DidiPop: Everyday Adventures (giveaway)

Everyday Adventures

Release Date:  November 1, 2011
Pre-order "Everyday Adventures" ($14.99) and get a free MP3 of the unreleased single "Bee Sting" produced by Deborah and Brad Jones in Nashville! 

This new CD explores the magic in day-to-day activities and is geared for children 1-7.

Song Listing

1. DidiPop Theme
2. Feed the Pet
3. The Cool Alphabet Song
4. Max The Wonder Dog
5. Yellow Car
6. Look at Yourself in the Mirror
7. Wack Job Dog
8. Neferdidi
9. Any Dream is Possible (my note: not really a song but a short-short conversation)
10. Merci
11. Yellow Banana
12. I Did My Homework
13. Tush on the Cush
14. DidiPop Reprise
15. Monday
16. Dream

My Take:  I first heard of DidiPop one year ago when I reviewed DidiPop Goes to Hawaii.  Like Soda-pop, DidiPop is an effervescent treat to anyone who likes good children's music.  And by "good children's music," I mean music YOU can listen to with your child without wanting to go jump off the side of a cliff (LOL). DidiPop's latest CD (available November 1) is another fun listen.  Her musical stylings found me tapping my foot along to the music quite a bit (Max the Wonder Dog is a particular favorite of mine - it just makes me smile).  Wack Job Dog sounds like an old surfer's tune and Neferdidi have a cute Egyptian flair. Merci is sung in both French and English lyrics (with the perfect accent!).  All the songs are upbeat except for the slow Dream that is perfect for winding down a busy fall day. If you or your child is in need of new tunes, do yourself a favor and check out Didi-Pop!

Bonus:  Here is song #3 from this new CD: http://youtu.be/jMaEEy-DHPQ

Bonus 2 just in time for Halloween! Check this out: Goblins Music Video for children by DidiPop - http://www.youtube.com/watch?src_vid=ocMq97pb328&annotation_id=annotation_301936&v=uCYeqIKyobE&feature=iv

♫♪♫♪ ♫♪♫♪ ♫♪♫♪ ♫♪♫♪ ♫♪♫♪ ♫♪♫♪ ♫♪♫♪ ♫♪♫♪

The giveaway: One lucky winner will win his/her very own copy of the DidiPop: Everyday Adventures!

To win: Visit DidiPop's website and come back here and tell me one way "Parents Can Inspire Their Children to Have Fun While Practicing Music." 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, November 8, 2011. 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):

• Follow the DidiPop on Twitter and leave a comment here with your twitter name

• Blog about this giveaway (don't forget to leave the link in your comment)

• Share this giveaway on any of your Social Networking sites (like Twitter and/or Facebook) and come back here with a link to your post/tweet (you can have up to two entries - be sure to leave 2 comments and if you tweet, include "@CPAMom" in your tweet)

• Follow me on Twitter (leave a comment with your twitter id)

• 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

• Follow me on Google Friend Connect (see top left sidebar)

P.S.:  Be sure to check out my new fan page for Did You See That? on Facebook!

P.P.S.: New Facebook rules do not allow contest entries for "Liking" facebook pages but You can find DidiPop on Facebook here.

This review was sponsored by DidiPop! who provided the CD for review and giveaway. I was not compensated in any way except for the complimentary CD.

M.O.M. (MOM OPERATING MANUAL) (book review and giveaway)

M.O.M. (MOM OPERATING MANUAL)

by Doreen Cronin and illustrated by Laura Cornell

Reading level: Ages 4-8

Hardcover: 56 pages

Publisher: Atheneum Books for Young Readers (October 4, 2011)

Language: English

List Price: $16.99

From the publisher: From basic guidance and troubleshooting to historical overview and important safeguards, this is THE guide to the care and maintenance of mothers, who are, according to the book, "the most advanced human models on the planet." (If you own a mother, you'll have to agree, see page 3 in book.)


Based on "years of research, observation, and time-outs" children (and dads) armed with this book can look forward to years of optimal performance from their mothers, if they follow the instructions carefully. With big safety alert symbols scattered throughout, readers who use the tips provided will have a far better chance of avoiding the most precarious mother-related situations, and will learn such imperatives as: how she should be fed (and how often), why she needs more than one inch of space on a bed (hey, you, you have your own bed, get back in it!), and what to do if her mad face ranks a 10 on the Mad Face Scale.


Wickedly funny, acutely perceptive, this is a book that, pretty much, no one on this PLANET should be without. Moms are going to be handing this out left and right, gleefully.


Don't forget to read the fine print!

My take:  I'm familiar Laura's illustrations from Jamie Lee Curtis' excellent line of children's books.  And of course, I'm familiar with Doreen's books as well, including DUCK FOR PRESIDENT (I reviewed it back in March 2008).  So I was tickled to received their collaborative effort:  M.O.M. (MOM OPERATING MANUAL)!  This book does not disappoint.  With Laura's distinctive illustrative stylings, an entire history of "Moms" is laid out, from their Daily Care and Maintenance Schedule, to Nutrition, Exercise, Grooming, Outdoor Use, and Troubleshooting - all you need to know about caring for your own Mom is included.  There is even a Reset and Survival Kit mode at the end.  One caveat - this really isn't for the kiddos - it's a book for you, the Mom.  I tried to read some of it to my 7 year old and she just didn't get the humor.  I, for one, found it hysterical.   Read below for how you can win YOUR very own copy.

The giveaway:  WIN IT!  One lucky winner will win his/her very own copy of M.O.M. (MOM OPERATING MANUAL)!

To win: Leave me a comment telling me  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, Friday, November 4, 2011. 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):

• Blog about this giveaway (don't forget to leave the link in your comment)

• Share this giveaway on any of your Social Networking sites (like Twitter and/or Facebook) and come back here with a link to your post/tweet (you can have up to two entries - be sure to leave 2 comments and if you tweet, include "@CPAMom" in your tweet)

• Follow me on Twitter (leave a comment with your twitter id)

• 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

• Follow me on Google Friend Connect (see top left sidebar)

P.S.:  Be sure to check out my new fan page for Did You See That? on Facebook!

P.P.S.: New Facebook rules do not allow contest entries for "Liking" facebook pages.

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

Big Bully (Music review and giveaway)

For ages 4 - 12

Label: Big Round Records

SRP: $11.99

Run time: 32 minutes

From the PR Firm – Recess Music is proud to present Big Bully, the start of the BEST FOOT FORWARD series that helps us realize that all human beings can be equipped to appreciate a world that is wise and fair, and generous hearted.  Big Bully will be available online at www.recessmusic.com, amazon.com and its international affiliates, iTunes, and brick and mortar retailers throughout the U.S. 

My take:  From the creator of U R SOME 1, comes Big Bully (another from the Best Foot Forward Series).  Because we like U R SOME 1 so much, I was very glad to be offered Big Bully to check out.  As you know, bullying is (and always has been) a problem among children.  I'm 40 years old and I still remember the bullies who taunted me in elementary school. Now I have two kids of my own that I'm trying to teach how to not BE a bully and how to treat other people who ARE bullies.  This CD is perfect!  Some  of the songs that are my favorite:  Track one, Bully Bubba, reminds us that "people that are mean have no self esteem" and "when you ignore a bully, their power goes away".  Most Valuable Player tells the tale of a great friend who was always a "winner" because of how he always treated teammates, no matter what ("Played Hard, Played Fair, Treated other kids with care").  Me Last Attitude is a great reminder of not being selfish (something we are working hard on in our home).  One and Only Me is a beautiful ballad celebrating our uniqueness.  Vicious Vinnie is about a bully at school and how the singer deals with him (by finally telling the teacher and she helped him out).    No Put Downs is a catchy tune about being kind (sung in an almost rap-like manner).  Bad Day Today is a kind of musical version of the book Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day.  The concept of empathy (a difficult one for kids) is introduced in Can You Imagine.  And of course, the title track Don't Bully Me is a "stand up for yourself anthem" for kids everywhere.   This entire album is another hit from Recess Music that we'll be listening to for years.   Read on to see how you can win a copy for yourself!

Song Listing:

1. Bully Bubba
2. Most Valuable Player
3. Time in Time Out
4. Mean Ogre
5. Me Last Attitude
6. Enemies
7. One and Only Me
8. Vicious Vinnie
9. I'm Sorry
10. I Can Make a Difference
11. No Put Downs
12. Bad Day Today
13. Can You Imagine
14. Don't Bully Me
15. Wishing Well

About Nancy Doan: While experiencing a multi-faceted life as a mother, wife, and minister, Nancy Doan became convinced of the need to make the world a better place through a two-fold approach: sustaining our environment and teaching kindness. Because music held a prominent place in both her own childhood and her experiences as a mother, Nancy developed an appreciation of the power of music as an educational tool. When the onset of systemic lupus erythematosus dictated a career change, she cast about for a way to continue to serve the causes to which she had dedicated her life. This search ultimately led to the creation of Recess Music, as a company dedicated to the twin goals of environmental awareness and social empathy through its “Celebrate Earth” and “Best Foot Forward” series of recordings.

The giveaway:  WIN IT BEFORE YOU CAN BUY IT!  One lucky winner will win his/her very own copy of Big Bully! {US and Canadian addresses only please}

To win: Leave me a comment telling me the name of another Recess Music CD. 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, Monday, November 7, 2011. 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):

• Blog about this giveaway (don't forget to leave the link in your comment)

• Share this giveaway on any of your Social Networking sites (like Twitter and/or Facebook) and come back here with a link to your post/tweet (you can have up to two entries - be sure to leave 2 comments and if you tweet, include @CPAMom in your tweet)

• Follow me on Twitter (leave a comment with your twitter id)

• 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

• Follow me on Google Friend Connect (see top left sidebar)

P.S.:  Be sure to check out my new fan page for Did You See That? on Facebook!

P.P.S.: New Facebook rules do not allow contest entries for "Liking" facebook pages.

This review was sponsored by Waldmania! PR who provided the CD for review and giveaway. I was not compensated in any way except for the complimentary CD.

FIGHT CANCER YOUR WAY, FIGHT CANCER TOGETHER (Giveaway)

My take:  It's no secret I love Save the Ta-Tas because even though I am an incredibly lucky person to NOT have breast cancer, three of my dear friends have battled it or are battling it still.  Every day I pray for them as they journey through their treatments.  Every day they inspire me.  Every day I fight cancer with them - by making sure I keep vigilant for signs of breast cancer in myself and by spreading the word about early detection through this little blog of mine.  One of my favorite products from Save the Ta-Tas for that is the Boob Lube (it's pretty cool soap for the shower or bath), perfect for self-detection.  You ARE doing those monthly self exams, aren't you?!?

I'm also fortunate enough to have several of the t-shirts from Save the Ta-Tas and my husband loves his "Ta-Tas are Awesome" car magnet!   One of their newest shirts is this one and I get to give one away to one of you!

Harmony - V-Neck Tee - Light Blue

Price: $45.00

From the company:

Who We Are 

ta-tas®Brand is committed to stopping cancer. That’s why we give a portion of every sale to end the disease. Every purchase counts because every purchase creates a donation. 

Our Purpose 

We exist to bring joy and healing to the world. 

Our Core Values 

* We believe that laughter heals. 

* We believe in leading with a spirit of excellence. 

* We believe that integrity and generosity bring success for all. 

How it Works:

Ta-tas® Brand (www.savethetatas.com) commits 5% of every sale to the Save the ta-tas® Foundation. This includes any product sold on savethetatas.com, at any of our authorized retailers and all of our licensed goods. Many of our authorized retailers participate in our Donation Matching program, doubling the donation we would give. Culturally, we usually understand a donation in terms of “profits” or “proceeds.” Ta-tas® Brand knows that sometimes little or no profit is made on an item, so we want our customer to be assured we make our committed donation regardless. This is why we calculate our donation by the actual sale price, not the profits made. From 2004 – 2010 this translated to roughly 50% of our profits. The Save the ta-tas® Foundation also accepts outside independent and corporate donations.

How Donated Fund Are Used:

Donations are used primarily to support independent scientific research. Knowing full well we are a product brand, and not experts in reading and selecting grants, we have formed a valuable partnership with Concern Foundation. The Concern Foundation matches our donation allowing us to double the funding!  Donations are also made in the form of product donations. This allows us to support other organizations outside of our own. By selling ta-tas® Brand products outside fundraisers, passionate customers can raise valuable funds, no only for The Save the ta-tas® Foundation, but also one of their favorite organizations.

To win: Leave a comment telling me what YOUR favorite Save the Ta-Tas product is. 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, Thursday, November 3, 2011. 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):

• Follow Save the Ta-Tas on Twitter
• Blog about this giveaway (don't forget to leave the link in your comment)
• Share this giveaway on any of your Social Networking sites (like Twitter or Facebook) and come back here with a link to your post/tweet (you can have up to two entries - be sure to leave 2 comments - also note, on Twitter, you need to include @CPAMom in your tweet)
• Follow me on Twitter (leave a comment with your twitter id)
• 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 Google Friend Connect (see top left sidebar)

P.S.:  Be sure to check out my new fan page for Did You See That? on Facebook!

P.P.S.: New Facebook rules do not allow contest entries for "Liking" facebook pages.

This review was sponsored by Save The Ta-Tas who provided me with the t-shirt shown above. I was not compensated in any way except for the complimentary t-shirt.  All opinions are my own.

Dumbo 70th Anniversary Edition (DVD review)

Dumbo (Two-Disc 70th Anniversary Edition Blu-ray / DVD Combo Pack in Blu-ray Packaging) (1941)

Actors: Sterling Holloway, Edward Brophy, James Baskett, Herman Bing, Billy Bletcher

Directors: Ben Sharpsteen, Bill Roberts, Jack Kinney, Norman Ferguson, Samuel Armstrong

Format: AC-3, Animated, Color, Dolby, DTS Surround Sound, Dubbed, Full Screen, Subtitled

Language: English

Subtitles: English, French, Spanish

Region: Region A/1 (Read more about DVD/Blu-ray formats.)

Aspect Ratio: 1.33:1

Number of discs: 2

Rated: G (General Audience)

Studio: Walt Disney Studios Home Entertainment

DVD Release Date: September 20, 2011

Run Time: 64 minutes

List Price: $39.99

From the studio: Walt Disney Studios Home Entertainment invites audiences to let their spirits soar with the release of the beloved animated classic Dumbo, for the first time ever in high definition as a 70th Anniversary Edition, coming on September 20, 2011. The Academy Award®-winning (1942, Best Music, Scoring of a Musical Picture) favorite will take flight for the first time with a premium restoration in stunning Blu-ray™ high definition featuring pristine 7.1 Digital Theater System High-Def Surround Sound, allowing fans to see more, hear more, interact more and share more of this timeless adventure about believing in yourself.


Dumbo: 70th Anniversary Edition will be available for purchase as a 2-Disc Blu-ray + DVD Combo Pack (with the suggested retail price of $39.99 U.S./$44.99 Canada), a 1-Disc DVD (with the suggested retail price of $29.99 U.S./$35.99 Canada), High Definition Movie Download (for the suggested retail price of $39.99 U.S./44.99 Canada) and/or Standard Definition Movie Download (for the suggested retail price of $29.99 U.S./$35.99 Canada).


All versions come packed with a variety of special bonus features including such features as deleted scenes, interactive games, audio commentary, behind the scenes details and more. To learn more about this film, consumers are invited to visit http://www.disney.com/dumbo.

My take:  I'm late, I'm late, for a very important date!!  Meaning, I completely forgot to put up a review for this awesome Disney anniversary edition of Dumbo (release date was 9/20/11).  I can hardly believe it's been 70 years since the original release.  I had only vague memories of watching the movie myself as a child so I was glad to get this release to watch with my daughter.  This classic tale of the poor baby elephant with extra large ears is just as relevant today as it ever was - a tale of what it means to be different and how to celebrate those differences.  Not to mention, a Mother's unending love for her child.  With all the rampant bullying going on in society today, Dumbo is a nice reminder of how being different is not a bad thing and one should not be bullied for it!  Disney has done a nice job of remastering this timeless tale and I'm grateful to have received a copy for our Disney DVD library.

This post was written for Walt Disney Studios and Allied-THA [Allied Integrated Marketing (Allied) and Terry Hines and Associates (THA)] PR. I was not compensated in any way except for a complimentary DVD.

The Girl Who Never Made Mistakes (book review and giveaway)

The Girl Who Never Made Mistakes

By Mark Pett and Gary Rubenstein

Illustrated by Mark Pett

Release Date: October 1, 2011

Sourcebooks Jabberwocky

Hardcover /$14.99 US

32 Pages/Ages: 4-8

From the publisher: The Girl Who Never Made Mistakes by Mark Pett and Gary Rubenstein, the adorably funny and inspirational picture book that Stephanie Oppenheim of Oppenheim Toy Portfolio is calling “a must read for any young (or old!) perfectionist.”


The Girl Who Never Made Mistakes is the delightful story about Beatrice Bottomwell, a girl who prides herself on being perfect, until she’s not. She is a nine-year-old girl who has never (not once!) made a slip-up. But one day she does the unthinkable—she makes her first mistake! Not only that, she makes it in the most public way possible. Will the mistake be the end of her life? Or could it end up being a lot of fun?

My take:  I will admit to being a bit of a perfectionist.  After all, I was raised with the expression "anything worth doing, is worth doing right" (which is another of those "parent-isms" I can't believe I hear coming out of my own mouth, now that I'm the parent!).  Luckily, I don't see either of my children having this problem of fearing to make mistakes.  But if you have a child like that, this book is definitely for you.  Beatrice Bottomwell is "the girl who never makes mistakes."  She has a little brother, Carl, who makes lots of mistakes, but she never does.  In fact, she goes out of her way never to try anything that might lead to making a mistake.  Big problem - she's missing out on all the fun!  One day she participates in a talent show and makes her first mistake ever.  How does she react?  How does this change her life?  You'll have to read the book to find out!  Suffice to say, this is an excellent tale on how having a fear of failure leads very quickly to a very boring life - Feel the Fear and DO IT ANYWAY as I tell my kiddos.  Making mistakes is NOT the end of the world, but a way to learn.  Excellent book - I highly recommend it.

About the authors: Authors Mark Pett and Gary Rubenstein know about mistakes. For Mark, a nationally syndicated cartoonist, his appreciation for mistakes started with his experience as an art instructor. Whenever he gave his classes a free-style drawing period, there was always a student who spent more time worried about not messing up and creating a perfect project – instead of exploring and creating and trying something new. Similarly, teacher Gary Rubenstein noticed that his students were so concerned with having the right answer in class that they opted to not say anything rather than risk uttering the wrong one.


After meeting at a Teach for America reunion, the two realized that they both had the same question: why were their students so concerned about making mistakes? Three years later—both sharing the experience of being a teacher and father—they decided to write a book together that celebrated the joy of and learning that comes with drawing outside the lines and other actions too often labeled “mistakes.” The Girl Who Never Made Mistakes encourages self-empowerment by showing young girls it’s okay to be themselves without having to be perfect.

The giveaway: Win your very own copy of  The Girl Who Never Made Mistakes!

To win: Leave me a comment telling me if you are "a girl who never makes mistakes" or if you know someone who is (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, Wednesday, November 2, 2011. 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):

• Blog about this giveaway (don't forget to leave the link in your comment)
• Share this giveaway on any of your Social Networking sites (like Twitter and/or Facebook) and come back here with a link to your post/tweet (you can have up to two entries - be sure to leave 2 comments) Be sure to include "@CPAMom" with your tweet.
• Follow me on Twitter (leave a comment with your twitter id) (you can use the yellow button on the top right sidebar)
• Subscribe to my blog via RSS or Email (see top right sidebar)
• Add my button to your sidebar (leave your website address for verification)
• Fan or Fav me on Technorati (or use the purple box link on the top right sidebar)
• Follow me on Blogger using Google Friend Connect (see right sidebar)

This post was written for Sourcebooks, Inc. who provided the books for review and giveaway. I was not compensated in any way except for the complimentary book. My opinion is my own.

P.S.:  Be sure to check out my new fan page for Did You See That? on Facebook!


(Facebook rules do not allow giveaway entries for "Liking" Facebook pages)

Cooper and Me (book review and giveaway)

Cooper and Me

by:  Monique and Alexa Peters

Illustrated by:  Alexa Peters

$12.99

From the PR Firm: Along with the excitement and anticipation of starting school for the first time (or a new grade), also comes, for many little ones, anxiety and fear. For kids (and parents!) who are experiencing these jitters, there's an insightful new picture book, Cooper and Me, the first in a series of books that invite children to explore life with a lovable Labrador Retriever, Cooper.


Through rhythmic verses, Cooper and Me tells the story of a young girl who is nervous as her first day of school approaches. She is frightened about leaving home and doesn't want to go without her best friend, her dog Cooper. Fortunately her mother finds the perfect solution to help the little girl overcome her fears – a small replica of her beloved pet she can take to school with her. In Cooper and Me, the story of a child’s worries about starting school has evolved into a timeless tale about overcoming separation anxiety and trying new things – basic emotions all people experience throughout their lives – but this time, written by a child, for children.


The story behind Cooper and Me also offers an inspiring example of families working together to help others. In addition to helping young children gain emotional resilience and confidence through their books, Alexa and mom Monique wanted to go beyond that to help less fortunate kids. Their search for an organization to which they could donate a portion of the proceeds from the Cooper and Me book led to a charitable alliance with the Happy Hearts Fund, founded and run by Petra Nemcova, the supermodel who was directly affected by the tsunami in Thailand. Happy Hearts improves children’s lives through education and sustainable programs in areas devastated by natural disasters.

My take: When I was a young child, I had a security blanket.  I carried that thing until it fell to pieces.  My daughter has followed in my footsteps - only she has 2 of them!  They provide her a sense of security whenever she is getting ready to try something new.  I remember how hard it was to get her to leave them at home when she first went to preschool.  I wish this book had been available then.  Cooper and Me is about separation anxiety on the first day of school.  The story is told in rhyme (some of the rhyme is awkward but most of it works), of how a little girl is anxious about going to school for the first time.  So her mother gives her a mini-Cooper (stuffed animal version of her beloved dog Cooper) to take with her to school.  With her "security blanket" at her side, the little girl is able to go to school with a lot less fear.  This book would be perfect for any child getting ready to experience something new.  I look forward to reading the other three books in the series to my daughter.


Bonus:  There are FOUR Cooper and Me books available (including Winter, Halloween and the Military) along with a book bag and a plush Cooper dog!

Bonus 2:  Download coloring pages and other games here

Bonus 3:  Download Reading Guides for all four books here

About the author: Cooper and Me was illustrated by 11-year-old Alexa Peters and co-written with her mother, Monique Peters. The idea was inspired by Alexa's own experiences on her first day of school. A talented young artist and writer, Alexa wanted to give back to others in a meaningful way through her art. Starting at a very young age, Alexa created illustrated stories about her daily experiences, and from the pages of her sketchbooks came the idea for her first book, Cooper and Me.


The giveaway: Win your very own copy of  Cooper and Me! This book and prize also includes a FREE download of the Cooper and Me theme song, which extends the fun and learning of the book.

To win: Leave me a comment telling me something else you can buy from the Cooper and Me store (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, November 1, 2011. 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):

• Blog about this giveaway (don't forget to leave the link in your comment)
• Share this giveaway on any of your Social Networking sites (like Twitter and/or Facebook) and come back here with a link to your post/tweet (you can have up to two entries - be sure to leave 2 comments)
• Follow me on Twitter (leave a comment with your twitter id) (you can use the yellow button on the top right sidebar)
• Subscribe to my blog via RSS or Email (see top right sidebar)
• Add my button to your sidebar (leave your website address for verification)
• Fan or Fav me on Technorati (or use the purple box link on the top right sidebar)
• Follow me on Blogger using Google Friend Connect (see right sidebar)

This post was written for Nina Stern Public Relations who provided the books for review and giveaway. I was not compensated in any way except for the complimentary book. My opinion is my own.

P.S.:  Be sure to check out my new fan page for Did You See That? on Facebook!


(Facebook rules do not allow giveaway entries for "Liking" Facebook pages)

CREEPY Classics (contest notification)

From the company:  Music that evokes images of the murkiest fogs and the scariest ghouls, Creepy Classics: halloween's greatest hits features the most famous spooky music ever! it's the perfect choice for any howling halloween celebration with the family or for spooking an unsuspecting bunch of trick-or-treaters! featuring a range of classics from memorable horror movie themes to iconic dark orchestral scores, Creepy Classics: halloween's greatest hits is no trick - but definitely a treat!

With the music of Creepy Classics, you can create the scariest Halloween celebration ever! mix in delicious Hershey's candy - and any party will be going bump in the night!


Make this a Halloween to remember by entering for a chance to win your classroom a creepy (but totally delicious) Halloween party brought to you by Creepy Classics and Hershey's!


Win an awesome Halloween party for your classroom or office with a Frankenstein size amount of Hershey's candy and some creepy cool music from Creepy Classics.

Track Listing:

1. Toccata in D Minor, BWV 565 (BACH)


Bach’s “Toccata in D minor” is the quintessential Halloween theme, evoking images of Dracula, the Phantom of the Opera and other villains throughout time. Composed for the organ, this remains one of the best ways to greet trick-or-treaters at your doorstep.


2. Fugue in D Minor, BMV 565 (BACH)


The fun and eeriness continues with Bach’s “Fugue in D minor.” This, along with the Toccata, was featured in the famous 1940 film, Fantasia, as well as in 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea, performed by the mysterious Captain Nemo. Relive all the greatest frights with these two pieces!


3. Funeral March of a Marionette (GOUNOD)


Famously known as the theme from “Alfred Hitchcock Presents…”, “The Funeral March of a Marionette” is a haunting piece which conjures images of puppets and their masters. Written by Charles Gounod, it tells the story of a marionette’s funeral march and of the gathering afterwards. The puppets slink away at the end, ready to perform for audiences again.


4.Jaws - Main Titles and First Victim (WILLIAMS)


Who doesn’t know what it sounds like to see a shark swimming towards you? From the movie Jaws, John Williams created what is perhaps the most famous of all movie themes. Listen to this and think twice before you step into the water…


5. Ave Satani - Theme From The Omen (GOLDSMITH)


Ave Satani is as scary as it gets. Composed by Jerry Goldsmith for the movie The Omen, this piece is the ultimate spine-tingler! Not scared enough yet? Turn up the volume and turn off the lights!


6. Psycho - A Narrative for Orchestra (HERRMANN)


Step into the shower with music from Alfred Hitchcock’s Psycho. Mastering the art of tension, Bernard Herrmann composed a narrative that will keep you on the edge of your seat. After hearing this, you’ll never take a shower the same way again!


7. The Sorcerer's Apprentice (DUKAS)  


“The Sorcerer’s Apprentice” was composed by Paul Dukas in 1897 and immortalized in Walt Disney’s Fantasia. Relive Mickey Mouse as an ambitious young wizard, casting spells gone bad, and not to forget the attack of the brooms with this thrilling track.


8.  Danse Macabre (SAINT-SAENS)


Listen to skeleton’s dance with Camille Saint-Saens’ “Danse Macabre.” Death plays the fiddle every midnight on Halloween, calling the dead from their graves to dance until the rooster crows at dawn. Do your own ‘danse macabre’ to this dark tune.


9. In the Hall of the Mountain King (GRIEG) 


Immerse yourself in a world of fantasy and lore with the music written by Edvard Grieg in 1876. This theme has been used in films, TV and even video games, and you will no doubt recognize it’s famous melody. Re-enact your greatest duels with ghastly ghouls as you fight with this track blaring in the background.


10. The Ride of The Valkyries (WAGNER)


Set this track as your alarm and wake up on a flying magical horse, with singing women praising your very existence. Written by Richard Wagner, “The Ride of the Valkyries” was prominently featured in the famous film Apocalypse Now. This is the ultimate theme to take command of the night for any Halloween-er, young or old.


11. A Night on Bald Mountain (MUSSORGSKY)


Spending A Night on Bald Mountain is surely no easy feat. Inhabited by pagan-worshipping witches, this track places on the peak and takes you through the perils of living with danger. You’ll be rescued by dawn and a new day, but only if you can survive that long…

My take:  Universal Music and Hershey's have teamed up to help make your Halloween CREEPY!  Universal released the new CD "Creepy Classics" detailed above and together with HERSHEY’s Candy, they've created a contest in which entrants can win a ton of delicious Hershey’s Candy to throw an awesome Halloween party! Absolutely FREE to enter!  Halloween is a HUGE holiday at our house; we decorate inside and out.  On Halloween night, one of us takes the kids trick or treating and one of us stays home to hand out candy.  The one who stays home sits among the rolling fog, next to a cackling witch, with spooky music playing.  So I was excited to check out this CD for that purpose (never hurts to have more than on CD at the ready!)  This is a pretty good mix of music, though not all of it is "creepy" - some of it (like the  The Sorcerer's Apprentice) was just good classical music.  Regardless, there is enough spooky music on it to make it on my Halloween night list - watch out local trick or treaters - prepare to be SPOOKED!  Take a listen for yourself - head over to http://www.creepyfunhalloween.com/, click on SPECIAL TREAT and can download a track for free!

This review was sponsored by Universal and Hershey who provided the CD for review. I was not compensated in any way except for the complimentary CD. My opinion is my own.

P.S.:  Be sure to check out my new fan page for Did You See That? on Facebook.

Boo! Celebrate a SPOOKTACULAR Halloween with PBS Kids! (Giveaway)

From the Studio:  

ALL NEW TELEVISION SPECIALS OF DINOSAUR TRAIN and SID THE SCIENCE KID: Dinosaur Train NEW EPISODE Haunted Roundhouse/Big Pond Pumpkin Patch premiere 10/20 on PBS Kids (check local listings) Repeats- 10/24, 10/28, 10/30 , 10/31


In Haunted Roundhouse, dad takes the kids on a special Night Train to Troodon Town, where the Troodons have decorated their Roundhouse into a “haunted house” for a spooky party. The kids end up meeting a strange new nocturnal creature – a mammal named Vlad Volaticotherium, who was hiding in the roundhouse trying to get some sleep. And in Big Pond Pumpkin Patch, the Pteranodon family learns more about the customs of their neighbors, the Lambeosaurus family, when they are invited for the first time to accompany them to the Big Pond to celebrate “Gourd Day” – a kind of Mesozoic Halloween. The kids see their first pumpkins, and Larry Lambeosaurus even shows our family how to hollow them out and carve faces into them.


Sid the Science Kid NEW EPISODE Spooky Science Special premieres 10/17 on PBS Kids (check local listings) Show Repeats- 10/25, 10/28, 10/30, 10/31


In Halloween Spooky Science Special, it’s Halloween time and Sid and his friends have dressed up in the spookiest and scariest costumes possible. Sid is a bat with big fangs. May is a spooky black cat. Gabriela is a furry, yucky spider. And Gerald is a super spooky skeleton that goes boo! Susie (dressed as a silly mad scientist) loves their costumes, and helps the kids discover that Halloween can be spooky and scientific! The kids investigate how bats are helpful creatures that catch mosquitoes, spiders are expert engineer web builders, cats are leaping aerial acrobats, and skeletons help hold up our body frames! At the Halloween party, the kids also investigate how to make icky, gooey green slime. Susie then ends the day with a special “Halloween Parade” song so the kids can march around and show off their spooky and scientific costumes!


HALLOWEEN COSTUMES TO BUY OR MAKE!
Dinosaur Train Halloween Costumes for Purchase, from California Costume Collections.

Buddy is the main character on the hit TV series, Dinosaur Train. This colorful costume includes the orange colored T-Rex jumpsuit, Buddy the dinosaur hood, and the shoe covers to match the costume. Available for toddlers ages 3-4, and children between the ages of 4-6. SRP: $34.99 –
39.99.

Dinosaur Train Costume – Tiny
Tiny is one of the main characters on the hit TV series, Dinosaur Train. This colorful costume includes the green colored Pteranodon jumpsuit, Tiny the dinosaur hood, and green shoe covers to match the costume. Available for toddlers ages 3-4, and children between the ages of 4-6. Each Dinosaur Train costume is made up of soft fabric to enhance a child’s comfort while wearing them. The costumes are also created in vibrant colors and realistic design patterns to make your toddler look and feel like a dinosaur train character. SRP $34.99 – 39.99.


Additionally, for those who are feeling a little adventurous, Jim Henson's Creature Shop — the folks who brought you Elmo and Miss Piggy, among many others — have created a Buddy costume that can be made at home!


For sew and no sew options, click this link: http://www.pbs.org/parents/dinosaurtrain/costume And to see a video of the sew version, click this link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QANroqbPing


And click this link to find out how you can make your own Sid the Science Kid Halloween Costume! http://www.pbs.org/parents/sid/halloween.html


OTHER SERIOUSLY SPOOKY HALLOWEEN FUN!

For a little scary Dinosaur Train Halloween Fun – enjoy reading The Spooky Scavenger Hunt” from Grosset and Dunlap in which Mr. Pteranodon takes Buddy and Tiny on a nighttime trip to the Big Pond for a spooky nature walk! Mr. Pteranodon and the conductor insist they can't be scared, but when the conductor's mom jumps out at them, everyone gets a good scare! This simple storybook is perfect for read-aloud fun! Ages 4 - 8; SRP $3.99.


Also:  Now, Sid and his friends Gerald, May and Gabriela can come along while your child is trick-or-treating with this spooky candy bag that can be personalized with a youngster's name. To collect your favorite candy andgoodies, check out the Sid the Science Kid Happy Halloween Black Trick-or-Treat Bag. available for $14.99 here. 

For more information:


Follow The Jim Henson Company: www.facebook.com/hensoncompany; www.twitter.com/hensonparents

Follow PBS Kids: www.twitter.com/pbskids; www.facebook.com/pbskids

www.pbskids.org/dinosaurtrain; www.pbskids.org/sid; www.pbskids.org/parents; www.henson.com

My take: My 7 year old is just on the cusp of outgrowing Dinosaur Train, which makes me a little sad.  I love this series because she can learn so much about dinosaurs while having fun too.  I wouldn't mind having a paleontologist in the family one day....anyway, what we received to review was the book you see above.  In this book, Mr. Peteranodon, along with his son Tiny and his friend Buddy, go on the Night Train for a Spooky Scavenger Hunt.  The Conductor (a Troodon) greets them with "Mwah-ha-ha Good eeeeevening!" and the fun has begun!  The kids, along with their friend Ned Brachiosauraus, go on a hunt using their senses of SMELL, HEARING and SIGHT (which is what my daughter loved about this book because they just learned about the 5 senses in class at school).  The hunt concludes with a Troodon Show on the Night Train.  It's a fun book that ties in very nicely with the show.  Would you like to win a copy for yourself? Read on....


The giveaway: One lucky winner will win The Spooky Scavenger Hunt book you see above!  The promotion is open to U.S. citizens only.

To win: Tell me who in your house is the DINOSAUR TRAIN fan and would love to read this book (answer will not determine winner as winner is chose by Random.com). 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, October 25, 2011. 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):

• Follow the PBS Kids on Twitter (leave a comment with your twitter id)
• Follow the Jim Henson Company on Twitter (leave a comment with your twitter id)
• Share this giveaway on any of your Social Networking sites (like Twitter and/or Facebook) and come back here with a link to your post/tweet (you can have up to two entries - be sure to leave 2 comments)
• Follow me on Twitter (leave a comment with your twitter id)
• 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
• Follow me on Google Friend Connect (see top left sidebar)

About Dinosaur Train:   From the world-renowned Jim Henson Company, the hit DINOSAUR TRAIN series is seen in over 13 million households every month. The series encourages scientific thinking and other skills as it teaches children about natural science, natural history and paleontology. DINOSAUR TRAIN’s second season will focus on exploring the outdoors and natural phenomena, and will feature “Big Dinosaur Week” and a special based on the fan favorite “Dinosaurs A to Z” song.

DINOSAUR TRAIN is a Parents’ Choice Recommended TV series, and the DINOSAUR TRAIN website received a Parents’ Choice Silver Award and was the recipient of a prestigious 2010 Prix Jeunesse Award.

DINOSAUR TRAIN, created by Craig Bartlett (Hey Arnold!), embraces and celebrates the fascination that preschoolers have with both dinosaurs and trains while encouraging basic scientific thinking and skills. Each episode includes animated segments with live-action sequences featuring a paleontologist who brings to life the show's natural science and natural history curriculum for preschoolers, giving specific facts about dinosaurs and comparing their features to animals of today.

This review was sponsored by 360 Marketing and Communications who provided the book above for review and giveaway.  I received no other compensation beyond this USD$3.99 value book.

Halloween Hits from NCircle Entertainment (GIVEAWAY)

From NCircle Entertainment:  WordWorld Kooky Spooky Halloween and The Cat in the Hat Knows a lot About That! Tricks and Treats are filled with Halloween fun for your little one. 

Run Time: Approx. 30 minutes each

Available now at a retailer near you or at www.ncircleentertainment.com

SRP: $6.99 each

Kooky Spooky Halloween Synopsis: The Word Friends get their share of scares the night before Halloween, when Pig sleep walks and everyone thinks he's a ghost! Sheep's Halloween Costume
Sheep is making herself a super special fairy costume to wear for the big Halloween party. But what will she do when her Word Friends need pieces of her costume for their own use?


Tricks and Treats Synopsis: A new spooky adventure this DVD brings, with The Cat, Nick and Sally, Fish and the Things. Meet the eeriest critters you have ever seen, arrived just in time for this Halloween!
There'll be lots of tricks and, of course lots of treats, to share with the animal friends you will meet!
There's a coconut crab, spider monkeys and bats, and plenty more fun with The Cat in the Hat!


More fun at:  www.EntertainmentThatEducates.com

My take:  Word World, Dr. Seuss and Halloween.  Can you GET a better combination than that?  Not if you have toddlers and/or preschoolers in the house.  Halloween can be a scary time of the year for little ones but not with your child's familiar Word World friends by their side, not to mention the all time favorite, Cat in the Hat (seriously, if you don't like Cat in the Hat, I'm not sure we can be friends :-).  ANYwho, these are super cute movies for the Halloween holiday season.  In the Word World DVD, there is a lot of fun with costumes (with the added bonus of learning new words to read!) and in Tricks and Treats, you have all the fun of Dr. Seuss rhyme time with a Halloween flair.  Great fun, both DVDs and even my 7 year old liked them still.

The giveaway:  One lucky winner will win his/her very own copies of both of these DVDs!

To win: Leave me a comment telling me the name of an upcoming release from NCircle Entertainment. 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, Monday, October 24, 2011. 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):

• Blog about this giveaway (don't forget to leave the link in your comment)
• Follow NCircle Entertainment on Twitter
• Share this giveaway on any of your Social Networking sites (like Twitter and/or Facebook) and come back here with a link to your post/tweet (you can have up to two entries - be sure to leave 2 comments)
• Follow me on Twitter (leave a comment with your twitter id)
• 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
• Follow me on Google Friend Connect (see top left sidebar)

P.S.:  Be sure to check out my new fan page for Did You See That? on Facebook!

P.P.S.: New Facebook rules do not allow contest entries for "Liking" facebook pages but you can follow NCircle Entertainment here if you'd like.

This review was sponsored by NCircle Entertainment who provided the DVDs for review and giveaway. I was not compensated in any way except for the complimentary DVDs.

Casper the Friendly Ghost® (DVD review and giveaway for Halloween)

Actors: Cecil Roy, Mae Questel

Directors: Izzy Sparber

Format: Animated, Box set, Color, DVD, Full Screen, NTSC

Language: English

Region: Region 1 (U.S. and Canada only. Read more about DVD formats.)

Number of discs: 3

Rated: NR (Not Rated)

Studio: Shout! Factory

DVD Release Date: October 11, 2011

Run Time: 480 minutes

Suggested Retail Price:  $29.93

BOO!

ALL-NEW CASPER THE FRIENDLY GHOST®

DVD COLLECTION TO HIT STORES THIS HALLOWEEN

Shout! Factory To Release All 81 Cartoons Created Between 1945-1963

In One Complete Set For The First Time On October 11, 2011

From the PR Firm: Casper the Friendly Ghost®—the star of thousands of comic books, hundreds of cartoon episodes and a blockbuster Steven Spielberg film—has always been more interested in making friends than frightening. Joining him on his escapades are the endlessly antagonizing Ghostly Trio and Casper’s good friend, Wendy the Good Little Witch. All of their adventures and fun will come to life on October 11, 2011, when Shout! Factory releases the Casper the Friendly Ghost Collection, much to the delight of fans everywhere!


The 3-disc DVD set will include all 81 cartoons created between 1945-1963, as well as extensive bonus features giving fans and collectors the opportunity to own the most complete Casper DVD set for the first time. A must have for fans of the series and DVD collectors, the Casper the Friendly Ghost Collection will retail for $29.93. Fans of the series can also pre-order the DVD from Amazon.com.


The Casper the Friendly Ghost Collection DVD set will contain 81 cartoons—55 original theatrical cartoons and 26 New Casper Cartoon Show episodes including a rare episode that was never released on home video in any format; an array of bonus features such as commentaries with Casper expert/writer Mark Arnold of the book The Harveyville Fun Times, an interview with voice actor Bradley Bolke, a gallery of comic book covers and more, all totaling over seven hours of content.


Casper the Friendly Ghost first appeared in 1945 when Paramount released three theatrical shorts. He ultimately became one of the Studio’s biggest animated stars. In 1950, at the height of his fame, Paramount expanded the cartoons into a successful TV series. In 1952, Harvey Comics became the publisher of Casper comic books and went on to publish them for more than 40 years.

Bonus Features:

· Commentaries with Comic book and animation historian Mark Arnold (author of The Harveyville Fun Times), Alison Arngrim (daughter of Casper voice actor Norma MacMillan), voice actor Bradley Bolke and Edmee Reit (widow of Casper Co-creator Seymour Reit)


· Gallery of comic book covers and more!

My take: The shows "Ghost Hunters" and "Ghost Hunters International" on the Syfy channel are big hits in our house - all four of us watch the shows religiously every week.  We are BELIEVERS (and I MAY have a SLIGHT crush on Grant and Jason and my husband JUST MIGHT have crushes on Amy and Kris.  Ahem.)  So it's no surprise that my daughter has decided she loves Casper (he also looks a little like the dog puppy in Spooky Buddies that she loves so much).  Recently, while convalescing at home (remember she was sick again), she watched every.single Casper episode on this set - that's 81 cartoons ya'll!  You'd think that may episodes would dim her enthusiasm but it hasn't.  Casper the Ghost is timeless, in my humble opinion.  And what better time to introduce your child to the Ghost from your childhood (the show originally ran from 1945-1963) than Halloween?!  Pick up your copy today for your own run down memory lane OR keep reading for how to WIN a copy of this amazing 3 DVD set.  


Bonus (YouTube clips): 

All he wants to do is be friends, but people have been conditioned to believe that ghosts are scary so poor Casper often finds himself sad and lonely: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MI8iQ0bQT4M

Casper is more than a ghost. He is also a friend and a hero to some:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2YFXs4cukhU

Casper trivia: 

Did you know that Casper the Friendly Ghost was voiced by a woman? Watch this fun interview brief with Alison Arngrim, the daughter of voice actress Norma MacMillan, who voiced Casper!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Nez51er9nDo

The giveaway: Win your very own copy of  the Casper the Friendly Ghost Collection!

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) - maybe tell me if you used to watch Casper as a child. 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, Wednesday, October 19, 2011. Good Luck! (PLEASE NOTE:  Sponsor has requested USA / Canadian addresses only please).

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

• Blog about this giveaway (don't forget to leave the link in your comment)
• Share this giveaway on any of your Social Networking sites (like Twitter and/or Facebook) and come back here with a link to your post/tweet (you can have up to two entries - be sure to leave 2 comments)
• Follow me on Twitter (leave a comment with your twitter id) (you can use the yellow button on the top right sidebar)
• Subscribe to my blog via RSS or Email (see top right sidebar)
• Add my button to your sidebar (leave your website address for verification)
• Fan or Fav me on Technorati (or use the purple box link on the top right sidebar)
• Follow me on Blogger using Google Friend Connect (see right sidebar)

About Shout! Factory: Shout! Factory is a diversified entertainment company devoted to producing, uncovering and revitalizing the very best of pop culture. Founders Richard Foos, Bob Emmer and Garson Foos have spent their careers sharing their music, television and film faves with discerning consumers the world over. Shout! Factory’s DVD offerings serve up classic, contemporary and cult TV series, riveting sports programs, live music, animation and documentaries in lavish packages crammed with extras. The company’s audio catalogue boasts GRAMMY®-nominated box sets, new releases from storied artists, lovingly assembled album reissues and indispensable “best of” compilations. These riches are the result of a creative acquisitions mandate that has established the company as a hotbed of cultural preservation and commercial reinvention. Shout! Factory is based in Santa Monica, California. For more on Shout! Factory, visit shoutfactory.com.

About Casper the Friendly Ghost®: Casper the Friendly Ghost®, “The Official Ambassador of Halloween,” has been making friends around the world for generations. The star of thousands of comics (more than 100 million sold), hundreds of cartoon episodes, and a blockbuster live action film, Casper is beloved by audiences from kids to tweens to adults. He has always been the ghost who would rather make friends than frighten, thereby showing all of us that it’s okay to be you.

This review and giveaway was sponsored by:

This post was written for Shout! who provided the DVDs for review and giveaway. I was not compensated in any way except for the complimentary DVD. My opinion is my own.

P.S.:  Be sure to check out my new fan page for Did You See That? on Facebook!


(Facebook rules do not allow giveaway entries for "Liking" Facebook pages)