If you love books, be sure to check out our 5 Minutes for Books. We have reviews for novels, children’s books, babies’ books, and informational non-fiction.
Here at 5 Minutes for Mom, we love to promote Mom entrepreneurs who create great products for or with their family in mind. When Debbie Glade contacted me to offer me a copy of The Travel Adventures of Lilly P. Badilly, I knew that I had to take a look at it.
Lilly Badilly is a millipede who lives in the Miami International Airport with her grandma and grandpa. One day Lilly tackles her fears and follow her adventurous Grandma Nellie’s lead and hop a plane to Costa Rica. Once there she learns about the new country and is the hero who orchestrates an escape from Ruth Less spider’s web.
Debbie Glade wrote and illustrated the story, but then the whole family joined her in recording the CD that goes along with the book, bringing Lilly P. Badilly, the musical millipede, to life. Mrs. Glade recorded the voices, giving great variety to the various characters in an over-the-top cartoonish way, which is exactly what makes my four-year-old son Kyle love this book. (When I say “love,” I mean that for two weeks it’s been his top request for car listening, and he still laughs out loud when he listens to it.) Her fifteen-year-old daughter Rachel played the piano and sitar for the recording, and composed the music. Her husband John joined daughter Rachel in composing and played the harmonica and guitar for the CD recording.
The book is generally longer than Kyle would sit and listen to if I were reading it (62 pretty text-heavy pages), but because of the way that the story is told on the CD, complete with music, songs and sound-effects, he has followed along with the book over and over. The CD follows the story exactly, and page turns are indicated on the CD with a subtle page turning sound instead of a harsh “ding”. I love this. The story stands on its own fine, but to me, the inclusion of the CD makes it well worth the purchase price, especially if you want to entertain and educate your four- to six-year-old. For older children who can read independently, the themes of music, travel, and bravely trying new experiences will stand out, as well as the interesting information that they will glean about Costa Rica.
Your children aged 5 – 10 might be interested in the travel adventure writing contest sponsored by the publisher Smart Poodle press, which they can enter through September 1.
You can support this creative family by buying your own copy at the Lilly Badilly website, and one of you (with a U.S. address) can win a copy right here. If you’d like to win, just leave a comment. We’ll announce the winner in next week’s column.
The winner of last week’s book Slummy Mummy is #147 Alexia.
Congrats!
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{ 114 comments… read them below or add one }
This sounds like an awesome adventure book that my kids (and me too) would really enjoy! And what a creative family – so much talent!
wow, sounds like a great story..my kids may sit stilll
This sounds adorable! Count me in!
We would love to add a story like this to our home library collection.
This looks like such a sweet book
*Thanks* for the giveaway!
They’re a real boon in the car though.
Cheers
Sounds like a great tale. I put book reviews (from guests too) on my blog also. Reading has always been one of the most important activities in our household.
Sounds like a wonderful tale!
Sounds like a terrific story. I would love to read this with my kids.
Sounds like a great book, love the idea it comes with a cd so that the little can kinda read along with it.
Looks like a cool book.
My husband and I went to Costa Rica (before kids), and we’d love to bring the kids one day. This book and CD would be a great introduction!
This sounds really cool!
This book looks great!! Got my fingers crossed, I hope to win
sounds like a great book…..
sounds like a nice story that my kids would love…
great enter me..
I love this site
thanks would love to win for my grandson
I want to win!
Sounds like a fun read and I am sure my daughter would enjoy it. Thanks!
Lilly sounds like one cute and adventurous millipede!
Bugs and adventure – it sounds like a terrific combo for a children’s book!
Would love to win this for my nephew
My daughter is the bug queen. She would love to read this book
We are studying geography this year. This book would make a great addition!
Count me in!
need a good read
love reading to the kids.
Thank you for the chance to win. Sounds like a wonderful book for the whole family!
My daughter’s name is Lily and I think she would love this adorable book!
like to win this
We took Lily to Costa Rica when she was just 4 months old so this would be really cool to have for her.
This sounds like a really good book.
Sounds great!
I think my kids would love this book!
cute story
Count me in !
count me in!
rica rica rica
I love to read, this sounds like a good book, thank you.
My grandson would love this!
Thank you!
janetfaye (at) gmail (dot) com
what a great idea… I love that they are having children write their own stories as part of the give away!
COOL BOOK
My boys would love to write their own stories.
sounds like a good read
sounds like a book my kids would enjoy
Thanks.
My daughter Lily would LOVE the Lilly P. Badilly book and cd. I hope I win.
Costa Rica is on my list of places I really want to visit!
What a wonderful book. It sounds like quite an adventure for the millipede.
Count me in, sounds like a great adventure book!
looks like a cute book
Thanks for the giveaway!
pretty cool
This sounds like a wonderful adventure book that my daughter and I would love to read together.
want to win this
Looks like a great read.
Looks great!!
THANK YOU GOD BLESS
My nephews and nieces would love to have this to listen to/read when visiting Aunt Donna (that’s me).
sounds like a fab story — fingers crossed!
I would love to win this for a little girl that I know!
cjnedrow@gmail.com
I’d like to win this one for the kids!
My sister’s in laws on a B&B in costa rica. We are wanting to go for a visit.
I want to win
my grandkids would like this.
Sounds like a great story. I’d love to win the book.
Wooo Hooo Make me a winner!
This book sounds great – I know my son would love it. Thanks for having this giveaway!
This sounds like a great story. I would love to ad this to our library for storytime
Sounds great! Please enter me.
What a wonderful prize!
Would LOVE to win this…thanks so much!!!!!!
Looks like a really cute book.
This book looks great and I would love it for my grandson. Thank you so much!
such a cute book ,my kids would love it
thanks for the contest
PLEASE COUNT ME IN ON THIS AWESOME GIVEAWAY
Enter me too!
enter me
Costa Rica is a place where we would love to go – so this would be great to introduce our daughter to it
the illustrations look wonderful
Would like to read this book. Please enter me in this sweepstakes!
Please draw my name as the winner!
I’d like to win!
We love books!
My niece would love this book. Please enter me.
The more books my kids read the better!
This looks like something my son would love, thanks, justicecw@hotmail.com
My kids need a new story!
My kids love to read and what mother doesnt love that? Thanks for the chance to win!
this would be a great win for my god children
Count me in!
Please enter me. Thanks!
GREAT PRIZE
I would love to read this with my granddaughter! Thanks for the chance to win your great giveaway!
This sounds like a great story for the whole family.
Looks great–thanks!
sounds like a good story-I’d love to read this to my grandchildren
Wow, what a cool prize.
Sounds like a great story!
Looks like a very cute book. I would love to win it for my 2 year old.
How precious. Thanks for the chance to win it.
Looks like a great book!
Looks great. Thanks for the giveaway!
Great book that my daughter would love to read!
Sweet niblets!
I would be ecstatic to win this contest!
It would be a pleasure to win your contest. Thank you for offering this.
My granddaughter would love this book.
This would be nice to give to my daughter.
Sounds like my son would like it.
This story about the traveling caterpillar with her grandparents sounds adorable. We love books in our home. Please enter my name in your drawing. Thank you, Cindi