ALEX AND BRETT HARRIS founded TheRebelution.com in August 2005 and today, at age 19, are among the most widely read teen writers on the Web. The twins are frequent contributors to Focus on the Family's webzine Boundless, serve as the main speakers for The Rebelution Tour conferences, and have been featured nationally on MSNBC, CNN, NPR, and The New York Times, as well as in publications like WORLD magazine, Breakaway, and Ignite Your Faith. Their first book, Do Hard Things: A Teenage Rebellion Against Low Expectations, was released on April 15, 2008, by Multnomah Books.

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Two new books for kids from Abrams Books.

Ballroom Bonanza: A Hidden Pictures ABC Book

Mammoths and Mastodons: Titans of the Ice Age

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You may have heard or already seen the movie adaptation of Diary of a Wimpy Kid that opened in theaters on March 19th, but do you know the steps that landed it there?

Jeff Kinney, author of the popular book series takes kids on a surprising journey through the process of making a book into a movie in The Wimpy Kid Movie Diary.  He starts with the original movie pitch and explores all the work that it takes from there to get to the test screening.

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UGLee Pen.  A pen by any other name would write just as well...or would it?  Actually I didn't find the UGLee Pen so much "ugly" looking, I thought it was more "futuristic" looking.  

Interestingly enough, there is a proper way to hold a writing instrument when you put it to paper (or napkins or walls, depending on where you are, or what you are doing...).   This is especially true for children, as it takes years for the muscles that are used to write to do so efficiently.  It is also important to use a pen or pencil that is ergonomically made if one has medical issues that cause the hands pain or to swell. I have Raynaud's which is an ailment that cause circulation to be diminished in my hands, if I write too much in one sitting my hands can become numb or painful.  Using a poorly designed writing instrument can exacerbate that immensely. 

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The weather is still a little chilly here in South Dakota, and so we're still inside quite a bit.  We got a new game a couple of weeks ago which is helping pass the time until Spring decides to arrive.

Callisto was developed by a German mathematician/game inventor.  It's a strategy game with a simple, bold design and a competitive edge.

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If you have not heard of The 39 Clues book series, let me give it to you in a nutshell...wealthy matriarch scatters cryptic clues to a mysterious fortune around the globe.  Siblings Amy and Dan Cahill are in a competition with the rest of their family to get the fortune by discovering all 39 clues. 

It's targeted audience is ages 9 - 12, but I'm sure there are older and younger that will enjoy the series alike.  Spanning 10 volumes, #8 The Emperor's Code is set for release on April 6th, 2010.

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Math is Amber's favorite subject in school.  It's the highlight of her school day (really!).  She has always excelled at math, and I am so glad, because I struggled with that subject in school.

Media can be a great learning tool and Leap Frog is always introducing new toys and products on the market to help make your child's learning fun.  Their newest DVD Math Adventure to the Moon is one such product.

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And I'm just not talking about Mickey Mouse, I'm talking about a computer mouse too!  Disney Digital Books provides a whole library of Disney books for readers of all levels, that will help keep (or learn!) a love for reading.

Amber has always been a reluctant reader. She reads well, but finding content that interests her is always a chore.  Disney Digital books however, has kept her busy the last couple of weeks for her required homeschool reading.  She has discovered the Jack Sparrow books and is reading longer than I require her, because she is liking them so much.

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Madrid Skyline (Image Via Wikipedia)Growing up in Canada I was fortunate to be able to learn a second language in school as soon as first grade.  Combine that with having both my parents immigrate from another country and learning another language at home, and I can get by (in most cases) in three languages. 

One of the best things about homeschooling is the opportunities we have to travel.  Take for instance this spring.  We'll sail across the Atlantic Ocean and visit ports in Gibraltar, Portugal and Spain.  Talk about the ultimate field trip. 

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It is time for a FIRST Wild Card Tour book review! If you wish to join the FIRST blog alliance, just click the button. We are a group of reviewers who tour Christian books. A Wild Card post includes a brief bio of the author and a full chapter from each book toured. The reason it is called a FIRST Wild Card Tour is that you never know if the book will be fiction, non~fiction, for young, or for old...or for somewhere in between! Enjoy your free peek into the book! You never know when I might play a wild card on you! Today's Wild Card authors are: Tom DeRosa and Carolyn Reeves and the book set of Energy: Its Forms, Changes & Functions The Main Book The Student Journal and The Teacher's Guide New Leaf Publishing Group/Master Books (September 30, 2009)

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It is time for a FIRST Wild Card Tour  book review! If you wish to join the FIRST blog alliance, just click the button. We are a group of reviewers who tour Christian books. A Wild Card post includes a brief bio of the author and a full chapter from each book toured. The reason it is called a FIRST Wild Card Tour is that you never know if the book will be fiction, non~fiction, for young, or for old...or for somewhere in between! Enjoy your free peek into the book!

You never know when I might play a wild card on you!

and the book:

Dinosaurs for Kids

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I have always had a liking for Sock Monkeys.  They are just the cutest things.

In yesterday's post I told you abou tthe Disney Pillowcase Art kits from Janlynn.  They also have super fun Peejay Sock Monkey kits to make your very own stuffed pet.

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I received Qwirkle from Growing Tree Toys which is an online store that sells educational toys.

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Oh my only 12 more days until Christmas!!  I thought it would be fun to showcase some quick and easy gift ideas you can give to friends, neighbors, co-workers, and oh yes…even your family! You can enter to win eBooks from www.YouCanMakeThis.com and learn some fun new techniques, tips, and ideas not only for the people on your list, but also creative ways to decorate your home!

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Pages: 300
Home Page: joyberryenterprises.com

You Can...Go For It! is a Winning Skills compilation book containing Joy Berry Classics; Be Beautiful, Be Liked, Be Happy, Be A Star, Be A Winner and Have A Great Future.  These books are geared for children ages 11-12, or about grades 5-6.


You may be familiar with Joy Berry books from some of her series for younger children like her Help Me Be Good series.  We had many of those books for Amber when she was younger.

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