Look Another Booki!

Look Another Book!
by Bob Staake
ISBN: 978-0316204590
$11.55 (hardcover)


About the book:
LOOK!
A boot!
A fruit!
A crossing guard newt!

Once AGAIN a seek-and-find,
MORE images of every kind!

From a music note to a teeny red boat, a blue kangaroo to a robot or two, there are endless things to discover in this zany follow-up to Look! A Book! from award-winning artist Bob Staake. Die cuts on the cover and every spread reveal hidden treasures in each vast landscape, from a zoo gone wild to an out-of-this-world moon base to a crazy art museum, and more, providing hours of entertainment to readers young and old.

My thoughts:
My 5 year old boy LOVES this book! Is it the monsters? The bright colors? The level of difficulty? The fact that he is very detailed? I don't know - but he LOVES it! Look Another Book is a fairly large book - ideal for lying on your tummy on the floor and looking at the pictures. Each double page spread is preceded by a solid colored page with 3 holes in it that highlights one thing each. It could be a punk alien or a drop of red paint or even a little monster - we'd look at that picture, then turn the page and try to find that item - he didn't quite connect that the picture would be where the whole on the previous page was when it was closed. But I'm sure that will come. =D

There don't seem to be a lot of things to find on each double page spread so I usually would find some little detail and ask him if he could find it - he doesn't read yet so he didn't realize that the book didn't asked him to do that. After you find everything in the book there is a full page that actually opens up vertically with another list of things to find. Everything rhymes which Connor loved and of course, being a boy, he LOVED the monsters!

This would be a great birthday book, FUN to read in the car, on a summer day at the beach inbetween building sand castles & wave surfing, in bed on a sick day - or whenever.

Check out all the Cool Books Bob Staake has written!

About the author:
Bob Staake is an award-winning illustrator who has authored and/or illustrated close to 50 books, including Look! A Book!, Trucks Go Pop!, and Pets Go Pop!. His work is also featured on the covers of the New Yorker and in the pages of the Washington Post. His book The Red Lemon won a New York Times Best Illustrated Children's Book Award in 2006. You can visit Bob online at www.BobStaake.com. 

Disclaimer:
I was given a copy of this book to review on CCB. No money exchanged hands and I was not required to give a positive review.

Disney's Peter Pan Diamond Edition Blu-Ray Combo Set

This week the kid's and I have been enjoying watching a Children's (grown-ups too) Classic Movie. Disney just released the Diamond Edition Blu-Ray/DVD Combo Set for Peter Pan and it's wonderful. I don't have a Blu-Ray Machine - but still it's FUN to be able to watch it on the DVD player and the set also includes a Digital Edition so you can watch the movie anywhere you want - on the computer, the TV, and where ever else you want.

What I really like about DVD & Blu-Ray Videos is the abundance of Extra's like:

The ability to create your own intermission - you can stop the movie and watch other parts of the disk to see deleted scenes and songs, an alternate ending and more. There are also mini movies like Tinker Bell: a Fairy's Tale and several different Disney Songs to watch. Check out the extras:

• Camp Never Land: Explore Never Land With All-New Multilevel Games:
• Smee's Sudoku Challenge
• Tarrrget Practice
• Tink's Fantasy Flight
• Peter's Playful Prank DVD Storybook
• Peter Pan's Virtual Flight
• Take Flight With Peter Pan Above
• The London Skyline

Including audio description - an additional commentary describing body language, expressions and movements.

I can't wait till I get a chance to see it on Blu-Ray. I don't think I've ever seen a Blu-Ray Movie so I really don't what I'm missing - maybe someday I'll find out!

An added bonus is the Peter Pan website - check out the variety of games, activities, behind the scenes and clips that you can watch. 

Check out the following website for activities, games & more:

Disclaimer: I was given a copy of the Movie Pack to watch and review on CCB. I was not required to have a positive review and no money exchanged hands.  

Les Miserables ~ Audio Edition

".... Listen to me there will be more joy in heaven over the tears of a repentent sinner than over the white robes of a hundred just men. If you're leaving that terrible place with hatred against men you deserve compassion. But if you leave it with good will and peace your better than any of us." the priest who shows compassion to Jean Valjean
 
Les Miserables
by Victor Hugo
Audio Edition featuring the
  Focus on the Family Radio Theatre
ISBN: 978-1589973947
$10.18 (3 CD Set)

About the Audio Edition:
The story that has thrilled millions comes to life in a brand new way in Focus on the Family Radio Theatre's Les Miserables. This audio drama beautifully portrays the redeeming power of forgiveness through the story of Jean Valjean, an embittered convict whose life is changed by a single act of kindness. Recorded in London with some of England's finest actors, it will mesmerize adults and families alike.

My thoughts:
I'm probably one of the few adults who had never read the Les Miserables book and I actually knew very little about the story except that it had been made into a Broadway Production and was a raving success. When I saw that Tommy Nelson had made the Audio Version available to listen to I jumped at the chance figuring I had a better chance of finishing the story if I listened to it than if I tried to read it. The Radio Theatre is conducted with a Full Cast of Actors including Cinema Sound and the Original Music Score. Obviously it's not as violent as the movie or the book - but it was very easy to be transported directly to the scene and events as the story unfolds as are all Focus on the Family Radio Theatre productions!

The story begin with the story of Jean Valjean who is a convicted thief after stealing a loaf of bread to feed his sister's children who were starving & in return he is sentenced to 19 years of hard labor. He's angry, bitter and disillusioned and believes that no one will help him or care about him because he is a dangerous man.

He meets a priest who treats him with kindness, brings out the best service and feeds him and intentionally encourages him to make something of himself, to not let others dictate what his life is and will be and to show compassion to others that are hurting.

"I'm an ex-convict, a thief ~ and yet you take me in. You light your candles, and bring out your best service!" said Jean Valjean. To which the priest replied: "This house, and all that is in it belongs to Christ. If you're suffering, if you're hungry, ill or thirsty, then everything here belongs to you as much as it does to me. No, even more."

Before Jean Valjean retires for the evening the priest tells him, "and please, if you have need of anything ~ consider it yours." Jean Valjean ends up leaving early the next morning with silver spoons that he decides to take since the priest said he could (I think he believed the priest was baiting him some - and if he was caught would never stand up for him). He ends up arrested, the police find the silver and Jean tells them the priest gave it to him. When asked, the priest says it is his and then tells Jean that he is to keep it (as well as the silver candlesticks he had forgotten) and then he reminds him that he has promised to use the silver to become an honest man. (Can you imagine his astonishment and confusion?)

I saw so many likenesses to certain stories in the Bible such as The Prodigal Son, the Good Samaritan, and in particular the verse in Matthew 25:35 "For I was hungry, and you fed me. I was thirsty, and you gave me a drink. I was a stranger, and you invited me into your home." This theme plays throughout the story as it continues...

The added bonus of this story was that Jean uses the compassion and mercy shown to him by the priest to make something of himself. He uses the words of the priest as a way to measure himself and his actions to become an honest man.

Fantastic story ~ I strongly suggest all families listen to this! Use it as part of your family time, listen to it while cleaning up the kitchen, during evening devotions, in the car on trips and then discuss how each of us can make a difference in the lives of others and how our actions show our true personality and character to others.

Purchase Les Miserables on Amazon for the amazing price of $10.18 - it comes with 3 CD's, uses a full cast and surround sound to dramatize the story.

You might be interested in:
Here is a wonderful discussion of the movie Les Miserables that came out in January 2013 - (Please do not go see the movie before reading it) 
I love how this family discusses the lessons and what we can learn from a book - wonderful! You can do this exact same thing when you read a novel or listen to an audio with your family!

The Utah Shakespeare Festival has a complete Study Guide in PDF you might find interesting with a discussion about the author, the story, characters and more. 

Disclaimer: I was given a copy of the Audio Edition to listen to and review on Classic Children's Books. I was not required to have a positive review and no money exchanged hands.

Disney's Peter Pan Diamond Edition Blue-Ray Coupon!

Announcements:

1) Save $7 on Disney’s Peter Pan Diamond Edition Blu-ray Combo Pack - use your coupon @ Participating Retailers 2/5-2/8 ONLY!  http://bit.ly/14AXNfF (2 coupons per computer allowed)

2) #PeterPanDiamond Twitter party! Join me at the #PeterPanDiamond Twitter party 2/5 4-5 PM PST. We are giving away 30 Peter Pan Diamond Edition Blu-ray Combo Packs & more!!

Join me at the #PeterPanDiamond Twitter party 2/5 4-5 PM PST. RT for chance to win a Peter Pan Combo Pack bit.ly/10wtrac
— Tina Peterson (@familyliteracy) February 5, 2013

Review coming this week!

The American Girl Doll giveaway - 2/19

This is a FUN giveaway for the little girl in ALL of us! 223 Bloggers have joined together to celebrate The American Girl Dolls and just in time for Valentine's Day or Easter with not 1 giveaway but 2! 

**Note - I've tried to turn off Captcha (no idea if I did) per a reader request. After this event it will be turned back on. I'm concerned about having it off on a children's blog - so if it gets bad or I get a lot it will go back on again.

Check it out: 

Hosted by:

NYSavingSpecials, Your Fashion Resource, My Four Littles, Ann I Am, Barbara's Beat, Life's Cheap Thrills, We Have It All, 

Mamal Diane ~ keeping it simple, Sweet N Sour Deals, The Naptime Review, Cotton Ridge Homeschool, Kaisy Daisy's Corner, Mommie...Again, Capri's Coupons, Michelle Gills Blog, Just a Little Creativity, Monica's Rants, Raves & Reviews, Stay a Stay at Home Mom, Mommy Bear Media, My Devotional Thoughts, Mindfully Frugal Mom, Simply Sherryl, Spend With Pennies, Phillyfun4kids and B & V Savings

We are happy to bring you this great giveaway.

The American Girl Doll giveaway.

Jan 20 to Feb. 19, 2013

We will have two winners.

Winner number one will get:

Doll + Starter Collection.  

Winner gets to choose skin color, hair color and eye color.  

Value $120.

Winner number two will get:

One American Girl Doll with the box.  

Winner gets to choose which doll they want.

Value $105.

Winners will need to choose their prizes from American Girl Doll website.

Winner can not change prize for any other American Girl Product.

To be part of this giveaway you need to be 18 years or older.

This giveaway is only for US residents.

To gain entries to win, fill out the form below. 

All entries are optional.

Good luck! 

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NYSavingSpecials is responsible for prize.  If you have any question please send an email to nysavingspecials@gmail.com

The American Girl Doll Host Page

This post is for The American Girl Giveaway entries - please be patient as it loads and refresh after your done to ensure that all your entries "took". Thanks! (BTW - if you leave your blog info, etc below the post I'd be happy to follow you back!)

You will get 10 extra entries by doing these tasks

All entries are optional

NOTE:

My Google+ Page is having problems and will not load

Please take the entry and there is no need to keep mentioning it below.

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Candle Bible for Kids Blog Tour

Candle Bible for Kids

Toddler Edition
by Juliet David
ISBN: 978-1-85985-939-1
$ 8.99 (hardback)


About the book:
The successful Candle Bible for Kids with the distinctive art style of Jo Parry, is now available in a version specially written for younger readers. The Candle Bible for Kids, Toddler Edition features simplified text by Juliet David, as well as a smaller size and fewer stories, which makes it an ideal introduction for younger readers. Sure to be a family favorite.

My thoughts:
This cute little Bible has already been claimed by one of the little 3 year olds in my daycare and she's pretty adament that "it's mine"! She carries it everywhere. I think I'm going to have to let her take this one home with her to keep she loves it that much. The Bible has a nice soft cushy hard cover (if that makes sense) and the pages inside contain a quick 5-7 page story with pictures on all the pages. The pictures are darling and really caught Sierra's attention and she loves to just thumb through the bible. 

There are 14 Old Testament stories and 22 New Testament stories and I love how all the "important" stories of the Bible are included. I've reviewed other books for toddlers and preschoolers and have noticed how certain stories are not included such as the crucifiction, the resurrection and the ascention into heaven. Those are the basics to Christianity along with the birth of Jesus, God creating the world, Joseph and Samuel. So, I was very pleased to see the following lineup included in the index:

Old Testament:
God makes the world, In the garden, Noah builds an Ark, Abraham finds a new home, Joseph and his brothers, A baby in a basket, Moses leads his people, A great city collapses, God speaks to Samuel, The shepherd and the giant, The wisest king, God feeds Elijah, Daniel and the lions, Jonah runs away

New Testament:
The angel's news, The shepherds' story, Visitors for baby Jesus, Lost and found, John baptizes Jesus, Jesus picks his team, Jesus teaches his friends, Jesus teaches his followers to pray, The big picnic, Jesus helps a little girl, Jesus heals a sick man, Jesus ends a storm, The loving father, The good shepherd, The helpful stranger, The story of two houses, Jesus visits a tax man, Jesus rides into Jerusalem, A special meal, the saddest day (crucifiction), Jesus is alive!, Jesus returns to his Father.

I was thrilled with the whole layout of the Bible. It's set up just like a "real" bible with a presentation page at the front, an actual index and scriptural references with each story and yet it's small enough for a Toddler or Preschooler to carry around with them and for mom to keep in the diaper bag. 

This would make a great bible for everyday use with your toddler or preschooler. Consider purchasing it just because, for Birthday presents, Easter gifts, etc.... @ $8.99 on Amazon it's a great price to get "just because". =D Click here to order.

About the authors: 
Juliet David has written many children's stories and Bible activity books. Her other interests include painting, music, and traveling to Israel and other Bible lands. This experienced author lives in London with her family. 

Jo Parry trained at Bournemouth Arts Institute before becoming a full-time artist. She illustrates mainly greetings cards, fine art, and children's books, adapting her fun, colorful style to each of these genres. She creates her characteristic style using an Apple Mac, and is fulfilling a life-long dream working as an illustrator. Jo lives in Bournemouth, on England's south coast.  

Disclaimer: I received this book for free from Kregel Publications for this review. I was not required to have a positive review and no money exchanged hands.