Review + Giveaway! Scholastic Borrowed Words in Action 1&2!

One of the things which I am very thankful for is that the kiddo loves to write. It did not start out that way actually. While she loves writing, she was a bit of a reluctant writer and I think this has to do more with the fine motor skills than interest.

So I started her on journaling where the focus was more on doodling and the spelling of short words here and there. Additionally, it was about that time that we got hooked on Audio books where I would put the CD on “pause” and discuss the words we heard or discuss the plots. That worked really well with the kiddo as she started being exposed to new words. I came to realise that she may have read some of the words in books but was not sure of how to pronounce them. Some of these words are “borrowed words” which originated from for e.g. France, Germany, etc. 

We are fans of Scholastic’s In Action series which is a series of learning English through pictures in comic strips format. We started with the Idioms series (and you can view the “inside pages” on some of the titles here) which the kiddo enjoyed tremendously.

With the Borrowed Words series, it provides a compilation of age appropriate “borrowed words” which helps to expand her range of vocabulary further. 

:: Layout

Each borrowed word is pretty much explained in the same format as a dictionary. The list of words are arranged in alphabetical order (which you can view from the contents page - pic below) where the origin of the word and phonics are written below the word.  

Thereafter the meaning of the word and which part of the speech the word belongs to (noun, verb, etc), are included. 

:: What I like about it

I really like the selection of the words in this 2-book set. Many of these words are words that have appeared in the books the kiddo reads and I feel that they are definitely useful and applicable for compositions too. 

What I also appreciate is that there are 2 - 4 sample sentences given as examples to show how to use the borrowed word and these were certainly helpful in cementing the understanding. 

:: What the kiddo likes about it
On the main page, there is always a box at the bottom of the page which gives further explanation or alternative use of the word and Dumpling finds this useful too. 

And of course, what she enjoys a lot is the illustrations, many of which are often really funny! :)

 

 These certainly make learning new (borrowed) words a breeze for the kiddo! :)

I have 1 set of Scholastic Borrowed Words in Action to give away! 

Enter the rafflecopter below for a chance to win this! Remember to leave a comment below in this post on what is/are your favorite borrowed word(s) and why! J

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Terms and Conditions:
1) This giveaway is only for SG residents. 

2) The winner will have to collect the books at 81 Ubi Ave 4, #02-28, UB. ONE, Singapore 408830. A valid email address is needed for prize notification. The email notification will serve as a validation for prize collection.  

3) A comment needs to be made on this post to be eligible for the draw.

4) By agreeing to take part in this giveaway, you agree to share your information with the author of this blog (me!) and the sponsor your details. 

Scholastic In Action:
Scholastic In Action is Scholastic's top-selling title and it now has 16 mini-series with 2 – 3 books per series. The collection ranges from more academic focused to more fun learning topics. Fun comic-strips illustrate the use of each language item. In Action series can be found at all POPULAR bookstores and selected TIMES bookstores. Each book is selling at $6.90 (before GST).

Disclaimer: The Borrowed Words in Action Set giveaway and review is kindly sponsored by Scholastic. We are given a complimentary set in order to share our opinions on it. We are not compensated for the post. All opinions expressed are entirely ours.

If you have enjoyed this post, please follow me on my Facebook Page where I share my parenting thoughts, food photos (be prepared for tons of them!), early shout outs for giveaways and interact with you, my readers! You can also follow me on Pinterest and Instagram!  

Review + Giveaway! My Quiet Book!

When the kiddo was young, one of my favourite books was a busy book that my girlfriend gave to us as a “hand-me-down” as her two children were all grown up. I recall my fascination (and later, Dumpling’s) with the book as it was interactive and had an educational spin to it with different pages featuring different concepts which are age appropriate for toddlers.

My Royal Rae is a Singapore based online retail shop which specializes in selling high quality handcrafted toys, and nothing of the ipad / iphone / battery operated kind. J The toys are chosen by Cecilia who has a PhD in Communications and her husband who has a PhD in Development Psychology.

My Quiet Book is a 14-page book which is designed with the toddlers in mind.

In addition, it cleverly engages young children with fun activities which focus on fine motor skills which are important for writing when they are older. Age appropriate Math activities are also included too!

From Zipping...

To tying a ribbon...

And to color matching and buttoning!

Though the girl is almost 7, she had quite a good time with the activities in the book and mastered tying a really nice ribbon too. :)

Best of all, as these quiet books are made of cloth! So you need not fret over any spillage “accidents”. Simply hand wash and rinse! These books are also great for travelling as they are light to pack and when you are on the road!!! Know Golden Jubilee babies? These quiet books would be the perfect gift. J

I have 1 Quiet cloth book (worth $35!) &

6 sets of Snakes and Ladders with Dolch Sight Words to give away!

Enter the rafflecopter below for a chance to win this! (Make sure you have entered for both items!)

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Remember to leave a comment on who you wish to gift this book to and why! J

Can't wait for the giveaway? No worries! My Royal Rae has also kindly offered a 20% STOREWIDE DISCOUNT CODE! 

Just add item(s) to the shopping cart and enter "Beanie N Us Discount"! 

Note: 
1) The discount code cannot be used in conjunction with other vouchers / discounts. 
2) Discount code is only valid till end of September 2015. 
3) This giveaway is for SG residents only.
4) This book has detachable components which were added to aid motor skills development. Toddlers who are still teething should not play with the book unsupervised by an adult.

Disclaimer: The giveaway is kindly sponsored by My Royal Rae. We are not compensated for the post. All opinions expressed are entirely ours.

If you have enjoyed this post, please follow me on my Facebook Page where I share my parenting thoughts, food photos (be prepared for tons of them!), early shout outs for giveaways and interact with you, my readers! You can also follow me on Pinterest and Instagram!  

Review + Giveaway: A Night at the Safari, A Day with the Duchess & The Lion Dance by David Seow!

David Seow is an author that we are not unfamiliar with having read his books – Emma’s Elephant, If I Were a Blue Kangaroo, etc. David started writing stories when he was babysitting his niece and nephews, and decided to write one about them. And that’s where he drew his inspiration from for the famous Sam Sebbie and Di-Di-Di series.

Sam, Sebbie and Di-di-di are three siblings who go on wonderful excursions and encounter amazing adventures along the way. Here are Dumpling’s top 3 picks.

:: At The Night Safari

The Night Safari is always an adventure for Dumpling whenever we visit it. There is just a hint of mystery in the air when it is a night outing. The tram ride, of course, is a key draw. Dumpling would start whispering and pointing out those nocturnal creatures the moment the ride starts.

And it is the same for Sam Sebbie and Di-Di-Di. The trio started their adventure on a tram ride when suddenly, the tram stopped suddenly with a bump and a bam! Turns out, one very sleepy animal was in the way.

How will they be able to get past the giraffe? Will anyone be able to wake him up? This lovely story, told in an easy rhyming style, is great for younger children as it introduces the various animals and vocabulary in the Safari. 

:: A Day with the Duchess

Amongst all 3 stories, this is my favourite. While “At the Night Safari” is less wordy, “A Day with the Duchess” is more suitable for older children. Dumpling remembers the Duchess’s visit to Singapore, 2 years ago, as I showed her the articles in the papers then. She was very excited that someone from the Royal Family (almost like a real princess mama?) visited Singapore. :)

The story was a joy to read as Kate (Sam’s pet hamster) was brought to meet the Duchess.

(Can you spot where Kate is?)

Unfortunately she was separated from the siblings along the way. The story is ‘true’ as it highlighted the various places the Duke and Duchess visited. From Gardens by the Bay to Queenstown to Raffles Hotel, it also shares how Kate ended up being part of the Duchess ‘entourage’.

Of course, the 3 siblings were worried sick; will they ever be able to find Kate and get her back?

The illustrations by Soefara Jafney were really good! Being quite known for her impeccable fashion sense, I pored through the drawings of her outfits. :p Upon close inspection, I realised that the drawings of the Duchess’s outfits were “true” to what she wore during her visits!  (I did a google to check that out!)  

:: The Lion Dance

The final book that Dumpling has selected is The Lion Dance. On “one extra-special holiday” the siblings (with new member Xandy) were told by their parents that they would be watching a special performance: a lion dance! So who is this lion and where does it come from? Does it really dance?



Like the other titles, the excursion proved to be yet another adventure for the children. They ventured into a ‘hidden’ area, drew open a big red curtain and saw “the funniest lion”. They decided to put on the Lion costume and surprised their parents by hopping out from behind the curtains, only to realise that they are the ones who were surprised instead!

The crowd cheered and the drums went “doong doong doong bang!” and gongs  went “doong doong doong chang”!

“Oh, goodness gracious me!” exclaimed Xandy… “What do we do?” he asked.

How will the children be able to shimmy their way out of this ‘adventure’, or will they?  :)

 

This title is a simple yet lovely tale with captivating illustrations. I enjoyed thumbing through the pages and pouring over the traditional Chinese elements - cranes, lanterns and even the 'Bruce Lee' lookalike outfit donned on by Sebbie!

To place an order for these books, you can visit Epigram here.

I am pleased to share that I have not 1, not 2 but a bundle of these 3 autographed titles worth almost SGD50 for a giveaway!

(For SG residents only)

:: To enter:

1. Enter through rafflecopter below!

2. Leave a comment below on how you encourage a love for reading with your kiddos at home! Please include your email address  

GOOD LUCK!

http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/a3722ab639/

:: Terms and Conditions:

- Entries that do not fulfil the requirements stated will be disqualified without notice.
- Winners will be notified by email, through the email address provided.
- This giveaway is for Singapore residents only. 

Disclaimer: I received copies of the titles from Epigram Books in order to do a review on and give my opinion of it. No monetary compensation was received for this post. Epigram Books is the sponsor of this giveaway.

If you have enjoyed this post, please follow me on my Facebook Page where I share my parenting thoughts, food photos (be prepared for tons of them!), early shout outs for giveaways and interact with you, my readers! You can also follow me on Pinterest and Instagram

Review + Giveaway! My Home – 我的家

It is hard to get books by a local author let alone local contents AND bilingual one at that too. When I first received My Home – 我的家 (set of 2 books - story and activity book) I was attracted to its bright colours and cute illustration. After ripping the shrink wrap off, I was not disappointed as I flipped through the pages on the hardcover story.

:: The story

The story is narrated by a young boy, Jason (小杰) who started out his day looking for playmates. As he roams around the house with his faithful companion Blackie (小黑）looking for unsuspecting ‘victims’ to play with him, the reader is introduced to both Chinese and English terms used in a typical home setting.

The story is told in a fun manner as we stumble upon Jason’s father in the bathroom

 To getting Jason to help Grandma out in the kitchen

To extending the concept of ‘Home’ beyond the apartment but neighbouring facilities.

 

And of course along the way, children are introduced to the various vocabulary on things in the house and outside of the house. To facilitate children in reading, Han Yu Pin Yin is included and the Chinese text is printed above the English copy too.

The font size is big and colourful (good for young readers) and in instances where the story wishes to introduce the Chinese term of the English word, it deploys the clever use of ‘colour’ to make the association.

(The word 玩 is printed in pink to correspond to the English word 'play')

:: The illustration
The illustration is bright and colourful and it certainly attracted Dumpling. What she enjoyed the most was lifting the flaps where it made the reading more ‘interactive’! It was actually quite fun for us to hunt around on each of the pages for the flaps to lift and see what lays behind.

 

 

 :: The activity book

The title also comes with an activity book and while one of my first thoughts when I received the title was that the title could be a tad too simple for a 5+ year old child, the activity book closed that gap for me.

It has a good mix of simpler activities (pasting of stickers) for younger children

 

to activities such as writing and word recognition

Games were also included towards the back of the book too:

 

Up for grabs! I am also pleased to share that I have not one but three sets of My Home worth more than a total of $90 to give away! 
Enter through Rafflecopter for your chance to win!

 

http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/a3722ab635/

 

:: Terms and Conditions:

- Entries that do not fulfill the requirements stated will be disqualified without notice.

- Winners will be notified by email, through the email address provided.

- This giveaway is open to Singapore residents only. 

 

Disclaimer: I received this set from Read with Me Mommy in order to do a review on and give my opinion of it. No monetary compensation was received for this post.

If you have enjoyed this post, please follow me on my Facebook Page where I share my parenting thoughts, food photos (be prepared for tons of them!), early shout outs for giveaways and interact with you, my readers! You can also follow me on Pinterest and Instagram

 

Book Talk Tuesday - REVIEW + GIVEAWAY! Purple Paw Prints & Paw Prints on the Magic Sofa

:: Purple Paw Prints

Being a dog lover, I was captivated by the illustration of the purple dog when I received copies of Sarah Mounsey's Paw Prints books to review. 

 

The main character, Eddie (possibly out of boredom) decided to paint Oscar one day and in PURPLE too! What ensues is a hilarious tale of how Eddie tried to rectify his mistake. From baths to heading for a car dog wash, Oscar remained purple throughout.

In desperation, Eddie and his sister, Mia, even asked the local fire fighters for help! How will Eddie be able to fix this before his mum and dad return home?

:: Paw Prints on the Magic Sofa
In this second installment of Paw Print series, Sarah brings us on a magical ride as Eddie and his friend, William, travel around the world on Eddie's sofa! Not forgetting Oscar, the boys visited a jungle, rainforest and even a desert!

'Passengers' such as a lion, turtle and even a camel joined them on this magical journey in this highly imaginative tale. A fun and exciting story which had Dumpling and I clambering onto the sofa on a rainy afternoon when we read this; this title provided us with many giggles and a 'flat' torchlight at the end of our pretend play. LOL

:: About the Author
Sarah Mounsey is an Australian author who has been residing in Singapore for more than 12 years with her husband and three sons. She pens the Purple Paws series which won the bronze award in the Moonbeam Children’s Book Awards.

As a primary school teacher, Sarah loves engaging young children and has a passion for children’s literature and in trying to help young readers become lifelong lovers of books. 

:: About the Illustrator
Jade Fang started doodling at a very young age and developed a great interest in drawing and painting as a child. She earned both her Bachelor and Masters of Fine Arts in Illustration from The Academy of Art University, San Franciso. She now lives in Singapore, spending most of her peaceful days doodling and making art.

Highly imaginative with a lovely prose, I am excited to share that Closetful of Books is sponsoring NOT ONE, BUT TWO SETS of AUTOGRAPHED titles (2 books each set) in a giveaway.

Earn credits using Rafflecopter below 

(Please share on what is yours and your child(ren)'s favourite pretend play activity / theme in the comment section below. Giveaway is for Singapore Residents ONLY). 

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Disclaimer: We received the 2 titles so that we can share our reviews of the books. All opinions, sofa, torchlight, pretend play fun and imagination are 100% our own. 

 If you have enjoyed this post, please follow me on my Facebook Page where I share my parenting thoughts, food photos (be prepared for tons of them!), early shout outs for giveaways and interact with you, my readers! You can also follow me on Pinterest and Instagram! 

Book Talk Tuesday! The Princess Fables Book - $50 Amazon / Paypal Gift Card

About the Book

Title: The Princess Fables | Author: Marc Clark | Illustrator: Eric Hosford | Publication Date: December 5, 2013 | Publisher: Seven C's Productions | Pages: 115 | Recommended Ages: 3+ Summary: The Origins of THE PRINCESS FABLES: When the author's daughter was just beginning the first grade, she was not happy about school. So when he would wake her each morning, whatever she would say to get out of going became the subject for a PRINCESS FABLE. If she'd say, "I don't want to," he'd make up a tale about The Princess Who Always Said, "I Don't Wanna". If she pulled the covers over her head, he'd tell her the story of The Princess Who Hid Under The Covers. By the end of each Fable he'd have her dressed and ready for school, with her eyes wide open and full of hope... THE PRINCESS FABLES are eleven inspirational stories for young girls who may still dream of being a Princess. Each Princess embarks on an adventure of self discovery and along the way, learns about the importance of trust, devotion, courage and the power of love. These classic tales transport little girls to a time and place where they are the heroines and can create their own happy endings. Every delicate pen and ink illustration reflects the classic fairy tale drawings of the late 19th century. Award: The Princess Fables was just awarded an Honorable Mention at the 2014 Los Angeles Book Festival.  

Purchase

Amazon (Kindle) | Amazon (Print)

The Buzz

In a recent review by the Island Waves publication, Trey Seal wrote, “The Princess Fables is a book that brings back the nostalgia of the classic fairytales from our youth and is highly recommended for young children.”

Excerpts From Amazon Reviews:

"Marvelously original, soulful, and witty tales! Modern fables with funny and moving twists. I hope these stories make their way to kids everywhere!"

"What a beautifully illustrated and well-written book."

"A charming and witty read, with stunning illustrations. The Princess is adorable and the book conveys a very positive image for little girls."

"Great read for the little princess in us all!"

 

About the Author: Marc Clark

Marc Clark is the author of several plays and screenplays, a writer and producer of commercials, promos and television content. Marc is the father of two and currently resides in Manhattan.

Book Website | Twitter | Facebook | Instagram

* $50 Book Blast Giveaway *

Prize: One winner will receive a $50 Amazon Gift Card or PayPal cash (winner’s choice) Contest ends: May 27, 11:59 pm, 2014 Open: Internationally How to enter: Please enter using the Rafflecopter widget below. Terms and Conditions: NO PURCHASE NECESSARY TO ENTER OR WIN. VOID WHERE PROHIBITED BY LAW. A winner will be randomly drawn through the Rafflecopter widget and will be contacted by email within 48 hours after the giveaway ends. The winner will then have 72 hours to respond. If the winner does not respond within 72 hours, a new draw will take place for a new winner. Odds of winning will vary depending on the number of eligible entries received. This contest is in no way sponsored, endorsed or administered by, or associated with Facebook. This giveaway is sponsored by the author, Marc Clark and is hosted and managed by Renee from Mother Daughter Book Reviews. If you have any additional questions – feel free to send and email to Renee(at)MotherDaughterBookReviews(dot)com.

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Book Talk Tuesday - Earth Day Special: Chinese Picture Books

In view of the upcoming Earth Day, Dumpling and I have been reading titles on 'nature' and on protecting the environment. Amongst some enjoyable ones: one title from the 巴巴爸爸 series, Berenstain bears and 如果地球被我们吃掉了which I have previously blogged about in a giveaway here.

Here are 3 more titles which we have also enjoyed:

:: 我的环保行动书: 垃圾放哪里
This is part of a 我的成长故事图画书 - 我的环保行动书 series which I recently bought and which I am starting to really like. This series has about 30 odd titles in all and is segmented into various larger topical groups with about 4 books under each topic. 

The entire series is suitable for younger children with its cute illustrations and simple explanations. 

In this title, it serves to explore and introduce the concept of recycling and taking care of our environment through the eyes of a boy who lives next to his teacher. 

The sentences are kept short and simple and the story is done in an interactive manner through the speech bubbles by the students and teachers. 

:: Charlie and Lola 查理与劳拉系列

Translated from an English title, everyone's favorite pair of siblings takes us on an educational "tour" on being ecologically friendly through Lola's imagination and experience! Lola comes to understand the importance of looking after our planet through recycling and leads her school to take part in a contest where they win and plant a real tree in recognition of their effort. Lola's 'never-say-die' spirit and perseverance shine through in this lovely story.

I bought this as a 15-book set. Here's the link to view on dangdang. 

:: 树真好

This last story is not a story on recycling but a gentle poetic story translated based on the English title "Tree is Nice" by Janice May Udry . The title is not based on any storyline but on how and why a tree is nice but with examples on what you can do with a tree and on a tree. Its simple approach brings about much beauty and how this unsung hero is able to do so much (and in turn let us do so much) in an understated manner. What's also lovely is its lovely illustrations which won it a Caldecott medal. 

This is one title to be enjoyed on a quiet morning where you can spend time looking through its illustrations and be reminded of the simple joy and beauty a tree brings us. 

"This is one of those books which prick a child into a realization of the beauty of the everyday world." - New York Times

This post is the second post of an Earth Day series. Part 1 shares how we recycled old envelops, newspapers and postcards to make a Corner Page Bookmark. Click on the photo to head to the post :)

If you have enjoyed this post, please follow me on my Facebook Page where I share my parenting thoughts, food photos (be prepared for tons of them!), early shout outs for giveaways and interact with you, my readers! You can also follow me on Pinterest and Instagram!