Little Fun Club Blog Tour and Giveaway

There is nothing quite like getting a parcel in the mail, and for many of us a parcel full of books is a special treat. 

A few days ago just such a parcel was delivered to my house. I opened the box to find that it contained a carefully wrapped package that was neatly tied up with a blue ribbon. I carefully opened the package and in it there was a wonderful selection of  books for children. For toddlers there was Wolf Crunch, a novelty board book that has tabs to pull and a delightful, and surprising, ending. For older children there was Last Stop on Market Street, an award winning picture book that shows us that joy can be found in the most unlikely of places. Finally, there was a beautifully illustrated edition of Jules Verne's 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea, which would suit teenage and adult readers. 

The parcel of books was a sample of what Little Fun Club offers, and a subscription to this service would be a wonderful gift to share with children. 

About Little Fun Club:

Little Fun Club is a subscription box for children's books. It's ideal for kids ages 0-12. When you sign up, your child will receive a box containing three adventurous books every month. The books are tailored to your child's age, so you can rest assured they will always have quality, age-appropriate reading material. Each book is hand selected for your child, and no two boxes are the same.  

How it Works:

1. Join Little Fun Club and let them know your child's age so the box can be customized for them. You can include up to three kids per box and they'll customize it accordingly.
2. Get three adventurous books every month for as little as $25/month.
3. Grow with Little Fun Club. As your child gets older, the books change accordingly — so you'll always receive age-appropriate books for your kids.

 

Good to Know:

1. You can add a note to your child's account with reading preferences so the box can be tailored to their interests.
2. Shipping is FREE on all boxes.
3. Little Fun Club selects books based on merit. Books go through a rigorous selection process and are read and reviewed by the Little Fun Club team before being considered.
4. If you receive a book that you already own, just let Little Fun Club know about it. They'll replace the book in the next box! You don't have to return anything.
5. You can cancel or put your subscription hold at any time.
6. A Little Fun Club subscription makes a wonderful gift for birthdays, holidays, or just because.

The final product is a box filled with education, fun, and opportunities for positive child development. They make sure each box is just right before it is sent out.  

Prices:

1 month - $29/month 3 months - $27/month 6 months - $25/month   You can see what types of books Little Fun Club offers by visiting their website.

   

Giveaway Details:

1 winner will receive $50 in PayPal cash Open to US and Canada Ends May 12, 2017 Use the Rafflectoper to enter. Entrants must be 18 or older or have their parent/guardian enter for them. The winner will be chosen randomly. Winner must respond to my email within 48 hours or a new winner will be chosen. No purchase necessary to enter. This contest is void where prohibited by law.  

Blog Tour Schedule
April 17 - The Mommy Island 
April 18 - Writing My Own Fairy Tale 
April 19 - The Kids Did It 
April 20 - Feed Your Fiction Addiction
April 21 - Book Review Mama 
April 24 - Homebound but Hopeful 
April 25 - Looking Glass Review 
April 26 - Kristi's Book Nook 
April 27 - Natasha Reads Books 
April 28 - Create With Joy 
May 1 - That's What She Read 
May 2 - Tee and Penguin 
May 3 - Bookworm for Kids, This Kid Reviews Books 
May 5 - Word Spelunking 
May 8 - Babies to Bookworms 
May 9 - The Tangled Yarn 
May 10 - Geo Librarian 
May 11 - Savings in Seconds 
May 12 - Kid Lit Reviews

The TTLG 2011 Picture Book Celebration: Book three hundred and twenty-one

When my daughter was young, she was convinced that "nasty things" lived in her closet, and we had to make sure that the doors of her closet were shut tight before she would let us turn off her light at bedtime. Many children are persecuted by the monsters, bears, wolves, dragons and other creatures that inhabit the dark places in their homes, and it is hard to reassure them that these creatures are not out to get them.

In today's picture book Joanna Harrison tells the story of a little girl who has a problem with a bear, and we see how her fear changes over time into something altogether different. 

Dear Bear

Joanna Harrison

Picture Book

For ages 4 to 7

Lerner, 2006, 0-87614-965-4

Most of the time, Katie is a happy girl who likes having tea parties, hanging upside down on the bars, playing dress up, and playing with her friends at school. Most of the time Katie does not think about the bear who lives under the stairs, but at night, when she is in bed, she finds it hard not think about him. Katie knows that the bear is there and that he is “just waiting to jump out and grab her.” Katie tells her parents about the bear, and her mother suggests that Katie should write to the bear and tell him to “go away.”

   Katie follows her mother’s advice, and to her amazement, the bear writes her a letter telling her that he has decided to go away, as per her request. Apparently, the bear needs a vacation. A few days later, Katie finds a package in front of the closet door. Inside the package is a snow globe. The bear has brought Katie a gift.

   Naturally, Katie sends the bear a thank you letter, but when she does not hear anything from the bear for several days she starts to worry. Is the bear ill? Is something terribly wrong with him?

   Many children are afraid of the bears, dragons, and monsters that inhabit closets, basements, and other dark and creepy places. When they are in bed, they are afraid to put their feet down on the floor in case something grabs them by the ankles.

   In this picture book, Joanna Harrison tackles this very delicate issue with sensitivity and gentle humor. Children will come to see that perhaps the creature they fear is not all that bad. Perhaps it is even lonely.

   Being able to see both sides of a story is a useful tool to have, and this book helps children to see that when they are afraid or unsure, they should try to look at their problem from a different angle. They may be surprised by what they see when they do.

The TTLG 2011 Picture Book Celebration: Book two hundred and thirty-two

One of the downsides of going on vacation is having to adjust to being back at home after the vacation is over. The gloriously free days are gone, and once again there is work to be done, errands to run, and chores to do. Imagine what it would be like if you were gone on a vacation that lasted millions of years. Coming home would be rather a shock to the system!

Vacation’s over! Return of the dinosaurs

Joe Kulka

Picture Book

For ages 5 to 7

Lerner, 2010, 978-0-7613-5212-9

   I imagine that you are one of those people who think the dinosaurs are extinct, right? Well, I am here to tell you that you are wrong. Long ago they left Earth to go on a “cruise” on an alien spaceship, and ever since they have been having a great time visiting distant planets and seeing the sights.

   Now they are back, and it is time for them to “settle back in” to everyday life. How will they manage on a planet that has changed so much since they were last here? Will they be able to adjust to being in everyday mode after being on vacation for so long?

   Children who have a fondness for dinosaurs are sure to enjoy this clever picture book with its amusing rhyming text and its colorful and expressive illustrations. What would you do if a brachiosaurus moved in next door?

The Kennedys and their legacy to the world of children's literature

This morning I was listening to the radio, and I heard about how people from all over the country are going to pay their respects to the late Senator Edward Kennedy. Many of people stood in lines for hours outside the Kennedy Library in Boston to say goodbye to a man who worked so hard to help the American people. Many of the visitors were astonished when family members came out to shake their hands and to thank them for being there. This gesture touched many hearts and it reminded me that the Kennedys were, and are, a very special family.

We know about John, Robert, and Edward and their service to the country in the political arena, but many of us don't know that the Kennedy's have also given the world of children's literature some wonderful books. Caroline Kennedy gave us A Family of Poems: My favorite poetry. Robert F. Kennedy Junior wrote Saint Francis of Assisi: A life of Joy, Robert F. Kennedy, Jr.'s American Heroes: Robert Smalls, the Boat Thief , and more recently Robert F. Kennedy Jr.'s American Heroes: The Story of Joshua Chamberlain and the American Civil War. Maria Shriver has also written several books for children including What's wrong with Timmy? In 2006 Edward Kennedy wrote a children's book, My Senator and Me: A dog's eye view of Washington, D.C. I will be reviewing this latter title very soon.

I hope you get the opportunity to take a look at some of these books. Caroline Kennedy's collection of poems is especially wonderful. It is a book that readers of all ages will enjoy.