National Geographic Kids The Book of Heroes and The Book of Heroines Review and Giveaway #natgeokids #momsmeet

Disclaimer: I received this product for free from Moms Meet (momsmeet.com), May Media Group LLC, who received it directly from the manufacturer. As a Moms Meet blogger, I agree to use this product and post my honest opinion on my blog. The opinions posted are my own.

National Geographic Kids The Book of Heroes and The Book of Heroines have been wonderful additions to our home library. Being a homeschool family these are a valuable resource to us for facts and info that can lead to more learning. I am big on book learning first then using the internet to further explore on ideas. Books in hand make a difference for me and my family. I grew up in a house full of books and am grateful for it.

The Book of Heroes has been my son's favorite. My son loves to read about the men who have shaped the world and imagine himself as his own version of a hero. They even have a section on courageous kids to inspire little ones. This book has sparked his interest in learning more about people making a difference right now and in the past who have made the world better. I love reading this with him. We did not read the book cover to cover but instead have been skipping around chapters letting him pick what we discuss. The books include people from history and others that are also very relevant with current events. The layout of the book and colorful images really help keep kids interested.

My son had a few favorite parts of The Book of Heroes including Chapter 3: Game Changers. It is about men in sports, he loved this chapter. The inspiring stories of athletes such as Jessie Owens, Jim Abbott, Michael Jordan and Tony Hawk were fun to read. Inspiring Minds, Chapter 7, has been my son's top favorite chapter. He loves science and space. The list of 5 great geeks included his favorite game designer Shigeru Miyamoto, who created Mario. Heroes of mythology, legends like Robin Hood and King Arthur, heroes in movies like Harry Potter and Star Wars, the book is full of so many diverse categories and people.

Topics on political heroes, human rights leaders, so many interesting facts and other people I had not heard of like the story of Chiune Sugihara a worker at the Japanese consulate in Lithuania during World War 2 who made thousands of visas for refugees to flee from Europe. I am a huge history lover and I loved reading the short stories of everyday people being heroes.

I liked how The Book on Heroes mentions notable women heroines in history as did The Book of Heroines mention men in the book too. A good blend of historical facts from men and women. Even heroic animal stories are shared in both of the books. My son loved the animal stories so much!

The Book of Heroines was fabulous to me, I wish I would have owned a book like this as a little girl. To see how influential and world changing some women can be is inspiring. My son was not as interested in the "girl book" as he put it, but at 7 years old I would expect him to be in his girls are silly stage. He did however enjoy me sharing some of the cool stories and pictures with him from the ones I selected to read.

He recognized Wonder Woman, Hermione Granger aka Emma Watson, Mulan, Oprah and a few other women and their stories but after reading the book I know there are so many other stories to share with him. Since he likes sports he thought Chapter 2 Gritty Girls was cool. He recognized the Olympic swimmer Katie Ledecky from the Rio games we watched over the summer.

Heroes for Hire and Heroines on the Job were both chapters on heroes in the work force and were perfect chapters to read for our Social Studies work for the week. We have been learning about workers in the community and the difference of services and goods. It was great to have outside source book that was fun and on topic from what we were leaning that week. I have a few others chapters planned to use as an aid to our school learning.

National Geographic Kids The Book of Heroes and The Book of Heroines are for sale at Barnes & Noble, Books a Million and at National Geographic Store. They would make a perfect Christmas present for the kids in your life. My son loves them and so do I. The facts and stories shared are fascinating and a part of all of our history. In our family a hero is someone who stands up for what is right and makes decisions based on love My son looks up to my husband as his first hero and I could not be more happy about that!

According to the book the world has many meanings and many people can be called heroes in real life or fiction, in these books, heroes tend to share:

7 stupendous qualities:

• Heroes are courageous

• Heroes do the right thing

• Heroes have compassion

• Heroes are competent

• Heroes are inspiring

• Heroes never quit

• Heroes leap to action


National Geographic Kids is a great source of knowledge for your family. You can visit their website for games, videos, fun facts and more.

You can win a copy of both the National Geographic Kids The Book of Heroes and The Book of Heroines here on our website in the Rafflecopter form below.


a Rafflecopter giveaway


*Limited to US residents 18 years old and above. Giveaway starts December 16, 2016 and ends on December 31, 2016 at 12:01 am PST. Winner will be emailed and has 48 hours to respond before another winner is selected. I was not paid for this giveaway or post. The opinions on this item are 100% mine and may vary from others. The sponsor is responsible for providing the prize.

Easter Book Review: Lollipop Seeds That Sprout for Kind Deeds and Giveaway #sponsored

We have many traditions in my home when it comes to holidays throughout the year. We are very loyal to our traditions but do allow for new traditions to be added to make the holiday even more special. This year we learned about a book that tells a cute little story about how the Easter Bunny learns of a tradition long forgotten where the Easter Bunny brings special lollipop seeds that sprout when your child does kind deeds.

The book is colorfully illustrated and a fun way to teach children about doing good for others. My son enjoyed the story. He loved that the Easter Bunny had brothers, sisters and a Grandma in this story. I thought it was cute that they live on the East Pole where it is always Spring.

The last page of the book has room to write the year and the kind deed that was done by your family.

According to legend, the tradition of Lollipop Seeds goes back hundreds of years.  But, it was only recently re-discovered by the Easter Bunny when he asked his Grandma about the meaning behind other Easter traditions like eggs and candy.

Once the Easter Bunny learned of the Lollipop Seeds tradition, he couldn’t wait to hop on it and start delivering them to kids everywhere.

The magic of the seeds lies in the heart of the child who plants them.  They sprout into lollipops on Easter morning, not by water or sun, but by kindness instead.

After reading the book I talked to my 4 year old about what we could do as a kind deed to make our lollipop seeds grow. He had a few ideas, mainly ones about animals but he did say we could grow strawberries and share with Grammy ( his grandma that lives in CA). I thought that counted as a kind deed, to grow a plant with fruit to help feed someone he loves. We made a wish of happy thoughts and tossed our lollipop seeds into the dirt in the yard. The seeds are not for eating, they will grown into flowers, my son and I bought a strawberry plant to plant for the kind deed.

We had fun reading the book, planning a kind deed and sprinkling our lollipop seeds. I know next year we will do the same. I love to encourage my son to do kind deeds for others and this book is a great tool to start the conversation of helping others.

The book includes two Lollipop Seed packs and plant markers.

GIVEAWAY

To celebrate Easter and to encourage others to do kind deeds we will be hosting a giveaway for a copy of the book Lollipop Seeds That Sprout for Kind Deeds by Cherri Prince and illustrated by Marco Bester.


a Rafflecopter giveaway

*Limited to US residents 18 years old and above. Giveaway starts April 10, 2014 and ends on April 17, 2014 at 12:01 am EST. Winner will be emailed and has 72 hours to respond before another winner is selected. I was not paid for this giveaway or post. The opinions on this item are 100% mine and may vary from others. The sponsor is responsible for providing the prize. I was sent a product to review for this post.

Chicken Soup For The Soul, It's Christmas! Review and Giveaway #sponsored







I have enjoyed reading the Chicken Soup For The Soul series of books for years now.

Whatever is going on in your life, wonderful things, or not so wonderful, there is usually a book in this series to address the situation.

Chicken Soup For The Soul It's Christmas! is filled with 101stories of love, Christmas miracles, the joy of family and children, and much more.

Guaranteed to warm your heart, and get you into the holiday spirit, this is a must read, whether you love Christmas or dread it.

 

Santa Is Coming To California Holiday Book Review

As a Californian I LOVE to see books that are California based. I love reading books to my son and books that I can tell him he has seen it or been there is super fun. This year my son is understanding what Santa means and about gifts for being a good boy. The book Santa is Coming to California is great! We had a great time reading it together. This can be a great gift for a kid living in or visiting California for the holidays. I am sure a child traveling would be reassured that yes Santa does find all the good kids in California!

They also have other places like Boston, Florida, Wisconsin, the Carolinas and more! These make great holiday gifts to share with your little ones. I know we will be adding this book to our holiday reading along side the Night Before Christmas and The Grinch.

We have been to the Golden Gate bridge many times. Its awesome to see in person!

Santa flew all over California! 

Book Summary:

It's Christmas Eve, Have you been good? Santa's packed up all the presents and is headed your way! With the help of a certain red-nosed reindeer, Santa flies over:

• San Francisco: Golden Gate Bridge
• San Francisco: Transamerica Building
• San Diego: Coronado Bridge
• Los Angeles: Capitol Records
• Los Angeles: Disney Concert Hall
• Hollywood sign
• Sacramento: State Capitol
• Los Angeles: Griffith Observatory
• Santa Monica Pier
• Giant Sequoia tree
• Yosemite: Halfdome aka El Capitan

"Ho, ho ho!" laughs Santa. "Merry Christmas, California!"

You can learn more about Source Books on Facebook and Twitter.

*This review is my own opinion. I was not paid for this review. The publisher provided for free the book mentioned in this review for this post.

Halloween Fun Magazine Review

Halloween is a fun time of year in my house. Its the launch of the holiday seasons, fall and fun! Now that my son is old enough to really enjoy Halloween I want to go all out this year. I wanted ideas that worked for someone else so I could have an easy way to make Halloween fun. I love magazines, something about reading it in your hands and being able to put it in my bag when on the go to reference in the store is great.

Halloween Fun (from the Good Houskeeping, Redbook and Country Living) currently on news stands and is filled with Halloween ideas. I found many I want to try this year.  Whether you’re throwing a monster bash or just decorating to get in the spirit, you’ll find frightfully quick and easy ways to have a delightfully haunted holiday.

We made a Halloween cookie for fun after reading the magazine. My son wanted a pumpkin so I baked him one.

Look what’s inside?

*New takes on jack-o’-lanterns
*Boo-tiful cupcakes, marshmallow ghosts, mummy cakes, and other treats for little goblins
*Super-cute, simple costumes for kids—and even pets!
*Zillions of ideas for crafts and decorations for your home, from killer entrances to eerie touches throughout the house

 Halloween Fun! is available for $6.99 and can be purchased at your local supermarket, newsstand or bookstore. A digital edition is also available at Zinio.com or Nook.bn.com. For even more photos and inspiration, check out our Facebook page at www.facebook.com/hearstspecials and Pinterest at www.pinterest.com/hearstspecials.

* I was not paid or compensated for this post. I was sent a free copy  for my review by the publisher/PR company. The opinions are 100% mine and may vary from others.

Thank You Zondervan Kidz Book Donation and Review

I have enjoyed reading books to my son since the day he was born. Reading is something I have been taught by my own parents to love. There is an adventure waiting in each book and lessons to be learned. I have been able to read my son Zondervan Books and do so proudly. I grew up loving the Berenstain Bears and am thrilled to be able to share the Bear Family adventures with him. He loves to sit on my lap or in his little car chair and look through the books. He reads them to me in his own way as he describes to me what he sees in the illustrations. Earlier in the month I participated in the Champions for Kids Nickelodeon Big Help book drive and Zondervan Publishing was excited to help. They sent us books to donate and books for my son to have.

We read The Berenstain Bears Faith Gets Us Through and God Made the Seasons.  Both are great books!

Follow Brother and Sister Bear through the seasons of the year Bear Country style, doing everything from swimming and biking to sledding and studying. I liked reading this one to my son since we are getting ready for the fall. Summer time stuff like swimming is no longer an option but we have fun fall time stuff to look forward to.

The Bear Scouts hope to earn their Cave Adventure Merit Badges with Scoutmaster Papa’s help. While learning all about caves from Papa the cubs also learn a lesson about counting on God to guide them too.  I like this one! As parents are kids look to us for answers and know how, we don't always have it but can rely on Christian teachings to help us help them.

 Along with the Berenstain Bear books we were sent one of my favorite Christian children books The Jesus Storybook Bible.

The Jesus Storybook Bible is a beautifully illustrated book for kids and adults to enjoy together. In The Jesus Storybook Bible, every story whispers his name. It tells the story beneath all the stories in the Bible. We were able to donate a wonderful Italian Duo-Tone binding copy of this book to the kids at Home Start. The binding on this book is perfect for keepsake gifts. This book has been printed in 17 different languages so it can be shared with kids all over the world. I love that!

Our book donation to Roseville Home Start that included Zondervan Kidz books.

THANK YOU Zondervan Kidz Publishing for your contribution to the Champions for Kids Nickelodeon Book Drive. The kids at Roseville Home Start are thankful for the books they received. You can purchase the Zondervan Kidz books mentioned in this post and see the other great books they carry online at Zondervan.com

To learn more about Zondervan  you can follow them on Facebook and Twitter.
For more info on The Jesus Storybook Bible you can follow them on Facebook and Twitter.


 * I was not paid or compensated for this post. I was sent a free copy of some of the books for my review by the publisher/PR company. The opinions are 100% mine and may vary from others.

Sylvan Dell Publishing: Thank You for the Donation

My family has been Sylvan Dell Publishing fans since we first read The Giraffe Who was Afraid of Heights by David Ufer over a year ago. Since then we have enjoyed reading the cute titles about animals, the solar system, eco-system and more. The illustrations are always colorful.

This month I participated in the Champions for Kids Nickelodeon Big Help Book Drive to donate books to the Roseville Home Start Program. Since I knew my son enjoyed the books by Sylvan Dell I knew the kids in the transitional housing program would too. Sylvan Dell gladly gave us books to donate for our book drive. I know the kids that received the books will treasure them!

My son was so excited to see all the books we were sent to add to our book drive donation. He held up the two he thought were the coolest, he said "Wow Cool". It made me smile a little to myself since the two he liked were the ones that to me seemed California related, earthquakes and oceans!

Sylvan Dell Publishing sent 4 great titles:

Water Beds: Sleeping in the Ocean - "Tuck your little ones into bed with this soothing, restful story. How do marine mammals - animals that breathe air - sleep in the deep waters of the ocean? Water Beds: Sleeping in the Ocean answers this question. Youngsters meet ten marine mammals, including sea otters and bottlenose dolphins, manatees and harbor seals, humpback whales and walruses, and learn about each animal's unique habits. Although the brief portraits are based on up-to-date scientific research, author Gail Langer Karwoski weaves the facts into simple, poetic language. Connie McLennan's rich oil paintings capture the ocean's habitats and its appealing creatures. The story invites children to drift into a peaceful sleep on the gentle waves of imagination."

Panda's Earthquake Escape -  "Pandas' Earthquake Escape is a fictional story based on a real-life event. In real life, XiXi, a Giant panda did escape from the destroyed Wolong Panda Reserve when the 7.9 earthquake rocked Northern China on May 12, 2008. Author Phyllis Perry uses the adventures of a mother panda, LiLing, and her one year old cub, Tengfei, to teach children about earthquakes, animal survival, and to reinforce a mother's instinct to protect her child. After the quake, mother and cub run from the wreckage. Confused and afraid, they get lost! How will they survive outside their reserve? Will they find food? Will they find shelter? And will they safely endure the earthquake after-shocks? There is something to be learned from every natural disaster, and LiLing and Tengfei give children an opportunity to see it through their eyes. With the help of Susan Detwiler's vivid illustrations, author Phyllis Perry uses a factual event to teach children about earthquakes and animal survival."

The Rainforest Grew All Around -  "Imaginations will soar from the forest floor, up through the canopy and back down again, following the circle of life. The jungle comes alive as children learn about the wide variety of creatures lurking in the lush Amazon rainforest in this clever adaptation of the song "The Green Grass Grew All Around." Search each page to find unique rainforest bugs and butterflies hiding in the illustrations. Delve even deeper into the jungle using sidebars and the "For Creative Minds" educational section, both filled with fun facts about the plants and animals, how they live in the rainforest and the products we use that come from the rainforest."

The Glaciers Are Melting! - "Chicken Little may have thought the sky was falling but Peter Pika is sure the glaciers are melting and is off to talk to the Mountain Monarch about it. Joined along the way by friends Tammy Ptarmigan, Sally Squirrel, Mandy Marmot, and Harry Hare, they all wonder what will happen to them if the glaciers melt. Where will they live, how will they survive? When Wiley Wolverine tries to trick them, can the Mountain Monarch save them? More importantly, can the Mountain Monarch stop the glaciers from melting?"

The donation pile of books for the kids at Roseville Home Start

THANK YOU Sylvan Dell Publishing for your contribution to the Champions for Kids Nickelodeon Book Drive. The kids at Roseville Home Start are thankful for the books they received. You can purchase the Sylvan Dell books mentioned in this post and see the other great books they carry online at Sylvan Dell Publishing.

You can connect with Sylvan Dell Publishing on Facebook and Twitter.

Marilyn The Passion and the Paradox by Lois Banner Book Review

~by Patricia

Fifty years after Marilyn Monroe's death, she continues to remain one of the most fascinating women in American film history.

While many books have been written about this legendary screen star, Marilyn, The Passion and the Paradox is the one that tells Marilyn's story in the most stunningly intimate way. Author and USC Professor of History and Gender Studies, Lois Banner gives us new insights into Marilyn's tragic childhood and early death.
From childhood sexual abuse, to multiple foster homes, we are given all the history that led to the making of the private and public life of Marilyn Monroe.

Her marriages, drug addictions, Kennedy connections and more, are all explored in this truly fascinating and insightful book that is hard to put down. Much more than just the sexual goddess she has been portrayed as, the author uncovers Marilyn's interest in spirituality, her intelligence, and lifelong interest in politics. Filled with beautiful color, and black and white photos, this new book is a must read for any Marilyn Monroe fan.

For a truly deep  and revealing insight into one of the most beautiful and famous actresses of all time, Marilyn, The Passion and the Paradox is a not to be missed reading experience. This book will create new fans of the star that still stirs our interest in her decades after her death.



 * I was not paid or compensated for this post. I was sent a free copy of this book for my review by the publisher/PR company. The opinions are 100% mine and may vary from others.

The Barefoot Executive Book Review

The Barefoot Executive: The Ultimate Guide for Being Your Own Boss by Carrie Wilkerson

I have been an entrepreneur since I was a kid. We had kool aid stands, yard sales, magazine sales and for a time I sold candy to other kids in class, bad I know lol.  I have always had the desire to work for myself, to be my own boss. Its a trait that runs in my family. As an adult I have had a few online shopping sites, did catalog sales and all the home party sales you can think of. I always seemed to not be happy with what is was I was doing since it was not profitable. I have learned so much from reading the book Barefoot Executive: The Ultimate Guide for Being Your Own Boss by Carrie Wilkerson.

Carrie's book is an eye opener about how to think about being your own boss. I love how she says "get passionate about getting to the place of profitability". I think that has been a road block for me in the past with my business adventures. I tried to do stuff that I "liked" rather than what would be profitable. She explains how you need to have a good business base then expand on other ideas. Since without a steady income from one place you cannot have the funds to create other business. Its not a stuffy do this do that kind of book. Its more casual allowing you to take what you can from it and apply it to your life. Its more like a journal since there is places to write in and reflect on your own situation. I like that you can flip around in the book reading what pertains to your life.

Chapter 13 on Information Marketing was helpful to me. I was a good reminder to ask myself questions about what I am trying to market and the avenues to use. Its basic but can encourage you to think more and do more about it. A good book does just that, gets you to take action with the information you are given rather than just reading it and being done.

At the end of each chapter is a Barefoot Action Steps section that gives you a link to a video and a case study example of the topic the chapter covered. I found this very helpful to see a video and read a story, it gave the chapter topic more of a real life feel rather than just info.

I am working on my business / marketing degree so I found this to be a great book to read, but its also such an easy read that if you have a craft business, a blog or at home business this is a great book to read.

You can buy Carrie Wilkerson's book The Barefoot Executive at most mass retailers like Walmart and Target. Also online at Amazon and Books A Million.



 * I was not paid or compensated for this post. I was sent a free copy of this book for my review from Living Your Moment to review. The opinions are 100% mine and may vary from others.

It's a Big World Little Pig by Kristi Yamaguchi Book Review

My sweet girl snuggling up to Poppy the Pig!

I love to read to my children and until now it has been mostly classics and "boy" themed books. Well now that I have a daughter a whole new world of books has opened up to me! We were lucky enough to review It's a Big World Little Pig! by Kristi Yamaguchi. You know the Kristi Yamaguchi we all grew up watching on the ice skating rink? I loved watching her on the ice, wishing I too could be so graceful. Kristi has accomplished so much on and off the ice, what a beautiful person inside and out.

Kristi has written two children's books so far. Her latest book, It's a Big World Little Pig is about Poppy, a pig who dreams of being an ice skater. Poppy is so good at ice skating she receives an invitation in the mail to fly to Paris, France to compete in the World Games. At first Poppy is nervous to travel so far from home but with the encouragement from friends and family and a reminder that everyone smiles in the same language, Poppy is off on her adventure. She meets different athletes from all over the world, even a snowboarder from China! What I love about this story is it's modern but it has the classic ending that we all love. Poppy has a wonderful time meeting all of her new friends from around the world and spends the rest of the week with her family sight seeing in Paris. This is a great story written by a great women. I loved the illustrations by Tim Bowers, the cover even has glitter on it :)




 * I was not paid or compensated for this post. I was sent a free copy of this book for my review by the publisher/PR company. The opinions are 100% mine and may vary from others.

Creative Walls: How to Display and Enjoy Your Treasured Collections Book Review

I was intrigued by this book because of it's cover. A combination of floral prints, postcards, butterflies, flowers and more create a feeling of unique possibilities.

Looking inside, prepare for the meeting of Anthropology (the store), taxidermy, bohemian eclectic and unusual living spaces. It all manages to somehow come together to create beautiful walls, beautiful spaces, and inspires us to walk away from the ordinary.

Creative Walls is a book definitely for the quirky soul. There are no decorating rules for these walls, they are highly personal and this comes through in the photographs.

It is true that this style is not for everyone. The look is a bit cluttered, a tad shabby chic, and individual. If that doesn't appeal to you, there are hundreds of other books out there to help you decorate your home in a more conventional manner.

But this book called to me and inspired me to remember that the whole point of decorating is to make ourselves a home that reflects our personal taste and not the mass produced look that is marketed to us everyday. It certainly made me want to start collecting more and to look for the beauty in the unusual and the unexpected.

I enjoyed this book very much and will keep it handy for inspiration when I need it.

You can purchase Creative Walls: How to Display and Enjoy Your Treasured Collections from the publisher's website CICO Books and other book stores. You can connect with the publisher to learn more about this book and find other great books publisher by them online at facebook and twitter.




* I was not paid or compensated for this post. I was sent a free copy of this book for my review by the publisher/PR company. The opinions are 100% mine and may vary from others.

I Love You More Than Chocolate Book Review and Giveaway

Books about kids, candy and love, how sweet! The book I Love You More Than Chocolate by Melanie Milburn is a sweet book about a mother tucking her child in for bed and telling them how she loves them more than anything in the world, even Chocolate. Its has a nice rhythm to the book that is simple enough for my toddler but also great for older kids. To know you Mama loves you more than anything is a great feeling. This is a great book for Valentines Day.

One of my favorite lines is:

I love you more than the color blue.
I love you more than a day at the zoo.
I love you more...no matter what you do.
I love you more than chocolate!

The book comes with a CD too.

GIVEAWAY

Win the book I Love You More Than Chocolate published by To Press and Beyond


To Enter This Giveaway: (mandatory entry before extra entries)

Who do you love more than Chocolate?



*Leave a comment answering the question and be sure to leave your email address if its not public in your Google account*

Extra Entries: Can be done after leaving a comment for mandatory entry. If the extra entry says 1 extra entry leave 1 comment and 2 extra entries leave me 2 comments and so on.

-Like To Press and Beyond on Facebook +1
-Follow To Press and Beyond (booksherpas) on Twitter +1

-Follow Frugal Family Tree on GFC ( right hand side) +1
-Like our new fan page on Facebook Frugal Family Tree +1
-Follow FrugalFamTree on Twitter +1

-Share this giveaway on Facebook ONLY, using the Share Button at the bottom on this post. +1 for each share you do. (can be done once a day)

-Copy and Paste This Tweet on Twitter and leave me the link (to find the link click on the time stamp under your tweet. Can be done once a day for the duration of the giveaway)

#Win the book I Love You More Than Chocolate from @booksherpas at @FrugalFamTree #Giveaway ends 02/20 http://www.frugalfamilytree.com/2012/02/i-love-you-more-than-chocolate-book.html




*Limited to US residents; 18 years old and above. Giveaway starts February 8 , 2012 and ends on February 20th , 2012 at midnight PST. Winner will be emailed and has 48 hours to respond before another winner is selected. I was not paid for this giveaway or post. The opinions on this item are 100% mine and may vary from others. The sponsor is responsible for providing the prize.

I See Me My Very Own Name Book Review and Giveaway

I love personalized items! I think its a fun and special way to give a gift and to also get one that has your child's name in it. As a kid my Mom bought Sam and I personalized items. One of my favorites was a box I used for my sticker collection. My son loves books. He loves to have me read a story then him "read" it back back to me. Its precious time spent cuddled up reading books. We recently have been trying to get my son to say his name. He likes to call himself baby but we want him to know his name.

When we had the chance to review a book from I See Me that would have my sons name in it I was thrilled. The book is My Very Own Name Story. Its a sweet book about how the animals of the world help pick the name of your child letter by letter to make the perfect name. You can include the date of your child's birthday in the book as well as a personalized dedication. I made his dedicated in honor of Valentines Day from Mommy and Daddy.

My son adores animals! The first page of My Very Own Name Story is filled with them and we spent at least 10 minutes pointing to each one and him saying what it is and making the sounds. Some of them he did not know and I was glad to tell him who they were and the sound they make.

I See Me makes all sorts of great personalized books for children. They are sweet and special. One book that I found on the site would be perfect for Sam's little girl, My Very Own Fairytale Story.

GIVEAWAY

Win a Personalized My Very Own Name Book

 To Enter This Giveaway:

Who would you win this personalized book for?

 *Leave a comment answering the question and be sure to leave your email address if not in GFC profile*

 

Extra Entries: Can be done after leaving a comment for mandatory entry. If the extra entry says 1 extra entry leave 1 comment and 2 extra entries leave me 2 comments and so on. 

-Like on I See Me Books Facebook +1

-What book is your favorite from the I See Me website? +1

-Follow Frugal Family Tree on GFC ( right hand side) +1

-Like our new fan page on Facebook Frugal Family Tree +1

-Follow FrugalFamTree on Twitter +1

-Share this giveaway on Facebook ONLY, using the Share Button at the bottom on this post. +1 for each share you do. (can be done once a day)

-Copy and Paste This Tweet on Twitter and leave me the link (to find the link click on the time stamp under your tweet. Can be done once a day for the duration of the giveaway)

#Win a Persoanlized I See Me Book at @FrugalFamTree #Giveaway ends 02/20 http://www.frugalfamilytree.com/2012/02/i-see-me-my-very-own-name-book-review.html

*Limited to US residents; 18 years old and above. Giveaway starts February 3 , 2012 and ends on February 20th , 2012 at midnight PST. Winner will be emailed and has 48 hours to respond before another winner is selected. I was not paid for this giveaway or post. The opinions on this item are 100% mine and may vary from others. The sponsor is responsible for providing the prize

Big Cat Little Kitty and Meet the Planets by Sylan Dell Publishng Book Review

My son has adored cats since he was only a few months old. I thought this was odd since I am more of a dog person. Plus we have a dog and I am allergic to cats but he insists that cats are cool. I like to get him movies and books about cats to make him happy without having to go into a sneeze fit.

As he has gotten older he has started to realize there is a difference between kitty cats and big cats. We have flash cards and he is starting to catch on to things like Kitty Cats say Meow and Lions say Roaarrr. The book Big Cat Little Kitty has been a perfect learning tool for the comparison of big cats and little cats. Its a cute book that is wonderfully illustrated with comparisons like a jaguar living in the jungle to a kitty who lives near a pond. Its really cute. If you have a cat admirer in your family or want to teach more about animals that are wild and domesticated this is a great book for that.

From the Publisher's site:

Big cats are fierce predators that roam the world from the mountains to the deserts. How are these wild cats that hunt for their food the same as pet cats that might chase a mouse or ball of yarn? How are they different? The award-winning prequel to this book, One Wolf Howls, introduces children to counting and the months of the year as they watch the seasons changing. This sequel introduces children to the days of the week as they travel to seven different world habitats to meet the big cats, and then back home to compare and contrast the domestic cat’s behavior to that of its relative.

We are space fans on our house. Before my son was born we would watch Star Trek and other fun sci-fi shows. Now that I am a mama I seem to be watching more space cartoons that sci-fi lol. Which is fine by me! We read the book Meet the Planets to learn more about the solar system. My son likes to say Moon so thats what he called all the planets in the book. It is a cute book that introduces each of the planets like they are in a fashion contest. It gives facts about them in a creative way. The illustrations are great and very colorful. I learned a few things myself that I did not know. Plus the back pages of the book included interactive question and learning tools to teach more about the Planets.

From the Publisher's website:

Soar into the Solar System to witness the first Favorite Planet Competition, emceed by none other than the former-ninth planet, now known as dwarf planet Pluto. The readers become the judges after the sun can’t pick a favorite and the meteors leave for a shower. Who will the lucky winning planet be? Could it be speedy-messenger Mercury, light-on-his-feet Saturn, or smoking-hot Venus? Readers learn all about each planet as Pluto announces them with short, tongue-in-cheek facts. Children will spend hours searching the art for all the references to famous scientists and people of history, space technology, constellations, art, and classic literature.

 Sylvan Dell Publishing makes many great books to learn from and are filled with great illustrations. I like that each book has a section in the back to further discuss and learn what was in the book. For now my son enjoys the stories and pictures but as he gets older we will be able to teach him more using the included learning resources. Their books are ones we will have for many years. You can look at the other great books they have to purchase on their website Sylvan Dell Publishing.


* I was not paid or compensated for this post. I was sent a free copy of this book for my review by the publisher/PR company. The opinions are 100% mine and may vary from others.