Peekaboo, Speakaboo...a Great Set of Stories!

Speakaboos Releases Holiday Classics; Features Storybook Favorites Read by Celebrities, Songs, and E-Cards

All Titles Now Available on iTunes and Rhapsody


New York – December 10, 2008 - Speakaboos (www.Speakaboos.com), a publisher of exceptional digital content for children, today released its holiday classics library, featuring storybook videos of well-known holiday stories read by celebrities, as well as holiday songs and e-cards. All storybook titles are available for immediate viewing on Speakaboos.com for free, and may be downloaded for offline viewing. Additionally, the complete Speakaboos digital library is now available via iTunes.com and Rhapsody.com, making it easier than ever for parents to download educational and entertaining content for their children to their computer, mobile device or DVD.

Currently in beta, Speakaboos already offers over 35 titles such as Arthur, Goldilocks, The Ugly Duckling, Old McDonald and Aesop's Fables with audio provided by talented actors and musicians such as Kevin Bacon, Nick Cannon, Kelly Ripa, Marcia Gay Harden, Harry Shearer and Chazz Palminteri. At least fifteen percent of Speakaboos' revenue is contributed directly to the National Education Association (NEA) to support children's literacy and The Creative Coalition (TCC).

The titles released just in time for the holidays, include stories such as A Christmas Carol read by James Eckhouse, The Fir Tree read by Phil Brock; holiday songs such as "12 Days of Christmas," "Deck The Halls," "Hanukkah, Oh Hanukkah," "In The Bleak Midwinter," "Jingle Bells," "Rock of Ages," "The Dreidel Song," "We Wish You A Merry Christmas;" and e-cards for Christmas, Hanukkah, Kwanzaa.

Speakaboos provides a safe, fun and educational online destination for children and parents alike. For children, each story is accompanied by educational activities, games and contests that they can play alongside their parents. Parents and teachers enjoy story guides, lesson plans based on national education standards, community content and resources that reinforce the educational lessons at home and in the classroom.

"The holiday season is the best time of the year and we are thrilled to be able to offer our first ever library of holiday classics for children," said Noelle Millholt, Associate Publisher of Speakaboos. "With these offerings, children and parents will be able to celebrate traditional holiday classics in a fun, unique and modern way."

The entire Speakaboos library is available for viewing online for free on Speakaboos.com and available for download on the website at $0.99. Select titles that are combined into albums are available for the price of $8.99 per album. All Speakaboos audio tracks are also now available on iTunes.com and Rhapsody.com.

About Speakaboos
Speakaboos (www.Speakaboos.com) publishes exceptional digital content for children. Speakaboos strives to improve the lives of children and their families through education, fun, and funding and features classic stories such as Arthur, Snow White and Aesop's Fables read by today's biggest stars. All of its "storybook videos" are accompanied by original illustrations and music and link to educational activities, games and contests that children can play alongside their parents. Speakaboos partners with premier educational organizations such as the National Education Association and The Creative Coalition, and contributes 15% of all revenues in return for distribution and promotion to over 3 million teachers and administrators. Speakaboos is currently in beta and is introducing a growing catalog of stories, fairy tales, nursery rhymes and lullabies.

Olive Kids November Contest!!

Are you familiar with Olive Kids? Well, if not, you should be! They have only got some of THE cutest personalized products on the market these days! Check them out!

To spice things up a bit, Olive Kids has decided to have a monthly contest on their blogsite, beginning with November 2008!

For November, they had chosen to offer their adorable Personalized Canvas line.

You can watch your little ones grow on these adorable Growth Charts, printed in vibrant colors on heavy duty cotton canvas. Each comes with a decorative ribbon and personalized just for your favorite child. They are available in 14 different designs and each shows inches and centimeters!

Olive Kids Canvas Wall Art is a masterpiece! These spectacular prints measure 18" x 24", are stretched over wooden stretcher bars and are gallery wrapped - no framing necessary. Beautifully printed in deep saturated colors, these artworks will be the highlight of any kids room. Each are made to order with your child's name and they perfectly coordinate to our fun kids bedding!

Olive Kids November Contest runs through the 30th.

PRIZES: One (1) Grand Prize Winner will receive a Personalized Canvas Art Print and a Personalized Canvas Growth Chart in the design of their choice, a $200 value. One (1) First Prize Winner will receive a Personalized Canvas Art Print in the design of their choice, a $150 value. Two (2) Runner Up Winners will receive a Personalized Canvas Growth Chart in the design of their choice, a $50 value

Head on over and sign up now ~ you do not want to miss a minute of this!

Because It's Christmas began Nov. 10th on my blog, 3 P's in a Pod and you won't want to miss a minute!

Olive+Kids

Lotus Bèbè brings Eco-Luxury for Babies

Collection of bamboo and soy baby blankets and accessories launched

Moorpark, CA - November 14, 2008-- Lotus Bèbè by Raulin Enterprises, Inc. recently launched a new collection of soybean and bamboo baby blankets and accessories to the eco-market.

The company, located in Southern California, was created by Kathleen Raulin, CEO and “Mommy-Entrepreneur”, in 2008 who says, “I couldn’t find stylish baby accessories that were also environmentally friendly for my own son. There were very few options out there, and what I found was pretty boring.”

The Lotus Bèbè collection includes luxury soy blankets, bamboo blankets, and petite blankies. The blankets come trimmed in 100% vibrant silk. For that sustainable luxury all little ones deserve. Each blanket comes tied with a ribbon and a tag printed on 100% recycled paper with embedded wildflower seeds. “We wanted to have the least amount of packaging of our products and also something that can be recycled.” says Kathleen. The tag can be planted in soil and in a few weeks wildflowers will sprout.

The chemicals used in the growing and manufacturing of conventional textiles can contribute to an overall decline in both our health and the environment, with sensitivities and health problems becoming more common. The many benefits of using bamboo and soy can help keep our children and our earth healthy.

The soybean fabric is produced by using the leftover dregs of tofu and soybean oil production and spinning the proteins into threads. Soybean is sustainable because it uses what would have been waste and turning it into something useful, namely soybean fabric. The production of soybean does not pollute the environment as the accessory and auxiliary agents are non-toxic and the residue after the protein is extracted can still be used as feed for livestock. The fabric produced by this process is light and smooth with a silky sheen. Some of the benefits of soy are:

· Naturally resistant to certain types of bacteria

· Wicks moisture away to help keep skin dry and comfortable

· Keeps out harmful UV rays

· Biodegradable

Bamboo is a natural textile made from the pulp of the bamboo grass. Bamboo is by nature pest resistant and grown naturally without the use of pesticides or fertilizers and uses very little rain water. Bamboo also regenerates quickly and can be harvested repeatedly. The bamboo plants used for fabric is planted and grown on family-owned farms that have been in agricultural use for generations. The raw material bamboo is selected from a non-polluted region in the Yunnan and Sichuan province in China. The whole distilling and production process is a green process without any effect on the environment. The resulting fabric is light, almost translucent, and softer than cotton with a natural sheen that feels like silk or cashmere. In addition, bamboo fiber is a biodegradable textile material. As a natural cellulose fiber, it can be 100% biodegraded in the soil by microorganisms and sunshine. Some of the benefits of bamboo are:

· Naturally anti-bacterial

· Hypo-allergenic; won't irritate skin

· Double the absorbency of regular cotton

· Thermal regulating to keep the body cooler in hot weather and warmer in cold weather

· Keeps out harmful UV rays

· 100% Biodegradable

The Lotus Bebe collection is currently available at boutique shops including Juvenile Shop - Sherman Oaks, CA, Drool – Thousand Oaks, Ca, Baby Coo – Los Gatos, CA. The collection is also available online at www.peppyparents.com, www.organicbabygarden.com, and www.theglassbabybottle.com. The company is seeking retailers and wholesalers around the US to handle their line, please call 1(800)298-0803 for more details.

For more information please visit www.lotusbebe.com, or you may contact ARL Marketing & Public Relations at 954-376-8388 and via email at: Andrew@arlmarketing.com for media coverage, sample requests, and interviews.

More about Lotus Bèbè and Raulin Enterprises, Inc.

Lotus Bèbè by Raulin Enterprises, Inc. was created in Southern California, in 2008, out of a need for stylish baby accessories that were also environmentally friendly. They discovered the unique properties of bamboo and soybean fabrics and started looking for items made with either. Trying to find items made from bamboo and soybean was challenging, due to the fact that no one was carrying these items. So the idea of Lotus Bèbè was started. There product line was launched with hip mommas and poppas in mind, who want to give their children something natural, eco-friendly but at the same time luxurious.

About ARL Marketing & Public Relations, Inc.

ARL Marketing & Public Relations is a privately owned firm based in South Florida. The firm has clients across the US including New York City, Philadelphia, Miami, Fort Lauderdale, Tampa, San Francisco, and Los Angeles. They also services clients in the United Kingdom. ARL Marketing | Public Relations is a firm that develops and executes programs that help companies achieve their sales and marketing objectives. For more information, please log on to www.arlmarketing.com

Because It's Christmas began Nov. 10th on my blog, 3 P's in a Pod and you won't want to miss a minute!

Lotus+Bebe

New Moon Girl Media Launches Groundbreaking Online Community for Girls 8-12

While I do not yet have an 8 year old, I thought this might be of interest to those of you who do.:)

New Moon Girl Media Launches Groundbreaking Online Community for Girls 8-12

www.NewMoonGirls.com Pioneers Girl-Created Content on the Web

Mountain View, CA – November 12, 2008 – The wait for a safe, advertising-free online community for girls 8-12 is finally over. New Moon Girl Media, champion of girl-centered media and publisher since 1993 of the award-winning girls’ magazine New Moon Girls, today announced the launch of the new online community NewMoonGirls.com. For the first time, girls around the world have a safe place on the Web where they can create and share content and develop their full potential through self-discovery and community.

“Girls and their families have been yearning for a safe online community, and we’re thrilled to now provide girls with a place where they can safely create their own content, pursue their individual dreams and connect with girls their age,” said New Moon Girl Media Founder and CEO Nancy Gruver. “After fifteen years of featuring girls’ writings, drawings and poetry in our magazine, we are delighted to give girls a new forum online where they can express themselves.”

NewMoonGirls.com invites girls to explore their creativity beginning in each member’s own safe, private room, where she can express herself through a variety of media. In the broader community, girls can share their creations with one another and contribute to weekly themes and articles. The Web site also offers the unique “Ask a Girl” advice area, where girls can help one another with supportive answers to questions and concerns. Other community features include message boards across a wide range of topics, Web chats with inspiring women and girls and access to fifteen years of the girl-created content of New Moon Girls magazine.

NewMoonGirls.com is fully COPPA-compliant and a leader in exceeding online safety standards for children, providing adult moderation at all levels of communication. All New Moon Girl products are guided by three oversight groups: an Advisory Board of experts on girls’ development, Girls Editorial Boards and specially-trained adult staff.

“New Moon Girls is the first place online where girls can safely share their voices while being encouraged to help shape the New Moon Girls community,” said JoAnn Deak, Ph.D. and member of the New Moon Girl Media Advisory Board. “After fifteen years of providing life-enhancing New Moon Girls content to hundreds of thousands of girls and their families, New Moon Girl Media has moved online and created a much-needed social network for girls 8-12.”

To introduce this new initiative, a membership package including full access to NewMoonGirls.com and six issues of New Moon Girls magazine is available for $29.95 per year, reduced from $44.95.

New Moon Girl Media is headquartered in Duluth, Minnesota and partnered with Silicon Valley business and technology accelerator MonVia, LLC to launch NewMoonGirls.com. MonVia is built by entrepreneurs for entrepreneurs to help people with smart ideas introduce their products to market and reach profitability as quickly as possible.

About NewMoonGirls.com

NewMoonGirls.com is the groundbreaking online social network for girls ages 8-12. Developed by New Moon Girl Media, NewMoonGirls.com is a fully-monitored, advertising-free online community where girls can develop full potential through self-discovery, creativity and community. To become a member or learn more about this unique community, please visit www.newmoongirls.com.

About MonVia

MonVia is an operational incubator in the heart of Silicon Valley supporting founders and investors to move quickly to market. Headquartered in Mountain View, CA, MonVia provides investment expertise, business strategy and infrastructure and development support. MonVia's process is designed to provide checkpoints along the growth path to ensure startup velocity toward success. For more information, please visit www.monvia.com.

Because It's Christmas began Nov. 10th on my blog, 3 P's in a Pod and you won't want to miss a minute!
New+Moon

HoHoHo...It's ALMOST time to Party with MomDOT!

Over at MomDot, Trisha and Gang are gearing up for Christmas of Dreams Prize the associated party and you are NOT gonna wanna miss it!! The blog party is all about getting to know other bloggers, blogging all about Christmas, and of course, some amazing prizes as de riggeur over there. Then, on the 28th of November, ONE lucky winner will be drawn for the final prize of the party and get to enjoy the Christmas of their Dreams.

Come on...the Party is gonna start on Nov. 12th and there is already fun stuff happening. Whatcha waiting for?? Click HERE for ALL the details!



Be sure to check out my other blog, 3 P's in a Pod...You just NEVER know What Might Happen There!!
MomDOT+Christmas

Are YOU MISS-Matched Material?

Ever seen LittleMissMatched and their to-die-for cute leg warmers? Yeah, I KNOW! Well, if you have a way with words LittleMissMatched just launched a Tagline Contest on their site, that runs now through November 12th.

The Winner takes home $1,000! And there is even an award for Fan Favorite - $500! Woohoo!!

It's open to all ages with no limit to the number of times you can enter.

Go to LittleMissMatched for official rules and to actually enter. Good luck!

Be sure to check out my other blog, 3 P's in a Pod...You just NEVER know What Might Happen There!!
Kids+Clothing

Want to Buy a Copy of Lilly Badilly at a Special Discount?

The Offer

For a limited time Debbie and her family are offering my awesome readers a discount on their book when you order directly from the Lilly P. Badilly website.

The 64-page, full color book along with the 35-minute CD is now available for $19.95. (Retail Price is $22.95)

Plus FREE SHIPPING for a total savings of nearly $7 per book or a 26% discount.

And there are greater discounts available for those who buy more than 1 book - See the website for details.

Here's How it Works

Readers of my blog are one of very few blogs to EXCLUSIVELY receive Free Shipping on book and CD combos ordered on their website by December 15, 2008! Simply use this Shipping Code on the online order form: FBS1208. (Please note that this code is case sensitive.) After entering the shipping code, just click the "Update Order" box and proceed with the rest of your order.

This is a special opportunity for YOU to buy a great book/CD at an excellent price in time for the holidays.

There's no better gift for a child than the gift of reading!

(This link will take you right to the order page)

The Travel Adventures of Lily P Badilly: Costa Rica

Be sure to check out my other blog, 3 P's in a Pod...You just NEVER know What Might Happen There!!
Christmas+Shopping

Lilly Badilly is Still Tops in My Book!

Remember my review of Lilly P. Badilly? Looks like I am not the only one who likes it!
___________________________________

The Travel Adventures of Lilly P Badilly: Costa Rica by Debbie Glade was honored as an Award-Winning Finalist in the Children's Picture Book: Hardcover Fiction w/ Audio CD" category of the National Best Books 2008 Awards, sponsored by USA Book News.

A complete list of winners can be found at http://www.usabooknews.com/bestbooksawards2008.html.

USABookNews.com, the premiere online magazine and review website for mainstream and independent publishing houses, announced the winners and finalists of THE NATIONAL “BEST BOOKS” 2008 AWARDS (NBBA) on October 20, 2008. Over 500 winners and finalists were announced in over 140 categories covering print and audio books. Awards were presented for titles published in 2008 and late 2007.

Jeff Keen, President and CEO of USABookNews.com, said this year’s contest yielded an unprecedented number of entries, which were then narrowed down to over 500 winners and finalists.

Keen says of the awards, now in their fifth year, “The 2008 results represent a phenomenal mix of books from a wide array of publishers throughout the United States.

As an executive in the publishing PR and marketing industry and president and CEO of JPX Media, I wanted to create an awards competition that recognized books in their publication year rather than months after the original launch window. With a full publicity and marketing campaign promoting the results of NBBA, this year’s winners and finalists will gain additional media coverage for the upcoming holiday retail season.”

Winners and finalists traversed the publishing landscape: Simon & Schuster, Tarcher/Penguin, HarperCollins, Hyperion, St. Martin’s Press, McGraw-Hill, John Wiley & Sons & hundreds of independent titles contributed to this year’s outstanding NBBA competition. Keen adds, “NBBA’s success begins with the enthusiastic participation of authors and publishers and continues with our distinguished panel of industry judges who bring to the table their extensive editorial, PR, marketing, and design expertise.”

USABookNews.com is an online publication providing coverage for books from mainstream and independent publishers to the world online community. USABN Magazine Online is the monthly electronic magazine e-mailed free to a large cross-section of the book buying public. JPX Media, in Los Angeles, California, is the parent company of USABookNews.com.

Be sure to check out my other blog, 3 P's in a Pod...You just NEVER know What Might Happen There!!
[tagname tagname]

What is a blist, anyway?

Since I KNOW I the smartest readers in the world, y'all are probably w-a-y ahead of me here and know all about what I am about to discuss. On the off chance that you were napping when this was discussed, have you ever heard of a blist? Yeah, me neither.:)

What is blist, you ask?

"It's the world's easiest database. blist is a rich, web-based application that allows you to create simple or complex lists and organize all kinds of information. It's like an online spreadsheet but with the capabilities of a database. blist is an online, social database which means you can easily share your data with others, publish data on the web, explore and find interesting data and even borrow other people's data structures to jump start your own."

And what does this have to do with Book Week? Well, I know I sometimes struggle to remember the title or author (or entire book, for that matter!) of a fantastic children's book I want to read to my kids and Amy, one of the fabulous folks over at blist headquarters, has created a Top 100 Children's Books blist and said I could share it with YOU! Isn't that cool?

So head on over and take a peek at the great reads and their available information. Then the next time you need a little help in the memory department, you'll know just where to go!

Oh, and she also has Entertainment Weekly's Top 50 Book Classics as well as about a zillion other terrific subjects. Enjoy!

Be sure to check out my other blog, 3 P's in a Pod!
blist+books

WELCOME to BOOK WEEK!

Everyone is back in their places and healthy now so on with the fun and excitement!

Happy Monday and welcome to Book Week here at 3 P's Mama Says...

I thought since the kids have all been back in school now for at least a month, we would have some fun all related to books and reading. I have lots in store for you and yo won't want to miss a minute of it! There are book reviews, giveaways, articles, special guests, more giveaways and, well, surprises you will just have to wait for! So stay tuned!

Be sure to check out my other blog, 3 P's in a Pod!
Book+Week

THE HEAVENS ARE SMILING DOWN ON EE PUBLISHING’S BRIGHT “NANA STAR” SERIES

“Nana Star” Book Series Receives
Two iParenting Media 2008 Outstanding Product Awards

Fairfax, VA (August 20, 2008) –

Everyone knows about the North Star and the Wishing Star but it’s only a matter of time until we all know about “Nana Star.” Teaching children to feel loved and wanted, ee publishing’s first two book/plush/CD sets have each received an iParenting Media 2008 Outstanding Product Award. When asked how they felt about receiving the awards, Nana Star co-creators and sisters, Elizabeth Sills and Elena Patrice, said it was positively “Heavenly!”

Here’s what some of the iParenting reviewers said were the “Heavenly” characteristics of the Nana Star Book and Plush series:

Nana Star Book & Nana Star Plushie - The adventure begins when a little girl finds a tiny star in a pile of leaves one day while she's out playing. He's scared, barely twinkling, and he wants his Nana. She promises to bring him home, but it won't be easy--he lives high up in the heavens. Book comes with bonus audio CD that includes The Nana Star Song performed by Nashville singer/songwriter Tricia Walker.

To make the book a little more interactive, the authors have included a spelling mistake in each book and encourage readers to find it and send them a postcard with the correction. Children are then eligible to receive an 8x10 photo of the Nana Star costumed character and become an honorary member of the Nana Star Little Twinkles Club. The Club is expanded on its website, www.NanaStar.com, where language arts activities for emerging readers are offered.

Included in this gift set is Nana Star, a plush character doll carrying Baby Star on a branch, just like in the story. Nana Star plush measures approximately 16" and Baby Star fastens by Velcro to the branch and attaches to Nana Star's arm like a bracelet. Award category: Books

• “This book had a good message about a girl trying to help a baby star. I think this a nice theme in the book in that it is about humans interacting with nature (the star). I liked the CD. Since I work in a school we are always looking for books that are on tape or CD that can be read to kids that have a difficult time with reading. I like that this product came with that. It was also a nice visual to have to doll that came with it. This provided different ways that the book can be used beyond just reading it to a child.”

• “The most positive characteristics of this book were the illustrations and the colors. The book is so vibrant in color that it made you want to read. I liked that it came with an audio CD. I also liked that the book/story had a positive message. The Nana Star plushie was a nice add also to play along with the audio CD.”

• “The positive characteristics of this book is that it was a simple story of a topic children can relate to of being lost or not being able to find/ see someone they love. Some of the children talked about not seeing their grandma for long times and they seem to relate to Nana.”

Nana Star and the Moonman Book & Moonman Lovey Plushie - Second in a series, a comforting message about friendship and faith shines through this book for young readers who may not like the dark or are feeling lonely. The enclosed bonus audio CD includes The Moonman Song performed by Chloe Dolandis. Included is Moonman Lovey, a soft character doll whose head glows like the light of the moon and plays music.

• “This is a great story to help children feel that they are never alone and are always being watched over. It was especially great at my house, because my son loves the moon and stars, so he was fascinated with the "literal" wording of the story, as well as the overall concept. One of the positive characteristics of this book was that it came with a CD and a stuffed animal. It really helped the child to stay attentive to the story.”

• “The characters in the story were cute and the illustrations were attractive and appealing to my children. Having the plush to go along with the book made it more fun for the children. The story taught a lesson about fear and loneliness, something everyone experiences at one time or another.”

• “This is a great story to help children feel that they are never alone and are always being watched over. It was especially great at my house, because my son loves the moon and stars, so he was fascinated with the "literal" wording of the story, as well as the overall concept”.

iParenting.com, a Disney Internet Group media property, is a premier media site focused on parents. Their award-winning network includes more than 40 websites devoted to the entire family lifecycle and Points on Parenting radio show.

iParenting Media’s Award Program provides a credible and objective method of determining the best products and recognizes those products with its iParenting Media Award. It is dedicated to informing, inspiring and uniting the parenting community it serves via its multiple media platforms of the Internet, syndicated newspaper column, radio show and video.

The goal of iParenting’s awards is to provide the best parenting content and community platform for its members; and expanding sales, building strong customer relationships and increasing branding for its clients. It does this through innovation, responsiveness and a passion to be the best, which leads to its users’ and clients’ satisfaction. It is a team of motivated individuals and its strength is generated from its devotion to its community, its clients, its industry and its employees.

About ee publishing and productions, LLC
Sisters Elizabeth Sills and Elena Patrice trademarked their partnership the “laugh-friendly company” to reflect their philosophy of business and life. “We have been shushed our entire lives and wanted a place where we could be free to laugh out loud if we wanted,” said Elizabeth. The pair said they want to be able to laugh at both the bad and the good as it comes along.

They believe that the simple story of Nana Star will be a success in today’s society where it is hard for children to find appropriate role models. They also believe that parents will welcome a return to simpler, nostalgic times. “Marketing is very commercialized,” said Patrice, “and children are introduced to characters who are very mature.” The goal of ee publishing is to help families recapture calmer times in a hectic world.

For more information on the business, visit www.laughfriendly.com, or to learn about its Nana Star products, click on www.NanaStar.com.

Be sure to check out my other blog, 3 P's in a Pod!
[tagname tagname]

Like Adoption? Like Prizes?

Check this out!

I had read about the Balsis family before and I am humbled by their open hearts. Almost equally, I am THRILLED to see the retail and blogging community getting behind them and helping them out! This will be one less child in need of a family and THAT is a wonderful thing!!

Be sure to check out my other blog, 3 P's in a Pod!
Mom+Crowd