Halloween Links

With Halloween upon us, I thought I would post some of my favorite Halloween links.

• Games, Activities, and Printables for 3-5 year olds
• Halloween printables (older children) and coloring sheets
• Family Fun's 31 Days of Printables
• Halloween paper dolls and other printables
• Halloween Recipes
• Halloween Lesson Plans
• More Halloween Lesson Plans

If you know of any other Halloween sites worth mentioning, leave me a comment and tell me about it.

Hope you and your little ones have a fun and safe Halloween!

Read Inch by Inch

Loop de Loop Pillow Covers

Mom2boys has won the giveaway. Congrats!
Thank you, Pearl!

I ran across a truly unique designer on Etsy the other day. Her name is Pearl Davis and she crochets her own designs. Her hats are what first caught my eye. She has some fun Avant Garde designs, a tweed beret series, a Prada inspired design, as well as some purses.

Most recently, Pearl has begun designing pillow covers. The colors she has chosen are fabulous. My favorites are the Aran Fleck, the Coffee, and the Frosty Green. I also like how she used buttons, rather than a zipper, for the closure. These pillow covers are so inviting. They look warm and cozy; perfect for Fall!

For this giveaway, Pearl is offering one lucky winner a pair of her Loop de Loop Pillow Covers in your choice of colors. To enter, visit her Etsy store and select the colors you would choose if you win. Come back and tell us about them in a comment. A winner will be selected on Wed, Nov. 5.

Good Luck!

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My Music CDs Giveaway

Naomi, of superdumb supervillain, has won the giveaway! Congrats!
Thank You, My Music CD!

Children love things that are personalized for them. For example, Jesse Bear (my 2.5 year old son) loves the wooden sign that hangs on his bedroom door. Of course, he can't read it, but he knows it says his name. My daughters each have pencils and pencil cases with their names on them and backpacks with their initials. Children love seeing their names on things because then everyone knows to whom the items belong.

There is a company that has taken personalizing children's items one step further. The company is My Music CD and they create personalized children's music CDs that sing your child's name. Imagine how much your child would love to, not only see his or her name printed on the CD, but to hear his or her name throughout the songs, as well!

The company even has a program on their site that allows you to hear some of the songs being sung with your child's name. Junie B. and I tried it out, and it was so easy. You just type your child's name into the search box and then click on his or her name in the list. Then, you select a CD to hear your child's name. It's so cool; go try it out!

As for music choices, they have a wide variety. They have lullablies, children's music, religious children's music, hip - hop, and much more. They also offer a nursery rhyme CD, sports CDs, and Bible Story CDs. My favorites are You are an Angel, a beautiful CD for a new baby, and You are My Friend, the perfect playtime CD for children ages 0-4. However, the sports CDs are really unique. They feature a professional announcer calling the action as your child stars in a Super Bowl game, the World Series, or a round of golf with Jack Nicklaus.

For this giveaway, My Music CD is offering any CD personalized with your child's name. To enter, visit their website and choose which CD you will select if you win the giveaway. Then come back here and let me know what you chose by leaving me a comment. You can get extra entries by becoming one of my followers, blogging about the giveaway, and placing my button on your blog.

The winner will be chosen on Tuesday, Nov. 4.

Good Luck!

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No Slip Clips

Mary Jenkins of Now Entering Momville has won the Red "Miss Mouse" no slip clips. Thank you for entering, Mary,
and thank you for the giveaway, Mommy's Yelling Girl.

In honor of my pledge, here is another "handmade" giveaway.

Mommy's Yelling Girl is an on-line store which sells handmade, "no-slip" hair accessories. The owner and designer is a military wife, mom of three, and hairdresser. She uses her experience as a hairdresser and her passion for design to create these adorable accessories. She currently creates and sells hair wear, pony-ohs, no-slip clips, and pacifier clips. For this giveaway, she is offering the choice of any 1 item in her store (excluding 4-piece sets).



To enter: Visit Mommy's Yelling Girl and pick out what you would choose if you win. Come back and leave a comment telling us what you chose. The winner will be selected on Wed, Oct. 29.

Good Luck!

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Take the Pledge

As you may have guessed (from all of my Etsy giveaways), I love handmade items. I love them for many reasons:

• They are usually better quality than mass produced items.
• They are made with love. Crafters love what they do, and it shows!
• They are original.
• When you buy handmade items you are supporting individuals, rather than big chain stores.

So, I have made the pledge to buy handmade gifts this holiday season. Go here to learn more or to join me in support of artists and crafters everywhere!

Lookybook

Writing a literature-based preschool curriculum requires me to read a lot of children's books. So, I am always on the look out for new and undiscovered picture books. My searches usually lead me to Amazon because I like how you can view some of the pictures of the books they sell. However, they only show a few pictures and they are not always a good representation of the entire book. Well, problem solved!

I have found a new site, Lookybook, that allows you to look at picture books in their entirety. It is great! If you are looking for the perfect book to give as a birthday or Christmas gift, go to Lookybook and check out their bookshelves. You are sure to find the perfect one!

Tip: Click on the eyes to enlarge.

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Halloween Reads

Kathleen, of Katydid and Kid has won this giveaway.
Thank you for entering Kathleen.
I hope you and your little one enjoy them!

Bo the Bookworm, from The Itty-Bitty Bookworm, is giving away 2 books for Halloween.


The first is Where the Wild Things Are. This book is a winner of The Caldecott Medal for the Most Distinguished Picture Book of 1964. It is a classic children's picture book about a little boy named Max who is punished for being naughty and is sent to his room with no supper. While in his room, Max uses his wild imagination to take him far away. He goes on an exciting adventure to the land of The Wild Things. However, he quickly finds himself homesick, so he returns home to his bedroom. Upon his return, he unexpectedly finds his dinner... "and it was still hot."




The second book is Room on the Broom. This book is about a witch and her cat who love to fly through the sky on their broomstick. But one day, the witch loses her hat, hair bow, and wand. Fortunately, three animals help her to find the missing items. However, in return, they want a ride on her broomstick. The only problem is ~ Will there be enough room on the broom for all of the new friends?


For activities to accompany these books, check out The Itty-Bitty Bookworm's Bo Curriculum for October Year 2.

To enter the giveaway, simply leave us a comment about another great Halloween book. Be sure to leave your email address.

The winner will be selected on Monday, October 27.

Good Luck!

Read Inch by Inch

Washi Paper Jewelry

Leah (leahrcole@...) has won this giveaway. She has chosen the Koi in Love pendant. Thank you for entering Leah, and thank you to Maoiliosa for this lovely giveaway!

While getting my daily "Etsy Fix", I found the most unique pendants. Maoiliosa is the talented designer, and she creates her works of art out of washi paper ("washi" is the Japanese word for paper). In fact, she finds inspiration in all things Japanese, which she says explains her "fixation on washi paper".

Washi paper is related to mulberry paper and is usually made by hand. It is often used in the creation of origami. It is also a very earth-friendly paper, as it is lower in acidity than other papers and is made using far fewer chemicals than most paper.

The pendants Maoiliosa creates are simply lovely. The come in a variety of colors and shapes and are strung on beautiful ribbons with twist closures.

For the month of October, when you purchase a pendant you can choose to have it strung on an 18" silver-plated chain at no extra cost. Simply tell Maoiliosa that you would like the chain instead of the ribbon in the "notes to seller"section upon checkout. She also offers free shipping on all orders over $50.

For this giveaway, Maoiliosa is offering the winner the choice of any item in her store (up to a $20 value). Although I am partial to the pendants, Maoiliosa also creates earrings and rings, magnet sets, pocket mirrors, hair accessories, necklace boxes, and gift sets.



To enter the giveaway:

First, visit Maoiliosa's shop and look around. Then come back here and tell me what you will choose if you win the giveaway. For extra entries:
*post this giveaway on your blogand link to it (leave the link as a separate comment)
*add my button to your blog (leave the link as a separate comment)
*join the followers of my blog

The winner will be chosen on Monday, Oct. 27.

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Top Momma!

I am a Top Momma! Help me stay on top by clicking on the button below. Once there, simply click on the "itty bitty bookworm" logo. That is all there is to it.

Thanks so much for your support! I'll let you know how I do.

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Get Dwessed, Let's Go Wight Now!

So, tonight at dinner we were all making our big "Halloween Plans". We are going to cookout with our neighbors and then head out for some old fashioned Trick-or-Treating. Jesse Bear (my 2.5 year old who loves the book Jesse Bear, What Will You Wear) is so excited, but very confused. As you know, time is a very abstract concept, especially for young preschoolers. Every time we talk about it he thinks we should all get dressed immediately and go. I can't wait to take him. He will really enjoy it this year. I think seeing the holidays through my children's eyes has got to be one of the best parts of parenting.



To get you and your little ones in the Halloween spirit, here are some Halloween playing cards. Suggestions for use are included. Have fun!

Happy Bookworm Arm Candy

Keeling from Confessions of a Mommy Blogger has won this beautiful bracelet! Congrats to Keeling and Thank You to Nicoloa!

I am so excited to announce this giveaway. It is for an absolutely beautiful bracelet designed specifically for The Itty-Bitty Bookworm. Nicola Hinz, the talented designer, has named it "Happy Bookworm Arm Candy". How cute! I love how the colors coordinate with our logo!

The bracelet consists of seven single bracelets made of glass beads. The materials used include Swarovski, rocailles, turquoise bits, fresh water pearls, and transparent, elastic durable cord.

Nicola lives in Germany and teaches English for large companies. Making jewelry was her hobby; however, recently it has become a second job. She has a shop at Etsy which showcases her talent and style.

Nicola likes to make things that are shiny and glitter with bold colors. Each of her pieces is not only unique, but also tells a little story of moods, seasons, plants, animals, adventures, and magic. aFor materials she uses anything that comes her way and inspires her with new ideas: classic glass and metal beads, semiprecious stones, pearls, shells, coral, wood – but also fantastically colorful and cheap plastic beads and toys – because she likes the combination of somewhat “unexpected” elements.

To enter, visit Nicola's shop and look around. Then come back here and tell me about your favorite piece.

For this giveaway, you can earn extra entries by:
*posting this giveaway on your blog and linking to it (leave the link as a separate comment)
*adding our button to your blog (leave the link in as a separate comment)
*join the followers of my blog

The winner will be selected on Friday, October 17.

Good Luck!

Read Inch by Inch

Winner ~ Children's Picture Books

Congrats to Jenny from Babyfingers! She has won the Fall children's picture books from The Itty-Bitty Bookworm.

Keep visiting, there are many more book giveaways to come!

Free Fall Printables

My family and I went to a Fall Festival this weekend. It was so nice. The weather was beautiful, the leaves were turning, and there were tons of pumpkin products. Yum! I am now completely in the spirit of Fall. In fact, I came home and decorated my front porch with cornstalks, mums, and gourds.

In the spirit of Fall, I have created a few Fall printables. Here is a Fall greeting card. Print it and let your little one decorate the inside, sign his/her name, and mail it to a special someone.

Here are some Fall lacing cards. Print them on cardstock. Use a hole puncher to make holes on the black dots. Then have your preschooler practice lacing strings through the holes. If you don't have lacing strings, shoestrings work nicely.

I hope you enjoy these. Keep checking back there will be more to come!

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Barefoot Books ~ Giveaway

Brimful Curiosities has won the Barefoot Books Giveaway. She has narrowed her choices down to one of the books illustrated by Allison Jay. Congrats, Brimful and Thanks to Chaunci!

Barefoot Books is an independent children's publishing company that creates books, CDs, and other gifts that offer high educational value and are lots of fun. They're designed to last, but above all, they are meant to be shared and enjoyed. The products "celebrate art and stories that opens the hearts and minds of children from all walks of life, inspiring them to read deeper, search further, and explore their own creative gifts."

The company was started by two WAHMs who left corporate America to be able to spend more time with their children and create products that would make a difference. They have succeeded!

I am so excited about this giveaway because I not only appreciate the commitments of the company, but I absolutely love their books, as well. The company promotes "living barefoot" and their blog and website offer ways to live green. Their books introduce children to other cultures, language, and high quality art. They are beautiful and children love them.


One of their newest books is Hidden Hippo. It is told from the perspective of a child on a safari, and takes you on a journey through the grasslands of Africa to encounter elephants, giraffes, zebras and many other creatures. But the animal to look out for is the hippo, and finally with a loud splash, there it is! Check it out the pictures here!




Chaunci Pirhalla is sponsoring a giveaway for a book of your choice. To enter the giveaway go visit her Barefoot Books site, look around, and come back here and let us know which book you choose and why. On her site sign up for the Barefoot Newsletter to receive special offers and a Barefoot catalog.



For this giveaway, you can earn extra entries by:
*posting this giveaway on your blog and linking to it (leave the link as a seperate comment)
*adding our button to your blog (leave the link in as a seperate comment)
*join the followers of my blog

The winner will be selected on Thursday, October 16.

Good Luck!

Read Inch by Inch

Winner ~ Little Lamb Pillow

Congrats to "Piece of Me". She is the winner of the pink lamb pillow from Dippy Dots.
Thank you to everyone who entered, and especially to Nana of Dippy Dots for making and donating such an adorable pillow.


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A Holiday Portrait Session and Pictures

The winner of this giveaway is Amy from ...And Baby Makes Four! Congrats, Amy! Be sure to send me some of your pictures!

Chrissie Raysor, a Chester County mom and local photographer, is sponsoring a giveaway for a 30 minute holiday portrait session and either 20 4x5 prints of one image ~ or ~ 1 high resolution image with the rights to use it to make holiday cards. This is a great giveaway worth over $150. Take a look at Chrissie's galleries on her website and you will instantly fall in love with her work. Then, read her "about me" page and you will feel like you have found a new friend.

Chrissie is a wife, mom, community supporter, and coffee lover that reminds us of one of our best friends. She is real, and this quality shows in her work. Chrissie gets to know each of her subjects. Therefore, all of her photos are unique and capture lots of personality.

Go check out her galleries and then come back and tell me about your favorite photograph. I know it is so hard to choose! Please be sure to leave your email address if it is not available on your profile page.

A winner will be announced here on Tuesday, Oct. 14.

Please note: Giveaway is only for those who live in or around Chester County, PA.

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Winner ~ Cuddle Bean

The winner of the little Cuddle Bean is Amy from ...And a Baby Makes Four. Congrats to Amy and thank you to Jahaarts for sponsoring this giveaway!

Be sure to check out Jahaarts for many other adorable children's products.

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Children's Picture Books ~ Perfect for Fall

Today's giveaway is for 2 children's picture books, and is sponsored by The Itty-Bitty Bookworm.


One of the books is "Fire! Fire!" said Mrs. McGuire by Bill Martin Jr. It is about a family of mice who think they see a fire through a keyhole. However, the "fire" actually turns out to be lit candles on a birthday cake. The rhyming text is fun for preschoolers and the mice in the book are lovable. This is a great book to spark a lesson or discussion on fire safety (October is Fire Safety Month).




The other book is The Busy Little Squirrel by Nancy Tafuri. This book is about a little squirrel who is on a mission to get ready for the fall. He is so busy that he cannot "nibble with the mice, hop with the frogs, or run with the dogs". There is one thing he can do, though. Read it to your little one to find out. This is a perfect book to read this time of the year because it is all about fall changes. The pictures show leaves changing, the wind blowing, and pumpkins and apples all around.



To enter please share one fun Fall idea that you do with your class or family.

The winner will be announced here on Monday, October 13. Good Luck!

For literature-based units on these books (and many others), please visit The Itty-Bitty Bookworm!

The Busy Little Squirrel Unit
"Fire! Fire!" Said Mrs. McGuire Unit

Winner ~ Rose Prints Giveaway

Congratulations to Kristan of Pierce Best Babies. She is the winner of our Rose Prints Giveaway. Thank you to everyone who entered and to Rose Prints!

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Winner ~ Lost River Naturals

Kelly from A Rainbow After the Rain has won the Lost River Naturals Giveaway. Congrats, Kelly!

Don't be disappointed if you did not win, though, because Connie is offering my readers a special promotion. Place your order for any of her products from today until Thursday and receive a 20% discount. To take advantage of this offer, simply let Connie know you are a "Raising Itty-Bitty Bookworms reader". Thanks, Connie!

A Sweet Little Baby Gift

Today's giveaway is for a sweet little lamb pillow. Crocheted with soft, pink yarn and lots of love, it is the perfect gift for a baby girl.

This giveaway is sponsored by Dippy Dots. Dippy Dots is an Etsy store owned and operated by the ultimate "Nana". This "full of life" Nana enjoys crocheting, quilting, and sewing craft items. Besides crafting for her Etsy store, she also makes ties for military troops, toys for St. Jude, and hats, booties, and blankets for preemies.

To enter to win the little lamb, visit Dippy Dots and check out Nana's other items. Then, come back and let us know to whom you would give this special little lamb!

The winner will be announced here on Friday, Oct. 10.

Good Luck!

Read Inch by Inch

Winner ~ Thistle Girl Designs Giveaway

Congrats to Amy from Occupation: Mommy. She is the winner of the Thistle Girl Designs giveaway. She has chosen the Learning Kids html template.

For those of you who love Thistle Girl Designs, you will want to consider joining one of her membership clubs. All of them give you access to:

*a new downloadable web theme set each month
*two downloadable coloring sheets each month
*one downloadable printable each month
*10% of all purchases (excluding Cafe Press) anytime
*access to all previously uploaded graphics

This is a great deal (memberships start at $35), and her graphics are so cute!

Thanks, Ashley (Thistle Girl), for sponsoring this giveaway!

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Cuddle Bean Giveaway

Wondering what a "cuddle bean" is? A cuddle bean is the perfect pillow for little ones. It is especially great for car nappers. It is not only snuggly and cute, but it also provides support for children's necks when they sleep in their car seats.




The cuddle bean is the creation of Jahaarts. Jahaarts is a creative venture that began from Jahaira Rios-Galvez's desire to create things for her own children. After years of designing and creating, she realized that she did not have enough children to wear or play with all of the things that she made. However, she just couldn't stop herself! Thus, the opening of Jahaarts.

Jahaira makes everything out of a love for children, as well as an appreciation for things that make parenthood a little easier. In other words, her designs are inspired by her experiences as a mother and her fine art background. Her creations stem from an inclination towards things simple and delicate.

To enter to win Jahaart's sweet little cuddle bean: visit her Etsy store and then come back and leave me a comment about what other items you love. The winner will be announced here on Wednesday, Oct. 8.

Happy Friday!

Read Inch by Inch