Twitch and the Campground Itch by Lauren Barnholdt

August 1, 2011 By 4 Comments

It may be the summertime, but it’s vital to your child’s learning to have them reading or read-to for at least 20 minutes a day.

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I just finished Hailey Twitch and the Campground Itch from Sourcebooks Publications’ kids line Jabberwocky. Hailey Twitch is the main character of this Lauren Barnholdt story (and series) and she is a younger sister, trouble-maker/adventurer/explorer, an imaginative 7 year old who has her own sprite. Hailey will make your child want to continue reading; she is funny and always has mayhem following her. As a parent I love that this book teaches lessons in the midst of real life relations between sisters, friends, and parents (and in others in the series I believe classmates and teachers though this is the only book in the Hailey Twitch series I’ve read).

Hailey Twitch and the Campground Itch, which was released in April 2011, is just cute, Cute, CUTE. And if you read it with your child you better get used to triple words; that was the only thing that really got me about this book. However, I feel it is very age appropriate considering the emotion and attitude of the age.

If your child hasn’t been into the Hailey Twitch series yet and is in Kindergarten, 1st or 2nd grade then you should start your own collection. You can get a copy of the Hailey Twitch and the Campground Itch, which is the newest in the series, on Amazon for only $6.99 (paperback) and there is also a Kindle edition available if you wish for only $5.59.

"The more that you read, the more things you will know. The more that you learn, the more places you’ll go." ~Dr. Seuss

"Reading together twenty minutes a day is the most important gift you can give your child. Read to your bunny often, and your bunny will read back to you." ~ Rosemary Wells

Keep up the summer reading!!!

 

We received samples for this post.

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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Children’s Book Review: God Gave Us You By Lisa Tawn Bergren

July 15, 2011 By 11 Comments

Children have lots of question. One of the biggest is where did I come from? Writer Lisa Tawn Bergren answers this multifaceted question when a cub asks her polar bear mother with a simple, God Gave Us You. Little cub’s digging “why’s” drive this story of a husband and wife wanting to extend their family; God Gave Us You tells about the blessings of being pregnant, having a baby, and being a family.

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My sons and I love this book! We’ve read it many times and I not only love the entertainment, but I value the education it is giving them as they begin to explore God, their loving creator. This is a must add to your library and would make the perfect gift. This is great book in general for birthdays or Christmas (in July), but would make an EXCELLENT gift for soon-to-be siblings or for a baby shower.

God Gave Us You has been on the market as a paper book since 2000 and has grown to include six unique titles, but for the first time now God Gave Us You is available as a board book. This is great for me because I don’t have to worry about Riley, my 23MO, tearing up a paper copy.

You can currently get a hardcover (paper page) copy of God Gave Us You from Amazon for only $4.40. The new board book addition, available July 19, costs $6.99 on Amazon and you can have it on your doorstep the day of release for most continental U.S. addresses.

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If you have God Gave Us You then check out the other titles in this collection – God Gave Us Love, God Found Us You, God Gave Us Two, God Gave Us Heaven, God Gave Us Christmas, and God Gave Us the World. God Gave Us Love is about loving others. God Found Us You is about adopting a child. God Gave Us Two is about a second child coming into the lives of the bear family. God Gave Us Heaven is about what heaven is like. God Gave Us Christmas is about the relationship of Christmas and the birth of Jesus. God Gave Us the World  is about God’s vast uniquely special creations. There is also God Gave Us So Much a limited-edition collection containing 3 books — God Gave Us the World, God Gave Us Love, and God Gave Us Heaven.

You can find God Gave Us You and other WaterBrook Press books on their website. Keep up with other new WaterBrook Press releases, and learn about contests and prizes on their Facebook page and by tracking them on Twitter @WaterBrookPress.

Follow the God Gave Us You author, Lisa Tawn Bergren on her web page, Lisa Tawn Bergren Facebook page, and on Twitter @LisaTBergren.

Other WaterBrook books reviewed on Mom Start have been God Gave Us the World and The Dragon and the Turtle: Go On Safari.

We received samples to facilitate this review opinions are our own.

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 while cooking up a storm.

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Patti Pelican and the Gulf Oil Spill by Lynda Deniger

April 30, 2011 By 2 Comments

Since my mom lives in the Gulf Coast and was affected by the Oil Spill last year, I wanted to check out this new book called Patti Pelican and the Gulf Oil Spill, with my kids. Lynda Deniger’s new environmental children’s book was a quick and easy read for the kids. Last year, we went to visit my mom a few months after the oil spill in Destin Florida. Now, I remember how worried she was and how hard she said everyone was working to keep the beaches clean. When we were there there wasn’t really any oil on the beaches. Every now and then you would see this oil ball, I can’t remember what it was called, but you had to keep your eye out patti pelican book coverfor that as you walked along the beach, but our trip was wonderful and the beaches were still in tip top shape.

I still thought that since my kids had a connection with actually visiting the beaches in the gulf that they would have a connection to the book. It’s been 1 year since the oil spill, in fact, the anniversary is April 20th and in honor of the anniversary Lynda has released this easy to read and beautifully illustrated story that teaches children about the importance of taking care of the environment. It also highlights what each and every one of us can do to help each other and the world.

I remember last year seeing pictures of the animals affected by the Gulf Oil Spill and that is the story that Patti Pelican and the Gulf Oil Spill tells us. Patti Pelican is a pelican that is friends with Sammy Seagull and the captain of the Salty Seas. One afternoon when Sammy and Patti were missing from the dock they are usually seen at, the captain goes off to find them. He finds them covered all in oil and takes them to be rescued. The animals telling the story of what happened to them is what captured Zoe and Miles. pattiSammy

Patti Pelican and the Gulf Oil Spill, teaches children that animals sometimes need our help. Before reading the book Zoe didn’t even realize that people helped animals. We had a dog and Zoe went with me to take the dog to the vet but she never realized that was there job. At the end of the book there are some questions to help you engage with yoru children about animals and things that children actually did to help out the animals along the Gulf Coast. I asked Zoe if she would sell her toys to raise money for animals and she came up with a few things she might be willing to part with. It was interested to see that she actually understood the story and how she could help animals when the time comes.

Disclosure – A product was provided to me free of charge by the manufacturer or representing PR agency for the writing of this review; however, opinions expressed are my own and are NOT influenced by monetary compensation

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Our Favorite Valentine’s Day Book to read with the kids

February 9, 2010 By 4 Comments

Snuggle Puppy (Boynton on Board)I always want to make sure my kids feel love. I hug them and snuggle them all the time, sometimes I think it’s more for me than it is for my babies. Since Valentine’s Day is for the young and old I wanted to share something with all of you. We love reading to them and they both have their favorite books. If you’re looking for a great book to read to your kids for Valentine’s Day, we Love Sandra Boynton and her book Snuggle Puppy.

 

Snuggle Puppy is a love song between a parent and her baby. I say baby as in child. It’s about unconditional love; something I hope that everyone can feel from time to time. The best thing in the world is when one of my children are in the middle of play and stop, run to me and throw their arms around me and give me a hug. I love you and then run back into the middle of their play.

The following link is my Amazon affiliate link. Snuggle Puppy (Boynton on Board)

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Potty Training: Pirate Potty and Princess Potty #giveaway

February 7, 2010 By 99 Comments

Just this last week we received the Pirate Potty and the Princess Potty. I have not been home so I really can’t give you a great review on it. I can tell you from looking at the previews on line that it is a really cute way to get your kids in the potty frame of mind. I can’t say that it will make them potty train with the snap of the fingers. My daughter loves to have books with her while she’s practicing. We have a stack of books and these will be added to the stack for her and her brother to read.

 

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BOOK SYNOPSIS:

Both books provide a helpful, step-by-step story that introduces girls & boys to the concept of toilet training. Pirate Potty is a pirate-themed, toilet-training book that is fit for the little swashbuckler in your life!  Includes a pirate’s hat and reward stickers! Princess Potty follows the same theme…a toilet-training book that is fit for the Royal Highness in your life!  This book includes tiara and reward stickers!

I love the illustrations and my daughter is going to love the stickers. Maybe that’s what I need to do to get her excited about going potty. Even chocolate hasn’t worked but she has a passion for stickers. I just thought my passion for chocolate was already engrained in her, I really am liking this idea now. I think the reward of stickers is going to work. I’m not sure she’s ready for a tiara yet. I also can’t wait to put the pirate hat on my son. I hope to be able to write up a real review for everyone later, I just have to stop making promises on my blog.

 

Scholastic is providing 5 copies of  both the books for giveaway

To Enter:

Tell me about your potty pirate or potty princess

Extra Entries:

Advertise this giveaway on any giveaway site, blog, or facebook and tell me where you advertised it (include link to giveaway). 5 Extra Entries for each one you do
Subscribe to my blog (recommended so that you don’t miss winner’s announcements)
Follow me on twitter tell me your twitter ID
Tweet about the giveaway and include a link to the giveaway
Comment on any other non-giveaway post
Add my button on any site you own 

 

The contest will run until Feb 22nd 11:59 pm Pacific. All rules can be found under giveaway rules.

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What Kind of Animal are you MJM publishing #giveaway

August 19, 2009 By 183 Comments

mjmbooks MJM Books make reading fun. Yes that is their motto but it’s true. MJM Books has offered a review and a giveaway to Mom Start. I went to the website and was extremely thrilled to participate.

Here’s Why.

 

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  • Customizable IMAGES and TEXT
  • Original Stories and Artwork
  • High Quality printing and binding
  • Humorous and Heartwarming
  • Commitment to our Community and Environment

What does all that mean?

What Animal Are You?They have books that tell a story that young children like. You can change the character to fit your child. It will ask you what features your child has and then your child will become the main character of the book.

I haven’t seen the book yet because of my Adventures in Texas. Those of you who keep up with me know what I mean. My husband has the book and said, ahh, You got this book here and the kid looks like Miles.

So, without even knowing what I was doing he got the point of the book.

MJM Books are PERFECT GIFTS FOR:

  • BIRTHDAYS
  • A "You’re Special" message from Doting Grandparents
  • CHRISTMAS gifts from stumped relatives
  • Best Friends recalling the ‘Good ol’ Days’ (Who says children’s books are just for Kids?!!!)
  • Anytime you want your gift to STAND OUT

 

If I Were Big

MJM Books are advocates for education and literacy at an early age. As am I. Reading to your children can start while they are in the womb. They like to advocate by having the motto: "Making Reading Fun". This has driven guided them to create books that they feel will encourage kids to see books as exciting worlds that they can inhabit and connect with personally. 

 

We hope that you will create warm and lasting memories of "Storytime" while reading our books and others with your children.

Reading to your children will help them for their entire life.

To Enter:

Visit MJM Books and tell me which story you would select.

Extra Entries:

None Bloggers get and extra entry for every e-mail they send out linking to this giveaway cc louise@looksblue.com (be sure to leave a comment for every person you e-mail, for example if you e-mail 10 different people leave 10 different comments)

Subscribe to my blog
Follow me on twitter tell me your twitter ID
Blog about the giveaway include a link to me for 10 extra entries
Tweet the giveaway (every time you tweet you get an entry) Link to the giveaway please!!!
Add my button to your blog/blog roll 10 extra points if it is on your homepage
Dig, Stumble, or fav me on Technorati (two entries for each one)
Leave a comment for every entry

The contest will run until September 14 11:59 pm Pacific. The winner will be selected by www.random.org

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IBW Books, KA Readers teaching children to read #Giveaway

July 19, 2009 By 38 Comments

IBW

At IBW Books they feel like I do that reading is so important to children’s education. Reading teaches kids to speak. It teaches them how to read, it increases their vocabulary. It’s starting a foundation and continuing it as they grow and learn.

IBW Books contacted me a while ago and asked me to do a review and giveaway for them and I’ve let the fall to the bottom of my stack. I’m so ashamed because I was so excited to receive them. I looked at them and it missed my calendar. I was going through my box and I found them and I thought, Oh I better do that RIGHT NOW!

So here I am writing about the books. It’s such a unique idea. IBW-Books combines books and the internet. I mean, we can’t run away from computers. As some of would much rather burry our heads in the sand than take on that nasty computer we can’t hide from the fact that our children are going to know more about computers than we ever dreamed of. So such it up and learn it. Or how about this,

You Read,

They look at the pictures on the internet while you read

That’s IBW-Books.

“The Interactive Book-Webscene proprietary process combines the reading of a print book with the interactivity of online animations. Here’s how it works: At the end of each chapter, the reader is directed to a specific link on a website associated with the book. Here, the reader views a webscene. Webscenes contain 2D and 3D animations. Each webscene is essential to the storytelling. After viewing the webscene, the reader returns to the book to read another chapter, after which are instructions to view another webscene, and so on. Each book contains 6-10 webscenes.”

My kids both love sitting at the computer so using these readers was a snap and big success. We received two different letter books. The books were written with a lot of words that start with the letter ‘g’ or the letter ‘b’. They love reading and watching the computer was no chore. My daughter can even work the mouse. I gave one of the readers to my daughter just last night and she flipped through it. It doesn’t have any pictures so she just looked that the words and pretended to read aloud.

 

**UPDATE**

I Totally forgot to mention:

For readers who want to share IBW books with others and make some extra money in the process, www.IBW-Booksellers.com has all the details on becoming an IBW Bookseller. You’ll not only represent a product with NO COMPETITION… and but also receive an IMMEDIATE 20% commission on all sales at the close of each hosted event!

Making money is easy and the party kit only costs 25.00. You won’t find any other home party business startup kit for that cheap.

To Enter:

Visit both www.IBW-Books.com and www.IBW-Booksellers.com. You will have a choice of one of two IBW prizes:

The Busy Preschooler’s Guide to Learning – fun activities built around the 26 letters of the alphabet, with step-by-step help to guide parents in how to use everyday situations to teach 105 skills their kids need before they walk in the kindergarten door. (Retail value $60.)

THREE (3) KA Readers – beginning readers that use a new kind of storytelling where kids see an animation unfold at the close of every chapter! Dr. Seuss-like rhyming hooks kids on the fun of words. Online activities help parents assess a child’s reading and comprehension. (Retail value $60.)

Extra Entries only after you have visited both sites:

None Bloggers get and extra entry for every e-mail they send out linking to this giveaway cc louise@looksblue.com (be sure to leave a comment for every person you e-mail, for example if you e-mail 10 different people leave 10 different comments)

Subscribe to my blog
Follow me on twitter tell me your twitter ID
Blog about the giveaway include a link to me for five extra entries
Tweet the giveaway (every time you tweet you get an entry) Link to the giveaway please!!!
Add my button to your blog/blog roll
Dig, Stumble, or fav me on Technorati (two entries for each one)
Leave a comment for every entry

The contest will run until Monday August 10th 11:59 pm Pacific. The winner will be selected by www.random.org

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