Saturday, December 8, 2012

Holiday Gift Ideas -- Flip Along Fun, A Mix and Match Storybook (Review)



 



Parents and teachers take note of this book, as it is one worth adding to your book collection, and sharing with children ages 2-6 years old.  I stumbled upon this book when looking for unique holiday gift ideas, and couldn't wait to get my hands on a copy to share with Savannah.  So, why am I so excited about Flip Along Fun?  Well, it isn't just any old storybook for kids.  Instead, it provides an interactive experience, through mixing and matching, while teaching children about math, logic, rhyming and matching, to name a few.  

So, how does this interactive book work?
 

"Children "write" the story by picking panels:
  1. Begin by choosing any one of the nine panels on the left (e.g., "3 pink pigs dancing jolly jigs")
  2. Continue the story by randomly picking any panel in the middle (e.g., "met 3 gray mice looking very nice")
  3. End the story by finding the one matching panel on the right that contains all of the animals pictured in the first two panels. ("and all 6 said, 'Boo! I'll tickle you!'")
When the animals match up, the numbers add up!

 

Parents and grandparents love Flip Along Fun because it presents a variety of storyline possibilities that keep children entertained and learning for hours. The book's sturdy, laminated construction ensures years of enjoyment.

Daycare, preschool, kindergarten, and special education teachers praise Flip Along Fun because it develops creativity, while conveying important educational concepts in a fun context. The book's large size (9" X 12") makes it ideal for group settings, one-on-one interactions, and independent play."

The author of the book, Michael J. Dowling sent me a review copy to share with Savannah.  The first time I shared the book with her, I couldn't believe how quickly she caught onto the concept.  Because she is learning to count, she was able to count out load with me and make sure the animals on each panel added up.  Who knew that a 2 1/2 yr. old would be able to do simple addition?  I was amazed.  Even though Savannah didn't know that she was doing addition or practicing logical thinking, she had a blast as we flipped through the 9 pages of 27 panels that make up this 3-section book for kids.  

In addition to creating a sequential story, I also used this interactive storybook as a way to teach Savannah about identifying colors and animals.  I would say a color or animal, and she would put it out to me.  This book has become a daily read for Savannah and I when we are looking for something to do during "Mommy and Me" time.  And, I know that as she and her little sister, Arabella, grow up, that this book will also grow with them, and be used to introduce rhyming and sentence structure.  But, in the meantime, we will enjoy using it for color and animal recognition and simple addition, while also enjoy cute little stories.

So, if you are looking for a storybook to put under the tree to surprise your little one this year, why not pick up a copy of "Flip Along Fun"?  You will be impressed when you see this one-of-kind interactive book for young children, and love how it will grow with them, and help reinforce important developmental skills.


--BUY NOW--

Click here to order "Flip Along Fun" for only $17.95 from Wool Street Publishing -- http://www.flipalongfun.com/.


Note: If you would like your autograph personalized, please provide the first name(s) of recipient(s).



About the Author and Illustrator:

Sarah Buell Dowling is an award-winning artist and illustrator. After earning a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree from Massachusetts College of Art in Boston, she continued her post-graduate studies in oil painting at Montserrat College of Art in Beverly, Massachusetts, and in watercolor painting with Rebecca Kahrs Willis, Karen Leffel-Massengill, Janet Rogers, Elaine Hahn, and other nationally recognized artists. 

Sarah's fine art has won awards from the Georgia Watercolor Society, the Jekyll Island Art Association, the Glynn Art Association, and the Mount Dora (FL) Art Festival. She sells her original paintings, prints, and note cards in galleries, at art festivals, and on her website (www.SarahBuellDowling.com). 

Sarah also has illustrated three books and several children's toys, some of which can be seen on www.UnderTheLamb.com. One of these toys received the 2001 Toys of the Year award from Parenting Magazine; another was chosen as a 2001 Main Selection by the Children's Book of the Month Club.
 
Michael J. Dowling is a professional writer and editor. He earned his MBA from Columbia Graduate School of Business in New York City, where he was a Harriman Scholar, and his B.S. with honors in engineering from the University of Florida. 

Mike is the author of three published books, including Boosting Your Pet's Self-Esteem, a satire of the self-esteem craze published by Macmillan, and Flip Along Fun, an interactive, educational book for children that's sold over 20,000 copies (www.FlipAlongFun.com). 

Mike is a writer, editor, and ghostwriter of books, articles, and other communications that help individuals and organizations increase their visibility, credibility, and profitability. His professional services are described on www.MichaelJDowling.com

Mike and Sarah live on St. Simons Island, Georgi

Disclosure: I was sent a copy of this book by the author in order to write up an honest review. The views above are mine and mine alone.



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