Storm Wrangler Whimsical Fiction Picture Book Educates, Calms Children's Fears of Weather

Book Review

The charm of the American Cowboy and The West shines through in Storm Wrangler, the poetic and beautifully illustrated newly released young child's title. This book is written by Fulbright Scholar and American Library Association Award-winning author Coert Voorhees and illustrated by Mike Guillory, a talented Houston illustrator and designer, who are both heavily influenced by the Texas lifestyle in this work. As the tale unfolds, the fantasy story is told through the title character's persona as a meteorological cowboy style Paul Bunyan protecting all from the power of big, and sometimes scary, weather. No matter if it's lightening and a thunderstorm, a tornado, a hurricane, a blizzard or other type of fierce atmospheric phenomena, the friendly and fearless Storm Wrangler is depicted as a hero that kids will look up to and learn from.

One dark and stormy day in my neighborhood
iPhone Photo by Janis Brett Elspas, MommyBlogExpert.com

As a hard cover, large format picture book the story comes alive, intimately speaking to readers on every page, transforming fear into awe as amazing details about a variety of storms are demonstrated along with delivering the constant promise of calm that always comes after. Inspired by the author's son's own fears during Hurricane Ike in 2009, this tale no doubt will bring little heads across America out from under the covers whenever this is read. It's classified as children's fiction but it certainly is educational too, with a glossary of 20 weather terms included. 
Storm Wrangler Book Cover
iPhone Photo by Janis Brett Elspas, MommyBlogExpert.com

Distinguished child psychiatrist Efrain Bleiberg, MD, professor and Vice Chair, Menninger Department of Psychiatry; Director of Children and Adolescent Psychiatry, Baylor College of Medicine; Chief, Psychiatry Service, Texas Children’s Hospital has glowing praise for Storm Wrangler. Summarizing the mental benefits to toddlers and young kids this offers, Dr. Bleiberg says, “This is a wonderful picture book ... a lovely springboard to help children develop a sense of security."

Voorhees, also the author of the Young Adult title The Brothers of Torres, is currently at work on other novels. He is the mayor of Grammaropolis an animated website that also features a Top Ten Education iPhone app and a SiriusXM Children's Radio hit song.

Storm Wrangler by Coert Voorhees and published by Bright Sky Press, Hardcover 8.5” x 11”, 28 pages, color. $16.95, ISBN: 978-1-936474-07-3

Who hasn't been afraid during a storm at one time or another? I for one, still remember many a night as a kid seeking safety in my parents' bed from the crashing thunder.  Please leave a comment to reminisce about your own childhood storm fears or that of your child's and how you've dealt with it.






FTC Disclosure: I received the Storm Wrangler to facilitate this book review. However, MommyBlogExpert did not receive any payment or other compensation associated with this post. See complete FTC Disclosure information that appears at the bottom of MommyBlogExpert's main page and at the bottom of every individual post on this blog, including this one.
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5 Fun Twitter Parties Ideal for Moms & Women With Great Prizes Still to Come This Week

Social Media

Looks like another smoking week for an abundance of Twitter parties that women and moms in particular will likely enjoy. Most of these virtual events have great prizes to win, as well as the opportunity of meeting other social media active women and mom blogger Twitter users. An added plus: you'll be connecting with some awesome brands, making these online get-together contests worth the hour or two that you participate in them. 

iPhone Photo by Janis Brett Elspas, MommyBlogExpert.com

Here's a partial list of the lineup for the rest of this week. I'll Tweet about any new parties I hear about, so make certain you're following Mommy Blog Expert on Twitter to get the inside scoop.

Wednesday, November 16

The #WhoDunIt Murder Myster Twitter Party hosted by Rachel Ferrucci and Doc Bonn and sponsored by Yes Video and The Big Toy Book. 11/16 @ 5 pm PST  RSVP Here

Fun and Wacky #ICKEEStikeez Twitter Party hosted by The Big Toy Book. 11/16 @ 6 pm PST RSVP Here
 

Thursday, November 17

Clever Girls Collective hosts the #JRWScents J.R. Watkins Naturals Twitter Party. 11/17 @ noon-1 pm PST.  RSVP Here

Social Moms hosts #RMLTE Real Moms Love to Eat Twitter Party. 11/17 @ 4-5 pm PST.  RSVP Here 

She Speaks Up hosts #HolidayFlavors Torani Twitter Party 11/17 @ 6-7 pm PST. RSVP Here


Coming Soon...
November 30, Daily Deals for Moms #DDFM Twitter Party 11/30 @ 6 pm PST. RSVP  Here

These are just a few of the parties you can join in for some fun, conversation and prizes. If you know of  additional Twitter parties going on this week or for the rest of November that you think should be added to this list, please leave a comment and share whatever basic info you have including products, hosts, date & time, prizes, and most importantly a link to RSVP/Info.

Party Hard & Enjoy!





FTC Disclosure: I love Twitter parties and try and attend a few every week and am attending some parties listed as a participant. However, this blog did not receive any payment or other compensation associated with this post. See complete FTC Disclosure information that appears at the bottom of MommyBlogExpert's main page and at the bottom of every individual post on this blog, including this one.
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Heavy Duty Double Locker Shelf is the Ultimate Customizable Organizational Tool for Students

Organization

In high school juggling a demanding schedule of 7 or 8 courses with as many textbooks and binders, staying organized is essential to success. But that's often easier said than done in today's schools where bare bones lockers are the norm. Sure there are those wire grid shelves you can buy at dollar and office supply stores that can be added to a student's locker. The problem is these are typically flimsy, resulting in a single shelf one-size solution that may not fit the locker. What's worse is these inexpensive shelves can fall apart easily and collapse, sending the locker's entire contents tumbling. So when my family had the chance to test a new Double Locker Shelf solution from LockerShelf that is flexible, fits like built-in shelving and made to last, we seized the opportunity.

My youngest triplet shows off the Double LockerShelf he installed
iPhone Photo by Janis Brett Elspas, MommyBlogExpert.com

For this test, we received the 12" Double LockerShelf for review. True to the manufacturer's claim, this innovative patented shelf was quickly and easily installed in just four steps in about 3 minutes by my slightly nervous ninth grader on his first day of high school.

This product offers features not available in the grid type single shelf such as
  • Functionality afforded by not 1 but 2 shelves for storage of books with the middle shelf sized to manage the bulkiest binders and larger heavy items.
  • Strong and durable shelf components that are precision cut so a student can easily assemble and customize on their own without any tools or special building talents.
  • Interchangeable shelves that can be added or removed after it is initially installed, as well as the ability to completely remove the unit and reuse in different lockers from year to year.
  • Construction of 70% recycled hollow-core PVC that yields incredible strength of up to 150 pounds.
    My 9th grader installs this LockerShelf quickly on the first day of class
    iPhone Photo by Janis Brett Elspas, MommyBlogExpert.com

    About the Product
    The Double LockerShelf reviewed for this post, as well as information about other similar quality locker options ranging in price from $16.99-$39.99 plus shipping, are available on the LockerShelf site.

    How do you or your child solve locker storage issues? Would love to hear from both parents and students on what works best for you and why.










    FTC Disclosure: I received the Double LockerShelf from LockerShelf Company to facilitate this review. However, MommyBlogExpert did not receive any payment or other compensation associated with this post. See complete FTC Disclosure information that appears at the bottom of MommyBlogExpert's main page and at the bottom of every individual post on this blog, including this one.
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    DIY Thanksgiving Turkey Centerpiece Kids Craft

    Thanksgiving


    Free Pattern, No Prior Sewing Experience Required


    I just love Thanksgiving not only because it celebrates our American history, but because it's a great time of year to make some really easy creative holiday art projects while spending quality time with family and children. Here's a charming Turkey Soft Sculpture Centerpiece idea from the Craft Magazine website Sewing.org
    Image from Sewing.org


    This post contains Amazon affiliate links

    No sewing machine is needed. Since this is hand sewn it's the perfect craft for older kids to make. Just a few supplies are required: 30 x 30 cm felt in your choice of 4 colors, embroidery floss, some polyester fill stuffing, and some miscellaneous notions from your button box (or just cut buttons off an old piece of clothing you no longer want).

    That's right. This festive felt turkey centerpiece is made with a needle and thread and no sewing machine or previous sewing experience is required! Kids with the skills or ability to learn the simple blanket embroider stitch will enjoy making this with a teen sibling or an adult to guide them. 

    A wonderful heirloom to make for your own family or to bring as a host or hostess gift for Thanksgiving Dinner.
     

    FREE Instructions and Downloadable Patterns


    All Supplies Available on Amazon
    Get your supplies for this project on Amazon by clicking on the images below. Disclosure: MBE participates in the Amazon affiliate program and will receive a bit of compensation (at no extra cost to consumers) when you make purchases using MBE's sales referral affiliate links.





    FTC Disclosure: See complete FTC Disclosure information that appears at the bottom of MommyBlogExpert's main page and at the bottom of every individual post on this blog, including this one.
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    Location: Los Angeles, CA, USA

    Pokemon the Movie Review Giveaway

    GIVEAWAY


    Pokemon the Movie: White Victini and Zekrom


    Feature film Pokémon The Movie: White – Victini and Zekrom, suitable for kids ages 7 and up is showing in select theaters nationwide for a limited engagement for one weekend only: December 3-4. Even big kids who grew up on Pokemon trading cards who are now adults will likely enjoy this special entertainment opportunity.

    To help celebrate the upcoming showings of this film, Mommy Blog Expert is hosting a contest with Cinedigm supplying prize packages for 3 lucky readers of this blog.  Read on for details on how to win this sweepstakes giveaway of some awesome Pokemon merchandise.


    Pokemon the Movie:
    White Victini and Zekrom

    GIVEAWAY CONTEST


    3 winners get this prize package


    • 1 Pokemon™ Zoroark: Master of Illusions
    • 1 Pokemon™ Black and White Manga vol 1
    • 1 Pokemon™ Black and White Limited Edition Drawstring Bag
    • 1 Pokemon™ Black and White Emerging Powers Trading Card Game Booster Pack
    • 1 Pokemon™ The Movie Black and White Victini and Zekrom poster

    HOW TO ENTER
     
    Leave a comment(s) below this post.  Contest ends December 6, 2011 at 12 midnite PST and is open to legal residents of the U.S. only. Three winners will be selected at random from all entries and will be notified via email.

    Required (Mandatory) Entry
    Simply leave a comment below this blogpost saying why you want to win this prize.  Don't forget to include your email address, Facebook or Twitter contact info in the comment section so the winner can be contacted.

    Additional Extra Entries
    Get extra entries to win for doing any combination of the easy options listed below.  Just be sure to return to MommyBlogExpert (MBE) to leave an additional comment after each individual extra action you do to confirm so we can record all your extra chances to win.

    1.  Follow @mommyblogexpert on Twitter
    2. Like @mommyblogexpert on Facebook
    Earn Up to 3 Bonus Entries Daily til contest ends on 12/6/11
    You can rack up even MORE chances to win each time you TWEET the message below, up to 3 times each day.      Don't forget to return to leave a comment on this post with the direct link right after every Tweet you do so you'll receive an entry for each of your RTs.

    Copy, Paste & Tweet:
    Pokemon Movie @CinedigmEnt GIVEAWAY 3 winners get 5-prize pk DVD video + http://tinyurl.com/6tadque Enter Daily til 12/6/11 #Pokemon

    LOTS More 
    Family-Friendly Giveaways!



    FTC Disclosure: Cinedigm Entertainment has provided the prizes for this giveaway. See complete FTC Disclosure information that appears at the bottom of MommyBlogExpert's main page and at the bottom of every individual post on this blog, including this one.
    Location: Los Angeles, CA, USA
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