Back to School: Book Review: Mary Ingalls on Her Own by Elizabeth Kimmel Willard

Mary Ingalls has the opportunity to attend the Iowa College for the Blind, so she can learn skills to make her more independent and expand her education. It is difficult to leave her beloved family behind in Dakota Territory, but at least Ma and Pa come with her to make sure she gets settled.


The school is a large place with many helpful friends and teachers. It takes time for Mary to adjust to her new life, but she learns quickly. What she doesn't understand is why Mattie, the girl who resides in the room next to hers, hates her so much. Determined not to let Mattie's sour attitude affect her, Mary continues her studies. But one day Mattie pushes her too far, and Mary discovers Laura might not be the only feisty Ingalls sister.

Elizabeth Kimmel Willard weaves a fascinating story of the first few months Mary Ingalls spends at the Iowa College for the Blind in Mary Ingalls on Her Own. Similar in style to the Little House books by Laura Ingalls Wilder, this book places the focus on Laura's beloved sister, Mary, as she seeks a way to become more independent. This is also a story that shows Mary confronting her feelings about being blind and the loss of the plans she had made before losing her eyesight.

Willard blends historical figures, fictional characters and the everyday life at the college during the time Mary attended and comes up with a superb story that imagines what Mary's experiences might have been. Part of me wishes the author had chosen to tell the story from a solid first person point of view--since this is such a personal story--but she followed Wilder's lead and told it in third person. That caught me off guard at first because in the opening paragraph it talks about Mary's eyes being a mix of anxiety and excitement, and I kept wondering how Mary would know that. That said, I was captivated from the time I opened the book until I read the last word.

I truly enjoyed Mary Ingalls on Her Own and am thrilled to have it as part of my Little House collection.


Reading level: Ages 8 and up
Hardcover: 192 pages
Publisher: HarperCollins (December 26, 2007)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0060009055
ISBN-13: 978-0060009052

I purchased this book in 2011 to add to my personal collection. This review contains my honest opinions, for which I have not been compensated in any way.

Back to School: DVD Review: Little House on the Prairie: The Legacy of Laura Ingalls Wilder

This highly anticipated DVD release produced by Legacy Documentaries in association with Family Friendly Productions, tells the story of the legacy that Laura Ingalls Wilder created through her writing.


Little House on the Prairie: The Legacy of Laura Ingalls Wilder is an in-depth look into how Laura came to write her famous children's books and the legacy she has left behind. Through interviews with historian and author John E. Miller, author Pamela Smith Hill, and Tanya Hart, Assistant Professor of History at the University of Kansas, viewers learn not only more about the time period in which Wilder lived, but also how her books came to be published, and about her relationship with her daughter, Rose Wilder Lane.


Dean Butler (Almanzo Wilder, Little House on the Prairie, NBC) co-produced, directed and narrated this moving story of Wilder's life. As with Almanzo Wilder: Life Before Laura, this production includes: live reenactments, animated colored Garth Williams illustrations from the Little House books, historical photographs, original artwork, and readings from Wilder's books. Those with an interest in this time period will find information on how Wilder's work--her articles and her books--preserved this history for generations to come, and how her work brought to life the equal partnership between frontiersman and frontierswoman. What I especially enjoyed was the time spent discussing the collaboration between mother and daughter and the evolution of both women's careers.


Actress Katherine Cannon reads the excerpts from the Little House books, and the beautiful music of Jay Asher adds so much to this production. For those of us who enjoyed the music of David Rose from the Little House on the Prairie television series, Asher's work makes us feel in familiar territory. With his own unique style, Asher captures the vibrant, romantic, sometimes difficult life that Wilder lived.


Little House on the Prairie: The Legacy of Laura Ingalls Wilder also includes bonus material, the best of which is the Director's Diary, where Butler takes you through the experience of shooting this documentary in various locations. Other bonus items are the trailers for Almanzo Wilder: Life Before Laura and the Pa's Fiddle Project.


Every Laura fan will want to own a copy of this beautifully created story of Wilder's legacy. This DVD is on sale at the Laura Ingalls Wilder Museum in Walnut Grove, MN. Visit them online at http://www.walnutgrove.org/museum.htm or contact them toll free at 1-800-528-7280.



I purchased a copy of this DVD from the Laura Ingalls Wilder Museum in Walnut Grove, MN to share with my family. This review contains my honest opinions, for which I have not been compensated in any way. 

Back to School: Product Review: Rubbermaid® LunchBLOX™

I was thrilled when I learned I was selected to review the Rubbermaid® LunchBLOX™ container. I received the sandwich kit. This includes:

• 1 sandwich container
• 1 side container
• 2 snack containers
• 1 Medium Blue Ice™

Also included in my kit was a coupon book for $5.00 off on a variety of lunch brands.

These handy kits are BPA-free, and are microwave, disherwasher and freezer safe. One of the nicest features of this product is that the containers stack together to keep them compact, like I have them below. You can't see the side container, but it is on the opposite side of the two snack containers in the picture below. The Blue Ice is between the sandwich container and the others, so it keeps everything cold. This is a good setup, so you don't have to worry about items like salad dressing spilling all over your lunch bag.

As you can see by the pictures, the Rubbermaid LunchBLOX sandwich container is large enough to fit more than just sandwich size sliced bread. I was able to pack a picnic lunch and take it to the park with me to read one day. The Rubbermaid LunchBLOX helps control portion size, and therefore, I am eating more of what's right and in the correct amounts. This makes packing a simple, healthy lunch easy, and it stays cold.

I'll be using my Rubbermaid LunchBLOX a good deal this year. It's an affordable and smart way to pack lunch on the go.


Also available, LunchBLOX™ Lunch Bags, which are designed to work with the LunchBlox containers to make packing your lunch a breeze.


I received a free LunchBlox Sandwich Kit from Rubbermaid in exchange for my honest opinions. I was not compensated in any way for this review.

You've Got Mail Monday

Back to School season is in full swing. Catalogs from  Land's End, Justice, and Macy's have all made their way to my mailbox, overflowing with back to school deals. In addition, Oriental Trading sent me their birthday catalog to browse through.

It was the Lil Diva's birthday this weekend. She turned 11. She enters the middle school this year (in only three weeks). Hard to believe that this little one,

has become this big one:

Thinking of back to school and the fact that the Lil Diva will have cheerleading practice twice a week and be away from home without me, we opted to buy her a cell phone. I didn't want to do it. but I feel safer if she has it on her.

We opted for the Samsung Brightside™. Though I wasn't thrilled with the reviews I read, the Lil Diva liked it when we were in the Verizon store a couple of weeks ago. The keys on the QWERTY keyboard seem to be a bit bigger than some others, so she finds it easier to type on.

When I stopped by Macy's on Friday, they were running this fabulous sale on bedding. My in-laws had asked me to pick up birthday presents for the Lil Diva from them too, so I chose this lovely Lauren Ralph Lauren comforter that looks fabulous in her room.

This is a down alternative comforter, so it is fluffy and soft. I wasn't sure how she was going to like the plaid, but she loves it and it looks great. Her rug is a darker blue and her walls are a light blue. I opted to go with a dark purple set of sheets to match her lilac and white pink butterfly curtains. I also ordered a hot pink pillow sham, since this package didn't come with one. They do sell one on eBay that has a sham. I also picked up a floral rug to place in front of her bed.

So, for back to school, the Diva's bedroom got an upgrade. She also received some new outfits from her aunt, so she and her room will be heading into this season in style.

That's it for this week's You've Got Mail Monday. Hope you have a great week.

Back to School: DVD Review: Super Why! Around the World Adventure

One of the programs the Lil Princess (8) never missed when she was a preschooler is Super Why! This is an animated series featuring Whyatt and his friends, who live in Storybrook Village--a magical world hidden behind the bookshelves in a children's library. Whyatt, along with his friends, Red Riding Hood, Pig, the Princess, and Whyatt's canine companion, become the Super Readers and work together to solve problems.

The Super Why!: Around the World Adventure DVD includes three adventures for kids ages 3 to 6. The title episode finds the Super Readers searching for the location of a girl they met through their classroom computer. In "Nalia and the Magic Map," the Super Readers explore ancient Eygpt to find the meaning behind the symbols on a treasure map. The third episode, "Jasper's Cowboy Wish," shows the Super Readers helping Pig learn what cowboys do.

There are so many wonderful things to say about this DVD. First, you have the element of imagination as Whyatt and his friends transform from mere mortals into their super hero personas. They fly into books to look for the answers to the questions that will solve their problems. In addition, the show is interactive, with the characters addressing the audience and taking your child on the adventure with them. Your child will enjoy singing along and solving problems alongside the Super Readers, while learning important skills like identifying letters, spelling, and reading comprehension. As a writer, I love how Super Why! can change the story with his power to read. That helps kids realize the power of words.

Each episode opens with a summary of what the viewer will learn, so parents can see what will be focused on and supplement their child's learning. Extra features include fun song videos, four PC games, and coloring pages.

Super Why!: Around the World Adventure DVD is a great way to get your kids ready to read!

Format: Animated, Color, NTSC

Language: English

Region: Region 1 (U.S. and Canada only.)

Aspect Ratio: 1.33:1

Number of discs: 1

Rated: NR (Not Rated)

Studio: Pbs (Direct)

DVD Release Date: June 19, 2012

Approx. 90 minutes

I received a free copy of this DVD from the publicist in exchange for my honest opinion. I received no monetary compensation of any kind for this review.

Back to School: DVD Review: WORD GIRL The Rise of Miss Power

Believe it or not, the kids are heading back to school in a few weeks. I'll do my best this month to feature products you might find useful as your kids get ready to start a new school year.

I grew up on PBS shows like Sesame Street, Mr. Rogers' Neighborhood, Electric Company and Zoom. When I was asked to review WORD GIRL: The Rise of Miss Power, I hopped at the chance. My girls haven't watched this show in a year, but the Lil Princess (8) sat down to help me review it.

This DVD contains two episodes. In "The Rise of Miss Power," a new super hero arrives in town with her sidekick Colonel Giggle Cheeks. She agrees to take WORDGIRL under her wing to show her how to fight crime quickly. It soon becomes apparent that Miss Power is nothing more than a bully who uses mean words to fight her enemies. Can WORDGIRL defeat Miss Power and save the city?

What the title episode shows young people is the power of words. Words can be used to build up or cut down. The Lil Princess easily grasped the message, and it has a real application for her at home and at school. Often we think of bullying as being physical, but our words can be just as painful. "The Rise of Miss Power" allows young viewers to understand how our words can hurt others. In addition, it shows how your actions and personality can change as a result of using such hurtful words.

In "A World Without WORDGIRL," Becky is upset when her crime fighting responsibilities interfere with enjoying her most amazing birthday party ever. When her wish for a WORDGIRL-free world comes true, she's afraid of what she's just done.

This was another great episode. Like the first one, it teaches a valuable lesson. Becky learns the impact of her wish and how one person can make a huge difference. This easily shows children their value in their home and their community.

WORDGIRL is a fabulous show that blends action, adventure and fun learning. At the beginning of the episode, they announce the words that will be featured during that segment, and they are used often. WORDGIRL or one of the other characters will provide a definition of the word during conversation, so your child will know what the word means and how it is used.

This DVD also has special features: two interactive games and coloring pages. I couldn't get these special features to launch on their own, but the troubleshooting instructions included on the DVD got me to them just fine. The games are short, but there are more games online.

WORDGIRL is geared toward younger elementary students. If your child struggles with vocabulary or reading comprehension, they can find some help from this show.

Format: Color, NTSC, Widescreen

Language: English

Subtitles: English

Region: Region 1 (U.S. and Canada only.)

Aspect Ratio: 1.66:1

Number of discs: 1

Rated: NR (Not Rated)

Studio: PBS (DIRECT)

DVD Release Date: February 21, 2012

Run Time: 70 minutes

I received a free copy of this DVD from the publicist in exchange for my honest opinion. I received no monetary compensation of any kind for this review.