You are here: Home / reviews / entertainment

Monkey Monkey Music

August 20, 2010 By Kailani


NYC-based singer/songwriter Meredith LeVande could truly be termed a “Renaissance woman of children’s music.”  Meredith not only holds undergraduate degrees in Women’s Studies and English, she also has a master’s degree in music and a law degree!  Drawing from all these disciplines for her multi-faceted work with children, Meredith heads up a project with the marvelously mischievous moniker Monkey Monkey Music, with a focus on “putting the child back into children’s music.”

Five years ago Meredith’s debut album, Monkey Monkey Music with Meredith LeVande, became an instant hit with families nationwide, was a Parenting magazine “Pick,” and was in rotation on Sirius Satellite Radio, earning a grassroots reputation as a classic children’s recording. Meredith LeVande has, since 2005, devoted herself to performing for children in intimate settings, becoming a favorite among NYC area families and creating a repertoire that has grown organically due to her one-on-one interactions with children of virtually every culture imaginable.

With the new Monkey Monkey Music CD, What Are the Odds?, Meredith has created something remarkable, finding the middle road between baby songs and pop band songs where kids’ lyrics are simply added to music that would otherwise be played for adults.  Meredith’s music is not only child-friendly, it’s truly child appropriate, developed with the healthy growth of the young child in mind.

What Are the Odds? will be released on August 31, however, some very lucky FRN members had the opportunity to review an advance copy of this CD. Here’s what they had to say:

ArmyMom’s Place: It was a refreshing change of pace listening to these songs. Some of which were good ol’ classics, done up in a new way! I can promise that you have NEVER heard any version of “Wheels on the Bus” with this much energy! “Wheels” will have you wanting to listen over and over!

Meandering Matt: My son loves listening to CDs at bedtime, so I thought this would be a great opportunity. As soon as it arrived, I offered to let him listen to it. The next night, I mentioned needing it back in order to review it. He threw a fit. He didn’t want me to take it away. This told me right away that it was a catchy album.

Mommy’s Free Time: I must say that this is a really cute CD. I didn’t really pick up the pop songs that were used but I still liked the words to each tune. And the kids loved it! It’s our new car CD! This is a fun CD that would be perfect for daycares, homeschooling or just for fun at home with your kids! It’s family friendly and I would recommend it to any of my friends with young kids!

My Real Review: There is a depth to LeVande’s music that makes it stand out from other children’s albums. She naturally incorporates complex musical structures (that go far beyond my musical background) and academic concepts that explore the interrelationship between mathematics, philosophy, and music. Monkey Monkey Music is child-friendly and reflects LeVande’s passion for nurturing healthy childhood development.

Not Just Baby Brain: This CD is in constant rotation at our house now and it’s not annoying at all!  My daughter dances around the house to it and it’s great for the car because it’s kid-friendly but still sounds like something we’d listen to on the radio.  My husband even commented yesterday that if you weren’t paying attention to the words, you’d never know it was children’s music we were listening to, which is high praise from him!

Simply Cathi: Monkey Monkey Music is fun and educational with a beat that gets everyone up singing and dancing. Children love music and it didn’t take long for my grand daughter to sing along with Meredith.
It doesn’t matter if you’re young in years or just in your heart, Monkey Monkey Music brings out the monkey in all of us.

This Mama Loves Her Bargains: Meredith LeVande is a New York City resident who, in my opinion, is going places.  I love her sound.  I love her music.  My kids love her music.  Not only does she sound good, but her songs are educational.  One of the first things Busy B said to me when I was getting ready to put songs on her mp3 player was to ask me to include the new Monkey CD with the tree on it!!

Two Monkey’s and a Washtub: What Are The Odds, her 2nd CD release, definitely has songs that are not only fun, but include lyrics that teach kids with every song! Okay, so what do I mean by that? Take the title song, What are the Odds?, this song teaches odd numbers, days of the week, the planets, and objects within a single song. The music is very upbeat and kept my kids dancing and engaged throughout the entire CD.

Pre-order your copy of Monkey Monkey Music for only $14.99.

Filed Under: educational, entertainment, kids, reviews

Curious George 2 Soundtrack

April 19, 2010 By Shannon

So many of us are familiar with the adorable monkey, Curious George.  We were excited to see “Curious George 2″ on DVD and while we were waiting, we had the opportunity to review the “Curious George 2 Soundtrack.”  The Soundtrack had a lot of fun songs on it and we were excited to review it here on Family Review Network.  Songs included favorites such as “Life Less Ordinary,” “California Sun,” “Let Your Troubles Roll By,” and more.  The album features Brian Wilson, Carbon Leaf, and Jackie Greene.  You can purchase the “Curious George 2″ Soundtrack online and in stores for the retail price of $13.98.

Here’s what our reviewers had to say about the “Curious George 2″ Soundtrack:

All Because Two People Fell in Love – Ella loves her CD, she has listened to it over and over! I love that the songs all sound different, not the same sounds over and over! Each song has a catchy tune and Ella has quickly picked up the words to these fun songs! Her favorite is “On a Roll!”
The Angel Forever – The minute the boys saw the CD with Curious George on it, they demanded to listen to it. We put it on and, within seconds, both of the boys were dancing away.
Army Mom’s Place – This is such a fun packed CD. Full of varying styles of music! It’s sure to make you feel like you are at the beach, on exploration in the jungle, or even like you are taking a stroll on a beautiful spring day.
Perfect for any age! All my kids have enjoyed this CD.
Badger Momma – I found the CD to be quite enjoyable. The songs are mostly all upbeat and also while family-friendly are not specifically geared towards the musical ear of children.
Brain Foggles – My favorite song is California Sun, performed by Brian Wilson. It has the old Beach Boy sound and it’s a lot of fun to listen to. I’ve never heard of Carbon Leaf before listening to this CD, but I’m a new fan. Their songs have a bluegrassy, soft rock feeling to them. My favorite is Follow That Monkey. The songs by Heitor Pereira are instrumental and are nice for quiet times.
A Couch With A View – I have to say how impressed that I was! I love music that I can enjoy right along side of the kids, and dance right along with them too!!
Happy Healthy Families – All great songs that my boys now sing around the house and in the car. We are keeping our CD in our car, and I am pretty sure that they will know all the words to each song in no time flat!!
Lisa Reviews – This is definitely a soundtrack that your kids will get up and dance too (well, mine did).
The Mommy-Files -  It’s a fun CD that both my kids and I like listening to!  My 2 favorite songs were “Life Less Ordinary,” “California Sun,” and “Let Your Troubles.”  I found myself bopping and swaying to them while we were driving and listening to the cd.  The CD is fun!
Mommy Reviewed - My kid and I had fun dancing (think jumping, squealing, wriggling which passes for dancing where my kid and I confess, I are concerned :) to the tunes which are lively and fun. They certainly evoke the images of Curious George and his mischievous adventures.
Momstart – With all things Curious George, we loved it. Curious George reminds me of my son, he’s always getting into something but can get out of trouble just by smiling and saying I’m sorry, well my son has the added effect of batting his eyes at you. The cuteness just melts your heart.
Nerd Family Things – Well, this Curious George CD is a little different. The music is a little more mature than you might expect. The music is still fun but not as bubbly as many silly kids cds. My kids all like the CD but didn’t think it was as Curious Georgey as the other CD but really good (their words;).
Rockin Mama – The soundtrack is actually not geared as much towards children as it is towards adults (in my opinion). Many of the songs would only be recognizable by adults. Several of the songs consist solely of music (without words) and I actually prefer those.
Sage and Savvy – I really enjoyed listening to the Curious George 2 Soundtrack–it was full of a lot of great songs, several of which are by a band that I’ve never heard of before
A Wrestling Addicted Mommy – For kids the songs are catchy and fun.

Reviewers of Family Review Network were provided copies of the “Curious George 2″ Soundtrack by 429 Records to facilitate their reviews.  All opinions expressed are 100% their own.

Filed Under: entertainment, kids, reviews Tagged With: CD Review, Curious George, Curious George 2 Soundtrack

Norah Jones Releases “The Fall” on CD

January 18, 2010 By Shannon

Norah JonesI love Norah Jones and know of many people who love her music.  A few reviewers from Family Review Network had the opportunity to review her newest Album release entitled, “The Fall.”  Overall, the reviewers really enjoyed her new CD and many have enjoyed playing it at home or in the car!  “The Fall” was released in November 2009 by Blue Note Records and one of her hit releases was “Chasing Pirates.”

Norah Jones just released a new CD called “The Fall,” which was released by EMI/Blue Note Records on November 17th, 2009. I am excited to hear the songs on her soundtrack, as I have loved her music on previous albums! One of her hit singles is called “Chasing Pirates” and it’s a fun song to watch and listen to! Norah Jones even has a Hulu Channel!

You can listen to her new song, “Chasing Pirates,” in the Hulu clip below!

Right now, in celebration of her new Album, you can enter to win a grand prize of some fabulous prizes!!! The giveaway will end on January 31st, 2010. The Grand Prize is only open to US Residents. The prize pack includes the following items:

- 1 (one) Martin LX1 Little Martin Acoustic Guitar ($299)

- 1 (one) Ludwig 5-Piece Junior Drum Set with Cymbals ($279)

- 1 (one) Schoenhut 49 Key Pro Baby Grand Piano ($2,008)

Check out what other Family Review Network Reviewers thought of Norah Jone’s “The Fall” release:

Happy Healthy Families: I admit I was not too familiar with Nora Jones before I listened to her latest CD, but I can say that I am now a bonafide fan!

Momma Blogs a Lot: The perfect cure for the chaos of life with a preschooler and teething infant – I’ve taken to listening to it in the car during our trips to the store and on my computer when baby is napping or even better while playing brain games on Lumosity.com – I swear my performance improves when I listen while playing!

Mommy Goggles: I pulled this CD over to my iPod and I listen to it everywhere I go, in the car, on the elliptical, everywhere. I thought her first CD was the best that she could make, but this one (I do believe) has the first release topped. If there is a CD on your list, this one is a great addition!

Really, Are You Serious?: This CD seemed a little less jazzy and a little more rock and roll (do people even say that anymore)? I still love how light The Fall is and the sound of her voice is just so soothing. According to her site, in The Fall Norah is experimenting with different sounds and a new set of collaborators. I think that explains the “little more rock and roll” feel I was getting from it.

Rockin Mama: Norah’s new CD is just incredible. If you know her and her music, then you know she’s got this jazzy, bluesy sort of approach to her music. Her voice is just lovely and she cites Billie Holiday and Willie Nelson as early influences on her and her music.

Seeryus Mama: Enter a giveaway here, ending January 26th, 2010.

Welcome to the Motherhood: Stronger than ever, Norah has strayed away from her jazz-pop sound that we fell in love with to an impressive, electric pop-rock sound that will delight old and new fans! My favorite track on the album is I Wouldn’t Need You.

Reviewers received a copy of “The Fall” by Norah Jones from Blue Note Records.  All thoughts are 100% genuine.

Filed Under: entertainment, reviews, women

“Curious George: A Very Monkey Christmas” CD

December 16, 2009 By Shannon

Curious George a very monkey christmas cdCurious George is the little monkey that has been adored by many for years.  Curious George is not only in books, as I remember when I was a kid, but is now a stuffed animal, on DVD, and on CD!  In celebration of the Christmas holiday, Denon Records released “Curious George: A Very Monkey Christmas” on CD.  The soundtrack follows the story line of the movie, “Curious George: A Very Monkey Christmas.”  In the movie, George and The Man with The Yellow Hat are having a great time counting down the days until Christmas.  Until they realize that they are unsure of what the other wants for Christmas!  The Man with The Yellow Hat is having trouble reading George’s wish list and George doesn’t know what to get The Man who already has everything.   The music is fun to listen to – whether in the car or at home!

Be sure to listen for “Our Christmas Monkey” on the Radio Disney Playhouse Disney Block at 12 PM to 1 PM EST / 9 AM to 10 AM PST beginning November 27th, 2009.  Plus the show will be airing throughout December across PBS’ Nationwide Network.

1.  Curious George Theme Song – Dr. John (0:51)
2.  Christmas With A Monkey – Various Artists (2:33)
3.  Christmas Medley – Various Artist (1:34)
4.  Our Christmas Monkey – Various Artists (2:22)
5.  Christmas Tree Shopping – Various Artists (1:46)
6.  The Gift Song (Something As Special As You) – Ken Stacey (2:26)
7.  Curious George Holiday Main Title Theme – Various Artists (0:38)
8.  Jingle Bells – Various Artists (2:17)
9.  Perfect Gift/Tomato Man – Various Artists (2:16)
10. Deck the Halls – Various Artists (2:28)
11. Twelve Days of Christmas – Various Artists (0:34)
12. This is the One – Various Artists (1:01)
13. Christmas With A Monkey (Reprise) – Various Artists (1:02)

You can find “Curious George: A Very Monkey Christmas” on CD at Borders, Wal-Mart, Target, Barnes & Noble, Borders, and Amazon.com.  The CD retails for $13.98.

Thanks to Denon Records, each of the following reviewers had the opportunity to review “Curious George: A Very Monkey Christmas” and host a giveaway for one copy of the CD.

Happy Healthy Families
She Scribes
The Mom Reviews
Sage and Savvy
A Nut in a Nutshell
Maria’s Space
Sheltered Not Shattered
An Island Life
Seeryus Mama
Nerd Family Things
A Simple Kinda Life
All Because Two People Fell in Love
Forgetful One
A Couch with a View
Momma’s Review
Rockin Mama
The Mommy-Files

This post was written for Family Review Network as part of a program for Denon Records, who supplied the CD for review.

Filed Under: entertainment, giveaways, kids, reviews

Rummino

October 29, 2009 By Andrea

Does your family have a regular Family Game Night? Would you Like to? Would you like a fun game that the whole family can play? How about a game that costs less than $20? If the answer to any of these questions was yes, then you should definitely try Rummino from Marina Games! This game will provide hours of fun, competitive and otherwise, for any family who enjoys a great game!

Rummino is suggested for ages 8 and up, but many of our reviewers thought that kids even younger could likely play with a little help. If you’re familiar with Rummy, you should catch on to Rummino very quickly, but even those who have never played Rummy have a lot of fun with this game once they get the hang of it! Rummino requires two to six players, so it would be perfect for family gatherings or game nights!

PRODUCT DESCRIPTION
Rummino is a whole new way to play Rummy! Combining the game play of Rummy with the strategy of word tile games, Rummino is a one of a kind master strategy game for the whole family. The object is to get the highest score at the end of the game. Each player draws 7 tiles and plays them off the sets and runs already on the table. Earn points for every tile you add-on to a run or set. Get a two way run and earn extra points. Finish off a run or set and double or triple your points for that play. The perfect game for family game night, Rummino is easy to learn and fun for the whole family to play! With its ease of learning combined with the strategy involved, this game keeps everyone entertained from the 8 year old learning to play games to the skilled adults desiring a challenge. Watch your opponents moan and groan as you use one tile to score 36 points! Gather your buddies, gather your family, gather all your gaming friends and play Rummino today!

Several of our reviewers had the opportunity to review Rummino recently. Here’s what they had to say:

Maria’s Space: Fun, easy to learn, and I am dying to play again! That basically sums up a good game to me. The only problem I had was that you really need a tile holder. You have to keep your tiles a secret from the enemy other player. It is nearly impossible to keep the tiles from falling over and letting your enemy friend see your tiles.

The Clan McLeod: We had a blast playing Rummino! It was hard to get started and we all had loads of questions, even after reading the rules of play, which we found a bit confusing and not quite clear enough. However, once we actually got going, we figured it out as we went and we all really enjoyed playing, from my 9 year old daughter to Grandpa! Kristin, my 9 year old, beat us all and loved it!

All Because Two People Fell in LOVE: I really appreciate that they included a bag for the tiles. We have a bit of a hard time keeping up with game pieces at our house so the bag is perfect! It also makes storage and transporting the game tons easier. We loved the big tiles, which made it easier for little ones to handle.

She Scribes: I’m giving Rummino a “two thumbs up”. It’s a fun game that engages both children and adults. I like that it’s challenging and does require some thought more so then skill.

Mama Sparkles: At first when I saw all the letter tiles, I worried that it would be too much like Scrabble. I’m a horrible Scrabble player because I tend to get too caught up in making long, creative words rather than focusing on making a lot of points. Thankfully, Rummino is nothing like that. There are no words to create, so I could just concentrate on getting lots of points!

Mudpies and Mary Janes: The game is for ages 8 and up, but my daughter, who is a little younger, picked the game up fairly quickly. The only problem that she had was keeping her tiles from falling down. We quickly remedied that problem by using our scrabble tile holders.

A Couch with a View: Rummino has been an awesome addition to our game collection and a must needed, well deserved break from the crazyness of everyday. Though it took us a minute to get used to the new rules and regulations of Rummino, we quickly caught on and before we knew it, we had played 3 rounds of it!!

Rockin’ Mama: The game is fun, challenging, and won’t get tiresome or boring. It’s relatively easy to learn yet provides enough challenge for my husabnd and I got get a bit competitive.  I like the weaving of a traditional card game that people know and love with a tile game.  There is a familiar yet fresh feel to this game that I really appreciate.

The Post-It Place: It took us a little while to get going good but once we did we all loved Rummino. The only bad thing I can say is that I wish they had a little clearer directions, other than that, it is tons of fun and your family will love adding this game to their Family Game Night. We did eventually figure it all out after a round or two, and after that it was all fun ahead. We have dragged some family friends in to play and now have them as addicted to the game as we are…but I figure that once they have the chance to beat me, they will forgive me.

A Nut in a Nutshell: We’ve never even played a game of Rummy, so I wondered if we’d have a clue what we were doing. It took us a bit to get the hang of it, but once we did, we really had a great time. In fact, we got pretty darn competitive in an I love you but I’m totally going to kick your butt in this game way.

The Power of Housewife Word of Mouth: Last weekend I had to work at the gym running a birthday party so the girls and two of their friends occupied themselves with their newest game of choice Rummino (…) They were more interested in playing several rounds than getting involved in helping me run the birthday party. I love that our family game night now has another game added in to our rotation and I know we will be playing it for years to come.

An Island Life: All you need to play Rummino are the actual tiles (and instructions with pen/paper to keep score as we highly competitive people like to do). You can actually store everything in the drawstring bag and toss the square box it came in if you lack storage (like we do). The drawstring bag makes it the practical and easy way to transport this game for game night with friends and family, or in the suitcase for a family vacation.

Angela’s Analysis: My husband and I have always enjoyed playing the card game rum,  so we were excited to try this.   It is a fun game,  it doesn’t take you long to really get into it and it is a game your older children could play with you for sure.  The tiles are a really nice size with big letters so they are easy to see.  I’m not sure the younger kids would get it all but some might.

Sassy Frazz: Scoring is a point per tile played, but you can score points either horizontally or vertically. It is possible to get over 20 points in one turn, and if you can use all your tiles, you get a Rummino (scoring an additional 20 points). This game is super fun, and I am happy to have it in our collection of games.

Wish List Worthy: Do you enjoy games in your home as well? If you do, this is one that is worth checking out. Don’t let the simplicity of play fool you though, it’s a game that can be both challenging and entertaining every time you play!

Something Snappy: Sierra doesn’t like to play cards much yet as her little hands have a harder time holding them but she dove right in to Rummino! and was a master in no time! The game is recommended for children 8and over but Sierra had no issues with understanding the concept and the numbers and letters on the tiles so I think kids even younger could play this with no problems. And dh and I have found that we can really get cutthroat playing it by ourselves – it’s a great strategic game for all levels!

Happy Healthy Families: Rummino, by Marina Games is kind of like a cross between Rummy and Scrabble. I found it to be challenging and fun, especially after we all got the hang of it. Rummino is recommended for ages 8 , but I have to say that my two munchkin boys have their own fun with the tiles matching and guessing the letters.

Nerdfamily Things: Here at the NerdFamily House we are huge gamers. To the point that NerdDad and I spend some of our date nights playing board games;). So I was excited when we received our copy of Rummino to review. It is a rummy dominoes game. This game is great because people of all different skill can play it and it can become as easy or as hard as you can make it. So everyone in the family can play it!

Just a Mom’s Take on Things: One thing I do really like about this game is that you can play it with as much or as little strategy as you want, depending on who you’re playing with. And it’s practically a new game every time you play, because you start off and build on new sets of tiles every time. Even my 3-year-old has fun drawing tiles and finding the matches to build sets – even if she doesn’t really know that’s what she’s doing.

The Angel Forever: We put all of the tiles back and started again. This time, we were a bit more competitive. We knew what we were doing and sat there trying to use major strategy to rack up our points. The game lasted for quite some time, but it was a lot of fun. Both TechyDad and I commented today that if we do indeed get rid of our cable television we will have more time to play Rummino and our other cleverly hidden games from the past.

Brimful Curiosities: At first, I thought Rummino sounded relatively simple, but it does require quite a bit of thought and strategy. My husband and I sat down one night and tried it out. It took us a few practice times and several glances at the rules before we caught on. Once you get the hang of it though, the game gets easier. Like they say, practice makes perfect.

The Mommy Files : The game is simple and fun!  The object of the game is to get the highest score.  Each player draws 7 tiles and plays them off the sets and runs already on the table.  Earn points for every tile you “add-on” to a run or set.  Get a two way run and earn extra points.  Finish off a run or set and double or triple your points for the play.

Filed Under: Family, entertainment, games, reviews Tagged With: board and strategy games, Family, family game night, games, reviews

iStoryTime by FrogDog Media

August 24, 2009 By Kailani

My girls love to have books read to them. However, I don’t always have the time to read to them whenever they want. That’s why when I heard about iStory Time by Frog Dog Media, I thought it was a great idea.

PRODUCT DESCRIPTION

“iStoryTime provides mind-enriching entertainment for the kids while making life a little easier for mom or dad,” said Graham Farrar, founder of iStoryTime and FrogDogMedia. “Instead of having to resort to movies or video games to occupy your child when you need a few minutes to finish the grocery shopping, are out at a restaurant, or stuck in traffic, you can give them a story they’ll want to hear and see again and again.”

Some of our members had the opportunity to review their choice of iStoryTime books. Here’s what they had to say:

1stopmom Giveaways and Reviews: I really did not even have to explain how to use it to Kayla. It has automatic navigation so that is great. I love that it gives the option to have the story narrated in the voice of an adult or a child. I don’t know, hearing children read always makes me smile. She could even choose silent if she just wanted to read on her own. The app from iStorytime makes it very easy for children as young as 2 to use it. My smallest cousin is three and it held his attention.

An Island Review: As for the actual application, what I really liked is that you can choose to have the book narrated to you or you can read it on your own. This made the application interesting to even my 7 year old since she loves to read books. Kids can even choose among the different narrators – adult, child, characters – which ensures that the story never gets boring. Plus, having the pages turn automatically made this a very kid-friendly app.

Just a Mom’s Take on Things: The story was short enough to keep her attention but long enough to provide just the distraction that I’d been looking for. And it’s a very silly, but cute storyline about Kiki Marie – a little girl monkey who finds out what you can do with a wiener dog magnet, and whole bunch of wiener dogs, to save the day.  My daughter loved it, and has asked to ‘watch’ the story several times since. My older girls like it too – but I do think it’s probably more aimed at the toddler/preschooler set.

Mamalicious Finds: It’s very simple to use…even my 20 month old was able to use it. The best part is, it doesn’t take up any extra space in your bag or purse! The illustrations are colorful and cute and the narration is fun and entertaining. There are several stories available for download and for just $1.99, you can’t beat the price!

Mama Sparkles: We got to read Fred the Fish, a cute little story about a fish and a walrus and the joys of trying out new foods. I love the simplicity of this app. You literally just open it and then sit and enjoy it. My son loved the pictures and having something to do on the iTouch that was “his.” This is a wonderful thing to have “on-the-go”, or pretty much anytime you need a spare moment or two. More titles are in the works and at $1.99 per story, you really can’t go wrong.

Sage and Savvy: I really liked that this book could easily keep his attention, and it wasn’t too long or too short, but what I like most about Binky the Pink Elephant is the story itself. It is such a sweet story that emphasizes how it’s okay to be different. We are all special in our way, and sometimes we may not even realize it.

The Dirty Shirt: The story of Binky the Pink Elephant is a great one and my toddler loved it! She loved that it was an audio book actually opting to not have me talk during the reading. You can even choose between a child narrator or an adult narrator, she of course chose the child one. To her Binky was talking and she loved that. The illustrations are beautiful too. This is a great story and my daughter and I love it, she asks to listen to it every night before bed, which is perfect because I hand her my iPod with auto page turned on and she just watches and listens to it. The lesson of the story is a good one too, teaching its okay to be different. Great book for kids and I recommend it to everyone!

The Way I See It Too: I chose “Binky The Pink Elephant.” Not only was The Princess delighted with it but both her brothers were too. The iStoryTime application is very easy for little ones to use. All The Princess has to do is hold the iPhone and watch the story unfold before her.

For a complete list of their available books, stop by FrogDog Media. They’re adding new titles all the time!

Filed Under: entertainment, kids, reviews

Dirty Bow Wow – Giveaway

June 18, 2009 By Cathi
I have always been a dog lover. An a child I had a Cocker Spaniel named Blackie. Over the years, our children had numerous dogs however our Rottweiler Tazy and our German Shepherd Hunter, stand out the most. We haven’t had a dog in recent years and I truly miss the canine loyalty I enjoyed in the past.

 Dirty Bow Wow is a delightful book about dogs and the objects of their affection like Semus in the above photo. The book is full of colorful photographs of dogs and their stories like adorable Malibu. She’s a Pit Bull Terrier, who was only three months old when she was left orphaned and homeless from Hurricane Katrina. Her new mom gave her a pink pig as a “welcome to your forever family” gift, and to this day, “Pink Pig” never leaves Malibu’s side.

The authors, Cheryl and Jeffery Katz, decided to put together this wonderful tribute to man’s best friend after receiving countless letters from fans of their first book, Love Stories: A Tribute to the Threadbare. Included in many of the letters were photographs of beloved pets with their own “dirty wow wows”. The book didn’t become a reality until a year later when Cheryl and Jeffery were walking by their neighborhood dog park and realized that nearly every dog had a stuffed animal, squeaky toy, dirty tennis ball, filthy Frisbee, or frayed rope toy in their mouth, that the idea for Dirty Bow Wow was born.

Our dogs always had favorite chew toys. Unfortunately for me, Hunter’s favorite chew toy was any one of my shoes he could grab. Tazy on the other hand loved to chew my son Brian’s shoes. I was on a first name basis with the local shoe cobbler as he was constantly repairing or more accurately, rebuilding Brian’s shoes!! As Tazy grew older she was obsessed with balls and believe it or not, rocks. She would fetch anything and everything we could throw. She preferred golf balls however if none were available, she would grab a rock and bring it to anyone who would “play”!! 

 

 

Join the Dirty Bow Wow Dog Toy Drive at bookstores across the country. It’s your chance to help shelter dogs find the toy of their dreams, and hopefully a permanent, loving home. Go here to see a list of retailers who are collecting dog toy donations. Drop off a new dog toy at the location nearest you, and aid a dog in need today!

Win your own copy of Dirt Bow Wow!

To enter this giveaway:

~Leave a comment here telling us about your favorite dog.

~This giveaway will close at midnight on June 25th.

Earn extra entries:

~Subscribe to our feed.

~Place our button in your sidebar.

~Please leave a separate comment for each entry. 

Wish List Worthy: The book is a great addition to the library of any dog lover. This book is more than just a fun tribute to dogs and their toys though, it is also part of a great toy drive for the dogs who are still waiting to find forever homes in shelters. We love this book, as we are familiar with the bond between dog and toy. Baby the Maltese has two favorites that are rarely out of her sight! So, if you love dogs too, here’s a chance for you to win a copy of this fun book!

Homeschooling and Loving It!: The pictures are colorful and vibrant and each one tells a small story about the dogs favorite toy, stories of how some of the dogs have endured hard times in their past and just heartwarming stories that tug at your heart strings.  This book would be loved by all dog lovers and makes a wonderful story book for the kids.  Each one of my children ages 10, 6, and 5 have loved this book.  They will look at it over and over trying to pick the cutest dog-they change their minds everytime they look at it.  They are all so cute!

 Just a mom’s take on things…: Dirty Bow Wow is an extremely cute book with amazing photos that almost seem to leap right off of the page along with their well-worn and so loved toys. It’s something that I can sit down with my girls and read together, or just look at the pages with my 3-year-old. I don’t think it’ll satisfy their desire to have a ‘real’ dog, but it’s giving them a way to learn more about dogs and what they’re like before we take that step.

Something Snappy: As a dog lover, I was thrilled to share this book with my daughter and read the short stories about all these lovable fur ballsandtheir favorite toys. With extraordinary photography (and you KNOW that’s a huge compliment coming from ME), I truly got the sense that I knew each and every dog on the pages of Dirty Bow Wow

Go Graham Go! This beautiful book would make a perfect gift for the dog lover in your life and would also be a beautiful table top book! My favorite picture is Halle and Frisbee! It is a great action shot of a fun loving dog catching her Frisbee in mid-air! And of course, there is a special place in my heart for Malibu, a rescue dog, and his pink piggy!

Therapeutic Reviews & Giveaways: My children have always feared dogs stemming back from an incident when they were toddlers. This heartwarming book was purely a delight and restored their love for the animals. Showing the softer, gentler side of all the dogs, my youngest squealed with delight at each picture. My youngest is also the only one of my 3 kids that has had a special “blankie” since she was an infant. I think she can relate! My son loved the golden retriever, Fiona and her “Bear: best, my husband and I got a good chuckle out of Daisy and her “Stick”! My youngest adored Beau Beau and “Big Red.”

Mudpies and Mary Janes: The dog’s stories range from humorous to touching, with all being fun to read together as a family. My kids have really enjoyed the book as well, asking the names of the different breeds and laughing at some of the unique objects to which some of the dogs have become attached. Their hands down favorite is Lucy, a Puggle, laying nose to nose with her stuffed dog Doggie. Even my fourteen month old sat on the couch completely enthralled as he flipped through each page, pointing and saying “doggie“. I love that Dirty Bow Wow includes dogs that are purebred to mixed breeds, as well as those found on the street and rescued from Hurricane Katrina. I think that Dirty Bow Wow is a terrific book for people of all ages, young and old.

Sheltered Not Shattered: My boys and I enjoyed reading this book and looking at all the adorable photographs of the dog’s with their favorite objects. It even opened up discussions about different breeds of dogs. Youngest is a true animal lover and he refers back to the book often. One of my favorite pictures was of Bugsy and Bear but my favorite story was of Belle and her quilt. Belle was a homeless dog that was adopted and finally found a home with Astrid.

Brimful Curiosities: A quick and enjoyable coffee-table worthy read, all dog lovers will find something to love when perusing Dirty Bow Wow. In my household, lots of books fall into my hands and my hands alone. However, this book managed to become a family favorite. My preschool-aged daughter immediately fell for the Toy Poodle named Annie Goodman odeling her beloved chic Pink Purse toy. My husband, the discerning reader (so discerning he hardly ever picks up a book) read Dirty Bow Wowcover to cover and remarked on a number of dogs. Puggle Lucy nose-to-nose with her stuffed, earless Doggie won him over.  

 

 

 

 

 

Filed Under: Family, books, entertainment, giveaways, kids, reviews

Aaron Barnhart

June 9, 2009 By Cathi

Aaron Barnhart’s debut album, MISSING PIECES, is as Aaron says, “a collection of songs that are a deep part of me and very close to my heart….”
During the past twelve months, Aaron set out to make an album that captured his powerful soulful sound. He wrote MISSING PIECES to express his unique vision while maintaining a sound and feel that is universally appealing.
The album was recorded with renowned producer Stuart Brawley, who has worked with Michael Jackson, Don Henley, Celine Dion and Josh Groban.
Aaron recently helped Fleetwood Mac prepare for their upcoming tour and played auxiliary keyboards with the band. Brett Tuggle, of Fleetwood Mac says, “I recently had the opportunity to hear a new artist named Aaron Barnhart. I was impressed by his talents as a singer/songwriter and musician. Aaron has that unique gift to be able to write a good song and deliver a vocal performance that is real and exciting to listen to. I believe Aaron has “the goods” to be a lasting force in music. Put on his new CD Missing Pieces, sit back and enjoy the ride…”
With the debut of his first album comes the announcement that Aaron is preparing for a series of live performances, coast to coast in The United States.
For more information on his upcoming concert dates and to hear his music, check out the Aaron Barnhart website. 
May 28 2009
8:00P
Brixton
redondo Beach, California
May 29 2009
8:00P
Coach House
San Juan Capistrano, California
Jun 2 2009
8:00P
Marilyns on K
Sacramento, California
Jun 3 2009
8:00P
Red Devil Lounge
San Francisco, California
Jun 5 2009
8:00P
Fat Cats
Modesto, California
 
Sage and Savvy: I enjoyed so many songs from the Missing Pieces CD. It starts off with a really great track, Day In Day Out, which is also Barnhart’s first single. You can almost feel Barnhart’s pain in One More Second Chance, and Another Day and Whatever You Get are feel-good songs that are all about appreciating what you have in life. I have to admit that I was surprised that I enjoyed almost the entire Missing Pieces CD, especially since I never heard of Barnhart before, but I am now an Aaron Barnhart fan, and I’m sure he’ll be gaining lots more fans as more people discover his talent.
 
3 Garnets & 2 Sapphires: I think this CD is perfect to play while you are in the car or when you finally get to sit down at the end of the day to unwind. My favorite song out of the ten is “Whatever You Get”. This particular song has a feel-good style, is a little more upbeat than the others, and sends a nice message . . . “Whatever you get, give it away.”
 
She Scribes: Do you know how some music gets your blood pumping (like exercise music)? Aaron Barnhart is more like the music you would want to listen to when you want to be restful or if you are in a happy-go-lucky sort of mood. I have been listening to him as I work online and clean and I just find that his music make me feel happy and calm. Hopefully this makes sense. TRUST ME! This is not boring elevator music. NO WAY! What I mean is that his music is pure and unique and not over produced like a lot of other music these days.
 
Pink Family Reviews: I very much enjoyed this CD.  When my kids are in the car, we usually listen to some sort of kiddie cd.  After I dropped them off in the morning, I put this cd in and it was perfect.  I also really like it after work on my way to pick up the girls.  It was a relaxing way to unwind after a busy day at work.
 
From Melissa’s Desk: After listening to this CD several times, I’ve found that I really like this type of music. Aaron voice has a smooth sound and the songs are calming and enjoyable. He really has some talent! I love that the music is mostly piano or stringed instruments. I have no doubt that Aaron Barnhart will go far in the music business! If you enjoy music that makes you feel calm and happy, this is the CD for you!
Filed Under: entertainment, reviews

iCarly

June 1, 2009 By Cathi
iCarly is a delightful television series which can be seen several times a day on Nickolodeon. My grandchildren are big fans of the Nickolodeon and because of the variety of programs that are available, I like it too. I knew I’d like iCarly even though I had never watched an episode before this review opportunity however I was very surprised at how excited they were about this iCarly DVD. They’re boys and at ages 6 and 9 they spend most of their time playing Star Wars on Wii, riding bikes and skateboards. I had no idea they were iCarly fans too.
From iCarly:Carly is a teenager who lives with her twenty-six year old brother and guardian Spencer, and produces her own web casts from a studio she constructed in the attic of her home. She does this not because she is looking for fame or fortune, but because she wants to be a good role model for kids and teens. “iCarly” makes TV history as the first series to incorporate kid-generated original content into its script.

This is what we think:

A Mama’s Rant:  My kids love the iCarly TV show on Nickelodeon. It’s even taken over from their usual favorite, SpongeBob. I was surprised when this happened and became concerned. Wasn’t this a tweenager show? After all my kids are only six and nine. So I sat down with Lucie and watched an episode where the group goes to Japan to accept an award for their web show. It was completely ridiculous, yet cute and kind of sweet.

Redlady’s Reading Room: My son’s thoughts on iCarly: “It’s one of my favorite shows on Nickelodeon. It’s funny and I like the funny videos that they show. I like Spencer’s art sculptures. I wish that they would show Freddie’s dad, Spencer & Carly’s mom and dad and Sam’s parents. “(That’s all that I could get out of my son who didn’t want to say too much at the moment…what can I say, he’s 10)

Brain Foggles: My daughter’s review: “I just love to watch iCarly. There’s always something funny about it. I like that it has to do with computers and that it has it’s own website. I like Freddie because he’s so cute and good with computers. I also like Spencer because he’s an awesome artist and makes me laugh. I wish they could at least show Sam’s mother.”

My review: The iCarly DVD is family friendly and I don’t mind my daughter watching it alone. I like the way that the teen characters work out problems and learn from each other and the adults. Since my daughter is interested in computers, I think it inspires her to learn and do more on her own tech wise. It also creates more things for us to talk about.

Mom of 2 Dancers Reviews: When I got the package with iCarly: Season 1, Vol. 2in it, I surprised Cami with it (my 7 year old) after school. She literally jumped up and down in excitement, then ran to the living room to watch it. Since we have had it, she has popped it in several times to watch. There has been a few times when I asked, are you watching that dvd again? No mom, I’m watching Nick. She truly loves the show. I’m still not sick of it yet, so that is a good sign for me!

Welcome to the Motherhood: iCarly is an addicting, fun loving comedy series that the whole family can enjoy. If you can’t get enough iCarly, be sure to check out iCarly.comfor more fun iCarly stuff like games, music and more.

Free Birthday Treats Blog: My teenager daughter, Mackenzie, has expressed in her own words what she thinks about the iCarly show: Carly is a fun, life loving girl that lives life to the very fullest. Nothing can bring her down because she has two amazing friends named Sam and Freddie, along with her crazy older brother Spencer that helps her through anything. Personally, I love how outgoing Carly is, how fanatical Sam is, and how incredibly intellectual Freddie is. I love how the teachers are weird, Spencer is not only goofy, but amazingly creative and Sam and Freddie are loyal to a fault. But the best part of all: watching the shows with no commercials. See, I’m one of those people that despise, loath and detest commercials; to get one of my favorite shows commercial free is…it’s…I’m at a loss for words, actually, for how unbelievable, incredible, insane, breathtaking, astonishing, mind-boggling, astounding, amazing, outrageous, indescribable, perfect and…and…flat-out AWESOME (okay, not that lost for words)!!!

A Simple Walk: Of all the tween shows available nowadays, Nickelodeon’s iCarly is the only one we allow Isabelle to watch. The character’s are not perfect, and they do have their faults, but overall they are just kids being kids. I would almost go as far as saying they are just good kids being kids. Since Isabelle’s tv time is very limited, having iCarly – Season 1, Vol 2 on DVD has been very nice. Now when she does get 30 minutes of tv, instead of trying to plan her schedule around a certain time, we can just pop the DVD in. Even better, if a situation pops up on the show that I think would make a good talking point, we can pause it to have a discussion.

Loving Heart Mommy’s  We love iCarly! The show is lots of fun all while teaching some very important lessons. I highly recommend iCarly for both girls and boys. Very family friendly but also safe to let your pre-teen/teen watch alone! The show is very computer oriented which is also a cool way to get your children involved with the technology of today! Thumbs up!

From Melissa’s Desk: I have a tween boy and a teen girl who both adore iCarly and I have to admit that I like it too! I think what I like most about iCarly is that the kids act like kids. They don’t have them act or dress older than they are and (as of yet) they don’t deal with controversial topics that some parents might not want their children seeing. iCarly is a really cute show that I recommend for the whole family. You can order your copy at Amazon.com, but until then, check out this sneak peak of Season 1 Volume 2:

 

Filed Under: entertainment, kids, reviews

Veggie-Tales

May 28, 2009 By Cathi

VeggieTales -  An Easter Storydvd_eastercarol_recover_rgb-1

The best thing about VeggieTales is they are timeless. There are wonderful lessons to be learned no matter what the tale is or when it’s watched. Inspired by Dickens’ Christmas classic, A Christmas Story, VeggieTales – Easter Story  is a very special film. The story tells why millions of Christians around the world gather every year to celebrate Easter past, present and future. Greedy Ebenezer Nezzer, a Scrooge equivalent and manufacturer of such Easter kitsch as plastic eggs and mechanical chickens, mounts a huge commercial campaign to reap further profits from a day that should be about remembering the resurrection of Jesus. With VeggieTales series regulars Bob the Tomato (cast as a Bob Cratchit type) and Larry the Cucumber,  An Easter Carol takes Ebenezer led by a music-box angel named Hope through a journey to discover the real meaning of Christ’s death and return.

Two of a Kind, Working on a Full House:  An Easter Carol portrays the true meaning of Easter while capturing your attention with the adorable characters. This story is told in such a way that children(and adults) will remember its lessons. Sometimes its hard to explain the bible to children, but VeggieTales provides an easy tool to educate them on different stories. As always, this VeggieTales DVD is packed with extra features for the whole family. My son loves music so the Karaoke was a big hit. He just sort of hums along, but its absolutely adorable watching him dance.

The Clan McLeod: VeggieTales are an absolute hit around my house and in my church nurseries. They are good, clean fun and always have a Biblical message to go along with each story. Bob and Larry always have the kids laughing with their corny jokes and endless mishaps. The addition of Rebecca St. James as the voice of Hope is incredible! She has such a sweet voice and the girls love her accent! The songs on this DVD are fantastic! Our favorite is Hope’s Song which will give you chills! Big Idea has done a fantastic job with this DVD and has yet another huge hit on their hands!

The Dirty Shirt: My whole family loves the VeggieTales and this DVD is perfect for our collection. It was great to sit down with my daughters and watch it as a family. This DVD was a great help too in explaining what exactly Easter is all about. Definitely not just about the Easter bunny and chocolate eggs. My middle daughter especially liked the added “Veggie Karaoke” feature (she is just like her mommy after all) and she liked singing along as my toddler danced. Speaking of my toddler she just loves Bob and every time she sees him she makes sure she stops fidgeting and listens. Veggie Tales DVDs are great teaching tools as well, and I recommend them all for your children’s DVD libraries.

My SentimentExactLee: The best part of this movie was the beautiful stained glass artwork. It seems to almost pop right off the screen. Definitely a treat for the eyes. Also music sensation Rebecca St. James plays the voice of Hope. She sings a beautiful song for us as she reminds Nezzer the story of Easter through the above mentioned stained glass windows. I think all of Veggie Tales movies are a delight and An Easter Carol did not disappoint.

Mom Start: I thought it was pretty cute and Rebecca’s music is fantastic. You know, Veggie Tales doesn’t make me laugh until my sides hurt but it does make me smile. It makes me warm and happy with a great message and the humor is just enough to turn my lips up. 

Marie’s Space: Veggie Tales Easter Carol doesn’t feel like a religious movie to children but the message is still there, in the long run that is what really matters. Great movie for children and adults. As a fan of animation, I thought the animation was top notch! The character are sweet and my children loved shouting out what vegetable each one was. My daughter thought everything green was a pickle which cracked me up because I didn’t even know she knew what a pickle was.

Feels Like Home Recommends: It helps that I think the movie is a riot. It is sweet and cute, and it has a great message, like all Veggie Tales movies we’ve seen, but that’s not what makes me laugh. It’s based on Charles Dickens’ A Christmas Carol. There’s a sickly little boy and an old Scrooge and ghosts of Easter past, present, and future, and it stresses the real meaning of the holiday. Every time we’ve watched it, I have seen something else that evokes Dickens’ original story. I love it!

Sweet ‘n’ Sassy Girls: When we got this my husband was so excited. He loves VeggieTales, along with the Christmas Carol. We enjoyed watching it and hearing all the new songs. I love the fact that Veggie Tales teaches kids good values and I would let my daughter watch this anytime. I highly recommend adding this to your VeggieTales collection.

 

big_idea_logo_png1

Filed Under: entertainment, kids, reviews
« Older Posts