Thursday, August 27, 2015

PetSac–Furry Friends with a Full Size Backpack

petsaclogo-233A new line of adorable backpack has arrived on the market recently.   The PetSac is a new kind of pet that converts rapidly into a backpack just by pulling the tail and taking the backpack out of the body of the animal.    The PetSac backpack is perfect for school, sleepover, and travel.   They are especially made for children ages 3 and up.

PS15118PK-Box-800-800x800We received Catpuccino the kitten which has snow white fur and big blue eyes.    Originally thinking of my daughter I requested that the backpack be of floral pattern.  However, when I received the PetSac I decided it would be a wonderful surprise for a child in poverty during Christmas time when we make special boxes for children in other countries.   Consequently, my daughter is extremely excited to be able to put this furry friend into the Christmas box she plans to make for a kid of her age.

The PetSac pets are made of cuddly-soft premium plus materials.   The dimension of the backpack are 14” H x 11” W x 5” D.   The backpack itself is made of lightweight and durable rip stop nylon which is apparently used in parachutes.   This kind of material can be wiped clean if it becomes dirty.  The backpack contains up to 777 cubic inches of storage space and offers two zippered compartments.    The shoulder straps are adjustable depending of the height of the child.  

I didn’t know what to expect when we received ours.  I was surprise and delighted to see how it was made. The stuff animal is perfect to sleep with and the fact that it contains a backpack inside it is just fabulous.   I can already imagine a little girl playing with it and discovering the backpack at the same time.   How perfect it will be for her to be able to put her belonging in this out-of-the-ordinary backpack that can quickly transformer as a stuffed toy to sleep with.     I almost wish my daughter can be present when this child opens up her Christmas box.   

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There are nine animals which you can choose from:

  • Blitz the Monkey
  • Beans the Bear
  • Rocky the Tiger
  • Tug the Pug
  • Shu Shu the Panda
  • Catpuccino the Kitten
  • Roary the Lion Cub
  • Buddy the Pup
  • Spike the Dalmatian

Pattern available are floral, camo, polka-dot,paws, plaid, and jungle.  Depending of your choice of animal you will get a variety of backgrounds to pick (not all the patterns are offered for each animal). 

PetSac

PetSac can be purchased at a store near you for the price of 19.99$ US.   They are also available directly from the website at https://petsac.com/.

Disclaimer: I received a PetSac for review purposes from KidStuff PR and PetSac. I was not monetarily compensated for this review. Please note that the review was not influenced by the Sponsor in any way. All opinions expressed here are only my own.

Wednesday, August 26, 2015

KNex Mighty Makers

Did you know that K’Nex has released a new line of building kit specifically designed for girls.   Called the mighty makers these kits will encourage your girl to build fun things to play with.  There are six set available at this point in time.

  • Home Designer
  • Going Green
  • Deep Sea Dive
  • Inventor’s Clubhouse
  • Up, Up and Away
  • Fun on the Ferris Wheel

For the purpose of this review, I have received the Going Green Building Set.

pTRUCA1-21235113dtAbout the set

Reduce, reuse and rebuild with Zoe and Roland in the Going Green™ Building Set. Zoe isn't afraid to get her hands dirty. She is always out in the garden helping her mom or hiking in search of new and different plants she has never seen before! Help Zoe build a garden, a green house and a flower box. Using the included tool accessories, help Zoe grow a large garden full of plants and flowers in the Going Green™ Building Set from Mighty Makers™. Most models can be built one at a time.

Features:

  • Includes 127 K'NEX parts and pieces
  • Create a garden with Zoe and her hedgehog, Roland
  • Accessories include gardening tools, flowers, foliage, graphic panels and more
  • Includes instructions for three different botany themed builds
  • Mighty Makers™ Card challenges builder to explore additional botany concepts
  • Ages 7+

My Thoughts

The Mighty Makers building set is as sturdy as the regular K’Nex set already on the market.   The only thing I would say that would be different is the colors of the part included in the set – with bright pink, green, turquoise, and yellow.   This particular set will allow your child to build a greenhouse where plants could grow before being planted in a garden.  The set also comes with a young lady and an hedgehog – Zoe & Roland.   Also included in the box there is some information about plant classification as your child learn about botany.

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The set is definitively adorable. It contains over 127 pieces that can be put together to create three different botany themed builds.   Additional building graphics are available to download as well.

Part of me if delighted to find set with pastel colors in it as well as something more geared toward girls.   My girl enjoys building with the regular K’Nex set we own at home but having one set that has a character, an animal and pastel colors will bring even more creativity in her life.

Each set has different characters in it which makes it easy to collect in order to have all of them.  The set vary in prices depending of the size of the box.   These sets would make a great birthday or Christmas gift.  The Mighty Makers building sets from K’Nex are available for purchase at your favorite toy store, even on amazon.ca and amazon.com.

On Amazon.ca

   

On Amazon.com

 

 

Disclaimer: I have received the above mentioned products for review purposes. I was not monetarily compensated for this review. Please note that the review was not influenced by the Sponsor in any way. All opinions expressed here are only my own.

Thursday, August 20, 2015

Seven Men

_225_350_Book.1532.coverSeven Men and the Secret of Their Greatness
Written by Eric Metaxas
Published at Thomas Nelson

About the book

In Seven Men, New York Times best-selling author Eric Metaxas presents seven exquisitely crafted short portraits of widely known—but not well understood—Christian men, each of whom uniquely showcases a commitment to live by certain virtues in the truth of the gospel.

Written in a beautiful and engaging style, Seven Men addresses what it means (or should mean) to be a man today, at a time when media and popular culture present images of masculinity that are not the picture presented in Scripture and historic civil life. What does it take to be a true exemplar as a father, brother, husband, leader, coach, counselor, change agent, and wise man? What does it mean to stand for honesty, courage, and charity, especially at times when the culture and the world run counter to those values?

Each of the seven biographies represents the life of a man who experienced the struggles and challenges to be strong in the face of forces and circumstances that would have destroyed the resolve of lesser men. Each of the seven men profiled—George Washington, William Wilberforce, Eric Liddell, Dietrich Bonhoeffer, Jackie Robinson, John Paul II, and Charles Colson—call the reader to a more elevated walk and lifestyle, one that embodies the gospel in the world around us.

My Thoughts

This book contains a mini biography for the seven men highlighted.   Each of them is regarded as strong example for many people.    The seven men presented in this book are George Washington, William Wilberforce, Eric Liddell, Dietrich Bonhoeffer, Jackie Robinson, Pope John Paul II, and Charles W. Colson.  

I will admit that I was familiar with the story of four of these men.  I knew about the Pope because I was raised catholic and he was Pope during my growing up years.   Back in the 1980s when he visited Canada, I was part of the dance group who did a presentation at the Montreal stadium.    William Wilberforce, Eric Liddell, and Dietrich Bonhoeffer were the three other men whom I have discovered their story and impact in more recent years.

Nevertheless, this book is an inspiration for the reader who takes the time to read it.   I had more trouble with the section on George Washington because I find it doesn’t really impact a Canadian.  However I have learned a great deal about his courage and dedication during the war years.    As I read about these seven men, I almost wished that there were comprehension  questions as well as challenges for the reader.   Why?   Well I can see me asking my teenage son to read about a specific man and answer the questions as part of his literature studies.   Besides reading about strong men of faith is always useful for a teenager – whether boy or girl. 

The author will also release a book title Seven Women which includes Joan of Arc, Susanna Wesley, Hannah More, Maria Skobtsova, Corrie ten Boom, Mother Teresa, and Rosa Parks.   I look forward to read this title as well.

Seven Men is available for purchase at your favorite bookstore, even amazon.ca and amazon.com

 

The book is also available on Kindle.

 

Disclaimer: Thanks to Thomas Nelson for sending me the above mentioned product for review purposes . I was not monetarily compensated for this review. Please note that the review was not influenced by the Sponsor in any way. All opinions expressed here are only my own.

Wednesday, August 19, 2015

Super Hero Books at DK Canada

We love anything linked to Marvel and DC.   You can’t think of these companies without thinking of one word : super-heroes.   In this specific post, I am presenting you four marvelous books that are published at DK Canada.

Superman The Ultimate Guide To The Man of Steel61XUgjHNWUL

Readers can now get a comprehensive look at the complete Superman story from his birth on Krypton and arrival on Earth to his double life as a Daily Planet reporter and as one of the most famous super heroes ever in Superman: The Ultimate Guide to the Man of Steel. Featuring beautiful comic book art from some of the best artists of our time, this book will allow fans to learn more about the villains, loves, and heroes who occupy Superman's world, including Lex Luthor, Lois Lane, Doomsday, and more.

This all-new guide traces how the Man of Steel has developed throughout the decades, while examining the monumental moments that have led to who he is today.  Packed with information from its early beginning to this time and age, the book is definitively the ultimate guide to have if you are a fan of the Man of Steel.   The book also covers the New 52 comics as well as alternate realities.    Perfect for a birthday or Christmas gift!

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518tB9NDDWLWolverine

One of Marvel Comics' favorite characters, Wolverine is a mutant who possesses animal-like instincts, super-enhanced strength, and the ability to heal from any wound. While he was part of the Weapon X program his skeletal structure was bonded with the near-destructible alloy adamantium, and now very little can stop him.  DK's publishing program celebrates Wolverine's classic comic book roots, with gorgeous imagery, classic story lines, and a nod to the franchise that Wolverine has become.
Super-fans can learn about Wolverine's comic book debut (a cameo in a Hulk comic in 1974), and the development of his character, his story, the X-Men, and more in our comprehensive and spectacularly illustrated Ultimate Guide.

The book is packed with interesting information about this Marvel character that is widely popular.   From the five things you need to know about Wolverine to all his appearances in the Marvel comics, this book is certainly something to get for the die-hard fan of Wolverine in your life.

Marvel Encyclopedia61mnXb83KkL

Timed perfectly with Marvel's 75th Anniversary, DK's bestselling Marvel Encyclopedia is now fully revised, extended, and updated.   The book will bring the Marvel Universe home with this all-inclusive encyclopedia detailing little-known facts and information about the iconic Marvel characters. This essential tome has been fully updated with 32 additional pages.

Created in full collaboration with Marvel Comics, the revised pages of Marvel Encyclopedia now feature new entries on the latest characters and teams, updated facts on existing ones including their latest looks and story lines, and expanded entries on major superheroes such as Spider-Man, Thor, and The Avengers. You will also get special double-page features have also been added highlighting recent major crossover events in the Marvel Universe, such as Fear Itself, and the new Marvel Now series.

Needless to say this book is a great guide to own to have insight on the characters of the Marvel Universe.    It is a perfect gift for the fan of anything Marvel in your life.

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6112xRG5LyLDC Comics A Visual History

The DC Comics – A Visual History has been updated and expanded for this new edition which contains 16 new pages to cover the years 2010-2014.  It features a new slipcase design along with two NEW prints packed inside of none other than Superman and Batman. (Honestly it is a perfect timing with the new movie that is coming that will feature these two amazing characters…)  In this book you will be able to trace DC's fascinating story: the company's beginnings as National Allied Publications in the 1934, and its subsequent change to Detective Comics, Inc. in 1937.  The book details all the major DC publishing landmarks and more, displayed clearly, month by month.

Highlighting the debuts of iconic super heroes like Superman and Batman, the geniuses that invented them, and the real-life events, like the Vietnam War, the atom bomb, and the Space Race, that shaped the atmosphere of the times, DC Comics: A Visual History follows the characters' foray into the real world through TV series and blockbuster movies.  It is the ultimate book for the die-hard fan of DC Comics and its super-heroes/villains.   It will provides a stunning chronicles of the history of the company and storylines of various comics since its debut.  This book definitively gives a unique insight into the DC Universe.

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These books and many more published by DK Canada would make great gifts to the comic book/super-hero fan in your life.

These books are also available for purchase at your favorite bookstore, even on amazon.ca and amazon.com.

 

 

 

Disclaimer: Thanks to DK Canada for sending me the above mentioned books for review purposes . I was not monetarily compensated for this review. Please note that the review was not influenced by the Sponsor in any way. All opinions expressed here are only my own.

Back to School with DK Canada

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It is the time of the year where children throughout Canada go back to school or restart their homeschool.   And DK Canada has numerous titles that could help you teach your kids or supplement your kids on specific subjects in their Back to School Boutique.

I have received three titles to present on my blog.

 

61-UNrw4UpLSmithsonian Ocean – A Visual Encyclopedia

A stunning visual encyclopedia for kids, packed with stunning photography and amazing facts on every aspect of ocean life.  From the Arctic to the Caribbean, tiny plankton to giant whales, sandy beaches to the deepest depths, our oceans are brought to life with astonishing images, simple, stylish graphics, and crystal-clear text explanations in Ocean: A Visual Encyclopedia. DK's Visual Encyclopedias are the first substantial series of encyclopedias aimed at young children, designed to excite and entertain, while offering a comprehensive overview of core subjects. From science and the human body to animals, ocean, space, and more, each book combines fun facts, amazing pictures, and crystal-clear explanations to take kids into the wonders of our world.

My Thoughts:

Well…. I have a good reason to review this book.  This year at our homeschool coop we will spend three weeks studying the oceans.   I am the leader of this unit and I wanted to have a book that would be a great resource for the kids.   I am not disappointed.  This book is packed with information about everything linked to the oceans.    In the first section of the book, the reader will learn much about the different oceans around the planet.  Then you discover more about our blue planet – how oceans are formed, the ocean floor, the ridges and the depths, and so much more.   In Open Ocean you learn more about the zones, the zooplankton, the jellies, the food chain and various animals living in and from the sea.   In Shallow Seas you will explore the seabed and seaweeds, the seafloor fish, and the animals living in and around the coral reefs.    In Coast and Seashores you are transported in the living areas of cliffs, caves, tide pools, beaches, dunes and more.  Then make sure you are dressed warmly because the book will bring you in the polar seas where you can learn not only about icebergs but the animals living in the colder waters.  Finally, the book concludes with sea exploration and will present how we exploit the oceans in various ways.

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This book is perfect for a unit study on oceans.   It will inform you and your child about everything related to the seas around the world.

51ubS6CExkL._SX413_BO1,204,203,200_Help Your Kids with Music

Help Your Kids with Music is a step-by-step visual guide to music theory.  Help Your Kids with Music is the perfect primer to help students gain a solid foundation in music, no matter their age, skill level, or instrument.

Help Your Kids with Music clearly explains key concepts in five step-by-step chapters:

  • The Basics explains the types of instruments, notation for keyboard and stringed instruments, the "musical alphabet," and counting a beat.
  • Rhythm covers the length of notes and rests, as well as basic rhythms and meters, phrasing, syncopation, tempo, and using a metronome.
  • Tone and Melody includes everything a student needs to know about tones and how they work together to build a melody.
  • Chords and Harmony shows how intervals work together and includes examples for horn and woodwind instruments.
  • Form and Interpretation helps students understand how musical form can aid appreciation and interpretation for classical, jazz, blues, and other musical styles.

My Thoughts:

This book is unique in many ways as it can help you as a parent to guide your kids in the world of music.   Essentially, it is a book about the theory behind music.    Being an homeschool mom I thought it would be nice to have something to help me teach the kids about music theory a bit.   I feel rusty since my days of high school playing in the school band.  I used to play clarinet.   Still have it…  So now I want to pass a bit of knowledge to my kids.

This book is divided in nine sections:

  1. Pitch:  where you can learn the difference between high and low pitch, the piano keyboard, the notes on the staff and the clefs.
  2. Rhythm: where you will learn about beats and measures, note values, beams and dots, time signatures, compound time, rests and ties, grouping notes, triplets and tuplets, syncopation and swing, beginnings and endings as well as tempo.
  3. Intervals, scales, and keys: where you learn about sharps and flats, half steps, whole steps, intervals, major scales, minor scales, keys, relative minor, circle of fifths, accidentals, modulation, transposition, other scales, modes, tonality and atonality.
  4. Melody: where you discover what is a tune, phrasing and phrase marks, types of phrases, sequences, ornaments, dynamics, musical expression, musical markings, analyzing melodies, two or more notes, writing your own melody and learning by example.
  5. Chords and harmony: where you learn about harmony, consonance and dissonance, diatonic and chromatic harmony, degrees of the scale, triads, inversions, chord types, other chords, cadences, passing notes, suspension, modal harmony, music for choirs, bass, chord symbols, harmonizing a song melody.
  6. Form: where you learn about repeats, binary form, ternary form, counterpoint, theme and variations, ostinati, loops, riffs, breaks and fills, as well as orchestral forms.
  7. Instruments and voices: where you discover strings, woodwind, brass, keyboards, percussion, the orchestra, the conductor, ensembles, rock bands, voices, what is the score?, as well as words and music.
  8. Styles and genres: where you will learn about musical textures, folk, world, roots, classical music, Baroque period, Classical period, Romantic period, Modern period, dance music, Blues and Jazz as well as popular music.
  9. Reference: where you can find quick references on note-values and rest-values, time signatures, keys and key signatures, chords, scales, musical terms glossary, musical periods, and instrument families.

The book also comes with a CD which demonstrates the music examples indicate throughout the book.

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This book is a great reference to have at home so that you can reconnect with the world of music and even teach your kids about it.

512LCUvIyVLHow to Play the Recorder – A step-by-step guide

How to Play the Recorder is a highly visual and user-friendly guide for learning to play the recorder independently, and also a perfect companion to recorder lessons. Designed to educate without overwhelming, How to Play the Recorder is carefully structured to challenge readers a little at a time. Notes are clearly introduced at appropriate stages, alongside specially selected musical pieces that provide context and a sense of achievement. A range of useful hints and tips offer additional guidance and encouragement throughout. Written with an expert music consultant, How to Play the Recorder also introduces key points of music theory, helping increase general knowledge of music and note reading as practical proficiency grows.

My Thoughts:

I used to play the recorder when I was younger.  Still have my wooden one too!   When I saw this title I though it would be great to teach my younger child to play with my recorder.  Maybe she will like it… 

In this book, you will have a step-by-step guide on how to play the beloved first instrument of many kids.    This book will introduce the child to the recorder itself as well as the family of recorder. Quickly after the introduction, the child will be guide in starting to play, how to read music, learn about the time signatures, how to breath, how to position the tongue, the position of the hands.  Once this is all covered, it is time to learn notes and much more.   At the end of the book you will have a fingering chard and a glossary.

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This book is useful if you want to introduce your child to basic music using a recorder.   Once this has been mastered, the child might want to learn a more challenging instrument.

The Back to School Boutique contains numerous titles that could be interesting to your children whether their interest is space, dinosaur, human body or something else.   You will also find books for your in order to help your child with computer coding, music, English, math or science.    Check out the books available on their Back to School boutique.

 

 

 

Disclaimer: Thanks to DK Canada for sending me the above mentioned books for review purposes . I was not monetarily compensated for this review. Please note that the review was not influenced by the Sponsor in any way. All opinions expressed here are only my own.

Tuesday, August 18, 2015

NIV Bible for teen girls

_225_350_Book.1643.coverNIV Bible for teen girls – Growing in Faith-Hope-Love
Published by Zondervan

About the bible

The NIV Bible for Teen Girls, designed specifically for girls ages 13 to 18, is for real teenage girls with real lives. Packed with daily readings, highlighted promises of God, challenging insights, smart advice, and open discussion about the realities of life, this Bible is designed to help teen girls grow in faith, hope, and love. The NIV Bible for Teen Girls is as sincere about your walk with God as you are, helping you discover his will for all areas of your life, including relating to your family, dealing with friends, work, sports, guys, and so much more.

Features include:

  • Daily readings for teen girls by popular Christian female authors (Annie Downs, Bekah Hamrick Martin, Christine Caine, Crystal Kirgiss, Bethany Hamilton, Nicole Weider, Elsa Kok Colopy, Denise Van Eck and more)
  • Character profiles of women in the Bible
  • Book introductions for each book of the Bible
  • Highlighted promises of God: verses worth remembering
  • A concordance for help in finding verses
  • The complete text of the bestselling New International Version (NIV) of the Bible

My Thoughts

I find it important to equip my kids with tools that will help them to go through life.  Once such tool – after learning to read – is to daily read in their bible.    As they grow up I expect them to deepen their knowledge and understanding of the bible.  To do so, they need a bible which will allow them to do so.    When they enter their teenage years, it could be difficult for them and the parents.   Consequently having a bible which could help them to go through these turbulent years is important.     The NIV Bible for teen girls will encourage your teenager in many ways.  

Each book of the bible is highlighted by providing a small introduction, indicating when it happened, who is in the book, and some of the verses that the teen might recognize.    The devotions can be found throughout the bible and are short – up to one page.    The text of the bible is in black writing but the titles of sections, the chapter numbers as well as the top of the page are written in pink.    Even the devotional pages’ background are in pink.   Not everyone likes pink and it might be an issue for certain people.  My girl wouldn’t mind because I know she loves pink.  

I’ve read some of the devotional and I remembered when I was a teenager.   To be honest, I wish I would have had these uplifting devotions to turn to when I was growing up for various reasons.    I came to the Lord in my late 20s.  I wish I had done so much earlier in life but I know that the LORD had a plan for me.    The bible also contains a table of weights and measures, a topical index, a list of the women in the Bible, an index of devotions for growing in faith-hope-love, and a concordance.

If you have a teenage girl and you desire her to grow in the Word, consider getting her the NIV Bible for teen girls.   It would make a perfect gift for a baptism, a milestone in her life, for a birthday or Christmas.

The NIV Bible for teen girls is available for purchase at your favourite bookstore, even amazon.ca and amazon.com.

  

Also available in imitation leather.

 

Disclaimer: Thanks to Thomas Nelson for sending me the above mentioned product for review purposes . I was not monetarily compensated for this review. Please note that the review was not influenced by the Sponsor in any way. All opinions expressed here are only my own.