Take the PTA's Family Reading Challenge and bring your family closer together

There's a saying that goes: The family that plays together, stays together.  It may not rhyme as well, but I think it's just as accurate to say: The family that reads together, stays together.

From the time our kids were infants, Alfie and I read to them. Even when they would rather chew on a book than read it, we patiently read to them every single night. Those bedtime stories not only helped them learn to read, it instilled in them a love of books that I'm hoping will last a lifetime!

Our bedtime story tradition continued long after they learned to read on their own.  My kids still have fond memories of giggling to Alfie's crazy impersonations of Dora the Explorer!  The kids are in middle and high school now, but even though we no longer gather in bed to read a book, that tradition has brought us closer in unexpected ways. We now have an updated version of the tradition-- every morning at 7:00AM, the kids all come into our bed and we watch 15 minutes of the morning news together. At this point, we can barely fit on our bed (the latecomer always ends up at the foot of the bed!), but we love this time together because it's a way to say good morning to each other, to snuggle together, and to learn about what's happening in the world. My kids are well versed on current events, and we use the news as opening for discussing topics like smoking, drugs, bullying, race relations, and other things that directly impact their lives.

Another way we continue our tradition of reading together is reading the same books, then talking about the books together. I love having discussions with the kids about young adult fiction such as Harry Potter, Percy Jackson, and the Hunger Games!   Do you love to read with your family?  Keep it up -- as it did with my family, reading together will pay off in unexpected ways!

To inspire and encourage families to keep learning alive by reading great books together. National PTA and Amazon Kindle are kicking off a PTA Family Reading Challenge this summer. National PTA will empower families with tips and activities that encourage ongoing reading, while challenging them to share photos, videos and memories that demonstrate how and why reading together is a fun and treasured family activity. Go to ptareadingchallenge.org for more details and to sign up!

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Giveaway: Time Magazine releases Top 100 Children's Books of All Time

I've always been a big fan of children's books.  I read avidly as a child, and we read to our kids every day.  Not only do I have happy memories of reading some books to myself, such as any Dr. Seuss or Richard Scarry book, I have happy memories of reading them to my kids!

Of course, there are tons of books that weren't around when I was a kid, but there are so many great new books we discovered when we became parents, such as anything by Mo Willems.  Some are books that were around when I was a kid, but never knew they existed, such as anything by Eric Carle.  As Time Magazine says, there has never been a better time for children's books!  There are so many amazing books out there, there's really no excuse not to read to your child.

Time Magazine recently released a list of Top 100 Children's Books of All Time. It was created in collaboration with highly respected peers and organizations in the literary world, such as U.S. Children’s Poet Laureate Kenn Nesbitt, children’s-book historian Leonard Marcus, the National Center for Children’s Illustrated Literature, the Young Readers Center at the Library of Congress, the Every Child a Reader literacy foundation and 10 independent booksellers.  The list is a great mix of classic (Goodnight Moon, The Very Hungry Caterpillar, The Poky Little Puppy, Cat in the Hat) and contemporary (Click, Clack, Moo: Cows That Type, If You Give a Mouse a Cookie, Don't Let the Pigeon Drive the Bus!).  I've only read 36 out of the 100 books on the list:

Where the Wild Things Are
Goodnight Moon
Little Bear
The Giving Tree
Madeline
Frog and Toad
Click, Clack, Moo: Cows That Type
Don't Let the Pigeon Drive the Bus!
The Lorax
Corduroy
The Cat in the Hat
Yertle the Turtle
Chicka Chicka Boom Boom
A Bear Called Paddington
Winnie-the-Pooh
The Tale of Peter Rabbit
Mike Mulligan and his Steam Shovel
Go, Dog. Go!
Eloise
Amelia Bedelia
Animalia
Tikki Tikki Tembo
The Very Hungry Caterpillar
We Are in a Book!
The Runaway Bunny
Pippi Longstocking
Green Eggs and Ham
Oh, the Places You'll Go!
The Little Engine That Could
Cars and Trucks and Things that Go
The Story of Babar, the Little Elephant
If You Give a Mouse a Cookie
Lilly's Purple Plastic Purse
Everyone Poops
The Berenstein Bears Go to School
The Poky Little Puppy

These are truly some of the best books I've read -- these are the books my kids will be reading to their kids!  It makes me wish my kids were still young enough for me to read all the other books on the list to them!

Do you have any favorites on the list?

Win a Time Best Children's Books Prize Pack

One lucky winner will receive a prize pack consisting of 4 of the books from Time Magazine's list of Top 100 Children's Books of All Time!  All four are published by Candlewick Press; Candlewick also has 6 of its titles included in Time's Top 100 Young Adult Books of All Time, as well as many great titles from some of our favorite authors and series, including  Kate DiCamillo, M. T. Anderson, Jon Klassen, and Laura Amy Schlitz; the widely acclaimed Judy Moody, Mercy Watson, and ’Ology series; and favorites such as Guess How Much I Love You, Where’s Waldo?, and Maisy.

The prize package includes:

I Want My Hat Back by Jon Klassen
Told completely in dialogue, this delicious take on the classic repetitive tale plays out in sly illustrations laced with visual humor-- and winks at the reader with a wry irreverence that will have kids of all ages thrilled to be in on the joke.

Journey by Aaron Becker
Follow a girl on an elaborate flight of fancy in a wondrously illustrated, wordless picture book about self-determination — and unexpected friendship.

Library Lion by Michelle Knudsen, illustrated by Kevin Hawkes
Michelle Knudsen's disarming story, illustrated by the matchless Kevin Hawkes in an expressive timeless style, will win over even the most ardent of rule keepers. An affectionate storybook tribute to that truly wonderful place: the library.

We’re Going on a Bear Hunt by Michael Rosen, illustrated by Helen Oxenbury
Imagine the fun of going on a bear hunt-through tall, wavy grass (SWISHY SWISHY!); swampy mud (SQUELCH SQUELCH!); and a swirling whirling snowstorm (HOOOO WOOOO!) - only to find a "real" bear waiting at the end of the trail! For brave hunters and bear lovers, a classic chant-aloud.


Enter via Rafflecopter below. Giveaway ends 11:59 PST on February 5, 2015. I will draw a winner after that date and post their name once the winner has been confirmed and verified.  Continental US residents only. For more giveaway rules, click here.  Good luck!


a Rafflecopter giveaway


Disclosure: Prize provided by Candlewick Press.. The views and opinions expressed here are my own.
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Sourcebooks Halloween book giveaway

Hurrah, it's October, and my favorite holiday of the year is almost here!  I love Halloween, so I'm celebrating with a great giveaway courtesy of Sourcebooks.  One lucky Bonggamom Finds reader will receive copies of three adorable Halloween picture books, just in time for Halloween. They're just perfect for a spooky holiday story time for moms and their little monsters!

Happy Halloween! By Lillian Jaine
It’s Halloween night, and Count von Count is dozing off in front of his fireplace. Suddenly, he hears someone knocking at his castle door, but when he opens the door, nobody’s there! Could it be a spooky Halloween spirit playing a trick on him, or is it something less sinister? Join Count, Elmo, and all of the Sesame friends as they celebrate Halloween!

A Halloween Scare by Eric James
It’s Halloween night, and creatures and critters from near and far are starting to gather outside the front door. And now here comes a whole army of monsters, on broomsticks, buses, and bikes, all clamoring in the darkness. What is it they want? Are they coming for you?
This humorous, creative story is the perfect Halloween adventure for children and parents to share.

Pumpkin Time! by Erzsi Deák
The day the cows strolled down Main Street in fancy hats...Evy didn't notice. What was Evy doing ? Evy is so focused on watching her garden grow that she misses all the silliness going on around her―pigs DANCING, donkeys FLYING, and sheep HAVING A PICNIC.


Required Entry
Leave a comment on this post telling me what you and/or your kids will be dressing up as this Halloween!

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For extra entries, you can do any or all of the following. Please leave a separate comment for each extra entry you complete, with a way to verify the entry (i.e. tweet link, Facebook id, Pinterest id, etc..)

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5) Like Bonggamom Finds on Facebook and write this on my wall (1 entry):
I joined the Sourcebook Halloween giveaway on Bonggamom Finds!  Ends 10/10

6) Follow @bonggafinds on Twitter and tweet this once per day (1 entry per day):
Enter to win 3 adorable kids' Halloween books on @bonggafinds! Giveaway ends 10/10

7) Join any open giveaway on Bonggamom Finds (1 entry for every giveaway you join).

The Rules
This giveaway ends at 11:59 PST on October 10, 2014. I will draw a winner at random on October 11 and post their name after they confirm acceptance. Continental US residents only. For additional giveaway rules, click here.


Disclosure: I did not receive a sample or monetary compensation for this post. Giveaway prize provided by Sourcebooks. The views and opinions expressed here are my own.
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Soccer books for World Cup fans

Are you as excited about the World Cup as I am?  My whole family loves soccer, and for the next month we're putting our lives on hold to watch the best teams in the world play the most popular sport on earth.  If you want to introduce your little one to the sport, here are some great books you can start with:


Maisy Plays Soccer By Lucy Cousins
$6.99 ∙ 32 pages ∙ Ages 3-7
Maisy is back for a rousing game of soccer with her friends! In this fun read-aloud from the Maisy First Experiences series, the spunky mouse gets ready to play her first game of soccer with friends. They divide into teams, and then it’s time to play. No matter who wins, it’s fun for everybody. Great for young soccer players who can’t wait to get on the field!

We have always been big Maisy fans ("Maisy" was the nickname we gave The Pea in utero), and the kids were thrilled to revisit their favorite childhood characters.  This book is great for the youngest kids because it captures all the excitement of a soccer game.


Rio de Janeiro: A 3D Keepsake Cityscape, Illustrated by Trisha Krauss
$8.99 ∙ 30 pages ∙ Ages 5-9
Take a trip to Rio! Visit the colorful streets of Brazil’s largest city, soon to be the home of this year’s World Cup and the 2016 Olympics. In this compact pop-up keepsake, you can visit the giant statue of Christ the Redeemer, the historic Municipal Theatre, the Carnival de Sambodromo, and more, all without leaving your armchair. With full-color illustrations, this would make a fantastic gift for those eagerly awaiting the World Cup.

Travel fans will appreciate this handy little book, and so will those looking to learn more about the city hosting many of the World Cup matches.  Kids and grownups will love the cute 3D features!


Happy Like Soccer By Maribeth Boelts, illustrated by Lauren Castillo
 $6.99 ∙ 32 pages ∙ Ages 5-9
Nothing makes Sierra happy like soccer. She loves to play, even though she has to drive far away from home for games. But nothing makes her sad like soccer, either; her aunt works on game days, and nobody is there to cheer for Sierra. This beautifully-illustrated book from award-winning author Maribeth Boelts is now available in paperback, just in time for peak soccer season.

I like this book because it features a family that's a bit different from the usual mom-dad-2 kids scenario.  It teaches kids that no matter what your family looks like, what matters is that you're bound by love. It also addresses a common situation kids face: being sad that their family can't come to watch their soccer game/dance recital/piano performance, etc...

Soccer Star By Mina Javaherbin, illustrated by Renato Alarcao
$16.99 ∙ 32 pages ∙ Ages 5-8
Paulo Marcelo Feliciano dreams of being a soccer star. But when one of his teammates breaks his wrist, will he let his younger sister Maria play alongside him? Set in a small village in Brazil, this story by the author of Goal!, explores how wonderful it can be to play soccer – just in time for the World Cup!

I had a real emotional reaction reading this book, because many of the characters are kids who are too poor to go to school (they need to work to earn money).  It serves as a good eye-opener to kids in America about how many kids around the world live, and how lucky they are to have so many opportunities in this country.


Goal! By Mina Javaherbin, illustrated by A. G. Ford
$6.99 ∙ 40 pages ∙ 6-10 years
In a dusty township in South Africa, Ajani and his friends have earned a brand-new, federation-size soccer ball. They kick. They dribble. They run. They score. These clever boys are football champions! But when a crew of bullies tries to steal their ball, will Ajani and his friends be able to beat them at their own game? This paperback edition of Mina Javaherbin’s award-winning book touches upon humor, suspense, and excitement while inviting the notion that cultures can be linked together through sport.

We've owned this beautifully illustrated book for a number of years, and the kids love reading it because it sends the message that soccer is universal.


Keeper By Mal Peet
$6.99 ∙ 240 pages ∙ Ages 10 and up
In this hauntingly compelling novel, a veteran soccer reporter interviews a World Cup-winning goalkeeper about his life. As the long night unfolds, we learn of El Gato’s humble beginnings in a small town by the edge of the jungle – and of his ghostly mentor, the Keeper. This ALA award-winning book will appeal to fans of sports and ghosts alike, and the slim paperback edition is sized just-right to carry to a game.

I read this book a number of years ago and I enjoyed it because I love a good rags-to-riches story, and becauseit provides a great insight into the mind of a champion.  The book is rated for ages 10 and up, but the kids haven't read it yet because they're a bit wary of ghost stories, so I'm holding on to it for a bit longer, until I'm sure they can handle the concept.


Disclosure: I received review copies of all books except Goal and Keeper. Product information (in italics) is provided by Candlewick Press. The views and opinions expressed here are my own.
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Disney Junior announces Give a Book, Get a Book campaign

If you're reading this blog post, I'm guessing you already know how to read.  And I'm guessing you already know how important reading is for your child's future.  You probably know that reading to your child helps develop their creativity and imagination.  You probably know that letting your child see you read, and having books available in your home, increases your child's chances of being a good reader even more.

(Yes, that's LeVar Burton from Reading Rainbow reading to the lucky kids at the Disney Social Moms Celebration!) 

No, I'm not worried about you or your child.  You are doing a great job!

I'm worried about the families who don't know about these things.  I'm worried about the families that do know about these things, but don't have the resources or opportunities to do anything about it. They may work two jobs, leaving them no time or energy to read to their kids.  They may not be able to afford their own books, or have access to libraries with books.  Did you know that in some low income communities, there are as little as 1 book for every 300 people?  This country spends $300 trillion on defense, and leaves 300 people to share 1 book.  What a disgrace.

If we don't educate our children, we don't have a future.  Something has to be done.  In my years as a blogger, I'm proud to have worked with various brands to promote programs designed to help children in low income communities discover the joys of reading.  This month, I'm proud to add Disney Junior to that list.

On April 12, at the Disney Social Media Moms Celebration at the Disneyland Resort, Disney Junior announced their partnership with First Book in the Give a Book, Get a Book initiative. Between 4/21/2014 and 9/30/2015, families can enter special codes at giveabookgetabook.com. Once you enter the code, two magical things will happen:

1) You GET a free Disney Junior digital book!
2) Disney will GIVE a book to a family in need!

Yes, that's right -- Every time someone enters a code, Disney will donate a book to First Book, a non-profit social enterprise that provides new books to schools and programs serving children in need, all over the country.  Disney will donate up to one million books!  You even get to specify the region where the book goes.  I've worked to get books into the hands of kids in nearby school districts like East Palo Alto and Redwood City, so I'd love for my book donation to go there.

Here's how to get the codes:

1)  Purchase specially marked Disney Junior products and books which include a redemption code.

2)  Give a Book, Get a Book bookmarks with redemption codes will be distributed to visitors at participating public libraries and Radio Disney events throughout the summer.

3) Starting April 21, Disney Store locations will provide an enhanced interactive "Storytime Powered by Give a Book, Get a Book" featuring two new stories from Disney Junior favorites, "Sofia the First" and "Jake and the Never Land Pirates."  Children at these events will be given a free book along with a redemption code bookmark.

4) Disney Store locations will host special storytime events at Boys & Girls Clubs of America in multiple markets across the U.S. Children at these events will be given a free book along with a redemption code bookmark.

I've included step-by-step instructions (including screenshots) for redeeming the codes at the end of this post.

(And yes, those are Disney Junior Stars David Arquette -- voice of Jake from Jake and the Neverland Pirates-- , Ariel Winter -- voice of Sofia from Sofia the First -- and Tim Gunn -- voice of Baileywick from Sofia the First -- reading to the kids at the Disney Social Media Moms Celebration!)

What a wonderful way to help kids all across the country experience the joy of reading!  And what a wonderful way to help your kids experience the joys of giving back to the community!  Visit www.giveabookgetabook.com for more details.  Happy reading!

Photo credit: all photos except screenshots on this post courtesy of  Disney / ABC Television

Disclosure: I was invited to attend the 2014 Disney Social Media Moms Celebration. The conference fee I paid included discounted lodging and park tickets for me and my family.  I was not asked or required to blog about the conference or any of its sponsors.  The views and opinions expressed here are my own.

Here's how to redeem a code for a free Disney Junior eBook and Disney book donation to First Book.

Go to www.giveabookgetabook.com and enter your code.

You'll need to enter your email address to get to the next screen.

Choose from 1 of 10 Disney Junior eBooks featuring Doc McStuffins, Jake and the Neverland Pirates, Minnie, Mickey, or Sofia the First.  Two of the book choices are in Spanish!

Select a US region where you would like the book to be donated.  

Confirm your selection.

Check your email for the link to your free Disney Junior e-Book.

Enjoy your free Disney Junior e-Book, and be happy in the knowledge that Disney has donated a book to a child in need!

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Discovery Girls Guide to Growing Up: review and giveaway

Growing up is tough.  I've been through it once, and that was enough!  Getting through 11, 12, and 13 is not an experience that I'm in any hurry to repeat.  The Pea is halfway through puberty (she'll be 13 in a couple of months), and even though she knows her dad and I are always there to talk with her about it (and we do!), I know there are lot of things she'll want to share only with her friends, or things she wants to work through on her own.  Even if she's not coming to me for answers, I want to make sure she gets all the right information -- so I'm really glad that the editors of Discovery Girls Magazine have published a new guide to help girls through puberty:  The Discovery Girls Guide to Growing Up.

About the book
Discovery Girls Guide to Growing Up gives girls reliable facts and helpful tips about what’s going on inside their bodies and what to expect next, all written in a fun and easy-to-understand way. Most puberty books just cover the physical changes, but this one also teaches girls how to handle their emotions, have strong self-esteem, and love their bodies so they’ll be confident, empowered, and ready for all the challenges of puberty. Filled with real stories, interesting statistics, and fun illustrations, Discovery Girls Guide to Growing Up is the perfect gift for every tween girl.

Here's an image of the table of contents of the Discovery Girls Guide to Growing up.  The book covers pretty much everything that girls will experience during puberty, from physical changes to mental and emotional changes.

The book is written in a style very similar to the Discovery Girls magazine: photos of real girls, cute illustrations, easy-to-read articles, fun quizzes, Q&A sections, with useful tips and interesting facts scattered throughout.

Here's a sample of useful tips found in the book.  Even I can learn from this book!
How to Measure Your Bra Size
How to Use a Tampon
Best Ways to Relieve Cramps
The Do's and Don'ts of Skin Care

One of the most unique things about this book (and one of my favorite things about it) is the real-life perspective given by real girls.  Discovery Girls magazine has been talking to tween and teen girls for years, and for this book, they have gathered a group of girls to act as a junior editorial board.  The girls helped keep the content readable and relevant -- if those girls liked the book, there's a good chance that your tween will like it too!  The book contains lots of quotes from those girls, dishing out about topics such as:

What they love about their bodies
Body Hair
Growing Up
Getting My First Bra
Getting My First Period
Tampons vs. Pads
Feeling Emotional
Dealing with Acne

Being able to read other girls' experiences is great, because it helps girls feel like they're not alone!  Getting through puberty is difficult enough!


Win a copy of Discovery Girls Guide to Growing Up
One lucky Bonggamom Finds reader will receive a copy of the Discovery Girls Guide to Growing Up.


Required Entry
Leave a comment on this post and share a challenging issue you faced when growing up.

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I entered the Discovery Girls giveaway! http://ow.ly/sTzDn

6) Tweet this (1 entry per day):
Enter to win a copy of the Discovery Girls Guide to Growing Up!  Enter by  2/6/14 on @bonggafinds: http://ow.ly/sTzDn

7) Join any open giveaway on Bonggamom Finds (1 entry per giveaway you've joined)

The Rules
This giveaway ends at 11:59PM PST on Feb 6,  2014; I will draw a winner at random on Feb 7and post their name after they confirm acceptance. Continental US residents only. For additional giveaway rules, click here.


Disclosure: Thank you to Discovery Girls for providing a copy for review and another copy to give away. The views and opinions expressed here are my own.
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Give dad the gift of knowledge on Father's Day

I received a copy to review

When it comes to the dad in your life, the sky's the limit -- you'll do anything to let him know how much you love and appreciate him!  If he's a science geek, or just has a galactic thirst for knowledge, Jim Bell's "The Space Book" might just be the perfect Father's Day present.  I received a review copy of this book, and it is truly fascinating.  The author presents 250 of the most groundbreaking astronomical events, from the formation of galaxies to the moon landings to the recent discovery of water ice on Mars. You can digest this book in bite-sized chunks:  just read a little bit each day, or when it suits you.  Each entry has beautiful photographs or illustrations, making the book an easy, entertaining, mind-opening read.

Are dad's interests a bit more down-to-earth?  Check out Sterling Publishing's book list -- with over 5,000 titles, whatever dad is into, they have a book he'll love!  Here are four other books published by Sterling that I think would make great Father's Day presents:


Man Crafts: Leather Tooling, Fly Tying, Ax Whittling, and Other Cool Things to Do:  Help dad find a hobby (or develop an existing one) with 10 mini instruction manuals

All-New Baseball Brainteasers: 60 Major League Puzzles:  Does dad consider himself a baseball fan?  This book will test his knowledge of the game.

Brain Aerobics Cryptograms:  You may not be able to drag dad off the couch, but you can at least give his brain a workout.

The World Atlas of Beer: The Essential Guide to the Beers of the World.  Make sure dad can enjoy the pint of the best, anywhere in the world.

Disclosure: I received a review copy of The Space Book.  The views and opinions expressed here are my own.
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Disney·Pixar Monsters University LeapReader™ 3D Book: review and giveaway

The excitement is building for Monsters University! The sequel (or to be more precise, the prequel) to Monsters, Inc. opens in theatres on June 21, and this is one class that everyone wants to sign up for.  Unfortunately only monsters are allowed to enroll in Monsters University -- but there's good news for human children. Leapfrog has not one, but two great ways for kids to learn and play with Mike and Sulley: the Monsters University game and book.

I've been a huge fan of Leapfrog's edu-tainment philosophy for years -- I can't tell you what a big help the Tag Reader and all its predecessors were in helping my kids learn to read, and learn to love reading! -- so they sent me a review copy of both the new Monsters University game and book.  This post contains my review of the Monsters University LeapReader/Tag book -- and a chance to win both the Leapfrog game and the book!  Also, check out my review of the Monsters University LeapPad game -- and a chance to get an extra entry to the giveaway!

Leapfrog also invited me to a special information session so we could chat with some of the developers behind both products and get an inside look on how they were made.  It was really interesting to hear how Leapfrog and Disney-Pixar worked hand-in-hand, while the movie was being made, so that kids would get the most authentic, immersive experience. They also tested the book and game out with kids every step of the way.

About the Monsters University 3D Book for LeapReader and Tag
Growing up, Mike and Sulley shared just one dream: to get into the Scaring Program at Monsters University. Join the fun on campus as these two monsters learn to appreciate their differences, develop a lifelong friendship and train to compete in the famous Scare Games! LeapReader brings the story of Monsters University to life with exciting 3D effects and helps build reading comprehension and vocabulary skills! (3D glasses included.)

Leapfrog's Monsters University book lets kids relive the story behind Monsters University and work on their reading skills at the same time.  The book works with the new Leapfrog LeapReader (which is coming out this summer -- stay tuned for more info!) as well as the Leapfrog TAG, which means kids can set their readers to read out whole pages, sentences or words, or help them sound out words when they're ready to read on their own.

In addition to the story, the book has fun learning activities that build vocabulary, logic and reasoning skills.  For example, kids are asked to "Find a monster with spikes who is in front of someone who has three eyes", or "Find a monster who has a lot of purple hair and is to the right of a monster with tentacles".  They're so busy finding the monster, they don't even realize they're learning about colors, numbers and positions.

I love how the vocabulary list is related to the story.  Kids will learn all kinds of monsterrific words like  "creeping", "roaring" and "arachnophobia" by playing games and taking quizzes.  Final exams were never this much fun!

What's new and different about this book is that it comes with a pair of 3D glasses that make the images jump off the page!  It literally adds a new dimension to learning, and it makes kids really want to read the book!  Unfortunately, Leapfrog does not sell extra pairs of 3D glasses, which makes sharing  difficult for multiple siblings.... but fortunately, the book uses proprietary 3D printing technology that keeps the illustrations looking amazing, even when you're not using the 3D glasses!  The kids learn to take turns, and no one has to suffer from double vision :)  (note: if sharing does become a problem, or if your glasses get lost or torn, I recommend contacting Leapfrog customer service to ask if they'll send you an extra pair).

Get free shipping on Leapfrog Monsters University products

Until June 30, get free ground shipping on orders that include any Disney•Pixar Monsters University product!  Use code MONSTERS (Offer valid through 11:59PM PT 6/30/2013).



Win a Leapfrog Monsters University Prize Pack
One lucky Bonggamom Finds reader will receive Leapfrog's Monsters University book for LeapReader/Tag and Monsters University game for LeapPad/Leapster Explorer!

Required Entry
Leave a comment on this post and tell me which feature in Leapfrog's new Monsters University 3D book your child would enjoy the most.

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For extra entries, you can do any or all of the following. Please leave a separate comment for each extra entry with a way to verify the entry (i.e. tweet link, blog post link, Facebook id, Twitter id, etc.).

1) Leave comment on my Monsters University game review post telling me which feature in the game your child would enjoy the most (1 entry)

2) Follow bonggamom on Blogger (1 entry)

3) Follow bonggamom on Instagram (1 entry)

4) Follow bonggamom on Pinterest (1 entry)

5) Pin this giveaway on any of your Pinterest boards (1 entry -- you can use the "Pin It" button at the bottom of this page!).

6) "Like Bonggamom Finds" on Facebook and write this on my wall (1 entry):
I entered the Leapfrog Monsters University giveaway! Enter by July 2 at http://ow.ly/lMKq7

7) Tweet this once per day (1 entry per day)

@leapfrog is giving away a Monsters University book for LeapReader/Tag + game for LeapPad! Enter by 7/2 @bonggafinds http://ow.ly/lMKq7

7) Join any open giveaway on Bonggamom Finds (1 entry for every giveaway you join)

The Rules
This giveaway ends at 11:59PM PST on July 2, 2013; I will draw a winner at random on July 3 and post their name after they confirm acceptance. Continental US residents only. For additional giveaway rules, click here.



Disclosure: I received a product sample to facilitate my review, but have not been paid to review the product or give my opinions. Thanks to Leapfrog for providing review samples and prizes for this giveaway. The views and opinions expressed here are my own.
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Jennifer Perillo's new cookbook: a book about food, cooking and love

Today I attended a brunch to celebrate the launch of Jennifer Perillo's new cookbook, Homemade With Love: Simple Scratch Cooking from In Jennie's Kitchen.   Jennifer is a food editor at Working Mother Magazine, and her recipes have appeared in print and online at Parenting Magazine, Kiwi Magazine, FoodNetwork.com, Cuisinart.com and more.  She is also the author of the popular blog In Jennie's Kitchen.

I hadn't met Jennifer until today, but we were both members of the (both now defunct) Silicon Valley Moms Blog network and the Yahoo! Motherboard, so I was delighted and honored to attend the event.  In addition, the food bloggers who I do know and love -- Jane Maynard, Vanessa Druckman and Gina Von Esmarch -- happen to respect and admire Jennie a lot, so I knew I wouldn't be lying through my teeth if I said I thought it was a great cookbook.  In fact, I can already say I love Homemade With Love, even though I haven't tried making a single recipe -- because every dish we had at today's brunch came from the book, and I loved each and every one of them!

Pictured below are (from the top) Lentil Ricotta "Meatballs", bread with a ricotta-lemon spread, and Slow-roasted Tomato & Fresh Mozzarella Panzanella.  I must admit I have never heard of Panzanella (bread and tomato salad) before, but my whole family adores Caprese Salad, and this version of Panzanella was essentially Caprese salad with skillet-fried croutons, so I know they'll love this too.  It's definitely To Die For.

The hint of orange flavor in these Clementine & Pistachio Crumb Muffins were a surprising and delightful touch, as was the pistachio topping.  I think of pistachios as a salty snack, so that was another taste revelation.  

Deep Chocolate Cupcakes:  The chocolate ganache frosting on these moist chocolate cupcakes will blow your mind.

Strangely enough, I didn't even think to photograph the dish I ended up enjoying the most:  Jennifer's Chickpea, Parmesan & Fennel Salad.  I was too busy wolfing it down, and by the time I thought about photos, the guests had already demolished the rest of the salad.  I've never tasted fennel before but after tasting this salad I can't wait to make more.

I did sit down and leaf through the book this afternoon, and what I saw inside definitely leaves me wanting more: wanting to read more, to try more, to eat more.   The cookbook itself is beautiful, printed on heavy paper, with gorgeous photographs.  The recipes look simple enough (if somewhat time-consuming) for anyone to do, despite the fact that these dishes are all made from scratch.

But what really makes me want to   keep reading through is Jennie's narrative.  She has little footnotes (tips, tricks, substitutions, etc...)  for almost every recipe, and every recipe has a sentence or paragraph about how the recipe came about or why it's special to her. The writing style that her blog readers know and love really shines through, and you feel like each recipe is special to her.  The title is perfect because love really does run throughout this book -- for food, for her craft, for her heritage, her daughters, and especially her late husband.  Her recipe for Drop Biscuit Chicken Pot Pie has the most amazing tribute to him -- it was his favorite dish -- and I DARE you not to tear up after reading it.

Disclosure: I received a review copy of Jennifer's book. The views and opinions expressed here are my own.
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