Spring break means vacation time for many families. Road trips, airplane flights, one day getaways -- however long or short the trip, spending quality family time together is a wonderful and good thing. But sometimes all that closeness can be difficult to handle. Next time you're wondering how you're going to survive your family trip, think about Ike LaRue, a poor dog whose vacation is anything but relaxing thanks to a pair of unexpected traveling companions, the neighbor lady's cats!
LaRue Across America: Postcards From the Vacation
Book Source: Review copy from publisher
"Dr. Mrs. Hibbins,
My ship has sailed, and with it all hopes of a pleasant resolution to this unhappy saga. Traveling instead by car, we have left the coast far behind. I see now why the ship's captain, in his wisdom, refused to accept cats. The creatures simply do not travel well!"
With a name like LaRue, you're bound to hit the road on a cross-country adventure at least one or twice in your life. In LaRue Across America, the hilarious letter-writing pup, Ike LaRue is all ready for the perfect summer vacation -- a cruise to Mexico with his owner, Mrs. LaRue. Unfortunately, the neighbor lady ends up in the hospital and kindhearted Mrs. LaRue offers to take care of her two cats until she recovers.
The cats aren't allowed on the cruise ship, so Mrs. LaRue decides that a cross-country vacation across America is a nice alternate. Ike, not at all excited about the car trip with two cats, writes a series of desperate letters to Mrs. Hibbins during the trip, urging her to "end the fiasco" and take her cats back. The group departs from Snort City, N.Y., and they stop in several states (New York, Connecticut, Ohio, Michigan, Wisconsin, South Dakota, Iowa, Missouri, Kansas, Colorado, Arizona) before reaching Death Valley, California, an unfortunate place to visit in the middle of July. LaRue nearly gives up hope for a happy end to a "terrible journey."
Everyone that has endured a trip with bickering family members will be able to sympathize with Ike and the cats. The canine and felines fight over beds, cause disruptions at landmarks, and cheat at road games. Ike even pulls the "my side, your side" stunt by dividing the back seat with masking tape to mark territory. It's a classic cats versus dogs storyline, paired with some great illustrations by the talented Teague. All the images of the cats taunting Ike are super funny! 
The book is also a bit educational as the endpapers depict a map of the U.S. and provide a way for readers to follow the madcap escapad
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By: Brimful Curiosities,
on 3/22/2011
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By: Brimful Curiosities,
on 1/28/2011
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Right around this time last year, we spent several weeks reading Little House on the Prairie books together. Now my daughter and I are revisiting the late 1800's with a new beginning reader chapter book series, Circle C Beginnings. Goodbye prairie -- howdy Wild West!
The recently released Circle C Beginnings series tells the fictional story of a little girl named Andi who lives on a ranch in California in the 1870's. Andi is nearly six years old, a bit of a troublemaker and tomboy, and she wears overalls on the ranch instead of dresses. Her headstrong ways lead her into all sorts of problematic situations.
Andi's Pony Trouble (Circle C Beginnings #1)
Book Source: Review copy provided by author/publisher
In Andi's Pony Trouble, the first book in the series, Andi desperately wants her very own horse. She's all set to celebrate her sixth birthday and she's tired of riding Coco, the family's "old, slow, worn-out pony." Her mother tells her she's not ready for to care for a horse of her own and remarks that Andi needs to take better care of Coco. Feeling sorry for herself, Andi goes about her day and nothing goes her way. She breaks the eggs when the mean rooster chases her. When a horse ride in the meadow with her friend Riley goes awry, Andi begins to appreciate Coco and learns a valuable lesson.
Although Andi is overly whiny and gloomy (hmm...sounds familiar) in the beginning part of the book, she experiences a change of heart at the end. My daughter liked learning about the jobs involved in taking care of a horse. The book includes several horse-related terms like lope ("faster than a trot but slower than a gallop).
Andi's Indian Summer (Circle C Beginnings #2)
By: Brimful Curiosities,
on 1/14/2011
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My daughter has narrow feet so she must deal with limited options when it comes to purchasing shoes. But that doesn't stop her from dreaming. She likes flashy even when it comes to sneakers. If she could somehow figure out a way to make it happen, all of her clothing and accessories would sparkle. So, when a new, sparkly book called Shoe-la-la! arrived in our mailbox last week, she snatched it up with glee. Fancy Nancy, Pinkalicious and now Shoe-la-la ... her glamour girl books.
Shoe-La-La!
Book Source: Review copy from publisher
At the corner of Hightop and Oxford streets sits a fancy shoe store called Shoe-la-la with aisles and aisles of shoes galore. Four little girls -- Emily, Ashley, Kaitlyn, Claire -- have a party to attend and need shoes to match their fancy outfits. They decide to visit the posh shoe palace, each in search of the perfect pair. A mountain of shoes piles up, and they have a splendid time as they try on pair after pair after pair, ones with leopard spots to shoes with taps. But, they never find exactly what they need and leave empty-handed, much to the frustration of their exhausted salesman. Undaunted, the children-turned-designers use their imagination and crafty talents to fashion their own fabulous party footwear.
With all the glitter on the cover and all the dress-up fun inside, this one is a not-to-miss for every little girl. Shoe-la-la! comes with a full seal of approval from my daughter. The rhyming verses make it a supremely fun read-aloud (wouldn't expect less from the brilliant Beaumont -- love Ain't Gonna Paint know More! & now love Shoe-la-la!) and the text is short and interesting enough to keep the attention of toddlers on up to early elementary. LeUyen Pham's illustrated array of shoes is dizzying! My daughter delights in picking out her favorites from all the piles. She'd be in heaven if she could try them on herself. Pham gives the four multicultural girls their own distinctive styles and personalities. And, her drawings make it easy to get swept up in the girls' enthusiasm for shoes. Even my toddler son can't resist.
By: Brimful Curiosities,
on 12/7/2010
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Did you find your shoes filled with treats yesterday? December 6th marked St. Nicholas Day. While many of us leave stockings out on Christmas Eve, the origins of Santa Claus can be traced back to the real Saint Nicholas, a bishop that lived from 270 to 343 A.D. in what is now Turkey. Bishop Nicholas helped the poor through giving generous gifts and was a miracle worker. Later on, around 1820, the legend of Santa Claus started to become popular. Clement C. Moore's poem, "The Night Before Christmas" helped popularize this familiar figure and the gift giving on Christmas Eve. Time Magazine published an informative two-minute bio of Santa Claus, if you're interested in reading more about St. Nick and Santa. Also, the VeggieTales movie, Saint Nicholas: A Story of Joyful Giving, is a great way to introduce children to the story of the real Saint Nicholas.
While we don't own a book about the real St. Nicholas, we do own several copies of The Night Before Christmas. Thanks to Sterling Children's Books, we had the chance to read a newly illustrated version of Clement C. Moore's beloved poem.
The Night Before Christmas
Book Source: Review copy provided by publisher
For those that celebrate Christmas, owning a copy of The Night Before Christmas is almost a requirement. On Christmas Eve, many people read the poem, in addition to the Biblical story of Jesus' birth. Robert Ingpen's gorgeously illustrated picture book is an excellent interpretation of this familiar poem and makes a wonderful addition to any Christmas book collection.
The incredible paintings in this version balance the fantasy of the story with realism. Ingpen creates a warm, idealized Christmas with highly textured illustrations full of feathery brush strokes and depth. A traditional, classic Santa Claus with a wrinkled, weathered face, full beard, rosy cheeks and fabulous red suit takes center stage in the book. He visits a simple manor house adorned with a tower and several chimneys, a house that could have very well existed at the time the poem was first written. Ingpen's interpretation does not include whimsical touches, like showing sugarplums dancing, but instead the images display the magic of the night in a subdued way.
The book works well as a read-aloud, and is set with an easy-to-read, large font, perfect for low-light environments on Christmas Eve. A short biography of Clement Clarke Moore in the beginning of the book explains the origins of his poem, a story originally intended as a Christmas present for his children. I especially love the well-crafted design and detail displayed in this book. Underneath the dustcover is a bright-red, fabric cov
By: Brimful Curiosities,
on 11/29/2010
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I struggle with trying to find healthy food options for breakfast and snack time. When I'm hungry, quick and easy is the best. I'm particularly fond of smoothies, but I don't often make them because either I don't have all the ingredients needed or I'm feeling too lazy to locate them and put them all in the blender.
Recently, thanks to MyBlogSpark, I had the opportunity to try out Yoplait Frozen Smoothies. This smoothie mix is found in the freezer section of the grocery store. The smoothie package contains Yoplait frozen yogurt chips and frozen fruit -- everything needed to make your own fruit smoothie, with the exception of milk. All that you need to do is dump the contents into your blender and add milk (the package says to use skim, but I used 2% because that is what we had on hand.) It only takes a couple of minutes to make a delicious drink.
The mix comes in four different flavors: Blueberry Pomegranate, Triple Berry, Strawberry Banana, and Strawberry Mango Pineapple. One package makes two servings and each serving contains only 110 to 120 calories.
We tried out the Triple Berry flavor containing strawberries, blueberries and raspberries, and I was pleasantly surprised when I opened the package and noticed the 
large frozen real fruit chunks. Instead of adding 1 cup of milk, we added a little more to make a thinner smoothie that the kids would be able to drink with a straw. I like my smoothies thicker so next time I'll follow the package directions. It only took a minute for the blender to mix up the batch, and we had a nice, frothy cold drink to enjoy. It's an easy, peasy, no fuss way to a yummy smoothie. The smoothie tasted as good as anything I've made from scratch, and I love that it contains calcium and live and active yogurt cultures. My son loved his "shake." Unfortunately my daughter was less excited about it because it contains seeds. Someday soon I hope she'll get over her seeds in food issue! I plan to keep a few packages on hand for when I'm craving a light and cold fruit-filled snack.
Even though MyBlogSpark sent along an awesome 3-speed KitchenAid® Blender to use, we decided to use our own, not-as-fancy blender to review the product and will donate the lovely new KitchenAid to a charity. I'm sure a deserving family will really appreciate receiving it during the holidays.
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By: Brimful Curiosities,
on 11/19/2010
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Our recent Scholastic school book fair has ended successfully, and while I'm relieved that it is over, I really enjoyed learning about the book interests of the younger school kids in our area. The more popular titles at our fair included the Wimpy Kid series, the Tangled tie-in books, Barbie books, the Pinkalicious series, Toy Story 3 books, Lego Minifigure, Star Wars Clone War and Marvel comics titles. Some of the more popular picture book titles included Merry Christmas Splat, Llama Llama Misses Mama, Grumpy Cat, Snowmen All Year and Skippyjon Jones Lost In Space.
One book I watched with interest was The Adventures of Ook and Gluk, Kung-Fu Cavemen from the Future. I received a review copy prior to the bookfair and wanted to gauge popularity. While the book wasn't one of our top sellers, we did sell several copies over the course of the book fair. The book is written in a graphic novel style and written and illustrated by Dav Pilkey, the author of the Captain Underpants series. (To clarify, the books are written and illustrated under the names and from the perspective of George Beard (age 9-3/4) and Harold Hutchins (age 10), the made-up child creators of Captain Underpants.)
In order to save Caveland, two caveboys, Ook and Gluk, living in 500,001 BC, must fight the evil chief Goppernopper and his descendants from the future. Using a time machine, Goppernopper and his descendants are stealing natural resources from the caveman days to supply their evil, greedy corporation in the year 2222. The Goppernoppers' enslave Ook and Gluk along with their friend Lily the dinosaur and drag them to the future. The caveboys manage to escape, remain in the future and take kung-fu lessons for seven years from the wise Master Wong. After intensive training in both fighting and philosophy, they embark on their "heros jerney" as grown men.
At first glance, I can honestly say that I wasn't sure what to think of Ook and Gluk. Graphic novels really aren't my thing, and I'm not sure my oldest (a kindergartner) is ready for this story. The book looks and reads like something a 10-year-old boy would write, and thus it contains several intentionally misspelled words and uses words like suckas, barf, pee-brain, dumb head and diaper breath. So I sat quietly at the fair, watching and observing this one book, waiting for someone to comment. And, low and behold, one mom that I know and respect spoke up. She told me that while her oldest son, a sixth grader, loves to read, her second-grade son is just the opposite. Ook and Gluk happens to be one of her second-grader's favorite books. He thinks it is hilarious. She also said that while it might not be some
By: Brimful Curiosities,
on 11/8/2010
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We stayed pretty healthy all summer long, but last month my entire family caught a virus. Although I'm pretty sure we're almost back to normal, we're all still coughing every once and awhile. Back-to-school often means increased colds and illnesses, especially for young children. Books can help teach children about the spread of germs and ways to prevent illness.
The Bug That Plagued the Entire Third Grade by Lori Calabrese, illustrated by Chet Taylor; Kittycat Book/Dragonfly Publishing, Inc. (August 2010); ISBN 9781936381050; 24 pages
Book Source: Copy provided by author
'Mom said, "You've caught a bug. Hop back into bed. I'll make chicken soup. We don't want this to spread."
"But I did catch a bug. I have to go in. The Bug-A-Fair's today. I know I can win."'
Lori Calabrese recently released her first children's book, The Bug That Plagued the Entire Third Grade. Her book puts a humorous spin on the phrase, "I've caught a bug," commonly used when referring to an illness. Third-grader Matt discovers an unusual insect on his Dad's car and excitedly puts it in a bottle to take to his school's Bug-A-Fair. He hopes to win top prize showing off his special bug. Unfortunately, things take a turn for the worse. The morning of the Bug-A-Fair, Matt catches another type of bug, the cold bug! He insists on going to school and creates havoc in more ways than one.
It's tempting to go to work or school even if you're sick, especially when an important event is taking place. However, as Calabrese's book illustrates, this action is inconsiderate because you expose others your illness. My daughter loves school so much that she was in tears when she found out she was going to miss a day of school due to a fever and illness last month. But, after reading Calabrese's book together, she was able to better understand why it is best to stay home when she "catches a bug." The story, told in rhyming verse, tackles a serious topic in a silly, fun way that kids will enjoy.
Also worth mentioning -- the insect featured in the book, the Hines Emerald Dragonfly, is actually a real bug found in Illinois, Michigan, Missouri and Wisconsin. This type of dragonfly is truly rare. According to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, the Hines Emerald Dragonfly is on the endangered species list. Calabrese creatively manages to educate and inform about two seemingly separate subjects by wrapping them together in a cute story. Ironically, her book is published by a small press named Dragonfly Publishing, Inc! I wish she would have included even more factual information about the interesting, endangered dragonfly in her book. Calabrese's website includes pdf teaching guides about germs, extinction, and other book related activities.
Related Links:
Lori Calabrese - Author Website
Lori Calabrese blog
By: Brimful Curiosities,
on 11/2/2010
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Gear ratios, circular pitch, mesh, RPM -- lessons from my college Mechanical Design class flashed before my eyes when I first previewed The Robot Book by Heather Brown. Why? This board book contains a bolt, a nut and several interactive cardboard gears. And it's hard not to think of all those lessons when I see two gears mesh together.
The Robot Book
Book Source: Review copy from publisher
Now, this is not at all an informational book about gears, machines, or how they work, but more of an entertaining "touch and play" perfect to engage toddlers' minds. In my experience, kids love interactive toys and books -- anything with moving parts or flaps that open. Kids love robots, too. The Robot Book combines both these kid friendly elements into a short and sweet book about a robot's parts...mouth, eyes, arms and something else special on the inside. The book reminds young and old of an ever so important message...it's what's inside that counts! Preview the entire book in the following YouTube video.
Our robot obsession is well documented. See this robot book and craft. Or this robot series. Or this robot website. The Robot Book is probably one of the simplest robot books we've read together, and probably the most entertaining from an interactive standpoint. The book doesn't contain a whole lot of text, but my toddler son really loves exploring the pages and talking about the parts. It's pure fun! So much so, that I'm thinking about buying him a set of actual toy gears for Christmas so that he can tinker to his little heart's delight. And, not surprisingly, he loves the packaging, too. The publisher inserted cardboard inserts to help protect the book's moving components. My son has spent quite a lot of time trying to figure out how to reinsert all those cutout inserts so they fit around all the different parts. I'm sure the publisher never intended those inserts to provide so much entertainment, but they do! I'm happy to report that the book's construction has held up pretty well to all his fiddling around. No gears have been removed yet (though sometimes the gears don't mesh
By: Brimful Curiosities,
on 11/2/2010
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That I may climb it like a stair."
The above lines are from a version of The Brothers Grimm story of Rapunzel. This month we plan to read as many picture book versions of the classic story as possible while we wait for the release of the movie, Tangled. At the end of this month, on November 24, 2010, Walt Disney Pictures will release their 50th full-length animated feature, a new, unique story based on the fairy tale, Rapunzel.
I recently read through some of the advance press notes about Tangled, and it is unclear to me just how closely the Disney version will follow the classic tale. Obviously, Rapunzel and her famous hair play a major role. In the storybook version, the villain is a witch. According to the movie's press notes, the villain is written a little differently -- "Mother Gothel is the only mother Rapunzel has ever known. By stealing Rapunzel as an infant and raising her in the tower, Gothel ensured that she alone would have access to Rapunzel’s magical hair, which she uses as her personal fountain of youth." And, where's the prince? Well, there's Flynn Rider, the thief. Rapunzel makes a deal with him and the apparently both escape the tower together. Guess we'll have to wait and see the film before trying to make comparisons. I'm most excited to see what Rapunzel's chameleon, Pascal has to say. His character is certainly not in the original fairy tale!Like I said, in the meantime we plan to check out some of the many various children's books about Rapunzel and try to post about some of them in the future. Look for updates! SurLaLune Fairy Tales has listed a pretty comprehensive list of versions if you're interested in doing a little research of your own: http://www.surlalunefairytales.com/rapunzel/books.html
Synopsis (Provided by studio)
When the kingdom’s most wanted—and most charming—bandit Flynn Rider (voice of Zachary Levi) is taken hostage by Rapunzel (voice of Mandy Moore), a feisty teen with 70 feet of golden hair who’s looking for her ticket out of the tower where she’s been locked away for years, the unlikely duo sets off on a hilarious, hair-raising escapade filled with adventure, heart, humor and hair—lots of hair.
By: Brimful Curiosities,
on 8/19/2010
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We're nearly finished filling my daughter's backpack with all the supplies she'll need for kindergarten. (The last item we need to find is a pack of feathers. Wonder what they'll use that for?) For the most part, I'm confident she's prepared. She can write her name, knows all her letters and numbers, and is just starting to read on her own.
Choo! Choo! Chomp! Even though I coordinate our school's science fair, science is a subject that we haven't spent a lot of time on yet at home. However, my daughter has learned a few things through watching shows like The Jim Henson Company's Dinosaur Train on PBS. The show encourages basic scientific thinking and skills as well as discussing various dinosaurs, life science, natural history and paleontology. Both my kids like watching Buddy the Tyrannosaurus Rex travel on the dinosaur train with his adoptive Pteranodon family. Triassic, Jurassic and Cretaceous - I can barely say those words but thanks to the show my children can easily recite them along with spouting out other interesting dinosaur facts.
The PBS website also contains a lot of wonderful content useful in helping to prepare pre-schoolers for school. Several fun scientific activities can be found on the DINOSAUR TRAIN website for parents and teachers http://www.pbs.org/parents/dinosaurtrain/activities/ or http://www.pbs.org/teachers/dinosaurtrain/lessonplans/. Here are a few but make sure to click on the links above for more:
- A Colorful Hypothesis: help your child understand and apply the term "hypothesis"
- Dinosaurs A to Z - learn the alphabet letters and memorize some dinosaur names from A to Z
- Dinosaurs of a Feather - all about bird feathers
- Make a Dragonfly - learn basic insect anatomy by creating a model of a dragonfly
- Homemade Fossils - learn what fossils are and create a model of a fossil
Several new DINOSAUR TRAIN themed products are hitting the shelves this fall, including a few children's books! Here is a preview of a few of the new items available for purchase at major retailers (product descriptions from publishers/manufacturers):
Books:
I Am a T. Rex! (DINOSAUR TRAIN) -Buddy has spent his whole life in a pteranodon nest
By: Brimful Curiosities,
on 8/12/2010
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I get excited about little things like the librarian previews on Fuse #8 blog, for instance. Last June, as I scrolled through the Fall HarperCollins Preview on Fuse #8, I became even more excited. In the middle of this preview, I noticed a mention of a book called Is Your Buffalo Ready for Kindergarten? As many of you know, my daughter is starting kindergarten this fall. Upon first sight, I knew this was a book I wanted for our home collection. I promptly bought a copy and, boy oh boy, is it ever adorable! It's the perfect school themed read for all those little kids that will be attending school for the first time and will amuse even those older, experienced kids that are preparing to go back to school once again.
"Some people say kindergarten is no place for a buffalo. How crazy is that? Does your buffalo have a backpack? Well, then. He's definitely ready for kindergarten!"
Is Your Buffalo Ready for Kindergarten?by Audrey Vernick, illustrated by Daniel Jennewein; Balzer + Bray (June 2010); ISBN 9780061762758; 32 pages;
Book Source: Personal copy from our home library
A big, backpack wearing buffalo makes his way to kindergarten for the very first time, walking hand-in-hand with his friend, a little girl in pigtails. His teacher looks slightly worried about her newest bovine student, but buffalo eventually wins her over along with his classmates. Even though he is shy at first and looks different from everyone else, he tries to do his very best. No, he doesn't exactly fit in -- he eats the schools flowers, smashes a little chair, gets carried away painting, and regurgitates his food (ew!) -- but he is a good role model otherwise. Buffalo follows all those important rules of kindergarten like caring and sharing and teaches his classmates that "everyone's special in his or her own way."
What I love about this book is the lighthearted tone and the creative text. It's only natural that some kids will be a little anxious on the first day of school, but Vernick cleverly uses a hilarious and big character to help alleviate their fears. Obviously a buffalo could never attend school, yet Vernick makes it seem that it really could happen, especially since the book addresses the reader personally. This out-of-place character grabs your attention and makes his way into your heart.
Jennewein's illustrative style pairs wonderfully with Vernick's story. He uses a black caran d’ache pencil to create a crayon outline look that's perfect for a book about kindergarten. With muted, soft colors and effective use of white space, the layout of the book is crisp and clean. And, I adore how the comical characters make you smile. I mean, just look at that buffalo -- isn't he the cutest, cuddliest, big and lumbering animal you've ever seen? In my book, he's right up there with
By: Brimful Curiosities,
on 6/8/2010
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My children will have a new cousin very soon! We are anxiously awaiting news today of the newest addition to our extended family. Little babies bring so much joy to families. However, sometimes siblings get a little jealous and may find the bundle of joy more annoying than cute. I'm interested to see how my nephew handles the upcoming changes. Hopefully, he won't have difficulty adjusting. My daughter embraced her new baby brother and never really seemed to show much resentment towards him. But now that he's a little older and more mischievous she gets a tad annoyed when he messes with her toys and she does get slightly jealous when he gets more attention.
Everything was fine UNTIL her little brother, Marvin, came along. When Lizzie tried to tell a story before breakfast, her mother said, "Not now, dear. Marvin has a dirty diaper." When she tried to tell her father a story after dinner, he said, "Maybe later, Lizzie. It's time for Marvin's bath."
Once Upon a Baby Brotherby Sarah Sullivan, illustrated by Tricia Tusa. Farrar Straus Giroux (June 2010); ISBN 9780374346355; 32 pages; Ages 5-8
(Book Source: F&G Review copy from publisher, images used with permission)
Author Sarah Sullivan gives the classic sibling rivalry theme a comical and story-filled slant in her newest children's book about a big sister/little brother relationship. Lizzie, a young storyteller, loves to entertain everyone with her imaginative stories. When Marvin (her little brother) is born she continues telling stories but her parents are often too busy to listen. Lucky for her, she begins second-grade and her teacher, Miss Pennyroyal, encourages all the kids in her class to write stories. Lizzie ends up coping with her pesky brother by writing stories that star Marvin as an unpleasant character -- he's an ugly prince, a Marvinosaurus and even a nasty pirate.
Lizzie uses her special Princess Merriweather pencil and her creative stories starring Marvin flow forth onto the pages. Then one fateful week Lizzie can't think of a single idea for her new school assignment. A hero eventually emerges and Lizzie realizes that having a sometimes annoying baby brother isn't necessarily a bad thing.This amusing tale not only helps children appreciate their siblings but it also may inspire a new generation of writers. I was expecting a book about siblings but I wasn't expecting the amazingly creative ways Sullivan manages to make writing sound exciting for children. Seriously, where can we get our very own Princess Merriweather pencil topper like Lizzie's? Teachers and parents will find this book useful in helping children overcome write
By: Brimful Curiosities,
on 5/26/2010
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What do Margaret Wise Brown, Arnold Lobel, Ian Fleming, Diane deGroat, Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, Mary Pope Osborne, Lillian Hoban, Margret Rey, Eoin Colfer, L. Frank Baum, Edward Lear, James M. Barrie, Leo Lionni, Charles Shaw, and Don Wood all have in common? They were all born in the month of May! 
My birthday is in May, too, so I thought I'd have a special birthday bash book giveaway to celebrate. Plus, today also happens to be Armchair BEA Giveaway Day! One of our favorite picture books about birthdays is Otto Grows Down by Michael Sussman. I reviewed Otto Grows Down last year on Brimful Curiosities and here's a snippet of my summary (make sure to click on over to my whole review if you want to learn more about the book):The birthday. The candles and cake. The WISH! Otto, on his sixth birthday, feels rather neglected. You see, one week earlier, he became a big brother. No longer the center of attention, Otto takes his birthday wish to heart and wishes his baby sister Anna was never born. In theory, you'd think a wish like that would set things like they were before. Not quite so, as Otto quickly learns. The wish makes time go backwards. Yes, Otto's parents take his sister back to the hospital. But backwards time doesn't stop there. Time continues to go in reverse. Otto, to his dismay, grows younger, smaller and more frantic as each former birthday passes and he desperately tries to set things right.
Believe me, Sussman's humorous and unusual book is definitely memorable. My daughter frequently requests to read "the birthday book" because the premise of growing down and time going backwards is so very interesting and unique. As I near my mid 30's, the thought of time going backwards does sound kind of appealing. But even though I sometimes dread growing another year older, I'm going to think on the positive side and take each day as it comes, enjoy my life and count my blessings. No, I won't be wishing to for time to go in reverse. But it's still fun to take a trip down memory lane. Today I'm posting pictures and taking you on a journey as "Janelle Grows Down," from age 6 to age 1. Enjoy and don't forget to enter the giveaway at the end!
By: Brimful Curiosities,
on 5/26/2010
Blog: Brimful Curiosities (Login to Add to MyJacketFlap)
JacketFlap tags: Brimful Giveaway, Products for home, CSN stores, Add a tag
One of the items that gets the most use in our bathroom is our step stool. The kids use it to wash their hands and they like to store little items in the step storage area. My husband and I use it to reach the top shelves of our storage cabinets. Sometimes I even pull it out of the bathroom and use it to reach the top shelves of my bookcases! Thanks to CSN Stores, I have the opportunity to offer a giveaway not one but TWO KidKraft Step N' Store Stools.
If you read yesterday's bathroom post, I'm sure you expected some sort of bathroom book holder giveaway from CSN. Now I'll be perfectly honest with you. I did an online search for a shelf or rack that would work for books in the bathroom. After all, CSN Stores is a huge group of over 200 online stores so I thought something interesting might pop up in my search. CSN does has a ton of bookcases and other storage products, and there were plenty of interesting options that I found. The Lexington Studios Bathroom Reading Book Organizer is one option. The Little Colorado Potty Chair with Accessories comes with a built in book rack, but it is meant for toddlers. Good options but I thought not everyone would find them useful.
Everyone can use a good step stool though, right? CSN Stores has kindly offered to giveaway a KidKraft Step N' Store Stool to two (2) Brimful Curiosities readers. I don't personally own this step stool, so I can't offer a review, but it has received several favorable comments on both CSN and Amazon. Each winner will be able to choose a KidKraft Step N' Store Stool of their choice valued at $24.95 or less. There are several varieties and colors available in this style, including a pretty cool John Deere tractor design.
To enter to win a KidKraft Step N' Store Stool ($24.95 or less), visit CSN Stores and leave a comment mentioning the step stool color/design you'd choose if you won.
• For contact purposes, if you are a non-blogger or your email is not access48 Comments on CSN Stores - KidKraft Step N' Store Stool Giveaway (2 Winners), last added: 5/30/2010Display Comments Add a Comment
By: Brimful Curiosities,
on 5/17/2010
Blog: Brimful Curiosities (Login to Add to MyJacketFlap)
JacketFlap tags: Children's Books, Book Review, Gifts, Sterling, Brimful Giveaway, Educational Resources, Add a tag
One May afternoon not so long ago, I stood on a stage at my high school and gave my valedictory speech. I honestly don't remember what I said, and it probably wasn't all that humorous, but I imagine I reflected on the past, talked about the future and tried to impart some sort of valuable advice to my fellow classmates. Most likely I was more concerned about not fainting while on stage in front of the entire community than anything else.
"You've got your whole life ahead of you! Sometimes it'll be smooth sailing, but other times it'll be a bumpy ride, with many forks in the road."
Reach for the Stars: and Other Advice for Life's Journeyby Serge Bloch. Sterling (April 2010); ISBN 9781402771293; 32 pages
(Book Source: Review copy provided by publisher)
I doubt I told my classmates to "reach for the stars" but such sayings are often used occasions like graduations and other milestones. Author/Illustrator Serge Bloch recently released a humorous and inspirational little picture book that playful expands upon some familiar idioms and offers some lighthearted advice. His line style drawings coupled with photographed objects depict a small boy and a dog as they depart on a life journey. They make a splash, end up in the doghouse, and even have a change of heart but still manage to spread their wings and soar into the star-filled sky with smiles on their faces.
It's a cute book and makes a perfect gift for graduates or anyone starting life anew. There's plenty of white space on the pages, so I also think the book would work wonderfully as a guest book journal where party guests could sign-in with their own messages and words of wisdom for the new graduate. Wouldn't that make a great and memorable keepsake? Now I just wish I knew someone graduating this year. Guess I'll just have to use the picture book to teach my preschooler about idioms and maybe someday she'll be the one on stage delivering a speech!
Thanks to Sterling Children's Books, I have an extra copy of Reach
By: Brimful Curiosities,
on 4/15/2010
Blog: Brimful Curiosities (Login to Add to MyJacketFlap)
JacketFlap tags: Earth Day, Sterling, stART, Brimful Giveaway, Educational Resources, Book Review, Picture Books, Environment, Outdoor Activities, Add a tag
We read some exciting, interactive, and a-MAZE-ing books this week by author Roxie Munro. Her search & find maze books kept my daughter and I plenty occupied for several hours and have been, by far, her favorite choice this week from the bookshelves. My toddler son also enjoyed browsing the collections of mazes and trying to find various animals and objects hidden in the pages, at least for a short while. We were so inspired by the books that we made our own full size maze in our driveway using sidewalk chalk!
Mazeways: A to Z
(Book Source: Copy from local library)
Munroe's mazes for each letter of the alphabet are highly detailed and visually interesting. Each maze takes the reader to a different location -- from an Airport or Garden to a Ranch or Waterfalls. The author provides directions on how to navigate through each letter maze. My daughter used her finger to follow the paths and enjoyed completing the tasks described. For instance, the letter L maze directions reads: "Enter through the LIBRARY door. Find the red Italian language book hidden on a shelf. Look up flights to Rome on the computer..." Several objects are also hidden in the pictures for children to find. The end pages give the correct solutions. This book would be perfect to use in conjunction with teaching the letters of the alphabet and older kids will enjoy trying to complete the maze puzzles on their own. Besides navigating the mazes, it's also fun to trace the large maze letters with your finger and use it like a tracer page for writing practice.
EcoMazes: 12 Earth Adventures
(Book Source: Review copy from publisher)
What's it like where you live? In EcoMazes kids can explore many different places on the earth by following the nature mazes and learn about the different types of creatures and plants living the
By: Brimful Curiosities,
on 4/8/2010
Blog: Brimful Curiosities (Login to Add to MyJacketFlap)
JacketFlap tags: Children's Books, Website, Scholastic, Brimful Giveaway, Add a tag
J.K. Rowling read from her first Harry Potter book, Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone, at the White House Easter Egg Roll earlier this week. She also answered a few questions from the audience. According to the Washington Post, she hinted about the possibility of more Harry Potter books, "maybe 10 years from now." That's great news for Harry Potter fans. I'm sure I wasn't the only one that felt a little melancholy when Deathly Hallows came out because it meant the end of the beloved series. Fans can watch the Easter reading at http://www.whitehouse.gov/photos-and-video/video/jk-rowling-reads-harry-potter-and-sorcerers-stone
It's hard to believe Harry Potter has been around for 12 years! I can clearly remember standing in line at midnight with my husband as several of the Harry Potter books were released. I must say those were fun times with so much anticipation and excitement in the air. Most importantly, Rowling's stories really got kids motivated about reading and magically drew in those kids that had previously resisted reading.
Scholastic is hoping to introduce the series to a whole new generation of readers and, at the same time, reach out to all those who want to relive their Hogwart's journey. Two weeks ago, they launched a whole new Harry Potter website: http://harrypotter.scholastic.com. The website includes summaries of all the seven books, a glossary of Harry Potter terms, and a pronunciation guide. Those that have read the books can have fun testing their Harry Potter knowledge by answering questions about the book and unlock some fun magical activities. I was a little rusty with the trivia so it took me a few tries before I managed to unlock the games and try out the wands.
Additionally, when visiting the website, kids ages 7-14 can enter Scholastic's The Real Magic of Harry Potter Sweepstakes for a chance to win a trip for four to Universal Orlando Resort to see the new The Wizarding World of Harry Potter attraction. See the site for complete details. The contest ends on June 1, 2010.
To keep updated on the latest Harry Potter news, trivia, quizzes, polls and giveaways, be sure to follow @Scholastic on twitter (watch for #harrypotter tweets) or check out Scholastic's Facebook page. Scholastic also has their own blog, On Our Minds.
Scholastic has gra
By: Brimful Curiosities,
on 3/24/2010
Blog: Brimful Curiosities (Login to Add to MyJacketFlap)
JacketFlap tags: Brimful Giveaway, Children's Books, Picture Books, Add a tag
Fantastic Fiction for Kids posts every Wednesday on the lovely Playing by the book blog. This week I'm the contributing blogger and have recommended some of our favorite princess, prince and frog picture books. I apologize in advance because many of them are out of print, but finding worthy and well illustrated retellings of the popular Frog Prince story was not an easy task. Please do stop on over for a visit and leave a comment.
Speaking of princesses, Sterling Children's books plans to release a marvelous princess themed book this June 2010 titled The Secret Lives of Princesses
by Philippe Lechermeir. I recently had a sneak peak at the work and, low and behold, the pond dwelling, frog kissing princess makes an appearance in this very interesting compilation of unusual princesses (many of them never seen before). Now I can't say much more about it, but if you think you've already read everything there is to read about princesses, this upcoming book promises to delight and surprise you with fantastical illustrations by Rebecca Dautremer. Expect a full review here at a later date!To further entice you, check out the book's website. I see a little of myself in the bookworm Princess Paige. Or become a fan on Facebook and be the first to learn when new princesses are revealed.
Sterling has graciously offered to giveaway a pack of The Secret Lives of Princesses Puzzle Cards to (10) different Brimful Curiosities readers. Each pack includes seven different cards featuring various princesses and a logic puzzle to solve. Visit the website upon cracking the code to unlock a special prize!
To enter, leave a comment with a suggestion of an unusual princess name (i.e. Princess Anne Phibian, Princess Claire Voyant, etc.) or let me know the name of your favorite princess �10 Comments on The Secret Lives of Princesses & Giveaway, last added: 3/27/2010Display Comments Add a Comment
By: Brimful Curiosities,
on 3/8/2010
Blog: Brimful Curiosities (Login to Add to MyJacketFlap)
JacketFlap tags: kidlit, Literacy, Contests and Giveaways, Brimful Giveaway, Educational Resources, Kimberly-Clark, Add a tag
This week several bloggers are participating in Share a Story - Shape a Future, a weeklong blog event for literacy. It's a way for bloggers share ideas on ways to nurture reading and support children's literacy efforts. I'm excited to host a giveaway sponsored by GoodNights brand of sleep pants in conjunction with this event.
A good story draws attention. Parents can use storytelling to increase interest in reading and books. Storytelling goes hand in hand with reading and literacy development because oral communication provides the basis for beginning reading. Children that tell stories increase their understanding of word development and grow their vocabularies.
Bedtime is the perfect time for parents and children to engage in storytelling. Kimberly-Clark is sharing its commitment to literacy and wants to help parents and children bond at night with the magic of storytelling. Their GoodNites website offers several storytelling bedtime activity suggestions:
Play with Finger Puppets [pdf] - Put on a puppet show with the finger puppets and have your child act out their own made up story.
Use Template Word Games [pdf] - Create wacky stories by filling in the blanks of a short story with words and phrases. Read the story aloud together.
Make Hand Shadows [pdf] - Tell a story and illustrate it with your hand shadows on the wall.
The GoodNites brand of sleep pants also recently launched Bedtime Theater,™ a series audio bedtime stories available for free download online (CD versions are available in packages of GoodNites Sleep Pants). The story is about a boy Iggy and his exciting adventures with his magical bed. Along with listening to the story, families and storytellers can participate in the Iggy's Next Adventure Contest by creating a new adventure for Iggy and entering it in the contest. Only a story summary is required (approximately 275 words), so the contest isn't overly difficult to enter. Take a moment and enter your story idea for a chance to win the $2500 grand prize or one of the smaller weekly prizes. The contest ends on 4/15/2010. See the official rules for contest information.
The Bedtime Theater helps parents establish a nightly bedtime story routine with their children and reduce anxiety around bedtime. According to Dr. Jennifer Trachtenberg, one of the GoodNites NiteLite experts, "having a regular evening ritual, such as a bedtime story, can quell nighttime issues like bedwetting and become an important step in building your child’s self-confidence." Even though the website is geared toward those needing help with bedwetting, all parents and children can enjoy the Bedtime Theater.
I would have to say dog. We have a Great Pyrenese and a miniature weenie dog. Thanks for the chance to win
bamagv at aol dot com
I follow you on Twitter (@TheJohnsFamily) and I tweeted the giveaway
http://twitter.com/#!/TheJohnsFamily/status/50328300291235841
bamagv at aol dot com
I'm a follower through GFC.
khmorgan_00 [at] yahoo [dot] com
I'm a dog fan :-)
khmorgan_00 [at] yahoo [dot] com
Dog fan.
smccar1 at hotmail dot com
I am a GFC follower - Stephanie M
smccar1 at hotmail dot com
I follow you =) I was JUST (like literally minutes ago) looking at Beckett's book order form and there is a LaRue book on it! He would love a dog---he says it would help him find the things he loses! Because just being careful is not enough....
I follow you :)
dog fan, I love the first book in the series.
I am dog fan.
jdrombo AT yahoo DOT com
I love cats!
Sorry forgot my email...
natatheangel at yahoo dot com
We'd love this for our school library! So funny! I follow you already with RSS feed. Thanks!
Mary Ann
[email protected]
I follow your feed.
Tweeted you (I follow your tweets as my alter ego).
I just wrote about LaRue's Detective book and we would love to read this one, too!
I follow your blog through google reader.
bridgetwilson4765(at)gmail(dot)com
Definitely a dog fan. THis would be a great book to use for this year's summer reading program (One World, Many Stories).
bridgetwilson4765(at)gmail(dot)com
thanks for the chance to win
ABreading4fun [at] gmail [dot] com
We have both...but I'm a dog person!
Thanks for the chance to win! I definitely prefer the puppies! If I won this book,I would read it to my preschool classroom.
[email protected]
I subscribe via email! Thanks for the chance to win!
[email protected]
I have and enjoy both :)
[email protected]
I have to confess- neither. But, my 3 boys are all big dog fans. I am, however, a big fan of Ike LaRue.
Great giveaway.
mom7_06(at)yahoo(dot)com
I follow via RSS!
I'd love both a dog and a cat, my husband is strictly a dog person, but my boys are pretty enamored with cats, so for now, we have neither! Love the postcard book though!
dog fan
I have two dogs and a cat, but the cat just hangs out here. She doesn't really have much to do with the rest of us. I'm certainly a dog fan (and hedgehogs are nice, too.)
bevarcher (at) me (dot) com
I follow via GFC! Thanks for the chance to win. My students would love this book.
bevarcher (at) me (dot) com
I follow on twitter and I retweeted about the contest.
http://twitter.com/#!/Bookworm307
bevarcher (at) me (dot) com
Mentioned it on my elementary blog and posted to my FB profile. Thanks again! Love your blog. I've added several titles to consider purchasing for our library.
http://mrsarchesrbooknotes.blogspot.com/2011/03/larue-across-america-postcards-from.html
bevarcher (at) me (dot) com