Stepping Outside with the Kids 5 Book #Giveaway

It’s Our Garden by George Anacona

9780763653927 | $16.99 | 01/2013 | 5 yrs - 8 yrs

At an elementary school in Santa Fe, the bell rings for recess and kids fly out the door to check what’s happening in their garden. As the seasons turn, everyone has a part to play in making the garden flourish. From choosing and planting seeds in the spring to releasing butterflies in the summer to harvesting in the fall to protecting the beds for the winter. Part celebration, part simple how-to, this close-up look at a vibrant garden and its enthusiastic gardeners is blooming with photos that will have readers ready to roll up their sleeves and dig in.

I can still remember the magical feeling of spring that I felt as a child.  I loved spending my time adoring the beautiful scenery of gardens.  When I was reading It's Our Garden, it took me back to the days when I was four or five and I would pick carrots from my grandma's garden.  We would plant flowers and it was an amazing feeling to be a part of adding beauty to the world.  It's Our Garden is a great book to share with your child.  You will find several different ideas for fun things to do with the kiddos.  Trust me, they will thank you!

Look Up! Bird-Watching in Your Own Backyard by Annette LeBlanc Cate

9780763645618 | $15.99 | 03/2013 | 8 yrs and up

This conversational, humorous introduction to bird-watching encourages kids to get outdoors with a sketchbook and really look around. Quirky full-color illustrations portray dozens of birds chatting about their distinctive characteristics, including color, shape, plumage, and beak and foot types, while tongue-in-cheek cartoons feature banter between birds, characters, and the reader. Interactive and enjoyable tips bring an age-old hobby to new life for the next generation of bird-watchers.

Another great way to spend time with your child is to read and then bird-watch.  Look Up! is filled with beautiful pictures that will instantly make you want to go outside and see real live birds.  One great way to pass an afternoon is to take the book outside with you and see how many birds you can find both in the book and alive in front of your very eyes.

Python by Christopher Cheng

Illustrated by Mark Jackson

9780763663964 | $15.99 | 02/2013 | 5 yrs – 8 yrs

Python stirs and slithers out from her shelter, smelling the air with her forked tongue. It’s time to molt her dull scales and reveal the glistening snake underneath. Gliding along a tree, she stops and watches very, very closely as a bird drops onto a branch — and escapes the razor-sharp teeth just in time. But Python is hungry, so she slides on to stalk new prey. Combining informative facts, expressive illustrations, and a lyrical, mesmerizing narrative, here is a book to captivate anyone fascinated by this iconic creature.

Python is one of my favorite children's book.  It has gorgeous illustrations and an interesting storyline.  Children are sure to be entertained and educated all at the same time.  My nephew adored flipping through this book while I read it to him. 

The Story of Frog Belly Rat Bone

10th Anniversary Reissue by Timothy Basil Ering

9780763666613 | $17.99 | 02/2013 | 4 yrs – 7 yrs

Once upon a time, in a gray endless place called Cementland, a boy finds a treasure box. It’s filled with tiny specks and a wrinkled note that says, "Put these wondrous riches in the earth and enjoy." But a special treasure requires a special guardian, so the boy conjures a creature to protect the specks: Frog Belly Rat Bone. With subtle, delicate tones, fantastical figures, and bursts of glowing color, the surreal artwork and hand-lettered text of Timothy Basil Ering’s picture book debut exude all the whimsy of an inspired imagination.

I was swept away with The Story of Frog Belly Rat Bone.  The artwork is extraordinary and the story is unlike any children's book I have ever read before.  My nephew went nuts over the title and I could not stop cracking up at his laugh.  I love it when a kid finds something really funny and it's like they are laughing from deep inside their soul.  It was great!

Maisy Grows a Garden by Lucy Cousins

9780763662424 | $14.99 | 02/2013 | 0 mos – 3 yrs

Maisy loves to try new things, just like her young fans. This interactive science story invites toddlers and preschoolers to help Maisy dig, sow seeds, water the earth, and weed the garden. Little ones will love seeing the carrots, lettuce, tomatoes, and beans spring from the pages as they take the first steps to develop a green thumb with Maisy and Panda. What makes Maisy’s garden grow?

Damien is a little old for Maisy Grows a Garden (he's 5) but that didn't stop him from having me read it to him three times in a row.  I really liked that this story invites children to be a part of it.  One of Damien's favorite things is to help people and Maisy allowed him to enter her world.  We had a great time flipping through this book.

Time for a giveaway!  One of my readers will receive each one of the five books that I reviewed in this post.  Entering is easy, just fill out the form:

Entry-Form

Disclosure: I received a complimentary copy of this book for review purposes. No other compensation was received. All opinions expressed are 100% my own.