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!
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
Sounds like my son would like it.
This would be nice to give to my daughter.
My granddaughter would love this book.
It would be a pleasure to win your contest. Thank you for offering this.
I would be ecstatic to win this contest!
Sweet niblets!
Great book that my daughter would love to read!
Looks great. Thanks for the giveaway!
Looks like a great book!
How precious. Thanks for the chance to win it.
Looks like a very cute book. I would love to win it for my 2 year old.
Sounds like a great story!
Wow, what a cool prize.
sounds like a good story-I’d love to read this to my grandchildren
Looks great–thanks!
This sounds like a great story for the whole family.
I would love to read this with my granddaughter! Thanks for the chance to win your great giveaway!
GREAT PRIZE
Please enter me. Thanks!
Count me in!
this would be a great win for my god children
My kids love to read and what mother doesnt love that? Thanks for the chance to win!
My kids need a new story!
This looks like something my son would love, thanks, justicecw@hotmail.com
The more books my kids read the better!
My niece would love this book. Please enter me.
We love books!
I’d like to win!
Please draw my name as the winner!
Would like to read this book. Please enter me in this sweepstakes!
the illustrations look wonderful
Costa Rica is a place where we would love to go – so this would be great to introduce our daughter to it
enter me
Enter me too!
PLEASE COUNT ME IN ON THIS AWESOME GIVEAWAY 🙂
thanks for the contest
such a cute book ,my kids would love it
This book looks great and I would love it for my grandson. Thank you so much!
Looks like a really cute book.
Would LOVE to win this…thanks so much!!!!!!
What a wonderful prize!
Sounds great! Please enter me.
This sounds like a great story. I would love to ad this to our library for storytime
This book sounds great – I know my son would love it. Thanks for having this giveaway!
Wooo Hooo Make me a winner!
Sounds like a great story. I’d love to win the book.
my grandkids would like this.
I want to win
My sister’s in laws on a B&B in costa rica. We are wanting to go for a visit.
I’d like to win this one for the kids!
I would love to win this for a little girl that I know!
cjnedrow@gmail.com
sounds like a fab story — fingers crossed!
My nephews and nieces would love to have this to listen to/read when visiting Aunt Donna (that’s me). 🙂
THANK YOU GOD BLESS
Looks great!!
Looks like a great read.
want to win this
This sounds like a wonderful adventure book that my daughter and I would love to read together.
pretty cool
Thanks for the giveaway!
looks like a cute book
Count me in, sounds like a great adventure book!
What a wonderful book. It sounds like quite an adventure for the millipede.
Costa Rica is on my list of places I really want to visit!
My daughter Lily would LOVE the Lilly P. Badilly book and cd. I hope I win.
Thanks.
sounds like a book my kids would enjoy 🙂
sounds like a good read
My boys would love to write their own stories.
COOL BOOK
what a great idea… I love that they are having children write their own stories as part of the give away!
My grandson would love this!
Thank you!
janetfaye (at) gmail (dot) com
I love to read, this sounds like a good book, thank you.
rica rica rica
count me in!
Count me in !
cute story
I think my kids would love this book!
Sounds great! 🙂
This sounds like a really good book.
We took Lily to Costa Rica when she was just 4 months old so this would be really cool to have for her.
like to win this
My daughter’s name is Lily and I think she would love this adorable book!
Thank you for the chance to win. Sounds like a wonderful book for the whole family!
love reading to the kids.
need a good read
Count me in!
We are studying geography this year. This book would make a great addition!
My daughter is the bug queen. She would love to read this book
Would love to win this for my nephew 😉
Bugs and adventure – it sounds like a terrific combo for a children’s book!
Lilly sounds like one cute and adventurous millipede!
Sounds like a fun read and I am sure my daughter would enjoy it. Thanks!
I want to win!
thanks would love to win for my grandson
I love this site 🙂
great enter me..
sounds like a nice story that my kids would love…
sounds like a great book…..
This book looks great!! Got my fingers crossed, I hope to win
This sounds really cool!
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!
Looks like a cool book.
Sounds like a great book, love the idea it comes with a cd so that the little can kinda read along with it.
Sounds like a terrific story. I would love to read this with my kids.
Sounds like a wonderful tale!
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.
They’re a real boon in the car though.
Cheers
This looks like such a sweet book 🙂 *Thanks* for the giveaway!
We would love to add a story like this to our home library collection.
This sounds adorable! Count me in!
wow, sounds like a great story..my kids may sit stilll
This sounds like an awesome adventure book that my kids (and me too) would really enjoy! And what a creative family – so much talent!