THEO Review and Giveaway!

I just sat down with my family and watched a movie called Theo.

Theo is the main character of a new series. "Theo, a student of Godʼs Word, lives in a cozy corner of a quaint English village, in the heart of the Cotswolds, and entertains many guests, including two mice, Belfry and Luther."

He teaches biblical lessons for daily life using Bible stories as examples.

The particular DVD that I am reviewing is called Introducing Theo, and has the first episode of the series, along with a bonus video.

The first episode is called Saving Faith.

In this episode Theo uses the story of Abraham to illustrate that people can believe in many things, but that not all of them are faith worthy.

Here is a clip of this episode:


Theo - Saving Faith Trailer from Theo Presents on Vimeo.


This DVD reminds me of the Disney movies. It has two mice that are very similar to the ones in Cinderella, and has pretty bluebirds flying around as well. :)

The bonus video is called Good News.

In this introduction Theo shares the "Good News" about the Gospel of Christ. He talks about sin, and how sin separates us from God and what to do about it. He teaches that all humans are in need of a Savior and that Christ came to give us Salvation.


Theo - Good News from Theo Presents on Vimeo.


My first impression of the DVD was amazement. I have never seen a kids movie be so straight forth about the Gospel. Most movies are Christian based but they incorporate it in a more modern way, where it is not the focus.

Christ, Faith, and the Bible are definitely the focus in this movie.

My kids were super excited to sit down and watch this movie, but were sadly disappointed as the episodes were very short.

The first episode was only about 9 minutes long. The bonus episode, 5 minutes.

We were all a little disappointed. I wish the episodes were longer. They would make a great movie!

But, that being said, I loved what was there.

I loved that it taught straight from the Bible, that is was not trying to hide the Gospel in the movie.

If you are interested in purchasing the Theo movies you can find them here. They are available in Digital Download form. Each episode is $4.99.

You can also purchase a DVD copy through Amazon for $12.49. This DVD contains the first 3 episodes. 

If it were me, I would go with this option. It is a better deal than downloading each video for 5 bucks apiece. And with these episodes being so short, I just can't see spending that much per episode.

You can download the bonus episode here for free.

Something really neat is that for every Theo DVD purchased, Whitestone Media and Child Evangelism Fellowship® will send a child in need their very own copy of Theo.

You can log onto TheoPresents.com after making your own purchase, and select the region of the world you'd like another copy of Theo to be sent.

I could see these episode being used in a Sunday School setting.

If you know anyone who would be interested in using these videos in their church, there is a church curriculum available. You can find the info here.

As I said earlier, I wish the videos were longer, but I still think you would enjoy them. I think as a homeschool mom I could see using them as part of a character curriculum, or a Bible lesson. 

*I have two copies of this DVD to giveaway to my readers!*

Just leave me a message letting me know whether or not you have heard of THEO before, and you will be entered to win.

This giveaway ends Friday the 16th 2011, at noon. 

If you would like additional entries you can:

1. Follow my blog throught GFC, and leave me a comment letting me know you are following me. You may leave a comment if you are already following me as well. 

2. Subscribe to my blog either by RSS or email, and let me know which way you are now following. If you are already subscribed, leave me a comment letting me know.

3. "Like my FB page. 

This giveaway ends on Friday September 16th, 2011 at noon. Make sure you leave me a way to contact you should you win. Thanks!

Official Rules for this giveaway:

1. Eligibility. Giveaways are open to readers with US shipping addresses only, unless otherwise stated.

2. How to Enter. Entry is made by leaving a comment on the giveaway post. A limit of one entry is allowed per e-mail address. You may only enter once, please do not use multiple emails to enter.

You may, however, obtain additional entries on a particular giveaway through other channels when applicable.

3. Disclaimer. I will not be responsible for any lost or damaged items, or any lost or late entries, any technical issues, or anything beyond my control.


Good Luck!

"Disclosure of Material Connection: I received one or more of the products or services 

mentioned above for free in the 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."

Griddley Games - Nature Nuts/ TOS Review

As part of the TOS Crew, we have many games on the list to be reviewed this year, and the first one that I received was Nature Nuts.




Our family has really enjoyed this game. The video above explains pretty well how this game is played, but I will tell you a little more about it, and how our family plays.

There are three ways you can play Nature Nuts. All three ways use the same cards. There are 4 different card sets: Earth, Animals, Plants, and Wise Alec.

Each card has a 3 point and a 7 point question. 

The Earth cards ask Earth Science questions like:

*7 point question - This damaging rain is caused by man-made pollution and natural events, like volcanic eruption. What is it? (acid rain)

*3 point question - What is another name for a water molecule? (H2O)

There was one question that I didn't like, so I just removed it from the game.

It was: These types of fuel are formed naturally from dead organisms that lived millions of years ago. What are they called? (fossil fuels)

I think we have made it through all of the cards. So if this is the only one, that is pretty good. I have had to take out questions from other games before. That is the good thing about card games. If you don't like a question, you can just take it out. lol

The Animal cards ask questions like:

*7 point question - What animal is the largest living type of marsupial? (the Red Kangaroo)

*3 point question - What are baby kangaroos called? ( joeys)

The Plant cards ask questions like:

*7 point question - In a flower, what is the male part? (stamen)

*3 point question - Which part of the plant is responsible for reproduction? (flower)

Now this is an easy question. Most of the plant questions are hard. lol

Now, the Wise Alec cards are different.

These cards say things like:

*OOPS! You forgot to water the plants. - 2 points

Or

*BRAIN TEASER Name 5 animals that start with the letter "m". + 5 points.

To play the game all you do is roll the die, and whatever color you roll is the color card you pick, unless you roll a blue or orange. For these you get to pick the card you want, or the player to your right gets to pick for you.

As for the 3 ways you can play this game, you can either play until a certain point goal has been reached, or you can set different goals for different ages.

For example: Mom and Dad need 75 points, Big sister needs 50, and little brother needs only 25.

The third way is to make all answers worth 5 points, but older players only get to answer 7 point questions.

This is the way our family plays the game.

I love that this game is educational. You really learn a lot. At least I did. My kids knew a lot more than I thought they did!

My sister played the game with us this week, and she loved it! She said she was going to have to get the game for her kids, she loved it so much.

It comes in this great travel case, so it is easy to store, or take on the go.

 

The cool thing about this game is that it is a game in and of itself, OR it can be an expansion pack to the Wise Alec game.




So if you have the Wise Alec game, you can add Nature Nuts to it as well. How cool!

I really want to get the Wise Alec game, and the other travel/expansion packs.

The other expansion packs are Civilize This, and a sports one. Can't remember the name.

Some of my Crew Mates reviewed Civilize This, so make sure you check out their reviews too!

Here is a preview of Civilize This:




These games are for 2-6 players, and geared towards ages 8 and up, but I'll tell you that my 6 year old won Nature Nuts more than anyone else did. I think younger children can also play if they have some knowledge of the topics covered.

If you are interested in purchasing Nature Nuts, you can find it at Amazon, $14.99 and other retailers.

Our family really enjoys playing this game. It will be a game that we continue to play for years to come.

And hopefully we will get the board game and the other packs too! that would be so fun!

Have fun playing a game with your family!

*I have received Nature Nuts, free, as a member of the TOS Crew in return for my honest opinion. No other compensation has been given to me.*

Horse Dreams - Backyard Horses Series

Last week we received a book in the mail to review called Backyard Horses.

I rarely request books for my kids that are fiction because most of the time I find them inappropriate for our family.

I went ahead and requested this book because my daughter loves horses, and if it turned out to be a good book, we would have another great series to read!

I decided to read it myself first, so I took off to the tub with the book. That's where I do most of my reading. HA

It was actually a very good book.

I enjoyed it, and I found nothing that was really "bad" in my opinion.

I am pretty strict with what our kids read, but I am happy with this book.

Now that I have told you that I liked this book, I probably should tell you what the book is about, huh? :)

Ellie James is a 4th grade girl with a lot of imagination. She is always daydreaming of owning a black stallion show horse.

Some of her schoolmates have beautiful show horses, and they get to ride in horse shows.

Ellie so much wants to do the same as her friends.

One day while in class, Ellie sees an ugly, dirty, skinny paint horse outside the classroom window.

Ellie tells her teacher that she saw a horse outside, but her teacher doesn't believe her.

After she finds out that there was indeed a lost horse around town, and that her mother was the one who lost it, everyone finally believes her.

Ellie's family sets out to find the horse, and somewhere along the way Ellie realizes that this ugly, dirty, hungry horse is just the horse that she wants. She realizes that she doesn't need a black stallion show horse; that God had finally sent her the horse that she had been praying for. 

I loved this book. It was interesting to me and my daughter.

Younger children and older children will both like this book.

It is a fast read for an older child. My daughter and I both finished it in one sitting. 

My daughter liked that the book was about horses, and that it had a sign language chart in the back.

Ellie has a younger brother who is deaf, so the family had to learn sign language. Sign language is incorporated throughout the book.

My daughter has been practicing the sign language chart in the back of the book, and now has it all down.

In addition to the sign language chart, there is also a glossary of "Horse Talk".


It is a great way to include some vocabulary words into your lessons.


All in all I am very pleased with this book, and I will be getting the rest of the series for my kiddos.

If you are interested in purchasing this book, you can find it here for only $5.99. 

Happy reading!

*I received a copy of Horse Dreams, free, From Tyndale in exchange for an honest review. No other compensation has been given to me.*

Apologia - How to Have a H.E.A.R.T. For Your Kids by Rachael Carman/ TOS Review

Do you have a H.E.A.R.T. for your kids?

H-Have a Heart for the Things of God 

E-Enrich Your Marriage

A-Accept Your kids 

R-Release Them to God

T-Teach Them the Truth

I can't believe I am writing my first official TOS review for the new 2011/2012 school year.

I am so excited to be getting back into the swing of things. And what better way to kick off the new Crew year than with a book from Apologia?

I love just about everything Apologia has put out, and this book is no exception.

How to Have a H.E.A.R.T. for Your Kids is a wonderful book. Very inspiring and very encouraging.

In this book Rachael Carmen shares her story of how she came to be a homeschool mom. 

It all started in Ohio when a neighbor moved in down the corner. These neighbors were planning on homeschooling their children.

Rachael had never heard of homeschooling before, and quite honestly, she thought these people must be crazy. Why would they want to do such a thing?

See, Rachael was a school teacher, and she really enjoyed teaching her students, and she couldn't wait to get back to teaching.

It wasn't long after her move that she met two other families that lived nearby that were also homeschooling their kids.

Her son was still young at this time, and she still had every intention of sending him to school when the time came. 

Even though she thought these ladies were crazy for homeschooling, they quickly became friends.

The had play dates and Bible studies together. Somewhere along the way, Rachael started to realize that these ladies were not as crazy as she had originally thought.

Their kids were well behaved, and very smart.  The families were very close with each other.

The time came for Rachael's family to move again, and though she was happy to move, she knew she would miss her friends. 

The time also came for her son to go to Kindergarten.

Rachael looked forward to this. Her oldest would be in Kindergarten, the middle child in Pre-school.

She thought she would get to spend more time with the baby, keep the house clean, get together with friends, etc.

But after repeated incidents with the public school, including her son not making on the school bus several times, her husband went to the school to observe why this was happening.

He came to realize that their son wasn't learning anything. He said that nothing was going on in the classroom. Nothing bad, but nothing good either, just nothing. He pulled their son out of school immediately, and brought him home.

Rachael's husband asked her to do the one thing that she did not want to do. .. HOMESCHOOL!

NO! Rachael did not want to do this. She wanted to find a private school, anything...

But after realizing that they just couldn't afford it, she agreed to homeschool their son, but only for one year.

Rachael's heart was still not where it needed to be. In her mind this was just temporary. She wanted her life back...


Things began to change when Rachael and her husband went to a homeschool conference, and happened to wonder into a workshop held by Chris Davis.

As they listened to him speak for the next hour, both of their hearts were changed, convicted by the Holy Spirit.

Rachael realized that it was her heart that needed changing. She realized that she had been wrong in wanting her "life back". Her children were her life. She just had to get her priorities straight.

I don't want to tell you every detail of her story, because I want you to read it for yourselves, but I wanted to give you enough of her story to understand the premise of this book, and where her heart is coming from.

Rachael's book shows you how to bring your heart back home, and how to have a heart for your children.


It is broken up into 5 sections, and has a "Heart Checkup" at the end of each chapter.


1. H - Have a Heart for the Things of God

In this chapter Rachael explains that you can not have a heart for your kids if you don't have a heart for God first.

She encourages you to have a quiet time, to praise God, and to pray for your kids everyday.

She shows you how to have a closer relationship with God. 


2. E - Enrich Your Marriage

I love that Rachael's priorities are in order. God first, marriage second.

She gives you tips on how to build a strong marriage.

It is so important for your kids to see what a godly marriage looks like.

Your priorities need to be lined up according to God's word, and only then can you truly give the best to your children.


3. A - Accept Your Children

In this chapter Rachael shows you how to really accept your children, to believe that they really are miracles from God. She shows you how to build close relationships with your kids.

She says that children were not sent to bring us glory, but to bring glory to the Lord. She also shows us how not to resist your children's individual bents, and how to love them just the way that God wired them.

I think this is hard for us to remember. We tend to think that our children are ours to do with whatever we wish. That they need to be what we want them to be.

I really liked this section because it made me realize that while, of course, I shouldn't let them be disrespectful, I should let them be who God created them to be.


4. R - Release Them to God

In this section, she helps us realize that our kids are not ours, they are HIS.

We are blessed to be able to train our children up for Him. It is an honor.

We must learn to trust God to take care of our children.

He is the one who created them, and He loves them even more than we do. So we can definitely trust Him to take care of them.

She also shows us that while academics are important, we need to take the time for character training, and teaching them Gods word.

They need a good Christian worldview to stand upon.  Their faith and their character are of utmost importance.

But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you. Matthew 6:33.


5. T - Teach Them the Truth.

There is only one thing that is absolutely necessary to teach our children.

And these words, which I command thee this day, shall be in thine heart Deut. 6:6,7


Therefore shall ye lay up these my words in your heart and in your soul, and bind them for a sign upon your hand, that they may be as frontlets between your eyes. 19And ye shall teach them your children, speaking of them when thou sittest in thine house, and when thou walkest by the way, when thou liest down, and when thou risest up. Deut. 11:18, 19


For he established a testimony in Jacob, and appointed a law in Israel, which he commanded our fathers, that they should make them known to their children:  ⁶That the generation to come might know them, even the children which should be born; who should arise and declare them to their children. Psalm 78:5,6

The following is a quote from this chapter:

"Teaching our kids the truth is the most important thing we can accomplish as parents.
It's paramount that we give them knowledge and understanding of the one true and living God. This is the foundation upon which all other knowledge is built. If we focus on anything else, then we doom our children to lives of emptiness and hopelessness."

We not only need to teach this to our children, we need to show it to them.

We need to be that example.


This is an excellent book. I reading through it a second time right now.

I love that she puts God and marriage as her top priorities.

We are not usually taught this. We are taught that our children need to come first.

Of course our children are important, but we shouldn't let our marriage fall by the wayside either.

I absolutely recommend this book. I think you will really enjoy it.

This is a really nice hardback book, with 205 pages. I love that it is small enough to keep in my purse. 

You can read a sample chapter here.

You can purchase How to Have a Heart For Your Kids for $13 at Apologia's Website.


Be sure to check out what my fellow Crew Mates had to say about this book. 


 



*I have received a copy of How to Have a Heart for Your Kids, free, as a member of the TOS Homeschool Review Crew, in return for my honest opinion.
No other compensation has been given to me.*

Giveaway! Complete set of The Letter People Readers

 

Do you remember the Letter People?
 

I remember using the Letter People in school. One of the few things I actually remember from school. Go Figure! HA

I have one set of 35 books/readers to give away! ($99 Value) Does not include display box. 

**To enter this giveaway leave me a comment letting me know whether or not you used the Letter People in your school.

For additional entries:

1. Follow me on GFC, or let me know that you are already following me. 

2. Subscribe to blog either by email, or RSS Feed, and let me know how you have subscribed. 

3. "Like" my FB page.

Remember to leave a comment for each extra entry. 

This contest will end Friday Sept. 2, 2011 at noon.

The winner will be contacted Friday afternoon. If the winner does not get in touch with me by Sunday night, September the 4th, a new winner will be chosen on Monday, the 5th.




Official Rules for this giveaway:

1. Eligibility. Giveaways are open to readers with US shipping addresses only, unless otherwise stated.

2. How to Enter. Entry is made by leaving a comment on the giveaway post. A limit of one entry is allowed per e-mail address. You may only enter once, please do not use multiple emails to enter.

You may, however, obtain additional entries on a particular giveaway through other channels when applicable.

3. Disclaimer. I will not be responsible for any lost or damaged items, or any lost or late entries, any technical issues, or anything beyond my control.


Good Luck and thanks for stopping by!