Now thats true love!

The Boy Who Grew Flowers by Jen Wojtwicz, published by Barefoot Books, is a fabulous read for boys and girls a like. One part story of mutants, one part story of a shy boy at school, one part love story. What is there not to like?

Rink is an unusual boy from an unusual family, his uncle is awfully friendly with rattle snakes, his brother and cousins are shapeshifters, but Rink has a super special gift. On a full moon, or when he is especially happy he sprouts flowers from his head! Thats not exactly a super power I have thought about but seriously how weird but strangely cool would that be? I mean all you have to do is cut your hair every full moon and you'd have your own personal flower arrangement all the time!

The kids at school don't think Rink's family is soo cool. Actually they shun him because of his "weird family". When a new girl, Angelina, shows up in class she doesn't think Rink is all that weird at all. Angelina herself though instantlly popular has one leg that is shorter than the other. With Rink its love at first sight and when he finds out about the school dance coming up he is bound and deterimine to make her a pair of shoes that will allow her to stand up strait and be able to dance!

Little does Rink know that Angelina and him have more in common than he thinks, and their new friendship will turn out to be so much more.

You can't help to smile after reading it and it has enough mutant power to keep the boys interested and what little girl could resist a love story?

You can get your own copy of The Boy Who Grew Flowers at Barefoot Books!

Bound to be a classic in the making

The moment I saw the cover on The Tear Thief, I knew I had to read it. Not that illustrations are everything on a children's book but thats the one thing I remeber most vividly about the books from my own childhood. I may or may not remeber all the stories, but the truly great ones left their mark not only in pictures but with a great story to boot.

The Tear Thief published by Barefoot Books and written by Carol Ann Duffy is in my opinion a classic in the making. The dreamlike illustrations done by Nicoletta Ceccoli who in her own right is one of my favorite modern artists of all time. Her beautiful and slightly surreal illustrations and paintings have intregued me since I first saw one of her paintings in a private gallery in flordia. I've always wanted to buy one of her orginal works but I'm sure that would be out of the question price wise, I've always been scared to ask. heh.

Nicoletta actually had no influence on my wanting to do this review however, as clueless as I can be at times I saw a little snippit of what the story was about and got excited well before I saw the illustrations. I was actually so excited to get the book the first thing I did was open it up and read it before I even noticed her name on the cover though I did have that flashing though of hmmm these illustrations look awfully familiar. Needless to say not that I think you should buy the book on illustrations alone, but wow.. seriously wow.

Enough about Nicolletta as its Carol that should be getting all the praise. The story is wonderfully unique and truly a great fairy tale of our time. Though I don't want to ruin the entire book for you but the Tear Thief is a hauntingly beautiful magical girl who's mission is to collect all the beautiful tears from children all over the world. Silly tears, tantrum tears, guilty tears, and the most special tears of all.. the ones from a truly sad child. Normally no one can see the Tear Thief and she sneaks in and steals her precious tears without anyone even knowing she was there. However, if you look just right in a puddle at just the right time you might get lucky enough to catch a glance as she gently collects her tears. That's just what happens to one sad little girl.

Have you noticed just how beautiful those big plump tears are on those precious little faces when your children are looking up at you wide eyed, waiting for you to pick them up and make everything right. I notice.. and I cherish every moment of it as I know that Connor will only come crying to his mommy only so long. The Tear Thief notices too and what she does with the tears is truly magical.

You can get your own copy of The Tear Thief at Barefoot Books!

Charlie Bone!

With my new eye condition reading is just not as easy as it used to be, thank goodness for books on CD or I would be going insane! I recently got acquainted with Charlie Bone thanks to Charlie Bone and the Beast . And though I'm starting a little late in the series as this is actually the sixth book Charlie reminds me a bit of my old friend Harry (yes yes I mean Harry Potter). He's a student at a magic boarding school called Bloor's Academy and people are out to get him. Heh sounds a bit familuar?

Regardless of the fact that there is a simular theme going on Charlie Bone is not only a great second love for all those fellow Harry Potter fans out there but his story would be just as fabulous if I hadn't been a previous Potter fan. Seeing as we were introduced to him through the audiobook vs actually reading the book I only have one complaint. The narrator the famed and very popular audiobook reader Simon Jones has the most soothing voice, and though its fantastic to hear him read (ok maybe this is not so much as a complaint as praise.. heh..) but with my serious lack of sleep lately his fabulous voice has a tenancy to lull me to sleep. Which seeing as I usually listen to my audiobooks in the car I've been trying to catch up with Charlie every night before bed instead. I'm starting to wonder if these folks at Boor's Academy may just be the ones behind all his trouble.

Honestly enough really the only disadvantage I've had showing up in book six of Charlie Bone is the fact that I seem to be missing many of the facts of whats going on. I have no idea why Charlie Bone's father lost his memory, anything about Charlie's previous enemies, and like many other excellent fantasy novels the characters have a detail background which I am unaware of. The good news is I love Charlie Bone that I've already been searching for copies of the past books on audiobook so I can catch up.

Speaking of fabulous children's fantasy series. Halloween is coming sooner than you'd imagine, I actually saw costumes in our local Target the other day, and Halloween screams one thing to me when it comes to children's books. GOOSEBUMPS. Though I have not heard them myself yet I can't even imagine how amazing it must be to experience Goosebumps in an audio format. Can you imagine, sitting around campfire style listening to Goosebumps as if you were listing to a scary story first hand! R.L. Stine's Goosebump stories are not too terribly scary, but they do offer just enough suspense to keep you on your toes even as an adult. Horrorland, Stine's newest series from Goosebumps, involves children being lead to the most horrifying theme park ever. The first book in the series revenge of the living dummy makes me shiver just thinking about it. I seriously am terrified of stories that involve living dolls and an old dummy that Britney and her cousin Ethan find turns out to be more than just a dummy.. ugg.. *shiver*. The second book in the series Creep from the Deep is much more up my alley! Billy and Sheena while on a boat trip with their uncle finds them face to face with an undead 200 year old Pirate Captain.

You can find out more about the series at Horrorland's website.

I have quite the treat for you guys. Scholastic was awesome enough to not only give me three copies of Charlie Bone to give away to our readers but one lucky reader will get the first two books in the Horrorland series as well. All will be in audiobook format.

To enter :

• Leave a comment on this post. Check out Charlie Bone and tell me what book would you most like to hear as an audiobook!?
  
• Make sure there is a way for me to contact you - if your email address is not on your profile or you are not a blogger you may leave it in your comment or email it to me directly (angelaandconnor at gmail dot com) We have had to disqualify a lot of potential winners as of late as many people do not have emails available in their profiles or leave anonymous posts without any way to contact you.
• Please US entries only.
• To get extra credit :
  • For an extra entry :
  • Bloggers - Blog about this contest and leave me the link on your comment, or add me to your sidebar and let me know its there.
  • Non Bloggers (or bloggers) subscribe to my mailing list/RSS feed and earn another entry!
  • One extra credit per person. Please post your extra credit in a separate post.
  • This contest will end September 30th at midnight!

Little Leap!

As a child I had a very hard time identifying with what it must be like to live in a communist country. After all I grew up in the time of Regan and my grandparents still talked about the red scare. It seemed as if China was another planet much less another country. Though I have still never had the chance to visit any of Asia I've traveled a lot and China does not seem as "odd" anymore though I still wonder what it must be like to grow up under Communist rule. Not being able to just go and buy what you want when you want seems like such an odd concept to me and I think to most modern day US children that would seem downright cruel especially in a country where its the norm not the exception where most kids have game systems, ipods, and computers.

Little Leap Forward is a boy growing up in China during the rule of the red guard, his mother is a widow, and its just him, his mother, and his sisters. Little Leap Forward takes pleasure in taking care of his pets and his best friend Little-Little. Though the entire book is set during a tense time in China's history and though there is some scattered mention of communism and the revolution Little Leap's self told story is one any child can relate to, friends, the joy of pets, learning to let something you love go, and of course a milestone in any child's life, a first love. All the while Little Leap is sharing bits of his culture, his country, and his struggles in a way that does not seem to overwhelm the young readers or make it feel as if its a history lesson. It's really just a great story that falls close to home no matter who you are and where you grew up. Honestly, what is a better way to learn about a culture than to feel as if you have been there?

Little Leap Forward written by Guo Yue and published by Barefoot Books is based on the true story of Guo Yue's life. Guo Yue shares his inspirations for the book in the Afterword and shares pictures of his family and himself growing up.

Little Leap Forward is available at Barefoot Books! Use code SCLLF8 to get 10% off your order of Little Leap Forward from now till Dec 31st.

The whole world in a small book.

Can you imagine the Whole World in such a small book?!

Actually Whole World published by Barefoot Books is an illustrated version of the popular children's song Whole World children's song that is popular in Christian circles. However, its been slightly modified to take out the religious aspects and the Whole World is quite frankly in the children's hands. If you think about it baring all religious beliefs this world is really in our children's hands. Facing global warming, recessions, global hunger, wars, and global habitats dwindling as we speak, not to totally go crunchy on you and regardless of what hippy earth loving mama beliefs I may hold, you cannot deny that we will leave our children with some pretty major decisions about the world. Though some of them fall on the decisions we make as adults now the world we leave them with is theirs.

A Whole World may just be the first step in teaching your children about their responsibilities to this earth. The song and illustrations cover not only the earth but the flowers, fish, animals, water, air and trees of the earth all being cared for by children of every race you can think of. As globally the protection of our planet is not just our responsibility but one that falls on the hands of everyone no matter if they live in US, Asia, Mongolia, Europe, or Australia it doesn't matter everyone plays a role in protecting what we have. The book just doesn't feature a song, at the end it gives some easy to understand information about our world's resources to help introduce kids to living green as well as some very very simple first steps we can all follow to help reduce global warming and help make our own impact on the earth a little less.

You can purchase your own copy of the Whole World with sing along CD at Barefoot Books!

I have one copy of Whole World to give away to one lucky reader!

To enter :

• Leave a comment on this post. Check out the Whole World and tell me what is one way you help do your part in reducing global warming or what change you think would be easiest for you to make.
  
• Make sure there is a way for me to contact you - if your email address is not on your profile or you are not a blogger you may leave it in your comment or email it to me directly (angelaandconnor at gmail dot com) We have had to disqualify a lot of potential winners as of late as many people do not have emails available in their profiles or leave anonymous posts without any way to contact you.
• Please US entries only.
• To get extra credit :
• For an extra entry :
• Bloggers - Blog about this contest and leave me the link on your comment, or add me to your sidebar and let me know its there.
• Non Bloggers (or bloggers) subscribe to my mailing list/RSS feed and earn another entry!
• One extra credit per person. Please post your extra credit in a separate post.
• This contest will end September 15th at midnight!

A gigantic turnip?

The Gigantic Turnip by Aleksei Tolstoy and Niamh Sharkey

Even if you have heard the old Russian tale about The Gigantic Turnip I guarantee the tale of the Gigantic Turnip as told by Aleksei Tolstoy published by Barefoot Books has to be the best rendition I have ever seen.

I know I've ranted and raved about how I love Barefoot Books and their ability to bring multicultural tales to children in a way that crosses all the boundaries. The gigantic turnip is a classic Russian tale about an older couple, their crooked run down house, animals and of course their garden where they plant vegetables for the season. Peas, carrots, beans, potatoes, and of course turnips. All of which sound particularly yummy to me except for the last but it's not my garden. heh. Through some rain, love, and the patience of the couple one of their turnips grows so large that the old man cannot pull it up himself.

It takes both the old lady and old man, all their animals, and even the house mouse to pull the gigantic turnip. Can you even imagine having a turnip so large you can't get it out of the ground? The old lady makes turnip stew for everyone at the end but I can not help to wonder what she did with the leftovers.

The illustrations are excellent, the story is really easy to read and fun, and of course there are some counting aspects with the animals that are part of the story and its not that obvious that the gigantic turnip at least partially a counting book but they sneak it in in a fun way. In the end the little forgotten house mouse is the hero, how cool is that?

The Gigantic Turnip is available directly from Barefoot Books or you can pick up a copy on Amazon!

My Granny Went to Market
By Stella Blackstone & Christopher Corr

My Granny Went to Market is a unique counting book unlike any other I have seen!

I love how Barefoot Books finds endless creative ways to work other cultures into your child's reading adventures. In My Granny Went to Market, Granny starts of in Istanbul and buys herself one super colorful flying carpet which allows her to fly all over the world to buy some great gifts for her granddaughter.


Illustrated in super colorful paintings of markets all over the world, Granny visits everywhere from Thailand to Kenya to Peru, to Mexico and even Japan! On each of her stops she buys something relative to their culture. All along each stop adds one more item, one flying carpet, two cats, three masks, ect. Its a counting book with a cultural message mixed right in! Genius!


I'm kind of jealous of Granny, would that not be great to have a flying carpet to zoom around on? Though instead of those five cowbells she bought in Switzerland I'd be hard pressed not to buy chocolate instead. My favorite part of the book however is the inside cover. Its great to talk about diffrent places with your kids but I'm not sure they actually visualize exactly how far away some of those places are without a map. The front of the book document's Granny's trip around the world in a map. It allows kids to see just how far Japan is from Peru and Mexico to China. Though the world seems awfully small these days as I can txt message friends in Europe in a matter of seconds it would take me an awfully long time to fly there. I've made the flight to France several times and its quite the journey.

My Granny Went to Market is available directly from Barefoot Books in a hardcover edition or paperback! You can see it at Barefoot Books here!

Have you ever felt as if no one was listening?

I'd love to think that every little kid can go their entire life without having to feel "ignored". I think we all have moments where it just seems as if no one is listening.

Sam is having just one of those days, it seems as if no one is paying him any attention. His parents, teachers, friends, the more he tries to get someone to listen to him the less it seems anyone is listening. The worst part is, Sam is shrinking!!! Every time someone fails to notice him Sam gets smaller. Before he knows it he ends up falling down the drain!!

Sam finds out he is not the only kid who feels ignored at times, and the best part is with the help of a new friend he not only finds his way out of the drain but the way to get big again! It's a great story and a great reminder that it really is important that we listen to those around us no matter how busy we are! Don't worry Sam, we are listening!



Shrinking Sam is available directly from Barefoot Books and on Amazon!

Who's ever heard of a vegetarian dragon?

Everyone knows that Dragons are man eating, fire breathing, and downright nasty. Well, that's just not the case when it comes to Herb! Herb not only doesn't eat humans but he is a vegetarian!

The only problem is Herb is just too busy with his garden to realize that the humans are on a mission to destroy all the Dragons in the land! They are sick and tired of being plundered, pillaged, and well eaten. Can you blame them? While all the other Dragons are plotting the war on the humans, Herb is busy making some soup. When the humans come looking for him he is totally unprepared!

What on earth will happen to poor Herb?! Its up to one little girl to save him and its up to Herb to save the rest of the dragons.

Herb the Vegetarian Dragon, from Barefoot Books, is a great lesson in peace, friendship, and well that vegetables are actually good. Speaking of which, I am out of Zucchini and I need to make a run to the farmers market tomorrow. Where is my own Herb when I need him?


Herb the Vegetarian Dragon is available directly from Barefoot Books and on Amazon!

Shine shine little star!

I was drawn to the Nana Star books as the story was inspired by a grandmother's writing to her grandson. I know I had a very special relationship with my own grandfather and though he never wrote me a story, we had many of our own adventures burying treasures and coming up with new and weird contraptions to capture and study pretty much any wild animal we could get our hands on. He would have attempted to do almost anything I asked of him, seriously grandparents are the best.

Nana Star is a princess in a beautiful blue dress who finds a lost baby star and promises to help get him back to the night sky. Its really a story about what it feels like to feel alone and afraid but realizing that we are really never alone and sometimes helping a friend can really be one of the best gifts. Thats a storyline that really any parent can get behind.

The illustrations in each of the Nana Star books is based on the original hand drawn illustrations that the original creator of Nana Star drew on cards to her grandson, and they have sort a warm handmade feel to them, I think that helps kids really identify with the story and the characters. I could go on all day about the book but I thought it would be best to actually share it with you live on the blog. Click play below to watch Nana Star and the Moonman.

As well as watching Nana Star online, each of the books comes with its own narrated CD so you can listen to Nana Star anytime you are in the car, at bedtime, or just because.

This is actually the second book in the series and it comes by itself or you can purchase it directly from Nana Star as part of a gift set which includes one of the fabulous Nana Star plush at a discount for the combo. Though I really adore the Nana Star books, I have to secretly admit I love the plush even more.

Connor has a Moonman plush, which was the first stuffed friend he ever actually picked up and kissed right away. There is just something appealing about his big moon head. If you press his stomach he lights up and plays the melody heard in the background of the Nana Star narrations. I think Connor loves him a little too much though as he pushed his stomach so much in the first week that we ran out the batteries in no time. heh.

Head on over to Nana Star's website and check out the Moonman plush as well as the Nana Star plush! While your over there you can watch Nana Star's videos including a movie of the first and second book, and each of the books in sign language!

I'm excited, there are rumors of a third book due out soon as well as a new plush wolf! Connor will have a fit over that I'm absolutely sure of that.

You can buy Nana Star's books directly from Nana Star in their online store!

I have a copy of Nana Star and the Moonman to give away to one lucky reader!

To enter :

• Leave a comment on this post. Check out Nana Star and watch the videos of the two books. Then come back here and tell me what part of the book or books was your favorite!
  
• Make sure there is a way for me to contact you - if your email address is not on your profile or you are not a blogger you may leave it in your comment or email it to me directly (angelaandconnor at gmail dot com) We have had to disqualify a lot of potential winners as of late as many people do not have emails available in their profiles or leave anonymous posts without any way to contact you.
• Please US entries only.
• To get extra credit :
• For an extra entry :
• Bloggers - Blog about this contest and leave me the link on your comment, or add me to your sidebar and let me know its there.
• Non Bloggers (or bloggers) subscribe to my mailing list/RSS feed and earn another entry!
• One extra credit per person. Please post your extra credit in a separate post.
• This contest will end August 31th at midnight!

The ultimate book for that horse crazed kid of yours!

As a little girl I lived and breathed horses, and they are never far from my thoughts now, but I'm fairly positive one of my first words was "pony".

I actually feel sorry for my parents a bit as I think I spent most of my first five years crying myself to sleep as my dad wouldn't buy me a pony. Needless to say.. love you daddy.. he did finally submit and the rest was history as pretty much for the next 18 years my life consisted of horse show after horse show. Even holidays and birthdays were horse based as all I ever wanted was horse toys, horse gear, and well horses. I actually got my first real pony for my 16th birthday. Yes you heard me right.. I asked for a pony not a car!

When I saw Magical Hoofbeats over at Barefoot books I knew I had to get a copy. I'm not sure Connor has inherited my love of horses but just encase he does we are so ready for story time now!

Like most Barefoot books Magical Hoofbeats really helps put children in touch with other cultures and beliefs, which is part of the reason I really love their books Magical Hoofbeast is actually a collection of eight horse stories from around the world. Each story features an introduction that tells you a little about horses in the culture of the country in which the following story is written. In North America it talks about how though the first horses evolved in North America they no longer existed by the time the Indians came to settle. Though we always thinking about Indians and their Appalossa and pinto horses these horses did not exist in North American until after the Spanish made first landfall. These two breeds that we know to day to be the Paint and the Appalossa actually are descendants from the first Spanish horses that landed in the new world. A little side note, my first show horse was actually an Appaloosa!

Along with the great stories Magical Hoofbeats has some absolutely gorgeous illustrations that I have come to love about many of the Barefoot books. The Book also comes with two storybook CDS which allows you to take the stories with you in the car or is great for bedtime!

Magical Hoofbeats is available directly from Barefoot Books as well as on Amazon!

Book Review : Painted Dresses

This week, the
Christian Fiction Blog Alliance
is introducing
Painted Dresses
(WaterBrook Press - July 15, 2008)
by
Patricia Hickman

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
Patricia Hickman is an award-winning author of fiction and non-fiction, whose work has been praised by critics and readers alike.

Patricia Hickman began writing many years ago after an invitation to join a writer's critique group. It was headed up by best-selling author Dr. Gilbert Morris, a pioneer in Christian fiction who has written many best selling titles. The group eventually came to be called the "Nubbing Chits". All four members of the original "Chits" have gone on to become award-winning and best selling novelists (good fruit, Gil!).

Patty signed her first multi-book contract with Bethany House Publishers. After she wrote several novels "for the market", she assessed her writer's life and decided she would follow the leanings of her heart. She says, "It had to be God leading me into the next work which wound up being my first break-out book, Katrina's Wings. I had never read a southern mainstream novel, yet I knew that one lived in my head, begging to be brought out and developed." She wanted to create deeper stories that broke away from convention and formula. From her own journey in life, she created a world based upon her hometown in the 70's, including Earthly Vows and Whisper Town from the Millwood Hollow Series.

Patty and her husband, Randy, have planted two churches in North Carolina. Her husband pastors Family Christian Center, located in Huntersville. The Hickmans have three children, two on earth and one in heaven. Their daughter, Jessi, was involved in a fatal automobile accident in 2001. Through her writing and speaking, Patty seeks to offer help, hope and encouragement to those who walk the daily road of loss and grief.


ABOUT THE BOOK

In this story of sisterhood and unexpected paths, Gaylen Syler-Boatwright flees her unraveling marriage to take refuge in a mountain cottage owned by her deceased aunt. Burdened with looking after her adult sister, Delia, she is shocked to find a trail of family secrets hidden within her aunt’s odd collection of framed, painted dresses. With Delia, who attracts trouble as a daily occupation, Gaylen embarks on a road trip that throws the unlikely pair together on a journey to painful understanding and delightful revelations.

Steeped in Hickman’s trademark humor, her spare writing voice, and the bittersweet pathos of the South, Painted Dresses powerfully captures a woman’s desperate longing to uncover a hidden, broken life and discover the liberty of living authentically, even when the things exposed are shrouded in shame.

If you would like to read the first chapter, go HERE

It actually makes math fun!

I hate math, I'm really bad at it to boot, but thats mostly from the fact that as a kid I moved every year or two and every school I went to was in a totally diffrent spot math wise so I have pretty big holes in my learning. What math I did learn in school I credit for the most part to my Texas Instrument computer and this crazy math program I had on there. (For those of you that even remember what a Texas Instrument and no I'm not talking about the calculators.) Really the big reason why it was so successful in helping me with my math skills is that it kept me interested as the last thing I want to do is sit around and work on something that might as well be a weird form of torture, as honestly thats how I feel when I do my math homework for college now. Anyone interested in getting face reconstruction surgery so they can go take pre-cal for me at college this semester?

SchoolZone has always been a great company that translates learning into fun. Their line of Readiness workbooks are a great way to virtually tricking your kids into learning. I honestly have to tell you that the Math Readiness Sticker Workbook combines two of my favorite things, doing puzzles and stickers. Mix in a little math and who would ever know? It covers all the basics including counting to 12, simple money skills, telling time, and very basic addition and subtraction.

If you really love the Math Readiness Sticker Workbook its worth a look to check out all the other sticker workbooks including Alphabet Fun and Ready for School.

All of SchoolZone's workbooks are available directly on their website.

Usborne is a household name around here!

You might remember the review we did for Blooming-Babies a while back. Well If you thought their toy selection was great, I dare say the book selection is even better.

Blooming-Babies is also an authorized seller of Usborne . Usborne is a mom driven book company that publishes wonderful books for children of all ages.

Though I have had limited experience with Usborne in the past, I was curious so Blooming-Babies sent us over three of their board books to take a peek at!

Rusty's Bone is part of the Usborne Touchy-Feely Farmyard Tales collection in which all of the board books not only feature a great easy to read story, but the books themselves are interactive. Each of the pages offers something int resting to touch. From smooth, to shiny, to furry, Connor actually loves to read this book with or without me. I find him sitting in the living room floor (book upside down) just "reading away". I really have to get a video of it at some point as it really sounds as if he is reading something but its just gibberish. He stops and touches the pages and even points at them and is really serious as he is telling me something. Rusty's Bone makes for a fabulous travel toy as well!

Though I have to say the First Picture Books are thus far one of our favorite picture books to date. We have the First Picture Books Trucks and First Picture Books Fairy Tales, both of which are very large for an average picture book. Though picture books are an incredible learning tool, sometimes I have to admit I find them a bit boring, though with our Usborne First Pictures books that never seems to be the case. Unlike just real life pictures of trucks, the First Picture Book Trucks offers pictures of toy looking trucks in lifelike scenes. The printing method is also very unusual as well and the images stand out off the pages giving them almost a 3D look to them of sorts. The First Picture Fairy Tales offers very short versions of some popular fairy tales in the same sort of half cartoon half toy type images.

Usborne actually offers a HUGE selection of books including a massive collection of educational books for older children. Head on over to Blooming-Babies and check out her Usborne storefront.

Book Review : I'd really like to eat a child!

I'd Really Like to Eat a Child
by Sylviane Donnio

Heh.. Honestly I requested this book to review as just the title alone got me... I had to think to myself what sort of kids book is that?? Then the little alligator on the front looks so sad.. needless to say I just kept thinking about it and thinking about it till I couldn't stand it any longer.

I am SO glad I did request it.. I'd Really Like to Eat a Child is as funny as the title suggests and it wont give your child nightmares I promise.

The little alligator, Achilles, in the story is barely bigger than your shoe and he is tired of eating bandanna's every day for dinner. He gets a wild idea that children may just be tastier (Too bad a child could squish him with a shoe!) . He refuses to eat, not even the HUGE cake his parents make for him temps him, and finally Achilles sets off in search of a child for dinner.

I won't give away the ending but this little alligator does not get his child for dinner, but he does get a big surprise of his own. Its a great story of growing up and setting goals, even if this goal is eating a child. hehe. Trust me.. its hillarious. I just hate to say more, as I'd really hate to ruin it for you.

I'd Like to Eat a Child is available at your local bookstore, or you can order your copy on Amazon!

Book Review : The Ultimate Guide to Grandma and Grandpas!

The Ultimate Guide to Grandmas and Grandpas
by Sally Lloyd Jones

Sally does it again! Sally's new book The Ultimate Guide to Grandmas and Grandpas left us giggling and honestly I'm not sure who will find it funnier the parents and grandparents or the kids!

The Ultimate Guide to Grandmas and Grandpas is a child's illustrated ultimate guidebook on how to take special care of their grandparents.

There are some great ideas on how to take care of the grandparents including :

• Grandparents need naps when they are tired, and you should take naps with them so they are not alone.
• You should always keep a close eye on your grandparents when you are out at picnics as they might run off if you don't!
• Grandparents like to play games, but sometimes you need to let them win.

That's only a few of the great tips, I'm just not so sure about the advice about letting your grandparents keep you up late... Connor gets awfully cranky if he stays up past his bedtime, though I guess if he is staying the night with his grandparents and they keep him up late they can just keep him the next day and learn from their mistakes. heh.

If you are not familiar with Sally's past books I highly recommend you check out my personal favorite Handbag Friends as well as How to be a Baby.. By Me the Big Sister.

Check out Sally's website for more information on her books as well as her personal blog.

The Ultimate Guide to Grandmas and Grandpas is available on Amazon!

Everything does not always have to be in identical pairs!

Smitten
by David Gordon

The most unlikely of love stories!!

Have you ever wondered what happened to your socks or mittens when one of them is lost... is the other sad little sock lonely.. does it long for the other part of its pair?

One lost mitten and one lost sock are on a mission to find their lost pairs. Through their adventure they find out that the perfect pair is not always the identical one.

Smitten is adorably illustrated, I love the illustration of the sock and mitten in the laundry mat amongst all the long rows of washers and dryers. It gives you the feeling of what it must be like to be only four or five inches high! Now I finally know what it feels like to be Melos!

Its a great lesson in friendships, I know some of my very best friends have been the most unlikely opposites. Actually one of my best childhood friends was very opposite of me, she was popular, on the dance team, older, and I was sort of the misfit new kid and you know we are still friends to this day and though we don't talk as often as we should when we do its like a day hasn't passed.

You know the same goes for adult relationships as well... why didn't someone explain the theory of Smitten to me earlier it would have saved me a ton of time in dating?

Smitten is available at your local bookstore as well as on Amazon!

What to do with a toddler that wont sit still?

What to do when its 95 degrees outside and stifling hot and your 13 month old is attempting to sky dive off of his baby sofa?! You know honestly I don't have an answer for that one yet.. but Gymboree Play & Learn has certainly given us a ton of ideas!!

Organized by age and color coded for easy access Gymboree Play & Learn provides parents, grandparents, and caretakers some easy ideas for some great learning time and fun! You do not need an arsenal of expensive toys to really enjoy your time with your baby. Some creative new ways to look at everyday day items.. and just the two of you yourselves is really all you need!