Month: October 2017

October 31, 2017

Will’s Jams Live! in Toronto Giveaway

Children’s musician and JUNO nominee Will Stroet and his Backyard Band will be live in Toronto on November 12th.

Who is Will Stroet?

JUNO nominee Will Stroet, the star of the TV series here and Kidoodle.TV, inspires kids to be active, healthy, creative and engaged in the world through educational music in English and French. Will discovered his talent for writing kids music while completing his education degree at the University of B.C. After releasing his first album in 2005 and playing shows around Vancouver, Will knew he had found his calling. In 2009, he took a leave from teaching to pursue music full-time and has never looked back.

Over the years, Will has performed more than 1,500 shows at major festivals, schools and theatres across Canada and in China. He has garnered national recognition for his six albums in English and French including a 2017 JUNO nomination for his latest album, “Wordplay,” six WCMA nominations, two from the CFMA and two from the Sirius XM Indies. In 2015, UBC’s Faculty of Education honoured Will in their top 100 Alumni awards.

In addition to being a devoted dad of two girls, Will is passionate about his work as an artist, educator and board member with here, which supports art and creativity in BC’s young people.

About Will’s Jams Live! Show

This interactive concert, which first toured in China during the summer, integrates video content with live music based on his popular TV series that airs on CBC Kids and feature sin-along favourites including Jam, Eat a Plum Yum Yum, Stampede and Chuggada Choo.

The Details

Date: November 12th, 2017

Time: Doors open at 10:15 AM. Come early to enjoy the JCC’s Jungle Gym for free
from 9 AM-12 PM when you buy tickets to the concert. You can also meet Will with CBC
Kids TV host Janaye from Studio K and get your photo taken from 10:15-10:45 AM and
following the concert from 11AM-12 PM

Location: Al Green Theatre, Miles Nadal JCC

Tickets: Tickets are $15 each or $55 for a four pack and can be purchased here.

You can now receive 10% off tickets by using code: WorkingMommy here.

The Giveaway!

My readers that are around the GTA area or who are willing to drive, can now enter to win a four pack of tickets to Will’s Jams Live! in Toronto on November 12th. Please remember travel and accommodation are not included when you enter this giveaway. Good luck!

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Disclosure: I am a Will Stroet Brand Ambassador and receive perks with this affiliation. All opinions expressed are my own.

October 30, 2017

The Purple Turtle Graded Readers Boxed Set, Levels 1,2,3

Purple Turtle is the world’s ‘cutest’ turtle. Purple Turtle started as a children’s book imprint of Aadarsh Pvt. Ltd. and was transformed to a gender neutral character for kids books, story books, colouring books, stencil books, activity books, puzzle books, dot to dot books, notebooks and games for children.

About Purple Turtle Graded Readers Level 1

The first level of Purple Turtle Graded Readers includes a set of 12 books with interesting stories and activities and 150 word count. This level is exclusively for learners who have just started reading. It is based on ATOS and Lexile reading level system.

You can purchase this boxed set on Amazon.

About Purple Turtle Graded Readers Level 2

The second level includes a set of 12 books with 12 interesting stories and several engaging activities that is likely to make learning an enjoyable experience. The book has a word count of 150-250 and is based on the ATOS and Lexile reading level system. This level is for readers who have just learned to read.

You can purchase this boxed set on Amazon.

About Purple Turtle Graded Readers Level 3

The third level includes a set of 12 books with engaging stories and fun-filled activities. It is based on the Lexile and ATOS reading level system and has a word count of 250-350. This level is for learners who have started reading with confidence.

You can purchase this boxed set on Amazon.

My Thoughts

Reading is the best gift you can give your child. It can also be quite difficult for your child to learn to read and then to read independently. Starting them at a young age with an appropriate set of books is so important. That is why I love graded reading level books that are geared to an appropriate reading level. You want your child to feel a bit of a push to learn but also to increase their confidence.

These reading level boxed books are a great start for children as they begin to read. They are gender neutral with fantastic illustrations in bright, bold colours with friendly characters. The sight words are appropriate for each level and are repeated enough to help your child with word recall. I really liked that each book also taught a little lesson, one was about a broken arm, another about putting away clothes and so on. I love when a book does this and bonus so does our son. They also came with a part where you could mark off your level of reading success to help your child keep track of their progress.

These graded reading level books would make an excellent gift for a young reader starting out. They make excellent reading time and bed time books. It is so important to teach young children the love of reading by giving them appropriate level books that push and give them the confidence to succeed.

Rating: 5/5

Book Trailer

About the Publisher

Purple Turtle is India’s 1st International brand with its educational content in several languages sold in more than 30 countries including Russia, China, US and UK. The character of Purple Turtle has delighted children across the globe through beautifully created Purple Turtle books, rhymes and videos available on YouTube.

Purple Turtle was created with the idea to spread education through a wide range of innovative books for children. To give them the experience of convenient online learning, Purple Turtle also brings both learning and entertainment on a common platform to give a wholesome learning experience to young minds.

The Giveaway!

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Disclosure: I received a digital copy of these readers. All opinions expressed are my own.

October 23, 2017

Wanderers No More Book Review

A true family affair, Wanderers No More will make you laugh, remind you of your family, and warm your heart.

About Wanderers No More

The war may be over, but the fight to belong is just the beginning.

Left homeless, starving, and almost killed by the Second World War, the Saforo family are refugees fleeing Italy for a better life. The shores of Australia are calling to them and they head off, packing dreams of jobs, a home and… soccer.

But from the moment they get off the boat, adapting to the Australian way of life is harder than it seems. Their family doesn’t speak right, eat right or even look right. As they struggle to build a simple life against the backdrop of 1950s’ racism, they start to wonder if they will be outsiders forever.

My Thoughts

I fell in love with this book, it is more than just a story – it is life, a life that so many of us know. Immigrating is difficult, landing in a country where you don’t speak the language, don’t understand the culture, the food or the expressions but you do so in hope for a brighter future for your children and their children. Sometimes as second and third generation immigrants, we can forget exactly what our family went through to give us the life we have and I love how this book addresses that at times. My favourite part was when Martino looked at his Father and felt compassion and understanding. The compassion part hit me the most. It can be easy to get frustrated with our Grandparents for saving money, for not wanting to spend it on “wanted” items, to the way they take value in certain things and their strong work ethic. But when we take a moment to step back and see everything they went through for us, you fully understand them.

This book follows the Saforo family as they land in Australia. They don’t speak English, they have very little money and they face culture shock. They are forced from camp to camp before they arrive at their final destination. Everything is different for them – from the language to the weather and even to the food. They face hate everywhere they go, at times it is quite shocking what they go through and the way they are spoken to. In all of this, they struggle to build a better life for their family.

This is a truly amazing story of hope, compassion and faith. Leaving your home in search of a better future for your children is never easy. It is so important for us as their descendants to understand and appreciate their struggles. This is a definite must read book.

You can purchase a copy of this book on Amazon, Odyssey Books, Barnes & Noble, Indigo.

Rating: 5/5

About the Author

Michelle Saftich resides in Brisbane, Australia. She holds a Bachelor of Business/Communications Degree, majoring in journalism, from the Queensland University of Technology.

For the past 20 years, she has worked in communications, including print journalism, sub-editing, communications management and media relations.

Born and raised in Brisbane, she spent 10 years living in Sydney; and two years in Osaka, Japan, where she taught English.

Her historical fiction novel, Port of No Return, was inspired by a true family story. It was published by Australian independent publishing house, Odyssey Books in 2015. Its sequel, Wanderers No More was released in August 2017. Michelle is married with two children.

The Giveaway!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

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

October 20, 2017

Educational Movies that Inspire, Move and Give Hope #StreamTeam

A good movie can do a lot of things. It can make us laugh, cry, smile and touch our hearts. It can also inspire us to be better people, to learn from our past mistakes and to hope for a better future. This to me is the true sign of a great movie. I want my kids to watch a documentary that helps them understand the world around them, how fragile it is and how to protect it. I want my eldest to learn about our past as a human race and how we need to move forward into the future with respect, kindness and fairness.

I have broken down my top movies and documentaries into two categories: Environmental and Historical. These are two very important categories for me and I think all people in general. It is so important to teach children about our past and how we move into the future as respectful, understanding and thoughtful adults. I love how after watching a movie like this, you run to your computer or tablet and start researching to learn more about what you saw. It could be about an animal, a war, a certain time period in history – it doesn’t matter the what, what matters is that it inspired you to learn more.

So here is my top five in each category (all of which can be found on Netflix Canada currently):

Top Five Environmental Documentaries

Planet Earth 2

This amazing series transports us all around the world learning about animals and nature. It is also the sequel to Planet Earth: The Complete Collection also found on Netflix. We fall in love with the animals and our heart goes out to them during their struggles. Like the penguins trying to climb up rocks or the lizards trying to make it past the snakes after they hatch.

Blue Planet: Natural History of the Oceans

The sea is an amazing, untouched world full of surprises and some of the weirdest creatures we will ever find. This series explores the entire marine world, from the familiar to those unknown.

Strange Creatures

The world is full of some strange-looking animals and insects. This series explores this crazy world! These animals may exhibit odd behaviour and show physical abnormalities for a wide variety of reasons.

Walking with Monsters: Life Before Dinos

Who doesn’t love dinosaurs? They are almost mystical with their power, mystery and brutality. This Emmy winning series takes you back 500 million years when fish, reptiles and sea scorpions ruled the Earth.

Wild North

This incredible journey explores three areas of Norway: the forests, coastlines and the highlands shaped by the ice age.

Top Five Historical Movies/Documentaries

Seven Wonders of the Industrial World

This movie series looks at some of the most ambitious man-made achievements of the industrial age including the Panama Canal and Brooklyn Bridge.

Timeless

In this incredible series (I love love love this one – have watched it twice now), a historian, a soldier and a programmer embark on a time hopping adventure in pursuit of criminals whose goal is to destroy history (and a certain group).

The Pyramid Code

There is something so beautiful and mysterious about this time in history. Explore the ancients in this series as scientists unlock secrets to the pyramid code!

Secrets of Great British Castles

England has a deep (somewhat dark) history and its castles hold even more secrets. In this series, follow along with historian Dan Jones as he explores the most famous castles and their infamous inhabitants.

Note: The next two films I feel are an important journey for children and teens to learn about. These movies may be suited to older children and teens. Use your own discretion when watching them with children but I do feel they add a lot of value, education and understanding.

Auschwitz: The Nazis and the Final Solution

Like its title suggests this series tackles one of the worst times in recent history, World War II and the holocaust. This series explores Auschwitz, the site of one of the largest mass murders in history. Please use viewing discretion but also weigh the importance of this subject in learning.

First They Killed My Father

I was very excited for this movie to premiere on Netflix. It focuses on the story of a five-year old girl who tries to survive during the rise and reign of the Khmer Rouge in Cambodia. I am sad to say that I did not know enough of the events that happened during this time and this really opened my eyes. I cried and it encouraged me to research and learn more.

Movies are a great way to learn and to understand past and present. What are some of your favourite educational films?

Disclosure: I am a #StreamTeam member and receive perks with this affiliation. All opinions expressed are my own.

October 19, 2017

Trick, Treat or Binge: Top 10 Child Friendly Halloween Flicks #StreamTeam

Halloween is by far my favourite holiday of the year. I begin decorating our house in the middle of September (although my husband makes me wait to decorate the outside until after Thanksgiving weekend) and begin working on crafts with my youngest around the same time.

I love the feeling of Halloween, the spirit, the colours and just the all around fun of the day and the excitement leading up to it. Family adventures to the pumpkin patches and hay rides complete the month!

I completely understand and can appreciate when some children are scared of the holiday. The monsters, ghosts and scary characters can definitely be overwhelming for some children (and adults too!).

Movies are a great way to introduce children to this holiday but you have to be careful about what you choose to let them watch. One scary movie can ruin the whole night for a child, trust me I am still traumatized to this day by Child’s Play. I can not walk out of a room that has porcelain dolls unless I walk out backwards so that I can ensure that doll isn’t going to come to life and attack me.

Here are my top ten child friendly Halloween flicks for you to enjoy before the big night hits:

Hotel Transylvania

The owner of Hotel Transylvania, Dracula, does double duty as an overprotective Father as an unwelcome suitor pays attention to his daughter.

Hotel Transylvania 2

In the second edition of this hilarious cartoon movie, Adam Sandler players the over protective Dracula. His daughter and son-in-law have a baby, Dennis, and Dracula will do anything to prove that his Grandson is a vampire. This hilarious movie is full of monsters and grossness that your child will love.

Alvin and the Chipmunks Meet the Wolfman

In this spooky feature-length film, Alvin, Simon and Theodore stage a production of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde and things begin to get creepy!

Casper

A doctor who specializes in ghosts is hired by an heiress to rid a house of ghosts. His daughter befriends a friendly ghost that lives there. This movie is one of my favourite from my own childhood!

Coraline

Curious Coraline unlocks a door in her family’s home and is transported to a new universe that strangely resembles her own but better!

Monster High: Ghouls Rule

After learning that Monsters and Normies used to spend Halloween together, Frankie and her pals rally together the groups for a frightful good time!

Monster House

Three friends uncover the secret behind a scary abandoned house in their neighbourhood that seems to have a personality of its own and eats people!

ParaNorman

When an army of zombies invade a small town, it is up to an odd boy who has a knack for talking to the dead to save the day.

Power Rangers Super Samurai: Trickster Treat

When a Nighlock invades the Power Rangers dreams and turns them into nightmares, the Rangers must figure out what is reality and what is an illusion.

Scooby Doo

In this live action feature, Scooby Doo and the gang journey to Spooky Island, where a magical force has been awakened that could destroy human kind.

While these Halloween flicks are geared for younger children to late childhood, here are some that may be suited for an older child or early teen:

Goosebumps
Monster Trucks
Are You Afraid of the Dark?
R. L Stine’s Mostly Ghostly

What is your favourite Halloween movie of all time?

Disclosure: I am a #StreamTeam member and receive perks with this affiliation. All opinions expressed are my own.