Loukoumi's Good Deeds review

Product Description (from Amazon.com)

Loukoumi, the fluffy, cuddly lamb, returns with Loukoumi s Good Deeds, the third title in the award winning series of illustrated books by Nick Katsoris for children preschool and ages 4-8. Featuring a bonus CD narrated by Jennifer Aniston and her father Days of Our Lives star John Aniston, the new book follows Loukoumi through her day as she discovers how easy it is to make other people happy by doing something nice. Loukoumi s Good Deeds, by Nick Katsoris, continues the adventures of Loukoumi and her friends Gus the Bear, Fistiki the Cat, Dean the Dog and Marika the Monkey. Whether it s cleaning the house, lending a helping hand or showing your grandparents how much you love them, kids will find that each good deed is unique in its own special way and can make a huge difference in the lives of those around them. In addition to the Anistons, the CD also features the character voices of Oscar winner Olympia Dukakis, Gloria Gaynor (GRAMMY winner for I Will Survive, who also has recorded an original song for this CD titled Make Someone Smile), American Idol's Constantine Maroulis, Guiding Light star Frank Dicopoulos and CBS News anchor Alexis Christoforous as the voice of Loukoumi. The CD features a bonus story, Loukoumi s Gift, narrated by John Aniston, in which Jennifer voices the part of Daisy the Giraffe, who teaches Loukoumi that a gift needs not cost a lot of money, but instead can come straight from the heart. Track 3 on the CD is a new version of the previous Loukoumi title, Growing up with Loukoumi, also narrated by Jennifer Aniston. The track includes the voices of the three winners of the national Growing up with Loukoumi Dream Day contest (Sophie, Lionel and Nika). Each winning kid received the chance to spend a day in their dream career, which included witnessing a Mars landing from NASA, playing soccer with the New York Red Bulls, cooking on CBS News with chef Tony Tantillo and meeting with TV chef Rachael Ray. Every time a child reads Loukoumi s Good Deeds they too will be performing a good deed. $2.00 from the sale of each book will be donated to St. Jude Children s Research Hospital® St. Jude Children s Research Hospital® is internationally recognized for its pioneering work in finding cures and saving children with cancer and other catastrophic diseases. St. Jude is the first and only pediatric cancer center to be designated as a Comprehensive Cancer Center by the National Cancer Institute. Founded by late entertainer Danny Thomas and based in Memphis, Tenn., St. Jude freely shares its discoveries with scientific and medical communities around the world. St. Jude is the only pediatric cancer research center where families never pay for treatment not covered by insurance. No child is ever denied treatment because of the family s inability to pay. St. Jude is financially supported by ALSAC, its fundraising organization. For more information, please visit stjude.org.

About the Author (from Amazon.com)

Loukoumi s Good Deeds is Nick Katsoris third book in the series following Loukoumi and the iParenting Media Award winning Growing Up With Loukoumi, which also featured a celebrity narrated CD with proceeds benefiting a national children s charity. Both books have been translated into Greek by Livanis Publishing in Athens. Katsoris is a New York attorney as General Counsel of the Red Apple Group, and President of the Hellenic Times Scholarship Fund, which has awarded over 500 scholarships. Nick is also author of the legal thriller Crimes of Fire. He currently resides in Eastchester, New York, with his wife, Voula, a real estate attorney, and their children, Dean and Julia.

MY REVIEW

This is an adorable children's book. The illustrations are brightly coloured and complement the story nicely. Loukoumi's Good Deeds has an excellent message for children- to do something nice for someone today. This book came with a cd which was a wonderful addition with 2 bonus stories and a song. It was fun listening to the stories read by Jennifer & John Aniston :) I have read the story to my kids several times over the past week or so and all three enjoyed it. My son's also love listening to the cd. Loukoumi would make an excellent addition to any child's library.

You can find more information at www.Loukoumi.com