I recently came across a great children's book series. The books are about a Dog Leader for the Blind, with the star of the book named Max. He is an English Lab (my fav!) who tells the story from his point of view of his adventures in dog leadership. He is encouraging kids to have good experiences helping out people in need and to encourage those kids who need the assistance of a work dog too.
Then I got to investigating further about the book and the author. It turns out, a portion of the proceeds from the book goes to The Leader Dogs for the Blind organization. Even better! A great book and a great cause! If you head to the website, Read With Max, you can check out all their great books and awards.
And the best part is, I'm giving away one of the books right here today! Just leave a comment telling your favorite breed of dog below by Friday at noon and I will announce the winners of a random selection after that. I hope you will all check out the great books by Anthony M.T. Majewski, I don't think you'll be disappointed!!!
Max is running through a few blogs on a book tour, check out the dates for the other blogs on the tour here. And since I am the first up on the tour, I have a key word for you! Connect all the key words on the blogs on the tour and be entered in a drawing for a $50 gift card! The word of the day is: MAX. Good luck!
Showing posts with label Books. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Books. Show all posts
Wednesday, March 30, 2011
Sunday, March 27, 2011
Upcoming Events
I just wanted to let you know I was gearing up for my first ever blog giveaway! Tune in Wednesday to read all about a great book and to enter into a drawing for a free giveaway! Are you so excited? I am! See you Wednesday!!
Sunday, January 16, 2011
The Gift of Books
I have always been a big reader. I love books and I can name thousands upon thousands of beloved titles that I have poured over and loved. I have read more Babysitter's Club and Sweet Valley High than is probably even normal. I love Harry Potter and The Hunger Games and pretty much everything Jodi Picoult ever wrote. I can remember learning new words because of books and ways to describe ordinary things because of the amazing language I have accumulated. So when I had Reese, I knew that I wanted to trasfer that love of reading on to her. From the day we brought her home from the hospital we read books to her. We watched her learn to turn pages and we participated in the summer reading program at the library. But it wasn't until just this last week that I saw the reading really make a difference.
We have been reading a few books over and over and over and over again. With the snow days, weekend and holiday we've had a lot of time to dive in to reading and we really have! But Reese is really getting involved in her reading. She picks out books, she has to be the one who decides what we read of course, and we sit and read book after book. I love having her curled up in my lap wanting to listen to the story.
She has a book describing body parts and this weekend she began pointing to them when I asked her where her nose or mouth or ears were. I was so excited because we've worked on that forever! She told me what a cow says, repeated purple to me and keeps pointing to the dogs and making the sign (panting) for dog (which I've substituted in whenever we read about what a dog says). All these little things are huge rewards for me after all the hard work I've put in starting good reading habits.
Below are some of our very most favorite books. Open the Barn Door has little peekaboo flaps for each animal and she bounces up and down each time we open one. And Farmer Joe and the Music Show has become a crowd pleaser each time it is picked up. We could read it up to 15 times each day. There are many more, but if you are looking for a couple of good reads, check them out, I hope they make someone you know as happy as they make my baby girl.
We have been reading a few books over and over and over and over again. With the snow days, weekend and holiday we've had a lot of time to dive in to reading and we really have! But Reese is really getting involved in her reading. She picks out books, she has to be the one who decides what we read of course, and we sit and read book after book. I love having her curled up in my lap wanting to listen to the story.
She has a book describing body parts and this weekend she began pointing to them when I asked her where her nose or mouth or ears were. I was so excited because we've worked on that forever! She told me what a cow says, repeated purple to me and keeps pointing to the dogs and making the sign (panting) for dog (which I've substituted in whenever we read about what a dog says). All these little things are huge rewards for me after all the hard work I've put in starting good reading habits.
Below are some of our very most favorite books. Open the Barn Door has little peekaboo flaps for each animal and she bounces up and down each time we open one. And Farmer Joe and the Music Show has become a crowd pleaser each time it is picked up. We could read it up to 15 times each day. There are many more, but if you are looking for a couple of good reads, check them out, I hope they make someone you know as happy as they make my baby girl.
Monday, November 15, 2010
Caution: Nerd Alert
Guess what is on my agenda for the weekend? Just guess.
You'll never guess.
What? What's that you say? Harry Potter? Hermione? Voldemort? Well, then, yes, you are right. I'm going to see Harry Potter. And I am so excited!!
As I have stated before, I have a strong love for all things Potter. I am so happy that the final movie is on its way to theaters probably as we speak. The best part is that I have blackmailed my husband into going on the condition I won't tell anyone. So don't tell, okay? I wonder if he would mind wearing that Griffindor robe I bought him?
You'll never guess.
What? What's that you say? Harry Potter? Hermione? Voldemort? Well, then, yes, you are right. I'm going to see Harry Potter. And I am so excited!!
As I have stated before, I have a strong love for all things Potter. I am so happy that the final movie is on its way to theaters probably as we speak. The best part is that I have blackmailed my husband into going on the condition I won't tell anyone. So don't tell, okay? I wonder if he would mind wearing that Griffindor robe I bought him?
Thursday, August 26, 2010
The Color Book
It's no question that books are an important part of our family. Right now actually we are all 3 reading and that is a pretty big accomplishment getting Dustin to read. I've mentioned in the past how much I like Sandra Boynton or many other books but I've never really talked about how much I love the process of reading to Reese.
When she was really little I laid her on the bed and let her look up at the pictures. When she was that size I could read 10-15 books at a time and she'd stay engaged in them for a long time. She'd laugh at the silly voices I'd make and we would go to the library for more books every week.
Now that she's a little older the way reading looks is a little different. We usually sit down sometime in the evening after dinner and get out a few board books. She beats on them and feels the pages and textures. Sometimes she eats them and sometimes she just sits patiently and lets me read her a few. She is an easy audience because she can sit still for several books without getting antsy. We read a book several days in a row before we switch out and get a new pile. And we've read every book in our little library about 300 times. I even recited one of our favorites for a friend today. (Right now my mom is reciting, "I hit the ball, I made it fly, I hit the ball oh my oh my.")
Anyway, my point is, reading is important to us, people read to learn, to enjoy pictures, stories and snuggling time with our loved ones. Most of the time we read for enjoyment. I always hope she is learning but at this age, and while she doesn't talk, it's hard to see if she's getting anything from them....that is until tonight. Tonight we read a book about colors. Each page has a bunch of pictures and the reader picks out the object that is a certain color. The first page was yellow, I told her to point to it and I'll be danged if she didn't point right to it. "Sure, I thought, but let's see if she can do it again." Red was next and again, right to it. We turned the page again and this time it was a green grasshopper. That little stinker went three for three and picked the color out each time.
I guess all this reading has paid off. She IS learning something, she IS paying attention and Mama IS so happy at the Baby Einstein I have here at my house!!!
When she was really little I laid her on the bed and let her look up at the pictures. When she was that size I could read 10-15 books at a time and she'd stay engaged in them for a long time. She'd laugh at the silly voices I'd make and we would go to the library for more books every week.
Now that she's a little older the way reading looks is a little different. We usually sit down sometime in the evening after dinner and get out a few board books. She beats on them and feels the pages and textures. Sometimes she eats them and sometimes she just sits patiently and lets me read her a few. She is an easy audience because she can sit still for several books without getting antsy. We read a book several days in a row before we switch out and get a new pile. And we've read every book in our little library about 300 times. I even recited one of our favorites for a friend today. (Right now my mom is reciting, "I hit the ball, I made it fly, I hit the ball oh my oh my.")
Anyway, my point is, reading is important to us, people read to learn, to enjoy pictures, stories and snuggling time with our loved ones. Most of the time we read for enjoyment. I always hope she is learning but at this age, and while she doesn't talk, it's hard to see if she's getting anything from them....that is until tonight. Tonight we read a book about colors. Each page has a bunch of pictures and the reader picks out the object that is a certain color. The first page was yellow, I told her to point to it and I'll be danged if she didn't point right to it. "Sure, I thought, but let's see if she can do it again." Red was next and again, right to it. We turned the page again and this time it was a green grasshopper. That little stinker went three for three and picked the color out each time.
I guess all this reading has paid off. She IS learning something, she IS paying attention and Mama IS so happy at the Baby Einstein I have here at my house!!!
Thursday, July 15, 2010
My Favorite Book
Summer time is my gift of reading. I have very few cares in the world so I don't mind spending ridiculous amounts of time with my nose in a book. I take naps and I sit at the pool sipping Diet Pepsi and eating frozen grapes. That is, until I had a baby.... This summer on the other hand I have sat down maybe 5 times. And that, does not make life all that conducive to reading.
But there is one book that has my heart. One book that makes me laugh and cry and think. I can't get it off my mind and I feel like there is a hook behind my naval that pulls me through time and space to become a character of the story. I read it every summer. I can't actually remember a time when I didn't read it. And oddly enough, after 5 times of reading it, I still hear learn something each time I read it.
So as far as fiction goes, the best book(s) I've ever read is none other than Harry Potter by J.K. Rowling. I love it, I love her, I love Harry, Ron and Hermione. I love Dumbledore and the quest for love over darkness. I love getting all geeked out about the movies and the book premiere. I wish I could do it all over again so I could get up at midnight and go to Barnes and Noble with the rest of the crazies and buy the books and stay up all night reading them. But, I also love that I don't have to wait to find out what happens anymore too.
This summer though, like I said before, I scarcely have time to crawl around on my hands and knees and find a pacifier. So, how? You might ask, does she have time to read a 700+ page book about witches and wizards? Well, I have discovered a little joy called a book on tape. It has been my saving grace this summer. I can't even begin to describe how much I love listening to the story of Harry's victory over Voldemort. I find myself getting so in to the story that I drive around so I can listen further (okay, and let Reese sleep longer, because I am not above getting my peace and quiet from a car ride).
Books on tape are very underrated. I always thought that I was unable to listen to someone read to me. But I love it. It's exciting and best of all there are no pages to turn or words to look away from when the baby starts fussing. It's perfect for me right now and I am so thankful for the time I have to read and play with my baby!
But there is one book that has my heart. One book that makes me laugh and cry and think. I can't get it off my mind and I feel like there is a hook behind my naval that pulls me through time and space to become a character of the story. I read it every summer. I can't actually remember a time when I didn't read it. And oddly enough, after 5 times of reading it, I still hear learn something each time I read it.
So as far as fiction goes, the best book(s) I've ever read is none other than Harry Potter by J.K. Rowling. I love it, I love her, I love Harry, Ron and Hermione. I love Dumbledore and the quest for love over darkness. I love getting all geeked out about the movies and the book premiere. I wish I could do it all over again so I could get up at midnight and go to Barnes and Noble with the rest of the crazies and buy the books and stay up all night reading them. But, I also love that I don't have to wait to find out what happens anymore too.
This summer though, like I said before, I scarcely have time to crawl around on my hands and knees and find a pacifier. So, how? You might ask, does she have time to read a 700+ page book about witches and wizards? Well, I have discovered a little joy called a book on tape. It has been my saving grace this summer. I can't even begin to describe how much I love listening to the story of Harry's victory over Voldemort. I find myself getting so in to the story that I drive around so I can listen further (okay, and let Reese sleep longer, because I am not above getting my peace and quiet from a car ride).
Books on tape are very underrated. I always thought that I was unable to listen to someone read to me. But I love it. It's exciting and best of all there are no pages to turn or words to look away from when the baby starts fussing. It's perfect for me right now and I am so thankful for the time I have to read and play with my baby!
Sunday, May 16, 2010
The Quiet Book
A friend recommended a book to me the other day called The Quiet Book by Deborah Underwood. Reese really loves to read so I was happy for a new book to add to the rotation. She brought it down to my room and said something along the lines of: I think Reese will love this, it talks about all the different kinds of quiet.
All the different kinds of quiet? I thought, hmmmm, that sounds cool. And that was as far as it went.
But tonight we were finally able to read it. And can I say, WOW, that book was great.
The last one to get picked up from school quiet. I could feel that little bear's pain.
First one out of bed quiet. I've tiptoed through the house many a morning.
But my very most personal favorite: Thinking of a good reason you were drawing on the walls quiet. HILARIOUS!
I enjoyed each and every example of quiet. Each was completely true and I feel how the quiet felt. It was just exactly perfect!
All the different kinds of quiet? I thought, hmmmm, that sounds cool. And that was as far as it went.
But tonight we were finally able to read it. And can I say, WOW, that book was great.
The last one to get picked up from school quiet. I could feel that little bear's pain.
First one out of bed quiet. I've tiptoed through the house many a morning.
But my very most personal favorite: Thinking of a good reason you were drawing on the walls quiet. HILARIOUS!
I enjoyed each and every example of quiet. Each was completely true and I feel how the quiet felt. It was just exactly perfect!
Monday, May 3, 2010
Snoopy
I love Snoopy. There's something about a lovable beagle that speaks to my heart. We used to have these Snoopy 'Cyclopedias when I was a kid. I thought they were pretty cool. I can remember back to even when I was really little, looking through the pictures and reading all the interesting stuff.
Anyway, the other day someone made a comment on facebook about a snoopy quote from a book and a light bulb went off in my head. I remembered my beloved Snoopy 'Cyclopedias and immediately I had to have them. I typed ebay into my browser as fast as I could and hoped and prayed that someone was selling it. And wouldn't you know, now I am the proud owner of my own set of Snoopy 'Cyclopedias. I am most excited about this!!
So, here are a few pictures of my new set.
Anyway, the other day someone made a comment on facebook about a snoopy quote from a book and a light bulb went off in my head. I remembered my beloved Snoopy 'Cyclopedias and immediately I had to have them. I typed ebay into my browser as fast as I could and hoped and prayed that someone was selling it. And wouldn't you know, now I am the proud owner of my own set of Snoopy 'Cyclopedias. I am most excited about this!!
So, here are a few pictures of my new set.
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