Monday, May 30, 2011

Book Review- Pig Kahuna

By Jennifer Sattler
Published by Bloomsbury Kids
Released on May 24th, 2011
Source- Book received from publisher for review
Ages- K & up
4 stars

Fergus and his little brother, Dink, love collecting the things that wash up on the beach, especially if it means that Fergus doesn't actually have to go in the water. Then one day, they spy the greatest treasure of all—an abandoned surfboard. When no one comes to claim it, they make it the star of their collection and name it "Dave." But when Dave accidentally (on purpose?) gets cast back into the ocean, can Fergus find the courage to rescue him?

Whimsically brought to life with Jennifer Sattler's bright, comedic style, here's a story about bravery and brotherhood that little kahunas (and their parents) are sure to love (quoted from Goodreads).

Brothers Dink and Fergus love going to the beach. Together they collect all sorts of treasures, from seawood, to rocks, to sea shells and they even find a surf board that they name Dave. Not one to venture into the ocean, Fergus is about to over come his fear with the help of surfboard Dave, thanks to his little brother Dink.

Not only is this a fun read, but it's brightly colored illustrations had me wishing I could whisk my kids to the beach for the day to look for treasures. Pig Kahuna is the perfect book to pick up on your way to the pool, the beach, or to enjoy while snuggling up together before nap time. It's a wonderful summer time read!

Monday, May 23, 2011

Blog Tour & Guest Post by Author Helen Stringer

I am really excited to have Helen Stringer on Mundie Kids today, to do a guest post. She has a fabulous new release called The Midnight Gate, which is the second book in her Spellbinder series.

Here's a little bit about The Midnight Gate:

It’s been two months since Belladonna Johnson discovered she was the Spellbinder, and she’s full of questions about her powers. When a ghost finds Belladonna and her classmate, Steve, and gives them a mysterious map, the friends don’t know if they should be looking for or hiding from the one person who holds the answers to Belladonna’s powers: the Queen of the Abyss. Throw into the mix that Belladonna’s parents, who are ghosts, have disappeared and that her brand-new and maybe even sinister foster family seems to know more than they’ll let on, and you have a sequel made of high adventure and intrigue, seasoned with affecting characters and topped with a dollop of wit.

Word Games


The other day my mother was reading in the living room when she looked up and said, “I’ve just found a word I’ve never heard before.” She sounded vaguely surprised and rather pleased.


It’s an understandable response, if only because the older we get the fewer things surprise us, particularly words. After all, we’ve used them all our life – from those first barely formed cries to the umpteenth attempt to get through all of Proust, only to give up and see what’s on TV, where we are presented with yet more words. Even though we may know that the average person’s vocabulary clocks in at around 20,000 words and a highly educated person at around 35,000, the fact that Shakespeare used over 66,000 in his lifetime can only mean that there are a whole heck of a lot of words that none of us is ever going stumble across.


When I was young, I used to love finding new words. I really liked it when I read a book and discovered one I didn’t know – and the longer the better. Often I could deduce what a word meant by the context of the sentence, but the best words sent me scrambling for the dictionary.


All of which goes some way towards explaining my amazement when some (adult) reviewers of Spellbinder got all huffy because there were one or two words they hadn’t heard before. Now, I would be the first to agree that just arbitrarily using obscure words when there are perfectly functional ones that are more familiar is the worst kind of affectation, but that wasn’t the case at all. The English language has so many words in it that it is possible to say exactly what you mean, so why should we settle for ones that just approximate that meaning? (By the way, this vast treasure trove of words also means that with a little effort it is possible to insult people with really spectacular precision. Heh heh.)


Of course, it’s one thing to object to words that you don’t understand but quite another to project your objection onto other readers. If an adult finds it annoying to come across a word that they don’t know, it doesn’t follow at all that the intended middle grade reader will feel the same way. The younger the reader, the more they are used to finding new words. This is how we build our vocabularies in the first place.


Words should be fun and the more fun they are when you are young, the better. The writers who make up words from whole cloth, such as Lewis Carroll, only increase the joy and with it the realization that our language is malleable and ever-changing. There are words that have completely different meanings today than those they had a few hundred years back (“nice” is a good example of that), brand new ones coined to address a changing world (“website,” “rotoscope”) and words that were created just for the sheer heck of it (“brillig,” “vorpal”). The English language isn’t a cage or a treadmill, it’s a toy, so come on…let’s play!


Oh, and the word my mother had never come across? “Threnody.”


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For excerpts, games, links, and more, visit Helen's website at: http://www.helenstringer.net/


Be sure to visit the next stop in the blog tour, Poisoned Rationality at http://www.prationality.com/.

We also have an awesome GIVEAWAY!!!

Spellbinder series giveaway! Three lucky winners will receive one copy each of THE MIDNIGHT GATE and SPELLBINDER along with some bookmarks! To enter, send an e-mail to SpellbinderSeries@gmail.com. In the body of the e-mail, include your name, mailing address, and e-mail address (if you're under 13, submit a parent's name and e-mail address). One entry per person and prizes will only be shipped to US or Canadian addresses. Entries must be received by midnight (PDT) on 6/17/11. Winners will be selected in a random drawing on 6/18/11 and notified via email.

Wednesday, May 18, 2011

Book Review- The Emerald Atlas


Released on April 5th, 2011
Source- ARC/book from publisher to review
5 stars

John Stephens' aptly-titled new fantasy trilogy begins auspiciously with a nimble, fast-paced tale of three siblings. Kate, Michael, and Emma have suffered through ten years of odious orphanage "care"; now they have slipped into the care of the eccentric, disturbingly mysterious Dr. Pym. While exploring their new home, the children discover a magical green book. With that discovery, a decade of tedium dissolves into cascades of dangerous time travel adventures and struggles with a beautiful witch and decidedly less attractive zombielike Screechers. High early reader marks for strong characterization and battle scenes (quoted from Goodreads).

A superb book that readers of all ages will enjoy. There's adventure, time travel, magic, wizards, dwarves and plenty of monsters that will keep fans of fantasy and adventure glued to the pages.

I love it when I sit down to read a book and I find myself immersed into it's world. That's what it was like reading The Emerald Atlas. This book has the perfect mix of everything middle grade readers will love, from it's memorable characters, to the heart pounding adventure, the battles, the laugh out loud moments, and the moving moments that the three main characters, siblings Kate, Michael and Emma share. I adored their characters. Like many siblings the three of them of have their moments. They learn to really rely on each other, forgive on another and will do anything to protect one another. There's just one problem, Kate isn't telling them everything she knows about the parents they've not seen for years. All three hold on to the hope that they'll see them again. I don't blame them. I would have done the same thing if my mother had told me what Kate's told her. It's that hope that allows these three orphans who soon find themselves traveling back into time and in the middle of a magical, dangerous world, the inner strength to carry on.

I loved that through Kate, they can all travel back in time through a photograph. Each time they go back into time, more clues are unraveled surrounding them, the Atlas, the power it has, their parent's disappearance, the world they're apart of and the wizard, Dr Pym. I can't forget the evil Countess who will do anything to get her hands on that Atlas, and Kate. John did a great job at tying the characters together through out the course of history, and delivered a fantasy that fans of The Chronicles of Narnia and Harry Potter will enjoy.

Wonderful plot twists, engaging characters and an unforgettable adventure make this a story one I highly recommend picking up. This is a fantastic middle grade read that should be included on all Summer Reading Lists. Don't let the high page count make you doubt that early middle grade readers won't be able to tackle it, I think they will love every minute they spend reading it. I am looking forward to reading the next adventure in this series.
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Be sure to visit The Emerald Atlas here and watch the video here-

Tuesday, May 17, 2011

Blog Tour/Interview for Juniper Berry

I'm very excited about today's blog tour for Juniper Berry. This is a fabulous middle grade with a great message for it's readers and has a fabulous character that girls will be able to look up to. Today we have Juniper Berry's author M.P. Kozlowsky with us. You can read my review for the book here.

Juniper's parents have not been themselves lately. In fact, they have been cold, disinterested and cruel. And lonely Juniper Berry, and her equally beset friend, Giles, are determined to figure out why.

On a cold and rainy night Juniper follows her parents as they sneak out of the house and enter the woods. What she discovers is an underworld filled with contradictions: one that is terrifying and enticing, lorded over by a creature both sinister and seductive, who can sell you all the world's secrets in a simple red balloon. For the first time, Juniper and Giles have a choice to make. And it will be up to them to confront their own fears in order to save the ones who couldn't.

M.P. Kozlowsky's debut novel is a modern-day fairy tale of terror, temptation, and ways in which it is our choices that make us who we are (quoted from Goodreads).



Juniper is such a wonderful character. What do you admire most about her?
When I wrote Juniper Berry, my wife was pregnant with our daughter, Margeaux (I would later dedicate the book to her). I wanted to create a character she could admire, that any young girl could look up to. And so I made her an inquisitive girl who knows exactly who she is - a quality that is becoming more and more rare in this day and age - a girl who sees no need to blend in with others, no need to go along with the crowd. She is strong but also vulnerable, intelligent but always wants to learn more. She is quirky and different and accepts the same in others. I couldn't think of anyone better for my daughter to identify with.

If we were to visit Juniper at home, what books would we find on her bookcase?
Juniper would definitely have a worn copy of The House At Pooh Corner sitting on her shelf because it reminds her that even when we grow up we can still be children. She would have The Wonderful Wizard of Oz because it teaches her that there will always be magical faraway lands to explore but that there's still no place like home. And she would have many reference books on dozens of different subjects, because she still trusts them over information found on any computer.

Giles falls into the temptation of asking for one wish to come true. Had you been in his shoes, what is something you could have asked for?
Well, at the time of writing the book, I'm sure I would have asked to be a successful author. This was on my mind throughout the creation of the story, and within the text there are many parallels to the journey one takes to be published. I can really relate to Juniper's struggles. A lot can be read into the book in this regard.


Dimitri is a fabulous character I love what he tell Juniper on pages 151-152. Who inspired his character?
Dmitri is the only steady adult glimpsed in the book. Juniper's parents have not been quite right lately and her tutor is obsessed with fame and pop culture, etc., and Skeksyl, well, we don't even know what he is. So, I needed somebody to hover in the background, to look over the children, guide them from afar, but never interfere. This was something the children had to do on their own. He wasn't based on anybody in particular. He was my everyman, a man who makes mistakes, but, in the end, learns from it and knows what is right and what is wrong.

What was one of your favorite middle grade books to read growing up?
One that affected me the most is Mrs. Frisby and the Rats of NIMH. It was a groundbreaking book, and there haven't been very many like it since, most likely due to the narrowing of the industry, especially in the children's realm. I have recently completed a children's book somewhat inspired by it, although it delves into a bit darker territory, but with a sincere and important message to tell. I hope it one day sees print.

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Thank you to M.P. Kozlowsky for being with us today.

M.P. Kozlowsky (very short!) Biography:

M.P. Kozlowsky was a high school English teacher before becoming a writer. Juniper Berry is his first book. He lives in New York with his wife and daughter.

www.mpkozlowsky.com


Juniper Berry Writing Contest: To celebrate the release of M.P. Kozlowsky’s debut novel Juniper Berry, Walden Pond Press is inviting all writers aged 9-14 to write their own tales of terror and temptation in at least 500 words. One grand prize winner will receive an iPad, a library of Walden Pond Press eBook, paperback and hardcover novels, and his or her story published online at walden.com. Author M.P. Kozlowsky will select the winner. To learn more:www.walden.com/win/juniperberry.



Juniper Berry Blog Tour: Part II
Tuesday, May 10th - Interview and Giveaway at Another Gray Day
Wednesday, May 11th - Interview at Bri Meets Books
Thursday, May 12th - Interview at Book Yurt
Friday, May 13th - Review and Giveaway at The Book Maven's Haven
Saturday, May 14th - Review at MundieKids
Sunday, May 15th - Guest Post at Kid Lit Frenzy
Monday, May 16th - Review and Giveaway at Kid Lit Frenzy
Tuesday, May 17th - Interview and Giveaway at MundieKids
Tuesday, May 17th - Guest Post and Giveaway at The Cozy Reader

Thank you to Walden Pond Press, we have a copy of Juniper Berry we're giving away! To enter, please fill out the form below.

Monday, May 16, 2011

Book Tour/Blog Tour: Buglette, The Messy Sleeper


By Bethanie Murguia
Published by Tricycle Press
To Be Released on May 10th, 2011
Source- Book for review from publisher
Ages- Toddler & Up
5 stars

Buglette is a tidy little bug by day, but a messy little sleeper at night—when she dreams of doing BIG things like building mountains and kicking balls over the moon. In the morning she wakes to twisted blankets, tossed pillows, and her head where her feet should be. Buglette’s quirky sleeping habits worry her family—what if her messy sleeping wakes the scary crow?—until her big dreams help save the day.

Buglette is a charming book with beautiful illustrations that bring this sweet story to life. Buglette has big dreams which cause her clean room and bed to become messy, as she tosses and turns acting out her dreams. It also causes a problem when she wakes the crow. Buglette maybe small, but this little accidental heroine proves her size has nothing to do with her bravery. My kids really enjoyed reading about Buglette's adventure in her dreams. Buglette even got a few laughs out of them when she awakes each more to find her room is a mess. Aside from the story, I absolutely loved the illustrations and their warm colors. If you're looking for a fun read before time, I recommend picking up Buglette.

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Watch the trailer:

Says Bethanie: I suppose it’s no surprise that I wrote a sleep-themed book at the point in my life when I was sleeping the least. I was a slightly delirious, sleep-deprived Mama with a newborn and feisty 3-year old when my friend asked me to take a writing workshop. I was too tired to say no. As I started to mull over story ideas, I was struck by the contrast between my swaddled newborn who slept so calmly and my 3-year old who thrashed from one end of her bed to the other every night. I began to suspect that my 3-year old was having BIG dreams. And the story of Buglette was born.

Bethanie graduated summa cum laude from the University of Rochester, where she studied psychology and fine art. In addition, she received an MFA in Illustration from the School of Visual Arts in New York. Bethanie currently lives with her family in the San Francisco Bay Area.

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Thank you to Tricycle Press, we have a fabulous giveaway. One follower will win their own copy of Buglette the Messy Sleeper and 5 other followers will each win stickers and a special "Do Not Disturb Messy Sleeping In Progress" door hanger.

Saturday, May 14, 2011

Blog Tour/Book Review- Juniper Berry

By M.P. Kozlowsky
Illustrated by Erwin Madrid
Published by Walden Pond Press
Ages 10 & up
Source- ARC from publisher for review/blog tour
4.5 stars

Juniper's parents have not been themselves lately. In fact, they have been cold, disinterested and cruel. And lonely Juniper Berry, and her equally beset friend, Giles, are determined to figure out why.

On a cold and rainy night Juniper follows her parents as they sneak out of the house and enter the woods. What she discovers is an underworld filled with contradictions: one that is terrifying and enticing, lorded over by a creature both sinister and seductive, who can sell you all the world's secrets in a simple red balloon. For the first time, Juniper and Giles have a choice to make. And it will be up to them to confront their own fears in order to save the ones who couldn't.

M.P. Kozlowsky's debut novel is a modern-day fairy tale of terror, temptation, and ways in which it is our choices that make us who we are (quoted from Goodreads).

Juniper Berry is a fabulous middle grade mixed with fantasy, mystery, twists and great characters. The story has a powerful message of being careful of one's true desires and what you wish for. Outback in Juniper's spacious backyard lies a tree which leads to a world controlled by an evil man who prays on the weak minded making their desires and dreams come true. Everything comes at a price and not everything is what it seems. "Be careful what you wish for".

Juniper Berry is such a fabulous character. She's full of innocence and has a unique way of seeing the world around her. Having world famous parents creates a problem for her, she's not allowed beyond the mansion's gate and no one is allowed in, which only fuels her obsession with the outside world. Not having any friends to play with and parents who are too focused on themselves, she's lonely. She turns to nature, and has a love and fascination for the outdoors. It's there that she meets her first friend Giles. Together they get an education on just how evil the outside world can be. Juniper, with her unique views of the world and being able to see things so differently might be the only one who can help her friend Giles and their parents.

Something strange has happened to Juniper's parents. The once loving and doting pair hardly even glance at their daughter anymore. Juniper's extraordinary strength and will power is a character trait I really admired, and it's tested when she comes face to face with something so evil, that even her parent's fell for it's temptation. I really love this quote from Dimitri to Juniper,

"You know, Juniper, I envy you. Your world is far different from an adult's. You see things differently. As they out to be, perhaps. It's easy to lose sight of that. Most of us do. Pressures start coming from all sides and it makes you question everything. You lose sight of what's important".- page 150

There is a powerful message in this story for young readers and Juniper is a fabulous example at not falling for temptation, even when her parent's did. This a really wholesome read that parents and kids will enjoy reading together. There are scenes that might be too scary for kids who scare easily, but the story's message is an important one that parents will be able to discuss with their kids. Like the cover, the illustrations through out the story are fabulous. I definitely recommend picking this book up.

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M.P. Kozlowsky (very short!) Biography:

M.P. Kozlowsky was a high school English teacher before becoming a writer. Juniper Berry is his first book. He lives in New York with his wife and daughter. www.mpkozlowsky.com


Juniper Berry Book Trailer: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IGBlysm1JCY


Juniper Berry Writing Contest: To celebrate the release of M.P. Kozlowsky’s debut novel Juniper Berry, Walden Pond Press is inviting all writers aged 9-14 to write their own tales of terror and temptation in at least 500 words. One grand prize winner will receive an iPad, a library of Walden Pond Press eBook, paperback and hardcover novels, and his or her story published online at walden.com. Author M.P. Kozlowsky will select the winner. To learn more:www.walden.com/win/juniperberry.

And here are all the Part II tour stops running from May 10th through May 17th.


Juniper Berry Blog Tour: Part II
Tuesday, May 10th - Interview and Giveaway at Another Gray Day
Wednesday, May 11th - Interview at Bri Meets Books
Thursday, May 12th - Interview at Book Yurt
Friday, May 13th - Review and Giveaway at The Book Maven's Haven
Saturday, May 14th - Review at MundieKids
Sunday, May 15th - Guest Post at Kid Lit Frenzy
Monday, May 16th - Review and Giveaway at Kid Lit Frenzy
Tuesday, May 17th - Interview and Giveaway at MundieKids
Tuesday, May 17th - Guest Post and Giveaway at The Cozy Reader

Sunday, May 8, 2011

Book Review- I is for Inuksuk: An Arctic Celebration

By Mary Wallace
Published by Maple Tree Press
Released on September 1st, 2009
Source- book for review from publisher
4 stars

Presented in the form of an acrostic, I is for Inuksuk highlights the traditional way of life of Inuit people. Each letter of the word "Inuksuk" is represented by another Inuktitut word — I is for Inuksuk, N is for Nanuq, U is for Umiak, and so forth. Dazzling full-spread illustrations begin each section, and opposite the first page, the words are written in Inuktitut symbols. Readers then learn more about each Inuktitut word and how it represents the people and natural environment from which it comes. Throughout the book, small vignettes showcase Wallace’s love and knowledge of the Arctic landscape, its people, and its culture (quoted from Goodreads).

I Is for Inuksuk: An Arctic Celebration is a fabulous book that provides rich details about life in the Arctic and the traditions of the Inuit people. With it's brightly illustrated pictures, readers learn about the way of life of Inuit and their traditional alphabet. The book also includes a wonderful guide of Inuit pronunciations, as well as words. The author does a wonderful job at teaching readers about the history of the Inuit people, Inuksuk, and she also provides facts about the animals featured in the book. The most fascinating element of the book for me was reading about and learning the native alphabet. I think this is great for classroom and home settings.

Book Review - Me vs. You: Head to Head Brain Races

Written by: Michael Sherman
Published by: Scholastic Klutz
Release Date: February 1, 2011
Source: Received from publisher for review
Ages: 8 and up
3.5 out of 5 stars - A very good toy.

Synopsis (from Klutz.com): Prepare yourself for a one-on-one, head-to-head challenge. Even better, a whole bunch of them. We took classic pencil games — word searches, jumbles, scavenger hunts, puzzles, speed mazes, and more — and added the thrill of competition. This is more than just a book. It’s two books, actually. Designed to be split into two hand-held pad-and-pencil sets, one for you, one for me, it’s the ultimate, low-tech, take-it-anywhere boredom buster.

I have to admit that when I recieved this in the mail, I set it aside for our Spring Break Road Trip. I knew that all of my three kids would need distractions and now that their ages span from 6 to 12 years of age, I knew that variety would be the key. So I tucked the Me vs. You, handy small clipboard-style pads into my Toy Bag. Sure enough, my 12 and 8 year-old asked for them immediately.

The content of the pads (which are perfectly sized for elementary school hands) varies from mazes to word scrambles to different styles of puzzles appropriate for the 8-12 year old crowd. The only thing that we didn't do is follow the recommended competition guidelines.



Both of my children found the games challenging and I liked that they worked to together to solve the puzzles rather than setting it up as a competition. It's the mom in me. I have to negotiate through enough tantrums, fits and general malaise every day without setting up a formal competition between them. The Me vs. You clipboards are definitely going to be our take-alongs to the beach and park this summer. Check them out next time you're in a book store.

Saturday, May 7, 2011

And The Winner Is....


Thank you to everyone who entered our SIGNED Fablehaven giveaway! Our winner is #15- Teri C! CONGRATULATIONS! We look forward to posting some more giveaways shortly. Have a great weekend!

Book Review - Friendship Pixies

Written by: Karen Phillips
Published by: Scholastic Klutz
Release Date: February 1, 2011
Source: Received from publisher for review
Ages: 8 and up
5 out of 5 stars - I loved it!

Synopsis (from klutz.com): Bend some wire to form a body, wrap it with colorful raffia clothing, and add sparkly yarn hair. You’ve just made a friendship pixie! But that’s not all. Each pixie gets a twinkly charm that symbolizes a wish for a friend — useful things like laughter, love, and confidence. Friendship Pixies comes with everything you need to make eight adorable dolls and eight matching gift boxes. Whether you give your pixie as a gift or keep her close to your heart, she’ll radiate a magical combination of sweetness, charm, and encouragement.

I remember summers I spent making fairies out of paper dolls, pipe cleaners and anything I found in my mother's sewing supplies. Don't you remember when a jar full of buttons was magical? Well, thanks to the folks at Klutz-Scholastic, you can get a creative little kit and make your own pixies.

On May Day, my eight year-old daughter and I took out the kit and made our pixies. Then I watched her play with them for hours, tucking the pixies and their boxes all around my flower garden. The kit contains just about everything you need. All you will need to add is a ruler, white glue and a nail clipper. It's truly easy and provided hours of fun for my daughter. And any kit that does that is worth it's price in gold.

Friday, May 6, 2011

Book Review - Thumb Wars: The Ultimate Guide


Written by: Eva Steele-Saccio
Illustrated by: Jeff Miracola
Published by: Scholastic Klutz
Release Date: February 1, 2011
Source: Received from publisher for review
Ages: 8 and up
4.5 out of 5 stars - I liked it. Go pick it up.

Synopsis (from Klutz.com): To bring thumb wrestling to the next level, we invented the Sleeve of Doom, a sleek, shiny, and sensational instrument of combat. Two contenders slide their hands in and clasp them together, poking their thumbs through the holes for an even playing field. The book covers everything from classic challenges, strategies, and training exercises to fake outs, battle cries, and never-before-played games.


Okay, when we got this wonderfully packaged book from Scholastic-Klutz, my 12 year old son literally tore it out of my hands. I think it was designed especially for him. But, I have to say that he talked his 8 year old sister into a thumb war.

Before you can say, "1-2-3-4, I declare a thumb war" the included Sleeve of Doom will be passed around your family and you will all be playing thumb wars. I have to admit that I'm quite a girly-girl but I enjoyed the illustrations, such as the suggestions to dress up your thumb like a real wrestler:
Our entire family tried the written variations of the game and the strategy suggestions. In fact, this was such a hit that my son is planning on taking the book to Boy Scout Camp this summer. If you have a boy in the family or are looking for a fun birthday gift to bring to a party, I'd suggest purchasing Thumb Wars: The Ultimate Guide.  It may even spare you from some of those "I'm bored, Mom" moments this summer.

Wednesday, May 4, 2011

Learning Touch: FirstWords Hit Milestone


Learning Touch: FirstWords, an iPhone & iPad application for kids reading has hit more than 1 MILLION downloads! To celebrate they're giving away some FREE codes to download some of their popular books. Be sure to go HERE to read all about their services & leave us a comment with your email address to be entered to win one of three applications.

TODAY they're ALL FirstWords applications are only $.99!!! For less than $1 you can get some great stories by visiting their iTunes store here.

Don't forget, to enter to win a FREE application for:
FirstWords: At Home
FirstWords: Animals
FirstWords: Vehicles
Leave a comment with your email addy. This giveaway will end on Friday May 6th, 2011.
I would be most content if my children grew up to be the kind of people who think decorating consists mostly of building enough bookshelves. ~ Anna Quindlen

Good children's literature appeals not only to
the child in the adult, but to the adult in the child.
~ Anonymous ~