Category Archives: Books

January 21, 2017 · 11:23 pm

Award-Winning Children’s Book, “The Gruffalo” re-released on DVD #Giveaway

I am excited to share an enchanting film based on the award-winning children’s picture book by Julia Donaldson. The Gruffalo has just been re-released on DVD and tells the story of a mouse who walks through the woods in search of a nut. Along his route he runs across several other creatures who think he looks like a tasty treat.

This tiny mouse shows that smart thinking can outwit a hungry fox, owl and snake. Mouse invents an imaginary monster with frightening features to scare them away.

He tells them all he is having lunch with this scary creature and that his favorite food is them which sends them running for cover. Mouse is feeling pretty smug thinking about how easy it was to trick them.

That smug mouse was very surprised to happen upon the very creature he made up, the frightening Gruffalo. The Gruffalo wanted to eat the mouse on a slice of bread but that mouse thought quickly and told the Gruffalo everyone in this forest is afraid of him.

The Gruffalo laughed and said he would walk behind the mouse to see just how frightened everyone was. It worked like a charm and sent the snake, owl and fox running. The mouse then told the Gruffalo that his favorite food was Gruffalo Crumble at which the Gruffalo turned and fled. The mouse found his nut and all was well!

This delightful story brought to life is narrated by Helena Bonham Carter shows that one does not have to be big to be mighty and is wonderful to share with your children. You can watch the trailer HERE!

Would you like a chance to win this tale on DVD. If so enter the giveaway below.

Giveaway:

The Gruffalo DVD Giveaway on Mommy Ramblings Rules:

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Filed under Books, Giveaway, Movies, Review

Tagged as Award-Winning Book, Children's Movie, DVD, Film, giveaway, The Gruffalo

January 19, 2017 · 9:09 pm

You Need To Read This When You’re Feeling Sick #Giveaway

Seems like everyone had been sick this winter, it is all I see when scrolling my Facebook feed. Given that, I think this blog tour for When You’re Feeling Sick by Coy Bowles could not have come at a better time!

They say laughter is the best medicine and this laugh-out-loud picture book by the guitarist for the Grammy Award-winning Zac Brown Band, will have sick little ones feeling better fast!

The book is full of encouraging, rhyming advice on how to get through sick days with courage and a positive attitude. It truly is, just what the doctor ordered! It comes with a sheet of stickers that will make sick little ones smile. There are even feel better songs to keep the germs away!

We have more happy news, you can enter to win a copy of this great book below in our giveaway!

Giveaway

Penguin Random House is sponsoring a giveaway on Mommy Ramblings! One lucky blog reader will win their own copy of When You’re Feeling Sick! Thank you to Penguin Random House for the review book and for sponsoring this fantastic giveaway on Mommy Ramblings!!! Open to US residents.

When You’re Feeling Sick Book Giveaway on Mommy Ramblings Rules:

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Tagged as Blog Tour, Book Tour, Books, giveaway, Penguin Random House, When You're Feeling Sick, Zack Brown Band

January 1, 2017 · 2:01 pm

The Beginner’s Bible is Redesigned and Ready To Inspire a New Generation of Children #TheBeginnersBible #FlyBy #Giveaway

As a parent, I know our kids have a lot of questions and interest about God and Jesus. The Bible is a great book but it can be hard for young children to understand and read. That is why the Beginner’s Bible has been a favorite for young children and their parents since it was first released and sold over 25 million copies in 1989.

Today, it is redesigned with fresh, new art and ready to inspire a new generation of children for years to come. This colorful, kid-sized Bible is easy for my kids to read and the colorful illustrations on every page make the stories and characters of the Bible come to life for them.

It is no wonder why this Beginner’s Bible was named the 2006 Retailers Choice Award winner in Children’s Nonfiction. You can learn more by watching this video trailer for the redesigned Beginners’s Bible HERE.

We have some great news, you can enter below for a chance to win a copy of this new Beginner’s Bible. Good Luck!!!

The Beginner’s Bible Giveaway on Mommy Ramblings Rules:

Only one entrant per mailing address, per giveaway. If you have won a prize from our sponsor Propeller / FlyBy Promotions in the last 30 days, you are not eligible to win. Or if you have won the same prize on another blog, you are not eligible to win it again. Winner is subject to eligibility verification.” Please enter the giveaway using the Rafflecopter widget below. Good Luck!!!

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Tagged as #FlyBy, #TheBeginnersBible, Bible, Children's Bible, giveaway, The Beginner's Bible

December 19, 2016 · 3:34 pm

When Jesus Was A Green-Eyed Brunette #JesusGreenEyedBrunette #Giveaway #FlyBy

I know, When Jesus Was A Green-Eyed Brunette may sound like a weird title for a book but what a book it is! Max Davis grew up with a church that turned him away from God. Everything was not allowed, no Christmas Trees, no music in church, no TV etc. It turned him off so much that when he met the woman who would later become his wife in high school, he told her flat-out he would never go to church with her. Ah but he did, what he found was something completely different, there were instruments, there was singing and it was about having a relationship with Jesus Christ. It changed his life.

Since that time he has come to understand that Jesus is very much alive today and still does incredible things, sometimes supernatural things, through us! This book is hard to put down. It is especially helpful for those who are hurting and weary from worn-out religion and aire longing for a fresh touch from the living Jesus. This book will make you laugh, cry and come face to face with Jesus through the heartwarming and miraculous stories of Jesus appearing in ordinary people. This reaffirms that Jesus is fully present in us and our everyday circumstances, especially in difficult times.

I have a lot on my plate right now as I am sure most of you do. Yet, when I received this book, I could hardly put it down and could not wait to pick it up again. The stories spoke to me, they even mirrored some things I was going through or struggling with. They also were a welcome reminder that Jesus is very much alive and the Holy Spirit lives in us from him. In a world that can be bitter and hard to swallow at times it is nice to know that at the most opportune time we can be touched by Jesus through anyone, even a stranger in the coffee aisle at the supermarket. It also reminds us of the way we are blessed with the presence of Jesus in us and what a gift that is!

Would you like a chance to win a copy of this inspirational and uplifting book? Just enter the giveaway below.

Giveaway:

When Jesus Was A Green-Eyed Brunette Book Giveaway on Mommy Ramblings Rules:

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More Gift Ideas For The PJ Masks Fans on Your Holiday Gift List!

I am pretty stressed lately, we are in the middle of several home renovations and one of them is our kitchen. During the holiday season, I love to bake. This year, our kitchen is in the process of being demoed so that is not possible. We are doing the best we can and plan to do a lot of baking once our new kitchen is complete.

Our kids are feeling it too, I try to do things to make it as normal as possible. As temps get colder, playing outside is not always something we can do. As a PJ Masks Official Blogger, I get a sneak peek at the newest products. I was thrilled recently to receive a box full of goodies and want to share them with you. If you are still doing your holiday shopping and have a PJ Masks fan on your list, you might see something they would like.

The PJ Masks Color & Activity Book from Crayola includes hours of creative fun featuring PJ Masks favorites Connor/Catboy, Amaya/Owlette & Greg/Gekko. The Activity book includes over 30 pages of coloring pages and activities. Great for coloring at home, or taking on-the-go. My kids love coloring these pictures and it gives them a great outlet for their creative energy. Available exclusively at Toys “R” Us.

If you are traveling this holiday season, the PJ Mask Lunch Box Tin with Handle Themed Jigsaw Puzzle is perfect for fun on-the-go. This tin has a convenient handle and I love that it stores the 24 piece puzzle. Once completed the puzzle forms an overall dimension of 15 inches x 12.5 inches. From Cardinal Games this set is available at Toys “R” Us.

Memory games are one of my favorite games to play with my kids. PJ Masks characters are the stars of this Wonder Forge PJ Masks Matching Game. This is the classic memory game where you compete with each other to match the most pairs. You can choose to use as many pairs as you want in order to customize the game to your children’s age. There are pictures of Catboy, Owlette, Gekko, Romeo, Luna Girl and more!

Race toward justice with this board book shaped like Catboy’s Cat-Car with wheels that really move! To The Cat-Car, everyone, it’s time for super cat speed! PJ Masks are on their way, into the night to save the day! Kids will love racing around with this interactive board book that includes moveable wheels to really make the Cat-Car go! This is a great book for your child to take wherever they go.

And in more SUPER news, I’m so excited to share that a brand-new PJ Masks app, Super City Run, was just launched on Thursday, December 8! With the new app, kids can run through the maze-style city as their favorite PJ Masks hero trying to catch the villains and collect the items they’ve been stealing – while keeping an eye out for any traps they might have set with their pesky sidekicks. The PJ Masks Super City Run app allows for new game play every time, so the fun is never-ending! Find it on iTunes and Google Play.

So did you see anything you like? Let me know in the comments.

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Filed under Books, Mommy Ramblings, PJ Masks, Review, Toys

Tagged as Apps, Books, Christmas, Crayola, Holliday, Memory Game, Official Blogger, PJ Masks, Simon Schulster, Travel Games, Wonder Forge

December 6, 2016 · 2:07 pm

New Twist on Classic Christmas Stories-#ISEEME #Giveaway

The Christmas season is upon us and it is speeding by. I feel like time is moving so fast! I look for any opportunity to slow it down for some quality moments with my family when I can get them. I like to incorporate fun family traditions that will help us all get in the holiday spirit even on our most hectic days.

We love the 12 Days of Christmas. We love singing it and we love reading it! When I saw that I See Me! had a version of it that could be personalized for our family, I had to have it!

It is such a beautiful book and has our names, friend’s and pet’s names throughout the book. My youngest kids love finding everyone’s name.

They have a huge selection of all kinds of Christmas Books that can be personalized as well as other books and gifts that are perfect for holiday gift giving. We have added, I See Me! to our 2016 Holiday Gift Guide at Mommy Ramblings.

Check out their website now, they have some great specials going on!

Would you like a chance to win a Personalized Book from I See Me! ? If so, enter the giveaway below.

Giveaway:

I See Me! is sponsoring a giveaway on Mommy Ramblings! One lucky blog reader will win a Personalized I See Me! Book of their choice (subject to availability)! Thank you to I See Me! for the review book and for sponsoring this fantastic giveaway on Mommy Ramblings!!! Open to US residents.

I See Me! Personalized Book Giveaway on Mommy Ramblings Rules:

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Filed under Books, Christmas, Family Fun, Gifts, Giveaway, kids

Tagged as Gifts for Kids, giveaway, Holiday Gift Guide, I See Me, mommyramblings, personalized books, personalized gifts

December 5, 2016 · 10:12 pm

It is the 50th Anniversary of “Charlie the Tramp” #Giveaway

Did you enjoy the Frances books by Russell Hoban that are illustrated by Lillian Hoban? I always did as a child and read them to my little ones. I had never heard of the book Charlie the Tramp written by the same author. I admit, I chuckled when I heard the title and read the excerpt below:

Tramps just tramp around and have a good time.

They carry sticks with little bundles tied to them.

They sleep in a field when the weather is nice, and when it rains they sleep in a barn.

I bet you are chuckling a bit now or at least smiling. It is funny to read that and think that this is a real children’s book that was originally published in 1966. The book is about Charlie, a young beaver. One day when his grandfather comes for a visit and asks Charlie what he wants to be when he grows up, Charlie tells his family that he wants to be a tramp.

The family asks him why he does not want to do the work of a beaver, cutting down trees, rolling trees in the water and building dams. Charlie tells them it is too much work and he would rather be a tramp. So his father lets him try it out. The first day Charlie acts like a tramp returning home to do some little jobs for a meal and sleeping in the field.

On he second night he hears the stream calling to him and before he knows it, he naturally did what beavers do and built a dam that turned that stream into a pond like his father and grandfather make. He worked so hard, he went to sleep and missed breakfast which worried his family. They went to look for him and saw the new pond. When they found out Charlie had built it, they were impressed and happy that Charlie was following in their footsteps.

Mother hurried home to get a big breakfast of flapjacks and maple syrup on the table before the men came home.

Although this 50-year-old story may make us giggle, the message is as true today as it was then. Don’t we know young people who lack the ambition and drive to do more than just the bare minimum needed to survive? I could go on for a long time about this but I will spare you. I think the message is important, take pride in doing things that you have a talent and ability for. Don’t take the easy road but strive to be the best you can be!

Plough editor Sam Hine says, “As a parent of young children I’ve rarely found new books of this quality. So, like many other parents, I find myself returning to the books of my own childhood. Among these Charlie the Tramp was a hands-down favorite. We’re thrilled to acquire the rights to this timeless classic and make it available to a third generation.” You can purchase this book on Amazon.

Giveaway:

If you would like a chance to win your own hardcover copy of this book, just enter the giveaway below. Good Luck!!!

Charlie the Tramp Book Giveaway on Mommy Ramblings Rules:

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Tagged as #FlyBy, Anniversary Edition, Books, Charlie the Tramp, giveaway, kids

November 24, 2016 · 4:20 pm

Read Christmas Love Letters From God with Your Children #Giveaway #FlyBy

Tis’ the season for books about the true meaning of the season. I have been sharing several books with you that do this and I have another I want to share today. Christmas Love Letters from God by Glenys Nellist combines both prose and poetry perfectly as it tells the story of Jesus’ birth. It is written for children ages 4-8 years old but I think children of any age will appreciate this book.

There is a pop up letter that goes along with each story. There is a space on the letter that you can write the name of a child on. The book has seven stories starting with Isaiah’s prophecy and ending with the visit of the wise men.

It is a lovely book that we like reading together in the weeks leading to Christmas. My kids like to unfold the letter from the page at the end of each story. This would make a nice gift to give to a special child or grandchild to remind them of the real reason for this splendid season.

The letters are written as if they were written by God especially for your child. God’s Perfect Promise Bible verse accompanies each story. This book will help children remember the love, promises and hope God offers to all of us. You can find this book on Amazon.

Enter our giveaway below for a chance to win your own hardcover copy of this special book!

Giveaway:

Christmas Love Letters From God Giveaway on Mommy Ramblings Rules:

Only one entrant per mailing address, per giveaway. If you have won a prize from our sponsor Propeller / FlyBy Promotions in the last 30 days, you are not eligible to win. If you have won the same prize on another blog, you are not eligible to win it again. Winner is subject to eligibility verification. Open to US residents.

Please enter the giveaway using the Rafflecopter widget below. Good Luck!!!

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Blessings of Unity For a Happier Marriage #Giveaway #AllForJesus #FlyBy

Did you know that 50-60% of all Christian marriages end in divorce? In his book, The Blessings of Unity, Richard Case who with his wife Linda has been doing marriage retreats for over 14 years, found only a few of those marriages that have not moved to divorce are truly reflecting the wonder and glory of God. The remainder are living in mediocrity, ongoing conflict and certainly not enjoying the beauty of marriage.

Richard says that while we may be initially attracted to our spouse because of how different their personality is to ours, it is those differences that cause conflict. The husband tries to get his wife to be more like him while the wife does the same with her husband. These attempts to change the other person lead to significant conflict.

Richard and his wife Linda learned from their own marriage troubles that something was not right. They then learned the 2 keys to a successful marriage were :

Be abiding in the Vine and walking in the Spirit. (John 15: 1-15)
Learning the concept of unity–we are to live and only live through the principle of unity. This means working toward reaching agreement on all decisions, all issues and all things of our lives 100 percent of the time, all the time. (Psalm 133)

Next, there is a written exercise for husbands and wives to evaluate their marriage.

Chapter 2 is all about the opposite of unity-division and discord. This is a great chapter filled with concepts, scripture and personal examples from the author’s marriage.

Now you may be thinking, this is crazy, my spouse and I cannot agree on everything. I admit, I had the same thought. The author does not think that is possible either and says it is okay to disagree. In fact it is important for each of us to hold integrity with our true thoughts, beliefs and insights. The important thing is they don’t let it ruin their night or weekend, instead they get to unity by seeking God’s will.

There is also a chapter dedicated to handling disagreements and differences in opinion.

I think this is important and I think the whole concept can help us give up the fight to be right and seek peace and pray for God’s will instead. Who does not want more peace in their life?

Giveaway:

Enter our giveaway below for a chance to win your own copy of The Blessings of Unity. In the meantime check out this free eBook, Unshakeable, from the All for Jesus Ministry.

The Blessings of Unity Book Giveaway on Mommy Ramblings Rules:

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Filed under Books, Giveaway, Life, Relationships, Review, Weddings

Tagged as book, Christian, giveaway, Marriage, Self-Help, Unity

· 7:07 pm

Share “Where Jesus Slept” With Your Child #Giveaway #FlyBy #WhereJesusSlept

If you are looking for a great read aloud book that teaches children the true meaning of Christmas, Where Jesus Slept is a new favorite of ours.

This book is written in a rhyming, repetitive way that is similar to the style of This is the House that Jack Built. The story starts with the hay and continues on until the baby Jesus who slept on it appears.

The illustrations are beautiful and the story about the first Christmas is one that fills our hearts with what Christmas is all about. I love sharing this book at bedtime at least one night a week with my children in the weeks leading up to Christmas.

It provides a springboard for discussion you can taper to the age of the children you are reading to. It seems every time we read it, there are new questions they have. With all the commercialism of the holiday that celebrates the birth of Christ, this book keep us centered on what really matters!

About the author:
Norma Lewis is the author of ten books. She lives in Grand Haven, MI, with a marmalade cat named Scalawag. They both love spending time with her six grandchildren, ranging in age from three to twenty.
Illustrated by Katy Hudson.

Would you like a chance to win your own Where Jesus Slept Book? If so, enter the giveaway below!