My kids love to talk about the universe, identify planets, use the telescope and identify the constellations. Luckily for them, my husband shares this passion with them. They can talk for hours about it all and love watching eclipses and meteor showers together. If you are less than savvy about all things in the universe but have kids with loads of questions, I want to share something that can help you.
Max Goes to Jupiter is an educational picture book written by an expert astrophysicist and educator whose books happen to be on board the International Space Station and are being read aloud by astronauts!
Dr. Jeffrey Bennett opens a window into space in the half-fiction, half-science story Max Goes to Jupiter(Big Kid Science, June 2018, updated second edition with a special section for teachers and parents about how to use the book and “Story Time From Space”) which is also now available in Spanish: Max Viaja a Jupiter. Read about Story Time from Space in this Huffington Post article.
I really like that this book is filled with so much information about Jupiter. My kids just loved learning about all the interestings facts like the ones below:
How to find Jupiter in the night sky
The importance of Galileo’s discovery of moons around Jupiter
Why spaceships can’t land on Jupiter
The missions to Jupiter
The possibility of a future “space elevator”
What the ocean is like on Europa, one of Jupiter’s moons and could there be life?
Giveaway:
PR By The Book is sponsoring a giveaway on Mommy Ramblings! One lucky blog reader will win their own copy of Max Goes to Jupiter! Thanks again to PR By The Book for the review copy and for sponsoring an out of this world giveaway on Mommy Ramblings! Open to US Readers.
Max Goes to Jupiter Hardcover Book Giveaway on Mommy Ramblings Rules:
Enter for your chance to win using the Rafflecopter widget below. Good Luck!!!
Turns out penguins aren’t the only animals with problems. . . From the creators of Penguin Problems comes GIRAFFE PROBLEMS, a second hilarious collaboration from picture-book superstars Jory John and Lane Smith.
Can you guess what’s making this giraffe self-conscious? Could it be . . . HIS ENORMOUS NECK? Yes, it’s exactly that—how on earth did you figure it out?
Cyrus the giraffe can’t understand why his neck is as long and bendy and, well, ridiculous as it is. No other animal has a neck this absurd. He’s tried disguising it, dressing it up, strategically hiding it behind bushes—honestly, anything you can think of, he’s tried.
Just when he has exhausted his neck-hiding options and is about to throw in the towel, a turtle swoops in (well, ambles in, very slowly) and helps him understand that his neck has a purpose, and looks excellent in a bow tie.
This is such an adorable book that conveys a very important message to kids. Check out my video review of Giraffe Problems below:
Giveaway
Random House is sponsoring a giveaway on Mommy Ramblings. One lucky reader will win their own hardcover copy of Giraffe Problems! Thank you to Random House for the review book and for sponsoring this awesome giveaway on Mommy Ramblings. Open to US residents.
Giraffe Problems Book Giveaway on Mommy Ramblings Rules:
Enter for your chance to win using the Rafflecopter widget below. Good Luck!!!
Talk about a fun book, Chomp Goes The Alligator, is that and more! This large, interactive board book has loads of things for little ones to touch and feel as well as a pull tab so you can make the Alligator’s mouth chomp throughout the story.
Check out my video to see more about this great book.
The book is written by acclaimed novelty book creator Matt Van Fleet. His innovative books have been introducing children to basic concepts for more than twenty years. His other books include Dance Cat, Heads, Alphabet and Moo as well as, the #1 New York Times bestsellers Tails and Dog. His books have sold more than eight million copies and have been translated around the world. Hi lives with his family in New York.
Giveaway:
Simon and Schuster are sponsoring a giveaway on Mommy Ramblings. One lucky blog reader will win their own copy of Chomp Goes The Alligator! Thank you to Simon and Schuster for the review book and for sponsoring this amazing giveaway on Mommy Ramblings. Open to US Residents.
Chomp Goes The Alligator Interactive Board Book Giveaway on Mommy Ramblings Rules:
Enter for your chance to win using the Rafflecopter widget below. Good Luck!!!
Next week, Sesame Street – Elmo’s World: Elmo Explores, will be released. To celebrate, I want to share some fun printables based on the series. You will find a great mix of bookmarks, activities and recipe printables. All feature the Sesame Street characters, you can check a sample out below. You can download all the printables by clicking HERE.
Explore the everyday world with everybody’s favorite furry red monster, Elmo, in the new DVD release of Sesame Street – Elmo’s World: Elmo Explores!, on October 2, 2018 from Shout! Factory and Sesame Workshop. Fans can now pre-order their copies on Amazon.com.
Elmo Explores! is a two-hour collection of Elmo’s World episodes, appearing for the first time on DVD. Using the power of his imagination, Sesame Street’s little red monster explores kid-friendly topics such as painting, cooking, and habitats from a child’s point of view.
Joined by the hilarious Mr. Noodle, Smartie the Smartphone, and his pet goldfish Dorothy, Elmo asks questions that lead to fun discoveries. An age-appropriate launch pad for imagination and learning, Elmo’s World: Elmo Explores! indulges children’s natural sense of curiosity about the world around them.
Each engaging installment of this newly-reimagined Sesame Street segment presents young viewers with lessons to help them grow smarter, stronger, and kinder. Bonus features include two episodes of the uproariously silly Sesame Street spin-off The Furchester Hotel and three classic segments of the original Elmo’s World.
Elmo’s World: Elmo Explores! is perfectly suited for curious preschoolers and for the generations of fans who continue to enjoy classic Sesame Street segments that were a vital part of their own childhoods.
Currently in its 48th season, Sesame Street is the longest-running program in children’s television and has received more Emmy Awards than any other show in television history.
Check out the Trailer Below:
Giveaway
Shout! Kids is sponsoring a giveaway on Mommy Ramblings! One lucky blog reader will win their own Sesame Street – Elmo’s World: Elmo Explores! Thank you to Shout! Kids for the review DVD and for sponsoring this great giveaway on Mommy Ramblings! Open to US Residents.
Sesame Street – Elmo’s World Elmo Explores! DVD Giveaway on Mommy Ramblings Rules:
Please enter using the Rafflecopter widget below. Good Luck!!!
Oh, as much as I don’t want to acknowledge it, the weather is turning, and a nice homestyle pot roast with vegetables is so nice to have for dinner. However, if you are craving that melt-in-your mouth flavor, you might think you are out of luck if you did not start slow cooking early in the day. Well, procrastinators, busy people and just about everyone can rejoice. With the Mealthy Multipot, you can have tender, delicious pot roast in no time at all.
If you want to learn more about the Mealthy Multipot or get your own, you can click HERE. I have even more exciting news, you can enter a giveaway below to win a #MealthyMoms Cooking Kit.
Giveaway:
Mealthy is sponsoring a giveaway on Mommy Ramblings. One lucky blog reader will win a #MealthyMoms Cooking Kit! Thank you to Mealthy for sponsoring this recipe post and amazing giveaway. Open to US residents.
#MealthyMoms Cooking Kit Giveaway on Mommy Ramblings Rules:
Enter for your chance to win using the Rafflecopter widget below. Good Luck!!!
Each household is only eligible to win via blog reviews and giveaways. Only one entrant per mailing address per giveaway. If you have won the same prize on another blog, you will not be eligible to win it again. Winner is subject to eligibility verification. The prize will be sent via FedEx or USPS. No P.O. Boxes please.
God’s Spirit is living among God’s people. He always was, always is, and always will be. These are the stories that tell about him and what he does.
The Spirit of God Illustrated Bible, written by Doris Rikkers and illustrated by Fernando Juarez, contains over 40 Bible stories from the old and new testaments that show how God’s Spirit has been with his people from the beginning of time. I am so excited to share this new release from ZonderKidz with you!
From the glory of creation through the powerful letters of Paul, God’s Spirit is living in his people. Old and New Testament stories such as Adam and Eve, Abraham, Joseph, the Baptism of Jesus, and Pentecost come alive with dramatic illustrations by Fernando Juarez and moving text by Doris Rikkers. With a cover that sparkles and shines with foil, this is a special storybook Bible that will appeal to both children and parents alike.
Where can I go from your Spirit? Where can I flee from your presence? If I go up to the heavens, you are there; If I make my bed in the depths, you are there. If I rise on the wings of the dawn, If I settle on the far side of the sea, Even there your hand will guide me, Your right hand will hold me fast.
~ Psalm 139: 7–10
My Thoughts:
This Bible is perfect for my kids, they can read the age-old stories of the Bible from the Old and New Testament in a format that is not overwhelming. The easy to read text and beautiful illustrations captive them and peak their interest. It is also a great Bible for myself or my husband to read aloud to them. Giveaway:
Propeller Consulting, LLC is sponsoring a giveaway on Mommy Ramblings. One lucky blog reader will win their own Spirit of God Illustrated Bible! Thanks to Propeller Consulting, LLC for the review Bible and this inspirational giveaway. Open to US Residents.
I don’t know who was more excited when the mail arrived yesterday, my husband or my kids. That’s because one of the packages was the newly released “Solo: A Star Wars Story”. In case you didn’t know, they are HUGE Star Wars Fans!
We can’t wait until Friday, because we are going to watch this together for our family movie night. If it is a nice evening, we will make it an outdoor movie and project it on our giant outdoor screen. I’m sure our kids would love to invite some of their friends to watch with us.
Lucasfilm’s “Solo: A Star Wars Story,” directed by Academy Award®–winning filmmaker Ron Howard—the creator of unforgettable films, such as “A Beautiful Mind,” “Apollo 13,” “Parenthood” and “Splash”—is an action-packed journey that explores Han’s first encounters with future friend and copilot Chewbacca (Joonas Suotamo) and notorious gambler Lando Calrissian (Donald Glover).
The film takes viewers on a ride showing Han’s adventure-filled past alongside fellow street thief Qi’ra (Emilia Clarke) and career criminal Beckett (Woody Harrelson). “Solo: A Star Wars Story” bonus material takes fans behind the scenes with the star-studded cast and screenwriters Jonathan Kasdan & Lawrence Kasdan (writer of Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back and Star Wars: Return of the Jedi).
Special features include a revealing feature on Chewie and his enduring friendship with Han; a close-up look at the original version of the Millennium Falcon and Han’s first time piloting the infamous ship; the creation of the film’s otherworldly settings and pulse-pounding action sequences; and eight never-before-seen deleted and extended scenes.
Watch instantly on Sept. 14th as the Millennium Falcon sets course digitally in HD and 4K Ultra HD™ and on Movies Anywhere, and bring the adventure home on Blu-ray 4K Ultra HD™, Blu-ray™, DVD and On-Demand on Sept. 25.
Check out the film’s trailer below:
DIGITAL AND BLU-RAY BONUS MATERIAL (may vary by retailer):
Solo: The Director & Cast Roundtable – Sit down with director Ron Howard and the stars for an intimate and entertaining discussion of the film’s making.
Team Chewie- See what it takes to bring your favorite Wookiee to life in this lighthearted look behind the scenes.
Kasdan on Kasdan- Iconic Star Wars screenwriter Lawrence Kasdan and son Jonathan share what it was like to write the movie’s script together.
Remaking the Millennium Falcon- Track the transformation of the most famous ship in the galaxy, from Lando’s swank and impeccable pride and joy to Han’s stripped-down hot-rod freighter with “special modifications.”
Escape from Corellia- Get behind the wheel for the making of this high-octane chase through the streets of Corellia.
The Train Heist- Explore the challenges and thrills of creating this action-packed sequence, including its remote location and spectacular effects.
Becoming a Droid: L3-37 – Meet the newest droid—and the talented actor who helps bring her to life.
Scoundrels, Droids, Creatures and Cards: Welcome to Fort Ypso- Take an in-depth tour of the rough-and-tumble bar where strangers mix and gamblers risk all in the legendary card game, Sabaac.
Into the Maelstrom: The Kessel Run- Join Han and Chewie at the controls of the Millennium Falcon to see how this legendary moment in Star Wars history unfolds.
Deleted Scenes
Proxima’s Den
Corellian Foot Chase
Han Solo: Imperial Cadet
The Battle of Mimban: Extended
Han Versus Chewie: Extended
Snowball Fight!
Meet Dryden: Extended
Coaxium Double-Cross
The Millenium Falcon: From Page to Park – An exclusive look at the history of the most famous ship in the galaxy, its origin and development, and how it will translate in one of the most anticipated expansions in Disneyland’s history.
Fun Film Facts:
To create the unique look of the film, some of the industry’s top talent was recruited, including Academy Award® nominee Bradford Young (“Arrival”), director of photography; two-time Academy Award–winning editor Pietro Scalia (“Alien: Covenant”); Dominic Tuohy (“The Mummy”), special effects supervisor; Rob Bredow (“Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs”), visual effects supervisor; and John Powell (“Jason Bourne”), score composed and adapted by.
They are joined by returning Star Wars veteran crew members: Neil Lamont, production designer; Neal Scanlan, special creature effects; David Crossman and Glyn Dillon, costume designers; Jamie Wilkinson, prop master; Lisa Tomblin-Fitzpatrick, hair designer; and Amanda Knight, makeup designer.
The legendary John Williams is credited with the “Han Solo Theme” and original Star Wars music.
Film Specs.:
FEATURE RUN TIME: Approximately 135 min.
RATING: PG-13 in U.S. (Bonus Material Not Rated); PG in CE and G in CF
PRODUCT OFFERINGS: Digital 4K UHD (Select retailers include Dolby Vision), HD, SD
4K UHD Multi Screen Edition (4K UHD + BD + Digital Code)
School is back in session throughout the country, and reading is so important. Finding interesting books that your child wants to read, will really help, if you have to battle with them to read for 20 or 30 minutes a day.
My boys love books that draw them in and capture their interest with an exciting and engaging story. The Last Kids on Earth series does just that! Described as Diary of a Wimpy Kidmeets The Walking Deadthese very funny post-apocalyptic graphic novels are perfect for middle-grade readers.
This is a four book series to date and it all starts with Book 1;The Last Kids on Earth.
Ever since the monster apocalypse hit town, average thirteen year old Jack Sullivan has been living in his tree house, which he’s armed to the teeth with catapults and a moat, not to mention video games and an endless supply of Oreos and Mountain Dew scavenged from abandoned stores. But Jack alone is no match for the hordes of Zombies and Winged Wretches and Vine Thingies, and especially not for the eerily intelligent monster known only as Blarg. So Jack builds a team: his dorky best friend, Quint; the reformed middle school bully, Dirk; Jack’s loyal pet monster, Rover; and Jack’s crush, June. With their help, Jack is going to slay Blarg, achieve the ultimate Feat of Apocalyptic Success, and be average no longer! Can he do it?
Told in a mixture of text and black-and-white illustration, this is the perfect book for any kid who’s ever dreamed of starring in his or her own comic book or video game. And then grab the rest of the series, now a New York Times bestseller!
The zombies are disappearing. This might seem like a good thing, since zombies eat your brains, but normal human kid Jack Sullivan is suspicious. He keeps hearing an eerie shrieking noise that seems to be almost summoning the zombies—but to where, and for what (probably) foul purpose?
Jack, his three best friends (maybe the only people left on Earth), and their pet monster Rover need to get to the bottom of this. Along the way they encounter a lot more than they bargained for, including a giant Wormungulous, a pizza parlor monster hangout, an ancient evil who destroys worlds, and a stereo system that is totally the bomb. Can Jack figure out why the zombies are vanishing . . . before he and his friends are next?
Life after the zombie apocalypse is pretty good for 13-year-old Jack Sullivan: he lives in a mind-clobberingly cool tree fort with his best friends, speeds through town playing Real-Life Mario Kart, has a crew of monster buddies, battles zombies on the regular, and generally treats life-like it’s a video game!
But then Jack’s friends make a startling discovery: they may not be the last kids on earth, after all. This is great news for everyone… except Jack. Once they’ve found other humans, his friends won’t stick around for long! Jack’s only hope for keeping things the way they are is to prove that everything here is perfect, life is crazy fun, and nothing else could be any better.
One problem: it’s hard convincing his friends that everything is great when they’re being hunted by a monstrous Nightmare King and an ancient evil who won’t rest until Earth has been devoured. Crud! Maybe life after the monster apocalypse is more complicated than Jack thought…
The newest installment in this New York Times bestselling series introduces new monsters, new bad guys, and tons of new laughs!
It’s the first winter after the Monster Apocalypse. For Jack and his buddies, that means sled catapults, epic snowball battles, and one monstrous Christmas celebration. But their winter wonderland turns dark when a villainess begins hunting them. And this villainess is different—she’s a human.
When the villainess steals Jack’s prized monster-slaying tool, the Louisville Slicer, he vows to get it back. But it won’t be easy. Jack and his friends soon discover that the Louisville Slicer is the key to a dark plan that threatens the entire world—and beyond…
You can watch a video trailer for the series below:
About The Author:
Max Brallier (maxbrallier.com) is the New York Times bestselling author of more than thirty books and games, including the previous books in The Last Kids on Earth series. He is the creator and writer of Galactic Hot Dogs, an ongoing middle-grade web serial and book series with Aladdin. He writes for licensed properties including Adventure Time, Regular Show, and Uncle Grandpa. Under the pen name Jack Chabert, he is the creator and author of the Eerie Elementary series for Scholastic Books. In the olden days, he worked in the marketing department at St. Martin’s Press. Max lives just outside of New York City with his wife and daughter.
ILLUSTRATOR BIO:
Douglas Holgate has been a freelance comic book artist and illustrator based in Melbourne, Australia, for more than ten years. He’s illustrated books for publishers including HarperCollins, Penguin Random House, Hachette, and Simon & Schuster, and comics for Image, Dynamite, Abrams, and Penguin Random House.
Giveaway
Penguin Random House is sponsoring a giveaway on Mommy Ramblings! One lucky blog reader will win Book 1 and Book 4 of The Last Kids on Earth Series! Thank you to Penguin Random House for the review books and for sponsoring this great giveaway on Mommy Ramblings! Open to US residents.
The Last Kids On EarthBook 1 and Book 4 Giveaway on Mommy Ramblings Rules:
Please enter for your chance to win using the Rafflecopter widget below. Good Luck!!!
I am so blessed to live in the gorgeous Catskill Mountains of Upstate New York. The Hudson Valley Region has so much to offer in breathtaking beauty and diverse culture. We love living only 90 minutes from NYC, so we can attend shows and events, and still live surrounded by trees, meadows, lakes and rivers.
As a hobby photographer, I rarely take a walk where I don’t have my camera around my neck. With the advances in technology, smartphones provide us with a camera we have with us everywhere. I am forever snapping photos and recording video of my amazing surroundings. I love sharing my photos and videos, so others can experience the pristine beauty.
Picturing America: Thomas Cole And The Birth of American Art by Hudson Talbott, is a stunning biographical picture book and an excellent tool to introduce children to Thomas Cole. This book is so beautiful and filled with fascinating information about the life of Thomas Cole.
Picturing Americagives us a bird’s-eye look into Thomas Cole’s life. From his humble beginnings and immigration from England to America, to his development of a new painting style that became America’s first formal art movement: the Hudson River School of painting. The pages of Picturing America are peppered with some of Cole’s most beloved paintings, beautifully framed by Hudson Talbott’s watercolor illustrations.
You can see more in my video review and reading of Picturing America below:
As a resident of the beautiful Hudson Valley, I am thrilled to announce that Penguin Young Readers is sponsoring a giveaway on Mommy Ramblings! One lucky blog reader will win their own hardcover copy of Picturing America! Thank you to Penguin Random House for the review book and for sponsoring this amazing giveaway on Mommy Ramblings! Open to US Residents.
Picturing American Hardcover Book Giveaway on Mommy Ramblings Rules:
Please enter for your chance to win using the Rafflecopter widget below. Good Luck!!!
As most of the schools are now back in session, you might be searching for engaging books for bedtime reading. I would like to share a bright, bold and quirky new book about finding and taming the beast within. How To Be A T.Rexis about Sal, a girl who thinks being herself is kind of a drag. Sal does not want to grow up to be a doctor or teacher, she wants to be an awesome T.Rex!
You might be surprised to learn that becoming a T. Rex is not hard at all. However, it is hard to make friends when you are a super-giant, super-loud, super-stompy dinosaur. If only Sal could be as 100% awesome as a T. Rex all of the time! The book is written by Ryan North and illustrated by Mike Lowery.
Check out my video about the book below:
About the Author: RYAN NORTH is a New York Times bestselling author and cartoonist known for his online strip Dinosaur Comics, his critically acclaimed work on Marvel’s Unbeatable Squirrel Girl, as well as his Eisner Award-winning writing for the Adventure Time comic. He lives in Toronto with his wife, Jenn, and their dog, Noam Chompsky. HOW TO BE A T.REXis his debut picture book.
About the illustrator: MIKE LOWERY is an author, artist, and an avid collector of weird bits of knowledge. He’s illustrated dozens of books for kids, including the Gingerbread Man is Loose in the School series. Mike lives with his wife and two kids in Atlanta, Georgia.
Giveaway:
Penguin Random House is sponsoring a giveaway on Mommy Ramblings. One lucky blog reader will win a hardcover copy of How To Be A T. Rex and a book poster! Thank you Penguin Random House for the review book and posters and for sponsoring this awesome giveaway on Mommy Ramblings. Open to US Residents.
How To Be A T. Rex Hardcover Book Giveaway on Mommy Ramblings Rules:
Please enter for your chance to win using the Rafflecopter widget below. Good Luck!!!
Hello, I’m Carolyn! I am a PR Savvy, WAH Mom to 5! I love Photography, Baking, DIY Projects, Crafts, Cooking and making memories with my family. I love sharing reviews and giveaways too!
