I got an invite to the launching of the Geronimo Stilton Academy Pawbooks. This is a new workbook series based on the popular series Geronimo Stilton. I was happy to get this invite because my eldest son loves Geronimo Stilton. So, I confirmed with the organizer right away and told her that I’m definitely coming with my eldest son.
I shared this information with my son and told him that attending the launch will be our date. It has been part of my schedule to date each of my sons at least once a month so I can spend one-to-one time with them. My son was also happy to hear the news and he looked forward to our date.
The weather was bad on the day of the launch but we still went to Powerbooks at Greenbelt 4 on August 22. The event was from 3 to 5 PM. We got there a little past 3 PM.
Our original plan was that while my eldest son and I are having our date at the event, my husband and two younger kids will also have a date nearby, either in the bookstore or they will eat ice cream somewhere. But since we found out that they can also stay, they joined us. So, it was now a family date!
We got a big bag of Geronimo Stilton products as soon as we registered. The canvass bag we got contained two sets of workbooks: Vocabulary Pawbooks from levels 1 to 3 and Comprehension Pawbooks from levels 1 to 3 also. It also had Geronimo buttonpins and a copy of Mockingjay by New York Times Bestselling Author Suzanne Collins.
Our loot!
Yanthy took this photo of us during the event.
The event was already starting when we arrived. They were playing a game wherein the participants need to find words and letters from old newspapers that they can form to match the titles of the books in the Geronimo Stilton Series. My son and I still got to join. We had some fun playing even though we didn’t win.
The other game that was played was ensaymada eating for the parents. The parent who is able to finish his/her ensaimada first wins a set of books from the series also. I didn’t win but I enjoyed eating the ensaimada. hahaha
There was a parenting talk after the games and prizes were raffled off in between the games the talk. We didn’t win in the raffle but it’s alright because being together at the event was already a win for our family.
Parenting talk
I was hoping to win in the raffle. But it’s OK. I won this boy’s heart!
Book stamping and picture taking opportunities followed after the talk and raffle. Snacks were also served while people were lined up to have their books stamped and their photos taken with the mascots. Even the snacks were according to the theme. Snacks had cheese on them because Geronimo and his friends love cheese.
Happily eating pizza. They already devoured the ensaimada!
While waiting for our turn to have our photos taken with Geronimo and Thea, my husband and younger sons roamed around the bookstore to check out copies of the Geronimo Stilton books. The first copy that our son had was Space Mice. We bought it at a time when he was very interested on outer space. This time, we were looking for the first books in the series. Sadly, there were no copies available. But we discovered that Scholastic sells the books in the series in packs or bundles too. My husband saw a pack for the books from 11 to 20. He discovered that we would save a lot if we buy the books this way instead of buying them per piece. So we asked if they have a pack or bundle for books 1 to 10. The staff we talked to said that this pack was out of stock but she was kind enough to inquire from the other branches. She found out that there is an available stock from SM North Edsa and that she said they can request it to be transferred to their branch and we can buy it from there. We were delighted! We had that pack reserved.
With Geronimo and Thea Stilton
After having snacks and having our books stamped and our photos taken, we checked out other books for my younger son who loves Thomas the Tank Engine. I was looking for Step 1 into Reading books for him with stories about his favorite character Thomas. We didn’t find any Level 1 books but we found two Level 2 books. I still bought them since the books are still easy to read for kids his age. Now, everybody is happy.
My eldest son who is 6 years old could not get his hands and eyes on his new workbooks. He wanted to read them even while in our vehicle on our way home. He also wanted to read that night but we said he will have to wait until morning. True enough, he was seen reading these books most of the time in the days that followed.
I told him that we will start answering these workbooks after he’s done answering his Grade 2 English Grammar worksheets (the ones we are using in our homeschool). I said this to motivate him to work faster on his worksheets before starting on a new one.
Several days after the launch, I got a text message from the Powerbooks staff that our order is available for pick up at their branch. I informed my husband right away so he can make time to buy it for our son.
Yanthy finally got his set of books!
Finally, our son got his hands on the much-awaited book bundle last weekend and kept reading book after book in the days that followed. Actually, he said that he already read 5 books in just a single day! I told him that I will check if he understaood the stories by making him answer the workbooks.
We started using these workbooks last Monday and I am really glad that we discovered these workbooks. My son is happy to read and answer the workbooks because the lessons were based on his favorite character Geronimo Stilton. Of course, when my son is happy to do his lessons, I am also happy because I don’t need to force him to answer his workbooks.
When he was much younger, one of his favorite characters was Lighting McQueen from the movie Cars. I also used activity books then which were inspired by this character. He also enjoyed using these books and he was usually eager to answer them. I also bought him flash cards with the Cars theme for he was still a toddler then.
Then, when I had my second child, I used the same strategy but this time I bought materials inspired by Thomas the Tank Engine or anything related to trains, unlike with his older brother which were related to cars.
Are you struggling to get your kids excited to read books or to learn something related to their lessons? I strongly suggest that you find a related material that is based on your child’s favorite character or interest. That will surely spark your child’s interest. I have been doing this for years now and both of my children are responding well to this strategy.
How will you know which characters interest them?
Here are 2 ways:
1. Ask them. If you are not sure or you have no clue, just ask them. It’s that simple. But you will not know unless you make time to ask and wait for their answer.
2. Listen to them tell stories. Kids like to include their favorite characters in their stories. They also like to talk about their favorite characters at least once a day when given the chance. Again, this goes back to my previously shared tip to parents to converse with their children. Make time to listen to them and to encourage them to keep on talking and telling stories to you through your verbal and non-verbal responses.
So, don’t let this day pass without you doing any of these two tips I shared! Then, look for something that you and your child can use that is related to his interest!
TERESA GUMAP-AS DUMADAG is a woman who wears many hats. But among the many hats she wears, one of her favorite hats is being mom to her kids. She loves to share inspiration and wisdom as a speaker, author, blogger and freelance writer. She is the author of the #1 Amazon bestseller BREASTFEEDING: A Journey Worth Taking. The first two books she authored were When My Bridegroom Comes and How to Have the Wedding of Your Dreams. She's also the author of the upcoming book How To Be A Hands-On Parent while Earning. She's the blogger behind this blog Hands-On Parent while Earning and two other blogs namely, Mommy Bares All and When My Bridegroom Comes. She’s also a freelance contributing writer for Summit Media (Smart Parenting Online, Smart Parenting and Good Housekeeping), The Philippine Online Chronicles, Kerygma and Didache. She is the President and Founder of Full Life Cube Publishing and Events Services (http://www.fulllifecube.com), through which she inspires and equips her clients to succeed in their businesses/careers while living out their priorities and life’s purposes. She works from home as a career coach and counselor and a consultant for management, human resources and training solutions. Connect with Teresa through Twitter, Instagram or Facebook.
You’re pretty successful inculcating a habit of reading to your kids, congratulations! I liked your strategy to get them into reading books, too bad, I will not be able to try your strategy since both my kiddos are already in college.
This kind of event is amazing for kids and they look like they enjoyed it. I must say that when I was a child, those “mannequins” people were wearing always freaked me out haha. But anyway, it’s great that your son is so much into those books. To read 5 in one day is a lot. I remember I was so productive as well when I was so drowned into something that was interesting a lot. I think that’s the best way for kids to learns. To make things more interesting and depending about what they like, in the end they will learn the same things as a basic teaching, but this time they feel more connected to it and will remember better
Seems like you enjoyed the event with the whole family. Will going to check this on National Book Store. Perfect christmas gifts for inaanaks! Yay. Are they gathering other events outside the metro? And do you know the price of each items?
Each book is a little less than Php300. But there are book sales sometimes. Like recently, I bought my son 3 new books from the series because they are at 20% off at National Bookstore.
I love it that you go on Saturdates with your boys. 🙂 You are very hands on! Wow, the canvass bag full of goodies that you got when you registered is pretty awesome. If only for that, I’d say going to the event was worth it. Imagine getting all sorts of books! What a treat for the kids!
It’s nice to know that you schedule one-on-one dates with your boys. I’ll surely follow that example once I have my own kids in the future. Also, it was good that all you could stay at the event. It looked like the family had a blast. It’s my first time hearing also about Geronimo Stilton. However, I can recall when I was younger, I read books from Scholastic.
It is so nice that you set a schedule to spend time with your kids. I have not read about this character before but I will remember him now because of his last name. I wonder if the author assumed that mice like to eat cheese or maybe he/she is the one who likes cheese. It is great that your kid loves to read because it will improve his language skills.
Book stamping? I s it like book signing? I presume. Coz its hard for the mascot to sign the books he has to use a stamp? Hehe! The event looks fun. I can see by the smile of your son that he enjoyed it! Those books were pretty good!
What a fun event, both for the children and for the parents. I wouldn’t have said no to an ensaymada eating contest. Even if you didn’t win, you had a great dessert 🙂 It’s great that the bookstores are organizing this type of event for children, to encourage them to read instead of watching tv.
Awww, what a cute family date! I’m sure since your eldest loved Geronimo, he had twice as much fun as anyone else. I notice this was held last August – have you been to any more similar dates with your kids? Must be a blast all the time.
I’m still a big fan of children’s books until now so reading this was definitely a treat. I don’t have kids myself but a couple of friends have been complaining that their kids are more interested in their iPads than in books. Definitely refreshing to hear that your sons are readers. I’ve never heard of the Geronimo Stilton series but will definitely check them out. Timing’s perfect too because I’m always looking for new books to give my inaanaks. 🙂
These are wonderful books. My eldest son is hooked! 🙂 My eldest is quite the extreme. He prefers to devour new books over socialization sometimes. hehe
Thanks for dropping by, Paula! I just started this blog recently in preparation for my upcoming book with the same title. I had been blogging for a while in my other blog Mommy Bares All. http://mommytg.blogspot.com/
Wow, Teresa, you do wear many hats! This is the first time I’ve read your blog. Loved learning a little about you and your kids and your homeschooling adventures. Great photos!
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