Young Kids DO Like Nonfiction : National Geographic Hero Series Book Review + GIVEAWAY!

Reading is a huge part of what I spend my time doing with my kids. Our local library has a program to promote early literacy in children under the age of 5. It's called 1,000 Books Before Kindergarten. I'm fairly certain I've read over 20,000 to Benjamin and at least 10,000 to Claire at their young ages of 2 and 4. I've read so much that Benjamin hands me book after book, inhaling each word, curious about everything he is seeing and hearing. He's a sight word champion and well on his way to devouring books all on his own.

At such a young age, kids don't actually need us to force them into reading. They are inherently curious. We're participating in that library program to encourage others and because bubbling in those little bubbles for each book on the chart is great fine motor practice for my littles.

Around Halloween, kids who showed up at our doorstep were dressed as every kind of character. My kids had lots of questions as we dropped candy into baskets of kids dressed up as warriors, superheroes and people of history (though I'd like to see more of the latter). Yesterday at the library, Benjamin stopped at the biographies section and commented about those books being "for big kids" instead. I disagreed. He grabbed up a book about Davy Crockett and off we were exploring the pictures and facts about the folk hero. Nonfiction isn't just for the big kids. Some nonfiction books are a good bridge between the two, featuring stories of historical characters in their nonfiction stories, like one of our favorites, Rosie Revere, Engineer.

If I can get my hands on new and exciting books with cool pictures and awesome facts about important people in world history that are both interesting and will catch my kids' attentions, I'm all about it. We were sent a couple great National Geographic books to check out. The Book of Heroes and The Book of Heroines were quickly ripped from their boxes by my little bookworms. Not only was Rosie the Riveter in there (activating prior knowledge + connecting literature!), but so were a handful of stories about flight crew who made quick moves to save their aircraft... one of those being Benjamin's obsession: the Goodyear blimp. In short snippet paragraphs, kids of all ages are captivated by real, actual history. Even cooler, he's seen one and can immediately relate to the real-life story that happened well before his birth.

As for Claire, she's not as much of a reader, and yet the cool factor of these shiny books with bright pictures totally pulled her in. There's so much to see and learn. And they make killer coffee table books (or potty room books, just saying). For my littles, they enjoy these Nat Geo nonfiction books about Heroes and Heroines for the super cool pictures and short stories to keep their fleeting attention spans. For older kids, they can read the pages on their own, devouring the rich (and seriously exciting) world of doers and game changers. Ages 2 and beyond as long as they can sit and listen and have a little explanation from parents (since some of those words are as big as the characters themselves), these books are good for everyone.

As for independent reading, it's around the 5th grade level of reading and seriously a super item to add to a classroom library as a gift (teachers LOVE this) or as a birthday present for the kid who has too many toys (just our problem? probably not).

It's hard to imagine anyone not finding stories of awe inspiring history makers interesting. We sure did. These will be part of our book library for many years to come. Because I'm also a book hoarder, natch.

Wanna win a set of these great nonfiction stunners for your kids? Shoot me a comment below about your favorite hero or heroine and I'll select a winner on Wednesday 11/16! Open to U.S. only. Sorry my beloved Canadian friends! xo

I received this product for free from Moms Meet (momsmeet.com), May Media Group LLC, who received it directly from the manufacturer. As a Moms Meet blogger, I agree to use this product and post my honest opinion on my blog. The opinions posted are my own.

Review: Well Beginnings with Walgreens

The baby is in diapers. Of course. The toddler is still in diapers with no foreseeable change happening soon. {perhaps you can hear me grumbling?} 

Well Beginnings diapers in size 4 (31ct., $8.99) being modeled by the toddler who won't potty-train. At least his bum looks cute with an elephant on it.

The kids are both changed many times each day and I use both diapers and wipes to make it happen. They take regular baths (together even since sister is sitting up!). And oh yeah. They've both had a fever this month.

Insert Walgreens. I hit up Walgreens earlier this week when the meds I was using for her fever and teething just weren't keeping the hot body at bay. We grabbed our necessities and checked out quickly. We have no fewer than 5 locations within 5 miles of our house. It's pretty great. They have a Well Beginnings product line that is exclusive to their store and carries a variety of products to care for young kiddos like my own. I've personally tried quite a few already and added a few more trials to my list with this review.

I discovered their diaper and wipes line a few months back and even have their Well Beginnings training pants ready with those cute superheroes all stocked up in the closet just collecting dust. So until then, I'm grabbing the diapers and wipes instead. For both kids, in fact.

I've tried many-a-diaper in my 30 months of this {diaper-changing} mom job. And honestly, these are right up there with the big dogs. They carry size newborn to 6 and the newborn to size 2 even have a wetness indicator like the competitors! I was able to share a bunch of these trial packs at a playdate with friends in the park recently and that was a feature I made sure to share. Even better, they have a soft, stretchable waist, added vitamin E & aloe, full day/night wetness protection and are 100% guaranteed.

That's right. You can try them and get your money back if they just aren't jiving with your family.

But the Wilson fam is just fine with them. Moisture is wicked away. There aren't leaks or blowouts. No rashes. Check. Check. Check.

The wipes are just the kind I like. Honestly! I prefer something with a little grip and these have it in the Tri-form layers. Hypoallergenic, allergy-tested, dermatologist approved, alcohol free and only $2.39 for a snap-closing 72-count pack. I keep a case in my car for the messes as well... not just for diaper changing, folks! In fact, I probably use more in the car. Ha.

We've also tried their baby wash and their electrolyte drink (dye free!) with thumbs up for both. I actually like the smell of this baby wash over the other brands and the electrolyte drink is about half the price of competitors and just as useful with a sick kiddo... or mama... or papa. We are not above Pediatric drinks to feel better!

Rub-a-dub-dub, two Wilson kiddos in the tub. Using Well Beginnings baby wash from head-to-toe. Soap-free, dye-free and pH-balanced. Tear free, hypoallergenic, dermatology & allergy tested, paraben & phthalate free. And that big bottle sells for under $3. Since you don't need much, it will take a whole lot of rubber duckies in the tub before replacing it.

Thumbs up all around. That fruit prediatric oral electrolyte is quite tasty! I've tried it and so has Benjamin during a sick, sick night last week. It's near identical and half the price of the other brands. I even have 2 more bottles on hand in grape and strawberry. It's dye-free! If you've ever had the red dye kind of kid electrolyte drinks puked up on your white carpet in the dark at 3 a.m. by your toddler and not realize it until over a day later all soaked in and near impossible to clean out, you'd understand why I find the dye-free kind this so. very. important. 

For more about Walgreens Well Beginnings products, see their website for info on the complete line. They also have a Facebook page & Twitter page. Did you know that Walgreens is a 113-year old American company? Yeah, just learned that via their twitter page.

I was given this opportunity as part of {Green} Moms Meet. Moms Meet is an online resource for moms that encourages healthy and green parenting/living. As an added bonus, I sometimes get to share healthy, green products with friends at playdates and report back on our likes/dislikes.

Disclaimer: I received this product free from the sponsor of the Moms Meet Program, May Media Group LLC, who received it directly from the manufacturer. As a Moms Meet blogger, I agreed to use this product and post my opinion on my blog. My opinions do not necessarily reflect the opinions of May Media Group LLC or the manufacturer of the product.