Review and GIVEAWAY: Scaredy-Cat, Splat!

A favorite character of children returns with a new Halloween read!

Scotton, Rob.
Scaredy-Cat, Splat!
August 2010.
Harper Collins.
Review copy provided courtesy of publisher.

When Splat's teacher announces that she will be giving out a prize for the scariest Halloween costume, Splat puts his mind to work to try and come up with the scariest costume. However, when no one seems scared by him, Splat quickly becomes discouraged. His discouragement doesn't last long, as when Mrs. Wimpydimple tells her scariest ghost-story, the whole class jumps in fright, and Splat's jack-o-lantern lands atop his head, instantly turning him into the scariest of all!

Children will love the return of Splat in this Halloween tale! His almost-mischevious ways will have everyone chuckling at his antics! This is a must-have Halloween read this year, and lucky for you... I have one copy that I will be offering up as a giveaway to one of my lucky readers (see details below)!!!

Learning/Reading Activity:

• Host a Halloween costume party for your child(ren). Rather than just giving away just one prize for the scariest costume, create a prize category so that each child will win a prize (if there are 20 children, come up with 20 different costume categories - scariest, funniest, cutest, reddest, most-monsterish, etc). That way, everyone walks away a winner!

HOW TO ENTER THE GIVEAWAY:

• In a comment on this post, share with me what your child(ren) will be dressed as for Halloween this year!
  
• Be sure to leave an email address along with your comment.
• Deadline to enter is Wednesday, October 20th 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 by special guest poster on Wednesday, October 20th and will receive a complimentary copy of Scaredy-Cat, Splat!

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!

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1.03.01

Mischievous Monday: Christmas Kitties

For some reason, children love Christmas books that include animals... here are two of the latest Christmas books featuring kitties!

Brown, Margaret Wise.
A Pussycat's Christmas.
September 2009.
Review Copy Provided Courtesy of: HarperCollins Publishers

In this delightful tale, a young pussycat experiences the joys and wonders of Winter and the Christmas season, by examining the sights, sounds, smells, and feel of this wonderful time of the year. Upon reading, children will likely look at entirely new side of the holiday season, stopping to take in the beauty that they have not previously recognized. Added to the story are beautiful illustrations that allow Pussycat to appear in a life-like manner, almost asking reader to reach out and pet the delicate looking fur!

Learning/Reading Activity:

Use this book to help your child explore the ways in which each of their five senses come into play during the Christmas/Winter season.

1. Read the story together.
   
2. Discuss the different things that Pussycat hears, sees, smells, tastes, and touches.
   
3. Then, using the following worksheet (save and then print as a full page image), ask your child to determine how their five senses are put to use. For example, he/she may taste Christmas cookies, so list that under "I Can Taste..." or he/she may tell you they hear Christmas carols. Place that under the label "I Can Hear..."
4. Finally, ask your child which of their five senses they like to use best at Christmas. On a sheet of lined paper, ask him/her to write a few sentences describing why. For example, My favorite sense to use at Christmas time is my sense of taste. I like to eat the sweet Christmas cookies, drink the warm hot chocolate, and taste the honey-glazed ham.
   

Scotton, Rob.
Merry Christmas, Splat.
September 2009.
Review Copy Provided Courtesy of: HarperCollins Publishers

All of a sudden, it's dawned on Splat that it's the night before Christmas... has he been naughty or nice? He's certainly tried to behave himself, but was it enough? Splat isn't sure, so he decides to spend Christmas Eve day helping out his mom just to be sure Santa comes to visit him. Afterall, he has been hoping for a really big present. He even stays up almost all night to catch Santa in the act, but happened to somehow fall asleep. When his little sister wakes him up on Christmas Day, Splat is disappointed... it looks like his efforts weren't enough... However, his family was just looking to have a little fun with him... Santa did make it after all!

Children are likely to love Splat's added efforts on Christmas Eve to make sure Santa will visit... they'll be chuckling at his failed attempts, but will feel at ease to see that Santa did still visit! It will allow them a bit of a confident feeling if they've been struggling to make the "nice list" this year.

Learning/Reading Activity:

Readers never truly learn what it was inside that "really big present" that Splat was looking for. Encourage your child(ren) to use their imagination to determine what Splat received for Christmas. A coloring page of an open package can be downloaded here. Just print out the picture and ask your child(ren) to draw Splat's present and then color the entire page! If you're looking to improve/practice writing skills, ask him/her to rewrite Splat's letter to Santa using specific details about what he's hoping for inside his "really big present."

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.