5 Minutes For BooksProduct Reviews | 5 Minutes For Books

Caillou Playsets Review and Giveaway

Elizabeth — Sat, 03 Dec 2011 22:43:16 +0000

When my children were early elementary age, we spent a year living in France, which is when we first became acquainted with Caillou, the charming preschooler with the big imagination. Although my kids felt they were officially “too big” for him, they still liked to watch his antics, framed always by Mamie (grandma in French) telling a story about him to her grandchildren. So when I got a chance to review Caillou’s Treehouse, I jumped at it, even though my kids are now teens and really too big. I will say, though, that teens are a lot more useful at putting playsets together.

Comments are closed here, but read my full review over at 5 Minutes for Mom. If you leave a comment there, you can enter to win this, plus 2 other playsets with a combined value of $95!

Elizabeth must admit that she enjoys playing with sets more than putting them together, and that having teens does have its advantages. Learn more about her family’s travels and travails at her blog Planet Nomad.

On Reading: Goodreads

Nancy — Sun, 06 Nov 2011 14:00:46 +0000

If you’re like me (Nancy), you keep track of the books you’ve read, as well as those you want to read. For a long time I kept an Excel spreadsheet that tracked each book’s title, author, the date I finished it, and if it was fiction or non-fiction. My spreadsheet also included statistics and graphs so I could compare from month to month and year to year. Ok so maybe you’re not so much like me, but I know a lot of readers who do track their reading.

A few years ago I made the jump from my trusty spreadsheet to Goodreads. Goodreads feeds right into my need for statistics and organization. I can put a book on several shelves, e.g. The Son of Neptune is on mythology, ya, fiction, audio and 2011 shelves. I can then filter on a shelf to see what other books I’ve read in that genre. These shelves are not exclusive, so a book can sit on as many different shelves as I want. There are also shelves that can be set as exclusive. While I’m reading a book, it sits on my currently-reading shelf. When I finish it, I move it to the read shelf. So a book cannot be on currently-reading and read at the same time.

While I love tracking my own books, I recently realized there’s an even better way to take advantage of this exclusive feature – tracking books for the kids. I added new exclusive shelves — alex-read and alex-to-read — and filled them up with books he’s read recently and those he wants to read. I then used a new Goodreads feature to find recommendations of books he may like. I love this because it’s getting harder and harder to find things he’ll like that are age- and grade-appropriate.

Goodreads has so many great features, including:

The ability to see what your friends are reading and read their reviews
Seeing what other people with similar literary tastes are reading
Author pages that list their works, blog posts and other information
Giveaways of new books
Access your “to read” shelf (or shelves) at the library or bookstore via the Goodreads iPhone, Android or iPad apps

Sounds great, right? Go ahead and give it a try, and best of all, it’s free! And if you’re looking for some friends, feel free to add me (Nancy) by using this link.

Goodreads was also interested in hearing my (Jennifer‘s) feedback, as one who has never used any system like this before. Yes, I’ve thought about it, I’ve thought how cool it is to keep track of what I’ve read and to connect with others, but I’ve just never had the time to actually get started.

Or so I thought.

This weekend, I made the plunge. I signed up as Jenndon and told Goodreads what I like to read, and it immediately populated the page with a list of books for me to either rate (if I’ve read them) or mark as “want to read” if I haven’t, but I’d like to. With each click, the options changed. It was SO simple.

Next I’m going to do as Nancy has with her son Alex, and see what it might recommend for Kyle.

Now I just need the friend factor. I friended Nancy and Elizabeth, but if you’d like to add me to your list of friends, please do!

What about you? Are you on Goodreads or another book-tracking program? What do you like about it?

Klutz Kits for Kids — Giveaway

Jennifer — Mon, 29 Nov 2010 21:00:43 +0000

Klutz kits have become my go-to gift for kids (ages 7 up through 12 or so). Whether boys or girls, crafty or not, Klutz has something that is bound to appeal to them. Most are priced under $20, which put them at a great price point for giving. As a mom, I love it when my kids receive gifts that will get them off the couch and away from electronics for a time. I also love that they are consumable (especially for a birthday or Christmas when they get SO MUCH STUFF).

Klutz has featured a few of their favorite kits for gift giving at their site. They are also offering a holiday coupon code:

Use coupon code KZ25 at Klutz.com and get 25% off orders over $50. Offers cannot be combined. Code expires December 17th.

The Window Art Classic was a lot of fun for Amanda to do. The enclosed paints and acrylic sheets can be used with the patterns. You simply squirt on several colors and go. Let them dry, then peel them off and stick them on.

Obviously they could get creative and go rogue with their own designs as well.

The Capsters kit gives kids all they need to make several pop art items with the enclosed supplies. This kind of craft kit would go over well with boys or girls. Since they are so small, I would recommend it to an older child with good fine motor skills. It’s recommended for 8 and up, and that’s probably about right.

One thing I like about this kit in particular is that I think it could spur ideas of other ways they could create art. When the pop caps run out (which are safety coated and not sharp), they could use their own caps that they save, or maybe lids from other items. The applications are endless!

You can buy Klutz kits on amazon or at Klutz.com, where they frequently offer specials and coupons (see above and be sure to sign up for their newsletter to get even more offers).

I highly recommend stocking up on Klutz kits and keeping them around for those birthday invitations that always send us running out at the last minute! They would also make great Christmas gifts for your kids, nieces, nephews, grandkids etc. Or if you will have company over the holidays, consider having a few kits on hand to keep those kids busy.

~~One winner will receive one of each of these kits to share with a special kid in her life (U.S. only).~~ This Giveaway is closed.

Jennifer Donovan may or may not identify closely with the “Klutz” label. She reveals other secrets at her blog Snapshot.

Gifts for Creative Girls — Giveaway

Lauren — Thu, 25 Nov 2010 05:00:38 +0000

My daughter loves art projects. I can give her a box of craft supplies, and she will enjoy it for hours. Unfortunately, I am lacking the creative gene, and I sometimes struggle to provide her the time and opportunity to be artsy. When the Creativity For Kids Diva Puppies and Create Your Own Enchanted Storybook arrived at my doorstep, I knew I had two products that would please both mom and daughter.

Creativity For Kids Diva Puppies is a set of three white bobble-head puppies. These puppies can be painted using the included paint, and the the pups can be accessorized using the fabric, sequins, ribbons, bows, and tulle that also come with the kit. This project is targeted to artists ages 6 and up. Since my own daughter is six, I know it is a perfect fit for this age group. The puppies are adorable, and there are plenty of girly add-ons. I especially like that everything is included!

Likewise, the Create Your Own Enchanted Storybook is another fun project that will thrill young girls and their creatively-challenged moms. The book is shaped like a castle and includes blank, lined pages for an author to craft a story. Each page also includes a space for an illustration. The kit comes with markers, stickers, and rhinestones. Young girls can personalize it even further with their name and photograph. This kit would be perfect for any young author, but as a former teacher, I highly recommend this to any homeschoolers learning about the writing process. This would make a great format for a final draft after a child has worked on rough drafts and editing, and it would be so much fun to create!

If you need a gift for a creative young girl, I recommend Creativity For Kids Diva Puppies and Create Your Own Enchanted Storybook. Children can enjoy using the products and moms can enjoy the ease of an “all-in-one” kit.

~~As part of our Gift Guide Giveaway, you can leave a comment here to win one of each of these products (U.S. only). Only one comment per person, please.~~

Be sure you’ve entered all the giveaways in our 2010 Gift Guide and Giveaway event.

Check out our current giveaways. Subscribe to our feed. Follow us @5M4B on Twitter.

This giveaway is now closed.Lauren is a wife, mother of two, and an avid reader. She blogs at Baseballs and Bows.

Book Buddy – Giveaway

Lauren — Wed, 24 Nov 2010 05:00:09 +0000

When I am buying gifts for friends and family, I enjoy looking for something that is useful and personal, but also something that is unique. If you have a book-loving friend, the Book Buddy is perfect! The Book Buddy, which is a wonderful tool that serves as a bookmark and a holder for glasses and pens, was designed by Brenda Palmer. As an avid reader, Brenda came up with the Book Buddy as a way to keep up with the items she likes to have handy when she is reading. After trial and error, she developed a product that suited her needs and then realized others would enjoy the benefits as well.

The Book Buddy comes in two versions. The Study Edition is available in three sizes and is designed to hold a couple of pens and a set of glasses. The Travel Edition has an additional pocket and extra-wide profile so you can keep your cell-phone, Mp3 player, or passport handy. What I love most about the Book Buddy is the personal touch. Each Book Buddy has an attached grosgrain, cotton, or satin bookmark. The bookmarks come in variety of colors and patterns. I love the baseball ribbon that is attached to mine (I hope I can keep it away from my son)! Each Book Buddy also comes with instructions on how to best place the elastic band, depending on whether the book is hardback or paperback, and I appreciated the tutorial.

I am really enjoying my Book Buddy, and I think it would make a perfect gift for a friend, family member, teacher, librarian, etc… I think the Book Buddy would be especially useful for Bible study or students who need to mark in textbooks. Be sure to visit the Book Buddy site. I know you will find the right Book Buddy for you and your friends.

If you would like to win a Book Buddy, please leave a comment on this post (U.S. shipping only).

Lauren is a wife, mother of two, and an avid reader. She thanks Book Buddy for providing a sample to review. Lauren blogs at Baseballs and Bows.

~~Leave a comment here to enter. Only one comment per person, please.~~

Be sure you’ve entered all the giveaways in our 2010 Gift Guide and Giveaway event.

Check out our current giveaways. Subscribe to our feed. Follow us @5M4B on Twitter.

This giveaway is now closed.

Book Lovers Calendar — Giveaway

Jennifer — Fri, 19 Nov 2010 05:00:40 +0000

I’m a calendar girl. No, not a 50′s pin-up girl a la Marilyn Monroe, but I love calendars. Yes, I click the little time icon at the bottom of my task bar on my computer many many times a day to pull up the calendar for reference, but I don’t keep any of my info on any sort of electronic device. I use my Busy Body Book planner for that.

But I also like to have calendars around to look at for a quick check of dates and activities. One in the kitchen for the whole family to reference is nice. My 6-year-old son likes dates, and so he likes to be able to figure out what today and tomorrow and this weekend is.

So, when I was given the opportunity to look at the Book Lovers Calendar, I accepted with a hearty “yes!” I was honestly unsure how it would look. Would it be amateurish and tacky (I don’t know why that was my first assumption)? I’m happy to say that this calendar is beautiful. I am so excited to be able to show my love for books all through 2011.

Each day includes information about an author who was born on that day and lists one of his or her works, there are quotes from books and authors, and a sidebar feature on some sort of book related event or location.

When you buy the calendar, a part of the proceeds goes to support First Book.org.

This would be a great gift to your favorite book-loving teacher, librarian, sister, aunt or friend.

I encourage you to browse the entire site of Book Lovers Stuff, and perhaps put together a little gift pack with a mug and a t-shirt to go along with your calendar.

~~I have a wonderful giveaway. One of you (U.S. addresses only) will receive 2 calendars — one to keep and one to give.~~ This giveaway is closed.

Jennifer is indeed a book lover, and loves to connect with others who feel the same. She blogs at Snapshot.

Beauty and the Beast: Books on Screen — Giveaway

Lauren — Thu, 14 Oct 2010 04:00:56 +0000

I distinctly remember the first time I saw Disney’s Beauty and the Beast. It was my senior year of high school, and I sat mesmerized as Belle and the Beast danced around the ballroom floor. Although I was never the princess type, the story was wonderfully told, and the animation was spellbinding. (Did you know it was the first of only two animated films that have been nominated for the Academy Award for Best Picture? The other is UP.) In the years since I first saw Beauty and the Beast, I have become a Disney fanatic, and I now have a daughter who owns as many Disney princess items as she can find. And although I am still not the princess-y type, I do have a special fondness for Belle. I mean, she’s smart, kind, and she loves books! What’s not to love?

Unfortunately, Beauty and the Beast has been in the Disney vault since 2003, so my daughter has no copy of her own. This is the year, however, for Belle and the Beast to come out of the vault, and I was able to snag a copy of the DVD just in time for my daughter’s birthday! Additionally, Disney is releasing some new merchandise to celebrate, and I am excited to share two of these items with you.

My daughter loves to host tea parties, and Belle’s Enchanted Tea Cart and Tea Set are sure to make her smile (Shhh! She’s getting this for Christmas.) The ornate rolling cart, is eye-catching and sturdy. The tea pot is Mrs. Potts herself, and the four cups are adorable reproductions of Chip. The set also includes four saucers and containers for cream and sugar. This item is sure to delight young Beauty and the Beast fans!

The second item is the newly designed Singing Belle Doll. This beautiful doll will be released on November 1, 2010. Belle sings portions of “Something There” when two small buttons on her hand are pressed. She also has movable arms and gorgeous curls (the envy of every straight-haired girl like myself). If you have a daughter, granddaughter, niece or any other young girl who loves Belle, this doll would make a wonderful gift. It is lovely enough to be a collectible, but sturdy enough to be played with as well. Like the tea cart, I am saving this doll for a Christmas present, and I know my little princess will be thrilled!

I am especially excited to announce that the Disney Store has provided a Belle’s Enchanted Tea Cart and a Singing Belle Doll for one of our readers (together they are a $60 value). Please leave a comment and tell us your favorite Disney movie. Book-loving Belle and her Beast will always rank near the top of my list, but I have other favorites as well. I would love to hear yours! We will announce the winner on October 27th.

This giveaway is now closed.
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Lauren is a wife, mother of two, and an avid reader. She is a Disney fanatic, and her family visits Disney World at least once a year. Lauren thanks the Disney Store for providing the items in this review. Read more about Lauren’s Disney obsession at her blog, Baseballs and Bows.

Matthew West, The Story of Your Life CD

Jennifer — Fri, 08 Oct 2010 04:00:38 +0000

“This is the story of your life; you decide how the rest is going to read. . . . This is the story of your life, and it’s worth telling” (from the title song).

Sharing our story with someone or listening to others’ stories bolsters us, gives us courage, gives us hope.

For his newest project Story of Your Life singer/songwriter Matthew West asked his listeners to submit their stories.

This is not your legacy. This is not your destiny. Yesterday does not define you.
–Family Tree

The 10 songs on the CD are inspired by the 10,000 stories he received. You will hear your story or the story that you are fortunate you haven’t been asked to tell on this CD.

All I want is the way it was when love would always last forever, and families stayed together, back to the day before two houses.
–Two Houses

“Reason for the World” explains earthly suffering from a Biblical perspective as well as I’ve seen it addressed anywhere.

This CD is all I’ve come to expect from Matthew West — an awesome sound and soulful, grace-filled lyrics, but it’s very musically diverse as well. “My Own Little World” has that Matthew West/Toby Mac sort of sound that I think he’s most associated with. “Healing Has Begun” has a little different bluesy classic rock sort of sound, and “Two Houses,” well, it’s just awesome — the music and the words.

Every single time somebody reaches into the darkness, makes a choice to help the helpless, they let mercy save a life.
–One Less (broken heart in the world tonight)

Since our Audrey Assad CD giveaway was a hit, I’m pleased to be able to offer you another one.

One of you will win all FOUR of Matthew West’s CDs and a special book with the stories behind the songs and Matthew’s commentary. He’s one of my favorite Christian artists, and if you haven’t listened to anything beyond his radio singles, you are in for a treat. Maybe you are already a fan, but haven’t heard some of his older work. Or maybe you’re like me, and you have all of them, but didn’t realize a new one was out. How fun for you to be able to win the newest one, and share the backlist with someone else.

I wrote up why I love Matthew West’s music (and linked to the other CDs as well) over at my blog Snapshot when his last CD came out. You can read about Going Through the Motions if you’d like more info.

~~Just leave a comment if you’d like to win (U.S. shipping addresses only). I’ll announce the winner of this awesome prize pack from EMI music on October 20.~~ This giveaway is closed!

Check out our current giveaways, subscribe to our feed, and/or follow us @5M4B on Twitter.

Read about the everyday story of Jennifer’s life at Snapshot.