BookLook Blogger Review: Parable Treasury by Liz Curtis Higgs

The most recent book we reviewed as part of the BookLook Blogger Review Team was titled, The Parable Treasury written by Liz Curtis Higgs. The book was published by Tommy Nelson. 

About the Author
Liz Curtis Higgs is the award-winning speaker who wrote twenty-eight books, including Bad Girls of the Bible and Thorn in My Heart. Her parable series for children has been awarded the ECPA Gold Medallion for Excellence.

Book Description (Taken from the Website)

With more than 1.1 million units sold in the Parable Series, Liz Curtis Higgs has given parents and kids alike beloved parables they can read throughout the year. This adorable compilation, Parable Treasury, allows families to get all their favorite stories in one value-packed book. For nearly twenty years, Liz Curtis Higgs has made the holidays a little brighter throughout the year with her bestselling Parable Series. In a lovely hardcover format, the Gold Medallion–winning books from the Parable Series will include:

• The Pumpkin Patch Parable, which focuses on the harvest season and shows that we can let God’s love shine through us.
• The Pine Tree Parable, a heartwarming tale of the farmer and his family, who nurture tiny seedlings into fragrant Christmas trees.
• The Parable of the Lily, which helps children understand the power of grace and forgiveness and the true meaning of Easter.
• The Sunflower Parable, which helps children discover the value of planting seeds, not only in the ground but also in the hearts of those around us.

My Thoughts and Review

The Parable Treasury written by Liz Curtis Higgs is a children's book which compiles four fantastic full-length stories into one collection using a parable format. It is suitable for children between the ages of 4-8. The hardcover padded book contains 117-pages. Each story sets during a particular season or holiday. The high-quality beautiful illustrations are vibrantly colorful. These adorable illustrations will easily appeal to children and adults alike.

The "Table of Contents" at the beginning of the treasury lists the title of and page number for each story. A "Letter to Parents" follows. Each story begins with a page dedicated to the title of the story being told. The author chose an easy to read format which utilizes a larger print throughout the stories and an italicized font for referenced Scriptures noted at the bottom of each page in oval shaped boxes.

Liz Curtis Higgs integrated and weaved related Biblical Scripture into the story which clarified meaning and added to the story plot helping children make deeper connections to the story. The spiritual, thoughtful messages will guide children to discover valuable moral lessons and virtues based on God's Word. The author prayed over and carefully selected each verse. I love that she shared the stories with her family first and then made them available to the world.

We immediately started reading the Pine Tree Parable which quickly became a family favorite in our home. It teaches children to give and serve others which glorifies God. This was the first time we read this story and it had such huge impact on my daughter. She decided that she wanted to give something special to someone in need. We also discussed each story and its important messages as we read it aloud. The heartfelt stories captured her attention so much so that she insisted on reading the entire treasury in one sitting. The stories are not too long or too short.

My daughter and I enjoyed reading every single parable in this treasury. The book contains truthful messages based on Scripture with eye-catching illustrations you are sure to love. We will definitely read the Pine Tree Parable every Christmas to remind ourselves the importance of giving selflessly. I can't wait to reread The Parable of the Lily during the Easter season.

The Parable Treasury would make a great Easter Basket gift for any child! I highly recommend the Parable Treasury to all families with children between the ages of 4-8. It may become a classic bedtime book in your home and you can enjoy the Christian stories year after year. 

Price
Amazon  $11.22
Faith Gateway Store $14.99

Note: All prices are subject to change without notice.
*You can purchase the treasury book but you also have the option of purchasing each book separately in stores.

Disclaimer
I received a complimentary, free copy of this book from the publisher as part of the BookLook Blogger Review Gold Team Program in exchange for an honest review on my blog. I was not required to write a positive review. All opinions expressed are my own. I am disclosing this information in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 255 "Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising." 

F is for Festive Tradition: North Pole Village

We focus on the real reason why we celebrate Christmas which is the birth of Jesus, but we also have other Christmas traditions we've done as a family for years. One of those festive traditions is to visit the North Pole Village in Canyon Lake. It was CRRC's 19th year to host the North Pole Village event. My daughter really enjoys meeting old and new friends. We get there as soon as the doors open to avoid long lines and large crowds.

Santa was the first stop. Alyssa never wants to sit on Santa's lap, but she did this year and asked for a special gift. Will she get her wish?

She decorated her 3 cookies with frosting and sprinkles at the Bakery. She ate all of them!!!!! I know . . . but it's only once a year - right! 

One of her favorite places to visit is the North Pole Petting Barn. This year they brought friendly dogs. Alyssa would have stayed in that building ALL night if she was allowed to. She LOVES animals! This dog was especially adorable. I think it reminded her of our dog Mustang.

Alyssa and Jasmine
SO CUTE!!!  

This was her first time getting her face painted at the Elves House. In the past, she would pay for her father's face painting, but since we are no longer together she started a new tradition and allowed them to paint her face. She said it was cold and made her face feel weird. It easily washed off that night.

The children either decorate a bookmark or an ornament each year at the North Pole School House. This year it was a double-sided bookmark. Her little friend sat with her at each activity. 

Next stop was the North Pole Church to hear a retired teacher read aloud a book about the first Christmas. Alyssa gave her a cinnamon stick treat after the sweet read aloud. 

This was just a fun shot of Alyssa posing in front of one of their pretty trees.

Another favorite place for my daughter to visit is the Library. Alyssa chose a Magic Tree House chapter book this year titled, Blizzard of the Blue Moon. She actually found one that we don't own! She already started reading it.

Even though she has way too many stuffed animals, I always allow her to visit the Toyland to chose a friend to adopt. She'll be donating bags of stuffed animals before Christmas too. She named her bear Rosey.

They visited Santa's Post Office where they wrote and mailed a short letter to Santa.

They also had Frosty's Ice Fishing for Rice Krispy Treats, Christmas carol singing, hay rides headed by Tractor Rudolf, and a live Nativity play. The children's passports were stamped as they participated in each activity. Alyssa did shop at the Country Store and left with $2.00 worth of candy sticks. She bought the same thing last year. We had a blast with our friends! It was full of fun and laughter. It was definitely worth the hour drive. We used to live right around the corner but we recently moved out of town. We ran into old friends and continued those memory-filled traditions.  

Thank you for visiting A Learning Journey. I will link this post up at Blogging Through the Alphabet. Everyone is posting about Letter F topics this week. Come join us!  

BookLook Blogger Review: The Very First Christmas by Jan and Mike Berenstain

BookLook's Blogger Review Program recently offered me The Very First Christmas written by Jan and Mike Berenstain to review. I am gearing up for Christmas time so I jumped on the chance to add a new book to my Christmas collection. My daughter, Alyssa (Age 8) will receive this Zonderkidz published book as a gift for our growing Christmas book collection. Teaching about the real reason we celebrate can be a task without the right tools. This book will definitely be helpful.

Authors

Stan and Jan Berenstain introduced the first Berenstain Bear book series in 1962. Mike Berenstain grew up watching his parents work together to write about and draw these lovable bears. Eventually he started drawing and writing about them too. Though Stan died in 2005 and Jan in 2012, Mike continues to create the delightful Bear adventures from the family home and studio in Pennsylvania, in an area that looks much like the sunny dirt road deep in Bear Country.

Book Description

A Christmas story from the bestselling Berenstain Bears Living Lights series. The Berenstain Bears brand and Living Lights series continue their proven tradition of teaching children valuable lessons in a fun and creative way. In the 8x8 softcover format, the Berenstain Bears and the Night Jesus was Born gives fans of the Berenstain Bears the story of Jesus’ coming … from the angel’s announcement of a new baby to the visit of the three wise men. This newest Christmas title in the Berenstain series is perfect for gift-giving or as an easy addition to any holiday library.

My Thoughts and Review 
The dedication page shares Luke 2:11-12 with their readers "Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord. This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger." There is a place behind the front glossy cover for your child to write their name inside the book if you desire. I think the scripture reference adds a special touch to and builds the foundation for this spiritual book.

There are no page numbers, but this short 24-page softcover children's picture book will surely be one your child will want to read over and over again. The adorable classic characters always share such relevant and meaningful messages. This paperback book will help you and your family focus on the TRUE meaning of Christmas. The information read seemed accurate besides of course the use of the Berenstain bears as the main characters. The illustrations were simple and the characters displayed a friendly mood.

The story begins with the Bear cubs asking Papa Bear if he was going to read to them so he decided to read the story of The Very First Christmas from their storybook Bible. It discusses all the major events from the Christmas story beginning with Mary's visit from the Angel to Joseph's dream about King Herod. No specific name was given for the Angel that visited Mary or Joseph.

The back of the book contains Activities and Questions from Brother and Sister Bear for you to discuss with your children. One of the fun activities was to build a diorama showing the first Christmas. I know that my daughter will enjoy that activity! The other activity was to create Christmas cards with biblical messages for your neighborhood friends. This is the perfect time to get started on these projects and to utilize them during the Christmas or Advent season.

I HIGHLY recommend this affordable book for children between the ages of 4-8. As previously stated, I plan on giving this book to my daughter as an early Christmas book gift. We read MANY Christmas books during the month of December as part of our Book Tree Advent Countdown. I can't wait to see her projects after reading the book. I suggest reading this book before Christmas if possible and in conjunction with the projects at the back of the book. This book would make a great Christmas Day or stocking stuffer gift.

Price
Zondervan $3.99
Amazon $3.99

Disclaimer
I received a complimentary, free copy of this book from the publisher as part of the BookLook Blogger Review Team Program in exchange for an honest review on my blog. I was not required to write a positive review. All opinions expressed are my own. I am disclosing this information in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 255 "Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising." 

I will link this post up at Booknificent Thursdays and Desperate Homeschoolers' Christmas Reads for Kids Link Up.

E is for Elf-ed: You've Been Elf-ed

Now that Alyssa and I moved into a neighborhood, I would like to start a new tradition. I am hoping this idea will catch on and everyone will get involved. We live on a great street so I think it'll be a huge hit!

I first saw this idea on Organized Christmas, but I wanted to share the free printables, links, and ideas from other websites as well. You may have seen the same idea but it might have been called "You've Been Jingled or Claused"

The Idea
1.) Select two neighbors you'd like to surprise
2.) Prepare TWO "mystery" treats, baskets, or bags.
3.) Copy the poem and sign twice and include one with each treat.
4.) Leave the goodies at your neighbor's front door when it gets dark.
5.) Ring the doorbell, run away, and hide.
6.) Hope they continue the tradition. You'll soon see the ELF-ED signs posted in your neighborhood.
7.) Victims have 24-48 hours to deliver their 2 neighbor treats to those who haven't been elf-ed yet.

Printables
Organized Christmas
Anders Ruff
Mother's Niche
Teach Me Genealogy
Two Crazy Cupcakes
Been Jingled
Hub Pages

Neighbor Gift Ideas
Pinterest Page for Neighbor Gifts
The Idea Room
Tip Junkie and Neighbor Gift ideas
Fun in The Neighborhood Pinterest Page
You've Been Elfed/Jingled/Claused Pinterest

I started prepping the treats and materials. I will share a photo later once it's all ready to go. But, we won't ELF our neighbors until my daughter comes home on Monday. She definitely wanted to participate and join in on the fun. I wouldn't want her to miss out on this Christmas tradition.

So get read to spread holiday cheer! 
Go elf or jingle your neighbor! 

If you participate in this festive activity, please come back and comment. Please also share any links to printables you've made or found so that we can all use them this year!

I will link this post up at the Blogging Through the Alphabet Linky hosted at Adventures with Jude. We are focusing on letter E this week. The linky will remain open until Sunday so come join the fun!

Thanks for visiting A Learning Journey!

The Small (But Fun) Stuff!

Goody Bag Bar at Hiho Batik

Whether you celebrate Christmas or Hanukkah, finding small presents is a necessity during the holiday season.  For me, filling an advent calendar and stockings are so much fun.  I love finding little treasures because I know how much my daughter loves them.  I was actually in Hiho Batik, a local clothing and gift store in Park Slope, recently and saw they have a Goody Bag Bar but all of the little gifts would make wonderful stocking stuffers as well.  They have a fantastic selection of little gifts (think lip gloss, bouncy balls, modeling clay, etc.) you can stock up on.  If you are local, I highly recommend checking it out.  I know that I am going to be hitting them up to find some special treasures for a lot of the special little kids in my life.

Finding little gifts that aren't junk can be a real challenge.  If you are like me, you don't want to just buy stuff for the sake of buying it.  The good news is that there are actually a lot of quality small and inexpensive gifts out there.  I have tried to include items that are good for kids of all ages and don't take up a lot of room (being a New Yorker, I appreciate the importance of real estate and not having your space taken over by your kid's toys!).  Each of the items I have featured below are guaranteed to be lots of fun but, at the same time, offer some kind of educational and therapeutic value.  Lastly, I have tried to suggest things that are priced under $10 (most but not all fit into this last category).

Here are some of my favorite little gifts for this year:
Rainbow Loom Finger Loom-even though it seems like more of a summer thing, I love therapeutic value of the Rainbow Loom.  When I found the Finger Loom this summer, I was super excited.  This little bracelet maker is perfect for throwing in a baggie with a bunch of your child's favorite colored bands.  Perfect for working in fine motor development, eye-hand coordination, focus, attention and organizational skills.
Discovery Putty-I can't love this putty more by Fun and Function.  More importantly, the kids I work with couldn't love it more and it does so many great things for them.  There are now 4 different putties to choose from (school supplies, transportation, treats and animal rescue).  There are about a dozen or so small pieces hidden in the putty and the kids have to search through find them.  Once they find them all, you can have them hide the pieces again for the next person.  This is great for working on strengthening and fine motor control.  Also great for working on speech and language development.
Moulin Roty Transfers-I remember the sticker transfers when I was a kid and was so excited to see my friends at Norman and Jules had a couple of sets....a city setting and a farm setting.  Great for working on improving fine motor skills such as grasping and strength, bilateral coordination and executive functioning skills like organization, planning, focus and attention.  I have been experimenting with different tools to use and have found that a good pencil seems to work the best.

Kikkerland Rainbow Twirler Top-this is one of those little things I stumbled upon and didn't think much of it.  It didn't cost much and we saw some kids playing with it in the store and my daughter really wanted to try it.  This little toy is super fun and my love playing with it.  I have used it to work on improving bilateral coordination but mostly to get kids to calm down and regroup if they are getting anxious about something.  The spinning is fun to watch but what I really like is that if you go too fast it gets all tangled up.  It causes a child to really concentrate on slowing down.
Animal Poppers-I've always loved these little toys and they bring kids such joy.  My daughter and husband will play with these things for so long and end up in tears...the happy kind that come from laughing so hard!  I've used them in therapy before because they are great for improving fine motor skills, bilateral coordination and eye-hand coordination.  I have set up targets for kids to have to aim and launch the balls out which helps with improving visual attention and tracking skills.They  require a tremendous amount of focus, concentration and planning and finding fun ways to work on that with kids can be difficult.
LED Light Up Spinning Flyers-I remember this toy from growing up and have always snatched one up one I have seen one in any store.  I actually remember  making my own at some point using a large button and yarn!  It's a super simple and inexpensive gift but there are so many benefits to this toy from an OT point of view.  This particular set from Hearthsong comes with two spinners in different shapes.  It requires using bilateral coordination, focus/attention, patience and motor planning in order to get the spinner moving.  If you get it going just right, you can keep it spinning and making fun sounds for a long time.
Travel Spirograph-I love that so many of the toys that I used growing up are still around and/or
coming back after years of being shelved.  Spirograph is one of those great timeless toys that kids love today as much as we loved it years ago.  The travel set is perfect for airplane rides, long car rides or keeping your kids entertained while out to dinner.  Each set comes with 6 different wheels, two pens, a pad of paper and case that has a built in ring to put your wheels into.  Everything fits inside easily so it's easy to keep things in order and organized.  Great for working on bilateral coordination, fine motor skills, eye-hand coordination and visual motor and perceptual skills.
Rapper Snappers-also known as pop-tubes, these are a staple in almost every sensory gym I've ever worked in or visited.  A really simple toy but for some reason the kids love it.  Maybe it is the fun sound it makes when you pull it apart and push it together or the way it feels as you play with it.  Whatever it is, kids don't tire of them and they work on so many things.  Great for working on improving bilateral coordination, grasping skills, upper extremity strength and eye-hand coordination.  I will make shapes out of them and have kids copy what I did with them before we might practice drawing the shape.  Adding a hands-on, tactile experience helps kids learn things at a faster rate.
ZooSticks-I love my zoo sticks and try and use them whenever possible when working with my kids. Chopsticks are hard to use but since these are connected at the top, they are easier to use.  I will recommend parents get these for meal times when their kids are struggling with fine motor skills because they work on improving fine motor and grasping skills.  I use them all the time at the gym with the kids...whether it be picking up squishy animals or cleaning up game pieces, the ZooSticks are great for working on improving a ton of skills.  And if you find your child's favorite animal, they are so excited to use them, they don't even realize that they are doing work!

WikkiStix-this is another one of those toys that I have been using since becoming a therapist a million years ago.  Simply put, WikkiStix are wax covered pieces of yarn that can adhere to almost any smooth surface.  You can bend them into a variety of shapes and squeeze them together to make longer to make different shapes and objects.  I have used them to work on teaching children how to make shapes, letters and numbers.  They are great because they are light-weight and don't take up much room making them perfect to throw into a bag for using in restaurants, waiting before appointments, etc..  Check out these Super Wikki Stix...each strand is 3 feet in length making creating much  more exciting and fun!
Super Snow-it's winter and even though some of us get lots of natural snow, there are a lot of people who don't and want to get that wintery feeling.  Super Snow is a perfect solution for that problem and at the same time is a great sensory experience.  Simply combine water with the snow powder, stir and your snow appears.  The more you stir it, the more it shines and sparkles.  Best part is that it can be reused by spraying water on it again.  As mentioned, a great sensory experience but also great for working on bilateral coordination, strengthening (hide things in the snow and have them dig through and find it) and can improve speech and language.
Melting Snowman-I have used this at work and the kids love it!  You get a little box of white putty with all the necessary parts to build a snowman.  Once it is all together, he will melt and you have to put him back together.  Everyone thinks it is hilarious to watch him melt!  Great for working on improving fine motor skills, bilateral coordination, building grasp strength and manipulation skills, body awareness and focus and attention.  I've actually seen these sets at several of my local toy stores (Little Things in Park Slope, Stationary and Toy on the UWS of Manhattan and Mary Arnold Toys on the UES to name a few).

Jiggly Jewels-I love finding hands on activities that kids can really   interact with.  So many of the kids I work with have difficulty with feeling different kinds of textures which can cause them to have trouble in other areas (most common, using glue or paint for school activities).  Through play and exploring different sensory materials, children can actually overcome these defensive behaviors.  The important thing is to find materials that are inviting for the kids...ones that they will want to play with.  Jiggly Jewels is sensory exploration and science combined into one fun activity.  Each set comes with the supplies needed to make colored crystal cubes, fish eggs and garbled marbles.  They start off as small little beads and by adding water, they turn into the different things mentioned before.  Kids can watch them grown and then play with them (they are wet and slimy (good kinda slime feeling)).  One of the best things about this is that the whole set costs under $8!

Wacky Wally-another one of those kids toys that will bring you back in time.  This inexpensive toy is guaranteed to bring hours of fun to your little ones.  What I really love about it is that you can make this a therapeutic toy without the kids knowing they are working on occupational therapy goals.  In our gym, we have this mirror that takes up the whole entire wall and I have the kids throw these sticky creatures at different targets.  Great for working on improving visual motor and perceptual skills, eye-hand coordination, motor planning and organization and upper extremity strength. With a price tag of about $5 or $6, you won't feel bad or poor buying a couple!

I could go on and on with little toys to buy but I have to spend some time on the rest of my gift guide!  If you have any wonderful small toys or gifts that you have given in the past that have been a huge success, please share your ideas with me and my readers.  I love hearing about new toys and gifts and I know that many of my readers would probably be thrilled to have more ideas for the holiday season.  I am always a click away and appreciate and look forward to hearing from any of you with additional  toy suggestions!

BookCrash Review: The Littlest Christmas Kitten Written by Leona Novy Jackson

My daughter's interest in cats and kittens has sparked this year with the arrival of a stray cat at our front door. I jumped on the chance to review The Littlest Christmas Kitten when BookCrash offered the book title as part of their book review program, because my daughter and I both adore cats. I am also a Christmas book collector so I was curious about the message in this book.

Book Description 
This 32-page hardcover children's book was written by Leona (Lee) Novy Jackson and illustrated by Kelly Dupre. It is a sweet and simple story about a lost kitten with a curious streak. A mother cat searches for her lost kitten as the restlessness and excitement of the animals in the stable begin to rise. A feeling of expectation and wonder was definitely in the air. By the end of the evening, the Savior is born and angels sing praises. The author reveals the location of the kitten, but you'll have to read the book to find out more.

My First Thoughts
The Christian message is an attempt to speak to our hearts about the real reason we should celebrate Christmas which is the birth of Christ. It helps us recognize that it isn't about gifts, decorations, or any other holiday-related tradition. The story also has an underlying message about how a lost soul can be found through the miraculous events surrounded by the birth of Jesus. It encourages the reader to not give up on the important things in life that you hold dear to your heart. This retelling of the Christmas story brings the stable animals of the night to life. The illustrator brilliantly captured the emotions and feelings of the animals presented in the story with her distinctive and creative illustrations while utilizing a minimal amount of color.

Overall Opinion
The book was delightful. It may not be on my top ten list of books to read every Christmas, but it is still worth reading for entertainment purposes. The unique perspective of the book still reinforces the true meaning of Christmas. It teaches us to spread the good news of hope and peace during the holiday season.

The book is written from a cat's perspective or point of view. I had a difficult time connecting to the story and felt the plot was a little far-fetched or unrealistic at times. There's always the possibility that cats were present that Holy night and the author incorporated the event into the story with her imagination and style.  

I really appreciated the description, history, and origin behind several familiar Christmas symbols at the back of the book. The Christmas symbols described in the book consist of the stable, manger, Christmas star, nativity scene, Christmas trees, Christmas lights and candles, holly, candy canes, advent wreath, and gifts. The book also includes an entry about cats which seemed out-of-place amid the more popular Christmas Christian symbols. The cat blurb discusses the importance of keeping long-term commitments when purchasing a kitten. The author also explain the hazards during Christmas time and the precautions you should take if you own a cat. Furthermore, she  states the reason why cats purr on Christmas Eve. She even tells the reader that the legend has been passed down throughout many cat families.

Price
Images Unlimited Publishing Books $16.00
Amazon $12.90

Recommendation
I recommend this book for children ages 4-7 years old. It would be a good Christmas gift for ANY cat lover or individual looking to add a unique book to their Christmas collection. Sunday school teachers may want to consider reading aloud "The Littlest Christmas Kitten" to their students. The children may gain a better understanding of the Nativity story from a cat's perspective and I know many children who love cats!

Disclosure or Disclaimer of Material: I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher through the BookCrash.com book review program, which requires an honest, though not necessarily positive, review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s CFR Title 16, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

Christmas Angel Visits Our Home: A Treasured Tradition

We started a new Christmas tradition last year that has become a treasured one in our home. The Christmas Angel leaves golden messages that encourage us to do random acts of kindness or even larger service learning projects. The possibilities are endless! I fell in love with this product as soon as I heard about it on the blogosphere!

Well, she's baaaack! 

We named our Christmas Angel Noelle. She visits us every day. Isn't she beautiful? My daughter adores her and eagerly awaits her visits. I love watching Alyssa search through the house to so that she can read her daily message.

So far . . . Noelle asked us to leave quarters at vending machines and encouraged my daughter to help me with a chore. Alyssa willing put dishes away and volunteered to vacuum. I try to bring Noelle out the first day in December, but things have been a little chaotic around here the last couple months so I wasn't completely prepared. I am keeping things simple this year.

Needless to say . . .  her visit always brings us happiness and joy. I look forward to seeing what other activities she has planned for us this Christmas season.

Visit The Christmas Angel for more information. These are not affiliate links. I just wanted to share this Christ-centered tradition with my readers. It's a great way to inspire your children to give and serve rather than receive. Have fun!

Thank you for visiting a Learning Journey! I hope to hear from you again real soon! 

God bless,

Tracey 

B&H Publishing Review: Little Tree Found written by Troy Schmidt

Christmas is right around the corner! I enjoy reviewing books, but I absolutely LOVE reviewing children's Christmas books. The most recent book I reviewed for B and H Publishing was titled, Little Tree Found, written by Troy Schmidt and illustrated by Rob Corley and Chuck Vollmer.

My Thoughts
This 32-page hardcover children's book had a beautiful cover with bits of glitter shimmering on the snow-capped tree limbs. The book is about a lonely tree in the middle of the forest who attempts to make friends every chance he gets. One day he is yanked out of the ground - the only home he has ever known. The tree expresses the fear, loneliness, and pain due to the experience. As the other trees disappear from the tree lot, he begins to feel lost, worried, and thirsty for water (life). He feels hopeless. He begins to wither away until a father and his son buy him and give new meaning to his life. I feel that the father and the son are representative of our Father in Heaven and His Son. The author says, "Then out of the darkness and into the light stepped two friendly creatures. One was the father and the other, his son, but they walked together as if they were one." The little tree hopes that they will purchase him after he bows and gives his word offering his life to them. The little tree is no longer feels lonely and finds joy and happiness with his new life - a life which celebrates Christmas year-round.

The message of salvation which can only come from Jesus Christ wasn't necessarily clearly stated in terms for young readers. An adult may need to discuss this message further with their child. It's a story about a new life or beginning with God and His Son, Jesus Christ.

A parent connection is included as a bonus feature. Basically, it consists of a series of question prompts to jump start a conversation with your child about what the story means and is intended to be utilized and discussed after reading the story. There is a prayer towards the back of the book that your child can repeat when they accept God's Love. They'll make a commitment to live with Him forever.

Prices
B&H $12.99
Lifeway $9.74
Amazon $11.57

Note: All prices are subject to change without notice.

Recommendations
This was a good, sweet story about salvation. Honestly, this book wasn't at the top of my book list to read during Christmas, but it still contained an important message. The book is suitable for Christian parents with children between the  ages of 4-8 enrolled in preschool through 3rd grade. I also recommend this book for Sunday School teachers.

Disclaimer
I received a complimentary, free copy of this book from the publisher as part of the B and H Publishing Group Book Review Program in exchange for an honest, unbiased review on my blog. I was not required to write a positive review. All opinions expressed are my own. I am disclosing this information in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 255 "Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising."

Virtual Refrigerator: REJOICE

I bought Alyssa The Gift of Love Deluxe Set developed by See the Light as a present last Christmas. The stories and art lessons are related to the Christmas story. I thought it would be fun to revisit the lesson this month.

Heidi Shorts, the art teacher on the DVD, taught my daughter about Creative Lettering. The lesson lasted 33 minutes. After watching this lesson, Alyssa utilizes the art technique of Creative Lettering in her free time quite often now. This set will bless any art lover if purchased as a Christmas gift or stocking stuffer!

Materials Needed:
See the Light Gift of Love DVD Deluxe Set
Extreme Colors Ultra-Bright Colored Pencils
White Construction Paper
#2 Pencil and Pencil Sharpener
Eraser
Ruler
Black Light

Black Light On

I will link this post up at Virtual Refrigerator. Thank you for visiting A Learning Journey! Come back again real soon! 

Disclaimer: These are NOT affiliate links. I just wanted my readers rot be aware of these awesome art resources.

Buck Denver Asks . . . Why Do We Call It Christmas DVD Review and Giveaway

A couple weeks ago, I was contacted by FlyBy Promotions to review the newly released DVD called Why Do We Call It Christmas from the Buck Denver Asks ... What's in the Bible Series. This was actually one the items I wanted to purchase for my daughter as a Christmas stocking stuffer this year. I eagerly responded with a "Yes" and checked my mailbox daily until its arrival. It has truly been a blessing! One of my favorite holidays to celebrate is Christmas. Each year I try to focus my attention on adding more Christ-centered activities, crafts, movies, and stories to our day. This movie is one that is definitely at the top of our list!

One extra special bonus for reviewing this product is that they generously donated one copy of the DVD for me to giveaway on my blog. Be sure to check out my giveaway at the end of this review.

About the DVD (From the Website)

Cutting 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?

Topics Addressed

• Where do we get the word Christmas?
• Why is it called Christmas?
• Why do we celebrate on December 25th? 
• When was Jesus born?
• What do Christmas trees have to do with Jesus?
• Who is St. Nicholas? 
• Who is Santa Claus? Where did he come from?
• What is Hanukkah?
• Who is Emmanuel?
• Luke 2 Story
• What are the "12 Days of Christmas?"
• And MUCH MORE

Here’s a little sneak peak of the movie. Watch the video trailer below!

My Thoughts

The creator of Veggie Tales, Phil Vischer, and his crew have developed another fabulous and popular series for children. This 60-minute DVD utilized puppetry and animation to bring the story of Christmas to life. It captured my daughter's attention, but I would suggest breaking the movie up into smaller viewing segments for younger children. Alyssa will turn 7 this week but she's always had a long attention span. Meaningful lessons and fact-oriented topics enabled us to gain a better understanding for the holiday. I have to admit when I saw the list of topics being discussed, I didn't know all the answers to the questions. It was in my best interest to snuggle on the couch, eat some buttered popcorn, and watch the movie with my daughter. 

I was a little worried about the puppetry at first and wondered if they would distract from the message, but this was not the case. The colorful, animated puppets complimented the content with humor. The characters were witty, lovable, and curious. Alyssa couldn't get enough of the puppets and still heard the message loud and clear. Additionally, the sing-a-longs included in the show are playful with catchy tunes. 

I truly appreciated the segment explaining Santa Claus. The true story of St. Nicholas was presented and revealed how "Santa Claus" came to be today. The video was careful not to spoil any secular or Christian traditions that you have with regards to Santa Claus. Furthermore, if you discuss Christmas celebrations around the world, then the Hanukkah segment will appeal to you. A few years ago, I read the history behind the "12 Days of Christmas." I was fascinated with how Christians still followed their beliefs and shared the Word when they were told not to. This section of the video clearly stated the origins and meaning behind the 12 Days of Christmas. Scripture references are scattered throughout the journey. These verses can be memorized or used as a mini devotion with your children. You can discuss how the scripture verses apply to their life. I also loved the explanation about why we have Christmas trees. A missionary named Boniface used the tree as symbol to teach a group of pagans about CHRIST even though they believed trees were sacred.   

The family-friendly content entertained, educated, and informed us. It was a perfect balance! The movie delivers a powerful and important message about the "true" reasons why we celebrate Christmas and explains the historical origins behind the familiar traditions that we cherish while helping children make the relevant connections to the birth of Jesus. My daughter and I are learning more then I ever hoped. 

Bottom Line

Why Do We Call it Christmas is a heart-warming movie that sparked a curiosity in our hearts and minds. The confusion we had about certain traditions slowly faded away after watching this video. It made us want to learn more about our traditions and think about how they relate to the birth of Jesus. Everything seemed historically and biblically accurate as far as I could tell.  

This is a high-quality video production that will capture the attention of your children while providing answers to some often confusing questions. Don't be surprised if you find yourself engaged in the story as well, because it addresses interesting topics. 

We ENJOYED this show and know that this movie will be one we watch every year as a reminder. This production far exceeded my expectations. Personally, I would love to own the entire collection in the What's in the Bible series!    

Price

Visit the What's in the Bible Store to purchase Buck Denver Asks . . . Why Do We Call It Christmas? You won't be disappointed! This DVD retails for $14.99, but it is currently on sale for only $9.97 through 12/18/14. Furthermore, you have the opportunity to receive a FREE Sing through the Bible DVD with your order through 11/18/14 (excluding digital-only purchases). 

Additionally, all orders over $25 receive FREE standard US shipping. Sounds like the perfect time to grab this resource to share with your family this Christmas. There's also a Why Do We Call It Christmas book and other Christmas products available to purchase if desired. 

Note: Prices and deals are subject to change at any time. 

Recommendations

I DEFINITELY recommend Why Do We Call It Christmas to ALL families with children 8 and under searching for a way to explain those tough yet confusing "why" questions that are beautiful children tend to ask us around Christmas time. If you want to teach your children about the true meaning of Christmas, then consider purchasing this video. Parents of Christian faith will appreciate the material presented. Consider purchasing this movie as a Christmas gift for a child or relative to enjoy. I also highly suggest that Sunday School teachers add this tool to their Children's Church Library or find a way to implement it into their Christmas study lessons. 

Other Resources

Why Do We Call It Christmas Family Discussion Guide

Coloring Pages

Christmas Popsicle Stick Theater
Other Family Activities: Ornaments and Cards

Social Media

Facebook

Twitter (#WhyDoWeCallItChristmas)
Pinterest
Google+

Be sure to visit the official website to learn more! 

Disclaimer

I received a free, complimentary copy of this product as part of FlyBy Blogger Promotions in exchange for an honest review. The opinions expressed are 100% my own and NOT influenced by monetary compensation. I am disclosing this information in accordance with the FTC’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

GIVEAWAY TIME

Many thanks to Propeller Consulting, LLC for providing this prize for the giveaway. Choice of winners are randomly selected using Rafflecopter.

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.

Would you like to win a copy of this DVD?

Christmas is right around the corner and this would be a great gift!
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