More Games from Hoyle

How cool is this 6 in 1 Fun Pack. It includes 6 fun and educational card games for kids. Memory, Crazy Eights, Old Maid, Go Fish, Slap Jack and Matching. All of these games hone different skills while having a blast playing. We play these games every day!

Memory

Play Memory to find matching pairs of animals. You can also brush up on alphabet letters, discover fun colors and learn different facts about animals. For example, ask each player where does the Tiger live or what does the Snow Leopard eat. Super fun to learn these things and helps to improve memory and thinking skills. As you try and find pairs, you can get creative and make up different stories about each animal. Kids can also use the letters on the cards, combine them and create lots of interesting words.

Crazy Eights

Crazy Eights is not only about numbers but kids can also learn about our solar system and the different planets. A create game kids can make up with these cards is pick a card, which ever planet card you pick, say a fact about that planet.

Old Maid

Old Maid is a classic card game but this one is very playful and appealing. When I played this with my kiddo, she was excited not to get the Old Maid. Hehe. I also like this because it introduces healthy foods and encourages healthy eating. For example, if you look at broccoli, it does not look scary but looks very inviting. A fun game for the whole family.

Go Fish

Go Fish is another classic card game. After we played this, I used these cards to practice math. For example, I asked my kiddo what is 1+1, 1+2 and so forth. Love the creativity of these cards and how we can use them to hone different math skills.

Slap Jack

Slap Jack is tons of laughs. We were very excited to play the cards, see if “Jack” will come up and rush to be the first one to slap the pile and grab it. I also like that the kids can learn about nature and insects. For example, I asked my kiddo to find an insect that makes honey. Another game for the win!

Matching

Matching is very interesting. This game hones memory skills. While you try to find all pairs of cards to complete a scene, it is fun to learn about the different cities and architecture shown on the cards. My kiddo was very interested to learn about London while we found all the matching cards. I also like that we can use our imagination to create different stories based on the pictures! I like this game a lot.

Hoyle Card Games

If you are looking for new fun and education games for kids, check out these amazing Hoyle Card Games.

Save the day through play with Super Me!

There are two ways to play. One way to play is lay out and face-down red Emergency! cards that show different situations. Use the blue Super Me! cards of superheroes doing good deeds to match to the red cards and save the day!

Another way to play is lay out and face-down red Emergency! cards. Take turns turning them over and say what you would do to help in that situation. Then try to match that red card to yellow What Would You Do! card.

We love to play both ways! The game teaches empathy, social skills and helping others. It also builds memory as you remember where the face-down cards were. While playing, my kiddo loves to pretend she is a superhero and “flies” to save the day. I also like that it shows kids what kind of situations can happen in real life and how one might handle the situation. What a fun way to play and learn!

Don’t get caught monkeying around with Monkey, May I?

 

There are two ways to play this game. Mix Monkey Action Cards and Money, May, I? together. Place them face down and take turns picking one card from the pile. If you pick a card where a monkey is doing an action, everyone quickly do that same action. The first person to do the action, you win a dollar from the Monkey Bank. But if you draw a Monkey, May I? card, the player says which monkey is well behaved, grown-up Monkey would want you to do. If you pick correctly, you win a dollar from the Monkey Bank.

Another way to play is mix the Stop & Think and Monkey Action cards. Play as you would the other game, except now when you get a card that shows a money with a stop sign behind, you have to tell a story. For example, if you get a card of a monkey covering his ears, the player tells a story when they were a good listener. You get a dollar from the Monkey Bank every time you share a story.

Both games are tons of laughs. Kids recognize self-awareness, self-control and think about making good choices. This is a very fun and creative way for kids to get up and be active. This game also hones memory as kids remember every time they did something good. I like that as the players share stories, they can remember that and do that themselves. If they haven’t done something, they can get creative and say what they would have done if they were in that situation. While playing, my family and I were goofing around and at the same time learning from each other and having a blast!

Waterproof playing card!

This past weekend, we splashed in the pool with waterproof playing cards. They are totally awesome!! They are waterproof & kids can’t rip them. While they bring back my childhood memories of the games I used to play with the standard deck, I used these to bring a little fun to education. While playing in the pool, we did some math. For example, I asked my kiddo what is 7+2 and showed her the cards. You can also use these for many more creative games! Tons of fun to keep those little ones entertained and encourage learning through play!

Seal Squad

The goal of the game is to work together to get as many fish as possible while trying to avoid the crab.

I like that the game enhances critical thinking by figuring out the best way to go. It is tons of fun to try and beat the walrus. It has a math component, adorable characters, and a mat that is creative, unique and mimics an ocean. We have a good time playing this. When my kiddo rolls the dice, I’m excited to see how she figures out how to move. Great game to bond with kids as well as a blast to play with friends.

 

 

Multicultural Children’s Book Day – Book Review: The Shark and the Volcano By Sylvia M. Medina

In honor of Multicultural Children’s Book Day #ReadYourWorld, I’m sharing this wonderful book by Sylvia M. Medina, founder of Green Kids Club!

Join The Green Kids–Victor, Maya, and Tiag as they set off to Hawaii for an awesome adventure. They meet up with their friend Kailani, who shows them the wonders of her island home while also telling them about the legend of the Great White Shark of the Reef. When a baby shark comes calling for help, Kailani and the Green Kids are off to save the day! Will they be able to take on the shark fishermen…AND a volcano?

Sylvia founded Green Kids Club to encourage “growing up green.” Each of her adventure stories take on a different environmental issue, such as poaching or habitat encroachment. The Green Kids characters get in and out of trouble while helping the environment.

What a lovely story. It raises awareness to protect our ocean life, its endangered species as well as educate about sea creatures. I really like the charm and how the animals were communicating with the kids. The story takes old fashioned science and makes it entertaining to learn about marine life (and volcano). There are also fun facts about sharks at the end of the book.

*Disclose: I was gifted this book to review for the event.

Multicultural Children’s Book Day 2020 (1/31/20) is in its 7th year! This non-profit children’s literacy initiative was founded by Valarie Budayr and Mia Wenjen; two diverse book-loving moms who saw a need to shine the spotlight on all of the multicultural books and authors on the market while also working to get those book into the hands of young readers and educators.  

Seven years in, MCBD’s mission is to raise awareness of the ongoing need to include kids’ books that celebrate diversity in homes and school bookshelves continues.

MCBD 2020  is honored to have the following Medallion Sponsors on board

Super Platinum

Make A Way Media/ Deirdre “DeeDee” Cummings, 

Platinum

Language Lizard, Pack-N-Go Girls, 

Gold

Audrey Press, Lerner Publishing Group, KidLit TV, ABDO BOOKS : A Family of Educational Publishers, PragmaticMom & Sumo Jo, Candlewick Press,

Silver

 Author Charlotte Riggle, Capstone Publishing, Guba Publishing, Melissa Munro Boyd & B is for Breathe,

Bronze

Author Carole P. Roman, Snowflake Stories/Jill Barletti, Vivian Kirkfield & Making Their Voices Heard. Barnes Brothers Books,  TimTimTom, Wisdom Tales Press, Lee & Low Books,  Charlesbridge Publishing, Barefoot Books Talegari Tales

Author Sponsor Link Cloud

Jerry Craft, A.R. Bey and Adventures in Boogieland, Eugina Chu & Brandon goes to Beijing, Kenneth Braswell & Fathers Incorporated, Maritza M. Mejia & Luz del mes_Mejia, Kathleen Burkinshaw & The Last Cherry Blossom, SISSY GOES TINY by Rebecca Flansburg and B.A. Norrgard, Josh Funk and HOW TO CODE A ROLLERCOASTER, Maya/Neel Adventures with Culture Groove,  Lauren Ranalli, The Little Green Monster: Cancer Magic! By Dr. Sharon Chappell, Phe Lang and Me On The Page, Afsaneh Moradian and Jamie is Jamie, Valerie Williams-Sanchez and Valorena Publishing, TUMBLE CREEK PRESS, Nancy Tupper Ling, Author Gwen Jackson, Angeliki Pedersen & The Secrets Hidden Beneath the Palm Tree, Author Kimberly Gordon Biddle, BEST #OWNVOICES CHILDREN’S BOOKS: My Favorite Diversity Books for Kids Ages 1-12 by Mia Wenjen, Susan Schaefer Bernardo & Illustrator Courtenay Fletcher (Founders of Inner Flower Child Books), Ann Morris & Do It Again!/¡Otra Vez!, Janet Balletta and Mermaids on a Mission to Save the Ocean, Evelyn Sanchez-Toledo & Bruna Bailando por el Mundo\ Dancing Around the World, Shoumi Sen & From The Toddler Diaries, Sarah Jamila Stevenson, Tonya Duncan and the Sophie Washington Book Series, Teresa Robeson  & The Queen of Physics, Nadishka Aloysius and Roo The Little Red TukTuk, Girlfriends Book Club Baltimore & Stories by the Girlfriends Book Club, Finding My Way Books, Diana Huang & Intrepids, Five Enchanted Mermaids, Elizabeth Godley and Ribbon’s Traveling Castle, Anna Olswanger and Greenhorn, Danielle Wallace & My Big Brother Troy, Jocelyn Francisco and Little Yellow Jeepney, Mariana Llanos & Kutu, the Tiny Inca Princess/La Ñusta Diminuta, Sara Arnold & The Big Buna Bash, Roddie Simmons & Race 2 Rio, DuEwa Frazier & Alice’s Musical Debut, Veronica Appleton & the Journey to Appleville book series  Green Kids Club, Inc.

We’d like to also give a shout-out to MCBD’s impressive CoHost Team who not only hosts the book review link-up on celebration day, but who also works tirelessly to spread the word of this event. View our CoHosts HERE.

Co-Hosts and Global Co-Hosts

A Crafty Arab, Afsaneh Moradian, Agatha Rodi Books, All Done Monkey, Barefoot Mommy, Bethany Edward & Biracial Bookworms, Michelle Goetzl & Books My Kids Read, Crafty Moms Share, Colours of Us, Discovering the World Through My Son’s Eyes, Educators Spin on it, Shauna Hibbitts-creator of eNannylink, Growing Book by Book, Here Wee Read, Joel Leonidas & Descendant of Poseidon Reads {Philippines}, Imagination Soup, Kid World Citizen, Kristi’s Book Nook, The Logonauts, Mama Smiles, Miss Panda Chinese, Multicultural Kid Blogs, Serge Smagarinsky {Australia}, Shoumi Sen, Jennifer Brunk & Spanish Playground, Katie Meadows and Youth Lit Reviews

FREE RESOURCES from Multicultural Children’s Book Day

• Free Multicultural Books for Teachers 
• Our New FREE Teacher Classroom Physical and Developmental Challenges Kit http://ow.ly/kcbZ30p3QWz
• Free Empathy Classroom Kit for Homeschoolers, Organizations, Librarians, and Educators
• Free Understanding Developmental & Physical Challenges Classroom Kit

TWITTER PARTY! Register here!

Hashtag: Don’t forget to connect with us on social media and be sure and look for/use our official hashtag #ReadYourWorld.

 

SHUTTERBUG Blog Tour

Shutterbug written by Merry Gordon, illustrated by Eddie Gordon, published by Pink Umbrella Books is a must read!

Synopsis:

When Tinseltown hits a dry spell, a down-on-his-luck drifter and his lightning bug buddy turn 1930s Hollywood upside down for the next big headline. Join Don and Shutterbug on a romp through cinema’s Golden Age as they shake up the town!

My Review:

This book is very artistic. Even though the illustrations are black and white, it speaks volume. It has a bold and powerful style and the rhymes are very playful and energetic.

I really enjoyed reading this. I really felt the intriguing suspense, the stunning artwork tells its own story, and you feel like you are part of the glamorous, Hollywood lifestyle. I also think that the story inspires readers not only to express our own uniqueness, but also chase after your dreams!

The book also includes a definition of some phrases. A very cute story to read for older kids! Read about the author below and the check out the book on Amazon and Barnes & Noble.

Author Goodreads Page: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/18256105.Merry_Gordon

Amazon Link

Barnes and Noble Link

Rainbow Rangers Published by: Macmillan Children’s Publishing Group

Rainbow Rangers: Rockin’ Rainbow Colors: Each Rainbow Ranger rocks a different color of the rainbow! Meet each superhero, their power & learn their matching colors!

Rainbow Rangers: The Quest for the Confetti Crystal: A super sweet, adorable story about how Floof, Rainbow Ranger’s pet tries to retrieve special Confetti Crystal when it disappears.

Rainbow Rangers: To the Rescue: Three Rainbow Rangers work as a team to reunite the polar bear family when a melting ice floe separated a polar bear cub from his mother.

Rainbow Rangers: Meet the Team: Get to know superhero girls who live in a magical land. They help protect Earth & save animals. Each has a unique power & personality!

Halloween Stories Published by Candlewick Press

Pick a Pumpkin

by Patricia Toth & illustrated by Jarvis

Halloween is such an exciting time. There are many Halloween traditions, from decorating the house, dressing up in spooky and fun, colorful costumes, going trick-or-treating and visiting the pumping patch. This playful book celebrates one of those traditions; picking a pumpkin from the patch.

I love the rhythmic text and how vividly we can follow a step by step fun from choosing the perfect pumpkin, carving it and making a beautiful, glowing jack-o’-lantern.

My kiddo adores this book and we can’t wait to pick our own pumpkin!

Hide and Seek

by Katie May Green

Kids will have an amazing time listening to this spooky bedtime story. At the top of the Shiverhawk Hall live children in pictures on the wall. When the moon rises, the DeVillechild twins are missing from their frames. The rest of the Shiverhawk children search for the girls, playing a game of hide and seek. Will the children be able to find the twins and return home to their paintings before the sunrise?

Spooky and fun. I love the creative and imaginative story. It has lots of character and charm. You just want to keep turning page after page and can’t wait to see what happens.

The Right One for Roderic

by Violeta Noy

All ghosts wear white sheets. But one little ghost named Roderic wants to wear something different. He tries all sorts of things: a bag, a rug, a boot. Can he find the right one for him? This sweet story about standing out and being true to yourself is just the sweetest story.

Ghosts can be scary. But this family of ghosts is so darn cute. I really like that this story adds a nice personality and character to Roderic, making it playful and to stand out. The story makes you feel a sense of warmth and being friendly with Roderic.

Give Me Back My Bones

by Kim Norman & illustrated by Bob Kolar

Take a underwater scavenger hunt as a silly pirate skeleton tries to put itself back together piece by piece. I love how the rhymes just jump at you. My kiddo was giggling and laughing as each page reveals pieces of the skeleton and he tries to put himself into one piece. It’s very entertaining and a blast to read along!

 

 

If Animals Went To School by Ann Whitford Paul

If animals went to school…what would they do? This sweet story shows how some adorable creatures are excited for school while others have the case of first day jitters. I like this charming story. It shows a familiar yet different side of how kids can be excited or nervous for school.

My kiddo liked when the animals came to school. They were being goofy and silly; playing, practicing writing letters, munching on books and having a good time. It shows us that something new can be scary, but as we became used to the situation, it won’t be as scary and we will feel more comfortable. I remember the time when I was in school. I was always nervous at first but as the day went by, I felt more comfortable and I knew that everything will be ok.

When Pencil Met Eraser by Karen Kilpatrick and Luis O. Ramos, Jr

I love school supplies; they are super cute and fun. This funny, charming, artistic story about teamwork and how Pencil and Eraser became best friends is a must read.  When they first met, everything Pencil draws is fine the way it is. He loved to draw and work alone. But Eraser has some different ideas, he liked to erase everything. I love the creative side of the story and how two different characters found that they can be better together.

My little one loved Pencil and Eraser. The story opens kids’ minds that anything is possible and there are no limits to creativity and imagination. The drawings in the book are very appealing; it really makes the characters come alive. I also like that the story shows us that we are unique in our own way and we can appreciate one another despite our differences.

TinkerActive Workbooks: Science

TinkerActive Workbooks are fun new activity books that will engage and entertain your little ones. They are very colorful and include lots of hands-on and curriculum-based exercises, science projects and activities.

They are divided into many sections like seasons, severe weather, water, sun, parts of a plant, plant survival, animal survival, animal habitats, animals & the environment, people & the environment, reduce/reuse/recycle, pulls, pushes, and collisions. It includes lots of cute stickers and a merit badge.

These STEM based workbooks are very fun to do. There are simple instructions and you only need basic household items for the projects. I like that it encourages little ones to explore and discover many topics and once a project is complete, they get a reward, a sticker.

One of the many activities we did was learn about the seasons, what the seasons are and what happens during each season. With lots of pictures, I like that each activity helps kids remember what they learned. I like that there are a variety of topics covered and kids have many ways to learn about the world around them. We have a blast doing these activities.

King of the Mole People

King of the Mole People by Paul Gilligan, published by Henry Holt and Company, Macmillan Publishers, a hilarious new middle grade novel you will not want to put down.

This wacky adventure follows Doug Underbelly, a seventh grader trying to be normal in middle school. He lives in a creaky old mansion surrounded by gravestones and just been crowned king of the Mole People, a supernatural population feuding with the Slug People and the Mushroom People. It’s up to Doug to restore peace in their kingdom, all while navigating seventh grade! This book is very interesting and unique. All the adventures make seventh grade much more exciting!