See the Light Shine ~ Easter Ideas

See the Light Shine

Do you have a child who loves to draw, paint or create pictures - perhaps they would love to learn how to draw people, scenes or are ready to go to the next step?

SeeTheLightShine.com presents Art Lessons with a Bible Lesson on DVD's. They are ideal for homeschoolers, Christian/Parochial schools, after school programs - and they have a new Gift Set that would be perfect for Easter - or birthdays!

The Crossmaker Easter Gift Set contains all of the following items and regularly retails for $34.99 - it's on SALE for CCB readers for $25! You will receive the following in your set: (FREE Shipping - SALE ends 3/24/13!)

The Crossmaker ULTIMATE GIFT SET Includes: 

• The Crossmaker DVD (150 mins), the CD of Music from the DVD The Crossmaker, featuring 11 tracks plus 2 bonus audio stories.You not only get the complete story of "The Crossmaker", but also the story of "Jesus Loves The Children".
• A pocket Size - 6 inch See the Light Black Light (batteries included), eXtreme Colored Pencils, and Fluorescent Chalk.
• 150 minutes of Easter Content! Spanish Language Tracks Included!

With this set you not only enjoy drawing the pictures with the "POP" of the black light, but you'll revel in the wonderful music from "The Crossmaker" CD and be able to listen to the Radio Theater Bible stories whether in your home or on the road!

(More Details & to Order) SALE ends 3/24!

Disclaimer: CCB participates in a few affiliates for products and companies that we approve of. I was not given a product or any money to post this announcement.

I am linked up @:

 

David Sticker Book ~ Review

David Sticker Book
by Karen Williamson
ISBN: 978-1-85985-931-5
$5.99 (paperback)

About the Book:
David Sticker Book is a fun, interactive retelling of the story of David and Goliath, complete with four pages of stickers, so children can help illustrate the story and fill in the gaps. Kids will love the fun, reusable stickers and bright illustrations as they engage with this well-loved Bible story. 

My Thoughts:
I sat down with my 3 year old Sierra today and we read this cute story of David. Now it's much more than just the story of David, it also includes his being anointed by Samuel, how he played the harp for King Saul when he was down and also how he eventually becomes King. There are 4 pages of stickers and we even had a couple of extra stickers (I don't know if that was intentional) so Sierra was able to decide where those 2 extra ones went. 

She loved this book and I have a feeling we are going to be reading it several times over. I'm trying to find out if there are other stories in this series. I'd love to see the following: Joseph, Adam & Eve, Baby Jesus, Samuel, and a few others!

Disclaimer: I received a copy of David to read and review on CCB. I was not required to have a positive review and no money exchanged hands.    

Look Another Booki!

Look Another Book!
by Bob Staake
ISBN: 978-0316204590
$11.55 (hardcover)


About the book:
LOOK!
A boot!
A fruit!
A crossing guard newt!

Once AGAIN a seek-and-find,
MORE images of every kind!

From a music note to a teeny red boat, a blue kangaroo to a robot or two, there are endless things to discover in this zany follow-up to Look! A Book! from award-winning artist Bob Staake. Die cuts on the cover and every spread reveal hidden treasures in each vast landscape, from a zoo gone wild to an out-of-this-world moon base to a crazy art museum, and more, providing hours of entertainment to readers young and old.

My thoughts:
My 5 year old boy LOVES this book! Is it the monsters? The bright colors? The level of difficulty? The fact that he is very detailed? I don't know - but he LOVES it! Look Another Book is a fairly large book - ideal for lying on your tummy on the floor and looking at the pictures. Each double page spread is preceded by a solid colored page with 3 holes in it that highlights one thing each. It could be a punk alien or a drop of red paint or even a little monster - we'd look at that picture, then turn the page and try to find that item - he didn't quite connect that the picture would be where the whole on the previous page was when it was closed. But I'm sure that will come. =D

There don't seem to be a lot of things to find on each double page spread so I usually would find some little detail and ask him if he could find it - he doesn't read yet so he didn't realize that the book didn't asked him to do that. After you find everything in the book there is a full page that actually opens up vertically with another list of things to find. Everything rhymes which Connor loved and of course, being a boy, he LOVED the monsters!

This would be a great birthday book, FUN to read in the car, on a summer day at the beach inbetween building sand castles & wave surfing, in bed on a sick day - or whenever.

Check out all the Cool Books Bob Staake has written!

About the author:
Bob Staake is an award-winning illustrator who has authored and/or illustrated close to 50 books, including Look! A Book!, Trucks Go Pop!, and Pets Go Pop!. His work is also featured on the covers of the New Yorker and in the pages of the Washington Post. His book The Red Lemon won a New York Times Best Illustrated Children's Book Award in 2006. You can visit Bob online at www.BobStaake.com. 

Disclaimer:
I was given a copy of this book to review on CCB. No money exchanged hands and I was not required to give a positive review.

Disney's Peter Pan Diamond Edition Blu-Ray Combo Set

This week the kid's and I have been enjoying watching a Children's (grown-ups too) Classic Movie. Disney just released the Diamond Edition Blu-Ray/DVD Combo Set for Peter Pan and it's wonderful. I don't have a Blu-Ray Machine - but still it's FUN to be able to watch it on the DVD player and the set also includes a Digital Edition so you can watch the movie anywhere you want - on the computer, the TV, and where ever else you want.

What I really like about DVD & Blu-Ray Videos is the abundance of Extra's like:

The ability to create your own intermission - you can stop the movie and watch other parts of the disk to see deleted scenes and songs, an alternate ending and more. There are also mini movies like Tinker Bell: a Fairy's Tale and several different Disney Songs to watch. Check out the extras:

• Camp Never Land: Explore Never Land With All-New Multilevel Games:
• Smee's Sudoku Challenge
• Tarrrget Practice
• Tink's Fantasy Flight
• Peter's Playful Prank DVD Storybook
• Peter Pan's Virtual Flight
• Take Flight With Peter Pan Above
• The London Skyline

Including audio description - an additional commentary describing body language, expressions and movements.

I can't wait till I get a chance to see it on Blu-Ray. I don't think I've ever seen a Blu-Ray Movie so I really don't what I'm missing - maybe someday I'll find out!

An added bonus is the Peter Pan website - check out the variety of games, activities, behind the scenes and clips that you can watch. 

Check out the following website for activities, games & more:

Disclaimer: I was given a copy of the Movie Pack to watch and review on CCB. I was not required to have a positive review and no money exchanged hands.  

Les Miserables ~ Audio Edition

".... Listen to me there will be more joy in heaven over the tears of a repentent sinner than over the white robes of a hundred just men. If you're leaving that terrible place with hatred against men you deserve compassion. But if you leave it with good will and peace your better than any of us." the priest who shows compassion to Jean Valjean
 
Les Miserables
by Victor Hugo
Audio Edition featuring the
  Focus on the Family Radio Theatre
ISBN: 978-1589973947
$10.18 (3 CD Set)

About the Audio Edition:
The story that has thrilled millions comes to life in a brand new way in Focus on the Family Radio Theatre's Les Miserables. This audio drama beautifully portrays the redeeming power of forgiveness through the story of Jean Valjean, an embittered convict whose life is changed by a single act of kindness. Recorded in London with some of England's finest actors, it will mesmerize adults and families alike.

My thoughts:
I'm probably one of the few adults who had never read the Les Miserables book and I actually knew very little about the story except that it had been made into a Broadway Production and was a raving success. When I saw that Tommy Nelson had made the Audio Version available to listen to I jumped at the chance figuring I had a better chance of finishing the story if I listened to it than if I tried to read it. The Radio Theatre is conducted with a Full Cast of Actors including Cinema Sound and the Original Music Score. Obviously it's not as violent as the movie or the book - but it was very easy to be transported directly to the scene and events as the story unfolds as are all Focus on the Family Radio Theatre productions!

The story begin with the story of Jean Valjean who is a convicted thief after stealing a loaf of bread to feed his sister's children who were starving & in return he is sentenced to 19 years of hard labor. He's angry, bitter and disillusioned and believes that no one will help him or care about him because he is a dangerous man.

He meets a priest who treats him with kindness, brings out the best service and feeds him and intentionally encourages him to make something of himself, to not let others dictate what his life is and will be and to show compassion to others that are hurting.

"I'm an ex-convict, a thief ~ and yet you take me in. You light your candles, and bring out your best service!" said Jean Valjean. To which the priest replied: "This house, and all that is in it belongs to Christ. If you're suffering, if you're hungry, ill or thirsty, then everything here belongs to you as much as it does to me. No, even more."

Before Jean Valjean retires for the evening the priest tells him, "and please, if you have need of anything ~ consider it yours." Jean Valjean ends up leaving early the next morning with silver spoons that he decides to take since the priest said he could (I think he believed the priest was baiting him some - and if he was caught would never stand up for him). He ends up arrested, the police find the silver and Jean tells them the priest gave it to him. When asked, the priest says it is his and then tells Jean that he is to keep it (as well as the silver candlesticks he had forgotten) and then he reminds him that he has promised to use the silver to become an honest man. (Can you imagine his astonishment and confusion?)

I saw so many likenesses to certain stories in the Bible such as The Prodigal Son, the Good Samaritan, and in particular the verse in Matthew 25:35 "For I was hungry, and you fed me. I was thirsty, and you gave me a drink. I was a stranger, and you invited me into your home." This theme plays throughout the story as it continues...

The added bonus of this story was that Jean uses the compassion and mercy shown to him by the priest to make something of himself. He uses the words of the priest as a way to measure himself and his actions to become an honest man.

Fantastic story ~ I strongly suggest all families listen to this! Use it as part of your family time, listen to it while cleaning up the kitchen, during evening devotions, in the car on trips and then discuss how each of us can make a difference in the lives of others and how our actions show our true personality and character to others.

Purchase Les Miserables on Amazon for the amazing price of $10.18 - it comes with 3 CD's, uses a full cast and surround sound to dramatize the story.

You might be interested in:
Here is a wonderful discussion of the movie Les Miserables that came out in January 2013 - (Please do not go see the movie before reading it) 
I love how this family discusses the lessons and what we can learn from a book - wonderful! You can do this exact same thing when you read a novel or listen to an audio with your family!

The Utah Shakespeare Festival has a complete Study Guide in PDF you might find interesting with a discussion about the author, the story, characters and more. 

Disclaimer: I was given a copy of the Audio Edition to listen to and review on Classic Children's Books. I was not required to have a positive review and no money exchanged hands.

Disney's Peter Pan Diamond Edition Blue-Ray Coupon!

Announcements:

1) Save $7 on Disney’s Peter Pan Diamond Edition Blu-ray Combo Pack - use your coupon @ Participating Retailers 2/5-2/8 ONLY!  http://bit.ly/14AXNfF (2 coupons per computer allowed)

2) #PeterPanDiamond Twitter party! Join me at the #PeterPanDiamond Twitter party 2/5 4-5 PM PST. We are giving away 30 Peter Pan Diamond Edition Blu-ray Combo Packs & more!!

Join me at the #PeterPanDiamond Twitter party 2/5 4-5 PM PST. RT for chance to win a Peter Pan Combo Pack bit.ly/10wtrac
— Tina Peterson (@familyliteracy) February 5, 2013

Review coming this week!