Book Review: Math and Magic in Wonderland

Review: Math and Magic in Wonderland

*Disclosure: I was given a free book to review but all opinions are my own. 

Are you ready to go on a grand adventure?  A magical journey? Then you have to get this book!    It’s a fun expedition from beginning to end. In fact, you will have so much fun that you will not realize you are learning.  You are taken into this interactive book to help solve riddles, puzzles, and math problems; but, there is much more you can learn from this book.  There is also science, literature, and history.  The vocabulary used in this book is amazing. It is inspired by Lewis Carroll’s poetry, but there are references to other famous books, stories, and people. My favorite reference was the nod to Fred Gauss of “Life of Fred”—especially since this book reminded me of the style of “Life of Fred” math books.

I have two boys.  One is 13 years old and the other is 8 years old, so I was unsure if they would be ok with the main characters being girls. But it did not bother them at all because the girls liked to play with toy swords just as my boys do. I was also unsure if the math problems would be too hard for my younger son or too easy for my older son. It turns out they were neither too hard nor too easy.  Both boys found them challenging, yet not too difficult.

We looked forward to relaxing on the couch every day and taking off on our magical exploration. It was fun to solve the puzzles, riddles, and math problems together. We even earned points throughout the book to become mathematical royalty. What about you? Will you be an Apprentice or The Math Monarch?

 A description on the back of the book says, “Lulu and Elizabeth embark on an exciting journey to a realm inspired by Lewis Carroll’s poetry. The twins must use ingenuity and sagacity to solve classic logic puzzles that promise to uncover the book’s secrets and earn them The Vorpal Blade.”

This book is great fun from beginning to end, but don’t take my word for it. Get the book so you can start the adventure for yourself!

Great Crafts for Boys

*Disclosure: My boys love toys that let them use their imaginations and create new and different things. That is why I accepted the free IDO3D product and I am excited to tell you about it. All opinions are my own. 

Great Crafts for Boys 

 My boys could not wait for the IDO3D to get here! They rushed to the door when the box arrived. The items were easy to get out, so the boys were able to start using the kit right away. The only thing we had to provide was 3 AAA batteries.
  

The instructions are very easy to understand. Just make sure to also follow these tips: 

• Make sure your IDO3D spotlight has fresh batteries. (Note: The light may appear to be working, when the batteries are in fact weak.)
• The spotlight should be held as close to your project as possible (about .5 inches). You can also cure your pieces from the bottom of the plastic tracing sheet by holding your light directly under your artwork. This is helpful for thicker lines and larger areas of ink.
• The tip of the pen can be adjusted to create thick or thinner lines.
• Trace small sections of your project pieces and then quickly hit it with the light. You do not need it to fully cure; a couple of seconds will prevent the ink from spreading and allow you to achieve finer detail. Repeat this process until you are finished with your project piece.
• We have found that alcohol based hand sanitizers help to easily remove any sticky residue left behind by the ink.
• You can place your plastic tracing sheet in the sun to cure any unwanted ink. (You can also place your art in a windowsill and use to sun to help finish curing your projects.)

The boys each picked a project. My 8 year old wanted to try to make a ball using the enclosed plastic dome shaped item. My 12 year old decided to make a skateboard with a ramp. 

The 8 year old got frustrated trying to make the ball by himself, so he decided to work with his older brother.  My 12 year old was able to make the skateboard and ramp in about two hours. He really likes working on projects on which he gets to build or put things together.

My older son said that he wished the kit came with pens of a bigger variety of colors instead of the 2 red pens, 2 green pens, and 1 yellow pen the kit included. But he also said, "It is so cool that I can make my own toys. I cannot wait to think of my own ideas and create toys from my imagination."

           This book was provided to me at no charge, in exchange for an honest review. This review is my honest opinion. 

Girl, We Need to Talk: The Minister's Wife & Her Struggles

"In Girl, We Need to Talk, ten ministers' wives offer words of hope and help, not to mention a shoulder to cry on. Whether it's living in the proverbial fish bowl, being a single mom during worship, or helping your husband build a ministry that lasts, this book offers practical advice for your struggles. More importantly, you will be inspired to mentor the next generation of godly women and go deeper in your relationship with Christ."

I was honored to receive a copy of “Girl, We Need to Talk: The Minister's Wife & Her Struggles” in order to write a review.  This book has great insight from several ministers’ wives who have “been there.”  Reading this book can help you learn from their mistakes as well as their success. It was like having all the ministers’ wives sitting with me, drinking tea and offering guidance.

  

I did not have the typical problems that most ministers' wives face since we attended our congregation before my husband was hired as the youth minister. But now we are moving to a new work, where my husband will be the pulpit minister. This book could not have come at a better time! It offers such great advice in areas such as making friends, hospitality, supporting your husband, mentoring other women, and so much more. Not only does it offer great advice, but the advice is backed up with scripture.

I was very encouraged after reading this book. I know it will be a great resource to me as we move to our new congregation and for many years thereafter. 

You can purchase the book here or here.

Book Review: Motivate Your Child

Book Review: Motivate Your Child by Dr. Scott Turansky and Joanne Miller

                                               *I received the book free and also received compensation but the opinions are my own.

** A great bonus offer at the end of the post!

When I read the following words on the back of the book I knew this book would be perfect for my family. “God's Word gives us a better way to parent, one that builds strong internal motivation in children. When parents change the way they parent, kids change the way they live. This practical book explores a theology of internal motivation and then gives parents real-life solutions to equip their kids for life.”

I have noticed that yelling, taking privileges away, or even using rewards does not help my children become motivated to do things on their own. I have tried to figure out different methods to get them to do things without being told.  

I am so glad I found this book. It is a practical guide that I can use along with the Bible. Instead of having to use some type of reward or punishment to externally motivate my children, they can learn to be internally motivated. There are many ideas in this book that one can easily implement. The book also uses examples of many different types of families.

I have read and discussed parts of this book with my children. So far, I have been shocked at how implementing just a few of these ideas has already made such a big difference in my children’s behavior. For example, instead of telling my children that they had to clean their room now, I asked, “What is your plan to clean your room?” They came up with their own plan. I trusted them with it and the room was cleaned at the time they told me it would be.

This book points out that we need to get kids on “level two” and even “level three” thinking. According to the authors, level one thinking is what kids engage in everyday, thinking about themselves and their own activities. Level two thinking focuses on responsibility and other people. Level three thinking considers God. The book even goes further by helping you teach your children to do more than what is expected.

 A great benefit to this book is that you can start using it on children of any age. They are not too old or too young to benefit from the teaching in this book.

This book gives me the tools to train my children to motivate themselves to do what they are supposed to do in all situations. It will stay in my list of references to share with other parents.

 

 

 

Bonus! Anyone who purchases the book at any retail outlet by February 28, 2015 will receive a Bonus Parenting Strategy Package full of parenting resources worth $150. 

The Bonus Parenting Strategy Pack includes:

• Toolbox of Consequences Video and Study Guide • Kids and Conscience Video and Study Guide • Children’s Activity Lessons for Conscience Development • Children’s Activity Lessons on Correction • Strong Willed Child Teaching Points • Make Devotions Fun MP3 • How to Develop Gracious Speech MP3

Learn more about all of these resources http://www.biblicalparenting.org/motivateyourchildpreorder.asp

INSTRUCTIONS: Purchase the book. Send an email with MYC150 Promo in the subject line with a receipt of purchase to gift@biblicalparenting.org. Biblical Parenting will send you the link and a special code to access these downloadable video, audio and written products!

 

 

Multicultural Children's Book Day: Review of "The Rainbow Files: The Day I Was The Only Kid in School"

 I received a free copy of this book for MCCBD 2015. I was not paid for this review. All opinions and thoughts are my own.

                                    Multicultural Children's Book Day
                                               January 27, 2015

I am very excited to be participating in my first Multicultural Children's Book Day. I think reading to children is very important, even when they are old enough to read themselves. It is equally important to discuss these books with your children after you read them.

The book I was chosen to read and review for this special day is, The Rainbow Files: The Day I Was The Only Kid in School. After reading this book you will realize that it facilitates great discussion. 

Included in this post is a great activity to do with your children and some important information about Multicultural Children's Book Day.

Review: The Rainbow Files: The Day I Was The Only Kid in School by Maria Kelly with April E. Kelly
  I am sure as a child you imagined a day when you would go to school and actually get to take over the classroom and teach whatever you wanted. This book is about that type of day. 

One night Shai Keshet awoke to a strange storm.  She was able to go back to sleep; but, the next day, when she arrives at school, she in the only student. It is decided by the principal that she, Shai Keshet, will get to be the teacher for the day. She can teach whatever she wants--and the teachers will be the students!

She chose some very interesting classes, which led to a day of fun and adventure. My children laughed out loud numerous times at the class choices and they loved the illustrations.
 

Activity
  Since we homeschool our children, they are almost always the only students in class. But even though this concept wasn't unusual to them, the amount of discussion that we had from this book still made a great homeschool class.

I asked my boys if they had a whole class all to themselves, what they would choose to teach. My older son said, "I wish I could do that because the whole day we would just have recess and gym." My younger son said, "I would teach a class on light-saber fighting."

This book can reach the reader on an even deeper level. I asked my kids several discussion questions related to this book.  

• How would it feel to be the only person going through something?
• What are some issues that you might face that would make you feel alone?
• How would you handle those situations?
• How could you take control of the situation? 
• How would you treat someone who felt he or she was going through a situation all alone?
• How could you help that person? 

I recommend this book, whether your child is in public school, private school, homeschool, or not yet in school. It engages children by being funny and interesting and encourages them with some very creative discussion.


So you may be asking, "Why are we having Multicultural Book Day?"

                The mission of Multicultural Children's Book Day:


“Our mission is to not only raise awareness for the kid’s books that celebrate diversity, but to get more of these of books into classrooms and libraries.”  (Founders: Valarie Budayr from Jump Into a Book and Mia Wenjen from Pragmatic Mom) 


Did you know?  Despite census data that shows 37% of the US population consists of people of color, only 10% of children’s books published have diversity content. Using the Multicultural Children’s Book Day, Mia and Valarie are on a mission to change all of that. Their mission is to not only raise awareness for the kid’s books that celebrate diversity, but to get more of these types of books into classrooms and libraries. Another goal of this exciting event is create a compilation of books and favorite reads that will provide not only a new reading list for the winter, but also a way to expose brilliant books to families, teachers, and libraries.

So now you may be asking, "How can I help?"
 

Here are some ways you can help us celebrate Multicultural Children’s Book Day:

• Visit The Multicultural Children’s Book Day website and view our booklists, reading resources and other useful multicultural information.
• Visit our Multicultural Books for Kids Pinterest Board for more reading ideas.
• Have children bring in their favorite multicultural book to school on this day and share it with the class.
• Watch for the #ReadYourWorld hashtag on social media and share
• Visit our Diversity Book Lists and Resources for Educators and Parents on our website
• Visit The Multicultural Children’s Book Day website on January 27^th to view and participate in our huge blogger link-up, multicultural book reviews, giveaways and more! 
• Connect with us on our new Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/MulticulturalChildrensBookDay 
• Connect with us on our new Twitter https://twitter.com/MCChildsBookDay

MCCBD’s  2015 Sponsors include Platinum Sponsors: Wisdom Tales Press, Daybreak Press Global Bookshop, Gold Sponsors:  Satya House,  MulticulturalKids.com,   Author Stephen Hodges and the Magic Poof, Silver Sponsors: Junior Library Guild,  Capstone Publishing, Lee and Low Books,  The Omnibus Publishing. Bronze Sponsors:Double Dutch Dolls, Bliss Group Books, Author Richa Jha,  Rainbow Books,   Author FeliciaCapers,   Chronicle Books   Muslim Writers Publishing ,East West Discovery Press.

2015 MCCBD CO-HOSTS

Africa to America
All Done Monkey
The Educators’ Spin on It
Growing Book by Book
InCultural Parent
Kid World Citizen
Mama Smiles
Multicultural Kid Blogs
Sprout’s Bookshelf

First Book

We’re also partnering with First Book to offer a Virtual Book Drive that will help donate multicultural children’s books through their channels during the week of the event. We want to help get diversity books into the hands of kids who most need it and now we have a way to do it! The Virtual Book Drive is LIVE and can be found HERE.

Children’s Book Council

A Special Thank You to the Children’s Book Council for their contribution and support.MCCBD is collaborating with Children’s Book Council to highlight wonderful diversity books and authors on an ongoing basis all year.

I plan to donate the book I reviewed to Hempstead County Library.

If you would like more information, or have questions regarding Multicultural Children’s Book Day, please contact Valarie Budayr at Valarie@AudreyPress.com or Mia Wenjen at pragmaticmomblog@gmail.com