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	<title>An Island Life &#187; books</title>
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		<title>Chicken Soup for the Soul: Finding Your Happiness (Giveaway)</title>
		<link>http://islandlife808.com/giveaways/chicken-soup-for-the-soul-finding-your-happiness-giveaway/</link>
		<comments>http://islandlife808.com/giveaways/chicken-soup-for-the-soul-finding-your-happiness-giveaway/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Mon, 16 Jan 2012 00:50:40 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Kailani</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[books]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[giveaways]]></category>

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		<description><![CDATA[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&#8217;re written in short chapters so you can read as much or as little as you want. There&#8217;s no major [...]]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p><a href="http://islandlife808.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/01/chicken1.jpg"><img class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-31604" title="chicken1" src="http://islandlife808.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/01/chicken1.jpg" alt="" width="305" height="157" /></a></p>
<p>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&#8217;re written in short chapters so you can read as much or as little as you want. There&#8217;s no major time committment on your part.</p>
<p>I recently had the opportunity to check out a couple more of their titles and found them all to be exactly what I&#8217;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.</p>
<p><em><a href="http://islandlife808.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/01/chicken2.jpg"><img class="alignleft size-full wp-image-31605" style="margin: 5px;" title="chicken2" src="http://islandlife808.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/01/chicken2.jpg" alt="" width="161" height="253" /></a>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.</em></p>
<p>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.</p>
<p>I truly believe that your attitude &#8211; good or bad &#8211; can affect the outcome of your day. Even when I&#8217;m having a rotten morning I try to put on a smile and go about my day as if everything couldn&#8217;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.</p>
<p>One of my favorite stories is The Happy Book. It&#8217;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&#8217;t have to be anything big. It could be something like &#8220;I found a parking spot right in front when I was running late.&#8221; or &#8220;My husband came home early.&#8221; This forced her to seek out the positive rather than dwell on the negative. And when she&#8217;s having a particularly bad day she can look back on all the other happy moments in her life. What a great idea!</p>
<p>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.</p>
<p>WIN IT!</p>
<p><span id="more-31602"></span><br />
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		<title>The Changing Colors of Amos (Giveaway)</title>
		<link>http://islandlife808.com/giveaways/the-changing-colors-of-amos-giveaway/</link>
		<comments>http://islandlife808.com/giveaways/the-changing-colors-of-amos-giveaway/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Mon, 12 Dec 2011 08:57:50 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Kailani</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[books]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[children]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[giveaways]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://islandlife808.com/?p=30971</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[This giveaway is now closed. Congratulations to commentor #13: Lisa! It&#8217;s not very often that we find a children&#8217;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 [...]]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p><strong>This giveaway is now closed. Congratulations to commentor #13: Lisa!</strong></p>
<p>It&#8217;s not very often that we find a children&#8217;s book that is not only educational but a work of art as well. In <em>The Changing Colors of Amos</em> 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.</p>
<p><em>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.</em></p>
<p>Kiana has recently started reading independently and she&#8217;s always looking for new books to explore. Once I opened this book I knew she would love it since she&#8217;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&#8217;s able to select the color (or combination) he wants by dreaming of it the night before.</p>
<p><a href="http://islandlife808.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/12/amos2.jpg"><img class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-30973" title="amos2" src="http://islandlife808.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/12/amos2.jpg" alt="" width="500" height="333" /></a></p>
<p>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&#8217;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.</p>
<p><a href="http://islandlife808.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/12/amos3.jpg"><img class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-30974" title="amos3" src="http://islandlife808.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/12/amos3.jpg" alt="" width="500" height="333" /></a></p>
<p>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&#8217;s what she would choose, too.</p>
<p><a href="http://islandlife808.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/12/amos4.jpg"><img class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-30975" title="amos4" src="http://islandlife808.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/12/amos4.jpg" alt="" width="500" height="338" /></a></p>
<p>Purchase your copy of <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0978786610/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&amp;tag=anisli05-20&amp;linkCode=as2&amp;camp=1789&amp;creative=390957&amp;creativeASIN=0978786610">The Changing Colors of Amos</a><img style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important;" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=anisli05-20&amp;l=as2&amp;o=1&amp;a=0978786610" alt="" width="1" height="1" border="0" /> at Amazon.com for $11.66.</p>
<h3>WIN IT!</h3>
<p>How would you like to win a copy of The Changing Color of Amos for your family library? To enter:</p>
<ul>
<li>Just mention in comments before <strong>midnight, Dec 26th</strong> what color you would be on Sunday. That’s it!</li>
<li>A random winner will be selected and notified via email shortly thereafter.</li>
<li>The winner will then have 2 days to claim their prize.</li>
</ul>
<p>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.</p>
<ul>
<li>Subscribe to <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/AnIslandLife">An Island Life’s feed</a>.</li>
<li>Follow <a href="http://twitter.com/kailani">An Island Life</a> on Twitter.</li>
<li>Tweet this giveaway (once daily).</li>
<li>Already like An Island Life on <a id="d_:y" title="Facebook" href="http://www.facebook.com/kailani808">Facebook</a>.</li>
<li>Place our button in your sidebar.</li>
<li>Mention this giveaway on your blog with a link back here.</li>
</ul>
<p>This giveaway is open to US addresses. Good luck!</p>
<p><em><strong></strong>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.”</em></p>
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		<title>Just Kids Gifts &#8211;  Personalized Gifts (Giveaway)</title>
		<link>http://islandlife808.com/shopping/just-kids-gifts-personalized-gifts-giveaway/</link>
		<comments>http://islandlife808.com/shopping/just-kids-gifts-personalized-gifts-giveaway/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Tue, 01 Nov 2011 10:35:29 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Kailani</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[2011 Holiday Gift Guide]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[books]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[buying guides]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[children]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[giveaways]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://islandlife808.com/?p=27417</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Now that Kiana is beginning to read on her own, I&#8217;ve been trying to find books for her that are not too complicated yet entertaining enough to hold her attention. What better way to peak her interest than a story written just for her? Introducing a brand new company called Just Kids Gifts. Just Kids [...]]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p><a href="http://islandlife808.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/09/holiday-guide-2011.jpg"><img class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-28431" title="holiday guide 2011" src="http://islandlife808.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/09/holiday-guide-2011.jpg" alt="" width="299" height="122" /></a><a href="http://islandlife808.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/09/just-kids-3.gif"><br />
</a>Now that Kiana is beginning to read on her own, I&#8217;ve been trying to find books for her that are not too complicated yet entertaining enough to hold her attention. What better way to peak her interest than a story written just for her? Introducing a brand new company called Just Kids Gifts.</p>
<p>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&#8217;ll receive a precious keepsake that your family will treasure for years to come.</p>
<p>We recently had the opportunity to review a couple of personalized booksÂ  &#8211; My Tea Party &amp; The Train With No Name.</p>
<p><strong><a href="http://islandlife808.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/09/just-kids-2.gif"><img class="alignright size-full wp-image-27428" title="just kids 2" src="http://islandlife808.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/09/just-kids-2.gif" alt="" width="169" height="209" /></a>My Tea Party</strong> ($16.95)</p>
<p><em>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.</em></p>
<p>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. &#8220;That&#8217;s me!&#8221;, she yelled. She continued to read and was thrilled to see not only her name but her sisters&#8217; names, her home town, and my name. As soon as she finished the book she started reading it again.</p>
<p>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&#8217;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&#8217;s good at and those she needs to work on.</p>
<p>My Tea Party is now one of Kiana&#8217;s favorite books!</p>
<p><a href="http://islandlife808.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/09/just-kids-5.gif"><img class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-27431" title="just kids 5" src="http://islandlife808.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/09/just-kids-5.gif" alt="" width="500" height="311" /></a></p>
<p><strong><a href="http://islandlife808.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/09/just-kids-1.gif"><img class="alignleft size-full wp-image-27427" style="margin: 5px;" title="just kids 1" src="http://islandlife808.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/09/just-kids-1.gif" alt="" width="172" height="213" /></a><a href="http://www.justkidsgifts.com/the-train-with-no-name-personalized-childrens-book/">The Train With No Name</a> ($16.95)</strong></p>
<p><em>The little track tester isn&#8217;t important enough to have either a name or an engineer&#8230;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&#8217;ll learn that you don&#8217;t have to be big to be important!</em></p>
<p>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&#8217;t wait to give it to him!</p>
<p>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 &#8220;Evan&#8221; 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.</p>
<p><a href="http://islandlife808.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/09/just-kids-6.gif"><img class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-27432" title="just kids 6" src="http://islandlife808.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/09/just-kids-6.gif" alt="" width="500" height="312" /></a></p>
<p>Just Kids Gifts makes the perfect holiday gifts for those special children in your lives. Check out their selection of personalized <a href="http://www.justkidsgifts.com/categories/Personalized-Books-for-Kids/">books</a>, <a href="http://www.justkidsgifts.com/categories/Personalized-Kids-Music-CD/">CDs</a> and <a href="http://www.justkidsgifts.com/categories/Personalized-Kids-DVD/">DVDs</a> and see your children&#8217;s name in print! For more information, stop by their <a href="http://www.JustKidsGifts.com">website</a> or follow them on <a href="https://twitter.com/#!/JustKidsGifts">Twitter</a> and <a href="https://www.facebook.com/JustKidsGifts ">Facebook</a>.</p>
<h3>WIN IT!</h3>
<p>How would you like to win a personalized book of your choice? To enter:</p>
<ul>
<li>Just stop by <a href="http://www.JustKidsGifts.com">Just Kids Gifts</a> before <strong>midnight, Nov 15th</strong> and view the books selection.</li>
<li>Then come back and mention which one you&#8217;d like to win. Thatâ€™s it!</li>
<li>A random winner will be selected and notified via email shortly thereafter.</li>
<li>The winner will then have 2 days to claim their prize.</li>
</ul>
<p>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.</p>
<ul>
<li>Subscribe to <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/AnIslandLife">An Island Lifeâ€™s feed</a>.</li>
<li>Follow <a href="http://twitter.com/kailani">An Island Life</a> on Twitter.</li>
<li>Follow <a href="https://twitter.com/#!/JustKidsGifts">Just Kids Books</a> on Twitter.</li>
<li>Tweet this giveaway (once daily).</li>
<li>Like An Island Life on <a id="dwd7" title="Facebook" href="http://www.facebook.com/kailani808">Facebook</a>.</li>
<li>Like Just Kids Books on <a href="https://www.facebook.com/JustKidsGifts">Facebook</a>.</li>
<li>Place our button in your sidebar.</li>
<li>Mention this giveaway on your blog with a link back here.</li>
</ul>
<p>This giveaway is open to US addresses. Good luck!</p>
<p><em>This post was written for <a href="http://familyreviewnetwork.ning.com/">Family Review Networ</a>k &amp; Just Kids Books who provided the information and item for review &amp; giveaway. By entering this giveaway, you are acknowledging that you have read, understood, and agree to our disclosure policy. One entry per household.<br />
</em></p>
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		<title>Cooper and Me Review and Giveaway</title>
		<link>http://islandlife808.com/giveaways/cooper-and-me-review-and-giveaway-done/</link>
		<comments>http://islandlife808.com/giveaways/cooper-and-me-review-and-giveaway-done/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Sun, 23 Oct 2011 10:35:56 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Terri</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[books]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[children]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[giveaways]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://islandlife808.com/?p=28725</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[I had the chance to review the childrenâ€™s book Cooper and Me written by Monique &#38; Alexa Peters and Illustrated by Alexa Peters.Â  This book is one of the best and most creative books we have read as a family.Â  Not only does it help children through its story but it was also co-written and [...]]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p><a href="http://islandlife808.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/Cooper-and-Me-Logo-home.png"><img class="aligncenter size-medium wp-image-28726" title="Cooper-and-Me-Logo-home" src="http://islandlife808.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/Cooper-and-Me-Logo-home-300x192.png" alt="" width="300" height="192" /></a></p>
<p>I had the chance to review the childrenâ€™s book <a href="http://www.cooperandme.com/">Cooper and Me</a> written by Monique &amp; Alexa Peters and Illustrated by Alexa Peters.Â  This book is one of the best and most creative books we have read as a family.Â  Not only does it help children through its story but it was also co-written and illustrated by an 11 year old little girl.</p>
<p>Here is a little background info on Alexa:</p>
<p><em>Cooper and Me<strong>Â </strong></em><em>wasÂ illustrated by 11-year-old Alexa Peters<strong>Â </strong>and<strong>Â </strong>co-written with<strong>Â </strong>her mother, Monique Peters. Â The ideaÂ was inspired by Alexa&#8217;s own experiences on her first day of school. Â A talented young artist and writer, Alexa wanted to give back to others in a meaningful way through her art.Â Â 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,Â Cooper and Me.Â </em></p>
<p>Cooper and Me is about a little girl who is faced with her very first day of school.Â  Like most children she is very scared and unsure about school.Â  Her family has told her she will have fun learning, playing and making new friends.Â  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 canâ€™t go to school.</p>
<p>The little girl believes that if she can take Cooper to school that everything will be ok.Â  Everyone needs to feel secure when doing something new.Â  Her family comes up with a plan to make her feel better.Â  I donâ€™t want to give the story ending away but I will tell you it has a wonderful end.</p>
<p>My oldest two children are now homeschooled but my daughter can relate to the feelings of this little girl in the story.Â  She went to public school for two years.Â  I remember her first day and how she was nervous and a little scared.Â  When she got home she was so happy that she went and made new friends.Â  This book is a great for helping children learn to overcome fears.Â  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.</p>
<p>We enjoyed reading this book together as a family and even included a little doggie that we were dog sitting.</p>
<p><a href="http://islandlife808.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/jpg"><img class="aligncenter size-medium wp-image-28727" title="" src="http://islandlife808.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/jpg-300x200.jpg" alt="" width="300" height="200" /></a></p>
<p>This book donates some of their proceeds to <a href="http://www.happyheartsfund.org/">Happy Hearts Fund</a>â€¦</p>
<p><em>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. Â Their search for an organization to which they could donate a portion of the proceedsÂ from theÂ Cooper and Me<strong>Â </strong>book led toÂ a charitableÂ alliance with the Happy Hearts Fund, founded and run by Petra Nemcova, the supermodel who was directly affected by the tsunami in Thailand.Â Happy Hearts improves childrenâ€™s lives through education and sustainable programsÂ in areas devastated by natural disasters.</em></p>
<p>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 <a href="http://www.cooperandme.com/gen/ptsv.aspx?p1=2410&amp;p2=2411&amp;p3=2413&amp;ph=2412">here.</a> Some coloring pages, word puzzles and games can be found on the Cooper and Me Website <a href="http://www.cooperandme.com/FunForKids.aspx">here.</a></p>
<p>*Note I did receive a copy of this book for review purposes.Â  I was not paid for my review and this is my honest opinion of the book.</p>
<h3>WIN IT!</h3>
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		<title>Razzle Dazzle Ruby (Giveaway)</title>
		<link>http://islandlife808.com/giveaways/razzle-dazzle-ruby/</link>
		<comments>http://islandlife808.com/giveaways/razzle-dazzle-ruby/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Fri, 21 Oct 2011 15:21:49 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Island Girl</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[books]]></category>
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		<category><![CDATA[snowy]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[winter]]></category>

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		<description><![CDATA[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 [...]]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p><em><a href="http://islandlife808.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/razzle-1.jpg"><img class="alignright size-full wp-image-28234" title="razzle 1" src="http://islandlife808.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/razzle-1.jpg" alt="" width="200" height="219" /></a>A regular day becomes a magical adventure in this stunning novelty picture book from an amazing new talent!</em></p>
<p><em>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.</em></p>
<p><em>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&#8217;s razzle-dazzle fun.</em></p>
<p><strong>OUR REVIEW</strong></p>
<p><span style="color: #ff0000;"><strong>Razzle Dazzle Ruby</strong></span> is without a doubt one of the most beautiful children&#8217;s picture books I have ever seen! It is so absolutely <span style="color: #ff00ff;"><strong>gorgeous</strong></span> and colourful I want to move into the book. The author and illustrator, <strong>Masha D&#8217;yans</strong>, 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 <span style="color: #ff00ff;"><strong>magical</strong></span> to be a child.</p>
<p><a href="http://islandlife808.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/fall11-003.jpg"><img class="size-medium wp-image-28038 aligncenter" title="Razzle Dazzle Ruby-art" src="http://islandlife808.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/fall11-003-300x225.jpg" alt="" width="300" height="225" /></a></p>
<p>Masha D&#8217;yans has created a wondrous experience to be enjoyed by child and inner-child alike. Growing up in Russia, <em>much of her childhood was spent playing in the snow, sharing funny stories, and making things out of found materials.</em> She and Ruby can be found playing at<span style="color: #ff0000;"><strong> <a title="Razzle Dazzle Ruby" href="http://www.razzledazzleruby.com/" target="_blank"><span style="color: #ff0000;">Razzle Dazzle Ruby</span></a></strong></span>.</p>
<p><a href="http://islandlife808.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/fall11-005.jpg"><img class="size-medium wp-image-28039 aligncenter" title="Razzle Dazzle Ruby-art2" src="http://islandlife808.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/fall11-005-300x225.jpg" alt="" width="300" height="225" /></a></p>
<p>Purchase your copy at <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0545225000/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&amp;tag=anisli06-20&amp;linkCode=as2&amp;camp=217145&amp;creative=399373&amp;creativeASIN=0545225000">Amazon.com</a><img style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important;" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=anisli06-20&amp;l=as2&amp;o=1&amp;a=0545225000&amp;camp=217145&amp;creative=399373" alt="" width="1" height="1" border="0" /> for $13.49.</p>
<h3>WIN IT!</h3>
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<p>&nbsp;</p>
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		<title>I Ruff You! Giveaway</title>
		<link>http://islandlife808.com/giveaways/i-ruff-you-giveaway/</link>
		<comments>http://islandlife808.com/giveaways/i-ruff-you-giveaway/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Mon, 17 Oct 2011 10:13:10 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Kailani</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[books]]></category>
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		<description><![CDATA[October is Adopt-A-Shelter-Dog Month! 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 [...]]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p style="text-align: center;"><strong>October is Adopt-A-Shelter-Dog Month!</strong></p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://islandlife808.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/ruff1.jpg"><img class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-28584" title="ruff1" src="http://islandlife808.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/ruff1.jpg" alt="" width="214" height="298" /></a></p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><em>I ruff you in the morning when the sun is shining bright<br />
I ruff you in the evening when the moon lights up the night</em><br />
<em>I ruff your prescious ears and your sweet little nose</em><br />
<em>I ruff your little fingers and teeny-tiny toes!</em></p>
<p>Mommies and babies will RUFF this delightful new format, featuring poseable plush puppy ears that make each page even more fun.Â With rhyming text and a message of love on every page, it&#8217;s a playful and heart-felt way to say I Ruff You every day!</p>
<p>A new novelty board book from beloved author/artist Sandra Magsamen.</p>
<h3>WIN IT!</h3>
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		<title>PBS Kids Celebrates Halloween (Giveaway)</title>
		<link>http://islandlife808.com/giveaways/pbs-kids-celebrates-halloween-giveaway/</link>
		<comments>http://islandlife808.com/giveaways/pbs-kids-celebrates-halloween-giveaway/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Sat, 15 Oct 2011 22:30:34 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Kailani</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[books]]></category>
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		<description><![CDATA[From the Jim Henson Company, Mr. Pteranodon takes Buddy and Tiny on a nighttime trip to the Big Pond for a spooky nature walk! Mr. Pteranodon and the conductor insist they can&#8217;t be scared, but when the conductor&#8217;s mom jumps out at them, everyone gets a good scare! This simple storybook is perfect for read-aloud [...]]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>From the J<a href="http://www.henson.com">im Henson Company</a>, Mr. Pteranodon takes Buddy and Tiny on a nighttime trip to the Big Pond for a spooky nature walk! Mr. Pteranodon and the conductor insist they can&#8217;t be scared, but when the conductor&#8217;s mom jumps out at them, everyone gets a good scare! This simple storybook is perfect for read-aloud fun!</p>
<p>What a great book to get the kids in a Halloween mood! The gang heads out for some nighttime fun as they use their senses to find some spooky items around the Big Pond. What I really liked about this book is that it taught my girls that you can&#8217;t always rely on just your sight . . . you need to incorporate all your senses to truly understand something. And as usual, we also learn a little more about some of the dinosaurs that lived before us. For example, did you know that Troodons have eyes that can see in the dark?</p>
<p>In addition to this book, The Jim Henson Company will be airing special episodes of <a href="http://www.pbskids.org/dinosaurtrain">Dinosaur Train</a> and <a href="http://www.pbskids.org/sid">Sid the Science Kid</a> for some spooky fun!</p>
<blockquote><p><strong>Dinosaur Train NEW EPISODE Haunted Roundhouse/Big Pond Pumpkin Patch premiere 10/20 on PBS Kids (check local listings)</strong></p>
<p><strong>Repeats- 10/24, 10/28, 10/30 , 10/31</strong></p>
<p>In<strong><em> Haunted Roundhouse,</em></strong><em> </em>dad takes the kids on a special Night Train to Troodon Town, where the Troodons have decorated their Roundhouse into a â€œhaunted houseâ€ for a spooky party. The kids end up meeting a strange new nocturnal creature â€“ a mammal named Vlad Volaticotherium, who was hiding in the roundhouse trying to get some sleep.Â  And in<em> </em><strong><em>Big Pond Pumpkin Patch</em></strong><em>, </em>the Pteranodon family learns more about the customs of their neighbors, the Lambeosaurus family, when they are invited for the first time to accompany them to the Big Pond to celebrate â€œGourd Dayâ€ â€“ a kind of Mesozoic Halloween. The kids see their first pumpkins, and Larry Lambeosaurus even shows our family how to hollow them out and carve faces into them.</p></blockquote>
<blockquote><p><strong>Sid the Science Kid NEW EPISODE Spooky Science Special premieres 10/17 on PBS Kids (check local listings)</strong></p>
<p><strong>Show Repeats- 10/25, 10/28, 10/30, 10/31Â </strong></p>
<p>In Halloween<strong><em> Spooky Science Special</em></strong>, itâ€™s Halloween time and Sid and his friends have dressed up in the spookiest and scariest costumes possible.Â  Sid is a bat with big fangs.Â  May is a spooky black cat.Â  Gabriela is a furry, yucky spider.Â  And Gerald is a super spooky skeleton that goes boo!Â  Susie (dressed as a silly mad scientist) loves their costumes, and helps the kids discover that Halloween can be spooky and scientific!Â  The kids investigate how bats are helpful creatures that catch mosquitoes, spiders are expert engineer web builders, cats are leaping aerial acrobats, and skeletons help hold up our body frames!Â  At the Halloween party, the kids also investigate how to make icky, gooey green slime.Â  Susie then ends the day with a special â€œHalloween Paradeâ€ song so the kids can march around and show off their spooky and scientific costumes!</p></blockquote>
<p><strong>HALLOWEEN COSTUMES TO BUY OR MAKE!</strong></p>
<p><strong>Dinosaur Train Halloween Costumes for Purchase, from California Costume Collections.</strong></p>
<p><strong></strong>Buddy is the main character on the hit TV series, Dinosaur Train. Â This colorful costume includes the orange colored T-Rex jumpsuit, Buddy the dinosaur hood, and the shoe covers to match the costume. Available for toddlers ages 3-4, and children between the ages of 4-6. SRP: $34.99 â€“ 39.99.</p>
<p><strong>Dinosaur Train Costume â€“ Tiny</strong>Â  <strong>Â </strong></p>
<p><strong></strong>Tiny is one of the main characters on the hit TV series, Dinosaur Train. Â This colorful costume includes the green colored Pteranodon jumpsuit, Tiny the dinosaur hood, and green shoe covers to match the costume. Â Available for toddlers ages 3-4, and children between the ages of 4-6.</p>
<p>Each Dinosaur Train costume is made up of soft fabric to enhance a childâ€™s comfort while wearing them. The costumes are also created in vibrant colors and realistic design patterns to make your toddler look and feel like a dinosaur train character. SRP $34.99 â€“ 39.99.</p>
<p>Additionally, for those who are feeling a little adventurous, <strong>Jim Henson&#8217;s Creature Shop</strong> â€” the folks who brought you Elmo and Miss Piggy, among many others â€” have created a Buddy costume that can be made at home!</p>
<ul>
<li>For sew and no sew options, click this link: <a href="http://www.pbs.org/parents/dinosaurtrain/costume" target="_blank">http://www.pbs.org/parents/<wbr>dinosaurtrain/costume</wbr></a></li>
<li>To see a video of the sew version, click this link: <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QANroqbPing" target="_blank">http://www.youtube.com/watch?<wbr>v=QANroqbPing</wbr></a></li>
<li>Click this link to find out how you can make your own Sid the Science Kid Halloween Costume! <a href="http://www.pbs.org/parents/sid/halloween.html" target="_blank">http://www.pbs.org/parents/<wbr>sid/halloween.html</wbr></a></li>
</ul>
<p>For more information on how parents can include these fun items into their holiday plans, stop by <a href="http://www.pbskids.org/parents">PBS.org/Parents</a> or click on these social media pages:</p>
<ul>
<li><a href="http://www.facebook.com/hensoncompany" target="_blank">www.facebook.com/hensoncompany</a></li>
<li><a href="http://www.twitter.com/hensonparents" target="_blank">www.twitter.com/hensonparents</a></li>
<li><a href="http://www.twitter.com/pbskids" target="_blank">www.twitter.com/pbskids</a></li>
<li><a href="http://www.facebook.com/pbskids" target="_blank">www.facebook.com/pbskids</a></li>
</ul>
<p>Purchase your copy at <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0448456044/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&amp;tag=anisli06-20&amp;linkCode=as2&amp;camp=217145&amp;creative=399373&amp;creativeASIN=0448456044">Amazon.com</a><img style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important;" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=anisli06-20&amp;l=as2&amp;o=1&amp;a=0448456044&amp;camp=217145&amp;creative=399373" alt="" width="1" height="1" border="0" /> for $3.99.</p>
<p>Happy Halloween!</p>
<h3>WIN IT!</h3>
<p><a href="http://islandlife808.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/spooky1.jpg"><img class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-28603" title="spooky1" src="http://islandlife808.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/spooky1.jpg" alt="" width="250" height="251" /></a></p>
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		<title>Back-to-School with Chicken Soup for the Soul (Giveaway)</title>
		<link>http://islandlife808.com/giveaways/back-to-school-with-chicken-soup-for-the-soul-giveaway/</link>
		<comments>http://islandlife808.com/giveaways/back-to-school-with-chicken-soup-for-the-soul-giveaway/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Sat, 27 Aug 2011 10:15:16 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Kailani</dc:creator>
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		<description><![CDATA[This giveaway is now closed. Congratulations to commentors #7: Casey, #14: AnnMarie, #16: Joey, &#038; #21: Tara C! I have always loved the Chicken Soup for the Soul books. They have a way ofÂ  making you see things from a different perspective and showing you the good side of things. Best of all, theyâ€™re written [...]]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p><strong>This giveaway is now closed. Congratulations to commentors #7: Casey, #14: AnnMarie, #16: Joey, &#038; #21: Tara C!</strong></p>
<p><img class="aligncenter" title="chick4" src="http://i129.photobucket.com/albums/p215/Local-Girl-photos/giveaways/giveaway2/chicken4.jpg" alt="" width="337" height="136" /></p>
<p>I have always loved the Chicken Soup for the Soul books. They have a way ofÂ  making you see things from a different perspective and showing you the good side of things. Best of all, theyâ€™re written in short chapters so you can read as much or as little as you want. Thereâ€™s no major time committment on your part.</p>
<p>I recently had the opportunity to check out a couple more of their titles and found them all to be exactly what Iâ€™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.</p>
<p><a href="http://islandlife808.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/08/chicken-1.jpg"><img class="alignleft size-full wp-image-25963" style="margin: 5px;" title="chicken 1" src="http://islandlife808.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/08/chicken-1.jpg" alt="" width="165" height="257" /></a><a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1935096737/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&amp;tag=anisli06-20&amp;linkCode=as2&amp;camp=217145&amp;creative=399373&amp;creativeASIN=1935096737">Chicken Soup for the Soul: Just for Preteens</a><img style="border: medium none ! important; margin: 0px ! important;" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=&amp;l=as2&amp;o=1&amp;a=1935096737&amp;camp=217145&amp;creative=399373" alt="" width="1" height="1" border="0" />: Being a preteen is harder than it looks! School is more challenging, bodies are changing, relationships with parents are different, and new issues arise with friends. But this collection will help preteens, showing them they are not alone. Readers will be encouraged and inspired by stories from other preteens, just like them, about the problems and issues they face every day.</p>
<p>Now this is a book that I can get in to. Kacie (9) may not be a teenager yet but she sure acts like one. When we first received this book I couldn&#8217;t wait to give it to her to read. Surprisingly, she really enjoyed it. She said it showed her that other kids her age are going through the same things that she&#8217;s going through and with a the support and love from their families everything turned out great in the end.</p>
<p>She especially liked the story entitled &#8220;Fighting Back&#8221; where Jacqueline Seewald stood up to a bully and showed the class that he wasn&#8217;t as tough and he pretended to be. As most of you know, Kacie was the victim of bullying last year and this story really hit home for her.</p>
<p><a href="http://islandlife808.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/08/chicken-2.jpg"><img class="alignright size-full wp-image-25964" style="margin: 5px;" title="chicken 2" src="http://islandlife808.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/08/chicken-2.jpg" alt="" width="168" height="254" /></a><a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1935096729/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&amp;tag=anisli06-20&amp;linkCode=as2&amp;camp=217145&amp;creative=399373&amp;creativeASIN=1935096729">Chicken Soup for the Soul: Just for Teenagers</a><img style="border: medium none ! important; margin: 0px ! important;" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=&amp;l=as2&amp;o=1&amp;a=1935096729&amp;camp=217145&amp;creative=399373" alt="" width="1" height="1" border="0" />: Teenage years are tough, but this book will help teens as they journey through the ups and downs of adolescence. The stories in this book serve as a guide on topics from the daily pressures of life and school to love, friendships, parents, and much more. This collection will encourage, inspire, and amuse teens, showing that, as tough as things can get, they are not alone!</p>
<p>Kacie is not quite a teenager yet but this book gave me some great insight into what lies ahead for us . . . friendships, dating, school conflicts, popularity contests, self-esteem issues, etc . . . sigh. So I&#8217;m keeping this book safely tucked away until the time is right. What I really liked about this book is that it touches on pretty much every issue a teenager could encounter. It also stresses the message that it&#8217;s okay to be different, it&#8217;s okay to be you.</p>
<h3>WIN IT!</h3>
<p>I have (2) copies of each book to give away to some very lucky people. That&#8217;s a total of (4) winners! To enter:</p>
<ul>
<li>Just mention in comments before <strong>midnight, Sept 10th</strong> which book you&#8217;d like to win. Thatâ€™s it!</li>
<li>A random winner will be selected and notified via email shortly thereafter.</li>
<li>The winner will then have 2 days to claim their prize.</li>
</ul>
<p>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.</p>
<ul>
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<li>Follow <a href="http://twitter.com/kailani">An Island Life</a> on Twitter.</li>
<li>Tweet this giveaway (once daily).</li>
<li>Already â€œlikedâ€ An Island Life on <a id="dwd7" title="Facebook" href="http://www.facebook.com/kailani808">Facebook</a>.</li>
<li>Already a â€œfanâ€ of An Island Lifeâ€™s <a id="a4__" title="Facebook Fan page" href="http://www.facebook.com/anislandlife">Facebook Fan page</a>.</li>
<li>Like Chicken Soup for the Soul on <a href="http://www.facebook.com/ChickenSoupfortheSoul">Facebook</a>.</li>
<li>Place our button in your sidebar.</li>
<li>Mention this giveaway on your blog with a link back here.</li>
</ul>
<p>This giveaway is open to US addresses. Good luck!</p>
<p><em>This post was written for POM who provided the information and item for giveaway. By entering this giveaway, you are acknowledging that you have read, understood, and agree to our disclosure policy.</em></p>
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		<title>Ladybug Girl Book series (Giveaway)</title>
		<link>http://islandlife808.com/giveaways/ladybug-girl-book-series-giveaway/</link>
		<comments>http://islandlife808.com/giveaways/ladybug-girl-book-series-giveaway/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Sun, 21 Aug 2011 20:57:14 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Angela</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[books]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[giveaways]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://islandlife808.com/?p=26169</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[This giveaway is now closed. Congratulations to commentor #14: Kristie! I&#8217;ve been conscientiously trying to read to the kids during the summer to keep up their reading skills learnt throughout their last academic year.Â  We&#8217;ve gone through a lot of books and its time for new ones. BOOKÂ REVIEW Penguin Book&#8217;s two latest releases from the [...]]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p><strong>This giveaway is now closed. Congratulations to commentor #14: Kristie!</strong></p>
<p><a href="http://islandlife808.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/08/ladybug1.bmp"><img class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-26171" title="ladybug" src="http://islandlife808.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/08/ladybug1.bmp" alt="" /></a></p>
<p style="text-align: center;">I&#8217;ve been conscientiously trying to read to the kids during the summer to keep up their reading skills learnt throughout their last academic year.Â  We&#8217;ve gone through a lot of books and its time for new ones.</p>
<p style="text-align: left;"><strong>BOOKÂ REVIEW</strong></p>
<p style="text-align: left;">Penguin Book&#8217;s two latest releases from the <em>New York Times</em> bestselling <em>Ladybug Girl</em> series, <strong><em>Ladybug Girl and the Bug Squad</em></strong> &amp; <strong><em>Ladybug Girl at the Beach</em></strong>.</p>
<p><strong>BOOKÂ DESCRIPTION</strong></p>
<p>Ladybug Girl is Lulu, a little girl who loves to dress up in her ladybug costume and use her imagination to turn every moment into an adventure.</p>
<p><strong>Â </strong><strong>LADYBUG GIRL AT THE BEACH:</strong></p>
<p>Lulu loves the beach. Well, she&#8217;s never been there before, but she knows she will love it. And then she sees the ocean and it is big and loud and rough. That&#8217;s okay &#8211; Lulu wanted to build sand castles and fly her kite with Bingo anyway. But while they are building their sand castle, the sneaky ocean comes in and tries to steal Lulu&#8217;s favorite pail. This is a job for Ladybug Girl!Â  Lulu conquers her fear of the ocean when she remembers that Ladybug Girl can do anything, in this gorgeously illustrated companion to the popular series.</p>
<p><strong>LADYBUG GIRL AND THE BUG SQUAD:</strong></p>
<p>Lulu is so excited for the Bug Squad to come over for a playdate, and she has all kinds of things planned for them to do &#8211; right down to eating cupcakes. The cupcakes are special because each one has a candle that Lulu thinks everyone should blow out at exactly the same time.Â  But when things don&#8217;t go just the way Lulu planned, feelings are hurt and apologies are necessary. Sounds like a job for Ladybug Girl, who knows how to be brave and say she&#8217;s sorry, even when it isn&#8217;t easy.</p>
<p><strong>OUR REVIEW</strong></p>
<p>TheÂ ladybug girl at the beach was a nice reminder of our own trips to the beach.Â  My daughter was pretty scared of theÂ roaring oceanÂ last year and this year she can&#8217;t get enough of it so the book was enlightening as it showed my daughter how brave and big she is.Â Â  The ladybug girl and the bug squad is a fun book for both my daughter and son.Â  Both are playful children but sometimes they can be a little over zealous in their action.Â  So any book that teaches them proper manners with friends is a good book.Â  We&#8217;ve already read through these books twice and I&#8217;m sure these books will be chosen over and over again this summer.</p>
<p>OrderÂ your copy today at <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0803734190/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&amp;tag=anisli06-20&amp;linkCode=as2&amp;camp=217145&amp;creative=399369&amp;creativeASIN=0803734190">Amazon.com</a><img style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important;" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=&amp;l=as2&amp;o=1&amp;a=0803734190&amp;camp=217145&amp;creative=399369" alt="" width="1" height="1" border="0" />.Â  Visit the official website <a href="http://ladybuggirl.com/" target="_blank">http://ladybuggirl.com/</a>Â and browse the Ladybug Girl series.</p>
<p><strong>Â WIN IT!</strong></p>
<p>How would you like to win a copy of each of the two books mentioned above? To enter:</p>
<ul>
<li>Just stop by theÂ <a href="http://ladybuggirl.com/" target="_blank">http://ladybuggirl.com/</a> site before <strong>midnight, Sept 4th</strong> and check out all the Ladybug GirlÂ books.</li>
<li>Then come back and mention your favorite one. Thatâ€™s it!</li>
<li>A random winner will be selected and notified via email shortly thereafter.</li>
<li>The winner will then have 2 days to claim their prize.</li>
</ul>
<p>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.</p>
<ul>
<li>Subscribe to <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/AnIslandLife">An Island Lifeâ€™s feed</a>.</li>
<li>Follow <a href="http://twitter.com/kailani">An Island Life</a> on Twitter.</li>
<li>Tweet this giveaway (once daily).</li>
<li>Already â€œlikedâ€ An Island Life on <a id="dwd7" title="Facebook" href="http://www.facebook.com/kailani808">Facebook</a>.</li>
<li>Already a â€œfanâ€ of An Island Lifeâ€™s <a id="a4__" title="Facebook Fan page" href="http://www.facebook.com/anislandlife">Facebook Fan page</a>.</li>
<li>Place our button in your sidebar.</li>
<li>Mention this giveaway on your blog with a link back here.</li>
</ul>
<p>This giveaway is open to US addresses.Â  Good luck!</p>
<p><em>This post was written for Penguin Books who provided the items for review &amp; giveaway. By entering this giveaway, you are acknowledging that you have read, understood, and agree to our disclosure policy.</em></p>
]]></content:encoded>
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		<title>Getting Ready for Kindergarten with Dinosaur Train (Giveaway)</title>
		<link>http://islandlife808.com/giveaways/getting-ready-for-kindergarten-with-dinosaur-train-giveaway/</link>
		<comments>http://islandlife808.com/giveaways/getting-ready-for-kindergarten-with-dinosaur-train-giveaway/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Sun, 14 Aug 2011 10:48:40 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Kailani</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[books]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[children]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[giveaways]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[toys]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://islandlife808.com/?p=25929</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[I still can&#8217;t believe that Kiana has started Kindergarten. I&#8217;m not sure why but in my mind she&#8217;s always been a toddler and just didn&#8217;t seem to be getting any older. Yes, I know how strange that sounds but it&#8217;s true. Now she&#8217;s off to the &#8220;big kids&#8221; school and walking herself to class in [...]]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>I still can&#8217;t believe that Kiana has started Kindergarten. I&#8217;m not sure why but in my mind she&#8217;s always been a toddler and just didn&#8217;t seem to be getting any older. Yes, I know how strange that sounds but it&#8217;s true. Now she&#8217;s off to the &#8220;big kids&#8221; school and walking herself to class in the mornings. *sniff*</p>
<p>Transitioning to Kindergarten can be a stressful time for young children as they take on a new role as â€œstudentâ€â€”in addition to other changes such as new surroundings, routines and expectations, and in some cases being away from parents for the first time.</p>
<p>There are many things, however, that can be done to help prepare children for this big transition and a familiarity with some key skills will be beneficial. The Jim Henson Company and PBS KIDS have included some fun ideas from the award-winning Dinosaur Train website at <a href="http://www.pbskids.org/dinosaurtrain">www.pbskids.org/dinosaurtrain</a> that will help children familiarize themselves with and build upon some specific skills, while at the same time enjoying their favorite characters!</p>
<p>We recently had the opportunity to review some of the new Dinosaur Train products for ourselves.</p>
<p><a href="http://islandlife808.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/08/dino-3.jpg"><img class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-25934" title="dino 3" src="http://islandlife808.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/08/dino-3.jpg" alt="" width="272" height="317" /></a></p>
<p><strong><a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0375871438/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&amp;tag=anisli06-20&amp;linkCode=as2&amp;camp=217145&amp;creative=399373&amp;creativeASIN=0375871438">Dinosaurs A to Z (Dinosaur Train) (Padded Board Book)</a><img style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important;" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=&amp;l=as2&amp;o=1&amp;a=0375871438&amp;camp=217145&amp;creative=399373" alt="" width="1" height="1" border="0" /> from Golden Books</strong>: Meet 26 dinosaursâ€”one for each letter of the alphabetâ€”in this <em>Dinosaur Trainâ„¢ </em>alphabet book. Ages 3-5; SRP $11.99; 30 pages.</p>
<p>The cool padded board book is perfect for kids who are learning the alphabets. Each page features a letter, a dinosaur who&#8217;s name starts with that letter, how to pronounce each dinosaur name, where they lived, and fun facts. What really impressed me was that there were dinosaurs for every single letter! Who knew?</p>
<p><a href="http://islandlife808.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/08/dino-2.jpg"><img class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-25933" title="dino 2" src="http://islandlife808.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/08/dino-2.jpg" alt="" width="243" height="318" /></a></p>
<p><strong><a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B003XRDYSM/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&amp;tag=anisli06-20&amp;linkCode=as2&amp;camp=217145&amp;creative=399369&amp;creativeASIN=B003XRDYSM">Crayola Color Wonder Dinosaur Train Coloring Pad &amp; Markers</a><img style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important;" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=&amp;l=as2&amp;o=1&amp;a=B003XRDYSM&amp;camp=217145&amp;creative=399369" alt="" width="1" height="1" border="0" /> by Crayola Mess Free Color Wonder</strong>: With Crayola Mess Free Color Wonder, the inks are clear, and colors magically appear only when the markers meet the special Color Wonder paper. Kids are free to unleash their imaginations and love the way each marker magically reveals a different color on the special paper. Age: 3+. SRP: $7.99</p>
<p>We&#8217;ve always been big fans of Crayola Mess Free Color Wonder sets. They&#8217;re perfect for in the car, on the plane, in restaurants, and anywhere else where you worry about pen &amp; crayon markings. Plus the kids love seeing the colors magically appear before their eyes. This set comes with 18 coloring pages &amp; 5 markers &#8211; orange, blue, red, green, &amp; brown. What really impresses me about these Color Wonder Sets is that they always include maker colors that are related to the theme. Way to go Crayola!</p>
<p><a href="http://islandlife808.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/08/dino-1.jpg"><img class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-25932" title="dino 1" src="http://islandlife808.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/08/dino-1.jpg" alt="" width="239" height="293" /></a></p>
<p><strong><a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B004RJ9QBE/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&amp;tag=anisli06-20&amp;linkCode=as2&amp;camp=217145&amp;creative=399373&amp;creativeASIN=B004RJ9QBE">MEGA BLOKS Buddy</a><img style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important;" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=&amp;l=as2&amp;o=1&amp;a=B004RJ9QBE&amp;camp=217145&amp;creative=399373" alt="" width="1" height="1" border="0" /> from MEGA Brands: </strong>Give your little Dinosaur Train fan the chance to join everyoneâ€™s favorite T-Rex Buddy to meet, explore, and have adventures with all kinds of friendly dinosaurs aboard The Dinosaur Train! Sit bobble head Buddy in his Dinosaur Train passenger car and get ready to find out all about his favorite prehistoric friends with the included fun and informative dinosaur fact card! Ages 3+ SRP: $6.99</p>
<p>My kids love all kinds of building blocks and Mega Bloks is one of their favorites. They like how the blocks are over-sized and easy to attach to one another. Plus, you can mix and match your sets for hours of playtime fun! Included in the Buddy Mega Bloks set is a bobble head Buddy, a train car section complete with an area for Buddy to sit, another Blok with some cool scenery on it, and a fact card with info on various dinosaurs.</p>
<p><a href="http://islandlife808.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/08/dino-4.jpg"><img class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-25935" title="dino 4" src="http://islandlife808.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/08/dino-4.jpg" alt="" width="323" height="244" /></a></p>
<p><strong>DINOSAUR TRAIN APPAREL </strong>from <strong>Kids with Character: </strong>Dinosaur Trainâ€™s summer line shirts and pants/shorts sets are great for back to school. Look for NEW Dinosaur Train apparel coming in August and September at Kohls and Kmart.</p>
<p>We received a 2-piece set with an adorable Campout Fishing Adventure logo on the front &amp; a pair of jeans. I don&#8217;t have any boys to try this out on but I did take notice of the awesome quality of these items. All the seams are reinforced and top-stitched to make sure your kids will be able to wear them for very long time. The shirt is a cotton/poly blend with a 2-button down front. The jeans are 100% cotton with an elastic back waistband. Very cute!</p>
<p>Get ready for an all-new season of Dinosaur Train this August with â€œDinosaur Big Cityâ€ which premieres on PBS Kids on August 22; and the DVD release of Dinosaur Train: Dinosaur Big City on August 23 (SRP: $14.99). From the world-renowned Jim Henson Company, Dinosaur Train is seen in over 13 million households every month* and embraces and celebrates preschoolersâ€™ fascination with both dinosaurs and trains. The series encourages scientific thinking and other skills as it teaches viewers about natural science, natural history and paleontology.</p>
<h3>WIN IT!</h3>
<p>I have the Dinosaurs A to Z board book to give away to one lucky winner! To enter:</p>
<ul>
<li>Just mention in comments before <strong>midnight, Aug 28th</strong> the name of your favorite dinosaur (real or on the show). Thatâ€™s it!</li>
<li>A random winner will be selected and notified via email shortly thereafter.</li>
<li>The winner will then have 2 days to claim their prize.</li>
</ul>
<p>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.</p>
<ul>
<li>Subscribe to <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/AnIslandLife">An Island Lifeâ€™s feed</a>.</li>
<li>Follow <a href="http://twitter.com/kailani">An Island Life</a> on Twitter.</li>
<li>Follow The Jim Henson Company on <a href="www.twitter.com/hensonparents   ">Twitter</a>.</li>
<li>Follow PBS Kids on <a href="www.twitter.com/pbskids">Twitter</a>.</li>
<li>Tweet this giveaway (once daily).</li>
<li>Like The Jim Henson Company on <a href="www.facebook.com/hensoncompany">Facebook</a>.</li>
<li>Like PBS Kids on <a href="www.facebook.com/pbskids">Facebook</a>.</li>
<li>Already â€œlikedâ€ An Island Life on <a id="dwd7" title="Facebook" href="http://www.facebook.com/kailani808">Facebook</a>.</li>
<li>Already a â€œfanâ€ of An Island Lifeâ€™s <a id="a4__" title="Facebook Fan page" href="http://www.facebook.com/anislandlife">Facebook Fan page</a>.</li>
<li>Place our button in your sidebar.</li>
<li>Mention this giveaway on your blog with a link back here.</li>
</ul>
<p>This giveaway is open to everyone world-wide! Good luck!</p>
<p><em>This post was written for PBS Kids &amp; The Jim Henson Company who provided the information and item for review &amp; giveaway. By entering this giveaway, you are acknowledging that you have read, understood, and agree to our disclosure policy.</em></p>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
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