Tuesday, March 31, 2015

torchlighters dvd review with $10 discount code

http://www.torchlighters.org/

Real people. Real stories. Real Courage.


ABOUT THE JIM ELLIOT STORY

In 1956, news from the steamy jungles of Ecuador spread rapidly around the world. Five young American men had been mercilessly killed by members of the Auca (Woadani) tribe - the very same people those young men had gone to serve and befriend. That seemingly senseless tragedy has become an inspirational marvel as family members of those young men have now befriended that very same tribe.

This is the story of one of the brave torchlighters who lost his life that fateful day. Jim Elliot spent his youth preparing to share the Gospel with those who'd never heard it. But nothing could have prepared him for the dangers and challenges he would face in the jungles of Ecuador. The remote Auca tribe was suspicious and antagonistic toward even the friendliest gestures from outsiders.

ABOUT THE CORRIE TEN BOOM STORY

Corrie ten Boom and her family repair broken clocks and watches. But as the evil of World War II sweeps through their city, a new kind of "watch" comes to their care: an innocent Jewish baby, desperately needing protection from the cruelty of the Nazi invaders. How will the ten Booms keep this baby and many others out of harm's way, and what will be the cost of serving God amidst unthinkable evils? When faith is tested, hope is tried, and love is strained, will Corrie's God prevail? This gripping episode of theTorchlighters is an amazing story of courage, sacrifice, and forgiveness.


WoW!  What rich history of Heroes of the Faith to present to your children.  I was very impressed with watching the online reviewers version of Corrie Ten Boom and Jim Elliott.  Their lives are excellent examples of what we should want your children to know about standing up for what you believe.  Their stories should never die. These torchlighters dvds would make excellent Easter basket gifts.  Read to the bottom of this post and find out how you can get $10 off when you purchase the 12 package set of dvds.

ABOUT THE TORCHLIGHTERS

The Torchlighters series began when creator Bill Curtis was reading biographies of great Christian heroes to his 10 year old daughter. After finishing a chapter about missionary Gladys Aylward, she looked up at her dad and said, "I want to be a missionary when I grow up."

Realizing how clearly the power of this story moved his own child's heart, the Torchlighters Heroes of the Faith animated series for children was conceived. 

"Young people are often drawn to heroes in the sports and entertainment industry," says Curtis. "Many of these figures convey values contrary to our faith. We wanted to offer parents an alternative. We wanted to offer parents the opportunity to share with their children the stories of real heroes whose lives have had a lasting impact for the Kingdom of God."

The first 12 episodes have been bundled into a 12-pack. Each of the 12 discs includes a 30-minute animated story, four-lesson curriculum in PDF, feature-length documentary on the hero, and English and Spanish languages and subtitles. The episodes included in the 12-pack are: 

Jim ElliotGladys AylwardWilliam Tyndale
Richard WurmbrandJohn BunyanPerpetua
Eric LiddellAmy CarmichaelWilliam Booth
Samuel MorrisAugustineCorrie ten Boom




To learn more about Torchlighters, visit http://www.torchlighters.org.

Torchlighters had graciously provided me with a code to supply to my blog readers which will enable you to get a $ 10 discount when you purchase the torchlighters 12 pack (item #501631d).  The code will expire on June 1, 2015.  A $10 discount will show on the cart summary on the bottom of the page.  You may call 800-523-0226 to order also.  You will receive the $10 discount as long as you mention the promo code.  Below is the Promo Code and the link where you can purchase the 12 pack dvd set.

Promo Code: tl12bluv



http://believerstrust.org/










bird n leaves page divider photo birdandleavesline.gif

Monday, March 30, 2015

The Ride Book by Kayla Davidson




http://www.kayladavidson.com/#!books/c8oq
Learning to ride a bicycle is a risky challenge for Olivia. She avoids this risk and even turns down ice cream, her favorite snack. What will encourage Olivia to overcome her fear and take a chance? The Ride gives children hope and understanding. Regardless of the size of the task or regardless of the person’s age, gaining strength and courage from the Lord is only a prayer away. In this, her second book, Kayla Davidson creates a fun, playful way to teach children how to include God in their everyday lives.

For More Information:

The Ride is available at Amazon.

I loved reading The Ride.  It was so encouraging to read a good Christian children's book.  Teaching a child what it means to ask God for help to conquer your fear.  This is an excellent book to read to young children to teach them to depend on God and ask Him for help.  Easy book for 2nd graders to read on their own. 




Kayla Davidson is the author of “The Ride” and “Daddy’s Little Squirrel”.Kayla Davidson grew up in a small ranching community in Texas andattended Texas A&M University. Kayla graduated from Angelo State University with a Bachelor’s degree in Elementary Education.  While at Angelo State University, Kayla was a member of the educational honor society Kappa Delta Phi and served as president.

Kayla is actively in her local community through the school system, service organizations, and her local church.  Kayla is currently serving on the West Texas Rehabilitation’s Board of Trustees and the Advisory Board for the Laura W. Bush Institute for Women’s Health.

Kayla lives on a ranch in Texas with her husband and two daughters. She enjoys reading, gardening, playing the piano, and “helping” her husband on the ranch.

For More Information

Visit Kayla’s website.
Connect with Kayla on Facebook and Twitter.

a copy of this book was provided in exchange for my honest review by....
Pump Up Your Book

bird n leaves page divider photo birdandleavesline.gif

Thursday, March 26, 2015

WIN The Hobbit movie: the Battle of the Five Armies


One lucky winner will receive a Blu-Ray copy of The Hobbit The Battle of The Five Armies.  



Special Features on the Blu-Ray combo pack include:

• New Zealand: Home of Middle-earth Part 3
• Recruiting the Five Armies
• Completing Middle-earth: A Six-Part Saga
• Completing Middle-earth: A Seventeen-Year Journey
• The Last Goodbye: Behind the Scenes
• Music Video
• Trailers


The prize will be sent via FedEx or USPS. No P.O. Boxes please.
Each household is only eligible to win One (1) Blu-ray The Hobbit: Battle of the Five Armies via blog reviews and giveaways. Only one entrant per mailing address per giveaway. If you have won the same prize on another blog, you will not be eligible to win it again. Winner is subject to eligibility verification.  I will draw winner on April 18th. 

Now how to win. Take the quiz in the widget on this post.  Leave a comment with the results.  Be sure to also tell me how I can contact you if you are the winner. 

Random Integer Generator

Here is your random number:
3 
Timestamp: 2015-04-18 13:27:58 UTC

Warner Home Video supplied these materials to me.


bird n leaves page divider photo birdandleavesline.gif

Wednesday, March 25, 2015

ITGIRL4LIFE by Tamara Branch

http://www.pumpupyourbook.com/2014/12/20/pump-up-your-book-presents-itgirl4life-virtual-book-publicity-tour/



Title: ITGIRL4LIFE
Author: Tamara Branch
Publisher: Heart Project Publishing
Pages: 98
Genre: YA/Self-Esteem
Format: Paperback/Kindle
Writer, artist and speaker, Tamara Branch serves up 40 bite-sized chapters on how to build unshakable self-confidence, honor your life, and shine bright in the world, in ITGIRL4LIFE: How to bring out your special something and so much more. Packed with sage advice, life-changing insights and affirmations to help you soar, ITGIRL4LIFE offers ideas, tools and principles that you can reference and build upon, supporting you in becoming your best. Get ready to fall in love with your own wisdom, beauty and strength.

For More Information

ITGIRL4LIFE is a excellent book.  I didn't know what I was getting into when I asked to do this tour.  This book was written with girls in mind, however, it holds excellent advice for everyone.  I plan on using this as a tool resource for class meetings in my classroom. 

Here's a sample of what you'll find in the book....


Now who says this advice is just for girls?  We all can use this kind of inspiration.  I know some 2nd & 4th grade boys that could use these words of encouragement. This book is awesomeness. 
Take a peek inside the book here.



“I believe in the power, beauty, strength and amazing potential of girls. I believe girls deserve to feel extraordinary. I believe that when girls shine their light, they are unstoppable!”
- ITGIRL4LIFE by Tamara Branch

Tamara Branch is from New York, born and raised in the Bronx. She is thrilled to share her first book release, ITGIRL4LIFE, kicking off the ITGIRL4LIFE self-esteem movement to empower girls to stand up, stand out and shine bright in the world.

Tamara has worked as a professional model and actor for almost two decades. She strutted down the runway for designers Calvin Klein, Donna Karen and Christian Dior, acted in a few independent films, co-hosted PBS New York’s education series, “What’s up in Technology” and appeared T.V. commercials and print ads for Levi’s, Old Navy, Hershey’s, Colgate, Kellogg’s Special K, Revlon, Hanes, Nike and many others. A Penn State alumnus and lifelong student of personal development, Tamara is deeply passionate about uplifting the human spirit.

After graduating from Institute for Integrative Nutrition, studying under Deepak Chopra, Dr. Andrew Weil and some of the top health and wellness experts in the world, she was inspired to raise the bar on her own ‘self care’ and support others in living more vibrantly. She is an abstract artist and teaches a dynamic dance class, where she gets to fuse her varied background, having trained in everything from jazz, ballet and modern to Afro-Caribbean and Salsa.

Tamara was recently asked to become a Female Visionary Author guest blogger for The Brave Heart Women Global Community.  She’s a SAG/AFTRA member since 1998, a member of Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators and is represented by Abrams Artists Agency.

Tamara currently lives in Los Angeles, California, with her husband of seven years and offers ITGIRL4LIFE workshops to assist girls on their self empowerment journey.
Her latest book is the YA/self-esteem book, ITGIRL4LIFE.

For More Information
Divider 9

GIVEAWAY

Divider 9

Tamara Branch is giving away a $25 iTunes Gift Card!

Terms & Conditions:
  • By entering the giveaway, you are confirming you are at least 18 years old.
  • One winner will be chosen via Rafflecopter.
  • This giveaway begins January 5 and ends March 27.
  • Winner will be contacted via email on Monday, March 30.
  • Winner has 48 hours to reply.
Good luck everyone!

ENTER TO WIN!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

http://www.pumpupyourbook.com/2014/12/20/pump-up-your-book-presents-itgirl4life-virtual-book-publicity-tour/



a copy of this book was provided in exchange for my honest review by....
Pump Up Your Book


bird n leaves page divider photo birdandleavesline.gif

Monday, March 23, 2015

Jesus Sees Us Doll & Book review with $10 discount @ Amazon

How do you introduce your child to Jesus?

Imagine your children took the same interest and wonder in Jesus and the Christian message as they did in princesses, fairies, and elves… Jesus Sees Us is a packaged Jesus Christ doll that has the same comforting power as a child’s favorite toy or blanket, but is rooted in lessons that last a lifetime. Children respond to the comfort of tangible items when they are young, so why not make that item Jesus and the comfort He gives to ignite their faith? The accompanying book is a tool to assist you in engaging your child and starting the conversation about Jesus’ teachings.

By the time a child turns three years old, he or she already has the capability to relate to Jesus. Children can understand that, like them, Jesus was a baby with parents who loved Him. They can understand that Jesus grew up to be a man who loved everyone and taught people to do the same. Children become excited and inquisitive when they can master these facts, ultimately making them more open to deeper conversations and ideas about faith.

The Jesus Sees Us doll is an integral part of fostering your child’s initial introduction to Jesus. Even though we talk to our children about Jesus or take them to Sunday services, they are not always able to understand the importance of the Christian message. Jesus Sees Us is a tool that makes Jesus, His teachings, and the concept of faith both relatable and positive to young children by introducing Him as the loving and forgiving presence in our lives. The doll becomes the tangible connection to the stories and lessons in the book. He is the touchable source of comfort that a child can relate to. The Jesus Sees Us doll has a soft body and a warm, welcoming face. His arms and hands are open, inviting your child to hold him, engage with him, and pray with him. The Jesus Sees Us doll allows your child to “play out” the valuable and timeless lessons of the Bible. 



With Easter fast approaching I have this beautiful offer.  What better thing for your young ones to find on Easter Sunday morning than a Jesus doll and book about Jesus.  This doll says Happy Resurrection (not literally) but can't you just see it with his arms spread wide. What better way to teach a child that God is with us than to have a doll that they can carry everywhere with them.  A beautiful tool!  I'm going to add mine to the church nursery.  The book is wonderful too.  It has short little stories teaching your little ones about Jesus and the good He wants us to do. The thing I like most is that you can use any Bible version you wish to read.  The scripture that is shown is just the verse address. (You can see this in the picture above the scripture verse address is in the banner on the bottom right hand page.  This is how the whole book is set up.)  No scripture quoted.   I know everyone has their preference of Bible versions.   The lessons included in this book are:
  • Share with others
  • Respect Adults
  • Show Love to others
  • Forgive others
  • Be a peacemaker
  • Prayer
  • Having faith and trust in God
  • Helping others
  • Helping the sick
  • Telling the truth
This book will also go into the church nursery.  The illustrations are big, bold and colorful.  They are bond to keep young ones attention.  Visit Jesus Sees Us web site here

About the doll:
 Jesus Sees Us was created by two mothers of preschool-ages children looking for an engaging and relate able way to introduce Jesus and their Faith to their children!
Appropriate for Ages 2-6+ / SRP $35
****** Reg. price $35.99/ Now $24.99 @   AMAZON  $10 OFF******

A copy of this book/doll set was provided for my viewing in exchange for my honest review by ...

bird n leaves page divider photo birdandleavesline.gif

Saturday, March 21, 2015

National World Downs Syndrome Day





In Honor of my Beautiful Niece!  

You rock Girl!  





bird n leaves page divider photo birdandleavesline.gif

Friday, March 20, 2015

Derek the Dragon series

http://www.pumpupyourbook.com/2015/01/31/pump-up-your-book-presents-derek-the-dragon-childrens-book-collection-virtual-book-publicity-tour/


TitleDerek The Dragon

Author: Leela Hope
Publisher: Independent Self Publishing
Publication Date: January 26, 2015
Pages: 22
ASIN:  B00SSFWFEI
Genre: Childrens Books
Format: eBook (.mobi – Kindle) / PDF
Purchase The Book – Amazon

Derek The Dragon
Do your kids ever feel sad?
Do they have trouble making friends?
An amazing story for all ages to enjoy, aimed at children 0-5 years of age. Watch as Derek the Dragon learns about the meaning of happiness in this tale. Come and meet an adventurous dormouse who decides that he can change his lot in life and through caring about others he ends up saving his village. The story is told through rhyming verse and vivid illustration. Derek the Dragon contains a great message about caring and friendship for parents to share with their children.

Divider 9

TitleDerek The Dragon And The Missing Socks

Author: Leela Hope
Publisher: Independent Self Publishing
Publication Date: January 25, 2015
Pages: 22
ASIN: B00SRWHITY
Genre: Childrens Books
Format: eBook (.mobi – Kindle) / PDF
Purchase The Book – Amazon

Derek The Dragon And The Missing Socks
Do your kids forget to clean up their rooms?
Have they ever asked you to find things for them?
This story is pure family entertainment. It is great for kids 2-82 but it is aimed at the 0-5 age group. The book covers a very important life skill, cleaning. Derek the dragon does not like to clean, but he learns that he needs to get his house clean if he is ever going to find his lucky socks. Devin the dormouse comes to help his friend and shows him the way to get his house clean. The friends clean the cave and find the lucky socks. The story is brought to life through vivid illustrations and is told in rhyming verse.

Divider 9

TitleDerek The Dragon and Princess Dayna

Author: Leela Hope
Publisher: Independent Self Publishing
Publication Date: January 25, 2015
Pages: 22
ASIN: B00SRVFCI4
Genre: Childrens Books
Format: eBook (.mobi – Kindle) / PDF
Purchase The Book – Amazon

Derek The Dragon and Princess Dayna
Do you or your kids have trouble with people who are different?
Do your kids have trouble making friends?
This is a terrific story aimed at kids 0-5, and yet, it is fun for the whole family to read and enjoy. Derek the Dragon, the dormouse, Devin and Princess Dayna all learn a lot about friendship. The book deals with misunderstandings and stereotypes, but in a way that is very palatable for little children to understand. The villagers are worried about a dragon flying around their village. They send their princess off to deal with the situation. The story is told in rhyming verse and featuring dynamic illustrations. It is a story for the whole family to enjoy.

These three Derek the Dragon books are fun and colorful.  A delight to read rhyming verse books to young ones.  The reader will learn important lessons about friendship, caring, taking care of your things and more.  I loved the lessons that could be taught through reading these books.  Great for building a conversation. 
You can visit the author's guest post here.

 PUYB Meet the Author
Leela Hope is a writer with over 22 years of experience in writing endearing children’s fiction. Her lively characters have entranced and captivated her audience, and she has taken great joy in writing the three series of books, each beautifully illustrated with love and care. Her stories concentrate on the adventures of floppy eared bunnies and wide-eyed children learning lessons in life, before returning home wiser and eager for sleep. leela hope writes her stories to entertain the very young, but also to educate. Her vision is always of a parent sitting on a child’s bed, reciting the stories each night, while the young one drifts off to sleep, lulled into a dream world full of fun and adventure.

From her very earliest years of childhood, Leela made up stories in her head, telling them to her younger brother and sister. The stories flowed easily from her mind, and it wasn’t long before she realized she had a gift for writing. By the age of 14, she had already written a small book of short stories for her own entertainment, and by the age of 22, she had published her first full-fledged children’s fiction in several magazines. Leela hope was destined to be an author and she knew exactly what genre of fiction she wanted to dedicate her life too.

Born in San Diego, California, and still residing in the area, Leela studied English Literature at Berkeley, earning a degree in 1989. Her writing covers a span of several genres, but she always returns to her first love, children’s fiction. She enjoys scuba diving and visiting wildlife parks, seeking new inspiration for cuddly characters for her stories. leela hope lives in an urban area of San Diego and is presently at work on a new book.

Connect with Leela:
Amazon Author Page: http://www.amazon.com/Leela-hope/e/B00ERYI2A0/ref=la_B00ERYI2A0_pg_2?rh=n%3A283155%2Cp_82%3AB00ERYI2A0&page=2&ie=UTF8&qid=1422744644

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100008346312646

Twitter:  https://twitter.com/leelahopee

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/9848538.Leela_hope

ecopies of Leela's books were provided in exchange for my honest review by....

Pump Up Your Book


bird n leaves page divider photo birdandleavesline.gif

Thursday, March 19, 2015

I Love Grass by Maria Boston

http://outskirtspress.com/webPage/isbn/9781478725688

There are so many things to love about grass. We can love the way it looks, the way it smells - even the way it changes its green from season to season! Read on to add to your experiences with grass. 

I Love Grass is a refreshing return to life’s simple pleasures. The book brings out the nature-lover in every child by calling their attention to this, and other, wonders of Earth.
I Love Grass returns young readers to a simpler time of wonderment over the marvels of the natural world. The newly released book by children’s author Maria Boston is published by Outskirts Press.
The first in a new series of children’s books, I Love Grass offers an alternative focus to today’s juvenile reader. The book draws their attention from the mind-numbing stimuli of electronics and computer-generated graphics back to organic things of beauty. It’s the story of one child’s excitement over something so simply ethereal – an oft-unnoticed and unappreciated patch of grass. Through this overlooked foliage, the young girl learns to appreciate the beauty of Earth’s abundance, and revels in the quiet presence of nature.
Parents will appreciate the lessons in I Love Grass, a book that inspires quiet introspection and helps lay the foundation necessary to build future generations of environmentally conscious adults.

Here is another spring story.  Very cute book for young ones that are just branching off reading on their own.  I love the illustrations.  They look like pictures of art done in needle point;  Very cute and captivating and gives the illustration almost a dimensional effect.  This book will be added to my classroom library.  For more information about this book visit here.




Maria Boston has always written children's stories. She pulls on her rich experiences from her own and her daughters' childhoods. "I Love Grass" is her first published book. She lives in Virginia with her two daughters and their dog. She can be reached by email at mboston3@ymail.com. 

A copy of this book was provided by Bostick Communications in exchange for my honest review.

bird n leaves page divider photo birdandleavesline.gif