Category: Uncategorized

As a teacher, I am always being asked for the titles of books for the preschool/kindergarten set. My answer is a fairly static one, given how many books there are in the world. Here’s the thing–I took Children’s Lit in college, in 1993. That, my friend, was a long time ago. Many, many, many new and fabulous books have been published since then, and I have only seen so many of them.

Enter ReadKiddoRead.com a website brought to you by James Patterson. Yes, James Patterson the #1 best-selling author has created an incredibly comprehensive website for readers of all ages. You can search for books by age level, and then by genre with in each age group. There’s even a special section geared toward books that will appeal to boys of all ages.

ReadKiddoRead.com is a great resource for searching out good books when leisurely browsing the bookstore or local library isn’t really an option (toddlers in tow, anyone? anyone?). Each book listed contains all the information you will need to find it at the local library, or just click on one of the many booksellers listed to the right of each book listing.

Check out ReadKiddoRead and expand a child’s book collection today!
This post is part of a blog tour brought to you by Mother-Talk.

Earlier this year, I was lucky enough to start participating in blog tours with Mom Central. If there is a new product or service moms need to know about, Mom Central gets the word out. This year, just in time for the holidays, they have out done themselves.

Mom Central has put together a Gift Guide that will help you shop for everyone on your list. I even used it to make my own Christmas list, and found some great goodies that Santa will hopefully leave for me.

In addition to the Gift Guide, they are also doing a giveaways all month long–there is a new giveaway to enter every.single.day. Seriously, every day there is a new giveaway! To be eligible, all you have to do is register with the Mom Central Testing Panel. By registering, you have the opportunity to register for surveys and samples (who doesn’t love samples?) and if you have a blog, you can indicate your interest in blog tours. Once you are registered, all you need to do is click on the day’s giveaway and leave a comment. There are some great prizes for all ages and interests. Go check it out already!

It is hard to believe that Junior is almost six months old. He is getting more and more responsive, and the belly-laughs are music to my ears. MAM is starting to really enjoy her little brother, and likes to get down on the floor and perform for him. She is also enjoying pulling out some of her favorite toys, and offering them to him.

She was about this age when I first started showing her Baby Monet, the one Baby Einstein DVD we owned at the time. I remember the day clearly–she was tired and cranky, teething and not easily amused. I popped in Baby Monet for change in scenery and she quieted enough to hear the music. Then she started to watch, and eventually giggle. Since that day, we’ve had many a fond moment with assorted Baby Einstein DVDs, to this day she likes to cuddle up and watch Baby MacDonald, Baby Santa, and Baby Wordsworth. I’m excited to start sharing them with Junior.

MAM also enjoyed other “Baby E” products–the CDs, the board books, and a magnetic caterpillar for the bath tub. I don’t know what it is about what they make–is it the colors? the materials? a magic potion? –but she was mesmerized and entertained anything made by Baby Einstein.

Now that I’m back to work, I don’t have as much “alone” time with Junior as I’d like. But there are those quiet moments in the morning before big sis wakes up, and there are times when he’s awake and she’s busy doing her own thing. Those are times I try to take a toy or a book, and catch his attention. The Baby Einstein products are great for these moments–they are truely appealing to the youngest of children, and engage them in ways other toys don’t.

In honor of Baby Einstein’s 10th Anniversary, they have released a 10th Anniversary Edition of Baby Mozart and Baby Beethoven. I’m excited that this edition of Baby Mozart has puppet shows like the newer titles have–MAM loves the puppet shows, and still watches them when the main show is over. I know Junior will love them too!

Is your family a fan of Baby Einstein? What are your favorite picks? Are there any “must have” “Baby E” toys I should add to Junior’s Christmas list???

This post is part of a blog tour sponsored by Mom Central.