Congratulations to our three lucky winners of the Listen-Along Storybooks giveaway—sponsored by Sterling Books. Our winners: Kristen, Kathryn, and Donna, were selected by the random sequence generator at random.org and have each one a set of the following books:

• Cesar Takes a Break by Susan Collins Thoms
• Cowboy Camp by Tammi Sauer
• I Saw an Ant on the Railroad Track by Joshua Prince
• Perfectly Arugula by Sarah Dillard
• Jack and the Beanstalk Retold by John Cech
• Tex & Sugar: A Big City Kitty Ditty by Barbara Johansen Newman
• We Go Together! by Todd Dunn
• The Twelve Dancing Princesses Retold by Jon Cech

Here’s what the winners had to say about Sterling Books’ new Listen-Along Storybooks website:

kristen said …

What a great idea! Books on tape are so cumbersome to keep track of, and this allows you to access the audio anytime/anywhere (assuming you have access to a computer High-quality, engaging recordings. Nice!

Donna said …

I think this is such an easier way of keeping track of books. Cd’s around the house are constantly lost or broken.

Kathryn says:

An awesome idea! Harkens back to the read-along books that came with a cassette tape.

Updated: One of our winners recently received the same collection of books and has very nicely passed on her prize to an alternate winner …

Boni Ashburn said …

What a great idea! Love the website- so simple to navigate and use. Nice selection of books, too.

Winners of TCBR giveaways are notified by email and have 72 hours to claim their prize. Unclaimed prizes are awarded to an alternate winner. Thank you to everyone who participated. Special thanks to Sterling Books for sponsoring the giveaway.

Disclaimer: Books will be shipped directly from the sponsor, delivery of the giveaway item lies solely on the sponsor. Names, e-mail address and physical address of the winner will be shared with the sponsor for the purpose of fulfillment of the giveaway.

©2010 The Childrens Book Review. All Rights Reserved.

Listen-Along Storybooks is a fantastic new program offered by Sterling Books. It’s a website with a combination of audiobooks available as free downloads and/or podcasts that can be listened to as streaming audio, a jokecast, and a section dedicated to poetry. The mastermind behind this fab new feature is Robert Agis. His recordings are crystal clear and voiced with an effective energy that will have listeners of all ages enthralled. The first eight audiobooks available are some of Sterling Books most popular picture books; including Cesar Takes A Break, which we reviewed earlier.

With extreme generosity, Sterling Books has offered up all of the eight books (listed below) for three of our luckiest readers!

• Cesar Takes a Break by Susan Collins Thoms
• Cowboy Camp by Tammi Sauer
• I Saw an Ant on the Railroad Track by Joshua Prince
• Perfectly Arugula by Sarah Dillard
• Jack and the Beanstalk Retold by John Cech
• Tex & Sugar: A Big City Kitty Ditty by Barbara Johansen Newman
• We Go Together! by Todd Dunn
• The Twelve Dancing Princesses Retold by Jon Cech

How to enter (maximum entries, 3):

• Visit the Listen-Along Storybooks website, then come back and tell us what you think.

• Leave your name and your message telling us what you think about the Listen-Along Storybooks website,  in the comments field below . If you are one of the lucky winners, you will be contacted via e-mail.

• An extra entry will be given for each time you twitter about the giveaway and/or blog about it. You will need to paste the link in a separate comment to make this entry valid. Click here to follow me on Twitter.

• Don’t forget to use a valid e-mail address—it’s a must.

• Shipping Guidelines: This book promotion is open to participants with a United States mailing address only.

• The contest will run March 11, 2010 – March 24, 2010, with the winners being drawn March 25, 2010.  Administrator’s computer is the official time keeping device for the Giveaway. Winners will be picked at random using a random sequence generator (your comments are numbered in the order they are received and the numbers are like raffle tickets drawn from a hat). Winners have 72hrs to claim their prize. Unclaimed prizes will be awarded to an alternate winner.

• Comment away!

Disclaimer: Books will be shipped directly from Sterling Books, delivery of the giveaway item lies solely on the sponsor. Names, e-mail address and physical addresses of all winners will be shared with Sterling Books for the purpose of fulfillment of the giveaway.

©2010 The Childrens Book Review. All Rights Reserved.

Pelican and Pelicant

by Sarah Froeber (Author), Andy Thorn (Music)

Reading level: Ages 4-8

Audio CD

Publisher: Shoofly Audio

Source: Author

What to expect: Intrepidity, Self-confidence, Friendship,

There is a clear and timely message in the story of Pelican and Pelicant: friendship, encouragement, and a little bravery, can really travel a long way.

Pelican is an “I think I can” kind of bird—champing at the bit with confidence. Pelicant is an “I can not” kind of bird—shy and uncertain. Together, these characters create an engaging tale of the fun that comes from having a good friend and self-confidence. The story is read and delivered clearly by Sarah Froeber, with lovely musical accompaniment by Andy Thorn.

Children of all levels of confidence will take something away from this likable adventure: Those with self-confidence will learn the importance of being a supportive and encouraging friend. And, those that lack in self-confidence will hear a tale of intrepidity.

Kudos to Sarah Froeber.

Publisher’s synopsis: Fly with Pelican to the top of an enormous oak. Laugh as she shows newcomer Goose around the island. Float in the waves with Pelican while she rests after an enormous fish dinner. Finally, go with her to Turtle’s party to dance the Pelican Pop-up and dine on crab birthday cake with crayfish frosting. But where is Pelicant during all of this fun?

Watch self-esteem blossom in the face of uncertainty and risk-taking. Discover what happens when these endearing pelicans look beyond feathers and beaks to the tender roots of a genuine friendship. Young people will find Sarah Froeber’s tale delightful and engaging, and adults will recognize the rich texture of a time-tested myth. Kim Mosher’s illustrations in luminous colored pencil are simple yet detailed enough to tell this story on their own – the closer you look, the longer you will giggle.

Add this audio CD to your collection: Pelican and Pelicant

©2010 The Childrens Book Review. All Rights Reserved.

I think all parents have a moment when we wonder what happened to the little baby we used to cradle in our arms? I know I’ve had many of these and my kids are still preschoolers. Yet, time flies and those little defenseless babies now have minds of their own, with their own wants and needs–and boy do they let me know exactly what it is they want/need. But not all kids are the same and sometimes it takes work to figure them out and to reconnect with them. Two new books give us just such a chance–one book does so in form and the other in function.

A Talent for Quiet

by Kim Chatel (Author/Photographer)

Reading level: Ages 7-12

Paperback: 32 pages

Publisher: Guardian Angel Publishing (February 5, 2009)

Source of book: Author

What to expect: Difficulty forming relationships, shared experiences, photography

A Talent for Quiet by Kim Chatel tells the story of a shy girl who’s a little scared of disappointing her new step dad, Bill. Despite Bill’s attempts to build a connection, little Reanie remains wary. Bill tries several tactics but eventually finds success when he invites Reanie on a “photo safari.” He is a skilled photographer who teaches Reanie how to handle a camera and by inspiring her confidence forges a strong bond with his new daughter. Ms. Chatel’s book is filled with beautiful photographs of wildlife that accompany the text and help the reader visualize the bond that is being built between father and daughter. There is also a handy manual at the end of the book with pointers for budding photographers. The book gives us a great idea for reconnecting with our older children: building a connection is as simple as sharing the things we’re passionate about.

Dan Quixote: Boy of Nuevo Jersey

by Shevi Arnold (Author/producer)

Reading level: Ages 8-12

Audio book available on Kindle, CD and MP3, approximately 3 hours long

Publisher: Play Along Media (upcoming January 2010)

Source of book: Author

What to expect: Tween issues, not fitting in, bullies

In Dan Quixote: Boy of Nuevo Jersey by Shevi Arnold, we’re given a chance to reconnect with our kids by way of function. This is an audio book and what better way to pass the time during a long car ride but by sharing an entertaining “listen”. The story is a fun tale about a 13-year-old boy and his best friend and the adventures they share in New Jersey. The story takes on some difficult issues, such as bullying and peer pressure and the difficulties of staying true to yourself, and handles them with humor. The story also gives the listeners an opening to discuss these things in a non-threatening, non-judgmental way. The function of listening to a tale together gives us the chance to engage with our kids when we’d otherwise be absorbed in our thoughts or our iPods or any number of other things.

Leave us a comment: Which books have helped you connect with your kids?

©2010 The Childrens Book Review. All Rights Reserved.

Shoofly is an audiomagazine for children between the ages of 3 and 7, developed by a small independent publisher “dedicated to offering families of young children quality entertainment.” An annual subscription to Shoofly includes 4 issues and a bonus music CD (or MP3 download). Typically, each issue has 4 stories and 4 songs, all are mixed very artfully with poetry and musical elements — the CD’s usually run around 45-60 minutes.

The collection of stories in each issue is an all-embracing mix of original and traditional tales. Some of the traditional tales you could expect are The Tortoise and the Hare, Stone Soup, and Jack and the Beanstalk. The narrations are clear, vibrant, and lively; they certainly hold the attention of little listeners. You can listen to a sample here.

A list of awards and achievements:

• iParenting Media Award
• Seal of Excellence Creative Child Magazine Award
• Parents’ Choice Silver Honor
• National Parenting Publications Award
• Parent’s Guide Award
• EdPress Distinguished Achievement Award

Shoofly can be purchased individually or as a yearly subscription (available on CD or MP3 – 4 Shoofly issues  + 1 bonus music CD or MP3): http://shooflyaudio.com/

_{TCBR’s source of CD: Shoofly Audio}

©2010 The Childrens Book Review. All Rights Reserved.

Audiobooks have the power to turn a disastrous car trip into an enjoyable family moment. They can even help lure a restless sleeper into dreamland. But, did you know that audiobooks can actually help improve listening and comprehension skills. They’re also a great tool for introducing readers to new authors, and helping reluctant readers connect to a story by providing a different sensory experience. The trick is finding a quality story with a quality narrator.

In a Cookie Magazine article by Christopher Healy, 16 excellent audiobooks have been listed with audio clips and mini-reviews. Each one is narrated by actors, such as: Gwyneth Paltrow, John Lithgow, and Meryl Streep. If you have kids between the ages of 3 and 12, I highly recommend taking a look at this list: Children’s Audiobooks

Another great place to look for audiobooks is kids.audible.com. They have a HUGE selection of the best books for kids and young adults. You can browse by Bestsellers, New Releases, Customer Favorites, Animal Stories, Biographies & History, Classics, Fables, Fictions, Mysteries, Nonfiction, Sci-Fi & Fantasy, and more.

Does your family have a favorite audiobook? A favorite narrator? My family enjoys The Velveteen Rabbit read by Meryl Streep. If you love fables and true classics, I suggest checking out Rabbit Ears Entertainment.

©2010 The Childrens Book Review. All Rights Reserved.