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I was recently sent a box of items to review by Brighter Minds, a children’s new media publisher that develops and distributes multimedia products including software, DVD and online games, and books. Brighter Minds uniquely combines educational fundamentals and entertainment value to provide a enriching learning experience for children aged 2 to 12.

Lucie really loved the PBS Kids Feeling Happy Book. Rhyming text and colorful illustrations describe six different feelings in the large board book. Each emotion is represented with a face on an interactive spinning wheel. Lucie liked spinning the wheel to match the face with the emotion described on the page. At $6.95, the book is very reasonably priced.

We also received PBS KIDS™ Giant Touch–and–Learn Cards: Numbers from One to Ten, which costs $9.95. Oversized flash cards for very young children seem to be a new trend. Usborne carries several versions of baby flash cards.

The  Giant Touch–and–Learn Cards: Numbers from One to Ten cards are unique as the front of each card has a touch–and–learn tracing feature that allows your child to trace the cut–out numeral and feel the shape. The back of each card has a wipe–clean surface where your child can practice writing and drawing.

So these cards are not only see, read and tell cards, like traditional flashcards, but touch and draw cards. Great idea since the more senses your child uses, the better they learn. You can introduce taste to counting activities numerous ways, such as having your child count how many food items are on their plate. Or you can make 1-2-3-4 Cake!

Basic 1-2-3-4 Cake
Courtesy Paula Deen and Food Network
Recipe Summary Difficulty: Easy
Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cook Time: 25 minutes
Yield: 3 layer cakes

Ingredients:

1. 1 cup (2 sticks) butter, at room temperature
2. 1 cup milk
3. 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
4. 2 cups sugar
5. 3 cups sifted self-rising flour
6. 4 eggs

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
2. Grease and flour 3 (9-inch) cake pans.
3. Using an electric mixer, cream butter until fluffy. Add sugar and continue to cream well for 6 to 8 minutes.
4. Add eggs, 1 at a time, beating well after each addition. Add flour and milk alternately to creamed mixture, beginning and ending with flour. Add vanilla and continue to beat until just mixed.
5. Divide batter equally among prepared pans. Level batter in each pan by holding pan 3 or 4 inches above counter, then dropping it flat onto counter. Do this several times to release air bubbles and assure you of a more level cake.
6. Bake for 25 to 30 minutes or until done. Cool in pans 5 to 10 minutes. Invert cakes onto cooling racks. Cool completely and spread cake layers with your favorite frosting to make a 3-layer cake.

Episode#: PA1B07 Copyright © 2006 Television Food Network, G.P., All Rights Reserved

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