Sunday, May 29, 2011

Help Your Preschooler Build a Better Brain by John Bowman - Review and Giveaway


I am loving Help Your Preschooler Build a Better Brain: Early Learning Activities for 2-6 Year Old Children  by John Bowman.  It is full of Montessori activities that can easily be done in the home, and although we can find a lot of these activities online or in our Montessori albums, not every parent has the time to browse through numerous blogs or the money to afford the albums.  This book, though, brings it all concisely to you.  It is well-organized so the activities are easy to find and there are black and white photos to break up the text.  It is the perfect book for any parent who wants to provide educational enrichment in the home.  Even a parent who has children in daycare or preschool could find the time to do these activities at home.  It's the book I needed when Bear was 18 months and I started my blogging journey in desperation to find out what I should be doing with a toddler!

I am especially excited by the Math Activities with Money and the Math in Everyday Life section (there's a section on telling time and some really useful suggestions about watching a clock with a second hand with your child to observe the difference between the length of a second, a minute, and an hour) and can't wait to try out those ideas with Bear over the next few weeks.  John also has some very simple (as in easy to demonstrate), yet great, Science ideas that I am looking forward to trying out. Actually, pretty much every other page has a sticky note in it!  It's that good.

The photographs of the activities are useful for visual people like myself.  I only wish they were in color like in his PDF book, Montessori at Home.  I like that he has a photographic list of the essential Montessori materials needed so you can see exactly what the material is.  John must have been thinking of those not familiar with Montessori when he chose to make that list that way.   Many, if not most, of the activities in the book, however, do not require special materials and can be accomplished quite inexpensively.


Would you like a copy?

John Bowman has generously agreed to give away one CD of the Montessori at Home book and one copy of Help Your Preschooler Build a Better Brain to one lucky winner! Just leave a comment with your email.

For additional entries (leave a separate comment for each):
  • "Like" The Adventures of Bear on Facebook.
  • Follow The Adventures of Bear through Networked Blogs (see right side bar).
Giveaway closes Monday, June 6, 2011 and is open to US mailing addresses only.  Goodluck!

This giveaway is now closed.  
Congratulations to What My Child is Learning.

83 comments:

  1. Not sure if it counts, but I follow you through google reader.

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  2. Would LOVE to win a copy!! kosharem@yahoo.com

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  3. I also "liked" you on FB. Under my name "joey scherschel buckles" Kosharem@yahoo.com

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  4. This looks very interesting!!
    chulbakera@aol.com

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  5. This looks like a wonderful book. My daughter loves doing Montessori activities. She proudly calls it her "work". sniggling@hotmail.com

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  6. I liked the Adventures of Bear on Facebook. Thanks! sniggling@hotmail.com

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  7. I also follow your blog via RSS in Google Reader. Not sure if it counts but I love following your blog. Thanks! sniggling@hotmail.com

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  8. Exciting giveaway! I would be thrilled if I won this. I could use more ideas for activities and I'm not the greatest at scouring the internet for them.

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  9. Love to give this to my sister!
    Joyfulearner@zoho.com

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  10. ...and now following you through Networked Blogs.

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  11. i would love to have a copy for my 2 year old little boy.i am an enthusiastic mom who is always eager to learn new activities for my son.thanks! applebloomr@yahoo.com
    mommysbabylove.blogspot.com

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  12. Thanks for hosting this giveaway!

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  13. Would love to use this with my son. Thanks for the opportunity.

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  14. The name of the book is a little funny, but I am intrigued.

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  15. This looks great! I would love to win.

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  16. I would love to win this CD and book.
    johnson.dony@gmail.com

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  17. Thanks for the chance.

    lovelydomesticdiva (at) gmail (dot) com

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  18. I follow on gfc.

    lovelydomesticdiva (at) gmail (dot) com

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  19. I'd love a chance to win! Thanks for hosting!

    jberrec at gmail dot com

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  20. I like you on facebook!

    jberrec at gmail dot com

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  21. Ok, I really want to win, so I figured out that Networked Blog thing just for you! Following you there now too :)

    jberrec at gmail dot com

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  22. Thanks for the chance to win!!

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  23. I would love a copy. Thanks for the chance to win!

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  24. Sounds like an AWESOME book/CD! totschoolmom at gmail

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  25. I now follow you on Networked Blogs

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  26. Oh I would love to win, this is on my wish list for our 2 & 4 year olds in the fall--thanks.

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  27. Thanks!
    whitney.baugh (at) yahoo (dot) com

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  28. I would love this book. shondaet@gmail.com

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  29. Follow you on FB. shondaet@gmail.com

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  30. Thanks for the giveaway!

    madelinemiller at gmail dot com

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  31. I like you on Facebook (Madeline Doms Miller).

    madelinemiller at gmail dot com

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  32. I would like to win
    awhitehead357@gmail.com

    Thank You

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  33. Like the adventures of bear on facebook
    awhitehead357@gmail.com

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  34. I would love to have a copy of this. What a wonderful tool!

    treblechic@gmail.com

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  35. Great giveaway. Thanks! ronandwhit (at) gmail (dot) com

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  36. Following on FB.

    ronandwhit (at) gmail (dot) com

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  37. I'd love to win, kateh12783@Hotmail.com

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  38. Planning to homeschool my toddler and this would be so helpful! coolfamilyblog (at) yahoo (dot) com

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  39. My daughter just turned two. This would be fabulous! kbuckson1@gmail.com

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  40. This sounds like a great book and CD. Would love it for my son.

    kimberlysummer40@aol.com

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  41. I follow u through Networked blogs
    Kimberly Summer Pollock
    kimberlysummer40@aol.com

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  42. i want to win.
    Alison

    asheardy@yahoo.com

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  43. like adventures of bear on fb @ alison sheardy czischke

    asheardy@yahoo.com

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  44. I would love to win this book. Our oldest went to a Montessori school and it made all the difference in his education.
    kerenick2@gmail.com

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  45. Really great prize!
    michelle.wanderingstill@gmail.com

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  46. How exciting I would love either of these books! Thanks!!!

    felicia_cooper(at)hotmail(dot)com

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  47. Would love to have this set!

    besttoddlertoys at yahoo dot com

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  48. Sounds like an interesting book. I'd love to read it!

    Blessedmamaof2.em@gmail.com

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  49. Looks great!
    Thanks,
    Caterina
    scottmangano@aol.com

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  50. would luv 2 win!!!!!! storybookscience@yahoo.com

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  51. I would love this! My name is Kelly. dramaqueenkel@yahoo.com

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  52. Like AOB on FB!!

    actionsmakemoney at gmail.com

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  53. I would love to win this!

    pamelabcain at yahoo dot com

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  54. I have twin girls turning 2 this month and would love helpful ideas to keep them busy.
    j dot me dot mcfadden at gmail dot com

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  55. Added you to my blog feed

    Thank you!

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  56. I would love to receive a copy of this book. Thanks!!! raristy@yahoo.com

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  57. I would love to win this!

    crystaljop at gmail dot com

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  58. I liked you on FB! crystaljop at gmail dot com

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  59. This looks fantastic! I sure could use it for my two youngest! mmstangerjunk at comcast dot net

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  60. I like you on FB mmstangerjunk at comcast dot net

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  61. I follow you on networked blogs mmstangerjunk at comcast dot ner

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  62. I'm very interested in this so I can learn more about Montessori.

    maidenfine at yahoo dot com

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  63. I liked The Adventures of Bear on Facebook.

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  64. We're just starting homeschooling this fall and this sounds great.

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  65. I would love to have a copy of this book.

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  66. I liked The Adventures of Bear on FB.

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  67. My son loves Montessori activities. He remains engaged for long periods of time. This book looks like a great resource!!

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  68. Love to be included in this giveaway thanks

    ABreading4fun [at] gmail [dot] com

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