Now What Baby: Books

Showing posts with label Books. Show all posts

3.31.2011

Little Duckie's Day

While the book Little Duckie's Day by D.L. Skandle is told through the words of a wee duck - the photos are something this mom can relate to. Duckie's frazzled mommy (ironically a wolf), looks like she is hanging on by a tired thread. This book actually described my day only I have two mischeivous little ones to handle. I found myself laughing at the images and the story. I especially related to the barely awake wolf mom pouring her coffee into a cup (for me it would be a coke). I thought the story was adorable and my kids loved it. They laughed and easily related to the tale from the duck's perspective. I don't think either of my little boys caught onto the wolf's view of things but that seems to be fitting. They easily related to the child and I the parent. I really was impressed that the author created a story that was so cute but completely realistic to a typical mother's day. The most impressive part for me was that the author was also the illustrator. This talented creator painted images so clear no words were necessary to understand how momma wolf felt. See it for yourself and get your own softbound copy of this enjoyable family story for only $8.50 here.

Simply Stated: Not too many children's books have both me and my kids laughing. This one is really cute and I would definitely recommend it!

I was provided a sample copy of this book for review purposes.

3.18.2011

Dingle - The Helpful ice Cream Cone Delivery Dog

Audrey Kinsella's book - Dingle, The Helpful Ice Cream Cone Delivery Dog was a unique type of book. It centers around a special needs dog named Dingle who just wants to help. This is a story that I can see being very helpful to families who have members with special needs. It does a good job of showing how it's ok to accept help and that people, or in this case Dingle, truly want to help. When I read the story to my 5 year old he was very curious about special needs dogs and what they are all about. I think that Dingle should have a sequel that goes greater into depth about all the things he does to help out his master. I liked the way the book showed his desire to help and the way in the end his master learned that his help was something worth accepting. The one thing about the book that bothered me was the way anything said by the characters (in their little speech bubbles) was reprinted below as the story. I seemed a little redundant. I found it a bit confusing at times because it would never say who said what - so you needed to refer to the speech bubbles. My kids enjoyed the story regardless and the only complaint they had was they wanted to see more of Dingle in action.

Simply Stated: I think this book does a perfect job of getting across the message it was meant to share. However, keep in mind it feels more like a teaching aid than a bedtime story.

I was provided a sample of this book for review purposes.

3.17.2011

Dream Big, Little Pig

Not only is Kristi Yamaguchi an Olympic Champion, 2 time World Champion, and a winner of Dancing with the Stars, but she also wrote an inspirational children's book. This woman can clearly do anything she puts her mind to and definitely abides by her personal motto "Always Dream". Her book - Dream Big Little Pig does a great job of applying that motto to the world of a cute pig named Poppy. So many things that Poppy wants to do don't quite work out the way she envisions but when she loses herself in something she loves - she succeeds. It's easy to read this to my children (even though they are boys) and to get them to clearly grasp to message, Dream Big! While neither of them are expressing a desire to follow in Poppy's dreams they are confident about pursuing their own. Connor wants to be a super secret spy (and you do not know that because I was sworn to secrecy) and Jackson is torn between an exciting career as Batman or Spiderman. No matter what your child has for a dream, this book is excellent at teaching kids not to give up, to keep trying, believe in themselves, and most of all to dream big. It's definitely another success for Kristi Yamaguchi! You can get your own copy online here and start sharing this inspiring story with the little dreamer in your life.

Simply Stated: I loved the clear message of this story and when you add in the adorable illustrations - I'm a fan. It's one that is definitely worth sharing with your child.

3.14.2011

Healthy Caterpillar

Most of us have enjoyed and loved the best selling book The Very Hungry Caterpillar by Eric Carle. In the adorable story the caterpillar eats many types of foods on his path to becoming a butterfly. When the caterpillar goes overboard filling his tummy with junk food he gets a tummy ache and when he eats leafy greens he feels much better. It does a wonderful job of showing how healthy important healthy eating habits are - so it's really fitting that the Alliance for Healthier Eating and American Academy of Pediatrics have joined forces with this book to help families learn about healthy eating habits.

This spring more than 17,500 pediatrician offices across the country will be receiving free copies of The Very Hungry Caterpillar. The book will come packaged with helpful things like growth charts and parent hand outs so that pediatricians and parents are encouraged to talk about healthy eating. You can get download your own printable reading guide filled with helpful tips for using the book as a fun way to teach the value of eating healthy. You can also download a super cute The Very Hungry Caterpillar printable growth chart. Check out the video telling more about this amazing story straight from author Eric Carle's mouth!

2.17.2010

PicPocket Books + Giveaway!

We are big fans of books in our house and recently I became obsessed with all things related to the iPhone. I'm am completely loving PicPocket Books because they combine two of my favorite things - and they do it oh' so well! When you download a Pi cPocket Book to your iPhone you get more than just your usual book. You get an adorable little voice to read you the story. The app will even turn the page for your child and since it highlights the words as they are being read - it is a great way to help new & learning readers. I love that you can get a book for as little as $0.99 and no more than $3.99 - how often can you get that price except at a garage sale? I also love the portability of the books - I could have ten and they would all fit in my pocket. It is wonderful to be able to let my children enjoy the book, illustrations and all, without it becoming damaged, ripped, lost, or all together destroyed. Too bad they don't let you download library books! My sons (4 & 18 mths) both really enjoyed listening to the stories. Even my youngest could enjoy it because it does not require touching to go from page to page. I could clip my phone within viewing but away from his grasp and he would sit still and listen. I was really surprised how often my oldest would choose to listen to the stories, with all the games on my phone I was proud and impressed that he would frequently choose a book. Having some PicPocket Books on your phone is such a nice way to kill time in a long line or survive a trip to the grocery store!

We checked out 3 titles from PicPocket Books. I Can Do It Too!, Round is a Mooncake, and Tractors. Connor enjoys them all but he favors the Tractor book (shocking). He really likes the pictures of tractors and enjoys trying to find the hidden sound hotspots! Jackson loves I Can Do It Too! Perhaps it's the illustrations, the page about playing the guitar or maybe he just really relates to the urge to do things on his own. He must want to do it too - he certainly tries to imitate his big bro enough. At this point I wouldn't be surprised if "I can do it too" is his first sentence. I LOVED Round is a Mooncake. Everything about the story from the beautiful illustrations to the sweet little child voice that reads the story. I liked how it teaches about shapes and the way they are all around you and I was impressed with the way they hid animal sounds on pages to allow readers to interact with the story. No matter which title you choose and they have over 20 (plus are adding new books all the time) - you are certain to enjoy this new and adorable way to read books. It's kind of like the kindle for kids! You can pick some up at the App Store or visit the PicPocket Book website to learn more!

One lucky reader will win the 3 PicPocket Titles of their choosing! To enter to win visit PicPocket Books and comment back sharing what title(s) you would like to have on your iPhone. The deadline to enter is February 24th at midnight EST. You can double your winning chances by subscribing to Now What Baby.

2.12.2010

Potty Training Helpers + Giveaway

Getting my son potty trained was an ordeal that took well over 6 months. We tried everything and the only thing that he seemed interested in was getting a sticker reward. It wasn't an instant solution but it took us much closer in the direction than anything else. Although there are several learning to potty books to choose from until Pirate/Princess Potty, I had never seem a story combined with a sticker reward system.

I absolutely adore these books. One comes with a tiara and the other with a pirate hat. They also come with stickers made for decorating their new head piece. The princess has jewels and the pirate gold. I like how each story explains using the potty and then show the child getting a beautiful sticker reward for their hat. It makes it easy for your child to connect to the story when they have the same hat & reward.

The author, Samantha Berger, has a fantastic sense of humor. While your child might not get some of the jokes she has tossed in - you certainly will. I like that she refers to the princess potty as the "royal throne" and that the pirate potty has an "X marks the spot". I also thought that the little potty song in each story was perfect for incorporating into your potty routine. I absolutely loved the cute and colorful illustrations from Amy Cartwright. Will the Princess/Pirate Potty books have your little one out of diapers? I'm not making any promises but I do think that they could be a great intro to the world of potties and certainly a strong first step. I think that the hat/sticker reward system would really appeal to some children - certainly would have with my oldest....my youngest however, would probably just try to eat the stickers. Perhaps the story with gold chocolate coins as a reward would work best with him. No matter what prize you might choose - these stories are wonderful, cute, sweet, and a must have for starting potty training!

5 readers will win both the Pirate Potty and Princess Potty books!! To enter to win comment below telling us a story from your experiences with potty training...not there yet? Share with us what appeals to you about this book series. The deadline to enter is February 18th at midnight EST. This giveaway is open to US residents only. You can double your winning chances by subscribing to Now What Baby. Just enter your email in the box below!

2.03.2010

Poe for the young ones

I love the poetry of Edgar Allan Poe and I was so excited to see that there was a book filled with his work geared toward young readers. Poetry for Young People: Edgar Allen Poe was created with grades 5+ in mind, but I am loving it! The book contains many of his popular poems and the beautiful illustrations by Carolynn Cobleigh quickly draw you in. The eerie nature of his poetry has always appealed to me but it's a little too much for my 4 year old. He does however, love to look at the book and make up stories about the pictures. I can't wait until he gets a little older and I can share with him the poems I really love. I can see how wonderful this book would be for young students. It even has helpful footnotes explaining the more old fashioned or difficult words. I also really appreciated the way a short explanation was added before each poem to help kids interpret and understand it better. This is a beautifully done book and a wonderful addition to any bookshelf. You can get a copy from Sterling Publishing - it comes in both hardback and paperback.

12.02.2009

Start them off smart

We love books in our home and my children can always count on getting books as gifts from me. It can be difficult to find great books for babies and toddlers though. I can only stand to read so many baby picture dictionaries. Begin Smart has created a collection of books geared toward specific age groups: 0-6 months, -12 months, 12-18 months, and 18-24 months. This makes it easy to know what books are right for your child. Each age category is filled with books that are made to help encourage the social, physical, intellectual, and emotional growth of your child. Each book has ways for your child to manipulate objects and to take in the information using many of their senses. I was really impressed by the creativity of the book series. My son is 15 months and he loved the books. He favored the Push the Button book - probably because anything with buttons appeals to him. He will continually bring that book to me and sit calmly as I read it to him (pushing the button frequently of course). We have a huge collection of books, so it kind of amazes me that he keeps picking out the same one. It only goes to show how well Begin Smart has created books his age. Any book from their collection would make a wonderful holiday gift this year!! Give them a jump start on learning and an early love of reading.

Wrap it up: Try getting a selection of books in the age category that suits your child or if you are giving the gift to a new baby - get one from each category so the gift will grow with them. It is easy to distinguish the age category from the color on top of each of the books.
Age: 0 - 2
Price Tag: $7.95+
Where to buy: Begin Smart

10.07.2009

Just in time for Halloween - Where's My Mummy?

We take books seriously in our household. We actually turned our spare room into a library and all that it contains is books. I keep all the seasonal books separated in different containers and only bring them out at the fitting time of year. It makes the books seem fresh to my kids and it adds some extra fun to each holiday. We are currently enjoying our Halloween books and I was lucky enough to receive a copy of Carolyn Crimi's Where's My Mummy. This adorable book is so cute and funny. I love the monster take on a little one looking for his mother. The wee-mummy searches through all types of creatures that go bump in the night before he finds his mummy. It's a fun story that is just a little scary depending on the voices made by the one reading it aloud. I really enjoyed reading this one with my eldest son - it was fun making all the different creepy sounds. My son loved the illustrations too! In our stack of Halloween reads this is the one he chooses more often than not. Carolyn Crimi is a wonderful author and I have to say that Where's My Mummy has earned a spot as one of our favorite books. You can pick up your own copy on Amazon for as low as $8 - this would be a really cute Halloween present for your little one!

9.21.2009

Alphabetica

Alphabetica, Odes to the Alphabet has my vote as both a wonderful learning tool and a fun book for your child. I love the creative pages filled with unique artwork depicting each letter of the alphabet. The whimsy filled and playful poetry make the book fun to read for both me and my children. I am so tempted to frame pages of this gorgeous book and use them to decorate our playroom but I can't stand the thought of messing up the book. Guess I just need to get several copies! This unique book will make a fabulous addition to your library and a perfect gift for any child. It even comes signed by author Diana Spieker and illustrator Krista Skehan!

I am also loving the abc placemats - they are a great way to encourage learning even at mealtimes. As a bonus the placemats are covered in the creative images from the Alphabetica book. It would be a really cute gift set when paired together. You can learn more about these adorable products by visiting Personify Press.

9.15.2009

1-2-3.... Get Organized!

I firmly believe that organization is the key to maintaining your sanity as a mother. However, believing it and achieving it are two different things. I strive to keep things organized in our lives but I tend to fall short and sometimes get so overwhelmed I don't even know where to begin. The 1-2-3... Get Organized Collection is perfect for someone like me because it makes a daunting task seem possible and it simplifies it into 3 steps. I love that each book only contains one organizational goal and that it only takes 3 steps to cross it off your list. Most mothers I know (myself included) don't have time to read a long book about how to get organized - so it's nice to find something without the fluff that gets straight to the point! You can order titles from the 1-2-3... Get Organized collection or you can download them. Some of my favorite titles are Three Steps to Decluttering, Three Steps to Organizing your Child's Room, and Three Steps to Time Management for the Stay At Home Mom. You can view the full collection and order online by clicking here - get started on organization today!

Snuggle Me Stories

Fellow mom Sandra Magsamen's award winning Snuggle-Me Stories are so sweet and heartwarming. I adore the little board books that indeed leave you snuggling with your little one. I really connected with My Little Monkey because we have always called Connor 'monkey'. When I was reading the book ended with "you'll always be my little monkey" it was one of those moments that touch you. It just hit me how quickly he is growing and how much we need to make time to read stories & snuggle. The Snuggle-Me Stories are the type of tales that your child will want to read over and over. They are perfect for bedtime reads too! They even come with a little plush blanket attached to a monkey or a bear (depending on the book). Jackson loved to clutch the small blanket whenever we read one of the Snuggle-Me Stories.

6.18.2009

Movie Lust

Searching for the movie to go with your mood? Movie Lust by Maitland McDonagh has the answers. With over 1300 movie recommendations you are sure to find something that you enjoy. I love the unique topics like Back to the Beach and Zombie Stomp. You will get sucked in to this well written and intriguing book. I have discovered so may movies I never knew about because of it. It actually inspired me to start a movie night with my hubby in which we take turns picking a movie recommended by Movie Lust that we have not yet seen. Its a really cheap date night and we don't even need a sitter. I would venture to say that the recommendations in this book will make much better picks than those of the random guy at the rental counter. It's an easy & humorous read with it's short chapters and clever anecdotes. If you are a fellow movie lover or just want to increase your knowledge of films than pick up your copy of Movie Lust!

6.17.2009

Hold Me Tight

Lets just be honest. Marriage is hard. It is not the happy end to a fairy tale unless you work at it. It takes work, compromise, understanding, and a great deal of love. Hold Me Tight by Dr. Sue Johnson does a wonderful job of introducing ways to strengthen your relationship. She pointed out spot on so many of the arguments my husband and I have - and then suggested really simple ways to fix them. She shows you the other side of the story and how to argue in a more productive way. Through 7 conversations you will be able to recognize and connect to each other stronger than before. I had my doubts that a book could really do all that but I was proven wrong. My husband and I read the book aloud during an incredibly long car ride and it helped us to understand each other better. I spent so much time thinking about the things that make my life hard that I never took the time to think about the things that make his life hard. See what it can do for your relationship - check Hold Me Tight by Dr. Sue Johnson.

Story Fort

We love books at our house but the books from Story Fort are on a whole different level. We recently downloaded What is Bothering Carl from their online site. Once it has been downloaded to your computer you have an interactive digital book that your children can truly enjoy. It will even read itself to your child (this is optional). The words light up as the narrator reads the story which can be a great help as your child is learning to read. On each of the 19 pages their are keywords that are illustrated to help with your little ones recognition and vocabulary. It even has 2 original songs complete with animated music videos and it comes with a bonus memory game. Right now you can download interactive digital books from Story Fort for only $9.99. That is the cost of most books at the book store and they certainly won't sing or read themselves to your child. It is so important to make reading fun for children and to show them how words become a story. My almost 4 year old really enjoys reading What is Bothering Carl. The only problem now if he always wants to be on my laptop! You can check out & download your own copy of this awesome book today at Story Fort!

6.16.2009

Otto Grows Down

There are many books out there about welcoming a new sibling to the family. Otto Grows Down by Michael Sussman is anything but typical. It's an imaginative story that makes you look at what would happen if time went backwards. I found myself sucked into Otto's world as everything happened in reverse and he grew to realize having a sibling might not be so bad. My son loved this story! He was so fascinated by the things that happened to Otto. It had never occurred to him (or me) that in a reverse life you would take a bath that makes you dirty or get a hair cut that makes your hair longer. This is a tale that your kid will love and is sure to become the book that is read over & over. We read a lot of books in our home and it is hard for one to stand out to my son (unless it has a train), but Otto Grows Down is always at the top of his bedtime story picks. The pictures are bright, fun, and the story is wonderful. You can check it out online at the Otto Grows Down site and find out where to get your own.

5.11.2009

I See Me

This is one of the cutest books I have come across! My Very Own Name from I See Me is the sweetest way to teach your child their name. I love the idea of reading this to your child from birth. My son is just learning his abc's and he loved seeing his name spelled out through the story. It made him feel really special to have a book that was all about him. The illustrations are beautiful and the story is adorable. After I had only read the story to him a few times he would anticipate the animal that would be on the next page. He quickly began to associate the animal with the corresponding letter. This story is a very sly & smart way to sneak learning into a gift. It would make a touching shower gift or present for a new baby. It would be a hit with any child and a present that mom & dad will appreciate (no noise or batteries is a huge plus!). I See Me is full of great personalized storybooks for your children. You'll find beautiful customized wall art, plates, tshirts, puzzlers, and my favorite - the storybooks. If you have a little girl the My Very Own Fairy Tale book is a must have! They even have celebrity fans like Courtney Cox & Brooke Shields! Check out everything for yourself at I See Me and if you order My Very Own Fairy Tale or My Very Own ABC's before May 25th your copy of the book will be signed by the author, Maia Haag.

You can enter to win your own customized book from I See Me! To enter to win visit I See Me and then fill out the form below. The deadline to enter is June 11th and as always you can double your winning chances by subscribing to Now What Baby.

4.30.2009

Baby's Little Log Book

Keeping up with a new babies eating, pooping, and sleeping schedules can be rough. Especially on a new mom with very little sleep. Baby's Little Log Book takes a lot of the guesswork out and gives you an easy to fill out book to track all of baby's activities. I tried to record everything in a spiral notebook and it was a pain. I pretty much gave up all together because I would forget to record everything. The little log book has a spot to record time, eating notes, sleeping notes, and track the diaper. At the end of the day you can just tally everything up. They even have a line at the bottom of each page that you can write down milestones - like first smile or first laugh. Perhaps it's just me but just having an organized book to record info makes me much more inclined to keep up with everything. It's like when my house is clean one I keep it cleaner and when it becomes an out of control mess I just give up. Having Baby's Little Log Book is like starting out with a clean home. It is so much easier to manage. When you scroll to the back of the book you will discover other helpful sections like baby's visits to the doctor. Filling this out will be much simpler than trying to keep up with all those little charts the doctors give you and then you will have all your records in one spot. It lets you record height, weight, head circumference, and percentiles. It also has room for questions for the doctor (write them before you go so you won't forget like I always do), notes, and immunizations received. You can even record the date of your next doctors visit. In addition to this helpful section there is an area for mommy's lactation notes, mommy's pumping log (so helpful for nursing mothers!), and important numbers & info.

Baby's Little Log Book will not only help keep you sane when it comes to keeping up with all things baby - it will also turn into a pretty neat keepsake. You will have all of baby's activities from birth including trips to the doctor all in one cute little book. I wish I had this when my boys were first born and I plan on using it from day one when I have another little bundle of joy!

You can win your own Baby's Little Log Book. Visit the website here and then fill out the form below. The deadline to enter is May 30th and as always you can double your winning chances by subscribing to Now What Baby!

4.27.2009

Zaida Baby - My First Keepsake Book

Zaida Baby - My First Keepsake is unique from any other baby book that I have seen. It is all about promoting a positive pregnancy and it even starts off with an inspirational love letter. The love letter is accompanied by gorgeous black & white photos and the letter itself is truly beautiful. I love how it also allows you to document your pregnancy and the beginning of your baby's life. It's not your typical cutesy baby book filled with pastel colors. It looks sleek and stylish and the pages will inspire you to fill them with memories and thoughts. It actually has lots of pages set aside to fill with

your own photos which to me makes the book even more personal. This is one modern baby book that feels like art and I am proud to display it in my living room or nursery. I love the idea of passing this on to your child when they are expecting their first child. It would be such a neat gift and a way to share the experience with them. One of my favorite pages is the one that lets you write about how it felt to hold your baby for the first time. That is one of the most precious moments in my life and before seeing this book I had never thought to write about it. This would make a really special gift to an expectant friend! The 144 pages create a treasured keepsake that you will be sure to fill with thoughts straight from your heart and that your child will one day truly cherish. You can win your own copy of the Zaida Baby book. To enter to win visit Zaida Baby and then come back and fill out the form below. The deadline to enter is May 27th. You can also save $20 if you enter the code nowwhatbaby at the checkout line!

4.09.2009

Dragon Codex Novels

A New York Times bestseller - A Practical Guide to Dragons has recently released a whole series based on the popular book. Brass Dragon Codex & Green Dragon Codex are a perfect fit for fantasy fans. Each novel is about a different type of dragon and tells a captivating tale of the good & evil dragons. If you have an 8 -12 year old who likes anything to do with the mythical world of dragons - they will love this series. It's well written, engaging, and creates vivid imagery in your mind. I found myself surprisingly amused by the Practical Guide to Dragons, with it's beautiful illustrations and the creative way it made you feel as if you were reading a lost manuscript that revealed the truth about dragons. After reading this my bedtime stories have stepped it up a notch and I consider myself to be a bit of a dragon expert. Although the books are geared towards an 8 - 12 year old age bracket, I found that the original guide was appealing to my 3 and half year old too. Now he wants me to rent him some movies about dragons and he says that he needs a sword. You can learn more about the Dragon Codex collection at MirrorStone. Also check out The Practical Guide to Fairies for your little maiden.

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