TITLE: The Magician’s Book

AUTHOR: Laura Miller

PUBLISHER: Little Brown and Company, 2008

Are you one of those people that feel you have to plow through a book and finish it to the end?  I am.  Or, rather, I was.  I am slowly learning that I don’t have to finish a book if it’s not “talking” my language.  Or if I’m just not getting it.

This is the case with The Magician’s Book.  Now, don’t get me wrong, the material is great!  What I have read I have truly enjoyed.  But it’s above my comprehension level.  I felt I had to have a dictionary beside me while I read to truly understand what the author, Laura Miller, was saying.  Really and truly this isn’t a bad thing and I’m sure that many lovers of Lewis’ Narnia would enjoy what Ms Miller has to say and it causes growth in readers like me.

Honestly, I read about 55 pages.  Those 55 pages took me probably six months to read and I’ve read numerous other books in that same time frame.  I actually want to quote my most current read, The Read Aloud Handbook:

“In Book Lust, [Nancy] Pearl offers advice to adults that can apply to both reading to children and to children’s own reading.  She calls it the ‘Rule of 50’: If you’re fifty or younger, give every book about fifty pages.  If you’re over fifty, then subtract your age from one hundred and give it that many pages.” (page 69)

I am applying The Rule of 50 at least for right now.  I can’t say I’m giving up completely; I’m hoping to increase my vocabulary and my level of reading and come back to this book.  I’m sure this book is for someone and that many have enjoyed it.  (In fact, even though my brother said he wouldn’t be interested because he loves Narnia so very much and I think was worried she might affect his nostalgia, I’m sure he’d really enjoy it.)

So for now, I am can only review what I’ve read.

Material / Content:  4 stars.

 

You can connect with the author and discuss the book in the following ways:

Twitter

Website

Facebook Group

Author’s Facebook Page

 

Disclaimer:  I received a copy of this book free of charge in exchange for my honest opinion.

 

TITLE: Why God Matters

AUTHORS: Karina Lumbert Fabian and Deacon Steven Lumbert

PUBLISHER: Tribute Books

PURCHASE: at Amazon

 

 

WHAT DO I THINK:  I think this is a great resource for someone who is searching and looking to strengthen and deepen their fledgling faith.  This book is full of real life stories with life application sections to get the readers thinking and digging a little deeper.  I believe this book meets its intended purpose of taking a new believer to that next step of faith.

 

 

CONNECT:

• Karina Fabian Facebook
• Karina Fabian Twitter
• Karina Fabian Blog
• Tribute Books Facebook
• Tribute Books Twitter
• Don’t forget to check out the other blogs participating in this blog tour.  You can check them out here.

Shortly after we started Simply Sensational Divas Review, I added to our family. We had a little girl back in 2008. (Has SSDR really been around that long??? WOW!!) Mid-August my husband and I (and our 5 other children) welcomed another little boy into the world.

Matthias James Ilmari came in at 9 pounds 5 ounces and 21 inches long. It was early in the morning of August 15th. Everyone wants to hold him and jump to do so if he squeaks in his sleep. I'm sure he will never learn to walk because his feet will never even touch the floor!

We are all recovering and adjusting well. However, life doesn't slow down very long! We have jumped right back into homeschooling and chores. With fall having already arrived here in northern Canada and public school starting, all the extra curriculum activities we normally participate are starting up in the next couple of weeks.

I have some great books that I have planned to review, just as soon as I get them read! One that I will share next month is called The Big Cook. Make sure you check it out. It will be a lifesaver for me and my family. (I don't like to cook, so cooking in larger quantities and freezing is a great thing, but this book is so much more than that!) Have a great day!

TITLE:  Shadow, the Curious Morgan Horse

AUTHOR: Ellen F. Feld

ILLUSTRATOR: Jeanne Mellin

Publisher: Willow Bend Publishing

Price: 15.95. or at Amazon.com.

Shadow, the Curious Morgan Horse is a sweet story about a little horse who learns all about the world around her.  She goes through a broken fence and gets lost.  She finds a friend who helps her get back to her mother in the pasture.  She had a lot of fun exploring but was so happy to be close to her mother again.  The world can be a scary place, but when we explore within boundaries and with someone who has been there it is a little nicer.

At first I found the story a little daunting for a children’s book.  Lots of words, not so many pictures.  I’m so glad I got over that and read the story.  It is very sweet.  The pictures are well drawn and very beautiful.  Some I would like to frame for my eldest daughter’s bedroom wall.

 

Disclaimer: I received a copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

 

I found this really great site and was able to review one of their organic teas; at the time I was so close to the end of my pregnancy that I chose their Third Trimester Tea and have so enjoyed sipping at a c up of tea over the course of my day!  I wish I would have discovered the site sooner!  I love that this tea is priced affordably and is organic!  So often organic products are a lot more expensive.

Here’s some info from the website where you can also read the ingredients.

 

100% USDA certified organic Third Trimester Tea was formulated as a tonic for mamas who are heading into the home stretch (pardon the pun)! This delicious blend of vitamin and mineral packed herbs was formulated especially to nurture all those mama parts gearing up for the joyous arrival of your angel baby.

Blended with 100% organic herbs, including red raspberry leaf (an all-around great pregnancy herb), iron-rich stinging nettle, calming chamomile and rosehips (both full of vitamins and bioflavonoids), and calcium filled oat straw, Third Trimester Tea is a brilliant blend of Mother Nature's gifts to mamas-in-waiting.

All Earth Mama Angel Baby teas now come in easy to brew tea bags! And there's even more good news: the tea bags are biodegradable, the tea overwrap is compostable and the 100% recycled and recyclable cartons were produced using wind energy. Steep, sip and enjoy, mama!

 

I prefer to shop Canadian, support Canadian companies and avoid shipping costs from the United States.  There is a link on the Earth Mama Angel Baby website takes you to another site to order products from a place here in Canada!  Thanks, Earth Mama, Angel Baby for this great feature!

You can find other great pregnancy, birth and baby products at Earth Mama, Angel Baby Organics’ website.

AND NOW . . . . WE HAVE A GIVEAWAY!!!!!!

But not here!  Hee hee!  You have to go over to my other blog – Just Our Thoughts for a giveaway of a box of tea of the winner’s choice.

OPEN TO: US and Canadian residents.

Earth Mama Angel Baby is the only complete line of safe, zero toxin, hospital recommended, honestly organic and natural herbal products, and USDA Certified 100% Organic teas, specifically formulated to support women throughout the common discomforts of childbirth, from pregnancy through labor, postpartum recovery, breastfeeding, baby care and even the loss of a baby. All of Earth Mama Angel Baby® products are made with only pure, plant based, natural, worry-free ingredients. And of course all Earth Mama Angel Baby products are rated 0 for toxins on the respected Skin Deep database. Safe for Pregnancy, Ideal for the Whole Family.

I hope you have fun entering and that the winner enjoys their tea as much as I have enjoyed mine!

Note: I received a box of this tea in exchange for my honest review.

About Tail-Wags:  “All Tail Wags products are manufactured exclusively in Canada using the finest technology including computerized cutting. Every helmet cover is carefully inspected to ensure that it meets our rigorous standards of quality. Of course, Tail Wags have been tested to ensure compliance with the new CPSIA product safety regulations. “ (from the website)

“I LOOOVVVVEEEEEEE IT!!!!!”  K said when we received the package in the mail.  The penguin was supposed to be shared between all the children that have bicycle helmets.  The helmet cover has not left K’s helmet.

 

We don’t really have any trouble getting our kids  to wear their helmets when they ride their bikes.  It’s been a rule from the start and they just accept it.  I know other parents do have an issue at times and these great covers would be an incentive for the children to wear the safety helmets.  Not only that, they are a great addition to costumes at Halloween or other dress up times in the year; I bet I have a penguin in October!!!!

Stand Out In A Crowd

Tail Wags help to increase the visibility of the wearer on the slopes, roads and skating rinks. Remember that increased visibility equals enhanced safety!

There are so many options at the website too.  I could have picked a butterfly for CJ or a princess for M or a zebra for W.  There is such a wide selection!  Something for everyone, even for a bride!  I couldn’t believe it!  I didn’t ask to find out for sure, but I am sure they would try to work with you if your child (or yourself) had a specific request that wasn’t available.

These helmet covers are fun, well made and easy to use.  I struggled only a little to get the cover on K’s helmet and that effort only leads me to believe that the cover will not come of while she is riding.  She goes really really fast!  (hee hee)

Fits All Sports Helmets

Tail Wags’ unique design fits ALL makes and models of bike, ski, snowboard, toboggan, skate and equestrian helmets, thereby, making them an ideal all year round accessory.

I guess I should just say that we really really like Tail-Wags Helmet Covers.  They are a Canadian made product with reasonable shipping and very very well-made.

NOTE: I received the product in exchange for my honest opinion.

Striving to learn and live God's purposes,

I just have to start with:

WE ABSOLUTELY LOVED IT!

My girls played probably ten rounds in the first couple of hours that I had the game out. It took them a little bit to get on to the concept as they'd never really played a game like this before.

A little more about the game:

There are four categories of animals (mammals, amphibians, reptiles and insects) and 2 x 20 of each animal. On the back of each card is some very brief information about where they live, what they eat, what color they are, their size. This information helps in asking questions to determine the other player's MVP (most valuable player).

So, K would start by asking a question like, "Is your mammal large?" C would respond with, "No." K would then take any large animal's card and drop it through the slot at the top of her stadium. Then C would take a turn. After a few questions back and forth, one of the girls would only have the MVP card on their stadium and would be the winner of that round.

By the time they stopped playing, their questions were getting more sophisticated. They weren't left to their own devises though. We had an adult friend visiting at the time too, and he got in on the action and so did their dad! It's a great game.

About the packaging:

The box is very sturdy and that is a very important thing in this house! My kids are rough on stuff! The stadiums came dissembled and in order to get everything back in the box, you have to return them to this state. I am disappointed with that. I would have liked to keep the stadiums together when we put the game together. That being said, the stadium pieces are sturdy enough to stand up to being put together and taken apart over and over again. I have not yet allowed the kids to do this task.

About the shipping:

The order arrived quickly and in great shape! I often have trouble with companies unable to find or send to my street address NOR are they able to send to a PO BOX. This has been very frustrating in the past. I don't know why and neither do they. I am guessing that because we live in the "boonies" of northern Alberta, they just can't find me. This WAS NOT the issue with CSN Stores.

Where to purchase:

One of CSN Stores many partners is All Children's Furniture. You can buy Science Stadium by Learning Resources here. To see other popular brands that All Children's Furniture sells, check out this link. I am amazed at the diversity and caliber of products and brands that have partnered with CSN Stores. I think you will be too!

Disclaimer: I received Science Stadium in exchange for my honest review.

There is nothing quite like a blog party. Have you ever participated? It's really a lot of fun, even though it can be a lot of work too. There are so many great blogs out there to visit and "meet" the authors. So, the ladies at 5 Minutes for Moms is hosting another Ultimate Blog Party. There are great giveaways and prizes. You really should meander over there and check it out! (Just click on the button above!)

But before you do, make sure to browse around here and get to know us a little better. We have mini-profiles on the sidebars. And we'd love it if you would check out our personal blogs as well. There are a couple of us that are participating in the UBP'10 personally. We'd love for you to come by for a visit. Here are some easy links to our blogs:

Christi can be found at Polka Spot Farm.

Kim can be found at Cheapskatechatter and Mom's Paycheck (very much under construction).

Christy can be found at Shake The Salt, Savvy Frugalistas and Florida Fun Reviews.

Stephanie's blog is not very active right now, but you can find it at Momma's Untwisting.

Tammy blogs at Pink Stinx.

My blog is Just Our Thoughts.

Cathy doesn't blog other than here but we are working on her.

Anyway, have fun at the party! Don't forget to leave a comment so we know you were here and if you so choose you could follow us too! We'd love it!

When I received a couple of books by Ellen F. Feld, I was excited to see that they would be perfect for my horse loving daughter and her horse loving friend. I gave Rimfire: The Barrel Racing Morgan Horse to V.G. to read and to tell me how much she loved it, or didn't. As it turns out, V.G. (age 10) really enjoyed the book. Here's what she had to say:

I really enjoyed the book. Very interesting, however, because I have a horse when I read about horses it’s not the same as having and doing things with my horse. I would rather spend time with my horse than spend time reading about a horse. This might be different if I wanted to learn a specific skill. In that case I would choose a non-fiction book over a novel.

I liked that it talked about barrel racing. I learned that you have to tuck your shirt in and not to wear a belt because it hooks on the horn. I also learned that a barrel racer should not go really close to the barrel but be about a tire width away from the barrel.

The characters were good. They were well described. There were enough of them, but I did wish the author would have talked more about the parents and had the parents more involved.

The pictures were interesting but more pictures would be cool.

I would read the other books in the series. The one titled Robin: The Lovable Morgan Horse looks good.

Thanks, V.G. for your great review of Rimfire !

The other book I received and gave to my daughter for Christmas is called Shadow: The Curious Morgan Horse. I will be reviewing that title with my daughter in the next few days.

Disclaimer: I received a copy of these books in exchange for my honest review.

Simply Sensational Divas Review has been working a little with Sylvan Dell. I am very excited to be informed about five new ebooks just released this spring.

The stars of the 2010 Spring titles include two Pandas from Northern China, Felina the panther, a little red bat, a dog named Newton, and a host of endangered species. Each title, like every Sylvan Dell book, teaches a lesson in science or math.

* “Panda’s Great Escape” –LiLing and Tengfei, mother and cub pandas, must find a way to survive after a 7.9 earthquake rocks Northern China. Author Phyllis Perry with the help of Illustrator Susan Detwiller help teach children a lesson about natural disaster through the exciting adventures of these two pandas.

* “Felina’s New Home”- Author Loran Wlodarski and illustrator Lew Clayton expose the issue of deforestation and endangered animals with the help of Felina and her friends. Travel to the forests of Florida and follow Felina as humans disrupt her forest home.

* “Little Red Bat”- As the air turns cold, Carole Gerber’s red bat must decide whether to hibernate or migrate to warmer weather. Gerber and talented illustrator, Christina Wald, introduce the reader to a variety of animals and how they survive the winter. Read “Little Red Bat” to find out if the red bat decides to stay or go!

* “Newton and Me”- A boy and his dog Newton discover the laws of force and motion through every day activities in this story by Lynne Mayer. Mayer teams up with illustrator Sherry Rogers to teach children that the laws of physics are all around us.

* “What’s the Difference?”- Suzanne Slade teaches children the importance of caring for our endangered species while incorporating a lesson in subtraction. Her clever, rhyming verses along with Joan Waites’s colorful watercolors, celebrate our world’s precious animals while practicing math skills along the way.

These titles, as well as all other Sylvan Dell titles, feature a special “For Creative Minds” section at the end of each story. This section provides fun activities and information to enhance the book’s educational value.

What really makes these books unique is the tremendous amount of free, online educational material available for each Sylvan Dell title. Supporting material includes a 30-40 page “Teaching Activities” packet, interactive reading and math quizzes, the most technologically advanced e-Books in the world today, and much more.

The 2010 Spring Titles are available now for pre-order and will be ready to ship March 10, 2010.

Sylvan Dell's ebooks are AMAZING! I have had the opportunity to view and "play with" some of these ebooks. The pictures are beautiful. The pages turn smoothly. There is an audio option. I would be very pleased for my children to spend time reading these books. I find teaching science tough so I love that Sylvan Dell's books teach science in a fun and colorful way. My children love to read; I am so glad that they love to read. There is so much they can learn that way. The grant program is going to help with that as well! Here's a brief description of the grant program including links to get more information.

Sylvan Dell picture books are perfect for teachers, parents, homeschool associations and children to use at home and in the classroom. The entertaining stories and amazing illustrations make learning about math and science an enjoyable experience for children. Each title comes with an abundance of free, online material found on the Sylvan Dell Web site. Every title is also available as an eBook. Every eBook features auto-flip and auto-read capabilities, and English and Spanish text and audio. Sylvan Dell eBooks are great for teachers with Smartboards or projection screens. In addition, parents and children can access the same eBooks from home. Sylvan Dell is offering schools and homeschool associations free use of all 50 eBooks through its grant program.

I hope that you will check out this great resource for your home, school or library.