Toybox Thursday - Piggy Toes Press Crayola Wipe Off Activity Books Review & Giveaway

Have you heard of Piggy Toes Press?

Piggy Toes Press is the creator of quality pop-up, novelty, board, gift and activity books and they also offer top licensed books like Crayola, Disney, and Sesame Street. They have a fabulous selection of children's books - including touch and feel, magic ribbon books, the Brights Start Educational Series, and some of our personal favorite toddler/preschool books Ten Little Ladybugs and Eight Silly Monkeys. To see their current catalog click here.

We recently had the opportunity to review two of their Crayola write-on & wipe-off books - The Crayola Write-on/Wipe-off Book and the Crazy Colors Write-on/Wipe-off Book (recommended for ages 4+)

I was excited to have the opportunity to review these books with the Lil Divas. The pages are colorful and inviting. The book is spiral bound for easy page turning and the pages are hard so they stand up to use. 


The Crayola Alphabet Write-on/Wipe-off Book is a wonderful way to get children writing. I have been working with my 4yr old Lil Diva on her letter writing - teaching her the correct letter formation for each letter. Unfortunately, handwriting can get boring for children. Utilizing markers in fun colors on these write-on/wipe-off books definitely makes it fun. The Littlest Diva actually started toting the books around with her in the car! Even my kindergartener wanted in on the fun and it was great handwriting practice for her too.


Each page has a large Uppercase & Lowercase Letter of the alphabet with a starting point dot, dashed lines and arrows to help with proper letter formation. They also have pictures and words that begin with the target letter. All the target letters are traceable and then there are two lines at the bottom of the page to practice writing the letter on their own.


The final page of the book offers a complete traceable ABC review/practice.

Crayola Alphabet ABC Wipe-Off Book

a fun way to practice handwriting

The Crazy Colors Write-on/Wipe-off Book is 24 pages of pure fun that helps review colors and color words too! There are two colorful & vibrantly illustrated pages dedicated to each color - blue, red, green, lime-green, yellow, pink, purple, orange, brown, black and gray. One page has the child circle the things are the target color and the second page has  fun activity. These pages were definitely the Lil Divas favorite part of the book. The activities they offer include drawing a face that looks like your dad or friend, simple mazes, drawing flowers, shape counting & number writing, connect the dots, differentiating same vs. different, and even drawing toppings on a pizza. 

Crayola Crazy Colors Wipe-Off Book

Colors review & fun activities too

Both Lil Divas really enjoyed these books. They have been used many times and often travel with them in the car for easy fun on the go.

The Lil Divas enjoy their Crayola Write-On/Wipe-Off Books

I think the books are wonderful. They are very easy to clean/erase - we use a napkin on the go & it wipes off perfectly. They offer fun activities, educational review and some artistic fun.

I really appreciate that The Lil Divas can work with them independently.  After the initial explanations they have not needed my help, making this a wonderful on the go, independent activity. They are easy to manage for little hands - the spiral bound pages are easy to turn, the wipe-off pages are simple to erase and the pages offer visual clues that really help them figure out what to do with little to no adult reading required.

 These books have been sanity savers over the past few weeks - keeping my Littlest Diva happily occupied in the car line as we wait to pick up her big sister from school. They have been a welcome addition to our book collection.

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Buy It: 

Purchase a Crayola Write-on/Wipe-off Book

at Piggy Toes Press website. (Retail Price = $8.95)

Win It: 

 has graciously agreed to giveaway

One (1) Crayola Write-on/Wipe-off Book 

to One (1) lucky Mom to 2 Posh Lil Divas Reader!

How to Enter:

**Contest ends on 9/15/11**

 One (1) lucky Mom to 2 Posh Lil Divas reader

(US Residents Only!) is going to receive:

Their choice of either The Crayola Alphabet Write-on/Wipe-off Book or

The Crazy Colors Write-on/Wipe-off Book from Piggy Toes Press

Mandatory Entry

Tell me which one of the two Crayola Write-on/Wipe-off books from Piggy Toes Press I reviewed you would like to win - Crayola Alphabet Write-on/Wipe-off Book or Crazy Colors Write-on/Wipe-off Book

Please include your email with your comment so that I can find you if you're our winner!

**Mandatory Entry must be completed for extra entries to count**

Extra Entries (Optional)

Please leave a seperate comment

for each entry &

please include your e-mail

so I can get back to you if you win! 

*If you are already a follower leave a comment that counts as an entry*

1. Follow Mom to 2 Posh Lil Divas Publicly via Google Friend Connect  (+2) leave 2 comments
2. Follow Mom to 2 Posh Lil Divas on Facebook (+2) leave 2 comment
3. "Like"  Piggy Toes Press on Facebook - I'd love for you tell them I sent you! 
4. Follow Mom to 2 Posh Lil Divas on Twitter  (+2) leave 2 comments
5. Like Piggy Toes Press on Twitter - please tell them I sent you!
6. Subscribe to Mom to 2 Posh Lil Divas emails  (+2) leave 2 comments
7. Subscribe to Mom to 2 Posh Lil Divas Newsletter  (+2) leave 2 comment
8. Vote for me on Parents (Best Craft for Kids Blog) (+2) leave 2 comment
9. Make a comment on any non-giveaway post on Mom to 2 Posh Lil Divas Blog and leave a link.  You can do this for up to 5 posts but please note that comment must be dated after the start date of this post - not valid on previous comments. (+2) leave 2 comments
10. Tweet about this giveaway and leave a link - can be done once a day
    Tweet: #Win @piggytoespress Crayola Wipe-off Book w/@Momto2PoshDivas ends 9/15 http://fb.me/1b  #giveaways #homeschool #books #preschool

Giveaway Rules:

Giveaway ends 9/15/2011 at 11:59 (PDT)

Winner will be chosen via random.org. 

& contacted via email if an email is given .

Winner will have 48 hours to claim their prize.

Please note any entries that can not be verified will be disqualified.

*****************

Disclaimer: I received The ABC's & Crazy Colors Crayola Write-on/Wipe-off Books for free from Piggy Toes Press for the purposes of trying them out for this review. That being said, this review is my 100% honest opinion of this product - I  am not paid for my reviews or optinions! They are 100% mine! Please remember that your opinions and tastes might differ from mine. 

Good Luck,

Bern

Educational Insights Hot Dots Jr. Getting Ready for School Set Review & Giveaway

Summer is over & it's officially Back to School in our household! Even though the Lil Divas are both in school (PreK & K) - the learning never stops in our house. I am always looking for fun ways to enrich, reinforce and review what the Lil Divas are learning in school. So I was beyond excited to be able to share Educational Insight's Hot Dots Jr. Getting Ready for School Set with them.

The Lil Divas are very familiar with Ace (the Talking Dog Pen) since we had the opportunity to previously review Ace and Hot Dots Jr. Phonics Cards so they were excited to try the new set right away.


What's in the Box?
The Hot Dots Jr. Getting Ready for School Set comes with 1 Ace Talking, Teaching Dog Pen, a Lesson Guide and 80 two-sided interactive lesson cards.

There are 5 card sets in the box-
Set 1 - Shapes
Set 2 - Colors & Patterns
Set 3 - Let's Learn Numbers
Set 4 - Learning the Alphabet
Set 5 - Uppercase & Lowercase Letters

Our Thoughts & Experience w/ the Getting Ready for School Set:
Educational Insight's Hot Dots Jr. Getting Ready for School Set is geared for ages 3-6 and grades PreK thru 1st. The Lil Divas are in PreK & K/ages 4 &5 and the set really is perfect for them. It reviews and reinforces letter recognition, counting, number and number word recognition, shapes, patterns and colors.

I really like that the card sets target multi-levels. Both of Lil Divas were able to use different cards in the set to review and reinforce things appropriate for their age/level. For example, while the Littlest Diva counted items pictured and identified the correct number the Oldest Diva worked on number words. While the Littlest Diva focused on color matching the Oldest Diva worked with color words.  This offered wonderful reading practice/sight word recognition for the Oldest Diva and she had lots of fun while practicing.

As a busy mom I really appreciate that the set is self-correcting and child directed. This would be a wonderful addition to a classroom, homeschool or any home with young children. This is definitely something that children can work on independently, one-on-one with a teacher or parent or in a small group (i.e. class center activity). The card sets would be great to reinforce things being taught, review skills learned and check mastery. They can be incorporated into themes and units at school, be used as games or simply be a fun learning toy.

Ace the Talking, Teaching Dog Pen is a fun interactive tool. He lights up, barks in excitement and provides lots of positive reinforcement. When an incorrect answer has been chosen he encourages the user to try again. Both Lil divas LOVE Ace and they get so excited when he tells them they are correct!

Overall, as both a mom and an educator I was very pleased with this set. The only thing I would change is that there should be additional sets sold with supplemental material. I can see this getting too easy after repeated use since the material would be familiar. I would love to see additional sets sold. I know there are additional boxed sets for Hot Dots Jr. but I really like these larger cards with more questions on them.

The Lil Divas are enjoying Hot Dots Jr. Getting Ready for School Set and this is definitely something that will be used a lot in our home. The Littlest Diva even takes her Ace pen and cards in the car for play/work on the go.

*******************

Buy It: 

Purchase Hot Dots Jr. Getting Ready for School Set 

at Educational Insight's website. (Retail Price = $39.99)

Win It: 

Educational Insights has graciously agreed to giveaway

One (1) Hot Dots Jr. Getting Ready for School Set

to One (1) lucky Mom to 2 Posh Lil Divas Reader!

How to Enter:

**Contest ends on 9/8/11**

 One (1) lucky Mom to 2 Posh Lil Divas reader

(US Residents Only!) is going to receive:

a Hot Dots Jr. Getting Ready for School Set kit

Mandatory Entry:

Visit Educational Insights website & tell me what you would like to review and/or learn with the  Hot Dots Jr. Getting Ready for School Set and who you would like to win it for. 

Please include your email w/your comment so I can find you if you're our winner!

**Mandatory Entry must be completed for extra entries to count**

Extra Entries (Optional)

Please leave a separate comment

for each entry &

please include your e-mail

so I can get back to you if you win! 

*If you are already a follower leave a comment that counts as an entry*

1. Follow Mom to 2 Posh Lil Divas Publicly via Google Friend Connect  (+2) leave 2 comments
2. Follow Mom to 2 Posh Lil Divas on Facebook (+3) leave 3 comments
3. "Like" Educational Insights on Facebook - I'd love for you tell them I sent you!
4. Follow Mom to 2 Posh Lil Divas on Twitter  (+2) leave 2 comments
5. Subscribe to Mom to 2 Posh Lil Divas emails  (+2) leave 2 comments
6. Subscribe to Mom to 2 Posh Lil Divas Newsletter  (+2) leave 2 comment
7. Vote for me on Parents (Best Craft for Kids Blog)
8. Make a comment on any non-giveaway post on Mom to 2 Posh Lil Divas Blog and leave a link.  You can do this for up to 5 posts but please note that comment must be dated after the start date of this post - not valid on previous comments. (+2) leave 2 comments
9. Tweet about this giveaway and leave a link - can be done once a day
10. Tweet: #Win @ed_insights Hot Dots Jr. Getting Ready for School Set w/@Momto2PoshDivas end 9/8 http://goo.gl/f #giveaways #homeschool #preschool

Giveaway Rules:

Giveaway ends 9/8/2011 at 11:59 (PDT)

Winner will be chosen via random.org. 

& contacted via email if an email is given .

Winner will have 48 hours to claim their prize.

Please note any entries that can not be verified will be disqualified.

*****************

Disclaimer: I received The Hot Dots Jr. Getting Ready for School Set for free for the purposes of trying it out for this review. That being said, this review is my 100% honest opinion of this product - I  am not paid for my reviews or optinions! They are 100% mine! Please remember that your opinions and tastes might differ from mine. 

Good Luck,

Bern

Toybox Thursday: Ring the Bell Electronic Goal Tracker Review & Giveaway (Ed. Insights)

Toybox Thursday is back from hiatus/vacation &

today I have another great review/giveaway from Educational Insights.

Ring the Bell - the Electronic Goal Tracker!

 

What's in the box?

You basically get a 20" Freestanding goal tracker w/base.

The base must be attached - but it's a simple snap on.

It is also easy to snap off for storage in the box.

The goal tracker is made using a write-on/wipe-off chart for ease & repeated use.

 It includes 4 major milestone markers

(these generate light & sound effects when reached!)

and the attached milestone puck which is easy & simple to move up and down.

Our Thoughts:

The Lil Divas LOVED the lights & sounds the goal tracker makes.

When I first opened it up they easily spent 10-15 mins

making the lights & sounds go off by moving the puck up to the bell! :)

This would obviously be great for a classroom

but it can certainly be equally useful at home.

This would be great for keeping track of books read, chores completed, etc.

Any goal you have with your child can be incorporated

since you get to write the specifics on the tracker yourself.

At our home, we have used marble jars for the girls to encourage specific behaviors.

I can not tell you how many we have broken in the past!

It's both a mess & a safety concern.

This is so much simpler to use!

Right now, I will be using it specifically with the Oldest Diva

to help with her sleeping issues!

For each night of the week she goes to be without a fuss/fight

we will move up the tracker -

until we reach our goal and then she will get a special treat

like being taken out  to her fave local frozen yogurt place!

I think the electronic bell tracker is definitely more "exciting" than our old marble jar.

The lights & sounds make reaching milestones festive - like a mini celebration!



**********************

Buy It: 

Purchase Ring the Bell - the Electronic Goal Tracker 

at Educational Insight's website. (Retail Price = $32.99)

Win It: 

Educational Insights has graciously agreed to giveaway

One (1) Ring the Bell - the Electronic Goal Tracker

to One (1) lucky Mom to 2 Posh Lil Divas Reader!

How to Enter:

**Contest ends on 8/11/11**

 One (1) lucky Mom to 2 Posh Lil Divas reader

(US Residents Only!) is going to receive:

(1) Ring the Bell - the Electronic Goal Tracker

Mandatory Entry:

Tell me how you would use Ring the Bell - the Electronic Goal Tracker.

Share a goal you would like your child or class to reach using the tracker.

**Mandatory Entry must be completed for extra entries to count**

Extra Entries (Optional)

Please leave a seperate comment

for each entry &

please include your e-mail

so I can get back to you if you win! 

*If you are already a follower leave a comment that counts as an entry*

1. Follow Mom to 2 Posh Lil Divas Publicly via Google Friend Connect  (+2) leave 2 comments
2. "Like" Educational Insights on facebook 
3. Follow Mom to 2 Posh Lil Divas on Twitter  (+2) leave 2 comments
4. Subscribe to Mom to 2 Posh Lil Divas emails  (+2) leave 2 comments
5. Subscribe to Mom to 2 Posh Lil Divas Newsletter  (+2) leave 2 comment
6. Make a comment on any non-giveaway post on Mom to 2 Posh Lil Divas Blog and leave a link.  You can do this for up to 5 posts but please note that comment must be dated after the start date of this post - not valid on previous comments. (+2) leave 2 comments
7. Tweet about this giveaway and leave a link - can be done once a day
   
   Tweet: #Win an @ed_insights Ring the Bell Electronic Goal Tracker w/@Momto2PoshDivas ends 8/11 http://goo.gl/fb/s7Q7y #giveaways #parenting #teachers

Giveaway Rules:
Giveaway ends 8/11/2011 at 11:59 (PDT)
Winner will be chosen via random.org. 
& contacted via email if an email is given .
Winner will have 48 hours to claim their prize.

Please note any entries that can not be verified will be disqualified.

*****************

Disclaimer:I received Ring the Bell for the purposes of trying them out for this review. That being said, this review is my 100% honest opinion of this product - I  am not paid for my reviews or optinions! They are 100% mine! Please remember that your opinions and tastes might differ from mine. 

Good Luck,

Bern