Pick a Series, Grow a Reader with Scholastic Branches Books {Review & Giveaway}

Although I know that there was a time when my children couldn't walk or talk, I look at the big kids that they are today and find it extremely hard to remember. I had to feed them and change their diapers? These two? Really?

Along the same lines, I know that in previous years my kids spent a great deal of time simply flipping through pages in books and looking at the pictures. Books have always been an important, much-loved part of our household, but to try to look back to a time when my girls were only able to enjoy the illustrations seems nearly impossible.

These days, we read, read, read. New books, old favorites, ones that have been read hundreds of times and have to be held together with more and more tape... there's no comparison to getting lost in a good book.

However, while Big Sister E can happily dive right in to her chapter books, Little Sister B is in a stage where early readers are too easy while traditional chapter books are a little too complex. Why is there nothing in between?

Now there is, thanks to Scholastic and their unique new line of books specifically designed for newly independent readers that bridge the gap between leveled reader books and chapter books: Scholastic Branches.

I was in love with the concept of the Branches line of books as soon as I was introduced to it! What better way to help foster a love of reading in kids ages 5 to 8 by giving them the tools they need to become life-long readers?

Each Branches book includes easy-to-read text, simple plot lines, plenty of context cues, cliffhanger chapter endings, and purposeful illustrations (on every page!) that aid in reading comprehension. All of this works together to provide your child the feeling of being a successful reader — which bolsters their self-confidence and leads to an increased interest in reading.

At the same time, the Branches line is made up of 14 different book series. This encourages young readers to return to their favorite characters again and again to build reading stamina and even more confidence. Not to mention that there is something for every young reader no matter their interests and preferences — everything from humor to fantasy to spooky stories!

Truly, the entire Branches idea is to help children get a head-start on his or her reading career and I couldn't wait to see what Little Sister B would think of the first book from each of the Branches series.

These books are amazing!

Just as Scholastic had specified, the text is large and easy to read, the beautiful, eye-catching illustrations (some in color, some in black and white) are throughout, and the length is just right that younger readers won't get overwhelmed. Can I help it that I may have gotten caught up in the pages of a few of these myself?

As expected, Little Sister B couldn't be happier about having a collection of books that are perfectly at her level and she has excitedly read about friends, school, magic, adventure, and more within these pages. I'm even more thrilled that these are series books, as now she can select her favorites and continue on with such fun characters!

Did you know that 73% of kids believe that they would read more if they could find more books that they like? If you have a child in your life that is ready to make the leap from early readers but is not quite prepared for a traditional chapter book, you've got to check out Scholastic Branches, as the 14 different series (and counting!) delivers on providing plenty of choices that will grab their attention!

Find out much more about this incredible new line of books by visiting Scholastic.com/Branches and connecting with Scholastic on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, and Pinterest.

Plus, thanks to their generosity, one person will be able to provide the budding reader in their life with some amazing new books to add to their collection as well, because...

One lucky person will receive four of the most popular Branches books* from Scholastic!

*Titles include: Owl Diaries: Eva’s Treetop Festival; Kung Pow Chicken: Let’s Get Cracking; Eerie Elementary: The School is Alive!; and Dragon Masters: Rise of the Earth Dragon.

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A big thank you to Scholastic for providing providing samples for me to review as well as books for one lucky giveaway winner. The opinions shared are my own and honest and if you really need to see more, click here to see how I roll.

There is Still Time to Join Us in the Scholastic Summer Reading Challenge! {#SummerReading}

This post is part of a sponsored collaboration with Scholastic. All thoughts and opinions expressed are honest and my own.

When August arrived, I was able to deny the upcoming end of summer by focusing on all of the activities and plans that were still in our future.

But then the month began to fly past and more and more first day of school photos began popping up on Facebook and suddenly my kids will be back in the world of academics in only one short week. Where did the time go? Did we get in enough swimming and bike rides and picnics? Will the girls remember having popsicles out on the deck, spending the day with friends out on their boat, and watching fireworks after the sun went down?

Fortunately, even if this summer only ends up as a blip in their memories, I can still rest assured knowing that we accomplished a great deal of quality reading thanks to Scholastic's Summer Reading Challenge!

Have you been following along with the girls and I as we have been participating in the 9th year of the Summer Reading Challenge program? This free, online/mobile reading program helps prepare kids for back-to-school by encouraging them to read every day all summer long.

This year Scholastic added a unique twist to the Summer Reading Challenge by partnering with Energizer and giving it a theme of "Power Up & Read" Powered by Energizer®, encouraging families everywhere to find innovative ways to discover the power and joy of reading.

And we did! Our past posts highlighted many of the fun places and ways that we read around our house as well as on the go and the kids especially had fun including the Energizer Bunny himself when they found a good spot to curl up with a great book!

In fact, my girls ended up reading so many books this summer that when I asked them to share their five favorites in "5 Word Book Review" form, they had a hard time narrowing down all of the choices. Not to mention that how do you narrow down your thoughts about a great book into only five words?

In the end, however, their top recommendations and picks include:

Big Sister E, 8
Diary of a Wimpy Kid: The Long Haul - Funny, weird characters, great pictures
Diary of a Wimpy Kid: Dog Days - Funny trips, good people, money
Diary of a Wimpy Kid: The Last Straw - Family, trouble, middle school, parties
Make Way for Ducklings - Detailed illustrations, ducks, life, normal
Wipe Out - Surfing, beach, big waves, people

Little Sister B, 6
Junie B., First Grader: Dumb Bunny - Chapter book, silly, weird, cool
Junie B., First Grader (at Last!) - First grade, room 9, inappropriate
Make Way for Ducklings - Pictures, baby ducklings, cute story
Planting a Rainbow - Rainbow, many colors, flowers, seeds
Butterfly Meadow #1: Dazzle's First Day - Cute, weird, lovely butterfly, friends

I'm thinking that they're both on their way to being well-renowned book reviewers, don't you?

As for your household, are you worried that summer is coming to an end and "brain drain" season (when endless summer activities and distractions take the place of reading time) has set in? Just check out these five tips that Scholastic's Maggie McGuire has for making reading a priority for your child — it’s not too late to get your own kids reading!


Not convinced? Scholastic also has a whole slew of great resources to help encourage your family to find innovative ways to discover the power and joy of reading... not to mention that the 2015 Summer Reading Challenge runs through September 4th, so you can still sign up!

Then, while you are over at Scholastic.com/Summer, make sure to take the time to check out the fun resources that they offer, such as:

• Unlock Original Short Stories from favorite Scholastic authors!

• Find Parenting Resources including Summer Reading printables, activity sheets, booklists and more! 

• Visit Videos in the Stacks to receive reading tips for parents from Scholastic’s Maggie McGuire!

• Play the Innovation Machine Game – a fun and creative writing game and contest!

Need just one more reason to be excited about reading and the Summer Reading Challenge? Then don't miss out on your chance to take part in the Energizer Instant Win Game!

Energizer and Scholastic have extended their partnership to create their "Power the Possibilities" campaign, which gives parents the tools they need to unlock their child's talents, fuel their ambitions and set them up for future success. Right now when you buy any specially marked pack of Energizer brand batteries, you'll find an instant win scratch-off game for a chance to win one of thousands of prizes that will power discovery and learning.

Prizes include a family trip to New York City, a Scholastic Study Corner Makeover, a tablet with Scholastic apps, a library of Scholastic books and more! Everyone who plays can also download free digital stories for their family, so it's pretty much a win-win for all as you end up with high quality batteries (perfect for Back to School tech), great stories and the chance to win much more!

Remember, even though summer seems as though it is rapidly coming to an end, there is still time to head over and sign up for the Summer Reading Challenge. You can also amp up the excitement even more by following Scholastic on Twitter, Liking the Energizer Bunny on Facebook and Scholastic on Facebook, and following the #SummerReading hashtag throughout social media.

And don't miss out on the great Scholastic Resources available to help keep your kids excited about reading well into the fall and beyond!

Reading Here, There and Everywhere with the Scholastic Summer Reading Challenge! {Scholastic Innovation Book Packet Giveaway}

This post is part of a sponsored collaboration with Scholastic. All thoughts and opinions expressed are honest and my own.

When I first saw school supplies popping up in stores, I have to admit that I was flabbergasted at how quickly the summer is flying by (and, of course, how early stores start pushing back-to-school). Is it somehow possible that the months have passed faster simply because we've been involved in so many sports, activities, swimming, play dates, camps, and, a personal favorite, relaxing with good books?

This year the latter was even more enticing and exciting for my kids thanks to the fun and encouragement they have been receiving from Scholastic's Summer Reading Challenge!

If you missed my previous posts, then you've got to catch up on the facts and sign up for this great program before it ends on September 4th! Here's what you need to know...

Now in its 9th year, the Scholastic Summer Reading Challenge program is a free, online/mobile reading program that helps prepare kids for back-to-school by encouraging them to read every day all summer long and lessen the possibility of the "summer slide" (the common loss of skills due to being out of school).

Kids simply keep track and log their reading minutes (online and via mobile) and, along with their peers, see if the cumulative amount can beat the world record. In 2014, Scholastic inspired hundreds of thousands of kids to set a new record for summer reading of 304,749,861 minutes!

Awesome, right? This year Scholastic has also added a unique twist to the Summer Reading Challenge by giving it a theme of "Power Up & Read" Powered by Energizer®, encouraging families everywhere to find innovative ways to discover the power and joy of reading. It's a skill that will last a lifetime!

My girls have loved being a part of this Challenge and had an especially great time this past month getting to read with the Energizer Bunny himself. He showed up in the pink plush with a collection of goodies and packages to be opened on specific dates...

...and each week we had a blast seeing where and how he suggested to read our next great book (and what fun accessories he had sent along to make it even more fun)!

We ended up grabbing a book and having a great read outside, at bedtime, on-the-go, and more. What more can a mom ask for than for her kids to be delighted and enthusiastic about finding more times and places to read?

As much as we had fun with these weekly tasks, I love that the Scholastic Summer Reading Challenge is also making kids want to read even more with their weekly goals.

That's right! In an effort to log as many minutes as possible while attempting to break the world record for summer reading, Scholastic is setting special weekly goals for young readers. Every Monday they announce a #MondayMinutesGoal, the number of minutes for kids to read together in one week (by the following Monday).

It doesn't matter whether your child is reading independently aloud or together with an adult, Scholastic wants them to share their minutes by logging them online or on paper and then sharing a photo on social media using #MondayMinutesGoal and #SummerReading. What a great way to promote the love of reading!

We've been having fun setting our own daily #MondayMinutesGoal!

There is still plenty of summer left and time to head over and sign up for the Summer Reading Challenge, so don't delay! You can also amp up the excitement even more by following Scholastic on Twitter, Liking the Energizer Bunny on Facebook and Scholastic on Facebook, and following the #SummerReading hashtag throughout social media.

You can also find more Scholastic Resources to keep your kids reading all summer long and learn more about the Energizer® Instant Win Game!

Plus, thanks to Scholastic's generosity, one person will be even more prepared to get their child excited about hunkering down with a good book as well, because...

One lucky person will win an Innovation Book Packet* from Scholastic!

*Innovation Book Packet (a collection of Scholastic titles showcasing wonderful fiction and nonfiction books for kids to get lost in a great story about the world of science, STEM and inventions) includes the following titles:

• The Magic School Bus and the Electric Field Trip
• The Invention of Hugo Cabret
• Extreme Science Careers
• Extreme Experiments
• Plus Scholastic Summer Reading Challenge materials including reading logs, pledges, bookmarks, and more!

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A big thank you to Scholastic for providing this prize pack for one lucky giveaway winner. The opinions shared are my own and honest and if you really need to see more, click here to see how I roll.

Join Us as We Power Up & Read with the Scholastic Summer Reading Challenge! {#SummerReading}

 This post is part of a sponsored collaboration with Scholastic. All thoughts and opinions expressed are honest and my own.

Although it feels as though we were just counting down the days until school ended, somehow I blinked and June is nearly over already. Apparently summer flies by when it is filled with sports, activities, swimming, play dates and, a personal favorite, relaxing with a favorite book!

This year my kids have happily joined me in curling up with all sorts of new (as well as old favorite) books, thanks to the fun and encouragement they have been receiving from Scholastic's Summer Reading Challenge.

If you missed my previous post, then you've got to catch up on the facts and get started with this great program! Now in its 9th year, the Summer Reading Challenge program is a free, online/mobile reading program that helps prepare kids for back-to-school by encouraging them to read every day all summer long and lessen the possibility of the "summer slide" (the common loss of skills due to being out of school).

Kids simply keep track and log their reading minutes (online and via mobile) and, along with their peers, see if the cumulative amount can beat the world record. In 2014, Scholastic inspired hundreds of thousands of kids to set a new record for summer reading of 304,749,861 minutes!

How cool is that? This year Scholastic has added a unique twist to the Summer Reading Challenge by giving it a theme of "Power Up & Read" Powered by Energizer®, encouraging families everywhere to find innovative ways to discover the power and joy of reading.

Throughout the summer, kids will unlock 12 original short stories by bestselling children's authors as they reach reading milestones and access never-before-seen videos from the authors. The authors include Blue Balliett, Patrik Henry Bass, Varian Johnson, Gordon Korman, Michael Northtrop, Maggie Stiefvater and Jackson Pierce, Roland Smith, R.L. Stine, Tui T. Sutherland, Lauren Tarshis, Wendy Wan-Long Shang and Jude Watson.

Each of the authors has written a unique short story using the same opening sentence, "I glanced over my shoulder to make sure that no one had followed me into the shadowy library, then took a deep breath and opened the glowing book..." Plus, each story has a 'read along' audio component, inviting kids of all ages and reading levels to enjoy these highly engaging stories!

Along with these fun stories, kids can also enter monthly sweepstakes to win fabulous prizes, earn digital rewards when they complete weekly reading challenges, stock up on badges as they hit reading milestones, play the new Innovation Machine game (an interactive creative writing game with its own contest and prizes), and more!

Scholastic didn't leave parents out as well, as the Scholastic Summer Reading Challenge also features "The Daily Digest" of new, daily tips, as well as free downloadable resources including printables and booklists for kids of all ages.

Parents can also watch videos about summer reading activities to keep you "innovative" all summer long as well as enter weekly sweepstakes to win a "Power Up & Read Kit" including a Scholastic tote bag, water bottle, a copy of Reading Unbound by Jeffrey Wilhelm and Michael Smith, a $10 gift certificate to the Scholastic Store Online, Energizer® brand batteries, Scholastic books, and more.

I love knowing that I can turn to Scholastic for just about any inspiration, ideas, information and more to keep my kids on track with their love of reading!

What parent wouldn't be thrilled knowing that their children can't wait to take things even further in upcoming months as we find even more ways to Power Up & Read? The Scholastic Summer Reading Challenge runs through September 4, 2015, so there is still plenty of time to head over and get involved. It's free, educational and fun!

After you've gone to sign up for the Summer Reading Challenge, amp up the excitement even more by following Scholastic on Twitter, Liking the Energizer Bunny on Facebook and Scholastic on Facebook, and following the #SummerReading hashtag throughout social media.

You can also find more Scholastic Resources to keep your kids reading all summer long and learn more about the Energizer® Instant Win Game!

Developing and Encouraging a Love of Reading with the Disney Story Central App {#DisneyStoryCentral}

Although I'm never overly happy seeing some of my traits imitated in my children (e.g. Big Sister E's lack of patience and Little Sister B's sneaky manipulation), I couldn't be more pleased that I've managed to pass on my love of books to them both.

Chapter books, picture books, digital books, non-fiction, fairy tales, Easy Reader books — no matter what the topic or type, they can both often be found paging through books of all kinds as they get themselves lost in the words and illustrations on the pages.

However, even though I will always have a soft spot in my heart for holding a physical book in my hand, it's hard to deny some of the benefits of creating a digital library. The instant access, the ability to carry it all with you on a single device, the knowledge that you're helping save a tree or two, and more.

Plus, most recently, we've been introduced to a way for kids to get even more excited about reading with their favorite characters anytime and anywhere thanks to Disney Story Central.

The largest collection of Disney digital stories, Disney Story Central features a wide array of Disney stories and characters that families know and love and is designed to encourage kids to develop a lifetime love of reading.

Whether you choose to utilize the subscription service (which gives kids unlimited access to Disney Story Central's expansive library of books for $7.99 a month) or the A La Carte option (which runs on a Disney Book Token system in which one token is worth one book download), kids are able to have a say in the books that they choose to read.

How could a child not be thrilled when they are the one empowered to make decisions about what characters they want to read about, what specific books they get to read, and what is included in their collection of stories?

As Disney Story Central is a cross-platform experience available via iPhone and iPad app, tablet-optimized website and Video on Demand (AT&T U-Verse), it didn't take long before we had the app downloaded and were browsing the expansive collection of Disney stories.

Right away I appreciated the personalized book recommendations as a way to get started, while both of my kids were extremely excited to see the "Browse By Character" carousel. This lets them easily find books starring their favorite character from all of the Disney Franchises including Disney Princess, Disney Classics, Frozen, Doc McStuffins, Cars, and much more.

As well as seeing Little Sister B's favorite princesses and Frozen characters and Big Sister E's beloved Toy Story and Monsters Inc pals, they were thrilled to see that Disney Story Central even has options for new and upcoming franchises. They have been excitedly waiting for Inside Out to debut but can now already start getting to know these fun characters through books!

I love that each genre offers a variety of content levels, so no matter if you have a pre-reader, speed reader or anyone in-between, they will easily be able to find and select the books that work best.

As a bonus, when your child has picked out the books that they would like to download, parents are able to first read a synopsis or preview the book to ensure that it is the correct level. While my kids would be happy reading books far too easy for them, I love that I can use this feature to make sure that we are in fact purchasing books that will challenge them just the right amount.

Another great feature that Disney included is that children and adults have the option of reading the books themselves or having it read to them. Whether helping an emerging reader or simply to give Mom or Dad a break from reading nonstop, being able to choose what works for each situation is always best!

From the customizable bookshelves for each member of the family (each with personalized reading recommendations) to the Stars, Ranks, and Trophies that reward kids for reading and encourage them to keep it up, Disney Story Central is a great way to promote reading all summer long and beyond. The entire library of Disney books are accessible right at kids' fingertips at home or on the go!

If you have young Disney fans who love to read or might need a little encouragement, Disney Story Central allows them to immerse themselves into the world of their favorite characters at the level just right for them. Add in the fact that utilizing the Disney Story Central app will allow you to bring your library with you throughout summer travel, while waiting for appointments, for rides in the car, and more, and it's a win-win!

Head over to the Disney Story Central website today to find out much more and explore how this app can promote reading in your home and then visit iTunes to download it and get started (free with in-app purchases).

But, wait! Right now there is even one more reason to sign up, as today is the kickoff for Disney Story Central's 'Mid-Summer Light Reads' Campaign. Running through August 13th, this campaign promotes weekly summer reading themes featuring selected Disney titles and offers chances to unlock free books each week and gain entries into the Mid-Summer Light Reads Sweepstakes! Don't miss out!

I was selected for this opportunity as a member of Clever Girls and the content and opinions expressed here are all my own.

Power Up & Read with the Scholastic Summer Reading Challenge! {#SummerReading}

This post is part of a sponsored collaboration with Scholastic. All thoughts and opinions expressed are honest and my own.

While children everywhere are preparing to celebrate the end of school and the arrival of summer, we all know that doesn't mean that everything and anything educational can be completely ignored until the next academic year begins.

But did you know that studies show that an increase in summer learning opportunities leads to improved grades, higher graduation rates, and better preparation for college? We've all heard of the "Summer Slide," but how many parents take active steps to prevent it?

This summer, as well as ensuring that your child's skills don't experience a setback, ensuring easy and continued access to books for summer reading is even easier (and much more fun) thanks to Scholastic's Summer Reading Challenge.

Now in its 9th year, the Summer Reading Challenge program is a free, online/mobile reading program that helps prepare kids for back-to-school by encouraging them to read every day all summer long.

Kids simply keep track and log their reading minutes (online and via mobile) and, along with their peers, see if the cumulative amount can beat the world record! In 2014, Scholastic inspired hundreds of thousands of kids to set a new record for summer reading of 304,749,861 minutes!

How cool is that? This year Scholastic has added a unique twist to the Summer Reading Challenge by partnering with Energizer and giving it a theme of "Power Up & Read" Powered by Energizer®, encouraging families everywhere to find innovative ways to discover the power and joy of reading.

Throughout the summer, kids will unlock 12 original short stories by bestselling children's authors as they reach reading milestones, enter monthly sweepstakes to win fabulous prizes, and earn digital rewards when they complete weekly reading challenges. Sign up began earlier this month and the Challenge runs through September 4, 2015, so head over and get involved with Scholastic and the Energizer Bunny today!

Need one more incentive?

Energizer and Scholastic have also extended their partnership to create their "Power the Possibilities" campaign, which gives parents the tools they need to unlock their child's talents, fuel their ambitions and set them up for future success. Right now when you buy any specially marked pack of Energizer brand batteries, you'll find an instant win scratch-off game for a chance to win one of thousands of prizes that will power discovery and learning.

Prizes include a family trip to New York City, a Scholastic Study Corner Makeover, a tablet with Scholastic apps, a library of Scholastic books and more! Everyone who plays can also download free digital stories for their family, so it's pretty much a win-win for all!

Both of my children absolutely love reading, so it was a no-brainer that we headed right over to Summer Reading Challenge website and couldn't wait to sign up.

Right off the bat, I appreciated the way that Scholastic has divided their site into three clear categories for kids, educators and parents. Whether you are visiting to log reading minutes, discover book lists, track reading progress or more, it's all only a click or two away.

You'll also find great information from parenting expert, Maggie McGuire (VP of Scholastic Parents Channel – Scholastic.com), who provides info and book choices for all ages this summer in support of the Scholastic Summer Reading Challenge.

Looking for just the right way to get your own kids clamoring to read this summer? Check out Maggie's unique tips!

• Find books that makes kids laugh
• Introduce kids to STEM and science through reading
• Ways to get crafty with your kid's favorite summer reads
• Tips for reading-on-the-go during summer vacation
• Rainy day reading activities

In addition, Scholastic Parents has an extensive collection of additional activities and ideas to help kids discover the power and joy of reading and will help you encourage them to continue all summer long!

Are you ready to read with us? My girls are thrilled to be adding up the minutes that they spend immersed in their books and are even more excited thanks to the reading lists, certificates, activities, and more that we received from Scholastic. They have both been reading at least 15-20 minutes minimum per day during the school year, so our goal is to continue (and hopefully increase) that this summer as well!

What parent wouldn't be thrilled knowing that their children can't wait to take things even further in upcoming months as we find even more ways to Power Up & Read? Hooray for reading! Stay tuned!

In the meantime, head over to sign up for the Summer Reading Challenge and amp up the excitement by following Scholastic on Twitter, Liking the Energizer Bunny on Facebook and Scholastic on Facebook, and following the #SummerReading hashtag throughout social media. Now let's get reading!

New Book for Tweens: Gabby Duran and the Unsittables {Visa Gift Card Prize Pack Giveaway!}

Thank you to Disney Publishing for providing samples and prizes for this post. All thoughts and opinions expressed are honest and my own.

Books have played a large role in my children's lives from the very beginning, as our home has always been filled with board books, picture books, easy readers, non-fiction books, and chapter books in just about every genre.

However, as children get older and their tastes in reading materials become more specific, where do you look for books that are going to be age-appropriate, captivating and entertaining?

To two award-winning authors that have come together to write a sci-fi hit that is sure to be adored by kids (approximately ages 9-12) everywhere! That's what you'll find in Gabby Duran and the Unsittables!

In stores and online May 12th, Gabby Duran and the Unsittables is written by Elise Allen and Daryle Conners, an Emmy-nominated writer and New York Times best-selling author and an award-winning writer, filmmaker and video game designer, respectively.

Elise Allen made a name for herself with her acclaimed young adult novel Populazzi, and the Jim Henson's Enchanted Sisters chapter books. In television, she has written for talent ranging from Bill Cosby to Kermit the Frog, and is currently writing for the new Disney Junior show The Lion Guard.

Daryle Conners writes joke and riddle books and has designed many game titles for the PC and iPhone/iPad including Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone, Scene It? Harry Potter, Hot Wheels Slot Car Racers, and Scene It? Twilight Saga. Her non-fiction books include Lunchtime LOLZ, Nintendo DS Hot Tips, ROFLs,Video Game Secrets and Monster High Jokes.

So what have these talented women collaborated together to produce? Just check out the summary for this interesting new book...

Case File: The First Unsittable

The Association Linking Intergalatics and Earthlings (hereby known as A.L.I.E.N.) has a new member. After months of investigation, Gabby Duran, Associate 4118-25125A, has proven herself to be a babysitter extraordinaire. Her celebrity clients fly her around the country to care for their rambunctious little humans. Our spy, Associate 4118-23432B, otherwise known as Edwina, believes Gabby can be trusted with the truth: aliens are living among humans on Earth. And here at A.L.I.E.N we believe that even extraterrestrials need a babysitter now and then. No one was up to the task...until now.

After accepting the top-secret position, Edwina has paired our new associate up with her first charge, a little girl from the planet Flarknartia. The timing for associate 4118-25125A is less than ideal. It's a school day on Planet Earth, Gabby's audition for the solo part in the band is tonight, and this tiny alien is a bit more than meets the eye.

Can Gabby Duran, Associate 4118-25125A, First Sitter to the Unsittables, keep her otherworldly charge safe in the unpredictable halls of middle-school and keep A.L.I.E.N hidden?

Intrigued? Then head over and read an excerpt from Gabby Duran and the Unsittables to get in on the action even more!

Then learn more about this book at the Disney Publishing website, by following Disney-Hyperion on Twitter, Elise Allen on Twitter, Daryle Conners on Twitter, and connecting with all things Gabby Duran on social media at #GabbyDuran. Then, when you're ready to place your order, it's easy to find Gabby Duran and the Unsittables on Amazon!

Finally, thanks to the generosity of Disney Publishing, one person will get to celebrate the release of this creative book very soon, because...

One lucky person will win a Coolest Babysitter in the Galaxy Prize Pack*!

*Prize Pack includes (1) $25 Visa gift card, (1) copy of Gabby Duran and the Unsittables, and (1) branded Tumbler and UFO light-up flyer.

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A big thank you to Disney Publishing for providing product for me as well as a prize pack for one lucky giveaway winner. The opinions shared are my own and honest and if you really need to see more, click here to see how I roll.

Wondrous Ink Personalized Children's Books {Review & Giveaway}

I've said it before, and I'll say it again: Around here, we like books.

I typically have a pile checked out from the library waiting for me, while both Big Sister E and Little Sister B have shelves in their rooms (and in our living room) piled high with books that get taken down and re-shelved daily. It is far from uncommon for me to go look for either one of them only to discover them sprawled out on their beds or the floor, engrossed in the stories that they see in the pictures or found in the words.

From baby board books with only pictures to large, intricate books covered with words, they both love to be a part of the magical world that books can provide. So what could possibly make a book better for children that are already fascinated with them?

How about customized books that not only star those children but bring them on a tale to find out what makes them unique and special? That's exactly what is found in the beautifully illustrated, exquisitely written, personalized books from Wondrous Ink!

Currently offering one title, Wondrous World, a gift from Wondrous Ink ends up more than a book, it is an exquisite, truly personal keepsake from start to finish.

From the colorful, delightful illustrations to the enchanted, simple story, there is just no way to not get caught up in the magic on each page. While I have come across no shortage of children's books that make me cringe or wonder why they were ever published, Wondrous World is instead inspiring and heartwarming.

In fact, the uplifting storyline is not only interesting and engaging, but tells the starring child why they themselves are wondrous and unique in the world. Is there a better message than that to promote to our children?

There really was no question that we were pretty entranced... from the moment that our Wondrous Ink books arrived in their bright, custom packaging!

Wondrous Ink has designed Wondrous World for ages 2–8, but I can only imagine how amazed new parents would be to receive this book for their little addition as well!

Just look how incredible this book is before you even have it opened!

My girls were understandably thrilled to see their names right on the cover... and the excitement only increased as we delved into the story.

Page after page, we followed along as the girl in the story went on a quest through an enchanted forest to find out what makes her special. As she encountered animals and creatures of all kinds that had a problem to be solved, each letter of my daughters' names floated into the sky and became a part of the story as well.

The result is definitely adorable and something that a child of just about any age would treasure and love!

Plus, when the end of Wondrous World is reached, not only can the lucky recipient be excited about having discovered what makes him or her special, but every book includes a special key that unlocks a bonus Wondrous World of learning fun.

Simply set up the child's world (all that is required is a name, email address and password) and they can then read a bonus story that continues where the book left off and a short quiz that tests how close the young reader was paying attention. There are also plans to add more books, puzzles and games over time to the online Wondrous Worlds, so the entertainment can be extended even further!

Retailing for $29.99 and available for shipping anywhere in the world, the quality and uniqueness of Wondrous Ink books really speak for themselves. Each one is printed, bound and delivered within 14-21 days (depending on your location) and is sure to amaze and delight!

Find out much more about Wondrous World (and make a free preview with any name you choose!) by visiting WondrousInk.com. You can also stay up to date on all things Wondrous by connecting with them on Facebook, Twitter and Pinterest.

And, thanks to their generosity, one person will soon see the child in their life marvel at their own personalized book as well, because...

One lucky person will win their own beautiful personalized

Wondrous World book from Wondrous Ink!

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A big thank you to Wondrous Ink for providing two books for me to review as well as one for a lucky giveaway winner. The opinions shared are my own and honest and if you really need to see more, click here to see how I roll.