Giveaway: Sex and the City: The Movie Book

This giveaway is now closed. Thank you for your participation.
The winner is Daniel M.
Congratulations!

From the book: "From the team who brought you Sex and the City: Kiss and Tell comes this must-have companion to the movie millions have been waiting for. This sleek hardcover volume gives readers exclusive entree' into the world of Sex and the City: The Movie. In addition to a storybook-style telling of the film, the book includes mouth-watering bonus features not available anywhere else: behind-the-scenes stories from Kim Cattrall, Kristin Davis, Cynthia Nixon, star and producer Sarah Jessica Parker, writer and director Michael Patrick King, as well as producers and other key cast and crew members; a guide to the movie's multi-million-dollar fashion closet, including insights from costume designer Patricia Field; and an insider's tour of the movie's many locations, some of which have never before appeared on film."

I'm probably one of the few fans who have still not seen the movie so this book was a real treat for me. It pretty much covered all the main points of the film including how it ends. However, what I really found interesting was all the behind-the-scene glimpses into what it took to make this major motion picture. Things you would have never known about otherwise.

The full-paged color photos are absolutely breathtaking and it gives you a close-up view of all the details that were put into the clothing, shoes, accessories, hair and make-up. After all, isn't that what this movie is all about?

Enter to win a copy for yourself!

• Mention in comments who your favorite character is before June 23rd, midnight HST. That's it!
  
• A random winner will be selected and notified on June 24th.
  
• The winner will then have 3 days to claim their prize.

To earn extra entries, you may do one or all of the following. Each option is another extra entry.

• Subscribe to my feed.
  
• Mention this giveaway on your blog with a link back here.
• Place An Island Review's button in your sidebar.
  
• NOTE: Due to the overwhelming responses received for extra entries, from now on please submit a separate comment for each extra ticket you're submitting. This will ensure that all your extra efforts are counted. Thank you!
  

This giveaway is open to everyone world wide! Good luck!

Review: Were You Raised By Wolves?

From the site: "Perhaps, in your parents' eagerness to smooth life's bumpy road, they took such good care of you that you never learned how to be a self-sufficient human being. And now here you are, all grown up. What next?

You may think you don't really need to know how to make a proper cup of coffee. You've never given much thought to your listening skills, or how one goes about saving money, or stocking a bar. But knowing these things will really make you a much more well-rounded and all-around more charming and useful person, one who is more apt to be invited over for dinner. In fact, a lot of us might benefit from having a few gentle hints about housekeeping, habits, and behavior lobbed in our general direction. With advice and information ranging from How to Boil an Egg to How to Go a Whole Day Without Spending Money—in chapters as diverse as the Upside of Being Single and Lonely and the Hangover: Badge of Courage or Waste of a Day?—Were You Raised by Wolves? will help you come away more confident about important issues such as where the hell to put those flowers somebody brought over last night."

Were You Raised by Wolves by Christie Mellor turned out to be a very fun and entertaining read. It's aimed at young adults who are newly on their own in the world and may need some help adjusting with doing things for themselves. The books covers areas such as keeping your place clean, getting acquainted with your kitchen, dress ettiquite, hosting dinner/cocktail parties, dealing with holidays, personal relationships, handling your finances, and how to stop relying on your parents. It even gives you step-by-step instructions on how to sew on a button!

I would have definitely appreciated this book as a graduation gift. It would have given me a heads up on things to come and would have saved me a lot of headaches!

The book may be purchased through Amazon.com for $13.57. Thank you to the Parent Bloggers Network for this great review opportunity!

Review: Sony Digital Reader PRS-505

I'm an avid book reader. I love books and take them with me to work so I'll always have something to keep me occupied while sitting in airport terminals, during my breaks on the plane, and to keep me company on layovers. The only problem is that I have to be selective on which book to bring since they make my rollerboard pretty heavy. Because of this, there were more than one occasion when I had wished I brought a different one with me.

Well, no more. The Sony Reader Digital Book PRS-505 is the answer to my prayers.

One of the most attractive features is it's size. At less than half an inch thick, it's thinner than most paperbacks, and the 9 ounce Reader easily fits into my bag without weighing me down. The large rectangular 6-inch LCD makes it easy to read the pages and it feels comfortable in my hands even during longer periods of time.

In order to download books, you must install and sign-up with the Sony Connect CD-ROM software included with your purchase. It was really easy to set-up and I was able to figure out how to use the program in a matter of minutes. It was pretty cool to be able to get my book instantly and it saved me a trip down to the bookstore. Keep in mind that it is not Mac compatible.

The size and font of words are easy to read and adjustable to accommodate your preference. The pages were viewable even at angles, dim or bright lights, and can also be changed from portrait to landscape mode.

However, like with anything else, there are a couple of downsides that I noticed. First, when I tried to view some downloaded family photos, they seem pixelated at first and took a few moments to sharpen. Also, the photos are displayed only in black & white which made it difficult to see some of the details.

Another downside is the lag time when pressing the menu buttons or turning pages. It's not a big deal but I guess I've gotten used to immediate responses with other electronic gadgets.

All in all, I really like the Sony Digital Reader Book and plan on making good use it. I can now bring tons of books, stored on memory cards, along for the ride. I don't think it will replace books all together but it does offer another option to consumers.

The Sony Digital Reader Book sells for $299.00.

Review & Giveaway: The Rookie Mom's Handbook

This giveaway is now closed. Thank you for your participation.
The winner is Shannon of The Buchmann Update. Congratulations!

Before I had Girlie Girl, I remember thinking that I would never be able to leave the house with her by myself. How in the world would I be able to handle lugging all the equipment? What happens when I can't find a place to nurse her? What if she just.won't.stop.crying?

Of course, one she arrived all I wanted to do was get out of the house for some fresh air and maybe a White Chocolate Mocha from Starbucks. I looked in all the local publications for Mommy & Me type activities but didn't find much available. What I wouldn't have done for The Rookie Mom's Handbook by Heather Gibbs Flett and Whitney Moss.

From the book: Bookstores are filled with activity books for babies and toddlers, but The Rookie Mom's Handbook is the only one designed exclusively for first-time mothers. Here are 250 enjoyable activities to help rookie moms maintain their individuality and boost their confidence about leaving the house, socializing, and doing things they always liked to do - either with or without baby.

What I loved about this book are the many great suggestions that you probably would have never thought of on your own. You know they're there but sometimes you just need a little reminder. The Rookie Mom's Handbook is written in small bite-sized pieces for your convenience and organized by baby's age. Reading can't get any easier than this!

The only problem I had was reading the dark purple text on the light purple background. It's very pretty to look at but it was a little hard on my eyes. But then again, it could just be me.

To celebrate this wonderful book, a blog blast will be held from May 9th till 11th where you could win a fantastic gift bag filled with more than $250 worth of goodies for moms, including the brand new BABYBJÖRN® Baby Carrier Synergy, a child’s gardening kit from Smith & Hawken, a baby tshirt from Scout Organic Baby, and of course, a copy of The Rookie Mom’s Handbook. For more information on how to enter stop by the Parent Bloggers Network today!

Now for my giveaway, how would you like a copy of The Rookie Mom's Handbook for yourself or for another brand new mom?

• To enter, just leave a comment below saying what's your favorite activity to do with your child. If you don't have a child yet, then what's the one thing you're looking forward to doing with your future child?
  
• To earn extra entries, just subscribe to my feed and/or mention this giveaway on your blog with a link back here. Please let me know if you're doing/did the extra credit so I can make sure you're entered properly.
• Don't forget to leave a way to contact you in case you win.
  
• Comments will close on May 14th and a random winner will be selected and notified on May 15th. The winner will have 3 days to claim their prize.
• This giveaway is open to everyone world-wide. Good luck!
  

Thank you to the Parent Bloggers Network and Rookie Moms for this review opportunity.

Review & Giveaway: Tera's Dawn & Unicorn Races

This giveaway is now closed. Thank you for your participation.
The winner is Samsakara. Congratulations!

Tera's Dawn, written by Susan K. Schank, is about a young mare who loves to run free among the countryside. Then one day, she gets caught by ranchers and trained to be a plow horse on their farm. Her misery eventually turns to happiness when she makes an amazing discovery!

Even though Girlie Girl isn't a big fan of horses, she loved the way Tera overcame adversity and found her wish eventually coming true. A great book that your entire family will love.


If you have a child who loves fantasies, this is the perfect picturebook! In Unicorn Races, written by Stephen J. Brooks, every night after going to bed a young girl enters the imaginary world of unicorns among the stars. Riding as a princess on the back of a unicorn, she oversees amazing races past the moon, stars, and other exciting sights.

The best part of this book is the beautiful water-color pictures that makes you feel like you're right there in the action. Definitely one of the best books we've read in a long time!

How would you like to win both of these books for your family's library? Oh, and did I mention that they're both signed by the authors? Cool, huh? To enter, just stop by Purple Sky Publishing before midnight, May 5th and check out their other wonderful children's books. Then come back here and mention one that you find interesting. That's it! A random winner will be selected and notified on May 6th. The winner will then have 3 days to claim their prize.

You may earn extra entries by doing one or all of the following for a total of 3 extra entries:

• Subscribe to my feed
• Mention this giveaway on your blog with a link back here and to Purple Sky Publishing
• Vote for my entry in the Photo Contest

Please let me know if you're doing/did the extra credit so I can make sure you're entered properly.

Don't forget to leave a way to contact you in case you win! This giveaway is open to everyone world-wide. Good luck!

Review & Giveaway: Quarterback Dad

This giveaway is now closed. Thank you for your participation.
The winner is Danielle of Searching for Sanity.
Congratulations!

I recently had the opportunity to read the book Quarterback Dad by Bobby Mercer and thoroughly enjoyed it.

The book is written using many football terms which Dads will find themselves relating to. The Dad is called The Quarterback, Mom is The Teammate, and the baby-to-be is Future Star or 1st Round Draft Pick. It's written in a very simple yet humorous tone that even Mommies will find entertaining.

From the book: "You've just signed a new star player to your home team - but are you really ready for kickoff? With Quarterback Dad, you can suit up and take the field with the cool competence of an All Star! From learning the plays to clinching the playoffs, you'll triumph every yard of the way."

But it's more than entertaining, it's informative. This book talks about everything from the moment you find out the exciting news, to shopping for the nursery, morning sickness, baby showers, dealing with mood swings, delivery, nursing, talking to the pediatrician, and everything else involved with a brand new baby. And it's all delivered (so to speak) in a way that guys can understand. How cool is that?

How would you like a copy for yourself? To enter, just stop by Quarterback Dad's official site before April 23rd then come back and mention one newborn/toddler tip listed there. That's it! A random winner will be selected and notified on April 24th. The winner will then have 3 days to claim their prize.

To earn extra entries, just subscribe to my feed and/or mention this giveaway on your blog with a link back here and to Quarterback Dad. Please let me know if you're doing the extra credit so I can make sure you're entered properly. Also, don't forget to leave a way to contact you in case you win.

This giveaway is open to everyone world-wide. Good luck!

Review: Highlights High Five Magazine

When I was a kid, I used to love to go to the doctor's office just so I could read the Highlights Magazine. My favorite feature was the hidden picture puzzles. So when I had the opportunity to review their new version called High Five (aimed at 2-5 year olds), I was curious to see how different this magazine is from the original.

Highlights High Five's mission is to "celebrate the early years of childhood by helping parents, educators and other caregivers encourage a child's natural sense of wonder about the world - for children are the world's most important people."

They strive to accomplish this through:

• Promoting reasoning, problem solving and creative self-expression
• Fostering a love of language and a rich vocabulary
• Inspiring young children to be kind, to get along with others and to grow in self-confidence

I received the first three issues of 2008 and looking through them brought back so many wonderful childhood memories. These magazines are every bit as fun, colorful, and educational as I remember. And guess what? They still have the hidden picture puzzle!

I was so excited to introduce this part of my childhood to Girlie Girl and not surprisingly, she loved it, too. Her favorite part was the Let's Do It section where there's all kinds of hands-on activities for our family to enjoy. Even Baby Bug took an interest in the stories and simple illustrations.

All in all, Highlights High Five is just as good if not better than I remember it to be. I'm so thankful to the Parent Bloggers Network for re-introducing me to this great educational resource!

BTW, The Parent Bloggers Network will be holding a Blog Blast on March 7th where you can enter to win a subscription for your children. Don't miss out!

Giveaway: Just Tell Me What To Say

This giveaway is now closed. Thank you for participating.
The winner is Cindi@hotmail.
Congratulations!

How many times have I wished that my girls came with an instruction manual on how to handle all those verbal and non-verbal situations. Well, now there's Just Tell Me What To Say by Betsy Brown Braun.

From the book:

Parents are often perplexed by their children's typical behaviors and inevitable questions. This down-to-earth guide provides "Tips and Scripts" for handling everything from sibling rivalry and the food wars to questions about death, divorce, sex, and "whyyyy?" Betsy Brown Braun blends humor with her expertise as a child development specialist, popular parent educator, and mother of triplets. Whatever your dilemma or child's question—from "How did the baby get in your tummy?" to "What does 'dead' mean?" to "It's not fair!"—Betsy offers the tools and confidence you need to explain the world to your growing child.

Just Tell Me What To Say is an essential book which provides hands-on, just give-it-to-me-straight guidance so that parents gain the skills and confidence they need to handle the sometimes challenging situations that inevitably accompany raising children ages 2-6 and beyond.

This informative book talks about most of the situations that we parents will eventually face as we raise our children into adulthood. Here are some of the topics covered:

• Communicating With Your Children
• Discipline Do's and Don'ts
• Sibling Issues
• Children's Eating Habits and Behaviors
• Manners and Social Graces
• Day-to_Day Parenting Dilemmas
• Learning About the Birds and the Bees
• Talking About Serious Illness
• Learning About Death
• Talking With Your Children About Divorce
• Answering Questions About Natural Disasters, Terrorism, and War

How would you like to win copy of your very own? To enter, just leave a comment before February 20th saying what's the hardest question you've ever had to answer for your children or the hardest question you anticipate. That's it! A random winner will be selected and notified on February 21st.

This giveaway is open to everyone world-wide. Good luck!

Review & Giveaway: The Hawaiian House Now

This giveaway is now closed. Thank you for your participation!
The winners are Sew Swank & are we officially old now.
Congratulations!

The Hawaiian House Now by Malia Mattoch McManus & Linny Morris, is a beautiful 192-page hardcover book highlighting the most amazing homes in Hawaii.

Taken from the book:

"From dramatic oceanfront homes to old cottages full of memories, Hawaiian houses combine architecture and location to create a sense of relaxation. As people from all over the world (Polynesians, New England missionaries, East and Southeast Asians) have put down roots in the islands, they have combined international motifs with a more traditional Hawaiian ambiance—to produce an informally eclectic style that is perfectly suited to contemporary lifestyles.

The Hawaiian House Now takes the reader on a tour of 21 specially photographed homes throughout the islands of Oahu, Hawaii (the Big Island), Maui, and Kauai, including houses that update the “aloha spirit” of traditional Hawaii; town houses in Honolulu; country houses; fantasy houses that express a personal vision; houses that blend the indoors and outdoors; original architectural statements; and, of course, beach houses."

Words just cannot convey the beauty of these full-paged color photographs. Each time I thought I saw the most beautiful home I've ever seen, I would turn the page and there would be another one even more gorgeous. The outdoor architectures really make the most of Hawaii's natural beauty.

This book sells for $40 and is currently on backorder for 3 weeks. However, I have 2 copies to give away to some very lucky winners! To enter, just leave a comment below before January 8th saying what your favorite thing about Hawaii is. That's it! A random winner will be selected on January 9th.

As usual, you may receive extra entries by subscribing to my feed or by mentioning this giveaway on your blog. Please let me know if you're doing/did the extra credit so I can make sure you're entered properly. Also, PLEASE leave a way to contact you if you win.

This giveaway is open to everyone world-wide. However, please note that since these books are very heavy, they will be sent out to the winners via Media Mail.

Good luck!

Thank you to Maggie of HNA Books for this great opportunity!

Review & Giveaway: I Love You More

This giveaway is now closed. Thank you for your participation.
The winners are:
The Robinson County Post
The Narcissistic Dreamer
Doreen's Place
laura_licious (no blog)
Congratulations!

I Love You More, a book written by Laura Duksta and illustrated by Karen Keesler, is a heart-warming story about a Mother and her son discussing just how much they love each other.

Book Description:

Too often love is assumed and not spoken. Love should be seen, heard, felt, sensed, shown, expressed, talked about - and more! Reading I Love You More will become a game, a conversation of love, that people, especially parents and children, can share for years.

Girlie Girl and I really enjoyed this book. The large font made it easier for her to read along and the simple words that were used really helped her to understand what was being said. We both love the flip story layout that starts from either side of the book and ends in the middle. It's a book that I know we'll be reading for years to come.

How would you like to add this gem to your child's library? I have 4 copies of this book available to giveaway. To enter, just leave a comment saying who you love. That's it! You have until November 8th to sign-up.

And if you'd like extra entries, just subscribe to my RSS feed or mention this giveaway on your blog. There will be more giveaways to come!

PLEASE don't forget to leave a way to contact you in case you win!

Review & Giveaway: Deceptively Delicious

This giveaway is now closed. Thank you for your participation.
The winners are Doreen's Place & Shama-lama Mama!
Congratulations!

If you haven't already heard about this book, you've probably been out of the country or experiencing power blackout because Deceptively Delicious is the talk of the town.

Not only is it written by Jessica Seinfield (wife of Jerry) but it's already received many celebrity endorsements, include the Big O herself. When Jessica appeared on the Oprah show, she impressed the talk show host enough to receive her highly coveted approval.

The whole premise of this book is to get kids to eat healthily, by “hiding” pureed vegetables and fruits in everyday foods that your kids eat. When you think about it, the concept is quite simple. I just wonder why I never thought about it. She even puts spinach and carrots in her brownies! Now that's just darn right sneaky!

What I really liked about this book is all the colorful photos of the finished products. For me, I need to have a visual when deciding what to make. I don't know why, I just feel more motivated if I know what it looks like. There are also many helpful parenting tips printed throughout this book. Those alone would make this a great buy!

The downside is that I tend to make things on the spur of the moment. By looking at some of these recipes, I think I would have to plan in advance to make sure I had all the tools and ingredients in my kitchen.

All in all, I think this book lives up to it's hype. It's organized and well written. And let's face it, anything that gets my kids to eat more vegetables is well worth it's weight in gold.

• Would you like a copy of Deceptively Delicious for yourself? Just leave a comment below saying which fruit or vegetable your kids absolutely despise before October 19th. I'll select 2 random winners on the 20th.
• For extra entries:
• Post this giveaway on your blog with a link back.
• Subscribe to my RSS feed.
• Will ship world-wide . . . even to Dubai!
  

Even if you don't win, you can still view some of this book's recipes at the Oprah website. Thank you to Parent Bloggers Network for this review opportunity!

Giveaway: Personalized Children's Book

This giveaway is now closed. Thank you for your participation!
The winner is Living for God.
Congratulations!

All kids love to hear their name. Well, at least mine do! What better way to give the gift of reading to a child than through a personalized book made just for them. Introducing The First Adventures of Incredible You by the talented ladies at Custom Made For Kids.

"The First Adventures of Incredible You is a delightful, rhyming book about the everyday experiences and sensations of a young child. From splashing in rain puddles to cheering on a favorite team to smelling a favorite family food, the book tells the story of this child's first several years of life. By adding the names of special people and places in the child's life to these universal experiences, the special child in your life will believe The First Adventures of Incredible You was written especially for him or her."

The amazing part of this book is that it can be tailor made to almost any type of family including those with adopted children. There is a 100% satisfaction guarantee so you know they stand proud behind their work.

Want a chance to win this wonderful book (vallue $41) for that special child in your life?

Here's how to enter:

• Stop by Custom Made For Kids before midnight October 18th to find the answer to this question - "Who is the illustrator of The First Adventures of Incredible You?" (hint: check out the About Us section)
  
• Then come back here and leave your answer in comments. PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE leave a way to contact you.
• Free shipping to all U.S. addresses. If you live outside the U.S., you can still win the book but you must pay for international shipping charges.
  
• For extra entries:
• Mention this offer on your blog and link back to this giveaway post and Custom Made for Kids.
• Subscribe to my RSS feed so you can stay on top of all my giveaways. Believe me, there's a lot more to come!

Herb, The Vegetarian Dragon

Host Site: Crunchy Domestic Goddess
Deadline to Enter: October 16, 2007
Prize: Herb, The Vegetarian Dragon Book

October is Vegetarian Awareness Month. To celebrate, Crunchy Domestic Goddess is giving away a copy of Herb, The Vegetarian Dragon by Jules Bass. To win a copy, stop by the giveaway post and leave in comments your favorite book from Barefoot Books.

Giveaway - Toolbox for New Dads DVD & Book

This giveaway is now closed. Thank you for your participation.
The winner was chosen using Random.org
Congratulations to Matthew!

Remember a while ago I did a couple of reviews on Fathering Your School-Age Child and Toolbox for New Dads? Well, since I'm done with both of them, I'd like to give them away to someone else who could benefit from this wealth of information.

To enter, just leave a comment before September 27th midnight saying one thing that you wished you knew before you had kids. Or if you're a brand new expectant parent, one question you have about babies. A winner will be randomly selected on the 28th. Good luck!

BTW, don't forget to leave a way to contact you either via email or url.

Shoes, Books & DVDs - Oh My!

Host Blog: Parent Product Reviews
Deadline to Enter: see below
Prizes: varies - see below

Parent Product Reviews is currently giving away a whole bunch of great things! To enter, just leave a comment on that particular post by clicking on the links provided.

Screaming Parenting: The Revolutionary Approach to Raising Your Kids by Keeping Cool by Hal Runkel - deadline September 25th
A Pair of Easy Spirit Shoes - deadline September 27th
Disney Princess Follow Your Dreams & Mickey's Treat DVDs - deadline October 3rd
Little Einsteins Rocket Firebird Rescue & Mickey's Treat Halloween Movie DVDs - deadline October 4th

Review & Giveaway: The Little Black Book of Style

This giveaway is now closed. Thank you for you participation.
The winner is The Things We Do
Congratulations!

The Little Black Book of Style
written by: Nina Garcia

My very first impression of this book was . . . Wow! If I were browsing the shelves at the bookstore, this one would definitely catch my eye. The colors and lettering just oozes style.

Being a flight attendant, I found this book especially useful because even though we wear a uniform at work, you should see the way my co-workers dress on our layovers. Sometimes I feel like I'm back in high school trying to keep up with the latest fashions.

This book covers various topics such as the basics that every closet should contain, where fashions come from, what to wear in different situations, and tips and tricks from major fashion icons.

What I think they could have done better was maybe use some actual photos to help illustrate their ideas and suggestions better. The drawings that they do have are great but not very practical.

What I really liked about this book is that not only does it give you basic tips on how to put outfits and accessories together, it also stresses that everyone has their own style. Wearing the current trends is not as important as being comfortable with who you are. Confidence is the most important accessory a woman can wear.

However, the coolest thing about this book is all the quotes scattered throughout. My favorite is:

Fashion can be bought. Style one must posses.
- Edna Woolman Chase

If you'd like a copy of your very own, just leave a comment below before September 16th mentioning one thing you wish you never wore. A random winner will be selected on the 17th. Good luck!

Thank you to Parent Bloggers Network for this great opportunity!

Review: Fathering Your School Aged Child

Fathering Your School-Age Child: A Dad's Guide to the Wonder Years, 3 to 9
by Armin Brott

I initially signed-up to do this review for DH's benefit. I thought this book could be a source of valuable information for him. Don't get me wrong, he's a great Dad. It's just that he's never had kids around while he was growing up, let alone girls! So, even though he's still a big kid himself, he sometimes feels a little confused about what's going on with our 5 year old daughter.

Normally, the only thing he reads are surfer magazines or body building type books, so I was surprised that he actually took it with him on his layover. When he returned, he had nothing but great things to say about it.

• He liked that it was written by a fellow Dad who has actually experienced what it takes to raise a child. It's written in a straight-forward, no nonsense way that I think men can relate better to.
  
• He also liked the way the book was broken down into manageable parts. It was easy for him to find just the right information he was looking for.
  
• The part that he liked best was the helpful suggestions the author made regarding activities that parents can do with their children. I think he was grateful for the alternatives to playing Polly Pocket.
• The resources towards the end is an endless list of books, magazines, and websites where you can find information about almost any parenting subject you can think of. Talk about research!
  

However, not only does this book talk about the special relationships between a father and his kids, it also gives us mommies some great information as well. For example, did you know that tooth decay is a contagious disease? If one of your kids has tooth decay and shares a cup or straw with their sibling, the second child could also develop it as well. I did not know that!

So far I've only read up to the 5th year and decided to stop there for now. I'm already overwhelmed with Girlie Girl growing up faster than I ever imagined. When the time comes, I'll definitely continue reading.

I recommend this book to any Dad with a child ages 3 to 9. You will find a wealth of information written in a way that will keep your interest. Let's face it, kids are truly a mystery.

For more information about this book or where to purchase a copy, please click here. Thank you to the The Parent Bloggers Network for this great review opportunity.

Win a Bag of Books

Host Blog: Welcome to My World of Dreams
Deadline to Enter: August 26, 2007
Prize: a book bag filled with books & bath products

Judy at Welcome to My World of Dreams is celebrating the launch of her new book review blog - The Long and Short of It - by giving away a book bag full of books!

There are THREE ways you can enter this wondrous contest:

• Several of their reviewers have blogs. Head over to The Long and the Short of It, the blog, meet them, and click on their names. If you leave a comment on their post announcing the contest, you'll be entered. Only enter one time please, per reviewer, but you CAN visit more than one reviewer. Oh... and don't forget Judy and Marianne.
• You can share the good news about the contest on your own blog. Simply link to us in your blog entry then fill out the Mr. Linky here. Please use the url to the actual blog entry, please.
• You can sign up for their newsletter here.

Christmas in July Giveaway

Host Blog: Lulu's Laundry
Deadline to Enter: July 27, 2007, midnight EST
Prize: Your choice of book (up to a $20 value) from Amazon.com

Lulu is celebrating Christmas early this year. To join in on the fun, just stop by her contest post and enter to win a book from Amazon.com (your choice up to a $20 value). All you need to do is tell her what your favorite book is and she'll randomly select a winner. Good luck!

Product Review: Brighter Minds Children's Books

When I was asked to do a product review on a couple of books from Brighter Minds Media, I was thrilled. I've always felt that reading to your child is one of the best gifts you could ever give them. In fact, I read to my daughters before they were even born!

Brighter Minds Media is based in Columbus, Ohio and Toronto, Canada and have been publishing award winning items since 1998. Their fun and educational books and software are geared toward children ages 3 - 12.

The books that we received are:


Winter Spring Summer Fall - A Touch-and-Feel Seasons Book
This was the perfect book for Baby Bug since she's now in the put-everything-in-your-mouth stage. This sturdy and durable board book is filled with various touch-and-feel textures as well as bold colors which definitely helps to keep her attention.


30 Minutes a Day Learning System - Kindergarten
This colorful, 396 page workbook is a great supplement to Girlie Girl's school work. It includes 50 30-minute study sections which were developed and assessed by actual teachers. The pages are perforated for easy removal and there's even a Certificate of Completion which your child can proudly display when they're done.

Girlie Girl loves it so much that she actually sits there for more than 30 minutes at a time and will even prefer to complete the assignments rather than watch television. Now that's a miracle in my book!