Book Review - Learn to Draw Cats & Kittens

About the Book
Perfect for young artists-in-training, Learn to Draw Cats & Kittens offers a comprehensive drawing experience that includes step-by-step lessons, as well as full-color photographs, fun facts, trivia, quizzes and much more. Children will enjoy the 64 pages of drawing instruction for a variety of feline breeds, including a Bengal, a British Shorthair, a Persian, a Ragdoll, and a Sphinx. The book opens with brief information for getting started and the most popular breeds, the tools and materials needed, and some sample drawing exercises to warm up. Each drawing lesson begins with a basic shape, such as a square, a circle, or a triangle, and progresses to a finished colored piece of artwork, making it easy for children to follow along. Along the way, engaging text describes interesting facts about each breed. With a mix of art instruction and engaging information, Learn to Draw Cats & Kittens is the perfect way for children to discover more about their favorite animals and pets, in addition to expressing their artistic side.


My Take on the Book
I have two daughters who love their two cats. They enjoy drawing too, so this book will probably be one they will enjoy using to draw cats and kittens. 

As in the other animal drawing books with Robbin Cuddy as the illustrator, the author has included so many facts about cats. For example in the beginning of the book there are two pages listing facts concerning the names of breeds of cats and the cats' coat lengths. Some of the breeds are: Burmese, Persian, and Siamese. The cat's coat lengths can be short haired, long haired and even hairless.

Each drawing page has a color photograph of the cat and facts about that particular kind of cat.
There are step by step instructions for the reader to draw the cat.

There are many hours of drawing enjoyment in this book.

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Book Review - Learn to Draw Forest Animals & Wildlife

About the Book
Learn to Draw Forest Animals and Other Wildlife is an adventurous addition to the Learn to Draw Series. Forest, frontier and prairie animals are beautiful and majestic, peaceful and ferocious. Children will learn to draw a bald eagle, a gentle deer, and a grizzly bear, among others, by following the simple step-by-step instructions. In addition, young artists will also learn a variety of fascinating facts about the drawing subjects, as well as useful drawing tips to help guide them along the way. Whether they’re nature lovers or simply enjoy animals of all kinds, children will love drawing these wild animals of the forest.


My Take on the Book
If you have a child who enjoys drawing and especially animals, this could be a gift for that child. The author has done a very good job including information for the reader on the materials needed to begin to draw and basic information about shapes the artist will use in their drawings.

The author also included vocabulary for the reader which will assist them in learning more about the animals. Some of the vocabulary includes the following definitions: nocturnal, mammal, adaptable, venomous, and rodent.

Some of the animals to be drawn are: bobcat, bison, fawn, grizzly bear, mountain lion, gray wolf, and even a rattlesnake. Each animal drawing page has an accompanying color photograph of the animal. Included on each page additional factual information about the animal.

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Book Review - Learn to Draw Safari Animals

About the Book
Perfect for young artists-in-training, Learn to Draw Safari Animals offers a comprehensive drawing experience than includes step-by-step lessons, as well as full-color photographs, fun facts, trivia, quizzes and much more. Children will enjoy the 64 pages of drawing instruction for a variety of exotic animals, including a lion, a giraffe, a hyena, and an aardvark. The book opens with brief information for getting started and the most popular breeds, the tools and materials needed, and some sample drawing exercises to warm up. Each drawing lesson begins with a basic shape, such as a square, a circle, or a triangle, and progresses to a finished colored piece of artwork, making it easy for children to follow along. Along the way, engaging text describes interesting facts about each featured animal. With a mix of art instruction and engaging information, Learn to Draw Safari Animals is the perfect way for children to discover more about their favorite animals, in addition to expressing their artistic side.


My Take on the Book
If you have a child who enjoys drawing and especially animals, this could be a perfect gift for that child. There are 28 specific animals to learn to draw in this book. Not only does the author include a photograph of the animal and step by step instructions to drawing the animal , but also interesting facts about the particular animal.

Some of the animals in this book are: elephant, giraffe, lemur, kangaroo, onyx, and baboon.

The author instructs the artist concerning the needed materials to draw the animals, such as paper, pencils, markers or crayons, pencils or colored pencils, or even paints. There is also specific information about using recognizable shapes in drawing the animals' features.
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Book Review - Ten Pigs: An Epic Bath Adventure by Derek Anderson

About the Book
Laugh out loud in this hysterical epic counting bath adventure with a squeaky clean twist!


From Derek Anderson, the illustrator of the bestselling Little Quack series!

One very happy pig --
one bubbly bathtub.

Everything is perfect until nine more join in!

And ten?
Ten wiggles and squeezes
And surfs his way in.

One pig looks to take a relaxing bath in solitude, only to be joined by another pig, then another, then another. When Pig Number 10 jumps into the crowded tub, the first pig comes up with a plan to enjoy his bath.



My Take on the Book
Derek Anderson has written a young child's story that will definitely "tickle your laughter bone ". So cute is this story. Such humor and such a creative ending too. 

Derek's illustrations add such playfulness to the story as you watch the first pig's face as 9 more pigs join him in what he hoped was a nice quiet bath. The first pig is smart as you will see in the ending. He tolerates the 9 other pigs and all their equipment they bring to the bath to a certain point and then . . . . .

Derek Anderson has the perfect surprise for the reader with a "special " wolf appearance at the end of the story. Make sure you turn the last page for the perfect surprise ending.

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Book Review - Rock, Meet Window by Jason Good

About the Book
A funny and poignant memoir that delves into the magic, fails, and meaning of fatherhood. Humorist and family-man Jason Good is an only child with an atypical story to tell. His isn't the usual rant about how hard it is to be a modern father or a tale about a damaging relationship with his father. Jason grew up with a charismatic, communicative, affectionate, and frustrated political science professor for a father--a man who taught him most everything about how to be a dad, how to live. Jason was figuring out how to parent his own two young boys when his dad was diagnosed with cancer and told he had nine months to live. That moment, and the year that followed, inspired Jason to tell the story of something he had always taken for granted: how his father had earned his true friendship and admiration in adulthood by the way he had parented him to manhood.

Jason Good's book shows how an imperfect father can be perfection in all the ways that matter in the end, moving us to alternately hoot and become wet-eyed through his retelling of the friction points and lessons learned. Ultimately, this book inspires us to reconsider our own relationships and to appreciate the power of fatherhood.



My Take on the Book
This was a great book that combines tender fatherhood moments with reality to create an unforgettable book that is both touching and long-lasting. You can truly tell through this book that there is a special bond between the author and his own father and all will appreciate and envy, in many ways, the bond that they held. This was a wonderfully written book that will simply capture you. I found myself wanting to read more and more and not wanting to put it down. The dialogue was rich and description detailed and the interactions and memories shared, priceless.


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Book Review - Our Family Tree: A History of Our Family

About the Book
This leatherbound hardcover book engraved with a beautiful copper-colored tree will become an invaluable keepsake for any family. A family record is more than names, dates, and places. It is about people-what they did, the why and the how. This book is designed so you can record forever, in one volume, the history of your family and your ancestors.

With sections for the origins of your family, family photographs, and memorable events, this book will hold a special place on your shelf for generations in the future. Also, the ""how to"" section will help you trace your family's history, including how to obtain records, and what institutions are available for further assistance.

This is a necessary book for families who are interested in their history-and their future.




My Take on the Book
As someone that has been and continues to work on my own family tree I can say that this is a beautifully made book that will provide any family with a lasting tribute to your family. All you have to do is take the time to fill out the pages to create your own family's story and then read it / share it with your own family. This is SO important so that the history of our ancestry does not pass on. There are so many amazing stories of survival that you can find and you truly get to be a detective in your own right! I loved that there was a ton of room in this book to share a lot of information as well as photos. For anyone just starting on their family tree, this is a great book to start with and you can grow from there and in the end you have something tangible that you can take with you and share with others.


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Book Review - What I Saw in the Teachers' Lounge by Jerry Pallotta

About the Book
A funny back-to-school story by Jerry Pallotta and Howard McWilliam!

What do teachers actually do every day in the teachers' lounge? When an imaginative child peeks inside, he embarks on a wild, funny adventure you'll never forget. Who knew that teachers surf, hike, eat frog-eyeball soup, and walk through the rain forest--all while in the teacher's lounge?

Howard McWilliam's bold, vibrant illustrations show us all kinds of delightful surprises on the other side of the teachers' lounge door.




My Take on the Book
I loved this story! Jerry Pallotta wrote such an imaginative story full of fun, adventure and lots of humor. The illustrations by Howard McWilliam were just perfect for the text. Howard illustrated the fun and fantasy perfectly.

Oh if only the teachers' lounge was so much fun. The teachers were skiing, scuba diving, hiking, exploring a rain forest, and even surfing instead of grading papers and planning their for their class teaching. 

I think the teachers need THIS book in their lounge!

You and your child will totally enjoy sharing this book together. (Share it with your favorite teacher too.).

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Book Review - Thea Stilton and the Lost Letters

About the Book
Join Thea Stilton and the Thea Sisters on an adventure packed with mystery and friendship!

The Thea Sisters are in Russia for a figure skating championship! When their new friend is falsely accused of theft and barred from competing for the gold medal, the five mice resolve to clear her name. Along the way, they discover ancient love letters that could be the key to finding the real culprit! But can they solve the mystery in time?




My Take on the Book
These chapter books are so much fun to read. The entire series of GERONIMO STILTON stories always include members of his family, lots of humor, puns, cheese references, and problem solving.

Thea Stilton has 5 sisters. They are Nicky, Colette, Violet, Paulina, and Pamela. So this adventure takes the reader to many museums and their are letters involved in the mystery. The reader will learn some history along the way as the mystery is solved. There are of course in Geronimo Stilton's family some famous mouse historical characters that appear.

There is a happy ending of course, but also an apology for problems created . A nice fun filled chapter book that can be read independently or as a read aloud.

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Book Review - Geronimo Stilton Cavemice: Surfing for Secrets

About the Book
Geronimo Stilton's ancient ancestor is back in another prehistoric adventure!

A mysterious rodent has been shipwrecked on Mouse Island. He's a prehistoric pirate, and he's searching for a lost Stone Age treasure! Geronimo Stiltonoot and his family volunteer to help him on his dangerous hunt. Petrified cheese! Can they find the treasure without going extinct on the way?




My Take on the Book
Geronimo Stilton found an ancient book written by his ancestor Geronimo Stiltonoot, a caveman. So the story begins long ago for the reader.

There is adventure in the water, a pirate adventure, a lost treasure and dinosaurs in this story.
The author continues to include plenty of puns and there are always references to cheese of course. The story line keeps the reader engaged until the very end. There is a solution to all the problems.
This was a very entertaining chapter book for a second through fourth grade student. The reading level was fourth grade.

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The Digital Media Academy Provides Amazing Opportunities for Learning! #CreateTheNext

Founded at Stanford University, Digital Media Academy is ranked as one of the ten best summer camps in the world.

Save $75 off summer camps at Digital Media Academy with code TECHSUMMER at www.DigitalMediaAcademy.org. Sign up for multiple weeks and save big! Campers save $125 for each additional course they register for. Register by May 31 to #CreateTheNext best-selling app this summer!

Kids and teens learn computer programming, app development, 3D modeling, robotics, graphic design, filmmaking, and much more. DMA summer camps are one or multiple week experiences taught by industry experts and tech professionals. Campers get hands-on experience creating projects using the latest hardware and software from Apple, Canon, Adobe, and more.

Digital Media Academy is also proud to introduce Made by Girls, a new program dedicated to empowering girls and closing the gender gap in the tech industry.

Give your teen a pre-collegiate experience or build a child's confidence through project-based learning. Learn at some of the most prestigous colleges and universities throughout the U.S. and Canada.

Save $75 off summer camps at Digital Media Academy with code TECHSUMMER at www.DigitalMediaAcademy.org. Sign up for multiple weeks and save big! Campers save $125 for each additional course they register for. Register by May 31 to #CreateTheNext best-selling app this summer!

Questions? Call 1(866)656-3342 to speak with a Guest Service Representative or email info@digitalmediaacademy.org and mention the US Family Guide Special Offer

#CreateTheNext this summer at Digital Media Academy!

The DMA Experience from Digital Media Academy on Vimeo.


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Save Time This Summer With Bunch O Balloons

About the Product
New Zealand bred and Hong Kong based toy company ZURU signs a global exclusive deal with Kickstarter sensation, Bunch O Balloons — the fastest and easiest way to make water balloons. By raising close to $1 million dollars through crowd-funding site Kickstarter, it is one of the top funded campaigns of the year. (See Kickstarter video here: https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/bunchoballoons/bunch-o-balloons-100-water-balloons-in-less-than-1 )


The innovative design allows people to bring water balloon fights to the next level, and is truly a new take on the old ‘fill one at a time’ method of past generations. Bunch O Balloons allows for 100 balloons to be filled in less than 60 seconds, are self-tying, and eliminate the hassle and aggravation of trying to tie regular balloons.

“This is an incredible product and invention," says ZURU Director Nick Mowbray. "Josh has really come up with something that will transform the water-balloon market globally. Initial reaction from the trade has been incredible with everyone wanting a part of the action. Anticipation has been building since going viral on social media, also thanks to the success of the Kickstarter campaign.”

ZURU is expanding their outdoor toys category after the success of their X Shot blasters line that has received global recognition in the toy industry. In true ZURU form, with no time to waste, Bunch O Balloons were featured at the Fall Toy Preview from October 7-9 in Dallas, TX, and in Hong Kong from Oct 10-25.

"We chose to work with ZURU because of their vast global network, marketing ability and their expertise in automating production," says Josh Malone, Creator, Bunch O Balloons. "They have an ability to work quickly and much like us, are a family run business who are incredible people to work with and we are excited to be moving forward with them."

Bunch O Balloons will be hitting the US market in the Spring of 2015 and is sure to make a splash!

My Take on the Product
As a dad I have spent hours trying to fill up water balloons only to have them break, snap my fingers and leave me utterly frustrated. At times it got so bad that we even forbid them at parties that we had. However, now that I have found Bunch O Balloons I can honestly say that that hesitation is no longer and we will be having water balloons again in the Divadom.

What I love about this product was how simple it was and how quickly you could fill so many balloons in such a quick amount of time. This product easily connects to your hose and once on, you slowly turn on the water and within seconds you have filled balloons - talk about a time saver.

No longer are you spending half your day trying to fill balloons, thus this saves you so much time that frees you to do so many other fun things!

I encourage you to jump in and try Bunch O Balloons too - you will not be disappointed!


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Book Review - The Power of Dadhood by Michael Smith

About the Book
The Power of Dadhood encourages men to father with the knowledge that they are vitally important to the futures of their children. National speaker Michael Byron Smith discusses the implications of a fatherless home, the challenges of parenting, and the hierarchy of fathers. There are absent fathers, present yet uninvolved fathers, authoritative fathers, loving fathers, teaching fathers, and many more. Any man, through The Power of Dadhood, can assess himself, see where he stands, and make choices to become a real Dad and find the power of Dadhood!


My Take on the Book
This was a great book that really provides fathers with an amazing array of resources that will help his to learn how to be an active, involved and caring parent from Day 1. What was best about this was that in the way that it was written you truly see that you are not alone and that you can get trough even the toughest struggles of fatherhood (there will be some). The book was practical, down-to-earth and simply made sense and I for one wish that it had been around when I was first becoming a father for the first time. I could easily see this as a guide that would be an amazing gift to any father to be and one that would be needed for any father that really has no true support mechanisms in place or who did not have strong father role models in the past or present to draw from.

Get ready for common sense, practical tips that will help any father in this great book!


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Grimmtastic Girls: Goldilocks Breaks In

About the Book
Once upon a time, in faraway Grimmlandia . . .

Goldilocks is so eager to make friends at Grimm Academy, she's even tempted to accept an invitation to join E.V.I.L. -- it's just nice to be included! But she doesn't want to be a villain. Can Goldie get inside the secret society and do some good?




My Take on the Book
This story is one of a series of "fairy tale character " stories using the fairy tale or nursery rhyme characters. . The reading level is grade 4, but the interest level is third through sixth grades. 

There are 6 books in the series with each book focusing on a different princess or female character in a fairy tale or nursery rhyme. The characters in this particular story centered around the stories or rhymes written by the brothers Grimm.

All the characters attend the Grimm Academy where they learn about spells, magic, using magic wands, etc. There is a problem in this story which centers around Ms. Wicked (Snow White's wicked stepmother) who becomes the interim principal of the academy. Mr. Rumpelstiltskin has disappeared. Of course Ms. Wicked changes everything so it is not a pleasant place to attend school,but Goldilocks and her friends plan to change that and find Mr. Rumpelstiltskin (which they do).

It is interesting how the authors intertwine the fairy tale and nursery rhyme characters and produce a chapter book which has adventure, mystery, humor, and lots of interest for the reader. I think once your child reads one of these stories , they will probably want to read another one.

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Book Review - Alexander's Army by Chris D'Lacey

About the Book
From the NEW YORK TIMES bestselling author of the LAST DRAGON CHRONICLES comes an action-packed paranormal adventure full of mystery, alternate realities, thrills and chills.

When Michael Malone is assigned a new mystery to solve by the UNICORNE agency, he knows he's in for another strange and deadly adventure. This time, he is sent to a local comic shop, where UNICORNE agents have detected unusual activity -- specifically the prominent display of a comic book starring a disturbingly familiar heroine. . . .

The more Michael investigates the comic shop, however, the more he realizes that something much more sinister lurks within its walls. An invisible army has come to life, with a menacing maniac at its head. Even worse, Michael gets the sense that some of his fellow UNICORNE agents cannot be trusted, and that his own life may be in danger. Can he solve the case and defeat his enemies before it's too late? And is he any closer to finding his missing father?

From NEW YORK TIMES bestselling author Chris d'Lacey comes the action-packed second installment in the remarkable and thrilling UNICORNE Files series!



My Take on the Book
This was a great mystery and series that I was not aware of until I read this. Now that I have read this, I am off to read the first in the series! This book was well written with great characters and a great plot. As said, the book had some great mystery, but also action. I loved how the author was able to keep so much intrigue under his hat, but I guess that is a trick of the trade! I was definitely impressed with this and loved the action and paranormal thrills and if you are a fan of this genre you will find it to be an enjoyable quick read as well!


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Book Review - How to Speak Dolphin Ginny Rorby

About the Book
Schneider Family Book Award-winning author Ginny Rorby has created an irresistible dolphin story about a girl's struggle to help her autistic brother and herself.

Lily loves her half-brother, Adam, but she has always struggled with him, too. He's definitely on the autism spectrum--though her step-father, Don, can barely bring himself to admit it--and caring for him has forced Lily to become as much mother as sister. All Lily wants is for her step-father to acknowledge that Adam has a real issue, that they need to find some kind of program that can help him. Then maybe she can have a life of her own.

Adam's always loved dolphins, so when Don, an oncologist, hears about a young dolphin with cancer, he offers to help. He brings Lily and Adam along, and Adam and the dolphin--Nori--bond instantly.

But though Lily sees how much Adam loves Nori, she also sees that the dolphin shouldn't spend the rest of her life in captivity, away from her family. Can Adam find real help somewhere else? And can Lily help Nori regain her freedom without betraying her family?


My Take on the Book
This was a powerful book that explores and reveals much about what it is like to grow up in a family where autism is felt. The book is honest and profound and tackles a topic and issues that are not always discussed which I greatly appreciated. I especially appreciated that this was written for the young adult age range that it was because of this too as you do not see this topic being covered in many that I have read in the past. The author does a great job at developing her characters as characters of substance. You really get to know the characters and get drawn into their lives so by the end of the book you truly care about them and their family. The book is emotional and powerful and you will find that not only are the characters changed by the end of the book but that you may be too.


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