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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!
Cindi says
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
Donna Kozar says
Sounds like my son would like it.
Denise says
This would be nice to give to my daughter.
Veronica Garrett says
My granddaughter would love this book.
Nick says
It would be a pleasure to win your contest. Thank you for offering this.
Carolyn Ireland says
I would be ecstatic to win this contest!
Ed Nemmers says
Sweet niblets!
Kathy Conley says
Great book that my daughter would love to read!
Chrysa says
Looks great. Thanks for the giveaway!
Jennifer C says
Looks like a great book!
Tamara Leonard Merritt says
How precious. Thanks for the chance to win it.
Sherri Siler says
Looks like a very cute book. I would love to win it for my 2 year old.
shawna f says
Sounds like a great story!
Jacqueline O. says
Wow, what a cool prize.
Vicki Wurgler says
sounds like a good story-I’d love to read this to my grandchildren
Cassandra says
Looks great–thanks!
Renee G says
This sounds like a great story for the whole family.
Kimberly says
I would love to read this with my granddaughter! Thanks for the chance to win your great giveaway!
philip halter says
GREAT PRIZE
Fruitbearer says
Please enter me. Thanks!
Julieh says
Count me in!
Frances Watson says
this would be a great win for my god children
Millicent C. says
My kids love to read and what mother doesnt love that? Thanks for the chance to win!
Julie says
My kids need a new story!
Christine says
This looks like something my son would love, thanks, [email protected]
nancy says
The more books my kids read the better!
ellen cunningham says
My niece would love this book. Please enter me.
Alyssa Sparks says
We love books!
Erica G says
I’d like to win!
Jill Miller says
Please draw my name as the winner!
Sheila Pepe says
Would like to read this book. Please enter me in this sweepstakes!
cindy Allen says
the illustrations look wonderful
Shelly says
Costa Rica is a place where we would love to go – so this would be great to introduce our daughter to it
Anthony Hedden says
enter me
Rhonda B says
Enter me too!
kathy pease says
PLEASE COUNT ME IN ON THIS AWESOME GIVEAWAY 🙂
valerie mabrey says
thanks for the contest
David Benedict says
such a cute book ,my kids would love it
judy brittle says
This book looks great and I would love it for my grandson. Thank you so much!
Janne says
Looks like a really cute book.
Sharon Jones says
Would LOVE to win this…thanks so much!!!!!!
Valerie Mitchell says
What a wonderful prize!
Cherie J says
Sounds great! Please enter me.
sabb266 says
This sounds like a great story. I would love to ad this to our library for storytime
Trish says
This book sounds great – I know my son would love it. Thanks for having this giveaway!
Gary Osborn says
Wooo Hooo Make me a winner!
clenna in NH says
Sounds like a great story. I’d love to win the book.
Vicky Boackle says
my grandkids would like this.
Mike Weisberg says
I want to win
Steve Scott says
My sister’s in laws on a B&B in costa rica. We are wanting to go for a visit.
Andrea R says
I’d like to win this one for the kids!
Carolyn Nedrow says
I would love to win this for a little girl that I know!
[email protected]
Stephanie V says
sounds like a fab story — fingers crossed!
Donna Holmberg says
My nephews and nieces would love to have this to listen to/read when visiting Aunt Donna (that’s me). 🙂
tim brown says
THANK YOU GOD BLESS
Barbara Fox says
Looks great!!
Rebecca Snodgrass says
Looks like a great read.
veronica sandberg says
want to win this
Mia J. says
This sounds like a wonderful adventure book that my daughter and I would love to read together.
Angel says
pretty cool
Lydia Wilson says
Thanks for the giveaway!
Lisa Fosses says
looks like a cute book
Linda Grieser says
Count me in, sounds like a great adventure book!
Elizabeth M. says
What a wonderful book. It sounds like quite an adventure for the millipede.
Susan C says
Costa Rica is on my list of places I really want to visit!
Chava says
My daughter Lily would LOVE the Lilly P. Badilly book and cd. I hope I win.
toasters says
Thanks.
stampedwithgrace says
sounds like a book my kids would enjoy 🙂
david basile says
sounds like a good read
Kathy Scott says
My boys would love to write their own stories.
TONI SULLIVAN says
COOL BOOK
Lori says
what a great idea… I love that they are having children write their own stories as part of the give away!
Janet F says
My grandson would love this!
Thank you!
janetfaye (at) gmail (dot) com
Felicia Lockamy says
I love to read, this sounds like a good book, thank you.
Alicia says
rica rica rica
Stacie Ruyle says
count me in!
Karen Gonyea says
Count me in !
Michelle Rosborough says
cute story
Heather says
I think my kids would love this book!
Hil'Lesha says
Sounds great! 🙂
Nora SP says
This sounds like a really good book.
The Diaper Diaries says
We took Lily to Costa Rica when she was just 4 months old so this would be really cool to have for her.
Tonya Froemel says
like to win this
Beth Y says
My daughter’s name is Lily and I think she would love this adorable book!
joyglo says
Thank you for the chance to win. Sounds like a wonderful book for the whole family!
Adrienne Gordon says
love reading to the kids.
djp says
need a good read
Denise says
Count me in!
Lisa says
We are studying geography this year. This book would make a great addition!
victoria says
My daughter is the bug queen. She would love to read this book
Desiree says
Would love to win this for my nephew 😉
Adena says
Bugs and adventure – it sounds like a terrific combo for a children’s book!
Belinda A. says
Lilly sounds like one cute and adventurous millipede!
Danai says
Sounds like a fun read and I am sure my daughter would enjoy it. Thanks!
Michael Capp says
I want to win!
susan varney says
thanks would love to win for my grandson
c. clemens says
I love this site 🙂
c. clemens says
great enter me..
Ally says
sounds like a nice story that my kids would love…
Kathy D says
sounds like a great book…..
Meredith Rowe says
This book looks great!! Got my fingers crossed, I hope to win
Mama Zen says
This sounds really cool!
JenPerkins says
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!
Shannon Baas says
Looks like a cool book.
charline s says
Sounds like a great book, love the idea it comes with a cd so that the little can kinda read along with it.
Jenn S. says
Sounds like a terrific story. I would love to read this with my kids.
DJ says
Sounds like a wonderful tale!
Doll Clothes Gal says
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.
Maddy says
They’re a real boon in the car though.
Cheers
Cheryl Free says
This looks like such a sweet book 🙂 *Thanks* for the giveaway!
Michelle says
We would love to add a story like this to our home library collection.
Beth/Mom2TwoVikings says
This sounds adorable! Count me in!
SANDY says
wow, sounds like a great story..my kids may sit stilll
Melissa A. says
This sounds like an awesome adventure book that my kids (and me too) would really enjoy! And what a creative family – so much talent!