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Gotta Love ‘Em! A Charlie and Lola Contest

518tgvmjvrl_sl500_aa240_When we lived in London, my kids discovered the Charlie and Lola series of books from the very talented Lauren Child and soon so many of their expressions became commonplace in our household. Now I am excited to offer a reader contest for the latest DVD from BBC Video: Charlie and Lola Volume 10: I Can’t Stop Hiccupping and other stories based on their Playhouse Disney hit show here on the Disney Channel. This latest installment features Lola battling a bout of hiccups before a school performance in the title episode along with eight other episodes making this over an hour and half in content.

The popular Charlie and Lola books and DVDs are perfect for preschoolers. Join older brother Charlie and younger sister Lola in their endearing escapades presented in Child’s trademark photomontage style with realistic dialogue and engaging adventures. I love the sibling relationship and how Charlie cares so much for his younger sister and always hoped this sentiment would rub off on my oldest child.

The DVD series is a Gold Medal recipiet of the 2006 National Parenting Publications Award (NAPPA) and continues to receive countless honors in the parenting industry.

Enter here now for a chance to win one of two DVDs along with one of two paperback books I’ll be giving away. Remember to write Charlie and Lola as the subject. For rules click here. The contest ends on March 22.

PRIZES:

  • cl10_3dCharlie and Lola Volume Ten: I Can’t Stop Hiccupping! (DVD)
  • 619gnshugol_sl500_aa240_I Can’t Stop Hiccupping! (paperback)
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A Snowflake & A Chicken Dance

We may be about to ‘spring forward’ this weekend, but I thought there was still time to get one last snowflake in there! Guest reviewer Michael is a 6-year old boy from Virginia. A proud Tiger scout, Michael also enjoys soccer and playing the piano. Michael has reviewed The Smallest Snowflake and Chicken Dance.

37190265I really liked The Smallest Snowflake ($16.95, NorthSouth Books, ages 3-8) written by Bernadette Watts with illustrations by Edith M B. B. All of the snowflakes found their home. The Smallest Snowflake had a hard time finding a special home. I thought the pictures were pretty.

39185208Chicken Dance, ($14.95, Sterling Press, ages 4-7) written by Tammi Sauer, illustrated by Dan Santat was really funny. I liked the pictures. The chickens do dances to win a contest. No one thinks they can win. The chickens try very hard. Everyone is proud of them.39188178

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High-Tech “Digital Bookmobile” Rolls into L.A.

hm_logoIf you’re like me you probably never heard of the Digital Bookmobile, so consider checking it out at:

Central Library, March 3,

Mid-Valley Branch, March 4

This 71-foot, 18-wheeler is a high-tech update of a traditional bookmobile and comes to you courtesy of the Los Angeles Public Library.

WHEN &
WHERE: Wednesday, March 3: 10 a.m. – 2 p.m.
Central Library, Flower St between (between 5th & 6th St.), downtown L.A.
Thursday, March 4: 10 a.m. – 4 p.m.

Mid-Valley Regional Branch, 16244 Nordhoff St., North Hills

WHAT: High-Tech “Digital Bookmobile” continues its national tour with stops at the Los Angeles Public Library to help Angelenos discover their library’s free downloadable electronic books, music and audiobooks.

The 71-foot, 18-wheeler “Digital Bookmobile” is free, open to the public and features:

· “Gadget Gallery” with iPod, Zune, Sony Readers and the latest electronic gear,

· Interactive learning stations with broadband PCs, high-definition monitors and a wide variety of portable devices, and

· Demonstrations of how to search and download the library’s digital collections.

Digital downloadable media are among the Library’s most popular collections and include 10,400 e-books, 4,500 e-audiobooks, 400 e-music titles and 1,500 e-videos. All are free and accessible at www.lapl.org.

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Oh, The Fun You Can Have!

event_detailread-across-america-logoLooking for something fun and free to do this weekend? Well if you and your kids are fans of books and love to read, head over to your nearest Target. Oh all the places you’ll go!

This Saturday, February 27, 9 – 11 a.m., all Target stores nationwide will host free in-store events including readings by volunteers and local notables, reading activities and giveaways.

imagesTarget has partnered with the National Education Association to support the Read Across America program. Click here for more information on the Read Across America program at Target. Just in case you were wondering, the Dr. Seuss theme honors the birthday of beloved author Theodor Geisel, (aka Dr. Seuss) born on March 2, 1904.

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Much Ado About Maisy!

teaandmaisyimages-2L.A. Parent’s graphic artist, Terresa Burgess takes a look at a bunch of books starring MAISY, her daughter Teagan’s favorite character.

This special post is dedicated to Maisy. Maisy is one of Teagan’s favorite characters from a book. Not a day goes by without reading at least one Maisy book. Maisy is fun, simple and I think Teagan can relate to that mouse’s experiences and emotions. They both love to explore, play and set out on adventures. Toddlers are influenced by their surroundings. They are sponges when it comes to what they see and what they hear. My husband and I feel that the Maisy series has a positive effect on Teagan’s reading and language skills. She recognizes many of the words she sees in the Maisy books in her daily reading. We also love how friendship is a theme throughout Maisy’s
books. Many of Maisy’s experiences are shared with her friends Charley, Eddie, Cyril and Tallulah, much like what Teagan shares with her new friendships.

Check out these titles by Lucy Cousins published by Candlewick Press:

maisyblocksMaisy’s Book Tower ($9.99, ages 2-5) features 4 small block books packaged in one tall box. These tiny and fun books include Maisy’s favorite animals, toys, clothes and things. The books are great for learning and associating words and pictures. The books stand up to the rough and tumble hands of our toddler. Once kids are done they can stack the books on top of each other like blocks. Teagan loved the books. These cute little books that are easy to carry and care for came in handy when my husband, Teagan and I went out
for dinner the other night. Have Maisy will travel. Maisy’s Book Tower is available this February 2010.

The following Maisy titles ($12.99, ages 2-5) all belong to the First
Experiences Book series:

maisylibrarymuseumIn Maisy Goes to the Museum, Maisy spends the day exploring a museum. Visiting a museum is super quality time spent exposing kids to history, science, art, and Teagan’s favorite – dinosaurs! The last time we read this book Teagan counted the bones on the T-Rex.

In Maisy Goes to the Library, it’s book time! Maisy is on a quest for a book about fish. On her search she encounters her friends and their noisy library discoveries. Maisy loves her friends but she also enjoys quiet time. Libraries are a great place for kids of all ages to find a quiet spot and melt into a book. We don’t know if Teagan is ready for the library as of yet. Quiet is not a toddler vocabulary word! But she does like to say “shhhhh!”

The last title in my review belongs to A Maisy First Science Book series:

Toddlers are constantly on the go. Running, jumping, riding, always moving! Maisy’s Book of Things That Go ($12.99 , ages 3 and up) addresses a toddler’s curiosity of how things work. In this particular book we find out what makes a bike pedal. Teagan has been trying very hard to learn how to ride her tricycle. This series features paper engineering with pop-ups, pull-tabs, rotating wheels and other paper devices to show how things work. Teagan loves books that come alive. But I make sure that I supervise and monitor her as she handles these types of books. Sometimes she gets a little too excited and pulls the tabs too hard. This book is available May 2010.

All of the Maisy books are delightful and engaging. The story lines are fun and toddlers can relate to them. The illustrations are bright, colorful and I like how the books aren’t gender specific.

Learn more about Maisy, and Lucy Cousins at Maisy’s Fun Club where you’ll find crafts, downloadable coloring pages, games and more!

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This World Is Your World

The spectacular illustrations of Caldecott Honor Medalist Marla Frazee make All the World a very special book. Visit this illustrator’s website www.marlafrazee.com, learn about how much effort she puts into her illustrations and you too will be enchanted as well as inspired. Her illustrations of rainfall are extraordinary!

9781416985808All the World (Simon & Schuster, grades Kindergarten – 2) is a big square picture book with big double page pictures and short, rhyming prose by author Liz Garton Scanlon. It’s about our world and all the things in it – us, our families, the food we eat, our land, the sky, our weather and much more. The text sends the youngest of readers an uncomplicated, but important message about the basics of our earth and our lives, while the illustrations take you right to where the author wants you go.

This is the kind of book you keep on the shelf for years, read over and over again and savor the illustrations to capture what you missed the time before.

“All the world is here. It is there. It is everywhere. All the world is right where you are. Now.”
http://c.brightcove.com/services/viewer/federated_f9/2281217001?isVid=1&publisherID=1635265513

debbieglade1Debbie Glade, today’s guest reviewer, is the author, illustrator and voice talent of the award-winning children’s picture book The Travel Adventures of Lilly P Badilly: Costa Rica, published by Smart Poodle Publishing. She visits South Florida schools with her reading, writing and geography programs. For years, Debbie was a travel writer for luxury cruise lines. She writes parenting articles for various websites and is the Geography Awareness Editor for WanderingEducators.com. She blogs daily at smartpoodlepublishing.com.

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Ballet Advice from Twinkletoes

51kqnct38gl_sl500_aa240_norahandjuliaGuest reviewer and mother of three (Julia, 7, Norah, 5 and Evelyn, 1), Jessica Smith from Dracut, MA is back.

Having two girls who are both currently taking ballet classes, we were delighted when we sat down to read The Ballerina’s Handbook from Templar Press (ages 4-8). The book begins with a fold-out letter from Flora Twinkletoes, whose journey through ballet we follow throughout the book. She encourages the reader of the book to “stand tall, hold your head high” and to “find the dancer in you.” Ideal for my almost seven-year old, The Ballerina’s Handbook is filled with letters, postcards, booklets and flaps that make it seem as though you’re reading Flora’s own personal scrapbook.

Julia and Norah practicing a position
Julia and Norah practicing a position

From advice on how to find a dance class, what to pack in your dance bag, how to decipher the positions and language of ballet, and how to present oneself to an audience, The Ballerina’s 51blnjvzggl_aa240_Handbook does not disappoint with its soft, watercolor-like pictures and fold-out surprises. We even read along as Flora shares mementos from ballet school, rehearses for a recital, and joins a ballet on tour. My girls especially loved the handy cards that tutor the reader in the five positions of ballet. They wasted no time practicing these moves themselves as they flitted around the living room, imagining themselves as graceful ballerinas.

As a mom, I especially liked that Flora also shares the history of ballet in snippets small enough for a young child to take in while also showing the reader the beauty, fun and excitement of dance. This is a must-read for the dancer (or the dreamer!) in your home!

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So Many Questions!

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It’s obvious that Dr. Stephen Law, the author of Really, Really Big Questions: About Life, the Universe and Everything, (Roaring Book Press) wrote this book just for me. After all, my husband often says of my curiosity, “Why did I marry Andy Rooney?” I just like to ponder things I don’t understand and then dig for the answers, question the data and look for the truth. And if your child is one who asks you relentless questions, then you’ve got to get this book.

I love that the cover of Really, Really Big Questions is made to look worn. When you open it up you will see big titles, colorful paper and simple yet bold illustrations. The purpose of the book is to address “The biggest and strangest questions of all.” Can you bend a spoon with your mind? Can I make something true by believing it? Did we all used to be monkeys?

The author will really make you think as you read. In fact the answers are not really answers, rather they are “ponderables” to make you think long and hard about what you are asking. And there is a great sense of humor amongst the discussions here. Sometimes we will learn that the problem lies in the question itself, rather than the answer. For example, “Can I think about nothing?” Go ahead, you try to think about nothing. Well, can you?

My favorite children’s books are ones that parents and grandparents enjoy reading as much as kids do. This is the kind of book where you read one chapter and then discuss your thoughts in detail. It’s the kind of book that gets your mind rolling, and you won’t be able to stop it. I am still stuck on the question “What is the meaning of life?” where Dr. Law has the reader imagining that his or her purpose in life to clean alien underwear and love doing it. Don’t worry. You’ll “get it” when you read it for yourself.

debbiegladeDebbie Glade, today’s guest reviewer, is the author, illustrator and voice talent of the award-winning children’s picture book The Travel Adventures of Lilly P Badilly: Costa Rica, published by Smart Poodle Publishing. She visits South Florida schools with her reading, writing and geography programs. For years, Debbie was a travel writer for luxury cruise lines. She writes parenting articles for various websites and is the Geography Awareness Editor for WanderingEducators.com. She blogs daily at smartpoodlepublishing.com.

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Children’s Book World

cbw-right-colorsHere’s a quick rundown of what’s happening at Children’s Book World in February:

ellenscbwimg_0725February 13 – Storytelling With Ellen Switkes, 10:30 a.m., ages 3-7 Join professional storyteller Ellen Switkes for interactive storytelling fun with classic children’s books and tales.

Feb 20 – Mandarin Fun Chinese New Year Storytime With Michele Wong McSween, 10:30 a.m., ages 3-6 Join author Michele Wong McSween for Chinese New Year fun. In Michele’s new books, Gordon & Li Li: Learn Animals In Mandarin and Gordon & Li Li: Count in Mandarin, cousins Gordon, from New York, and Li Li from China, teach each other their favorite animals and how to count in Mandarin. gl-count-in-mandaringl-animals-in-mandarin


shannonhaleneellysansom72

*Feb 22 – Shannon and Dean Hale Author Talk & Book Signing, 4:15-5:30 p.m. Westwood Branch Library Join award-winning author Shannon Hale and Dean Hale for an author talk, hosted by Children’s Book World and the Westwood Branch Library, about their popular graphic novels, the new Calamity Jack and Rapunzel’s Revenge, and Shannon’s other books. A sequel to the highly acclaimed Rapunzel’s Revenge, the Hales have delivered an all-new, hilarious tall tale about Jack, his beanstalk .. and his best-friend-with-wicked-braids, Rapunzel. ilenecohen227grandopening-010

Feb. 27 – Storytelling With Ilene Cohen, 10:30 a.m., ages 3-7 Join Ilene Cohen and her puppet friend Woody for stories and songs.

CHILDREN’S BOOK WORLD
10580 1/2 Pico Blvd. Los Angeles, 90064
(310) 559-BOOK www.childrensbookworld.com

*Westwood Branch Library
1246 Glendon Avenue,
Los Angeles, CA 90024

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A Rollicking Good Time With Rhythm

stomp124_smallAdd buying tickets to Stomp to your must-do list today.  Last night I brought my husband to see the opening of the L.A. limited run (Jan. 26-Feb.7) and cannot thank him enough for urging me to attend!!  I had no preconceived notions of what to expect, and I can honestly say this show will not disappoint. Children and adults filled the packed Pantages Theatre and at the end, none of us wanted to leave. Maybe it was my seat’s proximity to the speakers, but I think not. There was a palpable energy last night encircling the audience and all credit goes to the amazingly talented cast for such an exuberant and skillful performance, the likes of which I’ve never seen elsewhere.

stomp2Billed as an “International Percussive Sensation,” Stomp is UNSTOMPABLE and during this tour, they’ve added some new surprises that are “the biggest since the late 1990s.” It seems there is nothing this group of young performers cannot turn into an instrument. I will never be able to look at a broom, a sink or for that matter, a folding chair, the same way again.  From a paper lunch bag to a truck tire’s inner tube, the Stomp crew created memorable music and creatively choreographed dance movements and skits to accompany every last beat.

stomp3I love a show with a sense of humor and this one had it whether it was simply suggestive (without words, only mimicry) like in the tube size certain characters were playing, where spotlights were focused, or with clever hand clapping. Without giving anything away, I’ll simply say that pulling the plugs from the portable sinks made for quite an entertaining moment on stage as did the superbly synchronized cigarette lighter sequence.  The lighting and set were brilliant and I cannot imagine any other way to stage a show like Stomp. When the cast clanged out a powerful performance while suspended above the stage, I knew I was experiencing one of the most enjoyable shows in decades and deserving of every honor it’s been awarded.

For more information visit www.stomponline.com or click here now.

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Call Of The Wild DVD Contest

Enter this contest to win one of two copies on 3-D DVD

cotw_3d_skew_dvdsmallYou’ve read the book, maybe even seen the 1972 version with Charlton Heston, but now this Jack London classic gets a family-friendly, modern day adaptation. From Vivendi Entertainment comes
Call of the Wild on 3-D DVD available in stores now.

The all-star cast includes Back to The Future’s Christopher Lloyd, Ariel Gade, Wes Studi, Aimee Teegarden, Devon Graye, Kameron Knox, Jaleel White, Joyce DeWitt, Veronica Cartwright and Timothy Bottoms. For your chance to win one of two copies, click now and remember to enter CALL OF THE WILD in the subject line. For rules, click here now. The contest ends on February 8, 2010. Good luck!

Call of the Wild is the timeless story of a young girl visiting Montana who rescues an injured wolf that her grandfather feels she should return to the wild. Complications arise after she trains the wolf. The bonus features include a fun Call of the Wild game, a behind-the-scenes featurette, as well as deleted scenes and audio commentary. The single disc DVD, containing both the 2-D and 3-D versions of the film, is a must for your family’s DVD library. Priced at $19.99, it comes with two pairs of special 3-D glasses.

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There’s a Babirusa in My Bathtub

babir-dKids love to learn about exotic animals, and so do I! Written by Maxine Rose Schur, There’s a Babirusa in My Bathtub: Fact and Fancy About Curious Creatures starts out with an adorable poem about unfamiliar ronna1animals. 13 unique animals are featured in this book, including introductory poems and fascinating info about each creature, “fabulous facts” and gorgeous illustrations by Michael Maydak.

Have you ever even heard of a Babirusa, also known as a pig deer in its native Indonesia? What about a bat-like Coluga from Southeast Asia? A Hagfish that makes a ronna3bunch of slime to make it hard for predators to catch it? And so much more! At the back of the book are two extra pages with fun facts and activities for readers to enjoy, including a list of other rare animals worth researching. There’s a Babirusa in My Bathtub is a great book for both kids and parents to learn about unusual critters. It will surely pique children’s curiosity enough to make them want to learn more about our wide and wonderful world.

ronna2
Winner of the
2009 iParenting Media
Greatest Product Award

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Debbie Glade, today’s guest reviewer, is the author, illustrator and voice talent of the award-winning children’s picture book The Travel Adventures of Lilly P Badilly: Costa Rica, published by Smart Poodle Publishing. She visits South Florida schools with her reading, writing and geography programs. For years, Debbie was a travel writer for luxury cruise lines. She writes parenting articles for various websites and is the Geography Awareness Editor for WanderingEducators.com. She blogs daily at smartpoodlepublishing.com.

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Revisiting a classic – Mr. Popper’s Penguins

9780316058438_154x233Originally published in 1938, and a “Newbery” honor book, Mr. Popper’s Penguins still delights. I asked my son, Coleman, a third-grader, to read the book without mentioning its classic status and he raved about it. Having a cool cover design by Michael Emberley pulled him in, but the marvelous story by Richard and Florence Atwater with illustrations by Robert Lawson is what kept his interest peaked.

According to Coleman, the main characters in the book are Mr. and Mrs. Popper, their son Bill and daughter Janie plus 12 penguins. Mr. Popper is a house painter and one day he sends a letter to Admiral Drake in the South Pole. Several weeks later Admiral Drake’s show about his Antarctic explorations is live on the radio. During his show he addresses Mr. Popper on the radio, referring to his letter. “Since you want a little piece of Antarctica, there will be a special surprise for you in the mail.”

In a few weeks, the box from Admiral Drake arrives and when Mr. Popper opens it, out pops a penguin as curious as a cat. The penguin proceeds to explore the house and is named Captain Cook by the Popper family. When he gets sick, the local aquarium sends over another penguin named Greta. Soon Greta lays an egg and then another until there are a total of 10 baby penguins.

The story, according to my son, is about what life is like for the Poppers who are now the proud owners of 12 penguins. During their stay at the Popper home, the penguins discover that staircases are for tobogganing, and sibling rivalry is not all fun and games. The family puts on a show and travels from coast to coasst, but you have to read the book to find out the rest!

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CLOUDY WINNER ANNOUNCED

Congratulations to Erika Lutz, winner of the Good Reads With Ronna CLOUDY WITH A CHANCE OF MEATBALLS contest.  Thank you to all who entered.  Coming soon: CALL OF THE WILD DVD contest.

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