Tag Archive | hardcover

September’s DVD and Book Product #Roundup 2019

I get products sent to me daily to try out. I unfortunately don’t have time to do a post for each item that I get to review. So I want to make sure these items get seen and learned about. The only other solution I could see to do is to do a September’s DVD and Book Product Roundup 2019 on the products I like and want my readers to know about. I hope you enjoy these as much as I and my other reviewers did.

Paw Patrol: Ready Race Rescue (Walmart Exclusive) (DVD + Digital Copy) It’s the Adventure Bay 500 and legendary race car driver, The Whoosh, can’t compete! The pups speed into action to help Marshall take the wheel against cheating rival, The Cheetah, for the championship trophy in this ALL-NEW PAW PATROL MOVIE! Paw Patrol: Ready Race Rescue (Walmart Exclusive) (DVD + Digital Copy)

Remember that time you passed gas in that super crowded elevator? Or when you lost your sock in the dryer? That was just bad luck, right? Wrong! That was the work of Yo-kai; the invisible Yo-kai all around us that are the cause of our daily annoyances!!

Nate is a just a regular boy struggling to be above average at school. One day when he receives the Yo-kai Watch, he gets the chance to see and communicate with these mischievous Yo-kai. With the Yo-kai Watch on his wrist, Nate starts to form friendships with them and learn of the things that make life so complicated.

There s just one problem: they re everywhere and they love to cause mischief!

Includes 13 Action-Packed Episodes!

The Cat in the Hat Knows a Lot About That! follows the adventures of 6-year-old best friends, Sally and Nick, as they are whisked off on extraordinary voyages of scientific discovery with the Cat in the Hat. Â Thanks to the Thinga-ma-jigger and our friends, exploring has never been more exciting!

JoJo embarks on the most epic 24 hours of her life filled with special guests and big surprises leading up to a birthday party she’ll never forget. The DVD also includes six episodes from JoJo’s animated YouTube series “The JoJo & BowBow Show Show,” which follows the adventures of JoJo and her dog BowBow.

JoJo Siwa: Sweet Celebrations episodes:
  • JoJo’s Dream Birthday!
  • The JoJo & BowBow Show Show
    • BowBow Steals the Spotlight?!
    • JoJo’s CRAZIEST Flight Ever
    • BowBow’s SECRET Fashion Show
    • JoJo Makes BowBow’s DIY Dreams Come True
    • BowBow vs. Beans: Battle of the Dog Bosses
    • BowBow’s SECRET Hideout

Brought to you by the letters B, I, R, T, H, D, A, and Y!

Sesame Street is celebrating 50 years and this special 2-DISC COLLECTION is packed with the most beloved moments from the show.

Joining the furry festivities are a host of special guests, including classic clips of Madeline Kahn, REM, and Patti LaBelle; songs from Solange, Sara Bareilles, Janelle Monáe, and Josh Groban; and belly laughs courtesy of Amy Poehler, Jeff Goldblum, and Ricky Gervais.

DISC ONE: Over three hours of fan favorites both old and new, including: Kermit, Alastair Cookie, the Frazzles, Forgetful Jones, the Amazing Mumford, Sherlock Hemlock, Don Music, and Lefty the Salesman.

DISC TWO: The most beloved moments from the show, including: Maria and Luis getting married, the passing of Mr. Hooper, Snuffleupagus becoming “real,” and Big Bird (and Snuffy!) running the New York City Matathon.

Did you ever walk out of class having even more questions than when you walked in? You may feel that way about history or math, but what about your sexual health class (if you even had one)? If you’re anything like most of the youth in America today, your head is probably spinning with a swirling, high-speed hurricane of questions. It is totally normal to be curious and to have questions about relationships, bodies, consent . . . you name it!

But where can your average teen go to get all the reliable and accurate answers they need? In Case You’re Curious, a text-and-answer program conceived by Planned Parenthood, has been pr

oviding this educational service for teens for years. And now In Case You’re Curious is a big book of answers―with funny and educational illustrations―to the most popular and most interesting questions young people have about birth control, development, sexually transmitted diseases, and so much more.

Within these pages you will find nonjudgmental (and fun!) answers meant to educate teens without the uncomfortable silence or weird eye contact often associated with “The Talk.” In Case You’re Curious isn’t afraid to tackle the nitty-gritty questions, such as “Does masturbating give you a disease?” and “Is the pineapple thing true?” that you may think twice about raising your hand to ask in your sexual health class or at home.

Learn all about dinosaurs of different shapes and sizes! First, Mikey Microraptor is visiting Tiny at the family nest when next-door neighbor Larry Lambeosaurus tells Mikey he is too small to be a dinosaur. Then, Buddy and Tank Triceratops are best friends who share a love for comparing features. Buddy, Tank, and the kids go on a quest to track down Ceratopsians with horns numbering 1-15!

It s time for Bear Country adventures with Brother and Sister Bear! Tree House Tales contains 26 stories from the beloved animated series. Sister visits the dentist for the first time where she learns there is nothing to be afraid of; Brother and Sister both try out for the last spot on Bear Country s baseball team; Papa and the bear scouts find themselves lost when exploring a cave; and more!

Every parent wants their child to be okay–to have friends, to be successful, to feel comfortable in his or her own skin. But many children lack important social and executive functioning skills that allow them to navigate through the world with ease.

In-demand parenting expert and former Hallowell Center coach Caroline Maguire has worked with thousands of families dealing with chronic social dilemmas, ranging from shyness to aggression to ADHD, and more. In this groundbreaking book, she shares her decade-in-the-making protocol–The Play Better Plan– to help parents coach children to connect with others and make friends. Children of all ages–truly, from Kindergarten to college age– will gain the confidence to make friends and get along with others, using tools such as:
*Social Sleuthing: learn to pay attention to social cues
*Post-Play Date Huddles: help kids figure out what to look for in a friendship
*Reflective Listening: improve your child’s relationship with their peers
With compassion and ease, this program gives parents a tangible, easy-to-follow guide for helping kids develop the executive function and social skills they need to thrive.

Discover all about how your amazing feline friend thinks, moves, drinks, stays warm, gets clean, cools off, and more, with dozens of fun science-based activities and experiments.

Unleash the power of science! Have fun with 22 safe and cat-friendly activities that let you work alongside your cat to discover what makes her tick. Learn how catnip affects your kitty and how she can see so well in the dark. Find out what kind of toys your cat loves by making a feather flyer. How does your cat balance so well and always land on all fours? Each activity is paired with step-by-step instructions, clear and interesting scientific explanations, and cool photographs shot specifically for this book. Hands-on activities and fun information for budding scientists prompt further learning and offer a behind-the-scenes look at current feline research. When you are finished with the book you’ll have a vet-worthy profile of the best kitty companion on the planet–yours!

This book is part of the National Geographic Kids Hands-on Science line which makes science fun and accessible.

Calling Paw Patrol fans and all dog lovers! Follow the real-life adventures of dogs with jobs as they help their communities and save the day.

In this endearing read-aloud picture book, meet courageous canine Stella and follow along as she spends an exciting day at work with the police department. Gorgeous photography brings to life the true stories of brave Stella’s role as a search dog in Virginia. Simple, lyrical text lets readers journey along as Stella trains to track scent trails, rides in a helicopter, and saves a lost hiker. Young readers will fall for this witty and daring tale of heroism, along with aww-some photographs. Good dog, Stella!


In this endearing read-aloud picture book, readers meet courageous canine Dolley, and follow her as she spends an exciting day at work with the fire department. Gorgeous photography brings to life Dolley’s role as a fire dog in Loudoun County, Virginia, U.S.A. Simple, lyrical text lets readers journey along as Dolley visits the site of a fire, trains to sniff out flammable items, and teaches kids about fire safety. Young readers will fall for this witty and daring tale of heroism, along with aww-worthy photographs. Good dog, Dolley!
In this endearing read-aloud picture book, readers meet courageous canine Tiger and follow him as he spends an exciting day with the police in our nation’s capital, Washington, D.C. Gorgeous photography depicts brave Tiger’s role as a police dog, and simple, lyrical text lets readers journey along as Tiger visits a police academy, trains to sniff out important items, patrols famous landmarks, and keeps us all safe. Young readers will fall in love with the witty tale, daring story of heroism, and aww-worthy photographs. Good dog, Tiger!
In this endearing read-aloud picture book, readers meet helping hound Willow, and follow her as she spends an exciting day at work. Gorgeous photography brings to life the true stories of sweet Willow’s role as a therapy dog in Washington, D.C. Simple, lyrical text lets readers journey along as Willow visits patients at a hospital, helps children read at a library pajama party, and brings smiles to people who need them. Young readers will fall for this witty and daring tale of heroism, along with aww-worthy photographs. Good dog, Willow!
From cats to dogs to guinea pigs to birds to fish to snakes and more, this adorable reference book introduces kids to a wide variety of family-friendly pets. Readers learn which kinds of animals make good pets and which ones are better off staying in the wild, along with how each type of pet eats, sleeps, and plays. Packed with more than 200 colorful photos, the book also provides information on animal breeds, characteristics, and behavior and includes tips for training pets. Filled with fun facts and designed for interactive learning, this book will quickly become a favorite at storytime, bedtime, and any time.
From dachshunds to Dalmatians and poodles to pugs, this comprehensive guide gives an overview of more than 400 different dog breeds. Each profile includes the breed’s “dog stats”: country of origin, size, coat color and pattern, grooming difficulty, exercise needs, and “K-9 qualities.” With the help of veterinarian Dr. Gary Weitzman and dog behaviorist Amanda Kowalski, kids will also learn how to choose the right dog for them, how to take care of their new furry friend, and how to understand their behavior. Fantastic feature spreads cover dogs in popular culture, dog ancestry, how to prepare for your perfect pooch, dogs with jobs, and so much more. This comprehensive guide is perfect for dog-loving kids, and an excellent reference for families who are who are bringing home their first four-legged family member.
From Russian Blues and Munchkins to Maine Coons and Persians, this comprehensive guide gives an overview of 71 different cat breeds. Each profile includes the breed’s “cat stats”: country of origin, size, coat color and pattern, grooming difficulty, and cat-titude. With the help of veterinarian Dr. Gary Weitzman and cat behaviorist Mieshelle Nagelschneider, kids will also learn how to choose the right cat for them, how to take care of their new feline friend, and how to understand its behavior. Fun feature spreads cover cats in popular culture, prehistoric cats, and the house cat’s wild cousins. This comprehensive guide is perfect for the cat-crazy kid, and is an excellent reference for families who are bringing home their first four-legged family member.

April’s DVD and Book Product #Roundup 2019

I get products sent to me daily to try out. I unfortunately don’t have time to do a post for each item that I get to review. So I want to make sure these items get seen and learned about. The only other solution I could see to do is to do a April’s DVD and Book Product Roundup 2019 on the products I like and want my readers to know about. I hope you enjoy these as much as I and my other reviewers did.

PAW Patrol: Ultimate Rescue DVD includes the following episodes:

  • Pups Save the Royal Kitties – After the Royal Kitties are kidnapped on their way to Adventure Bay, Ryder needs all the pups to help Chase investigate this case in an Ultimate Police Rescue.
  • Pups Save the Tigers – When searching for the elusive rumble top tigers, the Turbots fall into a cave deep inside a volcano. The PAW Patrol complete a paratrooper style rescue from Skye’s Ultimate copter in this Ultimate Aviator Rescue.
  • Pups Save the Movie Monster! – After the envious Mayor Humdinger tries to commandeer Adventure Bay’s mechanical movie monster, the pups must join Marshall for an Ultimate Fire Rescue to stop the fireball breathing robot.
  • Pups Save a Swamp Creature – When something goes wrong on the swamp tour, it’s Zuma and his Ultimate Swamp Vehicle to the rescue!
  • Pups and the Hidden Golden Bones – Everything is shaking and breaking beneath Adventure Bay, so Ryder needs Rocky to lead the pups on an Ultimate Fix-it Rescue.

In the first episode, Caillou Visits the Doctor, Caillou is reluctant to let the doctor check his ear infection because his last trip to the doctor didn’t go well. This time, Caillou takes his trusty dinosaur to the doctor to protect him. In the episode Caillou’s Check Up, it’s time for Caillou’s first trip to visit the dentist. Caillou is excited for the adventure until his cousin Leo tells him some terrible stories about dentists. Will Caillou keep his appointment? Other episodes featured on this DVD include Calling Dr. Caillou, Caillou is Sick, Caillou Hurts Himself and Get Well Mr. Hinkle.

Enjoy this Easter special adventure based on the classic picture book that has sold more than 30 million copies worldwide, written by Sam McBratney, illustrated by Anita Jeram and published by Walker Books. When Little Nutbrown Hare sees a pure white fawn shining and dancing in the moonlight his friends think he’s making it up. They venture through the woody woods in the next valley, down the streamy stream and pass the rocky rocks to find her but as their doubt grows, she is right there hiding on the patches of white snow, thinking it’s a big game of hide and seek. She promises to visit them on Easter Day making Easter that much more special for all.

Each day, Captain Fleeker, First Officer Flo, and Junior Boomer encounter something that sparks their curiosity, setting in motion the day’s research “project” and triggering an exciting adventure! In Project Egg Hunt, the Floogals mistakenly think Mom and Dad Hooman have accidentally dropped candy eggs in the garden when in fact they have placed them there on purpose to create an egg hunt for their kids. The Floogals think they are being helpful and tidy up the eggs! Once the Floogals realize their mistake, they must get all the eggs back on the ground before the kids arrive so their fun day won’t be ruined. Adventure is everywhere they go. They’re the Floogals! 3, 2, 1, let’s go!

Munki and Trunk: Ain’t no mountain high enough, river wide enough, or banana big enough to tear these two apart! Our brave, curious monkey and big-hearted elephant live together in the jungle, as children imagine it: a playground with vines to swing on, trampoline mushrooms to bounce on, and a crew of jungle buddies to share endless adventures. Munki and Trunk explore their world together, facing fears, having fun and helping friends in a comedy adventure that’s brim-full of heart, and built on a bedrock of friendship.

Includes 8 tree-crashing, rock-smashing, water-splashing, fruit-mashing episodes!
In this thrilling family adventure, a teen boy adopts and hatches a baby T. rex, but then must rescue the creature from a mad scientist who wants to clone a whole new breed of dinosaurs.

~ Check out my VIDEO ~

It’s time for A to Z with Sesame! Little ones will love to learn their ABCs with classics such as “The Beetles Perform Letter B”, and “C is for Cookie”, plus animation, parodies, and the best from recent seasons covering all 26 letters.
Celebrating the alphabet alongside their furry friends are Norah Jones duetting with the letter Y, Tori Kelly trying a little kindness, and Pharrell Williams belting it out for the letter B. Maya Angelou stops by to talk hugs, Sheryl Crow helps “I”, soak up some sun, and Ricky Gervais attempts a lullaby.
Did you ever hear the joke about the doctor, accountant, and lawyer going in a bar to discuss their estate plans? The reason you ve never heard the joke is because people don t discuss their wills, trusts and legacies. Until now. Becoming One of the Grateful Dead: Where there s a will, there s a way shares a baker s dozen of stories about how people give away their dough. Think Chicken Soup for the Fate of One s Soul, children, money, possessions and hopes for the future. This book is for people who believe that the state they live in will not make better choices about what happens to their worldly good and children than they will. After every story, there is a section for fundraisers and a section for donors. Why fundraisers? Two reasons: A planned gift is approximately two hundred times an annual gift and according to Giving USA, 5% of all donations are from corporations, 9% from planned gifts. Bottom line: Dead people give more than corporations, yet who do nonprofits approach? The most over-fished pond: corporations Weisman believes that whether you are uber rich or drive for Uber, you can make a difference in this life and the next. Hence the lessons learned section for donors. The people range from the great granddaughter of a slave who works as a cleaning lady to a multi-millionaire oil man. Some of the stories are Oscar Wilde-witty, some are poignant, and some are laugh out loud funny. Almost everyone who has read this book has made changes to their estate plan. It is a fresh look at what you can do now to leave a legacy that makes you proud.

Let’s face it: no one ever knows what sort of present to get their dad, whether it’s his birthday, Chanukah, Christmas, Father’s Day, or even just a little nudge to remind him you care. And you’ll probably just get him a book anyway. So what to do?

Well the one solution to this perennial problem is here. This Is the Book You Give Your Dad is the fitting purchase for Dad, no matter the occasion. This paper-over-board little illustrated gift book is brimming with wit and wisdom—just like dad!—including how to give a toast for any occasion and a quick history of the polo shirt and the periodic table of beer and even ideal lawn mowing patterns. There’s even a customizable dedication page where you can add a personal touch. While the advice, tips, and how-to’s in the book range from practical to humorous the information is sure to please Dad’s aesthetic taste.

Before the inspired nonsense of Monty Python, David Letterman and the Far Side, there were Droodles. With a few squiggles in a simple square, these clever drawings created absurd scenes like “Ship arriving too late to save a drowning witch” (used by Frank Zappa as an album cover), “Octopus signaling for a left turn” and “Clam with buck teeth.” And they were all the creation of one brilliant and unpredictable man: Roger Price.

At the height of their popularity in the mid-1950s, fans enjoyed the Droodles TV show, a Droodles daily newspaper column, Droodles magazine features, Droodles cocktail napkins, even Droodles in ads for Lucky Strike cigarettes. Like hula hoops, drive-in movies and UFOs, Droodles were one of the biggest fads of the 1950s.

Now Droodles make their triumphant return to delight a new generation that can use some laughs. The Ultimate Droodles Compendium includes every one of Roger Price’s 352 most famous Droodles in delightful new full-quality reproductions, with Price’s inspired text and quirky footnotes. There’s more: a Roger Price/Droodles reminiscence by beloved media critic Leonard Maltin, a full history of Roger Price and Droodles by Emmy-winning writer Fritz Holznagel, and comments from comedy legend Carl Reiner, Boing Boing’s Mark Frauenfelder and Carla Sinclair, and others.

Our culture makes it so that even the most organized and efficient among us feels the pressure of the ticking clock and the possibility and regret of missing out. Modern life has evolved in a way that sets us up for stress, pressure, and overload. New norms and attitudes tap into deeply-wired psychological impulses that make it harder than ever to take control of your time. Many of us also have innate personality traits that make the struggle even worse.

No wonder time can become a tyrant that leaves us chronically stressed and discontented. Unlock an approach to life that bestselling author Valorie Burton calls “living timelessly.” You will come to understand

1) the gradual changes that have led us to a place where having too much to do and too little time to do it is the norm,

2) the vision for what it could look like if you were free from the stress of time and how to blast through the obstacles to those possibilities, and

3) the practical steps to choosing the meaningful over the urgent so that your life is unhurried yet purposeful and reflects the values and impact that are unique to you.

The world Annette Hines knew exploded when her infant daughter Elizabeth was diagnosed with mitochondrial disease–a degenerative, life-limiting illness. Annette’s joy quickly turned to apprehension and she knew nothing would ever be the same again.

Butterflies and Second Chances is the inspiring true story of a mother’s special needs journey, and her struggle to secure the best possible life for her child in the face of bureaucratic resistance and marital crisis. It is a story of sacrifice, dedication, and the life-altering adjustments a special needs parent has to make when confronted with the unthinkable. But most of all, it’s about love and an extraordinary mother-daughter relationship that flourished without words in the darkest shadows of adversity.

November’s DVD and Book Product Roundup 2018

I get products sent to me daily to try out. I unfortunately don’t have time to do a post for each item that I get to review. So I want to make sure these items get seen and learned about. The only other solution I could see to do is to do a November’s DVD and Book Product Roundup 2018 on the products I like and want my readers to know about. I hope you enjoy these as much as I and my other reviewers did.

It’s up, up and away as Elmo, Abby, and friends take to the skies above Sesame Street in colorful hot-air balloons in this exciting special. When a playful bird, voiced by Elizabeth Banks, snatches Abby’s magic wand, the pleasant ride becomes a high-stakes adventure through the streets of New York City. Between making new friends and learning about different cultures, our heroes must recover the wand in order to return home to Sesame Street!

When Abby and the gang visit new neighborhoods throughout The Magical Wand Chase, they discover new foods, music, and languages. Best of all, they make new friends who help them on their quest to find the missing wand. The Magical Wand Chase is deeply connected to Sesame Street’s mutual respect and understanding curriculum, using the tapestry of the city to show kids that kindness is universal and new friends can be found anywhere.
Bonus features include the full-length feature Elmo’s Alphabet Challenge and another exciting adventure, the full-length episode The Golden Triangle of Destiny.
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.
Bonus Features:
·        Full-length feature: Elmo’s Alphabet Challenge
·        Full-length episode: The Golden Triangle of Destiny
·        Downloadable storybook: Elmo and the Lost Wand
Follow Vampirina and her two best friends, Poppy and Bridget, as they take the stage and start their very own band: the Ghoul Girls!  Cheer them on as they travel to Transylvania for their first-ever talent competition and go on many more awesome adventures! Amped with six music-filled episodes, plus seven bonus animated shorts, Vampirina: Ghoul Girls Rock! soars to fang-tastic new heights as Vee and her friends learn how to find their inner ghoul and rock out!

Episodes:                           Vampire Weekend / The Bird Who Knew Too Much

The Ghoul Girls / Game Night

                                                Oldie But a Ghouldie / Beast in Show

                                                Vampirina Ballerina / Treasure Haunters

                                                Home Scream Home

                                                Countess Vee / Frights, Camera, Action!

Bonus:                                 Vampirina Ghoul Girls Rock! Music Video Shorts:

                                                Living the Scream

                                                Inner Ghoul

                                                Transylvania Girls

                                                Ghoul Glam

                                                Boogieman Boogie

                                                Everybody Scream, Everybody Howl

                                                The Mummy Rap

Hearties, rejoice! This six-DVD set collects all of the romance and drama from Year Five of the warm and wonderful When Calls The Heart. Return once again to the town of Hope Valley as schoolteacher Elizabeth (Krakow), Mountie Jack (Lissing), Café owner-turned-Mayor Abigail (Loughlin), and all of your favorite characters bravely face the challenges of frontier life … and those of the heart.

From the Disney Pixar site this set includes the following;

Pixar Shorts together for the first time:
Bao
LOU
Piper
Lava
Sanjay’s Super Team
Riley’s First Date?
The Radiator Springs 500 1/2
Party Central
The Blue Umbrella
The Legend Of Mor’du
Partysaurus Rex
Bonus Mini-Movie: Marine Life Interviews
Bonus Mini-Movie: Miss Fritter’s Racing Skoool

It’s been three years since theme park and luxury resort, Jurassic World was destroyed by dinosaurs out of containment. Isla Nublar now sits abandoned by humans while the surviving dinosaurs fend for themselves in the jungles. When the island’s dormant volcano begins roaring to life, Owen (Chris Pratt) and Claire (Bryce Dallas Howard) mount a campaign to rescue the remaining dinosaurs from this extinction-level event.

With her love of all things fabulous,fancyand French, this little lady can change bland into chic. All it takes is a boundless imagination, help from friends and family, and a sunny approach to life that celebrates the differences that make everyone uniqueandmagnifique! FancyNancyVol. 1 arrives homes on Disney DVD November 20th

Rocko’s Modern Life: The Complete Series has over 20 hours of Rocko, Heffer, Filburt, Spunky, and the Bigheads as they explore the ups and downs of everyday life in the city of O-Town. Fans can enjoy classic episodes such as “Carnival Knowledge” and “Flu-In-U-Enza,” and relive all of the adventures and life-lessons from Rocko and his friends, including the dangers of garbage day, the disastrous results of Heffer eating too many Pasture Puffies, and Filburt struggling to save his soul after opening a not-so-fortunate fortune cookie.

Rocko’s Modern Life: The Complete Series contains the following episodes:

Season One:

Disc One:
No Pain, No Gain / Who Gives a Buck
Leap Frogs / Bedfellows
Jet Scream / Dirty Dog
Keeping Up with the Bigheads / Skid Marks
Power Trip / To Heck and Back
The Good, the Bad and the Wallaby / Trash-o-Madness
Spitballs / Popcorn Pandemonium

Disc Two:
A Sucker for the Suck-O-Matic / Canned
Carnival Knowledge / Sand in Your Navel
Cabin Fever / Rinse and Spit
Rocko’s Happy Sack / Flu-In-U-Enza
Who’s for Dinner? / Love Spanked
Clean Lovin’ / Unbalanced Load

Season Two:

Disc One:
I Have No Son
Pipe Dream / Tickled Pinky
The Lounge Singer / She’s the Toad
Down the Hatch / Road Rash
Boob Tubed / Commuted Sentence
Rocko’s Modern Christmas
Hut Sut Raw / Kiss Me, I’m Foreign

Disc Two:
Cruisin’
Born to Spawn / Uniform Behavior
Hair Licked / Gutter Balls
Junk Junkies / Day of the Flecko
Snowballs / Frog’s Best Friend
Short Story / Eyes Capades
Bonus Features:
“Trash-O-Madness” Original Pilot Version
Behind the Characters with Joe Murray: Rocko
Behind the Characters with Joe Murray: Heffer
Behind the Characters with Joe Murray: Filburt
Behind the Characters with Joe Murray: The Bigheads

Season Three:

Disc One:
Bye, Bye Birdie / Belch of Destiny
The Emperor’s New Joe / Schnit-Heads
Sugar-Frosted Frights / Ed Is Dead: A Thriller!
Fish-N-Chumps / Camera Shy
Nothing to Sneeze At / Old Fogey Froggy
Manic Mechanic / Rocko’s Happy Vermin
I See London, I See France / The Fatlands

Disc Two:
Fortune Cookie / Dear John
Speaking Terms / Tooth and Nail
Wacky Delly (Parts 1 & 2)
The Big Question / The Big Answer
An Elk for Heffer / Scrubbin’ Down Under
Zanzibar! / Fatal Contraption
Bonus Features:
Commentary by Creator Joe Murray on select episodes

Season Four:

Disc One:
With Friends Like These / Sailing the Seven Zzz’s
Pranksters / From Here to Maternity
Ed Good, Rocko Bad / Teed Off
Wimp on the Barbie / Yarn Benders
Mama’s Boy / Feisty Geist
S.W.A.K. / Magic Meatball
Closet Clown / Seat to Stardom

Disc Two:
The High-Five of Doom / Fly Burgers
Heff in a Handbasket / Wallaby on Wheels
Dumbells / Rug Birds
Hypno-Puppy Luv / Driving Mrs. Wolfe
Put to Pasture / Future Schlock
Turkey Time / Floundering Fathers
Bonus Features:
“Wacky Delly” Live 2012

For over twenty years, fans of the classic coming-of-age series have remained loyal to Arnold, the relatable kid living with his whacky grandparents in their boarding home, and his group of loveable, city-dwelling friends. With Hey Arnold!: The Ultimate Collection, fans can relive every schoolyard shenanigan in fan-favorite episodes like “Stoop Kid” and “Downtown as Fruits;” laugh along with popular characters Helga, Gerald, Phoebe and more; and finally solve the mystery of Arnold’s missing parents in the latest adventure, Hey Arnold!: The Jungle Movie.

Hey Arnold!: The Ultimate Collection contains the following episodes:
Season One:
  • Disc One:
    • Downtown as Fruits / Eugene’s Bike
    • The Little Pink Book / Field Trip
    • Arnold’s Hat / Stoop Kid
    • Helga’s Makeover / The Old Building
    • 6th Grade Girls / The Baseball
    • Bonus Features:
      • Hey Arnold! The Pilot
      • Original Claymation Short: Arnold Escapes from Church
      • Drawing Arnold
      • The Jungle Movie: Table Read
      • Unboxing The Original Jungle Movie Development Art
  • Disc Two:
    • Heat / Snow
    • Operation: Ruthless / The Vacant Lot
    • The List / Haunted Train
    • Mugged / Roughin’ It
    • Door #16 / Arnold as Cupid
  • Disc Three:
    • Arnold’s Christmas
    • Benchwarmer / Cool Jerk
    • Das Subway / Wheezin’ Ed
    • Tutoring Torvald / Gerald Comes Over
    • Spelling Bee / Pigeon Man
  • Disc Four:
    • Olga Comes Home / Sally’s Comet
    • Abner Come Home / The Sewer King
    • False Alarm / World Records
    • Magic Show / 24 Hours to Live
    • Arnold’s Valentine
Season Two:
  • Disc One:
    • Save the Tree / New Teacher
    • Helga’s Love Potion / Gerald’s Secret
    • The Big Scoop / Harold’s Kitty
    • Longest Monday / Eugene’s Pet
    • Monkey Business / Big Caesar
  • Disc Two:
    • Ransom / Ms. Perfect
    • Operation: Arnold’s Halloween
    • Arnold Saves Sid / Hookey
    • Freeze Frame / Phoebe Cheats
    • Mud Bowl / Gerald Moves Out
  • Disc Three:
    • The High Life / Best Friends
    • Steely Phil / Quantity Time
    • Eating Contest / Rhonda’s Glasses
    • Helga’s Boyfriend / Crush on Teacher
    • Hall Monitor / Harold’s Bar Mitzvah
  • Disc Four:
    • Coach Wittenberg / Four-Eyed Jack
    • Eugene Goes Bad / What’s Opera, Arnold?
    • Tour De Pond / Teachers’ Strike
    • Part-Time Friends / Biosquare
    • Runaway Float / Partners
Season Three:
  • Disc One:
    • Helga Blabs It All / Harold the Butcher
    • Dangerous Lumber / Mr. Hyunh Goes Country
    • Casa Paradiso / Gerald’s Tonsils
    • Arnold’s Room / Helga vs. Big Patty
    • Stinky Goes Hollywood / Olga Gets Engaged
    • Curly Snaps / Pre-Teen Scream
  • Disc Two:
    • Grandpa’s Birthday / Road Trip
    • Sid’s Revenge / Roller Coaster
    • The Aptitude Test / Oskar Gets a Job
    • Arnold Betrays Iggy / Helga and The Nanny
    • Career Day / Hey Harold!
    • Best Man / Cool Party
  • Disc Three:
    • Arnold & Lila / Grand Prix
    • Arnold’s Thanksgiving
    • Helga’s Show / The Flood
    • Phoebe Takes the Fall / The Pig War
    • Crabby Author / Rich Kid
    • Girl Trouble / School Dance
    • School Play
Season Four:
  • Disc One:
    • Full Moon / Student Teacher
    • Big Gino / Jamie O. In Love
    • Eugene’s Birthday / Stinky’s Pumpkin
    • The Beeper Queen / Oskar Can’t Read?
    • Dinner for Four / Phoebe Skips
    • Helga’s Parrot / Chocolate Turtles
    • Love and Cheese / Weighing Harold
    • Back to School / Egg Story
  • Disc Two:
    • It Girl / Deconstructing Arnold
    • Grudge Match / Polishing Rhonda
    • Weird Cousin / Baby Oskar
    • Grandpa’s Sister / Synchronized Swimming
    • Helga Sleepwalks / Fighting Families
    • Headless Cabbie / Friday The 13th
    • Veterans Day
    • Helga on the Couch
    • Dino Checks Out
Season Five:
  • Disc One:
    • Monkeyman! / Buses, Bikes, and Subways
    • Helga’s Masquerade / Mr. Green Runs
    • Sid The Vampire Slayer / Big Sis
    • Bag of Money / Principal Simmons
    • New Bully on the Block / Phoebe Breaks a Leg
    • Parents Day
    • Helga’s Locket / Sid and Germs
    • Suspended / Ernie in Love
  • Disc Two:
    • Summer Love
    • Stuck in a Tree / The Helga Short / Rhonda Goes Broke
    • Beaned / Old Iron Man
    • Arnold Visits Arnie / Chocolate Boy
    • Harold vs. Patty / Rich Guy
    • April Fool’s Day
    • Gerald’s Game / Fishing Trip
    • Married
  • Disc Three:
    • On the Lam / Family Man
    • The Racing Mule / Curly’s Girl
    • The Journal (Parts 1 & 2)
    • Timberly Loves Arnold / Eugene! Eugene!
    • Ghost Bride / Gerald vs. Jamie O.
    • A Day in the Life of a Classroom / Big Bob’s Crisis
    • Phoebe’s Little Problem / Grandpa’s Packard
Hey Arnold! – The Movies
  • Disc One:
    • Hey Arnold!: The Movie
  • Disc Two:
    • Hey Arnold!: The Jungle Movie

While growing up has never been easy, today’s world undeniably presents kids and their parents with unprecedented challenges. The upside, cites Maureen Healy, is a widespread acknowledgment that emotional health, resilience, and equilibrium can be learned and strengthened. Healy, who was a “wild child,” the kind, she writes who left babysitters “wondering if they wanted children” knows her subject. She has become an expert on teaching skills that address the high sensitivity, big emotions, and hyper energy she herself experienced. Three simple steps are key ― Stop, Calm, and Make a Smart Choice. While not always easy, these steps are powerful and Healy shows readers exactly how to implement them. Children move from acting out or shutting down, experiencing frequent physical symptoms such as head and stomach aches or hurting themselves or others, to recognizing they are being triggered, feeling their emotions, and using strategies to respond from a calmer place. As adults learn to model these skills, both adults and children become freer to do and be their best.

Your relationship with God is unique. Shouldn’t your Bible reflect and celebrate that bond? In this introduction to Bible journaling, you’ll discover meaningful ways to combine art, heart and scripture–from backgrounds to hand-lettered verses to beautiful full-page drawings. No expensive supplies or artistic skills are required…only a desire to honor and enhance your spiritual life.

To guide your creative worship experience, this book provides:

  • Prompts to engage you with the text, then visually interpret Scripture in words and pictures
  • Basic techniques for working with colored pencils, watercolor pencils and watercolor paints
  • 21 step-by-step tutorials for drawing trees, flowers, skies, mountains, maps, water, light and other popular themes
  • Tons of inspirational page samples and suggested verses to illustrate
  • Downloadable icons and technique videos available on the author’s website

Whether you’re new to Bible journaling or looking for fresh ideas, this book will lead you on a rewarding spiritual journey. Success is not measured in the complexity or polish of the art, but in a deeper, more personal connection with God.

“Our lives are busy, and we leave a trail of things-we-should-remember on the ground behind us. Instead, scoop them up and journal them. Preserve the lessons vital to our growth as Christians.” ~page 12

Explore the fascinating family histories of Ada Lovelace, Charlotte Bronte, John F Kennedy, and many more with 30 family trees from around the world. This accessible, visually-stunning compendium of family trees features some of history’s most loved — and loathed — famous faces and is great fun for the whole family to explore. Genealogy and history combine to make a fascinating, fact-filled treasury of family trees belonging to famous people throughout the ages.
  • Age Range: 12 – 17 years
  • Grade Level: 2 and up
  • Hardcover: 64 pages
  • Publisher: Lincoln Children’s Books; New edition edition (October 9, 2018)
  • Language: English
  • ISBN-10: 1786032260
  • ISBN-13: 978-1786032263
  • Product Dimensions: 10.4 x 0.4 x 12.5 inches

Sisters, Nelle and Alice enjoy exploring and playing together outside. While playing in their backyard one afternoon, big sister, Alice finds a furry caterpillar under one of their zucchini plants. Nelle wants to pick it up, but Alice leads the way in describing the movements and the amazing physical characteristics of a caterpillar and their ability to transform into a beautiful butterfly. Nelle is curious how her sister knows so much about caterpillars and wants to know more. The two share a charming afternoon discovering and sharing the wonderment and awe of what lives right outside their door.

Like all good stories, Guy the Beagle’s begins lost in the woods of Kentucky. But his fortunes change when he’s rescued by none other than Princess…er, Duchess-to-be Meghan Markle. Practically overnight, Guy goes from wags to riches. But does this backwoods beagle have what it takes to be welcomed into the royal family?

For the first time ever, Guy reveals how he went from pawper to proper, with help from Emmy award-winning writer and producer of The Late Show with Stephen Colbert Mike Brumm and publishing veteran (and devoted Anglophile) Camille March, beautifully illustrated by EG Keller (illustrator of the New York Times bestselling A Day in the Life of Marlon Bundo). Guy’s story of finding acceptance in an exceptional family will have readers of all ages barking with laughter.

There’s trouble at the North Pole. With Faith and Hope at perilously low levels, it looks like Christmas may have to be cancelled this year. Now, Yuletide’s only chance lies with Jing Els and Hollee – the Glimmers – in THE GLIMMERS SAVE CHRISTMAS (On The Lamb Productions; October 2018), the third book in the series by award-winning writer Robert Agnello and illustrator Nick Meola.
 
The situation in Christmastown is grim. All the reindeer are sick with “can’tflyitis” and in the toy workroom, the other elves are feeling dim and weak. Despite the dismal outlook, Elf Extraordinaire Roger keeps working away, making presents for girls and boys all over the world so that Santa can deliver them on time. It’s his hope and faith that brings some unexpected assistance just in time to save Christmas.

Meet the Glimmers. Glimmers are tiny beings of light that make everything good glow. When we make bad choices, our Glimmer lights fade and turn into Dimmers, but when we start making good choices again, our Glimmers will glow all the brighter. Jing Els is a Glimmer of Hope and Hollee is a Glimmer of Faith. Roger’s certainty that Santa will deliver his presents to good little girls and boys, and working feverishly to get all the toys ready, makes Jing Els and Hollee shine brilliantly. Roger’s belief also enables them to recruit other Glimmers and help Santa’s sleigh fly once more. Together, the Glimmers show that the spirit of Christmas can glow brightly even in the darkest of times.

Being a housewife is challenging — managing a home, assisting a husband in business, and raising four children, not to mention taking care of yourself, which is the focus and heart of this inspirational book. Since losing her mother as a child, Angela LaRosa has brought hope and optimism to every aspect of her life. And with her bold and durable commitment to God, she enjoys a life of beautiful fulfillment, and is now proud to share what she has learned.

A wagnificent gift for any pet lover, this hilarious but heartwarming personalized story book even name checks owners and their hometown. It’s the pawfect keepsake for pet fans of all ages.

Oliver the Ornament is a tale of one family’s cherished Christmas ornaments. The story centers on Oliver, who has been with this family since Mom and Dad’s very first date.Years later, Oliver, now injured and bullied, still has the magic of Christmas in his heart. The story follows Oliver’s excitement for Christmas, his heartbreak, and his determination to overcome all odds to save the day. Oliver, along with his friends, will warm hearts with his kindness, humility, and love for his family and friends. The storybook is accompanied with an adorable Christmas ornament, Oliver.

October’s DVD and Book Product Roundup 2018


I get products sent to me daily to try out. I unfortunately don’t have time to do a post for each item that I get to review. So I want to make sure these items get seen and learned about. The only other solution I could see to do is to do a October’s DVD and Book Product Roundup 2018 on the products I like and want my readers to know about. I hope you enjoy these as much as I and my other reviewers did.

Ellie and her meticulous mom, Katherine, never see eye to eye. Ellie, the typical teen, is a cynical slob who’s lost interest in everything since her dad passed away — except for a certain boy: her crush, Adam. The day before Katherine’s wedding, the friction between Ellie and her stressed-out mom turns into an argument, during which a precious hourglass gifted to Ellie by her dad suddenly shatters, causing them to magically switch bodies. Soon they are on a musical journey of self-discovery and empathy neither one could have imagined.

Join your favorite monster family as they embark on a vacation adventure on a luxury monster cruise ship so Drac can finally take a break from handling everyone else’s vacation at the hotel. It’s smooth sailing for Drac’s Pack as the monsters indulge in all of the shipboard fun the cruise has to offer, from monster volleyball to exotic excursions, and catching up on their moon tans. But they hit rocky waters when Mavis realizes that Drac has fallen for the mysterious captain of the ship, Ericka, who hides a dangerous secret that could sink their plans for a dream vacation.

Welcome back Gumby and Pokey in this wild, wacky and inventive collection of 80’s episodes! Featuring 50 clay-animated episodes, fully re-mastered

from their original camera rolls and soundtracks. Also making appearances are Prickle, Goo, the Blockheads, Professor Kapp, Dr. Zveegee, the Moon Boggles, and Gumby’s parents Gumbo and Gumba. New characters include Gumby’s sister Minga, Denali the Mastodon and Tilly the chicken! The gift set includes 2 exclusive bendable toys!

It’s Halloween! Join Sid and his friends as they discover how bats catch mosquitoes, why spiders are expert engineer web builders, and how

skeletons make up the foundation of our bodies. The kids dress up to celebrate Halloween at school, and Teacher Suzie leads them in a special Halloween parade song to show off their costumes! With Sid the Science Kid, Halloween can be spooky and scientific!

Based on the richly imaginative books by Meomi, this series combines immersive visuals and “submersive” humor to transport young children into a world that is both real and fantastic, full of mysteries to unravel and surprises around every corner. In this season set, encounter all types of creatures from the Great White Shark to Lionfish and more! The adventures don’t end there! Embark on an Amazon adventure with the Octonauts as they travel down the Amazon River in search of a lost city and Kwazii’s long lost grandfather, Calico Jack! So come aboard the Octopod for 24 exciting missions!

The Cat in the Hat takes Nick and Sally on a Halloween ride filled with howlers and shockers and scary fandangles, big laughs and music and fun from all angles! Their fright-filled adventure takes them deep into the Oooky-ma-kooky Closet where Nick and Sally discover the very best Halloween costumes ever.

Join Pocoyo and his friends on seven playful adventures. Whether it’s playing a new game called Boo!, enjoying a monster mash party or pretending to be Godzilla & King Kong. Every day is fun and engaging with Pocoyo and hid friends!

Blaze and AJ are bursting back onto DVD with the all-new release, Blaze and the Monster Machines: Blaze Saves Christmas. Available November 6, this high-speed collection of holiday and winter episodes follows Blaze and his friends as they deliver presents on Christmas, save a little bunny, catch a cake and put their newfound ninja skills to the test. Produced by Nickelodeon Home Entertainment and distributed by Paramount Home Media Distribution, Blaze and the Monster Machines: Blaze Saves Christmas will be available just in time for the holidays

Blaze and the Monster Machines: Blaze Saves Christmas contains the following episodes:

Monster Machine Christmas – When Crusher sends Santa’s magic bag of presents flying, he must team up with Blaze and AJ to quickly deliver all the presents by Christmas morning.
Breaking the Ice – Robot Blaze climbs, grinds, and ziplines his way to save a little bunny trapped on top of a melting glacier.
Catch That Cake! – After Crusher sends Darington’s birthday cake rocketing away, it’s up to Blaze to get it back in time for his party.
Ninja Blaze – Ninja Master Blackbelt is training Blaze and AJ to become powerful ninjas when Crusher and Pickle accidentally launch themselves onto an icy mountain. Now, Blaze and AJ must use their new ninjas skills to rescue them.

INCREDIBLES 2 is now available on Digital HD, and arrives on Blu-ray 4K Ultra HD™, Blu-ray™, DVD and On-Demand November 6th!  Below, please find a Jack-Jack vs Raccoon papercraft set and an “Auntie Edna” mini-movie clip and concept art!

Remember when you saw INCREDIBLES 2 & thought to yourself, “I wish I had my very own Jack-Jack and Racoon!” Well, you’re in luck! Check out these amazing Paper Foldables. Print ’em out, cut ’em out, & fold ’em up… Instant Jack-Jack Attack! http://bit.ly/Incredibles2PaperFoldables #Incredibles2

Bold and hearty, the flavors of the Southwest are a rich mixture of cultures, history, and unique regional ingredients. When prepared with traditional ingredients, the cuisine is a heady blend of aromas and spices that is delicious, fulfilling, and—surprisingly—healthy!

In Tex-Mex Diabetes Cooking, cookbook author and Southwestern cuisine expert, Kelley Coffeen, takes you on a tour of the region with more than 140 recipes that focus on fresh local vegetables, fruits, beans, cheeses rich in protein, lean meats, fish, and poultry—all with calorie, carb, and fat levels dialed in for those looking to lose weight or manage their diabetes. This is not a diet book, but a classic collection of beloved and soon-to-be favorite Southwestern and Mexican dishes prepared in easy, delicious, healthy recipes.

Inside you’ll find traditional classics such as:

 

  • Smoked Cheddar Cheese and Green Chile Tamales
  • Pork and Pepper Burritos
  • Stacked Saucy Enchiladas with Fresh Greens
  • Seared Sirloin Tacos with Guacamole
  • Roasted Pineapple Salsa
  • Whole-Wheat Hot Cakes with Cajeta and Coconut
  • Green Chile Corn Chowder
  • Chopped Mexican Salad with Lime

And much more!

Who can resist enjoying more of their favorite food (Mexican dishes rank alongside Italian and Chinese cuisine as All-American favorites) while doing their body a favor at the same time? It’s a winning menu for young and old alike—healthy and nutritious, without losing the authenticity and flavor of its cultural origins. Kelley Coffeen knows from a lifetime of experience, living and cooking in various regions across the Southwest, that Tex-Mex fare is easy and fun to prepare at home, and a crowd-pleaser on the table. With this in mind, she created Tex-Mex Diabetes Cooking as the go-to book for home cooks looking for easy, diabetes-friendly, satisfying, and healthy Southwestern dishes to feed their family.

Powerful words from ground breakers like Marie Curie and Susan B. Anthony have moved and motivated us for generations. Today, many more women and girls are leading the way across all walks of life. From the authors of the breakout inspirational book Beautifully Said comes Grit & Grace, a showcase of the brilliant minds, innovative careers, and fascinating backstories of female leaders. You’ll find world-famous and less-visible change makers, including Nobel winners, CEOs and pop stars…plus, an artisan ice cream maker, police chief, bishop, orchestra conductor and cruise ship captain.

Grit & Grace is the perfect companion for dreaming up fresh possibilities and translating vision into action. Its pages pair sourced quotations with the uncommon stories of a host of remarkable women, readying today’s leaders to imagine new futures. Plus, it’s stylishly designed so readers can creatively share what inspires them. The book makes a meaningful gift for sisters, daughters, friends, teammates, teachers, colleagues, newly minted grads, and the other dreamers and doers in your life.

Among the 90 legendary and contemporary groundbreakers featured…
Bessie Coleman
Jane Goodall
Vera Wang
Tina Fey
Reese Witherspoon
Meghan Markle
Amal Clooney
Ava DuVernay
Kathryn Sullivan
Venus Williams
Beatrix Potter
Diana Vreeland
Anita Roddick
Clara Barton
Katharine Graham
Dolores Huerta
Rose Marcario
Courtney Banghart
Christiana Figueres
Jeni Britton Bauer
Crochet decor your kids will be begging for! Bring their bedroom decor to life with this collection of seven sensational animal rug designs, by popular crochet designer Ira Rott. You will love making these unique and quirky designs that kids will simply adore. Choose from an amazing elephant, a sweet giraffe, a cuddly cat, a cheeky monkey, a sneaky crab, a friendly dinosaur and a snuggly bear, each with a coordinating pillow and accessory to crochet to continue the theme. With accessories ranging from security blankets to stool covers, bed book tidies, placemats and toy bags, this collection features over 20 animal-themed designs to crochet.

Today, war is a high-tech affair. The modern soldier relies on advanced weapons and communications technology as his essential support. But in World War II, soldiers relied on an entirely different kind of support—a kind of support soldiers have used since ancient times. Animals.

Dogs, horses, and pigeons became World War II soldiers’ best friends in battle, serving to carry weapons, wounded men, and messages through artillery fire. In War Animals, bestsellling author Robin Hutton brings the animal heroes of World War II to vivid life with the heroic true tales of:

  • Famed pigeon G.I. Joe, who saved an Italian village and British troops by flying 20 miles in 20 minutes to carry a message to Allied forces;
  • Chips, a German Shepherd trained as a sentry who attacked an Italian machine gun team, sustaining powder burns and saving his handler’s life;
  • Bing, a paradog who jumped out of a plane on D-Day, landed in a tree, and once on the ground helped his handlers locate the enemy.A heartwarming and sometimes even hilarious history of bonafide heroes of feather and fur,War Animals is a World War II story you’ve never read before.

From “alt” to “yrn,” knitting patterns have a unique language of abbreviations and knitting techniques. The Knitter’s Dictionary is your comprehensive resource to understanding the language of knitting in a quick-reference guide that no knitting bag should be without. For beginner and skilled knitters alike, there’s always something new to discover in your next hand knit project. The Knitter’s Dictionary puts an expert knitting instructor in the palm of your hands to help you navigate any pattern.

Within this knitting bag necessity you’ll also find:

  • Over 150 illustrations showing you everything from the difference between a toque and a beret to how-to information on increase and decrease stitches.
  • Handy cross references quickly lead you to exactly the information you need whether you’ve come across a new abbreviation in a knitting pattern or you’ve forgotten the steps to a long-tail cast on.
  • Extended information on more challenging topics like taking measurements, understanding gauge, and fiber care instructions make this more than a dictionary–it’s important information no knitter should be without.
  • Packed with bonus tips and tricks, learn the do’s and don’ts of pattern knitting making patterns easier and more enjoyable to knit!

The Knitter’s Dictionary gives knitters the answers they need when and where they need them in a precise and helpful way. Give yourself or another knitter the gift of knowledge with this must-have resource.

The Cow Said Neigh! is the story of some peculiar farm animals who wish they were like other animals on the farm. The cow wants to run free like a horse, the sheep wants a snout like a pig, the dog wants to be inside like the cat. Soon the entire farm is in chaos!

With silly farm animal sounds, clever rhymes, and adorable art, The Cow Said Neigh! will have kids of all ages laughing out loud as they celebrate the unique strengths in each of us.

This delightful picture book is sure to be read time and time again.

Adapted from Jon Gordon’s bestseller The Hard Hat, The Hard Hat for Kids is an inspiring story that teaches children how to be a great teammate. An engaging tale that resonates with all children, the 10 Ways to be a Great Teammate and the “We before Me” philosophy, make this book an enjoyable read and an invaluable teaching tool for coaches, teachers, and parents. The Hard Hat for Kids presents practical insights and life-changing lessons that are immediately applicable to everyday situations, giving kids—and adults—a new outlook on cooperation, friendship, and the selfless nature of true teamwork.

Mickey is a spunky talented basketball lover who has always dreamed about playing on her school’s team. On the first day of practice, she learns of a special award given to the best teammate—and soon discovers that there is a big difference between being the best player and being the best teammate. What follows is an unforgettable story about selflessness, loyalty, hard work, and compassion, and a clear lesson on putting the team first.

Author Jon Gordon is a renowned storyteller with a knack for making life lessons stick. For this book he has teamed up with Dr. Lauren Gallagher, a school psychologist and mental skills coach who shares her passion for bringing valuable lessons to children in a way that is fun and educational. Fittingly, Dr. Gallagher is also the wife of Jon’s college lacrosse teammate at Cornell University where the Hard Hat tradition began. This book continues Jon’s unique way of merging everyday wisdom with practical advice to make you better at everything that you do. The Hard Hat for Kids tells a moving story of teamwork and friendship which is sure to be enjoyed by families, sports teams, and classrooms of children everywhere.

Would you ever take a job without a job description, let alone one that requires a lifetime contract? Parents do this every day, and yet there is no instruction manual that offers achievable methods for containing and organizing the seemingly endless job of parenting. Finding a healthy balance between raising a human and being a human often feels impossible, but Julie Morgenstern shows you how to harness your own strengths and weaknesses to make the job your own. This revolutionary roadmap includes:

A unique framework with eight quadrants that separates parenting responsibilities into actionable, manageable tasks―for the whole bumpy ride from cradle to college.
Simple strategies to stay truly present and focused, whether you’re playing with your kids, enjoying a meal with your significant other, or getting ahead on that big proposal for work.
Clever tips to make the most of in-between time―Just 5-15 minutes of your undivided attention has a huge impact on kids.
Permission to take personal time without feeling guilty, and the science and case studies that show how important self-care is and how to make time for it.

The Efilu archeologist, Vit Na, is a misfit among her crew. En route to Fitu, their planet of origin, the Efilu research vessel, ReQam’s important jobs have been assigned to specialists, scientists and soldiers. Were it not for her intimate relationship with High Commander Tur, her Synesprit, she would not have been on this expedition at all. The ship’s complement arrives to a world they never expected, a world no longer their own.

When the invincible ReQam is crippled by the new inhabitants, Tur’s crew is stranded thousands of light years from home. As far as anyone knew, all Fitu’s abandon, indigenous life forms perished 65 million years ago along with The Keepers, followers of the ancient mystic, Dragon. Due to her petite size, for she is nearly as small as the biped mammals they contend with, Vit Na is conscripted as in infiltrator, and deployed among the hostile mammals who have evolved to resemble the Efilu.

It soon becomes clear that the vital resource for which Tur’s seeks was intentionally tainted to draw the Efilu back of this strange world. Vit Na finds herself uniquely prepared to serve as desperately needed advocate to the crafty mammals who filled that vacant, Efilu niche and are now in jeopardy. Who would have guessed that a daughter of noble house Kemit would be destined to defend vermin, long believed extinct after the Efilu Exodus from a world now called Earth?

September’s DVD and Book Product Roundup 2018

I get products sent to me daily to try out. I unfortunately don’t have time to do a post for each item that I get to review. So I want to make sure these items get seen and learned about. The only other solution I could see to do is to do a September’s DVD and Book Product Roundup 2018 on the products I like and want my readers to know about. I hope you enjoy these as much as I and my other reviewers did.

In SpongeBob SquarePants: The Legend of Boo-Kini Bottom, SpongeBob and his friends get ready to celebrate Halloween, but when the Flying Dutchman arrives to find that SpongeBob finds spooky things funny, he vows to make sure the town knows terror, especially SpongeBob.

Enjoy the second volume of the second season of The Cat in the Hat Knows a Lot About That! The Cat in the Hat Knows a Lot About That! follows the adventures of 6-year-old best friends, Sally and Nick, as they are whisked off on extraordinary voyages of scientific discovery with the Cat in the Hat. Thanks to the Thinga-ma-jigger and our friends, exploring has never been more exciting! In this volume set, kids will learn the answers to questions like what is the Earth s atmosphere, why do we need bones, and how is paper made. The discoveries don t end there! We learn how polar bears survive the arctic winter, how our ears work and so much more! So let s go, go, go, go on an adventure, we re flying with The Cat in the Hat today!

Join the Floogals on a mission of discovery as they explore Earth and the funny hoomans who live there! Each day, Captain Fleeker, First Officer Flo, and Junior Boomer encounter something that sparks their curiosity, setting in motion the day s research project and triggering an exciting adventure! In Project Birthday Cake, Boomer builds a little fizzerific food finder attachment for his Fizzer controls. It’s supposed to be able to sniff out food a subject close to Boomer s heart. Flying by a massive birthday cake the food finder goes out of control and Boomer crashes! The Floogals have to come together and figure out how to re-make the frosting and in the process, find out what a birthday cake and decorations are for! Adventure is everywhere they go. They’re the Floogals! 3, 2, 1, let’s go!

Nick Jr: Snow Awesome contains the following episodes:

Nella The Princess Knight
* The Knight Before Christmas: Santa visits Castlehaven on Christmas Eve, but when naughty snow dragons take his sack of presents, it’s up to Nella and her friends to save the holidays.
* Let it Snow: Nella searches for a magical crystal to make it snow for the kingdom’s annual Snow Festival.

Sunny Day
* Best Christmas Ever: When a snowstorm traps Doodle at his cousin’s house on Christmas Eve, Sunny and the gang devise an intrepid plan to trek through the snow and reach Doodle in time to spend the holiday together.

Shimmer and Shine
* Snow Place We’d Rather Be: When Princess Samira sends Leah and the genies to find a snowflake gem, Zeta interferes making the girls’ search much more difficult.
* Snow Time to Spare: The girls help Layla, the Ice Genie, create fun snow decorations for the upcoming Frosty Fun Festival.
* Frosty Fun: When two trouble-making Ice Sprites slip into Ice Genie Layla’s Palace, the girls must catch them before they wreak havoc on the castle.

Top Wing contains the following episodes:

– Time to Earn Our Wings – Cadets-in-training Swift, Penny, Rod and Brody gather at Top Wing Academy where they learn to pilot their new vehicles and become the best rescue team Big Swirl Island has ever seen.
– Race Through Danger Canyon – Swift must race to the rescue when Baddy McBat roars into Danger Canyon to show off his flying skills.
– Rod’s Big Jump – Rod attempts to earn three jump badges in one day.
– Treasure Map Mission – Penny discovers pirates while earning her map reading badge and must rescue the rest of the Top Wing team.
– Goose on the Loose – On a foggy day, Brody and Swift have to rely on each other and their buddy navigating skills to lead a group of geese to safety.
– Shirley Squirrely Flies Away – Team Top Wing works together to save Shirley Squirrely when her giant flying machine nearly crashes into the ocean.
– Lunch Box Rescue – After Timmy Turtle drops his new lunch box in the river, the cadets team up to save the day.

There may be 100 million pet cats in this country, but who says that means they’re domesticated? Sure, they clean themselves, use a litter box, and hunt rodents, but cats are also territorial beasts who think furniture is meant for claw sharpening, and that running water is always better than still.
In this inventive, surprisingly funny, and highly entertaining and practical book, Mac Delaney addresses the quirks of cat behavior through the mindset of an aerospace engineer (because that’s what he is!)—and gives us 10 projects that solve the most common sources of friction affecting cats and their doting owners.
Take that preference for running water. Because cats don’t trust still water (in the wild, a stagnant pool can harbor disease), they’re often dehydrated and cranky. Here’s how to build not one but two different fountains that will provide fresh, moving water. Or another problem: Cats, diminutive in stature, can feel inferior around humans, causing them to act out in negative ways. The solution: Erect a cat shelf on your wall, giving your pet a prime perch and a height advantage. And that furniture scratching problem? Construct the Cat Cave—it has angled surfaces for optimal scratching, a curved top for ergonomic lounging, a carpeted interior for perfect napping, and an escape route out back for emergency exits.
For any cat lover with a modicum of DIY skills, here’s a whole new approach to living happily ever after with your pet(s).

When magic disappears from the Brightwood, Selvia decides she must do something to bring it back. No one trusts the Gnomes and fearsome creatures that live in the mountains, but Selvia, but Selvia wonders if they’re really to blame. She sets out on an adventure to restore the life she has always known, but discovers a new magic along the way. Richly illustrated, this moving and beautiful story will inspire readers of all ages to question what “everyone says” and find a new magic of their own.

There’s a story in the story
Like a wheel within the wheel
Spiraling forever
Through the world we see and feel.
There’s a tale within the fable
Like a gear within the gear
Marking time forever
Until the secret is revealed . . .
In every age, across time and space, there have been Folktellers. These are the select few who have been chosen to collect and share the stories that must be told.

Aaron is an average midwestern teen or so he thinks. When his grandfather disappears under strange circumstances, Aaron’s ordinary existence changes forever. He will soon discover a mysterious world where stories are powerful and dangerous, where deadly enemies and dark forces lurk just out of sight.

Accompanied by his friend Jake and an odd girl from another dimension, Aaron must save his grandfather from the gathering darkness, and the shadowy creatures that thrive within.

In time, Aaron will learn that whoever holds the story, wields the power, and that the choices he makes will change the destiny of the entire universe.

 

December’s DVD and Book Product Roundup 2017

I get products sent to me daily to try out. I unfortunately don’t have time to do a post for each item that I get to review. So I want to make sure these items get seen and learned about. The only other solution I could see to do is to do a December’s DVD and Book Product Roundup 2017 on the products I like and want my readers to know about. I hope you enjoy these as much as I and my other reviewers did.

Sean Weathers is a hotshot dirt track racer with a thriving career, adoring fans, and a loving daughter. Jack Reed is a successful businessman working to reconnect with his estranged son. When a single mistake results in tragedy, it leads the paths of these two men to cross, and an unexpected bond forms between them. Together, they must work through the painful journey toward healing. But as secrets are brought to light that threaten to destroy all hope, can they put their faith in God and discover a way toward redemption? Experience this story about the power of faith, love, and the true freedom of forgiveness.

Special features
* Outtakes
* The Heart of Champion
* Action at the Dirt Track
* Music Videos
* Theatrical Trailer

Actors: Andrew Cheney, Gary Graham, Robert Amaya, Isaiah Stratton, Cameron Arnett
Directors: Judd Brannon
Writers: Missy Reedy, Sarah Inabnit
Producers: Judd Brannon, Steve Hyland
Format: Color, NTSC, Subtitled, Widescreen
Language: English (Dolby Digital 5.1)
Subtitles: French, Spanish
Subtitles for the Hearing Impaired: English
Region: Region 1 (U.S. and Canada only.)
Aspect Ratio: 1.85:1
Number of discs: 1
Rated: PG Parental Guidance Suggested
Studio: Universal Studios Home Entertainment
DVD Release Date: November 7, 2017
Run Time: 117 minutes

Discover the web-footed world of P. King Duckling!

Spend some time in Hilly Hole with your favorite day-seizing duck … P. King Duckling! Along with his two best friends (Chumpkins, the tech-savvy pig, and smart, sensible Wombat) P. King travels the globe in search of excitement and fun … even if they do ruffle a few feathers along the way!

Brought to you by the award winning Josh Selig (Sesame Street, Wonder Pets!) P. King Duckling encourages creative thinking and problem-solving skills in children with his funny, family-friendly adventures. So what are you waiting for? It’s time to get quacking: hop in the Hilly-copter and join the fun!

Actors: Benjie Randall
Directors: Various
Format: Animated, Color, NTSC, Widescreen
Language: English
Region: Region 1 (U.S. and Canada only.)
Number of discs: 1
Studio: Shout! Factory
DVD Release Date: December 12, 2017
Run Time: 132 minutes

Your hair is your best accessory. Learn how to dress it up with these creative, exciting styles!

• Looped Accent Braid
• Pull-Through Ponytail
• Corset Braid
• Four-Strand Braid
• Mixed Crown Braid
• Uneven Center Braid
• And more!

Paperback: 128 pages
Publisher: Ulysses Press (November 6, 2017)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 1612437281
ISBN-13: 978-1612437286
Product Dimensions: 7.5 x 0.2 x 9 inches
Shipping Weight: 8.8 ounces

Learn about the history of the world, stickering this inventive new format as you learn!

Sticky History of the World includes a large-format, eight-page sticker booklet and an intricately illustrated, eight-panel fold-out card carousel.

Each of the panels of the carousel is based upon an era of the history of the world, from the Big Bang and the age of the dinosaurs, via the Romans and the Egyptians, right up to the modern age, and even into the future. Use the stickers to decorate the panels and to create your own incredible picture of the world!

Age Range: 6 – 9 years
Grade Level: 1 – 4
Series: Magma for Laurence King
Paperback: 32 pages
Publisher: Laurence King Publishing; Csm Stk edition (August 29, 2017)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 1786270374
ISBN-13: 978-1786270375
Product Dimensions: 9.6 x 0.4 x 13 inches
Shipping Weight: 12.6 ounces

Learn to count to ten with Little Mouse! This cute board book features a large lift-flap on every page, making learning to count easy and fun! With stylish retro-modern illustrations this is the perfect introduction to counting for young children.

Age Range: 5 – 6 years
Grade Level: Preschool – Kindergarten
Series: Learn with Little Mouse
Hardcover: 16 pages
Publisher: Wide Eyed Editions; Ina Ltf edition (August 3, 2017)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 1786030365
ISBN-13: 978-1786030368
Product Dimensions: 7 x 0.8 x 7 inches
Shipping Weight: 10.6 ounces

Learn your opposites with Little Mouse! This cute board book features a large lift-flap on every page, making learning about opposites easy and fun! With stylish retro-modern illustrations this is the perfect introduction to opposites for young children.

Age Range: 5 – 6 years
Grade Level: Preschool and up
Series: Learn with Little Mouse
Hardcover: 16 pages
Publisher: Wide Eyed Editions; Ltf Brdbk edition (August 3, 2017)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 1786030381
ISBN-13: 978-1786030382
Product Dimensions: 7 x 0.8 x 7 inches
Shipping Weight: 9.1 ounces

King Jasper can order his wizard to conjure up anything at all: dragons, robots, superheroes, even rainbow-colored kittens―which leads to a magical mess only he can clean up.

A hilarious, modern fairy tale, The King of Too Many Things will keep readers guessing with the turn of every page, while showing how always wanting more can ultimately lead to less happiness.

Age Range: 4 – 8 years
Grade Level: 1 – 2
Lexile Measure: 520 (What’s this?)
Hardcover: 32 pages
Publisher: Rodale Kids (September 5, 2017)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 162336874X
ISBN-13: 978-1623368746
Product Dimensions: 10.2 x 0.4 x 10.4 inches
Shipping Weight: 13.8 ounces

ACTIVATE your thinking muscles. It’s too easy just to turn on the TV and let the images of the day wash over us, leaving brain cells unchallenged and a bit sad. Keep your brain happy with this mind stretching collection of puzzles. Crosswords, word searches, trivia, logic and numerical games—these teasers are all designed to inspire and stimulate the mind. So turn off the dreaded box and turn to Mind Stretchers—you’ll be entertained, learn new things, wake up your brain and it’s definitely more fun than watching the news.

Paperback: 192 pages
Publisher: Reader’s Digest; Csm edition (August 1, 2017)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 1621453510
ISBN-13: 978-1621453512
Product Dimensions: 7.9 x 1.1 x 10.5 inches
Shipping Weight: 1.2 pounds

ACTIVATE your thinking muscles. It’s too easy just to turn on the TV and let the images of the day wash over us, leaving brain cells unchallenged and a bit sad. Keep your brain happy with this mind stretching collection of puzzles. Crosswords, word searches, trivia, logic and numerical games—these teasers are all designed to inspire and stimulate the mind. So turn off the dreaded box and turn to Mind Stretchers—you’ll be entertained, learn new things, wake up your brain and it’s definitely more fun than watching the news.

Spiral-bound: 192 pages
Publisher: Reader’s Digest; Act Csm Sp edition (November 7, 2017)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 162145374X
ISBN-13: 978-1621453741
Product Dimensions: 7.9 x 0.8 x 10.5 inches
Shipping Weight: 1.2 pounds

Veronica and the Volcano by Geoffrey Cook is an exciting adventure story for grades 3 – 5 about a brave, curious young girl named Veronica, who lives on the side of a volcano. Eruptions are a part of life, as she watches from the protective shields of her home or from her family’s well-equipped Lava Car.

When Veronica leaves on a quest to find rare white volcano pearls on the far side of Mount Mystery, she leads her father, her best friend Maddy, and her friend’s dad, the blustering Captain John, into a series of incredible adventures. But when the colossal volcano erupts, fears wins an election, and Veronica must square off against a fear-mongering villain: the Man-in-White.

Cook’s story blends science with science fiction, straddling the world of the believable and fantastical and combining the latest earth science with incredible action. While writing, Cook extensively researched volcanoes, even visiting one. The most important volcanoes in the book are all based on real-world volcanoes like Krakatoa, Crater Lake, Mt. Pelee, and Tambora.

In Veronica and the Volcano kids will root for Veronica every step of the way, and while they are cheering her on, they’ll learn as well. Complementing STEM (science, technology, engineering, math) curriculum, the book is filled with educational elements about volcanoes, geysers, caves, and the wonders of physics. A glossary in the back provides an at-a-glance list of the facts in the book.

Artist Gabrielle Shamsey lavishly illustrated the book with many dozens of wonder-filled and vivid images of volcanoes, caves, eruptions, and more.

Veronica and the Volcano is perfect for volcano lovers of all ages.

Paperback: 320 pages
Publisher: Violet Moon, LLC (June 7, 2017)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0692894489
ISBN-13: 978-0692894484
Product Dimensions: 5.5 x 0.7 x 8.5 inches

The true story of nineteen-year-old Jordana Lebowitz’s time at the trial of Oskar Groening, known as the bookkeeper of Auschwitz, a man charged with being complicit in the death of more than 300,000 Jews. A granddaughter of Holocaust survivors, Jordana attended the trail. She realized that by witnessing history she gained the knowledge and legitimacy to be able to stand in the footsteps of the survivors.

Paperback: 256 pages
Publisher: Second Story Press (September 12, 2017)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 1772600407
ISBN-13: 978-1772600407
Product Dimensions: 5.5 x 0.5 x 8.2 inches
Shipping Weight: 10.6 ounce

Pizza With Jesus (No Black Olives) chronicles one couple’s faith journey through the cumulative effects of compound losses, suffering and grief. One found his reward. The other found her way back to God. Their journey is a lesson in obedience, patience and trust in the Lord. It spans all types of loss and grief, not only grief in response to death. It is a testimony to the gentle promise that only faith in a loving God offers. It is a story of hope, renewed faith and redemption.

Loss and grief are universal. Our responses to them are as unique as a fingerprint. Pizza With Jesus is a faith journey – a story of renewed hope, redemption and finding the way back to God who waits patiently for us to come to Him and to trust in Him. Sometimes it is only through profound suffering that we finally rest and place our complete trust in Him. When we come through on the other side of our suffering and grief and realize that God was beside us through it all, our hope and our faith in Him are hardened beyond all fracture – even when we feel lost and doubtful along the way.

Pizza With Jesus is a very deep and personal experience with grief and its cumulative effects. It delivers a message of hope that there is life on the other side of grief, no matter how dark and lonesome it feels along the way. It offers a lantern and a lifeline through pain and grief back to our loving Father’s side – where we belong and where we ultimately hope to be

Paperback
Publisher: Pamela Jean Frick (November 1, 2017)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0692941207
ISBN-13: 978-0692941201
Product Dimensions: 5.5 x 0.4 x 8.5 inches
Shipping Weight: 3.3 pounds

Dirty Vegan lets you prepare delicious vegan cuisine that anyone and everyone can enjoy, and showcases the sheer variety of amazing recipes you can create, all while remaining vegan. For too long, the vegan lifestyle has been seen as limiting–a laundry list of all the things vegans can’t or shouldn’t have.

Providing healthy, vegan alternatives to the sorts of delicious comfort foods that everyone craves, Dirty Vegan makes it easier than ever to live the vegan lifestyle, featuring delicious recipes that use common ingredients available in any grocery store.

Dirty Vegan features over 100 rich, indulgent recipes that are sure to delight, including: Vegan Ravioli Dippers, Avocado and “Bacon” Cheesy Cheddar Bread Ring, S’mores Pancakes, “Steak” Tips and Sweet Potatoes, Italian Wedding Soup, Vegan Dark Chocolate Peanut Butter Blossoms and many more.

With simple, delicious recipes, Dirty Vegan is not just for vegans, but is perfect for anyone who wants to prepare nutritious dishes using minimal equipment and processing.

Self-styled as “vegan junk food”–healthy vegan food that doesn’t skimp on taste–Dirty Vegan is a celebration of all the amazing tastes and dishes available to those on vegan diets.

Paperback: 224 pages
Publisher: Hatherleigh Press (November 15, 2017)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 1578267129
ISBN-13: 978-1578267125
Product Dimensions: 7 x 0.6 x 9.1 inches
Shipping Weight: 15.4 ounces

In our fast-paced world consisting of ever-changing technology and evolving social norms, parents are finding the traditional challenges of raising well-adjusted, self-confident and socially responsible children ever more difficult. As parents, we struggle with when to grant certain permissions and when to have difficult conversations. We often avoid such decisions, waiting until an external event forces the conversation or too many kids at school have been granted the same permission. To meet these challenges, parents need a framework that can adjust to the development needs of each child, the values of each community and the means of each family. The Birthday Rules provides that framework.

The Birthday Rules provides a fun and flexible framework of an annual review process combined with a structure for increasing permissions, responsibilities and conversations. We suggest using a child’s birthday as not only a time to celebrate, but also as an excellent opportunity to have important conversations, grant desired permissions and explain the responsibilities that go along with those permissions.

The Birthday Rules offers a structure to help with one of the most important tasks parents have—creating a safe environment to communicate and demonstrate unconditional love.

Hardcover: 64 pages
Publisher: Post Hill Press (May 30, 2017)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 1682612449
ISBN-13: 978-1682612446
Product Dimensions: 6 x 0.4 x 6 inches
Shipping Weight: 4.8 ounces

New grad student Katie Russell hears a violent struggle in a student’s apartment above her own. Upstairs, she discovers Ava’s naked and unconscious body lying on her bed. After a young man threatens Katie and runs away, she takes Ava to a hospital for an invasive sexual assault exam. Ava’s inexplicable refusal to file a complaint forces Katie to testify in a university hearing, one that results in meaningless sanctions. Outraged, Katie teams with a stalwart retired police detective in a perilous attempt to seek justice and takes a clandestine job within the police department. As she searches for another victim, one willing to testify in court, she confronts issues of Title IX, rape culture, criminal law, and a university administration that prefers sexual assault to remain secret. In the book’s urgent climax, Katie is drawn into the case on a personal level, with more than justice on the line.

Paperback: 323 pages
Publisher: Overlake Media; 1 edition (October 1, 2017)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0692908889
ISBN-13: 978-0692908884
Product Dimensions: 6 x 0.7 x 9 inches
Shipping Weight: 1.2 pounds

It started as a request from Bill Franks’ financial advisor to create a “Statement of Values” letter that he could share with his then-young children. If something happened and he wasn’t around to raise them, what were some of the core values he would like to impart on them once they were old enough to understand?

As Bill began laying out his thoughts, he realized that he had a lot more to say than would fit in a letter. He also realized that many other families might benefit from the same advice he was providing. What started as life lessons he wanted to share just with his children, quickly became an opportunity for other families to discuss and learn together. Written not from the perspective of an expert, but from that of a father giving guidance to his own teens, the book comes at the issues from a different perspective than many others.

This guidebook, written with teens as the intended audience, presents a great foundation for adults to think about and be intentional about sharing their own ethics and principles. With clear examples, timely teen issues, and ‘taking action’ elements with each chapter, it provides many opportunities for parents to begin or continue important conversations with their children. In chapters where parents disagree with Bill’s view, the book still provides a starting point to explain to their children how their views differ.

Paperback
Publisher: Fields Pond Publishing, LLC (September 25, 2017)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0998886106
ISBN-13: 978-0998886107
Product Dimensions: 5.5 x 0.5 x 8.5 inches
Shipping Weight: 9.9 ounces

Laid-back Mateo Marino doesn’t brood about the past or worry about the future. Instead, he lives in the present moment, driving his high-achieving parents crazy. Mateo feels unseen and unappreciated, especially compared to his younger brother, Alex, who is perfect in their eyes. But everything changes when Mateo disappears through a mysterious crack in his bedroom ceiling and finds himself on a planet called Urth, 64,000 light years away. Why was he drawn there? He doesn’t know, but a series of mind-blowing adventures follow, leading him deeper into the mystery and farther from home, where his desperate parents think he’s been abducted and an innocent man is charged with the crime. With the help of an “uppy” named Ideth, Mateo learns that he has an amazing gift called Presence that his parents have overlooked in their zeal to cure his “laziness.” But his gift has a dark side, too, that he discovers all too well when a terrible tragedy threatens to annihilate the very Urthling girl he befriends and feels duty bound to protect. On the surface, Mateo and the Gift of Presence is a lighthearted science fiction adventure story that takes its readers on a romp across the galaxy to a planet with two moons and enormous tides, inhabited by lavender humanoids adapted for life by the sea. But the undercurrent is one of discovery and redemption, where a ten-year old boy, through an unexpected journey, finds a way to escape his parent’s stifling shadow and emerge into a future of his own choosing.

Age Range: 9 – 12 years
Grade Level: 4 – 7
Series: Tales by Moons-Light Series
Paperback: 220 pages
Publisher: Spinning Wheel Press (September 25, 2017)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0997853204
ISBN-13: 978-0997853209
Product Dimensions: 5.5 x 0.6 x 8.5 inches
Shipping Weight: 11 ounces

Another in the successful Treebob Series. The enchanted forest comes alive with new, loud, awful sounds. The two wicked witches are up to their tricks as they cut down trees in The Treebobs forest home. Why are they doing this? How can they be stopped before they destroy everything? The Treebobs and the magical fairies team up … with quite dizzying results. Includes activity pages to extend the learning for children at home and in the classroom

Age Range: 3 – 8 years
Grade Level: Kindergarten – 3
Series: Treebobs (Book 1)
Paperback
Publisher: Tales 4 All Limited (October 16, 2017)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0995597103
ISBN-13: 978-0995597105
Product Dimensions: 8 x 0.1 x 10 inches
Shipping Weight: 4.2 ounces

Are you parenting by the seat of your pants? Discover a new mindset to embrace the joy and madness of motherhood. Are your kids driving you crazy? Do you worry that despite your best efforts you still aren’t doing enough? As a mother of two with a special-needs son, author Kathy Chlan knows what you’re going through. With her popular blog, Unfiltered Mom, Chlan has helped countless parents navigate the chaos of raising kids. And now she’s here to help you! Maternally Challenged: How My Special Needs Son Taught Me To Sack Up & Laugh! explores the day-to-day challenges of raising a special-needs child. Through heartwarming and hilarious personal accounts, you’ll find that you aren’t alone in dealing with family dysfunction. With Chlan’s guidance, you’ll learn methods to re-contextualize your troubles for a new outlook on parenthood and life. You may even start to laugh through the adversity. In Maternally Challenged, you’ll discover: – That you aren’t alone: all moms worry they don’t know what they’re doing – What steps you can take when life throws you a series of curveballs – How to stop dwelling on your mistakes and find time to appreciate the little victories – How to teach your special-needs child that using disability as a crutch is never an option – How to put terrible days and tantrums into greater perspective, and much, much more! This book is your laugh-out-loud guide to making sense of motherhood. If you like practical advice, using laughter as medicine, and personal stories from one mom’s journey, then you’ll love Kathy Chlan’s motivational resource. Buy Maternally Challenged today to start worrying less and laughing more!

Paperback: 108 pages
Publisher: Unfiltered Mom; 1 edition (April 24, 2017)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0998760900
ISBN-13: 978-0998760902
Product Dimensions: 5 x 0.2 x 8 inches
Shipping Weight: 7.8 ounces

“Nothing can come of nothing.”
The comic in Shakespeare’s tragedies mockingly swings the far-seen end into full view of its characters, making true the words of the great author. Art imitates life in all its shades of the comic and the tragic―the colors of black, white and the twilight zone of gray.
But “having nothing, nothing can he lose,” says the Bard; go ahead and feel the flow and majesty of the great plays as you engage in the intricacies of the activities.

Paperback: 72 pages
Publisher: Offshoot; Act Clr Cs edition (September 1, 2016)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 938597677X
ISBN-13: 978-9385976773
Product Dimensions: 8.4 x 0.3 x 8.6 inches
Shipping Weight: 9.9 ounces

Pressure, deadlines, workload and race against time.Banging heads and lost in files, oh my god, I have lost all smiles―an alarming microscope of the oddities of life in the workplace fishbowl, the book works as a buffer for your daily rants and curses. Caustically funny illustrations make it the book your boss would never want you to lay your hands on. So, here is the chance to cope with office drama and fine tuneyour worries and frustrations with this awesome book of activities.

Series: Check-in Check-out
Paperback: 64 pages
Publisher: Offshoot; Clr Csm edition (March 7, 2017)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 9386198401
ISBN-13: 978-9386198402
Product Dimensions: 7 x 0.3 x 9.4 inches
Shipping Weight: 7.8 ounces

What better way to celebrate life’s big and small achievements than with cake? This love letter to a classic indulgence offers 60 divinely decadent recipes home bakers will want to make right away. Organized by flavor profile (banana, coconut, chocolate, caramel, spice, fruit) and level of difficulty, each chapter in this cookbook from baking master Jill O’Connor presents a wide range of sweet choices, from easy weeknight sheet cakes to showstoppers layered with frosting and ganache. With photos that will make readers want to reach out and swipe their fingers through the frosting, Cake: I Love You offers foolproof cake-making advice for beginning bakers and master mixers alike.

Hardcover: 176 pages
Publisher: Chronicle Books (May 23, 2017)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 1452153809
ISBN-13: 978-1452153803
Product Dimensions: 9.8 x 0.8 x 9.8 inches
Shipping Weight: 2 pounds

The world knows Candace Payne as “Chewbacca Mom,” the wife and mother of two from Dallas who captured the hearts of nearly 200 million people around the world with nothing but a toy Chewbacca mask, a smart phone, and infectious laughter.

Candace’s viral moment of simple joy became Facebook Live’s top video. But what the video doesn’t show is Candace’s storied journey of daunting obstacles on the way to the joy-filled life—extreme poverty, past trauma, and struggles with self-worth.

Laugh It Up! tells the rest of the story behind the woman in the mask. Like most of us, Candace has often felt overlooked, undervalued, and insignificant. But she has also discovered the secrets to unshakable joy that no circumstance can take away, and Laugh It Up! will help you discover and experience the same.

Join Candace to discover the gift God has given us all to experience life to the fullest. All you need to do is answer “yes” when joy, whom Candace personifies as a friend, calls you to come and play.

Do you feel tempted to give up on your dreams? Joy stays the course.
Do your knees knock when thinking about the future? Joy hopes for what can be.
Do you feel unseen and unnoticed? Joy is content whether backstage or center stage.
Do you feel crushed under the weight of regret? Joy loves you enough to weep with you, but also enough to help you move on.

When life punches you in the gut, it can be difficult to muster a smile—much less a laugh. But with humor and power, wit and wisdom, Candace lights the way forward to a life that is free indeed.

Paperback: 208 pages
Publisher: Zondervan (November 7, 2017)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0310350565
ISBN-13: 978-0310350569
Product Dimensions: 5.4 x 0.6 x 8.3 inches
Shipping Weight: 6.4 ounces

This revolutionary book about our future is based on the simple idea that, according to the Bible, heaven is not our eternal home–the New Earth is. As Jesus says in the gospel of Matthew, the next chapter of our story begins with “the renewal of all things,” by which he means the earth we love in all its beauty, our own selves, and the things that make for a rich life: music, art, food, laughter and all that we hold dear. Everything shall be renewed “when the world is made new.”

More than anything else, how you envision your future shapes your current experience. If you knew that God was going to restore your life and everything you love any day; if you believed a great and glorious goodness was coming to you–not in a vague heaven but right here on this earth–you would have a hope to see you through anything, an anchor for your soul, “an unbreakable spiritual lifeline, reaching past all appearances right to the very presence of God” (Hebrews 6:19).

Most Christians (most people for that matter) fail to look forward to their future because their view of heaven is vague, religious, and frankly boring. Hope begins when we understand that for the believer nothing is lost. Heaven is not a life in the clouds; it is not endless harp-strumming or worship-singing. Rather, the life we long for, the paradise Adam and Eve knew, is precisely the life that is coming to us. And that life is coming soon.

Hardcover: 240 pages
Publisher: Thomas Nelson (September 26, 2017)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0718037995
ISBN-13: 978-0718037994
Product Dimensions: 5.8 x 0.9 x 8.7 inches
Shipping Weight: 12 ounces

For American Claire Stewart, joining the French Resistance sounded as romantic as the storylines she hopes will one day grace the novels she wants to write. But when she finds herself stranded on English shores, with five French Jewish children she smuggled across the channel before Nazis stormed Paris, reality feels more akin to fear.

With nowhere to go, Claire throws herself on the mercy of an estranged aunt, begging Lady Miranda Langford to take the children into her magnificent estate. Heavily weighted with grief of her own, Miranda reluctantly agrees . . . if Claire will stay to help. Though desperate to return to France and the man she loves, Claire has few options. But her tumultuous upbringing―spent in the refuge of novels with fictional friends―has ill-prepared her for the daily dramas of raising children, or for the way David Campbell, a fellow American boarder, challenges her notions of love. Nor could she foresee how the tentacles of war will invade their quiet haven, threatening all who have come to call Bluebell Wood home and risking the only family she’s ever known.

Set in England’s lush and storied Lake District in the early days of World War II, and featuring cameos from beloved literary icons Beatrix Potter and C. S. Lewis, Until We Find Home is an unforgettable portrait of life on the British home front, challenging us to remember that bravery and family come in many forms.

Paperback: 432 pages
Publisher: Tyndale House Publishers, Inc. (January 9, 2018)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 1496410963
ISBN-13: 978-1496410962
Product Dimensions: 5.5 x 1 x 8 inches
Shipping Weight: 16 ounces

Now more than ever, we are fighting for our voices to be heard on earth. We march, we tweet, we advocate on behalf of the voiceless, calling those in power to listen and come alongside us.

Sometimes it feels as if we’re never going to be heard and nothing will ever change.

Known for his powerful prayers, Chaplain Black challenges us, individually and collectively, to make ourselves heard in a way that really changes things―by calling upon the one who holds ultimate power. Through personal story and practical insight, Make Your Voice Heard in Heaven helps us learn to pray in a way that releases God’s power and unleashes His blessing.

Hardcover: 176 pages
Publisher: Tyndale Momentum (January 9, 2018)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 1496429494
ISBN-13: 978-1496429490
Product Dimensions: 5.2 x 0.8 x 7.2 inches
Shipping Weight: 8.8 ounces

November’s DVD and Book Product Roundup 2017

This post contains affiliate links if clicked on I may receive a small commission to support this blog.

I get products sent to me daily to try out. I unfortunately don’t have time to do a post for each item that I get to review. So I want to make sure these items get seen and learned about. The only other solution I could see to do is to do a November’s DVD and Book Product Roundup 2017 on the products I like and want my readers to know about. I hope you enjoy these as much as I and my other reviewers did.

From Disney-Pixar, creators of FINDING DORY and Academy Award(R) winner INSIDE OUT (Best Animated Feature Film, 2015), comes an epic adventure packed with heart, hilarity and full-throttle FUN! Blindsided by a new generation of blazing-fast racers led by arrogant hotshot Jackson Storm, the legendary Lightning McQueen (Owen Wilson) is suddenly sidelined and pushed from the sport he loves. To get back on track, he’ll need the help of eager young racing technician Cruz Ramirez, inspiration from the late Fabulous Hudson Hornet and a few unexpected twists and turns of fate. Bring home the high-octane hit that’s fully loaded with unforgettable characters and spectacular animation!

Special features
Exclusive New Mini-Movie: Miss Fritter’s Racing Skoool|Theatrical Short: “Lou”|Deleted Scenes|Cruz Ramirez: The Yellow Car that Could|Let’s. Get. Crazy.|Ready for the Race|Cars to Die(Cast) For|Generations: The Story of Cars 3|My First Car|Legendary|World’s Fastest Billboard|Commentary|Cars D’oeuvres|Cars 3 Trailers|Cars 3 Car Reveals|Cars 3 Set Fly-Throughs

Actors: Owen Wilson, Cristela Alonzo, Armie Hammer, Larry The Cable Guy, Bonnie Hunt
Directors: Brian Fee
Writers: Screenplay By Robert L. Baird & Dan Gerson
Format: AC-3, Dolby, DTS Surround Sound, Dubbed, NTSC, Subtitled, Widescreen
Language: English (DTS-HD High Res Audio), French (Dolby Digital 5.1), Spanish (Dolby Digital 5.1)
Subtitles: French, Spanish, English
Dubbed: French, Spanish
Region: Region A/1
Aspect Ratio: 2.39:1
Number of discs: 1
Rated: G General Audience
Studio: Disney-Pixar
DVD Release Date: November 7, 2017
Run Time: 103 minutes

Product Features
*Digital Copy of Mariah Carey’s All I Want for Christmas Is You (Subject to expiration. Go to NBCUCodes.com for details.)
*A Wish Come True: Making Mariah Carey’s All I Want For Christmas Is You

Product Description:
When little Mariah (Breanna Yde) sees a darling little puppy named “Princess” at the pet store, she suddenly knows exactly what she wants for Christmas. Before her Christmas wish can come true, she must prove that she can dog-sit her uncle’s dog, Jack, a scraggly rascal; in fact, the worst dog in the county! Jack turns Mariah and her family’s perfect holiday preparations upside down in hilarious ways. It wasn’t exactly the Christmas she wished for…it was more than she ever wanted. Based on the iconic Christmas song and popular illustrated book of the same name, Mariah Carey’s All I Want for Christmas Is You featuring Mariah’s music and narration will be a family favorite for years to come.

Product details
Actors: Breanna Yde, Henry Winkler
Directors: Guy Vasilovich
Writers: Temple Mathews
Producers: Mariah Carey, Mike Young, Liz Young, Steven Rosen
Format: NTSC, Subtitled
Language: English (Dolby Digital 5.1), English (DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1)
Subtitles: French, Spanish
Subtitles for the Hearing Impaired: English
Region: Region A/1
Aspect Ratio: 1.78:1
Number of discs: 2
Rated: G General Audience
Studio: Universal Studios Home Entertainment
DVD Release Date: November 14, 2017
Digital Copy Expiration Date: May 2, 2018
Run Time: 182 minutes

There’s only one thing more fun than Yo Gabba Gabba! Live! and the holidays…. You guessed it, putting them together! Join DJ Lance Rock, Brobee, Foofa, Muno, Plex and Toodee as they dance, sing and decorate the tree to prepare for the arrival of Santa Claus! Filmed live at New York City’s The Beacon Theatre, celebrate the season with the colorful cast of characters singing their hits, including It’s Wintertime,Every Snowflake’s Different, Just Like You and a holiday version of everyone’s favorite Party in my Tummy! Including special appearances by superstar Leslie Hall and the one and only Santa Claus! Snowflakes are falling and we can hardly wait!

Actors: Yo Gabba Gabba
Directors: NCircle Entertainment
Format: Multiple Formats, Color, NTSC
Language: English
Region: Region 1 (U.S. and Canada only)
Number of discs: 1
Rated: NR Not Rated
Studio: Yo Gabba Gabba
DVD Release Date: October 14, 2014
Run Time: 60 minutes

The universe is in danger. The evil Snake extinguishes the stars as he passes through the galaxy, causing chaos and plunging the planets into darkness. The Little Prince must leave his Asteroid home and beloved friend, Rose, in his quest to outsmart the Snake and save the universe from doom. Accompanied by his trusted companion, the Fox, the Little Prince travels from planet to planet, braving danger and discovering vast and enchanted worlds. Will the extraordinary gifts of the Little Prince bring each of the planets back to life? And will he ever find his way home? On the planet Khagle, every 122 days, the Khagle hands wishaplants seeds out to children and inhabitants. The whishaplants grow into trees which then give presents to children. On planet Khagle, wishaplants also ensure the village’s survival because the plants’ roots secure the houses to the ground. Without it, the houses would fly off! Furthermore, Thery and Dokan, two inhabitants of planet Khagle, have to fight each other in order to became the new Khagle. The Little Prince and Fox must help the Planet Khagle when we find out that Lyl the alchemist, who grows the seeds into wishaplants has disappeared 48 hours before the Khagle’s distribution. Will the Little Prince be able to find Lyl the alchemist in time before Khagle’s giving of the wishaplants?

Actors: The Little Prince
Directors: NCircle Entertainment
Format: Animated, Color, NTSC
Language: English
Dubbed: English
Region: Region 1 (U.S. and Canada only.)
Number of discs: 1
Rated: NR Not Rated
Studio: NCircle Entertainment
DVD Release Date: October 18, 2016
Run Time: 85 minutes

Welcome to Doozer Creek where the Doozers live! They’re green. They’re cute. They’re three inches tall and they’re full of energy, ideas, and enthusiasm! It’s family time at Doozer Creek! The Pod Squad want to build a Doozer-sized Gingerbread House! However, in order to achieve such a large size Gingerbread House it’s going to take some clever construction to create. Can the Pod Squad do it? Then, Daisy Wheel wants to ice skate with the others, but she doesn’t know how. Together, the Pod Squad build her a custom Doo-Step Skating Dress that lets her glide across the ice in no time. Weee! Enjoy these adventures and six more focusing on science, technology, engineering and math!

Actors: Doozers
Directors: Henson
Format: Multiple Formats, Animated, Color, Widescreen, NTSC
Language: English
Region: Region 1 (U.S. and Canada only.)
Number of discs: 1
Rated: NR Not Rated
Studio: NCircle Entertainment
DVD Release Date: November 3, 2015
Run Time: 90 minutes

When an old friend of Edison’s visits the lab and asks the Secret Lab Kids to help him with an urgent, top-secret project, they have to follow him through a wormhole to get to his own secret lab. Who could this mysterious friend be and what is this top secret project during the holiday season?

Actors: Thomas Edison
Directors: NCircle Entertainment
Format: Animated, Color, NTSC
Language: English
Region: Region 1 (U.S. and Canada only.)
Number of discs: 1
Rated: G General Audience
Studio: NCircle Entertainment
DVD Release Date: October 11, 2016
Run Time: 70 minutes

CAILLOU TM is an award-winning television series about an inquisitive four year old whose world is filled with learning, fun and imagination and inspires generations of pre-school children to grow emotionally as they explore the world around them. When winter comes to Caillou’s house, this curious 4-year-old tackles all kinds of big boy activities like helping Daddy shovel snow, making holiday presents for his family and even discovering how other little boys and girls around the world celebrate the season! Filled with magical moments seen through a small child’s eyes, this delightful story will enchant your entire family.

Actors: Caillou
Directors: NCircle Entertainment
Format: Multiple Formats, Animated, Color, NTSC
Language: English
Subtitles: English
Region: Region 1 (U.S. and Canada only.)
Number of discs: 1
Studio: Ncircle Entertainment
DVD Release Date: November 11, 2014
Run Time: 80 minutes

Santa Claus announces his retirement on television and the public is shocked! But its Santa’s replacement, Robotropolis, who has everyone worried. It seems Robotropolis has his own ideas, and instead of giving boys and girls gifts, Robotropolis would rather receive them. Join Sonic the Hedgehog in an adventure to rescue the spirit of Christmas and bring joy back to the world!

Actors: Jaleel White
Format: Multiple Formats, Animated, Color, NTSC
Language: English
Region: Region 1 (U.S. and Canada only.)
Number of discs: 1
Rated: NR Not Rated
Studio: NCircle Entertainment
DVD Release Date: September 29, 2009
Run Time: 88 minutes

To Go A-Snooking…

“Snookton was a happy town, full of Snookies, snooking all around. There were Snookie shops full of Snookie toys for all the Snookie girls and boys.” But was this enough for Mackenzie who one day decided that after being let out of school she would not take her usual path home? After convincing another friend to adventure with her through the enchanted woods they soon find out why the teacher had told them “to stay on the right path.” From the dangers of the Snarfling Snarfle to the delights of the Snookberry jelly roll at the Snookie Exchange, they encounter a whole new world out there, but, even after having met a whole new set of friends and learned the value of paying attention, they still had to find their way home.

Age Range: 4 – 12 years
Grade Level: Kindergarten – 6
Paperback: 92 pages
Publisher: Post Mortem Publications, Inc. (March 7, 2017)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 1941880150
ISBN-13: 978-1941880159
Product Dimensions: 8.5 x 0.2 x 11 inches

When Katie Davis Majors moved to Uganda, accidentally founded a booming organization, and later became the mother of thirteen girls through the miracle of adoption, she determined to weave her life together with the people she desired to serve. But joy often gave way to sorrow as she invested her heart fully in walking alongside people in the grip of poverty, addiction, desperation, and disease.

After unexpected tragedy shook her family, for the first time Katie began to wonder, Is God really good? Does He really love us? When she turned to Him with her questions, God spoke truth to her heart and drew her even deeper into relationship with Him.

Daring to Hope is an invitation to cling to the God of the impossible—the God who whispers His love to us in the quiet, in the mundane, when our prayers are not answered the way we want or the miracle doesn’t come. It’s about a mother discovering the extraordinary strength it takes to be ordinary. It’s about choosing faith no matter the circumstance and about encountering God’s goodness in the least expected places.

Though your heartaches and dreams may take a different shape, you will find your own questions echoed in these pages. You’ll be reminded of the gifts of joy in the midst of sorrow. And you’ll hear God’s whisper: Hold on to hope. I will meet you here.

Paperback
Publisher: Authentic Media (October 1, 2017)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 1780784600
ISBN-13: 978-1780784601
Product Dimensions: 8.5 x 0.6 x 5.6 inches
Shipping Weight: 9.9 ounces

Nothing could be much worse than Theresa’s childhood and the damage and pain it caused her. As a result Theresa is a strong, resilient and witty teenage girl. At this stage of her life she thinks the only thing she has to deal with now is graduating and her fun romance with her boyfriend Steve until today. Almost instantly her life is thrown into chaos. Not from problems within her home but from total strangers who out of nowhere are after her. Fortunately Theresa is the star of the track team because she immediately begins her run to save herself. Simultaneously, her boyfriend Steve, who had his own troubled childhood, begins to go through some amazing changes and acquires some fantastic abilities, which at first works to Theresa’s benefit with her new found enemies. But then Steve’s new talents literally signal a new set of enemies of his own who have their out of this world abilities and agenda. Soon both Theresa and Steve apparently are threats to two powerful and resourceful groups who want to eliminate them. Their relationship is put to the test as Who Am I? explodes into a nonstop action chase. Theresa and Steve must use all of their talents, abilities and wit in order to survive and stop the threat these two groups present to our world. Just like in the past with their family problems, their humor will help them cope with everything that is going on around them; and they will rely on their greatest strength, their love for each other to survive! Between the story of Who Am I? and The Teenage and Young Adult Survival Handbook, the topics of domestic violence, child abuse, alcoholism, suicide, self-esteem, bullying, and dealing with dysfunctional homes while coping with school are addressed; letting its readers know they are not the only ones with these problems, while giving them suggestions of how to get help and hope.

Paperback: 216 pages
Publisher: Power Publishing Corp. (April 21, 2017)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 1944076018
ISBN-13: 978-1944076016
Product Dimensions: 5.5 x 0.5 x 8.5 inches
Shipping Weight: 11.2 ounces

Soon to be Ex: A Guide to the Perfect Divorce and Relaunch launches with an intelligent examination of typical divorce motives to help a would-be divorcée take a step back to first determine if a split up is the right move for her or merely a grass seems greener temporary situation. If the marriage is truly on the rocks Jacqueline guides her soon-to-be ex-wife readers through the divorce process from A to Z with an experienced hand from her 15 years of legal experience as managing partner of a New York first tier matrimonial law firm.

Author Jacqueline’s Soon-to-be Ex topics include:
The Hairdresser’s and Trainer’s Well-Meaning (but flawed) Advice
Escaping Abusive Marriages Financial, Emotional & Physical Abuse
Why a Bitch from Hell Divorce Lawyer is not (usually) the Best Choice
Avoiding the Social Media Pitfall that Derails Well Planned Divorces
Pros and Cons of Mediation, Collaborative Divorce or Litigation
Court Realities Including Why the Bastard’s Cheating is Irrelevant
Advance Emotional, Financial and Legal Preparation
Asset Division from the Family Home to a Family Business
Maximizing Maintenance, Support and Exit Dignity
AND everything else for the elusive Perfect Divorce and Relaunch.

Most important, Ms. Newman (both Manhattan’s leading matrimonial lawyer and a parent herself) focuses on the children of divorce in detail to help women assure their progeny’s financial well-being as well as sound advice on easing the emotional marital turbulence for the marriage’s offspring. While Soon-to-be Ex is solid advice for anyone looking at ending a bad marriage, Jacqueline hits her lawyerly stride with a few chapters of special counsel for the 1% she works with daily (yes the rich ARE different in their divorces too) with a look at:

Celebrity Divorces (managing valuable brands in a breakup)
High Net Worth Split-Ups (for the moneyed and non-moneyed spouses)
Grief Saving Prenups and Postnupts
Special Millennial Divorce Issues (for the startup generation)
Jacqueline says it all when she explains why she located her law firm on New York City’s trendy 5th Avenue, So clients can leave my office and go straight to Saks and Bergdorf’s she says with a wry smile.

Perfect Paperback: 255 pages
Publisher: Sutton Hart Press; 1 edition (March 20, 2017)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0997936088
ISBN-13: 978-0997936087
Package Dimensions: 8.9 x 6 x 0.6 inches
Shipping Weight: 13.6 ounces

Boys and girls will love the story of Lizzy, a little lion who must learn what it truly means to be brave in the face of hard things. When she sees someone in danger, Lizzy tries her best to help, but she quickly learns that sometimes being brave means asking adults for help.

With a unique spin on the concept of bravery, Lizzy the Lioness is a timely picture book in an ever-changing world. Children will see that bravery is so much more than big muscles or loud roars but often is found in the tiniest people who have the courage to speak up when no one else will. By asking God for help and then bringing grown-ups into the picture, Lizzy shows kids that being brave doesn’t have to happen by yourself—it happens with help!

New York Times bestselling author Lisa Bevere’s first picture book will make waves with its unique and compelling message for families everywhere. Parents and children alike will enjoy the beautiful artwork as well as the story of communication and teamwork.

You don’t have to be the biggest to be the strongest, and you don’t have to be the loudest to be the bravest. Show your children God’s truest definition of bravery with the timeless story of Lizzy the Lioness.

Age Range: 4 – 8 years
Grade Level: Preschool – 3
Hardcover: 32 pages
Publisher: Thomas Nelson (October 3, 2017)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0718096584
ISBN-13: 978-0718096588
Product Dimensions: 9.4 x 0.4 x 11.3 inches

Fiction book for girls and boys 8-13 years of age, about a pretty and kind-hearted girl, Emma, who lives in a castle with her rich father Baron Geoffrey during the Middle Ages in the early 14th century. Emma and a brave young peasant named Thomas have many adventures together riding their horses. There is mystery and suspense due to thieves trying to steal Emma’s and her father’s jewels and a siege in her uncle’s castle. They are also searching for Emma’s missing cousin Helen and trying to get back beloved eight-year-old serveant Amma back from a mean uncle. Experience jousting tournaments, town fairs, holiday celebrations, hunting, feasts, thrilling suprises and fulfilling Emma’s dreams.

Perfect Paperback
Publisher: Wonderberry Press (June 2, 2015)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0578104539
ISBN-13: 978-0578104539
Package Dimensions: 7.5 x 5.1 x 0.6 inches
Shipping Weight: 10.4 ounces

Her daddy went away to fight for our country. And he came home changed. What’s a young family to do when a parent is injured? How might they respond to curiosity? In this tender account based on her childhood experiences, beloved author Tara McClary Reeves shares how her family adapted to the extensive physical losses her father, Marine Corps Lieutenant Clebe McClary, sustained. With warmth and humor, this book encourages children and spouses facing similar trials to cherish the gift of family. To hold on to faith. And to choose to be loving heroes on the home front. Is Your Dad a Pirate? will challenge your perspective and deepen your commitment to love.

Age Range: 4 – 8 years
Grade Level: Preschool – 3
Hardcover: 38 pages
Publisher: Mascot Books; 1 edition (August 1, 2017)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 1684013194
ISBN-13: 978-1684013197
Product Dimensions: 8.2 x 0.4 x 10.3 inches
Shipping Weight: 15.2 ounces

Discover the Wonders of the Universe with the Creator

It’s impossible to out-imagine God. He orchestrates time, creates light, and speaks things into existence—from the largest stars to the smallest starfish. God is a powerful, purposeful, personal, unparalleled Creator.

Psalm 19:1 says, “The heavens tell the glory of God. And the skies announce what his hands have made.”

Indescribable displays the majesty of creation with scientific findings, photography, and original illustrations. These 100 devotions encourage awe at God’s creativity with an in-depth look at

• Space, Galaxies, Planets, and Stars

• Earth, Geology, Oceans, and Weather

• Animals—from Hummingbirds to Dinosaurs

• Our Minds, Bodies, and Imaginations

Each devotion features a “Be Amazed” section with fascinating facts, hands-on activities, and a closing prayer. Based on Louie Giglio’s popular messages “Indescribable” and “How Great Is Our God,” Indescribable: 100 Devotions About God & Science will help kids discover the incredible creation of our indescribable God.

Age Range: 6 – 10 years
Grade Level: 2 – 3
Hardcover: 208 pages
Publisher: Thomas Nelson (October 10, 2017)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0718086104
ISBN-13: 978-0718086107

Minerals are, in many ways, the unheralded and often forgotten heroes of keeping our bodies functioning at their best. While the nutrients carbohydrates, proteins and fat may be better well known, minerals are equally vital for helping us get and stay healthy. They play a key role in combating disease, helping your body heal, managing ongoing chronic health problems such as high blood pressure, minimizing the impact of such common maladies as headaches and PMS, helping children grow up strong, enhancing mental performance at all ages, and fatigue. They truly are your secret weapon for getting and staying your healthiest. In this easy-to-read and easy-to-use guide, pH Lab’s team of recognized medical doctors and specialists tell you about the role minerals play with common health issues along with detailed information about individual minerals. You’ll also learn more about the relationship between minerals and prescription medicines, why you need more than routine blood tests to see what minerals your body may need, and where you can get these tests. Enjoy your healthy life!

Product details
Paperback: 204 pages
Publisher: Proactive Health Labs, Inc. (January 8, 2017)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0997829125
ISBN-13: 978-0997829129
Product Dimensions: 5.5 x 0.5 x 8.5 inches
Shipping Weight: 11.5 ounces

Color your way through the year with this gorgeous calendar based on Leila Duly’s bestselling Floribunda: A Flower Coloring Book. Each month features an intricate flower illustration to color and display on your wall.

Calendar: 24 pages
Publisher: Laurence King Publishing; Wal edition (August 1, 2017)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 178627048X
ISBN-13: 978-1786270481
Product Dimensions: 12 x 0.1 x 14 inches
Shipping Weight: 11.4 ounces

Color your way through the year with this beautiful new calendar, featuring birds from across the world.

Calendar: 24 pages
Publisher: Laurence King Publishing; Wal edition (August 1, 2017)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 1786270501
ISBN-13: 978-1786270504
Product Dimensions: 12 x 0.2 x 14 inches
Shipping Weight: 11.2 ounces

The fifth edition of this all-time bestseller is back in a new edition—fully updated and with nearly 8,000 menu and food items! It includes complete nutrition information on everything from fruits and vegetables to fast food and prepackaged/frozen meals. Avoid inaccurate and crowd-sourced databases or incomplete nutrition information with the most complete nutrient counter available, straight from the source people trust.

Each entry contains serving size and calories, carbohydrate, fat, saturated fat, cholesterol, sodium, fiber, and protein. Plus each entry contains complete exchange information for diabetes meal planning!

Complete nutrition information on 8,000 menu and food items.
The most comprehensive nutrition resource for people with diabetes.
Contains complete nutrition info on calories, carbs, fat/saturated fat, cholesterol, sodium, fiber, and protein, as well as diabetic exchanges for all entries.

Paperback: 736 pages
Publisher: American Diabetes Association; 5 edition (August 15, 2017)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 158040555X
ISBN-13: 978-1580405553
Product Dimensions: 4.2 x 1.8 x

August’s DVD and Book Product Roundup 2017

I get products sent to me daily to try out. I unfortunately don’t have time to do a post for each item that I get to review. So I want to make sure these items get seen and learned about. The only other solution I could see to do is to do a August’s DVD and Book Product Roundup 2017 on the products I like and want my readers to know about. I hope you enjoy these as much as I and my other reviewers did.

The Rangers must summon all their Dino Super Charge powers to become stronger than ever!

Actors: Brennan Mejia, Camille Hyde, Yoshi Sudarso, Michael Taber, James Davies
Directors: Peter Burger, Karl Zwicky, Michael Duignan, Ric Pellizzeri, Britta Hawkins
Format: AC-3, Box set, Closed-captioned, Color, Dolby, Dubbed, NTSC, Widescreen
Language: English
Dubbed: Spanish
Region: Region 1 (U.S. and Canada only.)
Number of discs: 4
Rated:Unrated Not Rated
Studio: LIONSGATE
DVD Release Date: June 27, 2017
Run Time: 264 minutes

Orphaned at birth and raised by storks, the sparrow Richard believes he is a stork too! Determined to prove he is a stork after all, Richard ventures south on an epic adventure to unleash his true potential.

Actors: Drake Bell, Jane Lynch, Justine ”iJustine” Ezarik
Directors: Toby Genkel, Reza Memari
Format: AC-3, Animated, Color, Dolby, NTSC, Subtitled, Widescreen
Language: English
Subtitles: Spanish
Region: Region 1 (U.S. and Canada only.)
Number of discs: 1
Rated: PG Parental Guidance Suggested
Studio: LIONSGATE
DVD Release Date: July 4, 2017
Run Time: 84 minutes

Join your favorite characters — and their high-speed transforming Roadsters — as they compete in thrilling races stretching from Hot Dog Hills to Hawaii… and all the way to London, England! You’ll meet the world’s greatest spy, zoom through the skies in a revved up hot-air balloon race, and even return the Queen’s stolen Royal Ruby! It’s all about great friends, a little competition, and gearing up for wild FUN!

Bonus Episodes: “Goff Luck Charm” and “The Haunted Hot Rod”

Download Mickey And The Roadster Racers - Start Your Engines Activities

Actors: Bret Iwan, Russi Taylor, Bill Farmer, Daniel Ross, Tress MacNeille
Format: Dolby, Dubbed, NTSC, Subtitled, Widescreen
Language: English (Dolby Digital 2.0), French (Dolby Digital 2.0), Spanish (Dolby Digital 2.0)
Subtitles: French, Spanish, English
Dubbed: French, Spanish
Region: Region 1 (U.S. and Canada only.)
Aspect Ratio: 1.78:1
Number of discs: 1
Studio: Walt Disney Studios Home Entertainment
DVD Release Date: August 15, 2017
Run Time: 72 minutes

“When we last saw the Little Prince, he had defeated the Snake by trapping him in his sketchbook. All is calm in the galaxy once again. Life on B612 has resumed to normal. Rose, Fox, and the Little Prince are living peacefully, maybe too peacefully…. Then one night, Rose hears the Snake telling her that she has a home planet with a family and it sounds like they are in danger. Can this be true? Can there be a Planet of the Roses? Rose asks the Little Prince to find her planet and fast. The Little Prince promises Rose that he will go look for her Planet of the Roses. He asks Fox to keep an eye on Rose as he flies off on his plane. The Little Prince promises he will return soon to trim teh baobabs on B612. During his quest to find the Planet of the Roses, the Little Prince encounters four new characters: the hunter, the geographer, the king, and the businessman. As he meets each one, they tell him that Rose’s planet is in another galaxy far beyond interstellar space and offer to help him find the planet. Meanwhile, back on B612, the baobabs continue to grow, Rose and Fox continue to argue, and then the Snake is freed from the sketchbook! Upon the Little Prince’s return to B612 he learns of Snake’s escape and realizes he must set off on a new mission to fight his worst enemy again. Will he succeed? Will he ever find the Planet of the Roses? Embark on a new mission with Little Prince and friends!”

Actors: Aidan Drummond
Directors: Pierre Alain Chartier
Format: Animated, Color, NTSC, Widescreen
Language: English
Region: Region 1 (U.S. and Canada only.)
Number of discs: 1
Rated: NR Not Rated
Studio: NCircle Entertainment
DVD Release Date: August 8, 2017
Run Time: 85 minutes

“Join Molang, a round, fluffy, and happy rabbit, and his friend, Piu Piu, a poised, timid, and reserved yellow chick, as they explore everyday life. Molang savors every moment of his life, imbuing it with joy and wonder. He pays attention to the smallest details, giving meaning to even the tiniest things. Molang puts his heart into his actions, and he has a huge heart. Even when he does absolutely nothing, he does it well! Piu Piu, on the other hand, doesn t like calling attention to himself. He likes to do things carefully and well. When unexpected situations arise (and Molang s unpredictable behavior often causes such situations to occur!), Piu Piu can become quickly unsettled, even panicked. Despite their many differences, Molang and Piu Piu enjoy a unique friendship. They have amazing times together ranging from the mundane to the extraordinary. From finding themselves in a lifeboat in the middle of the ocean to riding camels in the desert, Molang and Piu Piu experience unexpected situations. Throughout it all though, every single moment with these two is filled with happiness. Embark on 52 unforgettable adventures with Molang and Piu Piu!”

Actors: Various
Directors: Various
Format: Animated, Color, NTSC, Widescreen
Language: English
Region: Region 1 (U.S. and Canada only.)
Number of discs: 1
Rated: NR Not Rated
Studio: NCircle Entertainment
DVD Release Date: August 15, 2017
Run Time: 185 minutes

“Every day Henry meets something new! I wonder what Henry s going to meet today? Henry is a 4-year-old boy who always wants to learn and find out more. In each episode, Henry has a friendly chat with whatever he meets and discovers something new… Hello, Whale. How do you stay under water for so long? Hello, Car. What makes you go so fast? Hello, Moon. Why do you only come out at night? No matter what Henry meets, they re always delighted to talk, laugh and share their amazing world with him. After finding out so many amazing things about his new friends, Henry lets his imagination run wild and imagines himself… As a knight rescuing the missing sword… As a singer performing in a band… As a deep sea diver swimming along sea creatures… As a fireman rescuing others… As an astronaut flying to the moon… And more!”

Actors: Darragh Malone
Directors: Gary Gill
Format: Animated, Color, NTSC
Language: English
Region: Region 1 (U.S. and Canada only.)
Number of discs: 1
Rated: NR Not Rated
Studio: Ncircle Entertainment
DVD Release Date: August 15, 2017
Run Time: 135 minutes

“Welcome to Lily’s Driftwood Bay! Lily is six years old and lives with her dad and her best friend, who is a seagull named Gull, in a little hut on the beach. Across the way is Driftwood Bay, a special island that exists in Lily’s imagination. Every day the sea washes up a new treasure which sparks Lily’s imagination about what might be happening on Driftwood Bay. Join Lily and her friends, Salty Dog, Bull, Nonna, Hatsie, Wee Rabbit and Lord Stag as they sail to Driftwood Bay where wonderful adventures await! Along with each adventure is a valuable lesson learned in each story from learning to tell the truth to saying sorry to asking for help. Embark on new adventures with Lily and friends as they travel to Driftwood Bay! ”

Actors: Orlagh O’Keefe
Directors: Darren Vandenburg, Colin Williams
Format: Animated, Color, NTSC, Widescreen
Language: English
Region: Region 1 (U.S. and Canada only. Read more about DVD formats.)
Number of discs: 1
Rated: NR Not Rated
Studio: Ncircle Entertainment
DVD Release Date: August 1, 2017
Run Time: 370 minutes

Get ready for farm-fresh fun and laughter with Shaun the Sheep™ and his barnyard buddies, as they set the scene for more mayhem on the farm. Laugh out loud as Shaun tries to outfox a fox, Bitzer discovers his jazzy side, and the sheep try to sell everything on the farm to the highest bidder. Shaun and his friends deliver 7 hilarious adventures full of animal antics that will make the whole family cock-a-doodle doo!

Format: Multiple Formats, Animated, Closed-captioned, Color, Dolby, NTSC, Widescreen
Language: English
Region: Region 1 (U.S. and Canada only.)
Number of discs: 1
Rated: NR Not Rated
Studio: Lyons / Hit Ent.
DVD Release Date: July 26, 2011
Run Time: 44 minutes

One of the biggest animated films in history, The Lion King, the coming-of-age masterpiece, filled with humor and heart, breathtaking animation and soul-stirring Academy Award®–winning music (1994: Best Original Score and Best Original Song, “Can You Feel the Love Tonight”), joins the highly celebrated Walt Disney Signature Collection. The Lion King roars to its rightful place in the Walt Disney Signature Collection on Digital Aug. 15th and on Blu-ray™ Aug. 29th.

Download The Lion King Signature Movie Night

Audiences will fall in love all over again with the treasured classic, and a new generation of fans will laugh with Timon and Pumbaa, cry with Simba and Mufasa, burst into song, and find their place in the “Circle of Life.” The Walt Disney Signature Collection release includes over three hours of classic bonus material and exclusive, brand new features inviting viewers to sing along with the film’s award-winning music, observe recording sessions, step inside the story room, witness the evolution of a villain, and join Nathan Lane (voice of Timon) and Matthew Broderick (voice of Adult Simba) for an extended conversation regarding the legacy of “The Lion King.”

Language: English
Number of discs: 2
Rated: G General Audience
Studio: Walt Disney Video
DVD Release Date: August 29, 2017
Run Time: 88 minutes

Download The Lion King Signature Solar Eclipse Activity

Disney’s Born In China, narrated by John Krasinski, transports audiences to some of the world’s most extreme environments of China where few people have ever ventured to witness wildly intimate and adorable moments in the lives of three animal families – a doting panda bear mother, a 2-year-old golden snub-nosed monkey, and a mother snow leopard. It is the seventh theatrical release from Disneynature, which brings the world’s top nature filmmakers together to share wildlife stories that engage, inspire and educate. The breathtaking footage and high-definition quality picture is captivating for audiences of all ages and is a must-add to the in-home collection. Disneynature’s newest true-life adventure film “Born in China” journeys into homes on Digital and Blu-ray™ Combo Pack on Aug. 29/2017.

BONUS FEATURES (Blu-ray & Digital)*:
Panda Suits & Bamboo Shoots – Join the team as they struggle through an almost impenetrable bamboo forest in an effort to capture footage of pandas in the wild.

Walking with Monkeys – The shivering crew bundles up to film the adorable golden snub-nosed monkeys engaged in a surprisingly human activity.

Masters of Camouflage – Go behind the scenes as the filmmakers set out on a quest never before achieved: to find and film a snow leopard family in the wild.

Wading Through Wetlands – A crew travels to far northeast China to catch the first moments of a red-crowned crane chick’s life.

“Everything Everything” Music Video Performed by American Authors – check out the full music video of American Authors end-credit song “Everything Everything.”

Disneynature: Get Inspired, Get Involved –Join Disneynature and the Disney Conservation as they thank our audiences and the animals who star in the films for helping to make Disneynature and its conservation efforts a success.
*Bonus features may vary by retailer

DISC SPECIFICATIONS:
Product SKUs: Blu-ray Combo Pack (Blu-ray+DVD+Digital), Digital HD/SD, and On-Demand
Feature Run Time: Approximately 79 minutes
Rating: G in U.S., G in CE, and G in CF
Aspect Ratio: 1080p High Definition / Widescreen 1:78:1
Audio: English Audio 5.1 DTS-HDMA
Languages/Subtitles: Blu-ray = English SDH, Spanish and French

Set to the all-new sonic backdrop of Awesome Mixtape #2, Marvel Studios’ GUARDIANS OF THE GALAXY VOL. 2 continues the team’s adventures as they traverse the outer reaches of the cosmos. The Guardians must fight to keep their newfound family together as they unravel the mystery of Peter Quill’s true parentage. Old foes become new allies and characters from the classic comics come to their aid as the Marvel Cinematic Universe continues to expand.

Actors: Chris Pratt, Zoe Saldana, Dave Bautista, Vin Diesel, Bradley Cooper
Directors: James Gunn
Writers: James Gunn, Based on the Marvel comic book by Dan Abnett and A
Format: AC-3, Dolby, DTS Surround Sound, Dubbed, NTSC, Subtitled, Widescreen
Language: English (DTS-HD High Res Audio), French (Dolby Digital 5.1), Spanish (Dolby Digital 5.1)
Subtitles: French, Spanish, English
Dubbed: French, Spanish
Region: Region A/1
Aspect Ratio: 2.40:1
Number of discs: 1
Rated: PG-13bParents Strongly Cautioned
Studio: Buena Vista Home Entertainment
DVD Release Date: August 22, 2017
Run Time: 136 minutes

Join the GHOST crew as it prepares for its biggest mission yet in STAR WARS REBELS: SEASON THREE! The story of the GHOST crew is far from over. While Sabine confronts new challenges on her home world of Mandalore, Ezra’s growing power as both a Jedi and a rebel leader helps the rebellion acquire new resources and recruits for the fight ahead. However, the Imperial effort to eliminate the rebellion is now being led by the coldly analytical Grand Admiral Thrawn, whose strategic, tactical and cultural insights make him a threat unlike any they have faced before.

Actors: Taylor Gray, Vanessa Marshall, Tiya Sircar, Jr. Freddie Prinze, Steve Blum
Format: NTSC, Subtitled
Language: English (Dolby Digital 5.1), French (Dolby Digital 5.1), Spanish (Dolby Digital 5.1)
Subtitles: French, Spanish, English
Region: Region A/1
Aspect Ratio: 1.78:1
Number of discs: 1
Studio: Buena Vista Home Entertainment
DVD Release Date: August 29, 2017
Run Time: 485 minutes

After defeating Viggo and destroying the Dragon Eye, the calm doesn’t last long as Hiccup learns the Hunters remain a threat led by a new villain who can control Dragons! Now, Hiccup, Toothless and the Riders must battle the Hunters like never before with help from new and old allies. But after a series of shocking revelations, Hiccup learns that the true leader of the Dragon Hunters is somebody he never expected who threatens the course of the dragon-kind forever! The race is on for the Riders to defeat the Hunters once and for all before it’s too late, only on Netflix TODAY!

Shawnee Smith (”Anger Management”) and Pamela Reed (”Parks and Recreation”) lead an all-star cast in this humorous and heartwarming story of a workaholic mom and her family-oriented mother-in-law, who are thrown together on a disaster-prone road trip that turns into a life lesson for both.

Actors: Shawnee Smith, Pamela Reed, Shawn Christian, Clare Carey, Madelyn Cline
Directors: Randall Stevens
Format: AC-3, Dolby, NTSC, Widescreen
Language: English
Region: Region 1 (U.S. and Canada only.)
Number of discs: 1
Rated: PG Parental Guidance Suggested
Studio: LIONSGATE
DVD Release Date: July 11, 2017
Run Time: 84 minutes

From the visionary animator of the Golden Globe® – nominated film THE BOOK OF LIFE!

Actors: JennXPenn, Mikey Bolts, Ambyr Childers
Directors: Alberto Mar
Format: Animated, Closed-captioned, Color, NTSC, Widescreen
Language: English
Region: Region 1 (U.S. and Canada only.)
Number of discs: 1
Rated: PG Parental Guidance Suggested
Studio: Lionsgate
DVD Release Date: January 24, 2017
Run Time: 88 minutes

Twilight Sparkle is determined to prove that anyone can learn the magic of friendship. So when a reformed Starlight Glimmer wants a fresh start, Twilight is only too happy to take her under her alicorn wing and lend a helping hoof. And though challenges await Starlight as she learns about friendship, Twilight and the rest of the Mane 6 will do whatever it takes to ensure Starlight succeeds!

Actors: Ashleigh Ball
Directors: Jayson Thiessen
Format: Animated, Color, NTSC, Widescreen
Language: English
Region: Region 1 (U.S. and Canada only.)
Number of discs: 1
Studio: Shout! Factory
DVD Release Date: May 23, 2017
Run Time: 110 minutes

Cutie’s Big Adventures, Cutie Meets Mr. lizard is a Cutie Book Series for children, written by Felicia Di John and illustrated by Terence Gaylor.

We meet the adorable rescue dog Cutie, a sweet, curious, adventurous chihuahua who lives in a house in the desert. She is a little dog who thinks she is big. Cutie is never happy when her mom leaves her for school because that means she will be home all alone. So today, Cutie decides to go outdoors by herself to play. She explores the desert around her, makes a new friend, and finds that some animals eat strange things. She is having so much fun that she almost forgets to get back home before her mom arrives.

Age Range: 3 – 8 years
Grade Level: Kindergarten – 3
Series: Cutie’s Big Adventures
Paperback
Publisher: Cutie Series Co.; Cutie Meets Mr. Lizard ed. edition (May 25, 2017)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0998756806
ISBN-13: 978-0998756806
Product Dimensions: 8.2 x 0.1 x 11 inches

Following hot on the heels of last year’s Top 10 bestseller, Ripley’s Believe It or Not! 2018 offers a completely new assortment of strange-but-true facts and amazing stories! From the elephant who can play baseball, to the flowers that bloomed in space, to the weasel found inside the world’s biggest computer, Ripley’s compendium of hair-raising oddities will delight and fascinate the whole family.

Complete with a mind-blowing 3D-effect cover, and packed with gob-smacking photos and illustrations, Ripley’s Believe It or Not! 2018 offers another feast of mind-blowing tales of the extraordinary. Prepare yourself for this year’s Ripley’s bonanza!

Hardcover: 256 pages
Publisher: Random House Books (7 September 2017)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 1847948154
ISBN-13: 978-1847948151
Product Dimensions: 23.5 x 2.2 x 30.3 cm

Sonya is torn between her roots. She was born in the USA but her parents are Indian…she desperately wants to fit in and be American. Her parents want her to embrace who she is, but Sonya feels like a misfit. This is a wonderful story about a little girl who discovers her identity and learns to appreciate who she is. A must read for any child or adult who feels different from the rest of the world.

Paperback: 44 pages
Publisher: Mindstir Media (June 13, 2017)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0999069896
ISBN-13: 978-0999069899
Product Dimensions: 8.5 x 0.1 x 8.5 inches

May’s DVD and Book Product Roundup 2017

I get products sent to me daily to try out. I unfortunately don’t have time to do a post for each item that I get to review. So I want to make sure these items get seen and learned about. The only other solution I could see to do is to do a May’s DVD and Book Product Roundup 2017 on the products I like and want my readers to know about. I hope you enjoy these as much as I and my other reviewers did.

DVDIn this fun-filled, two-part movie, the president of the United States (voiced by actress Sandra Oh) summons Peg and Cat to the White House to solve a problem of national importance! The president needs Peg and Cat to identify a mysterious object floating in space.

Format: Animated, Color, NTSC, Widescreen
Language: English
Region: Region 1 (U.S. and Canada only.)
Number of discs: 1
Rated: G General Audience
Studio: PBS Distribution
DVD Release Date: May 23, 2017
Run Time: 60 minutes

DVDThe pack is back in a pawsitively thrilling adventure the whole family will love! All the animals in the Eastern Forest are excited because Queen Bear and Princess Canue are coming to visit. But when evil Rogue Wolves threaten the royal bears, wolf pups Stinky, Runt, and Claudette leap into action. With courage, wits, and plenty of help from their wild and wonderful friends, the alpha and omega wolves rise to protect the queen and princess and save their forest home.

Actors: Kate Higgins, Ben Diskin, Hunter Swan, Lindsay Torrance, Chris Smith
Directors: Tim Maltby
Format: AC-3, Animated, Color, Dolby, NTSC, Subtitled, Widescreen
Language: English
Subtitles: English, Spanish
Region: Region 1 (U.S. and Canada only.)
Number of discs: 1
Rated: NR Not Rated
Studio: LIONSGATE
DVD Release Date: May 9, 2017
Run Time: 44 minutes

DVDIn this contemporary remake, “Beaches” follows the serendipitous meeting of two young girls on the Venice Boardwalk, who, though worlds apart in lifestyle, embark on unexpected and lifelong friendship. CC (Menzel) is an aspiring singer trying to make it in Los Angeles until she is discovered by a director who gives her her first big shot. Hillary (Long) is the daughter of a prominent civil rights lawyer who struggles to find her own destiny. Their friendship—even with its ups and downs—sustains them for decades.

DVDIt’s been six years since that summer adventure when Taichi and the rest of the DigiDestined crossed over to the Digital World and nearly three years since the final battle between Hikari’s group and BelialVamdemon. And, at some point, while the peaceful days went by, the gate to the Digital World mysteriously closed.

But when a Kuwagamon suddenly appears in Odaiba, its rampage leaves the town in ruins, and the people there in turmoil. Taichi chases after it, in an effort to halt its rampage. But there’s nothing he can do against a Kuwagamon. Not by himself.

And that’s where a new adventure begins…

Actors: Joshua Seth, Colleen O’Shaughnessey
Directors: Keitaro Motonaga
Format: Animated, Color, NTSC, Widescreen
Language: Japanese (Dolby Digital 2.0), English (Dolby Digital 5.1)
Subtitles: English
Region: Region 1 (U.S. and Canada only.)
Number of discs: 1
Rated: Unrated Not Rated
Studio: Shout! Factory
DVD Release Date: May 16, 2017
Run Time: 96 minutes

DVDThe Bubble Guppies are back with an all-new DVD collection featuring five heroic “tails” in Bubble Guppies: Super Guppies. Whether they’re diving into a comic book, going on a treasure hunt or helping to keep the streets safe, the Bubble Guppies prove that being a hero is a lot more than just fighting crime.

Bubble Guppies: Super Guppies contains the following episodes:
* Super Guppies!
* X Marks the Spot!
* Haunted House Party!
* The Unidentified Flying Orchestra!
* Police Cop-etition!

Format: Animated, Color, Dubbed, Widescreen, NTSC
Language: English
Dubbed: French, Spanish
Number of discs: 1
Rated: NR Not Rated
Studio: Nickelodeon
DVD Release Date: May 16, 2017
Run Time: 114 minutes

Welcome to the Loud House DVDMeet the Loud family – a family full of love, chaos, and craziness, and with all of that under one roof, one thing is always for sure: there is never a dull moment in the Loud house! The brand new DVD, Welcome to The Loud House: Season 1, Volume 1, introduces Lincoln Loud, an 11-year old boy who is the middle child of 10 sisters. The Loud House follows Lincoln and his sisters for an inside look at what it takes to survive growing up in a huge family. Lincoln remains the man with the plan to stay one step ahead of the chaos, but whether or not it works is where the adventures begin.

This 2-disc release of Welcome to The Loud House: Season 1, Volume 1 contains the first 13 episodes of the first season and is full of family fun and laughter. Produced by Nickelodeon Home Entertainment and distributed by Paramount Home Media Distribution, Welcome to The Loud House: Season 1, Volume 1will be available on DVD May 23, 2017 for the suggested retail price of $16.99.

Inspired by creator and executive producer Chris Savino’s (Rocko’s Modern Life, The Powerpuff Girls) life growing up in a family of 10 kids, The Loud House is the first series to be greenlit out of Nickelodeon’s annual Animated Shorts Program. Season two is currently premiering on Nickelodeon, home to TV’s top two animated kids’ shows with Kids 2-11 and Kids 6-11, SpongeBob SquarePantsand The Loud House.

Welcome to The Loud House: Season 1, Volume 1 contains the following episodes:
DISC 1:
Left in the Dark
Get the Message
Heavy Meddle
Making the Case
Driving Miss Hazy
No Guts, No Glori
The Sweet Spot
A Tale of Two Tables
Project Loud House
In Tents Debate
Sound of Silence
Space Invader
Picture Perfect
Undie Pressure

DISC 2:
Linc or Swim
Changing the Baby
Overnight Success
Ties the Bind
Hand-Me-Downer
Sleuth or Consequences
Butterfly Effect
The Green House
Along Came a Sister
Chore and Peace
For Bros About to Rock
It’s a Loud, Loud, Loud, Loud, House

It's Always Sharkest DVDUnknown to the world, Thomas Edison built a secret lab where he invented a virtual version of himself and a steampunk robot named Von Bolt. Years later, Angie, a twelve-year-old science prodigy, discovers the lab. Join Angie and friends as they learn and explore a variety of science topics from a shark s sense of smell to plants and pollinator s roles to radioactive decay to DNA and more! While visiting one of Kent s relatives, the kids come up with a great idea for attracting more tourists to his restaurant – the only catch is that it also attracts a very big shark with very big teeth! What will the Secret Lab Kids do? Guided by fun-loving Edison, Angie and friends will show just how fun science can be!”

Actors: Phillipa Alexander
Directors: Various
Format: Animated, Color, NTSC
Language: English
Region: Region 1 (U.S. and Canada only.)
Number of discs: 1
Rated: NR Not Rated
Studio: NCircle Entertainment
DVD Release Date: May 9, 2017
Run Time: 90 minutes

The Cat in the Hat DVD“It s the first day of Summer Vacation and The Cat in the Hat whisks Nick, Sally and Fish off on the greatest great outdoor camping adventure ever! Our gang gets back to nature as they hike through the Fickle Fern Forest, camp out overnight, trek over Mt. Weewobble and canoe down the Tickle Drop River….just in time for Fish to meet up with his family for a grand reunion. Along for the ride are Little Cats A, B and C, who discover there s wonder in nature once their electronic devices are powered off! Nick and Sally help keep the Little Cats out of trouble, while Fish tries to keep his jacket pressed and the mud out of his fancy fishbowl…all while getting up close to some of nature s most awesome sights, and learning how best to respect them. After being lulled to sleep under the stars by a chorus of animals, the morning brings fresh adventure with a spectacular race up Mt. Weewobble, complete with a cliffhanger ending! It s a slippery ride down the slope and into the Tickle Drop River, where a harrowing raft ride finally delivers them to the shores of Fish s family reunion. The Cat in the Hat and his loveable Little Cat cousins, Nick, Sally, Fish and all his family, gather together in a great Suessian-style musical finale… in which Fish and the gang are celebrated as true adventurers. Everyone agrees it really has been the Greatest Great Outdoors Adventure ever!”

Actors: Martin Short
Directors: Paul Hunt
Format: Animated, Color, NTSC
Language: English
Dubbed: Spanish
Region: Region 1 (U.S. and Canada only.)
Number of discs: 1
Rated: NR Not Rated
Studio: NCircle Entertainment
DVD Release Date: May 16, 2017
Run Time: 60 minutes

Octonauts DVDMariana Trench Adventure Tweak has designed a brand-new Deep Sea Station to study the deepest, darkest reaches of the ocean, but the Octonauts face multiple challenges: from getting it down there, to the extreme environment and strange, prehistoric creatures that greet them once they arrive. Barracudas Shellington and the Vegimals mission to replant a mangrove forest is put in peril by a school of toothy barracudas. Artificial Reef When an underwater storm destroys a small reef, which a frogfish and other creatures depend on, Tweak and her crewmates must convert the Gup-F into an artificial reef before another storm strikes! Siphonophore Kwazii and Dashi become entangled in a strange deep-sea creature a siphonophore and when a geyser blasts it toward the surface, the Octonauts must stop its ascent before it bursts. Urchin Invasion The Octonauts head to the kelp forest to visit Shellington s sister, Pearl, and her newborn son, Periwinkle, only to find the forest endangered by an infestation of kelp-eating urchins! Lion’s Mane Jellyfish A lionsmane jellyfish gets its long and stingy tentacles tangled in the bubble engine, unintentionally flooding the Octopod and causing havoc. Pelicans When a floating garbage patch endangers a flock of pelicans and other sea creatures, the Octonauts and the birds work together to clean it up. Red Rock Crabs When Shellington and the crew try to gather some skittish crabs who have drifted away from home, they get help from some old friends. Loggerhead Sea Turtle When an underwater tremor separates the Gup-X and its crew, Barnacles seeks guidance from a mysterious sea turtle. Harbor Seal When Peso s patient, a remora fish, mysteriously disappears, the Octonauts enlist a unique undersea detective: a harbor seal. Yeti Crab As Tweak tests the Gup-X deep down in the Midnight Zone, a yeti crab damages the ship, endangering itself and the Octonauts. Over Under Adventures The Octonauts mission to explore Antarctica becomes a desperate rescue as a group of sea stars and urchins are threatened by a brinicle a rare underwater icicle that can freeze creatures on the sea bed.

Actors: Ross Breen
Directors: Darragh O Connell, Nicky Phelan
Format: Animated, Color, NTSC
Language: English
Region: Region 1 (U.S. and Canada only.)
Number of discs: 1
Rated: NR Not Rated
Studio: NCircle Entertainment
DVD Release Date: May 2, 2017
Run Time: 160 minutes

Guess How Much I Love You DVDBased on the classic picture book that has sold more than 30 million copies worldwide, written by Sam McBratney, illustrated by Anita Jeram and published by Walker Books. Keeping love as the major theme, each adventure is set against the backdrop of a season with this collection focusing on summer. On a hot summer day, Little Nutbrown Hare and friends try to have some quiet time by the river but they have trouble staying still. Only when they do manage some quiet time, they experience the variety of life the river has to offer. Then, it s time to celebrate Little Field Mouse s birthday! Little Nutbrown Hare wants to give her the perfect birthday gift. Enjoy these summer adventures and more with Little Nutbrown Hare and friends!

Actors: Ky Baldwin
Directors: Steve Moltzen
Format: Animated, Color, NTSC, Widescreen
Language: English
Region: Region 1 (U.S. and Canada only.)
Number of discs: 1
Rated: NR Not Rated
Studio: NCircle Entertainment
DVD Release Date: May 30, 2017
Run Time: 75 minutes

Hardcover BookBrandED shows school leaders how to move beyond mascots and clever taglines to showcase their school’s assets—and enhance communication with students, parents and all stakeholders. Through smart conversations about the genuine power of branding in education, this book shows how a “BrandED” mindset can improve schools by strengthening relationships, improving communication, telling your story, and increasing resources. Ideas borrowed from the world of business are adjusted for the unique needs of education. Practical tools, templates, and resources allow you to implement the strategies presented quickly and easily, while stories of real-world schools illustrate what BrandED thinking can do for your students, teachers, and community.

Today’s school leaders cannot remain in the ivory tower. This book will help you drive positive transformation as you craft and share the powerful story of your unique school brand.

* Leverage digital tools to become the storyteller-in-chief and build better community relationships
* Strengthen internal and external communications among students, teachers, parents, and other stakeholders
* Increase resources by establishing strategic partnerships and strengthening ties to key stakeholders
* Promote connectivity, transparency, and community to build a positive culture that extends beyond the schoolhouse door

Authors Eric Sheninger and Trish Rubin, experts on school branding and change leadership, show you how BrandED thinking captures the focused spirit of the outstanding work taking place in schools every day; work that can be easily recognized, talked about, and valued. Get the word out, and invite the community in to build the positive relationships that benefit everyone.

Hardcover: 320 pages
Publisher: Jossey-Bass; 1 edition (April 24, 2017)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 1119244560
ISBN-13: 978-1119244561

HardcoverWe humans love our cats and these surprising true stories will prove our cats love us back! This collection of tales of playfulness, friendship, heroism, and inspiration is sure to touch the soul, tickle the funny bone, and inspire animal lovers everywhere to be the best kitty caretakers and companions they can be. There’s Bambi, whose owners taught her to respond to commands in American Sign Language; Millie, who loves exploring the outdoors and goes rock climbing with her owner; Leo, a rescued lion who changed the life of one South African family forever, and more.

Age Range: 8 and up
Grade Level: Kindergarten – 12
Hardcover: 160 pages
Publisher: National Geographic Children’s Books (April 11, 2017)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 142632734X
ISBN-13: 978-1426327346

PaperbackThis is a collection of hilarious and heartwarming stories of dogs, cats, and all types of pets given a second chance, and the human animal lovers who rescued them.

From the dog who saved her owner from a fire, to the cat that plays the piano, to the cow that thinks it’s a dog, discover incredible stories of animals in need who went on to become beloved pets.

These uplifting tales are paired with amazing photos and loads of animal facts. Kids learn all about how to be kind to our animals friends and the importance of being a responsible pet owner. There’s tons of furry, fluffy, feathery fun on every page, including tips on how to help save animals in need!

Age Range: 8 – 12 years
Grade Level: 3 – 7
Lexile Measure: 0990 (What’s this?)
Paperback: 112 pages
Publisher: National Geographic Children’s Books (April 25, 2017)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 1426327366
ISBN-13: 978-1426327360

Paperback bookThis full-color art journal for moms and kids to color and draw together in is designed to be a sharing experience. Mom and child can write each other letters, draw what scares them, imagine what they want to be when they are grown up, color a scene using only one favorite color, whatever their imaginations lead them to!

Mom and Me: An Art Journal to Share is filled with fun hand-lettering and artwork from Bethany Robertson along with creative prompts from licensed art therapist Lacy Mucklow.

Mucklow offers up the best ways to communicate with a child through creating together; how to start an open conversation with your child; questions you can ask that will help generate thoughtful responses; and how to tailor the quality time so it’s still fun and engaging for your child.

This art journal has 50 full-color spreads to color, fill in, draw, and more. Each spread has a creative prompt or another exercise for mom and child to fill out together.

Series: A Side-by-Side Book
Paperback: 128 pages
Publisher: Race Point Publishing; Act Clr Cs edition (April 18, 2017)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 1631063340
ISBN-13: 978-1631063343
Product Dimensions: 10.1 x 0.4 x 10.1 inches
Shipping Weight: 1 pounds

paperbackYour hand lettering contains a little bit of you! It expresses what you have to say, and demonstrates your creativity in all your communications. In Hand Lettering A to Z, artist and author Abbey Sy has invited four international artists–Meg Hyland, Joao Neves, Tessa Go, and Lisa Lorek–to join her in designing all new alphabets for you to draw and use in many different languages.

You don’t have to be a trained artist to master the art of hand lettering. These alphabets are for every skill level, and will suits any taste: colorful, or black and white, classic or just plain fun. It’s all about getting creative with the twenty-six letters and a little bit of you.

Paperback: 128 pages
Publisher: Rockport Publishers (April 15, 2017)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 1631592823
ISBN-13: 978-1631592829
Product Dimensions: 8.5 x 0.5 x 10 inches
Shipping Weight: 1.1 pounds

PaperbackStick it to ‘Em is your invitation to play as you create customized stickers with sass! With just a hint of silly irreverence, this guide includes a list of colorful art tools in addition to easy drawing and lettering techniques and step-by-step tutorials, all designed to get your cheeky creativity flowing. You’ll then be treated to more than 35 pages of stickers, including a selection of fully designed styles to use any way you like, a variety of stickers to color in, and blank stickers to create your own. Filled with tons of puns, wit, and wisecracks, Stick it to ‘Em is your answer to getting through each day with humor and fun.

Paperback: 104 pages
Publisher: Walter Foster Publishing; Clr Csm St edition (May 8, 2017)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 1633222713
ISBN-13: 978-1633222717
Product Dimensions: 8.6 x 0.5 x 11.1 inches
Shipping Weight: 1.2 pounds

Your Lucky Day Giveaway Hop: Book & DVD Giveaway 2017

*This post contains affiliate links that help to support this site*

Your Lucky Day

Welcome to the Your Lucky Day Giveaway Hop brought to you by The Hopping Bloggers!

Hosted By: Mama Smith’s & Women and Their Pretties

Co-Hosted By: Everyday Life

Each giveaway has a value of a minimum of $15, however some are worth much more. Be sure to enter to win all of them because there is no limit to how many you can win. GOOD LUCK!

What is a giveaway hop? It’s really cool, you can enter our giveaway here and then visit each of the other blogs listed on the giveaway hop list and enter all of their giveaways as well. No limit on how many prizes you can win so the more you enter the more chances you have to win cool prizes! Every blog has their own prize so there are lots to win. So have fun and enjoy hopping from blog to blog.

Hardcover BookI have a copy of Deep Nutrition: Why Your Genes Need Traditional Food in Hardcover to give to one lucky person. You can see more info on this book in my Roundup post.

Now for the giveaway: One lucky person will win Deep Nutrition: Why Your Genes Need Traditional Food Hardcover. This is open to US and ends 3/18/17 @ 11:59 pm est. To enter, Simply do the tasks on the Giveaway Tools widget below and you’re set to have a chance to win! Remember you can’t win if you don’t enter. It only takes one entry to win!

Good Luck, SaraLee’s Deals Steals & Giveaways readers! Thanks for entering

Robo-Dog
I have a copy of Robo-Dog: Airborne on DVD to give to one lucky person. You can see more info on this DVD in my Roundup post.
Now for the giveaway: One lucky person will win Robo-Dog: Airborne DVD. This is open to US and ends 3/18/17 @ 11:59 pm est. To enter, Simply do the tasks on the Giveaway Tools widget below and you’re set to have a chance to win! Remember you can’t win if you don’t enter. It only takes one entry to win!

Good Luck, SaraLee’s Deals Steals & Giveaways readers! Thanks for entering!