Cheerios Spoonfuls of Stories **Giveaway**

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Thanks to Myblogspark.com and Cheerios, I recently had the opportunity to read and review four children's books. As a Mom, I'm always looking for more books to read to my kids and I was not disappointed. This promotion and giveaway is all about exposing families to new children's authors writing good books.

Here is what Cheerios says about their program:

Over the past seven years, Cheerios Spoonfuls of Stories has given away more than 35 million children´s books by distributing them free inside cereal boxes and has donated nearly $3 million to First Book, their non-profit partner, which provides books to children from low-income families.

In addition to encouraging children to read, Cheerios is looking for anyone interested in writing children´s books. Now in its third year, the Cheerios Spoonfuls of Stories New Author Contest is a way to encourage previously unpublished, up-and-coming children´s book authors and to continue to nurture a love of reading. Entries are being accepted March 16 through July 15, 2009 and will be judged on appropriate story and content for children ages 3-8, emotional connection, writing quality, uniqueness, and read-aloud potential. More details on the contest can be found at www.spoonfulsofstoriescontest.com.

Shellie Braeuner, the first year´s winner, won for her book "The Great Dog Wash". This nanny from Nashville won a $5,000 cash prize and the opportunity to have her book reviewed by Simon and Schuster Children´s Publishing. Simon & Schuster offered Shellie a book deal - and will publish her book, illustrated by Robert Neubecker, in hardcover this summer. In addition, Cheerios will be featuring "The Great Dog Wash" free inside 1.5 million boxes of Cheerios. The book has been specially printed in paperback in both English and Spanish and will be available free inside boxes of Cheerios this spring.


We got to read When Dinosaurs Came With Everything by Elise Broach, The Great Dog Wash by Shellie Braeuner, Duck for President by Doreen Cronin, and Monkey and Me by Emily Gravett. The books span a range of easy reading, with lots of repetition, to a longer story for slightly older kids. We especially liked the dinosaur book (the boys are all about the dinos lately) and the Cronin book. We have enjoyed every one of her books and Duck for President does not disappoint. Monkey and Me is a story of imagination told in a simple way for small kids who like to repeat the words as you read. The Great Dog Wash, in addition to Monkey and Me, includes a spanish translation. All of the books are illustrated in a way that goes with the story, from very simple to bright and colorful.

For a chance to win your own pack of books, leave a comment by Thursday June 11 at 9:00 p.m. I'll draw a winner and announce it on Friday in my Quick Takes post. Tell us what your favorite book was as a child.

I loved Amelia Bedelia myself.