Archives for March 2015

It’s time to Read Across America and also to celebrate Dr. Seuss’s 111th birthday this week! What better way to have your child enjoy reading than with a personalized story book? I See Me! has the coolest books! My son received a personalized “My Very Own World Adventure” Book and although he is slightly older than the recommended age, he thought it was very cool.

This book has a personalized adventure to different places that start with the child’s letters in their first and last name. How cool is that?! The illustrations are also fun, bright and colorful! It is sure to be a hit with your children too. I would recommend this book for ages 4-10. I See Me! also has a  variety of other book choices. There are so many different themes and would also make great gifts for the holidays. Easter is almost here! These would be perfect in an Easter basket.  Also, don’t forget to enter their Read Across America Sweepstakes!

Self Disclosure: I received a free book sample to facilitate this feature. Photo Credit: I See Me!

Everyone agrees that reading is important, but kids today tend to lose interest in reading before adolescence. Raising Kids Who Read: What Parents and Teachers Can Do provides practical solutions for both parents and teachers looking for ways to stimulate a love of reading that lasts well into adulthood.

Written by bestselling author and psychology professor Daniel T. Willingham, this book combines evidence-based analysis with engaging, insightful recommendations for the future to get kids reading. Age-specific tips for developing the three key elements for reading enthusiasm—decoding, comprehension and motivation—are explained in depth along with information on helping kids with dyslexia.

Debunking the myths about reading education, Raising Kids Who Read will empower readers to share the joy of reading with kids from preschool through high school.

For more information and to purchase the book: http://www.wiley.com/WileyCDA/WileyTitle/productCd-1118769724.html

About the Author:

DANIEL T. WILLINGHAM, PHD, is professor of psychology at the University of Virginia. His best-selling first book, Why Don’t Students Like School? (Jossey-Bass, 2009), was hailed as “brilliant analysis” by the Wall Street Journal and “a triumph” by the Washington Post, recommended by scores of education-related magazines and blogs, and translated into many languages. His most recent book, When Can You Trust the Experts? How to Tell Good Science from Bad in Education (Jossey-Bass, 2012), was named recommended reading by Nature and Scientific American, and made Choice’s list of outstanding academic titles for 2013.

About Wiley

Wiley is a global provider of knowledge and knowledge-enabled services that improve outcomes in areas of research, professional practice and education. Through the Research segment, the Company provides digital and print scientific, technical, medical, and scholarly journals, reference works, books, database services, and advertising. The Professional Development segment provides digital and print books, online assessment and training services, and test prep and certification. In Education, Wiley provides education solutions including online program management services for higher education institutions and course management tools for instructors and students, as well as print and digital content.

About Jossey-Bass^TM

Jossey-Bass, a Wiley brand, provides tools, services and publications that inform and inspire those committed to developing themselves, their organizations and their communities. Jossey-Bass’ publications feature the work of some of the world’s most respected authors in leadership, management, business, nonprofit, K-12 and Higher Education, and public health. For more information, visit josseybass.com.

Self Disclosure: No compensation was received to post. Credit: DANIEL T. WILLINGHAM, PHD, Wiley and Jossey-Bass^TM.

Are you looking for fun activities for your little ones this Winter and especially on Rainy Days? These are some great ideas from Sid the Science Kid & Dinosaur Train!

Check out the PBS Kids website for some terrific activities that parents can do at home with their kids!

• Click on this link to find science-themed learning adventures based on the Sid the Science Kid TV episodes: http://www.pbs.org/parents/sid/activities/

• Click on this link to play fantastic Dinosaur Train games, learn about dinos in a fact-filled “Field Guide,” and join the Nature Trackers Club: http://pbskids.org/dinosaurtrain/

• Click on this link to find out the schedule for the traveling show, Dinosaur Train Live: Buddy’s Big Adventure:http://www.dinosaurtrainlive.com/get_tickets.html

Credit: PBS Kids.

This new story explores an ancient myth of a fabled creature whose distant roar sparks the curiosity of Tinker Bell’s (Mae Whitman) good friend Fawn (Ginnifer Goodwin), an animal fairy who’s not afraid to break the rules to help an animal in need. But this animal – massive and strange with glowing green eyes – is not really welcome in Pixie Hollow and the scout fairies are determined to capture the mysterious beast before it destroys their home.

Tinker Bell and the Legend of the NeverBeast

By Kendyl Powell, KIDS FIRST! Critic, age 13

Tinker Bell and the Legend of the NeverBeast is an adventurous movie about Tinker Bell and her good friend Fawn, (Ginnifer Goodwin) an animal fairy with a big heart and an adventurous mind.  As Fawn is flying through the forest, she notices a mysterious cave and hears a weird sound coming from inside. Fawn immediately flies inside the cave to see what is happening. Fawn discovers a mysterious creature that no one knows anything about. She begins to observe the creature and notices he does a lot of strange things. Fawn names him Gruff. Nyx and the other fairies try to capture the big green-eyed beast because they fear he will bring harm and danger to Pixie Hollow. Fawn tries her best to convince Tink, Nyx and their scout friends and fairies not to harm Gruff.

My favorite character is Nyx (Rosario Dawson). Nyx is apart of the Scout fairies. She protects the fairies in Pixie Hollow and tries to get rid of anything that would harm them. Nyx is very cool, confident and strong. She likes to get her job done.

My favorite scene is when Fawn tries to help Gruff hide from Nyx and the other fairies. As Fawn tries to hide Gruff in a secret place, he lets out a very loud and big sneeze and he sneezes on all the other fairies. It is really funny.

The message of this movie is not to judge people. Gruff is a creature that only wakes up every 1000 years for a special task. Everyone in Pixie Hallow thinks he is a bad beast. He is actually a nice creature.

The DVD/Blue-Ray combo has bonus features which include never before seen bonus extras, access to cool computer games, five ingredients to getting Gruff, The True Story of the Neverbeast and so much more!

Tinker Bell and the Legend of the Neverbeast is a fabulous movie.  It will be available on DVD/Blue-Ray/Digital on March 3, 2015. I recommend it for boys and girls ages 3 to 10. I give this move 5 out of 5 shinning stars.

Credit: KIDS FIRST! www.kidsfirst.org