National Geographic is a name that I’ve known and trusted since I was kid. We always turned to our National Geographic magazines for school projects. I have done much research and have cut out many animals from these publications.  It was always so cool to me to have access to information about other places, people and animals, among other things, right at my finger tips.

That being said, when I learned about the release of the Nat Geo Kids Almanac 2010, I was pretty ecstatic.  I have a very curious preschooler and instantly knew this would make a great addition to her bookshelf.

This hard cover almanac is vibrant and full of facts and photos of far off lands and of things right in our own backyard.  It is history and present-day information at our finger tips.  I’m fixing to sit and read this almanac from cover to cover with my preschooler.  There are so many things to explore and this almanac provides a kid-friendly way to do it.

We are taking a family vacation to The Dominican Republic in just over three months and have spent some time explaining to our four year old that we’ll be traveling to another country.  I was able to refer to our Nat Geo Kids Almanac to point out to her where exactly The Dominican Republic is located and talk to her a little bit about the geography of the country.

This almanac is chalk-full of details about planets, all the way down to what happens inside of the earth.

Totally loving this book and highly recommending you pick up a copy of it.

National Geographic Kids has teamed up with New Media Strategies to give away one (1) copy of their 2010 Kids Almanac to one ParentSphere reader (MSRP $19.95).

To enter this giveaway:

Leave a comment on this post with your favorite National Geographic learning as a kid (or as an adult).  We encourage you to get your kids involved!  Are you traveling (or want to travel) somewhere in the coming months?  Use the National Geographic Kids website as an excellent resource.  Leave your feedback in your entry comment.

Tweet this post for an additional entry.  Just leave an additional comment on this post including the link to your Tweet.

We’ll choose a winner at random on Friday, February 26th and notify by email.  We’ll also update this post with the winner’s first name and comment number.

*We would also recommend considering a subscription to National Geographic Kids magazine for your child(ren) (10 issues for $15).  We have one and it’s the bees knees.

Additional resources, follow NatGeoKids on Twitter.  Become a fan on Facebook.

*Make sure to come back and visit in the coming months, as I’ll be posting information about travel preparations for the coming vacation season!

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Our winners have been notified via email

I remember the first time I saw a kid roll by me.  I was at a store, most likely Target.  I thought, “How strange. That kid just rolled by on his heels.”  Not long after, I saw more kids rolling by me – at the mall, at the park, at restaurants.  These Heelys, well, these shoes are all the rage.

It’s interesting to me to watch the evolution of wheel-related sports and activities.  From roller skates to skateboards, to inline skates to shoes with wheels embedded in the heels.  I think it’s great for kids to have this kind of opportunity to practice balancing and possibly find a “hidden talent”.

We’re giving away TWO pairs of Heelys to TWO winners.  Winners can choose from the above pictured styles (Camo Bones, Pixie, Ivy or Ninja).  Each style is available in multiple colors and sizes.

TO ENTER: Include your favorite Heelys team member in your entry form.  (Hint: Click HERE.  Suggestion: invite your child look through the short list of Heelys teams and pick his/her favorite team member.  Then, they can look through the Tricktionary gallery to view the team member’s favorite “trick”)

Fill out the giveaway entry form below and click “SUBMIT”.  If you have successfully entered, you should get an auto email response (Check your spam folder).

*NOTE: Please have your shoe style , color and size choice ready to list in your entry form (required).

The brand new styles to choose from are: Camo Bones, Pixie, Ivy, and Ninja.

A winner will be chosen at random and emailed the day after the giveaway closes.  Last day to enter is Friday, December 12, 2008 at midnight PST.  Be sure to check your SPAM folder so you don’t miss the email notification.  This post will also be updated with the winner’s name and blog/website (if provided).

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*Take me back to the Holiday Giveaway Guide so I can enter more giveaways!
*Hosting a giveaway or posting a gift guide at your site?  Make sure you link to it on Mr. Linky HERE
*Do you “Twitter“?  We’d just adore you if you would “Tweet” about this giveaway!

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Also, congratulations to our 4 runner-up winners: Cynthia, Jason, Karissa and Jessica.  All of our winners have been notified via email.

We told you this was coming…check it out:

It’s Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone 10th Anniversary Giveaway at ParentSphere!

We’re giving away ONE Grand Prize:

• Complete Box Set Books #1 – #7
• Copy of the 10th Anniversary Edition of ‘Sorcerer’s Stone’
• Collectible Harry Potter Gold Pin (not pictured)
• Valued at: $225.00!

and FOUR Runner up prizes:

• Copy of the 10th Anniversary Edition of ‘Sorcerer’s Stone’
• Collectible Harry Potter Gold Pin (not pictured)
• Valued at: $30!

Coming to stores on September 23rd. This beautiful collectible edition has been produced in celebration of the 10th anniversary of HARRY POTTER AND THE SORCERER’S STONE.  It features the following:

•    New Jacket artwork by Mary GrandPre
•    Additional four-color frontispiece artwork from Mary GrandPre
•    Two pages of special content from J.K. Rowling
•    Full cloth case with gold stamping

HARRY POTTER AND THE SORCERER’S STONE
The wickedly funny debut novel from master storyteller J.K. Rowling tells the story of Harry Potter who, having endured 11 miserable years with his hideous aunt and uncle, is invited on his 11th birthday to attend Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry.  There he learns of his distinguished wizard pedigree—and his frightening destiny.

“Wonderful…Funny, moving and impressive” The New York Times Book Review

TO ENTER:

Leave a comment on this post (comment section is located underneath the post).  In your entry comment, tell us if you’re (1) a Harry Potter fan and (2) which book in the series is your favorite and why? Please be brief…two sentences will do.  Don’t worry – if you’re not a Harry Potter fan (yet), you can still enter.  You can also enter if you are not a blogger.  One grand prize winner will be chosen (not base on comment) and four runners-up will also be chosen randomly.  This giveaway ends on Monday, October 13th.   Winners will be notified via email on the morning of Oct. 14th (check your spam folder!) and will also be listed on this post.

Guess what – MumsTheWurd! has the SAME giveaway running!  Head over THERE and double your chances of winning.   ; )

*A HUGE thanks goes out to Big Honcho Media and Scholastic for providing this fantastic giveaway opportunity to our readers.

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