This book will keep multiple kids entertained for hours.  Readers and pre-readers alike can find the objects giving them a sense of accomplishment.  It’s a great way to engage kids with a book without reading an actual story.   Sometimes kids just can’t take a long story, they want to do the talking and pointing while you listen for a change.  I SPY is a perfect excuse for kids to show what they know since many objects in the book are familiar to them. 

I SPYbooks are great vocabulary builders,  there are so many objects to name, the alphabet, numbers and more!  I love to have I SPY books in the car for the kids, they come in handy for last minute doctor visits or other waiting room situations.   

Recommended for ages 4 and up.  Be sure to visit Scholastic’s I SPY website for fantastic games and activities. 

Easy-to-read riddles by Jean Marzollo are paired with forty-six object-filled photographs by Walter Wick to create I Spy A to Z, the most engaging alphabet book ever! With more than thirty titles and 36 million books in print, the I Spy series continues to win the hearts and minds of parents and kids everywhere. 

I know you’ll enjoy the book as much as I do, so here’s your chance to win!
 
So what about the prizes?

• One (1) Grand Prize winner receives a Grand Prize Pack including:
  Wii Video Game ‘Ultimate I SPY’
  Board Game ‘I SPY Memory Game’
  I SPY A to Z: A Book of Picture Riddles
  One additional I SPY Book (Title TBD) 
  Grand Prize Pack valued at = $85.99
• Four (4) runner-up winners receive a copy of the new book
  I SPY A to Z: A Book of Picture Riddles
  Each book valued at = $13.99

Many ways to win

(ends 7/15/2009 @ 11:59 p.m. est) open to the USA only, please make a separate comment for each activity:

• leave a comment here once per day
• blog about this contest on your sites
• tweet this message on twitter once per day: 

WIN an I SPY Picture Book gift set www.pajamamom.com @blogathomemom http://tiny.cc/6yLlV  <— please leave a comment here with the time stamp (right click, copy shortcut, paste)

• follow me on twitter for one entry http://twitter.com/blogathomemom

*The prizes are supplied and fulfilled by the sponsor, 5 winners will be contacted via Twitter and/or email shortly after drawing.  Winner must respond within 5 days or another winner may be selected.  Please note, I’ve made the contact time extra long since we are in vacation season and people may be away from their computers.

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Like much of the country, we were watching a lot of news coverage at the time and I noticed boy2001 looking up a lot when they talked about Obama.  There’s no doubt in my mind that he identifies with Obama and can imagine himself being President some day.  Our girls couldn’t get enough of Mrs. Obama and the Obama girls!

The book, Obama’s Historic Journey, is an extraordinary collection of photos from President Obama’s early childhood to his family life.  The story concludes on his first day in office… January 21, 2009.  The book is geared towards young readers but people of all ages will enjoy it.

One of my favorite features of this book are the pictures and letters sent in to the President, kids are hilarious… one even suggests foods for President Obama to eat since he’s “too skinny”.

Boy2001 particularly appreciated the chapter “A Skinny Kid with a Funny Name”.  He can relate to being different than those around him.  After reading this Obama quote, “…whether people were friendly, indifferent, or occasionally hostile, I try my best to keep my mouth shut and hear what they had to say.”  He said, “I’m going to try and do that too.”

Thanks to the sponsor, Mother Talk and www.MomCentral.com  for organizing this blog tour. 

Buy Obama The Historic Journey for Young Readers @ Amazon

ISBN: 978-0-670-01208-4

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I love this book because it gives kids a different perspective on what someone else is going through.  It’s also nice to see that the Childre’ns Band kids care about eachother, instead of looking the other way when they see Dudley’s upset, they take the time and find out what the problem is. 

Every child has a voice, even if they’re deaf and mute.  Dudley’s Solo has made a big impression on all my kids but especially girl2004, she seems to feel the most ‘different’ in groups and I’ve noticed that girls are especially exlusive in their “friendships”.  I’ve read Dudley’s Solo at least 10 times a day for the last 2 weeks and there’s no sign of slowing down.  A great story book for all ages in a Christian setting.

Dudley’s Solo

written by Tiffany Alexander

illustrated by Jeremiah Carstarphen

Thanks to the http://familyreviewnetwork.com for the great review opportunity.

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Thoughts on Journal Buddies by Jill Schoenberg

What I like about you?!  The most important job as a parent is to give your child a feeling of self worth.  Kids need to know they’re worth the trouble and that parents don’t expect everything to go right all of the time. 

Kids pick up on that when you spend time with them.  Engaging in activities together is a sure fire way to bond and get an insight into each others life.

Journaling is a great way to chronicle events, share thoughts and reflect on life BUT… it’s often easier said then done.  When I was a little girl, I often started journals left and right.  Writing the first thing that came to mind.  My inspiration was Laura Ingalls Wilder’s remembrance books, remember that?  I was convinced someone, someday would base a television show on them… I wrote feverishly for a few days and then would toss the journal in the corner until the next attempt. 

Looking at all those blank pages got overwhelming, I would run out of things to write.  Focusing on the day’s events I didn’t take the chance to weave in other activities.  For me, journaling was all about putting the pen to the paper so I didn’t incorporate any other type of expression.

Journal Buddies brings home the point that to be successful, most kids will need to bring in other forms of expression… poetry, sketches, drawings, stickers, stamps, printing out things from the web, etc…  and guess what!?  there’s nothing wrong with that.

There’s no reason to limit kids’ expression and effort.  Collages from newspaper clipping are wonderful living history moments.  But the best part about Journal Buddies is the encouragement Jill Schoenberg gives to buddy up!  Kids can buddy up with a parent, sibling, teacher or anyone else willing to answer and participate. 

Primarily targeted to kids 8 – 12 years old, there are Journal Buddies for Girls and Boys.  You can start any day of the week.  There are 30 numbered entries in the journal, each day there’ll be a short Q & A then there are two blank pages and one lined page.  The book also comes with an embellishment kit to decorate those pages.  It’s a lot of fun, filled with positive affirmations which will build your kid’s self esteem.

I almost forgot to mention that the book came personally signed by the author herself… very nice touch!  There’s something concrete about writing things down, makes it more important I think.  If it’s written it can’t be taken away, seems permanent.  What a great gift for Valentine’s Day or any other occassion for the little one in your life.  Let me know your thoughts on Journal Buddies.  Happy writing!

The journal buddies books are fun, interactive journals intended to help adults (parents, teachers, mentors…) build and strengthen a child’s self-esteem.

 Thanks to the FRN on the chance to review this journal.

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