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My Five Favourite Books for Babies #TMMGG2013

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When my babies were still scarcely able to open their eyes I started reading to them. I have had a lifelong passion for books and reading and knew immediately that was one thing I wanted to instil in my children – a love of reading. In fact I read essays and articles about nurturing a love for books from even before the girls arrived. One of the pictures in my head that grew in my heart was that of me sitting and cuddling with my kids and reading to them. Those were precious moments, perfect for bonding.

There are a few sweet board books I have still kept from those early years. I will keep them forever because they stand the test of time and will ring true even for grandchildren years from now. I thought that you might appreciate a list of my favourite infant board books because it is the season of giving and gifting and books are always the perfect present.

My Five Favourite Books for Babies:

Goodnight Moon

The Very Hungry Caterpillar board book

Guess How Much I Love You

Runaway Bunny

 Time for Bed

You can click on any one of the above links and purchase directly from Amazon. Time For Bed is a gorgeous little book of rhyme about animals going to sleep. I adore Mem Fox. Good Night Moon and The Runaway Bunny are both by Margaret Wise Brown and they are the first books my oldest daughter ever received. They are timeless and beautiful. I especially love The Runaway Bunny because it gently assures babies and toddlers that a mother’s love means you will never be lost. Eric Carle’s books are always magnificent and the drawings are truly unique. Guess How Much I Love You is just a sweet little, loving and gentle story. I have always believed babies take in so much more than we give them credit for and their brains are perfect little sponges. What better way to build a relationship than to read with them?

Polarity Bear Tours The Zoo Review

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Polarity Bear Tours the Zoo: A Central Park Adventure is a whimsical little picture book for any child over the age of four who loves reading about animals. Polarity is a bear who seems a wee bit depressed, or bored with her home in a cage inside the Central Park Zoo. She enjoys the zoo but what good is that when she is caged and not able to explore? She arrived at the zoo when animals still lived in cages and not more natural habitats. These days, many zoos in North America have more spacious environments that more closely resemble life in the wild. 
So one day, Polarity hatches a plan. She squeezes the bars of her cage apart, when she angrily sticks out her tongue at the world and the cage breaks, freeing her for the evening. She tours the zoo when nobody else is around. She rides the merry-go-round, dances around, swims with the sea lions and milks every ounce of fun out of her night. 
The prose is lovely here and Polarity Bear Tours the Zoo: A Central Park Adventure is told in rhyme. The rhyme however is never forced. It flows in a manner that supports and builds the story. Lately we have seen too many children’s books with rhyme that impedes narrative because it is so obviously forced. Polarity Bear Tours the Zoo is fun conceptually and a read that demands a bit of skill on the part of the reader. Challenging words and place names add to the reading level and experience here. Although I believe some 4-year-old readers might be interested in hearing this book the skill level is more aptly set about the age 6-7 and up in my opinion. 
Polarity was published in 2011 in the US. The setting is fun and the author Sue de Cuevas reads kids well. She is a specialist on the Bronte Sisters and used to teach at Harvard, but here she brings a smart little story to an audience of growing readers and she pens the narrative with a sophisticated touch. The illustrations here are dynamite. One of my favourite things to do when we review books here is to ask my daughter’s opinions on the story. Ainsley, 9, enjoyed the story and very much likes books about animals. But her one conistent comment was about the illustrations. “I loved the pictures.” We both had trouble choosing just one because there are so many brilliant pictures in this book. Illustrator Wendy Rasmussen elevates this book to art with her incredible pictures of Polarity dancing, swimming with sea lions (my favourite) and then collapsing in exhaustion at end of the night. Rasmussen has illustrated over 25 books, many of which were about animals. I cannot stress enough how magical and captivating her pictures are. These are frameable pages, magnificently rendered with emotion and life. Each picture captures Polarity experiences a larger than life adventure and emotion. Spectacular art.
Polarity Bear Tours the Zoo: A Central Park Adventure would be a great gift book for any animal loving children in your life. It costs $17.95 and is a hardcover picture book published by Polarity Bear Books. This book gets a $$$$ out of $$$$$. We received a copy for free in order to review this book. I was not paid to post this review. My opinion is my own.

Tales From the Treehouse: The Ultimate Horse Treasury

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My daughters are both horse girls. They have grown up riding in the summers at Sari Therapeutic Riding camp. My youngest girl Ainsley, with special needs, has been riding weekly at Sari from the time she was six years old. They love everything about riding and horses and horse trivia. Lucky for me, they both also love reading. So, when this book the Ultimate Horse Treasury arrived for review from DK Canada, I knew we would have a chance to all sit down together and read. I didn’t know the book would be this lovely, with so many magnificent pictures, and so much amazing trivia. As I stated in this vlog review, everyone can learn something about horses just by picking up this book.

DKCanada makes educational books that enhance your child’s education or leisure time. This summer they are encouraging children to read with their Summer Reading Adventure program. Buy 2 DK Canada readers and get the third one free. Stay tuned for our DK Canada readers reviews coming up featuring my other daughter, who reads at a younger level than Payton. She is tackling several awesome readers and staying current, while avoiding summer slide by practicing her reading with DK Canada.

The Ultimate Horse Treasury is by John Woodward, DK Canada, $19.99 US, $21.99 Canada. 160 pages.

This one gets a $$$$$ out of $$$$$ again. The DK Canada books are stunning quality and very educational.

We received a copy of the book for review purposes. This in no way impact our honest opinion.

Empire Theatres Buy $30 and get $30 Gift Cards

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I love gift cards. Huge fan here. This time of the year they are my go to present for the hard to buy for folks. You know – the teacher, the babysitter, the educational assistant helper at school, even then neighbour if they have been a good neighbour to me throughout the year. Empire Movie Theatre cards are blockbuster hits. Who doesn’t like the gift of entertainment?And there are so many fabulous movies coming out this Christmas. You could be giving Grandma the gift of Tom Hanks this year! Pretty sure that would solidify your place as best grandchild ever in her heart. Not that you weren’t already. 😉

For the second year in a row I am fortunate enough to be part of the Empire Theatres and Mom Central Canada blog tour about these great gift cards. This year, just like last when you buy $30 worth of the gift cards then you also get $30 worth of money-saving coupons to use throughout the year. For your information there are two great places to use Empire Theatres gift cards in and around London, Ontario. There is the London, Ontario Wellington Road Empire Theatre and there is an Empire Theatre in St. Thomas. There are many others throughout Ontario. So plenty of choices. I am using mine for date night this year since we finally found another babysitter. Oh and big Tom Hanks fan here too. So, see you at the movies, in 2012.

This year the coupons are great moneysavers, so keep them in your pocket or purse and don’t forget them when you go to the movies:

January 9-31: Buy One general admission and get one general admission free.
January 9-31: Also $2 off any combo except for kid’s combo.
February 1-29: Regular admission, plus regular soft drink and small popcorn only $9.99.
March 1 -31: One admission for $6.99.
March 1-31: Purchase a large popcorn, get a free large Coca Cola softdrink.
April 1-30: $4 off one general admission.


So, what are you waiting for head over to Empire Theatres in person, or on line and get your shopping done with Empire gift cards.  http://www.empiretheatres.com/gift/

I am participating in the Empire Theatre Gift Card Holiday campaign with Mom Central Canada. I received compensation for my participation in this campaign. My opinions are all my own.


Oh and don’t forget that tonight (Dec. 8th) Mom Central Canada is having a twitter party at 9 p.m. #empiregiving. Join us for a fun chat and some great prizes.

Twelve Pearls of Christmas: Guest Series and Giveaway: An Unforgettable Gift

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  Welcome to the 12 Pearls of Christmas! Enjoy these Christmas “Pearls of Wisdom”! Please follow along through Christmas day as each post shares heartfelt stories of how God has touched a life during this most wonderful time of the year. AND BEST OF ALL … there’s also a giveaway! Fill out the quick form at the link located at the bottom of this post to be entered to win a PEARL NECKLACE, BRACELET AND EARRINGS! 

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An Unforgettable Gift by Karen O’Connor
On Christmas morning, 1912, in Paducah, Kentucky, fourteen-year-old Charlie Flowers and his three brothers and two sisters huddled in their beds, fully dressed, trying to keep warm as the wind howled outside their small frame house. It was a desperate time for the family. Earlier that year the children’s father had died. And their mother had not found work. The coal had run out and there was little money––none for gifts. Their scrawny tree with decorations made from scraps of colored paper had been given to them the night before by a local merchant. “Can’t sell this one,” the man said with a nod of his head before handing it over to the eager children. To pass the time, the siblings joked and shouted stories from their bedrooms across the hallway from one another. Then suddenly a racket from the alley at the rear of the house broke into their games. “Charlie,” his mother called, “would you see what’s going on out there?” Charlie pulled on his shoes, grabbed a thick overcoat from the hook by the door, and ran out back. There stood a man in a wagon bent over a load of coal, shoveling it into the shed as fast as he could. “Hey Mister, we didn’t order any coal,” Charlie shouted. “You’re delivering it to the wrong house.” “Your name’s Flowers, isn’t it?” the man asked, still shoveling.  Charlie nodded yes. “Well then, there’s no mistake.  I’ve been asked to deliver this to your family on Christmas morning.” He looked the awe-struck boy square in the eye. “And I’m under strict orders not to tell who sent it,” he teased. Charlie ran into the house, his coattail flapping in the cold morning wind.  He could hardly wait to tell his mother and brothers and sisters. God had provided––just as he had on that first Christmas morning so long ago when He sent his only son to a needy world. Charlie Flowers died in 1994 at age 96. And right up to the last year of his life, not a Christmas went by that he didn’t tell the story of that sub-zero Christmas morning of his boyhood when two men gave his family an unforgettable gift. It wasn’t the coal that was remembered or cherished, Charlie often said––welcome as it was––but rather what two men brought to his desperate family. One, for his gift of recognizing their great need and taking the time to do something about it. And the other, for being willing to give up part of his own Christmas morning to deliver it. That gift of so long ago has continued to warm the Flowers family from one generation to another, as Charlie’s son––my husband, Charles––calls to mind these two unknown men each Christmas morning and whispers a prayer of thanks.

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About Karen: Karen O’Connor is an award-winning author and writing mentor living in Watsonville, California with her husband, Charles Flowers. Karen’s latest book is 365 Reasons Why Gettin’ Old Ain’t So Bad (Harvest House 2010).
For more information, please visit Karen on the web at http://www.karenoconnor.com/.

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A three strand pearl necklace will be given away on New Year’s Day. All you need to do to have a chance of winning is {FILL OUT THIS QUICK ENTRY FORM}. One entry per person, per day. The winner will be announced on the Pearl Girls Blog (http://margaretmcsweeney.blogspot.com/) on New Years Day! 12 Pearls of Christmas Series and contest sponsored by Pearl Girls®. For more information, please visit http://www.pearlgirls.info/