Children's Book Review~If You Were Me and Lived in..Russia

If You Were Me and Lived in...Russia: A Child's Introduction to Culture Around the World is the latest book in author Carole P. Roman's series teaching children about the world around them.  I've read and reviewed several of these with the help of my son Chad (age 11).  We both always learn many new things about the country we are reading about!

If You Were Me and Lived in...Russia has bright, whimsical illustration with easy to read text.  There is a map of Russia showing the capital, Moscow, at the front of the book, and a handy pronunciation guide at the back.  In between, a boy and girl from Russia teach you about many things-facts about their country, what they eat, what words they use for their family members, sports they play, and more!  I learned that the cute nesting doll set I had as a girl is called Matryoshka dolls. 

I think this collection of books is great for any child, and would be a perfect addition to a homeschool library!

You can purchase If You Were Me and Lived in...Russia at Amazon and at the author's website, www.caroleproman.com .  There you can also learn more about all of the author's other books!

*Disclosure: I received this book free in exchange for my honest review.  All opinions expressed here are my own.

Book Review~Pilgrim's Wilderness

Pilgrim's Wilderness: A True Story of Faith and Madness on the Alaska Frontier is the story of Papa Pilgrim, aka Bobby Hale, an eccentric man who arrived in Alaska with his wife and 15 children.  They were living off the grid, self-sufficient in the wilderness near McCarthy, Alaska.  Pilgrim's Wilderness follows their lives, including their pasts and how they got to Alaska.  They had many struggles in Alaska, including trouble with their neighbors and the National Park Service.  As the story unfolds, you begin to see the dysfunction within the family. 

The author of Pilgrim's Wilderness is Tom Kizzia, who is a veteran Alaskan journalist and has traveled extensively throughout Alaska.  He did a great job putting all the pieces together to write this book, which I imagine was not an easy task! 

I began this story excited to read about the adventures of a true wilderness family.  As it went on, it evolved more into the adventures of a very dysfunctional, abused family with a patriarch who was clearly not mentally stable.  I enjoyed the book, but was sad to read what these poor children had to endure. 

*Disclosure: I received this book free from Blogging for Books in exchange for my honest review.  All opinions expressed here are my own. 

Purex Detergent on #Cartwheel!

Have you tried Cartwheel at Target yet?  I use it, and it is a great way to save!  You can use it with an app on your phone, or with your computer and print out a barcode with your savings.  Right now with Back to School shopping, we can use all the savings we can get!!  Now through the end of August, get 10% off any Purex detergent at Target stores with a #Cartwheel coupon!

Click here to start saving with Purex and #Cartwheel!

Wordless Wednesday~Puppy Love

Product Review~Ozeri Serafino Double Wall Iced Tea and Coffee Glasses

I prefer glass drinking glasses over plastic.  But there are negatives to glass-breakability (is that a real word?), condensation, and hands getting hot/cold from the liquid in the glass.  I recently received a set of six  Ozeri Serafino Double Wall Iced Tea and Coffee Glasses.  My entire family is in love with these glasses!!  Forget all the negatives I mentioned above, because they don't apply to these glasses!

These 16 ounce glasses (there are other sizes available) are made of borosilicate glass, which is heat and shatter resistant.  They are stronger and more durable that regular glass, and can be used in the freezer and microwave.  The glasses have a wraparound contour that makes it easy to hold on to your glass.  Visually, the glasses are very cool-they have a double wall so the liquid is suspended in the inner wall. 

 

Upon receiving our Serafino glasses, my husband immediately made an iced coffee.  He usually doesn't make iced coffee, but now he makes a lot of them, because he loves iced coffee in this glass!  Besides the cool design and other handy features, we all really like that you don't get a cold (or hot) hand holding your drink.  Also, my coffee table and I both appreciate that the glasses don't have condensation.  The Langworthy Family gives the Ozeri Serafino Double Wall Drinking Glasses 5+ stars!!  We may just be ordering another size soon!

 

You can purchase your own set of Ozeri Serafino Double Wall Drinking Glasses at Amazon.  You have nothing to lose-the glasses have a one year manufacturer warranty, satisfaction guaranteed!

 

 

*Disclosure: I received this product free in exchange for my honest review.  All opinions expressed here are my own.  

Review and Giveaway~Dial Coconut Water Body Wash

Dial has added a new product to their Coconut Water line-Coconut Water Refreshing Mango body wash.  Coconut Water is known to be rich in antioxidants and electrolytes, which helps provide you with replenishing hydration.  Mango is known for being nutrient rich as well, plus it adds a great tropical scent.

My entire family has been enjoying our bottle of Coconut Water Refreshing Mango body wash!  The scent is fresh and tropical, and the wash leaves  you feeling clean and refreshed.  It's great to know we are leaving the shower with healthy, hydrated skin! 

GIVEAWAY!!!

Dial and Purex have provided me with two coupons to give away to my readers!!  Enter below for your chance to win:


a Rafflecopter giveaway

*Disclosure: The Dial brand provided me with a sample of Dial Coconut Water Refreshing Mango Body wash in exchange for a product review.  However, all the opinions expressed here are my own.

Children's Book Review~ Pepper Parrot's Problem with Patience

My son, grandson, and I have had the pleasure of reviewing another delightful book by author Carole P. Roman-Pepper Parrot's Problem with Patience-A Captain No Beard Story.  We've previously read a few of the Captain No Beard stories, and both kids just love them. 

In Pepper Parrot's Problem with Patience, Captain No Beard and his trusty crew welcome a new crew member-a parrot named Pepper!  As they do their drills on deck, they quickly realize that Pepper Parrot doesn't know her right from her left.  The crew helps her learn, and together they successfully do their drills. 

In this story there is a theme of teamwork and helping one another, along with a subtle teaching tool for Dyslexia.  My son has Dyslexia, and I could see this story being helpful for any child, especially those with a learning disability. 

The Captain No Beard series has quickly become a favorite at my house.  The illustrations are bright and fun, and the stories are funny and engaging, with helpful character building themes.  Author Carole P. Roman is a talented author-you can learn more about her at www.caroleproman.com, and on Facebook.  Pepper Parrot's Problem with Patience is available at Amazon.

*Disclosure: I received this book free in exchange for my honest review.  All opinions expressed here are my own.

Book Review~Woman of Courage by Wanda Brunstetter

Amanda Pearson, a young Quaker woman in the early 1800s, was left by her fiancée the night before her wedding.  She decides to travel over 3,000 miles west with her father to minister to the Nez Perce' Indians at the Spalding Mission.  They hire a guide for the long, rough journey and set out.  They encounter many dangerous situations along the way. 

Amanda soon finds herself at a trapper's cabin, recovering from a near-death accident.  The trapper, Jim, is not happy with her being there, but his Indian wife Mary tends to Amanda and they quickly become friends.  Amanda teaches Mary about Jesus.  Amanda worries that she may never make it to the mission.  She gets to know  Jim and Mary's friend Buck McFadden, and asks him to accompany her to the mission. Amanda and Buck both are starting to have feelings for each other, but they are from two different worlds.

What I thought: I've read Wanda Brunstetter's Amish fiction before and enjoyed it, so I was interested to try something different.  Woman of Courage is a well-written story that engaged me immediately and I found hard to put down.  It is amazing to think about a woman traveling across the country by horseback in the early 1800s.  The only thing I can think of negative about this book is that for part of the story Amanda uses 'thee' and 'thou', which I found annoying, but it is correct for Quaker people during that time period.  Woman of Courage has it all-drama, romance, history, and more!

*Disclosure: I received this book free from Handlebar Publishing in exchange for an honest review. 

Wordless Wednesday~Shave and a Haircut!