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5 Minutes for Books – Chronicle Books for Kids and the Potluck Club novel

May 28, 2007 by Guest Contributor

This post may contain affiliate links. Read my disclosure policy here.

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5M4Bsidebar.jpgWelcome to another week of 5 Minutes for Books. Today’s reviews are by Jennifer. The winner for last week’s Chocolatherapy book drawing is Kahri from Our Peculiar Life. Congratulations Kahri! And for those of you who didn’t win, but are still craving chocolate, you can click through the link and order this great book for yourself.

This week we have several giveaways to go along with Jennifer’s reviews of some great activity books/packs for kids. As well, Jennifer reviews a novel for you moms. (No giveaway for the novel review.)


Chronicle Books for Kids and the Potluck Club novel

With summer approaching, I know that many of us will be doing some family traveling. I always like to be able to pull out a new book or activity that might hold their interest for a little while to make the trip more bearable (for them and for me). Maybe if they are entertained, you can actually read a few pages for yourself. So whether you want to make some time for a beachy summer read for yourself, or keep the kids’ brains active and challenged over the summer, I hope that you find something here that you like.

*************

I just recently read The Potluck Club Takes the Cake, the third in the series by Linda Evans Shepherd and Eva Marie Everson.

Each chapter is told from a different point of view, and I did get a bit confused if I didn’t remember to take note of the name of the character who was narrating that particular chapter. I think the fact that I had not read the other two and was not quite as familiar with the characters contributed to this. Perhaps the first novel in the series would be a better place to start.

That said, it was a nice easy read covering the themes of friendship, romance, family strife, and reconciliation, and of course, food! The potluck club is a group of women who meets to eat and support one another with prayer, which they all needed at one point or another throughout the novel. It seems a little to me like Desperate Housewives, without the desperation.

The book does include some really great recipes and also gives guidelines for hosting a Christmas tea, which is a featured event in the book.

*************

5M4BSpot-7.jpgChronicle Books has a great Seek and Find series called Spot 7.

One of the things that I like about Spot 7 Animals is that it can easily hold the interest of a young preschooler (with mom’s help) on up to an older elementary student. For Kyle (who just turned three yesterday!), I let him find things at my direction, “Where’s the horse?” or I can challenge him to “Count the balloons.”

Amanda, who is eight and a half, can take advantage of the unique twist in the Spot 7 series. Each two page spread has the same colorful picture, but with seven differences (if you click through the link to the amazon listing, you can see a sample page). As the back cover says, “Two photos that look the same. . . but seven things in them have changed! Can you spot them all?” In the back of the book, there are even hints as to where to find the differences when they get stuck, so the child can take pride in being able to handle the whole activity themselves.

And if the purpose of giving them the book is to entertain themselves on a long car or plane trip (which I think is a perfect use of this type of book), the fact that they are able to do it alone is a definite plus. In the beginning of the book, there are even a few challenges for them which involve the entire book such as find 18 butterflies, and find 9 giraffes.

*************

Another new offering from Chronicle Books is their World Almanac for Kids Puzzler Decks.

My kids have copies of Reading! for ages 5 to 7 and Math! for ages 7 to 9 (again, if you click through the link to each of the individual products, you will be able to see sample cards).

The decks each contain 60 cards and are about 4 by 6 inches in size. The cards are sturdy and a great size. The reading deck focuses on matching, sorting, ordering and some colors. A four year old pre-reader could do many of these activities with an adult. The math set includes codes, currency, percentages and other number facts.

The other puzzler decks that are available are U.S. History and Geography for ages 9 – 11 and one for ages 11 – 13.

5M4Bpuzzler-deck.jpgThe great news is that Chronicle Books is giving away one of each of the four World Almanac for Kids Puzzler Decks mentioned here, and a copy of Spot 7 Animals. I want to make sure the books go to someone who has a child in one of the age ranges (or knows who they would give it to if they won,) so please leave a comment indicating which of these you would like, in order of preference, and as I draw the winners, I’ll try to match them up to your first pick. These giveaways are open to Canadian and U.S. readers.

Reviewed by Jennifer Donovan from Snapshot.

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42 Comments

  1. Charis says

    June 1, 2007 at 6:58 pm

    Would love to win any of these, especially the last one!

    Reply
  2. Myrna says

    June 1, 2007 at 12:36 pm

    Would love this for my grandchild.

    Reply
  3. Jason says

    June 1, 2007 at 12:35 pm

    Please submit an entry for me!

    Reply
  4. Janice says

    May 31, 2007 at 3:50 am

    My kids would enjoy these. We would like U.S.
    History and Geography for ages 11-13, U.S. History and Geography for ages 9-11, Math for ages 7-9, Reading for ages 5-7, and Spot 7 Animals. Thanks!

    Reply
  5. Jessica says

    May 30, 2007 at 12:55 am

    THe Reading! for 5-7 would be perfect for my son!Thanks!

    Reply
  6. YoungMommy says

    May 29, 2007 at 10:09 pm

    Spot 7 Animals, Reading! for ages 5 to 7, or Math! for ages 7 to 9, would be wonderful… I have lotsa little kiddos who would love them all!

    Reply
  7. Thea says

    May 29, 2007 at 10:05 pm

    I have a 4 year old and a 2 year old so my first choice would be the Spot 7 and my 2nd choice would be for the Reading! for ages 5 to 7. Thanks so much!

    Reply
  8. Jean says

    May 29, 2007 at 10:01 pm

    Hope Im not to late on this one. I would love the Alamanac Math for 7-9 and the animal spot for my 3 year old.

    Reply
  9. Bad Sheep says

    May 29, 2007 at 9:58 pm

    I have a niece that would love the reading for ages 5-7. And her birthday is in July!

    Reply
  10. Ashley Nichole Navarre says

    May 29, 2007 at 6:48 pm

    would love any of those books! thanks!

    Reply
  11. Janne says

    May 29, 2007 at 1:30 pm

    How about someone with children in *ALL* of those age-ranges? 🙂

    Reply
  12. Caryn says

    May 29, 2007 at 12:54 pm

    Would love to win! Please enter me! : )

    Reply
  13. Karla says

    May 29, 2007 at 12:37 pm

    My son would love the Spot 7 book; and my daughter would love the one on reading or math!

    Thanks so much for another great review! I love checking out new & worthwhile products!

    Reply
  14. Karen says

    May 29, 2007 at 12:09 pm

    I would love the Potluck Club book for me:-) or the Spot 7 book for the 2 toddlers, or the Reading 5-7 book for my soon to be kindergardner:-) Thanks for the reviews!

    Reply
  15. Shauna says

    May 29, 2007 at 11:43 am

    These sound great! The reading or math would be great.

    Reply
  16. Jessica says

    May 29, 2007 at 10:48 am

    We could enjoy the Spot 7, US History/Geo for 9-11, or Reading! books! 😀 Thanks for the reviews!

    Reply
  17. MommaBlogger says

    May 29, 2007 at 9:02 am

    I have kids in all the age ranges, so anything would be fine. They all look great! (I think the math one would be best for my son though). 🙂

    Reply
  18. Julie says

    May 29, 2007 at 8:41 am

    The Spot 7 is great. My 20 month old loves the I spy books, I know he’d love Spot 7. Also, the reading for 5-7 is perfect for my daughter. But the books for the 9-11 are great for my nephew–and in my family we do hand-me-downs!

    Reply
  19. Sheila says

    May 29, 2007 at 12:43 am

    My preschooler would love the spot the animals book. Thanks for the info.

    Reply
  20. Heather says

    May 28, 2007 at 9:56 pm

    My daughter would love the Spot 7 book, but she’d also love the Reading 5-7 year olds puzzle decks.

    Thanks for hosting these great giveaways!

    Reply
  21. Ruth :) says

    May 28, 2007 at 7:51 pm

    I have a preschooler that would LOVE the spot the animals book 🙂 I also have nieces who would enjoy the books for older kids – and would eventually pass them on to us 🙂 win win situation! 🙂

    Reply
  22. Lacey says

    May 28, 2007 at 7:39 pm

    I would love to win the spot 7 book.

    Reply
  23. Montserrat says

    May 28, 2007 at 7:01 pm

    I would love to win any one of the books. Why? I have seven children ranging in age from 6 months to 11.5 years. They love these types of books!

    Reply
  24. michelle says

    May 28, 2007 at 5:31 pm

    I have a 4 year old, 10 year old, and an 11 year old. You can choose which ever one if Im a winner!

    Reply
  25. Sarah says

    May 28, 2007 at 3:52 pm

    Ooh, I would love the Spot 7 animals for my nearly 4 year old. That would be great for long car trips to see grandma!
    My second choice would be the reading or math cards, as we homeschool our boys.

    Reply
  26. Brooke says

    May 28, 2007 at 2:55 pm

    Spot 7 animals or Reading 5-7 fit my daughter’s age (just turned 5). I have my fingers crossed!!!! Love reading your websitet, btw.

    Reply
  27. melody says

    May 28, 2007 at 2:36 pm

    I have two 9 yo and a 12 yo at home. The Math 7-9 would be great for one of my 9 yo and the younger level books would be great for my 9 yo who lives with cerebral palsy and is a bit behind his age group.

    So please, enter me for all the kids books, please and thank you. I know as a homeschool family we’d put these to good use.

    And thanks for the wonderful reviews.

    Reply
  28. leah belle says

    May 28, 2007 at 2:05 pm

    The Spot 7 animals is my favorite, then reading for 5-7. My children are 3 and 5.

    Reply
  29. stephanie says

    May 28, 2007 at 1:55 pm

    Definitely the Spot 7 Animals book. My 4 and 5 yo girls love the I Spy books from the library (I also have a 2yo and infant who will be growing into those…). 2nd choice would be the Reading! for ages 5-7 as my 4 and 5 yo girls learn to read…

    Reply
  30. Karen W says

    May 28, 2007 at 12:49 pm

    I would like to win the History and Geography set for 9-11 year olds. My second choice would be History and Geography for 11-13 year olds and third choice would be the math for 7-9 year olds!

    Reply
  31. Julie says

    May 28, 2007 at 12:10 pm

    I would love the Reading! for ages 5-7, it would be perfect for my nephew! Thank you for the reviews too!

    Reply
  32. Lisa says

    May 28, 2007 at 11:35 am

    My kids would enjoy the Puzzler Deck for ages 11-13 or (since one is 11) the one for ages 9-11. We have plenty of cousins who’d like any of the books for younger children. Thanks!

    Reply
  33. Laura says

    May 28, 2007 at 11:10 am

    Hi Jennifer! Thanks for the review, please put me in for one of the Spot 7 books, sounds great!

    Laura

    Reply
  34. Kara says

    May 28, 2007 at 10:11 am

    Neat books 🙂 My kids are too young for the last one 🙂

    Reply
  35. Mama Zen says

    May 28, 2007 at 9:39 am

    My preschooler would love the spot the animals book!

    Reply
  36. Gretchen says

    May 28, 2007 at 9:26 am

    These sound great! Our 6 and 8 year olds would love them!
    Thanks!!

    Reply
  37. Lauren S. says

    May 28, 2007 at 8:38 am

    We would love the Spot 7, Reading! or Math! Thanks!

    Reply
  38. Amberly says

    May 28, 2007 at 8:08 am

    I would love to have Math! for ages 7-9, Reading! for ages 5-7 or the Spot 7 Animals! I’m a homeschooling mom and have 3 kids ages 8, 6 and 3! These look great for teaching!

    Reply
  39. ChupieandJsmama says

    May 28, 2007 at 8:02 am

    Very nice materials! I’d love to win the 5-7 age range 🙂

    Reply
  40. Dirkey says

    May 28, 2007 at 7:15 am

    I’d love to win the Reading for for the 5-7 year olds for my nephew Mason.

    Reply
  41. Lori - Queen of Dirty Laundry says

    May 28, 2007 at 5:51 am

    I’d love to win the World Almanac Math! set for my 7-year-old daughter; we’re about to start home schooling! Or I could use the World Almanac Reading! for my 6-year-old or the Spot 7 for car trips. I think my 7 yo could even benefit from the Geography, because she’s an advance reader and loves to learn!

    Thanks for the great reviews and fun giveaway!

    Reply
  42. tanyetta says

    May 28, 2007 at 3:53 am

    I would like to win Spot 7 Animals for my toddler.
    If that’s not available, then I’d like the World Almanac ages 9-11 for my husband’s twin neices.
    Thanks 🙂

    Reply

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