Movie Premiere Ice Dragon: Legend of the Blue Daisies

The family-friendly story of "Ice Dragon:Legend of the Blue Daisies" is coming to cinemas nationwide on March 24th and 26th only. Moviegoers of all ages will enjoy this thrilling adventure, along with the short film and music video. You can get tickets at Fathomevents.com .

Based on a short story by Canadian director and producer Bruce Stacey, his faith-based adventure features the voice talents of Rheal Rees (Melody), Justin Debe` (Leif) and Bill Bray (Niicholai). Fathom Events, Chelsea Road Productions and Tricord Media present this special event in more than 700 select movie theatres across the US.

Melody, a gifted young dreamer and her feisty friend Leif, must set aside their differences and use the power of magical Blue Daisies and an ancient Song to save their world from an evil Ice Dragon. When the blue flowers that once bloomed all around her village begin to disappear, Melody and her eccentric grandfather recognize this as a sign of great danger… but no one believes them! Racing against time, Melody must convince Leif and the other villagers before it’s too late. Great songs and engaging characters highlight this inspiring, animated adventure for the whole family.

I'm so excited to take my grandson to see Ice Dragon:Legend of the Blue Daisies next weekend! To learn more about the movie and watch trailers, click here. Remember you can only see this movie March 24th and March 26th, so get your tickets now! You can buy your tickets at Fathomevents.com

Product Review~Let the Little Children Come

Let the Little Children Come aims to provide effective gospel tracts and evangelism tools and resources for children. It is the hope that these tools and resources will help you in conveying the powerful gospel message to children. These gospel tracts are all specially designed to capture and hold the attention of children, while not distracting them from the core message of salvation through Jesus Christ.

Wonderful tools to use in Sunday School, VBS and  outreach programs.  Easy for children to understand and talk about to their friends!

The Gospel Tracts and Evangelism Tools Sampler Pack contains 10 Gospel Tracks and Evangelism tools:

Animated Tracts: John 3:16, The True Story of Christmas, and Where's Everybody Going?

Pop-Up Tracts: The Most Amazing House, The Lost Easter Egg

FlipAbouts: Gospel Buttons, John 3:16  

Wordless Bracelet Kit, Silicone Salvation Bracelet, Wordless Book  

I was so impressed with these gospel tracts! Most people think of Bible tracts as boring, but these evangelism tracts and tools are fun! If you want to share the gospel with children, the Let the Little Children Come website is the place you need to go! These tools would be great for Sunday school, VBS, and more!  As anyone who has spent time around young children knows, they are fascinated by things that move and pop-up.

At the website, there is a resources section full of different ideas on using each of these great gospel tools and tracts, as well as articles and Child evangelism tips. The Let the Little Children Come sampler pack is the perfect way to try out some of these great gospel tracts and tools! The prices are very reasonable as well.

By far, my family's favorite tool from the sampler pack was the Animated Tracts, with the FlipAbouts a close second. All you do is slide the striped plastic card from left to right, and the pictures come to life!

Visit Let the Little Children Come to check out all that this great company has to offer!

“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.

The Star Movie!!

You guys-watch this trailer! This movie looks so adorable.

In Sony Pictures Animation's The Star, a small but brave donkey named Bo yearns for a life beyond his daily grind at the village mill. One day he finds the courage to break free, and finally goes on the adventure of his dreams. On his journey, he teams up with Ruth, a loveable sheep who has lost her flock and Dave, a dove with lofty aspirations. Along with three wisecracking camels and some eccentric stable animals, Bo and his new friends follow the Star and become unlikely heroes in the greatest story ever told.

Just in time for the holidays, The Star is being released at theatres nationwide this Friday, November 17th! The trailer above is so cute! Watching the story of Jesus' birth through the eyes of the animals is definitely going to catch kids' attention.   This movie will be great for the entire family to see-I can't wait to take my grandson to it!  The characters look like lots of fun to watch, and the music is spectacular! Lots of famous actors and singers were part of The Star! Of course, coming from Sony Pictures Animation, you know it will be the highest quality.

At the website for the movie, http://www.thestarmovie.com/site/ , there are tons of resources and activities-even an animated coloring book! You can learn more about the movie, the characters and how the movie was made. You can even buy tickets. In the Menu under Videos, you will be taken to YouTube, where there are lots of videos to watch behind the scenes.

Here's a great review from someone who got to see the movie before the release date: https://www.christianquotes.info/star-movie-review/

I'm very excited to go see The Star with my family, and to get the soundtrack. Be sure to check The Star out starting 11/17/17, and let me know what you thought!

*This is a sponsored post. I am a featured contributor of The Star Influencer Program. All opinions expressed in this post are my own.

Children's Book Review and Giveaway~God's Great Love for You

About God’s Great Love for You:

God’s Great Love for You, written by #1 New York Times bestselling author and respected pastor Rick Warren, takes children on a whimsical and heartfelt journey that lets them know God’s love is with them wherever they go. With breathtaking illustrations by Chris Saunders, the simple yet poignant text comes alive as a child journeys to places far and near and discovers God’s great love is perfect, and everywhere, and will never end.

My Thoughts:
God's Great Love for You, written by Rick Warren and illustrated by Chris Saunders, is a beautiful 32-page hardcover children's book published by ZonderKidz. This is a simple yet beautiful book, reminding young children how great God's love for them is. There are only a handful of words on each page, making it a great book for very early readers. There is a nice presentation page at the front of the book, which makes it a perfect gift for any occasion.  The illustrations were beautiful and colorful, easily capturing young ones' attention.

The recommended age range for God's Great Love for You is 4-8, which I think is a little off.  The picture above is my six-year-old grandson reading the book. He enjoyed it, but it was a little too quick for him. If he were to choose a book to read, he would choose something that would last longer. I think younger toddlers would enjoy having this book read to them as well. Personally, I think the age range is more like birth-5. 

God's Great Love for You is a wonderful reminder for young children how very much they are loved by our God. I think it would make a great addition to a young child's bookshelf.

Learn more and purchase your own copy: http://info.zondervan.com/rick-warren-childrens-books/

Giveaway!!!
Please be sure to read the rules in the Disclosure at the bottom of this blog post. 
One reader will win their own copy of God's Great Love for You!

Giveaway begins 11/7/17 and ends at midnight MST 11/14/17. Winner will be notified by email within 24 hours. Winner must respond within 24 hours or a new winner will be drawn. 

a Rafflecopter giveaway

“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 a prize from our sponsor Propeller /FlyBy Promotions in the last 30 days on the same blog, you are not eligible to win.  Or if you have won the same prize on another blog, you are not eligible to win it again.  Winner is subject to eligibility verification.

Children's Book Review and Giveaway~I'm Going to Give You a Bear Hug!

About the Book: 
I’m Going to Give You a Bear Hug!, written by bestselling author Caroline B. Cooney, is a playful and comforting bedtime book that imagines all the wonderful ways a child might give and receive a hug. Whether it’s a big bear, gasp for air, knock over a chair hug or a wet and drippy, slimy, slippy fish hug, children will giggle their way through all the imaginative examples. Cooney’s sweet and simple rhymes encourage playful interaction between parent and child and ultimately help them wind down before they snuggle into bed and drift off to sleep. I’m Going to Give You a Bear Hug is a sweet loving bedtime story book that is also sure to become a Valentine’s Day favorite for little ones who enjoy celebrating a day full of hugs and kisses from loved ones.  
 Website
Facebook 
Twitter 

About the Author & Illustrator:
Author Caroline B. Cooney was born in New York, grew up in Connecticut, and now lives in South Carolina. Caroline is the author of 90 Young Adult novels in many genres, and her books have sold over fifteen million copies. I’m Going to Give You a Bear Hug is her first picture book. It’s based on a verse she wrote for her own children, Louisa, Sayre and Harold, who are grown now.

Illustrator Tim Warnes has been illustrating children's books for twenty years. He lives in Dorset, England, with his wife, children's illustrator Jane Chapman, and their two sons. When he's not drawing little critters, Tim loves to write, watch birds and play his banjo. Visit Tim at www.ChapmanandWarnes.com 

What I Thought: 

I'm Going to Give You a Bear Hug!, written by Caroline B. Cooney and published by Zonderkidz (a division of Zondervan), is a 30 page hardcover book for children ages 4-8. It is full of cute, colorful illustrations. There is minimal writing on each page, making it an excellent book for beginning readers.My grandson Daniel, 5, loves I'm Going to Give You a Bear Hug! When asked  his favorite part, he said it was all the animals. There is a dog, a cat, a pig, a horse, a bear, a duck, a worm, a whale, and a sheep! They are each described as how it would be to give them a hug. He also enjoyed discovering that there was a little patch of yellow with red polka dots snuck somewhere into each page's illustration. That was fun to look for!

I'm Going to Give You a Bear Hug! was a perfect bedtime story-not too long, fun, and loving. Everyone loves hugs! This book would make a wonderful gift for a young child.  You can purchase your own copy from the Zondervan website.

Giveaway!!!
I have one copy of  I'm Going to Give You a Bear Hug! to give away to a reader. You must be a US resident. Additional guidelines below in the Disclosure. Winner will be emailed within 24 hours of contest ending, and has 48 hours to respond. After 48 hours a new winner will be chosen. 


a Rafflecopter giveaway
 

“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 a prize from our sponsor Propeller /FlyBy Promotions in the last 30 days on the same blog, you are not eligible to win.  Or if you have won the same prize on another blog, you are not eligible to win it again.  Winner is subject to eligibility verification.

Children's Book Review and Giveaway~Charlie the Tramp

About the Book: 
Charlie the Tramp was originally published in 1966, and this special hardcover edition is the 50th anniversary edition of the book. Written by author Russell Hoban and illustrated by Lillian Hoban, it was the winner of the 1968 Boys Club of America Junior Book Award. It is 48 pages long and written for ages 3-8.

Charlie the Beaver wants to be a tramp when he grows up. “Tramps don’t have to learn how to chop down trees and how to roll logs and how to build dams. Tramps just tramp around and have a good time. Tramps carry sticks with little bundles tied to them. They sleep in a field when the weather is nice, and when it rains they sleep in a barn.” Charlie sets off with his bundle. But when he hears water trickling, he can’t get to sleep. Will he be able to resist the urge to make it stop? As Grandfather Beaver says, “You never know when a tramp will turn out to be a beaver.” 

About the Author and Illustrator: 
Russell Hoban (1925-2011) first became famous for his children’s picture books about a badger named Frances and other animal characters that have a lot in common with children we know – bedtime for Frances, A Baby Sister for Frances, Bread and Jam for Frances, and Emmit Otter’s Jug-band Christmas.

Lillian Hoban (1925-1998), one of America’s favorite children’s book illustrators, is best known for a young chimpanzee named Arthur and his little sister, Violet. She also illustrated six of Russell Hoban’s books about Frances the badger, which have taken their place among the great classics of children’s literature. Lillian Hoban was born in Philadelphia and attended the Philadelphia Museum School of Art. She studied dance for ten years and became a professional dancer. She began to write and illustrate her own stories only after having children, basing her tales on their experiences.

What I Thought: Charlie the Tramp is an adorable story from many years ago. It reminded me of the books I read as a child, so different from modern children's books. When I saw the length of the book and  that the pictures were all black and white, I was thinking my grandson, age 5, would not last through the entire story. I was wrong! He really enjoyed the cute story, and later on asked my 14-year-old son to read it to him again. My teenage son told me it was a cute and funny story too!

I enjoyed the moral of the story-let children stretch their wings and find their own way, but if they were guided correctly they will eventually come back to what they were meant to do. The only thing I could see some viewing negatively are the gender stereotypes (think 50 years ago). Even with that, it is an adorable story with sweet illustrations that would appeal to children.

To learn more about Charlie the Tramp and purchase your own copy, visit this website: http://www.plough.com/en/topics/culture/short-stories/charlie-the-tramp
You can also purchase the book at Amazon.

Giveaway!!!  
I have one copy of Charlie the Tramp to give away. To enter, comment below with your favorite book when you were a child. Make sure to leave your email address, as the winner will be contacted by email. Contest ends 12/11.  See additional restrictions below.

“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 a prize from our sponsor Propeller /FlyBy Promotions in the last 30 days, you are not eligible to win.  Or if you have won the same prize on another blog, you are not eligible to win it again.  Winner is subject to eligibility verification.

Children's Book Review and Giveaway~Where Jesus Slept

 Where Jesus Slept, written by Norma Lewis and illustrated by Katy Hudson, is a delightful book for young children to learn the story of the birth of Jesus. Read more about it below, and be sure to enter for your chance to win a copy!

About the Book: 
Publisher: Worthy Kids/Ideals
Format: jacketed hardcover
Trim size: 10x10
Page count: 32
Retail price: $16.99
Reading age: 4-7

“This is the bed where Jesus slept. This is the straw that lined the bed where Jesus slept.” From here, the story builds with each spread, adding a new element and explaining the relationships among the participants and witnesses to the first Christmas. From Jesus sleeping sweetly to the wise men bringing gifts, this charming book reminds readers young and not-so-young of the joyous event we celebrate at Christmastime. Children will love the delightful illustrations and the engaging repetition in this cumulative tale.

About the Author: 
 Norma Lewis is the author of ten books, including Connecting the Coasts: The Race to Build the Transcontinental Railroad and Kasey's River Song. She lives in Grand Haven, Michigan, with a marmalade cat named Scalawag. When Scalawag isn't busy living up to his name, they both love spending time with her six grandchildren.

About the Illustrator: 
 Katy Hudson was raised in Middlesbrough, United Kingdom, and started her career as a small child drawing on freshly painted walls! Her parents quickly encouraged drawing with pencil and paper instead. The idea stuck, and after earning a degree in Illustration, Katy embarked on a career illustrating books, including All Things Bright and Beautiful, Too Many Carrots, and Bear and Duck. Katy works at a desk in a studio in an old library and likes to tap dance in her spare time.

What I Thought: 

Where Jesus Slept is a beautiful hardcover book. The illustrations are beautiful and attractive to children. The font is larger, perfect for beginning readers. Here is my grandson Daniel, 5, totally engrossed in Where Jesus Slept. He loves his books, and his favorites tend to be ones that are repetitive and with lots of illustrations. I know that this book will be a favorite of his.

In Where Jesus Slept, the story starts with a few sentences-"This is the BED where JESUS slept. This is the straw that lined the BED where JESUS slept. " Then, a new sentence is added, but you have to repeat the first two as well, and so on, until you have one really long sentence! Daniel thought it was so much fun, especially if I acted out of breath by the final, LONG sentence. I think the bold, large repeated words are a great idea. I asked Daniel to find  how many times he saw the word BED, which is a great exercise for word recognition. The content in this book is so special and important, so making it fun to read for little ones is a wonderful way to get the message to them.

In our house, Where Jesus Slept will be kept out only for the Christmas season, then packed up and put away until next year. Each year, the special Christmas books are such a treat to read and remember. Where Jesus Slept would make a wonderful gift as well.

Giveaway!!!
One lucky reader will win a copy of Where Jesus Slept! Enter using Rafflecopter below. Only open to residents of the continental United States. The winner will be emailed within 24 hours of the contest end, and then has 48 hours to respond or another winner will be drawn.


a Rafflecopter giveaway
 
"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 a prize from our sponsor Propeller / FlyBy Promotions in the last 30 days, you are not eligible to win.  Or if you have won the same prize on another blog, you are not eligible to win it again. Winner is subject to eligibility verification.”

Children's Book Review AND Giveaway~I Love You Just Because

About the Book:  Through adorable, cuddly art and fun rhyming text, I Love You Just Because will help little ones understand their parents' love for them and that it doesn't have to be earned. With playful artwork and the same friendly bear family you already know and love from Donna Keith's first two books—I Love You All the Same and I Love You Even When—the sweet story of this book will touch you and your family and will remind you that family members love each other...just because.
Parents will gravitate toward the felt need and fun messaging of this book as it seeks to help them explain to their little ones that they are truly loved just because.

Purchasing and Social Links:
Amazon-https://www.amazon.com/dp/0718088530/ref=cm_sw_su_dp?tag=hcads-20
 Facebook @DonnaKeithAuthor
Facebook @TommyNelsonBooks
Twitter @TommyNelson
Instagram  @TommyNelsonBooks
Pinterest Tommy-Nelson-Books

What I Thought: 

Written by Donna Keith and illustrated by Alison Edgson, this adorable hardcover board book captured our hearts. The picture above is my grandson Daniel, 4, 'reading' I Love You Just Because to our new puppy, Daisy. I love this picture and the sweet looks on both their faces!  

There are many reasons we like this book so much-the adorable illustrations, the cute and meaningful story, and the bible verses on each page. But I think the main reason is that lately we've been talking about adoption. I was adopted and we adopted our youngest son. This topic recently came up with my grandson, and he has been trying to understand. It was perfect timing to receive I Love You Just Because and read about the three different bear cubs who were all given to their parents by God. They look different and eat different things, but are loved just the same by their parents and grandparents. 

Giveaway!!!

I have one copy to give away! I will email the winner within 24 hours of the contest end, and the winner will have 48  hours to respond or a new winner will be drawn. 

a Rafflecopter giveaway

  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.  Open to residents of US and Canada.If you have won a prize from our sponsor Propeller /FlyBy Promotions in the last 30 days, you are not eligible to win.  Or if you have won the same prize on another blog, you are not eligible to win it again.  Winner is subject to eligibility verification.

Children's Book Review and Giveaway~All Things Bright and Beautiful

About the book:
Jacketed Hardcover
Page count: 32
Reading age: 4-7
Category: juvenile fiction/Christian
Retail price: $15.99

 First published by Cecil Frances Alexander in 1848, this favorite hymn has become a mainstay of churches and Sunday school classes everywhere. Here artist Katy Hudson brings new joy to the words with her fresh and bright watercolor style. Readers can join in the fun as they follow two little girls and their brother on a day filled with the discovery of “all things bright and beautiful.” 


About the Illustrator:

Katy Hudson was raised in Middlesbrough, England, and started her career as a small child drawing on freshly painted walls. Her parents quickly encouraged drawing with pencil and paper instead. The idea stuck, and after earning a degree in illustration, Katy is now a freelance illustrator. Katy works at a desk in a studio within Old London Library and likes to tap dance in her spare time. 

What I Thought: 

I just love beautiful, hardcover books to share with my children and now grandchild. All Things Bright and Beautiful is a perfect addition to my collection. The story is an old children's hymn written by Cecil Frances Alexander in the mid-1800s, but it is a message just as wonderful for children today. My grandson loves to memorize stories and then 'read' them to me, and this book is perfect for that. The illustrations are absolutely gorgeous, and the detail is amazing. We spend a lot of time studying each beautiful page. All Things Bright and Beautiful is my grandson's new favorite for his bedtime story, and I'm sure it will be treasured in our home for many years. It would make a perfect gift!

You can purchase your own copy of All Things Bright and Beautiful at Amazon.  

Giveaway!!!!
I have one copy of All Things Bright and Beautiful to give away! Use the Rafflecopter form below. I will email the winner within 24 hours of the contest closing. Winner has 48 hours to respond or a new winner will be drawn. Open to residents of US and Canada. See other restrictions in the disclosure at the bottom of the post. 



a Rafflecopter giveaway


 

"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 a prize from our sponsor Propeller / FlyBy Promotions in the last 30 days, you are not eligible to win.  Or if you have won the same prize on another blog, you are not eligible to win it again. Winner is subject to eligibility verification.”

Children's Book Review & Giveaway~Would a Worm Go on A Walk?

About the Book:
Publisher: WorthyKids/Ideals
Author: Hannah C. Hall
Illustrator: Bill Bolton
ISBN: 9780824956776
32 pages
Format: Jacketed Hardcover
Reading Age: 4-7

“Would a worm go on a walk, if you could lead him down the street? / Would he wear his tiny tennies, if he had two worm-sized feet?” So begins this humorous and imaginative picture book that introduces children to the idea that animals are uniquely created by a loving and wise God. Would a Worm Go on a Walk?, with its colorful, comical illustrations, is a fresh, fun way to teach young children that God created all things very good. He gave all the animals, and children, too, wonderful qualities and unique strengths. Children will giggle over the ridiculous scenarios presented, and they will come away with the knowledge that we all are loved and special.                                            

About the Author:
Hannah C. Hall is the author of best-selling children’s books, including God Bless You and Good Night and God Bless Our Christmas, as well as an award-winning blog, HannahCHall.com. Hannah lives in Prairie Grove, AK with her husband, Josh, a worship pastor, and their four children.

What I Thought: 
My four-year-old grandson, Daniel, loves to read books. He especially loves hardcover books-it's like he just thinks they are extra special. Would a Worm Go on a Walk? is his new favorite! Every page is covered with bright, colorful, whimsical illustrations that are eye-catching. I love the concept of teaching children that God made and planned everything and that they are God's masterpiece. Another aspect of this book that I love is that it is a story kids can quickly catch on to, therefore once they know the story well enough they can 'read' it out loud to others by recognizing the pictures. That builds their self esteem and encourages a love of reading.

Would a Worm Go on a Walk? would make a wonderful gift. You can purchase it here:

http://shopbetterbooks.com/would-a-worm-go-on-a-walk

Giveaway!!!
One reader will win a copy of Would a Worm Go on a Walk?! I will email the winner within 24 hours of the contest ending, and winner will have 48 hours to respond with their address, or a new winner will be drawn. Read contest rules below.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

 

"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 a prize from our sponsor Propeller / FlyBy Promotions in the last 30 days, you are not eligible to win.  Or if you have won the same prize on another blog, you are not eligible to win it again. Winner is subject to eligibility verification.”

Children's Book Review and Giveaway~The Legend of the Easter Robin

About the Book:

ISBN: 978-0-310-74964-6

Publisher: ZonderKidz

Hardcover, 32 pages

Age Range: 4-8

"In the center of the nest lay one perfect egg, the color of a spring sky. The father robin sat on a branch nearby, guarding his family. Tressa spotted raccoon tracks below and a blue jay eyeing the nest. “Gran, how are we going to keep the egg safe?” “We’ll have to leave that one to the Creator,” Gran said. Robins have built a nest on the window ledge at Grandmother’s house! Tressa is thrilled―and concerned. What will happen to the sky-blue egg laid by the mother robin? As more eggs appear, Tressa witnesses the daily drama of the robins’ nest and learns how God cares for all creatures. Besides watching the birds, there are Easter eggs to color. And there is a very special story to hear―a tale of long ago about one small bird with a very big heart. How did the robin get its red breast? Tressa is about to find out as Gran tells her the story of the Easter robin. Brought to life with colorful, tender illustrations, The Legend of the Easter Robin will captivate and teach your child about compassion and faith."

What I Thought: The Legend of the Easter Robin: An Easter Story of Compassion and Faith, was written by Dandi Daley Mackall and illustrated by Richard Cowdrey.  It is a beautiful hardcover book (with dust jacket) that would make a wonderful gift. The illustrations are gorgeous, with vibrant, bright colors. The story is captivating for the 4-8 age range suggested, and I think older children would enjoy it too. I thoroughly enjoyed the story-I've never heard this legend before.  At the back of the book are some facts about the legend and where it originated. In the story, they make cute blown eggs turned into birds. My grandson Daniel, 4, is excited to try making our own birds out of eggs.  The picture above is of him enjoying the fabulous pictures in The Legend of the Easter Robin. 

 

OFFICIAL WEBSITE

OFFICIAL BOOK TRAILER

FACEBOOK 

TWITTER

 Giveaway!!!!!
FlyBy Promotions is offering one of my readers their own hardcover copy of The Legend of the Easter Robin! Open to residents of US and Canada. Winner will be emailed within 24 hours after contest closes. Winner has 48 hours to respond or a new winner will be selected. Additional requirements listed in Disclosure statement below. 
 

a Rafflecopter giveaway

 

"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 a prize from our sponsor Propeller / FlyBy Promotions in the last 30 days, you are not eligible to win.  Or if you have won the same prize on another blog, you are not eligible to win it again. Winner is subject to eligibility verification.”

Book Review and Giveaway~Captive

Do you remember in 2005 hearing about an escaped convict in Atlanta that had taken a woman prisoner in her own apartment after a killing spree? I just read the book, Captive, written by Ashley Smith (the woman who was kidnapped) with Stacy Mattingly.  Captive has been turned into a movie, which releases this Friday, September 18th!

About the Book: CAPTIVE, based on a miraculous true story that drew the attention of the entire nation, is a thrilling drama about the spiritual collision of two broken lives.  When Brian Nichols - on the run as the subject of a city wide manhunt and desperate to make contact with his newborn son - takes recovering meth addict Ashley Smith hostage in her own apartment, she turns for guidance to Rick Warren’s best-selling inspirational book, The Purpose Driven Life.  While reading aloud, Ashley and her would-be killer each face crossroads where despair and death intersect hope. 










What I Thought: Captive is an edge of your seat read.  You feel like you are right there with Ashley Smith as she is held hostage in her apartment. Ashley herself was trying to change her life at the time, and the hours spent held hostage seemed to be a kind of transformation for herself. She was so brave and smart in how she handled her captor, talking about the Bible, her own experiences, and reading from The Purpose Driven Life. Along with her story are pictures and a Tribute to the Victims. I am excited to see the movie, coming out September 18th!

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GIVEAWAY!!!
I have a copy of the book Captive to give away!

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"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 a prize from our sponsor Propeller / FlyBy Promotions in the last 30 days, you are not eligible to win. If you have won the same prize on another blog, you are not eligible to win it again. Winner is subject to eligibility verification.”

Children's Book Review and Giveaway~The Biggest Story

 About the Book (excerpt from the publisher):

Once upon a time there lived a man and a woman. They were the happiest people on the planet.
True, they were the only people on the planet, but they were still terrifically happy.
Unfortunately, things didn’t stay happy and wonderful for long . . .
The Bible is full of exciting stories that fill children with awe and wonder. But kids need to know how all those classic stories connect to Scripture’s overarching message about God’s glorious plan to redeem his rebellious people.
In The Biggest Story, Kevin DeYoung—a best-selling author and father of six—leads kids and parents alike on an exciting journey through the Bible, connecting the dots from the garden of Eden to Christ's death on the cross to the new heaven and new earth.
With powerful illustrations by award-winning artist Don Clark, this imaginative retelling of the Bible’s core message—how the Snake Crusher brings us back to the garden—will draw children into the biblical story, teaching them that God's promises are even bigger and better than we think.

What I Thought: 

 Beautiful. Amazing. Inspiring. I could go on and on with fabulous descriptions of The Biggest Story!

 This 132 page Hardcover, published by Crossway, is beautiful in both words and illustration. Written by author Kevin DeYoung and illustrated by Don Clark, The Biggest Story is geared to ages 5-8 as a read to me and ages 8-11 as a read to myself.  It is so impressive that I can see older children and adults enjoying it just as much, if not more!

When I first saw how many pages The Biggest Story was (132), I thought it might be too long for this age range.  But once I started reading it myself, I realized it was definitely readable for children.  Most pages just have a few sentences of text, and there are many pages with illustrations only. The child's attention is kept by the author's style of writing and the exciting pictures. 

I really like that The Biggest Story summarizes the core of the Bible in one story, in an easy way for kids to understand. This would make a beautiful family gift this Christmas! I hope to keep my copy of The Biggest Story for many years to read with the children and grandchildren as our family grows.

Check below for links to purchase your own copy!

About Author Kevin DeYoung:

Kevin DeYoung is senior pastor at University Reformed Church in East Lansing, Michigan.  He blogs at the Gospel Coalition and has authored or coauthored numerous well-known books, including Just Do Something, The Hole in Our Holiness, Crazy Busy, and Taking God At His Word.  He lives with his wife and their 6 children in Central Michigan. 

About Illustrator Don Clark:

Don Clark is an artist and the cofounder of Invisible Creature, a widely respected and award-winning design studio in Seattle that has worked with clients such as Target, Nike, LEGO, and WIRED magazine.  He lives with his wife and their 3 children, 4 goats, 12 chickens, and 1 crazy dog on a farm just outside the city limits. 

Connect and Learn More about The Biggest Story:

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"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 a prize from our sponsor Propeller / FlyBy Promotions in the last 30 days, you are not eligible to win. If you have won the same prize on another blog, you are not eligible to win it again. Winner is subject to eligibility verification.”

DVD Review and Giveaway~Pirate's Code: The Adventures of Mickey Matson

My youngest son (12) and I recently had the opportunity to watch and review a new DVD release, Pirate's Code: The Adventures of Mickey Matson.

About the movie:

Releases on DVD June 2, 2015

91 Minutes // Genre: Adventure // Rating:  NR

 In this follow up to Mickey Matson and the Copperhead Treasure, Mickey Matson is at it again; this time pitted against the evil Admiral Ironsides and his gang of pirates who are intent on destroying civilization.  Their new invention, the Tesla Coil, is a weapon of mass destruction that will send an electromagnetic pulse throughout the world, destroying every electronic device in existence.  With the help of a secret organization, Mickey and his best friend Sully embark on a mission to stop the pirates from taking over a submarine and stealing the last part needed to complete their devastating weapon.  If Admiral Ironsides succeeds in his plan, civilization will be sent back to the Stone Age.  It's a race against time, and the fate of the world hangs in the balance. 

What we Thought: Having not watched the first movie, I wondered if we would feel lost.  We didn't-they did a good job of blending in a review of what happened in the first movie.  We both enjoyed Pirate's Code, and of course my son liked all the pirate stuff!  I felt like this movie could be watched by itself, but my son kept saying he would have liked it more had he watched the first movie, Mickey Matson and the Copperhead Treasure.  Pirate's Code is a good family movie for all ages.  

With Dove.org, you know you are watching a movie that has been approved for all ages of the family, which is awesome!  We've spent lots of time pre-watching movies to make sure they are appropriate for the kids.  Dove.org does it for you!

SOCIAL • C O R N E R  

Twitter:  @MickeyMatson

Facebook:  https://www.facebook.com/pages/Mickey-Matson/211224175604758?fref=ts

Official Website:  http://mickeymatson.com

Trailer:   https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-UMBliD1W3I

Official Website to Purchase:  http://pureflix.christianbook.com/adventures-mickey-matson-the-pirates-code/pd/03738X?event=ESRCG

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"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 a prize from our sponsor Propeller / FlyBy Promotions in the last 30 days, you are not eligible to win. If you have won the same prize on another blog, you are not eligible to win it again. Winner is subject to eligibility verification.”

DVD Review and Giveaway~Susie's Hope

I have a wonderful movie to tell you about, and you have an opportunity to win your own copy of the DVD! 

About the Movie: Based on the true story that successfully passed Susie’s Law in North Carolina, which seeks stricter punishment for animal abusers, Susie’s Hope brings to life the inspirational relationship between pit bull attack survivor Donna Lawrence and Susie, a pit bull-mix puppy found beaten, burned and left for dead. Recognizing reflect and abuse were to blame for the tragic attack that nearly claimed her life 10 months earlier, Donna resumes the battered animal and accepts her as family. Together, they learn to heal, love and forgive as they lead a historic effort to seek justice and protection, not only for Susie, but all animals. Starring Emmanuelle Vaguer (40 Days and 40 Nights), Burgess Jenkins (Remember The Titans) and Andrea Powell (Ender’s Game, The Twilight: Breaking Dawn Saga: Part 2), Susie’s Hope is an incredible story of love, loss and redemption.



This is a heartwrenching movie that is wonderful, but also hard to watch at times.  Get your tissues ready!  You can visit the Susie's Hope website to learn more about this incredible story. 

GIVEAWAY!!!

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The Amazing Spider-Man 2 Family Discussion Guide Review and Prize Pack Giveaway!!

Are you planning on taking the family to see The Amazing Spider-Man 2 when it comes out on May 2?   We are Spider-Man fans at our house.  I like whenever we can help our kids draw things out of popular movies that will help them in their lives.

We've always known that Spider-Man's most important battle has been within himself: the struggle between the ordinary obligations of Peter Parker and the extraordinary responsibilities of Spider-Man. But in The Amazing Spider-Man 2™, Peter Parker finds that a greater conflict lies ahead.




My family had the opportunity to review the Amazing Spider-Man 2 Family Discussion Guide.  It was great-I would love if every movie that came out had something like this.  In the Discussion Guide, there are six topics, each with questions to discuss.  The topics are:
*The Nature of Power
*You are Somebody Who is Needed
*Time is Luck and Life is Precious
*Live Your Own Life and Make it Count
*Choices and Destiny
*Sacrifice
The topics and questions are appropriate for adults and children, and are from a Christian perspective, with Bible verses.  They really make you think, and talk about some deep things.  I don't think our kids would ever have thought they could learn so much about life from a superhero movie!

Official website for the movie: www.theamazingspiderman.com/   

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

Twitter: https://twitter.com/spidermanmovie  

GIVEAWAY

Propeller has provided my readers with a great Spider-Man 2 Prize Pack!!  One lucky winner will receive a Spider-Man 2 t-shirt, paper mask, and phone case.  My son is modeling the prize pack items in the photo above. You will also receive the Family Discussion Guide (electronic). 

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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, 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."