Category: giveaway

August 12, 2019

Cowboy Joel and the Wild Wild West Book Spotlight

Cowboy Joel will teach your child that it’s not always about punching the bully. It’s about being confident in who God made them to be, and using those truths to fight the battle in their mind.

About Cowboy Joel and the Wild Wild West

Cowboy Joel and Blackbeard find themselves face to face with El Maton, the most feared desperado in the West. When El Maton mocks him for the way he looks, Joel must confront his biggest fear; a tongue-slingin’ with the outlaw. Can Blackbeard convince Joel to do it? Will Joel find the courage? Note to Mom and Dad: Cowboy Joel will teach your child that it’s not always about punching the bully. It’s about being confident in who God made them to be, and using those truths to fight the battle in their mind.

You can purchase a copy of this book on Amazon.

About the Authors

The Gagnon family is an atypical, hodgepodge mix of humanity. The entire family enjoyed writing this book, with each one contributing their own input. Every child in the family has their own special story, and every one faces their own unique challenges. Stacey, the mom of this bunch, also has a blog called Ransom for Israel. She presents an honest assessment of the orphan crisis and the desperate need for families willing to adopt. After the adoption of their youngest daughter, the Gagnons started a non-profit called Lost Sparrows. Lost Sparrows is dedicated to improving the lives of orphans and those with special needs through education, proper medical care, and adoption. Their current focus is in areas of Eastern Europe and Bulgaria.

You can connect with them on Twitter, Facebook and their website.

Book Trailer

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

July 30, 2019

Sesame Street: Dance Party Giveaway

D is for Dance! And Sesame Street is full of fun dance moves in their upcoming DVD Dance Party set to be released on August 6th, 2019.

About Sesame Street: Dance Party

On “Dance Your Favourite Dance Day”, Nina teaches her friends the moves to dances from all around the world. Next, kids get their groove on with all of their favourite friends, learning the “Do the Dinosaur Dance”, the “Elmo Slide”, the “Robot Dance” and “Head Shoulders Knees and Toes”. The Feelingwells throw a family dance party and Zoe choreographs a ballet in “Snuffy’s Dance”, where the dancers have to work together to figure out how to make Snuffy fly through the air.

Celebrities like Amy Ryan, Liev Schreiber, Maria Menounos, Naomi Watts, Nicole Kidman, Sutton Foster, and Wendy Williams join the Sesame Street gang to sing “Elmo’s Got The Moves.” More star power arrives when Ne-Yo sings “You’ve Got a Body,” encouraging everyone to get up and move. Janelle Monáe teaches Grover, Big Bird, Cookie Monster, and friends “The Power of Yet” with a toe-tapping number.

The dance party continues as the Feijoo Sisters dance the Lambarena with Zoe, Jason Derulo shows Elmo and Abby Cadabby that “Dancing is Easy,” Ernie creates a dance video with too many steps, Elmo and Prairie Dawn record a music video, and Murray shows off flamenco-, Irish step dancing-, and Bollywood-inspired moves in a “Murray Has a Little Lamb” mashup.

Our Thoughts

Combining dance, music and our favourite characters and celebrities, this DVD is sure to be a hit with fans of all ages. We loved the music, practicing and creating our own dance moves and the star power behind this new DVD. The DVD has a run time of just over two hours and includes the bonus feature of Elmo’s Music Magic.

Want to have even more fun? Make sure to download Dance Party printables here.

Sesame Street is celebrating its 50^th year! (Wow this makes me feel old!). Make sure you share your favorite Sesame Street memories – and maybe your favorite dance – with the hashtag #ThisIsMyStreet on social media.

You can pre-order a copy of this DVD from Shout Kids here and get ready to move and groove with this amazing new DVD from Sesame Street.

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

July 29, 2019

Get Ready to Get Wild with The Jungle Bunch DVD and Giveaway

Are you ready for a wild ride? The Jungle Bunch arrives on DVD on August 6th, 2019!

About the Jungle Bunch

Maurice may look like a penguin – but he’s a real tiger inside! Raised by a tigress, he’s the clumsiest Kung-Fu master ever. Along with his friends, The Jungle Bunch, he intends to maintain order and justice in the jungle, as his mother did before him. But when Igor, an evil koala, wants to destroy the jungle once and for all with the help of his army of silly baboons, Maurice faces his biggest challenge yet.

Your family will go bananas for The Jungle Bunch, a fresh and funny adventure that’s full of laughs and memorable characters!

Our Thoughts

I love animated movies with animals as the main characters, they have always been a family favourite of ours. This movie was an instant hit in our house – we laughed, we were proud and were on the edge of our seats as Maurice tries to help save the jungle with his group of friends, The Jungle Bunch.

The characters that form the Jungle Bunch are just too precious for words – they seem like the most unlikely heroes but they would do anything to protect their home and maintain order. For Maurice, he wants to be just like his tiger Mom even though physically he is the polar opposite (a penguin). His heart is so good and you can’t help but just love him. His Mom was a member of The Champs – a group that also protected the jungle and who have history with the evil koala Igor. His friends are the most unlikely heroes you will ever see but they are so full of heart and good intentions.

The DVD has a run time of just over an hour and half. The DVD is set to release on August 6th but you can pre-order a copy here. If you are a fan of animated animal hero movies, you will love this one!

Movie Trailer

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

July 22, 2019

Ivy The Montgomery Sisters Book Three

Ivy Montgomery is tired of her sister’s constant nagging and protectiveness. She wants to make it on her own and will stop at nothing but will this be her downfall?

About Ivy

Ivy Montgomery is tired of her sister’s constant nagging and protectiveness. Blind, she decides to escape in the middle of the night when she is captured and brought far from home. With no understanding of the outside world, Ivy must use her keen abilities to navigate the wilderness around her. Anger and hopelessness are her only defenses against the things she cannot do.

Until she meets a strong-minded Lakota Chief, who will not let her cower to the blindness any longer. Lakota Sioux Chief of the Paha Sapa, Hotah is on a hunt for his brother, Kangi. Cast from their tribe five years before, Kangi has grown a dark spirit and a hatred for all white people. Now on reserved land, Hotah makes a deal with the General to capture his brother in return for his people to have the provisions they need. After rescuing Ivy, he promises to take her home, but danger is near and Hotah soon realizes it is not just his brother he should fear.

My Thoughts

In the third and final installment, we meet Ivy, the youngest Montgomery sister. She is almost completely blind and has learned to rely on her other senses to flourish. While she is a strong, young woman with a lot of capabilities, her two sisters do not treat her this way. In fact, they often treat her like a child – ordering her to stay at home. While this is done out of love and fear, my heart hurts for Ivy as she craves freedom and trust.

This is how we find Ivy in the beginning of the novel – trying to escape the constraints of her sisters but she ends up lost and alone in the wilderness. When all looks hopeless, Hotah (the Lakota Sioux Chief of the Paha Sapa) comes to her aid. He is on his own mission but there is something about Ivy that he is drawn to and he puts his own task aside to ensure she finds her way home.

Along their adventure home, we learn more about their history – the pain, the betrayals and the forgiveness. Your heart hurts for both of them, who have experienced pain we cannot imagine but who are still moving forward to a place of healing. They find strength, healing and love in each other and your heart smiles for them. But will this be enough? Will they make it to safety and find acceptance? This was a definite must read ending to this series of strong, independent female characters that you can’t help but love.

You can purchase a copy of this book on Amazon US, Amazon Canada, Kobo and Barnes & Noble.

Rating: 5/5

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About the Author

Kat Flannery’s love of history shows in her novels. She is an avid reader of historical, suspense, paranormal, and romance. A member of many writing groups including the National Romance Writers of America (RWA), Kat enjoys promoting other authors on her blog. When she’s not busy writing, or marketing Kat volunteers her time to other aspiring authors. She’s been published in numerous periodicals throughout her career, and continues to write for blogs and online magazines. A bestselling author, Kat’s books are available all over the world. The BRANDED TRILOGY is Kat’s award-winning series. With seven books published, Kat continues to write two novels a year.

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

July 3, 2019

Before You Were Born Book Review

A beautiful book for new parents that celebrates the promise of new life.

About Before You Were Born

Told from the perspective of new parents welcoming their baby to the world, this love letter to young children written by Governor General’s Literary Award–nominated author Deborah Kerbel describes with lyrical grace all of the promise held by new life. As the seasons change from fall through winter and into spring, the expectant parents’ anticipation over the baby’s arrival is mirrored in the animals around their home, marrying the natural world to the family’s experience.

My Thoughts

There is nothing more exciting in the world than when you are pregnant and expecting a child. It is full of excitement, worry, love, wonder and appreciation of the world around you. You watch patiently as your child develops, grows and moves throughout those long nine months. You can’t even begin to anticipate the wonder of the day when you get to meet your little one. You fell in love with them from the first moment you learned you were pregnant and this love continues to grow throughout the seasons.

This beautiful book describes the wealth of emotions that you feel during the time – the desire and want for a child, the promise of new life and the secret feeling that you can treasure with your partner when you find out that you are pregnant. It describes the anticipation and lead up to the amazing moment when your child arrives and you become a family.

The beautiful illustrations mirror the emotions and evolving seasons as the parents wait for their child to join them. I loved their texture and design, which added even more depth to the story as it holds its own story within the story.

This is a beautiful book for new parents, that will make an excellent baby shower gift for first and second time parents. It will be a gift to treasure for years to come.

You can purchase a copy of this book on Amazon.

About the Author

Deborah Kerbel is the author of seven novels for middle grade and young adult readers. Her novels have been shortlisted for the Governor General’s Literary Award, the Canadian Library Association YA Book of the Year, and the Manitoba Young Reader’s Choice Award. Deborah was born in London, England and moved to Canada at the age of two and went on to attend the University of Western Ontario. Deborah lives in Thornhill, Ontario, with her husband, two book-loving children, and a schnoodle named Alfredo.

About the Illustrator

Suzanne Del Rizzo is the award-winning author/illustrator of My Beautiful Birds and the illustrator of several other books for children. Suzanne has always loved getting her hands messy and traded a job in scientific research for a career in children’s books. Suzanne’s dimensional illustrations use polymer clay, acrylic, and other mixed media to bring rich texture and imagination to her books. Suzanne’s 2017 picture book, My Beautiful Birds was a New York Times Notable Children’s Book selection, a Junior Library Guild selection, 2017 One Book, One San Diego for Kids selection and won the Malka Penn Award for Human Rights in Children’s Literature. She lives in Oakville, Ontario.

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