Book Review - What Children Need to Learn to READ (Michelle Vallene)

~ Posted on Friday, December 23, 2011 at 9:20 AM ~

I received an email from Michelle (the author of this book) asking whether I was interested in reviewing her book. As a parent, I want to learn as much as I possibly can on ways to help my child to read. Here goes my review for "What Children Need to Learn to READ " book:

Title:   What Children Need to Learn to READ
Author: Michelle Vallene

Publisher: LearnersLane; 1st edition (January 4, 2010)
ISBN-13/-10:  978-0982285602 / 0982285604
Paperback:  213 pages
Dimension:  9 x 7 x 0.6 inches

Description from the product page:
"Your Child's First Reading Teacher Is ... YOU! "What Children Need to Learn to READ" is the ultimate resource for parents and other adults who want to encourage literacy in young children. Packed with age-appropriate tips, techniques, fun activities, checklists, and common-sense suggestions, this one-of-a-kind book will answer your questions, boost your confidence, and prepare you for one of the most rewarding things you'll ever do!! You'll learn: What works best for babies, toddlers, preschoolers, and early elementary school students. How to make reading a FUN and familiar part of everyday life. Where to find the best children's books, magazines, games, websites, and more. "

* I like the tips given in chapter 1 on how to read to your child everyday where the author breaks it down by age group: Babies, Toddlers and Preschooler or early elementary school child. Under the "Toddler" section, I realised I do practise the tips given such as discussing what we see and do when we are out and about. I always ask Ben what the object/building/colors etc. I also explain to him how they are similar to what we see at our home (whether in books, iPad app, movies)

* I like the Children Language Accomplishments Checklist on chapter 2 which I can refer back in order to see whether Ben is at par according to the age group.

* I love the activities listed in this book and how the author separates them into different chapters on their own: games, rhymes, music and songs, letters and sounds, sight words and so on.

In summary, it is a very resourceful book that shows you many ways that you can help to get your child interested in reading and expose them to literacy from a young age.

Highly recommended, do get a copy of this book for yourself too!!

You can get this book from Amazon.

And yay!!! I am so happy to hear Michelle has generously offered to sponsor 1 copy of her book SIGNED by herself  and an accompanying music CD with all the songs and nursery rhymes from the book to 1 lucky follower / visitor on my blog! Yep, if you are the winner, you get to own a signed copy of her book and her music CD and she will mail it to you anywhere you are!

OK then, just read below for the giveaway terms and entry form, OK?

To enter the giveaway, kindly read and follow the instructions as stated in the Rafflecopter form below.

  • You can enter either via login through your Facebook account or just key in your name and your valid email address.
  • Please also leave your valid email address in the post comment so that I can contact you if you win this giveaway.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

So what are you waiting for?!! Hurry up! You have 1 month time from now to join in the fun and try your luck!

I received no monetary compensation for this review, I was provided with a copy of the book by the author in order to facilitate my review. All opinions expressed in this post are my own. Please do your own research when purchasing products, as your opinions may differ from mine. And if you'd like to read my previous book reviews, you can do so by reading this post of mine called "My Book Reviews"

I have read the "Who Moved My Cheese?" book so when I saw this book title, I was intrigued and decided to request for a review copy. Here goes my review for the "The Swiss Cheese Theory of Life " book:

Title:  The Swiss Cheese Theory of Life 
Authors: Judith Belmont, MS & Lora Shor, MSW

Publisher: Premier Publishing & Media; 1st edition (October 21, 2011)
ISBN-13/-10:  978-0982039892 / 0982039891
Paperback:  247 pages
Dimension:  8.9 x 5.9 x 0.7 inches

Description from the product page:
"The Swiss Cheese Theory of Life is a book about resiliency. Using Swiss Cheese as a metaphor for life itself, you will explore ways to get through the holes rather than get stuck in them. Swiss is not like any other cheese - and neither are you! This self-help health and wellness book is sure to delight and enlighten - with a thick-sliced sense of humor. While it is whimsical in style, it deals with many serious and universal topics that affect our everyday lives. We distill important concepts from many sources, slicing them up into easily digestible chunks of information.

After all, Swiss is not like any other cheese and neither are you like anyone else! This wellness book is about thriving in the face of life's adversities, overcoming challenges, developing stress resilience, and making effective and long lasting changes for a happier life. Important training concepts are easily related through a light-hearted holistic approach that will touch your mind, body and spirit. Our expertise as psychotherapists and wellness speakers has reached thousands of people throughout the country - and now we want to reach out to you! Couldn't everyone benefit from Swiss Cheese Life resiliency training to help them move through life's holes instead of getting stuck in them?

Take the Swiss Cheese Theory of Life Challenge!
-Are you trying to make changes in your life, yet you find yourself digging deeper into a hole?
-Do you know better but can t seem to get out from under your unhealthy patterns or habits?
-Do you often have why does this happen to me thinking?
-Are you looking for happiness in all the wrong places?
-Are you ready to make healthy changes in your life ... physically, emotionally, spiritually?

If you answered yes to any of these questions help is here!"

* I like the way the authors compares life using Swiss Cheese (kinda makes you think and goes 'Ohhhh... I see....' when you read each chapter).

* Each chapter in the book are interesting to read and I love the illustrations in the book as well.

* I love how the authors uses W.A.I.T to represent the points for What Am I Thinking in page 86.

* I also love page 132 on the statement of "Opportunity is NOWHERE" - it depends on how you look at things, whether "Opportunity is Nowhere" or "Opportunity is Now Here!". Awesome!

* I love the lesson taught on page 224 about the ability to forgive others.

In summary, it is a book that shows you how to get through the holes in your life and how to overcome the obstacles and turned out to be a better person.

Highly recommended, do get a copy of this book for yourself too!!

Or, since Christmas is approaching why not get a copy as a gift for your loved ones or friends to start off the New Year with new perspective in life? 

You can get this book from Amazon.

And yeay!!! I am so happy to hear Ms. Belmont has generously offered to sponsor 1 copy of her book SIGNED by herself to 1 lucky follower / visitor on my blog! Yeap, if you are the winner, you get to own a copy of her book, signed and she will mail it to you anywhere you are!

OK then, just read below for the giveaway terms and entry form, OK?

To enter the giveaway, kindly read and follow the instructions as stated in the Rafflecopter form below.

  • You can enter either via login through your Facebook account or just key in your name and your valid email address.
  • Please also leave your valid email address in the post comment so that I can contact you if you win this giveaway.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

So what are you waiting for?!! Hurry up! You have 1 month time from now to join in the fun and try your luck!

I received no monetary compensation for this review, I was provided with a PDF copy of the book by the author in order to facilitate my review. All opinions expressed in this post are my own. Please do your own research when purchasing products, as your opinions may differ from mine. And if you'd like to read my previous book reviews, you can do so by reading this post of mine called "My Book Reviews"

Product Review & Giveaway - cutey

~ Posted on Sunday, December 4, 2011 at 9:03 AM ~

Ashley from cutey contacted me towards the middle of November asking whether I would be interested to review their range of charm bracelets (as they just launched recently) and also host a giveaway as well. Oh, I would be a total idiot if I say no right?! Anyway, I'm so happy I get to review this gorgeous charm bracelet! Without further delay, here's my review on the charm bracelet:

cutey was founded in 2011 to provide a quality range of customisable jewellery. Their initial range is designed as an everyday accessory that can be used at any time. The range is designed with the ability to be easily changed, allowing the jewellery to be changed based on mood, time or outfit. Their principals are to provide a high level of quality in each of our products. They aim to provide an affordable, every changeable piece of timeless jewellery and guarantee satisfaction in all of their products and will offer a full refund if you are dissatisfied by any of the products purchased through their store.

Their goals are simple, to provide the world with stylish, quality and easily customisable jewellery through many online channels as well as independent small retailers located throughout the world.

Beautiful product, what else can I say?! I requested to review the Hypnos charm bracelet as it has the lobster claw clasp which is something I've always preferred in my jewellery as I find it easy to wear and take out. The charms are cute, not heavy and I love that it does not irritate or poke my skin (unlike some bracelets I wore last time).

Enough talking, just look at the pictures below:

Control your drool...

Control, control...

Ahhh... I feel so gorgeous!

You can get the charm bracelet from cutey website.

But hey, who am I kidding... you saw the post title already and know this is coming...

Now, the generous Ms. Ashley from cutey has agreed to sponsor a charm bracelet to one of my lucky blog follower / visitor! Yeap, if you are the winner, you get to pick one from their gorgeous range of charm bracelets in their website and they will mail it to you anywhere you are!

OK then, just read below for the giveaway terms and entry form, OK?

To enter the giveaway, kindly read and follow the instructions as stated in the Rafflecopter form below. You can enter either via login through your Facebook account or just key in your name and your valid email address. Please also leave your valid email address in the post comment so that I can contact you if you win this giveaway.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

So what are you waiting for?!! Hurry up! You have 1 month time from now to join in the fun and try your luck!

I received no monetary compensation for this review, I was provided with the charm bracelet by cutey in order to facilitate my review. All opinions expressed in this post are my own. Please do your own research when purchasing products, as your opinions may differ from mine.