Melissa & Doug Easter Shop and Giveaway

Well, Melissa & Doug are at it again! This time they are setting up a $200 Giveaway for one lucky reader and one LUCKY Blog gets to host that giveaway! So, if you had a $200 Giftcard to your child's favorite toy store what would you get? To help you get started, Melissa & Doug has opened their Easter Store for your convenience!

Here's what caught MY eye if I WIN!:

or/and

 

(Puzzle Value Pack)

or/and

 

(Puppet Theatre & Puppets)

Disclaimer: CCB participates in special promotions for a few companies, no money exchanged hands and I was not required to post a positive review. One lucky blogger will win the opportunity to hold a $200 Easter Basket Giveaway on their own blog for their readers!

A Possum's Happy Easter by Jamey M Long

Book Review

A Possum's Happy Easter
by Jamey M Long
ISBN: 978-1602478602
Tate Publishing
24 pages, $8.99 paperback

About the book:
In Opie the Possum's second adventure A Possum's Happy Easter, author Jamey M Long instills in young readers the true celebration of Easter. Led by his curiousity, Opie ventures back to the home of a special little boy, where he learns the most valuable lesson: the true meaning of Easter. More than colorful baskets and decorated eggs, young readers will learn about the Resurrection of Jesus and the love and promise that Easter brings in A Possum's Happy Easter.

My Thoughts:
I stumbled across this darling series of books last fall and contacted Jamey Long about doing a review of A Possum's Happy Easter - it's such a cute book. The story begins with Possum deciding to visit the boy in the house and wanting to see the Christmas decorations again. Imagine his surprise when the decorations aren't there and there are colored eggs on the lawn and in the house.....

A Possum's Happy Easter isn't just about the secular Easter celebration - it's also about the true story of Easter told to Possum as a "Voice" and a bright light from above. Opie the Possum learns about Easter Eggs and Candy ~ he learns that they are a sign of spring and the newness it brings. He also learns about the palm leaves that Jesus' donkey trod on in his entry to Jerusalem. He learns about Jesus's death and resurrection when the Voice explains....


"You see Jesus was resurrected from the dead so He could fulfill his glorious promise. Everyone who believes in Him will go to Heaven, and have eternal life."

I love how simply it's explained so that everyone from the youngest preschooler to an adult can understand the True Meaning of Easter. I also think if you're children listen closely they will understand that the Voice calls Jesus "my Son" and that the Voice is God speaking.

     

A Possum's Happy Easter is part of a wonderful series of books based on Opie the Possum's adventures. You'll see many different holiday stories: Christmas, Easter, Valentines, Halloween and more. You'll also see books based on American Tales like: Robin Hood, the story of The Star Spangled Banner, First In Flight ~ The Wright Brothers to name a few. You can see all the books at the top of the website: Books A-N and Books O-Z.  Check out Opie the Possum's website.

Before I leave I'd like to share that A Possum's Happy Easter is part of the eLive book program. Select books (like A Possum's Happy Easter) include the eLive link so you and your child can download the story and save it to your computer, to a CD or your favorite portable music device such as an iPod.

I was given two copies of A Possum's Happy Easter. One to review and one to giveaway. I used the giveaway copy as part of a Easter Basket in March and a young mother and her son (age 4) won the basket! Thanks so much Tate Publishing & Jamey M Long! I was not paid for my review and I was not required to have a positive review.

Cows Can't Quack Review & Rafflecopter Giveaway!

Cows Can't Quack

by Dave Reisman

Illustrations by Jason A Maas

Published by JumpingCowPress.com

ISBN-13: 978-0980143348

46 pages, $7.99 Amazon

About the Book:

Come inside and sing, laugh and howl with the lively and diverse animals of Cows Can't Quack. Young listeners and early readers, ages 6 months to 6 years, will be enchanted by the bright and expressive illustrations and this rhythmic and engaging text. This companion to the highly praised Cows Can't Jump imparts a humorous and empowering tale of tolerance, respect and humility and is bound to become a beloved bedtime and storytime favorite for kids and parents alike.

My thoughts:

I actually liked this book MORE than Cows Can't Jump. LOL. Cows Can't Quack is a very funny look at animals and the noises they make. I never knew rabbits "cooed" and hippos "bray" - did you? It's easy to "read" by non-readers and little ones 18 months to 2 or 3 will enjoy "reading" it along with you.

The only thing I kind of missed about the new book is that there isn't a board book available like there was with Cows Can't Jump. Cows Can't Quack is a great follow up for slightly older children with it's glossy paperback pages but I'd love to see Quack have a board book also.

I can't wait to share this with a few preschoolers this Spring! Hmmm - it would make a great Easter basket book!

The book is $7.99 on Amazon and through JumpingCowPress.com. Shipping is a little cheaper on the website (not Amazon) as it's only $1.99 for any quantity.

Win One!
I was given 1 copy of Cows Can't Quack to giveaway to one Lucky Classic Children's Books reader! Be sure to enter below - all you need to do to enter is follow Cows Can't Jump on Facebook and follow Tina's Reading Room on Facebook. The links are in the handy dandy Rafflecopter form below. Good Luck!

a Rafflecopter giveaway