Contests & Giveaways

Picture Book Review & Giveaway Day 2

Win over $130 worth of picture books and bring a smile to your child’s face!

Monday, September 10, through Wednesday, September 12, 2012 of this week we’ll be reviewing and/or briefly mentioning picture books that we’ve read recently then giving them away! And guess what? If  you LIKE us on Facebook and also send us your name and contact info in an email to Ronna.L.Mandel@gmail.com by Monday, September 24, 2012 you’ll be entered to win a prize package of all books covered!! Remember to write Picture Book Giveaway in the subject line.  **YOU MUST LIST ALL BOOKS COVERED ALL 3 DAYS as part of your entry eligibility so be sure to read the blog every day!! One lucky winner will receive eight hardcover books worth a total retail value of $136.88!  We’re making it SO easy for you to get your kids reading again this back-to-school season. And isn’t that priceless?  The giveaway opportunity ends at midnight on Monday, September 24, 2012 and a winner will be randomly chosen on Tuesday, September 25, 2012. Click here now for rules. Good luck!

Today’s theme is school.

Jacqueline Dembar Greene, the author of Speak Up, Tommy! ($17.95, Kar-Ben, ages 3-8) was inspired to write this picture book after reading about a police dog who was first trained in Israel to sniff out bombs and sense odd behaving individuals before being brought to America.  Catch was, he only understood commands in Hebrew!  In this story Greene has changed the characters around to focus on Tommy, a new boy in school who speaks very little English and when he does, his self-consciousness makes him barely speak above a whisper.  This prompts his teacher and classmates to ask him to speak up.  He is also teased by another student for having to learn to write in English, clearly no fault of his own. “You’re tracing letters?”  he is asked.  “We did that in Kindergarten.”

When Officer Sweeney from the local police department brings his police dog Samson to school, things begin to look up for Tommy.  It turns out that Tommy can communicate best with Samson using his Hebrew skills leaving teacher, classmates and even Officer Sweeney more than impressed. Poor Officer Sweeney explains to everyone that Samson ignores him, not understanding a single word of English. In the end, new friendships are forged  as Tommy’s confidence increases by helping out Officer Sweeney. Tommy is then enlisted to teach Hebrew to the policeman to better work with Samson and in return he’ll be taught English. The artwork by California illustrator Deborah Melmon makes the story come alive on every page and children will especially love the depiction of  tennis ball loving Samson.  A list of English/Hebrew Dog Commands is included at the end.

My Teacher ($16.99, Dial Books for Young Readers, ages 5-8 ) by author/illustrator James Ransome celebrates the power of terrific teachers. If every child had a teacher like the one Ransome writes about in My Teacher, parents could all rest a lot easier. While she never is named, she represents those special teachers who educated us, cared about us, inspired us and never lost the passion for sharing knowledge and wisdom with a new generation. Thanks James Ransome for this lovely and truly fitting tribute.

You Are My Wonders ($16.99, Philomel Books, ages 3 and up) by Maryann Cusimano Love with illustrations by Satomi Ichikawa is yet another glorious book with rhymes and artwork that jump off the page straight into your heart. As a parent I was touched by the sheer magic of the poetry and the beauty of every illustration. “I am your blank paper; you are my work of art. I am your lace doily; you are my glitter heart.” They had me at blank paper! 

**Recap – To be eligible for the giveaway: 

1. Read our blog this week
2. Like us on Facebook
3. Send us an email to Ronna.L.Mandel@gmail.com by Monday, September 24, 2012. Write “Picture Book Giveaway” in the subject line. In the body of the email, write:
a. The names of all the books mentioned in our blog posts from Monday September 10 through Wednesday September 12, 2012.
b. Your name
c. Phone number
d. Address
A winner will be randomly chosen on Tuesday, September 25, 2012.
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Picture Book Review & Giveaway

Want to Win Some Books?

Beginning today, Monday, September 10, 2012 through Wednesday, September 12, 2012 of this week we’ll be reviewing and/or briefly mentioning picture books that we’ve read recently then giving them away! And guess what? If  you LIKE us on Facebook and also send us your name and contact info in an email to Ronna.L.Mandel@gmail.com by Monday, September 24, 2012 you’ll be entered to win a prize package of all books covered!! Remember to write Picture Book Giveaway in the subject line.  YOU MUST LIST ALL BOOKS COVERED as part of your entry eligibility so be sure to read the blog every day. One lucky winner will receive eight hardcover books worth a total retail value of $136.88!  We’re making it SO easy for you to get your kids reading again this back-to-school season. And isn’t that priceless?  The giveaway opportunity ends at midnight on Monday, September 24, 2012 and a winner will be randomly chosen on Tuesday, September 25, 2012. Click here now for rules. Good luck.

Today’s theme is family.

The Roller Coaster Kid ($16.99, Viking, ages 4-8) written by Mary Ann Rodman and illustrated by Roger Roth. A young boy called Zach spends time with his grandparents every summer and always visit Oceanside Park, an amusement park with a roller coaster called the Whipper. In fact one summer decades earlier Zach’s grandfather earned the moniker, The Roller Coaster Kid, having ridden the Whipper 100 times! Because both Zach and his grandma both dislike roller coasters, they enjoy the Big Wheel instead.  When the next summer arrives and Grandma has passed on, Zach must find a way to reinvigorate his grieving grandfather. Will this perhaps involve the Whipper? I love the subtle spin on such a sensitive subject that allows parents to gently broach the topics of love, loss, facing fears and the unique thread that ties children together with their grandparents.

Also worth noting:

Who’s In My Family? All About Our Families  ($15.99, Candlewick Press, ages 3 and up) written by Robie H. Harris and illustrated by Nadine Bernard Westcott. Whether  you live with your parents, grandparents, guardian, mother and stepfather, with siblings or a pet, they are all families and not one is better than the other, just different. Here’s a picture book that will get kids interested in talking about all kinds of families who live in all kinds of homes in oh so many places sharing the good times and the bad, but most importantly, sharing the love.

($15.99, Templar Books, ages 3-5) written by Nanette Newman and illustrated by Emma Chichester Clark.  Now here’s a book I wish I’d written. This new twist on the “What do you want to be when you grow up?” theme introduces delightful Lily who proposes to her grandma the most imaginative careers a grandma could possibly have. And her cool grandma simply adds to the ideas as she cleverly and lovingly indulges her thoughtful granddaughter’s whims.  “Or you could grow up to be a fairy with a magic wand who stops rooms from getting messy.”  Now there’s a little girl who thinks big thoughts any child would adore.  The artwork by Chichester Clark is colorful, vibrant and keeps us turning the page to see her take on Grandma in all her glory.  Give this to a cherished grandparent or add it to your own collection so you can return to it again and again.

**Recap – To be eligible for the giveaway: 

1. Read our blog this week
2. Like us on Facebook
3. Send us an email to Ronna.L.Mandel@gmail.com by Monday, September 24, 2012. Write “Picture Book Giveaway” in the subject line. In the body of the email, write:
a. The names of all the books mentioned in our blog posts from Monday September 10 through Wednesday September 12, 2012.
b. Your name
c. Phone number
d. Address
A winner will be randomly chosen on Tuesday, September 25, 2012.
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A Vacation Journal Giveaway for Kids

The Perfect Giveaway for This Summer’s Getaway!

The Victoria Chart Company and Good Reads With Ronna want your children to have a wonderful summer vacation and what better way to do that than with a giveaway?! 

We’ve got My Vacation Journal  ($6.99, ages 4 and up) to send to one lucky winner. Here’s a chance for your child to record all those special, once-in-a-lifetime moments in print and maybe start a new family tradition. 

Just send us an email to Ronna.L.Mandel@gmail.com with your name and address, then write a comment below about what your child loves about taking vacations to complete your entry. Be sure to write Vacation Journal Giveaway in the email subject line. Like us on Facebook and follow us on Twitter for more entries to the giveaway. Contest ends at midnight on Monday, July 30th. Contest rules can be found by clicking here. Good luck!

If you’re not familiar with The Victoria Chart Company, a leading UK developer of children’s reward charts and other products for positive child development (and available here in the U.S.), you really should be. The products are as affordable as they are practical. The My Vacation Journal prize in particular, billed as “A fun activity book for your time away from school!” can credit its creation to company founder Victoria Ballard. “As a child I would often write daily accounts of my family vacations” says the Company’s Founder, Victoria Ballard, “and it is wonderful that I can now share them with my children. I want other families to benefit from these wonderful keepsakes that hold such memories.”

Head over to Facebook and like this company at www.fb.com/victoriachartcompany to be eligible for a 15% product discount and other offers, freebies and news.  They’ve also got a neat app, “Go Rewards” suitable for iPhone, iPodTouch, iPad and Android.

I wish I had had this 7 day journal as a kid whose parents frequently took my brother and I on mini-jaunts now long forgotten. I tended to write down impressions on napkins, postcards, place mats and other scraps that got lost, tossed or ruined by spilled water. There would be so much more meaning if I could see a receipt, a drawing or ticket stub to understand what I was feeling at the time, who I was with and what made the trip so terrific. Now these connections are at your child’s fingertips. Another plus, there’s an opening page with tips for parents on how to best utilize the journal and make the most of vacation time.

Children are also encouraged to take their Vacation Journal to school to show teachers and friends. What a great way to relive all the summer fun!  

www.VictoriaChartCompany.com

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A Mom’s Summer Survival Kit Great Books Giveaway

The kids are home, the house is a mess, and all you hear is “Mommy, mommy, mommy!”  While we cannot provide an escape plan, we can offer you the chance to win some really super books for when you carve out some ‘me’ time (even if that involves reading helpful parenting books) and find the perfect place to relax, kick off your shoes and read, read, read. OR maybe you know a mom who could REALLY use these books. Score points and enter the contest to win the prize for her.

Good Reads With Ronna has teamed up with Andrews McMeel Publishing to offer a “just what I needed” prize package (worth almost $50) of essential reading and a treat for your little ones, too!

Here’s what you can win:

No Regrets Parenting -Turning Long Days and Short Years into Cherished Moments with Your Kids by Harley A. Rotbart, M.D. ($14.99)

Toilet Training Without Tantrums by John Rosemond ($12.99)

Mom’s Pocket Posh Ages 4-6 ($7.99)

Numbers Caterpillar-Shaped 2-Sided Board Book ($11.99, ages 3 and up)

The giveaway begins today and ends midnight on July 17, 2012.  To enter, send your name and address now in an email to Ronna.L.Mandel@gmail.com and write MOM’S SUMMER SURVIVAL in the subject. Then be sure to leave a comment below for this blog post and LIKE Good Reads With Ronna on Facebook.  You’ll get an additional entry for following us on Twitter @goodreadsronna. For detailed giveaway rules please click here. Good luck.

What we love about this selection of books is that there’s something for everyone which ultimately makes mom very happy. The caterpillar-shaped Numbers book is great in the stroller, in restaurants, and on-the-go. It’s sturdy with an elastic closure, colorful, compact and we’ve discovered there are quite a lot of fun ways to play with Numbers, too. 

Mom’s Pocket Posh Ages 4-6  is an indispensable and handy item for moms to keep in a glove compartment or purse and is filled with 100 puzzles and games to play with your kids at a picnic, waiting in line for a movie or on a car trip. And there’s such a wide variety of Pocket Posh soft-covered books available to choose from. Into Jane Austen? They’ve got one.  A knitter maybe? They’ve got a Pocket Posh for that, too!  There’s even a complete calorie counter and with its gorgeous cover, you won’t mind pulling it out for all to see even if you did just down a 1000 calories-laden piece of cheesecake!

In No Regrets Parenting there are countless gems to take away from every chapter so that time spent with your children can be the best possible experiences ever. We think Rotbart’s idea about family celebrations is one worth noting. For example, he suggests making a half-birthday, the first day of school, a good report card, the first lost tooth or big snowstorm a reason to celebrate. While he clearly states these don’t have to be gift-giving occasions, nor do they have to become big events, they can, however, quite easily become days the entire family will look forward to year after year. These are really what great memories are made of. In another chapter he emphasizes the importance of walking somewhere local with your child rather than driving there. Taking time to just stroll leisurely (if the situation permits), talk and maybe hold hands is an ideal way to be “present” with your child rather than rushing about in the car to get someplace. Be spontaneous and see what happens.  It might be some of the best moments you and your child have shared in a long time. Broken down in main categories such as Basic Principles, Simple Strategies, Epilogue and an Appendix then put into topic chapters, all areas of life with kids is covered.  The brief chapters are well written and packed with ideas parents will refer back to again. In fact you may be surprised to learn that Rotbart even suggests parents keep the book in the bathroom as it was “not written to be read cover to cover.” If you have young kids or those heading off to college, No Regrets Parenting is an invaluable resource to have on hand, bookshelf or bathroom!

Author John Rosemond has written 15 parenting books and his advice is often “the last word” on many topics and it’s certainly true in Toilet Training Without Tantrums. This is a brief book which should come as welcome news to many readers. Rosemond feels that toilet training is a simple process therefore the book should cut to the chase quickly, too.  Rosemond’s sense of humor (which helps enormously when toilet training because it can be so stressful to so many) is evident from page 1 where he even tells readers what chapters they can skip depending on their current situation/predicament. Most importantly parents will discover that Rosemond believes the old-fashioned way of potty-training is the tried-and-true method and that Brazelton’s philosophy of waiting to see the “seven signs of readiness” is not necessarily what works best. After putting into action and seeing results from the recommended approach presented in Toilet Training Without Tantrums, moms can kiss their diaper bags good-bye.

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Be An American Girl All Summer Long With Read-A-Palooza & An Exciting Book Giveaway!

AMERICAN GIRL ENCOURAGES READING AND FUN
WITH READ-A-PALOOZA! 

 (Plus you’ll help Save the Children’s U.S. literacy program when you buy American Girl books)

Enter below today for your chance to win a bunch of the best books for summer reading

In conjunction with American Girl’s super summer celebration of reading called Read-a-palooza, Good Reads With Ronna is offering a great giveaway. It’s just the right time to join the millions of girls who’ve grown up with American Girl’s award-winning books and discover the delights of reading all summer long. So get out your beach bag, sunblock, swim suit and some sunglasses and get ready to dive in to a good time

Books shown here do not necessarily reflect titles offered.
Please refer to list on the left.

One winner will receive a selection of summer reading including:  

  • McKenna (A 2012 Girl of the Year book)
  • McKenna Ready to Fly (A 2012 Girl of the Year book) 
  • The nonfiction advice book, Take the Challenge
  • The nonfiction advice book, A Smart Girl’s Guide to Liking Herself
  • The Innerstar University Book (these are “choose your own ending” books), Behind the Scenes
  • A Cecile Mystery, The Cameo Necklace

Click here to enter with your name and address, then leave a comment below and remember to
LIKE Good Reads With Ronna on Facebook  for your chance to win. Contest ends midnight on Weds., May 30. Scroll down for contest rules. Good luck!

Keep your girls away from electronics and get them into books to sharpen their reading skills and keep them happily entertained while away from school. American Girl’s Read-a-palooza, a summer reading program created for girls ages 8 to 12, is packed with fun activities and incentives that encourage literacy. Read-a-palooza takes place May 1 to September 3, 2012, and also includes a charitable partnership with Save the Children’s U.S. literacy program.

To participate in Read-a-palooza, girls can visit americangirl.com/reading, where they can download colorful bookmarks and free book-related content, such as tips and materials for starting a book club. They’ll also be able to do reading challenges and take fun, interactive quizzes. Starting in June, girls can participate in Read-a-palooza by visiting an American Girl retail store, where free reading events will be offered all summer long.

To further emphasize the importance of reading and to help a great cause during its Read-a-palooza campaign, American Girl is partnering with Save the Children’s U.S. literacy program. From May 1 through September 3, 2012, $1 of every book purchased through American Girl (up to a maximum of $100,000) will support Save the Children’s efforts to raise literacy rates in impoverished communities by providing basic education and equipping schools and teachers with reading materials. In addition, American Girl will make its third donation of books to Save the Children this fall, bringing the value of the company’s total book donation to nearly $1.5 million.

For more information about Read-a-palooza and American Girl’s partnership with Save the Children, visit americangirl.com/reading.

AMERICAN GIRL READ-A-PALOOZA GIVEAWAY RULES

TO ENTER – We are giving away 1 prize of 6 assorted American Girl books to include  (2) Girl of the Year books: McKenna and McKenna Ready to Fly, (1) Take The Challenge,(1) A Smart Girl’s Guide to Liking Herself, (1) The Innerstar University Book: Behind the Scenes, (1) A Cecile Mystery: The Cameo Necklace worth a total of $49.70.

  1. This giveaway ends at midnight on Wednesday, May 30th, 2012 with one winner selected on Thursday, May 31st. Winner will be notified by email so be sure to include your name, address, (no P.O. Boxes please) and phone number in an email to Ronna.L.Mandel@gmail.com. Please write American Girl Giveaway in the subject line.
  2. For a chance to be the winner please leave a comment on the giveaway blog post (no one or two word comments please). Be sure to LIKE  Good Reads With Ronna on Facebook for an additional entry and follow us on Twitter @goodreadsronna for an additional entry to the giveaway, too. If you don’t provide an email where you can be contacted your chance to win is forfeited.

This giveaway will run through midnight on May 30,  2012 (PST). Winner will be chosen using Random.org from all valid entries and notified via email. Winner will have 48 hours to contact us at Ronna.L.Mandel@gmail.com before another winner is chosen. Giveaway is open to U.S. (18+) residents only.

American Introduces Read-a-palooza

About American Girl

American Girl Brands is a wholly owned subsidiary of Mattel, (NASDAQ:MAT, www.mattel.com), the world’s leading toy company. Since American Girl’s inception in 1986, the company has devoted its entire business to celebrating the potential of girls ages 3 to 12. American Girl encourages girls to dream, to grow, to aspire, to create, and to imagine through a wide range of engaging and insightful books, age-appropriate and educational products, and unforgettable experiences. In meeting its mission with a vigilant eye toward quality and service, American Girl has earned the loyal following of millions of girls and the praise and trust of parents and educators. To learn more about American Girl or to request a free catalogue, call 1-800-845-0005, or visit www.americangirl.com.  

About Save the Children

Save the Children’s U.S. Programs work to break the cycle of poverty and improve the lives of children by ensuring they have the resources they need—access to a quality education, healthy foods, and opportunities to grow and develop in a nurturing environment. When disasters like hurricanes and wildfires strike, Save the Children is among the first on the ground ensuring the needs of children are being met.

Save the Children’s early childhood education, literacy, physical activity and nutrition, and emergency response programs reached more than 147,000 children and families in the United States last year alone. For more information, visit www.savethechildren.org/usa.


 

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A GIVEAWAY TO CELEBRATE THE 20TH ANNIVERSARY OF BESTSELLING JUNIE B. JONES SERIES

Everyone has their favorite JUNIE B. JONES book and now you can have a chance to win a special collectors’ edition of the first book in the series, Junie B. Jones and the Stupid Smelly Bus filled with never before seen material!


Has it been 2o years already? Wow, I feel old. It seems like yesterday when we were living in Frankfurt, Germany and my best friend in America mailed my daughter several copies of Junie B. Jones books. Both my daughter Gemma and I were instantly hooked.  Is that how your children felt, too?

I’m so excited that Random House Books for Young Readers is celebrating the 20th anniversary of the beloved JUNIE B. JONES chapter book series, written by
Barbara Park and illustrated by Denise Brunkus and so Good Reads With Ronna decided to do a giveaway in honor of this milestone anniversary. To enter for your chance to win one of three copies (plus a cool promotional JBJ mini school calendar June -December 2012) click here now for entry instructions and rules or scroll down to enter, too.

Available as of yesterday, April 24, Random House has published a full-color, jacketed hardcover edition of the first book in the series, Junie B. Jones and the Stupid Smelly Bus. Filled with never before seen material—including full-color artwork and photographs, a behind-the-scenes peek at illustrator Denise Brunkus’s sketch pad, and a conversation between Barbara Park and Junie B. Jones herself—this special collectors’ edition is a must-have for Junie B. fans of all ages! The book has 96 pages and retails at $14.99.

With over 52 million copies in print in all formats and translated into more than a dozen languages, the Junie B. Jones series first burst onto the literary scene in 1992, and has been keeping kids (and grownups) laughing—and reading—ever since.  Twenty years and 30 books later, Junie B. Jones has become a staple in classrooms across the country and been featured in USA Today, Time Magazine, and on the Today show. Author Barbara Park says “I’ve never been sure whether Junie B.’s fans love her in spite of her imperfections . . . or because of them. But either way, she’s gone out into the world and made more friends than I ever dreamed possible.”  Junie B.’s unique take on the world continues to strike a chord with all who read Park’s laugh-out-loud funny stories and this special collector’s edition will bring fans and new readers back to the very beginning—Junie B.’s first day of kindergarten.

The anniversary of the series will be celebrated this summer, as the ninth annual JUNIE B. JONES STUPID SMELLY BUS TOUR rolls into 15 cities across the country, bringing Junie B. to life for her fans via a theatrical performance penned by  Park herself.  Also check out the debut of Junie B. Jones’s new website. Visit JunieBJones.com for tour information, Junie B. activities and more.

Photo: ©Norma Jean Gargasz/Random House
Photo: ©Norma Jean Gargasz/Random House

And, the wait is over!  JUNIE B., FIRST GRADER: TURKEYS WE HAVE LOVED AND EATEN

(AND OTHER THANKFUL STUFF), the latest book in the series, will be available August 2012 wherever books are sold. 

Get the latest updates and news from Random House Children’s Books!

Follow Twitter: @RandomHouseKids

Facebook: Facebook.com/randomhousekids

CONTEST ENTRY INFO & RULES:

CONTEST RULES

TO ENTER – We are giving away three (3) copies of Junie B. Jones special collectors’ edition, a full-color, jacketed hardcover edition of the first book in the series, Junie B. Jones and the Stupid Smelly Bus, plus a promotional JBJ calendar as well (this is a small school year calendar June-December 2012)  This giveaway ends at midnight on Wednesday, May 9th, 2012 with three (3) winners selected on Thursday, May 10th. Winners will be notified by email so be sure to include your name, address, (no P.O. Boxes please) and phone number in an email to Ronna.L.Mandel@gmail.com.  If you follow instructions below you can have as many as four chances to enter!

Please write Junie B. Jones 20th Anniversary Giveaway in the subject line. For a chance to be the winner of one copy of the book, please leave a comment on the blog (one or two word comments will not count towards extra entry) and also LIKE Good Reads With Ronna on Facebook. Follow us on Twitter @goodreadsronna for an additional entry to the giveaway. If you don’t provide an email where you can be contacted your chance to win is forfeited.

You can earn one extra contest entry each by LIKING the Random House Kids page on Facebook and by following them on Twitter @RandomHouseKids

This giveaway will run through midnight on May 9,  2012 (PST). Winners will be chosen using Random.org from all valid entries and notified via email. Winner will have 48 hours to contact us at Ronna.L.Mandel@gmail.com before another winner is chosen. Giveaway is open to U.S. (18+) residents only.

Good Reads With Ronna did not receive monetary compensation for these reviews.  Three (3) giveaway book items worth a total value of  $14.99 each will be provided by Good Reads With Ronna courtesy of Random House Books for Young Readers. 
There is no $ value for the promotional calendar. The review is in our own words and is our opinion. Your opinions may differ.


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TIME FOR KIDS: Big Book of Science Experiments WINNER ANNOUNCED!

Congratulations to Vanessa Cisterna who has won a copy of  Time For Kids: Big Book of Science Experiments ($17.95, Time Home Entertainment, ages 8-12 ) by the editors of Time For Kids magazine.

A huge thank you to everyone who entered. Watch this space for another fun new giveaway coming soon.  Good Reads With Ronna appreciates all your comments and hopes you continue to enjoy our selection of book reviews and giveaways.

This terrific hands-on book with more than 100 cool experiments for kids will occupy and educate your budding scientist or inventor while answering many questions you as parents may have pondered, too.  Please note: All experiments and activities in this book require adult supervision so carve out some time for your child before you play Mad Scientist.

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Time For Kids: Big Book of Science Experiments, A Review & Giveaway

Time For Kids: Big Book of Science Experiments ($17.95, Time Home Entertainment, ages 8-12 ) by the editors of Time For Kids magazine is reviewed by Ronna Mandel. Click here to check out their wonderful website and read on to learn more about the giveaway!

This terrific hands-on book with more than 100 cool experiments for kids will occupy and educate your budding scientist or inventor while answering many questions you as parents may have pondered, too. Before you read any further, it’s important to know that all experiments and activities in this book require adult supervision so carve out some time for your child before you play Mad Scientist. Additionally, Good Reads With Ronna will be giving away one copy of this book in a random drawing.  Please see below for giveaway details and rules.

The contents page breaks down the experiments into four sections: Earth Science, Life Science, Physical Science, and Technology and Engineering. There’s also a very helpful section called Science Fair Success Secrets with tips on how to present your projects and improve your prospects with a Science Fair judge. And I’m the first person to say all’s fair in love and Science Fairs! As a parent, what I especially appreciated was the key indicating whether an experiment could be performed: in less than one hour (a green test tube); in a matter of hours (a yellow flask); or would take more than a day to complete (a red beaker).

In addition, another plus for this book is that before each experiment, there’s an explanation of the science behind it so a child can understand what he/she is doing and why. Convenient You Will Need boxes list items to have on hand before attempting any experiment and easy-to-understand, step-by-step instructions put success in reach of all who try. The 192 pages of  Time For Kids: Big Book of Science Experiments are packed with colorful artwork and photographs and contains a wide range of experiments that you can return to as your child gets older and more experienced. My 10-year-old son learned a lot from the Types of Bridges explanation in the Engineering section, but everyone will have their own favorite topic to tackle. Into understanding family resemblance, mass matters, turbine power, patterns, kitchen mold, magnet magic or best of all, explosions? It’s all there for you to explore and enjoy. Prepare to have a blast, or two!

CONTEST RULES

TO ENTER – We are giving away one (1) copy of The Time For Kids: Big Book of Science Experiments book.  This giveaway ends at midnight on Monday, Feb. 27th, 2012 with one (1) winner selected on Tuesday, Feb. 28th. Winner will be notified by email so be sure to include your name, address, (no P.O. Boxes please) and phone number in an email to Ronna.L.Mandel@gmail.com. Please write Time For Kids Science Giveaway in the subject line. For a chance to be the winner of one copy of the book, please leave a comment on the blog and also LIKE Good Reads With Ronna on Facebook. If you don’t provide an email where you can be contacted your chance to win is forfeited.

This giveaway will run through midnight on Feb. 24,  2012 (PST). Winner will be chosen using Random.org from all valid entries and notified via email. Winner will have 48 hours to contact us at Ronna.L.Mandel@gmail.com before another winner is chosen. Giveaway is open to U.S. (18+) residents only.

Good Reads With Ronna did not receive monetary compensation for these reviews.  One (1) giveaway item worth a total value of  $17.95 will be provided by Good Reads With Ronna. 
 The review is in our own words and is our opinion. Your opinions may differ.

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Children’s Holiday Book Roundup and Giveaway

We may not get snow here in sunny Southern California, but we do get all the wonderful holiday books to help us get into the festive mood!  Ronna Mandel and Debbie Glade have put together a brief collection of recommended books for parents to consider when making up their gift lists this season. No matter what time of the year, one of the most important things to do with your child is read. So buy a book or two, put the kettle on and then snuggle up close to your little ones and explore lands near and far as they come alive with every page you turn.  For a chance to be the winner of three of these terrific holiday books, please leave a comment on the blog, LIKE Good Reads With Ronna on Facebook and be sure to provide an email where you can be contacted.  The contest ends at midnight on Friday, Dec. 23, 2011. Scroll down for contest *rules.

Record a Memory: Our Family Christmas Memories (approx. $15.95, Publications International, Ltd., all ages) makes it easy for families to share memories and then treasure them for years to come.  The sparkly, embossed cover beckons readers to open the book, fill in the requested info, add voice messages wherever there’s an icon pictured and turn good times into a customized scrapbook. With a little help from an older sibling or adult, even the youngest child can add their input by simply following the handy instructions provided on the opening page. Everyone will enjoy the 48 beautiful pages, with their ample room to include photos of Christmas stockings, Christmas dinner plus places to jot down specific recollections like a favorite Christmas past or yummy recipe.  Best of all is the six-button module designed to allow users to record a special memory, making Our Family Christmas Memories a keepsake families will return to again and again. Three AAA batteries are included and the books can be found at major retailers nationwide.  Add Record a Memory to the rest of your family’s holiday traditions and capture cherished moments for a lifetime.

A Bad Kitty Christmas ($15.99, A Neal Porter Book/Roaring Brook Press, ages 4 and up), written and illustrated by Nick Bruel cannot fail when its cover alone cracks me up! Anyone who knows me knows I adore cats and now, having just adopted two maniacal brothers whose exploits compare to those of Bad Kitty’s, I love Bruel’s series more than ever. The picture book opens with, “Twas the night before Christmas, and all through the city, not a creature was stirring … (Blam! Crash! Kaboom! indicating sound of garbage pails flying) … Except for Bad Kitty.” If this line does not set the tone for what havoc will be wreaked by this fabulously feisty feline, I’m not sure what does. Soon Kitty shows her disinterest in spending Christmas Eve with Uncle Murray and leaps from her owner’s auto (followed by Puppy), getting lost in the big city until rescued by an elderly lady.  After an afternoon of listening to the old lady reminisce, Bad Kitty  yearns to return home to his family. Sensing the cat’s homesickness, the caring woman realizes she has an important holiday mission to accomplish.  Will Bad Kitty (and Puppy) be reunited with their family for Christmas? Put this book on your holiday list to find out how they all fare.  Still eager to continue the craziness?  Check out more shenanigans at the Bad Kitty website.

Chanukah Lights ($34.99, Candlewick Press, ages 5 and up), is written by Michael J. Rosen with pop-art by Robert Sabuda.  Not all pop-up books are created equal and when you combine the talents of the masterful Rosen with those of Sabuda, you get a rare Chanukah treat for the entire family to enjoy.  Travel across the globe and through time by experiencing eight wondrous and intricately designed scenes of the Jewish Festival of Lights. Whether viewing the Temple where the oil that lasted eight days was discovered, journeying to a shtetl where “six lights flicker,” or traveling to a kibbutz in the Promised Land replete with olive groves and this time showing eight glimmering flames, the faith of those who have carried on the Chanukah tradition is beautifully reflected on every page. This unique interpretation of the holiday will not disappoint.

Create-A-Story Kit: StoryWorld – Christmas Tales ($9.99, Templar Books, ages 9 and up) by John & Caitlin Matthews is just the answer for kids stuck indoors with relatives and other visitors over the holiday break. Christmas Tales allows everyone to take control of their boredom transforming it into fun and games when using the set of cards provided. There are multiple ways to use the colorful cards and a handy storytelling book included that gives tips to get players started. Pick a card and begin telling a tale, or maybe play a card game of hidden clues. Kids can even put on a play based on the card images. My favorite card, The Christmas Ghosts (who appear only at Christmastime) sets my imagination soaring.  Thought provoking questions on the card’s reverse side ask: “What stories can they tell about their lives?”  “Why have they appeared this year?” Or in my case, the question would be “Why have they NOT appeared this year?” Then I would also incorporate the last question, “Who is able to see them and who cannot?” and so would begin my tale … Make Create-A-Story series part of your family’s annual celebration and see what a good time being stuck with relatives and visitors can really be!

The Littlest Evergreen’s talented author and illustrator Henry Cole, ($16.99, Katherine Tegan Books by Harper Collins, ages 4 and up) really knows how to captivate the hearts of his readers. This is an enchanting story, with an environmental message, about a how a tiny evergreen grows into a Christmas tree and about what happens to him after the holiday is over. Cole’s illustrations are beyond exceptional – so much so that I found myself looking at them over and over again. He uses vivid acrylic paints in such a way that they have crisp edges to make featured objects contrast beautifully with the backgrounds. This artist has illustrated more than 50 children’s books, including several he has written himself. Every child, who celebrates Christmas and loves to choose a fresh tree every year, will also adore this book. It is without-a-doubt one to keep and read every year before Christmas. It sure got me in the Christmas spirit!

CONTEST RULES:

*This giveaway will run through midnight on December 23,  2011 (PST). Winner will be chosen using Random.org from all valid entries and notified via email. Winner will have 48 hours to contact us at Ronna.L.Mandel@gmail.com before another winner is chosen. Giveaway is open to U.S. (18+) residents only.

*Good Reads With Ronna did not receive monetary compensation for these reviews.  Three (3) giveaway items worth a total value of  $67.97 will be provided by Good Reads With Ronna. 
 The reviews are in our own words and is our opinion. Your opinions may differ.

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