Hands-On-Prints Helps Young Readers Discover the World Plus GIVEAWAy #IC #HANDSONPRINTS #spon 5/29

***Disclosure: “I participated in an Influencer Activation on behalf of Influence Central for Hands-on-Prints books. I received books to facilitate my review.”***

As the mom of 2 preschool-aged kids, I try and help them learn new things all the time. Whether it's simple math lessons at the grocery store, learning about shapes and patterns in the sandbox, or even admiring local architecture, I try and incorporate learning into our everyday activities. What better way to make kids passionate about expanding their minds, right? 

Sophie, who will be starting Homeschool Kindergarten this fall, is already a reading pro. She reads long, complex words, sentences, and paragraphs with absolutely zero hesitation. She even reads novels. She is reading at a level far beyond her 5 years, so we thought that by choosing to enroll her in a Homeschool curriculum, we could prevent her from being too bored, and continue to offer learning activities that challenge her and keep her engaged. 

Xander, on the other hand, is pretty average for a 4 year old. He doesn't share the same reading abilities as his slightly older sister, but he does have a huge desire to learn, and loves exploring the world around him. Reading is something we just need to work harder on with him. No shame in being average, though, and we're just as proud as can be of his accomplishments, too! 

Recently, I learned about Hands-on-Prints and their unique line of Montessori-style books for young children. I am very familiar with the Montessori concept of individualized learning, so I was super-excited to check out these books with my littles. 

We received 5 great books to review, but I allowed each of my little ones to choose their personal favorite to share with you all. Xander really enjoyed "Do I have to? What if I don't want to...", written by Jamie Anderson, Christina Cheung, and Beth O'Connor. The adorable illustrations were done by Hsiao-Yen Chi. 

Xander is VERY in touch with his emotions, and much like the Hulk, you wouldn't like him when he's angry. Seriously, folks....This kid can go from sweetness and light to head-rotating, pea soup-spewing rage in 3.9 seconds. 

I, as his mother, definitely appreciated this book, because it helps children and adults alike identify a wide range of emotions and explore healthy ways to cope with them. While the book is definitely in favor of expressing emotions, it also teaches ways for kids and parents to help restore calm in simple, loving ways.

My favorite part of this story is that it emphasizes allowing kids to have choices. They cannot always choose the emotions they feel, but they can identify them and choose how to express them. So while a child's first instinct may be to yell or hit, this book helps them to take a moment first to understand what they are feeling and hopefully express those emotions in a more productive, less harmful way. Emotional development is SO important, and this book really nails it. It's great for kids, but is also a teaching tool for parents as well. 

Sophie's favorite book was "Around the World from A to Z" by Christina Cheung & Han Tran. Illustrations for this book are by Tong Wu. 

This book is packed full of interactive learning that kids of all ages can enjoy. Each page features a raised, cursive letter on the left hand side, and then a corresponding place or activity on the right. Kids can trace the letters, which can help with hand-eye coordination and early writing skills. I absolutely LOVE this part, especially considering that many schools are doing away with cursive writing altogether.

I also love the the various activities and places are completely global. Sure, "J" might be for "jumping", but as you can see below, these folks are jumping rope in Paris, France, right near the Eiffel Tower! The learning possibilities are endless here. Kids think they are learning their letters, but in reality, they are learning so much about the world around them and other cultures. Brilliant, if you ask me! 

Overall, we are definitely very impressed with our Hands-on-Prints experience. These books are thoughtfully written and beautifully illustrated, and they definitely encourage children to think outside of the box. Sure, book smarts are important. I love the fact that these books not only teach things like letters, architectural styles, and culture; but also encourage kids to learn more about themselves, too. These are definitely a must-have for any children's book collections! 

You can check out the awesomeness that is Hands-on-Prints on their website. 

You can also connect with them on Facebook and on twitter to stay on top of their latest products and promotions. 

Enter to WIN :

I am thrilled to announce that one lucky reader will receive a Hands-on-Prints book of their own!

How cool is that?! 

This giveaway is open to US residents 18+ until 12:00AM EST on May 29, 2015. No PO Boxes. Winners will be drawn using Rafflecopter's Random Number Generator. All entries will be verified, so play fair! I will notify winner via e-mail and they will have 48 hours to reply before I am forced to redraw winners. No purchase necessary. Void where prohibited. This contest is not affiliated with Facebook, twitter, Pinterest, or Google in any way. If you have any questions, please e-mail Brandy at newlycrunchymamaof3@gmail.com Thanks for entering, and Good Luck!

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