orb :: set your music free!

Lately we've been having a few music dilemmas here at our house.  There were multiple issues, but basically I needed to find a way to play our digital music library back in my girls' toy room without investing a couple hundred dollars into equipment or having monthly subscription charges for a service. After some searching I found the solution and it's called the Orb Music Player! YAY!!!

The Orb Music Player is the niftiest little device ever!  You just set up the software with your computer and plug in the Orb to run music from your computer to your stereo speakers or radio via Wi-Fi.  I can now listen to all our digital music on iTunes as well as online radio stations, like Pandora (or Sirius Satellite Radio if we had it) right in our house and I don't have to be attached to my computer!

For our girls to listen in their play room I've set up the Orb remote on my computer desktop so I can control what they're listening to while I work.  The great thing about using the Orb Music Player to do this is that I can choose different music for myself to listen to at the same time on my computer without interfering!  You can also set up the Orb remote on your smartphone and control the music from there as well.

The Orb Music Player is about 3 inches in diameter and is very small and compact.  To use it you need to be able to plug it in for power and have a stereo or radio with audio cable hookups (red/white).  We have even used our Orb Music Player to play music on our TV for family dance parties in the living room.  If you want more details about how the Orb Music Player works exactly you can find them here, along with details on using multiple Orb Music adaptors in your home (BRILLIANT!!!).

Orb Music Player :: $79

*I was provided with the Orb Music Player shown above in order to conduct this review using personal experience.  The opinions provided are my own.*

nickelodeon :: team umizoomi 1-2-3 {giveaway}

1, 2, 3…Kids learn that math is everywhere in Nickelodeon's newest educational preschool hit!

One show that I enjoy watching with the girls is Team Umizoomi. I think it's cute and totally NOT annoying like so many of the others. I love ALL the math involved in each episode. From "PATTERN POWER!" to counting and everything else. Lately this has been my girls' DVD top choice!

Team Umizoomi from Nickelodeon has a new release coming out Tuesday, June 28th. Here is a little about it:

They’re mini, they’re mighty and they’re built for math! Nickelodeon is bringing its hit animated preschool series that encourages tots to become strong and mighty to DVD with the debut of Team Umizoomi...

The new DVD will take viewers on adventures to learn about numbers, patterns, and important early math concepts. The DVD contains four episodes, special features, a Math Mission card for on-the-go math problem solving and the guest voice of platinum-selling Jive recording artist Jordin Sparks.

In addition, the DVD includes a one-year free subscription to Parents Magazine. (And I believe it is in the first 50,000 copies sold.)

Team Umizoomi features a tiny team of superheroes, Milli, Geo and Bot, who use their mighty math powers to help little kids solve big problems. The series combines action-adventure missions with an interactive math curriculum designed to help kids develop self-confidence in their math abilities and appreciate the many ways in which math shapes their world. The Umi Team is not complete without their Umi Friends (home viewers), who help the team along the way while practicing various math skills. Set to a soundtrack of preschool-friendly pop songs, the series is designed to build upon preschoolers’ conceptual understanding of math as they are exposed to core mathematical concepts like numbers, counting, computations, measurement, patterns and shapes.

There are four episodes included on this DVD. They are:

The Rolling Toy Parade
The Legend of the Blue Mermaid
Kite Festival
Wild West Toy Train Show

Team Umizoomi 1-2-3 DVD :: $16.99

A SIMPLE GIVEAWAY!

TWO SIMPLE readers will win a copy of Team Umizoomi 1-2-3! Here is how to enter:

• Tell us one product (or more) you would love to see reviewed on SIMPLE! (Required)
• Twitter :: Daily - Leave a link :: #Win your very own Team Umizoomi #DVD from @simplereviews! We are giving 2 copies away!! http://bit.ly/jkVX9W #contest #giveaway RT!
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Winner will be randomly chosen on July 17, 2011. Please reference Giveaway Rules at the top of the page before entering. Good luck!

*I received product to facilitate this review and promotion. The opinions expressed are my own.*

knuffle bunny :: a cautionary tale

I was a huge bookworm as a child, and still love to cozy up with a great story. I knew before I even had kids that I wanted to someday pass along my lifelong love of reading. At one of my baby showers, the guests were asked to bring a book along to help build my girls' library. Knuffle Bunny was one of those books, and I adore it!

Knuffle Bunny is written by Mo Willems. and although my girls are still to small to actually read the words, the pictures are enough to capture their attention. Set on black and white photographic images, the characters stand out in brilliant color. The tale starts with a trip for Trixie and her dad as they head to the laundromat. Little Trixie doesn't quite yet speak, although you can certainly count baby babble as a language! Trixie brings her beloved Knuffle Bunny with her to the laundromat, where she inevitably leaves it behind. (As a parent, I know all too well what happens when a "lovey" is left somewhere. Yikes!). She tries and tries to communicate with her dad after leaving the laundromat, but he doesn't get why she is upset. Needless to say, tears ensue and after arriving at home, they discover that poor Knuffle Bunny is nowhere to be found, and Trixie's first words stand out in bold as she cries, "Knuffle Bunny!".

Such a cute story, and I love reading it to my girls. Maybe it's the uncanny resemblance between Trixie and my daughter Morgan, I don't know. But I love seeing the characters pop off the page! This is a wonderful book to add to your own library, and if you have ever lost a "lovey" in your house, you will certainly relate! Oh, and did I mention it's a Caldecott Honor Book? Not too bad for this sweet tale!

Knuffle Bunny :: $15.99

*I received this book as a gift. The opinions expressed are my own.*

nickelodeon favorites :: big box of play dates, vol. 2 {giveaway}

Nickelodeon TV is a favorite around here. At least the shows that are featured in this review are! I'm still not ready for the "big kid" shows. I like these however.

Nickelodeon's newest release, Big Box of Play Dates Vol. 2, has a huge array of choices!

Have fun with Dora the Explorer; Go, Diego, Go!; The Wonder Pets!; Blue’s Clues; Yo Gabba Gabba! and Ni Hao, Kai-lan with the new DVD collection, Nickelodeon Favorites: Big Box of Play Dates, Vol. 2. This special box set includes the DVDs We Love Our Friends, Sisters and Brothers and Summer Vacation. Kids will enjoy over seven hours of entertainment with Nickelodeon Favorites: Big Box of Play Dates, Vol. 2.

Here is what is included:

Nickelodeon Favorites: We Love Our Friends

• Dora the Explorer - Best Friends
• Go, Diego, Go! - Sammy’s Valentine
• The Wonder Pets! - Save the Lovebugs! / Save the Skunk Rocker
• Yo Gabba Gabba - Love
• Blue's Clues - Love Day
• Ni Hao, Kai-lan - Playtime at Tolee’s

Nickelodeon Favorites: Sisters and Brothers

• Dora the Explorer – Big Sister Dora
• Go, Diego, Go! – To Babysit a Bobo
• Blue's Clues – The Baby’s Here
• The Wonder Pets! –KalamaZoo! / Back to KalamaZoo!
• Ni Hao, Kai-lan – Hoho’s Big Flight

Nickelodeon Favorites: Summer Vacation

• Dora the Explorer – Baby Crab
• Go, Diego, Go! – Panchita the Prairie Dog
• The Wonder Pets! – Save the Hermit Crab / Save the Dolphin
• Blue's Clues – Blue’s Big Car Trip
• Yo Gabba Gabba! – Summer
• Ni Hao, Kai-lan – The Hula Duck Dance Party

Also included on this DVD are Team Umizoomi Music Videos - 4 in fact!! :)

Nickelodeon Favorites: Big Box of Play Dates 2 :: $35.99 - Available for purchase on June 21, 2011 or pre-order now on Amazon!

{ * GIVEAWAY NOW CLOSED - BE SURE TO CHECK THE SIMPLE WINNERS TAB ABOVE TO SEE WHO IT WAS! * }

A SIMPLE GIVEAWAY!

TWO SIMPLE readers will each win ONE of the DVD's in this set. Here is how to enter:

• Tell me which DVD you would want if you are a winner! (Required)
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Winners will be randomly chosen on July 3, 2011. Please reference Giveaway Rules at the top of the page before entering. Good luck!

*I received product to facilitate this review and promotion. The opinions expressed are my own.*

The Adventures of Bella & Harry :: Let's Visit Paris!

The Adventures of Bella & Harry: Let’s Visit Paris! is the first book in a series about jet-setting sibling Chihuahuas who travel the world and (covertly!) educate their readers along the way. In their Parisian adventure, the wide-eyed, long-eared duo hit popular landmarks such as the Eiffel Tower, Louvre, and Arc de Triomphe breaking from their packed schedule only to sample French cuisine.

Written at an early elementary reading level, the story is engaging and easy to follow. Brief yet detailed descriptions of French foods, artists and popular tourist destinations offer children a glimpse into a culture different from their own. Kids will need help with the French names, of course, but I love that the author, Lisa Manzione, doesn’t talk down to her readers. She understands that kids like to learn new things and that they like a challenge – they also like knowing things other people don’t know, such as how to say, “Je ne parle pas Francais” (I do not speak French)! Kristine Lucco's illustrations are bright and colorful but not too cartoonish, keeping the story rooted in just enough reality that the educational elements are cleverly disguised amid the fun.

If your children are curious (or if you want them to be!) about what lies across the Atlantic, I highly recommend the Bella & Harry series. The second and third books find our canine travelers in Venice and London, and I, for one, can’t wait to read them! If your family is planning a visit to any of these locations, then these books are a MUST for prepping your children for the trip!

Lisa Manzione is a financial professional, children’s book author, geographic literacy advocate and mother of two children, ages 21 and 23.

The Adventures of Bella & Harry: Let’s Visit Paris! :: $16.95

I received a copy of this book for review purposes.

recess monkey :: flying! {giveaway}

I’m not sure how many times my mother took her costumed children (most often a Ninja Turtle and Kitty Ballerina) to the grocery store, bank, or doctor’s office - I only know that, somewhere, there are pictures to prove it. To say we had vivid imaginations would be an understatement, so I was pretty excited when offered the chance to preview Recess Monkey’s latest studio album, Flying!, which releases this Tuesday, June 21st.

Flying! is an homage to the power of make-believe. Without patronizing, the band (three school teachers from Seattle) creates music to which children are easily able to relate. The toe-tapping title track, “Flying”, perfectly captures the mindset of a pint-sized super hero, able to soar above the trees and save the day thanks to the magical transformation provided by a cape. “Toolbox” brilliantly describes a child’s fascination with moving parts and and desire to “fix” things just like Dad. My personal favorite “Invisible Friend” is a sweet conversation between a little boy and his invisible friend, who is no less real just because others can’t see her.

Elements in each track reminded me of my 4-year-old nephew - everything from his child-size table and chairs at “Grandmom’s House” to his pet fish and eager anticipation of “Flapjacks” for breakfast. The adorable 50s doo-wop styled “Bunk Beds” could have been written by a 6-year-old version of myself - proudly sleeping on the top bunk with my younger brother below.

Flying! adeptly mixes slower songs with more uptempo numbers, and, unlike many children’s recordings, the musical styles of the songs are quite diverse. These guys aren’t just making goofy kids’ music - they’re genuine musicians! I was able to listen while driving without reaching for the “off” knob, which, in my opinion, is really important. It takes talent to create an album of children’s music that both adults and kids can identify with, and I believe Recess Monkey’s latest collection of “kindie rock” has done just that!

Follow Recess Monkey on Facebook for the latest news and tour information!



Recess Monkey’s albums (including Flying!, to be released this Tuesday, June 21st) are available on Amazon.com, CDbaby.com, and iTunes.

Flying! by Recess Monkey :: $15.00

A SIMPLE GIVEAWAY!
One SIMPLE reader will win this CD to add to your collection (open to U.S. and Canada only). Here is how to enter - be sure to leave a comment for each entry separately:

• Tell me your favorite childhood costume OR the name of your imaginary friend (Required Entry)
• "Like" this post by clicking that little blue button at the bottom (be sure you're signed into Facebook!) SO EASY!
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Winner will be randomly chosen on July 2, 2011. Please reference Giveaway Rules at the top of the page before entering.

*I was provided the CD shown above to conduct this review using personal experience. The opinions expressed are my own.*

peanuts :: snoopy's adventures

Who doesn't like Snoopy? I mean, he is pretty funny. I remember watching him back in the day, and now my kids get to chuckle along as well!

Warner Home Video released on June 14, 2011 a new "themed" DVD collection - Happiness Is Peanuts: Snoopy's Adventures.

Here is information about this release:

This release kicks off a new DVD collection from WHV that features themed compilations of favorite Peanuts television programs. Happiness is…Peanuts™: Snoopy’s Adventures pairs TV special Snoopy’s Getting Married, Charlie Brown with an episode from The Charlie Brown and Snoopy Show on one disc.

Is Snoopy really planning on tying the knot? In the Emmy® Award nominated Snoopy’s Getting Married, Charlie Brown, everyone in the Peanuts gang pitches in, in an effort to make preparations for Snoopy’s big wedding day.

While acting as Peppermint Patty’s watchdog one night, Snoopy meets the girl of his dreams, Genevieve, a beautiful Poodle. Genevieve and Snoopy begin courting and soon after, he proposes. Snoopy asks his brother Spike to be his “best Beagle,” prompting Spike to embark on a long and arduous journey from Needles, California to participate in the event. Charlie Brown takes Snoopy to a tuxedo shop where he is fitted for proper wedding attire, which includes a cane and swanky top hat. The excitement builds as the big day draws near but Snoopy gets increasingly nervous about leaving his bachelorhood behind. Will wedding bells ring for Snoopy?

Happiness is…Peanuts™: Snoopy’s Adventures also includes an episode from The Charlie Brown and Snoopy Show, the Daytime Emmy® Award nominated program featuring animated skits based on Peanuts comic strips created by Charles M. Schulz.

A great compilation for all of you who love the Peanuts gang!

Happiness Is Peanuts: Snoopy's Adventures :: $14.99

*I received product to facilitate this review.*

VeggieTales live! sing yourself silly

We LOVE VeggieTales over here! And this DVD was NO exception. Matter of fact, the girls kinda like this one...well...a LOT! Maybe it's because they can sing and dance? Go figure that one, girls who like to sing and dance?

Bob, Larry & the whole crew are taking to the stage with the silliest Silly Song Countdown ever! This high energy song and dance spectacular takes silliness to a whole new level! But sometimes silliness just isn't enough! Archibald Asparagus prefers songs that have lessons, Mr. Lunt only wants to sing about food, and Jimmy and Jerry Gourd are stuck in the 80s! But there's only so much time..will the Veggies learn the importance of sharing so that the show can go on and everyone will be able to sing themselves silly??

This is awesome! There are 18 songs / live shows on this DVD. Plus lots of special features as well. Here is listing of the songs:

Includes these songs:

• VeggieTales Theme Song
• The Water Buffalo Song
• Big Things Too
• Gourds Just Wanna Have Fun
• Song of the Cebu
• Dance of the Cucumber
• God is Bigger
• His Cheeseburger
• Love My Lips
• The Pirates Who Don't Do Anything
• Do the Moo Shoo
• Rumor Weed
• Endangered Love (Barbara Manatee)
• Bellybutton
• Footloose
• The Hairbrush Song
• I Can Be Your Friend
• VeggieTales Theme Song (reprise)
  

Bonus Features:

• Larry's Backstage Pass - Behind the scenes of VeggieTales Live
• Pick-a-Song Singalongs
• Show Trivia Game
• Studio Store
• English Subtitles
• Widescreen version
• 10 Ways kids can share and help others - Discussion Guide

VeggieTales LIVE! Sing Yourself Silly :: $12.99
You can get your own copy now where you currently purchase DVD's or click the link above to order online! This brand new DVD was released on June 6th!

*I was provided with a DVD to conduct this review using personal experience. The opinions expressed are my own!*

ya gabba gabba :: circus {giveaway}

Yo Gabba Gabba has a brand new DVD for all those Yo Gabba Gabba fans out there! It's called Circus!

The circus is coming to town with the all-new DVD release, Yo Gabba Gabba: Circus. Muno, Foofa, Brobee, Toodee and Plex star in four awesome episodes including one never-before-seen. Don’t miss the chance to sing and dance under the big top, ride in a hot air balloon, search Gabbaland for treasure and more. Special guests featured in these episodes include Weird Al Yankovic, Sarah Silverman and Fred Armisen.

There are 4 episodes on this DVD...here is a short description of each:

Circus
Muno, Foofa, Brobee, Toodee and Plex help Al the Ringmaster (Weird Al Yankovic) make a circus in Gabba Land! Brobee learns to be a clown and everyone gets to perform. The episode also features Sarah Silverman.

Treasure Hunt
Two special guests (Fred Armisen and Charlyne Yi) travel to Gabbaland to search for hidden treasure. As everyone joins in the search, they all do a special dance in the secret ice cave.

Flying
Brobee and friends go on a hot air balloon ride and meet new friend Sparkles.

Fun
All the Gabba characters learn different ways to have fun, learn to eat healthy portions and how to use their bodies to dance and make music.

You Gabba Gabba! : Circus :: $ 12.99
Get yours on June 14th where you currently buy DVD's or click the link to order online!

{ * GIVEAWAY NOW CLOSED - BE SURE TO CHECK THE SIMPLE WINNERS TAB ABOVE TO SEE WHO IT WAS! * }

A SIMPLE GIVEAWAY!

One SIMPLE reader will win a copy of this DVD! Here is how to enter:

• What are some of your favorite shows for your kids to watch on Nickelodeon? (Required)
• "Like" Nickelodeon on Facebook
• Follow @NickelodeonTV on Twitter
• Twitter :: Daily - Leave a link :: #Win a copy of the brand new @NickelodeonTV Yo Gabba Gabba DVD. Enter the #giveaway at @simplereviews!! http://tiny.cc/5a5lb #contest RT!
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Winner will be randomly chosen on July 3, 2011. Please reference Giveaway Rules at the top of the page before entering. Good luck!

*I was provided the DVD shown above to conduct this review using personal experience. The opinions expressed are my own.*

clarity :: amplify your life

I don't know about you, but my grandparents have struggled for the past few years with being able to hear what we are saying. They get frustrated because their ears aren't what they used to be. Then I feel bad they are frustrated!

When I was first contacted about the Clarity products, I really didn't know what to think. But after researching their products and having the opportunity to use them first hand, I am a believer. Great gift idea for aging Dads!

“Every Father’s Day, we celebrate with quintessentially paternal gifts – fishing equipment, books, ties and so on,” said Carsten Trads, president of Clarity. “For dads in their 70s and 80s, these types of gifts are not as helpful as they once were. Seniors are looking for security, independence and peace of mind, which is exactly what the P400 and C410 phones provide.”

Here is a little about the phones being featured in this review:
"Such features include the phones’ amplification technology for those with hearing loss; and large, simple buttons that make dialing painless on arthritic fingers and easy to see for those with reduced vision. The P400 even features PicturePerfect Dialing, which allows dad to dial more easily by having photo memory dial buttons pre-programmed to the phone."

Clarity is the leading manufacturer of amplified telephones and specializes in technology geared for seniors with helpful features and functionality for age-related disabilities.

You can read more about Clarity HERE and when it was established and what all they offer!

Clarity P400 and C410 :: $49.99

A SIMPLE DEAL:
Clarity is offering two of their phones - the P400 and C410 (both pictured above) – for only $49.99 for a limited time to honor dads. From June 10 to June 23rd, these two phones will be the special price of $49.99. They can be purchased at Radio Shacks across the US or online.

*I was provided with a model D613 phone to conduct this review using personal experience. The opinions expressed are my own!*

first time books :: personalized children's book

Last month my son, Eli, turned one and we're beginning to explore new territory around here. After months of zero interest, my husband and I are finally able to sit down and read to our son, which is great since reading is so important for a child's development. And not only is Eli enjoying books, but he's also beginning to associate himself with his name. He can easily understand the difference between "mama's nose" and "Eli's nose" and when looking at photographs, Eli is well aware that he's starring at himself. So, when I was given the opportunity to review a personalized children's book from First Time Books, I was really excited. This was the perfect chance to combine these two accomplishments.

First Time Books allows you to create a book specifically about your child. The process is really simple. Once directed to their website, I was able to enter personalized information such as my child's name, gender, ethnicity and hair color. Within seconds, the preview was right on my computer screen and showed exactly what my book and the cartoon version of my child would look like. I decided to go with the ABC book since I think this is excellent for Eli's age, but you can choose from other great stories such as a birthday book, christmas book and even a potty book! You also have the option of ordering hard cover, soft cover or even just a PDF if you're willing to print the pages yourself.

























The quality of these books is excellent. We received a hard cover version and I loved how big it was (each page is 8.5 x 11 inches) and how vibrant the colors were. Eli just loves this book too and I think he has taken such a liking to it since it's about himself. This adds such a fun dimension to any story and is a great way to keep your children interested!


Personalized Children's Book :: $5.00 - $40.00, depending on story and book cover

A Simple Deal:
First Time Books would like to offer our readers a free PDF of their ABC book. Just use promo code FREEPDF at checkout. Afterwards, you will receive a promo code for 50% off any First Time Book purchase if you like what you see!


*I was provided the personalized children's book shown above to conduct this review using personal experience. The opinions expressed are my own.*

mothers & daughters {a book review}

There is no doubt that the relationships between mothers and daughters are very complex and different depending on the family. I was blessed to have a very open and loving relationship with my mother... I'm sure there are things she has refrained from sharing with me, but I have always felt very comfortable being very vulnerable with her and knew that she has done the same with me.

I love reading about mothers and mothering, fiction set in a historical time period and about coming of age characters. Mothers & Daughters by Rae Meadows had it all!! One of the women starting a new life on the Orphan Train, one woman attempting to die of cancer in with dignity and one young mom trying figure out life as a mom . Each of the 3 women portrayed were very complex women attempting to balance motherhood, marriage and their own identities.

With my relationship with my mother as my only experience (thus far), I felt it was hard to connect with some of the mature maternal relationships described in Mothers & Daughters. Their relationships with one another seemed soo distant... daughters not knowing their mother's childhood stories and sometimes even a lack of emotion toward one another. The exception was Samantha; the modern day mother of an infant trying to get back into her life's work but not wanting to leave her baby daughter in the care of anyone else. It was very easy to relate to Samantha especially in the scene of picking up her baby from childcare after the first day... I have soo done that after leaving my kids in someone else's care:)

The book really challenged me to invest in my daughters' lives... not just to be a part of them and raise them well. Since Mothers & Daughters really brought to light how the mother/daughter relationship does affect ladies through their adulthood.

A summary and an excerpt from the book... HERE.
An interview with Rae and her mother... HERE.


Mothers & Daughters by Rae Meadows :: $25


*I was provided with the book to facilitate the review. The opinions are all my own.

**And just an FYI... this book does contain profanity, drug use, prostitution references, adultery, assisted suicide and possibly other things that could be offensive to some. None of these things were the main themes or explored in detail, just things that came up in these women's lives.

gelaskins :: portable art prints for your digital life {giveaway}

My Blackberry and I are attached at the hip. My husband rolls his eyes and wonders when I am going to put the darn phone down. So, needless to say, my phone gets its share of wear and tear. I haven't been one to put a cover on it, so it has little scratches and nicks from where I've dropped it, or my girls have put it in their mouth to use a teething ring.

Gelaskins have come to my poor Blackberry's rescue. Gelaskins are removable covers for your phones, laptops, Ipods, etc. Got a portable electronic device? Gelaskins has a cover for you! The covers are made with 3M adhesive that allows you to reposition the skin, which was helpful for me, since I messed up the first time I tried to put it on. These covers protect your device with an anti-scratch and anti- UV coating. All those little scratches I have on my phone? Completely covered!

Did I mention that the designs on the covers are very cool? Gelaskins has over 100 artists whose work you choose for your cover. You can also upload one of your personal pictures and they will make a cover for you. Awesome! Say goodbye to your boring phones and laptops! I have 2 covers for my phone, both by Cosmo Cricket (a paper arts and scrapbook brand). They really suit my girly personality.

Cherry Pie (Cosmo Cricket) Gelaskins :: $14.95
Seagarden (Cosmo Cricket) Gelaskins :: $14.95


A SIMPLE GIVEAWAY!
Two winner opportunities!! Two SIMPLE readers will win $15 gift codes to Gelaskins. Here is how to enter:

• Which Gelaskins cover is your favorite? (REQUIRED)
• "Like" Gelaskins on Facebook
• Facebook (Daily : Leave a link to your post in our comments) Post a status on your facebook hyper linking SIMPLE and Gelaskins and this giveaway.
• Tweet (Daily : Leave a link to your tweet in our comments) :: #Win a @Gelaskins cover at @simplereviews: http://tiny.cc/edwel #giveaway #contest Please RT!
• Enter your email address in the left sidebar on SIMPLE to sign up for daily emails
• Publicly follow SIMPLE via Google Friend Connect
  

Winner will be randomly chosen on June 13, 2011. Please reference Giveaway Rules at the top of the page before entering.


*I was provided the Gelaskins covers shown above to conduct this review using personal experience. The opinions expressed are my own.*

matilda & maxwell good night :: book {giveaway}

Does anyone have as much trouble as I do putting your toddler to bed?  I know it is a task sometimes. Well, The book Good Night, partnered with the children’s book Matilda & Maxwell Good Night was written to help parents and children deal with stresses and dramas that surround bedtime and to help parents find a technique and routine to help solve bedtime struggles.

They recommend using the children’s book Matilda & Maxwell Good Night to help reinforce the techniques and concepts that the parent’s have just learned. In this funny book, with great pictures which are illustrated by Lisa Petty, kids will read about two best friends, Matilda and Maxwell. Matilda tells Maxwell that she has a secret. Her secret is that she is scared to sleep in her own bed at night.

The writers use a concept called What’s the Rule?. They don’t promise that it will be easy. In fact they say the first 4 nights can be very rough but they do say it works.

Good Night Parent Guide book seems to have an answer for every situation that could arise at bedtime. I learned a lot of things in the book that made sense to me but I didn’t really think about until they were pointed out to me.

I also liked the question & answer chapter at the end of the book. It looked at special situations that parents are facing and how to deal with them and the night-time routine.

My son always asks questions or says he has to this or that before bed.  So when asked to review the books I was delighted to be able to use What's the Rule? with him!  It works so well.  I just have to say it once and he gets it.  So nice.

My son LOVES the children's book. We read it just about every night.  When we got it we read it very night for 2 weeks straight.  He giggles every time at Matilda stepping in poo.  He is so silly.  But I am glad he gets it and understands, makes it much easier for mama to put him to bed.

I really recommend these books if you have this same trouble.  I thought nothing in the world could help..I was wrong! And so happy that this is out there!

Good Night :: $16.95 :: Parents guide to helping children sleep in their own beds without a fuss!

Matilda & Maxwell Goodnight :: $6.99 :: A bedtime story to assist children to sleep in their own beds without a fuss!

A SIMPLE GIVEAWAY!

*I was provided with these 2 books to conduct this review. These opinions are my own*

you can count on monsters {giveaway}

Being a homeschool mom formerly a teacher of high school math, I know that numbers and math "stuff" gets confusing or boring. That some kids just don't "get it" and aren't motivated to try to "get" what they need.

I was very surprised and impressed with You Can Count on Monsters. It' s a math book like NO other:) Written by Richard Schwartz, a mathematician and professor at Brown University, You Can Count on Monsters is a fun way to learn, relearn or just practice the concepts of prime numbers and factoring from 1-100!

Each prime number is given it's own personality based on dots, like Monster #2 (his dots are his eyes). So when you work with composite numbers that can be factored, the new monster is the mixture of the prime numbers that it is made out of...

For example, 14!! Each number includes the factor tree and the monster that is created. So from the factor tree you see that 14 is the composite of 7 and 2. Do you see Monster #2 in Monster #14?? yes, in his MOUTH:)



My kids are still a little too young to totally understand the concepts, but my oldest is learning her multiplication facts and has enjoyed "testing herself". My son though.... he was immediately drawn to the monsters!! And both kids loved trying to figure out which prime number monsters made the mixture monsters.

It's a very colorful and fun way to learn and explore math:)

Learn more from a fun and informative feature of You Can Count on Monsters on NPR!!

you can count on monsters :: about $15

A SIMPLE GIVEAWAY!
Two SIMPLE readers will win a copy of You Can Count on Monsters. Here is how to enter:

• Tell me which monster you like the best from here (Required Entry)
• "Like" You Can Count on Monsters and SIMPLE on Facebook
• Post a status on your Facebook with this link:)
• Follow @simplereviews on Twitter and send some twitter love. You Can Tweet Daily:)
  
• Sign up for SIMPLE updates - enter your email address in the left sidebar on SIMPLE
• Publically follow SIMPLE via Google Friend Connect
  

Winner will be randomly chosen on June 11, 2011. Please reference Giveaway Rules at the top of the page before entering. Good luck!

**Look out for a special giveaway featuring this book on Facebook, too, this week;)



*My kids and I were provided the book shown above to conduct this review using personal experience. The opinions expressed are our own.*

dinosaur train :: dino-mighty music

I have been potty training for the last 3 days. So, we have watched a lot of "pre-recorded" television and played a lot of games and read a LOT of books. I was SO thrilled when the new Dinosaur Train DVD arrived in our mailbox today! We had variety once again!! This DVD is adorable. My girls just love it!

And oh my goodness. The laughs I got out of Adalynn put me into hysterics. She hadn't ever seen Dinosaur Train before. I thought it might scare her just because they are, well, dinosaurs. I couldn't have been more wrong!

I just love how they are sweet little dinosaurs always out to accomplish a mission and/or learn something new. Here is what the new Dinosaur Train : Dino-Mighty Music is all about:

Get on board the Dinosaur Train with Buddy, a Tyrannosaurus Rex, and his adoptive family of Pteranodons as they sing and dance through four great adventures in DINOSAUR TRAIN: DINO-MIGHTY MUSIC. Dinosaur Train embraces and celebrates the fascination that preschoolers have with both dinosaurs and trains while encouraging basic scientific thinking and skills as the audience learns about natural science, natural history and paleontology. From the world-renowned Jim Henson Company, PBS KIDS and Paramount Home Entertainment, the DINO-MIGHTY MUSIC DVD includes four exciting edu-tainment adventures that bring dinosaurs to life and makes science fun. The “Dinosaur Train” television series is a 2010 Parent’s Choice Award Winner and ranks among the top 5 children's programs among kids ages 2 to 5*."

Dinosaur Train: Dino-Mighty Music: $12.99 - You can pick it up now where you currently purchase your DVD's. If you want to get it online, Amazon is a great place to pick up what you need!

*I was sent Dinosaur Train: Dino-Mighty Music to conduct this review using personal experience. The opinions expressed are my own.*

mickey mouse clubhouse :: mickey's great outdoors

Fun is back with a special Mickey Mouse Clubhouse DVD set that promotes being outdoors this summer - camping, fishing and exploring nature! And this is another Mickey Mote set where your kids can be entertained interactively while learning about the outdoors - and then when they are done they can GO outdoors! :)

Just in time to kick off the summer, Mickey Mouse Clubhouse: Mickey’s Great Outdoors features four episodes from the “Mickey Mouse Clubhouse” TV show plus one all-new, never-before-seen “Mickey’s Fish Story” episode and comes packaged as a special DVD Play Set (DVD + Digital Copy + Mickey Mote)

"...Mickey Mouse and his famous pals (Minnie, Donald, Pluto, Goofy and Daisy) join efforts to inspire preschoolers around the country to enjoy the outdoors by camping, fishing and exploring nature in Walt Disney Studios Home Entertainment’s latest DVD release, Mickey Mouse Clubhouse: Mickey’s Great Outdoors.

"As a great value for parents and a fun, portable play set for kids, Disney has packaged Mickey Mouse Clubhouse: Mickey’s Great Outdoors to include a DVD, a Digital Copy and a Mickey Mote –making this the ultimate Play Set. The Mickey Mote (a child-friendly handheld remote control) provides hours of interactive fun that allows kids to engage with their favorite Mickey Mouse Clubhouse characters while watching Mickey’s Great Outdoors. And the Digital Copy allows parents to download all the episodes onto a secondary device for easy, portable on-the-go access."

Here is one clip for you to see from this DVD:

Mickey Mouse Clubhouse: Mickey's Great Outdoors: $29.99 Suggested Retail. Click the link to head on over to Amazon and get your copy pre-ordered (releases nationwide May 24, 2011) or ordered if it's after that date!

*I was provided the DVD shown above to conduct this review using personal experience. The opinions expressed are my own.*