17
Dec

Guest Author: Gary Golio on Jimi Hendrix

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For someone who had no Xbox, video games, computer, cell phone, or even a TV, young Jimmy Hendrix kept himself very busy! The everyday noises of a Seattle neighborhood called out to a boy already fascinated by sound and color, inspiring him to use a beat-up ukulele—with only one string—to mimic the melodies of falling raindrops and rushing water. Filled with bold and colorful images (drawn, painted, collaged, carved and silkscreened onto plywood by Coretta Scott King award-winning illustrator Javaka Steptoe), JIMI: Sounds Like A Rainbow is the story of the legendary musician at the beginning of his journey, when an old five-dollar acoustic guitar becomes the key to a world of endless imagination and creativity. With the gift—from his father—of a new electric guitar, Jimmy shows young readers how the power of persistence and hard work, focused on a dream, can make for success. An afterword explains more about the adult Jimi’s career and unique accomplishments, while a Note by author Gary Golio (a therapist who specializes in teen addiction) speaks to the dangers of drug use and provides resources for parents or caregivers. Sure to surprise those who think they know the real Jimi Hendrix.

  • Guest Post by Gary Golio, author of JIMI: Sounds Like A Rainbow – The Guitar God As A Young Boy illustrated by Javaka Steptoe
  • Cool Tip: Purchase JIMI: Sounds Like A Rainbow on Amazon.com.

Cool Giveaway: Enter to win a copy of the book by visiting the author’s website and commenting below with your thoughts. For extra entries become a JIMI Facebook fan and/or follow Cool Baby Kid on Twitter and Facebook for extra entries. Be sure to leave a separate comment for each.

Check out even more entry possibilities if you’re really determined to win and be sure to read the contest rules and prize claim information. Expires 12/30/10. U.S. Only.

Filed Under: Education Corner, Giveaways Galore, Tween Hangout · Tagged With: ,
03
Dec

Reader’s Digest Books: Tangled & Toy Story *Giveaway*

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If you’re household is in a Tangle frenzy like ours, here’s a find from Reader’s Digest your princess (or prince) will love. The Disney Tangled Rapunzel Adventure Storybook with Music Player from Reader’s Digest includes a removable music box which plays 19 songs. You can take it from the tower on the go or snap it back into place while reading from the book. We just saw Tangled, likely not for the last time, this past weekend. The story is adorable with a lovable heroine, Rapunzel, a kind of kooky but fun loving young lady who, as we all know, is locked in a tower until a turn of events have her venturing out into the real world.

Another Reader’s Digest book, Disney•Pixar Toy Story 3 Record-a-Book, makes the absolute perfect gift for Toy Story lovers on your shopping list. A parent, grandparent or loved one can read along and record the story in their own voice. Kids can play the story back and hear their favorite voices as they follow along. Similarly,Princess Dreams Record-a-Book features Cinderella, Princess and the Frog (Tiana!) and Beauty and the Beast stories that you can record and give to the princess in your family. Personally I didn’t realize Reader’s Digest published children’s books, but I found Reader’s Digest Trade Publishing and am amazed at all of the cool titles they published for kids.  Books never go out of style…some are for learning to read, others for enjoyment and to infuse excitement about reading in children, and these are fun books that do just that.

Cool Tip: Purchase all three titles, Toy Story 3 Record-A-Book, Princess Dreams Record-A-Book (Disney) and Disney Tangled: Rapunzel Adventure Storybook with Music Player through these Amazon affiliate links.

Disclosure: A sample product was provided for review purposes; all opinions are 100% ours. Read our full disclaimer and frequently asked questions and be sure to subscribe to Cool Baby Kid via RSSor email for additional giveaways and exclusive discounts.

Cool Giveaway: Enter to win a Disney Toy Story 3 Record-a-Book & Playbox and Princess Dreams Record-a-Book & Tangled Music Player. Follow Reader’s Digest on Facebook and/or Cool Baby Kid on Twitter and Facebook for extra entries. Be sure to leave a separate comment for each.

Check out even more entry possibilities if you’re really determined to win and be sure to read the contest rules and prize claim information. Expires 12/12/10. U.S. Only.

Filed Under: Giveaways Galore, Picks & Tips, Toddler & Preschooler · Tagged With: ,
11
Nov

Guest Author: Gail Carson Levine *Giveaway*

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It happens to be fall, and, coincidentally, Betsy is in her red hoodie, the wolf Zimmo wears his striped pants and vest, his muffler around his neck. The sheep are outfitted in hats and stout shoes. Several carry backpacks, and one musical sheep has a guitar. They’re all off to deliver cupcakes to Grandma. It’s a big occasion, the first time Betsy has been given this important responsibility. But is everyone equal to the task? The sheep are cantankerous, obstreperous, and just plain difficult. And Zimmo – is he trustworthy? A notorious wolf once ate a grandma. Could Zimmo be planning such a dastardly act, too? A farmer and a hunter think he may be. They warn Betsy, but she trusts her friend – until he runs off without a single howl of explanation.

Betsy and Zimmo are the heart of Betsy Red Hoodie, but the sheep keep stealing the show. In silly speech bubbles they declare that wool is itchy and needs to be dry cleaned. A lamb is sure Betsy wants to grow up to be a sheep. They philosophize about wolves and grandma and conclude in a burst of sheepish wisdom that books are never grandmas. Lap-sitters and their human shepherds can join in the happy herding howl, Waa paa woo! Do woppa woo!

Guest by written by Gail Carson Levine, Author of Betsy Red Hoodie and other children’s tales.

Disclosure: A sample product was provided for review purposes; all opinions are 100% ours. Read our full disclaimer and frequently asked questions and be sure to subscribe to Cool Baby Kid via RSSor email for additional giveaways and exclusive discounts.

Cool Tip: Purchase Betsy Red Hoodie through our Amazon affiliate link.

Cool Giveaway: Enter to win a copy of Betsy Red Hoodie by visiting the author’s site above and commenting on this post with your thoughts. Cool Baby Kid on Twitter and Facebook for extra entries. Be sure to leave a separate comment for each. Check out even more entry possibilities if you’re really determined to win and be sure to read the contest rules and prize claim information.

Filed Under: Education Corner, Giveaways Galore · Tagged With: ,
28
Oct

Baby Kid Bookshelf: Monster Hunting on a Budget

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In today’s world, so many hobbies and activities for children can be very pricey.  Musical instruments, sports equipment, computer games~they all add up.  Fortunately, the hobby of monster-hunting is fairly inexpensive.   Most of the activities in Young Wizards Handbook: How to Trap a Zombie, Track a Vampire, and Other Hands-On Activities for Monster Hunters are under $10, and many are under $5.

While some monster-hunters spend lots of money on velvet or silk monster hunting packs and nets made of silver thread, those are the monster-hunters that are not always well-respected.  A true monster hunter knows how to improvise, and, more often than not, improvising means working with what’s available.  A monster-hunter also commands respect when their attire and gear imply that they don’t just throw money at monsters to make them go away.  That really only works with vampires and dragons and usually requires a LOT of money before they’ll even begin to pay attention.

Want to make a monster-catching net?  All you need is some string or yarn.  Need a Tanglefoot potion to capture those pesky zombies? Just get some cornstarch and water.  To make a monster-hunting pack, part of what you need is already laying around the house collecting dust: an old pair of pants.  Other supplies required for the pack include cord, thread, and needle; hardly going to break the bank.  So encourage your child’s love of monster-hunting with these fun and inexpensive crafts!  You never know when you’ll have to hunt a monster.

Guest Post Written by Aime Rotruck, Author of “How to Trap a Zombie”

Cool Tip: Purchase How to Trap a Zombie, Track a Vampire, and Other Hands-On Activities for Monster Hunters: A Young Wizards Handbook from our Amazon affiliate link.

Cool Giveaway: Enter to win a copy of the book by by leaving a comment with your thoughts about the post, book or how you plan to monster hunt this Halloween. Expires 11/4/10. U.S. Residents Only.

Disclosure: A sample product was provided for review purposes; all opinions are 100% ours. Read our full disclaimer and frequently asked questions and be sure to subscribe to Cool Baby Kid via RSS or email for additional giveaways exclusive discounts and giveaways.

Filed Under: Giveaways Galore, Picks & Tips · Tagged With: ,
21
Oct

Guest Author: The Day Leo Said I Hate You {Book}

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We all know that our young children have powerful feelings and that they express those feelings quite often—feelings that range from love and joy to jealously, sadness, anger, loss, fear, worry, and sometimes even hate. Their strong feelings, along with the questions and concerns young children have, resonate deeply with me and fascinate me. They also resonate with young children and that’s why I choose to write about their feelings in many of my picture books. THE DAY LEO SAID I HATE YOU! is actually a book about love—not a book about hate. That might seem like a puzzling statement. And in a way it is. But the truth is that this is book about a child who has a loving relationship with his Mommy. And one day,his Mommy, as all parents do, has to tell Leo “NO!” several times in a row. And as all young children do, Leo becomes angry at his parent. And before he can stop them, those other three words, “I hate you!” pop right out of his mouth. And the moment they pop out, Leo wishes he could stuff them right back in his mouth. But it’s too late and he can’t. When a young child blurts out, “I hate you!” to someone he or she loves, in fact, that child is not a bad child, but is a perfectly normal child, whose anger, for a quick moment, got the best of him or her. But as this story moves forward, it is the love that Leo and his Mommy have for each other that brings them back together again. The Day Leo Said I Hate You!can be purchased directly from our affiliate link.

This guest post was written by Robie H. Harriss who can be found atwww.robieharris.com. A quick editors note…this book has been a big hit with my preschooler since it made it’s way into our house. Thank you!

Cool Giveaway: Enter to win a copy of the book by visiting the author’s website and commenting back here with your thoughts. US Only. Expires 11/11/10.
Extra Entries: Follow Cool Baby Kid on Twitterand Facebook for extra entries. Be sure to leave a separate comment for each. Check out even more entry possibilities if you’re really determined to win and be sure to read the contest rules and prize claim information.
Disclosure: A sample product was provided for review purposes; all opinions are 100% ours. Read our full disclaimer and frequently asked questions and be sure to subscribe to Cool Baby Kid via RSS or email for additional giveaways exclusive discounts and giveaways.
Filed Under: Education Corner · Tagged With: ,
17
Oct

Old Abe, Eagle Hero: Book Interview & Giveaway

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Cool Baby Kid had a chance to catch up with Patrick Young, the author of Old Abe: Eagle Hero (Anne Lee illustrator) a children’s book which chronicles the story of a famous bald eagle who marched into battle with Civil War troops. Rooted in a story told to the author by his great-grandfather, the legend is made real for kids interested in history or an interesting tale.

After reading the book kids first question will likely be, “Is it a true story?”

The story is true. My maternal great-grandfather, Victor Wolf, commanded the Union Army company that brought Old Abe to the Civil War. I researched Old Abe’s life while I was in college, and Prentice-Hall published an earlier version of the book. For Old Abe, Eagle Hero, I did further research to expand and update the book. A remaining question is whether the eagle was male or female. As far as I can determine, no one checked to find out while Old Abe was alive.

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30
Sep

The Good Garden: Author Interview {Giveaway}

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New Cool Baby Kid feature Baby Kid Bookshelf allows us to share children’s books we love or have recently discovered such as The Good Garden by Katie Smith Milway. Based on the true story of Honduran Maria Ceclia Vasquez Good Garden follows one family’s struggling farm as they and their neighbors learn new farming methods that offer hope to the region. The book offers more than just a great story; readers can learn more, play games and understand how they too can make a difference. Purchase The Good Garden How One Family Went from Hunger to Having Enoughfrom our Amazon affiliate link.

We were lucky enough to have an opportunity to ask the author a few questions about The Good Garden and gain further insight into it’s inspirational story:

What were some of the differences authoring a children’s book as opposed to an adult one?

I’ve found at least three key differences so far…  One is that you need to simplify your idea to its essence – which I quite like.  Another is that children’s books are written to be read over and over and over.  It’s almost like crafting poetry - every word counts and should compel.  And a third difference is that illustrations in the sort of picture books I write can take the place of words.  The illustrator draws his or her inspiration from your words, but after the drawings are in, I’ve sometimes stripped back the writing.

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Filed Under: Big Kids Corner, Education Corner, Giveaways Galore, Toddler & Preschooler · Tagged With: , , ,
15
Sep

Baby Kid Bookshelf: Up With Grow {Author Interview}

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Author Deborah Hodge, a Vancouver, British Columbia resident and author of 25 books for children, shares insight into her latest book, Up We Grow: A Year in the Life of a Small Local Farm, an educational look at all four seasons at a small, sustainable farm.
What made you decide to write Up We Grow?

There were three main reasons: 1) I had been reading a lot of books about where our food comes from (100 Mile Diet; Michael Pollan’s In Defense of Food and so on) and thinking about the resurgence of interest in how our food is grown; 2) I’m a former primary school teacher who has never forgotten the sense of wonder that young children feel when they see things growing and I wanted to reflect that sense of wonder in a book; 3) and most importantly, I’m a new grandmother to twin boys who are almost 2 years old. I wanted to write a joyful book for them that celebrated nature and growing, and express my hope for a happy, healthy future. The title UP WE GROW is really about my grandsons and all the young children reading this book.

For someone just being introduced to sustainable farms who have not yet read “Up We Grow” how would you explain them?

I would explain sustainable farms as those that use earth-friendly practices, such as composting, mulching, natural fertilizers, humane animal care and so on. Sustainable farms are farms that seek to improve the soil at the same time they are growing our food. Sustainable farmers are thinking about the future of our land and world.

We learned a lot about sustainable farms and the seasonal work that goes into them. Were there things you just didn’t have room to include in the book?

In many ways, I felt this was a complete book. I wanted to write about the farmers working on their land, in harmony with nature and the seasons, and I feel I was able to do that. I also wanted to have a “conversation” with the children reading the book, so I asked them a question on almost every page. For young children, it’s important not to overwhelm them with too much content. It’s the author’s job to know when to stop, and I hope I stopped at the right spot.

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