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How To Turn Your Grown-Up Into A Robot and Other Coding Stories

How to Turn Your Grown-Up Into A Robot and Other Coding Stories will hook your kids on this book while familiarizing themselves with the language of coding. I received a copy of these coding stories in exchange for a post. All opinions are my own.

When I was a kid, our computer was a a bulky monitor that required ms-dos. A bit of coding language was required to go anywhere, and I even remember one game that was basically just a story of text. What we typed would determine what happened next. I remember getting a lot of errors as I wasn’t using the correct coding.

My kids never had anything like that. Instead they are surrounded by technology, where all the coding is done behind the screens. They push some ready made buttons, and know exactly what will happen. However, I still feel it’s important they learn about coding. As the world continues to become more technologically advanced, it seems it will be required for just about any job in the future.

From our phones to our homes, life is being run through coding, and while I fully support these advances, I still want my children to enjoy screen-free time and a chance to let their minds rest.

That being said, I absolutely love this book from CodeSpeak. It removes the screen from coding and gets back to good old paper learning.

I don’t know a single kid that wouldn’t love to control their parents – if even for just a little bit. Parents, get ready to engage and make your kids laugh out loud as you read How To Turn Your Grown-Up Into A Robot. The first of 3 stories in this book gets kids thinking about robots, how they’re made, and how they receive commands.

The second story brings screens to life as kids play with the Scratch Jr Kitten, and give him a friend. Through multiple options, kids create the scene for Scratch Jr. Kitten.

My favorite story, is Level 3: Do You love Cookies?

Maybe it’s because I love cookies. It’s probably because I love cookies.

In the last of the coding stories, kids see the code written out. They see how it affects change in a program. From building the cookie to eating the cookie, level 3 will familiarize kids with the language of coding.

For more coding fun beyond the book, check out CodeSpeak Labs. You’ll find how to bring more coding into your school, and kids can have fun with an Hour Of Code.

April 20, 2018
My First Book of Hockey: A Rookie Book by Sports Illustrated for Kids

I received My First Book of Hockey for review. All opinions are 100% my honest thoughts.

This year we have loved getting into the Sports Illustrated for Kids series. We’re back with the latest seasonal book, My First Book of Hockey! Kids and adults who love this contact sport will enjoy perusing the book before heading out to a game.

I can’t honestly say where my love for the game of hockey came from. Growing up we spent most of our time playing baseball as a family, and attending baseball games. Whether they were for my brothers, or my own softball games, along with the occasional professional game. I remember those moments clearly.

Hockey, however, holds no memories that I can recall. Perhaps it was because my first middle school crush was on a guy who played the sport. Though, I never watched him play. Never attended any games. The closest I probably ever got to seeing hockey played was on the television, and maybe a few sticks being thrown around the frozen ponds we would skate on over the winter months.

I did, and still today, know more about the game of Hockey then I do Football. I also watch football more than hockey, but can not for the life of me understand anything other than the score. Give me hockey any day, and suddenly my heart is racing and I’m cheering for the teams. I’m in the game when it comes to hockey. So despite my lack of memories on how I came to love hockey, I’m thrilled to share the sport with my kids through another, easy to follow, book.

My youngest two, Rosalina and Lincoln especially got into the book with me. They thought the Goalie’s mask was the coolest, and were just as excited about the teams making a score as if we were actually at a game. Perhaps this year, to add to our gifts of experience, we’ll find a local hockey game to check out.

Do you love Hockey? One lucky reader will win a copy of My First Book of Hockey: A Rookie Book by Sports Illustrated for Kids plus 2 Hockey Reading Buttons! Open to US 18+ Ends 1206/2016

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November 28, 2016
Animal Planet Animal Bites Books + Book Bundle Giveaway

I received Animal Planet Polar Animals and Ocean Animals for review purposes. All opinions are 100% honest and my own.

You know you have a winner of a book when your kids who normally complain about reading come home from school and immediately curl up to read for the next 2 hours. What better way to celebrate Earth month than learning about the animals that live on it?

That’s exactly what happened with the new Animal Planet Books! Venice grabbed Animal Bites Ocean Animals, and Chloe hopped up next to her with Animal Bites Polar Animals. They sat like this for a good 30 minutes giggling and showing each other their favorite little bits of info.

Eventually, they moved to the floor so they could share the fun with Rosie and Lincoln who were begging to know what all the excitement was about.

Did you know that Powder Blue Surgeonfish lives in the Indian Ocean and can get up to 9inches long – the same size as a dinner plate? Neither did I, but I do now! We’re learning all kinds of fun little facts about animals, and you can too! Time Inc. created some fun activity sheets you can download.

My kids have really enjoyed putting posters up in their room these days too, so you can believe we’ll also be downloading Time Inc’s Animal Fact Posters as well.

Do you have an avid reader, or animal lover? One reader will win a book bundle of Animal Planet Ocean Animals and Polar Animals. Enter on the rafflecopter. Open to US 18+ ends 4/26/16

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April 19, 2016
Learn Baseball with Sports Illustrated for Kids + Book Bundle Giveaway

*I received these baseball books for review. All opinions are my own*

I LOVE baseball. Whenever the weather was nice enough, my family would head out to the local diamond to throw some pitches, and run the bases. With 6 kids, 2 parents, and an aunt, uncle and grandma all living under one roof, we had ample players for 2 teams. Or, at least, good enough to pitch, hit, catch, and tag.

I remember my first time going to a real ball game, sitting in the stands, trying to understand everything that was going, and figure out the scoreboard. There was way more to baseball than what we played on those perfect spring days. My parents were great, though, and always took the time to try and explain what everything meant when I’d ask questions. Questions like, “How are they going to get the ball from over the fence?” and “What is a foul ball?”

These questions and more are all answered in the My First Book of Baseball by Sports Illustrated for Kids.

I was so stoked to check out these two new books from Sports Illustrated for Kids. Baseball is my first love when it comes to sports, and will always hold a special place in my life. Whether it was playing with my family, going to a game, watching the Red Sox on TV, or playing softball that one year in elementary school.

My First Book of Baseball did not disappoint. With bright colors and witty commentary from the young kid guide, I felt truly immersed in the sport. Lincoln, who has a hard time sitting still for books, was completely into it as well. He especially liked the 7th inning stretch, placed in a timely spot for us to get up and stretch!

Baseball Then to WOW! is geared more towards kids who already have an interest in the sport. Perhaps they’re on a team, or just enjoying wathcing the game. There are more black-and-white photographs from the early days of baseball and a whole lot more reading to be done in this book.

That’s not to say I didn’t enjoy it, though. Because I did. Immensely. Many of the pictures reminded me of the cards I used to collect. I had a long white cardboard box, the perfect size for the cards. Allowance money always had a gum budget solely for the hope I’d get a rare player card and one I didn’t already own. Otherwise, it would mean an attempt at trading with my brothers who were just as possessive of their cards as myself.

Have a Baseball enthusiast in your life, and want to speak their language? Then enter the Giveaway! One will win both Sports Illustrated for Kids Baseball Books – My First Book of Baseball and Baseball Then to WOW! Open to US 18+ ends 4/11/16

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March 30, 2016