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I was thrilled to have the opportunity to review this new kids picture book by Pharrell Williams! I am a pediatric speech-language pathologist and have numerous kids on my caseload who LOVE this song. It could easily be the musical mantra for kids with special needs. It’s by far the most motivating song on my iPad that will consistently get a response and get kids to activate the screen to independently turn on the song via the Touch Switch app by Goatella (https://appsto.re/us/8Ib5B.i).

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What’s cool about the picture book inspired by the lyrics from this song is that it features gorgeous photos of kids acting out what those lyrics mean to them. Nope… no Minions to be found in this book. Instead the focus is on kids and they did a nice job with multicultural representation (I do wish they had included a few kids with special needs in the photos since they are not often featured in kids picture books and this would have made the book even more fabulous). The photos are embellished with fun illustrations and the words are in a large easy to read font arranged in an interesting way on each 2-page spread.

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Having this song in book form caused me to really focus on the powerful lyrics. Here are some of my faves with messages of limitless possibilities & overcoming obstacles … especially powerful for kids with special needs to hear:

“I’m a hot air balloon that could go into space”

“Well, gimme all you got and don’t hold back. Well, I should probably warn you, I’ll be just fine.”

“Bring me down… can’t nothing… Bring me down… my level’s too high… Bring me down… can’t nothing… Bring me down”

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An added bonus for kids yoga teachers is that many of the pages lend themselves well to kids yoga activities. Here are the opportunities for kids yoga that I spotted in the book: sun breath & stretch, sun salutations, palm tree, ocean breath, hot air balloon visualization, balloon breath, rocket ship blast off, kite, rooftop partners, clapping to beat, drumming, lotus mudra crown, raindrop pats, puddle stomping, umbrella, airplane & yoga freeze dance to the song “Happy”.

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Book Trailer:

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**** Giveaway ****

Want a chance to win a copy of this fabulous book? Head over to the Penguin Kids Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/penguinkidsbooks/?fref=ts. This is where all of the giveaways will be located in the Penguin Young Readers 12 Days of Picture Books Blog Tour & Giveaways. Look for a post on their Facebook page for the giveaway for this book on 12/4/15. That post will contain all the specifics on how to enter and the rules for the giveaway.
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Also be sure to check out the Penguin Young Readers Holiday Gift guide where you can build and share your own wish list from a huge assortment of kids’ books for all age groups: http://penguinyoungreadersgiftguide.com/

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TELL US WHY READING MAKES YOU HAPPY, AND YOU CAN HELP GIVE BOOKS TO CHILDREN IN NEED!

It’s easy! Share why reading makes you happy on Facebook, Twitter or Instagram using hashtag #ReadHAPPY. Every time #ReadHAPPY is used, a book will be donated to a child in need through the nonprofit First Book. The campaign runs through December 31, 2015, and up to 50,000 books will be donated! See details at: http://www.readhappybook.com

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And check out the participating blogs:
https://omazingkidsllc.com/

OMazing Kids

http://sleepingshouldbeeasy.com/

Sleeping Should Be Easy

http://www.houseofburkeblog.com/

House of Burke

http://homegrownfriends.com/

Homegrown Friends

http://www.growingupmadison.com

Growing Up Madison

http://inrandom.com/

InRandom

http://craftymomsshare.blogspot.com

Crafty Moms Share

http://insatiablereaders.blogspot.com/

Satisfaction for Insatiable Readers

http://inspirationlaboratories.com/

Inspiration Laboratories

http://www.clarkscondensed.com/

Clarks Condensed

http://bookrockbetty.com/

Book Rock Betty

http://www.kidlitfrenzy.com/

Kid Lit Frenzy

http://boredmommyblog.com/

Bored Mommy

http://www.delightful.life/

The Delightful Life

http://www.readsandrecipes.com/

Reads and Recipes

http://www.kidscreativechaos.com/

KidsCreative Chaos

http://www.thechirpingmoms.com/

The Chirping Moms

http://cuteeverything.com/

Hello Happy

http://www.sparkandpook.com/

Spark and Pook

http://funhandprintartblog.com/

Fun Handprint Art

http://www.mamasmiles.com/

Mama Smiles

http://craftulate.com/

Craftulate

http://imaginationsoup.net

Imagination Soup

http://totsandme.blogspot.com/

Tots and Me

http://www.designofthepicturebook.com/

Design of the Picture Book

http://www.gravitybread.com/

Gravity Bread

http://www.creativefamilyfun.net/

Creative Family Fun

http://www.futureflyingsaucers.com/about/

Future Flying Saucers

http://www.sightandsoundreading.com/

Mrs. Karle’s Sight and Sound Reading

http://jamonkey.com/

JaMonkey

http://coquette.blogs.com/maman/

Coquette Maman

http://growingbookbybook.com/

Growing Book by Book

http://tabanderika.blogspot.com/

A Little Bit of Everything

http://happilyevermom.com/

Happily Ever Mom

http://littleearthlingblog.com/

Little Earthling

http://www.thelittletourist.com/

The Little Tourist

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#Sweepstakes #Giveaway #ReadHAPPY #KidsLit

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Angela Moorad, MS, CCC-SLP
Speech-Language Pathologist
Founder of OMazing Kids, LLC – inclusive wellness & educational activities for kids of all abilities
Home E-Mail: amoorad1@juno.com
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Blog: http://omazingkidsllc.com

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Angela Moorad is the founder of OMazing Kids, LLC and is an ASHA certified & licensed pediatric Speech-Language Pathologist and Kids Yoga Teacher with over 25 years experience working in a variety of settings (early intervention, schools, teletherapy & a nonprofit pediatric rehab hospital for children with developmental disabilities). She is a kids book reviewer with a focus on great picture books, a kids toy / product reviewer with a focus on those that are helpful for kids with special needs & an app beta tester for educational and therapeutic app developers. She loves sharing info about great things to use with kids of all abilities.

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