This week we’ve got another big Weekly Roundup post to share!

The items you see below all won a Mom’s Choice Award during the week of May 7 – 13, 2017! For more information about a product, click the product image or purchase link.

The Shimmering Secret
Written by Karla Hansen; Illustrated by Ron Wagner; Edited by Heather Hansen
Ann McBee
Anthony Paustian

The Shimmering Secret sparkles with a delightful narrative and vibrant, full-color illustrations. Set in an ancient Chinese village, the tale provides a cross-cultural message of hope and transformation. The adventures of little Hu Mei (rhymes with You May) and Wang Fu (the village bully) lead youngsters of any age to the secret that lives within each and every one of us. The ageless struggle to understand human feelings and behavior is answered when the children discover there is a core goodness beyond measure, something that’s always resided within them.

Children’s Picture Books:
Developing Social Skills

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The Lemonade Stand Cookbook: Step-by-Step Recipes and Crafts for Kids to Make…and Sell!
Written by Kathy Strahs; Illustrated by Carol Yoshizumi; Edited by Margaret McGuire Novak

Lemonade stands . . . kids have been running them for decades, whether to raise money for a new bike, for a charitable cause, or simply to conquer boredom. Inspired by dozens of kid experts from all over the country, author Kathy Strahs pours her expertise as a food writer, entrepreneur and mother of two school-aged children into the ultimate guide to setting up your own lemonade stand. Step-by-step illustrations and full-color photographs of each recipe and craft make each page easy and fun to dive into. Find delicious drinks, such as Classic Lemonade and Cold-Brew Iced Tea, sweet treats such as Polka Dot Blondies and Chocolate-Dipped Marshmallow Pops, grab-and-go snacks such as Owen’s Cheddar Chompers and Sunflower Crunch Balls, and creative crafts such as Hayley’s Flower Pencils and Friendship Bracelets. Tips for setting up a successful stand, packaging ideas, cooking technique tutorials, and real-life “stand stories” from kids themselves are sure to inspire kids everywhere to “give life a squeeze.”

Juvenile Books (Level 1 – Ages 5 to 8):
Cooking & Food

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the laughing witch
Written by Andrew Sam Newman; Illustrated by Liesl Bell

This lovingly crafted bedtime story for ages 3 to 6 follows the adventures of The Laughing Witch as she prepares her pot with the fruits of the forest she loves. Learn how she lives hand-in-hand with all of nature and how she creates sacred space to honor those she loves and care for.

Children’s Picture Books:
New Age & Indigo Topics

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the hug who got stuck
Written by Andrew Sam Newman; Illustrated by Alexis Aronson

This bedtime story (for ages 3 to 6) follows the adventures of Hug, a hero who got stuck as he was headed for the heart for which it was made. Will Hug navigate past The Web of Sticky Thoughts to deliver love and care to the one special heart for which it was intended?

Children’s Picture Books:
Body, Mind & Spirit

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the elephant who tried to tiptoe
Written by Andrew Sam Newman; Illustrated by Liesl Bell

This story follows the adventures of The Elephant as she falls in and out of love with herself. This tale reminds children to be their true self and to love the body they have.

Children’s Picture Books:
Body, Mind & Spirit

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the boy who searched for silence
Written by Andrew Sam Newman; Illustrated by Alexis Aronson

This charming story follows the adventures of the hero, The Boy, as he runs from the noises and busyness of life, hoping to find Golden, Peaceful, Blissful Silence.

Children’s Picture Books:
Body, Mind & Spirit

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The Adventures of Pugley Bear: Home Sweet Home
Written by Sol Regwan; Illustrated by Alejandro Echavez

Pugley Bear was a talented young bear who would perform to crowds at the Bronx Zoo. Singing festive songs, he was the center of attention. When his sister was born and grew up, she started taking center stage and overshadowed her brother. Pugely decides to run away from home on his bike and encounters a wise old owl who understands his situation. Through guided adventures led by the owl, Pugley realizes how his sister could actually be an asset to their talents and how together they would make an unstoppable force.

Children’s Picture Books:
Adventure, Adventurers & Heroes

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Sharks are Wild

The Sharks are Wild card game by Hoyle Brand teaches sequence building and numerical identification with fun sea creatures.

Educational Products:
Preschoolers

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Return Of The Look Cookers!
Written by Jim Malloy; Illustrated by Hannah Stephey

Matthew faces a new challenge in this, the second book in The Look Cookers series.

And this could be his toughest mission yet as an Eye Spy! He not only has to outfox the dreaded Look Cookers! Matthew has been given an assignment by his teacher, Miss Hazel Peeper, that causes big kids and even adults to run for the hills.

Will Matthew gain another notch of confidence in his secret agent belt? Can he succeed against the odds?

Discover the secret of his mission. Then tag along as Matthew encounters the Look Cookers, meets a new friend and discovers just how brave he can be, tip-toeing at the edge of apprehension.

This is the exciting follow-up to The Look Cookers! – a Mom’s Choice Gold award for children’s picture books. The Return of The Look Cookers! is sure to thrill and inspire kids ages 4 to 8 as well.

Children’s Picture Books:

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Piggy Bank

Piggy Bank is another great card game from the Hoyle Brand that teaches skip counting by fives and tens and simple addition and subtraction.

Educational Products:
Preschoolers

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My Monster Family
Written by Karen Jacques; Illustrated by Erin Cahanes; Edited by Beaver’s Pond Press

Follow a young monster named Lemmy as he begins a new journey of living in two homes. With an innocent and imaginative perspective of having a stepparent, this story reveals the strength, hope, and love found in all types of families.

Children’s Picture Books:
Family Life

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Monsters Have My Brother!
Written by Karen Jacques; Illustrated by Erin Cahanes; Edited by Beaver’s Pond Press

Dottie is on a mission: to solve the mystery of her missing brother. With an innocent and imaginative perspective of having a half-sibling, this story reveals the strength, hope, and love found in all types of families.

Children’s Picture Books:
Family Life

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Miao Mi

With the “Miao Mi” app, parents can easily immerse their young children in Mandarin language-learning just by using their tablets. With more than 500 videos available on the app, parents can help their child learn a language spoken by one-fifth of the world’s population. Created by “Miao Mi,” a well-established Mandarin edutainment cable television channel in Asia, the app features award-winning shows and games that reinforce the language-learning.

Apps & Software:
Preschoolers

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Jungle Jim – A Musical Wildlife Adventure

Join Jungle Jim on his exciting wildlife adventures as he explores the animal kingdom with friends Flip the Monkey, Dash the Cheetah, Scratch the Porcupine and Stripes the Tiger. Sing along as Jim learns amazing animal facts from original songs performed by the animals themselves! This beautifully animated video also includes live footage of animals in their natural habitat.

Viewing (Television/DVD/Blu-Ray ):
Preschoolers

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It’s Just So Little
Written by Brenda Faatz, Peter Trimarco; Illustrated by Peter Trimarco

It’s Just So… adventurous for a little girl named Lizzy as she faces challenges of growth and change. She and her faithful puppy adopt a frail little sapling tree, taking on the job of protecting and nurturing their new, well-rooted friend throughout the seasons.
In the meantime, Lizzy is outgrowing all of her favorite clothes and watching as Mom seems to be outgrowing her clothes as well. Lizzy’s biggest change comes in welcoming the new baby as her family tree is growing too.

Children’s Picture Books:
Family Life

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iBiome-Ocean

iBiome Ocean is the sequel to the award-winning educational game – iBiome-Wetland.

Build and explore diverse and intricate ocean habitats with Professor Bio as your guide!
Revel in the simplistic beauty of the hand-drawn artwork and learn about real-world biological interactions and relationships.

Teach your kids (ages 7-12) all about this fascinating underwater world and celebrate the rich diversity of sea life.

Combine engaging game play with scientific knowledge to inspire deep learning.

Explore the Kelp Bed, Tide Pool, Open Ocean, and Coral Reef which you build yourself.

Use fun drag-and-drop mechanics to create Crazy Webs and better your understanding of inter-species relationships. Learn about environmental challenges and different roles like producers and consumers, predator and prey.

Apps & Software:
Ages 9 to 12

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GentleBottle

Keeping feeding as natural as possible only makes the process better. The Olababy Gentle Bottle is prefect for when baby is switching from breast feeding to bottle feeding. Designed to mimic a natural breast, the nipple design allows for easy latching and reduces bottle rejection. Dual-venting was integrated into the design as an anti-colic system, and to help with air flow. The off-centered nipple allows for better outflow and reduces leftover residue. A wide neck makes it easy to hold, as well as clean. Made with medical-grade silicone, the Gentle Bottle is 100% BPA, PVC, and Phthalate free. Designed with baby in mind, the Gentle Bottle keeps feeding as natural as it should be.

Miscellaneous:
Other

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Genealogy Basics In 30 Minutes: The quick guide to creating a family tree, building connections with relatives, and discovering the stories of your ancestors
Written by Shannon Combs-Bennett

Genealogists are like detectives. Working out puzzles is the name of their game! If you have ever wanted to research and document your family history the right way, then Genealogy Basics In 30 Minutes is for you! Authored by professional genealogist Shannon Combs-Bennett, this genealogy book explains the joys, challenges, and triumphs of researching your family’s origins. While many people assume genealogy research starts online, Combs-Bennett shows the importance of starting a family tree using documents that can be found in your own home!

Adult Books:
Activities, Crafts & Hobbies ( Includes Puzzles & Games)

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EXEO Duo™

EXEO DUO™ is a battle of minds. Just a board, two players and their pieces.
This is the strategy game where you play both sides.
First player to exit their 4 pairs is the winner.

In this new strategic game for 2 players, you aim to exit your pieces. The board’s two halfs make you play both sides simulaneously to get your pieces out. The players have three steps to allocate on the two sides; to reach the EXEO squares to exit and to stop the opponent from getting there. First player to outsmart their opponent and exit their four pairs wins the game!

Toys, Games & Puzzles:
Young Adults

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Color Wonder On-The-Go

Take your mess-free coloring with you with Color Wonder Color on the Go books. Includes 15 mini coloring pages and 3 Color Wonder markers in a durable case that keeps you organized and ready to go. Available in Disney Princess, Shimmer & Shine, Paw Patrol and PJ Masks. Color Wonder markers won’t color on skin, furniture or fabric and ONLY color on the special Color Wonder paper. For ages 3 and up.

Arts, Crafts & Hobbies:
Ages 5 to 8

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CLASSICS: Why and how we can encourage children to read them
Written by Fiza Pathan

Author Fiza Pathan hopes to propagate the reading of Classics to everyone—every student, parent, and educator. The book focuses on the importance of reading good literature, methods for encouraging students to do so, and the lifelong benefits children will reap from exposure to classic literature.

Young Adult Books:
Reference & Study Aids

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Catch’N Fish

Catch N’ Fish is another excellent card game from the Hoyle Brand that teaches number sentences and numeral values with addition and subtraction.

Educational Products:
Preschoolers

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BRIGHT Science Quiz® Biology edition

This is the game for the inquisitives. The questions in this quiz are written by a teacher with 30 years’ experience of teaching High School Biology, and they will put you to the test… One thing is for sure: you learn something playing this game. And what can be better than impressing your friends with your biology skills? Review your knowledge and learn more with this challenging quiz!

In school, BRIGHT Science Quiz® Biology edition is the fun and competitive way
to increase comprehension of today’s high school science standards.
It’s the smart, easy and appreciated way to review what the students learn
in the classroom. Easy to use, minimal setup and designed for high schools.

Educational Products:
Young Adults

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Bark

Bark is a parental app/software tool powered by advanced algorithms that proactively alerts parents to common dangers, including cyberbullying, sexting, drug use, Internet predators, depression and suicidal thoughts; and then provides expert recommendations on how to address them. Bark reduces the time-consuming activity parents go through trying to keep up with all the posts, texts, and emails their children send daily.

Apps & Software:
Adults

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