Review: Way Down Deep: Strange Ocean Creatures by Patricia Brennan Demuth

The All Aboard Reading series features stories that capture beginning readers' imagination while developing their vocabulary and reading comprehension. The Picture Readers, appropriate for preschoolers, combine a very simple text with rebuses. Flash cards bound in the book help make the transition from the rebus to the printed word. As the levels progress, the stories get longer, and the print size gets smaller, preparing readers for longer books with chapters. All the books are illustrated in full color, and engage a child's curiosity with a range of topics from science to sports, history, and fantasy. Grades 1 - Grade 3.

Review: Ocean Divers by Anita Ganeri

Ocean Divers teaches readers all about oceans, and the scientists who go to extremes to study them!

Review: Captain Underpants and the Tyrannical Retaliation of the Turbo Toilet 2000 (Captain Underpants #11)

When the Incredible Robo-Plunger defeated the evil Turbo Toilet 2000, George and Harold thought their toilet troubles were over. Unfortunately, their porcelain problems were only beginning . . .
Just when you thought it was safe to flush . . .
The Turbo Toilet 2000 strikes back! The carnivorous commode known for devouring everything in its path has built up a real appetite . . . for REVENGE! Join Captain Underpants for another epic showdown of Wedgie Power vs. Potty Power as our tighty-whitey-wearing superhero GOES TO ELEVEN!

Recipe Campbell's Zesty Beef and Rice Skillet

So along with this blog being reviews about books from children to middle grade (as I enjoy some middle grade books myself). This will also be a blog with other things on it. I am trying to explore the blogging world. I figured I would share with you the products we get offered to try or what we buy, and new recipes that we give a try to. So below is our first new recipe that we tried.


It is called Campbell's Zesty Beef and Rice Skillet you can click the name and it will bring up the website. I am not able to figure out how to make the symbol with an r and a circle but that symbol is suppose to be by the Pace Picante Sauce, and Swanson beef broth and beef stock.

Ingredients:

1 Tablespoon Vegetable Oil
1 Boneless beef sirloin steak, 3/4-inch thick (about 1 pound), cut into strips.
1 jar (16 ounces) Pace Picante Sauce
1 cup Swanson Beef Broth or Swanson Beef Stock
1 cup uncooked regular long-grain white rice
Chopped Fresh Parsley

How to make it:

1.) Heat the oil in a 10-inch skillet over medium-high heat. Add the beef and cook until it's well-browned, stirring often. Pour off an fat.

2.) Stir in the picante sauce, broth and rice in the skillet and heat to boil. Reduce the heat to low. Cover and cook for 20 minutes or until rice is tender. Sprinkle the beef mixture with parsley, if desired.


Now ours turned out really good and the whole family enjoyed it. But I actually did some things different.

For one I used almost the whole jar of picante sauce but not quite the whole thing.  I would say all but 1/3 cup is what I used. I also used boil-in-a-bag rice. While my meat was browning I boiled the rice for 10 minutes. Which I used 2 bags.
When rice was done I drained it and put the rice in the skillet with the meat and all the other ingredients. I cooked it for I would say about 10 minutes enough to heat everything up and mix everything together. I did not add parsley to it. But I did cook refried beans to add to the side. And we ate it with flour tortillas, shredded cheese and sour cream.

All in all it was a good meal that everyone enjoyed and we will be making it again in the future. I have to rate it at least 5 stars. :)

Review: The Bully Goat Grim A Maynard Moose Tale Willy Claflin, James Stimson

In the wacky world of Maynard Moose, storyteller Willy Claflin brings us Bully Goat Grim, who has a case of "Random Hostility Syndrome." He meets his match in Baby Troll. Her heart is pure, her mind is sharp, and she knows how to handle a bully!

Review: Sleep Tight Little Bear by Britta Teckentrup

It s cold in the woods and it s time for Little Bear to start his winter sleep. But not before he says good night to all of his special forest friends badger, deer, rabbit, mouse, fox, owl, squirrel, and wolf. Now Little Bear can happily fall asleep in his warm and cozy den all snuggled up to his mother...knowing that his friends will watch out for him during his long winter s sleep."

Review: Skylanders: The Kaos Trap by Ron Marz, Mike Bowden

The #1 kids videogame and hottest-selling toy, Skylanders, is coming to your bookshelf in all-new comic book adventures! Join fan-favorite characters Spyro, Stealth Elf, Trigger Happy, and more in these original, never-before-seen stories that tie directly into the videogames.

Topic of the Week!

How young do you think kids should be to read off an ereader?

Now, I do not have anything against ereaders and I think anything to get a child into books is a good thing. My son who just turned 8 knows about ereaders even though he uses them mostly for games. Can look for a book and have it read to him when he doesn't want momma to read. I of course just got my first ereader about 3 years ago and introduced him to it as it makes for great bedtime reading. I can turn off the light and just have the book light on which I think is perfect.
Me personally I think at least 6 to 7 years old.
That way they can grow up with actually books that they can hold!!
I want my youngest who is almost 2 to be able to hold a book, learn how to turn the pages and take great care of an actually book.
But with of course ebooks the books are cheaper for me to buy than spending almost $10.00 on a paperback or hardcover book. Because have you seen the prices of books now a days? I was just in Walmart and wanted to pick up a learning book for my daughter I think it was something to do with learning about animals which would be perfect for her and it was maybe 7 pages long. Oh my, it was $7.98 so with tax I would be spending almost $8.00 to $9.00 buck for a 7 page book.

Please leave ya'll's comments below! No bashing of course and everyone is entitled to an opinion.

Review: There Was An Old Lady Who Swallowed A Fly by: Rashin Kheiriyeh

We all remember the old lady who swallowed a fly, a spider, a cat, a dog, a cow, and a horse. Now we know how she did it! Rashin s colorful and comedic illustrations take you mid-gulp to mid-belly as the animals are swallowed whole. Her devoted cat tries to help: Stop! Don t eat it. Try this! But when the old lady grabs the cat it s every beast for itself: Eat the dog! And when the old lady cheers: Catch it! the critters leap into action to catch the one that was swallowed before."

Review: Lion Facts and Photos (Animals for Kids) by Roni Shwartz

Take your kids on a fascinating journey to the kingdom of the animals, and explore the life of the lion - King of the Savanna.

* Why do lion males have manes?
* What makes lions the Kings of all beasts?
* How do lions hunt?
* How long do they live?
* Do lions have enemies?

You will find answers to all these and many more questions in this informational picture book, together with beautiful photos of these majestic animals.

My name is Roni Shwartz, and I'm a travel consultant and writer who specializes in family travel. I spent more than 10 years in Africa, where I visited many of the world's most amazing parks and watched some of the world's most fascinating animals from close by...

In my new series of picture books for children, "Animals for kids", you and your kids will be able to learn a lot about the wild animals of our planet and appreciate how valuable they are for all of us...

Enjoy the reading!

Review: Elephant Facts and Photos (Animals for Kids) by Roni Shwartz

Take your kids on a fascinating journey to the kingdom of the animals, and explore the life of the largest animal on land - the elephant.
* Why do elephants have trunks?
* How big are elephants?
* How long do elephant live?
* where in the world do elephants live?
* Are elephants intelligent?

You will find answers to all these and many more questions in this informational picture book, together with beautiful photos of these majestic animals.
My name is Roni Shwartz, and I'm a travel consultant and writer who specializes in family travel. I spent more than 10 years in Africa, where I visited many of the world's most amazing parks and watched some of the world's most fascinating animals from close by...
In my new series of picture books for children, "Animals for kids", you and your kids will be able to learn a lot about the wild animals of our planet and appreciate how valuable they are for all of us...
Enjoy the reading!

Review: The Sunflower Sword (Andersen Press Picture Books) by Mark Sperring

In a land filled with fire and smoke and endless fighting, where knights fight dragons, there lives a little knight who wants to be big like the others, and fight like the others, and have a sword like the others. But his mother won't let him. Instead of a sword, she gives him a sunflower, which, as it turns out, can be mightier than a sword.

Review: Two at the Zoo by Danna Smith

Counting is always more fun when Grandpa helps! From one black bear to ten hairy warthogs, the young narrator and his grandpa count their way through a colorful and sometimes unusual zoo, encountering a wide assortment of friendly animals along the way. There are lions, zebras, and penguins, of course, but also chameleons and eagles . . . and even tarantulas! Playful, quirky illustrations put the loving relationship between the youthful grandfather and the grandson on proud display, while an upbeat, rhymed text full of sparkling verb sounds invites even the youngest readers and listeners to participate.