P.W. Catanese - the Interview (and giveaway!)

P.W. Catanese, author of The Books of Umber (among other works), was gracious enough to grant me an interview! As gleeful as a kid on Christmas, I managed to calm down enough to submit some questions to him. Here are his responses. Be sure to read below the interview for a little giveaway.

1) When did you first realized you wanted to be a writer?
I enjoyed telling stories from a very young age, when I would spend hours creating cartoon stories in drawing pads... generally featuring dinosaurs and monsters.

2) How long does it take you to write a book? Do you write it long hand or on the computer?
I produce a first draft in about 5 to 7 months, and then the editorial process begins, which takes another 3 or 4 months, including my editor waiting for me and vice versa. When writing I shoot for about 800 to 1000 words a night. Then when the story is done there are weeks and weeks of revising, most of which consists of removing the words that don't have to be there.

3) Do you start with the story in mind OR with a character or characters? Where do you get your ideas for your books?
It depends on the book. Most of my novels began with the story idea. The Books of Umber series, however, grew out of a single line in my second novel, The Brave Apprentice. I wrote a sentence about a fellow named Umber who explores all things monstrous and magical, and that got my imagination going. While writing my next three books, I thought more and more about Umber, and the rest of the story grew from that.

4) Of all your books, which is your favorite? Why? Which one did you think would be your readers' favorite?
I consider the Books of Umber trilogy to be one story, and that is my favorite, for its rich cast of characters and deep emotional themes. Readers seem to like it as well, although I get a lot of notes about The Thief and the Beanstalk and The Mirror's Tale.

5) I saw your rendition of the Leviathan Barge and Umber's home, the Aerie on your facebook pages - are you an artist as well as a writer?
I enjoy drawing, did a daily cartoon strip while in college, and still dabble in cartooning. But I'm a reasonably good amateur, not a professional.

6) What does your family think of your writing? Do you use them as sounding boards for your stories?
My wife and children are my first readers, and they give me great advice. They get a kick out of the whole experience.

7) Which author do YOU the biggest fan of? What do you like to read in your spare time? Which books have influenced your life and your career choice?
I'm a huge fan of Patrick O'Brian. My reading is all over the place, but not that much in my own genre. I would call my main influences classic fairy tales, Tolkien, and great adventure films like The Seventh Voyage of Sinbad and King Kong (1933).

8) Tell me something unusual about yourself that no one would ever guess.
I can juggle flaming torches. I once had a seven foot long boa constrictor as a pet. The accident that Julian Penny experienced actually happened to me when I was about nine years old.

9) Are any of your characters in The Books of Umber based on people you know in real life or on historical or present day public figures?
Only the tiniest parts of certain characters are inspired by real people. The rest is made up.

10) When is Book 3 of the Books of Umber being published? Can you tell us the name of it? Any plot clues? I'm on pins and needles here!
Book three is coming out in January {2011}. I'm not 100% sure about the title, so I can't reveal it yet. Sorry! The series comes to a powerful and emotional conclusion. Here are some hints:
Umber is struck again by one of his dark moods.
There is an attempt to return the dragon eggs that does not go smoothly.
The rivalry between Loden and Umber comes to a boiling point.
They find the missing archives that Caspar stole... and something unexpected as well.
The story includes a journey to an island inhabited by a strange botanist.
Something very dangerous is heading towards Kurahaven.

11) Think you will ever publish the actual books written by Umber (much like Rowling published Tales of the Beetle Bard)? I'd love to read more than just the fragments in your books.
That would be fantastic! But it would require a fanatical following and huge sales to convince my publisher to publish it. Maybe if The Books of Umber keeps picking up steam it could happen.

The giveaway: Because I think Mr. Catanese's Books of Umber are that good, and I believe more people need to find out his awesomeness (totally a word, even if I made it up), I want to send as many people as possible to his Facebook page so YOU TOO can become a fan! So I'm offering a giveaway (sponsored by little old me and my checking account) - of a $20 gift card to Amazon.com so you can buy these two books for yourself in case you don't win the giveaway from yesterday (together they are $18.54 as of today); if you do win the books in yesterday's giveaway, you can always use the card to more of his books!

To win: Fan P.W. Catanese on Facebook and leave a comment here telling me your Facebook name (you can just leave a first name if you like to preserve anonymity). GET FIVE EXTRA ENTRIES if you leave a comment on his FB page (leave an extra comment here that you did so). Be sure to leave your email address with your comments if you are not a blogger or your email is not easily found on your blog. This giveaway is open until 11:59 p.m., EST, Wednesday, April 7, 2010 and the winner will be chosen using Random.org. Good Luck!

The Books of Umber

Happenstance Found (The Books of Umber)
by P. W. Catanese
Reading level: Ages 9-12
Paperback: 368 pages
Publisher: Aladdin; Reprint edition (December 22, 2009)
Language: English

Author's description: About Happenstance Found: Happenstance, a boy with unusual green eyes, awakens with no memories. Falling in with the adventurer Lord Umber and his band of misfits, this boy with many uncanny gifts soon discovers that he may be the strangest one of all. This is a big, exciting tale that should thrill anyone who's enjoyed my previous books. You don't need to read any of my other novels before diving into this. It's a whole new story. And I won't leave you hanging at the end of this book - it's a satisfying read with a real conclusion (and even bigger adventures ahead!). So far Lord Umber has been compared to Willie Wonka, Sherlock Holmes, the Wizard of Oz, Leonardo DaVinci and Indiana Jones... who will he remind you of?

Dragon Games (The Books of Umber 2)

by P. W. Catanese

Reading level: Ages 9-12

Hardcover: 384 pages

Publisher: Aladdin (January 26, 2010)

Language: English

Author's Description: Let the Dragon Games begin! All is not well in Kurahaven. Happenstance is jolted by a surprising revelation about his origins, and the rivalry between the princes takes a violent turn. When Umber receives a pair of mysterious messages, he and Happenstance are hurled into a wild, epic adventure. Before the final twist, Umber and company will encounter a ring of volcanic fire, a strange island filled with murderous creatures, a man from Umber's past living with a terrible curse, and a land ruled by a cruel tyrant who is eager for Umber to witness his Dragon Games.

My take: Giddy as a school girl whose crush just talked to her. That's how I feel now that author P.W. Catanese and I have emailed a few times. Seriously. Ask my husband - he thinks I'm nuts after squealing with glee at my computer last night. Because to me, my biggest heroes are authors. Why? Because their talents allow me to escape to a myriad of other worlds at any time I want - all I have to do is open a book. And particularly good books such as The Books of Umber cross all boundaries of age, race and sex - these books will appeal to a broad range of people. It's hard to talk about why I love The Books of Umber so much without giving away the plot. I will say that if you liked the Harry Potter books, the Lord of the Rings and other such fantasy novels, you will LOVE The Books of Umber. The books are set in a world of fantasy but have a very real and believable tie to our modern world. The characters are so well fleshed out I have very real pictures of them in my mind and they seem very real to me - what great movies these would make! Heroes and villains abound in this world of nail biting action - I devoured them both in a matter of days and now I'm afraid I'm left in the unenviable position of having to wait for the last book of the trilogy to find out what happens. Ah well, in the meantime, I just placed the rest of Mr. Catanese's books in my Amazon.com cart to get started on...that will have to do until I find out what happens to Hap and Umber and all of Kurahaven (not to mention our own world!)


Bonus:  Be sure to come back tomorrow for my very own interview with P.W. Catanese.  I'm going to throw in a surprise giveaway of my own then so stay tuned! 

About the author: P. W. (Paul William) Catanese was born in New York and grew up in Connecticut, where he lives with his wife and three children. When he's not writing books, he draws cartoons and works for an advertising agency. Interestingly, the letters in "P. W. Catanese" can be rearranged to spell "want escape?" Paul figures that's why people read books like his.

The giveaway: FIVE lucky winners will win their own copy of BOTH BOOKS OF UMBER!!!, courtesy of Simon and Schuster Children’s Publishing! [US ADDRESSES ONLY PLEASE]

To win: Leave a comment here telling me the name another Simon and Schuster book that looks like a good read to you. Be sure to leave your email address with your comment if you are not a blogger or your email is not easily found on your blog. This giveaway is open until 11:59 p.m., EST, Tuesday, April 6, 2010. Good Luck!

Bonus entries: Get up to 9 extra entries for a total of 10 entries (please leave a separate comment for each extra entry):

• Fan P.W. Catanese on Facebook
• Fan Simon and Schuster on Facebook
• Follow Simon and Schuster on Twitter @simonschuster or Simon & Schuster Teen @simonteen (leave a comment with your twitter id)
• Blog about this giveaway (don't forget to leave the link in your comment)
• Twitter, Stumble or Digg this giveaway
• Subscribe to my blog via RSS or Email (see top left sidebar)
• Add my blog to your blogroll or my button to your sidebar (leave your website address for verification)
• On Technorati - click on this link, then on Fan or Fav (or use the green link on the top left sidebar)
• Follow me on Blogger (see top left sidebar)

This review was sponsored by the Simon and Schuster Children’s Publishing who provided the books for review and giveaway. I was not compensated in any way except for the complimentary books.

50 Ways to Get Your CartOn

50 Ways to Get Your CartOn: Recycle & Create Milk and Egg Carton Crafts That Rock

by Ellen Warwick, Stephan Britt (Illustrator)

Price: $7.95
Reading level: Ages 4-8
Paperback: 128 pages
Publisher: Sterling Innovation; Original edition (April 6, 2010)
Language: English

Product Description: Kids can get ready, get set, and recycle creatively with 50 Ways to Get Your CartOn, an adorable book of projects that reuse and recycle milk and egg cartons. Not only are the crafts cool and funky, but every one—from cute room decorations to great games—saves a little bit of our precious planet. Each imaginative and innovative item helps children see so-called “trash” in a whole new light, and all 50 projects are totally customizable. Plus, the book includes 100% recycled stickers so kids can decorate green too!

My take: It's Easter time for many of us and that means it's time to color Easter eggs!  But what can you do with the egg cartons afterwards? Certainly if we can use them up creatively instead of trashing them, I'm going to be interested in that.  And not only egg cartons, what about all the juice cartons we use each week (we go through a bunch of Tropicana cartons in our house)?  Why take up space in our landfills when we could make something fun instead?  Less waste, more fun time with the kiddos? Win-Win!  The book starts with a short primer of tricks and tips to make your crafting time the easiest and most fun.  Then it dives right into 50 different "egg-ceptional" and "moo-velous" crafts.  Included are fun projects like a bunny jewelry box, a twinkling tiara, a super school bus, a cow clock, and more. It's enough to make you want to go buy more eggs and O.J. just to do all the crafts!  And none of them are very difficult - the book is for ages 4 - 8 and with a only a bit of help, your pre-schooler will be well on her way to making treasure out of trash.  Have fun!

About the Author: Ellen Warwick is a master crafter and the author of several craft books. She lives in Toronto, Canada.

This post was written for Sterling Publishing who provided the book for review. I was not compensated in any way except for the complimentary book.

Leapfrog: Math Adventure to the Moon

LeapFrog: Math Adventure to the Moon

An All-New Math DVD in the Best-selling LeapFrog® DVD series!

DVD Suggested Retail Price: $14.98

Directors: Bob Nesler

Language: English

Number of discs: 1

Rating: NR (Not Rated)

Studio: Lionsgate Home Entertainment

DVD Release Date: February 23, 2010

Run Time: 36 minutes

Age Target: Children, Ages 3-6

From the producer: Lionsgate Home Entertainment and top educational toy brand LeapFrog® have come together to teach beginning math skills in a fun out-of-this world experience with the release of an all-new educational DVD, LeapFrog: Math Adventure to the Moon. The new DVD takes both preschoolers and parents alike on an educational and entertaining mission to the moon where they will learn early math skills like counting, sorting and addition with their old friends Tad, Lily and Edison.


The LeapFrog brand is one of the best-selling and most recommended children’s DVD brands and is considered by moms across the country to be the leading educational toy brand.* The most recent production — Let’s Go to School — was the #1 selling Children’s Non-Theatrical title for two weeks in August 2009**, while LeapFrog DVDs held four of the top 20 spots on the Children’s Non Theatrical sales ranking for four weeks in August and September 2009.*** Continuing on this wave of success, the LeapFrog: Math Adventure to the Moon DVD will be available on February 23, 2010 for the suggested retail price of $14.98.


With more than 120 million educational platforms, books and games in homes worldwide, and multisensory technology in more than 100,000 US classrooms, the LeapFrog learning brand is trusted by parents, valued by teachers and loved by children and the brand proves itself to be a consistently strong seller year after year!

Synopsis: Join Tad and Lily as they blast off on an exciting educational adventure! Tad and Lily need the perfect collection of things to take to school for their math assignment. When they finally decide on moon rocks, there’s just one problem—how will they get them? With some magical help from their firefly friend Edison, they board a rocket ship to start their quest. Soon the twins learn that math is everywhere, even in outer space! Watch as they use their skills in counting, sorting, skip counting and recognizing patterns to overcome obstacles, find new friends and make the trip back to Earth!

DVD SPECIAL FEATURES
• The Sorting Game -help Tad & Lily sort crystals into their correct groups
• Four Sing-Along songs
• Alphabet Song from Let’s Go to School

My take: As long as I can remember, I've loved math. Pre-Algebra, Algebra, Geometry, Trigonometry - I loved them all. I even took 2 semesters of Calculus in college as electives! But I’m well aware this is not the norm for most people and that my own two kiddos might not take to math the way I did. And I also know how important math is to their future success, no matter the career they choose. So how do I get them interested from the beginning? Well, DVDs like this can help because for one, the DVD has two characters they are well familiar with already – Tad and Lily (they both had an original Leap Frog toy and Leap Frog pads). So they were both eager to see the show. It has a clever twist to it too, in that it shows how math is important even in space and how it can help solve problems in everyday life – answering that age old question of “why do I have to learn math? I’ll never use it in real life!” One caveat, this DVD is for age 3 – 6 and that shows. The counting, shapes, and patterns that are featured were way beyond my 7 year old abilities but as a fan of anything having to do with space, he did ask to watch it twice. I noticed both he and his sister were answering math questions outloud together which helped her too. This is a DVD we will keep on hand at least until his sister gets through first grade. It’s a great reinforcement for school learning.
Title Copyright: © 2009 LeapFrog Enterprises, Inc. All rights reserved. LEAPFROG, the LeapFrog logo, the LeapFrog Learning Path logo and MATH ADVENTURE TO THE MOON are registered trademarks or trademarks of LeapFrog Enterprises, Inc.

Website: http://www.leapfrogdvds.com/

*Source: LeapFrog Brand Tracker, 2/2009 among Moms who have purchased an educational toy in the last 12 months.

**Source: Nielsen data for children's non-theatrical sales weeks ending 8/23/09 and 8/30/09.
***Source: Nielsen data for children's non-theatrical sales weeks ending 8/23/09-9/13/09.

This post was written for Lionsgate who provided the DVD for review. I was not compensated in any way except for the complimentary DVD.

EAT MOR CHIKIN...for breakfast!

My take: When I was in college, working on my MBA, we did a lot of case studies on successful businesses. One such business we wrote about was Chick-fil-A.  One thing about Chick-fil-A that really struck me at the time was the fact that Chick-fil-A founder S. Truett Cathy was a devout Christian whose religious beliefs could be seen throughout the company; the company's official statement of corporate purpose said that the business exists "to glorify God by being a faithful steward of all that is entrusted to us and to have a positive influence on all who come in contact with Chick-fil-A."  One very obvious way Chick-fil-A "lives their faith" (as it were) is the fact that all locations close on Sundays: "Our decision to close on Sunday was our way of honoring God and directing our attention to things more important than our business. If it took seven days to make a living with a restaurant, then we needed to be in some other line of work. Through the years, I have never wavered from that position." (S. Truett Cathy).  And while I'd like nothing better than to enjoy the chicken goodness of Chick-fil-A 7 days a week, I cannot help but admire and cheer the company for keeping this position instead of chasing the almighty dollar. 

Now I hope everyone knows how good Chick-fil-A products taste - if you've never tried their food, what are you waiting for?!  Of course, their unique taste comes from peanut oil so I'm not able to go there very often (I have a son with peanut allergies) but when I'm on my own, that's where I like to indulge myself (I love their lemonade!).   And they are not only open for lunch and dinner - don't forget about breakfast!  No one else has a chicken biscuit for breakfast that tastes that good.  No one.  And don't forget the hash browns! And one thing I personally like about Chick-fil-A is their meal calculator on their website.  You can plug in whatever you had for a meal and it will tell you total calories, fat, and other nutrition stats.  Awesome.   Check them out today - make those cows happy!

This post was written for Chick Fil A who provided a coupon for a free chicken breakfast biscuit. I was not compensated in any way except for the complimentary coupon.

The review was sponsored by An Island Life;
I am proud to be part of Kailani's review team:

KidsCraft Playhouses Shuttle

From KidStuff PR: Kids readily admit the unassuming cardboard box is the ultimate plaything. Anyone who has purchased a big appliance becomes the hit of the neighborhood when the cardboard box it came in is big enough to play inside. Better than electronics, board games or a ball, it’s the box that won the hearts of toy judges who inducted it in the National Toy Hall of Fame. Now imagine a big cardboard box already designed with a window or doors! That’s the playful concept behind KidsCraft Playhouses™ where imagination blooms and creativity blossoms.

Two dads and a grandfather from Atlanta got a first hand look at how the cardboard box captures a child’s way of thinking. While packing up their financial services business, moving from one office to another, their kids tagged along. Although the fathers brought along playthings like coloring books and crayons for the 3 to 7 year olds, it was the empty boxes that captivated the youngsters. The dads saw the sparks of a business and KidsCraft Playhouses was born.

Made of 100% recycled material and made in the USA, two sturdy designs are available online and at select specialty retailers. The Shuttle Imagination, a large spaceship and the Creation Cottage, a playhouse, are ingeniously designed so there’s no need for cutting, taping or measuring. The flaps and slots are specifically designed and pre-cut for easy assembly and can withstand hearty hours of play.

The dads left the exteriors blank white so kids could color anything and everything on the playhouses. In fact KidsCraft will mail a free 8-pack of crayons to kids when they redeem their sales receipt online at www.kidscraftusa.com. These aren’t your ordinary crayons – they’re 100 % recycled (!) from unwanted crayons.

KidsCraft is not just your average toy manufacturer, the company carries a strong message for kids and parents for how to become charitably responsible and environmentally friendly. As their new business unfolds, the family men wanted to give back to children. KidsCraft Playhouses will donate 100 of their structures to local charities like the Ronald McDonald House, Boys & Girls Club of America and after-school programs. The company will also donate 5% of sales to these organizations’ international headquarters. Donations will also go to Shriners Hospitals for Children®, a network of 22 non-profit pediatric hospitals across in the US, Canada and Mexico.

In an effort to continue their dedication to corporate responsibilities, KidsCraft partnered with the Trees for the Future Foundation. Through this program, KidsCraft will be able to support sustainability by planting one tree for every product sold. In the 20 years since the foundation was established, they’ve planted more than 100,000,000 trees worldwide.

Here’s a look at these sturdy structures, available in two styles, with many more styles yet to come:

The Creation Cottage • $59.95

Indoors or out, this pint size cottage is a perfect playroom for solo play or for the neighborhood gang. Made from 100% recycled materials, the unique design allows for a sturdy drawing surface for tykes. The white exterior is a blank canvas designed to inspire the imagination and creation from little Picassos. Five windows and a door make for fun peek-a-boo play. The Creation Cottage comes with a promotional offer for free recycled crayons that are made in the U.S. The Creation Cottage measures 42”L x 39”W x 54”H.

Shuttle Imagination • $69.95

For out-of-this-world imagination, the space shuttle can take kids on a new adventure every day! Made of 100% recycled materials, the unique design allows for a sturdy drawing surface. Double bay doors and two portholes add a dimension of fun. Color the shuttle’s surface to show where you will travel or what discoveries you’ve already made! The Shuttle Imagination comes with a promotional offer for free recycled crayons that are made in the U.S. The Shuttle Imagination measures 39”L x 34”W x 72”H. Fin attachments are 12” long.

My take: It's true that many a time, my kids have been far more interested in the BOX toys come in rather than the toy itself. In fact, right now, my 7 year old is turning every spare box in the house he can find (old LEGO toys, shoeboxes, etc.) into a city like his class made in school. It's been a struggle to find boxes for him. And let's forget boxes as large as these playhouses - it's not like I'm buying a new washer or dryer anytime soon! That's why I think KidsCraft Playhouses are an ingenious solution. A flap and slot design (no cutting by little fingers!), made from 100% recycled materials? WIN-WIN! And my husband said it was SUPER easy to put together - 15 minutes tops (I was at work). The kiddos color it every day - my daughter has been known to run in the door and say "rocket, rocket, rocket!" as she runs up the stairs after school. My NASA-loving, wanting-to-be-an-astronaut son loves having his very one rocket ship in his very own room. But don't take my word for it, look at those happy faces below and be sure to pick up your own KidsCraft Playhouse today (it's a heck of a lot cheaper than buying a new dishwasher)!

This review was sponsored by

KidStuff Public Relations

This post was written for KidsCraft and KidStuff PR who provided the item for review and giveaway. I was not compensated in any way except for the complimentary product.

The giveaway: One lucky winner (US address only please) can pick from either playhouse shown above (Creation Cottage or Shuttle Imagination)!

To win: Visit Kids Craft USA and come back here and leave me a comment telling me the name of any other product they sell not mentioned in the above review. Be sure to leave your email address with your comment if you are not a blogger or your email is not easily found on your blog. This giveaway is open until 11:59 p.m., EST, Wednesay, March 31, 2010. Good Luck!

Bonus entries: Get up to 8 extra entries for a total of 9 entries (please leave a separate comment for each extra entry):

• Becoming a Kids Craft USA fan on Facebook (http://tinyurl.com/KidsCraftFacebook)
• Follow them on Twitter (http://twitter.com/kidscraftusa)
• Blog about this giveaway (don't forget to leave the link in your comment)
• Twitter, Stumble or Digg this giveaway
• Subscribe to my blog via RSS or Email (see top left sidebar)
• Add my blog to your blogroll or my button to your sidebar (leave your website address for verification)
• On Technorati - click on this link, then on Fan or Fav (or use the green link on the top left sidebar)
• Follow me on Blogger (see top left sidebar)

The Madeline Movie: Lost In Paris (giveaway)

The Madeline Movie: Lost In Paris

Actors: Lauren Bacall, Jason Alexander, Christopher Plummer, Andrea Libman
Directors: Marija Miletic Dail
Language: English
Number of discs: 1
Rating: G (General Audience)
Studio: Shout! Factory
DVD Release Date: April 13, 2010
Run Time: 90 minutes
Suggested Retail Price: $14.99

IN STORES APRIL 13, 2010 FROM SHOUT! FACTORY

From the studio: She's captured millions of hearts and been adored by every generation -- now Madeline stars in her first animated feature! Inspired by the beloved classic books that introduced us to a dozen delightful girls who live in an old house in Paris covered with vines, The Madeline Movie: Lost In Paris is full of spirited fun and five "fantastique" new songs.

When a long-lost uncle from Vienna pays a surprise visit, Madeline's dreams of family life seem wonderfully fulfilled -- until she finds herself in the middle of an unfortunate scheme. Madeline then must call upon all of her courage and cleverness to foil an evil plot to take her from the only family she's ever known. Join Madeline, Miss Clavel, Pepito, 11 school friends, and her ever-so-smart dog, Genevieve, in a thrilling Paris adventure you won't want to miss, where everyone learns the true meaning of family!

Screen legends Christopher Plummer (The Sound Of Music) and Lauren Bacall (The Big Sleep) costar in the animated feature the New York Daily News calls “delightful!”

My take: I may love Madeline just as much as my daughter does. She owns a beautiful Madeline doll, books and even a Madeline coat and hat set from a local consignment sale. Madeline, if you've never heard, is a children's book series written by Ludwig Bemelmans in 1939 (the series continues into the modern day, written by Bemelmans' grandson John Bemelmans-Marciano). The books are all written in rhyming verse and so the movie is narrated as well (a very nice touch to tie the books and movie together). "Madeline in Paris" continues Madeline's adventures with a new story starring the delightfully evil Lauren Bacall as Madame Lacroque, Jason Alexander as Madeline's Uncle Henri Horst, Christopher Plummer as the Narrator and Andrea Libman as Madeline herself. There are a few scary moments but nothing too bad - even my 5 year old who is notorious for being frightened at the movies was fine watching this. We both cheered on the bright and brave Madeline as she endeavored to outwit the evil Madame Lacroque! If you have a "Madeline" lover in your house, this movie is a must-have! Now I have to say, "That's all there is, there isn't any more."

Except for this! WIN IT!

The giveaway: One lucky winner (US address only please) will win their very own copy of The Madeline Movie: Lost In Paris !

To win: Leave me a comment telling me why you'd like to win this movie (winner will be picked at random so your actual response will not determine the winner)! Be sure to leave your email address with your comment if you are not a blogger or your email is not easily found on your blog. This giveaway is open until 11:59 p.m., EST, Tuesday, March 30, 2010. Good Luck!

Bonus entries: Get up to 6 extra entries for a total of 7 entries (please leave a separate comment for each extra entry):
• Blog about this giveaway (don't forget to leave the link in your comment)
• Twitter, Stumble or Digg this giveaway
• Subscribe to my blog via RSS or Email (see top left sidebar)
• Add my blog to your blogroll or my button to your sidebar (leave your website address for verification)
• On Technorati - click on this link, then on Fan or Fav (or use the green link on the top left sidebar)
• Follow me on Blogger (see top left sidebar)

This review and giveaway was sponsored by:

This post was written for Shout! who provided the DVD for review and giveaway. I was not compensated in any way except for the complimentary DVD.

A Mother's Song

A Mother's Song by Janet Lawler
Kathleen Kemly (Illustrator)
List Price: $14.95
Reading level: Ages 4-8
Hardcover: 24 pages
Publisher: Sterling (April 6, 2010)
Language: English

Author's Description:

A Mother's Song
.....Come kneel by the pathway
and sift through the sand.
You’ll find silver pebbles,
and gold, in your hand.

Special moments occur when parents slow down and take time to enjoy the wonders of nature with their children. This is the theme I share with readers in A Mother's Song (Sterling, 2010). A mother and child romp through the seasons, pretending they are springtime frogs ,feeling summer raindrops on bare feet, chasing autumn’s dancing leaves, and creating winter snow angels. The warmth, joy, and fine detail of Kathleen Kemly’s art are a terrific complement to my story. Parents, teachers and home-schoolers can click on Curriculum Guide for discussion, child-participation and project suggestions for A Mother’s Song. My dog, Patches, is a silent star in this book! A while back, I showed my editor his puppy picture. Everyone thought he was so cute he should be included somehow. Take a look at his pictures on the right. Don’t you agree? Kathleen Kemly did a great job adding him to my story.

My take: It's tax season so I am not able to spend as much time with my children as I'd like right now. But when I do, I have to make sure to be fully present for them. Quality really does count when you don't have quantity. Too many times, I'm tempted to say, "I'll play with you later, let me get this kitchen cleaned (laundry folded, bills paid, etc.)." Too many times, I've given into that temptation. And you know what, just as the infamous song "Cat's in the Cradle" points out, all too soon our children are grown and gone and playtime is past. This book, "A Mother's Song" is a great reminder to enjoy each precious and magic moment we have with our kids. And your kiddos will like it too as the poem leads the mother and daughter through activity after activity, season through season. See the joy in the small things. Play with your children (right after reading this book to them!). You'll be glad you did.

About the Author : Janet Lawler's has written numerous critically acclaimed children's books, including A Father's Song. Her love of family and nature inspire much of her writing. Janet lives in Connecticut. Kathleen Kemly has illustrated many other books. She lives in Seattle.

This post was written for Sterling Publishing who provided the book for review. I was not compensated in any way except for the complimentary book.

The Princess and the Frog

Disney’s Newest Princess Makes her Debut in a Rollicking Musical Adventure from the Creators of Aladdin and Beauty and the Beast

The Princess and The Frog (Three Disc Blu-ray/DVD Combo with Digital Copy)

Critically-Acclaimed Animated Feature Premieres March 16, 2010 on Blu-ray™ Combo Pack and DVD

On March 16th, Walt Disney Studios Home Entertainment releases THE PRINCESS AND THE FROG on Blu-ray & DVD! Disney’s triumphant return to hand-drawn animation features the wonderfully talented Anika Noni Rose as the voice of Tiana, the first African American princess! Academy Award-winning composer Randy Newman supplies a jazz-infused score for this enchanted New Orleans tale. Bonus material include deleted scenes, a making-of featurette, games, and more!

Actors: Bruno Campos (Prince Naveen), Jennifer Cody (Charlotte), Keith David (Dr. Facilier), Jenifer Lewis (Mama Odie), Jim Cummings (Ray), John Goodman ('Big Daddy' La Bouff), Oprah Winfrey (Eudora), Terrence Howard (James), Emeril Lagasse (Marlon the Gator) and Anika Noni Rose (Tiana)
Directors: Ron Clements;John Musker
Language: English
Subtitles: English, French, Spanish
Number of discs: 3
Rating: G (General Audience)
Studio: Walt Disney Studios Home Entertainment
DVD Release Date: March 16, 2010
Run Time: 98 minutes
Pricing: Blu-ray and DVD Combo Pack: $44.99 (US), $51.99 (Canada)
Single Disc DVD: $29.99 SRP (US); $35.99 SRP (Canada)
FastPlay™: FastPlay enabled

From the studio: Tiana, the ninth and newest enchanting addition to the legendary lineage of Disney Princesses, makes her home entertainment debut in a rollicking Big Easy-style fairy tale when The Princess and the Frog arrives on Blu-ray Combo Pack and DVD on March 16, 2010 from Walt Disney Studios Home Entertainment.

A timeless heroine in the tradition of Snow White, Ariel, Jasmine and the rest of the beloved royal sisterhood, Tiana comes to life with classic hand-drawn Disney animation from the revered team of John Musker and Ron Clements (Aladdin, The Little Mermaid) and a jazz-infused musical score from Academy Award® winning composer Randy Newman (Best Original Song, Monsters, Inc., 2001). A royal procession of exclusive bonus features, including games and specially- created featurettes, take viewers on a once-in-a-lifetime tour of the storied French Quarter of New Orleans and into the magic-steeped bayou for hours of can’t-miss family entertainment.


The Princess and the Frog transports audiences to glorious, glamorous New Orleans as Tiana, the first African American Disney princess meets her frog prince and gives him the fateful kiss that leads them both on a hilarious adventure through the mystical, magical bayous of Louisiana. The Princess and the Frog’s colorful cast of one-of-a-kind new characters joyfully raises the roof, with voice performances from stars including Tony Award winner Anika Noni Rose (Best Performance by a Featured Actress in a Musical, 2004,“Caroline, or Change”), Keith David (Crash), Jenifer Lewis (“Strong Medicine”), Jim Cummings (“Mickey Mouse Clubhouse”), Michael- Leon Wooley (Ghost Town), Bruno Campos (“Nip/Tuck”), Peter Bartlett (The Producers), Terrence Howard (Hustle & Flow), Jennifer Cody (Broadway’s “Shrek: The Musical”), Oprah Winfrey and John Goodman (Monsters, Inc.).

Bonus Features

The single disc DVD comes with these exciting bonus features:
• Deleted Scenes
• Audio Commentary by John Musker and Ron Clements (co-writers and directors) and Peter Del Vecho (producer)
• “Never Knew I Needed”- Music video by Ne-Yo
Games and Activities
• What Do You See: Princess Portraits — A bayou-style quiz tests viewers’ knowledge of all of
Disney’s beautiful princesses. Ray’s firefly family creates twinkling portraits of each princess and if the player correctly identifies her, they can enjoy a tongue-cheek mini re-telling of that character’s story.

The Blu-ray Combo Pack edition comes with additional bonus features, including:

Backstage Disney
• Magic In The Bayou: The Making of A Princess — Co-writers and directors John Musker and Ron Clements take a freewheeling, behind-the-scenes look at the making of Disney’s newest animated film as it grows from an initial concept to a lavish animated film set in the enchanting world of New Orleans and the surrounding bayous.
• The Return To Hand Drawn Animation
• The Disney Legacy
• Disney’s Newest Princess
• The Princess and the Animator
• Conjuring The Villain
• A Return To The Animated Musical
• Bringing Life to Animation with an introduction by John Musker and Ron Clements.
• Deleted Scenes introduced by the filmmakers
• Art Galleries — A collection of storyboard art traces the visual development of The Princess and the Frog’s rich gallery of
characters and settings.

Plot: With extravagant musical numbers, stunningly realized settings and gorgeously rendered costumes, The Princess and the Frog serves up an experience Richard Corliss of Time calls “A start-to-finish delight.” Magic, music and romance are waiting around every corner of the legendary Big Easy as Disney’s newest princess sets out on an exciting adventure through a magical new world. Tiana (voiced by Anika Noni Rose) is a beautiful and hardworking young woman determined to fulfil her father’s dream of owning an elegant New Orleans supper club. When Naveen (Bruno Campos), a handsome prince arrives in town looking for romance, the evil Dr. Facilier (Keith David) hatches a nefarious plot and turns Naveen into a frog.

A kiss from Tiana should return him to his true form, but in a hilarious twist on the classic story, she is instead transformed into a frog herself!

The pair must travel into the heart of the mysterious Louisiana bayou with only a trumpet-playing alligator and a love-struck firefly as guides to find the priestess who can reverse the curse in order to find their “happily ever after.”

Bonus: From Disney Movie Rewards: Get ready for THE PRINCESS AND THE FROG with this printable coloring sheet and activity page for you and your little ones! Click here to print.

My take: My only problem with many classic Disney tales is the message they send to my children, particularly my daughter: "Wish upon a star and some prince will come into your life and whisk you away to happiness." In "The Princess and the Frog," however, Tiana is not your typical Disney princess (thank goodness). Put aside the fact that this is the first Disney movie to feature an African-American princess (finally, Disney comes into the 21st century, but I digress), Tiana knows that merely WISHING will not make your dreams come true - HARD WORK makes them come true. Hard work and belief in yourself. Now THESE are values I want my daughter to learn. And it's lucky Tiana believes this since the gadfly lay-about Prince Naveen is not exactly in any shape to rescue anyone. Laughs abound though, never fear - it's not all serious. Tiana's childhood friend Charlotte is an absolute scream as a stereotypical southern belle, dripping with accent and waiting for HER prince to whisk her away. Her father 'Big Daddy' La Bouff is perfectly voiced by John Goodman as the quintessential dotting father who lives for his daughter's happiness. Trust me when I tell you we loved this film - not only has my daughter asked to watch it over and over (and over and over), I even sat down to watch it by myself again one Saturday. Bravo, Disney, Bravo!

Princess Kiss Montage


Music of New Orleans (bonus)

This post was written for Click Communications who provided the movie for review. I was not compensated in any way except for the complimentary DVD.

Old Dogs - 3 Disc Blu-ray Combo Pack (Includes DVD + Digital Copy)

Old Dogs - 3 Disc Blu-ray Combo Pack (Includes DVD + Digital Copy)

Actors: Robin Williams, John Travolta, Seth Green, Kelly Preston, Lori Loughlin
Language: English
Subtitles: English, French, Spanish
Number of discs: 3
Studio: Walt Disney Studios Home Entertainment
DVD Release Date: March 9, 2010
Pricing: Three Disc Blu-ray and DVD Combo Pack: $44.99 (US), $51.99(Canada)
Two Disc DVD Premium Edition: $39.99 (US), 44.99 (Canada)
Single Disc DVD: $29.99 SRP (US); $35.99 SRP (Canada)
Feature run time: Approximately 88 minutes
Rated: PG (US) – Bonus Material Not Rated In US, G (Canada)
FastPlay™: FastPlay enabled

John Travolta And Robin Williams Unleash Hilarity In The “Best Of Breed” Family Comedy Disney’s OLD DOGS

TRAILER

A Must Own Disney Blu-ray™ Combo Pack Available March 9, 2010
“One of the best family films of the year” – Sandie Newton, CBS-Dallas

From the studio: Playing Dad is harder than it looks for two best friends who suddenly find themselves caring for seven-year-old twins in Old Dogs, the knockout family comedy, coming to Disney Blu-ray, DVD, and Blu-ray + DVD + Digital Copy Combo Pack on March 9, 2010 from Walt Disney Studios Home Entertainment. Starring Academy Award® winner Robin Williams, (Best Actor in a Supporting Role, Good Will Hunting, 1997) and John Travolta (Wild Hogs), Old Dogs is a fresh and funny Disney treat that Pete Hammond of Boxoffice Magazine calls “Hilarious! Fun for the whole family.” With bonus features including laugh-out-loud boopers, exclusive music videos, behind-the-scenes peeks and a digital copy of the film, the Old Dogs Combo Pack will have audiences howling with laughter!
Kelly Preston (Jerry McGuire), Conner Rayburn (The Invention of Lying), Seth Green (Can’t Hardly Wait), Matt Dillon (There’s Something About Mary) and, in her screen debut, Ella Bleu Travolta (real life daughter of Travolta and Preston) deliver champion comic performances in a movie that combines unforgettable physical humor, off-the-wall escapades and heartfelt emotion.

Bonus Features
Old Dogs on single-disc DVD also includes:
• A Collection of Hilarious Deleted Scenes and Bloopers
• Audio Commentary by the film’s director Walt Becker, producer Andrew Panay, and writers David Diamond and David Weissman

The single disc Blu-ray Hi-Def version includes the same bonus features, plus:
• “Every Little Step” — A new music video performed by John Travolta and Ella Bleu Travolta

The three-disc Combo Pack (BD+DVD+Digital Copy) includes all of the above as well
as:
• “You’ve Been A Friend To Me” — A music video performed by Bryan Adams
• “Young Dogs Learn Old Tricks”

Plot: Dan (Robin Williams) and his best friend and business partner Charlie (John Travolta) are on the verge of the biggest deal in the history of their sports marketing firm when their lives are turned upside down by a surprise visit from Dan’s ex-wife Vicki (Kelly Preston). Vicki has big news for Dan—their ever-so-brief liaison produced twins Zach (Conner Rayburn) and Emily (Ella Bleu Travolta), now seven-years-old and in need of a dad to keep an eye on them for two weeks. With only high-living playboy Charlie for support, Dan’s bumbling attempts at “on the job training” in fatherhood result in a series of disastrously funny exploits that lead him to a new understanding of what really matters in life. Featuring an extraordinary cast of comedy purebreds including Seth Green, Matt Dillon and Lori Loughlin, Old Dogs will have audiences rolling over and begging for more.

My take: WARNING! DO NOT BUY THIS DVD unless ... you are prepared to laugh until you cry! "Old Dogs" really is that funny and that surprised me. Sure, I love John Travolta, Robin Williams and Sean Green and I was curious about how Mr. Travolta's daughter would do in her first film, but I had no idea I'd laugh so much. The movie starts out kind of slow and I was thinking Robin Williams was miscast as the straight man to John Travolta's swinging bachelor but when the comedy turns physical, Mr. Williams and Mr. Travolta really hit their stride. When they accidentally take each other's medicine, my entire family was rolling on the floor at the hysterical results. And be sure to watch out for Matt Dillon's hilarious performance as a straight laced scout master. I had no idea he could be so funny. The story line is predictable (man grows up when he has children) but the comedy chops of the stars more than make up for the lack of originality. Be sure to check out the collection of deleted scenes and bloopers in the extras - more laugh outloud fun! (here is a sneak peek):

BLOOPERS

SIDE EFFECTS

PRISON RULES

About Disney’s Combo Pack (Blu-ray + DVD + DisneyFile in a single package): To provide consumers with unprecedented quality, value and portability of their favorite Disney movies, in 2008 Walt Disney Studios Home Entertainment (WDSHE) pioneered the Combo Pack – a Blu-ray Disc™ plus a DVD and a DisneyFile digital copy of the film in a single package. Current WDSHE branded titles available as Combo Packs include, Bolt, Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs, and Up.

About the studio: Buena Vista Home Entertainment, Inc., a recognized leader in the home entertainment industry, is the marketing, sales and distribution company for Walt Disney, Touchstone,Hollywood Pictures, Miramax and Buena Vista product, which includes DVD, Blu-ray Disc and electronic distribution. Buena Vista Home Entertainment, Inc. is a division of The Walt Disney Studios

This post was written for Click Communications who provided the movie for review. I was not compensated in any way except for the complimentary DVD.

Happy St. Paddy's Day!

May the road rise up to meet you.
May the wind always be at your back.
May the sun shine warm upon your face,
and rains fall soft upon your fields.
And until we meet again,
May God hold you in the palm of His hand.

Maybe I'll Sleep in the Bathtub Tonight

Maybe I'll Sleep in the Bathtub Tonight
and Other Funny Bedtime Poems
by Debbie Levy

illustrated by Stephanie Buscema

Publisher: Sterling
Published: March 2010
Age range: from 6 to 9
24 pages
$14.95 US
$19.50 Canadian
Hardcover with Jacket
8 1/2 X 10 7/8

Pete likes to sleep in pajamas.
Gwen slumbers best in a gown.
Shawn goes to bed with a shoe on his head
for sleepwalking while upside-down.

From the publisher: These clever and quirky poems make bedtime FUN! From a “bunk bed king” who rules from up high to monsters who are not (I repeat, NOT) in the closet, Maybe I’ll Sleep in the Bathtub Tonight truly captures the childhood experience of going to sleep. It casts an amusing eye on sleepovers, beds crowded with animals, the fight to stay awake, and that one last drink of water.

Each verse ends with a delightful twist, and charming art captures the poems’ whimsy and magic. They’re sure to bring sweet dreams, full of laughter, to every child!

Poems include:
Sleep Tight - Bunk Bed King - Pillow Squawk - Night Clothes - Sleepover - Thumb-thing New - Snack Attack - Lullaby-Bye - Creature Comforts - Sweet Dreams - Look Who’s Sleeping - And more!

My take: We've been lucky at my house in that bedtime has never been much of a fight (of course, did I just jinx myself?!). Both kids are more than ready when bath time comes and I think having our set routine that we've followed since they were toddlers in their first real beds helps tremendously - bath, books, songs, bed. Let me tell you, "Maybe I'll Sleep in the Bathtub Tonight" is a delightful addition to our bedtime library. Not only is it a great way to expose your child to poetry early, the poems are about nighttime fears and topics that your children (and you!) can truly relate to. Have kids who always ask for just one more cup of water? Check. Afraid of monsters in the closet? Check. Hates morning kisses because of morning breath? Fights over who gets the top bunk vs. the bottom bunk? Wants to eat in bed? Check. Check. Check! The entire books is a real winner for bedtime reading and you just might find it helps you if your kids have a difficult time going to bed. Give it a try. I guarantee your kids will be laughing themselves to sleep at least!

About the Author: Before becoming a children’s book writer, Debbie Levy was a newspaper editor and a lawyer. Her first middle-grade novel, Underwater (Darby Creek Publishing, 2007), was a Junior Library Guild selection, and she is also the author of Richard Wright: A Biography (Lerner Publishing, 2007) as well as many other books about famous people, fascinating places, and historical events. She lives in Potomac, Maryland with her family. Find out more about Debbie at http://www.debbielevybooks.com/.

About the Illustrator: Stephanie Buscema is a freelance illustrator and cartoonist from Brooklyn, New York who has worked on everything from comics and children's books to rock 'n' roll art and gallery exhibitions. Stephanie has a BFA in illustration from the School of Visual Arts and has done work for Marvel Comics, DC Comics, Disney, and Dial Books for Young Readers. Learn more about Stephanie at http://www.stephaniebuscema.com/illu.php.

This post was written for Sterling Publishing who provided the book for review. I was not compensated in any way except for the complimentary book.

Tropicana Juicy Insider Mom Ambassador Program

From Mom Central: As active Moms, we strive for many balances whether between work and home, personal and community life, or health and fitness. Keeping these various activities in check while considering our family, time, and budgets, poses a challenge to our lifestyle. While many of us already coupon clip and shop the sales, now comes a program that rewards us for keeping a nutritious lifestyle at the forefront!

Tropicana recently launched its Juicy Rewards program to thank their customers for choosing great taste and value. Specially marked packages of Tropicana Orange Juice contain a code for points that you can enter when you log onto Tropicana.com to redeem for discounts.

You can use your points for discounts on purchases with Tropicana's national partners such as Adidas, Coleman, and EA Sports, or for cool local activities such as a visit to the zoo or a trip to the spa. Each carton of Tropicana Orange Juice is worth up to $15 in savings. In addition to providing great tasting and nutritional juice for our families, Juicy Rewards gives Moms a chance to save in all areas of our purchasing.

My take: Asking to be a Mom Ambassador for Tropicana was a no-brainer for me. We buy so much Tropicana OJ at our house, I might as well work for them (we drink the Trop50 OJ, Pomegranate Blueberry or Pineapple Mango every day). Mom Central must have agreed because they set me up with 12 points to start out my account and sent me on my way to let all of YOU know how awesome this new program is. Let me tell you, it is SO easy to accumulate points. After those 12 points and the one bonus point for all new members (set up your Tropicana Juicy Rewards account, go to the "Enter Codes" page and use the code MOMCE-NTRAL*), I'm already up to 55 points in my account. And I've spent some time going through the rewards program and am amazed at how far these points are going to go - "buy one get one" tickets to my favorite local zoos and museums are only 1 point! You can also help protect our Earth ; every point you donate saves 33 1/3 sq. ft. of rainforest through Tropicana’s Rescue the Rainforest! Stay tuned over the next three months as I start to redeem points (courtesy of a $50 gift card from Mom Central) and let you know how the program is going for me.

Now go on, set up your own account and reap your own "juicy" rewards!

(*This one-time use code is valid for new accounts ONLY. Must be entered within 6 hours of creating your account. )

Bonus: Be sure to enter to win one of four trips:

A birthday blowout in Las Vegas
A chance to win a Big Easy Getaway
A chance to Escape to Atlantic City
A Getaway to Lake Tahoe

and Follow and fan Tropicana on Facebook and Twitter (they give out free codes there all the time!)

This review was sponsored by
Mom Central

(which means: “"I wrote this review while participating in the Tropicana Juicy Insiders Ambassador program by Mom Central on behalf of Tropicana. I received 12 free Juicy Rewards points and a $50 Visa gift card to use in redemption of the points and to facilitate my review." )