Flip Along Fun: Children's Book Review, Giveaway, & Coupon Code

Thank you to everyone who entered! This giveaway is now closed, congratulations to Jennifer T, comment #50 who said, "I'm a facebook fan of ABC and 123 under username Jennie".
We recently got a fantastic new book for our home library. I am always interested in children's literature, but this one really got me excited. It's a simple concept done very well. It also happens to be perfect for my daughter, right now. Children ages 2.5-6 will enjoy it a lot.

Flip Along Fun: Mix Up To Match Up...The Right Answer by Michael J. Dowling, illustrated by Sarah Dowling, is a mix and match storybook. Meaning that there are three different panels that are used to make up a simple addition "story". The whole thing is set to simple rhyming verse and colorful animal pictures.
The reader picks flips through the first and second set of panels finding an animal picture for each, that the story will feature. In the third section they find the picture that has both animals from panel one and two to complete the story. As the story is completed the animals add up.

It's hands on and interactive, the stories are delightfully funny, the concept of addition is illustrated for the kids, and the numeral on each page is enlarged and bolded. Children can see, hear, and make an addition story all at once. My daughter really likes this one:
Panel One: 3 pink pigs dancing jolly jigs.
Panel Two: Spied 2 yellow cats swinging baseball bats
Panel Three: and all 5 had a laugh as they sat in the bath.

That gets her giggling over and over, she thinks it's funny to imagine our two kitties in the bath tub. "That's so silly," she says while she rolls her eyes and usually falls over from laughing.
Another thing that I like about this Flip Along Fun is it's sturdy laminated board book cover and pages, not only will it stand up to years of little hands using it, but you can easily use it for desk top easel activities. Perfect for teachers to use during center times with small groups. It would be a great tool to use with parent volunteers leading small groups to review and reinforce math concepts. Students could use a book to make their own addition story, have the parent read it to them, and then copy the problem down into their math journal. To challenge the students, you could also have them reverse the problem into a subtraction problem.

It's an engaging read for preschoolers and an excellent resource for parents and teachers alike. I can think of many great ways to use this book because besides the math concepts, it could also be used in conjunction with word family and rhyming lessons. There is also a great video on the website, showing how the book works, see for yourself what a fun resource Flip Along Fun is!

Coupon Code:

Order the book at http://www.flipalongfun.com/, use the code K-01 and save $3 off of Flip Along Fun. Offer good now through February 14th.

Author Michael J. Dowling will autograph the book for you at no additional charge. He'll even personalize it if you provide the first names of the recipients at checkout, turning it into a really special gift! You can learn more about the author and the illustrator Sarah, who is also his wife, at their website. Giveaway:

One reader will win a copy of Flip Along Fun!

To Enter:

Visit http://www.flipalongfun.com/ and tell me something you learned about either the book or the author. {MUST be done for any other entries to be valid.}

Extra Entries:

• Tell me who you'd give or use this book with and what you think the little learner in your life would like most about Flip Along Fun.
• Publicly follow either one of my blogs, this one or my educational blog: ABC & 123, one extra entry for each.
• Post either link button on your blog, one extra entry for each.
• Fan either blog on Facebook, one extra entry for each.
• Follow FlipAlongFun on Twitter
• Follow me on Twitter, tweet this giveaway, using @KTnestingspot in it.
• Post about this giveaway on your blog.

{Don't forget the mandatory first entry, leave me an extra comment for additional method of entry you choose}

Giveaway open now through Tuesday February 2, 2010 at midnight EST to US residents.

Disclaimer: I received a copy of this book for reviewing purposes; this post relates my own unbiased opinions and experience with this title. Yours may differ.