Kindred Spirit Mommy has moved!

You should be automatically redirected in 6 seconds. If not, visit
http://kindredspiritmommy.com
and update your bookmarks.

We've moved! Please change your bookmarks to www.kindredspiritmommy.com.
Showing posts with label Movies. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Movies. Show all posts

Tuesday, December 22, 2009

Sarah's Choice Movie Review

Sarah's Choice is essentially the story of every girl. Every girl finds herself facing tough decisions regarding love, morals, and right and wrong, and Sarah, young career girl on the fast track to becoming very successful, is facing the toughest decision of all. She's pregnant, unmarried but living with her boyfriend who may or may not be serious about her, and is certainly not ready to be a mom.

Her Christian mother and sister want her to keep the child. Her physician says it's not a child and that if she cannot provide a good home, she should move forward with abortion. With pressures on all sides, Sarah can hardly think for herself. Her boyfriend doesn't seem to be thinking at all. Then she starts having dreams - dreams about herself and a child... and she starts to wonder if the dreams could possibly be from God.

The question is, can she make a decision she can live with?


Behind the Scenes Video:


My Thoughts: I've been excited about Sarah's Choice ever since I first heard that Rebecca St. James was going to be in a movie. Rebecca is amazing - she's influenced me since I was a teen. She's a singer with a beautiful voice and a unique flair to her music, and hers were the first CDs I ever bought as a teen. I absolutely love her Christmas CD (something different from the traditional - your kids/teens would love it, I'll bet!). So she and I have a history of sorts, and I was waiting impatiently for the movie to be released.

I found Sarah's Choice to be a very moving Christian film. Rebecca was definitely one of the best actresses, and you could tell she really felt her part. I think that's because she has a passion for helping people, and this is a place that girls really need help with. It can be so hard to know what to do when you're being pressured from all sides, but in the end, it's your decision, the one you have to live with. Just make sure that you can live with it. That was something the movie covered well, I thought.

What I liked about it: I love that this movie encourages researching things for yourself, not just trying to make a decision based on others' opinions. After the doctor compares Sarah's unborn baby to a wart of all things, Sarah goes to the internet to find out for herself how much of the baby is developed. She finds that the baby already is developing a brain and eyes. *12/22 - I am aware that not all doctors pressure girls into abortion, and I wouldn't say this doctor in this movie was exactly pressuring Sarah. It was just the wart comparison thing that bothered Sarah and me, too. All doctors are different, of course, and have different ways of dealing with this situation.

I also liked that they brought in the point of view of a woman who had been forced to abort her child at a very young age. The friend talked about how happy she was that she didn't have to deal with a teen, and and that she had plenty of time in the future to start a family, but inside she hurt every time she thought about how old the child would be as each year passed. It was a decision she had to live with for the rest of her life, and it was extremely painful.

Though this is a Christian movie, I didn't think they came on too strong or that it would alienate anyone who watched it. Sarah feels things that most of us do or have at some point in our lives. I could relate to her when it came to hard decisions (not the career woman thing so much but we all have our selfish pursuits) and I think that those that watch it will feel her pain as she tries to navigate the emotions inside and around her and make a decision that she won't regret.

This movie is very pro-life (as I am), obviously, but there are no graphic scenes of abortion or tactics like that to scare people from having an abortion. This is simply the story of a girl's heartfelt struggle to make a life-changing decision.

Could it have been better? It could probably have been written a little better, though I'm not sure what exactly should have been changed. Well, I felt that Sarah's relationship with her boyfriend wasn't developed enough visibly - I never really knew why they were together and what connected them. That is my only complaint, though.

Family-friendly? Yes. No sex, no graphic scenes of abortion, no foul language - this movie is very family-friendly.

Conclusion: A very touching film exploring the thoughts, emotions, and consequences of the abortion decision in a very positive, thoughtful manner. I enjoyed it and highly recommend it for viewing with the family and/or youth group!

Find out more about Sarah's Choice at Pure Flix.

Wanna own it?

You can purchase Sarah's Choice from Amazon.com for only $17.99.

I received a copy of Sarah's Choice courtesy of Pure Flix in exchange for an honest review. This review is 100% my own opinion and in my own words.

Photobucket
I ♥ comments!

Monday, December 21, 2009

Scholastic's Storybook Treasures DVDs: The Night Before Christmas AND Animal Antics

Storybook Treasures: The Night Before Christmas

I love the holidays, don't you? And the holiday DVD's you can unpack from your Christmas boxes and watch every night of December (and maybe even November! lol). Before my daughter was born, I had only collected movies for adults like Miracle on 34th Street, It's a Wonderful Life, and The Santa Clause. Now I've begun my collection of children's DVDs and I'm having a blast doing it!

One of my favorites comes from Scholastic Storybook Treasures. As you can tell from the few Christmas movies for adults I mentioned I have in my collection, I'm someone who truly appreciates classics. I love classic movies, classic books, and classic storybooks for children, so the Storybook Treasures The Night Before Christmas ...and other classic holiday tales DVD set totally appealed to me!

This two-DVD set includes all of the following classic storybooks read aloud with gorgeous animated illustrations and optional read-along words at the bottom of the screen:

The Night before Christmas ♥ Seven Candles for Kwanzaa ♥ In the Month of Kislev ♥ Too Many Tamales ♥ Max's Christmas ♥ Morris's Disappearing Bag ♥ The Little Drummer Boy ♥ The Twelve Days of Christmas ♥ Great JoyThe Clown of God ♥ Merry Christmas, Space Case ♥ Sam and the Lucky Money

Did you know that each story/poem/song has won at least one award? My favorites in this series are The Night Before Christmas (extremely whimsical and cheerful), Max's Christmas (about little bunnies who want to see Santa Claus come), Morris's Disappearing Act, and Merry Christmas, Space Case. Another thing I really like about these DVDs is that there is a selection of stories showing how all different people celebrate the holidays, including Kwanzaa (Seven Candles for Kwanzaa), Hannukah (In the Month of Kislev), and the celebration of Christ's birth (The Little Drummer Boy).

This set is, without a doubt, a treasure for the holidays, and one your children will want to pull out year after year. I recommend it!

Treasury of 50 Storybook Classics: Animal Antics

This set of seven DVDs is just too much fun! I'm an animal-lover, and I can tell that my daughter is already as well. She goes for the stuffed animals more than dollies, just like I did as a child. I knew she would enjoy the Animal Antics set. From puppies and kitties to horses, cows, and owls - almost every animal imaginable is in a story! This is a great learning tool for teaching the types of animals in a fun way. Some of our favorites are Harry the Dirty Dog (remember that one?) Chicken Little, The Bear Snores On, Make Way for Ducklings, and I, Crocodile. See a list of all of the stories here.

See a sample video: Harry the Dirty Dog



Eight hours of animal-related stories read by well-known voices like Sarah Jessica Parker and Meryl Streep - Another highly-recommended set of stories on DVD for your little one!

Each of these sets is for ages 2 or 3 and up, but my 19-month-old daughter enjoys them immensely. The stories are fairly short (2 hours and 4 minutes for the Christmas set and 8 hours total for the animal antics set) so she has no problem with them being too much for her short attention span. Each story is narrated by a new person and is filled with new and different illustrations and animations, so they keep her attention pretty well. We love Scholastic Storybook Treasures and love to share them with our friends!

Want to own them?

You can purchase Scholastic Storybook Treasures: The Night Before Christmas ...and other classic holiday tales for only $11.96 right now from the Scholastic Store! Use the coupon code SSHAP5 to get 15% off plus free ground shipping.

Scholastic Storybook Treasures: Animal Antics is available for $49.95 at www.newkideo.com.

I received the review product(s) free of charge from the company/manufacturer in exchange for an honest review. This review is 100% my own content, my own true experiences with the product, and my own opinion. :-)

Photobucket

Saturday, November 21, 2009

The Twilight Saga: New Moon ♥ My Thoughts on the Movie!



I saw New Moon!

Yes, late last night - I just couldn't wait. My dear husband watched the baby (okay, she was already in bed so it wasn't hard), and a friend and I took off for the theatre. I hadn't been to a movie since the last Harry Potter movie, so it was a total treat! And I had so much fun.

I had no idea what to expect. I love the Twilight book series (even if I do have mixed feelings about the last book...) and do enjoy watching the Twilight movie, though I did think the movie was a bit low-budget. I'd go into that here, but I've already done so before (go to my twilight movie review).

New Moon was a very emotional book, what with Bella's depression over certain events involving Edward... and Jacob steps in. I have to admit that during this book, I couldn't decide whether I was for Jacob getting Bella or not. I think I felt bad for Jacob. lol I had ideas about who he could end up with, but the final book in the series kind of ruined all of my GOOD and rational ideas. *huff*

Anyway. My point. I think that the movie depicted New Moon VERY well. Yes, they skipped a few parts and a couple of times I thought, "Wow, we're here already?" But that's the movie business, and in the end, I wasn't disappointed.

I. Loved. This. Movie.

Seriously! I know some of it is silly. I know. But hey, I can be silly once in awhile! It was fun! And I'm not afraid to admit that I love Twilight. *flinches back*

Kidding. ;-)

Okay, I have to share some specifics. It was 2 hours and 10 minutes, the perfect length in my opinion. Any longer and my bladder might have exploded... any shorter and I would have been whining about parts they skipped.



So Bella. Bella, Bella, you suddenly look a lot older! That happens in your teens, though. Like me - at fifteen, AWFUL. Sixteen, a lot better. Wait, is Kristen Stewart a teen? Nevermind. The point? She looks great. Her hair is straighter at times. Or maybe longer, I don't know. She still has that same sense of style, though - kind of a non-style, actually. I really love that because she's totally normal. That's why girls relate to her, I guess. Except for the whole vampire boyfriend thing...



Speaking of which, you know which scene this is, right? *huff* See, Edward is not perfect. He's still a guy. (I have nothing against guys, but they're human - lol)



Jacob and the werewolf clan. I loved that part in the book, it was so interesting finding out about the werewolf history and the details of the clan. Something they didn't include enough of in the movie, but I guess no one wants to sit through a five-hour movie. LOL

I would. Totally.

That's one reason I really like the book series - it's not just a silly romance. The world that Stephenie Meyer creates is so deep and interesting, so much more than just Bella and Edward. I became very engrossed while reading it. Read more about why I love the twilight series here if you're interested.

Anyway, Jacob... yes, I had to endure hearing girls (GIRLS? They were grown women! Crazy people..) squeal when Jacob took off his shirt. Oh. My. Word. So funny.



For the record, Jacob looks a lot better with short hair.

Oh, and the Volturi... remember them?



They make an appearance, and are totally creepy in a weird clown kind of way. At least some of them are a little corny in their appearance. I wanted to laugh, probably not the reaction I should have been having.




Dakota Fanning is in New Moon! I was looking forward to that... and she did an awesome job, though her appearance was pretty short.

Conclusion:

New Moon surpassed my expectations! I can't wait until it comes out on DVD, and will be waiting eagerly for the third movie to be released, Eclipse!

So I know you're dying to see the movie now... check out the movie trailers to hold you over:









I'm off to re-read the books now...

Photobucket
Make my day and leave a comment if you've got a moment! ♥

Wednesday, November 18, 2009

{Holiday Gift Giveaway #16} Wubbzy's Christmas Adventure DVD

Don't you love collecting Christmas DVDs? I do! There's nothing more enjoyable for me than pulling out my box of holiday movies and watching them all over again. This year is extra special because I'm collecting Christmas cartoons as well as movies! My daughter is finally old enough to appreciate cartoons and I want to share the fun with her. :-)

One of our favorites this year is Wubbzy's Christmas Adventure. This was actually my first experience with Wow Wow Wubbzy, though I had heard a lot about the cartoon in blogland. I wasn't disappointed, and neither was my toddler! The simple character design, bright colors, and happily lilting voices make it easy for littler ones to follow, but I think that older children will be able to enjoy it as well. There are also a lot of "music videos" that are cheerful and encouraging - one of the songs encourages kids to make their own presents themselves, which I thought was very sweet. My daughter loves the music and dances around during these parts.

Watch the Trailer!



Features:
  • Six holiday episodes (70 minutes)
  • Coloring and activity sheets
  • Printable holiday cards
  • Music videos

Conclusion...

Wubbzy's Christmas Adventure is a great holiday cartoon - both my toddler and I recommend it! :-)


Prize info: Three (3) lucky winners will each win Wubbzy's Christmas Adventure DVD! Open to US only.

How To Enter (mandatory): Leave a comment telling me what your or your child's favorite Christmas DVD is! Please leave your email address in your comment or make sure it's in your public profile so I can let you know if you win!

Extra Entries (Optional) (Please leave a separate comment for each extra entry)

Get 1 extra entry for each: Add my button to your sidebar ♥ Become a Facebook Fan ♥ Follow my blog ♥ Subscribe to my blog by feed reader ♥ Subscribe to my blog by email ♥ Follow me on Twitter (@kindred_spirit) ♥ Tweet this giveaway (example below) ♥ Share this giveaway on Facebook

You can Copy/Paste this Sample Tweet:
Win Wubbzy's Christmas Adventure DVD from A Kindred Spirit's Thoughts (3 winners!) http://kindredspiritreviews.blogspot.com @kindred_spirit #giveaway
Get 2 extra entries: Add my Giveaway Extravaganza Button to your sidebar. (Find it in my right sidebar)

Giveaway will be closed on December 5 at midnight and winner notified by email - good luck, everyone!

Disclaimer: The review product(s) were sent to me free of charge by the company or manufacturer in exchange for an honest review. This review is 100% my own content, my own true experiences with the product(s), and my own opinion. :-)


Photobucket
If you have a moment, leave a comment -
It'll make me jump up and down for joy! :-)

Tuesday, November 17, 2009

{Holiday Gift Giveaway #15} Scholastic Treasury of 100 Storybook Classics on DVD


I'm always on the lookout for new DVDs for my daughter. I think it's good to have a wide variety of educational entertainment that is fun to watch and a learning experience. My most recent discovery is a set of 16 DVDs released by Scholastic.

The Treasury of 100 Storybook Classics is one of the coolest collections of classic storybooks on DVD that I've come across! It includes 100 classic tales narrated by well-known celebrities like Meryl Streep, Patrick Stewart, and Danny Glover. The illustrations are just as charming as they've always been, but they've added character sound effects and charming animation to make the stories even more fun. You really need to see a preview to appreciate it, so take a look at this example from one of the DVDs here at the Amazon.com listing.

What I really like:

  • The stories are separated by category (all of the stories about dinosaurs on one disc, etc).
  • The way Scholastic kept all of the original illustrations but added some excitement by animating them!
  • The selection of stories (all of my favorites!).
  • Your child can read along on the screen.
  • Love that I recognize celebrity voices reading the stories! Very cool.
What I don't like:

It does take some looking to find exactly what you want. It would be nice to have it all on a few DVDs. But this in no way changes my opinion of the set.

Watch my video review to find out more about this awesome set:



Buy it!

The Treasury of 100 Storybook Classics 16-DVD set retails for $99.95. You can buy it on Amazon.com for $89.99 with free shipping right now. :-)

Prize info: One very lucky commenter will win the Scholastic Treasury of 100 Storybook Classics! Open to US only.

How To Enter (mandatory): Visit Scholastic and tell me what else you would like to own! Please leave your email address in your comment or make sure it's in your public profile so I can let you know if you win!

Extra Entries (Optional) (Please leave a separate comment for each extra entry)

Get 1 extra entry for each: Add my button to your sidebar ♥ Become a Facebook Fan ♥ Follow my blog ♥ Subscribe to my blog by feed reader ♥ Subscribe to my blog by email ♥ Follow me on Twitter (@kindred_spirit) ♥ Tweet this giveaway (example below) ♥ Share this giveaway on Facebook

You can Copy/Paste this Sample Tweet:
Win a 16-DVD Treasury of 100 Storybook Classics by Scholastic! http://kindredspiritreviews.blogspot.com @kindred_spirit #giveaway
Get 2 extra entries: Add my Giveaway Extravaganza Button to your sidebar. (Find it in my right sidebar)

3 extra entries: Blog about this giveaway with a link to this giveaway.

Giveaway will be closed on December 5 at midnight and winner notified by email - good luck, everyone!

Disclaimer: The review product(s) were sent to me free of charge by the company or manufacturer in exchange for an honest review. This review is 100% my own content, my own true experiences with the product(s), and my own opinion. :-)



Photobucket
If you have a moment, leave a comment -
It'll make me jump up and down for joy! :-)

Wednesday, November 4, 2009

NCircle Entertainment Children's Christmas DVDs ♥ Review




Today's featured company is NCircle Entertainment! NCircle Entertainment proudly provides quality DVDs for children as well as all kinds of music and games. Check out their very affordable Christmas DVDs! You'll find your kids' favorites including Wordworld, Dora the Explorer, Mickey Mouse, and more!

Thanks to NCircle Entertainment, I was able to review the following delightful Christmas DVDs:

In WordWorld: Happy Holidays, WordFriends, two holiday stories center around Christmas. First, the WordFriends find themselves searching for a S-T-A-R to top their Christmas tree, and in the second story, DOG gets a B-A-L for Christmas but needs to find the last L before he can enjoy his present. Both stories are sweet and enjoyable, and, of course, help children learn their letters and learn to spell and recognize words. We love WordWorld and found this DVD to be perfect for the holidays!

The best news is that you can buy this DVD at NCircle Entertainment for only $5.99!

Hermie and Friends: A Fruitcake Christmas. I was really looking forward to viewing this DVD with my daughter for multiple reasons:
  • It's released by a Christian company, Tommy Nelson (Thomas Nelson).
  • It features the voice talents of Don Knotts! (Who doesn't love him?)
  • Bug cartoons seem to be popular and fun. :-)
In this story, food is scarce during Christmastime. When Grannypillar makes some fruitcake to share, everyone is excited - but then the fruitcake is stolen by some remorseless, cruel grasshoppers. Despite all this, will the bugs be able to stay focused on what is most important and have a good Christmas?

I thought this was a fun holiday DVD. It was humorous and overall it wasn't too preachy, which I was glad about. It had a positive message about sharing and making the most of what we have when we have it. The bonus features include coloring pages, desktop wallpaper and screensavers, trivia games, read-along books, recipes, and more! We liked the characters and would be happy to see Hermie and Friends in the future again. You can purchase this DVD at NCircle Entertainment for $8.99!

Activities for Children: NCircle Enertainment has a lot of really cute printable coloring and activity pages that can be found here featuring cartoon characters such as Sid the Science Kid, WordWorld, and Pocoyo!

-Giveaway Closed-

NCircle Entertainment is going to send one lucky winner both of the DVDs I reviewed!
Open to US only.

How To Enter (mandatory):
Visit NCircle Entertainment, then come back to this post and leave a comment telling me what else you like there! Please leave your email address in your comment so I can let you know if you win!


Extra Entries (Optional) (Please leave a separate comment for each extra entry)
  • Follow/Subscribe to this blog (+1 extra entry each)
  • Add my button to your sidebar (+1 extra entry)
  • Blog about this giveaway (+3 extra entries)
  • Follow my blog on Facebook's Networked blogs here! (+1 extra entry)
  • Follow me on Twitter (@kindred_spirit) (+1 extra entry)
  • Tweet this giveaway and/or share on Facebook (+1 extra entry each) Copy/Paste this:
    Children's DVD #Giveaway - Win two holiday DVDs for children from NCircle Entertainment! http://bit.ly/3WQcC3 @kindred_spirit
  • Grab my 2009 Holiday Gift Giveaway Extravaganza button and put it on your blog! (+2 extra entries!)

    A Kindred Spirit's Thoughts


Giveaway will be closed on November 24 at midnight and winner notified by email - good luck, everyone!


Disclaimer: The product(s) reviewed in this post were provided free of charge to me by the company or manufacturer in exchange for an honest review. This review is 100% my own opinion and my own content.

See complete rules and disclaimers regarding giveaways here.

Photobucket


Thursday, October 15, 2009

Celebrate Halloween With Charlie and Lola ♥ DVD Review

Much to my delight, recently I was given the opportunity to review the special Halloween Charlie and Lola DVD, What Can I Wear for Halloween? - prepare for raving, because I adore these characters!



Are you new to Charlie and Lola? I hadn't ever heard of them before being introduced by another mom blogger just last month! It's one of the only cartoons that I don't mind watching over and over (and over and OVER) with my daughter because:

1) It features a brother and sister who actually love each other and make an effort to be kind and thoughtful - just the sort of people you would want hanging around your children!

2) The English accents. So. Awesome. I did think at one time that my daughter might learn to speak with that lovely accent, but alas, it has not happened as of yet. My husband and I speak like Charlie and Lola now, though. ;-)

3) My husband actually loves them. That's saying something.

4) The illustrations are simple but so sweet.

5) Lola is extreeeemely cute and she calls Charlie "Chah-ley". She looks up to him. And her giggle makes me smile.




Each Charlie and Lola DVD contains about 9 or 10 episodes - what a value! In Volume Nine's Halloween episode, What Can I Wear For Halloween?, Lola finds herself without a costume just before Halloween. Charlie tries to help, but Lola doesn't want to be a spider or a witch ("Everyone is going to be a witch, Charlie.") or anything brilliant Charlie can think of. It seems that everyone else knows what they want to be, and time is passing fast! Will Lola think of a special costume in time?

Episode List:

1. What Can I Wear for Halloween?
2. Everything is Different and not the Same
3. I am Goody the Good
4. But We Always do it Like This
5. I am Going to Save a Panda
6. I Slightly Want to go Home
7. Do Not Ever Never Let Go
8. I Would Actually Like to Keep It
9. But I Don't Really Like This Present

All of these episodes are equally wonderful - I really don't have a favorite! Though But I Don't Really Like This Present is so funny and oh so true...



I can't recommend Charlie and Lola enough! This DVD is a gem - and since it features a Halloween episode, you have a wonderful reason to gift it right now! This volume is great for anytime, too - not just Halloween. They're all great "anytime" episodes. I'm totally hooked and can't wait to celebrate Christmas with Charlie and Lola as well!




You can buy Charlie and Lola, Volume 9: What Can I Wear For Halloween? at Amazon.com for $11.99 right now!

Barnes and Noble has it for $9.99, or $8.99 if you're a member!


Disclaimer: I was sent the Charlie and Lola DVD for review purposes only. This in no way sways my opinion or my post. This review is 100% my own opinion and my own content.

Photobucket
Feel free to leave some comment love!
I read (and jump up and down over) each and every one!


Friday, October 9, 2009

My Little Pony: Twinkle Wish Adventure ♥ Review


It's October, and I can feel the Holiday spirit already, can you? It's time to start thinking about pulling out your favorite holiday films and finding new favorites! Those of you with little ones who are fans of the colorful equine friends from My Little Pony will appreciate the new Christmas feature coming out on DVD October 13, My Little Pony: Twinkle Wish Adventure.




"All the ponies cannot wait for the Winter Wishes festival where the Wishing Star grants each pony one special wish. But when the Wishing Star disappears, they go on a journey to find it. During their adventure, they learn what it means for wishes to really come true! But will they make it back in time for the festival? Join Pinkie Pie and all her pony friends on their journey as they discover that friendship can make wishes come true."




My 17-month-old daughter and I enjoyed this feature thoroughly. As someone who loved My Little Pony as a child, I could definitely appreciate the sweet pony animation (even cuter than I remembered!) and the holiday plot. My daughter loved the six sing-a-long songs and the happy little voices of the ponies. And at 81 minutes, it's not too long or too short! I thought the names of the ponies were so adorable - Cheerilee and Pinky Pie are two examples. How could anyone resist these characters? Check out a preview and see for yourself:



(video embedded in post)

Bonus features include:
  • A prequel (Waiting for the Winter Wishes Festival)
  • Elefun and Friends (animated short)
  • Four downloadable activities (coloring sheets, printable cut-out pony ornaments, and more)



A delightful holiday-themed cartoon that children (especially little girls, I'd say) who love the My Little Pony characters will adore! The learning themes in My Little Pony: Twinkle Wish Adventure are sharing, thinking of others (compassion), and honesty. I recommend this one!



The My Little Pony: Twinkle Wish Adventure DVD will be available to buy on October 13! You can pre-order it on Amazon.com for $8.99 right now, OR buy it in-store at Target or Toys 'R Us beginning October 13 and receive $5.00 off your purchase (with a coupon attached to the DVD) when you buy any My Little Pony Hasbro toy and the DVD. :-)

(Not valid if printed out)

Disclaimer: Although I was sent the My Little Pony: Twinkle Wish Adventure DVD thanks to Shout! Factory for review and testing purposes, this in no way sways my opinion or my post. This review is 100% my own opinion and in my own words. I was not reimbursed in any other way for this post.

Photobucket



Wednesday, July 29, 2009

Moving Picture Books Review *Giveaway Closed*

I came across Moving Picture Books completely by accident. I found out about them through a blogger forum and was intrigued with the concept of a story being shown on DVD, so I headed to their website. As I browsed and watched sample videos, I found myself getting more and more excited about their DVDs (they also have single story downloads available). I knew it would be something my daughter would enjoy - and I loved the idea of giving her something fun and educational as a television option. I mean, if my toddler must be watching TV (yes, she must), then it may as well be something like this!

I decided to contact them about doing a review and giveaway and when they responded enthusiastically, I was beyond thrilled!
Why Moving Picture Books is So Cool:

Are you ready for some major coolness? Moving Picture Books literally brings storybooks to life for children - many of them popular and well-loved like
Who Stole the Cookie From the Cookie Jar and Eight Silly Monkeys.

Check out the preview video below of one of my favorite stories, "No More Pacifiers":


I told you it was cool! What child wouldn't be delighted?


My Review:

Moving Picture Books sent me a selection of their great DVDs to review. When I popped the first DVD in, I noted with satisfaction that there are plenty of different viewing options: Stories can be watched in English or Spanish, and you can choose to view them with or without the text on the bottom of the screen (child can read along). I like to include the words - I think it's a great way to promote reading, even if you are doing it on the television. ;-) You can also choose "continuous play", an option I like to have available in children's DVDs in case I'm trying to get something done around the house and don't want to have to bother with restarting the DVD.

Each story has its own special way of being told. Some books have one narrator, some two, and sometimes different voices for each character. It depends on whether the story is being told or characters are telling the story.

Illustrations are
original - isn't that cool? They animate them, bringing the book to life. Moving Picture Books describes it like this: "We enhance the reading experience with the surprise of animation, narration, music and sound effects..."

You can send storybook suggestions to them, and there are new releases all the time so this is a good website to watch.

For the mom on the run
- Moving Picture Books has you covered! You can buy stories for your Apple iPhone! There are also digital downloads of each story available for 99 cents each.
Final impressions:

Emma and I loved these DVDs. It truly is like having your storybook animated. The only con I can think of is that the stories are short. Still, there are
seven stories on each DVD which comes to about 30 minutes on each DVD. And for little ones with short attention spans, it will actually be a pro! Each story is filled with different styles of illustration and animation, fun sound effects and narrators, and there is a story for everyone - even teaching bible stories and ABC's!

I think
these DVDs are well worth their price of $12.99 per DVD (seven stories on each). There are six volumes available.

We give these two lil' thumbs up!


Buy it!


Before you buy, see a
full-size demo here!

Giveaway!

Moving Picture Books is offering a dynamite giveaway! Five (yes, you read that right - five!) of my readers are going to get their own storybook DVD! That's one DVD each for five different winners!
US Only, please
.

Mandatory Entry:
Visit Moving Picture Books, browse around, watch some sample videos, and tell me which DVD you would like the most! Please either leave your email address in one of your entry comments or make sure it's in your Blogger profile!

Extra Entries (Optional) (Please leave a separate comment for each extra entry)
  • Tell me in a comment which new storybook you would like to see added to their collection (+1 extra entry)
  • Follow Moving Picture Books on Twitter (@mpbmagic) (+1 extra entry)
  • Become a fan of Moving Picture Books on Facebook! (+1 extra entry)
  • Subscribe to the Moving Picture Books YouTube page (+1 extra entry)
  • Add my blog to your Technorati Favorites/stumble this post (+1 extra entry each)
  • Follow/Subscribe to this blog (+1 extra entry each)
  • Add my button to your sidebar (+1 extra entry)
  • Blog about this giveaway (+3 extra entries)
  • Follow me on Twitter (@kindred_spirit) (+1 extra entry)
  • Tweet this giveaway/share on Facebook (+1 extra entry each and daily tweet extra entries for this giveaway only!)
Winner will be drawn on August 19 and notified by email - good luck, everyone!

Disclosure: Although Moving Picture Books sent me sample DVDs to review, it does not affect the honesty of this review. I do not review products if I feel pressured to write a positive review in spite of what I think - I always write honestly.

See complete rules and disclaimers regarding giveaways here.


And now, go find more giveaways to enter in this week's MckLinky Friday Giveaway Blog Hop!


MckLinky Blog Hop



Photobucket
Thank you sooo much for sharing this post! :-)

Share/Save/Bookmark

Related Posts with Thumbnails
 
ss_blog_claim=aad592068f63fa90a45f66cc3106d004