Book Review - Rainbow Magic: The School Day Fairies - Lydia the Reading Fairy

About the Book
It's time for Jack Frost to learn his lesson!

Best friends Kirsty Tate and Rachel Walker usually only get to spend vacations and holidays with each other. But for a special week, they'll both be going to the same school! It's a good thing the two friends are together. Jack Frost is causing trouble at the Fairyland School--and the School Day Fairies need help!

Rachel and Kirsty can read Jack Frost like a book. They know he has Lydia's reading badge, and they want him to give it back!



My Take on the Book
This book is one in a series in which two human girls, Kristy and Rachel, have friends who are fairies. In previous books the girls have been involved in helping their fairy friends with various projects or problems. In this book the girls assist Lydia, the reading fairy, retrieve her golden medal or badge which encourages children to read.

The trouble maker is Jack Frost who steals the gold badge so the goblins will listen to his book about his life. So Kristy and Rachel are tuned into goblins so they can infiltrate Jack Frost's school and steal back the badge. Lydia of course is on hand for the magic part in transporting and changing the girls' appearances.

There is a happy ending as the children in the school return to reading and Jack Frost begins to read too.

The chapter book is written on a fourth grade reading level and has an interest level for children in second and third grades.
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Book Review - Super Simple Sewing for Kids

About the Book
Learning to sew is super simple…and lots of fun! This book includes tips to get started, types of stitches, basic material suggestions, and projects that include a porcupine greeting card, fridge magnets, cow hand puppet, and more. Creating a sewing craft increases a child's dexterity, aesthetic sense, and confidence. The Super Simple books help children learn gradually, from the easiest task to the more complex, and lets them have fun while they tackle new projects. The result: a keen sense of creativity, greater patience, and skills that last a lifetime.


My Take on the Book
Rosa M. Curto has written an easy to read and follow book of beginning hand sewing projects for children. I feel she has done a wonderful job in not only the step by step illustrations and photos of the completed project, but also the easy to read and follow directions for each project. Patterns are included at the end of the book for your child to copy and use in the projects.


The author includes tips like to be patient with yourself as you learn, you can substitute materials if you don't have something like string for ribbon, and to ask for help to name a few. There are over 30 projects in the book. She illustrates various stitches and even has directions on how to sew buttons in four ways.


Some of the projects include: hand and finger puppets, book marks, placemats, cards, journal covers, and magnets.


If you have a child who enjoys sewing or crafts, I think you will find this book one that can be used quite independently and successfully.
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Book Review - Wolf Camp

About the Book
Meet Homer, a dog who heads to camp to live like a wolf! Here’s the perfect book for the legions of kids out there who love dogs and funny books.

Homer is a dog . . . but he also secretly fancies himself part wolf. So when an invitation to attend WOLF CAMP (“Where every dog can live as a wolf for a week”) falls out of his kibble bag one morning, he’s determined to go. After his people finally agree, Homer boards the bus bound for Wolf Camp, along with fellow campers Trixie and Rex. They’re greeted on the other end by wolf counselors Fang and Grrr (“they seem nice”), and what follows is an array of wolf activities, including learning to howl, mark, and hunt. Of course, Homer’s a little homesick at times, and the food isn’t very good, but that just makes heading home all the sweeter.

Perfect for all those kids anticipating camp themselves, Zuill’s debut introduces a charmer of a dog and puts him in some laugh-out-loud scenarios.


My Take on the Book
Homer, our main character , is a dog who is based on the author's dog named Homer. In our story Homer wants to attend wolf camp. When he finally arrives Homer and two other (dog) campers go through the paces of learning to howl, hunt, and act like wolves.

This book is so funny! Homer has the same feelings and thoughts as a child would attending camp for the first time. There is anxiety at first and then such happiness at the end , he cries when it is time to return home.

The wolf camp counselors give safety instructions like do not trust squirrels and do not chase the cats in the wild. When they hunt and eat it is of course hunting animals which the dog pets are not familiar with in their domestic lives. Homer even writes a letter to his human family asking for doggy treats and insect repellent . The letter will bring a smile to your face.

The story is for a young child and a young child who reads. I believe it will be one your child will enjoy reading/hearing many times. Look closely at the illustrations and speech bubbles as the author has included many wonderful details.


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Book Review - Dumbness Is a Dish Best Served Cold

About the Book
Jamie Kelly is back and dumber than ever in this super-deluxe four-color Dear Dumb Diary special edition!

Life at Mackerel Middle School is as dumb as ever -- but Jamie Kelly may have finally found the key to fame, fortune, and fabulousness. Together with Isabella and Angeline, she's come up with a moneymaking idea, and it has to do with food. Everyone likes food! They're going to be rich!

The only problem? They have to come up with something that people actually want to eat.

Jamie has some sophisticated thoughts on food, like, "She was manipulating us like dough. Like the sweet, delicious dough that we are. And she was baking us into the type of delicious cookies you can only get from dough like us. And she was putting sprinkles of us on top of us, and -- forget it. I'm hungry. I want some cookies."

This is sure to go well.




My Take on the Book
This book is meant for children ages 8 - 12, or in grades 3 - 7. It is one in a series of DEAR DUMB DIARY books. The main character writes as if she is talking to a friend (her diary). Her thoughts ramble from one thing to the next but she does it in such detail and includes very humorous illustrations within the text. Don't miss reading her captions.

The books topics range from food, to friends, to parents, teachers and principals, training a gold fish, school, and much much more. She poses questions, troubles, happy and sadness, and the thoughts of a young person with all of the happenings in life.

The concept will make you think about your thoughts. How often do you think of things you do not say or want to do things you never do? Are you puzzled by the world or wish you could change something? If you knew no one would ever read your diary, what would you write?

I think a young person will find the book interesting and maybe "speak to them".
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Book Review - Rules of the House #RulesoftheHouse

About the Book
Ian always follows the rules. His sister, Jenny, breaks them all the time-especially "Don't pinch." So Ian is thrilled when the house where his family is vacationing posts a tidy list of rules. But when Jenny breaks them all, the house itself decides it's time for payback. The rug, the stove, and the bathtub are hungry for rulebreaker soup, and they've found the perfect ingredient: Jenny!

Now Ian is faced with a thorny question: What if saving your sister means breaking the rules?

From the New York Times best-selling team of Mac Barnett and Matthew Myers comes a hilarious tale of sibling rivalry, moral complexity, and disgruntled monsters, perfect for sharing with your own favorite rulebreakers.




My Take on the Book

Brothers and sisters in a family often tease each other, but they can become best friends too. In this creative and funny story, Ian , the younger brother, always follows the rules for wherever he is. His sister , Jenny, usually does the opposite.

During a vacation, both children learn the importance of following the rules (at least most of the time). Ian proves that following rules will keep you safe.

Ian had to be clever when his sister was going to become "soup" for animate objects in the vacation home. He was brave and showed his sister he cared enough for her to defend her. The two children worked together to get rid of the "house monsters".

The illustrations by Matt Myers were so appropriate for the text. He showed the reader the feelings of not only our two main characters but also the "house monsters".

You will not only enjoy the story and its humorous parts, but find the illustrations so detailed.
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Book Review - Fingerprint Princesses and Fairies: and 100 Other Magical Creatures

About the Book
Take a hands-on approach to art with Fingerprint Princesses and Fairies!

Create engaging art activities with your children - at home or in the classroom. Packed with fun step-by-step instructions, this book teaches you how to make 30 classic fairytale characters including nymphs, fairies, princesses, butterflies, and angels with only the tips of your fingers. Create your own enchanting world, no paintbrush required! Kids aren't the only ones who will enjoy it, artists of all ages can put their fingers on the fun of art. Use the characters to spice up you art journals and doodles. Creativity is at your fingertips!



My Take on the Book
This was an amazing book that really allows you and your kids to have some fun with your imagination and creativity and see that creating art can be as simple as incorporating your own fingerprints! My daughters and I had a blast making creations and we have a ton of ideas for creating new ones in the future too. The book gives you space to make scenes right in the book or you can use other paper too! This is a wonderful book that I highly recommend to all!


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Book Review - Harry Potter Poster Coloring Book

About the Book
Unleash your creativity and escape to one of the most beloved series of all time.

From the heraldry of the four Hogwarts houses to the extravagant wares of Weasleys’ Wizard Wheezes, the world of Harry Potter overflows with radiant color. Featuring artwork from the hugely successful Harry Potter Coloring Book and Harry Potter Creatures Coloring Book, this special poster collection features twenty stunning, one-sided prints that are perfect for coloring. From fan-favorite characters and scenes to creatures and gorgeous patterns inspired by the wizarding world, each detailed illustration is printed on high-quality card stock and can be easily removed for displaying.



My Take on the Book
WOW, what a coloring book! Each page is HUGE and offers young and old the ability to create some amazing pictures that you can keep for a long time. The pages are also thick so when you take them out of the book you can post them up or give them as gifts without fear of it tearing.  If you are a Harry Potter fan and a fan of coloring this is definitely a book to pick up today!

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Movie Review - Mr. Right

About the Movie
Hyperactive at the best of times, Martha (Anna Kendrick; Pitch Perfect) has gone full-on manic since her latest breakup. She babbles, parties like a monster, cooks everything in sight — and is looking to do something terrible when she meets Francis (Sam Rockwell; The Way Way Back). To anyone else, Francis’s approach would come across as creepy, but Martha can’t help but be intrigued. They seem a perfect match: she's bananas, he's bananas... except he's a deadly sort of bananas. He’s a professional assassin.

Francis is a hitman with a cause: he unexpectedly kills the people ordering the hits. Just as Martha begins to realize her new beau wasn't joking when he said he had to step out for a moment to shoot someone, things start heating up for Francis. His services are solicited by a dubious client who's being sought by an equally dubious FBI agent (Tim Roth; Pulp Fiction, Reservoir Dogs). As the bodies pile up, Martha needs to decide whether to flee or join in the mayhem.




My Take on the Movie
This was a good movie with a number of unexpected twists and turns. The nice thing about the movie was that you get to see these actors in roles that they typically do not play within. The movie does have violence, so it is definitely not a family film, but if you are looking for a movie that will show you how even being a bit psycho can be affable and lovable too. If you are a fan of action/spy genre films this fits into it as well. While the humor in this is there it is a bit darker. There are some warmer moments between Kendrick and Rockwell too and in the end you will see why the two of them are perfect for one another!


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Book Review - Ursa's Light

About the Book
One night Ursa had an idea.
An amazing idea.
A wild idea
She was going to fly!

It was such a crazy idea that no one believed she could do it. She was a bear, for goodness sake, and bears don't fly! Or do they . . . ?



My Take on the Book
This was a beautiful book. It combines amazing illustration with imagination and a wonderful story too, My youngest read it to us right away and she has continued to read it over and over again (She loved it so much). The main character was very lovable and you have to feel empathy for the dream that she has for herself. She wants to fly! Throughout the entire book you will be mesmerized and drawn further into the story itself and in the end you will find out whether Ursa achieves her dream or not! This is a great book for the whole family!

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Book Review - Ricky Ricotta's Mighty Robot vs. The Unpleasant Penguins from Pluto

About the Book
Ricky Ricotta and his Mighty Robot face off against a flock of flightless foes!

Ricky and his Mighty Robot have made a mess. They've been mean to Cousin Lucy, and now they must make it up to her. But their surprise present for Lucy turns into a trap when President Penguin from Pluto plots to take over Earth. President Penguin is peeved because Pluto is no longer considered a real planet. Now he plans to make things very unpleasant for anyone who stands in his way. Can Ricky, Lucy, and their friends defeat this tiny terror and keep Squeakyville safe?




My Take on the Book
While this was a short book, the book was filled with amazing images and even better a great story that was a very compelling read. My youngest daughter really enjoyed the story altogether. It is stories like this that really encourage her to read and I for one have to say that I am looking forward to finding more books like this for her to continue reading in the future!

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Book Review - Presidential Elections and Other Cool Facts

About the Book
With this year’s Democratic and Republican primaries being hotly contested, the 2016 presidential race is gearing up to be the most pivotal election this country has had in generations. Kids, parents, and teachers will certainly be discussing the election through November. So now is the perfect time to introduce Presidential Elections and Other Cool Facts to young readers. Children will be fascinated by the history they’ll find in this book, including riveting facts about everything from George Washington’s election in 1789 to Barack Obama’s victories in 2008 and 2012. Questions asked and topics explored include:

• Who can run for president?
• Who can vote?
• What is the Electoral College?
• What is a third-party candidate?
• Which Republican president had a Democrat for his vice president?
• Who was the only U.S. president to be elected for more than two terms?
• Which candidates have won the popular vote but lost the election?
• Why was President Truman happy in 1948, when he read the Chicago Tribune headline that declared: “Dewey Defeats Truman”?

This book brings history and social studies classes to life as boys and girls learn about important people, places, and events in the history of presidential elections.



My Take on the Book
This was an amazing book that really had a ton of great facts and figures that any history fan will love, and more importantly it will open your eyes about the world of the Presidents. My daughters and I loved sharing this together and we learned so much and you will too!

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DVD Review - Littlest Pet Shop: Pet Tales

About the Book
These Pets Are Sharing Extraordinary Adventures And You’re Invited!

Join Blythe and her pet friends (Zoe the spaniel, Pepper the skunk, Sunil the mongoose, Russell the hedgehog, Penny the panda, and Minka the monkey) as they return for five outrageous tales, including their tangles with fairies and witches, mysterious jungles, quarreling koalas and much, much more! It’s all here in the Littlest Pet Shop: Pet Tales!

Episodes Included:

• So interesting (season 2)
• What's so scary about the jungle? Everything! (Season 3)
• Feud for thought (Season 3)
• Fish out of water (Season 3)
• Proud as a... peacock? (Season 3)

My Take on the Book
This was a great DVD that had a mix of episodes from two different seasons. The episodes were fun and I really liked the messages of friendship, teamwork and more that were shown in these episodes. While this is not a full season, the mix of episodes was good and definitely worked! All-in-all this was a great DVD with fun episodes that will keep bringing you back for more!



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CD Review - Kidz Bop Greatest Hits

About the CD

All of your favorite Kidz Bop favorite music on one CD! This great greatest hits CD has most of the top hits over the last year and your kids will simply love all of the songs that include:

• Happy 
• Uptown Funk 
• Party Rock Anthem 
• Shake It Off Roar 
• Call Me Maybe 
• Thrift Shop 
• Best Day Of My Life 
• Gangnam Style 
• Moves Like Jagger 
• All About That Bass 
• The Fox (What Does The Fox Say?) 
• Bills 
• Make Some Noise!

My Take on the CD
This was a tremendous CD for any Kidz Bop fan. This CD has almost all of the biggest hits that you could think of from the past year or so, as well as one original song too (Make Some Noise). The CD was well made with some great songs and singing too. My daughters were so excited about this as they now can play all their favorite music and not have to bring multiple CD's to actually listen to the songs that they want. This is a great CD that your whole family will enjoy!

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Movie Review - Norm of the North

About the DVD
This winter’s coolest family comedy, Norm of the North, slides onto Digital HD March 29 and Blu-ray Combo Pack (plus DVD and Digital HD) and DVD (plus Digital) April 19 from Lionsgate. Telling the ultimate tale of a loveable underdog who proves anything is possible with determination and a posse of loyal lemmings, Norm of the North features the voices of Rob Schneider (Grown Ups), Heather Graham (The Hangover franchise), Ken Jeong (The Hangover franchise), Colm Meaney (Con Air), Loretta Devine (TV’s “Grey’s Anatomy”), Gabriel Iglesias (Magic Mike), Michael McElhatton (HBO’s “Game of Thrones”) and Bill Nighy (Love Actually).

Life can be a real bear—just ask Norm, a polar bear with unusual talents and a heart as big as the great outdoors. When he hears that human homes are going to be built in his Arctic backyard, Norm comes to the rescue. With a team of ragtag lemmings at his side, Norm heads to the concrete jungle of New York City on a freewheeling, fun-filled mission to stop the madness and save the Arctic.

Experience even more exhilarating adventure with special features including deleted scenes, outtakes, “The Arctic Shake” sing-along and a trivia challenge for the whole family to enjoy! The Norm of the North Blu-ray Combo Pack and DVD will be available for the suggested retail price of $34.99 and $29.95, respectively.

BLU-RAY COMBO PACK/DVD/DIGITAL HD SPECIAL FEATURES*

• Deleted Scenes
• "Do the Arctic Shake!” Sing-Along
• That’s Funny! The Movie’s Best Jokes & One-liners
• Arctic Challenge Trivia Game

Arctic Shake


Save the Arctic



My Take on the DVD
There were some cute part within the movie and definitely parts that were funny too, however the movie itself missed the mark at the conclusion of the movie for movie and unfortunately did not close an important loop in the relationship of a few of the characters in my perspective. My kids did love the main characters in the movie and the relationship between Norm and the humans was interesting too. The animation was ok, and while the plot seemed a bit predictable, the movie still was enjoyable, especially for young viewers.

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DVD Review - Pound Puppies: Showstopping Pups

About the DVD
The canines find new pup-ularity in five fun-tastic tales! In this new DVD join the pound puppy pals in a brand new DVD!

The Pound Puppies are in the spotlight for this brand-new collection of adventures from Shelter 17! Join Lucky, Niblet, Cookie, Squirt and Strudel as they display their song-and-dance skills, solve a mystery, become superheroes and encourage a faded TV star to return to glory!

Episodes Include:

• The Accidental Pup Star
• It's Elementary, MY Dear Pup Club
• Hot Dawg!
• The Watchdogs
• Back in Action

My Take on the DVD
This is a great DVD that has some great episodes in it that are a ton of fun to watch and experience with your kids. As a father I have to say that I love this series not only because of the characters but also because of the messages of friendship, teamwork and more. This is a great DVD that offered amazing music, fun and more to give you five episodes that were fun for the whole family!

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Book Review - The Help Yourself Cookbook for Kids: 60 Easy Plant-Based Recipes Kids Can Make to Stay Healthy and Save the Earth

About the Book
Struggling to get your kids to eat their fruits and vegetables? Try letting them help themselves!

Experts tell us the best way to teach kids healthy eating habits is to involve them in the process. This irresistibe cookbook presents 60 appealing recipes kids will beg to make themselves, in fun and charming illustrations they will love. Bursting with color, humor, cute animal characters, and cool facts (did you know your brain actually shrinks when you're dehydrated? Drink water, quick!), Help Yourselfempowers children to take charge of their own nutrition -- for now and for life!

Recipes include:

• fun-to-munch hand-held snacks like Life Boats.
• bright fruit-flavored drinks like Tickled Pink.
• the always popular things-on-toast, like Leprechaun Footprints.
• salads they will actually eat, like Tiger Stripes.
• cozy soups like Tomato Tornado.
• and sweets like chocolatey Disappearing Dots!

Excerpt from the Intro:
Since the day you were born, someone has been making you food and serving you meals (that's the life!). But wait a minute...what's that on the end of your arm? Why, it's a hand! And it turns out you need little more than your own two hands and a few ingredients to help yourself to healthy foods...and help the world, while you're at it! Because from the tip of your nose to the tip of an iceberg, the food we eat affects our bodies, our environment, and even strangers on the other side of the planet. It's amazing but true.

My Take on the Book
This was a fun book that was filled with not only great recipes but images that were so colorful
 and very creative too! My daughters really loved the recipes and even better they loved the fact that they could get involved in the creation of the food dish too. All of the recipes are kid friendly are are definitely ones that my kids were excited to try themselves! When we tried the recipes they loved the flavor and were asking to be a part of creating the next one. This was a great book that just kept on giving!

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Book Review - Super Simple Cartooning for Kids

About the Book
Play with your doodles! This book of cartoonists' tips and techniques will have you drawing lively characters--and help you create your own cartoons and stories.

Creating cartoons increases a child's dexterity, aesthetic sense, and confidence. This Super Simple book helps children learn gradually, from the easiest task to the more complex, and lets them have fun while they tackle new projects. The result: a keen sense of creativity, greater patience, and skills that last a lifetime. It's super simple...and tons of fun!



My Take on the Book
As someone that likes to draw but who is not that great at drawing I can use all of the help I can get. This was a great book that really allows you to learn some great skills for cartooning no matter how old you are. The lessons are simple to follow and a lot of fun too. I really appreciated the cadence of the and how they make the book easy to follow for all so that you can create some very fun cartoons within your own home!

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