Spotlight: PenPal Notes (and giveaway!)

As an educator, I am always on the lookout for creative ways to encourage reading. I was excited when I was contacted by PenPal Notes about their educational lunch notes. They sent me the Traveling Taste Buds series which will take your child on a culinary adventure as he follows Tej the panda around the globe as he learns about different cultures and their foods.

The lunch notes feature a note from Tej along with some fun facts, new vocabulary, and a p.s. focused on character building. On the back, there is space for you to write a personalized note to your child. Alternatively, if you want to help promote your child's reading, writing, and communication skills, your child can write notes back to you.

Here is an example of one of the cards from the Traveling Taste Buds series:


These cards are perfect for placing in your child's lunchbox. At home you can read the cards together and discuss the new vocabulary and fun facts with your child.

There are currently 7 different PenPal Notes series:
Amazing Animal Facts (ages 4-7)
Discover Africa (ages 5-8)
Dinosaur Days (ages 5-8)
Meet the U.S. Presidents (ages 6-10)
Proverbs (ages 6-10)
Traveling Taste Buds (ages 5-8)
Tej and the Big Cats (ages 4-7)

Each learning series feature 20-40 color illustrated notes and some matching sticker stamps.

PenPal notes are a fun way to encourage reading as well as open up a discussion about what they learned. (Tip: With school starting in the next few weeks, this may be a great way to help ease the transition back from summer break) Get your kids excited about lunch so they can find out what Tej is up to next!

Buy it! You can buy PenPal Notes online for $9.99 for each series ($6.99 for Amazing Animal Facts). You can also buy corresponding PenMats to hlep continue to the learning adventure. PenMats retail for $5.99.

Win it! One lucky Psych Mommy reader will win a series of their choice! To enter this giveaway, head on over to www.penpalnotes.com and tell me which series you would choose if you won.

Want some extra credit?
Follow A Psych Mommy (1 extra entry)
Subscribe to A Psych Mommy (1 extra entry)
Follow me on Twitter and tweet about this giveaway (1 extra entry per tweet per day)
Follow PenPal Notes on Twitter (1 extra entry)
Suggest a series that you would love to see in the future (1 extra entry)

This post will be open for entries until 9/4 at 11:59 pm EST. Giveaway is open to US and Canada.