Cooking Lessons with the Kids

 

I decided to start cooking lessons with the kids. It is too overwhelming to me to have the kids help with meals every day. 

1. There are too many of them, I get buried alive sometimes lol 🙂. 

2. Cooking is something that I like to just put on a show or listen to a book and get work done. I don’t want to stop to ask someone to do something or teach someone how to do something. I just want to do it and get it done. 

I do cooking two ways:

1. Get food on the table. This is your basic, we need to eat, so I have to make it. 

2. Cook for enjoyment, try a new recipe bake several versions to see which is best, make something that takes more work, etc. Neither of those I want help with from the kids.

But I do think it is important to teach the kids to cook. I think everyone needs to know how to cook. And they enjoy cooking I want to encourage that. But I didn’t want to cook with everyone at once. As I said it’s overwhelming. 

Introducing Cooking Class!

I got a cook book that is kid friendly and fits our dietary restrictions (gluten free, dairy free, soy free,). I checked it out from the library. So far I’m loving it.

The cookbook we are using is Eat Like a Dinosaur, it is a kids Paleo cookbook. I am planning to try The Paleo Kids Cookbook next. But any cookbook that works for your family would work for this

I do 1 kid per week. They get to pick 1 main dish, 1 side dish/vegetable, 1 snack, and 1 dessert. We cook those together. 

I have them pick out their recipes the week before so I have time to get the ingredients. 

I am learning how to teach something I automatically do. 

The kids are enjoying the one on one time and enjoying trying new recipes. It is a Win!

Here is what D and I cooked together. He picked hissing chicken, sweet potato fries, tropical smoothie, deviled eggs and banana chocolate chip muffins (last two not pictured)

Healthy Dairy Free Frosty

 

We found this recipe in Eat Like A Dinosaur. We first made it in Cooking Class. Honestly the kids didn’t like it, they all gave it back (I think it was too strong and rich for them, even with added banana). But Chris and I loved it! It reminded us of a Wendy’s chocolate frosty. The original recipe called for dates, but I didn’t find them necessary. This is a sugar free, dairy free frosty / milkshake. And it is delicious!

Let’s talk about the ingredients

Avocado - healthy fat, lots of vitamins etc. adds a heathy boost and also makes the frosty smooth, creamy, and thick.

Banana - a sweet fruit that is great for sweetening smoothies :). It is higher carb so definitely not keto. If you are Keto / low carb and ok with a dark chocolate flavor, you might be able to eliminate the banana or substitute berries, but it will definitely be less sweet. I have not tried that but it’s worth a try. If you are not keto and you like a sweeter milkshake feel free to add more banana. You can freeze the bananas first for a thicker milk shake.

Coconut milk - I used the unsweetened stuff in the carton. You can use the full fat canned kind for a thicker higher fat milk shake. I was going for lower calorie and the carton milk worked great!

Cocoa powder - this is obviously where the chocolate flavor comes from.  But it also has some health benefits of its own. It has been linked to lowering inflammation and blood pressure, and boosting blood flow and brain function among other things.

Chocolate Greens (optional) - I use It Works Chocolate greens. It has 8 servings of veggies, 15 calories, and 2 carbs. It just adds a good boost of vegetables for a lot of nutrition, without many drawbacks. It also adds to the chocolate flavor and sweetness. You can use other brands, just check out the ingredients and nutrition label to make sure it fits with your eating goals.
(disclaimer - I am an It Works distributor, but I only benefit monetarily if you order through me 🙂. On a related note if you are interested in more info email me at domesticrandomness@gmail.com 🙂 or you can order order here.)

Meal Replacement/protein powder (optional) - I order custom meal replacement powder through True Nutrition. I love this because I am able to pick what I want in my powder and in what quantities. I picked beef protein, whole egg, sweet potato, avocado oil, etc because I would actually sit down and eat those things in a meal. They have many more choices like whey, grass fed milk, MCT, and much more. I also find their prices to be extremely reasonable. $10-16/lb for most things, depending on what you order. You can use whatever powder you normally use or leave this out 🙂.
(Use the code domesticrandomness at checkout for 5% off your order. I believe it can be combined with their bulk order discount)

Powdered Coffee (optional) - I use It Works Skinny Brew for a dairy free coffee powder. It has a french roast coffee taste. And it has added energy, brain boosting, focus, and fat burning ingredients!
(disclaimer - I am an It Works distributor, but I only benefit monetarily if you order through me 🙂. On a related note if you are interested in more info email me at domesticrandomness@gmail.com 🙂 or you can order here.)

Ice- this one is fairly obvious, it makes the frosty cold and thicker. Especially if the bananas are not frozen. Also adds water, which most of us need more of. 🙂

Healthy Dairy Free Frosty
Serves 2

1 Avocado
2 ripe bananas
2 c unsweetened coconut milk
1/4 c cocoa powder
2 scoops Chocolate Greens (optional)
2 scoops meal replacement/protein powder (optional)

2 packets powdered coffee (optional, for a mocha frosty)
4 handfuls of Ice

Put all ingredients in blender, blend until well mixed.
Serve and enjoy!



Nutritional info (without the optional powders)

307 calories

31g net carbs

46g total carbs

16g fiber

18g fat

7g protein

Paleo, low calorie meal replacement, clean eating, gluten free, dairy free, soy free, sugar free, sweetener free, allergen friendly, healthy milkshake, low carb

Game Review: Lanterns - The Harvest Festival

Lanterns -The Harvest Festival 

We got this game from the library.

It is a good family game. It is simple enough that our 8, 7, and 5 year old can play it. There is no reading required for game play so non-readers can play this. The 7 and 5 year old need some help with strategy, but they are able to play independently for the most part. The length of the game was also a little long for the 7 and 5 year old. But the game could be adjusted for a shorter game. We just let them leave when they were done playing.

This game has a max of 4 players, so we had to do teams until the younger left. Not great for large families. 

The play is simple play tiles, gather cards, make sets with cards to earn points. Whoever has the most points when the tiles run out wins. 

It is great for several learning concepts too. The cards and tiles are colored so there is color recognition and matching. The score counting at the end is great for math. Strategy, logic, turn taking are also featured in this game.

The colors and visuals are also awesome.

Overall this is a great game! It was fun, engaging, and learning. Definitely worth checking out! 

Order Here

If a mom ...

I wrote my morning up in "if you give a mouse a cookie" style. Enjoy :)

Hotline to God Story Stix: Review of a great Children's Toy #sponspred

I received the products in this review for free in exchange for writing a review. All opinions are 100% my own. The products were supplied by Hotline to God. I signed up for the review through Buzz Plant's BuzzBlogger program.


When I received the package from Hotline to God we were having a crazy day getting ready for Little Man 2's first birthday party. I didn't have time to deal with it so I put it up on a shelf and forgot about it. I remembered it the other day when it was raining all day and I needed something to occupy the little men so I wouldn't go crazy. When I pulled them out and let the kids play with them I wished I wouldn't have waited so long.

The kids loved them! Little Man 2 was the first one who got to explore them because he woke up from his nap earlier than Little Man 1. He couldn't figure out how to push the buttons so I pushed them for him. You should have seen the huge smile when it was talking to him. Then he put it up to his ear like a phone (he has seen Little Man 1 talk on various objects like a phone). He gestured and smiled just like he was listening to someone on the phone. Whenever it stopped talking to him he handed it back to me and I started it again. I wish I could post the pictures I got of him listening and smiling, they are super cute. But Mr. Random and I agreed when I started this blog that I would not post pictures of any of our faces. You can see a few pictures below of my kids cute arms etc and their new favorite toys.

When Little Man 1 woke up he loved them too. He pushed the buttons over and over. He also loved the Serenity Prayer key chain. He really loves key chains right now. He will loop them around his fingers and carry them around. This key chain recites the serenity prayer when you push a button. SO now I hear the serenity prayer a lot :)

Hotline to God sent us 4 Story Stixs, 1 Key Chain, and 1 Phone to God. I haven't gotten batteries into the phone yet, but I have no doubt the boys will love that too. They both love pretending to talk on the phone. The story sticks are interesting. Each of them tells 1 bible story: Jesus, Noah, David & Goliath, and Adam & Eve. The stories are broken down into 6 parts, each button tells a sentence or two of the story. If you press each of the buttons in order you will hear the entire story. But they also set it up so each button makes sense on its own. They were well designed. The only thing I would change is the option to turn down the volume. The website says they are recommended for ages 3 and over, but my 2 (almost 3) year old  and 1 year old love them.

If you are looking for a good toy or present for a children these would be great!

Diaper Wars 8 the New! Huggies Little Snugglers #MC #sponsored

I participated in a campaign on behalf of Mom Central Consulting for Huggies and Target. I received samples and a promotional item to facilitate my review.

Let me apologize in advance, my shift button is not working well so capitalizing is twice as hard as usual. So if there are any words incorrectly capitalized I am sorry. This is what happens when little hands pry off your keyboard keys and putting them back on just doesn't fix it right.

I reviewed Huggies Little Snugglers diapers before and I was impressed with them, so when I was offered the opportunity to review the New! Huggies Little Snugglers diapers I jumped at the chance. These are some of my favorite diapers and if i could afford to I would use them all the time. As it is, I do use them when i have a newborn because I feel they are gentler on newborn skin.

Part of the review was that I had to go in store to Target and buy the diapers there (with a gift card provided by the sponsors). This was no hardship for me because I love Target! I buy all my diapers there anyways so this was nothing new. Target is always easy to navigate and find what I am looking for, and the staff is always friendly and accommodating. I also love their selection!

Target also has an excellent baby registry. I have registered there with both my boys. You can register online or in store (if you register online make sure you go in store to get the free gift bag, there are some really good coupons and freebies in there!). And right now if you create a Target baby registry and register for Huggies Little Snugglers diapers and Natural Care Wipes you can enter to win a year supply of free diapers! You can sign up for the sweepstakes on the Huggies Register Your Wish website.

Huggies Little Snugglers

Positives

Softness
The New! Huggies Little Snugglers are incredibly soft! I think these may be the softest of all the diapers I have tried. If you have read my previous reviews then you know that softness is very important to me. I don't like putting something on my child that I would never put against my skin. And hard scratchy diapers are not something I am willing to use. The softer the better in my opinion (as long as it doesn't reduce the use-ability). So this is a huge positive for me with Little Snugglers. I have no compunctions against using these on my son and i would have no problem using them on a newborn (I use store brand diapers most of the time, but i do go for the higher quality, softer diapers for my newborns). These diapers really feel like they would be a soft hug for newborns.

Absorbancy

The Huggies Little Snugglers are absorbant. They have a new GentleAbsorb* Liner  with hundreds of tiny absorbant pillows to help draw the mess away from the skin and keep them dry. Little Man 2 has not had any hugely wet diapers yet, but so far we have had no leaks. Even when he sleeps in them all night. And they seem to be helping with his rash a little (he has had a really bad rash for several days and using these in addition to diaper rash cream seems to be helping). So they are great skin care for your little one.

Wetness Indicator

Huggies Little Snugglers does have a very nice wetness indicator. The way that it works is that there is a yellow line on the outside of the diaper extending from the front to the back. When the diaper is wet the line will turn blue. It is easy to read and shows up even if there is only a little wetness. That is pretty important in the first few weeks when you don't really know what you are doing and have a hard time telling if your baby has peed and you are supposed to be recording how many times they have peed every day. I definitely recommend these diapers for the first month or so with your first child.

Rewards Program

Huggies has a rewards program. You earn points by entering codes from diapers and wipes, and other Huggies products, and inviting friends (by the way send me your email address if you want an invitation, you get 10 points for signing up through an invitation). Apparently you can also get points for reading articles and writing reviews but I'm not sure how that works because I haven't done it. As far as the rewards go you can get shutterfly products like photo books and photo prints, magazine subscriptions, and things for your children.

Deals

I see coupons for Huggies all the time. Usually for $1-3 off. On amazon right now there is a coupon for $2 and $4 off Little Snugglers. 

Fit
These diaper are very stretchy! They have a unique SnugFit* waistband in the back that stretches to provide a gentle secure fit. They have a flexible pocketed back waistband to help keep in the mess. They also have an umbilical cord cut out for newborns. I didn't need this feature, but I know it is great when you have a newborn. The stretchiness works well to make the diapers fit. The only area I'm not sure about is around the legs. I got size 2 because that is the size that my son wears in other diapers. But Little Snugglers runs a little bit smaller than the other diapers so it is possible a size 3 would have fit better in the leg. One problem with diapers running smaller is that your child grows out of each size a little faster, and the smaller sizes are slightly cheaper so staying in the smaller size saves you a little money. But this is not a deal breaker for me.

The stretchy back waistband

The pocket in the back waistband. It really does work to keep in the mess!

The stretchy sides.

Availability
You can find New! Huggies Little Snugglers in most grocery stores and mass retailers.


Neutral

Blowout Rate

Little Man 2 has been pooping a Lot lately. So I got a chance to test this out. He had one blowout. It came out around the leg, so it could have been our fault. Mr. Random put the diaper on so I didn't see how it fit around the leg.  And I don't really blame Huggies because Little Man 2 has been going through a blowout phase, and is having blowouts in any diapers I put him in. What I did like about these diapers is the pocketed waistband in the back (see picture below) because it stopped the blowout from going all the way up his back.

Negatives

Price
Prices are for size 1 diapers for equal comparison.
Walmart - Box of 216 diapers for $47.17 = $0.22/diaper
Amazon- Box of 198 diapers for $46.86 (with subscribe and save, free shipping) = $0.24/diaper
Target - Box of 216 diapers for $47.19 = $0.22/diaper

*Prices reflect the price at the time I checked, they will vary. I am not responsible for difference between these prices and current prices.


Conclusion
These diapers are great! The only downside is the price. But I am willing to pay the higher price for diapers for newborns. And of course when I find a great sale or coupon I would jump at the chance to get these diapers. They are great diapers and the changes are only for the better!


I participated in a campaign on behalf of Mom Central Consulting for Huggies and Target. I received samples and a promotional item to facilitate my review.

Maisy and the Missing Mice Book Blast and $25 giveaway

Disclosure: I earned an entry into a separate giveaway for blog blast participants in exchange for this post. I also got the chance to have new readers come visit my blog (welcome new readers! please feel free to stay and browse a while!). None of the links in this post are affiliate links for me. If you are a blogger and would like the opportunity to participate in future blog tours and blog blasts sign up at Mother, Daughter, & Son Book Reviews.

Mother Daughter Book Reviews is pleased to be coordinating a Book Blast for the first book in The Maisy Files mystery chapter book series by Elizabeth Woodrum, "Maisy and the Missing Mice". Book 2 in the series, "Maisy and the Money Marauder" is coming August, 2014. If you haven't checked out Book 1, you can grab a copy for only 99 cents from Amazon!

 

About the Book

Title: Maisy and the Missing Mice (The Maisy Files)
Author: Elizabeth Woodrum
Publication Date: September 24, 2013
Publisher: Independent
Pages: 75
Recommended Ages: 6 to 10 
Summary: Maisy Sawyer is not your average fourth grade student. She is a detective with a special skill for solving mysteries. She loves black and white mystery movies, cherry lollipops, and her dog, Reesie. When a thief known as The Black Boot steals the school's mascots and her lollipops, Maisy sets out to solve the case. Can she help return the mice to their home in the science lab? Will she ever see her beloved lollipops again? Find out in the first book in The Maisy Files series.      

Book Movie

 

PURCHASE FOR 99 CENTS

 

The Buzz About the Book

"Maisy and the Missing Mice is a fun chapter book featuring a smart and sassy tween girl as the title character; a solid and interesting plot featuring age-appropriate intrigue and suspense; and some terrific writing that carries the reader on a journey as a detective uncovering clues and solving the mystery of who stole the missing mice. I highly recommend this book as a read aloud book for children between the ages of 6 and 10 or for independent readers between the ages of 7 and 12 who love to read mysteries." ~ Renee, Mother Daughter Book Reviews

"Woodrum certainly knows her target audience and does a very nice job with the character development of Maisy. This is an incredibly kid-friendly story that makes a great introduction to the genre of mystery for newly independent readers. It's a quick page turning read that encourages kids to think outside of the box." ~ The Children's Book Review

"The delights from this book start with the cover art and continue with a fun story that is well-written." ~ 5 Star Review, R. Johnson, Amazon

"My name is Kat. I am 9 years old. I would rate this a five because I like everything about it, the mystery the most. It was fun to read. My favorite part was the mystery and the end. I love this book so much. I think other kids would love it too because it has mystery and most kids would like mystery books. Most mystery books have a good mystery. I would love to read the whole series." ~ 5 Star Review, Heather A., Amazon

"What an Amazing book. I totally love it. I admire the author dedication for writing an incredible book. While reading this book, it was very clear that author understand kids. I’ve always been an avid reader and this book is one of the best books I have read in 2014. This book grabs my attention from the very start of the book and couldn't put it aside till I finish it." ~ 5 Star Review, KristinT, Amazon

"I knew I would love this book simply because I knew it would remind me of the mystery books I read in my childhood. I really love how much trust the teachers and community as a whole put in Maisy. She is well deserving of their admiration as the way she finds clues and finds the mascot for the school is well thought out. This is a story any child would love to read. I hope Maisy continues to solve mysteries..." ~ 5 Star Review, Josh, Amazon

 

About the Author: Elizabeth Woodrum

Elizabeth Woodrum is an elementary teacher in Ohio. She came to love writing when she was in elementary school, but more recently began writing material for use in her classroom. From that writing, grew the desire to write books for the general population of children and adults alike. The Maisy Files, a children's series, is the first series that she has published. As a reader, Elizabeth prefers the fantasy genre, but she enjoys realistic fiction as well. Some of her favorite authors include JK Rowling, Stephenie Meyer, Rick Riordan, Veronica Roth, Suzanne Collins, and Nicholas Sparks. Originally from Indiana, Elizabeth currently resides near Dayton, Ohio with her two pets: a cat named Butterscotch and a dog named Reese Cup.  

Book Website | Author Blog | Twitter

Facebook | Goodreads | Pinterest

 

* $25 Book Blast Giveaway *

Prize: $25 Amazon Gift Card or PayPal cash (winner’s choice)
Contest ends: August 7, 11:59 pm, 2014
Open: Internationally
How to enter: Please enter using the Rafflecopter widget below.
Terms and Conditions: NO PURCHASE NECESSARY TO ENTER OR WIN. VOID WHERE PROHIBITED BY LAW. A winner will be randomly drawn through the Rafflecopter widget and will be contacted by email within 48 hours after the giveaway ends. The winner will then have 72 hours to respond. If the winner does not respond within 72 hours, a new draw will take place for a new winner. Odds of winning will vary depending on the number of eligible entries received. This contest is in no way sponsored, endorsed or administered by, or associated with Facebook. This giveaway is sponsored by the author, Elizabeth Woodrum and is hosted and managed by Renee from Mother Daughter Book Reviews. If you have any additional questions – feel free to send and email to Renee(at)MotherDaughterBookReviews(dot)com.

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A Different Kind of Safari Book Blast and $25 giveaway

Disclosure: I earned an entry into a separate giveaway for blog blast participants in exchange for this post. I also got the chance to have new readers come visit my blog (welcome new readers! please feel free to stay and browse a while!). None of the links in this post are affiliate links for me. If you are a blogger and would like the opportunity to participate in future blog tours and blog blasts sign up at Mother, Daughter, & Son Book Reviews.

I’m pleased to be contributing this review to the Small Fry Safari Readers Challenge 2014, hosted by The Bookshelf Gargoyle, specifically under the category “A book with something related to safari in the title”. Click HERE for more information.  

About the Book

Title: A Different Kind of Safari
Author: Helen C. Hipp
Publication Date: March 19, 2013
Publisher: A Different Kind of Safari LLC
Pages: 32
Recommended Ages: 5 to 10
Summary: What do you need to feel happy about being different? Based loosely on real life experiences, this heartwarming and powerful book illustrates how self-awareness, and courage help a young boy named Raymond learn the difference between seeing things as they appear to be and seeing things as they are. Feeling "different and lonely" Raymond befriends a hippo while on Safari in Africa. Unlike other grey hippos, this hippo is pink. Ray is soon carried into a world beyond labels and challenging assumptions. You will never guess what happens next!  

The Inspiration Behind the Story by Helen Hipp

Inspired by real-life adventure, the story behind the story unfolded when I went on an African safari back in 2001. The trip was lead by my father whose dream was to share the safari experience with his family. Little did I know that this trip was going to incite me to write a children’s adventure book but it did. The storyline made it appearance when my family spotted a pod of hippos and one was pink! My son Ray fourteen at the time immediately named her “Rosie”. Curious and wanting to learn more about this hippo we asked the guide many questions about hippos and hippo behavior. Specifically I wanted to know why the pink hippo stood so far outside of her pod. The familiarity of the guides answer took me by surprise, he explained that “Rosie” was tolerated but not necessarily accepted by the herd because of her differences. As a parent of a child with special needs I immediately felt a strong affiliation with Rosie’s situation as did my son Ray who has experienced his own challenges with acceptance. Inspired, I decided to share the story with the world by weaving them into a children's adventure book that celebrates differences. The book is entitled “A Different Kind of Safari”. Find out what you can learn from Rosie the pink hippo, and how you can share those lessons with the children in your life.  

Book Movie

 

The Buzz About the Book

"A timeless book, that will speak to everyone. To be enjoyed over and over again! A fun, yet very thought provoking story for all ages. If books had a satisfaction guarantee, this one would be on the top of the list. " ~ 5 Star Review, Adden B. Chrystie, Amazon

"A Different Kind of Safari is truly a different kind of children's book! The beautiful artwork bring a very special story to life and I am excited the book is now available in audio format for an added bonus while driving kids around town! I particularly love the message of the book, which teaches us to celebrate our unique differences through Rosie the Pink Hippo rather than allow them to keep us from exploring our potentials. I highly recommend this book to all parents and special needs educators in particular. Thank you for writing this wonderful story!" ~ 5 Star Review, missladyjane, Barnes and Noble

"I really enjoyed this book. The illustrations were beautiful. I found this book to be very interesting and it was written from real life experiences. A Different Kind of Safari draws you in along with Ray on his journey to find his happiness and the answers to his questions. I recommend this book to children that are of grade school age but yet many younger children may enjoy the illustrations." ~ 5 Star Review, Whittle House, Goodreads

"The book has a great story. The illustrations are amazing!!!!! Get this book! All children from the young to the old will love this book. " ~ 5 Star Review, Mel, Amazon

"A Different Kind of Safari is not only a good book, but a great story! It is not only for caregivers, teachers and parents, but for anyone who has ever felt out of place. A pink hippo named “Rosie” and her friend “Ray” take a journey and explore their similarities and differences on the river of life. Self- acceptance and the acceptance of others is exquisitely conveyed in a fresh, FUN way through this sweet tail. It is a prize for all libraries!" ~ 5 Star Review, Anna Wood, Barnes and Noble

 

Purchase

Amazon (Hardcover) | Audible (Audiobook) | Barnes and Noble

 

About the Author: Helen C. Hipp

Helen Hipp’s experience raising a special needs child led her to an M.A. in clinical psychology and certification as a life coach. She began her career as a psychotherapist to help people find answers for their life problems. Her work eventually evolved into a coaching practice, WithinU Life Coaching, focusing on individuals with special needs and their families. Helen uses her 13+ years of counseling experience and 20+ years’ experience as a successful advocate for individuals with special needs by helping them reveal their innate ability to solve difficult situations. Her debut book " A Different Kind of Safari" puts into words the essence of Helen's teachings addressing the many questions life asks by offering up lighthearted, ever-changing perspectives that transform personal challenges into opportunities. For more information, visit the books official website and to see a picture of the real Rosie the real life pink hippo that inspired this story, go to www.adifferentkindofsafari.com

Website | Twitter | Facebook | Goodreads

 

* Book Blast Giveaway *

Prize: $25 Amazon Gift Card or PayPal cash (winner’s choice)
Contest ends: August 6, 11:59 pm, 2014
Open: Internationally
How to enter: Please enter using the Rafflecopter widget below.
Terms and Conditions: NO PURCHASE NECESSARY TO ENTER OR WIN. VOID WHERE PROHIBITED BY LAW. A winner will be randomly drawn through the Rafflecopter widget and will be contacted by email within 48 hours after the giveaway ends. The winner will then have 72 hours to respond. If the winner does not respond within 72 hours, a new draw will take place for a new winner. Odds of winning will vary depending on the number of eligible entries received. This contest is in no way sponsored, endorsed or administered by, or associated with Facebook. This giveaway is sponsored by the author, Helen Hipp and is hosted and managed by Renee from Mother Daughter Book Reviews. If you have any additional questions – feel free to send and email to Renee(at)MotherDaughterBookReviews(dot)com.

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Starchild Series Book Blast and $25 giveaway

Disclosure: I earned an entry into a separate giveaway for blog blast participants in exchange for this post. I also got the chance to have new readers come visit my blog (welcome new readers! please feel free to stay and browse a while!). None of the links in this post are affiliate links for me. If you are a blogger and would like the opportunity to participate in future blog tours and blog blasts sign up at Mother, Daughter, & Son Book Reviews.

About the Books

Book 1: The Age of Akra

Title: Starchild: The Age of Akra (Book 1)
Author: Vacen Taylor
Publication Date: March 6, 2013
Publisher: Odyssey Books
Pages: 135
Recommended Ages: 10+
Reviewed by: Renee (Mother)
Summary: When Mai is chosen to take a pilgrimage to the Valley of a Thousand Thoughts to train with the oldest and wisest master of their people, an ancient prophecy is set in motion. The events to come have been predicted but are not unchangeable. When the Starchild returns to the planet of Sage, the foreknowledge of the prophecy begins to gain strength. Four children come together and become linked to the events that lie ahead. In The Age of Akra, the first stage of their journey has them facing the deadly spiderflax, only then to be confronted by a creature of the underworld, an evil Dementra called Amual. The struggle to bring peace to the world of powerful energies lies in the hands of these four children and a strange little lizard. And it will not come easy. This journey is only the beginning.  

Buzz About Book 1

"The Age of Akra is a riveting, well-written, and imaginative story featuring an intricate plot and stellar cast of characters that is sure to be thoroughly enjoyed by tweens, teens, and even adults who love a great science fiction tale. This is a real page-turner and I highly recommend this book to children aged 10 and older. I just loved it and to think the author has seven books planned for the series ... I'm salivating." ~ Renee, Mother Daughter Book Reviews

"What an imagination!! Absolutely fabulous. What a great read. The characters came to life so easily. Their physical descriptions have me a visual idea but their personalities evolved and developed quickly so they were my friends and heroes before very long. I cried when Mia was selected and was on the edge of my seat when it looked like Long wouldn't make it. I couldn't put it down. A very clever story with wonderful likable characters in amazing places with fascinating skills and weird animals. I went through a range is emotions with these characters where I wanted to hug them, love them, give them a good slap, protect and spend time with. I cannot wait for book 2. Highly recommend this series of books and hope they make a movie from it would be a blockbuster!!!" ~ 5 Star Review, Dannielle S., Goodreads

"Masterfully told from different viewpoints, Starchild is neither a "boy" nor "girl" book, but rather an everyone book. Struggling readers will enjoy the simple truths of the characters, and more advanced readers will delight in the journey of Mai, Long, and Akra. A journey that introduces multifaceted characters, whom I hope will make an appearance in subsequent titles in The Starchild Series, because I'm already attached to them. Even the slightest of creatures was placed in Starchild with the greatest of skill, care, and thought. Outstanding job, Ms. Taylor, and I look forward to continuing my journey through the series." ~ 5 Star Review, C. Bullard, Amazon

 

Purchase Book 1

*Available as a 99 cent E-Book through Amazon *

Amazon | Barnes and Noble | Ganxy | iTunes | The Book Depository

 

Book 2: The City of Souls

Title: Starchild: The City of Souls (Book 2)
Author: Vacen Taylor
Publication Date:October 14, 2013
Publisher: Odyssey Books
Pages: 137
Recommended Ages: 10+
Reviewed by: Renee (Mother)
Summary: In The City of Souls, the pilgrimage to the Valley of a Thousand Thoughts continues. Having already triumphed against dangerous adversaries in The Age of Akra, the four children -- Mai, Long, Akra and Sahib -- now face the evil melkarie and must escape to the City of Souls. When they reach the safety of the land of Naroan, in a city hidden under a blanket of living green, the children are confronted with the challenge of locating the Singing Soul. But the underworld is searching for it too, and will do anything to stop the young pilgrims from finding it. The prophesy is at risk of being extinguished unless the children succeed in their quest.  

Buzz About Book 2

"The City of Souls is the second book in a science fiction fantasy featuring an intricate and engaging plot, well-developed characters who are faced with new challenges, a well-described setting reminiscent of Star Wars with a hint of Lord of the Rings and Indiana Jones-style action and suspense. I’m in this series for the whole haul as I feel completely invested in what happens next as the prophecy continues to roll forward. I highly recommend this book as well as the series to science fiction aficionados ages 10 years and older looking for something a little different. ~ Renee, Mother Daughter Book Reviews

"The author graciously sent a signed copy of this 2nd book in her series to my daughter Emily. Emily read Vacen Taylor's first book in the Starchild series: The Age of Akra. She very much enjoyed the adventure and getting to know the characters. Emily eagerly anticipated the next book! Emily was thrilled when her copy of The City of Souls arrived and did what she could do to avoid her homework so that she could sneak and read The City of Souls. She read the book with much interest and said that she loved every bit of it. As a parent, it's a big comfort and joy to me when my kids find stories written for their enjoyment! The Starchild series captured the heart and imagination of my daughter. And she very much looks forward to book three." ~ 5 Star Review, Vonda N., Goodreads

"Ms Taylor provides masterful descriptions that don't bore the reader. Thank you. I think the writing is at its best in the action, but the character building, backstory and forewarning is all there and relevant to the overall building of good storytelling. I'm assuming the introductions to some of the other multifaceted characters will have relevance in future books. I do hope so. Overall, a great read for children who are looking for something refreshingly new and unique." ~ 5 Star Review, Kirt T., Amazon

 

Purchase Book 2

Amazon | Barnes and Noble | iTunes | The Book Depository

 

About the Author: Vacen Taylor

Vacen Taylor is an Australian author, writer, occasional artist and amateur photographer. She loves creating stories for children and reading to her young readers. She is a happy person with a zest for life and exploring the world at large. Vacen collects comics and loves superheroes. Her favourite superhero is Spider-Man. Vacen also believes in expressing the uniqueness of self. She has had several short stories published for adults online. Starchild is her first novel for children and is the first book in a series of seven.

Book Website | Author Website | Twitter

Facebook | Goodreads | Google+

 

* Book Blast Giveaway *

Prize: $25 Amazon Gift Card or PayPal cash (winner’s choice) 

Contest ends: August 1, 11:59 pm, 2014 

Open: Internationally 

How to enter: Please enter using the Rafflecopter widget below. 

Terms and Conditions: NO PURCHASE NECESSARY TO ENTER OR WIN. VOID WHERE PROHIBITED BY LAW. A winner will be randomly drawn through the Rafflecopter widget and will be contacted by email within 48 hours after the giveaway ends. The winner will then have 72 hours to respond. If the winner does not respond within 72 hours, a new draw will take place for a new winner. Odds of winning will vary depending on the number of eligible entries received. This contest is in no way sponsored, endorsed or administered by, or associated with Facebook. This giveaway is sponsored by the author, Vacen Taylor and is hosted and managed by Renee from Mother Daughter Book Reviews. If you have any additional questions – feel free to send and email to Renee(at)MotherDaughterBookReviews(dot)com.

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Destiny and Faith Go To Twincentric Academy Book Blast and $50 giveaway!

Disclosure: I earned an entry into a separate giveaway for blog blast participants in exchange for this post. I also got the chance to have new readers come visit my blog (welcome new readers! please feel free to stay and browse a while!). None of the links in this post are affiliate links for me. If you are a blogger and would like the opportunity to participate in future blog tours and blog blasts sign up at Mother, Daughter, & Son Book Reviews.

Mother Daughter Book Reviews is pleased to be coordinating this Book Blast on behalf of author Jourden Cleghorn who writes under the pen name of Teddy O'Malley.

Jourden was recently involved in a serious automobile accident resulting in severe injuries just days after her new book, Destiny and Faith Go To Twincentric Academy, was published in May 2014. The indie author community has come together to support this young author/illustrator during this challenging time. Please read below to see what you can do to help in a small way.

 

About the Book

Title: Destiny and Faith Go To Twincentric Academy
Author: Teddy O'Malley
Publication Date: May 11, 2014
Publisher: Independent
Pages: 62
Recommended Ages: 6 to 10 
Summary: Destiny and Faith are going into second grade and their mom has a great idea. She's going to send them to a school for twins! They're not sure whether to be excited or terrified. Come join them and see what happens!      

The Buzz

"Anyone who's tried to buy a book or birthday card for a child who isn't white will know how few are available. Golden hair and blue eyes rule. I was delighted by Destiny and Faith, who are mixed race/bi-racial, perfect for some children very close to me. However, let me quickly say that this is a story for all children. A school for twins is such a great idea and Destiny and Faith's adventures have a universal message about friendship and learning how to get along with each other. This would also be a good book for actual twins as some of the issues that arise in twin relationships come up in the story." ~ 5 Star Review, Mary Josephina Cade, Amazon

"I just finished reading this book. I got it for my daughter and decided to read it myself. It is so ORIGINAL and totally ADORABLE! A MUST READ for young children looking to read their FIRST CHAPTER BOOK! My daughter LOVES it!! I highly recommend this book!! " ~ 5 Star Review, radams, Amazon

"A great story for young girls, with lots of fun dialogue. Accompanied throughout by black and white drawings. These capture the body language and expressions of the different characters perfectly. Looking forward to more in the Destiny and Faith series." ~ 5 Star Review, M.J. Kinsman, Amazon

 

About the Author: Teddy O'Malley

Jourden Cleghorn, who writes and illustrates children’s books under the pen name Teddy O' Malley, was born in in Saint Louis, Missouri. She has traveled all over the United States and enjoys learning about new things and other cultures. She dreams of visiting a foreign country. She has enjoyed studying Spanish, German, and now Italian as well. Jourden paired her language skills with pictures of puppies to write Tell Me How You Say Good Night, a bedtime story. And a childhood friendship with a biracial girl named Hope influenced Jourden to make the Destiny and Faith characters biracial in her series about twins. Many of her books include a thread about friendship and acceptance of others. Jourden previously worked part time as a nurse assistant helping the disabled and elderly.

Author Blog | Twitter | Facebook | Goodreads

 

How You Can Help

On Thursday, May 15, 2014, Jourden was the passenger in a small car when a much larger truck turned in front of them. She suffered severe injuries as a result of this accident including a cracked sternum, punctured lung, broken arm, and broken foot. Unforutnately, the nature and severity of Jourden's injuries have limited her ability to promote her books effectively. I was very moved when I was approached by a member of the Facebook group, "Fun-tastic Children’s Books " (of which Jourden is an active member) to help this young author. This wonderful group took it upon themselves to promote Jourden’s books on her behalf. They bought, reviewed, tweeted and shared her books throughout social media and are sponsoring (along with MDBR) the giveaway below. If you should choose to enter the giveaway below (open worldwide), you will see an option to earn 10 extra entries in the giveaway by purchasing a copy of Teddy O'Malley's latest book, Destiny and Faith Go To Twincentric Academy from Amazon for only 99 cents. I hope you will consider helping out the author in this small way. Of note, during her recovery, Jourden found the inspiration for another children’s book. It will be about a child recovering from a car crash and having to cope with learning to write with the opposite hand, and other hardships that must be overcome during the healing process. Jourden usually writes with her right hand, but plans to illustrate the book using her left. She wants to show that hardships can be overcome if one does not give up.  

* $50 Book Blast Giveaway *

Prize: $50 Amazon Gift Card or PayPal cash (winner’s choice)
Contest ends: July 30, 11:59 pm, 2014
Open: Internationally
How to enter: Please enter using the Rafflecopter widget below.
Terms and Conditions: NO PURCHASE NECESSARY TO ENTER OR WIN. VOID WHERE PROHIBITED BY LAW. A winner will be randomly drawn through the Rafflecopter widget and will be contacted by email within 48 hours after the giveaway ends. The winner will then have 72 hours to respond. If the winner does not respond within 72 hours, a new draw will take place for a new winner. Odds of winning will vary depending on the number of eligible entries received. This contest is in no way sponsored, endorsed or administered by, or associated with Facebook. This giveaway is sponsored by author PJ LaRue/Fun-tastic Children’s Books and Mother Daughter Book Reviews, and is hosted and managed by Renee from Mother Daughter Book Reviews. If you have any additional questions – feel free to send and email to Renee(at)MotherDaughterBookReviews(dot)com.

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Copyright © 2014 Mother Daughter Book Reviews, All rights reserved.

The Cat Who Lost His Meow Book Blast and $50 giveaway!

Disclosure: I got to put an entry in the giveaway (make sure that you read to the bottom to be entered to win!) and I was entered in a separate giveaway for blog tour participants. I also got the chance to have new readers come visit my blog (welcome new readers! please feel free to stay and browse a while!). None of the links in this post are affiliate links for me. If you are a blogger and would like the opportunity to participate in future blog tours and blog blasts sign up at Mother, Daughter, & Son Book Reviews.

About the Book

Title: The Cat Who Lost His Meow
Author: Angela Muse
Illustrator: Helen H. Wu
Publication Date: June 1, 2014
Publisher: Independent
Pages: 32
Recommended Ages: 3+ 
Summary: Chester the lazy calico cat has suddenly lost his meow. He’s looking everywhere, but can’t seem to find his voice. When Chester puts himself in a frightening situation he not only finds his voice return, but he also finds his courage. This experience makes Chester appreciate things a little bit more than he had before.     

About the Author: Angela Muse

Angela Muse was born in California to a military family. This meant that she got used to being the "new kid" in school every couple of years. It was hard trying to make new friends, but Angela discovered she had a knack for writing. In high school Angela began writing poetry and song lyrics. Expressing herself through writing seemed very natural. After becoming a Mom in 2003, Angela continued her storytelling to her own children. In 2009 she wrote and published her first rhyming children's book aimed at toddlers. Since then she has released several more children's picture books and released her first young adult romance series, The Alpha Girls, in 2012.

Website | Facebook | Goodreads | Twitter

   

* $50 Book Blast Giveaway *

Prize: $50 Amazon Gift Card or PayPal cash (winner’s choice)
Contest ends: July 29, 11:59 pm, 2014
Open: Internationally
How to enter: Please enter using the Rafflecopter widget below.
Terms and Conditions: NO PURCHASE NECESSARY TO ENTER OR WIN. VOID WHERE PROHIBITED BY LAW. A winner will be randomly drawn through the Rafflecopter widget and will be contacted by email within 48 hours after the giveaway ends. The winner will then have 72 hours to respond. If the winner does not respond within 72 hours, a new draw will take place for a new winner. Odds of winning will vary depending on the number of eligible entries received. This contest is in no way sponsored, endorsed or administered by, or associated with Facebook. This giveaway is sponsored by the author, Angela Muse and is hosted and managed by Renee from Mother Daughter Book Reviews. If you have any additional questions – feel free to send and email to Renee(at)MotherDaughterBookReviews(dot)com.
a Rafflecopter giveaway

 Copyright © 2014 Mother Daughter Book Reviews, All rights reserved.

Billy and the Monster Who Ate All The Easter Eggs Book Blast - 2 giveaways - copys of the book and $50! #Sponsored

Disclosure: I got to put an entry in the giveaway (make sure that you read to the bottom to be entered to win!) and I was entered in a separate giveaway for blog tour participants. I also got the chance to have new readers come visit my blog (welcome new readers! please feel free to stay and browse a while!). None of the links in this post are affiliate links for me. If you are a blogger and would like the opportunity to participate in future blog tours and blog blasts sign up at Mother, Daughter, & Son Book Reviews.

About the Book

Title: Billy and The Monster Who Ate All The Easter Eggs
Author: David Chuka
Publication Date: March 23, 2013
Publisher: Pen-n-a-Pad Publishing
Pages: 32
Recommended Ages: 3 to 8
Summary: Join Billy and Monster in this third episode of the series titled Billy and the Monster who Ate All the Easter Eggs. Billy and Monster love all the holidays as they get to spend quality time together. However, their best holiday is Easter as they get to eat their favorite food...CHOCOLATE! This year, they're spending Easter with Grandma Chocalicious who loves Chocolate even more than Billy. She's an expert at making chocolate cake, chocolate waffles and even chocolate pasta. This year Grandma Chocalicious has made a pyramid of Easter eggs for her party on Easter Sunday. Billy and Monster want one of the Easter eggs but Grandma says they have to wait till Easter Sunday. What happens when Billy and Monster tip toe downstairs and the pyramid of Easter eggs comes falling down? Get your copy of this funny book for kids of all ages that is not only full of laughs but also has a lesson weaved in that you'll love sharing with your loved ones.  

Book Trailer

Purchase

* Print copy includes FREE coloring book inside *

Amazon (Print) | Amazon (Kindle)

 

The Buzz

"Experience is the best teacher as Billy and his "purple shadow" learn a sweet lesson in Billy and the Monster Who Ate All the Easter Eggs. Beautifully illustrated, nicely formatted, this quick, easy story will be read over and over again." ~ 5 Star Review, Julia B., Amazon

"My daughter has really been enjoying David Chuka's Billy and Monster books. This is another fun addition to the "family." As always, the story has a lovely moral (this time teaching the value of moderation - definitely the biggest word in the book)! It's based on the very realistic theme of overindulging in chocolate/sweets, which virtually anyone can relate to and which kids find a lot of fun. And, awesome pictures as always. Definitely recommend it." ~ 5 Star Review, Renee B., Amazon

"I really like the little monster in this book and how they get into trouble together. What child hasn't snuck into the cache of candies that their parents have hidden? Cute story with a lesson for the little ones in your family!" ~ 5 Star Review, Patricia T., Amazon

"This is a cute story about a little boy Billy and his funny friend Monster. They love chocolate so much that they forget about obeying to older. At night, they sneaked to the chocolate egg pyramid, started eating the chocolate eggs and made a big mess. On the morning, they not only got in a big trouble, but they also got a bad stomach pain. They both had to learn a lessons about MODERATION. Nice illustrations, book well written." ~ 5 Star Review, OPV, Amazon

"Billy and his monster friend enjoy lots of fun in this book, filled with great pictures and a cute story. It shares a lot about celebrating holidays, and intertwines humor and family love throughout the story. Hidden in the story is a nice message about eating in moderation, a well needed lesson in our culture of over-eating. Billy ends up being proud of himself and makes good decisions by the end of the book, while all the while sharing some adventures with his cute monster friend. Great read to share with your children or grandchildren year round, not just for the Easter holiday." ~ 5 Star Review, Katie W., Amazon

 

About the Author: David Chuka

David Chuka lives in London with his lovely wife and two adorable children. His family are usually the first people to hear his funny and quirky tales. He was inspired to write his first book, 'If You See a Doctor' after he struggled to find a book for his daughter who was a beginner reader.

He's gone on to write more books including the popular 'Billy and Monster' series, a funny set of books about a little boy and his Monster who get into all sorts of funny situations and learn about moderation, friendship, self control, bravery etc. Young children can relate to Billy and you'll love sharing his adventures with your children, grandchildren and loved ones. As a father himself, he has parents at heart when he writes. He recognizes that bedtime has to be one of the best parts of the day for parents and grandparents as it gives them the opportunity to bond with their little ones. He believes you'll enjoy sharing his stories with your loved ones at bedtime. In David Chuka's books, you can stay rest assured that quality and captivating images will always complement the story to ensure your loved ones are spell-bound as you read to them. Beginner readers will also enjoy discovering new words as they read his books. He has so many stories to tell and can't wait to share them with you and your loved ones.

Website | Twitter | Facebook | Goodreads

Google+ | Pinterest | Amazon Author Page

 

Want to win a copy of Billy and the Monster Who Ate All the Easter Eggs?

Enter for your chance to win 1 of 2 print copies of Billy and the Monster Who Ate All the Easter Eggs by David Chuka in a Goodreads giveaway (Open U.S., Canada, Great Britain, Australia; Ends April 17, 2014).

Goodreads Book Giveaway

Billy and the Monster Who Ate All the Easter Eggs

by David Chuka

Giveaway ends April 17, 2014. See the giveaway details at Goodreads.

Enter to win

* $50 Book Blast Giveaway *

Prize: One winner will receive a $50 Amazon Gift Card or PayPal cash (winner’s choice)
Contest ends: May 13, 11:59 pm, 2014
Open: Internationally
How to enter: Please enter using the Rafflecopter widget below.
Terms and Conditions: NO PURCHASE NECESSARY TO ENTER OR WIN. VOID WHERE PROHIBITED BY LAW. A winner will be randomly drawn through the Rafflecopter widget and will be contacted by email within 48 hours after the giveaway ends. The winner will then have 72 hours to respond. If the winner does not respond within 72 hours, a new draw will take place for a new winner. Odds of winning will vary depending on the number of eligible entries received. This contest is in no way sponsored, endorsed or administered by, or associated with Facebook. This giveaway is sponsored by the author, David Chuka and is hosted and managed by Renee from Mother Daughter Book Reviews. If you have any additional questions – feel free to send and email to Renee(at)MotherDaughterBookReviews(dot)com.

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 Copyright © 2014 Mother Daughter Book Reviews, All rights reserved.