reading

Treat Yourself to Bookworm Bliss with the Sweet Reads Box Subscription Service-Giveaway

October 17, 2017 by Kathryn 113 Comments

Like many writers, I absolutely love to read. And when I start a book, I will devour it as energetically as I do a piece of cheesecake. In fact, devouring a book AND a piece of cheesecake is pretty close to paradise in my opinion.

So, when I heard that my friend Kerri had started a subscription box service especially for those that love a good book, I couldn’t wait to learn more. And when I found out that every box also came with a tasty treat and a hot drink to savour, I was in heaven.

The Sweet Reads Box is a reader’s dream come true, featuring a carefully curated novel, a specialty coffee or tea, a sweet treat and an item or two specially chosen to fit the theme of the book. I received the September box to review and I couldn’t wait to dig into everything inside. [Read more…]

Get Kids Excited About Reading with the Marmalade Books Subscription Box-Giveaway

October 18, 2016 by Kathryn 70 Comments

If there’s one thing that almost every one of my friends and family members know about me, it’s that I love to read. And because of that, I’m a big believer in the importance of literacy. I’ve been reading to my boys every night since they were babies and both of them love to read on their own as well. That’s why I love the concept behind Marmalade Books.

This brand new Canadian-based company offers a monthly subscription box of age-appropriate books chosen for their quality and entertainment value to help build a generation of readers. Available in customized boxes for three different reading levels, there’s a Marmalade Books box for kids of all ages! Recently I received one of the Middle Grade Novel boxes to review and I couldn’t wait to see what it was like.

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Kids Love Learning with the LeapStart Activity Book System-Giveaway

July 26, 2016 by Kathryn 130 Comments

As a parent, there are a few skills that I believe are essential to my boys’ proper development, so I’m passionate about ensuring they’re developing those skills. And in my mind, the absolute most essential skill to ensure a child’s future success is a love of learning. I use all kinds of different tricks, techniques and toys to make learning a fun and rewarding experience for my boys. That’s why LeapFrog products have always been a favourite in our home.

From the earliest baby days to the school years, LeapFrog has used innovative electronics to help kids gain proficiency in a variety of different areas, from math and science to reading and writing. And the brand new LeapStart system is the perfect example of why I’ve always loved the brand. The system uses a library of activity books that let kids have fun while developing STEM skills, problem solving, shape recognition and, of course, literary skills! I recently received the brand new LeapStart to review and Benjamin was only too happy to help me test it out. [Read more…]

Introduce Kids to a World of Fun and Learning with the Safari Tales App

September 18, 2015 by Kathryn 25 Comments

When it comes to relaxing and unwinding after school, both of my boys love spending an hour or so playing video games. And while I don’t mind that, I do prefer that they do something to enrich their minds if possible…as long as they’re still having fun, that is! So when I learned about Safari Tales, an iOS, Android and Amazon app from Kuato Studios that combines engaging gameplay with literacy skills, I couldn’t wait to see what it was like.

The fact that this game, created by the same developers as the award-winning Dino Tales app, featured baby animals was something I especially loved. My youngest son adores animals, so a game that let him play and interact with a baby lion, elephant or giraffe was something that I knew he would enjoy. I downloaded the app on my iPad, entered Benjamin’s name and reading age and let my son sit down to play.

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Encourage Summer Reading with a Kobo eReader and 5 Great Tips-Giveaway

July 22, 2015 by Kathryn 246 Comments

Summer is definitely a time of fun, sun and plenty of outdoor activities. I tend to relax the rules a bit and give my boys more freedom during summer vacation, which means later bedtimes, a little more screen time and more treats than usual. But I still want to ensure that they’re working their minds during the summer months and I know reading books is a great way to do that. Luckily, Kobo has five great tips to help encourage kids to read more in the summer!

1. Let Them Choose

Part of the fun for kids is being able to pick what they’re going to read. Get them excited about new stories by allowing them to explore different authors and genres. [Read more…]

Support Children’s Literacy Through the Indigo Love of Reading Foundation by Voting for Your Favourite Children’s Book-Giveaway

January 31, 2015 by Kathryn 148 Comments

When I was a child, I had a huge collection of books. Some were gifts from family, some were ones I purchased and some were books of my mom’s from her own childhood years. But even so, I was such an avid reader that I usually also had a huge stack of books that I’d brought home from the school library.

As hard as it is for me to believe, it’s likely that some of the same books I brought home from that library are still there today. The average age of a book in some Canadian school libraries is 15 years, which is already long considering how often the books are read, but some are kept much longer than that. And often books are repaired with tape and staples to keep them in circulation because there’s no budget for new copies.

That’s why for the last ten years the Indigo Love of Reading Foundation has supported underfunded schools to help encourage literacy and learning. And to celebrate its tenth anniversary, the Indigo Love of Reading Foundation has a very special contest that will help put the most beloved books of all time in libraries across Canada! [Read more…]

Make a Fresh Start on Your 2015 Reading Goals and #ReadMore with Kobo-Giveaway

January 9, 2015 by Kathryn 20 Comments

It’s a new year, which means it’s time for a new start and for me, that means expanding my knowledge with some great new books! My Kobo Glo is an essential in my life and for 2015, I’m loading it up with all kinds of great hit titles I want to read!

The biggest challenge for me each year is finding time to read, but getting a fresh start means making plans to overcome my challenges and that’s what I’ve been doing! First of all, I decided that every Saturday morning, a time that’s generally a very relaxed one for me, would be spent reading a new book. Secondly, I decided to expand my reading by exploring some great new genres!

I’ll be the first to admit that I have an obsessive weakness for science fiction and fantasy novels. And while I do sometimes read other books, I tend to gravitate back to the same genre again and again. This year, I’m planning on diving into non-fiction a lot more and I started already by downloading The Year of Living Biblically by A. J. Jacobs. Just a few chapters in, I’m already hooked and I can’t wait to finish it tomorrow! [Read more…]

Learn to Read for FREE with a 4 WEEK Trial of Reading Eggs!

October 21, 2014 by Kathryn 57 Comments

Reading Eggs provides a comprehensive range of online reading lessons and e-books that teach kids ages 3-13 the literacy skills needed for a lifetime of reading success. Over 90% of parents using Reading Eggs report a noticeable improvement in their child’s reading skills because the program makes learning phonics and basic reading skills fun. Your child can progress through the one-on-one lessons at their own pace and you can track their learning with regular progress reports and assessments.

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