SMS Book Reviews

Cows Can't Quack by Dave Reisman

noreply@blogger.com (Callista) — Sat, 28 Jan 2012 00:15:00 +0000

Stars: *****

Jumping Cow Press

This book is exactly like it's cousin Cows Can't Jump except it's about animal sounds instead of what animals can do.

Cows Can't Quack starts off with:

"Cows Can't Quack...but they can moo" and then gives another animal and says:

"Moose can't moo... but they can grunt" and so on.

It's very simple but that is what makes it so great. Toddlers like repetition, it's how they learn. This book is easy to read again and again and it includes repetition in the story itself by keeping similar words in the storyline.

See the preview.

*Disclosure: I received the product(s) mentioned above free of charge by the company or PR representative for evaluation purposes. No other compensation was provided.

Chicken, Pig, Cow and the Class Pet by Ruth Ohi

noreply@blogger.com (Callista) — Fri, 27 Jan 2012 23:58:00 +0000

Stars: ****

Annick Press (2011)

Summary: In the newest Chicken, Pig, Cow book by Ruth Ohi, the barn is taken to school for show and tell!

If you aren't new to this blog you should know that I adore this series of books because I've reviewed them many times before.

I just love the soft illustrations and the imagination. If you aren't familiar with the series, chicken, pig and cow are made of clay and live inside a popsicle stick barn made by girl. In a later installment, they met dog who is now their friend. In this one, they are brought for show and tell and have a small adventure with the class pet. Very cute.

I think I'll have a Chicken, Pig, Cow reading marathon with my girls. I wonder what the next book will be about?

Read more at Annick Press.

*Disclosure: I received the product(s) mentioned above free of charge by the company or PR representative for evaluation purposes. No other compensation was provided.

Red is Best by Kathy Stinson (Board Book) (New Year New Reads Sponsor)

noreply@blogger.com (Callista) — Fri, 27 Jan 2012 23:45:00 +0000

Stars: *****

Annick Press
Ages 2-4

Red is Best is a old favourite, originally published in 1982 and reprinted by Annick Press in 2006. Red is Best is now available as a lap size board book, perfect to share with your little one.

If you aren't familiar with Red is Best, it's a delightful story of a young girl (toddler age) who has decided that red is the best colour, no matter what. As anyone who has or has had a toddler knows, toddlers have definite opinions about things and this little girl is no different. There is no reasoning with a toddler who has made a decision about something.

No matter how much her mom tries to encourage her to use something that is not read (for different reasons), the girl is adamant that she must use red because Red Is Best.

Also see other reviews I've done of books by Kathy Stinson.

*Disclosure: I received the product(s) mentioned above free of charge by the company or PR representative for evaluation purposes. No other compensation was provided.

Dogs Don't Eat Jam and Other Things Big Kid Know by Sarah Tsiang

noreply@blogger.com (Callista) — Thu, 19 Jan 2012 00:33:00 +0000

Stars: *****

Annick Press (2011)
Ages 4-6

Summary: New babies have a lot to learn; lucky for them, the older sibling in this delightful picture book is here to tell them everything they have to remember … and look forward to. - Annick Press

This is the BEST book for older siblings about a new baby I have ever seen and I've read quite a few of them. Most take the position of assuming the child will feel less important and going over how its hard because babies need a lot but mom and dad still love you. Don't Don't Eat Jam takes a whole other perspective.

The story is narrated by the older sister to her baby brother. She tells of what it was like when she was a baby and how there are some things he will have to learn but that he can do it since she was able to. It's really cute. She tells him he'll have to learn to eat baby food, get rid of his soother, crawl and walk as well as things such as dogs don't eat jam (with an illustration of the girl as a baby spoonfeeding jam to the dog.)

My girls absolutely LOVE this book and it worked well for us as my older ones are girls and the baby is a boy but even if the circumstances are different for you, this is the perfect book if your new older sister or brother is over age 4.

The illustrations by Qin Leng are ADORABLE. I love soft colours in a picture book that is about love and family. It just feels right.

Next time someone asks me for a rebook commendation for a new older sibling, this will be it!

Links of Interest: The Book @ Annick Press,

Other Reviews: Foreword Reviews, Waking Brain Cells,

You have the opportunity to win this book and others in my NYNR giveaway but hurry, it ends Jan 23!

*Disclosure: I received the product(s) mentioned above free of charge by the company or PR representative for evaluation purposes. No other compensation was provided.

Courtesy Bootcamp by Anthonette Klinkerman

noreply@blogger.com (Callista) — Mon, 16 Jan 2012 19:06:00 +0000

Back and Front Cover

Stars: ***

Anthonette Klinkerman considers herself the mobile etiquette school. She does courses on etiquette now she has a book. The book is only available through her website currently.

The book is a quick read at 56 pages but this makes it easy to look up a certain section for a quick reminder of what it says.

I'm sure we all think we know the rules of etiquette but sometimes we forget the basics as our life gets busy and we cut corners to get things done.

There are 21 chapters in this 56 page book covering everything such as: Attire & Grooming, Cell Phones & Electronics, Driving, Job Interviews, Gum Chewing, Table Manners, Netiquette, Thank You notes, profanity, Responding to invites, at the movies and more!

You have a chance to win this book in the NYNR giveaway at Callista's Ramblings until Jan 23.

*Disclosure: I received the product(s) mentioned above free of charge by the company or PR representative for evaluation purposes. No other compensation was provided.

101 Things I Hate About Your House by James Swan with Carol Beggy (Toast to 2012 Sponsor)

noreply@blogger.com (Callista) — Mon, 16 Jan 2012 04:40:00 +0000

Subtitle: : A Premier Designer Takes You on a Room-by-Room Tour to Transform Your Home from Faux Pas to Fabulous

Stars: *****

Summary: 101 THINGS I HATE ABOUT YOUR HOUSE starts at the street, moves through the front door, and doesn't stop until it has taken a peek into every room of the house. Swan numbers the “101 Things” that make up this book so readers can easily reference items they find helpful, painful, or just too funny to forget. - Quote from website.

James Swan and Carol Beggy take us on a tour of the different rooms of a house and point out the most important things we should fix about our house. A lot of these tips aren't just going to make the design better but also make it more functional by default.

A few examples from the Media section of the website:

#1. Dreary Little Mess: Nothing screams "dreary little mess" quite like a front door masquerading as last winter's snow tires. Clean it up. Wipe it down. Patch it, paint it, stain it, wax it, but just get the door to your home speaking a civilized language that is perfectly synchronized with the impression you want to make.
#71. Age-Appropriate Design: Mom and Dad, it’s time to get over your heels dragging on the subject of the kids growing up before your very eyes. They will grow whether you want them to or not, so make the best of a maturing problem and match their chronological age with the furnishings in their rooms. A teenager (13 and older) should be sleeping in a double bed, not in a childish twin. The progression from twin to double is a rite of passage. Make it memorable for your young lady or gentleman.
#25. A Room without a Soul: If the gods of decorating are to be found lurking in the details of your home, what do your details say? Take a critical look at the small things that fill your table tops and shelves. Do they tell a beautiful story, the story you want told? If not, then it’s time to edit and rewrite your story.

So who are these people telling us what to do with our house?

ABOUT JAMES SWAN: Author James Swan has built a twenty-year career crafting classically influenced interiors across the United States for clients who have included captains of industry, movie studio heads, investment bankers, and real estate developers. He is consistently in the media spotlight with speaking engagements, regular guest spots on national radio programs, and appearances on HGTV's Homes across America. He is a featured design partner with Ballard Designs, which is releasing a line of Swan's custom-designed furniture in early 2011.

ABOUT CAROL BEGGY: Contributor Carol Beggy is an award-winning journalist who left the Boston Globe in 2008 after more than ten years as a writer and editor. She is a senior consultant with Saragoni & Company and has collaborated with photographer Bill Brett on four books about Boston. She was also part of the team behind Ted Kennedy: Scenes from and Epic Life.

The book often mentions the website for product ideas in the Resource Section. The back of the book has a spot to fill in the blanks and make your own list of the top things you need to fix in each room and what you are going to do about it. This is perfect as reading all these ideas is good but you won't remember to actually do it. By making a list you have something you could cross out or check off as it gets done.

I appreciate that the authors don't assume we all have tons of money and huge houses. Although all the sample photos and many of the tips apply to big houses, they do make suggestions for small houses and small budgets.

Check Out The Website and connect via facebook and twitter.

*Disclosure: I received the product(s) mentioned above free of charge by the company or PR representative for evaluation purposes. No other compensation was provided.

New Year New Reads Giveaway - Over $300 in books split into 5 prize packages

noreply@blogger.com (Callista) — Wed, 11 Jan 2012 22:56:00 +0000

My other blog Callista's Ramblings is host to a giveaway hop devoted to books. The giveaway is over there but I'll be reviewing the books I'm giving away over here during the event. I know this blog has been kind of slow, that's because I'm contemplating blog changes for 2012 and trying to work out a schedule as well for blogging.

So my part of the giveaway is 5 prize packages with a total RV of over $300!

The packages are:

Life
Children's Books 0-6
Social Media
Parenting
Cooking

All but #2 are my favourite type of books, NONFICTION! Each prize package is over $25 and the giveaway is open till Jan 23.

There are lots of ways to enter and if you enter this special code in the SECRET box you will gain an extra entry: SMSBOOK

Keep an eye out in certain places for other codes, you can use one a day.

There is also a Grand Prize Giveaway of a Kindle and Amazon GCs. Please put Callista's Ramblings as your referrer.

Hanukkah Howie by Jan Dalrymple

noreply@blogger.com (Callista) — Sun, 18 Dec 2011 04:32:00 +0000

Stars: ****

I've reviewed many Hanukkah picture books here before but this one took a totally different route than most.

Howie is a special boy who is uniquely connected to Hanukkah. Every day for the eight days of Hanukkah, a new spike emerges in Howie's hair until he is left with 9 spikes (1 tall one in the middle with 4 on each side) by the eighth night of Hanukkah - just like a menorah.

At first his parents do everything they can to get rid of the spikes, and then to hide them, but nothing really works. In the end, Howie (by now grown up) learns an important lesson that shows that we are all different and that's a good thing.

The story is quite cute and as I said, different from any other Hanukkah book I've ever seen. It could probably help launch a discussion about accepting people (and ourselves) for who they/we are and how we are all special.

Here's a video of the author reading from the book.

Check out more at the Hanukkah Howie site!

*Disclosure: I received the product(s) mentioned above free of charge by the company or PR representative for evaluation purposes. No other compensation was provided.

Mommy MD Guide to Pregnancy and Birth AND Mommy MD Guide to Your Baby's First Year by Rallie McAllister

noreply@blogger.com (Callista) — Thu, 24 Nov 2011 18:39:00 +0000

You will have a chance to win this set of books and other prizes Nov 5-Dec 6 during the 12 Days of Gifts Galore at Callista's Ramblings.

Stars: *****

Momosa Publishing

Summary: The Mommy MD Guides cover common pregnancy and parenting concerns and then are followed up with quotes from actual doctors who are moms. Each book has more than 900 tips from 60 or 70 doctors.

The books are separated into pregnancy weeks (Pregnancy) and baby's age in months (for First Year book.) MANY different topics are covered and you can find them via the index as well.

Many people think that doctor parents must know what they are doing all the time but that isn't true. Doctor parents worry just as much as we do and they have trouble making parenting decisions as much as we do too. So reading these books was a nice change as you get to see what doctor parents really think about. I also like that some of the Mommy doctors have young children right now while others have adult children so you are getting more than one generation's advice.

It's a great book for when you don't have lots of time to read long chapters but on the other hand, if there is a specific problem you are having and you've tried some ideas already, the book isn't likely to have another solution. It's mostly like chatting with a bunch of other moms.

The website has other resources as well including a blog and a questions section. Check out the blog for a chance to win a $15 Starbucks Gift Card just for spotting the book in a store! Also check out the recommended products besides the books!

Links of Interest: Mommy MD Guides, Mommy MD Blog, Mommy MD Facebook, Mommy MD Twitter, Daddy MD Guides,

*Disclosure: I received the product(s) mentioned above free of charge by the company or PR representative for evaluation purposes. No other compensation was provided.

GIVEAWAY: $10 Cash via PayPal

noreply@blogger.com (Callista) — Tue, 15 Nov 2011 02:21:00 +0000

I'm looking to gain more followers and comments on this blog so I put together this giveaway for $10 Paypal Cash. This giveaway is posted on both of my blogs but you only enter on one!

To enter, please use the rafflecopter form below. If you don't know how to use it, see this rafflecopter guide. A copy of the giveaway rules are below and on the rafflecopter form. Entering the giveaway means you have read and agree to the rules. If you have any problems, email me callista83@cogeco.ca

GIVEAWAY RULES:
One Person Per Household. Open worldwide to anyone who has a paypal account and is 18+. Giveaway open until December 5, 2011 @ 11:59 PM EST. Odds of winning depend on number of valid entries received. Duplicate (accidental or not) entries will be deleted before a winner is picked and winner's entries will be verified. Winner will be selected using random.org on December 6, 2011 and will be contacted by email. Winner will have 3 days to claim their prize or their prize is forfeit and another winner will be chosen. Contest Void Where Prohibited. This giveaway is not associated, nor sponsored by Facebook. We hereby release Facebook of any liability.

Click Read More if you can't see the widget.

*Disclosure: This giveaway was sponsored by me.

Easy Entertaining for Beginners by Patricia Mendez

noreply@blogger.com (Callista) — Sun, 13 Nov 2011 18:22:00 +0000

You can enter to win this book and many other prizes (totalling $115) at my Canadian review blog, Callista's Ramblings before 11/25!

Stars: ****

Maple Heights Press (2008)
172 pages
Cooking/Entertaining

Summary: Handy guide to hosting your own parties and get-togethers complete with menus, step by step instructions, practical advice and party etiquette, ideas for music, activities, drinks and full colour photographs of some of the foods.

I don't really host parties at my house very often. However it was decided that I would be hosting Thanksgiving and Easter at my house from now on and we do a monthly games night which rotates from house to house. The few times I have hosted a meal, I'm still running around prepping when people arrive, a part of the meal doesn't go well or I forgot something important. This is because I don't plan or start early enough in advance. This book will help me with the net event I host.

The menus themselves weren't really helpful to me only because our family is picky I guess as we won't eat most of the foods given. However I would be able to pick my own menu and figure out what things could be made ahead and what timeline to use. If you are new to following recipes and cooking on a timeline, you might have trouble with this, but then again, you might be okay with the menu. The foods aren't very strange or anything. Let me show you what I mean:

Coconut Salmon (we don't eat fish - there are a few seafood meals)
Baked Potatoes with Blue Cheese Dressing (won't eat Blue Cheese but could easily substitute)
Broccoli with Lemon and Parmesan (for romantic dinner with two, but hubby won't eat Broccoli and I don't like Lemon flavoring)

However there are some I can't wait to try too:

Gourmet Burger Bar
Pinto Beans with Bacon
Chicken Tortilla Soup
Cheddar Hash Brown Gratin

I really appreciate the advice and layout of what to do when (2 days ahead, 1 day ahead, 2 hours ahead etc....)

I wish there was an Easter one in the book. The website though has more tips, hints, recipes and menus including an Easter menu.

Buy Easy Entertaining for Beginners at amazon.com and support SMS Book Reviews

A Tidbit from The No-Cry Picky Eater Solution by Elizabeth Pantley

noreply@blogger.com (Callista) — Fri, 28 Oct 2011 03:26:00 +0000

A full review of this book will be coming soon but for now, a little bit....

Your attitude about food is critical to your child's developing outlook. It's no surprise that studies have found that parents who don't like vegetables have children who don't like vegetables. It's assumed that these parents don't serve many vegetables and treat them as villains when they do.

One study found that the more a child is lectured about the merits of eating vegetables, the more he assumes they will taste bad and the more he will resist even trying them -- children catch on quickly when parents are trying to sell a behavior they don't truly believe in or follow in their own lives. Conversely, several studies found that when parents eat more fruits and vegetables, their children do too.Once you realize that your actions are on display to your child as a prime tool for teaching lifetime beliefs, you can modify your own behavior to set the best example. The side benefit is that you'll be healthier too.

Excerpted from
The No-Cry Picky Eater Solution (McGraw-Hill) by Elizabeth Pantley

*Disclaimer: By posting this, I've been entered into a giveaway. Regardless, I loved this book (see full review to come) and recommend it.

My Very Own Name - Personalized Book - Great Gift Idea

noreply@blogger.com (Callista) — Thu, 20 Oct 2011 01:56:00 +0000

Stars: ****

from I See Me

Summary: A personalized book that has animals spelling out your child's name. An animal brings each letter until the name is spelled out.

This book is really cute! What a great way to teach your child how to spell their name but also a way to share story time with your child in a more personal way. My Very Own Name isn't the only type of personalized book available at I See Me.

I was pleased to see that the A in my son's first name didn't have the same animal as the A in his last name. I was wondering if there would be duplicates but they made sure there wasn't.

The text is very sweet, making it clear your child is very important. It includes your child's birth date and is gender neutral. All the books would make great gifts for Christmas or as Baby Gifts.

*Disclosure: I received the product(s) mentioned above free of charge by the company or PR representative for evaluation purposes. No other compensation was provided.

Good Food to Go: Healthy Lunches Your Kids Will Love (and actually eat!)

noreply@blogger.com (Callista) — Sat, 08 Oct 2011 16:28:00 +0000

Stars: *****

Random House Canada (2011)
Nonfiction: Food and Recipes
192 pages

Summary: Good Food to Go is the ultimate guide to packing healthy lunch boxes with food that kids will enjoy and parents can feel good about. Back-to-school means back-to-lunch-boxes, and the daily quandary of what to put in them. With this new book, two working moms - one a teacher, one a pediatrician - offer creative ideas for balanced lunches and nutritious snacks, as well as up-to-date health tips that will make packing lunch a joy and not a chore.

Are you looking for something different to put in your kid's lunches? Something healthy but that they will like and eat? This book has tons of ideas for you. As with most kids, mine are picky too and so some of the recipes they wouldn't even touch but many others, I think they might. Plus they can help make them which is proven to improve the odds of your child eating them!

The book is divided into the following chapters:

Getting Started
Vegetables and Fruit
Sandwiches
Picnic-Style Lunches and Snacks
Soups
Super Salads
Encore Performances (Leftovers)
Baked Goods and Desserts
After-School Snacks

Plus there are sample menu planners, a shopper's guide to pesticides and a resources section.

First of all may I say that if my parents called leftovers "Encore Performances" maybe I would have eaten them more? Great name!

The Table of Contents doesn't do this book justice. It's not just a list of foods to pack. The book is full of informative health tips, nutritious recipes and tips to get your child to try new things. These aren't just recipes for a new kind of sandwich with processed meats or new snacks to buy, these recipes could be actual meals for anytime (and I will be trying them as such too!.) Then if the kids like them, I can try making extra to send the next day for school.

All of the tips and hints are in orange boxes and they are VERY helpful. This is a great nutrition book and I learned a lot.

"For young children, the school day is long and a packed lunch can represent a little comfort from home. Make an effort to personalize your children's lunch boxes. Get their help in selecting a lunch kit and water bottle they like. Personal touches like a well-placed sticker of their favourite cartoon character, a joke or a note are sure to bring a smile to any child's face. If your child has a test or is competing in a sporting event, be sure to include a good luck message. Adding the occasional novelty item such as a pen or pencil is always a fun surprise. Your child's lunch should look appealing as well as taste good. Choose colourful fruits and vegetables that look enticing together. Use cookie cutters to perk up boring sandwiches. After all, the more attractive a lunch looks, the more likely it is to be eaten." - pg 69

Some other tips you will find:

Tips for preventing soggy sandwiches
Packing for your picky eater
Packing fibre
Overfed but undernourished
Bone up on calcium
Portion sizes
Meat in moderation

I suggest watching this video for some tips by the author:

The Social Picnic $500 and Tablet Giveaway #SocialPicnic2

noreply@blogger.com (Callista) — Fri, 09 Sep 2011 04:01:00 +0000

**This post is a sticky until Sept 9. To see if there are any new posts, scroll down.**

The Social Picnic event is finally here, hosted by This Lil Piglet and Family Approve. To enter the giveaway, the Rafflecopter giveaway form will be located on participating blogs September 1- 12:01 AM EST - 8th 12:01 AM EST

*Guess what? I'm a participating blog! You can gain entries for following on Google Friend Connect, following on facebook or subscribing via email. You can gain another 5 entries by following Callista's Ramblings (my other blog) on Google Friend Connect, following on facebook, subscribing via email, subscribing via RSS and following on twitter. That's a total of 8 entries just for my two blogs! You can gain many more entries by following many other great blogs!

I will be away from the computer Sep 1-4 but will try to check in. If Google Friend Connect isn't working, you'll just to keep trying back. It's out of my control unfortunately.

Enter to win...

$500 Cash via PayPal

Next6 Android Tablet

If you like reading books, browse the internet, listen to music, view your favorite photo albums or videos, Next6 is your new best friend. Its sleek design, touch screen feature, 7 inches color display,and WiFi is nothing short of amazing. As an added bonus, Next6 also comes with 25 free preloaded books. With one touch, you can open your favorite book and enjoy it anywhere anytime. When fully charged, you can read for up to 10 hours.

Your new Next6 will come with the EBook Store App, so you can download eBooks directly from the web. Its crystal clear capacitive screen is easy to use and gives you crystal clear images especially when playing HD video. If it’s games that you prefer, there are thousands of free 3rd party apps available for you to download. Next6, it is all you need in a tablet!!

Rules and Regulations of the giveaway:
1. Each entry gains you one entry towards the winning prizes

2.The winning entry will be checked to ensure they have complied with their entry. If it is found that the winning entry has not completed the entry requirement, a different winner will be selected.

3.The $500 Cash prize is open Worldwide. The Nexbook Next6 Tablet prize is open to US and Canada residents only. One winner will be chosen and will win ALL prizes. If the chosen winner is located outside the US and Canada, they will win the cash prize only and a second winner will be chosen for the tablet.

Tips: If you've never used Rafflecopter before, it's an easy way to enter giveaway's. Keep in mind that Rafflecopter is run using Javascript so you must enable javascript on your computer to use. If you are having trouble, try a different browser or make sure you have updated your computer and browser.

Because of the amount of entries for this event, we suggest bookmarking this page and spreading out your entries throughout the course of the event.

Have fun and Good luck!

GIVEAWAY: What Language Is by John Whorter

noreply@blogger.com (Callista) — Thu, 01 Sep 2011 04:21:00 +0000

Did you see my review of What Language Is by John Whorter?

Want to win a copy?

Giveaway open to US/Canada till Sept 15.

If you've never used rafflecopter before to enter giveaways, check out this rafflecopter guide. Winners will be contacted by email and will have 3 days to claim their prize. If you have any problems using the form, let me know in the comments and I'll see what I can do.

Just click Read More if you don't already see the rafflecopter widget.

This giveaway listed at:

What Language Is (And What It Isn't And What It Could Be) by John McWhorter

noreply@blogger.com (Callista) — Wed, 31 Aug 2011 11:00:00 +0000

**Giveaway Here!**

Stars: ****

Penguin Group USA (2011)
Nonfiction - Linguistics
240 pages

Summary:
An eye-opening tour for all language lovers, What Language Is offers a fascinating new perspective on the way humans communicate. From vanishing languages spoken by a few hundred people to major tongues like Chinese, with copious revelations about the hodgepodge nature of English, John McWhorter shows readers how to see and hear languages as a linguist does. Packed with Big Ideas about language alongside wonderful trivia, What Language Is explains how languages across the globe (the Queen's English and Surinam creoles alike) originate, evolve, multiply, and divide. Raising provocative questions about what qualifies as a language (so-called slang does have structured grammar), McWhorter also takes readers on a marvelous journey through time and place-from Persian to the languages of Sri Lanka- to deliver a feast of facts about the wonders of human linguistic expression. - from Penguin Group USA

I signed up for this book tour because I love reading about language however this book was more indepth that I had expected. I had a hard time getting into it at first but once I was past the first chapter or so, it was much better. There were still parts that I just couldn't understand but I understood enough to enjoy the book. It is however hard reading and took a long time to read because I couldn't read too much of it at once without falling asleep. It's not that it was boring, just technical (as far as language goes) and concentrating that much when already tired makes you fall asleep.

You might think that a book on language couldn't have humour but it does.

"It's a pain for English speakers to have to learn the gender of every noun in French or German along with the noun itself. But in Navajo, for every single verb in the language you have to learn these five variations. You just have to know. The nearest equivalent for an English speaker would be if every verb were like be, where we have to know that it's I am but I was and I've been and subjuntively, if I were - just imagine if English had it in addition that today I speak, yesterday I spoke, tomorrow I spock, repetitively I spack and hypothetically I just might spoo." - pg 68.

You can't tell me you didn't just chuckle, especially if you read that aloud. This isn't the only part like that.

I also learned quite a bit about English and why it has some weird words in it. For example we all wonder why it's one man but many men. It has to do with the past.

"The plural of man [...] was mani "mahnee." The ee sound is pronounced in the front of the mouth, while the ah sound is in the back (try saying ee-ah-ee-ah and notice how you switch forward and back.) After a while, anticipating the upcoming ee, speakers started pronouncing the ah more frontally. One way of doing that is to pronounce it eh (say eh-ee-eh-ee and everything stays up front). This meant that mahnee was not pronounced meni. But sounds have a way of dropping off the ends of words as a language moves along [...] The plural -i marker was no exception, and so by the time Proto-Germanic was Old English, meni was just men. " - pg 72

In what other book can you learn about the way the word "ass" can be used in many different linguistic ways? (pages 124-126)

The book covers lots of different aspects of language including the difference between Black Language and Standard English, how language changes, and why some languages are more complex than others. (Hint: It has to do with whether adults are learning the language too or just children.)

Recommended if you love language, but be warned it's complicated in some parts. However it's also one of those books that you could skip a small section you don't understand and still get something out of the book.

About The Author:

John McWhorter is the author of the bestseller Losing the Race: Self-Sabotage in Black America, The Power of Babel: A Natural History of Language, and four other books. He is associate professor of linguistics at the University of California at Berkeley, a senior fellow at the Manhattan Institute, and a contributing editor to The City Journal and The New Republic. - from Penguin Group USA

Other Reviews from TLC Book Tour:
Book Club Classics! , BookNAround, One Book Shy of a Full Shelf, Melody and Words, Rundpinne, Lit and Life, Hey I Want to Read That, The Broke and the Bookish, In the Next Room, Book Bird Dog, Acting Balanced, My Book Retreat, At Home with Books, Raging Bibliomania, Unabridged Chick, Overstuffed

Buy What Language Is... at amazon.com and support SMS Book Reviews

Mommy Feeds Baby by Christy Jo Hendricks

noreply@blogger.com (Callista) — Fri, 12 Aug 2011 15:20:00 +0000

Stars: ****1/2

3B Publishing (2011)
32 pages
Children's Picture Book

Summary: Comprised of digitally enhanced photographs of moms feeding their children in natural settings. Infants to toddlers, dyads to tandem, families and siblings. The words remind us why mommy feeds baby.

Finally a book for breastfeeding mothers. I was so happy to share this with my 4 and 5 year old daughters. My eldest doesn't remember me breastfeeding her sister but now they both watch my breastfeed their brother (now 4 months old.) They've asked many questions and I 've explained it all and they see me and my friends do it and it's natural to them which is good. This book just helps show that many women feed their babies this way and why we choose to.

The book may seem like it's negative towards formula feeding moms but really, bottles are everywhere. In books, in TV, toys, even video games, babies are fed bottles. It's a nice change to have something where breastfeeding is the norm.

Let me explain with some quotes first:

Because Mommy likes to keep Baby close, Mommy Feeds Baby,
Because Mommy cares what Baby eats, Mommy Feeds Baby,
Because Baby is part of the family, Mommy Feeds Baby.

As you can see, it seems like it's saying those who feed formula don't care about these things but that's not true. However breast is the better choice (for those who can choose of course.) I just explained to my children that all moms care what their babies eat but breast milk is better than formula so that's why we chose it. You could run into a problem if you exclusively pump too of course as you chose breastmilk but feed by bottles.

However this book is for the parent/families who breastfeed by breast. If you weren't in this situation, you wouldn't get this book. So I think it works out okay. A book on breastfeeding is bound to create controversy but that doesn't mean there should be one.

It's great for the toddler who is being breastfed too. Because of the repetition of Mommy Feeds Baby, your younger child can "read" with you too. There are even blank pages at the back to include photos of you breastfeeding with your own choice text.

My main wish though is that they weren't digitally enhanced photos. I think it would be better with the photos as is.

Links of Interest: Birthing, Bonding and Breastfeeding (3B),
Other Reviews: The Milk Mama,

Buy Mommy Feeds Baby at amazon.com and support SMS Book Reviews

*I received a copy of this book to review but all opinions are honest.

Away For The Week

noreply@blogger.com (Callista) — Sun, 31 Jul 2011 16:45:00 +0000

I'm off to Girl Guide Camp till Aug 6. I was originally going to make up some posts to go up while I was gone and such but I just got home from hospital with my oldest and I was there for almost 3 days so I got nothing done. If I can get some internet access, I'll check in.

Have a great week!

PS - My daughters' fine. She had a UTI that went undetected, but for a while they thought it was appedicitis!

Picture Book Mini Reviews

noreply@blogger.com (Callista) — Thu, 21 Jul 2011 18:47:00 +0000

Tallulah's Tutu by Marilyn Singer (Illustrations by Alexandra Boiger)
Stars: ****

Houghton Mifflin Harcourt (2011)

Tallulah learns that there is more to being a ballerina than wearing a tutu. Great book for those little ballet lovers. Tallulah gets mad that she is doing all these ballet lessons without a tutu. She ends up learning that having a tutu doesn't mean she can dance well, she needs to learn how to dance first, and she does.

Alfred Zector, Book Collector by Kelly Dipucchio (Illustrations by Macky Pamintuan)
Stars: *****

Harper - Imprint of Harper Collins (2010)
Alfred loves collecting books so much he ends up collecting every book in the town and no one else has anything to read but him. He secludes himself in his house. Alfred discovers the true joy in reading books and fixed the problem. I love this book. It illustrates how I feel about sharing books with others. Since I can't afford to send books to everyone in the world, I choose to blog about them instead.

Dog in Boots by Greg Gormley (Illustrated by Roberta Angaramo)
Stars: *****

Holiday House (2011)

A cute book my kids love. The dog goes to a shoe store to find footwear that is good for a variety of different things dogs do (digging, swimming, scratching fleas) but in the end finds out the best footwear is his own paws! The idea of dogs wearing shoes it what makes it so funny.

The Secret Box by Barbara Lehman
Stars: *****

Houghton Mifflin Harcourt (2011)
This is a different sort of book, quite different than other picture books. First of all it is wordless which I love. I get to ask my children what they think is going on and I can explain what I see, not read words given to me. It's not just being wordless that makes it different. It tells the story of a school or orphanage (it doesn't say remember...) over time, changing with the times. Then some children find a box hidden in the floorboards with items in it that are clearly from the past. They follow the map and find a special place.

Three Little Kittens by Paul Galdone
Stars: ****

Houghton Mifflin Harcourt (2011)

This is a well known folktale, redone by the author. The illustrations are cute and I've always loved this folktale and was happy to share it with my children. Well done.

Time to Sleep by Steve Jenkins and Robin Page
Stars: ****

Houghton Mifflin Harcourt (2011)
This is a unique picture book that is like nonfiction and fiction in one. It's a book about how different animals sleep. The when, the where.
e.g. Snoozing on autopilot - the white stork sleeps in flight. Scientists believe it does this by taking a series of naps that last just a few seconds each.

I Am the Book by Lee Bennett Hopkins (Illustrated by Yayo)
Stars: ****

Holiday House (2011)

A book full of poems about books!

What could be better. The poems are by different people but were all selected for inclusion by Lee Bennet Hopkins. For ages 4-8 but children don't seem to like poems. But yours might!

I Like You the Best by Carol Thompson
Stars: ***

Holiday House (2011)

A cute story about two animal friends who while playing one day, hurt each others feelings. Will they ever be friends again? Shows children that even if they fight with their friends, things will work out.

Love the illustrations!

Astro The Stellar Sea Lion by Jeanne Walker Harvey (Illustrated Shennen Bersani)
Stars: ****

Sylvan Dell Publishing (2010)

A book with real photos, showing the amazing story of Astro, a real sea lion who was found orphaned and was saved. They tried to release him into the wild but he was too accustomed to humans so he moved into the Mystic Aquarium in Connecticut.

Once Upon a Read-a-Thon Update: Day 2

noreply@blogger.com (Callista) — Wed, 13 Jul 2011 04:33:00 +0000

It's really hard to get reading done with three young children! I am not even attempting to keep track of how much I've read. I'm still working on the same book: The Long Journey Home by Margaret Robinson. I also read a bit from Bindi Wildlife Adventures: Trouble at the Zoo which is a children's fiction book by Bindi Irwin, the daughter of The Crocodile Hunter. I read that while baby was awake earlier as I couldn't concentrate on anything heavier.

I hope everyone else is doing better than me!

Once Upon a Read-a-Thon Update: Day 1

noreply@blogger.com (Callista) — Mon, 11 Jul 2011 21:25:00 +0000

I joined the readathon a while back. It's going on for 3 days and is hosted by Reading Angel.

I haven't actually done any reading today but I plan to do some. I'll be reading Long Journey Home by Margaret Robinson first. I was supposed to review it this week for a blog tour but haven't been able to finish it.

Today there are some mini-challenges going on. One from IB Book Blogging (Love the name!) asked us to answer two questions.

Mini Challenge Question 1:
What is your favorite type of myth (Greek, Roman, Egyptian etc)?

Although I don't read much fiction, I do enjoy myths. I love the Greek myths that I learned in school but I also like some of the Egyptian myths. I loved studying about myths in school (but then I was one of those kids who loved school.)

Mini Challenge Question 2:
What is your favorite book with some type of mythology in it?

I LOVED reading Gods Behaving Badly by Marie Phillips. It was hilariously funny and a very unique idea. I highly recommend it. Click above to see my review.

I'll update again tomorrow!

Teacher's Gotta Dance by Philip M. Fishman

noreply@blogger.com (Callista) — Mon, 04 Jul 2011 04:21:00 +0000

Stars: *** 1/2

Createspace (2010)
Memoir
200 pages

Summary: At 66, Philip Fishman decides he wants to become a teacher. This is the story of his (very) short lived career. It's a memoir of that choice and that adventure and where it lead him. It's also the story of what he learned during his few weeks as a teacher.

Yes, weeks. He was a full time teacher for 3 weeks. When I heard that I was thinking, wow he must have really messed up. I was also thinking, he wrote a whole book on 3 weeks of his life? But I was wrong. First of all, his career wasn't short because he messed up and was fired. It just wasn't for him and he learned many lessons along the way. Second of all, it really is possible to write an entire book on three weeks without it being repetitive or boring.

I was pleasantly surprised and was very interested in reading as I was curious why he only taught for 3 weeks. Actually he did substitute teaching first, but he was a full time teacher for 3 weeks.

The book also has his personal reflections on many topics such as the no child left behind act, inclusion, standard test score mandates, ESL and testing. He also includes his actual tests he gave his students (he taught science) so you can try them out. I didn't personally care for this part but it is a neat add on if you want to test your science skill, see what grade 6-8 need(ed) to know about science or want to see if his test writing ability is what ended his career he he.

It would however have been better if it was picked up by a publishing company that could have helped with editing but it is one of the better self published books I've seen, that's for sure. I enjoyed reading it and recommend it to anyone who ever considered being a teacher, especially if you are older and think it's too late.

Links of Interest: NONE YET
Other Reviews: NONE YET

Buy Teacher's Gotta Dance at amazon.com and support SMS Book Reviews

* I received a copy of this book to review from the author. All opinions are honest and are my own.

CLOSED The Great Canadian Blog Bash - Canadian Living Giveaway

noreply@blogger.com (Callista) — Tue, 28 Jun 2011 00:21:00 +0000

I had one more giveaway lined up but didn't have it confirmed in time for June 24 but I am pleased to be able to include it before the event was done.

This giveaway is part of The Great Canadian Blog Bash. The giveaway is Canada only and is only open till July 1, 11:59 PM EST so hurry!

I have two books for one winner:

Canadian Living: Make it Tonight and Best Recipes Ever from Canadian Living and CBC.

This giveaway is sponsored by Random House Canada.

You can gain extra entries to the giveaway by:

Following Random House Canada on Twitter
Liking Random House Canada on Facebook
Following me on GFC (see sidebar or click here)
Following @callista83 on Twitter
Like SMS Book Reviews on Facebook

GIVEAWAY/EVENT: Great Canadian Blog Bash

noreply@blogger.com (Callista) — Fri, 24 Jun 2011 04:00:00 +0000

Welcome to The Great Canadian Blog Bash at SMS Book Reviews!

I also blog at http://callistasramblings.blogspot.com which is also participating in this event so check over there for more giveaways.

My name is Callista and I'm a SAHM of three children, a dog, a cat and a fish. I love reading and love blogging and I especially love sharing what I read with others. I started writing book reviews online way back in 2001 but didn't put them on a blog till 2003 and didn't blog regularly till 2007.

Unlike most other book bloggers, I rarely read fiction. I love nonfiction and I read picture books with my children. If I do read fiction, it's usually YA. I also sometimes review children's fiction on here, but nonfiction (adults and children) is my passion. I LOVE learning.

Windsor Fireworks from Flickr User Tukanuk

I live in Windsor, Ontario, Canada and am a very proud Canadian. I love reading Canadian blogs. Have you ever been here to the southernmost part of Canada before? It's strange, all Canadians know Canada is above the US but here in Windsor, we are actually below part of Michigan!

You can find me on twitter, facebook, stumbleupon, goodreads and linkedin. If you follow me on any of these and/or Google Friend Connect, let me know and I'll return the favour as long as your blog is in English.

GIVEAWAYS

So for the giveaways, please fill out the form at the bottom of the post. You will be able to choose which books you are interested in entering for. There are a few extra entries possible, some for each prize, some for any prize. Read carefully before you enter.

NOTE: I also have a separate giveaway for two Canadian Living cookbooks that got added late.

RULES:
Canadians Only
Open till July 1, 2011
Winners picked by July 3, 2011

Prize #1
From Scholastic - for ages 9-12
Dear Canada: Hoping for Home Stories of Arrival by Various Authors (Children's Historical Fiction)
I Am Canada: Shot at Dawn by John Wilson (Children's Historical Fiction)

Extra Entries for This Giveaway Only:
Follow Scholastic on Twitter
Fan Scholastic on Facebook

Prize #2
from Annick Press - for Ages 4 to 7
Better Together by Sheryl and Simon Shapiro (Children's Nonfiction)
Louis the Tiger Who Came From The Sea by Michal Kozlowski (Children's Picture Book)
Bookmarks

Extra Entries for This Giveaway Only:
Follow Annick Press on Twitter
Fan Annick Press on Facebook

Extra Entries for Any Giveaway
(+1 for EACH one you enter. So if you do one of these extra entries and enter for both giveaways, you get one extra entry for EACH giveaway.)

Follow me on Google Friend Connect(GFC) (see sidebar)
Follow me on twitter (or sidebar)
Fan my page on facebook (or sidebar)

Enter:

GIVEAWAY CLOSED