Buddy and The Nature Trackers from Readers Digest Children’s Books {Review & Giveaway}

My 4 year old son, Hayden, is busy.  Super busy and super smart.  He loves imagining and pretending.  I am often not “mommy,” but a robot, super spy, or a train conductor.  His favorite new thing to be is a “master of disguise.”  I love it; I love that he is using his brain and being so creative.  It is difficult sometimes finding things to keep his brain going though, and encouraging him to learn more.  He surprises me with how smart he is sometimes!  One way he loves to learn is through books.  Hayden has always loved to read.  Since he was just little he would sit forever and just let me read to him.  He still loves being read to but now that he is older he will sit and “read” to himself while looking at the pictures.

photo 2

We have a new favorite book in our life.  This book has also turned us both into paleontologists and the occasional dinosaur (I’m usually a stegosaurus..I know you were probably wondering 😉 ).  Hayden LOVES the book “Buddy and The Nature Trackers.’  Have you and your kids watched the TV show on PBS called Dinosaur Train?  It is such great show, and so cute.  It involves two of any kids favorite things: trains, and dinosaurs.  I love that it is educational and Hayden really is learning about dinosaurs.  It also always encourages kids to “get into nature” and discover the world around them.  This book goes right along with it’s cute TV show and you get to learn with the dinosaurs: Buddy, Tiny, Shiny and Don.  The book teaches through fun activities about opposites, action words, colors, object number correspondence, and has a cute page matching mommy dinosaur to baby.  It has 45 flaps to lift and learn along with, Hayden sat forever lifting those flaps over and over.

photo 1

This summer I know we will also be doing a lot of the other fun activities you can find on the Dinosaur Train’s website through pbskids.com.  For example, Hayden is now an official Dinosaur Train Nature Tracker’s Club member!  You can sign your little explores up here, and best of all it is FREE!

What is the Nature Trackers Club?

Dinosaur Train Nature Trackers Club is a community of young children, their families and educators committed to learning about nature and doing good things for their environment. Nature Trackers enjoy exploring and having adventures, respecting their environment, collecting things, tracking and observing plants and animals, and challenging themselves to get outside and make discoveries every day. We post new Nature Trackers Challenges monthly – sign up for our e-newsletter to get them sent right to you inbox!

How do I become a Nature Tracker?

Buddy, Tiny, Shiny and Don formed a Nature Trackers Club and you can join too! Print out the Nature Trackers Guide Book to get started. All you need to do is complete a Nature Trackers Challenge, and you’re on your way! And to receive your official Nature Trackers token, complete all four challenges and mail in the membership form included in the Guide Book. You can also print out your own Nature Trackers Club sign to mark your clubhouse!

And remember, the first rule of the Nature Trackers club is to have fun!

photo 1

(Here he is telling me all the actual dinosaur names.  “Taranadon, stegosaurus, etc ” and silly me I called a frog, a frog… really it’s a “paleobatrachus.”  He is four people! I had to google it to see if he was right.  He was…. He learned it once on Dinosaur Train and it is in his brain forever.  Smart little turkey that kid….)

Hayden is in heaven being a “Nature Tracker.”  I appreciate that it gets him outside, and keeps his body moving with his brain learning new things.  This summer we will also be doing some Dinosaur Train Geocaching.  I think Hayden will really love that as well, plus it is great family time.  I love activities that help us make memories as a family. 

Take the Dinosaur Train Geocaching Challenge! Geocaching is a modern day, worldwide treasure hunt whereby participants can both hide and seek containers called geocaches. Geocaching encourages children to explore their surroundings, use observational skills and have an adventure right in their own neighborhood. Geocaching is a family friendly outdoor adventure that blends technology, gaming and environmental discovery. Each geocache features one of the dinosaurs found on the online Dinosaur Train Field Guide and contains educational information related to that dinosaur.

Have you ever let your kids play on pbskids.org?  Hayden loves it and has a blast while learning.  Dinosaur Train has a new game called “Backyard Theropods.”

Learn all about today’s dinosaurs – birds! Join Dr. Scott and help place interesting birds in their appropriate habitat. Use a bird caller to attract the bird, listen to the clue and then select where you think it lives. You will learn what different birds sound like, look like, what they are called, where they are likely to live, and about the ancestral connection between birds and dinosaurs. Once you learn a little more about birds you can get out in nature and look for birds in your own backyard!

Kids learn the best through play and interacting with their world.  I love that PBSkids.org and Dinosaur Train has given me lots of ways to help him discover and learn new things every day!

photo 5

Check out Dinosaur Train, and PBSkids for other fun activities to do with your cute little adventurers here:

Follow Dinosaur Train on Facebook:

www.facebook.com/DinosaurTrain

Follow The Jim Henson Company:

www.facebook.com/hensonparents ;

www.twitter.com/hensonparents

Follow PBS KIDS:

https://twitter.com/pbskids

www.facebook.com/pbskids

Right now one (1) Mom Spotted readers has the opportunity to win a Buddy and The Nature Trackers Book from Dinosaur Train. To enter use the Rafflecopter form below.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Contest ends 5.27.13 at 11:59pm. For Official Giveaway Rules click here. Affiliate links used.
About Megan

Megan loves being a stay at home mom to a busy boy Hayden (10) and sweet girl Halli (6). She has been happily married to her ridiculously good looking husband for 11 years. She also enjoys blogging, trying new recipes to cook or bake, girls nights, fashion, and reading. You can also find her on twitter and instagram @fourheartsproject

Comments

  1. nancy says

    UMI shoes- um, not sure if this is what you were intending…but I’d take the Morie D (ii)

    Thanks!
    Nancy

  2. Janet W. says

    Wrong mandatory question?

    My grandson is a big Dinosaur Train fan. His favorite is Tank Triceratops!

  3. stephanie hodges says

    Misha 320132-690 for Umi shoes

  4. susan h says

    I would choose Adelaine

  5. Colleen Maurina says

    My little grandson loves Dinosaur Train. Favorite character is Tiny.

  6. Lolli S says

    I figured the UMI shoes was an oops! My daughter loves to watch dinosaur train! She also likes to read, so this book would be perfect!

  7. Claire says

    My son loooves Dinosaur Train. we are listening to the cd right now 😀 “every dinosaur poops”, you know….

  8. misha shoes. thankyou, ken

  9. sandra says

    the elain in silver

  10. Mayla M says

    My three sons are big fans of Dinosaur Train and like Buddy best. My favorite character is the Conductor!

  11. Kim Pollock says

    We love Tiny and Buddy here!

  12. Robyn Galloway says

    My son loves dinosaur train, especially Tiny!

  13. LANA says

    Dersent Iii

  14. i like the elain in multi pink but I think it’s the wrong mandatory 🙂

  15. My daughter’s favorite dino is Buddy – such a cute show!

  16. Katy P says

    I love Umi shoes- but not sure if that is the right question. My son would love this book!

  17. Rebecca Orr says

    I am guessing that is the wrong mandatory question! Whoopsy! No big deal. I will answer it anyway just in case it wasn’t a mistake. I like the Natalia Jr in Pink. By th way….we love Dinosaur Train!

  18. polly says

    love the sammie little boys shoes

  19. Sharon C says

    Halina B Big

  20. tamar says

    Maybe the Halina B 🙂

    • tamar says

      and yes I think that was hte wrong mandatory entry. I like dinosaur train.

  21. Sharon Kaminski says

    roxanna big in white

  22. shannon Baas says

    I like the cassia.

  23. Vera says

    I like the grey zander.

  24. Linda G. says

    I like the boy’s Ryder style.
    mintstatesportswear(at)juno(dot)com

  25. Emily R. says

    I love the boys Hay man shoes 🙂

  26. Breanne says

    Elain

  27. kelley roach says

    I like the cassia.

  28. Sam says

    Glenna in pink multi

  29. Jodi Kershuk says

    I like the Jenna

  30. Lisa P. says

    Toddler boys Weelie

  31. Serenity Rose says

    I like the puddle jumper shoes. they are tooo cute!

  32. Annemarie says

    The blue Zanders!

  33. Leslie L. Stanziani says

    I like he lauren Ii big boy sandles.

  34. Deb S says

    I like the Zander

  35. denise says

    Belair

  36. susan smoaks says

    i would get the elain in pink multi

  37. Ed Nemmers says

    Glena!

  38. tina reynolds says

    the morie d or maybe the Natalia Big

  39. MelodicMom says

    I like the pink Elain shoes.

  40. Erika JM says

    I like the Zander in blue

  41. Michelle Tucker says

    I like the Zanders.

  42. Michelle C says

    Zander 350082-492

  43. Candie L says

    I like the Shane shoe. Thank you

  44. Brenda Elsner says

    I like the shane

  45. Jenny Q. says

    I like the Carrter boys sandal

  46. Shirley Zolenski says

    I like the Natalia JR

  47. Emily says

    i like the Carrter sandal

  48. Savannah miller says

    I love the benet so cute!

  49. Gianna says

    Tyler shoes.

Add Your Comment

*