Get Kids Dreaming of Adventure with Travel Books from Lonely Planet Kids-Giveaway

April 23, 2018 by Kathryn 47 Comments

My family is a wee bit travel obsessed. In fact, on one occasion, we managed to fit eleven different trips into a single year! So, it goes without saying that we’re always daydreaming about our next vacation.

That’s why I’m so excited about getting to review some of the new children’s book titles from Lonely Planet Kids, distributed in Canada by Raincoast Books! These kids travel books are perfect for introducing children to the wonders of other countries, languages and ways of travel.

First Words: Japanese

I thought this would be a great book for introducing my older boys to some first words in another language, but it ended up being even better for Baby Cormac! The book features sturdy poster board pages and the proper pronunciation for a variety of basic words in Japanese. I like reading it out loud to Cormac so that he can develop an ear for other languages. And he loves looking at the simple, vibrant pictures on every page! [Read more…]

Introduce Kids to a Timeless Tale with the Charlotte’s Web Limited Edition Gift Set-Giveaway

November 7, 2017 by Kathryn 83 Comments

As a parent, I think there’s nothing better than introducing my children to something I once loved and seeing them embrace it with as much joy as I did. From classic movies to favourite books to tasty candy treats, I feel like I’m reliving a little of my own childhood every time I can share a piece of my youth with my boys.

That’s why I’m so excited about the Charlotte’s Web Limited Edition Gift Set I received to review. This set contains a copy of the original book and the 2006 live-action children’s movie on DVD, just in time for holiday gift giving. Here’s a brief synopsis of the story:

The classic story of loyalty, trust, and sacrifice comes to life in this live-action adaptation. Fern (Dakota Fanning) is one of only two living beings who sees that Wilbur is a special animal as she raises him, the runt of the litter, into a terrific and radiant pig. As Wilbur moves into a new barn, he begins a second profound friendship with the most unlikely of creatures – a spider named Charlotte – and their bond inspires the animals around them to come together as a family. When the word gets out that Wilbur’s days are numbered, it seems that only a miracle will save his life. A determined Charlotte – who sees miracles in the ordinary – spins words into her web in an effort to convince the farmer that Wilbur is “some pig” and worth saving. [Read more…]

Entertain Kids as they Learn this Summer With Activity Books from The Quarto Group-Giveaway

July 11, 2017 by Kathryn 59 Comments

With summer break underway, I’ve already had a few days of dealing with restless children desperately looking for something to do. While we’re lucky enough to be in a neighbourhood with plenty of kids to play with, there are still hours in the day where both my boys are roaming the house restlessly, getting in my way as they look for something to occupy them. Of course, the fact I limit their screen time during the summer months doesn’t make things any easier!

So this year, I found a new way to help keep my boys entertained: activity books! Recently The Quarto Group sent me three of its newest titles to review and as soon as I saw them, I knew that my boys would be spending plenty of summer hours trying out the crafts and activities in every one.

Stick Sketch School: An Animal Artventure

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McDonald’s Happy Meals Just Got Happier with New Choices Between Toys and Books!

May 17, 2017 by Kathryn 21 Comments

Disclosure: I was compensated for this post, but my opinions are my own.

When I was a child, having a Happy Meal at McDonald’s was one of my favourite special treats for dinner. Choosing my meal item, having cookies for dessert, the surprise of the toy, every bit of it was something to be savoured. And while McDonald’s Happy Meals have changed a lot over the years, one thing hasn’t changed…how much they’re loved by children across Canada!

But now, McDonald’s Canada has found a way to make Happy Meals even happier, and it’s one I couldn’t be more excited about. Thanks to a great new partnership with Kids Can Press and First Book Canada, children will have one more way to personalize their Happy Meal by choosing between a toy and a book, starting today! [Read more…]

Kids Love Getting Creative with Klutz Jr. Craft Kits-Giveaway

January 31, 2017 by Kathryn 122 Comments

When I was in my early twenties, I decided I wanted to learn to knit. I found a Klutz craft book, a series I’d loved as a teen, with step-by-step instructions, a set of knitting needles and even a yarn needle for sewing. A few weeks later, I’d made a scarf, a purse and even a little knitted rabbit toy! I’ve always thought Klutz books are a great choice for bringing out creativity for kids, teens and even adults in all kinds of ways and recently, the collection of craft books expanded to include a brand-new line for younger children four and up.

Klutz Jr. books and craft kits are perfect for smaller children that want to unleash their inner creativity and contain everything needed to create fun and unique crafts. So far, the Klutz Jr. collection consists of four fun-filled kits: My Sparkly Tiaras, My Clay Critters, My Egg Carton Animals and My Hand Art. I received a set of the four new titles to review for myself and with my boys home last Friday for a teacher’s development day, the timing was perfect to sit down and get creative with them!

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The Epic Big Nate Hardcover Collector’s Book is Epic Fun for the Holidays-Giveaway

November 2, 2016 by Kathryn 66 Comments

If you’ve got an older school-aged boy in the house, you may have already heard of Big Nate. The loveable sixth-grade hero of the Big Nate cartoon strip and book series may be a bit of a self-absorbed underachiever, but his goofy demeanour and love of pranks have made him a favourite of kids across North America. Now, just in time for the holidays, Big Nate is coming to bookshelves in a big way with the release of the hardcover collector’s book Epic Big Nate!

This beautiful book celebrates 25 years of the Big Nate comic strip with hundreds of cartoons specially selected by cartoonist Lincoln Peirce, information on the history and evolution of the comic over the years and an extensive Q&A with Peirce and his equally popular counterpart Jeff Kinney, author of the Diary of a Wimpy Kid series. While some of the book might be a little heavy for school-aged readers, the many cartoons will keep them entertained regardless and the book is sure to become a treasured heirloom in years to come. [Read more…]

Kids Can Listen to Their Favourite Books Again and Again with the Sparkup Magical Book Reader-Giveaway

December 1, 2014 by Kathryn 109 Comments

Due to the nature of my job, I have to travel fairly often and while I am sometimes able to take my boys with me, other times I have to leave them with family while I’m away. I know that they have a great time while I’m gone, but I also know they miss some of the routines we have established. In fact, one of the boys’ favourite activities, reading a bedtime story together, is something that I miss almost as much as they do!

Whether you’re a parent that often has to travel or you just sometimes find yourself too busy to answer a little one’s request to “read this book again,” a new device has an innovative way to let your children enjoy a special story time when you can’t be there. The Sparkup Magical Book Reader is an innovative recording device that lets parents record a child’s favourite book so that the child can enjoy it whenever he likes! I received a Sparkup Magical Book Reader to test out and I couldn’t wait to get started.

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Help Your Child Gain Kitchen Confidence with OwlKids Books Starting from Scratch by Sarah Elton-Giveaway

March 3, 2014 by Kathryn 47 Comments

I started helping my parents in the kitchen when I was about five years old. From baking cookies with my mom to making pancakes with my dad, if there was something tasty getting made, I was there lending a hand. As soon as I learned to read, I started reading recipes and cooking on my own. And by the time I was about twelve years old I was making pies and fudge by myself. Now my oldest son is getting to the age that he can start working in the kitchen too and I can’t wait to help him learn how to cook his own culinary creations!

So when I was recently offered the chance to review a new cooking book for kids, Starting from Scratch: What You Should Know About Food and Cooking by Sarah Elton and published by OwlKids Books, the timing couldn’t have been better. This book is no simple compilation of kid-friendly recipes…it is a complete and incredibly detailed guide to cooking that breaks down the process piece by piece so that children can feel confident in the kitchen even without a recipe. I sat down to read through it before giving it to Zackary and I was so impressed by how much information the book contained.

The book starts off with a chapter on taste, followed by a chapter that explains different cuisines. From there, the book explores the science behind cooking, the math concepts needed for recipes and the preparation process. I loved the idea of broadening a child’s mind about what food can be through explanations that included a look at the science behind food as well as an exploration of food geography and basic health and safety concepts. [Read more…]