Book Review: "Charlie and Trike in the Grand Canyon Adventure"

Charlie and Trike in the Grand Canyon Adventure (by Ken Ham with Karen Hansel) is the first in a new collection, The Green Notebook Series. Published by Master Books, this is a delightful read for a parent and the child.

I have never come across a book like this...it is a flavorful combination of Geography , Science, God, the Bible and adventurous fun !

Charlie, the little monkey goes to grand Canyon with his wisdom packed dinosaur Trike. Charlie is intrigued by the presence of fossils on sea creatures on top of the Grand Canyon. It leads to his questions about the flood during Noah's time and about the Bible. Trike answers Charlies's questions with reference from the Bible and tells Charlie about the importance of trusting God.Trike is sure to be loved by all the kids as he is wise and loving, sort of like a wise friend or companion who's always there to answer you and lead you in truth. Talk about leading by example!

This book is big (11.7 x 9.7 x 0.8 inches ) and has an excellent quality hardcover. I love the visual appearance and so did my son! On the inside, you'll find little flap books with maps of the Grand Canyon, Charlie's Green notebook with treasured notes and a lovely poster of Charlie and Trike to post on your child's wall. Excellently put together for little minds!

We've been reading this book at bed time for my 2 yr old and he listens very carefully as the big size of the book and the colorful pages, keep his attention! He has even learned the names of the character.

I really look forward to more of the The Green Notebook Series as they seem to have decoded the way to teach children about the Creator and the creations.

You can buy this at :
- Amazon for $12.47
- Barnes and Noble for $11.51

( Disclaimer: I was sent a review copy of this book. I was not compensated monetarily for this review. All opinions expressed here are my own)

Book Review: " The boy who came back from heaven " by Kevin Malarkey

This is a true story about a father and his six-year old son Alex, who were victims of a tragic accident.According to the doctors, Alex had no chances of survival.But God different plans for this family who were living through the hardest time of their lives.Alex had gone to be with Jesus, but only for a while.After 2 months of coma, Alex wakes up to tell the most incredible journey he had right from the moment of the accident. It is heart-warming to know from a child about God's protection and how true heaven is.In simple words, Alex tells us about heaven, his meetings with Jesus and his heavenly tour.

On the flip side, this story reflects a father's love and how the feelings of guilt that enters the channel of forgiveness and then becomes a challenging testimony. I cannot imagine this happening to anyone and the thought of seeing a child, lifeless for 2 months is something beyond any imagination. But this story is so real in the way it is written that in my heart i was hoping and my heart rose in prayers for Alex and his family.

Meaningful insights on life after death and a glimpse of heaven through the eyes of a six-year old...worth reading every page!

You can buy it on Amazon and Barnes and Noble websites.

( Disclaimer: I was sent a review copy of this book. I was not compensated monetarily for this review. All opinions expressed here are my own)

Squinkies : Surprize Inside

Squinkies are a themed collectible figures that come in little bubbles that can be opened.These are not only cute to look with girlish colors but also soft to touch and bend.Squishy, squashy and adorable for any little girl.They are very tiny little collectibles and not meant for children under 3 yrs of age. Animals and cute little girls are what you'd find in the little bubbles.

Squinkies has various play sets available for your little one. It will be more fun to use Squinkies with the play sets. Squinkies are meant to be more for girls as their color and character appeal to girls' tastes.

I don't have a daughter but my son may like to collect the animals. But he's too small to handle these tiny figures, so i will hold on to them. If i have a daughter, will i buy Squinkies for my daughter? Perhaps not.

I find them way too small to hold or to even look at.Yes they are cute to look, but they are hard to look! I like the color combination and the features in the figures, i think they'd be a lot better if only they were a little big! The nicely shaped dolls will stand out to me if they were bigger in size. Children can learn, think better if they can see better ! I would be tired of loosing them due to their extremely miniature size and will not buy them again as it has a tendency of getting lost quicker.

I also think that the little plastic bubble for each Squinkies doll is way too much plastic for fun. These bubbles will be ignored or lost once the doll is out for play, so why put so much plastic and pollute the environment? Can there be an alternate way to pack these dolls in a attractive and eco-friendly manner ? I think it could be done by using a recyclable, transparent material that will still reveal the colors of the dolls. I am trying to be environment friendly and also teaching my son the same.

With some alteration is size and eliminating the use of excess plastic, Squinkies can not only be a child's best friend but for the " buck " spending parent and most importantly for the environment!

You can find Squinkies on Facebook and Twitter.

( Disclaimer: Thanks to Squinkies, I received a pack containing 16 squinkie characters & containers from Squinkies for the purpose of review.All opinions expressed here are my own)

Keep learning tall with Ebeanstalk !

Pam-pa-ra-pa-ram ! Good news to all Moms and Children !! In case you haven't heard of this online store bubbling over with fun learning toys, then go on and lend me an ear . Will ya?

Ebeanstalk is an online store selling educational toys for newborn to 12 yrs of age. Ebeanstalk team looked at over 10,000 developmental toys (yes, 10,000) from well-known manufacturers around the world and narrowed the list down to the 600 best learning toys. Each toy on eBeanstalk is carefully selected, tested and approved and comes with the eBeanstalk Seal of Approval. I love and appreciate this tremendous effort put into careful selection of toys for children.



Child experts hand select only the best learning toys, so not only is it easy to find age appropriate toys, but you can be reassured that they are great for a baby's development too!

Before i dive into why i love Ebeanstalk, here's some food for thought from Dr.David Steinberg :

• In the first three years of life the brain rapidly forms connections between brain cells, and ultimately a single cell can connect with as many as 15,000 other cells.

• By three months babies' brains are burning up an increasing amount of glucose. Between age 4 and 9 a child's brain actually becomes twice as active as an adult brain. This activity remains at twice the level of an adult until the child reaches the age of nine or ten.

• The parts of the brain that are stimulated and used will develop and those that are not used will be lost. It's the baby's early experiences that determine which connections are kept and which don't survive. It is theorized that when a connection is used it becomes permanent, but when it is not used it is unlikely to survive.

• Between the ages of 8 months and 3 years a child's language comprehension and strategies become more sophisticated.
  

• The absence of experiences that will stimulate the brain during critical periods can have a lasting impact. Critical periods are times when the brain is most ripe for the learning and acquisition of new skills.

The best feature of Ebeanstalk is that you can sail through your shopping experience smoothly as the toys are categorized based on age. Even if your child is 2 yrs and 6 months, the right toy is identified just for his/her age! If you look at the toys carefully, you will find that it will stimulate your child to think while playing. Worth the money for our pocket and worth the time for the child! Check out their Grow & Learn Series. I think it is a great idea!

Have you ever needed to find perfect baby gifts, but weren't quite sure where to look? Search no further. 

Have an energetic toddler and want to keep him/her busy while engaging their minds constructively?All you have to do is head on over to ebeanstalk and search for toddler toys! 

I think i have already decided on my son's christmas gift - The Doctor Kit .



oh wait i like the Melody Express Musical Train and the Parking Garage too!

































I 'll take my time to decide :) I know it will be a good one. And a Happy Shopping to you!

( Disclaimer: I have not received any products for review nor have I been monetarily compensated for this post. )

The Penguins of Madagascar: Review & Giveaway 9/30

If you are a fan of these madcap pack of Penguins, i betcha you will love this new edition!

The 2 newly released titles are: Happy Julien Day and New to the Zoo

I had the opportunity to review "New to the Zoo".

The Penguins are reporting back for duty and this time they're bringing along a few new friends. New to the Zoo showcases eight episodes that each introduces a new character to the zoo.Meet Frankie the pigeon, Salvio the boa constrictor, the Red Squirrel, Jiggles, Max the Cat and more new zoosters!

My little boy had fun watching different characters come to life with each new episode. This is something that the entire family can watch and laugh. I enjoyed "Untouchable" the most! It is about a tiny frog with a nasty attitude who moves into the zoo and starts bossing around other animals..Julien is the one who usually bosses around but he has competition to deal with! It was hilarious and clean fun to watch this movie after a long day at work.

We plan to play it with French sub-titles to brush up my français. What a fun away to get familiar with other languages! This DVD runs for 88 mins and has English, French and Spanish sub-titles.

If you are planning a family movie night, one of these 2 titles could be your pick! This lively bunch of zoo members are sure to tickle your funny bone!

Buy "New to the Zoo" from Amazon for $14.99 / "Happy Julien Day" from Amazon for $15.49

Or,

You can win 1 copy of The Penguins of Madagascar: Happy Julien Day DVD, right here on my blog.

Here's how you can win it:

Mandatory entry:

- Follow "Toddler Tales by Mommy" on GFC

Extra Entries ( 1 entry each, leave separate comments):

- Follow "Toddler Tales by Mommy" on Twitter
- Follow "Toddler Tales by Mommy" on Facebook
- Follow "Toddler Tales by Mommy" on Networked blogs
- Enter my other giveaways and leave a comment on which one you entered.
- Become an email subscriber

This Giveaway is open to US & Canadian residents until Sep 30, 2010.Random Generator will choose a winner and winner will be announced on Oct 1, 2010.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 Paramount Home Entertainment for sending me the featured product for review . 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.)

Word Up, It's WordGirl ! DVD Giveaway - 9/30

WORDGIRL: TRICKS & TREATS arrives from Scholastic Media, PBS KIDS and Paramount Home Entertainment with 8 action-packed adventures!

My son has switched from Spiderman to WordGirl after watching this DVD! This is a very good educational tool for kids to learn new vocabulary in a creatively illustrated manner. I am very happy to introduce such educational dvd's to my child at a young age as it does something more to the brain than just being visually appealing. A child is never too young to watch educational DVDs!

WordGirl enriches vocabulary skills, fosters better reading comprehension and instills a love of language in all children.In this edition, WordGirl and her sidekick Captain Huggy Face take down quirky villains in every action-packed episode. It introduces 16 new vocabulary words and reinforces their meanings in a variety of fun and interesting contexts.

The WordGirl television series has received the 2008 Emmy Award fro Best Writing in Animation, is a recipient of the Television Critics Association Award for Outstanding Achievement in Children's Programming and a Parents' Choice Award.

I encourage you to buy a copy of this DVD for your child !

Buy it from Amazon for $13.49

Or,

You can win 1 copy of WORDGIRL: TRICKS & TREATS DVD, right here on my blog.

Here's how you can win it:

Mandatory entry:

- Follow "Toddler Tales by Mommy" on GFC

Extra Entries ( 1 entry each, leave separate comments):

- Follow "Toddler Tales by Mommy" on Twitter
- Follow "Toddler Tales by Mommy" on Facebook
- Follow "Toddler Tales by Mommy" on Networked blogs
- Enter my other giveaways and leave a comment on which one you entered.
- Become an email subscriber

This Giveaway is open to US & Canadian residents until Sep 30, 2010.Random Generator will choose a winner and winner will be announced on Oct 1, 2010.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 Paramount Home Entertainment for sending me the featured product for review . 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.)

Dr. Seuss : Wings & Things DVD Giveaway 9/20

Welcome to Seussville! Starting September, a brand new series will be out on on DVD and will also air on PBS Kids ! This new series star’s Martin Short as the voice of Cat.

Ready to go an adventure with Sally, Nick and Cat in the Hat? Get aboard and discover new things that will tickle and stimulate your mind! Stories featured are:

Show me the Honey - Meet Her Majesty and learn about where the yummy honey comes from!

Migration Vacation - Take a Migration vacation with Melvin !Discover why birds fly away to a different place for some seasons.

I love the Nightlife - Venture out at night with nocturnal friends who sleep during the day!

Oh Give Me a Home - Visit the peachy beach, dive underwater and help Tucker find a new home!

Many Ants Make Light Work - Get introduced to a zillion busy and tiny friends and learn about team work and don't step on 'em !

My son has enjoyed watching this DVD and kids will never get tired of learning in this style.Learning about new things is always fun with Cat in the Hat. My family enjoyed it too! I absolutely admire the choices made in this animation. What better example than ants to learn about teamwork! The Cat in the Hat definitely knows a lot about these these things..he will always be there when you are curious to know about something!

Your child deserves to watch these beautiful series!

Buy it from Amazon for $11.49 .

or Ta-Daaaaah ! You can win 1 copy of Dr. Seuss : Wings & Things DVD, right here on my blog.

Here's how you can win it:

Mandatory entry:

- Follow "Toddler Tales by Mommy" on GFC

Extra Entries ( 2 entries each, leave separate comments):

- Follow "Toddler Tales by Mommy" on Twitter
- Follow "Toddler Tales by Mommy" on Facebook
- Follow "Toddler Tales by Mommy" on Networked blogs
- Enter my other giveaways and leave a comment on which one you entered.
- Become an email subscriber

This Giveaway is open to US & Canadian residents until Sep 20, 2010.Random Generator will choose a winner and winner will be announced on Sep 21, 2010.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 NCircle Entertainment 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.)

BPA free Easy Lunch Boxes - 9/20

Rewind...

Mix a few things from the fridge and throw in a spoonful of this and a dash of that...toss the plastic box in my bag only to open my lunch box at lunch to find my hurriedly mixed lunch just got all swished up.This is all i can think of when "lunch to office" comes to my mind.

Fast Forward...
A whole wheat bread sandwich, vegetables and nuts. I can actually take 3 individual items for lunch without mixing them up! Different food groups in 1 meal without having to worry about using and loosing the plastic bags..i think this is not just awesome but THIS IS THE BEST WAY TO EAT! This is the Bento Lunch Box System / Easy Lunch Boxes!


KELLY LESTER is the inventor of this neat system and coined the term " EasyLunch Boxes" for her product.Kelly decided to make packing lunches a "green experience" by this product that is reusable and hence avoiding the use of plastics for different lunch items. Easy Lunch Boxes have 3 spacious compartments ( 9.38" x 6.1" x 2") and firm lids. Each pack comes with 4 boxes.

As i thought taking my lunch without mixing it all was luxury, i couldn't believe my eyes when i saw all that space in the cooler bag , good enough to build a condo inside! There was room to place a bottle of water or drink, a fruit, yogurt and a thermos inside the cooler bag AFTER placing the lunch box! The cooler bag is made of high quality, non toxic material and is insulated and vinyl-free. Washable too!


I am so excited to have found this and i can have a healthy, variety lunch EVERY single day!

I was anxious to find out if it was BPA free and yes! they are :) I was relieved and since it's BPA free, it makes it very suitable for kids to be able to use it.
-The Lunch Boxes are safe for refrigerator, freezer, microwave & dishwasher.
- Made of non-toxic, food safe polypropylene, BPA, PVC & phthalate free.

These highly practical Lunch Boxes come is 5 stylish colors. It was love at first-sight for me with this Olive beauty !


Take it to work, pack lunches for your kids, pack-a-picnic lunch or just take snacks for on-the go. Your food inside will be fresh and cool till you take a bite! If you are on a diet, this lunch box will certainly help you eat healthy towards a positive lifestyle.

Here's the punch line to seal the deal: Product Safety Report

If you want to be a part of this Lunch Box experience:

Buy it from EasyLunch Boxes

- 4 container set for $13.95
- Cooler Bag for $7.95

A healthy, green deal!

Easy Lunch Boxes is giving one lucky winner a chance to win a 4 container set + a cooler bag on right here on my blog! Winner gets to choose their favorite colour!

Mandatory Entry ( Leave a comment for each) :

- Visit Easy Lunch Boxes and tell me the best feature of this product.
- Follow "Toddler Tales by Mommy" on GFC.

Extra Entries ( leave a comment, 1 entry each):

- Follow " Easy Lunch Boxes" on Twitter
- Follow "Toddler Tales by Mommy" on Twitter
- Follow " Easy Lunch Boxes" on Facebook
- Follow " Toddler Tales by Mommy" on Facebook

Bonus Entries ( 3 entries each, leave separate comments)

- Become an email subscriber on "Toddler Tales by Mommy "
- Blog about this Giveaway and link back to this post.

This giveaway is offered to US & Canadian residents only. Please do not enter this giveaway if you have won or received a free product from Easy Lunch Boxes within the past 3 months.

This Giveaway is open until Sep 20, 2010.Random Generator will choose a winner and winner will be announced on Sep 21, 2010.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: Easylunch Boxes sent me the featured product for review purpose only. 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.)

Winner of Rock "N" Learn Educational DVD Giveaway!

The winner of the Rock N Learn Educational DVD Giveaway is "Chelsey". Congratulations! I am sure you will enjoy this DVD with your child!

I have sent you an email and you are expected to respond in 48 hrs. I will choose another winner if i don't hear from "Chelsey" in 48 hrs.

Photo on Canvas worth $43 ! - Giveaway 9/13

Winner

Did i say that i love photography ? You will know more about my love for photography here. I haven't ventured out to try to make posters or canvas print of my photography collection.I just assumed that poster printing was too expensive..sigh :(

Then came along, Online Poster Printing - a one stop shop to print your treasured memories, in great quality prints.Reason? Online Poster Printing uses the cutting edge of printing technology and combines it with outstanding service and a quick turn around time.You can upload your photos and print posters online.

Imagine your beautiful wedding picture in a bright poster print or on an artistic canvas print ? Or that cute pic of your little one flashing his/her million $ smile as a big wall sticker? Some corner of my brain always thought that doing something like this will cost me a fortune..and do you think the same? With Online Poster Printing, it won't punch a hole in our pockets ! To me this news sounds like a warm cup of hot chocolate on a snowy winter day !

Online Poster Printing is giving one lucky winner a chance to win a 16 x 20 Rolled Canvas Print worth $43 !

Look through all your favorite pics and choose the one you want to print on a Rolled Canvas, if you win.

Mandatory Entry ( leave a comment):

- Follow "Toddler Tales by Mommy " on Networked Blogs.

Extra Entries ( 1 entry each, leave separate comments):

- Become an email subscriber on "Online Poster Printing Blog"
- Follow "Toddler Tales by Mommy" on GFC
- Follow "Toddler Tales by Mommy " on Twitter
- Follow "Toddler Tales by Mommy " on Facebook
- Tweet once daily and leave a comment with status.

Bonus Entries ( 3 entries each, leave separate comments)

- Become an email subscriber on "Toddler Tales by Mommy "
- Blog about this Giveaway and link back to this post.

This Giveaway is open to 18+ residents of US. This Giveaway is open until Sep 13, 2010.
Random Generator will choose a winner and winner will be announced on Sep 14, 2010.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!

(Note: I have not been compensated monetarily for this post.All opinions expressed here are only my own. I will be receiving a Rolled Canvas Print as a token of appreciation for publishing my review and hosting the giveaway)

Go Brugo Go! - Review & Giveaway, 9/ 13

Winner

I was delighted when i received the most-talked-about coffee mug in Blogville! One thing that i was sure of was , if this mug is as good as it sounds, it will save me at least $30 per month.. the bucks on coffee from that cafe right next to my office. Every time i walked into that cafe, i thought to myself..if i only i had a nice coffee mug that will keep my hot beverage " at the perfect degree of taste" ! And voila..Brugo came into my life and did it convince me that it was the right one for me? Not only it did, but i have broken-up with coffee and switched to my all-time favorite Green Tea and Aromatic Masala Tea , which stays nice and warm for 1 hr! Time-tested :)

The Brugo technology :

Brugo has 3 modes that you can choose from: Lock, Sip, Tip & Cool



The presence of a temperature controlled chamber on the top cools the beverage when you tip the mug away from you in a 45 degree angle.Then sip away without burning your tongue!




The lock feature seals the aroma of my Masala Tea and i enjoy the flavor till the last drop! Yummmmy...




I have been enjoying my delicious tea at work with Brugo, which is also fashionable to carry around. Did you know that Brugo comes in Executive, Jazz and Sports Collection? Here's a sneak peak of the Brugo's delightful Sports Collection...such brilliant colours!


Ergonomic grip and locks well.Double-wall insulation. 450ml capacity cup size - lasting!
However The BRUGO Mug is not designed to be stored upside down.

Here are my suggestions to Brugo to improvise:

- Can be extremely practical with a handle or length adjustable straps that will enable users to wear Brugo and go hands-free.
- Can be made 100% leak-proof when tossed around in a bag in lying position.

All in all, Brugo did an excellent job in inventing this smart mug.Do you think this all too good to be true? Here's what you can do:

Buy a Brugo and become a proud owner or it makes a fantastic gift to loved ones, far and near:

Executive, Jazz and Sports Collection is on sale for $14.95 each when you buy 2 or more ( regular price $19.95).
Free shipping on orders more than $50!
Order now!

You can also win a Brugo Mug right here on my blog.Thanks to Jolex Inc, one lucky winner will receive a Brugo Mug !

Mandatory Entry:

- Choose your favorite colour of Brugo Mug at Brugo's website and leave a comment on what colour you chose as your favorite.
- Follow "Toddler Tales by Mommy" on GFC

Extra Entries ( 1 entry each):

- Follow Brugo on Twitter
- Follow me on Twitter
- Follow Brugo on Facebook
- Follow me on Facebook

Bonus Entries ( 3 entries each, please leave separate comments)

- Follow me on Networked Blogs
- Become an email subscriber
- Enter any other giveaway on my blog

This Giveaway is open to residents Canada & US. A winner will be chosen on Sep 13, 2010 by Random Generator . 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: BRUGO Mugs by Jolex sent me the featured product for review purpose only. 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: 100 Prayers God Loves to Hear, 100 Praise Songs

This book was a answer to my prayer! Yes, my prayer was one that God loved to hear. I was praying for a book with verses and short prayers that i could read to my son before bedtime. I also wished for a CD with short, familiar christian songs that my son could listen and learn. My joy knew no bounds when i received this book from Thomas Nelson for review ! My son has even started calling this book "my book" !

The author Stephen Elkins has done an excellent compilation of verses, prayers and small thoughts just apt for young minds. Each page has a theme followed by a prayer or a verse. It is filled with colorful pictures and also come with 2 audio CDs. Each CD has 50 melodious songs that can be easily learned by repetition. From cover to cover, this cute book will encourage children to pray and develop the habit of talking to God.

I love to listen to these songs along with my son as it brings back memories of sunday school and VBS. You can make the investment on this book without second thoughts!

Buy it from:

Thomas Nelson for $19.99
Christian Book for $14.99
Amazon.com for $14.99
Barnes and Noble for $14.39

( 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.)