Wake-up to 2011 with Community Coffee! ( R+G) - 01/15

Coffee-lovers, if you haven't checked out Community Coffee, you have no idea of what you are missing! When I first tasted the delectable gourmet flavors they sent me a few months ago, my and hubby couldn't get enough of the aroma and rich taste.I was raving about their product and customer service ! ( link). No siree, it wasn't the caffeine, I really love, love all the different flavors that they have!

This 90 year old brand has truly stood up to the expectations of the customers evolving tastes, flavors  & affordability  and has given them nothing but great tasting, original coffee. Their coffee became so popular that the founder named it "Community" in honor of his loyal friends and customers.

Community Coffee has flavors to satisfy all taste buds. If you like just the pure, original coffee like my hubby, you may enjoy Ground French Roast,  Ground Kenya or Brazil Santos Bourbon. If you like to taste and like to smell sweetness in everything, like me, you may prefer the mmm..oh.so.delish..Cinnamon Roll or Pecan Praline.

I was sent a beautiful Gift Basket from their Corporate gifts section for review and yes there is a giveaway!

If you own a business and want to wish your employees for the Holiday Season or offer them a reward for a job well done, you should consider offering this " beauty with aroma and taste ". The employee's whole family will love the gift and it is always fun to give a gift that can be generously shared. You can find more details on how to order this gift basket on Community Coffee's website.

The Corporate Coffee Break Gift Basket includes:

• 12 oz Private Reserve ground Holiday Jazz, Bread Pudding and Breakfast Blend flavors.
• Holiday Tumbler
• Coffee Scoop with logo

The one I liked most was Bread Pudding. I always seemed to go for this flavor in the morning as my sweet tooth craves for a cup of this aromatic cup of coffee which leaves a lingering taste of aroma of freshly baked bread pudding swirled with cinnamon and raisins.

Hubby seemed to be always going back for more of the Holiday Jazz as he loves the original, true coffee aroma without any distractions. It is a medium-dark roasted coffee with a tropical floral aroma.In fact, he took the coffee bag with him for his trip! Just reseal it and you can carry your favorite coffee with you everywhere you go.

Sometimes we have friends over who prefer decaffeinated coffee and the Breakfast Blend is just right for a great cup of aromatic coffee! 

The coffee bags are resealable and coffee stays fresh and full of the rich aroma when sealed right back.I really like the Holiday Tumbler as it has a lock mechanism and great to keep it in a cup holder of the car or stroller. It's not meant for carrying in a bag as it is not leak-proof. Great for short walks or just snuggling on the couch with a book while you savor some refreshing coffee!

And Community Coffee can send you all the sweet deals like free shipping and great offers when you subscribe to them by email. Sign-up here!

Now, Community Coffee is giving 1 of my lucky readers the chance to win this same Corporate Coffee Break Gift Basket.

Here's how you can win it !

Mandatory Entry:

- Follow my blog on Google Friend Connect.
- Visit Community Coffee and leave a comment on which coffee is your favorite.
Extra Entries ( 1 entry each, leave separate comments):

- Like "Community Coffee" on Facebook.
- Like "Toddler Tales by Mommy" Facebook badge on my blog page ( upper right side bar)
- Become "Toddler Tales by Mommy"'s friend on Facebook.
- Follow "Community Coffee" on Twitter
- Follow "Toddler Tales by Mommy" on Twitter.
- Follow on Networked blogs.
- Become an email subscriber to receive TTByM blog updates.

This Giveaway is open to US and Canada until Jan 15, 2011.Random Generator will choose a winner and winner will be announced on Jan 16, 2011.There is no limit to the no.of times that you can win on my blog! Feel free to enter all Giveaways even if you have won before!

(Disclaimer: Thanks to Community Coffee for sending me the featured product for review purpose. I was not monetarily compensated for this review. Please note that the review was not influenced by the Sponsor in any way.All opinions expressed here are only my own.)

Winners of the Giveaway ended on 12/21

Many giveaways ended today which means more will come coming up! Yes, they are just waiting to be typed up and they will soon be ready to be entered.

Congratulations to the winners! I will be sending you all an email today.

•  T-Fal Optisteam Fabric Steamer - comment # 66 - 409cope
• Sukey's Circle - comment # 25 - star84vu
• Tropical Traditions Cream - comment #12 - MommyLovesStilettos
• Storyland Yoga - comment # 21 - Machell
• Snapware - comment # 70 - Auqakuh
•  Sommersault Snacks - comment # 16 - Niecey
• EZ Sox - comment # 11 - edmontonjb
• Super Pocoyo - comment #5 - orangeheromama
• Zonderkidz - comment # 49 -  noreen

Congratulations again and  I thank everyone who entered these giveaways.Don't be disheartened if you didn't win..there are more giveaways lined up and more yet to come. You'll never know what you will win! Keep up your hopes and remember .." you have to enter to win" !! 

Hope you all are preparing for the busy Holiday Season! Blessings to you all and you are loved!

ETA: Your prizes may or may not arrive by end of Dec 31st.Please wait for it with patience if it arrives after the holidays :)

A Social Network Christmas & The Digital Story of nativity

 My sweet brother sent me this video. Very creative!

Review: " Talk of the Farm " and a trip to the Discovery Channel Store!

There are some things that you can never get bored with..the top 1 on my list would be Discovery Channel. Even as a child, I would watch hours of programs on Discovery Channel and my parents never said a thing as they knew I was not only watching but learning at the same time. Now as a young mom, I was super-excited to discover the Discovery Store filled with wonderful toys and games for children. How the heck did I not know it before?! Blame it on the busy life of being a mommy.But it is better late than never! 

Discovery Store sent me a wonderful educational toy for my bubbly little son for review. "Talk of the Farm" is a great combination of fun and learning.

It comes with a cute , little, red musical car and a bright and colorful play mat with "Buttercup Farm". It has all the elements necessary to have farm-adventure.There are musical notes at every section of the farm.

Can't wait to see what's inside!

Musical note

 Squeeze in some batteries and you are ready to go! When the car is on top of the musical note, the voice recording says where the car is - " Hey, you are at the chicken coop!".

 Now, what makes it a great toy? It is the "car" that draws my boy towards using this toy.Little boys like to ride their cars all around home and now he can go for a ride in the farm and he gets to learn new words and about the farm animals etc. It is perfect for 18 months + and I think it can be used until the love for cars last! I think my son will play with this interactive toy until he is 3-4 yrs.After that, the play mat will make a lovely wall-hanging in a child's room..yep..I like it so much! NOT passing it on!

I hope you are as happy as I am to discover The Discovery Store. And here's the latest scoop for you Christmas shoppers! Sit right at home in the comfort of your chair and pick a real special gift from Discovery Store.Wanna know why? Go grab a cookie while I give you the sweet news! 

Discovery Store is offering 60% off on toys and free shipping ( exclusions apply, see website for more details) . Whooo-hoooo! I love super-duper deals like this and go find out those toys eligible for free shipping and get the gift wrap ready!

I was enthralled to see that every toy was chosen and had the "discovery" touch to it. I would be willing to let my son do his toy shopping at the Discovery Store as I already love the collection and know that he will be learning while playing. Moreover what a great place to begin to discover many things! Here are some that caught my eyes while browsing:

 

Adults, kids, teens, seniors - will love and enjoy products from Discovery Store as a gift! Show them the nature and the serene beauty that surrounds it through these amazing DVDs.

All products can be purchased directly from the Discovery Store.Just click!

(Disclaimer: Thanks to Discovery Channel / Discovery Store for sending me the featured products for review purpose. I was not monetarily compensated for this review. Please note that the review was not influenced by the Sponsor in any way.All opinions expressed here are only my own.)

A Holiday Gift Pack for you from Starbucks ! ( R + G ) - 12/31

Starbucks is one of the most popular brands in the market for coffee. Hmm...coffee is just not coffee. A lot can happen over coffee and a lot can happen because of coffee ( all that energy I get after I grab a cup at Starbucks!). The common denominator of all that happens over a cuppa' coffee is sharing. That's why Starbucks has introduced one of the hottest gift for this season and all kids are going love this and grow up to be great fans of Starbucks! Huxley may have nothing to do with coffee, but the Huxley mug does :)

Starbucks generously sent me the Huxley Plush Toy, Huxley Mug and a heart-warming story book -The Mouse Writer. I am honored to introduce to you the star of the gift - Huxley! You maybe wondering who Huxley is?

Huxley is an adorable, sweet and soft little mouse who has been bestowed with a special gift of writing stories with his tail. The author of the book, Ethan Johnson has beautifully written the story of Huxley who in his organized life made it a point to write stories with his tail.

Life was hard for Huxley when Tubbs the cat was around. Huxley finally grabs the attention of the family and becomes a beloved member of the family. The events that lead to it were quite eventful for Huxley, but it was all worth it! I will leave it to you to find out more! It is not just a book for kids as adults could learn a thing or two from Huxley about being organized and recording events or keeping to-do lists?

I honestly couldn't put the book down once I started and had to read it to know the happy, sweet ending. So snuggle up on your couch this Christmas, with this book and a cup hot chocolate and enjoy!

Don't forget to read an interview with the author, Ethan Johnson, here!

My son has fallen in love with Huxley and it has become his dear companion. It is small and cuddly to be carried around. Huxley received a warm welcome in my home with a sweet kiss from son ( and I kissed it too when nobody was looking! Was too cute!).

Everything and anything, Huxley is cute! This Huxley mug is my son's mug now and it has little Huxley perched on top of the handle and totally adorable!

Buy it:

The Huxley Writer Mug, Huxley Mouse Plush and Cocoa Trio are not available for purchase online but are still available in Starbucks company-operated locations in the U.S. and Canada while supplies last. The Huxley Mouse Writer Book is only available in Starbucks stores in the U.S..

Win it :

Starbucks is giving 1 of my lucky readers a chance to win:

•  1 Huxley Plush Toy
• 1 The Mouse Writer - A Book by Ethan Johnson. 
• 1 Cocoa Trio ( Classic Hot Cocoa with dark chocolate shavings, Peppermint Cocoa with all natural peppermint pieces and milk chocolate shavings, and Toasted Marshmallow with all natural
  marshmallows, each a delightful taste of the season)

Here's how you can win it:

Mandatory Entry:

• Follow my blog on GFC .

Additional entries ( 1 entry each, leave a comment)

• Fan Starbucks on Facebook. 
• Like "Toddler Tales by Mommy" Facebook badge on my blog page ( upper right side bar)
• Become "Toddler Tales by Mommy"'s friend on Facebook.
• Follow Starbucks  on Twitter .
• Follow "Toddler Tales by Mommy" on Twitter.
• Follow on Networked blogs
• Become an email subscriber

This Giveaway is open to US & Canada until Dec 31, 2010.Random Generator will choose a winner and will be announced on Jan 3, 2011.

 

(Disclaimer: Thanks to Starbucks and the PR company  for sending me the featured products for review purpose. I was not monetarily compensated for this review. Please note that the review was not influenced by the Sponsor in any way.All opinions expressed here are only my own.)

Interwiew with Ethan Johnson - Author of The Mouse Writer

Today, I am honored to share a blog interview with Ethan Johnson. Please welcome Ethan Johnson, Starbucks partner and author of The Mouse Writer.

Make sure you read my review of The Mouse Writer and enter to win a copy for yourself!

 What inspired you to write, The Mouse Writer?
 

I took inspiration from Starbucks Holiday theme: Stories are gifts. Share. It’s all about how getting together and reconnecting is what makes the holidays special and memorable. And sharing stories over coffee is something Starbucks has helped people do since the beginning. So I wanted to create a story that would bring this theme to life for the younger people who come to our stores. I also like the fact that sharing happens naturally when you read to a child.

The challenge was I didn’t want to simply write another book about sharing. There are a gazillion of them out there already. I wanted to create an original story with a character that was unique. I started with a list of animals and gave them special skills. When I jotted down the idea of a mouse that could write with his tail, it struck me as something really fresh and interesting. I thought, what if he wrote stories and never shared them. And then the story just started pouring out of me.

 

What made you decide on "Huxley" as the name for the star of your story?
 

I thought it was a great name for a mouse who’s a little bookish and smart, but also a little naïve and innocent. I wanted a name that was unusual and adorable. Huxley was the perfect fit.

 I came to know that Starbucks partners (employees) have contributed to this story. Can you tell us a little bit about how the story was put together ?

That’s true. Many partners helped develop the story and the character of Huxley. While I was drafting the story, a team of designers and Starbucks merchandising management team, were simultaneously developing the physical book and a line of collectibles to feature along with it. Starbucks goes a long way to offer exclusive items you can’t find anywhere else, and the Huxley collection made for unique and affordable holiday gifts. A Starbucks Senior Designer was the first to sketch Huxley for the plush toy, and the character still looks a lot like that, minus the glasses which we felt would be a choking hazard. Our team met regularly, adding ideas to her sketch and reviewing samples from plush suppliers. We chose the fabric, the type of tail, the clothes, everything really, so that the plush would reflect the character in the book and convey Huxley’s personality. I was really happy with how it all came together. After the story was complete, we brought in a freelance illustrator who had once been a designer at Starbucks, to illustrate the book. We loved his pen and ink artwork and knew it would fit perfectly with a mouse that writes by dipping his tail in ink. He actually dipped a pen in ink for every drawing in the book, as well as Huxley’s notes. He did a great job of bringing Huxley and all the characters to life. I must also mention the stellar editorial help I received from a Starbucks copyeditor/proofreader, and our freelance copyeditor/proofreader. Kudos to our designer and prepress designer as well.

The Mouse Writer, is about the writing ability and how much enjoyable it is to write. Does the story's background have anything to do with you as a writer and how much you enjoy it?

Absolutely. Writing children’s books is a passion I discovered years ago while teaching kindergarten. My students’ daily requests for me to tell them a story (by that I mean make one up on the spot) caused me to fall in love with it, writing for children. My father, an English professor and novelist, had an impression on me too, as I grew up with a writer in the house. I studied fiction in college and later became a professional advertising writer. I now write for a living and for pleasure. I hope this story causes kids to pick up a pen or a laptop and write stories of their own. It’s already caused my four year old son to write several stories. Some of which he dictates to me, others he actually writes himself (Way to go, Alec.). Okay, I’m gushing, aren’t I?

The Mouse Writer, is a very heart-warming story of Huxley and is sure to be enjoyed by children and adults. Do you have any other stories in the making?

Yes, I’m working on a novel for kids that I think parents will love too. It’s called with “The Boy Who Danced Monsters”. I’ve also written several children’s books, including a few with Thad Tichenor, my long-time collaborator and art director partner from my advertising agency days. Our story “The Outrageous Story of Hefferton an Cluckingburg” won first place (picture book) in the Pacific Northwest Writers Association’s annual contest. We’re currently seeking a publisher for that and other stories. I’ve uploaded a few of them on my blog: http://seriouslytwistedstories.blogspot.com. I have an adult novel in the works as well.

What are some of your favorite books? 

I am a huge fan of Roald Dahl. His books and voice are simply wonderful. I love his blend of humor, adventure, and wickedness. “The Witches”, “The BFG”, “Matilda”, and “Charlie and the Chocolate Factory” are some of my favorites. I also love Charles Dickens, especially his novel, “David Copperfield”. Dickens’ hero, an ordinary child surrounded by uncaring and unsympathetic adults, left an impression on me and I can see its influence in “Harry Potter” by J.K. Rowling, all of Roald Dahl’s work, and “A Series of Unfortunate Events” by Lemony Snicket. I adore the work of Mark Twain and how he weaves together humor, adventure, and a little scariness. Hans Christian Andersen’s “The Little Mermaid” and J.M. Barrie’s “Peter Pan” are amazing as well, timeless characters, rich stories wonderfully written. I love when the voice of the storyteller is just as interesting as the tale. The writers I’ve mentioned have shown how well a story can be told and have inspired me to strive to do the same.

Do you like mice and do you have one for a pet?

If my son had his way, we’d have a dozen mice for pets. I, however, prefer them in stories, especially holiday stories, ala The Night Before Christmas, “not a creature was stirring, not even a mouse.” 

Thank you so much Ethan,for stopping by.  I had so much fun knowing more about you and your work and I am sure my readers will feel the same ! We hope to read and enjoy more of your stories.Keep them coming!

Visit Ethan's blog at Seriously Twisted Stories. 

If you haven’t read The Mouse Writer yet, I’d highly recommend you do and it makes a warm-gift straight from your favorite Starbucks!

Fogless Shower Mirror...truly fogless! R+G ( 1/07)

The Fogless Shower Mirror is true to its name. I initially thought that it may start getting foggy after a few days.But, NO! It is truly a fogless mirror. It all made sense to me after knowing what makes it a fogless shower mirror.

So, what is the concept behind the "fogless" mirror?

It is a simple, yet an effective method - Fill the mirror’s reservoir with hot water from your shower head. The water neutralizes the mirror and air temperature to eliminate fogging.The science behind the concept will not cease to function and hence you continue to enjoy a fogless shower mirror!

Some the great and highly practical features:

• Mirror conveniently detaches so reservoir is easy to fill.
• Soft silicone adheres to many wall surfaces. It is strong, easy to remove, and will not damage tiles or other surfaces!
• Frame pivot allows the mirror to be adjusted, accommodating multiple users and angles.
• Place your razor, sponge or tweezers on a convenient shelf so they are always accessible.
• Self-stored squeegee included to wipe away water drops
• Durable, acrylic mirror will not rust, discolor or damage bathroom tiles

I love the fact that the mirror can be adjusted to the height of multiple users..makes it everyone's favorite! Now I can take a closer look at my face while I am in the shower instead of jumping in and out of the bathtub to take a peek in the mirror.The squeegee is great to quickly wipe away the water drops that get splashed onto it.Men will love this as they can shave right in the shower and the sink will require one less cleaning!

You can buy this Fogless Shower Mirror from Amazon.ca or Amazon.com for $29.95.

Win it 

1 lucky reader will have the chance to win 1 Fogless Shower Mirror, right here on my blog!

Here's how you can win it:

Mandatory Entry:

• Follow my blog on GFC .

Additional entries ( 1 entry each, leave a comment)

• Fan ToiletTree Products on Facebook. 
• Like "Toddler Tales by Mommy" Facebook badge on my blog page ( upper right side bar)
• Become "Toddler Tales by Mommy"'s friend on Facebook.
• Follow ToiletTree  on Twitter .
• Follow "Toddler Tales by Mommy" on Twitter.
• Follow on Networked blogs
• Become an email subscriber

This Giveaway is open to US & Canada until Jan 7, 2011.Random Generator will choose a winner and will be announced on Jan 8, 2011.

 

(Disclaimer: Thanks to ToiletTree Products  for sending me the featured products for review purpose. I was not monetarily compensated for this review. Please note that the review was not influenced by the Sponsor in any way.All opinions expressed here are only my own.)

Review: Costume Supercenter

I love to dress-up my little boy in clothes that truly reflect his bubbly personality. Call me snobbish, but its hard for me to comprise on that.And, my camera is always charged and within an arm's reach to capture those moments. I am not a fan of dressing up my son in costumes for occasions but I do love to take portraits of him in costumes in plain backgrounds or natural settings. I am blooming slowly into  a photographer and a graphic designer and so is my love for costumes!

Costumes when rightly picked make great pictures and with a smile, voila, there's is a great portrait! If you had read my previous post of Wholesale Costume Club, you would know what an amazing place it is to shop for costumes. I was offered the opportunity to review a ribbity, ribbity, cute costume from Costume Supercenter, which is a sister brand of Wholesale Costume Club.

Did you guess from the ribbity-ribbity what costume I chose? Ta-daaaah! It's the Little Frog Costume ! Isn't it sincerely adorable?

When it arrived, it looked just like it is in the picture. Great quality and a very plushy, soft feel. My son is too busy to sit still for a nice photograph, so I decided to use the photo from the website. I am dreaming of taking a picture of my son in the fall season, beneath a tree covered with orange leaves . The little frogie will be bright and bold with the dark leaf green! I love the color combination. The size will fit a 2 - 4 yr old, though you may have to wear bulky pants and maybe 2 t-shirts to give it the look of nice, chubby looking frog.

If you have a toddler and would love to take some Christmas pictures, you might want to consider one of these from the Infant & Toddler section.

Be it a party, school drama or a photo shoot, check out Costume Super Center for all your costume needs!

(Disclaimer: Thanks to Costume Supercenter for sending me the featured product for review purpose. I was not monetarily compensated for this review. Please note that the review was not influenced by the Sponsor in any way.All opinions expressed here are only my own.)

Book Review: Unto the Hills - A Daily Devotional by Billy Graham

I chose to review this book from Thomas Nelson because a daily devotional is a great tool for Bible reading through out the year. I have read many of Billy Graham's writings and heard him speak many times and I have been blessed each time. I am happy to have this to begin the New year pretty soon.

Each of the 365 daily readings in this inspiring collection offers a carefully chosen passage of scripture, a brief, thoughtful message from Dr. Graham, and a heartfelt prayer composed especially for this book. Distilled from a lifetime of study and ministry, these devotionals supply daily food for thought about living fruitfully and joyfully in an often fretful world.

The foreword page is very inspiring to read. Dr.Graham mentions that as much as all of us love to spend time on the serene mountain tops, we are also called to the valley experiences to reach out to the lost.Our help always comes from the Lord who created the mountains and the valleys.

Every day has a verse and 2-3 paragraphs of reading rich with a message that will speak to the heart and help meditate on the verse. It ends with a small prayer - I really like it. There have been days when I feel so overwhelmed with my requests to God that I don't know where to start. The short and powerful prayers in my daily devotional have helped me to connect with God in prayer.

I like to read a devotional every year written by a different author, simply to gain and understand the scriptures from different people of God, who prayerfully pen down every word. I am eager to know all that God has to say to me this year through this devotional. Or even, if God leads me to bless a friend in need who would be blessed with this, I will make it a lovely gift that will be remembered daily.

Buy it from Thomas Nelson for $14.99.

• Follow Thomas Nelson on Twitter.
• Fan Thomas Nelson on Facebook.

( Disclaimer: Thanks to Thomas Nelson Publishers, I received a free advanced reading copy of this book as part of their book review bloggers program. I was not monetarily compensated for this review. Please note that the review was not influenced by the Sponsor in any way.All opinions expressed here are only my own.)

Kidorable is adorable ! R+G - 1/07

I am very jealous of all the cute and stylish products that Kidorable has for kids! Seriously, if they had all the lovely colored umbrellas and hats and scarves in adult size, you would see me sporting them proudly. Kidorable had made their products so impressive to children that parents will have zero trouble in making the child wear it. Your child will ask to wear the raincoat and the shoes. Their little clients are very happy with Kidorable and love to wear their products!

 I had the opportunity to review this Fireman Rain Coat for my little "anything fireman / firetruck" fan and oh! you should have seen how excited he was to wear it. He wore it all day and played and ate in it! Refused to take it off as he loved the look the raincoat gave him - a fireman, his dream role!

It is very easy to put it on by himself and he could even put on the little belts easily. I will have no trouble in making him wear it during rainy days. Wish they made winter jackets the same way and it will be so easy to make him get into it!

All styles are PVC with a comfortable polyester lining.All coats now come with a FREE matching Kidorable hanger.

Kidorable has a beautiful collection of products for children and they come in strikingly smart colours and designs.You can also buy gift certificates for that special little muchkin! Take a look at their collection! From Umbrellas through backpacks & scarves to bookends..adorable and it can't get cuter than this. They have oh so lovely items for babies!

You can buy these products from Kidorable website.

Kidorable is giving 1 of my lucky readers an opportunity to win an umbrella of your choice, right here on my blog!

Mandatory Entry:

• Follow my blog on GFC and tell me which umbrella you'd like to win! ( 1 entry)

Additional entries ( 1 entry each, leave a comment)

• Fan Kidorable on Facebook. 
• Like "Toddler Tales by Mommy" Facebook badge on my blog page ( upper right side bar)
• Become "Toddler Tales by Mommy"'s friend on Facebook.
• Follow Kidorablen on Twitter .
• You may tweet once - RT @TTByM 12/21 Enter to #win a  #Kidorable #umbrella  http://tinyurl.com/27ov2qv #giveaway
• Follow "Toddler Tales by Mommy" on Twitter.
• Follow on Networked blogs
• Become an email subscriber

This Giveaway is open to US & Canada until Jan 7, 2011.Random Generator will choose a winner and will be announced on Jan 8, 2011.

 

(Disclaimer: Thanks to Kidorable  for sending me the featured products for review purpose. I was not monetarily compensated for this review. Please note that the review was not influenced by the Sponsor in any way.All opinions expressed here are only my own.)

From Zonderkidz, just in time for Christmas! R+G - 12/21

My first reading experience with Zonderkidz was when Uncle P gifted my son a Beginners Bible from Zonderkidz.I was more excited than my little boy as it was a pleasure to read such a lovely little Bible. I liked it so much that I shared it with all of you ( link). Zondervan has a wonderful collection of books for children and it's called Zonderkidz as a section dedicated to children.I adore the Zonderkidz collection and hope to feature more reviews in the future.

I was excited to receive a box filled with books from Zonderkidz. We already read some of it for bedtime today and my little book worm loves them! I will be posting first about the Christmas books so that you have them by Christmas!

This Christmas wrap these books beautifully and let your children discover some special Christmas stories!

Stan and Jan Berenstain introduced the first Berenstain Bear books in 1962 and almost 40+ years now..they are as adorable as they were and still continue to teach children about the life values and story illustrations for scriptures. For little minds, it is a wonderful way to understand the meaning of the verses. In this edition, while participating in the yearly Christmas play at church, Brother and Sister Bear learn that it is better to give than to receive. Brother and Sister Bear learn this valuable lesson on the stage when they see what God gave us out of His love for us..a truly heart warming story for a little child!

Christmas time spells gifts for every child and this book will help them understand how joyful it is to give! Though my toddler is still in the stage of "my, my, mine", reading this story as he grows will help him experience the joy of giving ! 

Ages 4-7

This colourful and sparkly book written by Dandi Daley and brilliantly illustrated by Michle Noiset is about a lucky little boy who gets to celebrate Christmas in 17 different states from Alaska to Maine.My son loved the sound of this book ( not because mommy reads in an animated voice!) because of the rhyming words used throughout this book.

"... A choir of one hundred or possibly more,

I never got chills just from singing before."

When he finally gets home, he realizes what Christmas is all about and thinks about the Saviour who is the true meaning of Christmas.

Ages 6-9

This book made me laugh! It is a really funny story about the 3 wise men and I am still giggling as I write about them.While I liked the way Mike Thaler has compiled the story of the wisemen's journey to see Baby Jesus, I wasn't sure if the pictures like a comic strip does justice to the hilarious story. Maybe a 9 yr old will understand the comic strip sequence and laugh along. But this will be an unforgettable Christmas story that your child would like to hear over and over again.

The I CAN READ series from Zonderkidz is a treasure chest of 120 books for  different levels of reading.

This is a great Christmas story that you can read to your child and encourage him/her to read along. The page is filled with a big picture against a white background and just 3 well spaced lines in every page. I recently started Dr.Seuss young readers collection for my son. When this book arrived, I am happy to have him listen to the greatest story ever told! I wish the illustrations were more simpler and the angels didn't look like transformers!

Ages 4-7

What better present than a Storybook Bible for Christmas?! This Storybook Bible is written by world-renowned Nobel Peace Prize Winner Archbishop Desmond Tutu with global appeal.He is known for his great love for children as well as his powerful and profound understanding of the message of Jesus Christ.Every story shows how God works through history and ends with a short prayer, which personalizes the message for each reader's own life.

This is a global Chldren's Bible - artists from all over the world were invited to illustrate the stories using their artistic talents.It makes every story a unique piece with their art exhibited from different cultural backgrounds. The English is simple and suitable for a child and the stories are short and don't run for more than 1 or 2 pages. It's truly a special Christmas gift!

Buy it ( All these books are very affordable!) :

• The Berenstain Bears and the Joy of Giving - $2.99
• 17 Christmases - $16.99
• The Three Wise Guys - $4.99
• Jesus, God’s Great Gift - $3.99
• Children of God - Storybook Bible - $18.99

Win it !

1 lucky reader will have the opportunity to win the following 5 books!

• The Berenstain Bears and the Joy of Giving
• 17 Christmases
• The Three Wise Guys
• Jesus, God’s Great Gift
• Children of God - Storybook Bible

Mandatory Entry:

• Follow my blog on GFC and tell me which book your child will enjoy the most! ( 1 entry)

Additional entries ( 1 entry each, leave a comment)

• Fan Zondervan on Facebook. 
• Like "Toddler Tales by Mommy" Facebook badge on my blog page ( upper right side bar)
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• You may tweet once daily - RT @TTByM 12/21 Enter to #win a  #Zonderkidz #prize pack  http://tinyurl.com/2etm3yk #giveaway # christian #children
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This Giveaway is open to US & Canada until Dec 21, 2010.Random Generator will choose a winner and will be announced on Dec 22, 2010.

 

(Disclaimer: Thanks to Zonderkidz  for sending me the featured products for review purpose. I was not monetarily compensated for this review. Please note that the review was not influenced by the Sponsor in any way.All opinions expressed here are only my own.)