If you’re a mom, listen up.

Let’s admit it. We’ve all had those days. Those desperate days. Those days when we begin to feel like we’re drowning in daily duties and if anything can go wrong, it will.

Wendy Hagen understands that there are “those days.” She understands that motherhood is indeed a calling, but that it can be a taxing, exhausting, and confusing journey, too. And she’s packaged all of her thoughts on motherhood into one nice wrapped package, a book that every single mom on earth needs to read.

Did you hear me correctly?

Yes, that’s right: I firmly believe that every single mom (and mom-to-be) on the face of this earth needs to read Totally Desperate Mom: Keepin’ It Real in the Motherhood.

Hagen’s book opens with a horrific (yet humorous) story of a post-birth hemorrhoid experience. It only gets “better” from that point on. Every single “what to expect” during the early years of mommyhood are covered honestly and matter-of-factly as the chapters continue.

Moms of preschoolers and older kids will nod and chuckle knowingly at the painstaking attention to detail when it comes to the “mishaps” and misadventures of motherhood. From poopy diapers in not-so-ideal locations to the brutally honest words escaping from your child’s mouth to embarrass you just so, you’ll be sure to relate — as if you’re laughing and nodding along with a good pal over coffee.

And for those of you who are about to embark on this wonderful adventure called parenthood, there’s lots for you in here, too. There’s blatant detail about morning sickness in all of its necessary glory. You’ll learn all about those early, bleary-eyed first days at home with a newborn, what Hagen refers to “the black hole.” You’ll gain reassurance that hormones will indeed be raging, and that so many things are…yes, really….normal.

And there’s special attention given to those who are unable to conceive or have lost a child. Infertility and child loss are discussed candidly yet compassionately, as Hagen herself is very familiar with both.

Hagen is a devout Christian and speaks openly about her dependence on her faith as a mom….but she holds (and I agree) that Totally Desperate Mom seamlessly applies to women and moms of all faiths.

I give this book five stars….five-and-a-half, if I could. It’s a book that I laughed with, cried with. It’s a book that I most definitely wish I could have owned and read six years ago, as I was expecting our firstborn and still so naive and clueless about what lay ahead.

It’s a book you’ll read and love and want to share with all of your mommy (and pregnant) friends. You’ll love Wendy’s subtle (and not-so-subtle) humor and her lighthearted look at life, at being a mom. You’ll feel better understood, more confident, and definitely less “alone.”

You can order Totally Desperate Mom directly from Wendy’s website for $12 — or pre-order it from Amazon.com. (It will be available there on or before August 3rd, 2010.)

Win it! Wendy has graciously given me an extra SIGNED copy of Totally Desperate Mom to give to one of my readers!

Here’s how to enter:

1) MANDATORY: In a comment below, tell me why you’d love to read this book!

2) For a second entry, subscribe to Muse Reviews’ feed OR subscribe via email — tell me in a separate comment if you’re a new subscriber or already a subscriber.

3) For a third entry, become friends with Muse Reviews on Facebook, then tell me you did so in a separate comment below.

4) For a fourth entry, twitter about this contest using @MuseReviews within your tweet, then tell me in a separate comment that you twittered!

I’ll close the contest next Wednesday, July 28th, 2010 at 11pm EST. Sorry; US mailing addresses only. Good luck!

CONTEST IS NOW CLOSED.

Congrats to the winner, #32, Tracy!

FTC info — Disclaimer: I received a copy of this book for free for review purposes; however, my review was honest and my opinions are my own. I only received the product itself; I received no other monetary compensation for this review. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

If you’re a history buff, historical romance fan, or are just in need of an inspirational and awe-inspiring story, look no further than The Heart Mender: A Story of Second Chances by Andy Andrews.

Published by Thomas Nelson, The Heart Mender is an artful blend of fiction and non, a peering back into the early years of the second world war through the eyes of a handful of people, a group of folks who have quite a predicament on their hands due to entrenching Nazi subs in the waters of the Gulf — right beside their quaint beachside town.

At the center of the story is a war widow named Helen, a woman who’s lost all faith in humanity and who holds pent-up anger deep inside. Helen endures a constant inner struggle, unable to let go and live a fulfilling life after the tragic death of her new husband.

Everything Helen knows and keeps to herself is laid bare as she stumbles across a wounded gentlemen late one night beside the surf. Tempted to turn and walk away, ignoring his pleas for help, she stops in her tracks and is unable to leave him behind after he utters one barely decipherable phrase.

Buy		Read

I was immediately drawn to and felt for Helen. Though I’ve never felt such anger, I have held resentment and bitterness in the past and have seen the poison it creates within my own life. No man’s life is untouched by others, and this book shows that full well. The intermingling of stories and souls draws you in and adheres you to many of the memorable characters as the story continues. All the way to the breath-holding conclusion, you’ll find this book difficult to put down….and the message difficult to deny or dismiss.

You can buy The Heart Mender: A Story of Second Chances by Andy Andrews for $18.99 directly from Thomas Nelson, as well as at Amazon.com, ChristianBook.com, and many other book retailers.

Win it! Courtesy of Thomas Nelson (via BookSneeze), I have one extra copy of The Heart Mender to give away to one of you!

Here’s how to enter:

1) MANDATORY: Tell me, in a comment below, who you’d like to win this book for (yourself included) and why.

2) For a second entry, subscribe to Muse Reviews’ feed OR subscribe via email — tell me in a separate comment if you’re a new subscriber or already a subscriber.

3) For a third entry, become friends with Muse Reviews on Facebook, then tell me you did so in a separate comment below.

4) For a fourth entry, twitter about this contest using @MuseReviews within your tweet, then tell me in a separate comment that you twittered!

I’ll close the contest next Wednesday, July 14th, 2010 at 11pm EST. Sorry; US addresses only. Good luck!

CONTEST IS NOW CLOSED.

Congratulations to the winner, #57, Abi!

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from Thomas Nelson Publishers as part of their BookSneeze.com book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 : “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

This year, JAKKS Pacific introduced several new Disney Fairies items that coincide with the DVD release of Tinkerbell and the Lost Treasure.

My little pixie is enamored with all-things-Tinkerbell, so you can imagine her glee when JAKKS sent over a couple of their new Disney Fairies products for us to try out and play with!

The Disney Fairies Balloon with Terence Playset is modeled explicitly after the balloon in the movie, complete with opening petals to reveal a fairy’s tiny tea lounge!

The Disney Fairies Balloon Playset comes with 1 Ballon Playset, 1 Terence Doll, 2 Stools, 2 Cups, 1 Telescope, 1 Pixie Dust Pouch, 1 Spool of Rope and 2 Reversible Floor Panels. It retails for $19.99.

We were also invited to review the 4.5″ Disney Fairies dolls. These palm-sized fairy dolls are intricately detailed and poseable for play. Each fairy in this line comes with a piece of the Blue Moonstone Scepter….collect them all to complete and assemble the scepter as in the last scene of the film! Each fairy also includes removable boots or shoes, a Pixie Pass charm which has a code that can be used as currency at PixieHollow.com!

The 4.5″ Disney Fairy Dolls by JAKKS Pacific can be found for $6.99 each. You can buy any of JAKKS’ Disney Fairies products at ToysRUs, eToys, and most mainline toy retailers!

Win it! Thanks to JAKKS Pacific, one of you will win an assortment of two of the 4.5″ Disney Fairies!

Here’s how to enter:

1) MANDATORY: Tell me, in a comment below, another toy from JAKKS Pacific that your kids would love to have and play with.
2) For an extra entry, subscribe to Muse Reviews’ feed OR subscribe via email — tell me in a separate comment if you’re a new subscriber or already a subscriber.
3) For a third entry, become friends with Muse Reviews on Facebook, then tell me you did so in a separate comment below.
4) For a fourth entry, twitter about this contest using @MuseReviews within your tweet, then tell me in a separate comment that you twittered!

I’ll close the contest next Saturday, April 10th, 2010 at 11pm EST. Sorry; US entries only. Good luck!

CONTEST IS NOW CLOSED.

Congratulations to the winner, commenter #92, Jennifer!

FTC info — Disclaimer: I received this product for free for review purposes; however, my review was honest and my opinions are my own. I only received the product itself; I received no other monetary compensation for this review. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

What’s it really like to have your identity robbed from you? In William Boyd’s Ordinary Thunderstorms, it’s evident that your life can change fast….too fast….if this unfortunate happening finds you.

Ordinary Thunderstorms is a tense crime drama set in the streets (and understreets) of London. There is no “warming up” and getting set up into the story. By the time the first chapter ends, you are thrust head-first into a harrowing and devastating situation along with the main character, Adam Kindred, a self-respecting climatologist.

A chance meeting of a stranger and then, moments later, the witness of that stranger’s post-murder scene (and subsequent death), plunges Kindred into a place where he really does not want to be. Yet he’s going…he has to…and his journey into safety takes him straight into hiding, namely, into the underground of the European city.

He is moved effortlessly from a place of status and security to somewhere he’s never been…even to the point of begging for basic needs. He has lost everything he’s worked for….even the basic rights of every human being. He comes across a varied flock of unusual and eclectic characters as he travels on to a seemingly unknown point.

The story touches on the corruption of large pharmaceutical firms, the dishonesty that looms and the secretive games that are played within the darkest shadows of the corporate world.

I found this book enjoyable to read, like most other crime dramas I’ve read, yet it felt a little slow at times. I did enjoy learning more about a part of the world that I don’t know much about, as well as getting a very different perspective from a “man on the run” than is usually seen.

You can order Boyd’s novel Ordinary Thunderstorms from HarperCollins for $26.99, or look for it wherever new books are sold.

Win it! Courtesy of HarperCollins, one of you can win your very own copy of William Boyd’s Ordinary Thunderstorms to read & enjoy.

Here’s how to enter:

1) MANDATORY: Comment below with another HarperCollins title you’d love to get lost in.
2) For an extra entry, subscribe to Muse Reviews’ feed — tell me in a separate comment if you’re a new subscriber or already a subscriber.
3) For a third entry, become friends with Muse Reviews on Facebook, then tell me you did so in a separate comment below.
4) For a fourth entry, twitter about this contest using @MuseReviews within your tweet, then tell me in a separate comment that you twittered!

I’ll close this contest next Thursday, March 4th, 2010 at 11pm EST. Sorry; US entries only. Good luck!

CONTEST IS NOW CLOSED.

Congratulations to commenter #66, Heather!

FTC info — Disclaimer: I received this product for free for review purposes; however, my review was honest and my opinions are my own. I only received the product itself; I received no other monetary compensation for this review. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

Making Toast, a new memoir by author, journalist, and playwright Roger Rosenblatt, is a somber account of life after the loss of a grown daughter. The author’s daughter, a wife, doctor, and mother of three children, dies suddenly in December 2007 of a rare and undiagnosed heart condition.

There is no other thing to do but go and be there….and that’s just what Roger and Ginny, his wife and mother of the lost-too-soon daughter, do. They pack up their life and travel to move in with the sorrowful widower and his three children.

The author is lovingly donned “Boppo” by his grandkids. He’s lovable, entertaining, and a terrific diversion for them during this horrific time. When the kids ask how long they’re going to stay, Boppo replies, “Forever.”

Boppo’s pride and top achievement is knowing exactly how each child likes their morning toast….and making it perfectly for them all each and every morning. It’s this common, everyday occurrence and task that speaks the theme of this whole book: Death happens, but life still goes on. Even after a loved one is lost, there are still others left behind that must go on living (and be dutifully cared for). It is in completing these daily, required household tasks that the author and the family finds solace….until they are better at grips with the sadness they’ve been slammed with, and more able to grieve and deal with their loss.

I enjoyed the way this memoir was written. Instead of regular chapters and unbroken paragraphs, it is written in small snippets….memories of the past interspersed with small happenings (significant and insignificant) of the current day. The glimpses and reflections bounce between sentimental, frustrated, trying, and hopeful.

The author’s anger and resentment, and subsequent questioning of why God would let this happen to such a wonderful person and family, clouded this book for me at times. I felt that, despite all of the questions and ponderings, he was still left with empty reserves and no real answers….and stubborn self-reliance.

Yet, overall, I still found it a raw and heartfelt account from a real-life Dad. The way he remembers tiny, minute details about his beloved daughter is overwhelming. One could only hope to be remembered so well by those who love them most.

Then a call near the end to all of us who read it: To remember to tell those we love that we love them….because we never know when “too late” will be.

Though this wasn’t a walk in the park to read through, this book had such beauty and prose that I found it hard to put down.

You can purchase Making Toast for $21.99 via HarperCollins or wherever your favorite books are sold.

Win it! Thanks to HarperCollins, one of you will win a copy of Making Toast by Roger Rosenblatt.

Here’s what you need to do:

1) Comment below with another HarperCollins title you’re itching to read
2) For an extra entry, subscribe to Muse Reviews’ feed — tell me in a separate comment if you’re a new subscriber or already a subscriber
3) For a third entry, become friends with Muse Reviews on Facebook, then tell me you did so in a separate comment below!

I’ll close the contest next Friday, February 26th, 2010 at 11pm EST. Sorry; US entries only. Good luck!

CONTEST IS NOW CLOSED.

Congrats to commenter # 22, Cindy, the winner of this contest!

FTC info — Disclaimer: I received this product for free for review purposes; however, my review was honest and my opinions are my own. I only received the product itself; I received no other monetary compensation for this review. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

This is a compensated review from BlogHer and Sprint

It’s that time of year. Thousands and thousands of people will soon embark upon cross-country car treks, international flights, and long-distance train rides be home for the holidays. Thankfully, my husband and I live near all of our family and don’t have to travel this year. Yet when I was growing up, traveling in November and December was commonplace. BlogHer and Sprint teamed up to bring together some of the craziest, most eventful, most unforgettable holiday road trip stories ever. There was no doubt what I would write about. Though I was just 10 years old, the memory of one particular trip is crystal clear.

My dad served in the U.S. Army for a large span of my childhood. One of our stations was at Fort Polk, Louisiana, nearly 900 miles from South Carolina, the state both of my parents call home. During the three years of our being stationed at Polk, we made several trips back and forth between there and my grandparents’ house in S.C.

Only one of the 14-hour trips was taken by plane. Our usual mode of transportation was our minivan. Dad and Mom would wake up my sister and me in the early morning hours to begin our trek home. We would usually make it in time to sit down to supper with our relatives, late that same day.

Traveling back to our house in Louisiana was another story. To spend as much time with family as we could, we’d leave mid-morning, after breakfast sometime, meaning we had a seemingly longer trip ahead. Many times we’d stop halfway at a hotel to rest for the night, starting fresh again the next morning.

On a particular trip home after a holiday visit, however, Dad decided to drive on through. That was fine with my sister and me. We just got cozy and crashed in the backseat (me lying down in the floorboard, since child restraint laws certainly weren’t what they are today). We thought it was a great adventure! (And little did we know, it certainly would be.)

Dad was driving, music low enough for the rest of us to sleep. Mom was beside him, leaning back in the passenger seat, asleep. I was dozing in the floorboard….and my sister was above me in her car seat, sleeping soundly.

Now I must let you in on a little detail. I had a tiny little traveling companion on this particular trip. Somehow….somehow….I’d coaxed my parents to let me bring my pet Betta fish with me. Little shimmery-blue-scaled Skittles floated along with us in his octagon-shaped fishbowl. I held on tight to him for most of the car trip, but while I was resting, I’d propped his bowl against some blankets and coats, buffering him with objects to keep him upright.

Now that the scene is set, let’s commence to the chaos. About 1:30am, a loud “KA-THUNK/BANG!” shook our minivan, somewhere between Meridian and Jackson, Mississippi (in other words, in the absolute middle of nowhere). Before the sound even ended, Mom was screaming. Dad was stunned, but at the same time, harried and panicked. “I think we hit a deer. WE HIT A DEER!” he yelled. Mom clapped her hands over her mouth. She might have been crying. The van kept rolling, but Dad was slowing it down to prepare for a median stop. I was a bit dazed and confused, still not quite clear on what had just happened. I could hear our van scraping the interstate pavement as we slowed.

I glanced down beside me, peering carefully to see with only the interior car lighting shining down. His bowl. It was overturned. And Skittles. Was gone.

“WHERE’S THE FISH!?!?” I yelled frantically. I cannot even begin to describe what the next few seconds looked (and sounded) like. Dad struggled to completely pull us over and stop, all the while looking around hysterically for a lost blue fish. He put the car in park and pulled up his feet. “Here he is!” he yelled, seeing a shimmery blue fish flip-flopping all over the driver’s side floorboard. GET HIM! Oh, NO! He can’t breathe! Skittles! The yelling and the crying, it just kept on going, probably making Dad’s job a whole lot more difficult as he flung his fists around trying to grasp this wet, wriggly, freaking-out fish at his feet. “I pulled part of his fin off!” came Dad’s voice from the front. Skittles’ chance at a longer life was looking kind of grim.

Though it seemed like forever, Dad finally yelled, “I’ve got him! I’ve got him.” He handed back a convulsing blue Skittles and I held out the octagon bowl. Most had spilled out; all that remained in the bottom was about a tablespoon of water, which I had to pool by tilting it to one side.

Crying, I clutched the fishbowl to me, holding it just so, so Skittles could breathe the little bit of water left in there for him to occupy. Our hazard lights were on, and Dad got out to survey the damage. The deer had hit the front headlight on the passenger’s side, then swung around the crushed the passenger door. No broken glass, but we did have a very dented van and a front fender that was dragging the ground.

A man in a pick-up truck pulled up behind us and got out to ask if we needed help. Dad said no thanks — that we were just going to drive slowly to the next town and get a hotel and a body shop — and the guy tipped his hat at us. “Well, then, do you mind if I go back and get the deer for the meat?”

(Ahhh, good ole’ Mississippi.)

I can tell you that this story does have a happy ending. The van did make it to the next town, and we slept well that night. (Including my little sister, who slept through the entire episode. She never woke up…not for any of it.)

The car was totally re-done, and a month later you couldn’t tell anything had happened. We never did drive through the night again from SC to LA.

And Skittles did live. He got a refill in the motel bathroom and lived to be a couple of years older. But you know what? His fin never did grow back, and we’re convinced that’s why he swam noticeably lop-sided for the remainder of his days. Bless his little heart.

Courtesy of Sprint and BlogHer, one of you will win a $200 Visa gift card!
To enter, leave me a comment below and tell me a short blurb about your most crazy/hilarious/eventful holiday road trip! (OR you may leave a link to an entire holiday road trip post/story on your own blog in the comments below.) The contest will begin on Tuesday, December 8, 2009 at 9:00am PST and will end on Thursday, December 31, 2009 at 5:00pm PST. Make sure that the e-mail address you leave is correct.

Rules:

* No duplicate comments.
* You may receive an additional entry by linking on twitter and leaving a link in the comments.
* You may receive an additional entry by blogging about this contest and leaving a link in the comments.
* This giveaway is open to US residents aged 18 and older
* Winners will be selected via random draw, and will notified by e-mail.
* You have 48 hours to get back to me, otherwise a new winner will be selected.
* Please see the official rules here.

Don’t forget to head to BlogHer’s Special Offers page and check out the other holiday road trip stories! All in all, you have NINE chances to win the Visa gift card!

CONTEST IS NOW CLOSED — Thanks for participating!

The lucky winner of the $200 Visa gift card is #192, Tina Reynolds! Congratulations, Tina! I’ll be sending you an email soon. Thanks, everyone, for joining in on the fun!

Our two children, since infancy, have always been 12-hours-a-night sleepers. More recently, though, they’ve been having trouble getting to sleep, and both have foregone sleeping at naptime. This doesn’t mean that all is lost, though. They still have a mandatory “down time” in their rooms right after lunch, and at night, we’ve found some tricks to help them settle down quicker and begin their trips to dreamland. My Tot Clock has been one of those helps!

My Tot Clock was thought up and created by a sleep-deprived mom, Pamela Gonzalez, who began experiencing toddler sleep troubles when a new baby brother was introduced into the family. Needing a solution for a little boy who got up every hour or two to tell her that “the sun was awake,” she came up with My Tot Clock.

My Tot Clock is filled with customizable features to let your little one know what time it is (and what time he or she may get out of bed). There are, in fact, five distinct settings to time your little one’s daily activities and regimens. The clock face changes colors depending on whether it’s bedtime, wake time, or nap time….plus there are two more colors to use for times of encouragement or discipline!

We decided to put this clock on our son’s room since he’s the one who is hardest to settle down and is also beginning to learn how to TELL time. It’s been a terrific, useful resource! What exactly do I love about My Tot Clock?

- I love that it has an AC adapter plug — no batteries to keep replacing!
- The face’s light can be dimmed or brightened depending on preferences.
- Tot Clock Treasures cartridges (one is included and others are available for purchase) play bedtime stories, songs, lullabies, and even white noise.
- The Tot Clock Treasures cartridges can also be set to start playing music at awake time, for those children who need to get up at a certain time for school or daycare.
- With the buttons on the back, you can customize sleep and awake time for automatic light setting changes….BUT an override function is available for the times when “life happens” and the times need to be adjusted!
- The soft glowing blue light serves dual purpose as a nightlight!
- A digital clock is on the back, and a clock with hands is on the front — terrific for kids learning how to tell time.
- There are interchangeable faceplates available so that your child can fully customize his or her Tot Clock!

(The back of the unit….notice how many buttons there are! So, so customizable. The directions for setting the time durations were super simple and very self-explanatory.)

With My Tot Clock, our son now comes into our bedroom in the mornings only after the faceplate turns yellow at 7:15am. During nap time, he knows that his “quiet time” isn’t over until the green-blue changes to yellow. Much more fun and interactive than a standard timer! My Tot Clock is a must-have for any family who is dealing with toddler sleep issues (or is anticipating them).

You can order My Tot Clock directly from their website. My Tot Clock includes the clock, one cartridge, and stars and moon faceplate, all for $49.95. You can purchase other Tot Clock Treasures cartridges or faceplates for $9.95 each. (Well worth the value of a good night’s sleep — for everyone in your household!)

Win it! Thanks to Pamela, the creative mom behind My Tot Clock, one of you can win your very own My Tot Clock unit! To enter to win, tell me the following information in a comment below:
1) Why you need My Tot Clock in your household, and
2) Which faceplate your child would like the best.

I’ll close the contest next Wednesday, November 25th, 2009 at 11pm EST. Sorry; US entries only. Good luck!

CONTEST IS NOW CLOSED.

Congratulations to commenter #9, Kristi, the winner of the Tot Clock!

Earlier this year, I reviewed a book about Splat the Cat, written and illustrated by Rob Scotton.

Splat appears this year in a brand new book that’s Christmas-themed: Merry Christmas, Splat!

Our kids adore Splat. He not only closely resembles our own long, wiry-haired, black cat, he’s also adorable in thought and action.

In the opening of this book, he’s writing a letter to Santa, with the aid of his tiny mouse pal, Seymour. His little sister walked over and began to plant some doubts in Splat’s head about how good he’d really been that year.

Splat, worried, began to seek out ways to make up for lost time. With an eager spirit, he began “helping out” around the house, which actually resulted more messes being created. When night fell, he went to bed with a flashlight, hoping to catch Santa and make one last plea for how good he’d been.

He awoke the next morning to….an unexpected surprise. (You’ll have to read to find out!)

Splat’s wiry, wispy black hair, wide and super-alert eyes, and cute and expressive mouth make for an entertaining main character that your children are sure to adore. It’s one of my favorite books to read to my own!

You can purchase Merry Christmas, Splat for $16.99 at these online retailers or at your favorite local book shop.

Win it! The first giveaway in Muse Reviews’ Cozy Christmas Reads event is Merry Christmas, Splat by Rob Scotton! To enter to win, tell me another one of HarperCollins Children’s titles you’d like to share with your children or grandchildren. I’ll close this contest next Thursday, November 19th, when I’ll announce all of the winners from the Cozy Christmas Reads event. Sorry; US entries only. Good luck!

CONTEST IS NOW CLOSED.

Good news to commenter # 1, Serena, on the Lost in the Woods DVD by Sisbro Studios contest — you’ve won!

I’m sending you an email now.

Thanks, all, for entering this fun contest!

Last fall, we were fortunate to be able to review Sisbro Studios’s newest release, The Riddle in a Bottle. (You can re-read the review here.) It was…still is!….a big hit at our house. This brother-sister team is gifted by leaps and bounds…and that paired with their love for animals and nature makes for some terrific, family-friendly, highly educational entertainment that gets five stars from our family.

Well, now that spring is merrily on its way, another one of Sisbro’s productions would be a wonderful addition to your family’s DVD library: Lost in the Woods.

It didn’t take us long at all to fall in love with the most adorable newborn fawn with the most precious “voice.” The fawn is seemingly left alone in the woods, and he doesn’t know when Mother Doe will return. The fawn’s story is recounted by Shirley, a wise-beyond-her-years box turtle, to a fiesty, inquisitive raccoon named Fernando who just happens to be searching for his lost brother.

As the story unwinds, the secrets and fascinating happenings of spring are uncovered….and celebrated. This tale made us smile, laugh, and even sniffle a bit. The overall themes ring out: Be patient. Wait until the timing is right. This film will truly warm your heart.

The added songs on Lost in the Woods’ soundtrack make it that much more inviting and interactive….the heartwarming “A Doe’s Lullaby” and the rollicking “The Signs of Spring” (sung by frogs, no less).

Also included in this DVD is an interactive game, Sounds of the Forest. My 4-year-old navigated this game like a pro — and in fact, played it several times in a row and did very well — he loved it! He was having SO much fun; he had no idea he was actually learning.

Lost in the Woods is a presentation that my children will run to again and again, asking to watch it numerous times, just as they already do with The Riddle in a Bottle. (It is no wonder that Lost in the Woods is the winner of 12 national & international awards!)

You can purchase Lost in the Woods the DVD from Sisbro Studios for $19.95 by visiting their website. Also available are the soundtrack, the book, a board book, and even a teacher’s guide.

Win it! Laura of Sisbro Studios has very kindly offered one of you a chance to win a copy of their Lost in the Woods DVD! Just head over to Sisbro Studios’ website and look around awhile. Come back here and, in a comment, tell me something you learned….or something that caught your attention or made you smile….or another one of their products you’d love to bring home! I’ll close the contest next Sunday, March 1, 2009 at 11pm EST. Sorry; US entries only. Good luck!