Beauty and the Beast for young and old from Silver Dolphin Books #review

The First Stories series (Beauty and the Beast, Cinderella, and Rapunzel) is a perfect interactive introduction to classic fairy tales. Push, pull, and turn mechanisms bring the stories to life and introduce all the beloved characters with simple rhyming text and adorable illustrations. Pull the tab to turn the Beast into a prince, push the tab to fit the glass slipper on Cinderella’s foot, and pull the tab to let

down Rapunzel’s hair. Toddlers and readers of all ages are sure to enjoy these well-loved fairy tales once again with these beautifully imagined titles.



First Stories: Beauty and the Beast

“Do you love me, Beauty? Will you marry me?” First Stories: Beauty and the Beast is a perfect introduction to this classic fairy tale. Push, pull, and turn mechanisms bring the story to life and introduce all the main characters: Beauty, her father, and of course the Beast! This well-loved fairy tale is beautifully imagined for a new generation by children’s illustrator Dan Taylor.





First Stories: Rapunzel

"Rapunzel, Rapunzel, let down your golden hair!" First Stories: Rapunzel is the perfect introduction for young children to this classic fairytale. Push, pull, and turn mechanisms bring the story to life and introduce all the main characters: Rapunzel, the handsome prince, and of course the wicked witch! This well-loved fairytale is beautifully imagined for a new generation by children's illustrator Dan Taylor.

First Stories: Cinderella

"Cinderella, you shall go to the ball!" First Stories: Cinderella is a perfect introduction to this classic fairytale. Push, pull, and turn mechanisms bring the story to life and introduce all the main characters: Cinderella, her stepsisters, the handsome prince, and of course the fairy godmother. This well-loved fairytale is beautifully imagined for a new generation by children's illustrator Dan Taylor.

Review:

My nieces will be so surprised when they receive these adorable board books for their upcoming birthdays.  Based on the classic fairy tales we all have grown to know and many of us love, these adorable books have a slide or flip on each page that adds wonder to the story being read.  Great for ages 1 and up, these adorable books are sturdy and will last through many hours of enjoyment.  Highly recommended by this Mommy Blogger (and Aunty blogger).





Beauty and the Beast: A Coloring Book

Bring the classics to life with a coloring adventure for all ages! With gorgeous line illustrations combined with quotes from the original text, this series offers a unique way to interact with beloved stories and add creativity and color to richly illustrated scenes. The enchanting Beauty and the Beast coloring book is full of wonderful pictures, patterns, and borders to be colored in, as budding artists immerse themselves in the story of Beauty, who goes to live with the terrifying Beast in order to save her father and then gradually learns to love him.

This enchanting coloring book is full of wonderful pictures, patterns, and borders to be colored in, as budding artists immerse themselves in the story of Beauty, who goes to live with the terrifying Beast in order to save her father…and then gradually learns to love him. All the key scenes and characters are here to color in as you relive this most romantic of fairy tales.

Review:

I would not recommend this adorable coloring book for that 1 year and up range, as I do the First Stories collection.  This is more for the kindergarten and up age range.  A fun way to explore the story of Beauty and the Beast (and many others found on the website) with bits and pieces of the classic story woven into wonderfully drawn pictures just waiting for those budding artists to color and design.   I love the idea behind this coloring book and although the pictures seem detailed enough for adults to color, it is intended for children to enjoy.  This is not the coloring book that I grew up with, nor what I sat coloring along with my children when they were young.  I can see many parents, grandparents, and babysitters loving this new fun way to color along with the kiddos!

For even more amazing coloring and activity based books, check out the Silver Dolphin website!





About Silver Dolphin Books

For over 17 years, Silver Dolphin Books has published award-winning activity, novelty, and educational nonfiction books for preschoolers to 12-year-olds. Our focus is to create books that engage and inspire children to learn more about the world around them while fostering a love of reading, exploration, and creative expression. From adorably-illustrated board books for toddlers to interactive play and building sets, to sound books made for story time, we develop innovative books that both enlighten and entertain.



Find out more about Silver Dolphin Books on Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, Instagram and more!

Disclosure: I received free the item(s) mentioned in this post in exchange for my honest review through Media Masters Publicity. Regardless ~ All my reviews are my honest and personal opinion. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”.

Wisconsin Dells Adventures, More than Water Parks! #wizard_quest #wisdells

Have you ever wanted to do something a little different as your kiddos are getting older?  Love the water park attractions but maybe just a little side adventure might be what you are looking for?  Have anyone in the family that prefers something other than "water, water, everywhere?"  I have just the experience for you!



My family and I love going to Wisconsin Dells to spend days playing in the water parks and enjoying time together (actually more time apart now that the kids all go in different directions once we find our spot at the water park.)  The thrill of the waterslides, the laziness of the lazy river, the fun of the bucket dump. . . but what about those like myself that enjoy a little water but prefer something less . . . well. . .wet?

 

My two older kiddos and I had an exciting time trying out a new adventure we had

not yet experienced.  We had not noticed that fun-looking building downtown that hid exciting adventure inside!



With free tickets waiting for us courtesy of US Family Guide Bloggers, we entered to find an amazing site!

It was like entering an indoor fantasy land, complete with Hedwig, lol.  Our friendly greeter explained how Wizard Quest works and how to use the provided kindle to proceed through a set course (from a variety of choices) to either "free a wizard" or "capture a wizard" depending on your mood (Good or Villan), or a Dragon Quest!  We chose one of the easier quests to free a wizard since it was our first time trying.

There are several quests at different difficulty levels to satisfy all types of experienced or not-so-experienced adventurers.  I highly recommend the easiest level for the first time, and make use of the "helpers" that are always present inside the course as they will give you "hints" to help you through difficult challenges or just plain "I can't figure this out" moments!

 

My son (age 15 at the time) and older daughter (age 12) both went with me while Dad and youngest (age 9) went back to the indoor water park.  The kids and I had a lot of fun together and separating to find clues to our next part of the adventure.

 There were quite a few times when we got stuck and needed that additional hint or outright help from the guides inside.  And let me tell you, there were a couple of times I just plain chickened out of following the kids through parts of the course.  Ball pits and I are not friends! (rofl)

Overall we enjoyed ourselves for over an hour and immediately wanted to do it again.  Unfortunately, we were short on time and still needed to visit the Ripley's Believe It or Not Museum next door!

Although we did have fun inside Ripley's and it was interesting to find the "hidden passages" we honestly wanted to return to Wizard Quest.  Ripley's is fun for a short time, but not for younger kiddos as there are some scary portions that could frighten younger children.



Overall we had an amazing time and really can't wait to go back next summer.  The cost of admission was only $14.99 for adults and $9.99 for ages 5-11.  Working in teams is great but I wouldn't recommend more than 4-5 people max for a single team.  Younger kiddos might not have as much fun since it is interactive but sort of dark, a maze, and not really for infants or preschoolers as the time allotment is usually over an hour.  There are slides, climbing, bridges, tunnels, ball pit and other obstacles throughout the course.  My family gives this experience 5 stars and A+++ from all three of us adventurers!

My youngest heard us talking and sharing about our adventure when we returned and was sad that she chose not to go, so she also will be joining us next summer at Wizard Quest!



For more information or to check out other people's reviews, experiences and photos check Wizard Quest Wisconsin Dells out on:


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Disclosure: I received free the item(s) mentioned in this post in exchange for my honest review. Regardless ~ All my reviews are my honest and personal opinion. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”.

How Cool Is that! My Kids Shine when riding their bikes with Super Bright Rim Lights #bikelights

What do your kids do when it is too dark to ride their bikes in the evening?  Do they whine? fuss? throw a fit?  I know I do (LOL)  Now they can ride a LITTLE longer with Longer Lasting Rim Lights - plus they just look so darn cool!

• Light up your bike at night with the Speed Racer rim lights - Choose from three different styles


• Motion sensor LED technology ensures durability along with 50,000 hours of lifetime


• Easy to install - simple attach LED wheel flash light to valve stem on bike. Fits almost all bikes.


• Package includes A 3 pack of 2 x green 2 x blue 2 x colorful LED Valve Bike Lights


• Speed Racer is rust resistant, 1100% waterproof and usable through any terrain.

Review:

I would definitely NOT use these as Safety Lights but as an added fun feature on a child (or adult) bike.  And yes, they CAN even be used on cars and trucks for all you Big Kids!



These "Longest Lasting Super Bright Rim Lights" as the description states, arrived in a package of 6.  2 of each color ~ 2 flashing different colors, 2 blue and 2 green.  I was planning to put them on my bike and ride it fast to see if it would look anything like the photo above that is with the product information but my girls vetoed that idea right away.  They both wanted to be the ones to try out these cool new lights, so of course being the Perfect SuperMom that I am (NOT!) I told them that the could (basically I didn't have anyone to work the camera if I rode - LOL)

Unfortunately that was around 5pm and not nearly dark enough that the lights could be seen so we had to wait for . . . ev. . . .er for it to be somewhat dark enough for the video.  Let me know what you think  -



Video after being put on the tire - doesn't take much movement for them to start working:

10 yr old sister's video:

Now, they were easy to put on, and easy to get off - though I recommend some caution as the parts are mostly plastic.  Don't turn to forcefully they could break - just a warning, it did not happen with us.

The one thing I don't like is the type of batteries.  Yes, I know - what else would fit that small of a space but button cell batteries - but they are expensive to replace! I would say for $13.95 on Amazon, when the batteries do die, it would be cheaper less expensive to replace the lights than to purchase new batteries - each light takes 3 button cells.  BUT, the description says they should last 50,000 hours so that means I should basically NEVER have to replace them . . . .in theory.



Overall they are cute and fun to use, but unless you are a speed demon, they won't look like the picture of the whole inner tire turning colors - but they will look cool and get you noticed!

Disclosure: I received free the item(s) mentioned in this post in exchange for my honest review. Regardless ~ All my reviews are my honest and personal opinion. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”.

School teacher gets creative with lesson challenging students in a very fun way!

Sorry I've been MIA for so long from my blogging but life and growing children are taking up much more of my "free" time than ever before!  I will keep posting from time to time with new and fun books and authors that I have found to share with  you and occasional random posts just for kicks!



For today I have a very special website to share with all of my faithful readers and friends . . . Backpack-Hiking.weebly.com

My son Josh, who will be 14 this summer, is currently in the 7th grade at our local Jr High School.  His Language Arts teacher assigned his class a 3-part project and he has asked me to share his with you so he can get more views for his website portion as part of his grade (so please take a moment after reading this to stop by and let him know I sent you!)



Part 1 of his project was to come up with a personal challenge of some sort.  Some examples that his classmates chose are: service hours in their  neighborhood, building legos, or personal sports challenges (like improving their score), Josh chose to do Hiking. . . he along with friends and family will walk/hike as many miles as they can each week of the assignment.



Part 2 of his project is to start, work on and update a Weebly website that pertains to the challenge chosen.  His website - http://backpack-hiking.weebly.com/   has information about this assignment, about hiking safety and an ongoing blog updates of the miles that he and friends/family have walked/hiked along with fun facts about different places he is hiking.



Part 3 of his projects consists of doing a fundraising event.  Josh has wisely chosen to combine all three aspects of this assignment into one larger project.  He is raising money by asking friends, family and acquaintances to sponsor his hiking by giving either a donation per mile or a set amount.  ALL money's collected will be used to purchase needed foods for our local food bank . . . **Midwest Food Bank.   Through Midwest Food Bank many local food pantries are stocked that help aid thousands of local families during their time of need.

Now, you might be asking yourself . . . Why is she sharing all this?  What is the purpose?  Is she asking me for money?



The answer is simply this.  As part of this assignment, Josh NEEDS as many people as possible and willing to stop by his website and look around a bit and possibly leave a comment for him.  I'm asking that you, my friends and readers would do this for him.



Am I asking for money?  No, if you want to donate simply email me or him and let us know -  donations are welcome but NOT the purpose of this post . . . as I stated, website visits are highly encouraged and greatly welcome!








**Midwest Food Bank (MFB) - Morton Division is not a direct food pantry that serves individuals. Instead, MFB is a food bank, serving as a distribution center to smaller food banks and food pantries. MFB Morton provides food & disaster relief supplies regionally, nationally, and internationally. In this way, we aim to positively impact as many families as possible.

Upgrading Your Playroom In Style #craft #diy

If I say to you 'the kids playroom', what do you see? 

A cave of abandoned sippy cups, finger painting gone wrong, discarded toys and scribbles on the wall? Wrong. The kids' playroom doesn't need to mean mayhem. With a little creativity and care you can turn this environment from chaotic, into an area where your kids can roam free and express themselves, without taking it out on the wallpaper. While you're at it, you can even help them learn as

they play. Here's a few fun ideas to spruce up the kids' playroom.



Get Creative!



If you're keen for your kids to develop their creative side but minimize the mess then there's a few options to keep both camps happy. Setting up a drawing board and easel encourages budding artists, lets them look and feel the part. So they can get in the zone but keep the painting in one area. Alternatively if you'd like to encourage your kids to personalize their playroom then go all out with drawing-friendly wallpaper. This comes in a variety of styles including those printed with borders and picture frames in a range of sizes. This helps them draw between the lines and create their own 'photos' of friends, family and pets. So they can start their own DIY at an early age!



If that's one step too far then incorporating blackboards and slates into the playroom allows your kids to add their own touch without any permanent damage. This kind of material can be kept to the wall or even a section of flooring so the kids can draw on their own snakes and ladders or hopscotch games with chalk. Adding this material on to storage can also encourage the kids to clean up. For example, chalking labels on to drawers for different items i.e. dolls, crayons and books can help them to learn how to organize their toys and keep the playroom tidy. Alternatively, you could even create a blackboard wall for the kids, meaning endless fun without the worry!

Another option where you can both get involved is sewing. This can turn out to be a lot more fun than it first seems. You can handle the sewing while your kids pitch in with design ideas and pick their favorite colors. You could also choose to invest in a child-friendly sewing machine too so your children can join in entirely and learn a new skill. You can create everything from pillowcases to patchwork style quilts and curtains; with a sewing machine no idea is too big or small.  My girls and I are learning to sew together.  We have a wonderful teacher in their grandmother who sews 18" doll clothes for their American Girl Dolls and other 18" dolls.  She is a great artistic inspiration for our sewing projects.



Another fun way to get creative and crafty is by repurposing items and making them into new and functional things.  My girls and I too this old TV cabinet and turned it into a fun and funky doll clothes wardrobe:

 

Our latest crafty creations use cardboard boxes and empty cereal boxes to create furniture and accessories for the girls doll collection - they have a lot of fun coming up with new and exciting ways to use what normally would be trash to create fun new treasures!



From designing your own interiors to sketching games and pictures, these are just a few ideas to get you inspired to spruce up your kids' playroom. Adding a personal touch whether it's through sewing your own curtains, or customizing storage, will turn the playroom into a place you'll both love.

Image by hownowdesign used under the Creative Commons license.

Disclosure:n Information and links in this post provided in collaboration with travel, tech and fashion representatives. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”.

Are you ready for ADVENTURE and FAMILY FUN? Read this #review . . . #RinglingInsider

Ringling Bros. and Barnum and Bailey presents Super Circus Heroes

REVIEWED by Susan and Family!

 

October 17-19, 2014

PEORIA CIVIC CENTER

Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey® Presents Super Circus HeroesSM, showcasing wonders from the marvelous to the magnificent, every day is extraordinary in this action-packed super circus, filled with superhuman athleticism, power and pageantry that will have Children Of All Ages discovering their own

superhuman strength. Amazing elephants, horses, camels and more alongside astonishing acrobats, awe-inspiring aerialists and some over-the-top clowns that will have audiences in stitches… of laughter of course! Come join us in celebrating the bravery, courage and honor that lives inside all of us at Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Presents Super Circus Heroes: far from ordinary, beyond extraordinary!

Click here to purchase tickets for a Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey performance in your area!

Our Review:

What an amazing show!  This was most definitely one of my family's favorite events to date.  My children had never been to a live Circus and were all quite excited to get to go - yes, even my reserved 13 yr old showed some interest in attending!



The first excitement when we arrived was the All Access Pre-Show event - for an entire HOUR before the Circus was to begin - our family could go down on the main floor, visit some of the Circus animals, see and even be a part of different fun Circus events and meet some of the Stars of the Super Circus Heroes performance!

 

It was spectacular and so much fun.  The clowns were it top form, some of the performers gave small shows and even had children from the audience participate in most of the acts!  The animals were so adorable and fun to watch - one of the camels was trying to untie his fellow pony - my girls giggled so hard at the cute camel's antics!



About the All Access Party:

To truly become Super Circus Heroes, families are welcome to come to the arena floor an hour before show time to participate in the interactive super hero training camp at the All Access Pre-show Super Hero Party.



During this special event, the League of Super Circus Heroes will teach participants some of their super human skills such as juggling, wire walking and dance routines. 



Participants will also have an opportunity to meet the performers, take pictures and get autographs. Super heroes in training can try on capes and other spectacular costumes and also get an up-close look at a menagerie of exotic animals including camels and elephants.

It was so much fun!  The kids could hardly take their eyes off the Pre show long enough to actually find our seats!  Not only did we get our 2 hours of Circus Fun, but another entire hour of pre-show amazement!



It is hard to choose just a few favorite moments to share for this review, and since I took over 300 photos!  Yes, and could have taken more if I weren't so caught up in some of the moments I forgot about my camera - I thought it would be best to just add a small slide show of a few of mine and my kiddos favorites of the night . . .

There were adorable little dogs riding on the back of ponies.  Ponies going under the legs of camels.  High flying circus acts, tight rope walkers, strong men, adorable elephants doing amazing feats, acrobatic limber women, humorous clowns, the cage of death with women standing in the middle of motorcycles and so much more.  And the whole night could not have been more perfect thanks to the amazing Ring Master and all the talented stars of the show.

Entertainment for the whole family - any age!

I have not been to a circus since I was about the age of my youngest child, and what I do remember was nothing compared to what we saw last night!  Ringling Bros is definitely "The GREATEST Show on Earth!"

See all my photos here:  MomBlogger's FELD Circus 2014 album on Photobucket

*Want to see it for yourself?  Great!  You can still purchase tickets for the Peoria Shows today - Saturday as well as tomorrow's show on Sunday, October 19th!

AND, check out the link for more show times and venues!



Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey

Click here to purchase tickets for a Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey performance in your area!

Disclosure:

I received something of value from Feld Entertainment as part of their Insider Program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own.  I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”.