Let’s Get Ready with Cedar Valley Publishing

During allergy season, tissues are everywhere - in my pockets, in the washing machine {oops} and boxes of them sitting all over the house.  And when I travel, I sometimes am relieved of the symptoms - but, sometimes, they’re worse than ever.

So, I was quite thrilled when Zagat came out with a new and exclusive (and FREE) publication, that would help me know when and where the most allergens can be found during the year - Out & About with Allergies: An Insider’s Guide to Enjoying the City!

Over 40 million Americans suffer from nasal allergies, and find their symptoms a hassle during the peak seasons. Their biggest complaint:  simply not being able to enjoy the outdoors when nasal and eye symptoms become severe. A key for nasal allergy sufferers is to talk with their doctors to get their symptoms under control so they can truly enjoy the outdoors and fun activities like dining alfresco or visiting a park.

Zagat Survey® and GlaxoSmithKline, a leader in developing allergy medicines, came together to launch Out & About with Allergies: An Insider’s Guide to Enjoying the City. This informational, complimentary guide showcases chic restaurants, rooftop bars and outdoor attractions in 20 cities across the country. Each destination is reviewed in the unique Zagat style, featuring input from people who have actually been there, done that. The guide also includes simple tips that can make spending time in the fresh air easier for adults and children with nasal allergies.

Seasonal allergy sufferer and outdoor enthusiast James Denton, of Desperate Housewives, authors the foreward of the guide, 

For your own copy (I did mention it was FREE, right?!), please visit www.outandaboutwithallergies.com.

p.s.  This guide is intended to help give guidance for allergy sufferers…but as a mom who does the laundry and has to clean out the washing machine and/or dryer, from all of the forgotten-in-the-pocket tissues — I think this is one great way to call an end to so much extra work!

     We are so excited to extend an environmentally-friendly invitation, for your child (and YOU) to experience the new eco-inspired online world of Emerald Island.

     But HURRY because this offer is for a very short time - and we’d love to get as many kids (and moms) signed up while it’s FREE!

     Game developer, Fluid Entertainment, has launched its 14th PC game for children, and handpicked the Mom Central network to participate, and share within our visitors, an early product review. To translate the online fun to real world impact, Fluid Entertainment will donate 10 trees to Trees for the Future when each child signs up to play!  This organization helps over 58 countries regrow their natural resources and has planted over 50 millions trees worldwide. 

     In Emerald Island, kids, ages 6-12, engage in a story and team up with Tamino, the game’s hero, to prevent the destruction of the Island’s vibrant landscape. Emerald Island hangs in the balance from the threat of the game’s antagonists - the ravaging Pirats.

     The amazing game hinges on an ecological theme, which should help to inspire your children to become champions and trusted eco-heroes.

     To navigate through the world, kids create a highly personalized character with loads of possible combinations, plant and cultivate 150 species of plants, trade with friends, participate in challenging quests and play engaging mini-games. With rich, hand-drawn artwork and more than 44 unique destinations to visit, kids immediately enter an expansive world of exploration and imagination that will leave them with a sense of purpose and accomplishment - and perhaps, even, some eco-joy!

     We invite you and your child to become the first heroes of Emerald Island, free of charge.

     To sign up to participate in the beta and recieve instructions on how to begin playing please click here (this is a PDF document for you to download, with all of the instructions needed to begin your eco-adventure).  Sorry, this is for PC users only, at this time.

     Once you and your child have spent time in Emerald Island, we will connect with you, to capture your feedback via a short survey (please don’t fill out the survey until you’ve played the game, though). 150 Moms who take the survey will be randomly selected to win a $10 gift certificate to Amazon.com.

     Fluid Entertainment looks forward to your thoughts and will incorporate your input as they put the finishing touches on the game.

     Please remember that the game is still under development. You may encounter a few bugs while playing. You are encouraged to contact Fluid Entertainment directly at support@emeraldisland.com with suggestions, questions and any support related needs.

Now that your child graduated from Kindergarten, you may be curious what can you do over the summer months to prepare him/her for First Grade.

Listed below are the basic Pre-First Grade skills most schools will assume your child will know as he/she walks through the doors in the Fall:

• Write full name and phone number.
• Know upper and lower case in/out of sequence.
• Know colors and shapes.
• Know numbers 1-30.
• Count to 100.
• Recognize patterns.
• Skip count by 5s and 10s to 100.
• Know money (coins and dollars) and its value.
• Read basic sentences.
• Know days of the week and months of the year.
• Understand weather concepts.

Copyright 2008 - Stacey Kannenberg, Author of Let’s Get Ready For Kindergarten! and Let’s Get Ready For First Grade!

Do you have plans for integrating this list into your summer?  What are your ideas?

Lovely people make this world so much better, don’t you think?

One such lovely woman is Christy at ShakeTheSalt.com - who not only gave Let’s Get Ready for Kindergarten! and Let’s Get Ready for First Grade! rave reviews — her son did, too!

Right now, Christy has a “Shake the Salt Launch Party” going on, and I’ve donated one of each of my books to her.  Go see the review and enter the contest!

http://shakethesalt.com/2008/08/let%e2%80%99s-get-ready-to-learn/

pssst — You’ll also find a coupon code to order my books with a 20% discount!  Don’t wait, especially if you have children getting ready for Kindergarten or First Grade!

I love to hear stories of young people trying to make a difference.  That’s why, when I received an email from D.B. Pacini and the Starry Night Product Staff about young Keenan, I knew I wanted to share some of his youthful wonderment with you.

Keenan has recently published his first book of poetry and art, entitled Voices of the Soul.  The profits from this book will be donated to Living Compassion’s Africa Vulnerable Children’s Project.

You can read more about Keenan here:  http://www.astarrynightproductions.com/loose_end/pages/resources.htm

And purchase his book here:  http://www.lulu.com/content/2064489

A note from A Starry Night Productions says,

The staff and creative artists associated with A Starry Night Productions feel that young creative artists like Keenan Dietiker greatly impact and make a positive affect on the world. We encourage you to purchase “Voices of the Soul,” and we have selected Dietiker to be our “Featured for Summer, 2008 Generous Person” because of his remarkable gift to the Living Compassion’s Africa Vulnerable Children’s Project. He is the youngest creative artist we’ve ever featured.

Did I mention that Keenan was special?  Click here to see his website, and read how special he really is!

Keenan - I’d like to extend a heartfelt WAY TO GO from myself and Cedar Valley Publishing!  You are truly an inspiration to all of us!