A few weekends back I was sitting in my driveway eyeing crates full of old kids books, waiting for customers who weren't showing up during one very slow moving yard sale. To help pass the time I started flipping through books, and inside a 1950-something copy of Uncle Arthur's Bedtime Stories I found this gem. "You horrid Bimbo!" I'm guessing sixty some … [Read more...]
May the 4th Be With You! Star Wars Day Fun with DK Books
DK has teamed up with Chapters / Indigo to celebrate May the 4th across Canada. If you happen to be lucky enough to live in Calgary Alberta, Kelowna or Surrey BC, or Kanata Ontario, there are special in store events planned for Star Wars Day. These events will not only offer an opportunity to meet and rub shoulders with costumed members of the famed 501st Legion in their best … [Read more...]
Deal Alert – Gorgeous kids book My Monster Burrufu available for FREE until April 18th
My Monster Burrufu is written by Alberto Corral, a DreamWorks Animation artist, whose film credits include the How to Train your Dragon, Shrek, Kung Fu Panda and Madagascar sagas. The book is illustrated by Alesandra Sorrentino an animator, storyboard artist and illustrator. It's a lovely book. I reviewed it a while back, and thought it was a great children's chapter book, for … [Read more...]
Library with Dad
La Soupe De Garcons, TD Grade One Book Giveaway
Did anyone else's little one get a copy of Boy Soup through the TD Grade One Book Giveaway? Rainbow is in a French Immersion school, so she came home with a copy of La soupe de garcons, which she loved reading. But she told me she wished we had an English copy to compare. And voila, our wishes were granted because a week later she was sent home with an English copy of Boy … [Read more...]
Listen to the Birds: An Introduction to Classical Music!
I recently received a preview copy of Listen to the Birds: An Introduction to Classical Music!, the newest release from award-winning Canadian children's publisher The Secret Mountain. I've reviewed a few book & CD sets from The Secret Mountain in the past, and I've always been impressed with the quality of the books (hardcover, lovely paper, great print quality; I'm a … [Read more...]
O is for… Once Upon a Time in the Land of Oz!
Of course "O" is for Oz, in this household how could it be anything else? I think most of you are already well aware of how much Rainbow and I love the original Oz books. Reading a chapter from "Dorothy-Toto" has been part of our nightly bedtime routine for well over two years now. Since L. Frank Baum's Oz stories were written over 100 years … [Read more...]
Follow Me Down the Yellow Brick Road: A Round Up of All Things Oz Related
I'm all about Oz this week. Actually, I'll all about Oz on pretty much a daily basis, as G-Girl and I are still reading through the original series for a second time. But I find Oz on my mind even more then usual, as I'm obsessing on the new Disney prequel coming out this weekend. So I've been browsing around the net, collecting Oz related things that catch my fancy. You can … [Read more...]
A couple of reasons why I’m looking forward to seeing Oz The Great and Powerful…
I'm not usually the type to head out on opening night to see a flick. In fact I rarely see movies in the theater at all. But this one has me ridiculously excited and here's why: First, the soundtrack. It's by my one of my all time favourite composers, Danny Elfman. Almost reason enough to line up right there. Secondly, the China Girl character. Let me explain... If you … [Read more...]
The Sea Fairies by L. Frank Baum ~ delightful children’s classic from the author of The Wizard of Oz
We just finished reading The Sea Fairies by L. Frank Baum. It's one of Baum's non-Oz book. It's also now one of my favourite children's books ever. The descriptions of the mermaids and the underwater life were fantastic, and Zog the Magician was one of the most deliciously evil villains I've encountered in quite some time. This book was a delight to read aloud and share with … [Read more...]
The Things I Want to Know Are In Books…
A book loving quote, in honour of Freedom to Read week... Courtesy of Devil's Apricot Designs "The things I want to know are in books; my best friend is the man who'll get me a book I ain't read." ~ Abraham Lincoln … [Read more...]
Oz The Great and Powerful; Fantastical Costumes & Make-Up, all part of the Magic of Oz!
You may have noticed I have a slight infatuation with the Oz books... so as you might guess I am ever so VERY MUCH looking forward to the new Oz "prequel" that Disney is premièring on March 8th. Oz The Great and Powerful tells the story of when Oscar Diggs, the man who will later be known as the great wizard of Oz, first arrives in that magical land. He meets three … [Read more...]
B is for… Books!
B is for Bedtime and Bedtime is for B O O K S Our bedtime routine is pretty standard. Battle with the girls over brushing their teeth and completing their other bathroom bedtime business. Briskly move things to Rainbow's bedroom, where we burrow in the bedsheets and enjoy a chapter from our latest book. Baum brings us to back to Oz as little sister bounces in and … [Read more...]
The Secret Mountain Kids Book & CD sets
I've mentioned before how much I love award winning children's book publisher The Secret Mountain. They make lovely kids' book & CD sets. They're Canadian and they operate out of Montreal, Quebec. I've reviewed a few of their books in the past, such as the wacky ABC book W is for Wapiti, and their lovely collections of nursery rhymes and lullabies Songs in the Shade of … [Read more...]
Mail a Tale, Kids Monthly Book Subscription Service ~ Just books in a box? No, much more!
Almost a year ago now I had the honour of helping to beta test a new service. Designed for kids ages 0 to 8, Mail a Tale offers a monthly books in a box subscription. The packages go out once a month, for $19.95, plus shipping, you get two softcover books or one hardcover book. For $39.95 you get four softcover books or two hardcover books, and that includes free … [Read more...]