Winner: Autographed In My Backyard Book

Congrats to Kristen Gustafson of Oxford, who is the winner of the autographed copy of the book In My Backyard by Massachusetts author Valarie Giogas.
A reader of Bay State Parent magazine for the past three years, her favorite features are the calendar, Day Trip Destination and Parenting 1-2-3.
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To enter current, exclusive contests offered by Bay State Parent magazine, visit http://www.baystateparent.com/common/contests.html
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About the book: Baby dogs are puppies and they belong to a litter, but what is a baby skunk and what is the name of its group? This clever, rhythmic story tells us just that! Counting from one to 10, familiar backyard animals are introduced by baby and family group name. Each stanza also tells a bit more about each animal by providing clues as to what they eat, how they sound or where they live. The “For Creative Minds” section includes more animal fun facts, information on keeping a nature journal and how to watch for wildlife in your own backyard.
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About the author: Giogas has been writing since she was a child. As a teacher, her favorite part of teaching was the books. She’s been writing for children ever since she discovered that she could combine her love for children’s literature with her passion for writing. The idea for In My Backyard began when her son was in preschool. They always drove by a gaggle of geese, and he would giggle when she told him the group name. When the geese had goslings, the idea for this book was cemented.
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About Sylvan Dell Publishing: Based in Mt. Pleasant, S.C., it is on a mission to create picture books that excite children’s imaginations, are artistically spectacular and have educational value. The company specializes in “Science and Math Through Literature” and provides free supplemental parent/teacher resources for every title. Founded in 2004, Sylvan Dell’s family has grown to include more than 55 authors and illustrators in the U.S. and Canada, and 35 titles – honored as nominees, finalists or winners of more than 50 book awards – line their bookshelf. For more information about Sylvan Dell’s books and free parent/teacher resources, visit http://www.sylvandellpublishing.com/

CONTEST: Enter To Win A Sesame Street DVD Featuring Singles & Doubles Tennis Champion Venus Williams

This past weekend, tennis great Venus Williams not only won the singles title at Wimbledon but also the the Doubles title with her sister Serena (whom she beat for the singles title.). Your child can watch Venus and Elmo in an imaginary game of volley & serve and the rest of the Sesame Street gang on Sesame Street: Count On Sports, arriving on DVD July 22nd from Genius Products and Sesame Workshop.


Bay State Parent magazine has teamed up with the two companies to giveaway 5 copies of the DVD to readers. To enter, fill out the survey at http://www.baystateparent.com/common/entry_form.html. Make sure to select Sesame SPORTS in the pull down bar.
The deadline to enter is Sunday, Aug. 31 at 11:59 EST. Winners' names & hometowns will be posted on this site. DVDs will be mailed to winners, upon verification. The contest is open to Massachusetts residents only.

ABOUT COUNT ON SPORTS: Integrating essential concepts into each of the memorable sports segments, this math-tastic presentation is full of numbers, shapes and spatial relations such as short/tall, over/under and forward/backward. With Ernie reporting from ESSN - Ernie's Sports Show News (a parody of ESPN's "Sport's Center") - tiny tikes won't miss a moment of the DVD's amazing athletic adventures such as The Count racing in the Transylvania 300; Prairie Dawn flipping for Olympic gymnast Dominique Dawes; Grover shooting hoops with New Jersey Nets basketball star Vince Carter and Elmo serving up a game of imaginary tennis with champion Venus Williams.

Sesame Street: Count On Sports, is about 45 minutes long, will be available for the suggested retail price of $14.93.
About Sesame Workshop: Sesame Workshop is the nonprofit educational organization that changed television forever with the legendary Sesame Street. As the single largest informal educator of young children, local Sesame Street programs produced in countries as diverse as South Africa, Bangladesh and India are making a difference in over 120 nations. Using proprietary research to create engaging and enriching content, Sesame Workshop produces programs such as Dragon Tales and Pinky Dinky Doo. In addition, multimedia needs-driven initiatives provide families tools for addressing such issues as children's health, military deployment and emergency preparedness. As a nonprofit, product proceeds and philanthropic donations support Sesame Workshop's educational research and creative content for children around the world. Learn more at www.sesameworkshop.org

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CONTEST: Win A Wall-E Soundtrack

Bay State Parent readers can enter to win one of 5 copies of the soundtrack for the #1 movie in the country -- Wall-E. The Walt Disney Records CD features a score written by 8-time Academy Award-nominated composer Thomas Newsman and the original song Down to Earth written and performed by Peter Gabriel. (It's my personal favorite song on the CD.) The soundtrack also includes two songs from Hello Dolly performed by Michael Crawford (It Only Takes A Moment and Put On Your Sunday Clothes and the Louis Armstrong classic La Vie En Rose.

Academy Award-winning writer-director Andrew Stanton (Finding Demo and A Bug's Life) didn't wait long to ask Finding Nemo collaborator Thomas Newman to compose the music for Wall-E. "The night of the Oscars in 2004 (Finding Nemo) we went out for a celebratory toast at the bar in the middle of the ceremony, and right there I remember saying, 'Okay I've got this idea and it involves Hello Dolly and science fiction.' Wondering if he would still talk to me after that..." Stanton described. The Hello Dolly reference didn't scare off Newman - his uncle Lionel was the conductor for the 1969 film.

Though he has written music for a wide range of films Thomas Newman had never composed for a science fiction film. He brought his on unique style to Wall-E. "He's got a very unique style that often involves a lot of overdubes and mixing after he's recorded the orchestra. And it just allow this fresh palette of sounds to come in," said Stanton. "He really nailed an identity for not only the movie but for the characters and for the moments. I can't imagine it any other way."

If you haven't seen the animated film, here is a quick synopsis: What if mankind had to leave Earth, and somebody forgot to turn the last robot off? After hundreds of lonely years of doing what he was built for, WALL-E (short for Waste Allocation Load Lifter Earth-Class) discovers a new purpose in life (beside collecting knickknacks) when he meets a sleek search robot named EVE. EVE comes to realize that WALL-E has inadvertently stumbled upon the key to the planet's future, and races back to space to report her findings to the humans (who have been eagerly awaiting word that it is safe to return home). Meanwhile WALL-E chases EVE across the Galaxy and sets into motion one of the most exciting and imaginative comedy adventures.
The soundtrack it stores on June 24 and the movie opened to box office success three day later.
To win one of 5 CD, fill out the survey at http://www.baystateparent.com/common/entry_form.html. Make sure to select OTHER in the pull down bar. The deadline to enter is Sunday, Aug. 3 at 11:59 EST. Winners' names & hometowns will be posted on this site. CDs will be mailed to winners, upon verification. The contest is open to Massachusetts residents only.
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CONTEST: Yes You Can, Win It! Bob the Builder DVD Giveaway!

Yesterday was the public debut of Bob the Builder: Let's Build the Beach DVD ($14.99) If you haven't purchased a copy yet, consider entering Bay State Parent magazine's exclusive giveaway contest. The grand prize winner gets a box full of Bob the Builder beach tools to build their own sandcastle plus the new DVD to watch on a day filled with thunderstorms. Four 0ther winners each will receive a copy of the DVD. (For details to enter see below...)

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With summer in full swing and Independence Day days away, Bob the Builder heads to Bobland Bay to embark on some beach-building fun as Lionsgate and HIT Entertainment present the all-new Bob the Builder: Let’s Build the Beach DVD. Bob the Builder and his machine team are always ready to tackle any project. As they hammer out solutions that lead to a job well done, Bob and the Can-Do Crew demonstrate the power of positive thinking, problem-solving, teamwork and follow-through. Most importantly, from start to finish, the team always shows that The Fun is Getting It Done!
The building adventures in Bobland Bay continue in September when 14 new episodes of Bob the Builder – Project Build It, set at this seaside location, air on PBS KIDS® (check local listings).

DVD SYNOPSIS: Join Bob and his Can-Do Crew in Bobland Bay as they welcome exciting new machine team members Splasher and Bristle. Bob is going to need a lot of help to build this new seaside town, so grab your hard hats, buckle up your tool belts and get ready to have some fun with everyone’s favorite builder in these five all-new, never-before-seen episodes:
* “Lofty’s Comet” - Bob and the team are busy building an observatory. When Lofty climbs a mountain to get a better look at the comet, he gets stuck. Will Lofty get back in time to see it with the others?
* “Spud and the Hotel” - When the first guests arrive at the Bobland Bay hotel, Spud helps out by doing every job, with chaotic results. When the new manager arrives, Spud is very pleased to go back to the quiet life of a scarecrow!
* “Tumbler’s Perfect Promenade” - Tumbler wants to help design the new promenade, but can’t come up with an idea. When some friendly animals leave their tracks in his wet cement the Bobland Bay Walk of Fame is born!
* “Clean as a Whistle Bristle” - As Bob and the team prepare for the opening ceremony, Bristle, the street-cleaner, arrives to clean the town. When important items are missing Bob puts the clues together and they all point to Bristle! Is he really the culprit?
* “Super-Splasher” - Splasher, an amphibious vehicle, arrives to take the hotel guests for sight-seeing tours. After a brave water rescue, he becomes known as Super-Splasher. Determined to live up to his new name, he rescues some people who don't need rescuing!
SPECIAL DVD FEATURES include a bonus episode of Fireman Sam™ – “Danger, Falling Sheep” ad a bonus episode of international sensation Fifi and the Flowertots™ – “Stingo Gets Stuck.”

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To enter for the grand prize or the 4 other DVD prizes please fill out the survey at http://www.baystateparent.com/common/entry_form.html. Make sure to select Bob the Builder in the pull down bar.

*The deadline to enter is Aug. 13 at 11:59 est.

* Contest is open to Massachusetts residents only!

*Winners and their hometowns will be announced on this blog.

*Grand prize winner MUST pick up their prize at the Bay State Parent magazine's main office on Elm Street in Milbury, Massachusetts. The grand prize will NOT be mailed. The 4 DVD prizes will be mailed, upon address verification.

* The grand prize toy package includes bubble blowers, sand tools, and a Bob the Builder Scoop watering can.

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CONTEST: Win A Sesame Street Count On Sports DVD

Sesame Street invites toddlers and preschoolers to get their thinking game on in Sesame Street: Count On Sports, arriving on DVD July 22nd from Genius Products and Sesame Workshop, the non-profit educational organization behind Sesame Street. Bay State Parent magazine has teamed up with the two companies to giveaway 5 copies of the DVD to readers. To enter, fill out the survey at http://www.baystateparent.com/common/entry_form.html. Make sure to select Sesame SPORTS in the pull down bar.

The deadline to enter is Sunday, Aug. 31 at 11:59 EST. Winners' names & hometowns will be posted on this site. DVDs will be mailed to winners, upon verification. The contest is open to Massachusetts residents only.

ABOUT COUNT ON SPORTS: Integrating essential concepts into each of the memorable sports segments, this math-tastic presentation is full of numbers, shapes and spatial relations such as short/tall, over/under and forward/backward. With Ernie reporting from ESSN - Ernie's Sports Show News (a parody of ESPN's "Sport's Center") - tiny tikes won't miss a moment of the DVD's amazing athletic adventures such as The Count racing in the Transylvania 300; Prairie Dawn flipping for Olympic gymnast Dominique Dawes; Grover shooting hoops with New Jersey Nets basketball star Vince Carter and Elmo serving up a game of imaginary tennis with champion Venus Williams.

Sesame Street: Count On Sports, is about 45 minutes long, will be available for the suggested retail price of $14.93.

About Sesame Workshop: Sesame Workshop is the nonprofit educational organization that changed television forever with the legendary Sesame Street. As the single largest informal educator of young children, local Sesame Street programs produced in countries as diverse as South Africa, Bangladesh and India are making a difference in over 120 nations. Using proprietary research to create engaging and enriching content, Sesame Workshop produces programs such as Dragon Tales and Pinky Dinky Doo. In addition, multimedia needs-driven initiatives provide families tools for addressing such issues as children's health, military deployment and emergency preparedness. As a nonprofit, product proceeds and philanthropic donations support Sesame Workshop's educational research and creative content for children around the world. Learn more at www.sesameworkshop.org

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