Laugh and Learn Bible for Kids Book Launch!

It's been a while since I've participated in a book launch, and I don't review a lot of kids' books anymore, now that my youngest is 14.  Since this one is from the creators of VeggieTales and looks so fantastic, though, I wanted to help get the word out!

The Laugh and Learn Bible for Kids is available at https://shop.gominno.com/products/laugh-and-learn-bible-for-kids, and for TODAY ONLY it is $14.99!  (Regular price $19.99)  Makes a great Christmas gift!

Also, through November 30, purchase the Laugh and Learn Bible for Kids and receive a Free Family Advent Reading Plan!

Happy Reading!

Flyby Review: Why Do We Call It Christmas DVD

I have been privileged to review three items from Flyby Promotions in a short period of time, so I am bringing you all three reviews today.  There are some giveaways and Christmas gift ideas, so don't miss anything!  These reviews are getting me in the Christmas spirit a little early!

My kids really enjoyed the What's In The Bible DVD Series: Why Do We Call It Christmas DVD.

Hmmm, why do we call it Christmas?  Why do we decorate a Christmas tree?  Who was Saint Nicholas?  Do your kids know the answers to these questions and the origins of other Christmas traditions?  Would you like a fun way to teach them?

Some story books and DVDs endeavor to answer one or more of these questions with a story, but in this DVD, they are all tackled in an informative yet entertaining manner by intrepid newsman Buck Denver, who is having a Christmas party!

Created by VeggieTales creator Phil Vischer, newsman Buck Denver's job is to teach kids about the Bible.  If you love Veggie Tales, you'll love Buck Denver.  With the humor and Biblical accuracy we loved in Veggie Tales, he informs, educates, and entertains using modern computer technology interspersed with all the media WE loved as children:  big-mouth puppets, flannel graph, and popsicle-stick puppets to name a few.  There's even a purple sock monkey!  The artwork and music are not quite the caliber of the Veggie Tales videos, but that did not stop my 9yo from loving Buck Denver!

I highly recommend Buck Denver in Why Do We Call It Christmas? for anyone with children 10 & under.

About the movie: Approx. 60 minutesCutting down trees? Hanging stockings? Santa Claus? What do any of these have to do with Jesus' birthday?  More than you'd think! 
Join VeggieTales creator Phil Vischer along with intrepid newsman Buck Denver and all his friends on an amazing journey into the world's most popular holiday! Sure, you know the Christmas story. But do you know the story of Christmas? Don't miss the whimsical, educational, Christmical party to end all Christmas parties as Buck Denver Asks … Why Do We Call It Christmas? Contains the following topics:-Where do we get the word Christmas?-When was Jesus born?
-What do Christmas trees have to do with Jesus?
-Who is St. Nicholas?
-What is Hanukkah?
-Who is Emmanuel?
-Luke 2 Story
Official Website: Click here!
DVD Trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VkQOWkvE_VY

And yes, of course, we are giving away a copy of this DVD, too!  Enter enough giveaways, and you might have some of your Christmas shopping done!  Post here or on my Facebook page with a Christmas symbol or tradition about which you would like to know the origin.  The drawing will be held on Thursday, November 20.

Disclosure (in accordance with the FTC’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising”): Many thanks to Propeller Consulting, LLC for providing this prize for the giveaway. Choice of winners and opinions are 100% my own and NOT influenced by monetary compensation. I did receive a sample of the product in exchange for this review and post. Only one entrant per mailing address, per giveaway. If you have won the same prize on another blog, you are not eligible to win it again. Winner is subject to eligibility verification.

Check out all the Buck Denver: What's in the Bible DVDS:

Happy Movie-Watching!

This post contains affiliate links.

 

Flyby Review: Veggie Tales Beauty & the Beet

If you have not been reading my blog for very long, you may not realize that I've had a 21-year love affair with Veggie Tales, ever since I saw the first ones in 1993.  My husband and I had Veggie Tales videos and toys in our house before we ever had children (to be fair, we did teach preschoolers in Sunday School).  We passed our obsession onto our children, and now that the four of them range in age from 9-15, we still sit down as a family and watch every Veggie Tales story that comes out as soon as we can get our hands on it.

Beauty & the Beet did not disappoint!  The creators of Veggie Tales are getting back to their "roots" and creating delightful herbaceous characters to retell old favorite stories with a moral twist.

This brand-new VeggieTales musical premieres Oct. 14 and stars Kellie Pickler (American Idol, Dancing With the Stars), who brings her unmistakable voice to the role of Mirabelle, a sweet-potato singer whose family band is on the brink of superstardom. BEAUTY AND THE BEET blends the irresistible charm of VeggieTales with a heartfelt message about unconditional love. The DVD also includes Mac and Cheese, a giddy new “Silly Songs With Larry” segment in which Larry the Cucumber reveals the surprising and heretofore untold history of his family’s unexpected contributions to Italian cuisine. 

Mirabelle steals the show with her beautiful voice and sweet personality.  No, it's not a "kissing movie" (my kids always want to make sure of that!), but when Mirabelle finds a beastly beet who needs love, she shows it unconditionally.  What results is a happy ending for all!

Kellie Pickler's voice is perfect for Mirabelle, and "Mac and Cheese" is our new favorite silly song.  (Well, I don't know, it may not be able to beat "Belly Button"!)

Whether you have young children who have never met the Veggies, are long-time fans, or are grandparents with children thousands of miles away, pop some popcorn and get your healthy dose of Veggies this weekend!

For some more fun, I am having a giveaway!  Leave a comment here or on Facebook telling me your FAVORITE SILLY SONG to win your own free copy of Beauty & the Beet!  Drawing held Oct. 27, 2014.

Official Website:  http://veggietales.com/vtmain/

Disclosure (in accordance with the FTC’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising”): Many thanks to Propeller Consulting, LLC for providing this prize for the giveaway. Choice of winners and opinions are 100% my own and NOT influenced by monetary compensation. I did receive a sample of the product in exchange for this review and post.

 Only one entrant per mailing address, per giveaway. If you have won the same prize on another blog, you are not eligible to win it again. Winner is  subject to eligibility verification.

Can't get enough Veggie Tales?  

Watch for more Veggie Tales fun, coming to Netflix Thanksgiving Weekend!

"Little Joe" - Veggie Tales Lapbooks

Lapbooks have made taking notes in school so much more fun!  Last spring we did Ancient History from Creation to about 1500 BC.  Before moving on to 1500 BC to 0 BC after the summer break, I decided to do some fun reviewing of Ancient Egypt, Sumer, Greece, China, and Jewish history.  One review item is the Veggie Tales lapbook for "Little Joe."  My younger three have had a blast with this and would like to do lapbooks on every Veggie Tales episode!  Although I am now writing for Knowledge Box Central and absolutely LOVE every lapbook they carry, we have been lapbooking for a while and have some others we enjoy as well.  The Veggie Tales lapbooks came from A Journey Through Learning and are available on Currclick.

Happy Lapbooking!

And the winner is. . .

CONGRATULATIONS to Rochelle for winning my blog giveaway for The Little House That Stood DVD from VeggieTales!!!

Keep checking back for more reviews and giveaways!

If you haven't picked up your own copy of The Little House That Stood yet, here is the information again:

Website: http://veggietales.com/littlehouse/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/veggietales

Twitter: https://twitter.com/veggietales

Trailer: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7K65sINFgro&list=UUhddokv0fxIN3BS-KZpxFfA&index=2

Read the DVD review.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received one or more of the products or services mentioned above for free in hope that I would mention it on my blog. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 255: "Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.

Veggie Tales Review and Giveaway

I am ecstatic to be reviewing the newest Veggie Tales DVD.  My kids said I really must have "arrived" as a reviewer to get to do Veggie Tales!!

Pigs moving in next-door to the Veggies?  Why, yes, the Three Little Pigs, to be exact.  The Little House That Stood combines parables, nursery rhymes, and all of our favorite characters - what's not to love?!

When the Three Little Pigs roll into Cabbageville looking to build some new houses, they meet one builder with a plan and two without a clue! Larry builds with hay, Mr. Lunt with bricks, but only Bob builds his houses on a firm foundation - following the wise plans from the Master Builder's Handbook! Will the Little Piggies make the right choices when it comes to building their houses - and their lives - on solid ground? Find out in this parable that shows kids when they follow God's blueprints, they can stand strong when the storms come! 

We watched this movie as a family for our "pizza and a movie night" tonight, and we all loved the story of the wise and foolish builders, Veggie-style.  Hay, bricks, or wood?  "Fuhgeddaboudit!"  The foundation is what counts, in buildings and in lives.  If you love Veggies, you must check out the newest story, The Little House That Stood, to be released this coming Tuesday, March 5.

The second story on the DVD combines a number of nursery rhymes in a delightfully silly way that only Veggie Tales can.  I do have to say that I miss the music from the older movies.  In Veggie Tales' first decade, Bob's and Larry's music was on my regular playlist; I listened to it all the time.  The sad part about this is that for the first six years of Veggie Tales' first decade, I had no children!  Never fear, though, there is still a Silly Song from Larry, lots of songs, and lots of fun with all our Veggie friends!

I know, I know, you just can't stand any more good news, but I've got some for you anyway.  We're having a Veggie DVD Giveaway!  Just comment here or on my Facebook page before March 8 to be entered into the drawing for your own copy of The Little House That Stood!

Website: http://veggietales.com/littlehouse/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/veggietales

Twitter: https://twitter.com/veggietales

Trailer: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7K65sINFgro&list=UUhddokv0fxIN3BS-KZpxFfA&index=2

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received one or more of the products or services mentioned above for free in hope that I would mention it on my blog. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 255: "Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.

Do you like to talk to Tomatoes?

My daughter told me she wanted to sew a Veggie Tales pillow, and I responded that I didn't think we had any printed Veggie Tales fabric.  She said she'd just like to make it from scraps.  Here's what she did, just drawing and cutting free-hand and then sewing it together:

I was impressed!