Last Giveaway of Scholastic Books - Leave a comment and win!

First off, thank you so much for the great reading recommendations! My family and I, and all fellow APISS readers, are totally reaping the rewards of your great book picks. New library and book store picks are worth their weight in gold.

For the third and final week, the Scholastic Summer Challenge people are happily giving away another pack of free books to an A Parent in Silver Spring reading family. Just leave a comment below with four of your family's fave children's books and you'll be entered to win four new books tailored to your child's age and reading level. The winner will be randomly drawn. Woo hoo!

The Scholastic Summer Challenge is a program to ensure kids don't fall victim to the "summer slide" - a loss of skills that can occur when they're out of school and out of practice. The website, parent resources and Summer Reading Lists all help keep kids' skills current.

Here are my own family's recs for this week:

If You Give a Cat a Cupcake...by Laura Numeroff, illustrated by Felicia Bond $11.55 Hardcover. The latest in the "If you give a [insert animal] a [insert treat]" series by Numeroff and Bond. Both my kids started jumping up and down when they heard there was a new one, and this one featured their favorite animal and their favorite crack cake vehicle. This story goes from merry-go-round to beach to museum and is cute as the series' predecessors.

Louise, The Adventures of a Chicken by Kate Dicamillo, illustrated by Harry Bliss $14.03 hardcover. The author of Tales of Despereaux, Dicamillo is the master of making bravery both accessible and exciting for children. My daughter and I are obsessed with the feminine heroine Louise, who longs to leave the hen house and feels danger in her soft feathered breast. Kid picture book perfection.


Mouse Tales (an I Can Read Book) by Arnold Lobel $3.99 Again I head back to the late '70s for the books of my own childhood, but I have rarely found tales funnier than the seven little stories in Mouse Tales. Although Lobel won the Caldecott medal and had a distinguished career (God rest his soul), the amusing tales he told his second grade class and then put to paper are the books we grew up with and now share with our kids. They're also perfect for new readers, and good jokes = good readers, I'm convinced! More Lobel: Mouse Soup, Owl at Home and all of the Frog and Toad books.

If I Were in Charge of the World and Other Worries: Poems for Children and their Parents by Judith Viorst $6.99. Another iconic author for '70s and '80s children, Viorst captures the trials of kid-dom in her sensitive, silly poems. My second grade teacher read the title poem and then asked the class to write what we would do if we had the same power...my first ever writing prompt. Thank you Dr. Viorst!

Well, there's my 4 for this week - what are yours? Leave your 4 titles in the comments for your last chance to win a personally-customized pack of new books for your child's library, thanks to Scholastic!

Buffy vs. Edward Cullen

From the fabulous Kelly Day via Facebook via Buzzfeed via...anyways, it's funny if you're a fan of both vampiry franchises:

Second Giveaway and More Book Recs: Scholastic Summer Challenge

UPDATE: THIS WEEK'S WINNER IS TRACY H.

Wow! You guys do a lot of reading with your kids. The Scholastic Summer Challenge people are sure to be impressed, and they will be happily giving away another pack of free books to an A Parent in Silver Spring reading family this week too!

The Scholastic Summer Challenge is a program to ensure kids don't fall victim to the "summer slide" - a loss of skills that can occur when they're out of school and out of practice. The website, parent resources and Summer Reading Lists all help keep kids' skills current.

Additionally, Scholastic recommends kids read at least 4 new books over the summer. Thus I'm going to recommend 4 books each week for three weeks in July. In the comments below, if you recommend 4 titles too, then you'll be entered to win a pack of 4 new books especially tailored to your child's age! One winner will be randomly chosen each week on Wednesday. So you didn't win last week, enter again!

Check out the comments here for some exciting children's literature recommendations from fellow parents. And here are my family's recs for this week:

Tanya and the Red Shoes by Patricia Lee Gauch, illustrated by Satomi Ichikawa $13.95 Ever since the kind Silver Spring Librarian Margarete Levy (aka Mother Goose) recommended them to my daughter, Eve can't get enough of the Tanya books. This series chronicles a little girl's dream to dance ballet. I can't get enough of Ichikawa's luminous watercolor illustrations.

Komodo! by Peter Sis $14.03
Personally, I think a run-in with a real life komodo dragon sounds like a nightmare, but for reptile-loving kids this fantastical picture book is a dream come true. My son loves the hidden pictures that reflect the protagonist's yearning to spy the big lizards. Shudder.

Millions of Cats by Wanda Gag $7.99
The lyrical dialogue and retro ink drawings explain the numerical concepts of "hundreds, thousands, millions and billions and trillions" better than this numerically-challenged mama can on her own. It's also a fable about kindness and charity. Written in 1929, it still feels current.

A Child's Garden of Verses by Robert Louis Stevenson $16.37
Isn't this every child's first introduction to poetry? Did you ever memorize "The rain is raining all around," or "I have a little shadow that goes in and out with me..."? My kids can sit for ages luxuriating in the gentle rhymes.

Well, there's my 4 for this week - what are yours? Congrats to last week's winner Anita K, and this week I hope YOU win!

GIVEAWAY: 30 (Yes, 3-0) Free Copies of Disney's Princess Protection Program

Adorable teen queens Demi Lovato & Selena Gomez do the requisite shopping montage in
Disney Channel's Original Movie, Princess Protection Program

UPDATE: ALL DVDS ARE GONE. THANKS EVERYONE!

If you get the Disney Channel and have a child in your household age 7-17, just skip reading the rest of this text and send me an email with your mailing address STAT.

For the rest of you, I have 30 free DVDs of the latest Disney Channel Original Movie, Princess Protection Program. The movie features charismatic and watchable Tiger Beat regulars Selena Gomez (star of the Wizards of Waverly Place) and Demi Lovato (Sonny With a Chance.)

I saw this G-rated movie with my kids and thought it was fun and promoted good values. I think that Disney is genius to continue the tradition of releasing their teen made-for-TV films in the dead of summer. Princess Protection Program reminds me of the summer TV movie mash-ups of teen actors I used to watch in the '80s like Crash Course with Alyssa Milano or Poison Ivy with Michael J. Fox (NOT to be confused with Poison Ivy II with Alyssa Milano...now that's a VERY different type of cheaply-made movie and this is a family site people!)

Here's the set-up: Tomboy and American gal Carter (Gomez) gets a new "cousin" by helping her foreign service agent father and hiding out royalty, the lovely Rosalinda (Lovato.) In an unexpected (ha ha) role reversal, "Rosie" learns how to act like an everyday girl and Carter finds her own inner princess. Then they become BFFs and dance and sing around and charm the entire freaking world. They're basically two female Jonas brothers with dresses and eyebrow waxes.

If you'd like a copy of the movie for your very own, just be one of the first 30 readers to email your mailing address to jessica *dot* mcfadden *at* gmail *dot* com.

Please put your mailing address in the very first email you send. I'll reply to you if you are one of the lucky winners. If you don't receive a reply from me, then please assume that you were not one of the first respondents. I'll also post here when the DVDs are gone.

Here's a free gift for everyone - a music video of the girls rocking out as hard as you can when you're rated G:

GIVEAWAY: Take the Scholastic Summer Challenge & Win A Pack of Books

UPDATE: THIS WEEK'S WINNER IS ANITA!
ENTER HERE FOR ANOTHER CHANCE TO WIN SCHOLASTIC BOOKS.

Education and book leader Scholastic is working to ensure that kids don't fall victim to the "summer slide" - a loss of skills that can occur when they're out of school and out of practice - with the Scholastic Summer Challenge.

Experts have found that kids who read 4 or more books over the summer can maintain their skills and even make learning gains. The Scholastic Summer Challenge keeps reading fun with a cool free website. There's online games, prizes, and Stacks, a virtual team community where big kids can motivate each other to read.

My young kids like playing the Garden Game and I love all of the parent resources that Scholastic provides for parents. My fave are the Summer Reading Lists categorized by age, reading level and children's interests. I've been printing those out that correspond to my kids before hitting the library. We've found some great new reads, and I've re-discovered some of my childhood faves.

Since Scholastic recommends at least 4 new books read over the summer, I'm going to recommend 4 books each week for three weeks in July. In the comments below, if you recommend 4 titles too, then you'll be entered to win a pack of 4 new books especially tailored to your child's age! One winner will be randomly chosen each week on Wednesday.

Kitten's First Full Moon by Kevin Henkes $12.23 Hardcover
Nothing puts my preschool-aged daughter in a more peaceful frame of mind for sleep than the whispering magic and illustrations of this book. Winner of the Caldecott Medal.

From the Mixed-Up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler by E.L. Konigsburg $6.99
My all-time favorite novel as a child, and I still re-read it every year. Now my oldest is loving it as we read a chapter each night. On the surface it's the story of a sister and brother who run away and live in the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York. [Note: Wes Anderson & Owen Wilson totally ripped this off for The Royal Tenenbaums.] But it's also about independence, mystery, love for family, appreciation of art and history, and realizing the power of information. Winner of the Newbery Medal.

Transformers: Meet the Autobots - An I Can Read Book $3.99
Hey, I don't just give my kids precious picture books and award winners - anything that helps them learn to read is A-OK by me. For a kindergarten boy, what better reading incentive than Autobots and Decepticons? Since he's too young to see the feature films, I know this is a low blow, making him read the story. And the complicated mechanical words are tough to sound out. But for love of Optimus Prime, my kid totally obliges and I'm happy to keep him in pulp fiction if his reading skills are the better for it.

The Other Dog by Madeleine L'Engle $6.99
True story: I have written exactly ONE fan letter in my life and it was to this author. (If you would like to have dorky convos about the Wrinkle In Time series and how characters from all L'Engle's adult and children's books intersect and intertwine, I'll supply the wine.) Anyways, this is a fun picture book for kids about a new baby. The catch is that the author of the book is the dignified family poodle. Both of my kids love the ongoing joke that the dog thinks the new baby is "the other dog." Beautiful illustrations, cute and clever language.

There's my 4 for this week - what are yours? And I've personally been the winner of a pack of new children's books from Scholastic on Tech Savvy Mama before, and I can attest that they are new and they're spectacular. Recommend 4 in the comments below for a chance to win!

GIVEAWAY & COUPON CODE: Nowali Moccasins for Babies, Kids & Toddlers

Aimee of Out By Ten & Smiling Mama is the Randomly-drawn winner!

I love giving baby shoes and socks as gifts. Moms always need new, cute items to keep their little one's tootsies warm and I like how foot fashion items fit babies far longer than outfits.

I was excited to try out a cool classic to add to the shower repertoire: Nowali Moccasins. They're Sweden’s famous slipper/sock and have been around since the '50s for that nostalgia Nordic preppy feel. In baby, toddler and kids sizes, these are great gifts for babies to six year olds. I like how they look and feel luxe and hand-me-downable for years, but only cost $24.95.

I like the classic Block Stripes for little boys and the adorable striped-meets-polka dotted Confetti style for girls. The soft soles of all Nowali Moccasins allow new walkers to move freely but the non-skid soles keep slippy accidents to a minimum. Their special design at the ankle keeps the slippers on and they're machine washable to prevent skanky slipper stink, especially important for big kids that fall in love with Nowalis and insist on wearing them everywhere.

GIVEAWAY: Would you like a pair for your child? All you have to do is visit Nowali.com and leave a comment with your favorite product on the site. Deadline for comments is midnight Monday June 1st. The lucky randomly-drawn winner will get to choose her favorite pair!

COUPON CODE: Enter HAPPYFEET at checkout and you'll receive 10% off your total + free shipping for orders over $40. Code good thru 12/31.

GIVEAWAY: PLAY - Kids Rock CDs & Tees by DeSoto Records

Kristen & Kate are the Randomly-drawn winners of the CDs & t-shirts!

Interested in some seriously cool rock n roll that is technically for kids but actually a compilation of grooves by artists that adults love?

And what if I told you this fabulous album was produced by Washington DC indie record label DeSoto Records, the full time labor of love by a fellow parent in Silver Spring?

The album is PLAY and it has been rocking my minivan and my two mini-music lovers like nothing we've loaded into the changer before. It's 14 completely original and kid-friendly songs that do not pander to kids and will make adults weep with thanks. The humor, the guitar riffs, the beats will help foster a love of rock in your child, rather than simply parroting the "I love you, you love me" song.

Our favorites on PLAY are Mudhoney's I Like to Make Noise and Break Things (Charlie because he does adore those activities, me because I came of age during grunge,) underrated and awesome skateboard rockers Mock Orange's Holiday Dinner Song that salutes healthy food and goddess Mary Timony's Clap Your Hands. And you can preview Channels with Damon Locks' Always Check for Holes [Listen here] and Georgie James' The Grizzly Jive [Listen here].

To win your very own CD copy of PLAY & kid-sized t-shirt, leave a comment with your favorite rock band or artist that you wish would record a kids' album. TWO lucky randomly-drawn winners will each receive a CD & t-shirt combo pack. Please leave your comments before midnight Sunday May 31.



Special thanks to Kim Coletta of DeSoto Records for sponsoring this generous giveaway!

GIVEAWAY & COUPON CODE: KidCards

Abigail is the Randomly-drawn winner!

Sometimes I think I should just directly deposit the entire contents of my checking account into Hallmark's coffers each month. Between holidays, birthday parties, showers, weddings, keeping in touch with our massive list of siblings, nieces and nephews, we buy A LOT of cards in the APISS household.

Now ideally I'd have both my kids make all the family cards, turning our playroom craft table into a mini-sweatshop. But somehow my demands for homemade greetings on a deadline make the kids less than thrilled and sometimes take the fun out of coloring and crafting. I've actually finished my children's abandoned cardmaking myself in order to make the mail carrier, dishonestly slapping on a few princess stickers from "Eve" and forging Charlie's name by writing with my left, non-dominant hand.

Not my proudest parenting moments, I must confess.

So I was totally intrigued when asked to review KidCards®, these new activity books for kids that streamline the making of homemade cards. The books are filled with sturdy cardstock pages that kids tear out and fold into a greeting card and envelopes are included. We've been using these for the last few birthday parties and holidays, and my kids have been way into designing them.

I love that at $14.99 for 20 cards, they cost less than $1 each but still have the mark of handmade love. Family members have been touched by the kids' personal flair and artistry, and the card-creation process was greatly streamlined. Fellow mom friends have been asking where we got them, so I think that not only are they good for birthday cards to playmates, the card books also make cool birthday presents themselves.

Volume 1 are coloring cards for a variety of occasions like birthdays, thank you, congratulations, that kids simply color and sign - great for young children. Volume 2 contains cards that allow older kids to add their own design and write messages, while still providing a themed frame to help get them started on the sometime daunting "Let's make Grandma a birthday card" process. Both sets retail for $14.99 and contain 20 cards and envelopes.

Want one of your own? Leave a comment below with your favorite product on the KidCards website. I'll randomly draw one winner who will get to choose his/her own KidCards book. ($14.99 value) Deadline for comments is midnight Sunday May 31.

Penny Promotion code: When you go to www.kidcards.org and purchase 2 or more books online, enter the penny promotion code "Blogger Bonus" in the box and you'll receive both a crayon set AND the watercolor paint set for 1 penny.

Happy card making!

GIVEAWAY: Moms Night Out Movie Night - Away We Go

UPDATE: ALL TICKETS ARE GONE!

It took me about 2 seconds into the movie trailer for Away We Go to realize that I hadhadhad to see this movie.

'Away We Go' Theatrical Trailer @ Yahoo! Video

Away We Go features Maya Rudolph (SNL) and John Krasinski (The Office) as a couple for whom expecting a baby makes them reevaluate their lives, their ideas of family and home and love.

Allison Janey and Maggie Gyllenhaal and Catherine O'Hara, three of the funniest actors in the world, are in the supporting cast along with some male actors too but who cares? Give me a mom's night out movie where the women get the best lines. Here's an example from Gyllenhaal's attachment-parenting-obsessed character. "Poor Ruby, she hates me. I breastfed her baby."

To me, this film looks like Almost Famous in a maternity dress and the soundtrack sounds amazing. A clever alterna-chick flick about moms. I'm hooked.

For all you serious movie people - Sam Mendes is the director, but you already knew that. But don't bag on me too hard you Variety subscribers, for soccer mom APISS has the hookup:

The first 25 people who comment on this post will get a free ticket for themselves and their BFF for the Wednesday night May 27th advance screening at Landmark Bethesda theater at 7:30pm.

So get thee to commenting for your two free tickets on Wednesday night and make sure to leave your email in the comment form so I can contact you.

GIVEAWAY: Romantic Date Night at the Washington National Opera - Puccini's TURANDOT

UPDATE: THREE winners each received 2 tickets to Turandot, thanks Washington National Opera! They were Margaret, Alison and Lumpyheadsmom!

Dinner and a movie? Pffft, please. You're more likely to get lucky if you load the dishwasher AND take care of the kids' bath/books/bed routine.

But a night at the opera...now, there's the key to igniting those home fires!

Washington National Opera and General Director Plácido Domingo are currently presenting to critical acclaim Giacomo Puccini’s celebrated opera, TURANDOT. The Kennedy Center Opera House is hosting eight performances through Thursday, June 4, sung in Italian with English subtitles.

Want to go? Those fabulous promoters of the Washington National Opera love local parents and so have given A Parent in Silver Spring readers two pairs of tickets for the Monday June 1st 7pm performance at the Kennedy Center.

I don't know much about opera but I love the feel of the music - especially the Italian melodies, the romance of the experience. I think I saw Moonstruck too many times as a teen. And for amateurs like me, Puccini is the perfect introduction. Turandot includes the magnificent tenor aria Nessun dorma (click that link to hear it sung by Pavarotti and you'll totally recognize the melody from movies and when Aretha sang it at the Grammys.) For the serious opera buff, Puccini is a transcendental experience.

The story of Turandot takes place in ancient China, where any brave suitor seeking the fair hand of Princess Turandot is subjected to three impossible riddles. Failure means certain death, but the hero Calaf risks it all.

Tickets range from $25 through $300 and are currently available through Washington National Opera Audience Services: 202.295.2400/800.US.OPERA or online at www.dc-opera.org.

Just leave a comment to be entered in the random drawing before midnight Monday May 25 and I'll draw the two winners on Tuesday morning, giving them enough time to book that all-important sitter!