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When Listening to Audio Books is a Must

Posted on September 29, 2014 12:00 am by TheAngelForever

Being able to listen to an audiobook has become an important part of my life. Sometimes picking up a paper book or reading an eBook is just not possible. There are times that my hands and eyes are working on something, but I am able to listen. Rather than have music, television, or other background noise on, audiobooks are a great solution that allow me to multitask.

The smartphones in my life have allowed me to keep whatever audiobook I am currently enjoying on them for access on the go. Of course, not all smartphones are created equally when it comes to their speakers. A problem I have had in the past is not being able to hear the narrator of a book if I forget my ear buds. The placement of speakers, the limited volume, and other audio inconsistencies mean that I can not always use OverDrive to listen to my audiobooks without my BOSE Soundlink Mini Bluetooth Speaker.

I can not tote my speaker with me to all locations, so one of the first features I check out on a new device is the ability to listen to an audiobook without additional accessories. When I received an HTC One Remix, one of the first things I did was to put my reading apps on it. Then, I connected up to the book that I was currently listening to. When I pushed the button to play and had it resting on my bed and face up, I was able to hear it perfectly. The narrator was clear, the volume did not have to go all the way up, and it self adjusted so I did not have to toggle settings as I was listening. I was pleasantly surprised and wanted to know more because it was very different from other phones I have used.

The HTC BoomSound™ technology is something that I witnessed. The dual front facing speakers allow you to project music, book, or other sounds right to you. Other smartphones have speakers built into the back so if you want to listen to something and multitask, the audio goes away from you. The phone also has built-in amps that boost volume so that even my kids in another room came to close my door because they did not want to hear my book. In addition to this, there is bass-to-treble balancing software that makes the sound more crisp and clear.

With this phone, I am able to listen to books while driving near and far to shuttle my kids from school to other afterschool commitments. In addition to this, if I put a book that everyone is listening to together, I can place it in the front of my van and everyone else will be able to follow along without any difficulty hearing. Yes, this is a great device to take on road trips, to a meeting to share audio, or anything else that may come up for a busy person that is on the go and relies on audio that can perform solo.

How do you utilize audio on your smartphone and has there ever been a time where you wish it could do more?

Disclosure: As a member of the Verizon Lifestyle Bloggers, I receive devices like the HTC One Remix to test out and share ways that I use it in my life. I am a long time Verizon customer, and all opinions are my own.

Categories:
books Technology

Tuesday Tales: Belches, Burps, and Farts–Oh My!

Posted on September 9, 2014 12:00 am by TheAngelForever

Imagine getting excited about an email that has belches, burps, and farts in the title. This kid at heart actually squealed when author Artie Bennett wrote to say that his new book was being published. So I…–er we eagerly waited to receive the review copy. When I opened up the book, the message to my boys was priceless.

Belches, Burps, and Farts–Oh My! – Written by Artie Bennett – Illustrated by Pranas T. Naujokaitis – Published by Blue Apple Books

September 2014 – ISBN 978-1609053925 – 17.99 – Ages 4-8

So what is this book about? Well, I think you know the gist of it from the title. What you may not expect is the way that it goes about giving children of all ages scientific information. Belches, Burps, and Farts—Oh My! truly is educational. Readers will learn why we pass gas via different routes of the body.

I must confess, I read this book aloud to TechyDad the evening it arrived while he was cooking dinner. I wanted to preview the silly and educational tale before reading it with the boys. The two of us laughed a lot. Sure it talked about bodily functions that many are not comfortable with, but they are a fact of life. There is just something wonderful about the rhyme and rhythm of the book that dishes out fart jokes and facts side by side. Add in the hilarious and colorful illustrations by Pranas T. Naujokaitis and you have a fantastic combination.

While reading the book to JSL, he was fascinated with the fact that you can’t burp while on your back. I have a feeling he may try to see if he can do this. Meanwhile, I hope neither of my kids attempt what is depicted in the picture above. Admit it, we have all burped an answer to someone once or twice before.

One of my favorite moments was when I was reading this page to JSL:

TechyDad heard the page again and yelled, “So, does that mean that SpongeBob does not fart?” The laughter from the seven year old was priceless as everyone thought about episodes they may have seen.

I won’t spoil the rest of the book. All I will say is I highly recommend it to others. While it may not be on a traditional topic, I think it’s important to have fun while learning about the body and science. Just remember the more comfortable you are now talking about belches, burps, and farts, the easier other talks may be in the future about other tricky topics. FYI other Tuesday Tales on books written by Artie Bennett are Peter Panda Melts Down and The Butt Book.

Have you read any books by Artie Bennett? If you have not, what are you waiting for? As always, Tuesday Tales is all about sharing our love of books. Please let me know what you have read recently. Be sure to link up to your book posts in the comments below. Include something you read on your own, with a child, or someone else.

Disclosure: As noted above, I received this book from the author, Artie Bennett, to review. No other compensation was received and all opinions are my own. Once again, it was my choice to kvell about this book and Artie never pulled my finger twisted my arm.

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books Tuesday Tales

Tuesday Tales: Calvin the Bookworm Birdie and Monsters

Posted on August 5, 2014 12:00 am by TheAngelForever

This summer, my youngest has been reading a lot of different books on his own. Clearly a major milestone for JSL. While I love his independence, it makes me sad at the same time. I miss curling up with my kiddo to read a special picture book together. When two new books arrived from Sterling Children’s Books to review, I asked JSL if I could read them to him before bed one night.

We took the books above and read them together like we used to do before diving into chapter books. It was a lot of fun celebrating at a party with a monster book from an author/illustrator that was new to us. JSL and I also adored visiting with our familiar birdie friend Calvin in his new tale.

Calvin, Look Out! – Written by Jennifer Berne – Illustrated by Keith Bendis – Sterling Children’s Books August 2014 – ISBN 9781454909101 – $14.95 – Ages 4-8

Calvin the book loving bird is back in this latest book by Jennifer Berne. This time, Calvin starts to notice something just is not right with his vision. Why yes, the bookworm birdie shares his adventure as he gets his first pair of glasses. The clarity of the world changes at an instant and poor Calvin is teased because he is different than others. What happens when Calvin finds himself in trouble and needs to save the day? You will need to read the story and follow along with the beautiful illustrations from Keith Bendis that immerse us into Calvin’s world.

JSL really enjoyed this book and it gave us a great topic to talk about. We were able to discuss differences. Why it can be hurtful not to accept people the way they are. Oh and thanks to Calvin we talked about never giving up and the important of problem solving when it appears that you are in trouble. I highly recommend the latest book about Calvin and others if you have never read them before. I also pulled up my post from The Albany Children’s Book Festival where we met author Jennifer Berne to remind JSL because he had forgotten about that.

Monster Party – Written and illustrated by Annie Bach – Published by Sterling Children’s Books August 2014 – ISBN 97814549105 – $9.95 – Ages 2-5

We are big monster fans in this house, thanks to the famous Disney monsters like Mike and Sulley. Monster Party is a sweet story about a monster getting invited to a party. Annie Bach’s simple words and whimsy artwork bring us along to see what the little monster does with his friends.

JSL liked the rhyme scheme and pictures in the book. It was a little juvenile for him, but he read along with me. I could see this book being used at Halloween time to act and make up a song with a preschool group. Lots of items that could be creatively incorporated with young children.

Are you a fan of Calvin the bookworm birdie or other monster books? Be sure to let me know if you have read about Calvin or any good monster tales recently. As always, Tuesday Tales is all about sharing our love of books. Please let me know what you have read recently. Link up to your book posts in the comments below. Include something you read on your own, with a child, or someone else.

Disclosure: As noted above, I received both of these books from Sterling Children’s Books to review. No other compensation was received and all opinions are my own.

Categories:
books Tuesday Tales

Tuesday Tales: New 2014 Summer Reading Selections

Posted on July 15, 2014 12:00 am by TheAngelForever

Over the 4th of July weekend, the boys received a gift from a cousin. It was a gift card to the book store and she told them they had to use it for books. This weekend, the boys begged to head to the store to select a special book of their own choosing. They kept to the wishes of Cousin A and went right to the books. We spent a LONG time looking at different options. NHL quickly found several books that were interesting and had to narrow it down. JSL was a bit more tricky. In the end, they each selected new to them book series to read.

NHL selected the first of the How to Train Your Dragon books by Cressida Cowell. JSL finally decided on Bad Kitty Meets the Baby from the Bad Kitty Series by Nick Bruel. Both of the boys started reading the books on the way home from our outing. What I never expected was JSL’s nose to be in the book at almost any chance he got. As soon as he woke up, he would run to the couch to read more about Bad Kitty. While we had roof work done on Sunday morning, he pulled out a chair and read. Before we knew it, JSL was finished with the 141 page book and begging for more.

The best news, thanks to the summer reading program at Barnes & Noble both of the boys can work toward another book in their series. Did I mention JSL had already read way more than the eight books that are required? He wants to go back to get his reward now.

Are you or your children Bad Kitty or How to Train Your Dragon books? As always, Tuesday Tales is all about sharing our love of books. Please let me know what you have read recently. Be sure to link up to your book posts in the comments below. Include something you read on your own, with a child, or someone else.

Categories:
books summer Tuesday Tales

Tuesday Tales: Stink Book Series by Megan McDonald

Posted on July 8, 2014 12:00 am by TheAngelForever

Kids are funny when it comes to reading. JSL just finished first grade and was not interested in reading chapter books alone until just over a week ago. I would read chapter books to him, but he was not really fond of reading them to me. As a teacher, I knew many books and series to recommend. When I would make suggestions to my own son, I would get a very advanced eye roll and told he could not read them yet. Then, something clicked the other day. A friend had a bike on sale and we went to pick it up. While there, she asked JSL if he wanted any of the books that were being given away. He was hesitant, but took two of them. On the ride home, he cracked open the book below.

Yes, Stink and the Ultimate Thumb Wrestling Smackdown by Megan McDonald inspired JSL to overcome his fear of reading chapter books alone. The reality is the books have become reading addiction for my kiddo. He loves the characters and their quirks. The writing keeps him actively engaged and the illustrations from Peter H. Reynolds take the experience to another level.

Since JSL received that book, we have read the first book of the series together. We also put the book onto JSL’s Kindle App so it could head with us to the doctor’s office on his Galaxy Tab 2. Rather than play with toys, JSL kept devouring his book. This was not only the first time he was reading a chapter book mostly on his own, but his introduction to the beauty of e-books on the go.

When we moved into the room to wait for the doctor, we both laughed together while reading Stink and the Incredible Shrinking Kid. It was fun meeting Stink and recognizing his big sister Judy Moody. Yes, Stinks real name is James Moody and you learn much more about him in the first book of the series. I adore that Stink has perked JSL’s interest in checking out more of Judy’s books later on.

I have a feeling JSL will continue to read many more Stink books over the next few weeks. In just over a week, he has started his third book and has many others waiting to begin when the latest is complete. As you can see above, we have a few from the library and others on our Kindle to read while out and about.

Are you or your children fans of Stink books or Judy Moody? As always, Tuesday Tales is all about sharing our love of books. Please let me know what you have read recently. Be sure to link up to your book posts in the comments below. Include something you read on your own, with a child, or someone else.