Brown Bear, Brown Bear, What Do You See? (Paperback w/ CD)

by Bill Martin Jr. (Author), Eric Carle (Illustrator), Gwyneth Paltrow (Reader)

Peyton loved this book and as each animal appeared on the next page, he lets outs a cute little gasp and has a delighted expression on his face.  He loves listening to it on the CD, it is somehow much more exciting than listening to Mom or Dad read it to him.

Remember way back when the kids did a post about an Eco-Conscious Gift for the Whole Family? We use that blanket, those napkins, and those water bottles every single day. Well, sort of. The Tappenings bottle has been lost to the back of the cupboard because the neck isn’t big enough to put ice in it. And the threads to screw the cap on don’t work that well. However, the Klean Kanteens? Right after our review, we bought 2 more of them from Baying Hound so all 3 of the girls could have one. I suffered with the Tappenings bottle, but a couple days ago, I saw that Baying Hound was offering a 20% discount on any new stainless steel water bottle, so I bought 1 more Klean Kanteen for myself. Hurry, you have until September 15th. Go to Baying Hound’s blog to get your discount code and buy some bottles (any of their bottles, not just Klean Kanteen).

Baying Hound Howls has some great info on why you should get an excellent stainless steel water bottle. My reasons (besides not having to buy and recycle plastic) are quality and taste. Klean Kanteens are just better quality. They’re thicker and the cap and threads hold up better than the cheaper versions. And the water tastes better than it does coming out of the plastic. I don’t know about all of the plastic-causes-cancer hype, but I do know taste and value. And prettiness. I want my personal hydration to be pretty.

Abby

Bedtime Stories is a really funny and good movie about this guy named Skeeter who has a niece and nephew who at the beginning didn’t really know about him and didn’t really like him, but when he started telling them bedtime stories, they started to like him and the bedtime stories seem like they come to life, but only a little bit about them is different. And my whole family thought it was funny. There’s a funny guinea pig in it named Bugsy, too.

If you’re into funny comedy family movies, you’ll like this movie. It came out on Blu-Ray April 5th and will come out on DVD April 7th (close to my birthday. And Easter). Or, for a little while, you can get the combo pack with a regular DVD and a Blu-Ray DVD AND a digital file copy for your laptop.

Liberty

Lillian, age three and a half years, enjoyed the Handy Manny Green Team
video.  She says she learned “about the tools” and liked the “tea cup moving
up and down, up and down.”  Her favorite episode was ‘Saving the Turtles’.

I, Lil’s mom, liked that the episodes are themed and educational but not
boring or saccharine.  Manny and his tools teach Spanish by using it and
repeating the English word after, but not asking viewers to repeat after
them as if they can actually converse.  (The ‘talk to me’ farce is my least
favorite kid’s show technique.)

The Green Team video includes five fifteen minute episodes.  Each one
considers a different environmental topic in an age appropriate way.  While
more entertaining than educational, I appreciate the eco-friendly values in
Handy Manny’s Green Team.

-Rachel

P.S. If Handy Manny: Manny’s Green Team is available everywhere March 31st. If Handy Manny and his tools inspire you to be more friendly to the environment, visit Rachel and her husband’s eco-friendly store, Baying Hound, where you’ll find “unique gear, superior services, and sustainable practices.” They have great deals in their Clearance Corner! Read more about Rachel and Lil’s environmentally friendly tips and tricks at Rachel’s blogs, Baying Hound Howls and Hounds in the Kitchen. -Abby

It’s a good movie and it’s coming out tomorrow so you better get it!!! If you like Disney movies and chihuahuas then you should see it!!!! It’s fun to sit with a blanket and eat some snacks while you’re watching it! So get it and do that!

Liberty (and Lena on the video)

Here’s a maze you can print out: