The Looking Book

In an era of the Wii, the Netbook, and Blu-Ray, I’m already noticing my son’s preference towards these types of entertainment.  And several weeks ago, I heard about a computer program designed for children ages 1-6.  My first thought was, what could a one year old possibly get out of something like this?  This is the type of content parents have to contend with on a daily basis.  I have to make a conscious effort not to rely on these types of entertainment and get my children out of the house every day.  And as my son gets older, it’s going to be that much more difficult.

Every day, my son can count on our reading time.  Twenty minutes a day is recommended, but more is even better.  Right now, we’re reading The Looking Book, by P.K. Hallinan.  If you have a child who’d rather stay inside watching television or playing video games, I recommend this book. Here is a synopsis from the site:

In The Looking Book,  renowned children’s author P.K. Hallinan tells the story of Kenny and Mikey, who are given pairs of magical “lookers” by Mom.  Outside, the lookers help the boys discover an exciting world beyond their television, helping them see things outside they never noticed before: bright grass, crawly bugs, beautiful leaves.  Soon, Kenny and Mikey realize they don’t need their special lookers at all, and can’t wait to play outside the next day with fresh eyes.

Children’s books have the ability to illustrate concepts in ways that are meaningful to children.  My son loves to go outside, but that is because I don’t like to keep him in the house for too many hours in a day.  But some children (children that I know) would rather stay inside playing video games.  This is where a story might be the impetus to get them outside…willingly.  I once heard that the greatest discoveries can be found in your own backyard. P.K. Hallinan illustrates that beautifully as Kenny and Mikey discover trees and bees…small things and tall things…weeds and flowers with seeds.  Both of the children’s excitement is evident throughout the story as they discovery new and exciting things.

One of the things I found interesting about the book, is how the illustrator purposefully made the inside spaces dull browns and whites…in contrast to the colorful outside world.  At the end of the book, both boys can’t wait to go outside again for new discoveries.

The Looking Book retails for $16.99 and is available on Amazon.

I did not receive compensation for this post.  A copy of the book was provided to facilitate this review.

Read to Me: I’m Up in a Tree

My 2 year old is very vocal about his thoughts, wants, and needs these days.  And while he’s only two, I realize that each day he’s gaining confidence and independence. I’m wrapping up this week of inspirational children’s books with a book that teaches children to have confidence in their ability to make wise choices.

I’m Up in a Tree, by Mark Alden Johnson “encourages children to ignore peer pressure and make their own decisions.”  The story is about a boy who climbs a tree but is then unable to get down.  It’s told in lyrical rhyming style and features adorable, kid-friendly illustrations.  The boy (who’s name is never mentioned), gets “advice” from a bee, birds, and a cat.  He wisely decides that flying, jumping or climbing down the tree are not the best ways to get down from the tree.  In the end, his father comes with a ladder to help him.

Even young children face peer pressure and benefit from learning early on how to make good decisions.  The book is as important for parents as it is for children.  As a mom, it’s my responsibility to teach my children to make good decisions, resist peer pressure, and trust their own judgment.  While the concepts in the book are a bit too old for my son, it’s a book we’ll be reading as he continues to grow and develop.  I read all kinds of books to my son, not just ones targeted for his age to expose him to a variety of concepts and themes. I think this is a great book that will grow with him.  And children will be drawn to it’s rhyming style, asking for it to be read again and again (at least my son did!).

I’m Up in a Tree is available on Amazon.

I did not receive compensation for this post.  A copy of the book was provided to facilitate this review.

Read to Me: How Lil’ Eddie Learns to Read

I’ve been reading to my son since he was an infant.  And my daughter has had the added benefit of being read to in utero.  I honestly believe that my son’s love for books stems from the fact that we read so early in his life.  The benefits of reading just 20 minutes a day are numerous and include strengthening relationships, encouraging listening and language skills, promoting attention and curiosity and establishing a strong reading foundation.  And I can’t imagine a better way to teach a child to read than with a book.

How Lil’ Eddie Learns to Read, by Rima H. Corral is about a boy named Eddie who receives a book on his third birthday.  One day, he picks up the book and decides he’d like to learn how to read.  The book follows Eddie and his family as they help him learn to read through books, games, and a neighborhood reading club.  What’s unique about the book is that it includes several detailed parent sections which offer tips on helping children learn to read before their child enters kindergarten.

There is much that can be done prior to teaching a child to read.  For example, the author suggests taking your child to an interesting place such as the zoo or a museum.  Once you and your child have had an opportunity to discuss what was learned and observed at those places, pick out books that show pictures of those places.  There are so many activities I could be doing with my son to help him learn to read.  I think this book has invaluable tips and I would have purchased it for these alone.

How Lil’ Eddie Learns to Read is not only an adorable children’s book, it’s a valuable resource for parents.  It’s available for purchase on Amazon.

I did not receive compensation for this post.  A copy of the book was provided to facilitate this review.

Read to Me: Feeding Penny Pig

The other day my son (who’s 2 1/2 by the way) and I had a conversation that went something like this:

“What do you have in your pocket?” My son was digging around in his pant pocket for something.  “I have money,” he says, triumphantly.  He then proceeds to pull out a penny.  My first thought was, where did he get that from?  My second thought was, how does he know what “money” is?  Before long we’ll be talking about allowances and saving.

Feeding Penny Pig, by Jeannine Fox, is a cute little story about a grandmother who buys her granddaughter a special piggy bank for her birthday.  Penny Pig is a very hungry piggy bank.  Laney (the granddaughter) must do chores for her parents to earn money to feed her.  Laney loves Penny Pig so much that she willfully works around the house to keep her happy and full.  This friendship between a little girl and her piggy bank teaches children responsibility and the value of earning and saving money.

The ideal age range for this book is children ages 4-8 who are capable of understanding the basics of money, responsibility and earning an allowance.  The concepts are very basic…earning and saving money…responsibility.  I think the book is a great way to begin introducing these principles to preschoolers.  To be honest, the only thing I’m not crazy about are the illustrations, which could stand to be softened just a bit.  There are two things about the book that really stand out.  Grandparents are a very important part of a child’s life and I really appreciate the fact that the story includes the grandmother’s role in purchasing the piggy bank.  I also found it interesting that she passed over beautiful dolls, teddy bears, and fancy dresses for a meaningful gift with an important life lesson.

Feeding Penny Pig is available for $14.95 directly from the author’s website.

I did not receive compensation for this post.  A copy of the book was provided to facilitate this review.

Read to Me: Classic Children’s Books from Uplift Press

Every book I’ve ever read has a message to convey…a lesson to be learned.  Do you want to teach your child to potty train? Or sleep through the night?  Or learn to share? Find a book that addresses those topics.  Age-appropriate books are a meaningful way to introduce concepts to children.

Many years ago, Dr. Pat Palmer, who has authored numerous books for children, teens, and adults, published two children’s books called Liking Myself and The Mouse, the Monster, and Me.  These hand-lettered books, illustrated on elementary school paper, went out of print 10 years ago. They’ve since been republished due to public request.

The books are darling.  I love how they’re hand-lettered on elementary school paper.  Kids will find that aspect of the book appealing.  The books don’t have a lot of pictures, but those that are present are simple but powerful.  Here is a little summary of both books:

Liking Myself (ages 5-10) offers advice on how to handle oneself when feeling depressed, upset, or overwhelmed.  Topics include liking yourself, feeling talk, allowing, letting go, and body talk.

The Mouse, the Monster and Me (ages 8 and up) focuses on the importance of finding a balance between one’s aggressive inner “monster” and one’s passive inner “mouse.”  Children grasp the metaphor and discover and develop their assertive “me” self.  Topics include getting in touch with your own strengths, respect, rights and responsibilities, how to say “no” to trouble, receiving criticism and compliments, and being yourself.

Both books are positive and uplifting.  The illustrations are simple yet meaningful.  I appreciate the sections that allow children to write down their feelings.  It’s a wonderful way to apply what they’re learning in the moment.  I also like the role-playing games that are suggested in the books.  I know they’re geared towards children, but adults (myself included) could really benefit from reading these books.  These books are highly interactive (parents should definitely be reading them with their children) and open up discussion for topics like self-esteem.

My son has a basic understanding of feelings and I’ve already started talking to him about some of the concepts in this book.  Both books are going to be great for him as he gets older.  Each book retails for $12.99 and is available for purchase on the Uplift Press website and Amazon. 

I did not receive compensation for this post.  Book samples were received to facilitate this review.

Read to Me: Dudley’s Solo

We live in a diverse world…a world of color and different abilities.  Teaching this concept to a child, particularly a toddler, can be difficult.  How do I explain to my son that mommy is Hispanic and daddy is Caucasian?  That mommy comes from a country that speaks a different language, eats different foods, and has different customs and traditions?  And what about people of varied color, shape, size, and abilities?  The answer, to some extent, is in books.  Books are a fantastic way of explaining difficult concepts to children.  They can illustrate concepts (kid’s style) that I have difficulty explaining.

Dudley’s Solo, by Tiffany Alexander, “is a heartwarming story that encourages kids to embrace each other’s talents and abilities.”  Children often face rejection and discrimination when they don’t “fit in.”  Sometimes I think that children who have not been properly schooled on issues of acceptance become adults who are intolerant of differences.  Here is a little summary of the book, from the site:

Dudley is deaf, but that doesn’t stop him from doing what all his friends in the Children’s Band church group do. Even though Dudley can’t hear or speak, he joins the other kids at their choir concert. He even performs his own solo.

The book’s message is simple…accentuate the positive…embrace that which makes you different.  It follows Dudley’s journey to have a solo in the upcoming choir concert.  And in the end, he uses the talents he has to sign the words to the song “He’s Got the Whole World In His Hands.”  The book illustrates diversity in many ways.  It exposes children to culture, religion, and different abilities (i.e. deafness).  It encourages children to “have self-confidence and to believe in themselves, embrace their differences, never give up on something you really want and find the positive lesson in every challenge they are handed.”

The book is a great way to initiate discussion with children about such subject matters.  The author, writes from her heart, as a woman who grew up visually impaired.  The inner strength she gained from her experiences inspired her to write this book.

Dudley’s Solo retails for $7.99 and is available for purchase from the site.

I did not receive compensation for this post.  The book was received to faciliate this review.

Read to Me: Trucks, Trains, and Worm Brains

“That’s mine!” hmf!  My 2 1/2 year old regularly claims his possessions these days.  Last week at church, he was given an impromptu lesson on sharing.  Apart from preschool and church, he’s never really had to share.  He regularly takes our daughter’s blanket, pacifier, and baby toys, claiming possession over them.  Teaching a child to share is an interesting process…one I haven’t mastered yet.

Trucks, Trains, and Worm Brains, by Shannon Valente, is an adorable little book about sharing.  It’s written in rhyme and details a little boy’s venture in learning how to share with his sister.  He thinks he can trick his sister into playing with the toys he wants her to play with (rather than the toys she wants to play with), but like most females, she is smarter and savvier than he is.  It’s colorfully illustrated, which is appealing to children. The story is short and relatively simple, but initiates a discussion with children about the importance of sharing.

The author, who dreamed of writing children’s books, was diagnosed with breast cancer at the age of 27.  She’s now cancer-free and has authored a total of three children’s books.  Each of her three books retails for $12.49, and a portion of the proceeds are donated to Rethink Breast Cancer, a national charity designed to further education, research, and support for young people who are concerned about or affected by the disease.

For more information about The Breast Books Ever, just visit the website.

I did not receive compensation for this post.  The book was provided to facilitate this review.

Read to Me: Inspirational Books from Hammond

“Let’s read it again.”   Those are the daily sentiments of my 2 1/2 year old.  He loves to read…and I love that about him.  Admittedly, there are times when I really wish we could read something different.  But connections are being made.  So I read him that book again and again to his heart’s content.  If you knew…if you really knew what 20 minutes a day could do for your child…you’d never miss a day.

This week, I am starting a new little series called “Read to Me.”  Every day this week, I’ll feature a different book (or set of books).  My son tends to gravitate to the same handful of books every day. But that doesn’t mean that I stop introducing new books.  The opposite is true.

This week, we’re reading three titles from Hammond Publishing.  Last spring, the company who is well-known for publishing maps, atlases, and reference materials, launched illustrated nonfiction trade books and story books for adults and children.  Here is a bit more information about their children’s books, from the site:

Masterfully crafted to capture a child’s imagination, Hammond’s children’s books blends eloquent text with rich themes of self-awareness, the importance of personal choices and a better sense of place in this world.  From love to friendship, royalty to every-day life, Hammond’s children’s books are sure to empower, entertain and inform all of our young readers.

Farewell Sadness, by Roxane Marie Galliez, “details a young boy’s journey to overcome sadness.  With a little help from a friend, he not only finds real happiness, but also the inner strength to fend off future sadness.”  Lately, our little boy has been expressing his emotions verbally.  He’ll tell me “I’m so mad,” when he doesn’t get something he wants…or “I’m sad…I’m crying” when he doesn’t want to take a nap.  This book is actually very appropriate for where we’re at right now.  My son is adjusting to having a new baby sister.  I think this book came at just the right time for us. The illustrations are vivid and appealing and the illustrator is “known for her imaginative illustrations blending drawing with collage.”  While the subject of sadness can be very deep, it’s  presented in a way that children can understand.    The author conveys themes of personal growth and self-awareness.  While I do think the book is a bit old for my son, it’s a great way to initiate conversation about such matters.

The Earth Has Caught a Cold, by Roxanne Marie Gallez, addresses environmental issues.  As a “green” mom, I strive to reduce my carbon footprint and am teaching my son to do the same.  “This poignant tale teaches children about responsibility and about being aware of their world and their place in it.”  The book begins on a somewhat somber note. However, I think that comparing global warming to an illness, is an ingenious way of presenting an otherwise complicated topic to children in a meaningful way.  One little boy in the book, cares enough to do something.  This is important because it emphasizes the concept that each one of us can take important steps to preserve our environment.  The book ends on a positive, hopeful note.

In Search of Happiness, by Juliette Saumande, follows a young boy’s journey to find the Land of Happiness.  The story is reminiscent of a modern day fairytale and the message is one adults and children will take to heart.   “With a wise bird as his guide, [the young boy] travels to very different lands, and each one seems better than the last, with praise and magic gifts offered to him at every stop.”  What he realizes is that happiness is accomplished, rather than found.  The book is filled with amazing illustrations from world-renowned children’s illustrator Eric Puybaret (Puff, the Magic Dragon).  This is a book I’ll save for my son when he gets older, since it deals with more complex topics.

Hammond Publishing offers a wide selection of affordable children’s books with relevant messages and attractive illustrations.  You can purchase them directly from the site or on Amazon.

I did not receive compensation for this post.  The books were provided to faciliate this review.

The One Year Devotions For Preschoolers 2

Title: The One Year Devotions for Preschoolers 2
by Carla Barnhill; illustrated by Elena Kucharik
Age range: 3-6 years old
Publisher: Tyndale
Price: $14.99 (hardcover)

Reading is a part of our daily routine, particularly at nap and bedtime.  I feel very fortunate that my son enjoys reading as much as he does.  I’m hoping that since our baby girl is also getting the benefits of early reading, that she’ll enjoy it as she gets older.  Whenever someone asks what they should get for our little boy, my usual answer is clothes or books.

The new year is filled with resolutions.  This year, my son and I have a new resolution.  Our goal (well, mine really) is to read one devotion every day from The One Year Devotions for Preschoolers.  Last year we bought my son a Toddler Bible which he enjoys having us read at bedtime.  But we’re not super consistent with it and since there are only a few stories, he likes for us to switch the books up a bit.

The One Year Devotions for Preschoolers 2 makes it easy for young children to understand basic Biblical principles and stories.  The devotions are short and written in simple, easy-to-understand language.  Each devotion has a “Little Blessings” picture, a short Bible verse, and a devotional thought.  It’s a great way to initiate conversation with children about these truths.  Each devotion ends with a short, rhyming prayer.

We have been praying with our little boy and reading stories to him from his Toddler Bible for about a year now.  While he understands the basic concepts of these prayers and stories, he’s still at the point where he needs information to be very basic. That’s why I think this devotional is appropriate for him.  He can sit long enough to read through several books, so I definitely don’t think the devotions are too long.  I actually appreciate their brevity because it gives my husband and I an opportunity to discuss the concepts with him further by asking questions and such.  I like the one year format because it makes it easy for us to make a commitment to reading one every day.  And just like a Bible, it starts in Genesis and ends in Revelation.

The devotional is geared towards children ages 3-6.  At my son’s age, we won’t be memorizing scriptures…but as he gets older this would be a great place to start.  It’s a devotional we can use for years down the road and get something different out of it as he gets older.  And my son just adores the illustrations.  In general, he just loves pictures.  He will spend several minutes asking about pictures in books…”What is it?  Who is that?” Those are just a few of the questions we spend time answering, whenever we read a book.

Overall, I think that The One Year Devotions for Preschoolers 2 is a fantastic resource for parents who want to teach their children about God and His Biblical truths.  I taught Sunday School when I was in college and I remember how eager children are at this age to learn.  Starting early is important and this book makes a great resource for parents to do so.

I did not receive compensation for this post.  I did receive a product, courtesy of Tyndale House Publishers in coordination with Mama Buzz for this review.

My Little Polar Bear

I’ve been working with Scholastic for over a year and a half, and it’s an honor to work with a company who’s primary goal is to get children reading.  My son has enough books to open a small library.  Books are something we’ll never tire of.  We could read the same book over and over, and get something new and different out of it each time.  Sometimes we will in fact read the same book over and over again (especially at nap and night times).  But then there are times when a new book stands out…Like the one we received from Scholastic last week.

My Little Polar Bear, by Claudia Rueda, is a delightful winter story about a baby polar bear who lacks confidence in his ability to survive as a polar bear.  The book starts off by asking a question…”Am I a polar bear?”  His mother proceeds to reassure her baby cub that he is indeed a polar bear and has all of the necessary skills to survive.  The book’s resonating theme is about a parent’s bond with his/her child.  All along I assumed the book referred to a mother.  But there is never any specific gender mentioned (for the polar bear or the cub).  I think the author intentionally left it open in that way.

I really like how the polar bear is right there for the cub.  The polar bear already has confidence that the cub will survive…and the polar bear has every intention of helping the cub through the process until he/she is independent.  The book at first glance is simple…the words are simple…the pictures (blues and white) are simple…  But the meaning is profound.

My Little Polar Bear is available on the Scholastic website.

I did not receive compensation for this post.  I did receive the book as a gift and decided to write about it because we enjoyed it so much.

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