Teaching the alphabet doesn’t have to be boring. Although I find our preschooler does love repition, I find just singing the alphabet over and over again isn’t ideal for either of us! That’s why I was excited to check out S is for Smiling Sunrise by WordsBright!
S is for Smiling Sunrise is the debut book for WordsBright. It is a book written by a father sharing sing-along alphabet rhymes he wrote for his daughter. It is a hardback book with brightly colored and illustrated pages. Each letter has its own page with the corresponding rhyme. What I find unique is this isn’t just an alphabet book. There is also an mp3 song version of the book available as well as a Teacher’s Guide.
I have been using the S is for Smiling Sunrise and resources mostly with our preschooler (age 5), though our daughter (age 7) likes to also jump in and read to her little brother as well as sing the songs. I have been reading the book 3-4 times per week and work on focusing on one letter at a time as suggested in the guide. He insists I read the whole book each time, though, which is often the case with playing the songs as well. So I will read it all the way through one time and then go to the page with the letter on which we’re focusing.
Although I think just reading the books and listening to the songs would help reinforce learning the alphabet, I definitely find the guide to be helpful. It focuses on concepts, asking questions, talking about vocabulary, and even suggests complementing activities. I have found the book, in general, has been great at extending our vocabulary. Sometimes the picture itself can be deceiving. Chaz would try to guess what the word is but would realize it doesn’t start with that sound, so he got to learn some new words just based on the main word for the letter!
S is for Smiling Sunrise definitely isn’t your “typical alphabet book.” There isn’t the “A is for Apple.” It uses a rather broad vocabulary, and has helped expand not only our preschooler’s vocabulary, but some of his ideas as well! Using the guide has definitely helped in this area to really reinforce what we are learning.
Overall, we have really been enjoying S is for Smiling Sunrise. I initially found I stumbled over some of the words in the rhymes as they didn’t flow how I expected, but reading them over again as well as listening to the songs definitely helped. Chaz really likes the pictures and the music, and I love that he’s learning new words in addition to reinforcing his learning of the alphabet. I think S is for Smiling Sunrise is a good book not only for preschoolers, but for Kindergarten and early readers as well!
For more information be sure to connect with the S is for Smiling Sunrise author Vick Wadhwa on Facebook.
Many members from the Schoolhouse Review Crew had the chance to review S is for Smiling Sunrise by WordsBright. See what they thought in their reviews by clicking on the banner below!
The Adventures of Pajama Girl Review
Do your children have fun imaginations? I know our kids do! I love to watch them play and watch their stories unfold. They also love to read or hear about great adventures, and that’s why I loved the idea of The Adventures of Pajama Girl because it sounded like a lot of fun – just what our kids would love!
Disclosure (in accordance with the FTC’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides
Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising”): Many thanks to Propeller Consulting, LLC for providing this prize for the giveaway. Choice of winners and opinions are 100% my own and NOT influenced by monetary compensation. I did receive a sample of the product in exchange for this Pajama Girl review and post.
When our daughter saw The Adventures of Pajama Girl and the Coronation of the Cupcake Queen she grabbed it and started reading it right away. She is definitely coming along with reading, but she still needed help with this one.
More about The Adventures of Pajama Girl and the Coronation of the Cupcake Queen:
A cute, illustrated story about a girl’s imagination and her magical pajamas. In this adventure, Ellie’s cupcake pajamas pave the way for she and her Sis to take a journey to a land filled with all kinds of sweet treats. Their journey quickly turns into an adventure to help the Cupcake Queen find the missing sprinkles needed for her coronation ceremony. In searching for the missing sprinkles, Ellie and Sis uncover a life lesson that is important for every child to learn.
About the author:
Sandra Hagee Parker lives in San Antonio, Texas with her husband, Ryan, and their daughters, Olivia and Elliana — the original pajama girls. A practicing attorney, Sandy is also a part of the music ministry at Cornerstone Church where she and her husband are leaders.
When not working or writing, Sandy enjoys traveling with her family and mastering the art of making Pancakes à la Pajama Girl with her two girls.
Pajama Girl is SO much fun! It’s an exciting adventure that could definitely only come from a creative imagination – just what our kids like! The story is so cute and although I knew our daughter would love it, our preschooler has decided it’s one of his favorite books as well! Unfortunately, cold and flu season hit us hard over the past few weeks (we seem to keep passing it around!), and wow, was having a new book the kids enjoy a welcome relief! It’s easy to get stir crazy, so having something they enjoy and something we can do at home in our pajamas is awesome (even if our pajamas aren’t magical)!
Plus Pajama Girl has her own website that not only shares more about the book but offers free downloads as well! Plus, if you buy the book from any retail outlet, you simply enter that information on the downloads page, and you’ll get 10 more free Pajama Girl Activity Sheets sent to you via email!
Overall, I think The Adventures of Pajama Girl and the Coronation of the Cupcake Queen. It is fun, entertaining, and has a great message as well! Although I think it is definitely more appealing for girls, I think boys could really enjoy it, too, like our youngest son!
For More Information:
Visit the Pajama Girl Website
*Giveaway!!!* {Ended 4/20/15}
Would you like to win The Adventures of Pajama Girl and the Coronation of the Cupcake Queen book? This giveaway will run through 4/20/2015 at 11pm Eastern Time and is open to US and Canada ages 18+. Winner is subject to eligibility verification and will have 48 hours to confirm before a new winner will be drawn. Only one entrant per mailing address, per giveaway. If you have won the same prize on another blog, you are not eligible to win it again. For any questions/concerns please email emilee.roberts@peaofsweetness.com (consider adding this email to your “Safe List” as winning email notification will be sent from this email.) Please refer to the full terms and conditions in the Giveaway Tools.
Pea of Sweetness and participating bloggers are not responsible for prize fulfillment.
The Berenstain Bears' Please & Thank You {Review}
Did you grow up reading The Berenstain Bears? I know I did and have many fond memories of them. I am so glad I still have some of the books to share with my children. When I found out that there were new Berenstain Bears books coming to a new generation of young readers I was thrilled!
Disclosure (in accordance with the FTC’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides
Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising”): Many thanks to Propeller Consulting, LLC for providing this prize for the giveaway. Choice of winners and opinions are 100% my own and NOT influenced by monetary compensation. I did receive a sample of the product in exchange for this review and post.
I was really excited about Please & Thank You for so many reasons! I love that it is a board book because it offers a more durable option for young readers, which also means it’s easier to keep them longer. I was able to keep a lot of my books from when I was younger, but due to our children’s special needs, the paper books from when they were a little younger didn’t make it very long. Board books, on the other hand, may have a few scratches and bite marks, but they’ve endured! Plus I love that Mike Berenstain decided to carry on his parents’ legacy that is the Berenstain Bears and their positive messages!
More about The Berenstain Bears and Please and Thank You:
Stan and Jan Berenstain introduced the first Berenstain Bear books in 1962 and the Bear family celebrated its 50th anniversary in 2012! Here the charming and lovable Bear family is once again introducing children to the typical issues and questions that they face every day.
In The Berenstain Bears’ Please & Thank You Book, little readers are introduced to the importance of manners, through gentle reminders given to Brother, Sister, and Honey as they await their milk and cookies. The short story and well-loved characters provide toddlers a perfect introduction to valuable life lessons and routines.
About the author:
Mike Berenstain grew up watching his parents work together to write about and draw these lovable bears. Eventually he started drawing and writing about them too. Though Stan died in 2005 and Jan in 2012, Mike carries on his parents’ love of creating Berenstain Bear stories from southeastern Pennsylvania, which looks a lot like Bear Country.
When we received the package, the kids took the book right away. They were so excited to read it! What I love is our daughter is starting to read more and has been reading it to our preschooler. It’s so cute! Of course, I love that the book has an important message about using our manners, which is something that is always important to remember! I also think it’s something kids can easily forget and need reminders. I think Please & Thank You presents it in a way we’re all familiar with as parents and a way kids can relate to and understand.
I am so glad to know The Berenstain Bears are going to be introducing more books that continue to spread positive messages!
*Giveaway!!! (ended 3/12/15)*
Would you like to win The Berenstain Bears’ Please & Thank You board book? This giveaway will run through 3/12/2015 at 11pm Eastern Time and is open to US and Canada ages 18+. Winner is subject to eligibility verification and will have 48 hours to confirm before a new winner will be drawn. Only one entrant per mailing address, per giveaway. If you have won the same prize on another blog, you are not eligible to win it again. For any questions/concerns please email emilee.roberts@peaofsweetness.com (consider adding this email to your “Safe List” as winning email notification will be sent from this email.) Please refer to the full terms and conditions in the Giveaway Tools.
Pea of Sweetness and participating bloggers are not responsible for prize fulfillment.
What's in Mama's Purse? {book tour}
I was excited to receive the Mama’s Purse ebook to read and introduce to you!
What’s in your purse? Bandages and bananas? What’s in my purse? Bandages maybe, but even bananas would be rare for mine. Yet I find my kids going through it all the time. Your kids will have much more fun discovering what is in this Mama’s Purse
Mama’s Purse by AJ Irving is a cute little book that takes readers on a fun adventure of discovering what is in Mama’s purse. Our kids really enjoyed the fun illustrations and the unpredictable surprises that came with each page! I love the use of rhyming in Mama’s Purse. Between the rhyming and great illustrations we really enjoy Mama’s Purse! Our kids love pointing out the different things as I read them. They think Mama’s Purse is so fun and silly! Mama’s Purse is definitely a fun, family-friendly book!
Mama’s Purse has received the following Awards:
Top 5 Idaho Book
Top 10 Idaho Author
Mom’s Choice Award
“The Author, AJ Irving, is a mama who always has EVERYTHING in her purse, everything except the kitchen sink. She thought it would be fun to write a book about a mama’s purse that does have a sink, an ice rink, and a mink performing lip sync. AJ received a B.A. in Journalism and Women’s Studies from the University of Oregon. She lives with her husband and children in Boise, Idaho.
Rick Thomson isn’t a mama, but carries a bag that’s a little like a purse and just as full of surprises. He started dreaming of illustrating children’s books when he first became a dad. Rick has been a freelance illustrator for 23 years and also enjoys playing West African drum rhythms.”
Author Bio:
I spent my childhood in Boise, Idaho, catching grasshoppers and writing stories. My biggest dream in the whole world was to be a writer. My first published work, a poem about my mom, appeared in Writing Without Walls when I was in elementary school. My mom still has a framed copy of the poem in the living room.
In junior high school, I played sports and wrote for the school newspaper. When I grew up, I wanted to move to the Big Apple and write for the New York Times. So my grandpa and I took a trip back east to meet the New York Times Sports Editor. I shook his hand and told him I would be back in ten years for a job.
My determination to be a writer continued in high school when I contributed to my school newspaper as a photographer, reporter, and editor. My mom is so proud of all the newspaper awards that I won in high school . . . they are still on display in my old bedroom.
I decided New York City was too far away from my family, so I enrolled in the School of Journalism at the University of Oregon. My desire for a more creative writing style led me to consider a different path: magazine writing. After I graduated, my first magazine article was published in Midwifery Today.
I received a B.A. in Journalism and Women’s Studies from the University of Oregon. My entire family was very excited when I earned membership into Kappa Tau Alpha─a college honor society that recognizes academic excellence and promotes scholarship in journalism and mass communication.
In 2008, my husband and I started a family. I put down my pen and focused on reading books to our son. The excitement in his eyes inspired me to start writing children’s books. Now I can’t stop. When I’m not writing, I enjoy catching grasshoppers with my husband, Ian, and our son, Mason, in our big back yard in Idaho.
For More Information:
Visit AJ Irving’s Website
Connect with AJ Irving on her Publishing Company’s Facebook Page, the Mama’s Purse Facebook Page, and her author Facebook Page.
Follow her on Twitter, Pinterest, Google+, LinkedIn, and Goodreads.
