Blast off with Discovery Kids!

The Discovery Channel Store and the Parent Bloggers Network sent us an awesome toy to review recently — Paz’s blast off rocket from the Ready Set Learn! line.  As a former NASA scientist and lifelong enthusiast, I was absolutely thrilled to be selected to review this product, one that I might not have splurged on but one that I was totally thrilled to get.  As it turns out, if I had seen these in person first, I totally would have splurged on it.

The rocket is a durable, sturdy, armful of rocket sized and shaped just right for an older toddler or preschooler’s hands and arms.  I say arms here because the toy has been so popular with my son and his friends that I frequently find one boy or another with both arms wrapped around it in desparate attempts to “own” it himself.  After we’ve pried off the little visitor and exhorted the boys to take turns, the other mother and I invariably laugh it off.  But the truth is … this is a FUN toy!

The rocket has three levels of fun.  The top level is the cockpit of the rocket, with room for 2 of the 4 action figures included.  (But not the bunny, who has ears sticking out the back of his space suit helmet. This has caused some consternation in my house.)  The bottom level is storage for the lunar rover and possibly one more action figure.  The middle level, though, the middle is a dollhouse in miniature, with tiny shelves, a coffeemaker, and rows of cups in the kitchen.  The murphy bed folds into the wall to reveal a toilet underneath.  The detailing is exquisite, if a bit odd — I wouldn’t actually expect to see books upright on the bedside table in space, for instance, or toilet paper on a roll, but for this age, it’s acceptable.  In fact, it’s charming.

This toy is a true winner.  Yes, it’s plastic, and yes, it’s made in China, but its play value is high and the source appears to be reputable.  It’s not a cheap disposable toy.  This is a quality toy that can be used in three ways — as a rocket, as a dollhouse equivalent, and as a base for “lunar explorations” with the enclosed crater.  It meets my criteria and I totally recommend it for the holiday gift-buying season!  Find them at the Discovery Channel Store online.

This rocket is the hot new toy at our house … and a playgroup favorite!

Dangerous Admissions

Dangerous admission number 1: I am coming perilously close to spending more time than I ever expected on this review blog.

Dangerous admission number 2: I am enjoying it way more than I ever thought I would.

Today’s review, Dangerous Admissions, by Jane O’Connor, was a quick and fascinating read.  I was impressed with the author’s deft handling of the days of this ex-copyeditor-turned-stay-at-home-mom-turned-parttime-sleuth as she talked her way into new information that would help her shed light on who murdered the Dean of College Admissions at Very Fancy Prep School.  Oh, that’s right.  Chapel School.  Chaps.  The nondenominational, nonsectarian, nonjustabouteverything prep school that the narrator’s daughter graduated and son now attends.

Chaps is a richly drawn setting for this book, with attention paid to details such as the papers in the office and the kids’ playground next door (complete with two resident yet mostly harmless drug dealers the kids have nicknamed Arm and Hammer).  O’Connor’s strength actually is in the details, little things, like a peanut-butter-and-jelly sandwich, a glass, and bit players like Arm and Hammer themselves.  At first, I was fascinated by her attention to detail and choice of details to feature.  This enjoyment only deepened as I realized that she was making these choices seriously — the same details crop up repeatedly throughout the book, bringing the reader full circle as the case draws inevitably to a close.

That alone would make this book worth another read.

The story hops along at a fast pace, much like a mama’s busy days getting her children ready for school, volunteering at that school, and fitting in her own interests and pursuits here and there as she’s able.  The storyline is realistic and yet novel, with just enough suspense to keep the reader turning pages long after the kids are in bed.  The book is well-written by an experienced hand (remember Fancy Nancy?), with only the occasional misstep as she inserts teenage pop culture into the flow of the author’s every day life.  Then again, those references may be intended to be a little awkward, as the narrator herself feels at times as the mother of two almost-adults.

I can only imagine how that feels.

This book was a great, fast-paced read that I’d recommend to anyone.  Um, except those dealing with a current or recent or particularly painful cancer experience.  There are a few insensitive words surrounding the Dean’s death.  Perhaps I was sensitive to it because I had just reached that point in Matrimony as well; but, at least you’re forewarned.

This review done in conjunction with the Parent Bloggers Network.

Right Words at the Right Time

The Right Words at the Right Time, volume 2: Your Turn!, a collection of inspirational vignettes collected by Marlo Thomas, is a lovely book to flip through at the odd moment or browse if you’re in need of inspiration.  The stories are told from a large number and diversity of perspectives, and each has a nugget of common wisdom couched in a friend’s words.  It’s an interesting look at the effect that we can (intentionally or unintentionally) have on people through our words, surely an appealing thought for any blogger.  This book is at its essence a book to browse, to pick up now and again, and to marvel at. 

For more, check it out at the publisher’s web site, the book’s own web site, or Amazon.

I think maybe I’ll leave my copy at my local Wellness Community or OB/GYN’s office when I’ve finished reading it.  Well, maybe not the Wellness Community.  The last chapter is on letting go, and, it wasn’t all that comforting for me personally.  It may be for you, though, so I invite you to pick it up and judge for yourself. 

The Right Words at the Right Time is a treasure trove of reflective essays from people who sought change in their lives and credit a friend or other human being for helping them to find the right path.  Surely a good message, and a nice book.

This review was done in conjunction with a Mother Talk Blog Tour.

Mountain Rise Granola

A friend sent me some of this granola in a care package recently, and I loved it so much I went online and ordered several more packages myself!  This stuff is good, people, and you should know about it.  Why?

1. It’s delicious. Pure and simple.

2. It’s organic.  Pure and simple.

3. It’s homemade and packaged on a family farm.  Right on.

Mountain Rise granola.  I’m a fan.

The Daring Book for Girls

I love this book more than words can say.  I loved The Dangerous Book for Boys, and now I love the companion, The Daring Book for Girls.  Written by Andi Buchannan and Miriam Peskowitz, the founders of MotherTalk, this book is a fantastic compilation of many of the parts I loved about childhood — with a generous helping of history, geography, slumber party games and girl traditions added in for good measure.

The book opens with a list of essential gear.  The first ones, Swiss Army Knife, bandana, rope and twine, have been recognized as essential by any adventurous boy or girl for decades.  But the reminder is nice.  The list continues with journal and pencil — awesome addition! — and a hair band “for when hair gets in the way.”  Oooh, nicely done.  I love also that they include flashlight, compass, safety pins (check out the dual uses!), duck tape, deck of cards, a good book, and patience.  Oh yeah.  This sets the tone nicely.  A mixture of “girl stuff” and “boy stuff” and an all-around good idea for the adventurous kid.

From basketball to hopscotch, jump rope to fourteen games of tag, there are rules and diagrams for plenty of outdoor group games here, but there are also quieter outdoor pursuits, like building a clubhouse or making daisy chains and ivy crowns.  There’s a bit about math, an introduction to Robert’s Rules of Order (useful in those clubhouses, as I remember), how to negotiate a salary, and how to negotiate “who’s it” before a game of tag.  Like the boys’ book, there are sections on knots and science experiments, but there’s also a page on how to put your long hair up with a stick.  How to make a tree swing, creating friendship bracelets, what do do with vinegar and baking soda, carving a willow whistle, bird watching, paddling a canoe, and hiking are all great sections in this book. 

Fascinating bits in history and geography are integrated in this book as naturally as the rest, with a twist to be interesting to all kinds of girls:  Princesses Today, Queens of the Ancient World, Spanish Terms of Endearment, South Sea Islands, Going to Africa, Joan of Arc, Women Inventors and Scientists, Pirates, Explorers, Women Spies (and how to become one), and Modern Women Leaders.  Yes, it’s girl-centric.  Yes, that’s discriminatory to the boys who have also contributed to the modern world and might put boys off.  But I think that’s actually okay, as history books are still shy of examples of female leaders and scientists, and we still have to fix that.  The section on boys is somewhat better than the Dangerous Book for Boys’ section on girls, but still too short and not incredibly necessary for this book.

This book aims to appeal to a wide age and temperament range of girls.  There are sections on handclap games, cootie catchers, writing in cursive, and jumping rope, there are also sections of this book for girls to “grow into,” such as sections on negotiating a salary and changing a tire.  But all will enjoy the list of books that will change your life (put unfortunately at the end).  I recognized almost all of those books as ones that I loved as well; they would form a great base for any girl.  Or boy.

This is a great book and would make a great holiday present for any girl.  Amazon.com is even selling the two books as a set for $29.95 … wouldn’t that be a great addition to the family bookshelf?  My boys will find BOTH books under the tree this year.  And we ALL will have a great time exploring the traditional and new pasttimes of childhood.

This review done as part of MotherTalk’s Blog Book Tour.