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The Kid’s Awesome Activity Book (Book Review)

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The Kid's Awesome Activity Book Review

Summer’s here, which for us means outings to beaches, parks, county fairs, and the many festivals and events that take place here in Minnesota!

But it also means time spent hanging out at home, hoping not to hear “I’m bored” from my kids, though it usually comes way too early in the season!

That’s why I’m glad to have a copy of The Kid’s Awesome Activity Book by Mike Lowery. This book is packed with activities galore, and they’re funny and even a bit wacky. (Just perfect for my more-often-than-not-wacky kids. 🙂

When I was in elementary school, I had activity books with puzzles, word finds, and some fun projects. I would spend hours doing these in the summertime (no computers and video games back then!). But looking through the The Kid’s Awesome Activity Book, it looks so fun to me as a parent – I so wish I had this as a kid! [Read more…]

Locally-Authored “Shelly Bean the Sports Queen” Children’s Book Giveaway

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A couple years ago I shared with you my review of a new book series written by a local author called “Shelly Bean the Sports Queen.”

Shelly Boyum-Breen is a native of Brainerd, Minnesota who grew up with aspirations of playing professional sports. She spent countless hours playing basketball, hockey and golf, then pursued a career as a physical education teacher and coach. [Read more…]

Puppa-na-wuppana Children’s Book Giveaway!

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Two local moms have created a fun new book series for kids called Puppa-na-wuppana, based on a real-life beagle who has provided countless hours of entertainment (and exasperation!) for his “human” family!

Puppa-na-wuppana is the entertaining story of “Puppa-na-wuppana, the Beagle with the Magical Nose.” I met one of the authors, Lori Weaver, at the Moms Rock! Expo in Minneapolis the first weekend of May. Cindy Koebele and Lori have been friends for 16 years, and teamed up to write this book based on the real-life antics of Cindy’s beagle, Puppa. It’s actually a series, with Puppa-na-Wuppana, Living the Puppa-na-life (Chapter Book) coming this summer. [Read more…]

Twin Cities-based author launches Shelly Bean the Sports Queen, an Inspiring Series for Young Kids

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shellybeancover
Shelly Bean the Sports Queen photo courtesy of Shelly Boyum-Breen

 

There’s a new, inspiring book series for young kids that I’m excited to share with you – and it was created by a local Twin Cities author!

Minnesota-based first-time author Shelly Boyum-Breen has launched a series of beginning reader picture books entitled, “Shelly Bean The Sports Queen,” aimed at aspiring girls and boys to try a variety of sports. Through her own experiences of a lifetime of activity on the court and in the field, Boyum-Breen created the series for children ages 4 to 9. These books empower and inspire children to strive to reach their dreams of success through athletics. [Read more…]

Santa’s (Zany, Wacky, Just Not Right!) Night Before Christmas (Children’s Book Review)

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We all know the story “The Night Before Christmas.” What if the night before Christmas didn’t exactly go as planned for Santa?Santas wacky christmas cover-outlined.indd

A new book called Santa’s (Zany, Wacky, Just Not Right!) Night Before Christmas is the story of Santa’s Christmas Eve that doesn’t turn out how he expects. One little thing leads to another and everything about Christmas turns into a series of funny surprises.

I’ve read Santa’s (Zany, Wacky, Just Not Right!) Night Before Christmas to my kids several times already and we all chuckle and giggle every time. My kids love how everything turns out wacky! (Note – If your kids are familiar with and like the classic book, Wacky Wednesday, they’ll definitely enjoy this one, too!)

Reading this book has become a new Christmas tradition for us.

 

One Christmas Eve it was a cold stormy night;

And nothing at the North Pole was going quite right.

The sleigh was all packed and the reindeer were drawn.

But Santa did not have his Santa suit on. Mrs. Claus was in bed and feeling quite sick.

So doing the laundry was the job of St. Nick.

Only what came out of the washer was no longer bright red.

What he thought was the soap turned out to be purple paint instead!

[Read more…]

Maddi’s Fridge Children’s Book Review & 4 Ways You Can Help Alleviate Childhood Hunger

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I was given the opportunity to review Maddi’s Fridge, a children’s book that’s actually the first picture book to address childhood hunger in the United States.

My kids and I have read Maddi’s Fridge together several times. I was hesitant about reading the book to my kids, worrying that it might be a downer of a book that would make them mad at the book (or me for reading about something depressing!). However, turns out it’s an enjoyable book, and I am impressed with the way the author, Lois Brandt, tells a simple, age-appropriate story about two young friends and their adventures as one notices the other’s empty fridge and tries to help. [Read more…]

No Cell Phone Day Children’s Book Review and Five Tips for Improving Quality Family Time

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Do you or does someone in your family seem to spend too much time on their cell phone?

Kids often see their older siblings and grown-ups using technology around the clock – sometimes out of necessity (for work), sometimes just because that’s how many people are communicating nowadays. While technology including cell phones has connected us on one level, it is important to remind kids today that technology can never replace the face-to-face connections we need with others, especially our loved ones.

No Cell Phone Day is a children’s picture book written by American jazz trombonist and record producer, Delfeayo Marsalis, and illustrated by award-winning Harlem artist, Reginald William Butler.

The book playfully addresses how today’s imposing technology – like cell phones – can affect our relationships with our loved ones.

In the book, Delfeayo and his daughter decide to put down their cell phones for a day to explore their hometown of New Orleans! They enjoy everything from a pancakes and ice cream breakfast at the Camellia Grill to a fun visit to the Aquarium of the Americas. Most importantly, they spend quality time TOGETHER! [Read more…]

Snuggle the Baby Children’s Book Review

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Snuggle the Baby is a unique, interactive how-to board book that teaches young children how to tickle, feed, shush and swaddle a baby by actually being able to do those things with the book! It’s the first of its kind and I was given the fun opportunity to review a copy with my kids. snugglethebabybook

Snuggle the Baby plays like a doll and reads like a “How to Care for Baby” book for kids. My kids, Heidi and Thor, enjoy it and have requested reading it many nights before bedtime.

With every turn of the page, there is an interactive activity for kids including tickling, feeding, diapering, swaddling, rocking and tucking in the baby. The words are gentle, simple and encouraging.

This book is fun for siblings to read together. At first, Heidi and Thor each wanted to do the baby care activity by themselves but have now learned to share and take turns.

[Read more…]

Book Review & GIVEAWAY: Starting from Scratch

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There’s a fun and unique new book about food and cooking for kids. It’s called Starting from Scratch : What You Should Know about Food and Cooking, written by food journalist Sarah Elton & illustrated by Jeff Kulak. It’s an upbeat exploration of food that addresses a wide variety of information including cooking as a science, the building blocks of taste (i.e. “The Wacky World of Flavor Science”), and getting ready to prepare a meal in the kitchen. [Read more…]

Ninja, Ninja, Never Stop! Children’s Book Review

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ninjaninjaNinja small, Ninja large
Ninja duck, Ninja charge.
Ninja run, Ninja chop
Ninja, Ninja never stop!

Ninja, Ninja, Never Stop is a fun children’s book for preschoolers ages 2-5, published by Abrams Books. We received a copy for review recently and it’s been a favorite at bedtime, especially for our 3-year-old Thor.

Ninja, Ninja, Never Stop is about a strong-willed, energetic little ninja who sneaks up on the family dog, swipes a cookie from his brother, and escapes from Granny’s kiss…only to be unexpectedly out-ninja-ed by his younger brother’s sneak attack! [Read more…]