Scrutiny by the Masses

American Girl Read-A-Palooza

We are big readers in our house. Of course, now that the big kids have gotten to be, well, bigger - the amount of reading that they do has gone by the wayside. My younger kids, though? They always have books around, and I am frequently reading a couple of books at the same time.

My younger set of daughters love the American Girls dolls and, by association, the books that accompany. I think that these books are magnificent - they've learned a tremendous amount of history and count some of these books as their most favorite.

This summer, American Girl is inviting girls and moms to discover the joy of reading while helping a great cause! Read-a-palooza provides girls with fun activities and incentives to inspire them to keep their reading skills sharp and encourage engagement in a variety of different literacy activities! In addition, Read-a-palooza will be contributing to Save the Children through a book purchase donation. Starting May 1 through September 3, $1 from every book purchased from American Girl will benefit Save's U.S. Literacy Program.

This is one program I can get behind.

I'd love to be able to share the wonder of the American girl books with you! One lucky commenter will win a sampling of American Girl books to enjoy this summer. Want to be that lucky winner? Take a minute and browse through the American Girl book offerings - with both historical and contemporary fiction, advice, mysteries and activity books - there's something for everyone! Leave me a comment sharing with me your favorite American girl book. This contest will close 5/15/2012 at 11:59 p.m. and is open to US residents over the age of 18.

Food Fights - a Review and a Giveaway

I was compensated for my review of this book. All opinions expressed are my own.

Recently, I was sent two copies of the new book Food Fights: Winning the Nutritional Challenges of Parenthood Armed with Insight, Humor and a Bottle of Ketchup.

Food, our children, and the relationship between them has been a topic near and dear to me for several years. I worked in a school cafeteria and was able to see, first hand, some of the struggles that go into feeding hundreds of children on a daily basis - and to see what many parents feel is the best choice of foods to feed their kids. Some parents are doing a stellar job - and some parents, not so great. I remember seeing an overwhelming amount of lunchables, candy coated granola bars, florescent yogurts and sodas, not to mention cookies and candy bars, in the vast majority of lunch boxes.

This book does an excellent job, from birth to teenager and beyond, of breaking down the food myths and explaining things in an easy to understand manner. With simple yet powerful information boxes spelling out the high points of each section, this book makes child nutrition easy to understand.

Want a copy? Leave me your best child nutrition tip and I'll draw one lucky winner.

Here's an excerpt from Food Fights, discussing one of the most hotly contended topics - JUICE:

The answer to whether or not young children should be allowed to
drink juice on a regular basis has been a bit of a sticky one for years.
After all, the fight against childhood obesity has most definitely included
a focus on limiting sugary liquids. And juice—whether it is delivered in
a box or carton, sippy cup or straw—most definitely contains sugar. In
fact, when we set out to write the first edition of Food Fights, the latest
research at the time had us all but convinced that fruit juice was almost
as much to blame for childhood obesity (not to mention tooth decay)
as soda pop. Sugar was sugar, after all, and it was hard to look past
the fact that a 12-ounce serving of 100% grape juice had been shown
to have 11/2 times the calories as grape soda. Additionally, a few small
initial studies suggested a worrisome connection between obesity in
young children and their fruit juice consumption. But unlike soda pop
and its utter lack of redeeming nutritional qualities, 100% fruit juice has since proven itself
significantly more worthy of further nutritional consideration. Several
subsequent large national studies have revealed some interesting findings
about kids, juice, nutrition, and obesity, not the least of which has
been the lack of an association between drinking 100% fruit juice andan increased likelihood of children being or becoming overweight.
These new findings have led us to reassess our take on juice, and to
reformulate our own juice-related advice for parents accordingly.

A Convenient Juice Box

If and when you plan on incorporating juice into your child’s diet responsibly,we suggest the following approach:

• Make sure it’s pure fruit juice. Fruit drinks that aren’t 100% juice typically
contain added sugars and/or sweeteners that can up both the cavity and
calorie counts.

• Hold off on introducing your child to juice for at least his first year and
refrain from serving it in a bottle.

• Avoid letting your child sip on juice (or any other sugar-containing liquid,
for that matter) for prolonged periods. Whether by bottle, sippy cup, or
cup, bathing one’s teeth in sugary liquids can cause serious tooth decay.

• Consider diluting it with water.

• Encourage your child to eat fresh, whole fruits whenever available.

• Whenever possible, serve juice that contains pulp for added fiber.

• Make sure juice doesn’t entirely drown out your child’s interest in drinking
milk and water.

• Buy only pasteurized products (shelf-stable juices, frozen concentrates,
or specially marked refrigerated juices) to avoid potential diarrhea-causing
infections.

• While the American Academy of Pediatrics does suggest 100% fruit juice
as an acceptable part of a healthy diet, be aware that it’s wise to offer it in
age-appropriate moderation (none under 6 months of age and no more
than 4 to 6 ounces a day for older infants and children).

• Keep an eye out for warning signs of excessive juice intake, such as tooth
decay and “toddler’s diarrhea.” Not only do young kids tend to suck on
sugary liquids for prolonged periods when allowed, thus putting their newly
acquired teeth at considerable risk., but kids
between the ages of 2 and 3 tend to have the highest juice consumption—
in some instances enough to cause persistent diarrhea.

Totally Together by Stephanie O'Dea

I first met Stephanie through a now defunct discussion board, hosted on the incredible maternity/nursing wear site One Hot Mama. She was amazing - she didn't (yet) have children, but she ran a center for underprivileged children and she came onto the board in order to learn everything she could about being a great parent.

The OHM board was my favorite place to hang out, but it most certainly wasn't for everyone. The one commonality we all shared was breastfeeding, but many of us were delayed or non vaxxers/homebirthers/extended breastfeeders/homeschoolers/unschoolers/co sleepers/organic/vegetarian and at times, we got heated.

I Double Dog Dare You!

This post is in conjunction with Borders books, who generously supplied me with a gift card to purchase books for my kids for summer reading. They are offering a kids' summer reading program, in which your child reads books and earns free books - to me, the best of all possible scenarios - it promotes reading AND rewards with free books. Win! Speaking of WIN, there is a giveaway at the bottom of this post. Make sure you read all the way through.

Did you read to your kids when they were young? When your baby was small, did you curl up on a sofa, with your teeny tiny and introduce him to the wonders of Winnie the Pooh, The Backyardigans or Morris the Moose?

I have very fond memories of reading to my babies. I was lucky that my kids all loved to be read to, and in many cases, that still applies. Some of them went through phases where we read the same book over and over, but it's not a bad thing. 

This quote by Katherine Patterson speaks volumes:

I am one of those fortunate people who was read to from birth. Even through a childhood shaken by war and major dislocations, the memory of snuggling close to my mother as she read Kipling's “Just So Stories” or Beatrix Potter's “The Tale of Peter Rabbit” or A.A. Milne's “When We Were Very Young” and “The House at Pooh Corner” fills me with joy. I began reading on my own very early because I knew the magic that books held, and when I came to the United States and was regarded as alien by my classmates, books provided me with friends who helped me to understand myself and to have compassion for other people. So I urge everyone to read for your life--for enjoyment and knowledge and as a member of a family and a citizen not only of your community but of the world.

--Katherine Paterson, recently named National Ambassador for Children’s Literature by the Library Of Congress and author of many award-winning books for children, including Bridge to Terabithia

Want to win one of TWO $100 Borders Bookstore gift cards? Leave me a comment, telling me your child's favorite "Read to me" book. This contest will close July 31, 2010 at 11:59 p.m. and is open to US residents.

32 Third Graders and One Class Bunny

"Phillip Done is the voice of the veteran teacher who knows who he is working for; his love for children shines on every page."-- Esme Raji Codell, author

I could probably leave just that quote up and count this review as complete.  I think that quote sums up the entire book accurately. 

Mr. Done is a witty, warm writer and this book details a year of his teaching experience.  This funny, lighthearted tale chronicles the ups and downs of a school year from a teachers perspective.  The descriptions of the students is spot on and I found myself saying, "Yes!" when  particular child was profiled, as he reminded me strongly of a student in my son's class.

This book had so many things that rang true to me, and I'm not a teacher.  I loaned it to a couple of teachers at my kids school, and every time it was returned to me with the same answer:  "I LOVED It and couldn't put it down!"  Broken into seasons, Mr. Done chronicles various excitements of the school year - The Christmas concert, April Fools and Grammar lessons.  This was a quick, easy read - but I read it slower on purpose, to make it last longer.

This book would make an excellent end of the year gift for any teacher that you know - but make sure you pick up a copy for yourself - it's a highly funny read and one I'm not prepared to give up. 

The Daring Book for Girls

When The Parent Bloggers asked me to review this book, I jumped on it. I am all in favor of activities for kids to do that don't involve computers, television, and handheld electronic devices.  I remember spending vast quantities of time when I was younger, doing "things" and "inventing" and "creating".  Many of the activities that I found so enjoyable are represented in this book. 

I loved the very basics of The Daring Book for Girls.  From the turquoise color - thank goodness it's not pink! - to the amazing back cover - "For every girl with an independent spirit and a nose for trouble, here is the no-boys-allowed guide to adventure."  A quote like that is right up my girls alley, what with the two wild boys in my house.  The page entitled "Essential gear" was exactly spot on, listing such necessities as a hair band, safety pins, a pad of paper and a pen,  and a good book - things I've told all of my kids to never be without - and adding patience and a flashlight and a roll of duct tape. 

Every time that I opened this book, I found so many cool things to read that I spent hours and hours reading it, swiping it from my daughters whenever they weren't looking.  The section on First Aid had all of the basics covered - the three P's, the three B's, and the ABC's, as well as what a first aid kit should contain.  An added bonus to this section is the addition of the biographies of famous women in the First Aid field. 

There are "typical" girl subjects covered, such as how to make fudge and lemonade, putting your hair up with a pencil, and jump rope rhymes, and then there are "atypical" topics, such as reading tide charts, The Periodic Table of the Elements, Five Karate Moves (although, this shouldn't surprise me, as there are women in the karate studio I attend), How to change a tire and how to make a quill pen.  There was always a topic to read, and when I'd try to put the book down, I'd find something else interesting to read. 

My ten year old picked the following as her favorites:

Lemon Powered Clock, Five Karate Moves, Friendship Bracelets, Cootie Catchers, Peach Pit Rings

My almost thirteen year old picked as her favorites:

Lemon Powered Clock and Math Tricks, Words to Impress, Yoga Sun Salutation, A Short Story of Women Olympic Firsts, as well as Make Your Own Paper. Seriously.  MAKE your OWN PAPER!  With flowers and everything. How cool!

This is a book that I'd highly recommend for any girl on your shopping list this holiday season.  See what other bloggers are saying about this book here.   

Many, many thanks to the lovely ladies at The Parent Bloggers for allowing us to preview this very special book!

I Love You More

I was sent this book by Sourcebooks and asked to give my review. I did so gladly. My little girls LOVED it.  It was a fast, sweet read and we've already read it at least three dozen times.  From the press release:

I Love You More is a simple flip book ( ends in the middle and starts from either side) story that illustrates what love looks like from both a child's and a parent's perspective. With a simple, touching story, rhyme and   rhythm, and vibrant child-like illustrations, this book is a treasure for anyone who has ever said "I love you" and  heard the best response in the world, "I love you more."

I agree with this.  The pictures are gorgeous, the words are easy to read and yet powerful - the entire concept is simple and amazingly clear.  Who loves a child more than a parent?  No one.  Who loves a parent more than their child?  No one.  It is a love that knows no bounds, and this book beautifully captures the depth and breadth of said love.  My girls loved to read this book or and over and it lead to many discussion on just how much we love each other.  I plan to share this book with the elementary school teachers at my kids school.

My eight year old loved reading the child section to me and having me read the parent section to him.

You can find this awesome book at http://www.hippieandthebaldchick.com/  as well as Amazon.  Order one today - you won't be disappointed.  

 

The Fairy Chronicles

My daughter loves fairy books.  LOVES them.  She will read them over and over and over, dog earing the pages and sharing certain lines with us.  She was thrilled when I was sent two advance copies of The Fairy Chronicles, by J.H. Sweet. She read through both books at lightning speed, in about two hours, and brought them to me with strict orders #1 - not lose them or donate them and #2 order the others in the set. 

I read them, at a much slower pace, and I can see why she liked them.  The fairies in the books are real girls who don't know that they have fairy powers.  They are personable girls, girls who argue with siblings and don't want to spend time with old Aunt Evelyn. 

I wasn't as in love with the books as my daughter - for one, I'm not a big fan of magic in books for my kids, or special "powers", and I did find some inconsistencies.  Many of the characters are named after flowers or herbs, but one is named Lenox - after her mother's favorite China. My daughter thought that strange as well.  Each girl has a gift that relates to her power - for example, one girl has the ability to repel bugs, which doesn't seem like all that much, especially in comparison to other powers like agility and speed.  (This skill does come into play in later books.)  I also wasn't a fan of the fact that one girls special talent was her beauty and ability to attract others.  I really try hard to avoid discussing beauty and making a beautiful person out to be a better person.  There is enough of that in the world. 

One other thing that bothered me in the first book was when the main character snuck home and took her dog, without telling her mother.  Would a parent really not notice that her dog was missing, and it felt odd to me to have the character lie to her mother by omission. 

The book was redeemed, however, by the definition found in a journal - Life.  In our search for meaning, there are two important things to consider:  how we treat other people, and what we teach to children.  THAT I agreed with.  That is a lesson that I found repeated throughout the books.

The second book was a bit better, with less mention of magic, until the very end, when it was discovered that the reason no one could have good dreams was due to possession by an evil spirit.  That made me a bit uncomfortable. 

The books received really positive reviews from other parents and teachers, and wild raves from children.  The books were interesting, and kept my daughter's attention.  I did like various aspects of each book - the girls were smart, with life skills and knowledge that was helpful.  At the back of each book, there are facts that relate to each story, some of which I didn't know, like the story of the Cottingley Fairies.  There also was a yummy recipe for puff pastry.

The fairies are described as problem solvers who spend a lot of time fixing things and protecting nature.  The books contain gremlins, brownies and fairies, and enough excitement to keep your average grade school girl entertained for hours.

I'll be interested in seeing what happens with the future books.  They are a set to keep on my radar.