Review: There's a Mouse About the House

Review by:
Joel (5), Evan (5), Elisha (5), Luke (4), Mom

Mom's Review: This is hands down one of the cutest books I have ever seen! This is one of my top selling titles and well loved by every kid who sees it. The mouse is a cutout that moves through slots throughout each of the pages. His little adventure through the house makes for lots of laughs from the kids. I especially like that he always travels in a left-to-right fashion to promote early reading skills. You will absolutely love this book. It's fun, it's different, it's definitely worth adding to your collection.

Elisha's Review:
(Mom) Elisha, is this a fun book?
(Elisha): Fun book?   (She doesn't say much yet. :) 

Luke's Review:
I love the mouse running all over the place and trying to get the cheese. My favorite thing about the book is because he moves all around. It's a fun story. Two thumbs up!

Joel's Review:
I love this book. The story is really fun to read and I like putting the mouse in the holes. My favorite part is when he climbs through the man's pajamas and the man screams. Two thumbs up and kids will like this book and they should get it!

Evan's Review:
This book is really funny because the mouse runs all over the pages and you can move him through the holes in the pages. Kids would like to have this book because it is fun to read.

Mom's Tip: Especially for those with younger kids- get some brown felt, trace the mouse that comes with the book, and instantly you have a soft version of the mouse ready for your child to use in the book. This will make it easier for little hands to slip the mouse through the slots on each page and will keep your book in tip-top shape!

And remember, Usborne Books has a lifetime replacement policy. If your favorite books become damaged in some way, you can replace them for just 50% retail price, so that your books will last long enough to be handed down to future generations! 

Click to buy There's a Mouse About the House

Review: Pirates

Click here to view/order collection 

Pirates is one of the titles in the Beginning Adventures collection (beginning readers, level 2.) It is available for purchase individually or as part of an 8-book collection (shown above.)

Today's review is by:
Evan (age 6)

What is it that you like about this story? Well, it's all about how pirates used to live and do stuff. Like the pirates had to work and had different jobs and got into trouble when they didn't follow the rules.

What do you want people to know about pirates that you learned in this book?  The pirates were sometimes bad guys and sometimes good guys, and some of them wanted treasure but some of them got left behind or they got captured by the Navy.

Do you think other kids would like this book? Yes, definitely. I really like the pictures and other kids will, too.

Thank you, Evan! 

Click here to purchase your own copy today. 

If you have a pirate fanatic in your life, be sure to look at all of the different pirate titles available through Usborne Books! Visit my online shop and search "pirates" to see the many different pirate titles available!

Free Books!

I promise we've got some new reviews on the way, but I wanted to quickly share just why I love what I do.

In the past two weeks, I have given people $615 worth of free and 1/2 price books (nearly half of that being FREE.) This is my job... to make people happy by giving them FREE books that will enrich the children in their lives.

Talk about a fulfilling job!

Candlewick Lake Residents: End of the Book Fair is Sunday!

Have you seen these cool kids running around the lake? 

One of the reasons we were so excited to move to CWL is because of all the community programs that are offered for children. As a mom, I love having my children grow up in this wonderful community. I take pride in where we live and want to make it a great place for all of us to make memories. 

Tomorrow is the last day of the CWL Book Fair. Please come support the children's programs in our neighborhood! The family friendly atmosphere is an important feature of what we have to offer to the (current and future) residents of Candlewick Lake. 

Weather-permitting, I'll be set up outside near all the Labor Day festivities taking place. (Rain and books don't mix, so you'll find me inside the Rec Center if the weather isn't cooperating.)

Please support this awesome opportunity to gain lots of high quality books for the children in our neighborhood! 

CAN'T MAKE IT OUT OF THE HOUSE? SHOP ONLINE HERE AND CWL WILL EARN CREDIT TOWARD THE BOOK FAIR. 

Labor Day Contest

HAVE YOU SHOPPED YET? SUPPORT OUR KIDS- VISIT THE FAIR OR SHOP ONLINE! 

Labor Day is coming, and I'd love to see some comments on this blog, so we at The Reading Pod decided to do something fun to celebrate. Leave a comment answering the questions below, and on Labor Day (Sept. 2nd) we'll choose a winner to receive a free book! (I'll mail it to you, so only continental U.S. readers qualify to win.) Be sure to leave a contact email so I can get in touch with you if you win!


The Questions:
What is your favorite/most memorable book from your youth? (If you have multiple, choose one.)
Who is the author?
What made it such a special/memorable story to you?
Where is that book now?

Click the picture to shop online 

HELLO NEIGHBORS! 
The book fair starts Monday! I'll be setting up the booth for orders and sales for a couple of hours each day this week. Please come by and introduce yourself. Remember that if you can't make it while my table is set up, you still can order your books through this link: http://x3152.myubam.com/Event/25669   A part of every sale will help CWL earn free books for the preschool and after school programs. This is a wonderful way to support your community!

WANT TO HOST A HOME BOOK SHOW? 
I LOVE hosting home shows, and you will too! If you are interested in earning hundreds of dollars' worth of FREE and reduced-price books, a home show is a fun and easy way to do so. CONTACT ME and let me know you are interested in hosting.

LOOKING FOR INCOME? 
CONTACT ME to let me know you are interested in learning more my business with Usborne Books. I am looking for members to join my team and would love to talk to you about why I love what I do!

DID YOU KNOW?

http://www.rodneytrice.com/sfbb/articles/home.pdf

Researchers found that children who grow up in homes with hundreds of books get three more years schooling than those without many books in the home, regardless of their parents' occupation, education, or income.

WHAT DOES THIS MEAN? 

IT MEANS HAVING BOOKS IN YOUR HOME IS AN INVESTMENT IN YOUR CHILD'S FUTURE! 

Statistically speaking: 

-Children in the U.S. who grow up in a book culture* further their education by 2.4 years compared to those who do not have access to books. 

-Children who grow up in a book culture are EQUALLY likely to pursue higher education as those who grow up with college-educated parents. 

-Children who grow up in a book culture are TWICE as likely to pursue higher education as those with parents in professional careers. 

*Book culture means a home library. A place filled with books, where the family partakes in, and encourages, reading on a regular basis. 

The Picture Says It All

My sons (twins) are turning six, and the grandparents dropped by to give them some gifts. Joel's reaction was pretty fantastic when he received his new Usborne Drawing, Doodling and Coloring Book.

I love seeing such sheer joy on my son's face!

CWL BOOK FAIR IS COMING!!

This is a great way to support our neighborhood. Please come by the Rec Center to see all the beautiful books I have available for purchase! 

Back-To-School Teacher Gift Ideas

Looking for a small teacher's gift as your child heads back to school? How about a book to share with the class? (As a certified teacher, I can tell you I would have loved receiving books for my classroom!) 

Here are some titles I recommend as great classroom selections (click the picture to purchase): 

Combined volume means a great value! Just $12.99 for four books in one. Great for pre-K through elementary classrooms.

Loaded with information for early-late elementary students. Sturdy board book $13.99 

Just one in a series. Great fiction chapter book that teacher can read to students (and young readers will enjoy reading on their own.) Only $4.99

Wonderful fiction story for teacher to read and discuss with students. Loved by all ages and only $6.99! 

Teachers of young children will love sharing this sweet story with their pre-K through early elementary students. Hardback, $12.99

Review: Hey Jack! The Worst Sleepover

Today's review is by: Mom

click here to buy 

Of my four kids, only one has always had an innate love of books and reading. The rest of them are reluctant readers- meaning they've never been immediately drawn to storytime, books, reading. (That has been changing since they've discovered Usborne and Kane/Miller, but I'll save that for another time.)

Because we're a homeschooling family, we read together quite a bit. I hate to admit it, but many times, we suffer through it. We all start out excited about a book, then, a few chapters in, realize it is taking us forever to finish, and somewhere along the way I pretty much lose them completely. By then, as much as I love the story, I realize I'm not loving reading it aloud. But we do it, because, gosh darn it, we are going to be that kind of a family! :) Reading aloud is important to us, as is reading together. It's just a shame that, at times, it can feel like such a chore.

Which is exactly why I felt it was so important that I share this story with you.

I received a copy of Hey Jack! in my consultant kit. The Worst Sleepover is one of many in a series, and I wanted to learn more about the product, so I decided I should read it. I asked the kids if they'd like me to read this new chapter book to them. They said yes.
I read the first chapter.
They asked me to keep going.
I read the next chapter.
They asked me to keep going.

And on it went, until we had finished the entire book in one sitting.

Is this a miracle I just witnessed? Seriously? We read an entire chapter book with EVERY child completely engaged, leaning over my shoulders, excited to hear the story from start to finish?!
The plot is fairly simple. Jack goes to his friend's house for a sleepover, and very quickly, they end up in a disagreement that makes the fun night together not fun at all.
My kids loved it, and so did I.

Wow. As a mom, as a homeschooler, as a licensed teacher, THIS is exactly what I want for my kids. I want them to love books as much as I loved books when I was a child, and that is just what this Hey Jack! title accomplished.

No doubt about it, I plan to buy the rest of the series soon. Whether you've got a reluctant reader, or a child who reads everything (s)he can get hands on, I highly recommend giving the Hey Jack! series a try for family reading as well as for newly independent readers.

This mama gives Hey Jack! The Worst Sleepover two thumbs way, way, up. 

Click here to buy the Hey Jack! series through this link. Retail price $39.99 

CWL Visitors: Welcome to My Blog!

I had a great time talking with my CWL neighbors tonight... if you are one of these people, welcome to my blog!

If you are here to shop to benefit our community, CLICK HERE. Make sure you click "Candlewick Lake National Night Out" so that your shopping is credited to our community event.

Thank you for your support. See you at the book fair August 26-September 1st!! 

National Night Out

Review: Cow Takes a Bow

Today's review is given by Luke, age 4.  Cow Takes a Bow is part of the collection of Usborne Phonics Readers. Because Luke is a beginning reader, this was a great book for the two of us to sit and read together. 

Cow Takes a Bow

Luke's review:
"I really like this story because it is funny. The cow is so silly! My favorite part was the tricycle; it just kept going round and round. This is a good book and other kids would like to read it."

Luke isn't quite ready to read on his own, but he was sounding out a few words on each page. Go Luke! 

Have an early reader in your life? The Reading Pod suggests you check out Cow Takes a Bow!  , available for just $6.99. Click the link to order your copy! 

She's a Beauty!

Today I want to tell you about the Usborne Books new consultant kit.
To put it simply, she's a beauty!
The kit itself is typically $129... which in and of itself is an amazing deal because:

It contains basically everything you need to start your own business;

It comes with 25+ books, and

Usborne lets you run the business however you choose. No minimum quotas to meet, no agreements to pay extra if you choose not to pursue it. Basically, you can't go wrong!

Look at all those books! These are the ones that came in my business kit. 

I had already been planning to join as a new consultant, and they just happened to be running a great special, so the kit was an even better deal. But really, full price ($129) is still an amazing bargain (I'd have paid it if they didn't happen to have the special when I joined.)

These are some of the titles Joel and Evan are begging me to get for them. 

Usborne Books & More is a very family-oriented company. I've gotten to know the company well over the years. They strive hard to keep everyone (customers and consultants) happy. Because there are no minimum quotas for sales, there are no penalties, and you can be as active (or inactive) as you choose, it's just really easy to make it whatever you choose. When I joined years ago, I chose to do nothing with it, and that was okay by Usborne. Years later, I called and said, "Now I want to make it a real business for myself," and they helped me get up and running again. Really, can you ask for a better company? 

We'll be sharing reviews of some of these titles in the very near future.

I'm proud to call myself and Usborne Books consultant, can you tell? :) 

What about you? Have you been thinking about ways that you could add income to your family? Have you ever thought about joining Usborne Books? Feel free to comment with questions you might have! 

CLICK THE IMAGE TO LEARN HOW TO JOIN MY TEAM 

Review: Usborne's Lift and Look Train

Welcome to our first ever Usborne book review! Today's review is brought to you by:

(Joel......... age 5)
(Evan....... age 5)
(Luke....... age 4)
(Mommy.... yeah, right!)

Click to buy 

The Lift and Look flap book is one of the most popular choices in our house! The boys were really excited to talk about it.

Mom: Guys, tonight I would like you to tell me about this book. It seems like you read it a lot. Can you explain what it is that you like about it?

Evan: This train book is great because it is hidden pictures to try and find the bear on each page.
Joel: Yeah, it's like a mystery you have to solve. You have to think and remember where the bear is hiding.

Mom: Okay, that is neat. Is there anything else that makes you enjoy it so much?

Luke: The trains are really neat looking. They look real. And the animals are so cute.
Joel: Yeah, the pictures look kind of real. They aren't like drawings.
Evan: Yeah and see the trains? See the people inside? These are really good pictures to look at.
Joel: And it is a good book because we don't have to wait for someone to read it to us. I can just look at the book by myself and read it. Sometimes waiting for someone else is boring, so I like looking at this one.

Mom: Guys, I never thought about these reasons that make you like the book so much. So, if there was a mom who wanted to buy a book for her kids, and she saw this one, would you recommend it to her? Would you tell her that she should get this for her own kids that are four or five or six years old?

All three: YES!
Joel: Mom, can we read this book now?


The Reading Pod gives Trains Lift and Look  ALL THUMBS UP!

Click here to buy the book

If you have the Lift and Look books, I'd love to hear from you! Do your kids have a favorite? 

Mom's Point-of-View: Why We Became An Usborne Family

A few years ago, I learned of a company called Usborne Books & More. An acquaintance had mentioned how much she loved being an independent consultant of this fantastic company that specializes in high quality children's books. As a certified teacher and (then) mom of three, my interest was peaked, and, long story short, I decided to jump on board as an independent consultant myself. I knew virtually nothing about the product, but I liked what I saw, and figured maybe it was worth a shot. I received my business starter kit and immediately realized just what makes Usborne Books so special. I was a happy camper, and figured if I never did anything with my new job title, I was completely okay with that, because it was worth joining just for the books alone! And ultimately, that is exactly what happened. I decided not to actually pursue being a consultant, but instead just enjoyed the perks of being a part of the company. I was happy, and my children were happy.

I read the books over and over (and over...) to my kids. No matter what other books we purchased or received as gifts, time and again, our Usborne titles were the books they continually went back to reading. When friends would ask about the company or the books, I would rave about the quality, both in the stories themselves, as well as the high quality of the actual products. I encouraged them to find an active consultant and place an order.

I'm not sure why it took me years to realize it, but finally it occurred to me: WE are an Usborne family! We love the books! I love the company! I'm totally sold, I'm telling others how much I love them, I am proud to be a part of the name. So WHY ON EARTH AM I NOT SHARING MY LOVE AS AN INDEPENDENT CONSULTANT MYSELF?

And that is exactly how I came to again be an independent consultant with Usborne Books & More. There is so much that this company does RIGHT. There is a community of consultants across the country who love feel the same way. And, like me, there are a lot of moms who see the difference with Usborne and Kane/Miller books.

Think of it as nutrition for your brain. Everyone has to eat. You can choose lcheap fast food, and say, "Hey, it's a meal. Good enough, right?" or you can choose high-quality, freshly grown, truly nutritional options that aren't just filling you up, but are actually making your life better. That's how I see Usborne books. The books aren't just there to fill your shelves. They are engaging, overflowing with information that honestly helps your child grow and learn. The books are high quality items that aren't going to easily fall apart or be quickly forgotten. They come from a company that truly believes in its product, in its consultants, and in keeping its customers returning for more.

This time, I'm sticking around. I'm not here on a whim; I'm not hoping I get something out of it. I'm here, telling you about something that I love, that my kids love, and that I am really excited to share with others.

If you love Usborne Books, I'd love to hear your story, too! Leave a comment and share the love!