Friday, December 5

Building character with Life's Building Blocks

Remember how effective the ideals of Jiminy Cricket were in helping us distinguish right from wrong when we were kids? Well, today's kids have a ficticious friend to help guide them-their own little angel on their shoulder.

Thanks to the award-winning company,Life's Building Blocks, Buttercup and I have spent the last few days playing with Zaki, the character chameleon. He's cute,he sings songs and tells stories about character and making the right choices, and speaks in an Australian accent that sure got Buttercup's attention.

Zaki also has color-changing fins on his back which help kids, ages 3-6, determine when they should stop, slow down and think, or just go for it!

Buttercup loves her Zaki, and trust me when I say that I have listened to his rhyming stories and character-building fables so many times in the past few days that I have them memorized now.

Zaki retails for $30 and Buttercup approved for Christmas-gift giving!

Life's Building Blocks also offers other age-appropriate products for older kids with stories and activity books about a group of friends in the thirs grade known as The Spruce Street Six. With stories and activities about the common ethical issue that kids face everyday-like why telling the truth is so important-the Spruce Street Six and Zaki are a great way for connecting with kids and helping them make better decisions for themselves.

With characters like Honest Jake, Jessica the Brave, Calm Carlos, Lauren Never Wuits. Jarrett the Just, and Kind Shawnie, it's easy to set a good example for our kids to follow.

Spruce Street Six books, geared for kids ages 6-10, retail for $5.99 and activity books, for ages 6-9, go for $5.99.

Now for the really cool part. I have three great contests to announce in just this post alone! Thanks to Life's Building Blocks, I am offering up one Zaki, one set of Spruce Street Six Chapter Books, and one set of activity books! I will be selecting one winner for each, so make sure your comment indicates which you would prefer if selected the winner.

To enter, visit Life's Building Blocks and then let me know why you think this would make a great gift for your child. Entries will be accepted until midnight, EST, December 12 and the winner will have four business days from the announcement date to contact me with their information or analternate will be selected. US entries only, please.

Additional extra entries are also available if you:

* subscribe to my RSS feed and comment letting me know you did so.

* Blog about contest and link to this post.

* Non-bloggers can email three of their friends about the contest at berriesweet.info (at) gmail (dot) com and CC me on the email. Girl Scout's honor that I will never bother these sweet people. I promise!

* Grab my Berrie Sweet Picks button and place it on your blog page. I'll check!

* Follow me on Twitter! (nickname: berriesweetest)

* Tweet the contest leave a comment with your username telling me what you said to your "tweeple"!Please note all entries MUST include a valid email address to be considered for the drawing! That means that well, all entries must include an email address to be considered valid. Simple enough, right? ;)

69 comments:

valerie2350 said...

The Spruce Street books would be perfect for my niece! :)

valerie2350 said...

subscriber :)

valerie2350 said...

twitter follower
valerie2350

Unknown said...

I would LOVE to win the set of Spruce Street Six Chapter Books for my daughter. She's 10, and has to go to school every day and try to make the right decision without Mom there to help. These sound like they'd give her some great reasons for why to do/not do things.

Unknown said...

I'm subscribed through Reader :)

mverno said...

the spruce street six chapter books . i would give them to my grandson. helps make good choices

MOMFOREVERANDEVER said...

teach alot of great lessons and would be positive books for them

MOMFOREVERANDEVER said...

subscriber mrs.mommyyatgmaildotcom

Anonymous said...

There all so great and it's hard to choose. I will pick zaki for my son but I know my daughter would love the books or activities.

samsakara@twcny.rr.com

Unknown said...

I think the spruce street books would be wonderful for my son.

rebbi511 at peoplepc.com

Staci A said...

My son would love Zaki or the activity books. It would make a great gift since we've been teaching him about good choices, but it never hurts to reinforce the ideas, especially in a fun way.
princess3sah(at)cs(dot)com

Staci A said...

I subscribe via reader.
princess3sah(at)cs(dot)com

Staci A said...

I follow you on twitter, MommaStaciA.
princess3sah(at)cs(dot)com

Qwill said...

I like the activity books.

peg42 said...

The Spruce Street books would be perfect for my son. He's been having a really difficult time with reading and is in special classes to help him. We try to read a bit each evening, both of us taking turns and these books look like they would really make him much more interested in reading. Thanks so much for this giveaway and please enter me.

jenny said...

ok this is realy 2 cute and i love to win this for my little one i think she would realy like it thaks please enter me in to win it

Anonymous said...

This would be a great gift for my nephew. I love that it teaches proper moral decisions. It is something important to learn early in life.

Stephanie said...

The Zaki would be perfect for my little boy since he loves being read to. fingers crossed.
tvollowitz at aol dot com

sweetsue said...

My two year old granddaughter would love Zaki-unlike her grandmother she loves reptiles!
smchester at gmail dot com

sweetsue said...

I'm subscribed to your feed through Google reader!
smchester at gmail dot com

idahomom said...

Activity books

Jenn S. said...

The Spruce Street books sound perfect for my daughter. She is an avid reader whole would really enjoy and hopefully get something out of these books.

Abby said...

My daughter is just learning how to read and I think this would be a perfect companion on that path!

ajcmeyer AT go DOT com

KaiLei designs said...

I think my daughter would benefit from zaki and his songs. songs are great teaching tools.

minilegs75@yahoo.com

KaiLei designs said...

I have your button

minilegs75@yahoo.com

Robin (RsIslandCrafts) said...

I like the Spruce Street activity books. They would be a great addition to our son's (9) homeschool curriculum.

Anonymous said...

I have a 4 year old who would get a kick out of Zaki (while actually learning some lessons) and a 10 year old who loves to read. I like that these are toys with a moral value.

Prlinehan(at)hotmail(dot)com

Kat said...

my grandson would love the Zaki, he is almost three and at the age where he could use a friend to give a little help

Jenna said...

My niece would like Zaki. Thanks!

judybrittle said...

I would love the Spruce Street activity books. Those are really great! Thank you!

judybrittle said...

I'm a subscriber.

Jayme said...

the Life's Building Blocks & Replacement Wraps would be good for my niece.

jayme[dot]bouwens@yahoo[dot]com

Andrea Hatfield said...

My son would like that What Would Zaki do board game. He loves to play games.

Andrea Hatfield said...

I have your button up.

Andrea Hatfield said...

I am a subscriber.

Andrea Hatfield said...

I follow you on Twitter. (andreashops)

Anonymous said...

My granddaughter would really enjoy The Spruce Street Six Chapter Books.
pkildow at gmail dot com

Kobi said...

I think the Character Development Program is amazing! Perfect for my grandson

Sweetpeas said...

I'd love to win the chapter books, my kids are just starting to enjoy chapter books (for me to read to them, though they're taking off on reading, so will be reading their own soon) so the timing is perfect!

vboackle said...

i would like the activity books to teach my grandson.

zanes_mommy said...

Zaki would be perfect for my little one.

Kari said...

I'd love the spruce street books!

Kari said...

Im also a subscriber!!

Anonymous said...

My daughter loves to read and this would be great to win for her. Thanks for the chance to win.
erma.hurtt@sbcglobal.net

jennem said...

Our area is a little money-hungry, so we try hard to teach our daughter that other values are far more important. These seem to fit in well.

Tylerpants said...

My son would love the set of activity books, it'd keep him occupied while being educational!

Tylerpants said...

I'm a subscriber

Anonymous said...

Hannah is so inquisitve!

theyyyguy@yahoo.com

leah said...

I think Zaki would be perfect for my nephew, he's both fun & educational!

Brimful Curiosities said...

Kids are never too young to learn good values. My daughter would benefit from Zaki. Thanks.
pvilletoygirl at gmail(dot) com

Brooke said...

My middle daughter would love this and it would be a perfect way for her to spend some really intimate time with her dad, me, and her older sister.

susan1215 said...

Spruce Street Six books sounds great for my daughter

Anonymous said...

I would choose the set of Spruce Street Six Chapter Books for my two year old grandson because his brain is like a sponge and as these books are educational and fun his mind would just soak up all the wonderful knowledge.

justicecw said...

My son loves hearing stories so Zaki would be great for him! thanks for the chance, justicecw@hotmail.com

Steph said...

I think the Storytelling Zaki would be perfect for my young kids who love to hear stories and are just learning to read.

klp1965 said...

storytelling zaki would be great for my son because he so loves hearing stories :)

rosannepm said...

I like that the Chapter books help kids with difficult decision making-will matter as they come tothe teen years
rosans4@comcast.net

rosannepm said...

I subscribe
rosans4@comcast.net

rosannepm said...

I e-mailed 3 peole and cc'd you about this great giveaway
rosasn4@comcast.net

Sarah said...

My son would love the Zaki doll, he's all about telling and hearing stories. Plus he loves stuffed animals - perfect combo!

Sarah said...

I follow you on Twitter (justaddcharm)

Unknown said...

The Spruce Street Six Chapter Books would be good for teaching children about character and othr good characteristics by giving examples of characters like they. I would choose this prize for my granddaughter. garrettsambo@aol.com

Jinxy and Me said...

The Zaki would be great for my nephew!

bev said...

I think my granddaughter would love the storytelling Zaki. Thanks for having the contest and Happy Holidays to all!

cman said...

My daughter would love the activity books :)

Donna said...

I would like the Virtual Activity books.
donna444444@yahoo.com

Donna said...

I am a subscriber.
donna444444@yahoo.com

Donna said...

I put your button on my blog.
donna444444@yahoo.com

Anonymous said...

My daughters love chapter books and we enjoy reading them together!ashlyn@chuparkoff.com