Record a Story with Dora the Explorer

Fun Find- Record  a Story™ ($19.99) is something that I'm sure many kids would love to receive as a gift this holiday season.  It allows  readers to easily record their voice narrating a story, and the narration then  plays when each page is turned. Fun for parents or grandparents, they can create  custom-recorded storybook for their kids and grandkids.  Kids can do the  same for parents or long-distance relatives. It's perfect for military families! My girls love the Dora version, which is now on sale for $14.95!

Available at major retailers  nationwide, Record a Story helps families stay connected even when they are separated.  It is a great solution for working and traveling parents too.   New titles this year include, My Grandpa is Special and My  Grandma is Special, Good Night, Sesame Street, The Day You Were Born,  Thomas:  Good Night, Little Engine, I Love You So Much, Ten Little  Pumpkins, The First Christmas and Frosty the Snowman.

Lighten Up by Peter Walsh

Fun Find- "Lighten Up" ($15) by Peter Walsh is about taking Walsh's clutter-busting principles to assist readers in organizing their financial lives.  The concept is all about applying the less is more approach to life. 

Peter Walsh, the host of “Enough Already! with Peter Walsh,”  on OWN: Oprah Winfrey Network is a clutter and organizational expert.   His previous bestselling books include, It’s All Too Much and Enough Already, which showed readers how to get rid of clutter room by room.  Walsh likes to explore the impact that clutter has in our emotional and spiritual lives in his books. This is something I believe in as well so his books hit home.  

"Lighten Up" helps readers understand and clear out their financial clutter. With the economy the way it is today this is a great way to really learn to live the motto, "less is more".  I know it is something I can relate to and learn to apply in my daily life, especially around the all consuming holiday time. 

"Lighten Up" is available on the Peter Walsh website and online at Amazon.com

Little Monster Fun & Learn Book

Fun Find-  Having kids gives you entry back into the world of children's literature, for which I am so glad.  Sometimes you can find an author and set of stories that takes you back to when you were a child and the book, "Little Monster Fun & Learn" by Mercer Mayer has done that for me. 

The "Little Monster Fun & Learn" book puts a big emphasis on children's early education. It gives them a chance to have fun with learning.  Through this book they encounter their ABC's, counting and how to enjoy things like bedtime and traveling through a neighborhood. Full of rhymes and funny monster characters both my three year-old and five year-old love reading this book before bedtime. The gorgeous illustrations provide many hours spent pouring over the pages to just to gaze at the various monsters and their habitats.  They adore this book and I do too. 

You can find "Little Monster Fun & Learn" online at Amazon.com and FastPencil Premiere in both print and digital format.  

Dakota by Brenda Marshall

Fun Find-  Maybe it is the addition of AMC's new show "Hell on Wheels" but I've been in the mood for some good ol' frontier stories this fall.  Brenda Marshall's new book, "Dakota" is exactly that type of book.  Following the lives of homesteaders, farmers, frontier politicians and some Northern Pacific Railroad executives it is the story of one Frances Houghton Bingham.  In love with the ideas of making a go at life in the west, finding opportunity in the Dakota Territory, Frances takes risks to get what she desires in this new world.  At the heart of the book is Norwegian homesteader, Kirsten Knudson who grows from girl to woman in the pages of this book. 

Dakota is a good fall read and available for $24.95 at Amazon.com

Prosperity 4 Kids Piggy Bank

Created by a mother, Prosperity 4 Kids is a wonderful set that every parent and child can learn from and utilize.  Set up to teach kids how to save, give, invest and spend the Prosperity 4 Kids set includes a ceramic piggy bank, story book and CD ($39.95).  The bank is divided into four compartments that children can store their money in depending on what they want to do with it.  You want to give, put it in the charity pig.  You want to invest your money for the future then deposit it in the corresponding pig. The storybook describes to children the values of each category and how they can work for the child now and in the future.  It's actually become a pretty regular bed time story selection in our house since we received it.  I can't think of an easier way to describe this money management to my kids than with this bank and book.

Lori Mackey, the creator, is a leading expert on kids and money.  She is behind this masterful book, Mama Money and the Three Little Pigs.  We received another bank very similar to this a while back and we explained the how and the why to the different compartments in the bank as best that we could, but I was never sure that my child understood it all very well.  The story in the book with the Prosperity 4 Kids bank is the key.  It is an engaging, fun and smart way to get everyone in the family into thinking about how they use their dollars and cents.  We love this bank and book!

Prosperity 4 Kids banks, books and more can be purchased in sets and a la carte.  You can find them on the company website.

MPR Rating:  Five Stars.

Disclaimer:  MPR was not paid for this post.  Products received are for review purposes only.  Opinions are MPR's only.

Sweet Valley Confidential- Ten Years Later

I was a big fan of Francine Pascal's Sweet Valley High and Middle School books when I was growing up.  I would drag my parents to the book store on a regular basis to get my Jessica and Elizabeth Wakefield fix.  As a New England girl stuck in some seriously snowy and cold winters, the Wakefield twins sunny, So Cal life could not have been more different from mine.  My curiosity was peaked when I was asked to review Sweet Valley Confidential-Ten Years Later.  Would it still hold the same charm?  I've lived in So Cal now myself.  Would I still root for Jessica over Elizabeth or vice verse?

As soon as I started reading this latest S.V. book I was filled with nostalgia.  All the old characters are still there and I mean, still in Sweet Valley.  They have inter-married, Jessica is on marriage deux, and no one seems that happy.  Including Elizabeth who has moved to New York after being betrayed by her old flame Todd who is now with her twin sister, Jessica.  Ah, the same story lines still hold true.  The only difference?  Bruce Patman is now nice and (spoiler alert!) Steven Wakefield is gay.  With mentions of Facebook and other social media trends the characters have modernized a bit but the quiet life of Sweet Valley is still there.  The characters haven't evolved that much beyond high school and that was disappointing.  It is billed as a young-adult book and it is in that realm but fans of old might be looking for more than Pascal has offered in this simple look forward. 

If you are looking for a quick, nostalgic read or want to get acquainted with the Wakefield twins for the first time Sweet Valley Confidential-Ten Years Later will do that for you.  The character updates in the back of the book are fun too.

MPR Rating:  Three Stars.

Disclaimer:  MPR was not paid for this post.  Products received are for review purposes only.  Opinions are MPR's only. 

The Tao of Motherhood

Fun Find- The Tao of Motherhoodby Vimala McClure is for mothers who want to combine their spirituality with their parenting. In a collection of short essays that draw on the ancient teachings of The Complete Works of Lao Tzu: Tao Teh Ching & Hua Hu Ching'>Lao Tzu you can find the deep down truths that shine through even in the most crazy moments of motherhood. Set for each stage of parenting, including adult children, it is a quick read too.

McClure writes,"There is nothing more receptive and flowing than water, yet there is nothing better for polishing the stone. A mother's nature is paradox. Your strength is in your gentleness. Your authority is in receptivity. Your power is in letting go."

Check it out today. The Tao of Motherhood is available at The Tao of Motherhood'>Amazon.com

Dream Big Little Pig

Olympic Medalist and mother Kristi Yamaguchi has created a sweet children's book called, Dream Big Little Pig ($16.99). Following her inspiring motto, "Always Dream!" Kristi wrote this adorable book about Poppy the Pig.

Geared for ages 4-8, kids can read about Poppy and her big dreams. Big dreams that don't always pan out or seem as easy to attain as Poppy would like. Throughout the book Poppy tries one thing after another trying to find out what she is good at and has her family by her side always saying, "Dream Big!"

I like reading this book to my girls because not only does it illustrate how important family and their support is for kids, but it also showcases different hobbies, including ice skating. It is the ice skating that Poppy finally finds makes her the most happy and thus succeeds at with a joyful heart.

Available at Dream Big, Little Pig!'>Amazon.com.

MPR Rating: Four Stars

Disclaimer: MPR was not paid for this post. Products received are for review purposes only. Opinions are MPR's only.

The Help- The Trailer

I read and fell in love with the book, The Help by Kathryn Stockett when it first debuted. Years and much media love later there is a movie starring Emma Stone and Viola Davis. I'm not so sure how it will translate and I'm reluctant to view it in fear that it will have been "hollywood-ized" and schmaltzed up but I have hopes nonetheless.

Here's a sneak peek.

*Image from verbict.com

Fun Find-Carol Roth- The Entrepreneur Equation

New York Times and USA Today best-seller Carol Roth has written a new book, The Entrepreneur Equation ($24.95).

"Business Strategist Carol Roth believes that indeed small business has the potential to create growth in jobs and GDP, but only if those small businesses succeed. In The Entrepreneur Equation, Carol Roth helps you learn how to stack the odds of success in your favor and ultimately decide if business ownership is the best possible path for you, now or ever."

Beyond the fact that this book is a great read, loaded with facts and information that will motivate and help you find some solid ground there is the doll. That's where the 'fun find' part comes into play. The doll is $250 and I'm sure the publicist who sent it to me would die if she knew that my five year-old went gaga over it when this mini-Carol Roth arrived at our door. While still in the box this replica comes with pink "leather" shoes, a black sheath dress and is 12 inches high. It's a fantastic press piece and I wish they made more and it wasn't so expensive because it is way better than a Barbie, if you ask me.

Buy the Entrepreneur Equation here. You won't be sorry.

Deep Down True by Juliette Fay

Juliette Fay's new book 'Deep Down True' has a back cover that reads like this-

"It's been more than a year since Dana Stellgarten's divorce, and things are getting tough. Her 7-year-old, Grady, is struggling with the absence of his father and becoming moody and morose. She discovers that her 12-year-old, Morgan, is bulimic and succumbing to pressure from her popular friends. Her 16-year-old niece, Alder, literally crashes into their lives and begs Dana to take her in for several months. Alder no longer seems to be the happy, well-rounded girl she used to be. To top it all off, Dana's well-to-do ex-husband is suddenly struggling with his child-care payments. This is a wonderful tale of family and growing up, whether as a child, a teenager, or a middle-aged mother. Dana gains unlikely friends at her dentist's office, loses longtime allies, and even begins to date again. Dana, who is at times nice to a fault, learns that single motherhood requires both love and a sharp edge of responsibility."

First off, this book is comforting.  Just as Dana brings meals to those in need that are loaded with comfort food that is what this book provides to the reader. It reminded me of rainy days and mugs of tea.  It is well written and holds the readers interest with its different plot points. However, I found myself annoyed with the main character, Dana when I first began reading.  That may have been the intention initially but her "nice to a fault" attitude made me want to close the book at times. 

I have read a lot of glowing reviews of this book.  Overall I think it is a good read if you want a book that has the theme of persistent hope throughout it.  Dana never gives up and confronts so much that she is almost battered like a sea wall.  Her intensity as a mother rings true.  I really related to that aspect of the book.  In the end I enjoyed the book as a whole and admired the way the author approached Dana's character when dealing with her daughter's bulimia.  It is a good, easy read that I think many people will enjoy.  It offers just enough bite to not be a throw away read as well.

'Deep Down True' is available at Amazon and bookstores nationwide.

MPR Rating: Three Stars.

Disclaimer: MPR was not paid for this post.  Products received are for review and testing purposes only.  Opinions are MPR's only. 



*Image from Adrienneshouse.com

Half in Love- A Memoir by Linda Gray Sexton

Half in Love

Half in Love (Surviving the Legacy of Suicide) by Linda Gray Sexton is a gripping memoir.  I found myself pulled in to her story of depression, suicide attempts, her family history and recovery in an odd way.  It was deeply comforting for me to read.  The honesty and depth that Linda gives to the reader is a gift to anyone that has dealt with depression and/or suicide on their own or with a member of their family.  At times I felt myself biting my hand as I read, half crying and reading. I related to her descriptions of "going down the rabbit hole" that depression creates all too well. 

As a woman of three girls and a post partum depression survivor two times over I am hardly a novice to mood swings, dark moments in time and feelings of intense anxiety.  My own mother went through the same situation from the time I was six months old to when I was about five.  While I don't have a clear memory of those days as a child I do remember when she turned the corner towards recovery from her depression and how it lifted the fog off of everyone in our household.  I had a different mother and one that I took great joy in being with as did my father.  Gone was the grey, fuzziness that seemed to tinge our lives.  Enter sunlight and a mother with a presence. 

Now, five years after my first round of PPD, my husband and I have entered marriage counseling.  Our communication skills are not up to par and problems within ourselves have left gashes in our life together.  Reading Sexton's book about her own marital counseling was not just relatable but gave me a way into seeing how my anxiety issues, pregnancy and post partum depression times strained my own marriage.  Five years of all those ups and downs.  Five years of my husband pulling that added weight of taking care of all of us. Never wanting to burden me with any of his problems so as not stress me out or unravel me further takes such a toll on a relationship no matter how stable.  It was through Half in Love that I was able to turn around and see more clearly how it must have been for my spouse to live with me.  I could barely pull myself together on many days so how could I give the support that one needs to give when in a relationship?  I could not.  He had no one to lean on and my children have lived with a mother who often wept throughout the day as she roamed the inner dark spots of her mind.  It is not a life I want for me or for them.  Through therapy and medication I have found my way out once again and hope to be here in this brighter, clearer spot forever.

My mothers own honesty with me about her post partum depression was a huge relief for me.  Unlike Linda, I never felt that I had to be my mother's keeper as a child. It was never on that level.  Her discussions with me about her own experiences with PPD made it possible for me to know that if I needed her I could rely on her to talk about my own pervasive sadness.  Depression and suicide are an inherited trait to some degree. But like Linda talking with her sons, Nathaniel and Gabe about her own illness and suicide attempts she gives it a voice that offers not just a release but the ability to see the person and the trait more clearly.  At the end of her memoir Linda writes, "Love might not ensure that I would stay well, but love would help me through the darkness."  I am eternally grateful for the love my husband, family and friends have provided for me over the years and my rounds with depression.  I can never express my gratitude enough for helping to not just save me from the cocoon of darkness but my family as well. 


Thank you to award-winning author Linda Gray Sexton for sponsoring this series, which is inspired by her memoir Half in Love: Surviving the Legacy of Suicide.

I was selected for this sponsorship by Clever Girls Collective which endorses Blog With Integrity

To learn more about Linda Gray Sexton and her writing, please visit her website.

Goldilocks & the Three Bears- A Tale Moderne

"I've already heard this story! We have it at schooool." whined my preschool age daughter.  Goldilocks and the Three Bears is a classic.  A timeless story about a little girl who wanders into a bear family's home.  It's an easy to understand moral but sometimes things need a bit of re-working and that is exactly what you get with this new version of Goldilocks from Abrams Books ($18.95).

Retold and illustrated by Steven Guarnaccia (he did the Three Little Pigs as well) this book still teaches kids about the importance of privacy but with a new fangled twist.  This is one design-savvy, sophisticated take on the tale as it features a renovated house for the bears using designers such as, Eames, Noguchi and Alvar Alto.  The pictures in this book are colorful and lively.  Each bear has his own taste and musical style that they love and it is great fun as an adult to look over the book with new eyes on the form, function and style Guarnaccia's book offers.  Both my girls enjoyed the book and asked many questions about the illustrations.  The oldest, in particular, loved the three bears different chairs.  It kept them entertained and seemed like a new story to them as well.

Goldilocks and the Three Bears: A Tale Moderne is just as good as the original but with a great eye towards design that will delight young and old readers alike.

Available for purchase at Abrams Books online and Amazon.com.

MPR Rating:  Three Stars.

Disclaimer:  MPR was not paid for this post.  Products received are for review and testing purposes only.  Opinions are MPR's only.

*Images from ohdeedoh.com and  abramsbooks.com

The Cook's Book of Intense Flavors

I received this 288 page cookbook recently and I must admit I found it a bit intimidating.  The Cook's Book of Intense Flavors- 101 Surprising Flavor Combinations and Extraordinary Recipes That Excite Your Palate and Pleasure Your Senses ($26) is a mouthful.  Created by husband and wife is about learning to cook intuitively.  If you are looking to broaden your cooking horizons, get creative and learn how food pairings really work then this is a cook book for you. 

Containing seven chapters, restaurateurs Robert and Molly Krause illustrate how three key ingredients can come together to create a unique, flavorful dish.  This book is for cooks of all skill levels and once I got into it I wasn't as intimidated.  There are over 100 recipes to sample including Tea-and-Lim Cured Salmon, Jack and Coke ice cream and Beyond Oysters Rockefeller.  Some dishes take time, are time-sensitive and others are fairly quick and easy.  I also liked the addition of some updated classics. 

This cook book is as unique as its ingredient pairings and makes a great addition to your cook book collection or as a gift to a newbie chef in the making or even a more experienced cook.  Available at Amazon online. 

MPR Rating:  Three stars.

Disclaimer:  MPR was not paid for this post. Products received are for review and testing purposes only. Opinions are MPR's only. 

*Image from goodlifeguy.com

Mooo.com's Personalized Books for Kids

New from Mooo.com are personalized books.  These books (in blue or pink) feature Cheeky Monkey and your child's name making it a very special adventure and a great gift.  Designed to help kids learn to count and develop literacy skills is a whimsical look at how to create a party as well.  Who doesn't want to invite dancing strawberries or a Panda Mariachi band?  There are even vegetables playing ping pong! 


This is Mooo's first venture into personalized books and it is a fun one.  I received one for my two year old just in time for her birthday.  She loves hearing Cheeky Monkey talk about her and the party they will plan and my older daughter thinks it is fabulous too.  The book is bright and colorful with equally colorful characters like skateboarding doughnuts and cupcakes that dance.  Each page features your child's name as it gears up for one excellent party in their honor.  The books are professionally printed and soft-covered and feature 28 pages of educational fun.

Prices range for $24.95 to $29.95 for a larger book.  The Mooo books make a great gift for the preschool and primary school age set. 

MPR Rating: Four Stars.

Disclaimer:  MPR was not paid for this post.  Products receieved are for test purposes only.  Opinions are MPR's only.






*Image from essentialbaby.com

Summer Reading for Kids from Abrams Books

Abrams Books presents a wonderful way to celebrate Moms and Dads this spring and summer with these three engaging, sweet and wonderful books.

Just Like Mama by Leslea Newman and illustrated by Julia Gorton is a loving tribute to mothers with daughters.  In it the little girls models herself after her role model and mother in the most simple but heartfelt way.  I love reading it with both my girls and they love hearing it.  It always makes me smile.

MPR Rating:  Four Stars.

Because I Am Your Daddy ($15.95) by Sherry North and illustrated by Marcellus Hall is a tribute to Fathers. Perfect for this coming Father's Day, which is right around the corner.  It's contemporary, warm and all about the unconditional love that father's have for their children.  I love how fun it is and how each time we read it my oldest daughter (4 1/2) lets her imagination soar with all the different Daddy professions.  It's inspiring.

MPR Rating: Four Stars.

Mama, Is It Summer Yet?  Written and Illustrated by Nikki McClure tells the delightful tale that could just be your child's first summer read.  It is all about the seasons changing and how children can find the ways that summer is coming with each passing day.  It's a gorgeous book that also deals with family togetherness and environmental matters.  My kids love hearing about the buds appearing on the trees and the bees getting ready for summer each time we read it.

MPR Rating: Four Stars.


Disclaimer:  MPR was not paid for this post.  All products received were for review purposes only. 

Fun Find- The Art of Overeating

"A bellyful of laughs about our food phobic culture."  The Art of Overeating ($9.95) by Leslie Landis is not a diet book.  In fact, in an interview Landis stated, "read this book, then do the opposite of everything it says." and to use it "only if you want to weight 900 lbs." 

Landis a clinical psychologist wants Americans to use humor to combat their food issues.  If we can find the funny in our bad eating habits the perhaps we can figure out how to eat healthier too.  Loaded like a baked potato, this book is full of informative food facts that are interesting too.  This is a great book to get for yourself or a friend or family member who is sick of the usual diet books and fat phobias and those who like a bit of common sense with their fries.

Disclaimer: MPR was not paid for this posting. Products were received and kept for testing purposes. The opinions in this review are solely my own.

Fun Find- Tiny Baby Jesus Book

This season celebrate the story of Christmas with 'Tiny Baby Jesus' by award-winning author Dandi Daley Mackall. This beautifully illustrated book ($16.99) is a wonderful way to see how a tiny baby became a man and savior from very humble beginnings. It's a beautifully written story that the whole family can enjoy this holiday season.

You can read a full review of 'Tiny Baby Jesus' at Type-A Mom. This book is available anywhere books are sold. It's also earned a spot in MPR's holiday gift guide for this year.

Leapfrog's Tag - Learn to Read Gift Pack

Tag's Reading System by Leapfrog is one of the best educational toys that I have had the privilege to review. When we received the 'Learn to Read' series Gift Pack ($39.98) I was excited for my daughter and for me. We are just on the verge of her becoming a reader and this set came just in time.

The Gift Pack consists of two book sets- short vowels and long vowels, which includes silent 'E' and 'Y'. Each set has six books which "help children identify letter sounds and understand how the sounds come together to form words". Many times when we receive products like this I have high hopes and I will see tiny results that keep the hope alive. Then the toy is discarded rather quickly as my daughter grows bored with it and we are done. I think it is because so many of these 'learn to read' toys and systems are largely one dimensional.


That is not the case with the Tag Reading System. The easy to hold pen and small books are perfect for children ages 4-7 years. She loves all the stories and wants to read them repeatedly. They hold "secrets" on each page she says and finds them as the pen glides over the pages. She's proud of the fact that she can now "read" with the pen too. The more she uses it, and that pen plus books go everywhere the last few months (yes, I said months), the more strides I see in her actual reading skills. She has begun to sound out words, ask questions and go slow. Before we began working with the Reading System's gift pack set I had a hard time engaging her for long periods of time and explaining the fundamentals of reading. She just wanted to get it over with. For the first time I feel like we are making actual strides and seeing results and we are both having fun.

The Leapfrog Tag Reading System Gift Pack is available online (with free shipping!), at Amazon.com and toy stores nationwide.

MPR Rating: Five Stars.

Disclaimer: MPR was not paid for this posting. Products were received and kept for testing purposes. The opinions in this review are solely my own.

Fun Find- Art for Baby Book

Art for Baby ($19.99) is a 12-page black and white board book with artwork by modern artists like Josef Albers, Patrick Caulfield, Keith Haring, Damien Hirst, Gary Hume, Kazimir Malevich, Paul Morrison, Takashi Murakami, Julian Opie, Bridget Riley, and David Shrigley. Pictures of women, kids, vegetables and animals help babies connect with the world around them.

Included in this contemporary art book for babies is a set of two friezes. Each frieze consists of pictures used in the book. I hung one set in each kids room and they both love to look at the stark black and white pieces. Art for Baby is a wonderful way to introduce modern art to your baby and child while teaching them recognize pictures and their world.