
{This giveaway has now closed. Congratulations to #56 kngmckellar} IBW-Books recently sent us two of it's webscene interactive books to review. I love reading to my kids and since we read a lot of the same books over and over again, I was happy to mix-it-up a little.
We were sent 2 books. One was a KA Reader book - a web interactive story for beginning readers. Most of the words were one's that my son could read or sound out. The story rhymed and repeated words often, important for beginning readers.
The other book was from the Busy Preschoolers Celebration of Letters set. We had letters G & H. Inside there are short poems that emphasize a specific letter and corresponding web activities
built around those letters.
Our thoughts on the KA Reader book:

-This was the most useful and captivating for my children. They enjoyed the story and looked forward to the weblink at the end of the page. When we opened the web page, they were excited that they already knew the characters names and had a sense about what would happen on the screen.
-It was fun to integrate the computer scene into the story. I think it would be a much appreciated and very deserved reward for any beginning reader who was reading the book on their own.
-At first my kids were turned off by the book based on looks (plain type, no pictures.) I think they could tell it was a "lesson" book, but the web links were so fun and interactive. They looked forward to each web link.
Our thoughts on the Busy Preschoolers book:
-My kids were a little bored with the book, but they've also been exposed to phonics in multiple forms over the last few years.

- They did LOVE the activities associated with each letter poem. The books contain craft ideas, games, and interactive webpages.
- My recommendation: use this type of book along with your preschool curriculum. A good free preschool curriculum to look into is, Letter of the week. These books would complement the lessons in this curriculum well and would give you a lot of great ideas for learning activities. We personally used the Letter of the Week and my kids did great with it. I would have liked the interactive books for them at that time. It would have aligned better with them when they were first starting out.
Some cool attributes of the IBW-books system:
- All the webpages are bright, enticing, and very user friendly
- The books (and weblinks) are bilingual - English and Spanish
- The weblinks pop up common words during the story to reinforce word recognition
The downsides:
-You need to be prepared (aren't all moms anyway) so you can smoothly transition from book to web and back again.
-The books are a little asthetically boring (but the weblinks are bright and cheery). The books scream "lesson book," and while that's okay, it may not initially set the right tone for your child...unless you are one of the lucky ones that have homework loving kids. :)
IBW-books is giving away one prize package to a Suburban Jungle reader. You have the choice of one of these two prizes (words taken from IBW-books' descriptions):
The Busy Preschooler's Guide to Learning - fun activities built around the 26 letters of the alphabet, with step-by-step help to guide parents in how to use everyday situations to teach 105 skills their kids need before they walk in the kindergarten door.
OR
THREE (3) KA Readers - beginning readers that use a new kind of storytelling where kids see an animation unfold at the close of every chapter! Dr. Seuss-like rhyming hooks kids on the fun of words. Online activities help parents assess a child's reading and comprehension.
To Enter this giveaway:
Leave a comment telling me which prize package you would like to receive
Extra Entries:
-Tweet this giveaway for 2 extra entries. Be sure to include a link to this post and @suburbanjung in your tweet. Then come back and leave 2 comments.
-Follow this blog (Twitter, google friend connect, feedburner) and leave 1 comment for each way you follow.
This giveaway will end on November 30, 2009 at 9:00 PM, EST. The winner will be selected by random.org and notified by email.
*No compensation was given for this review, but I did receive 2 books for review. This did not bias my opinion and all opinions are my own. *

75 comments:
I would want the KA readers prize pack
jennydean37@yahoo.com
Google friend connect
jennydean37@yahoo.com
I would want the The Busy Preschooler's Guide to Learning
veniceangel@hotmail.com
I want the ka reader set
i follow on twitter
i'm an email subscriber
google friend connect follower
I would love the Busy Preschooler's Guide to Learning.
felicehalf at yahoo dot com
I would like the set of 3 books. Kbroderi@msn.com
I would love the Busy Preschooler's Guide to Learning for my little ones.
The Happy Wife
ldsmom2201 at yahoo dot com
I'd choose the Busy Preschooler's Guide to Learning for my daughter!
cookiert at yahoo
the The Busy Preschooler's Guide to Learning mverno@roadrunner.com
I would want the The Busy Preschooler's Guide to Learning!
Thanks!
hawkgirl_16 {at} hotmail {dot} com
I subscribe via email!
hawkgirl_16 {at} hotmail {dot} com
I follow you on twitter as mom2anutball!
hawkgirl_16 {at} hotmail {dot} com
I follow your blog via google friend connect as mom2anutball!
hawkgirl_16 {at} hotmail {dot} com
I would choose the Busy Preschooler's Guide to Learning.
preschool kit looks great
I would get the preschoolers guide in spanish!!!
I would love to win The Busy Preschooler's Guide to Learning for my son.
mccataquet(at)comcast(dot)net
I would love to win the The Busy Preschooler's Guide to Learning --- thanks for the great giveaway
i would like to win The Busy Preschooler's Guide to Learning
e-mail subscriber
I like the The Busy Preschooler's Guide to Learning.
-monica
monicabozsik at yahoo dot com
i choose The Busy Preschooler's Guide to Learning.
-Erin M
panicxduh@yahoo.com
now Following SuburbanJung on Twitter!::
http://www.twitter.com/erinxduh
panicxduh@yahoo.com
Would love the KA Readers books. :)
I'd choose the ka readers jaimex098@hotmail.com
I would love the Busy Preschooler's Guide to Learning :)
ktgonyea at gmail.com
I'd like the KA Readers beginning readers books.
My kids would like the busy preschool readers
I would love
The Busy Preschooler's Guide to Learning!
ag1414@hotmail.com
I follow your blog on google friends. angelag
I follow you on twitter. ag1414
I subscribe by feedburner on google reader.
ag1414@hotmail.com
I tweeted: http://twitter.com/ag1414/status/6164857445 #1
I tweeted: http://twitter.com/ag1414/status/6164857445 #2
I was torn between the two, as I still have a nine-year-old at home .. but we are reading chapter books now and my daughter has two preschoolers who would enjoy The Busy Preschooler's Guide to Learning, so that's what I am entering for :)
jewell330 at aim dot com
I'd want the KA readers prize pack.
erma.hurtt@sbcglobal.net
I would choose the KA readers pack for my daughter!
jcristig@hotmail.com
I would choose the KA readers pack for my daughter!
jcristig@hotmail.com
I would love to win the The Busy Preschooler's Guide to Learning! I've been looking for something just like this for my 2 1/2 year old, so this is perfect!
Thank you!
clctaube @ yahoo.com
Tweet #1
http://twitter.com/clctaube/status/6185163422
clctaube @ yahoo.com
Tweet #2
http://twitter.com/clctaube/status/6185163422
clctaube @ yahoo.com
Google Friend Connect follower.
clctaube @ yahoo.com
Twitter follower - clctaube
clctaube @ yahoo.com
Feedburner follower.
clctaube @ yahoo.com
I would like the Busy Preschooler's Guide to Learning.
hafner611{AT}gmail{DOT}com
I'm a follower through Google Connect.
I'd like the Busy Preschooler's Guide to Learning.
Jennifer
jennmagin(at)hotmail(dot)com
I would like the KA Readers prize packet.
I would like to win the KA package.
guolan27(at)gmail(dot)com
I'd like the Busy Preschoolers Celebration of Letters set
I would love to try and win the three KA Readers. Thanks!
I follow with google friend connect.
Busy Preschooler's Guide to Learning for my niece.
kngmckellar@hotmail.com
http://twitter.com/kngmckellar/status/6211581850
tweeted
#1
kngmckellar@hotmail.com
http://twitter.com/kngmckellar/status/6211581850
tweeted
#2
kngmckellar@hotmail.com
follow your blog
kngmckellar@hotmail.com
email subscriber
kngmckellar@hotmail.com
follow on twitter as kngmckellar
kngmckellar@hotmail.com
I would to have the Busy Preschooler's Guide to Learning. I am ahving a hard time teaching my 4 year old letters. I think this would really help thanks..
tatum810@yahoo.com
I would love to have the Busy Preschoolers Guide. This guide would be a great reinforcemnt for my three year old.
I tweeted the giveaway http://twitter.com/cu2m0rr0w/status/6214071218
I tweeted the giveaway http://twitter.com/cu2m0rr0w/status/6214071218
I follow your blog through google reader:)
The Busy Preschooler's Guide to Learning :)
id pick the The Busy Preschooler's Guide to Learning
following your blog as klp1965
following on twitter klp1965
1 http://twitter.com/klp1965/status/6216012944
2 http://twitter.com/klp1965/status/6216012944
I would like to win the 3 KA Readers
dispatcher_kristy@Hotmail.com
Please enter me into the contest for the 3 KA Readers. Thanks!
the preschoolers guide to learning.
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Thank you for your comments! I appreciate all your tips, advice, and well wishes!
Angela