Month: June 2017

June 20, 2017

Stunning Children’s Books from Raincoast Books #SummerTimeReading

Tomorrow marks the official first day of summer and I am so excited for the laid back days, later bed times and an ease on our regular routines. I think both my kids and I are ready for that break! While we tend to shy away from some of our regular routine during the summer months, the one activity we never stop is a bedtime story. Both of us look forward to those cuddles and the journey we take before heading off into dream land. It helps us to unwind and reconnect after a day of play and I love that it keeps up those very important reading skills throughout the summer.

Here are my three fun picks for your preschool to school aged child for fun summer time reading:

This Is Not a Picture Book!

In this quirky yet sweet picture book about the joy and power of reading, Duck learns that even books without pictures can be fun. While he and his friend Bug may struggle at first to decipher their book, they stick with it, and before long they discover that not only can they read it, but it deserves a place on the shelf with all their favorite picture books. Author-artist Sergio Ruzzier has created a fanciful tribute to books of all kinds. It includes both words AND pictures.

Reading is the most powerful gift you can give your child. It takes them on adventures, teaches them life lessons and gives hope and inspiration, all from the comfort of your favourite reading spot! This beautiful book helps to drive home that reading is magical. Our character, Duck, is first unsure of a book without pictures, could he read the book? Would he be able to know all the words? Would it even be interesting? How could a book without pictures be interesting? When he tries the book, he realizes he recognizes those words and even without pictures the book takes him on a magical adventure that ends with him at home (and excited for his next adventure with a book with no pictures!). This is what a book does, it touches you with words and brings excitement, hope and every book that is opened by a child is the gift of adventure! This is a definite must read for children before they progress to more advanced books with less imagery.

You can purchase a copy of the book here.

Don’t Blink!

Think you can win a staring contest against an elephant? What about a gorilla, a cheetah, a fox, or an alligator? What about all them – AND a bunch of their other animal friends – at the same time? You’re about to find out!

Whatever you do DON’T BLINK!

How many of us have had staring contests with our children? I know my boys and I are always having one, whether it be at the dining room table or watching movies. We always have to see who can last the longest and without a doubt my kids are usually the winners! This adorable book is all about staring contests with your favourite little competitor, your child. As the book progresses your child can have a staring contest with all of their favourite animals. Who will win this fantastic staring game? The book is beautifully illustrated in soft and warm colours which makes the characters that much more loveable. The characters even remind you of your own child, especially at the end as they decide on a winner. This lovely book started giggles and a new round of staring competitions in our home.

You can purchase a copy of the book here.

Tony

A touching tale of a boy and a horse, by the late poet Ed Galing and illustrated with remarkable tenderness by Caldecott-winning artist Erin Stead.

The late Ed Galing was born in 1917, spent his early years in the Lower East Side of New York City, and has been widely published in the small press.

“Tony was all white,
large, sturdy,
with wide gentle eyes
and a ton of love . . .

it was early in the morning
around three a.m.,
but I was up, and would
go out and pat Tony with
my gentle arms, and
his head would bow down”

An absolutely beautiful and touching story of friendship and love between a horse and its friend. It is an easy to read story to your child, that they will fall in love and can also help to read aloud. The illustrations are all done in a blue-green, yellow and white with an almost pencilled in design, which helps the story to do the talking. The wording is perfect for a night time story, it was soothing and so full of love.

You can purchase a copy of Tony here.

What are your favourite bed time stories to read to your child?

To keep up to date with new book releases for children, make sure to follow Raincoast Books on Twitter and Facebook.

Disclosure: I received copies of these books in order to facilitate this review. All opinions expressed are my own.

June 19, 2017

Suspense, Action and the Mob in Joe Giordano’s Newest Release!

From the Italian Mafia to the Russian mob to art theft and to ISIL, Joe Giordano brings it all to the table with his new book!

About Appointment with ISIL

This time, Anthony’s libido threatens his life. He flirts with Russian mob boss, Gorgon Malakhov’s mistress. The Russian deals in death. ISIL, the Islamic State in the Levant, wants the product. Russian Intelligence supplies the means, and an art theft funds the scheme. ISIL’s targets are chilling. The chase across the Mediterranean is on. Can Anthony thwart ISIL? Will he survive?

My Thoughts

Appointment with ISIL is a fast paced, exciting thriller that takes you around the world in a scheme that will blow your mind. Joe Giordano has written a book that has so many layers, that keeps you guessing and unwilling to put his book down. You have to keep reading to find out what happens next!

Anthony is a fantastic main character – he is tough but not over the top tough, likeable and wants to do what is right. Anthony goes from one bad situation into an even worse situation. He manages to get himself involved in not only the Italian mafia but the Russians which in turn ties him to art theft and the sale of dirty bombs and submarines. Joe has an amazing way of writing that reveals just enough at each stage of the book – enough to keep you guessing and enough to unwind a new thread in this story. I never really knew what was coming next and I loved this. You kept hoping for the best for Anthony but were on edge at all times during the novel.

This is an awesome, action packed thriller that you will not be able to put down. Joe weaves an amazing story that will keep you on the edge of your seat and reading long into the night!

You can purchase a copy of this book on Amazon.

Rating: 5/5

About the Author

Joe Giordano was born in Brooklyn. He and his wife, Jane, have lived in Greece, Brazil, Belgium and the Netherlands. They now live in Texas.

Joe’s stories have appeared in more than ninety magazines including The Monarch Review, The Saturday Evening Post, decomP, The Summerset Review, and Shenandoah. His novel, Birds of Passage, An Italian Immigrant Coming of Age Story, was published by Harvard Square Editions October 2015. His second novel, Appointment with ISIL, an Anthony Provati Thriller will be published by HSE in June 2017.

You can connect with Joe on his website, Twitter and Facebook.

The Giveaway!

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Disclosure: I received a digital copy of this book in order to facilitate this review. All opinions expressed are my own.

June 13, 2017

Building Memories, Confidence and Life Long Friendships with Girl Guides of Canada

“Girl Guides of Canada-Guides du Canada enables girls to be confident, resourceful and courageous, and to make a difference in the world.” Girl Guides of Canada

The early years of childhood right up until the teen years can be difficult to navigate, both for children and parents. As a child, we want freedom to grow and learn, but we don’t always have the opportunity to experience the life lessons we need to grow and mature. As parents, we want to empower our children to be confident, to be leaders, to be brave and to always do the right thing. No tough job, right?

I remember my childhood vividly. I was always on the shy side. I liked to read my books (I am still a bookworm), I liked healthy competition and I enjoyed being with my friends once I was able to get over my shyness. I entered the world of Girl Guides as a Brownie at the age of seven and this began a journey for me that would last up until I moved away from home to attend university.

I fell in love with the spirit of the Guiding community – you were a part of a group of girls that wanted you to succeed, wanted you to be active, have fun, laugh and be silly. I loved learning a variety of skills that I would never have had the opportunity to learn elsewhere, everything from sewing badges to changing light bulbs to starting a campfire to finances. I was such a competitive spirit and loved to earn as many badges as I possibly could. Girl Guides helped me to realize my potential and gave me the confidence I needed as a shy child to succeed.

The friendships that I have gained over the years from Girl Guides have meant the world to me. In 1999, as a Pathfinder, I was able to participate in Canadian Mosaic ’99 in Alberta. This event drew Girl Guide members from around the world in a celebration of our history, our future and empowering young girls to thrive. It was an incredible week of canoeing, hiking, archery, talent shows and more – we even attended the Calgary Stampede. Even the freezing weather and rain could not hold us down. It was here that I made friends with some special ladies who I would continue to remain friends with even though continents separate us! When I had my first child, one of my friends who I had met from Australia sent a special Aussie package for our little one. When she had her first child, we sent her a special Canadian package for her precious little one. The friendships that I gained during my Guiding years have survived separation over different continents, growing our families and more. These friendships have meant the world to me.

Girl Guides of Canada provide young girls with a safe place to be who they want and are meant to be. They offer a wide range of opportunities for young girls to participate in the outdoors, arts, science, community service and personal growth. These experiences lay the framework for young girls to succeed and push to achieve their goals. It helps to motivate young girls to follow their passion and to never give up. I now have the opportunity to give back to other young girls by encouraging them to follow their own dreams. I have shared the badges that I have collected over the years and had sewn onto my Guiding poncho with new members of Guiding and have encouraged them to participate in local, national and international Guiding opportunities that open up a new world for them.

Participating in your local Girl Guides of Canada group is simple – each branch starts up in September and wraps up in late spring. Girls participate in weekly meetings and how much they want to participate and lead is up to them. The meetings are friendly, welcoming and encourage participation from all members, no matter what skill level. Girls of any age can join, even girls as young as five years of age!

Were you a member of the Girl Guides of Canada? What was your best memory from your Guiding years?

Disclosure: This post was sponsored by the Girl Guides of Canada, Ontario Council. All opinions expressed are my own.

June 12, 2017

Celebrate Diversity, Acceptance, Reading and Canada 150 with OWL Magazine and Giveaway

Canada is an amazing country to live in – we have the freedom to do and be who we want to be without fear. We have access to healthcare, education and resources that help us to succeed and grow in life. When I asked my kids what made Canada special, their answer: “That we can be whoever we want to be and no one is mean to you for that”.

Every parent is familiar with the popular, Owlkids brand. Owlkids was founded in 1976 and is based out of Toronto. They bring you the popular, Chirp (ages 3-6), chickadee (ages 6-9) and OWL (9-13) magazines to more than one million readers a year!

With Canada’s 150th birthday around the corner, how did OWL Magazine decide to celebrate Canada? With a magazine cover contest!

Children, 8-14, from across Canada were encouraged to submit art that best represented what they thought made Canada special. The contest ran from February 18th to March 31st and OWL Magazine received over 400 submissions! The greatest recurring theme in all of the submissions was the importance of diversity and unity. It is so important that inclusion, acceptance and diversity are celebrated and encouraged especially among are youth.

So who was the winner and what was their submission?

The winner was 11 year old Abigail DiBiase from Wasaga Beach, Ontario. Abigail’s submission represented the importance and positivity of acceptance, diversity and celebrating our uniqueness. It highlights where we as Canadians came from and the future that we are working towards. When Abigail was asked about her submission, she had this to say: “I love the magazine and had a lot of fun working on my cover. My artwork shows that Canada is full of so many different people and I think it’s really cool that we all live together in a happy way”. Does that not just make your heart melt?

With their unique and special cover, celebrating the diversity that is Canada – OWL Magazine wants you to join in on the Canada 150 celebration with a special giveaway. One lucky Canadian reader will win an OWL gift bag (with a value of $80) containing:

One year gift subscription form with ribbon
OWL magazine holder
Current OWL magazine issue
The Book of Languages
Message Pad
Owlkids Tote bag

My Canadian readers can enter via the Rafflecopter form below – GOOD LUCK!

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Make sure to check out OWL Magazine on their website, Twitter and Facebook to keep up to date with all the latest news and more.

Disclosure: I received an OWL Kids magazine, all opinions expressed are my own.

June 12, 2017

Speaking with Strategic Impact Spotlight

Speaking with Strategic Impact is for business people who make their living—or their mark—through presentations long and short.

About Speaking with Strategic Impact

Speaking with Strategic Impact is for business people who make their living—or their mark—through presentations long and short.

It’s a must-read if you’re a consultant, analyst, pitch team leader, roadshow executive, technology specialist, project manager, internal or external marketer, sales rep, subject matter expert or innovator.

Do your presentations unexpectedly fall flat? Do others hijack your meetings? Do you spend more time compiling slide decks than actually influencing decision-makers? Has someone vaguely told you that you “should look more confident up there” or that you “lack gravitas”? Have you watched TED Talks but wonder how you can bring that level of effectiveness into real business presentations?

Speaking with Strategic Impact gives you the key to leadership presence and persuasion. More than just tips and tricks, it outlines a discipline for navigating real business situations with consistently superior outcomes that’s favored by top business schools and Fortune 500 companies. You’ll get specific strategic and tactical advice to keep you on the mark in your presentations and meetings—and differentiate you from the vast majority of business presenters.

Read Speaking with Strategic Impact to master the means by which you make a living and a difference in the world!

You can purchase a copy of the book on Amazon and Barnes & Noble.

About the Author

Kate LeVan trains, coaches and collaborates on business communication effectiveness with major corporations worldwide and as an instructor at Northwestern University’s Kellogg School of Management. Her training consistently receives top ratings from executive development program participants for its simplicity, applicability and career-changing impact. Connect with her on her website, Twitter and Facebook.

The Giveaway!

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Disclosure: This is a spotlight post, I did not receive compensation for this post. All opinions expressed are my own.