Story Time and Kids' Club From Barnes & Noble

Barnes & Noble offers two different story-time options. One, you can head to various Barnes & Noble locations for in-store story times. Many locations hold story time at 11 a.m. on both Tuesdays and Saturdays, but be sure to check your specific location for times. There will be a special Thanksgiving story time on Saturday (Nov. 20, 2010). Or, you can go to their website for a book read aloud by authors and celebrities. There's a new book read each month. This month, it's The Mitten by Jan Brett (who also reads it). Next month's story will be online on Dec. 7, 2010.


While you're on the site, check out the B&N Kids' Club. Some cool stuff you'll get:

•  30% off list price on any one kids' book or toy 
• $5 reward for every $100 you spend on kids’ stuff online and in stores 
• Free cupcake from the café for children's birthdays 
• Free digital book created by your child on Tikatok.com

Animal Magazine Made for Little Kids

Most little kids love animals--acting like them (as in my little monkey!) and learning about them. I just discovered a magazine just for little ones on that topic. National Geographic Little Kids is targeted to kids ages 3 to 6. I haven't yet seen an actual copy, so I can't say what the content is like, but they do have a website also for that age group (and with a mag subscription link, of course). It has various animal-themed activities such as interactive games (connect the dots, puzzles, etc.), masks to print out, coloring pages and science experiments (though the experiments aren't animal themed!).

If I have a chance to get to the newsstand and check an issue out, I'll post a review.

Recordable Storybooks

Hallmark now offers recordable storybooks. I'm interested to try them out. It looks like you just record yourself (or whoever--could even be your child) reading the story, and once you're happy with your recording, you can save it so it won't be deleted (even with a battery change). There are 12 different books to choose from, including some for the holidays. This could be a great keepsake for years to come, whether for your children or your grandchildren. They'll love being able to hear your voice whenever they like! Check out the website for ideas on how to use them and which stores have the books available for purchase ($29.95 each).

Here's a list of the books available:
All the Ways I Love You
Bright & Beautiful
Frosty the Snowman
Hey Diddle, Diddle
I Love You, Grandma
My Grandpa & Me
My Little Princess
The Night Before Christmas
Thank You, God, For Everything
Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star
The Very First Christmas
We're Not Scared of Anything

If you've purchased one and used it, let us know what you think!

Free Sesame Street Webzine for Download

If your child loves Sesame Street, check out the free monthly webzine! Just download all or part of the latest issue in its PDF format and let your little one play and learn. Each issue has a different theme, and the current one is safari animals. You'll find various activities, from coloring pages to finding hidden objects to making animal sounds. 

Thanks, Freebies 4 Mom!

Kids Book Sale at Barnes & Noble This Weekend

Barnes & Noble is having a kids book sale this weekend (ends Sunday, March 7, 2010): Buy one children's book, get one 50% off. If you purchase via bn.com, use coupon code H4U9M3W at checkout. If you purchase in-store, you can use this coupon.

Free Scrapbook Layout Ebook

To document all the fun things you and your kids do, you might be working on a scrapbook (or thinking about it, like me!). If so, check out this free ebook you can download: 24 Simple Scrapbook Layouts.

Thanks, Money Saving Mom!

Personalized Books

I remember my grandfather giving me a book that had my name and other info (like hometown, dog's name, etc.) printed throughout the story. I thought it was the coolest thing! Ever since, I've known I wanted my daughter to have such an experience. I plan to get one soon, even though it might be awhile before she fully appreciates the concept.

Here are some personalized book sites to check out:*

• Find Me Book - include photos of family members, which get hidden amongst a variety of images. 
• Happy Kids - personal information can be printed in various book themes, such as Sesame Street 
• Created4Me - the child's name is highlighted "in lights," and each letter has a page devoted to it  
• Freckle Box - stories with non-character-related (such as Elmo) stories/themes, which include the child's name 
• Custom Made for Kids - insert your child's favorite people and places, while telling the story of his or her time from birth to present. All put into an illustrated format
• And of course you could always make a photo book on a photo-sharing site and add your own short story within the caption fields.
  

*Note: I haven't ordered anything from any of these sites as of yet, so I don't know anything about their quality, etc. (but they look fun!). If you have, let us know your experience.

Free Ebook With Activity Ideas

You can get a free downloadable ebook, 100 Free Things to Do With Your Grandkids (and, of course, you don't have to be a grandparent to get something out of it!) at grandparents.com.

Thanks, Money Saving Mom!

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