Winner of Flat Stanley's Christmas Adventure

The winner of Flat Stanley's Christmas Adventure is Shelly of Shelly's Bookshelf! Congratulations on winning and thanks for being a reader here at Katie's Literature Lounge! I've sent you an email, but if for some reason you happen to see this post first, please email me your snail mail address by Wednesday, Jan. 5th so I can get the book on its way!

If you're interested in finding out more information about any of the books reviewed or if you'd like to purchase the books, click the cover image for a link to Amazon.com. I am an Amazon Affiliate, so any purchases you make after clicking these images will result in my receiving a small percentage of the sale price!

Rain School

Compare and Contrast the differences in schools in the US with the schools in Chad, Africa.

Rumford, James.
Rain School.
October 2010.
Houghton Mifflin Harcourt.
Review copy provided courtesy of publisher.

Sharing with readers a real-life experience of his own as a Peace Corps volunteer, James Rumford will enlighten children's minds with this fictional tale about the true-life schooling of children in Chad, Africa.

Schools constructed mainly of mud are washed away each summer due to torrential rain storms. Each September, upon returning to school to "learn," learning begins in altogether different way than what children of the US are exposed to. The children of Chad, Africa must first learn to build their school for the school year, starting with the walls and the roof before ending up finishing up by creating the desks and stools of mud. It is only then that they are able to begin learning.

In a community where the opportunity to be schooled is so rare, the children of Chad, Africa are very eager to participate in building their school so that they have the opportunity to learn. Hopefully, US children will find a whole new appreciation for their schools and opportunity to learn after reading about and understanding the challenges that other children face just to have a place to attend school.

Learning/Reading Activity:

• After reading Rain School, have children complete the Venn Diagram comparing and contrasting schooling in the United States with schooling in Chad, Africa. A venn diagram specific to this task can be downloaded here.
  
• Prior to reading Rain School, introduce children to the idea of differences between schooling in different geographic locations by reading Dear Primo: A Letter to My Cousin, by Duncan Tonatiuh.
  

If you're interested in finding out more information about any of the books reviewed or if you'd like to purchase the books, click the cover image for a link to Amazon.com. I am an Amazon Affiliate, so any purchases you make after clicking these images will result in my receiving a small percentage of the sale price!

Who Can Live in...

Learn about animal adaptations with a little help from Sheila Anderson's latest releases, six titles in the "Animal Adaptations" series.

Each of the titles in the series provides readers with exactly the same basic definition of an adaptation that allows readers to easily understand what an adaptation is. The photographs that accompany each page of text easily enable readers to connect with the text, as they perfectly illustrate the adaptation that is being shared for each animal habitat. Each book also contains two pages of fun facts about the animals in each habitat, as well as a glossary and an index.

Anderson, Sheila.
What Can Live in a Desert?
August 2010.
Lerner Publications Company.
Review copy provided courtesy of publisher.

Readers will learn about the special adaptations of foxes, gerbils, desert geckos, jackrabbits, scorpions, roadrunners, snakes, and camels that enable them to live in the desert.

Anderson, Sheila.
What Can Live in a Lake?
August 2010.
Lerner Publications Company.
Review copy provided courtesy of publisher.

Readers will learn about the special adaptations of fish, ducks, snails, gulls, pelicans, beavers, herons, water striders, and turtles that enable them to live in a lake.

Anderson, Sheila.
What Can Live in a Forest?
August 2010.
Lerner Publications Company.
Review copy provided courtesy of publisher.

Readers will learn about the special adaptations of birds, ants, deer, porcupines, squirrels, insects, bears, frogs, and bats that enable them to live in the forest.

The other books in the "Animal Adaptations" series include:

• What Can Live in a Grassland?
  
• What Can Live in the Mountains?
• What Can Live in the Ocean?
  

Learning/Reading Activity:

• Challenge your child with completing the following worksheet activity. Help them out by discussing the photographs and determining the habitat of each animal pictured prior to setting them free to try and figure out what the function of each adaptation is!
  

If you're interested in finding out more information about any of the books reviewed or if you'd like to purchase the books, click the cover image for a link to Amazon.com. I am an Amazon Affiliate, so any purchases you make after clicking these images will result in my receiving a small percentage of the sale price!

Bats at the Ballgame

I sure hope there's some 'Bats at the Ballgame,' otherwise, there won't be much scoring of runs!

Lies, Brian.
Bats at the Ballgame.
September 2010.
Houghton Mifflin Harcourt.
Review copy provided courtesy of publisher.

Brian Lies returns once again wtih a sure-to be hit, Bats at the Ballgame as the beloved bats characters take on the ball park. Baseball fans are sure to love this title, which incorporates all your ballpark classics, with a batty-twist! From garlic flies, gnatworst, and mothdogs to the batty version of the seventh inning stretch,

Ooh... Hang me up in the rafters!
Hang me up by the toes!
Buy me some beenuts and Cricket Jacks.
Won't you have...

readers are sure to take delight! This book is a must have for returning "Bat" fans and for baseball lovers!

Learning/Reading Activity:

• Pair this book with an age appropriate baseball-related activity for your child!
• Ages 2-4: Little Tikes TotSports T-Ball Set
• Ages 5-18: MLB Pop A Pitch
• And for older fans (12+): Front Porch Classics Generic Circa Baseball Desktop Game
  

If you're interested in finding out more information about any of the books reviewed or if you'd like to purchase the books, click the cover image for a link to Amazon.com. I am an Amazon Affiliate, so any purchases you make after clicking these images will result in my receiving a small percentage of the sale price!

Side By Side/Lado a Lado

Bilingual text shares about the injustices of migrant farm workers and how two youngsters teamed up to make a difference for them!

Brown, Monica.
Side By Side/Lado a Lado.
August 2010.
HarperCollins.
Review copy provided courtesy of publisher.

Monica Brown teams up with illustrator Joe Cepeda to share with readers about the works of Cesar Chavez and Dolores Huerta. Dolores, from New Mexico, learned of the hardships of migrant farm workers from her mother. Cesar learned about life as a migrant farm worker from his own first-hand experience. As the two learned about life as a migrant farm worker, they recognized that changes needed to be made. Together, they set forth on the journey with the intentions of making changes in laws regarding regulations for migrant workers in order to better their lives. Readers will learn about just a few of the major differences that were made due to the hard work of Cesar Chavez and Dolores Huerta. The bilingual text is very important in the writing of this book, as many migrant workers speak Spanish natively. This allows them to connect to the text and understand the changes that were put into effect on their behalf!

A great read for sharing bits and pieces of American history!

Learning/Reading Activity:

• Have children explore what kind of changes Dolores Huerta and Cesar Chavez made for migrant children and their schooling.
  

If you're interested in finding out more information about any of the books reviewed or if you'd like to purchase the books, click the cover image for a link to Amazon.com. I am an Amazon Affiliate, so any purchases you make after clicking these images will result in my receiving a small percentage of the sale price!

I Want My Light On!

Afraid of ghosts? The ghosts are afraid of you, too!

Ross, Tony.
I Want My Light On!: A Little Princess Story.
September 2010.
Lerner Publishing Group.
Review copy provided courtesy of publisher.

The little princess of I Want TWO Birthdays returns in this comical bedtime story! Little Princess appears to be afraid of the ghosts that come out when the lights go out. She begs and pesters everyone - her dad, the Admiral, the Doctor, the Maid. When the lights finally go out, of course the ghost appears when Little Princess hides under her bed. And, everything she says to the ghost is mimicked back to her. The real lesson for children to learn here is that the ghosts are just as afraid of little kids as little kids are of ghosts!

Learning/Reading Activity:

• Help ease your child's worries about ghosts by sharing this and similar books. Then, make use of the following article - Talking with your Child about Ghosts: Do's and Dont's.
  

If you're interested in finding out more information about any of the books reviewed or if you'd like to purchase the books, click the cover image for a link to Amazon.com. I am an Amazon Affiliate, so any purchases you make after clicking these images will result in my receiving a small percentage of the sale price!

Reading in a Winter Wonderland (Reading for All Ages)!

Got a case of the winter blues (these covers certainly do)?! Check out these great "Winter Wonderland" titles for the whole family to enjoy!

Burton, Virginia Lee.
Katy and the Big Snow.
September 2010.
Houghton Mifflin Harcourt.
Review copy provided courtesy of publisher.

Having recently been released in board book format, Katy and the Big Snow is a classic that you'll have to share with your youngest (perfect for ages 2-4 in this board book format), as the book is now durable enough to withhold those busy little fingers! Katy, the big red tractor was a familiar face in town... able to push dirt with her bulldozer, plow snow with her snowplow... you could even go as far as to call her an all*star citizen, as she worked for the Highway Department of Geoppolis, keeping the roads ready for citizens year round! However, in Geoppolis (unlike here central NY), there wasn't a huge need for a snowplow the size of Katy... until that fateful winter day when the rain, sleet, ice and snow just kept on coming. As Katy sets out in hopes of rescuing and aiding all those in need during the snowstorm, readers quickly realize how a seemingly insignificant piece of equipment can soon become a highly sought-after item!

Reading/Learning Activity:

• Help your child create their own "Geoppolis" using the community cards found here and several pieces of posterboard. If you're really feeling creative, try creating the community building using Legos. Once you have created "Geoppolis," use your paper shredder and destroy some of those old documents that have needed destroying... pour the shredded paper on the streets in the town of Geoppolis and allow your child(ren) to use "Katy" (their toy tractor with a plow) to be the hero and save the people of Geoppolis!

Hill, Susan.
Snow Dog Marley.
October 2010.
HarperCollins.
Review copy provided courtesy of publisher.

Marley's set out to surprise his family on a snow day. Putting his wild dog antics behind him, Marley vows to be a snow dog, being patient and trying very hard to be a good dog as the family participates in special snowy-day activities. The family is very surprised at his ability to be such a good dog, and can even excuse his little mishap at the end of the story after he's been so well-behaved all day long! This book is perfect for emergent readers (4-7)!

Reading/Learning Activity:

• If you're along the Eastern seaboard, caught amidst the thick of this winter blizzard, make the most of it! Head outdoors with your family and partake in some snowy-day activities - sledding, snowball fights, snowmen building. Make up some other snow games and then head indoors for a pot of homemade soup and hot chocolate!
  

Yee, Wong Herbert.
Mouse and Mole: A Winter Wonderland.
November 2010.
Houghton Mifflin Harcourt.
Review copy provided courtesy of publisher.

When Mouse wakes up to a winter wonderland, he wants nothing more than to enjoy the snow. However, his best friend Mole has other ideas in mind - staying in bed, cozy warm. Mouse decides to make the best of the situation and refuses to let Mole downplay his snowy-day fun. He works diligently to create Sno-mole, the snowy day version of Mole so that enjoying the winter wonderland will be more fun! Eventually Mole realizes exactly what he's missing out on and heads out to join in the fun! This is a great story to get your reluctant (indoor, video gamer, ages 7-9) child outside joining in the family's snow day fun!

Simon, Francesca.
Horrid Henry and the Abominable Snowman.
August 2010.
Sourcebooks, Inc.
Review copy provided courtesy of publisher.

Ideal for 8-12 year olds, Horrid Henry and the Abominable Snowman will have young readers eager to continue reading and unwilling to put the book down for interruptions! Broken into four shorter stories, Horrid Henry must win the Frosty Freeze Snowman Competition - he just has to win that free ice cream for a year! It's just one of the four humorous stories found within. Children are sure to love the humor and child-like art/writing found within!

Learning/Reading Activity:

• Encourage reading over Winter (Christmas) Break by providing children with enough "book" to last them the entire vacation. Broken down sections, such as provided in Horrid Henry and the Abominable Snowman make tackling the book seem like less of a chore! Add in the subtle humor and it may just make reading seem fun!
  

Hannan, Peter.
The Greatest Snowman in the World!
October 2010.
HarperCollins.
Review copy provided courtesy of publisher.

When Charles Chinchilla, Babs McBoid and Elvis Wormly wake up to a winter wonderland, the trio decide to create the "Greatest Snowman in the World." However, it's harder than it looks, and as the snowman begins melting, they work diligently to get it inside to the freezer before it can melt any further. Once inside though, they run in to even more challenges and the greatest snowman in the world quickly melts away. The trio doesn't give up though, and work to create an even better snowman - one made of ice cream! This book is great fun, with lots of humor and will prove incredibly fun for the whole family to share!

Learning/Reading Activity:

• After reading, break out the ice cream and create ice cream snowmen for dessert! You can use neopolitan (as done in the book) or you can opt for just plain old vanilla. Add a fruit roll-up scarf, pretzel stick arms, M&M buttons, a tic-tac nose, a tiny colored scoop of ice cream for a hat, and a cherry for the pom-pom on top and you have the "World Greatest Snowman" ice cream treat!
  

Hannah, Kristin.
Winter Garden.
February 2010.
St. Martins Press.
Review copy provided courtesy of Amanda, at A Patchwork of Books.

I have yet to read this novel - it's been in my TBR pile since last Spring... however, seeing as it does have that wintry cover, I had to put it off until this winter. I haven't made it to it yet, but it's definitely nearing the top of the pile - just 3 books ahead of it and I'm certainly looking forward to it! Kristin Hannah is an incredible author, and anything recommended by Amanda is definitely worthy of a read! You can check out her review of it here!



If you're interested in finding out more information about any of the books reviewed or if you'd like to purchase the books, click the cover image for a link to Amazon.com. I am an Amazon Affiliate, so any purchases you make after clicking these images will result in my receiving a small percentage of the sale price!

Merry Christmas! and a Holiday Giveaway!

Merry Christmas, everyone! I hope everyone had a wonderful Christmas Day and treasured their time spent with family. As I'm sure many of you know, back during the summer, my grandmother passed away. The first holidays without her have been challenging to say the very least. I'm having a difficult time making the adjustment from having her physically here to knowing that she'll always be here with me. That being said, I've done my best getting out Christmas-related posts, but I've really struggled getting in the spirit this year and fell behind on Christmas blogging.

I do have a few titles remaining at this point that I had intended to blog about this past week. Time got away from me though, and it didn't happen. However, I do want to recommend these great titles, as they are well worth the mention and will be loved by children (either in this next week before New Year, as I technically still consider this the Christmas season, or keep the titles in mind for sharing come next Christmas)!

Lester, Helen.
Tacky's Christmas.
September 2010.
Houghton Mifflin Harcourt.
Review copy provided courtesy of publisher.

Complete with a CD of Tacky's "Tacky" Holiday Songs (including Deck the Iceberg, Sandy Clawz is Coming to Town, and I'm Dreaming of a Green Christmas), Tacky's Christmas is sure to provide reading (and singing) enjoyment for your child as the holiday season is celebrated! Humor and the illustrations by Lynn Munsinger are just two of the things that returning Tacky fans will find enjoyable about this latest release in the Tacky the Penguin series!

Winters, Kay.
Who's Coming for Christmas?
September 2010.
Houghton Mifflin Harcourt.
Review copy provided courtesy of publisher.

This "Holly Jolly Lift-the-Flap" book is sure to be a hit with your little one beyond just the Christmas season! Children love lift-the-flap books due to the level of interaction provided. These books are a great way to get children interested in reading and interacting with text from an early age! Kay Winters' Who's Coming for Christmas? is the second time we've seen a "Who's" lift-the-flap interactive book for children (Whooo's That?, a Halloween title, was the first in 2009)... I wouldn't be surprised if we see more arriving in the future!

Appelt, Kathi.
Merry Christmas, Merry Crow.
September 2010.
Houghton Mifflin Harcourt.
Review copy provided courtesy of publisher.

The song-like text of this book will likely have you read-singing to your children! It's actually great fun and could possibly be my favorite new holiday title of the year! This might be a fun title to have a challenge with your children with... collect all of the items that the crow collects, and before revealing the crow's surprise, have your child create a surprise of their own... see how close anyone can come to what the crow has in mind! If you're really creative, you could put this text to music, and teach your child a new song for Christmas next year and have them act out the story while singing!

Engelbreit, Mary.
A Merry Little Christmas: Celebrate from A to Z.
September 2010.
HarperCollins.
Review copy provided courtesy of publisher.

You'll enjoy teaching your children all about the Christmas season using this A to Z treasury from Mary Engelbreit. Classic artwork and bright, bold text make this a read that children will likely be interested in... plus, there's so much to learn! From angels to the zillion ways Christmas brings cheer, there's nothing about the holiday that is forgotten in this new informational Christmas story!

Brown, Jeff.
Flat Stanley: Stanley's Christmas Adventure.
September 2010.
HarperCollins.
Review copy provided courtesy of publisher.

For those who love Stanley despite his flatness, this holiday title is sure to be a hit! How can you possibly go wrong when a favorite character returns to celebrate the holidays? Of course, you know Stanley is somehow going to come to the rescue in Flat Stanley: Stanley's Christmas Adventure... it wouldn't be a true Stanley story if he didn't come to the rescue in some way or another. What the readers have to discover is exactly how Stanley is going to be involved with a Christmas Adventure!

Lucky for you, one lucky blog reader will have the opportunity to share this story with their child(ren) and discover just that! I somehow received two review copies of this from publishers at HarperCollins and would like to offer up my second copy as a giveaway to my blog readers! Giveaway details can be found below!

HOW TO ENTER THE GIVEAWAY:

• In a comment on this post, simply leave an email address in a comment.
• Deadline to enter is Wednesday, December 29th at 11:59PM EST.
• For an extra entry(or three):
  1. Become a subscriber/follower of my blog (+1)
  2. Blog about this giveaway on your own blog and leave a link in your comment (+1)
  3. Leave a tweet on your Twitter page and then leave a link in your comment (+1)
• Contest is open to U.S. Residents only, sorry for any inconveniences!
• Winner will be selected on Thursday, December 30th and will receive my second copy of Flat Stanley: Stanley's Christmas Adventure.

If you're interested in finding out more information about any of the books reviewed or if you'd like to purchase the books, click the cover image for a link to Amazon.com. I am an Amazon Affiliate, so any purchases you make after clicking these images will result in my receiving a small percentage of the sale price!

The Tales of Mr. Claus and one of his helpers

He wouldn't be Santa if he wasn't the World's Number One Toy Expert... but of course, even Santa Claus could use some help! Perhaps Auntie Claus is the answer!

Frazee, Marla.
Santa Claus: The World's Number One Toy Expert.
September 2010.
Houghton Mifflin Harcourt.
Review copy provided courtesy of publisher.

Very simply put, Santa Claus is the World's number one toy expert - from making sure the toys are perfectly constructed to making sure that each child is matched with the exactly right toy (99.9% of the time), Santa would definitely be considered an expert in his field! Children will love the almost comic-like illustrations and simple text that accompany this new holiday title! It might just make for a very nice Christmas Eve read at your household!

Primavera, Elise.
Auntie Claus.
September 2010.
Houghton Mifflin Harcourt.
Review copy provided courtesy of publisher.

Use Auntie Claus to teach children the number one rule of Christmas this holiday season! As your child embarks on a journey with greedy Sophie Kringle and her bratty brother, they will quickly pick up on the clearly stated message, it is better to give than to receive. Luckily, the journey in getting there is magical and fun, adding to this holiday title, now available in paperback for a cost of only$7.99!



If you're interested in finding out more information about any of the books reviewed or if you'd like to purchase the books, click the cover image for a link to Amazon.com. I am an Amazon Affiliate, so any purchases you make after clicking these images will result in my receiving a small percentage of the sale price!

Day 16 of the 25 Days of Christmas: A Gift Basket for Bunny Lovers

The perfect gift basket for your bunny lover - minus the mess and responsibility of a pet bunny!

Cronin, Doreen.
Rescue Bunnies.
August 2010.
HarperCollins.
Review copy provided courtesy of publisher.

Children will love this comical tale about bunny who just happens to be a rescue worker in-training. As Rescue Bunny endures a series of tests required to pass the training, you'll find children charmed and laughing at the illustrations, text and dialogue found throughout. This light-hearted read is sure to be a hit with all!

Watson, Wendy.
Bedtime Bunnies.
November 2010.
Houghton Mifflin Harcourt.
Review copy provided courtesy of publisher.

This beautifully illustrated book is wonderful for beginning readers, as well as bunny lovers! Children are introduced to the bunnies' bedtime routine with simple, (often times) rhyming words that are descriptive of whatever activity is currently taking place ("chomp, munch, gobble, crunch" - as the bunnies are having a snack). This would allow for children to really make up a story using the pictures and to become actively engaged in the reading process. And of course, it would also be a great bedtime story to share!


Along with these two titles, include in your gift basket:

• Bunny Hop, a fast-action memory game
• FurReal Newborn Bunny - Grey and White
• Lego Bunny building kit
  

If you're interested in finding out more information about any of the books reviewed or if you'd like to purchase the books, click the cover image for a link to Amazon.com. I am an Amazon Affiliate, so any purchases you make after clicking these images will result in my receiving a small percentage of the sale price!

Day 15 of the 25 Days of Christmas: Celebrate Nursery Rhymes and Fairy Tales!

Expose your child to timeless tales with these two great treasuries!

Engelbreit, Mary.
Mary Engelbreit's Fairy Tales: Twelve Timeless Treasures.
October 2010.
HarperCollins.
Review copy provided courtesy of publisher.

The images and illustrations of Mary Engelbreit come to life in this wonderful treasury of twelve fairy tales, meant for sharing with your child! Cinderella, Beauty and the Beast, Aladdin, Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs, The Frog Prince, The Little Mermaid, The Princess and the Pea, Rapunzel, Thumbelina, Snow White and the Red Rose, Rumpelstiltskin, and Sleeping Beauty.

The fairy tales are generally 12 pages or less, making this an ideal treasury for bedtime reading, as well as a quick reference for teaching using different fairy tales!

Mavor, Sally.
Pocketful of Posies: A Treasury of Nursery Rhymes.
September 2010.
Houghton Mifflin Harcourt.
Review copy provided courtesy of publisher.

Complete with over sixty nursery rhymes, Pocketful of Posies is a wonderful resource for parents, teachers and children alike! From the classics, (Little Bo Peep, Pat-a-cake, and Jack and Jill Went Up the Hill) to the lesser known (See saw, Margery Daw, and Molly, My Sister), children will love the rhyming and take pleasure in learning all about nursery rhymes!

This is definitely a must have and I'm so lucky that I can take this in and share all these with my preschoolers!

In your gift basket, along with the two titles above, include:

• Treasury of 25 Classics: Fairy Tales, Magic... and More! (Scholastic Storybook Treasures DVD)
• Classic Fairy Stories (Audio CD)
• 100 Favourite Nursery Rhymes & Songs
• Mother Goose Treasury, Volume 1: Sing Along Nursery Rhymes
  

If you're interested in finding out more information about any of the books reviewed or if you'd like to purchase the books, click the cover image for a link to Amazon.com. I am an Amazon Affiliate, so any purchases you make after clicking these images will result in my receiving a small percentage of the sale price!

Day 14 of the 25 Days of Christmas: Bedtime Gift Basket for Little Ones

The end of last week left me lacking time and motivation to prepare and type up posts 10-13. However, I'm back... and hopefully in full swing to finish out my 25 Days of Christmas posts!

Create a bedtime gift basket to help make the bedtime transition memorable and easier at your house!

Fox, Mem.
Time for Bed.
August 2010.
Houghton Mifflin Harcourt.
Review copy provided courtesy of publisher.

In this rhyming bedtime book, children will love the tales shared about nighttime as animals help send children peacefully to sleep. With the help of a mouse, goose, cat, calf, foal, fish, sheep, bird, bee, snake, pup, and deer, children will learn about the night and rhyming, all in one, while enjoying one last story of the day.

Brown, Margaret Wise.
Goodnight Moon, ABC: An Alphabet Book.
July 2010.
HarperCollins.
Review copy provided courtesy of publisher.

In this sequel (of sorts) to Goodnight, Moon, readers have the opportunity to explore bedtime in an all new way! Goodnight Moon ABC: An Alphabet Book introduces readers to a plethora of items (Air through Zzzz...). So many things can be found in the famous, recognizable green bedroom. Children are encouraged to search for them all, and in doing so, will begin to make a connection between written words and meaning (objects illustrated throughout). The book is perfect for infants and toddlers, as it allows them to be actively involved in the reading without overstimulating them at bedtime.

Rey, H.A.
Curious George: Awake Asleep.
October 2010.
Houghton Mifflin Harcourt.
Review copy provided courtesy of publisher.

In this very simple cloth book, children are introduced to "awake" activities before being "sent" to bed with a simple "It's bedtime for you. Asleep." The book is intended to be a door hanger outside a child's door to indicate whether the child is awake or asleep, but you could easily allow your child to take this to bed with them if you cut off the handle at the top to eliminate the hazard!

Along with the tree titles mentioned above, include in your gift basket:

• Cloud b Twilight Constellation Night Light
• Dreamland: World Lullabies & Soothing Songs
• Pick out a Pillow Pet, appropriate to your child's interests
  

If you're interested in finding out more information about any of the books reviewed or if you'd like to purchase the books, click the cover image for a link to Amazon.com. I am an Amazon Affiliate, so any purchases you make after clicking these images will result in my receiving a small percentage of the sale price!

Day 9 of the 25 Days of Christmas: Fancy Nancy and the Fabulous Fashion Boutique

Fancy your little girl's heart with a Fancy Nancy gift basket for Christmas!

O'Connor, Jane.
Fancy Nancy and the Fabulous Fashion Boutique.
October 2010.
HarperCollins.
Review copy provided courtesy of publisher.

Fancy Nancy, in all her glitz and glam and fancy language, returns in this newest title, Fancy Nancy and the Fabulous Fashion Boutique. Nancy sets up a fashion boutique in her front yard in effort to earn enough money to buy a fancy fan she saw at fashion boutique in town. However, Nancy's selling an item that her little sister wants for her birthday... what to do... what to do. Nancy makes a decision, but in the end learns a rewarding lesson and everyone, including little sister JoJo wind up happy!

Little girls will love to receive a Fancy Nancy gift basket this holiday season! In your basket, include:

• two other Fancy Nancy titles (complete list, available for purchase, found here)
• Fancy Nancy Doll with Accessories
• Fancy Nancy: Ooh La La Tea Party Game
• Fancy Nancy Play Phone
• Fancy Nancy Grab & Go Acting Game
  

If you're interested in finding out more information about any of the books reviewed or if you'd like to purchase the books, click the cover image for a link to Amazon.com. I am an Amazon Affiliate, so any purchases you make after clicking these images will result in my receiving a small percentage of the sale price!

Day 8 of the 25 Days of Christmas: Vacation's Over!: Return of the Dinosaurs

A gift basket for dinosaur lovers!

Kulka, Joe.
Vacation's Over! Return of the Dinosaurs.
August 2010.
Lerner Publishing.
Review copy provided courtesy of publisher.

After a vacation cruising around to distant planets, the dinosaurs have returned from their extinction and now, there's lots of work to be done - shopping for school supplies, doing laundry, and even getting photos developed. With rhyming text and unique characters, children will appreciate learning just a wee bit about the extinction of dinosaurs and also appreciate what the end of a vacation often means!

In a gift basket for your dinosaur lovers, you could include:

• tickets to visit a local dinosaur museum (locate one near you here)
• a copy of Digging Up Dinosaurs
  
• a copy of Field Guide to Dinosaurs
• My First Dino Kit
• Dinosaurs Extinct? game
• K'Nex Dinosaur Model Building Kit

If you're interested in finding out more information about any of the books reviewed or if you'd like to purchase the books, click the cover image for a link to Amazon.com. I am an Amazon Affiliate, so any purchases you make after clicking these images will result in my receiving a small percentage of the sale price!

Sleeping Bear Press Giveaway Winner

Congratulations to Mrs. Daniels First Grade Class! You're the winner of the three-pack giveaway titles from Sleeping Bear press.

I've sent you an e-mail, but if you happen to see this first, please email me your snail mail address so I can pass it along to the publisher so the book can get on their way, so you have them to enjoy for the holiday season!!!

If you're interested in finding out more information about any of the books reviewed or if you'd like to purchase the books, click the cover image for a link to Amazon.com. I am an Amazon Affiliate, so any purchases you make after clicking these images will result in my receiving a small percentage of the sale price!

Day 7 of the 25 Days of Christmas: Diary of a Baby Wombat

Inspire a love of writing in your child with this diary-themed gift basket!

French, Jackie
Diary of a BABY Wombat.
September 2010.
Houghton Mifflin Harcourt.
Review copy provided courtesy of publisher.

Jackie French, author of Diary of a Wombat, returns with a new adventure alongside the Wombat family, this time with the emphasis on Baby Wombat and her adventures! In Diary of a BABY Wombat, Baby Wombat diaries her daily life, which, much like her mother's, consists mainly of digging, scratching and sleeping.

Children will love the return of a somewhat familiar character, or enjoy getting to know a new character sharing their life in diary-style format. For some reason, diaries seem to be incredibly popular among children these days, and what better way to inspire a love of reading and writing than a diary-themed gift basket?

In your gift basket, along with Diary of a BABY Wombat, be sure to include:

• a copy of Diary of a Wombat, Jackie French
• a copy of How To Scratch a Wombat: Where to Find It... What to Feed It... Why It Sleeps All Day, also by Jackie French - the nonfiction companion to the Diary of a Wombat series
• the Webkinz Wombat
• a blank notebook

And, of course, you'll want to include an explanation of how this all goes together to form a writer's inspirational gift basket! What better way to encourage a love of writing and inspiration for creative pieces that to provide children with the tools they'll need to create their own addition to the Diary of a Wombat series. Children can carry (and nurture) their Webkinz Wombat with them daily, journaling in the blank notebook about their day. This can then be turned into a "diary" of their Wombat's day! If they get really creative, you could even find a way to "publish" their diary for them!

(I've done similar activities with children before and they absolutely love it!)



If you're interested in finding out more information about any of the books reviewed or if you'd like to purchase the books, click the cover image for a link to Amazon.com. I am an Amazon Affiliate, so any purchases you make after clicking these images will result in my receiving a small percentage of the sale price!

Day 6 of the 25 Days of Christmas: A Gift Basket for Toddlers

Set your toddler on the path to enjoying learning with adventurous new books and toys in this gift basket!

Huelin, Jodi.
Fisher Price: Shapes All Around!
July 2010.
HarperCollins.
Review copy provided courtesy of publisher.

Basic shapes are introduced through colorful lift-the-flap illustrations, engaging questions and basic text. Children will be actively engaged in the story and will quickly learn about squares, circles, ovals, rectangles, diamonds, triangles and stars, both the name and basic shape, as well as objects (i.e. kites, picnic blankets, eggs). This book is great because it can be used in the most simplistic manner or looked at more in-depth.

Huelin, Jodi.
Fisher Price: Counting Animals.
July 2010.
HarperCollins.
Review copy provided courtesy of publisher.

The idea of counting and making a one-to-one correspondence is reinforced in this simple, yet brightly illustrated board book that is ideal for children 6+ months. Sometimes the numerals are shown, along with an illustration that depicts the number of animals to represent that numeral. Other times, animals are shown and the reader is prompted to count how many animals there are. The lift-the-flap illustrations really engage your children in the reading and counting process, ensuring a little bit of the hands on activity that young children so desperately need! Overall, the book is great for beginning to introduce counting concepts to young children.

Inside your Toddler Learning Gift Basket, include Fisher Price: A Day on the Farm, the two titles mentioned above and:

• the Melissa and Doug Shape Sorting Cube,
• Smart Snacks Counting Cookies,
• and the Fisher Price Little People Animal Sounds Farm
  

If you're interested in finding out more information about any of the books reviewed or if you'd like to purchase the books, click the cover image for a link to Amazon.com. I am an Amazon Affiliate, so any purchases you make after clicking these images will result in my receiving a small percentage of the sale price!