This review is way past due.  It started with me somehow missing the product over email (it wound up in cyberspace) and then proceeded with me dealing with the adventures of first trimester hyped up with progesterone.

But now, I’m ready! 

Super Star Speech is a new at home speech program.  Josiah’s adorable and he’s four and he hasn’t quite gotten his “l” and “r” sounds.  Super Star Speech has a book to help address that issue.

Zoe was three when someone recommended I have her tested for speech.  She had just a few sounds, like Josiah, that weren’t quite there.  She was tested and qualified and we went through a year of speech therapy.  And it really helped.

With that bit of speech background, I knew that Josiah was a little behind but not that bad.  We can, for the most part understand him.  When I received the book, everything in it was a lot like what I was told Zoe had been doing in her speech sessions.  I was really impressed with the professionalism yet ease of guiding a parent in to helping children learn and speak certain sounds.

I received the Superstar R&L because I knew that was where Josiah’s weakest points are.   When I read the introduction, I realized that those two sounds are really attained until about six or seven years of age.  Josiah’s four, but I knew,  that a bit of gentle coaching would help him attain those sounds he’s missing.  Plus, to teach him properly to read, it really does help if he can form all his consonant sounds orally.  Our school schedule has changed just enough that I’m able to work in the Superstar here and there throughout our weeks.  As the year, progresses, I fully anticipate seeing his speech improving!

I really wish that I had this program when Zoe was younger.  I searched everywhere for an at-home program but had no luck!  I’m so glad this resource is now available!

The book lays out just how to teach certain sounds.  It provides games, a list of words that both start with the sounds and have them in the middle.  There are also lesson plan sheets.  So, you can cater each lesson to the need of the child.  The books are available in spiral bound for $18.95 or you can get the e-book version for 30% less at Currclick.

You can also go “like” Super Star Speech on Facebook as well!

Disclaimer:  This is a MamaBuzz Media review. The product was provided by: Super Star Speech for this review.

Recently, our family has gotten involved in a Spanish speaking church.  Basically, we hear of a need and if we can feel it we try to do so.  So, this has landed Mark in a few weeks doing audio for their services and now we’re all involved helping with the ESL (English as a Second Language) classes they are offering.

Now, before you think we’re all bilingual “good” homeschoolers.  We’re not.  Mark took some Spanish in high school.  I took French.  I can tell someone they are going to the pool and something else I learned from a song that is not too nice but that’s it.  And it’s in French.  Mark can start a conversation in Spanish and he can understand more than he can speak.

I’ve been working, on and off, with the kids on teaching them Spanish.  So, I was excited to get a chance to review this new audio concept by No-Work Spanish.  Here’s how it works.

You order the CD (or the download) and put the audiobook in an appropriate device and listen away.  We received Yaks March on Washington and Poster Girl.  And, to remember to listen to it, we’ve been listening when go to and from ESL classes.  The story is read in English one line at a time and then immediately repeated in Spanish.  At the end of the chapter it is read completely in Spanish.

The actors reading did a great job and kept it entertaining.  While, I probably wouldn’t recommend this for a sole curriculum, this is a easy and fun way to reinforce Spanish that you may already be working on.  Listening to one time is not enough.  It’s a good idea to listen two or even three times.

Vocabulary lists are available for each audiobook and the full book is available in pdf form on the CDs.

Currently, there are three audiobooks out with more to come.  They range in price from $21.95 (for two CDs) to $8.99 (for downloads).  They can be ordered from No-Work Spanish.

Keep updated on when new titles come out by going to the No-Work Spanish Facebook page.

Disclaimer:  This is a MamaBuzz review. The product was provided by: No-Work Spanish for this review.

Update:  I had a little bit of health issues the past couple of days, so I wasn’t able to encourage everyone to come and enter to win, so here’s a second chance.  This giveaway will stay open until Monday, April 25th.  

I know…another giveaway!  So, that way if you don’t like my stuff,  you may like their’s!

But first, I have to tell you about this adorable toy from Manhattan Toy.  We love Manhattan Toy.  Zoe has Groovy Girls dolls that we’ve picked up from here and there.  They are those soft stylishly dressed dolls that aren’t covered in oodles of “make up” nor try to look older than they actually are…anyway, we’ve had those for several years.

They’ve come out with a new product for toddlers called PJ Tots.  And I just have to tell you that these little dolls are equally as adorable as the Groovy Girls.  We got Bonnie Bunny in the mail about a week ago and since Ceili Rain laid eyes on her, she hasn’t let her stray far.  As of right now, she is the “go to” baby when she’s looking for one (she calls all dolls baby so it’s a toss up for a little bit as to which one she is referring to).

PJ Tots are soft plush dolls.  They have a little bit harder heads but no small parts so little ones can not choke on them.  And the hair is a soft felt like material, so no fuss of pieces laying everywhere or tangles or such.  Ceili Rain’s “baby” has adorable sewn on pink heart pjs and little bunny ears!  Too cute.

Manhattan Toy also sent PJ Tots Bunny’s Snuggly.  I’d love to say that Ceili Rain thoroughly enjoyed this.  But she didn’t.  But I did!  And so did the rest of the kids.  When Ceili Rain isn’t looking, they sneak the doll and the snuggly and stick her in and out of it.

So, the Bunch gives this toy a might hearty thumb’s up!  If you have a child who loves her “babies” like Ceili Rain, this toy will rock her world.  The price is not too shabby either.  The accessories start at $8 and the dolls start at $12.

But, don’t take my word for it.  Straight from the baby-addicted toddler’s mouth:

PJ Tots Review by Ceili Rain from justabunchofcharacters on Vimeo.

And that’s what it’s like to interview a 2 year old.  I apologive deeply for the nose swipe and finger dig.  I’m not sure what that was about since she has not had a runny nose nor has she done that in a very long time.  And yes, we had a little talk about the disobedience there at the end.

And now to the giveaway!  Manhattan Toy has graciously allowed me to do a giveaway.  To enter for a chance to win a PJ Tots doll:
1.  If you have a Facebook account, like Manhattan Toy on Facebook.
2.  Follow them on Twitter if you have a Twitter account.
3.  If you don’t have a Twitter account or Facebook, or if you want additional entries, go to Manhattan Toy and browse around, then come back here and leave a comment letting me know what you just think is the most adorable toy they carry.

A random winner will be chosen on April 22nd, April 25th.
Disclosure:  This product was provided by Manhattan Toys for Mama Buzz review purposes only.

First of all, I have to offer up a deep apology to Mama Buzz and the people at SpellQuizzer.  I know that I have an obligation to Mama Buzz and to the company whose product I review and I am deeply sorry for missing getting this review up yesterday.  I try to be extra careful that I get the reviews in on time.  But, for some reason I missed getting this up.  Please, please forgive me.

Okay, now that that is done, let’s discuss SpellQuizzer.  This is a homeschool mama of many dream if ever there was one.  SpellQuizzer is a software program that allows a teacher (that’d be the mama in most cases) to input the spelling lists from their specific curriculum to quiz a child.  But, they also have spelling lists available online to import or export with other users.

Now I mentioned that this is a good buy for homeschoolers.  But, I believe parents who have children in public/private or any other school could use it as well.  Just import the spelling list and let your student quiz on it.  You can record specific words in any manner wanted or needed.  Silly voices are a must to get your young scholar to giggle and learn the word at the same time.

In our curriculum we use, Spelling Power.  This software would be a great benefit in that I can record their list and they can take their tests on line.  SpellQuizzer is meant to be used with any curriculum.  On their site, they have downloadable lists for spelling words and at least one other homeschool curriculum.

The software can be used in a 30 day free trial and can also be purchased at SpellQuizzer for $29.99.  I highly recommend this and will be using it to aid in our current curriculum.!

Happy Spelling!

*This is a very late MamaBuzz Review and SpellQuizzer was provided free for review purposes.

Take beautifully illustrated work and add words of truth from God’s Word and you get God Gave Us the World by Lisa Tawn Bergren and illustrated by Laura J. Bryant.

God Gave Us the World, follows Little Cub and Mama as they discuss why God made different bears and why God made everything and made it all so different.  Mama, with the wisdom from the Bible, always supplies Little Cub with the answers to her many questions.

We’ve enjoyed at least one other book from the “God Gave Us” series.  Our children truly enjoy the art and stories and we’ve read them time and again.  You just can’t go wrong with adorable cuddly polar bears.

It would be nice, though, to see Papa Bear, as one of the main characters.  In both of the books we have, Mama Bear seems to be the one with all the answers while Papa just smiles in the background.  

We truly recommend God Gave Us the World.  Go here for more information about the author, Lisa Tawn Bergren.  You can also check it out on Facebook and at Multnomah Publishing.

God Gave Us the World can be purchased for $10.99 and can be purchased at Random House.

Disclaimer:  This is a MamaBuzz review. The product was provided by: Multnomah Publishing for this review.

A story about princesses, who can go wrong with this?!  Zoe has always been fascinated with princess stories.  It could be because we’ve always told her she was our princess and that when she asked Jesus to come into her heart that she would be a child of the King of Kings and would be His princess.

So, when the opportunity came up to review Where the Jewels Are and because we all love to read, I jumped at the chance to read and review it.  The tale is about a princess who is seeking a precious jewel. She has a faithful and loving Father who seeks out the best for her.

I thought the tale was very well written and quick to the point.  The book is very short and easy to read. 

After I finished the book, I passed it on to Zoe who read it rather quickly (she’s a fast reader) and exclaimed that it was great and she would love to read more of these!  Ace also enjoyed the book and gave two thumbs up and is interested in more (particularly boy ones, go figure).

The book is short enough that an early reader could get through it with little problems.  It’s also well priced.  At $5.99 plus shipping, you can be brought into a whismical tale of a little girl and the love her father bestows on her all the while teaching her to love and be content with what she has on hand.

  For details on how to purchase this gem (pun intended) visit Diana Symons website.