childrens books

Amazing (mostly Edible) Science Review

- brandy3 1 Comment

We are a big science family. My kids specially love it, collecting data and watching the results is their favorite. Their favorite experiments are done in the kitchen. Science and cooking mixed is like a dream for them.

We received Amazing (Mostly Edible) Science book and my daughter has been non stop with trying all the recipes (experiments).

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She has tried so many like the 5 minute ice cream, it turned out good but was a bit messy.
Right now she is working on making her own pickles from scratch, which can take up to a week. Her love for pickles has her waiting though.

The recipe in the book is a simple one.
You basically need a jar, cucumbers, salt water and a few other ingredients. Put them all together and let them sit for a few days until they become pickles.

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This experiment will cost you less than $5 and is so simple. After about 3 days the jar definitely started to smell like pickles.

 

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They turned out a little to sweet and not as tangy as we like our pickles. We had to do the experiment a second time as the first time,  the pickles started getting mold.   But with every experiment you should do it a couple times. So we will keep doing it until we get the results right.

You can find Amazing (Mostly Edible) Science on Amazon for $14.99

Disclosure: No formal compensation was received for this post. A product was provided for review.

Treasure Hunters Book Review

- brandy3

Treasure Hunters: Perils At The Top Of the World is the brand new book out by renowned author James Patterson. Featuring a brand new adventure with the Kidd Family

After their adventures in China and Germany, the Kidd family is ready for some rest and relaxation. But when you’re an ace treasure hunting team, there’s always another adventure waiting around the corner! This time, the Kidds head to Russia where a set of priceless paintings by Leonardo da Vinci and Rembrandt has gone missing. Hot on the trail of the daring thieves, the Kidds race through the sinister streets of St. Petersburg and the wild Arctic tundra to track down the stolen treasure.

My daughter got a late start on this book but hasn’t been able to put it down, she loves to read and loves adventure stories.

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Review written by my daughter age: 11

Treasure Hunters is all about a secret spy family trying to fight bad guys, and get stolen art back to their rightful owners as they are also on vacation. They like to travel across the world! The twins are complete opposites, and Storm has a photographic memory. Their brother is always on the hunt trying to attract ladies and be silly. The parents are retired C.I.A. Agents and together as a family they like to catch criminals, including a lot of close call situations where they almost got hurt.

I haven’t been able to put the book down. I can’t wait to see what happens on the next page, and the book makes me laugh. This book is perfect for anyone who likes adventure.

Disclosure: This is a compensated post for a promotional program with Mom Select.

Little Chickies (Los Pollitos) Book and App.

- brandy3

My kids are all taking Spanish in school, it’s actually a class that is required and offered, not a elective at all. I think it’s great growing up in AZ and not knowing any spanish was really hard as a child. Even my son who is only in second grade is starting to learn and the new Little Chickies book and app is helping him along the way. It seems like it may actually be for younger kids, but it is still helping my son and even helping me learn a little Spanish.

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Little Chickies/Los Pollitos is based on the Los Pollitos Dicen/Little Chickies Squeal nursery rhyme/song and is an homage to the demanding nature of babies and unconditional love, care and warmth given by their moms.

The Author/illustrator Susie Jamillo explains: “As a Latina mom exposed to songs and traditions from both the US and my native Venezuela (I traveled back and forth between the two countries throughout my childhood), I’ve had a hard time finding books and apps of the nursery rhymes I grew up with and, in talking to people in both Latino and non-Latino communities, I realized this was missing from bookshelves and digital platforms. In addition to promoting bilingual/multilingual learning, I hope the books, apps and videos also promote a sense of community and connect kids, especially Latino kids, to their culture.

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This app is just too cute, and the book even has been helpful one side is all Spanish and the other all English. I didn’t even tell my kids at first and quizzed them to see what they knew. I was cheating by looking at the english version, but they got most of it.

The book is very bright and would keep the focus of a small child, it is also a lift the flap book, which has been very entertaining for the kids.

You can get the Little Chickies/Los Pollitos book here and the App here or Android.

Disclosure: This is a sponsored post, all opinions are 100% my own.

Brave Girls Book Review

- brandy3 2 Comments

I have 2 daughters and know how hard it can be to build their confidence, with bullies in school and hardships. I try to build their confidence as much as I can, but as they get older it can get harder. I just finished reading Brave Girls and it was very empowering to hear the insights in this book.

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After interviewing hundreds of high-achieving businesswomen, Dr. Radin discovered that even the country’s most accomplished female professionals were often hampered by insecurity and afraid of being considered too aggressive in a business world run largely by men. She is dedicated to uncovering the inherent strengths, value, and skills of young girls.

Dr. Radins research showed that girls start to develop harmful thoughts around middle school, when kids start to question their identity.

My daughters are 9 and 10 and they are just entering the middle school age. Although my oldest daughter seems very confident and is a great student, someone saying something mean or bullying her really brings her down.
I try to instill in them that this world can be cruel and you need to be confident and stand up for yourself. Looks at all the powerful woman in this country, who have things said about them that are so rash, yet they ignore it and manage on.
Every chapter of this book makes me feel better as a parent knowing that I can help my daughters be brave Girls and help them grow stronger and have passion, power, and purpose.

Dr. Radin started the Unleashed program to help young girls build the tools needed to be more confident and brave. To learn more about this program and how you can help visit Unleashed.

You can buy the book here.

Disclosure: This is a sponsored post on behalf of Pivoting Media. All opinions are 100% my own.

Barnes and Noble Mini Maker Faire Giveaway Closed

- brandy3 667 Comments

Disclosure: This is a compensated post.

Barnes and Noble

We all know Barnes & Noble is a national bookseller, but did you know they’re committed to building all forms of literacy for our children – reading, art and technology? As part of that commitment, they’ve partnered with Make: Magazine to present a Mini Maker Faire at every single Barnes & Noble store across the nation Friday, November 6-8.
Maker Faires are community-based learning events that inspire everyone to become a Maker and connect with people and projects in their local community. Guests ages five and up can experience hands-on learning and making opportunities in creative thinking, art, design, construction, programming, coding, and 3D printing. The Mini Maker Faires will consist of three main areas:

• The Make Workspace: Attendees will experience the latest technologies in 3D printing, robotics, coding and programming, including: da Vinci Jr. 1.0 3D Printer from XYZprinting, Ozobot, The Slipstream Drone from Protocol, and Meccano Meccanoid from Spin Master.
• Meet the Makers: Leaders and top brands will discuss the latest trends in designing, building, creating and making.
• Make & Collaborate: Guests can immerse themselves in the process of ideation, rapid prototyping, circuitry and more. Among the featured products for children are: Electronic Snap Circuits from ELENCO, littleBits, Maker Studio™ from ThinkFun, and LEGO® Bionicle Bricks.
You can contact your local store to find out what special guests are participating during the Mini Maker Faire, or visit www.bn.com/storelocator.

We know its important to keep our children engaged and to expand their minds in new and wonderful ways, and the first-ever Barnes & Noble Mini Maker Faires provide an incredible opportunity for both children and adults to experience creativity and learning in an authentic, hands-on event.

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I have a $50 Barnes & Noble gift certificate to give one lucky reader.

To enter: Tell me if you will be attending?

Extra entries:

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Leave a comment on any non-giveaway post-7 entries unlimited
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Contest ends 11/29/15

The Mutts Diaries Comic Book Giveaway

- brandy3

The treasured characters in the MUTTS comics have a special charm to kids and adults of all ages. The friendship, warmth, and humor between characters that are seemingly unlikely matches create a special dynamic that will warm your heart. The graphic novel style collection of the MUTTS diaries introduces some of the cast members through a variety of their most popular comic strips.
With winter on the way, there could not have been a better time to open up this book, so I was very excited to get my hands on a copy of The Mutts Winter Diaries, the second Mutts collection for kids! If you are a fan of MUTTS, you will love this collection. It, of course, has all of our favorite characters – Shtinky Puddin’, Sourpuss, Guard Dog, Bip and Bop, and even Crabby. The strips that McDonnell uses for this collection are quirky and thought provoking, perfect for inspiring children to care for animals and their environment.

Patrick McDonnell created the comic strip MUTTS, which now appears in over 700 newspapers in 20 countries. MUTTS has been described by Peanuts creator Charles Schulz as “One of the best comic strips of all time.” McDonnell has received numerous awards for this strip, including the National Cartoonists Society’s highest honor, The Reuben, for Cartoonist of the Year.
MUTTS also won awards for its environmental and animal advocacy: two Genesis Awards from The Ark Trust, The HSUS Hollywood Genesis Award for Ongoing Commitment, the PETA Humanitarian Award, and a Sierra Club award, all for good reason. We love the awareness the author brings to shelter animals and animals that are tied up outdoors. It is such a great life lesson and the MUTTS diaries make it an easy transition into teaching our kids about how to treat animals.
McDonnell’s website, MUTTScomics.com, promotes his animal- and earth-friendly philosophy. Consistent with McDonnell’s concern for the environment, all of the MUTTS books are printed on recycled paper. So not only do you get a great, heart-warming book, but you get to feel great about it too!
To coincide with the release of the new book, The Mutts Winter Diaries, Richard Leeds International has designed a cozy nightshirt to give you the sweetest of dreams.
We think that you will love The Mutts Winter Diaries as much as we did, and we want to give you a chance to get your very own copy of the book, as well as a special Comics sleep shirt.

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a Rafflecopter giveaway

Go Back To School With NErD Journal

- brandy3 1 Comment

Disclosure: No formal compensation was received, products were provided for review. All Opinions are 100% My own.

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We love Science in my house, my husband has a PHD in Molecular Biology and talks to my kids about everything having to do with science, and they love it.

My daughter was super excited to get ready for back to school with these fun Science Journals from Julie Huffman.

NErD Journal

Put all your scientific thoughts in this journal. Can’t think of what to write? The authors have put science facts and fun on every page to get you in the writing spirit.

Periodic Thoughts

Everyone loves to talk Science, and sometimes you just need little refresher or way to break the ice. These fun postcards are filled with Scientific facts, quotes and laws. Each card is designed using different letters from the Periodic Table of elements.

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**My daughter absolutely love these books, she has started keeping track of all her experiments, and scientific ideas in the journal. She spent hours going through the Periodic Thoughts and reading everything. It’s been one of her favorites she reads over and over.

You can find The NErD Journal and Periodic Thoughts online or a book store.

Do you love Science? These books are perfect for anyone going back to school.

Marsha Mellow Goes Missing: An Unoffical Story For Shopkins Collectors

- brandy3 1 Comment

Shopkins featuring 450 characters from three seasons, are tint adorable themed characters that have become one of the most popular toys.

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What’s even more fun than shopping for Shopkins? Hanging out with friends who love them! Meet the Shopkins Kids Club, five girls who meet every week to buy, trade, and play with their favorite characters. As they build their prized collections, they also collect adventures—and little lessons about friendship and family, too.

Nine-year-old Maggie can’t wait to go camping with her grandparents and her friends from the Shopkins Kids Club. The five girls sit around the campfire, making s’mores, singing songs, and trading Shopkins. Everything is perfect, except for Maggie’s annoying little brother, Max, who’s being a huge pain. But when Maggie’s prized Marsha Mellow goes missing, the campout heads downhill fast. Maggie suspects that one of her friends might be the culprit: envious Ava has been eying up her Marsha Mellow all night! Can Maggie find Marsha Mellow—and find a way to salvage her friendships and her campout?

As Maggie follows the clues to find the missing Marsha Mellow, she learns lessons about taking care of your things, not judging others too quickly, apologizing when you need to, and, most of all, inclusion: inviting others to join in instead of keeping them out. More members in the Shopkins Kids Club just means more fun! Join Maggie and the Shopkins Kids Club in this brand-new story for Shopkins collectors!

** Both of my daughters just got done reading this book and they loved it. They said it was full of adventure, friendship and caring. My daughter said it even hinted as to what pack you might find Marsha Mellow in.

It’s only 112 pages, so the younger kids can read it without losing attention to fast.

Marsha Mellow Goes Missing will be available June 23, 2015 for $7.99

Disclosure: No formal compensation was received. A product was provided for review.

Scholastic Helps Schools after Hurricane Sandy

- brandy3

When Hurricane Sandy hit our area it was devastating. On my street it was not that bad, we had a lot of trees and wires down and lost power for 2 weeks. In other areas, homes, and schools were destroyed.

Scholastic wanted to do everything they could to help out the schools that were destroyed and lost their libraries.

Scholastic set up a book grant program in which schools in need could apply for the grant of a new library.

Anna Mae Stefanelli, principal of The OLC School, looks over books donated by children's book publisher Scholastic Inc. in Hillside, New Jersey

The time has come for the books to be donated and I have to say that Scholastic has been very generous in donating books. More than 100 schools in the NY/NJ/LI area were chosen and are receiving between 500-10,000 books each.

Students from the OLC School look over books donated by children's book publisher Scholastic Inc. in Jersey City, New Jersey

After this weeks pick up Scholastic will have donated more than 391,300 books.

For a full list of schools that were chosen please visit here.

I just love hearing about companies that help in a time of need.

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