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The Cat’s Pajamas by Daniel Wallace

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The Cat's Pajamas by Daniel WallacePromotional copy provided.

By nature, I am a very picky children’s book reader. If the first sentence or the pictures don’t draw me in, I place it back on the shelf and browse on. The Cat’s Pajamas is not a children’s book I would return to the shelf. It quickly snags your attention and brings you into the story. True to the nature of his novel “Big Fish,“ Daniel Wallace does not disappoint with yet another (adorable) tall-tale. It is the story of one cool cat in his quest to be different who instead, in the end, makes a difference. It is the perfect bedtime story or Pajama Day (at school) story and the narrative voice is quite pleasant and easy to read. I would say that this book is appropriate for ages pre-k through 2nd or 3rd grade and is enjoyable for any parent or teacher as well, especially if said readers are cat fanatics.

The cool thing about this book is that it was published through INKSHARES, which is a crowdfunded publisher. On INKSHARES.com, users donate funds to projects they are interested in by pre-ordering copies of the book. Depending on the amount donated, a user can receive a digital copy, hard copy, draft or even recognition in the book. Users can chose to donate $15, $40, $100 or an undisclosed amount to projects of their choice. Once the author has received enough support, INKSHARES.com supplies an editor, designer and takes care of other aspects of the publishing process.

Any writer can publish using INKSHARES, whether they’re a seasoned and published writer like Mr. Wallace, or a new and upcoming writer being published for the first time. INKSHARES supports an artist’s work by paying more per book sold than a traditional publishing house. A writer can receive up to 70% more in royalties per book as opposed to traditional publishing methods which pay only pocket change for each book sold.

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Please take a moment look at inkshares.com and browse their current project list or maybe even look into publishing your own book!

Mr. Wallace’s book “The Cat’s Pajamas” is available in hardcover for 18.00 here.

It’s Not a Cassette Anymore: Digital Download AudioGo Audiobooks For Children

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Watching my children grow in their love of books I found myself wondering about my own childhood and how I read books with two very busy parents. I know my grandmother helped me learn how to read over the summer before first grade but I also remember listening to audiobooks on cassette tape. If you don’t even know what a cassette tape is you’re going to make me feel very old. My little sister Lindsey even had books on records. We would listen to the books together and we always knew when to turn the page by a magic sound.

I started to freak out because I wanted to buy my children some books on tape, and you can’t find tapes anymore. So I realized that it’s either CD books or audiobooks in a digital download format. In our house we’ve become as digital as possible. My husband only downloads music now and we read digital downloads of books either on our e-readers or our phones so it makes sense for our children to have digital books as well.

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Zoe loves to read books and she loves to use her new headphones and iPod Shuffle and I really want to get her some books. I was looking at AudioGo’s collection of audiobooks and I’m quite impressed. AudioGo is the home of BBC Audiobooks (formerly known as BBC Audiobooks America) and found that in the adults section there is a book read by David Tennent as it’s sort of a play/sort of a book combined and it sounds really interesting. Plus I love a great English accent. AudioGo has a very vast children’s audio book selection and each one can be ordered as a digital download or as a CD. The Price is very comparable to other sites offering children’s audiobooks. AudioGO publishes and distributes audiobooks to consumers on CD and MP3CD, and through online downloads. They feature contemporary bestsellers from the mystery, literary fiction, women’s fiction, thriller and narrative nonfiction genres, as well as radio dramas and original programming.

As I was looking at what Zoe would like the most I found quite a few from Hans Christian Anderson; Rapunzel, The Little Mermaid, and The Brave Tin Soldier. I know she’s used to the Disney version but she would get a whole new view by reading these classics.

 

 

 

This post is a compensated post and everything within it is my own opinion.

Celebrates Presidents’ Day with Patriotic–Themed Books, Apps, DVDs, and More

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Patriotic product highlights include:

· Disney American Presidents – Check out the educational app Entertainment Weekly named one of the 10 best for 2012! Download it today for your iPad or iPhone for a fresh new way to learn about the extraordinary men who inhabited the Oval Office and set the course for our country. Just in time for Presidents’ Day! Created with a former producer of The Colbert Report and The Daily Show, the app features commentary from historical experts, presidential profiles, interactive pages, and videos. Available on iTunes. ($3.99)

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· Lincoln: A Steven Spielberg Film interactive book and Lincoln: A Cinematic and Historical Companion hardcover book by David Rubel with forewords by Steven Spielberg and Kathleen Kennedy, afterword by Tony Kushner – Go behind the scenes of Steven Spielberg’s historical epic, Lincoln. See how a crucial time in America’s history was recreated and brought to the screen in beautiful photos, art, interviews, music (with interactive book), and compelling historical narrative. The interactive book was created with Apple’s unique interactive book app and will allow the audience to immerse themselves in Abraham Lincoln’s most critical period as President of the United States. Interactive book available on iTunes. Hardcover book available wherever books are sold. ISBN: 1423181999; Price: $45.00; Ages: 18–30; Imprint: Disney Editions

· Grace for President by Kelly S. DiPucchio, illustrated by LeUyen Pham – With some hard work, a bright smile and a good campaign, Grace sets out to win her school’s mock presidential election when she learns that there has never been a woman president in the United States. Available wherever books are sold. ISBN: 1423139992; Price: $15.99; Ages: 5–9; Imprint: Disney-Hyperion

· John, Paul, George & Ben by Lane Smith – Once there were four lads… John [Hancock], Paul [Revere], George [Washington], and Ben [Franklin]. Oh yes, there was also Tom [Jefferson], but he was annoyingly independent and hardly ever around. These lads were always getting into trouble for one reason or another. In other words, they took a few…liberties. And to be honest, they were not always appreciated. This is the story of five little lads before they became five really big Founding Fathers. Available wherever books are sold. ISBN: 0786848936; Price: $16.99; Ages: 3–7; Imprint: Disney-Hyperion

· The American Presidents DVDs (Volumes 1–4) – The four DVDs in this series contain short-form biographies of our nation’s presidents, from George Washington to current President Barack Obama, as well as historical overviews of the eras in which these presidents presided. Also included in each DVD is an educational bonus feature, exploring issues such as why the United States selected presidency over monarchy to the important role the president and federal government play in managing our nation’s financial health. The DVDs feature interviews and insights from political experts and commentators, including Sam Donaldson, Wesley Clark, Paul Begala, Melissa Harris-Perry, and many more. Available on DisneyEducation.com. For a limited time, all DVDs are just $14.99 each when you buy any 4 or more.

· Mickey Icon Pin – American Flag – Disney salutes the United States of America with this patriotic pin featuring the Stars and Stripes on a cloisonné Mickey icon. Available on DisneyStore.com ($7.95).

· Vinylmation Holiday 3 Series Independence Day – 9” – Celebrate victory and freedom with this Independence Day figure. A revolutionary addition to your collection, this determined colonist is ready to fight. Or just stand there and look cool. Available on DisneyStore.com ($44.95).

 

Products available at Disney Store, DisneyStore.com, DisneyEducation.com, the iTunes Store, and wherever books are sold, are featured below, including the Disney American Presidents App; children’s books including the New York Times best-sellers Grace for President and John, Paul, George & Ben; the American Presidents DVDs; and an Independence Day Vinylmation figure.

Random House Cat In The Hat Children’s Books Holiday Books

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Random House Children’s Books Titles:

To extend the PBS KIDS Christmas special into a reading experience, in September 2012, Random House Children’s Books published a selection of accompanying titles in trade paperback, Golden Book, Step Into Reading and activity book formats. Featuring the same fun take on science that parents have come to appreciate in all THE CAT IN THE HAT KNOWS A LOT ABOUT THAT! episodes, children can now watch and read with the Cat in the Hat this holiday season!

  • imageA Reindeer’s First Christmas/New Friends for Christmas by Tish Rabe; illustrated by Joe Mathieu and Aristides Ruiz

In A Reindeer’s First Christmas, narrator Ralph – a yearling caribou – tells how, with the help of the Cat in the Hat, Sally, Nick, and some new friends, he makes it home in time

for Christmas and pulls Santa’s sled! In New Friends for Christmas, Sally and Nick       learn that with a little help from family and friends – and a spare mini-Thinga-ma-jigger –it’s possible to accomplish almost anything!

The Cat in the Hat has just received a special invitation! He and Sally and Nick have been invited to Mervin the Crab’s Crab Christmas Ball on Christmas Island. But soon after the Thinga-ma-jigger lands on the island, chaos ensues when Crab Nine (aka Sandy) goes missing. Is Sandy lost or injured? Will the ball go on as planned?

A Step Into Reading adaptation, Home for Christmas is written for children who are ready to read independently. From the Cat in the Hat’s Christmas Eve Party through his mishaps while attempting to return a young reindeer home in time to pull Santa’s sled, readers will be introduced to a herd of elephants with an uncanny ability to smell water, a pod of dolphins imagewho can communicate across far distances, and a single-minded army of Christmas Island crabs – all of whom demonstrate how working together is the best way to solve a problem, and how home is the best place to be for the holidays!

Get ready to ho, ho, ho, ho with Nick, Sally, and the Cat in the Hat! Based on the PBS KIDS show THE CAT IN THE HAT KNOWS A LOT ABOUT THAT! and the upcoming Christmas Special, this yuletide Doodle Book invites kids to color and also to create fun holiday images.

With 48 pages to color and an entire sheet of hologramatic stickers, Christmas has never been so colorful and bright!

THE CAT IN THE HAT KNOWS A LOT ABOUT THAT! launched on PBS KIDS in 2010 and is part of PBS KIDS’ continuing commitment to helping kids ages 2-8 build the key STEM –science, technology, engineering and math – skills that will prepare them for success in school and in life.