Tag Archives: animals

woman wearing white dress reading book

Hey You! The Nat Geo Kids book Earth Day GIVEAWAY is here

I am celebrating Earth Day (April 22) by giving away SEVEN Nat Geo Kids books!

National Geographic is a trusted name in education, and I am proud to say our home library has held many Nat Geo Kids titles over the years.

With Earth Day on its way, I was excited to get the opportunity to share some incredible Nat Geo Kids’ animal-, environmental-, and sustainable-themed books.

Seven lucky winners will each receive one of seven books from Nat Geo Kids!*

I will feature a different Nat Geo Kids book each day on my Instagram and Facebook pages. To enter for your chance to win, all you have to do is like the post and comment with the book-related prompt. You can do so on either platform. If you are selected for one book, you are not eligible to receive the others. Winners will be notified at the end of April.

Read on for a full list of titles along with a description of each book. All titles are available for purchase on Amazon or wherever you prefer to buy books.

100 Ways To Make The World Better!

Suitable for middle-grade readers, 100 Ways offers inspirational ideas, expert interviews, and doable activities that encourage kids to take an active role in caring for our planet.

Hey, Baby! A Collection of Pictures, Poems and Stories from Nature’s Nursery

Kids (and adults) of all ages will love this collection of adorable photos of baby animals accompanied by poems, folktales, and rescue stories. Sure to nurture a love for animals and nature from an early age, this book is a great addition to any starter home library.

Destiny Finds Her Way: How a Rescued Baby Sloth Learned to Be Wild

Preschoolers and early-elementary-age kids will be fascinated by the true story of Destiny, a motherless baby sloth, sightless in one eye, who was rescued in the Costa Rican rain forest. Along with sharing Destiny’s amazing tale, the book teaches kids all about sloths, including how they are particularly vulnerable to deforestation.

Go Wild! Lions

Early readers will adore this book that is all about lions. Aside from learning about lion habitats, diet, and how these big cats communicate, kids will find out why lions need our help and what humans are doing to protect them.

National Geographic Reader: Plants Level 1 Co-Reader 

Intended for adults to read along with their child, this book is the perfect way for new readers to practice their skills while learning about the incredible world of plants.

This Book Stinks!

Has your child ever asked you what happens to the garbage after its picked up on trash day? If so, This Book Stinks! is the perfect way to teach them about landfills, recycling, and how they can do their part to reduce waste.

Water! Why Every Drop Counts and How You Can Start Making Waves to Protect it

Water conservation is vital for our planet’s health. Water! is an excellent book for middle-grade readers interested in learning the science behind water and the challenge of making clean drinking water available to everyone.

*Offer available to residents of the U.S. and Canada only. Winners chosen at random, limit one book per entry.

I have not been compensated for this post and all views expressed are my own. Partnership entails working with a PR firm representing National Geographic Kids books, who will be responsible for mailing books to the winners.

Fires put Australian wildlife at risk, here’s how to help

Like most people who grew up outside of Australia, I’ve always been fascinated by the country’s unique ecosystem and variety of animals found only in that part of the world.

Viewing koalas, kangaroos and other native Australian animals at local zoos was the closest I ever got to witness this incredible wildlife, and my hope is still to someday make it to Australia, so I can experience these creatures in their natural habitats. australiananimals.png

Sadly, those habitats are in grave danger, as fires continue to rage across Australia, leaving many animals without food, water, shelter and other means for survival. According to WIRES, an Australian organization leading the efforts to conserve local wildlife, more than 800 million animals have been effected since September.

WIRES has been working round the clock to rescue as many animals as possible, and is great need of financial support to carry out their mission. The organization has established a special emergency fund to address the dire needs of animals impacted by the wildfires.

Visa and Mastercard holders can donate directly through the WIRES website via these links:

https://www.wires.org.au/donate/online
https://www.wires.org.au/donate/emergency-fund

PayPal donations can be made here:

https://www.paypal.com/au/fundraiser/112574447199339912/charity/3562115

Donate through Facebook here:

https://www.facebook.com/donate/1386120504919105/10158318179549750/

For those donating from the United States, the exchange rate is favorable and your contribution can make a huge difference.

The impact of the Australian wildfires has yet to be fully understood, but it is clear they will have far-reaching effects on the Australian ecosystem and beyond. The BBC provides a thorough explanation of the causes, current status and implications of the wildfires.

For more ways to help the people, places and wildlife effected by the fires, check out this link from PBS.org.

 

 

 

These 5 animals are worse at sleeping than your kid

If you have kids who have slept for at least five straight hours since birth, first, tell me your secret, then stop reading. OK, you don’t have to stop reading, you can laugh along with the rest of us, miserable, tired parents.

I am not sure who passed on the this sleep aversion to our children. I blame my husband for my oldest’s bizarre nightmares and sleep walking episodes. I am probably at fault for our youngest being wide-eyed and ready to party at 3 a.m. Either way, we have long accepted our fate as perpetually drowsy parents. And because, we don’t know of any kids who suck at shut-eye more than our brood, I decided to turn my attention to the animal kingdom. Yes, fellow, exhausted parents, these creatures will make you thank the stars (which you are probably up staring at because your kid is still awake) that you have human children. Continue reading