In this sweet companion book to Because Your Daddy Loves You, a little boy and his mom go on a hiking trip and camp out under the stars. Mommy is as calm and reassuring, but also goes far to foster her son’s independence in an encouraging and loving way. As heartwarming as its predecessor, this read-aloud book is sure to become a family favorite.

This book is so different from any that I’ve read before. When something goes wrong, instead of coddling to her son this Mom takes the opportunity to teach him some independence and common sense.

For example, when they were setting up their tent the son was having trouble getting his side up. The mom could have stepped in and do it for him but instead she showed him the directions again and encouraged him to go step-by-step until he got it right. In the end, he learned how to put up the tent properly and gained confidence as well.

What I really liked about this book is that it’s very realistic. I’m the kind of mom who has always encouraged her girls to do things for themselves from a very young age. Some of my friends have made negative comments about it but I don’t care. My daughters are more independent than some other much older kids that I know. Of course, I’m always there if they need help or advice but in the end it’s pretty much up to them to get things done.

“Because Your Mommy Loves  You” is a beautifully written book and the illustrations by R.W. Alley really help to tell the story. We like the watercolor drawings and the very expressive faces of the characters. I also like how some of the illustrations are divided into sections to help convey the story better.

So if you’d like a different look at a Mother-child relationship, check out “Because Your Mommy Loves You”. It’s a breath of fresh air.

About the author:
Andrew Clements is the author of many best-selling books, among them the middle grade novel Frindle. He lives in Westborough, Massachusetts, and can be found at www.andrewclements.com.

About the illustrator:
R. W. Alley is the illustrator of many beloved picture books, including the Paddington Bear series. He lives in Barrington, Rhode Island. Visit him at www.rwalley.com.

Purchase your copy of Because Your Mommy Loves You at Amazon.com for $11.55.

This post was written for Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Trade who provided the complimentary copy for review and giveaway.

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In One Special Day written by Lola M. Schaefer and illustrated by Jessica Meserve, Spencer is about to find out if having a new brother or sister make you more than you already are. He’s as strong as a bear, as funny as a monkey, and as wild as a tiger. But on one special day, everything changes. Now Spencer is strong, funny, wild, brave, free… and gentle, too.

This over-sized hard-cover book is the perfect story for any child who finds that he/she has become an older sibling. It shows that you can still be the same child you always were and still find room in your heart to share your love . . . and your life . . . with someone else.

We absolutely loved this book. The large fonts made it easy for the kids to read and the boldly colored images had a very rich feel to it. It’s also such a great story about becoming an older brother or sister and how it changes your life. This book resonated with Kiana especially since she’s just so happy to have Kaila as a younger sister. They do everything together and Kiana is always trying to teach her sister things like cleaning up her toys, reading books, and playing dress-up.

But for me the best part was the drawings on the inside of the front and back cover. The inside of the front shows Spencer doing all the things he loves to do . . . playing in the dirt, pretending to be a superhero, climbing rocks, and running outside.

Inside the back cover shows Spencer and his little brother having fun together as they play and do silly things.

It was a great way to end the story and give it a happy ending. My kids will be reading this book for a very long time to come.

A note from the author, Lola M. Schaefer
It was a joy to write ONE SPECIAL DAY. Every few years, I receive a gift book. That means the words for a script seem to flow right out of my head and onto the page. This book was one of those. I’ve always appreciated how much fun and interactive rebus can be for that emergent reader. So, when the idea came to use an illustration for the word, I fell in love with it right away. My editor at Hyperion helped tweak some of the animal choices to make them more easily recognizable to the reader. I hope the reading of this book is as enjoyable as its creation.

Purchase your copy of One Special Day (A Story for Big Brothers and Sisters) at Amazon.com for $10.97.

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It’s Springtime in Bear Country and America’s favorite Bear family is back with two new and inspiring stories from the Berenstain Bear’s Living Lights Series, complete with colorful stickers, just in time for Easter.

We received two Berenstain books to review and have been enjoying them!

The Berenstain Bears and the Easter Story ($4.99) – As Kacie has gotten older she’s been asking me more and more questions about the true meaning of various holidays, including Easter. Now, I’m not the best person to explain these lessons to her so I’m always so grateful for books what not only entertain but teach. In Easter Story, the bear cubs are excited about the upcoming Easter celebration which to them means egg hunts, chocolate bunnies, and jelly beans. Upon hearing this, Missus Ursula the Sunday School Teacher decided that the kids needed to learn more about the true meaning of Easter. She then takes them to watch the older cubs rehearse their play The Easter Story. In then end the cubs learn that there’s nothing wrong with looking forward to the fun activities associated with Easter as long as they remember the real reason for the celebration.

The Berenstain Bears: All Things Bright and Beautiful ($4.99) – The cubs are attending Sunday School when their teachers suddenly announces that they were going to do something different that day. They were going on a nature walk! At first the cubs didn’t understand what a nature walk and Sunday School had in common until they saw all of God’s amazing creations . . . flowers, butterflies, amazing scenery, farmlands, streams, and so much more. What a great way to really appreciate all the wonderful things around us!

We’ve always enjoyed reading books about the Berenstain Bears ever since Kacie was a baby. The colorful illustrations and cheerful scenes always puts a smile on our faces and I like the simple lessons that are taught in a fun and entertaining way.

My kids get so caught up in the storyline that they sometimes don’t realize that they’re learning in the process. That is, until a similar situation comes up in their lives and they remember what they read in the books. The kids also liked that these books came with a page of round stickers featuring scenes from the story.

These books are perfect for Spring and would be the perfect addition to any Easter Basket or just to add to your family library. Purchase yours today!

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How would you like to win both of these books for your family library? To enter:

• Just mention in comments before midnight, March 20th why you would like to win this. That’s it!
  
• A random winner will be selected and notified via email shortly thereafter.
• The winner will then have 2 days to claim their prize.

To earn extra entries, you may do one or all of the following. Each one counts as an extra ticket but you must leave a separate comment for each one.

• Subscribe to An Island Life’s feed.
• Follow An Island Life on Twitter.
• Tweet this giveaway (once daily). Enter to #win 2 Berenstain Bears Books perfect for Easter! @Kailani http://tinyurl.com/83xvtcf
  
• Like An Island Life on Facebook.
• Like An Island Life’s Fan Page on Facebook.
• Like The Berenstain Bears on Facebook.
• Place our button in your sidebar.
• Follow me at Pinterest.
• Follow me at Google+
• Mention this giveaway on your blog with a link back here.

This giveaway is open to US addresses. Good luck!

This post was written for Zonderkidz who provided the items for review & giveaway.

NO PURCHASE NECESSARY. VOID WHERE PROHIBITED BY LAW. One entry per household. US only. 18+over.

The number of eligible entries received determines the odds of winning. Winner will be notified via email and will have 48 hours to respond. All prizes that are not claimed will be re-awarded.

We are not responsible for any negative outcome from using or winning this prize.

We are not responsible for any company who does not fulfill their end of the giveaway agreement. However, we will make every attempt to rectify the situation.

Chicken Soup for the Soul: Food and Love will stir up those delectable feelings and memories that certain aromas and tastes always bring. Readers will relish in the succulent and tasty stories on how love and food together played a flavorful part in life, leaving them with a divine aftertaste and a pungent yearning to read more.

Our best memories often revolve around food. And so do our best stories! We’ve put together a heartwarming and mouthwatering collection of stories that will make you laugh, make you cry, and inspire you inside and outside the kitchen. Whether you are reading about funny cooking disasters, holiday traditions, life lessons, or revealing personal anecdotes, you’ll want to try the special recipes inside this book and you’ll be inspired to spend some quality time with family and friends . . . in the kitchen!

These 101 stories are great for anyone who loves to cook . . . or wishes they knew how to. The stories are divided into 10 categories:

• Learning to Cook
• Just Like Mom’s
• Table For Two
• Comfort Food
• Little Helpers
• In Memory Of
• A Bite of Fun
• The Taste of Tradition
• Life Lessons in the Kitchen
• Always Room For Dessert

My favorite story is entitled “For The Love of Jell-O” because it reminds me of the ultimate Jell-O fan . . . my Mom. It’s a story about a Mom who found out that her favorite flavor of Jell-O was being discontinued. So she did what any other Jell-O loving person would do . . . she stockpiled 300 of those tiny boxes throughout her home so her family wouldn’t realize she had purchased so many. But why so much? She planned to make them until the day she died. However, after 25 years and still being very much alive, she realized that she only had 4 boxes left. It was then that her grown daughter found out that they were reintroducing the flavor to the public. Now those 4 vintage boxes are being saved for the day far into the future. There’s also a little cartoon at the end of the story that shows Jell-O boxes falling out of a closet with the caption referring to their famous saying “There’s always room for Jell-O”.

This is just a sample of the many wonderful stories told by every day people like you and me. They’re written in short story form so that you can read as many or as little as you want depending on how much time you have available. That’s what makes the Chicken Soup for the Soul books so popular. You don’t need a huge time commitment to enjoy them. And since we all love food, Food and Love is the perfect book for anyone who loves to read.

Purchase your copy of Chicken Soup for the Soul: Food and Love at Amazon.com for $10.98.

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I have a copy of Chicken Soup for the Soul: Food and Love to give away to (2) lucky winners. To enter:

• Just mention in comments before midnight, March 13th which category you’re most interested in reading. That’s it!
  
• A random winner will be selected and notified via email shortly thereafter.
• The winner will then have 2 days to claim their prize.

To earn extra entries, you may do one or all of the following. Each one counts as an extra ticket but you must leave a separate comment for each one.

• Subscribe to An Island Life’s feed.
• Follow An Island Life on Twitter.
• Follow Chicken Soup for the Soul on Twitter.
• Tweet this giveaway (once daily). Enter to #win a copy of @ChickenSoupSoul Food & Love @Kailani http://islandlife808.com/?p=32555
• Like An Island Life on Facebook.
• Like An Island Life’s Facebook Fan Page
• Like Chicken Soup for the Soul on Facebook.
• Place our button in your sidebar.
• Follow me at Pinterest.
• Follow me at Google+
• Mention this giveaway on your blog with a link back here.

This giveaway is open to US addresses. Good luck!

This post was written for Chicken Soup for the Soul who provided the item for review & giveaway.

NO PURCHASE NECESSARY. VOID WHERE PROHIBITED BY LAW. One entry per household. US only. 18+over.

The number of eligible entries received determines the odds of winning. Winner will be notified via email and will have 48 hours to respond. All prizes that are not claimed will be re-awarded.

We are not responsible for any negative outcome from using or winning this prize.

We are not responsible for any company who does not fulfill their end of the giveaway agreement. However, we will make every attempt to rectify the situation.

I have always loved the Chicken Soup for the Soul books. They have a way of  making you see things from a different perspective and showing you the good side of things. Best of all, they’re written in short chapters so you can read as much or as little as you want. There’s no major time committment on your part.

I recently had the opportunity to check out a couple more of their titles and found them all to be exactly what I’ve come to expect from this series of books. Excellent stories that made me laugh, cry, and appreciate all that I have. I hope they do the same for you, too.

Chicken Soup for the Soul: Finding Happiness will encourage readers to pursue their dreams, find their passion and seek joy in their life. Read inspirational stories about how real people used positive thinking, thankfullness, and good old-fashioned common sense to find their own paths to happiness, pursuing their passions, finding their purpose, and reclaiming joy in their lives.

With the new year upon us, Chicken Soup for the Soul: Finding Happiness is the perfect book to give me the inspiration to live my life in a way that makes me happy. Whether it be making time for yourself, doing something unexpected for the kids, or just finding something good in every single day . . . finding happiness is something we should all strive to do.

I truly believe that your attitude – good or bad – can affect the outcome of your day. Even when I’m having a rotten morning I try to put on a smile and go about my day as if everything couldn’t be better. You know what? After a while I find myself feeling so much better! Life is too short to let the little unimportant things ruin our happiness.

One of my favorite stories is The Happy Book. It’s about a woman who suffers from depression. It would be easy for her to just let it overtake her life but instead she started writing in a little notebook every night . . . one thing that made her happy during the day. It didn’t have to be anything big. It could be something like “I found a parking spot right in front when I was running late.” or “My husband came home early.” This forced her to seek out the positive rather than dwell on the negative. And when she’s having a particularly bad day she can look back on all the other happy moments in her life. What a great idea!

So as the new year keeps going along, why not look for things that make us happy, things that make life worthwhile? I promise you it will improve your attitude, your purpose, your life.

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It’s not very often that we find a children’s book that is not only educational but a work of art as well. In The Changing Colors of Amos by John Kinyon and illustrated by Kay Selvig Flanders, it was just as much fun looking at all the beautifully drawn pages as it was reading the story.

As children travel with Amos through the pages they discover that each day of the week brings a new color and place in the beauty of the outdoors. But there is more on each page as they look for the little leprechaun, and his friends. Can they find him? Who else do they find? And what color is it for that day? The brilliant original pastel drawings provide unique hues and textures for each page. Counting birds and butterflies—or even flowers and animals—increase the teaching opportunities throughout.

Kiana has recently started reading independently and she’s always looking for new books to explore. Once I opened this book I knew she would love it since she’s currently obsessed with all the colors of the rainbow. In this story, Amos is a leprechaun who turns a different color depending on what day of the week it is. However, on Sunday he’s able to select the color (or combination) he wants by dreaming of it the night before.

What I really liked about this book are all the wonderful chalk illustrations. The way the colors blend together and cover the entire page makes for a very beautiful scene. I also like the way each page’s installment is written in a poem fashion. For me, these types of books are the easiest to read because it allows you to get into a nice rhythm.

For Kiana, she loved how Amos was able to change colors on different days of the week. She even compared it to the way people change their clothes to look different on a daily basis, too. Of course, her favorite day was Sunday because Amos had dreamed about being a colorful rainbow. Kiana said that’s what she would choose, too.

Purchase your copy of The Changing Colors of Amos at Amazon.com for $11.66.

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How would you like to win a copy of The Changing Color of Amos for your family library? To enter:

• Just mention in comments before midnight, Dec 26th what color you would be on Sunday. That’s it!
• A random winner will be selected and notified via email shortly thereafter.
• The winner will then have 2 days to claim their prize.

To earn extra entries, you may do one or all of the following. Each one counts as an extra ticket but you must leave a separate comment for each one.

• Subscribe to An Island Life’s feed.
• Follow An Island Life on Twitter.
• Tweet this giveaway (once daily).
• Already like An Island Life on Facebook.
• Place our button in your sidebar.
• Mention this giveaway on your blog with a link back here.

This giveaway is open to US addresses. Good luck!

A complimentary copy of this book was provided for review and giveaway. All thoughts are my own. By entering this giveaway, you are acknowledging that you have read, understood, and agree to our disclosure policy. One entry per household.”

Just Kids Gifts specializes in personalized items like storybooks, CDs, and DVDs where your child is the star! Just provide names, photos, and other relevant details and you’ll receive a precious keepsake that your family will treasure for years to come.

We recently had the opportunity to review a couple of personalized books  – My Tea Party & The Train With No Name.

My Tea Party ($16.95)

Planning a party for friends requires hard work and aforethought. First she must decide who to invite and what to serve, then, what type of decorations are necessary. Setting up for the party, getting properly dressed and many other important things are valuable lessons learned here. Your child will find out what it takes to throw a perfectly special gathering and all the proper manners that goes with it.

Kiana is the star of this heartwarming story. When she first started reading the book you should have seen how big her eyes got when she came across her name. “That’s me!”, she yelled. She continued to read and was thrilled to see not only her name but her sisters’ names, her home town, and my name. As soon as she finished the book she started reading it again.

What I liked about this book is the larger font which made reading a lot easier for Kiana. We also liked the pretty illustrations that perfectly matched the storyline. However, the best part is that it taught Kiana all about table manners. There’s even a page at the end of the book that contains a list of proper table manners. We went through each one and made a note of the ones she’s good at and those she needs to work on.

My Tea Party is now one of Kiana’s favorite books!

The Train With No Name ($16.95)

The little track tester isn’t important enough to have either a name or an engineer…That is, until your child steps in and helps the little track tester to save the circus train. This educational book helps teach about compassion, helping others and most of all, they’ll learn that you don’t have to be big to be important!

I got this book as a Christmas gift for my nephew who lives in Nevada. He loves trains so I knew this would be the perfect choice for him. I was able to select 3 names to go along with his so I used his sister and 2 of my girls. The finished product turned out great and I can’t wait to give it to him!

What I really liked about this story is that it teaches kids to be sympathetic towards those who may not be having great day. Two Engine Express was not very nice to the no name Track Tester but “Evan” came to his rescue by helping to make him feel just as important as all the other trains. It was this friendship that helped save the day.

Just Kids Gifts makes the perfect holiday gifts for those special children in your lives. Check out their selection of personalized books, CDs and DVDs and see your children’s name in print! For more information, stop by their website or follow them on Twitter and Facebook.

WIN IT!

How would you like to win a personalized book of your choice? To enter:

• Just stop by Just Kids Gifts before midnight, Nov 15th and view the books selection.
• Then come back and mention which one you’d like to win. That’s it!
• A random winner will be selected and notified via email shortly thereafter.
• The winner will then have 2 days to claim their prize.

To earn extra entries, you may do one or all of the following. Each one counts as an extra ticket but you must leave a separate comment for each one.

• Subscribe to An Island Life’s feed.
• Follow An Island Life on Twitter.
• Follow Just Kids Books on Twitter.
• Tweet this giveaway (once daily).
• Like An Island Life on Facebook.
• Like Just Kids Books on Facebook.
• Place our button in your sidebar.
• Mention this giveaway on your blog with a link back here.

This giveaway is open to US addresses. Good luck!

This post was written for Family Review Network & Just Kids Books who provided the information and item for review & giveaway. By entering this giveaway, you are acknowledging that you have read, understood, and agree to our disclosure policy. One entry per household.

I had the chance to review the children’s book Cooper and Me written by Monique & Alexa Peters and Illustrated by Alexa Peters.  This book is one of the best and most creative books we have read as a family.  Not only does it help children through its story but it was also co-written and illustrated by an 11 year old little girl.

Here is a little background info on Alexa:

Cooper and Me was illustrated by 11-year-old Alexa Peters and co-written with her mother, Monique Peters.  The idea was inspired by Alexa’s own experiences on her first day of school.  A talented young artist and writer, Alexa wanted to give back to others in a meaningful way through her art.  Starting at a very young age, Alexa created illustrated stories about her daily experiences, and from the pages of her sketchbooks came the idea for her first book, Cooper and Me. 

Cooper and Me is about a little girl who is faced with her very first day of school.  Like most children she is very scared and unsure about school.  Her family has told her she will have fun learning, playing and making new friends.  Still she is not sure about school because she spends most of her days with her dog Cooper who is her best friend and her parents tell her dogs can’t go to school.

The little girl believes that if she can take Cooper to school that everything will be ok.  Everyone needs to feel secure when doing something new.  Her family comes up with a plan to make her feel better.  I don’t want to give the story ending away but I will tell you it has a wonderful end.

My oldest two children are now homeschooled but my daughter can relate to the feelings of this little girl in the story.  She went to public school for two years.  I remember her first day and how she was nervous and a little scared.  When she got home she was so happy that she went and made new friends.  This book is a great for helping children learn to overcome fears.  So if you have a little one who is about to start school or even something else new like a new sport then I would recommend getting this book and reading it with them.

We enjoyed reading this book together as a family and even included a little doggie that we were dog sitting.

This book donates some of their proceeds to Happy Hearts Fund…

In addition to helping young children gain emotional resilience and confidence through their books, Alexa and mom Monique wanted to go beyond that to help less fortunate kids.  Their search for an organization to which they could donate a portion of the proceeds from the Cooper and Me book led to a charitable alliance with the Happy Hearts Fund, founded and run by Petra Nemcova, the supermodel who was directly affected by the tsunami in Thailand. Happy Hearts improves children’s lives through education and sustainable programs in areas devastated by natural disasters.

Some little extras can be found on the website for your children. A song can be found on the Cooper and Me website for you little one to listen to here. Some coloring pages, word puzzles and games can be found on the Cooper and Me Website here.

*Note I did receive a copy of this book for review purposes.  I was not paid for my review and this is my honest opinion of the book.

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A regular day becomes a magical adventure in this stunning novelty picture book from an amazing new talent!

Ruby can make the ordinary extraordinary! Come skate on a shimmering pond, roll a giant snowball, sled down a snowy hill, and create soaring snow angels with her as she becomes a snow queen and transforms a typical winter day into a gleaming-beaming fairy tale.

Combining glorious watercolors, elegant paper engineering, and whimsical storytelling, this joyful novelty picture book is sure to enchant children and adults. Ten beautiful interactive spreads sparkle, spin, pop, and whirly-twirl, inviting readers to join in Ruby’s razzle-dazzle fun.

OUR REVIEW

Razzle Dazzle Ruby is without a doubt one of the most beautiful children’s picture books I have ever seen! It is so absolutely gorgeous and colourful I want to move into the book. The author and illustrator, Masha D’yans, perfectly captures the imagination of a child with the fun, adventurous verse and gorgeous watercolour illustrations. It is the perfect wintry addition for every child, girls and boys. The amazing art is accompanied by sparkles, pop-ups, tugs and twirls. It truly is magical to be a child.

Masha D’yans has created a wondrous experience to be enjoyed by child and inner-child alike. Growing up in Russia, much of her childhood was spent playing in the snow, sharing funny stories, and making things out of found materials. She and Ruby can be found playing at Razzle Dazzle Ruby.

Purchase your copy at Amazon.com for $13.49.

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I ruff you in the morning when the sun is shining bright
I ruff you in the evening when the moon lights up the night
I ruff your prescious ears and your sweet little nose
I ruff your little fingers and teeny-tiny toes!

Mommies and babies will RUFF this delightful new format, featuring poseable plush puppy ears that make each page even more fun. With rhyming text and a message of love on every page, it’s a playful and heart-felt way to say I Ruff You every day!

A new novelty board book from beloved author/artist Sandra Magsamen.

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