VeggieTales Merry Larry and the True Light Of Christmas Review and Giveaway

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Big Idea and Operation Christmas Child have teamed up to release a new VeggieTales Christmas movie, “Merry Larry and the True Light of Christmas.” I am pretty sure VeggieTales needs no introduction because everyone knows that they are fabulous, fun, faith based movies that teach children important life lessons.

“To celebrate their 20^th anniversaries, Operation Christmas Child and VeggieTales have teamed up to let kids around the world know that they are special and loved by God. Just as the new VeggieTales movie Merry Larry and the True Light of Christmas reminds us that the true meaning of Christmas is the birth of Jesus Christ, shoebox gifts demonstrate God’s love in a tangible way and serve as an example of His greatest gift to us.”

A moms review:
"Merry Larry and the True Light of Christmas" is the newest DVD in the VeggieTales series. The DVD is about 47 minutes long and has lots of great bonus features as well.

Other Bonus Features Include:

• Behind the Scenes with Si Robertson from Duck Commander
• Sing Alongs
• "Light of Christmas" lyric video by Owl City featuring Toby Mac
• English and Spanish Subtitles
• Discussion Guide

"Merry Larry and the True Light of Christmas," is a fun, engaging and educational DVD. In this DVD children will learn what Christmas is really about. Children will learn about compassion, selflessness and helping others in need. These are all lessons we try to instill in our children not just at Christmastime but throughout the year.

Larry, The Cucumber, is back with silly songs and crazy antics. In this DVD Merry Larry is a enthusiastic Christmas elf at the Spring Valley Mall. And no VeggieTale movie is complete without Bob, The Tomato. Bob plays Phillip Fleagle the mall manager at the Spring Valley Mall. As head elf Merry Larry hears countless children's requests for what they hope to find under the Christmas tree. Then one day a little girl, with a big heart, Little Christina shows up with just one wish, to help a friend in need. Larry sets off to create the biggest light show EVER to help Christina. And everyone learns the "true light of Christmas!" They learn that there is more to Christmas than than material gifts, holiday lights, decorations and trying to outshine the competition!

"Christmas shines most bright and true when you give the love God gave to you!" 

This DVD also features a very special guest narrator, Si Robertson from Duck Dynasty as Silas the Okra! Big Ideas stated in a press release, "We’re especially excited to be adding a celebrity okra to our star-studded cast of vegetables to give our new holiday DVD added fun and sparkle, while illuminating the core values of VeggieTales,” said Leslie Ferrell, President of Big Idea Entertainment. “Si Robertson is a perfect fit because, like VeggieTales, Duck Commander is all about celebrating faith and family.”

This was a terrific DVD and really helped reiterate to my children the real meaning of Christmas and how important it is for us to care about others and throughout the year and especially around the holidays! You will love the silly songs as well as the beautiful song by Owl City featuring Toby Mac, "Light of Christmas."

There is still plenty of time to participate in Operation Christmas Child and make a child in need very happy this Christmas. You can pack your own shoebox and drop it off by November 25th or you can even build one online. This is a fantastic way to teach your children about serving others and focusing on the true meaning of Christmas. If you can't put together a box consider helping another charity or cause this holiday season. Check around your local area to see where you can donate food, gifts, clothes, etc. Or perhaps you can help serve Thanksgiving or Christmas dinner at a local shelter. There are many toy drives as well like Operation Homefront drop boxes can be found at any local Dollar Tree, Toys For Tots drop boxes can be found at many local businesses, Angel Tree Ministries, etc.

Freebies:
Visit the Samaritan’s Purse & Veggie Tales webpage to download a coupon, coloring pages, discussion guide, party event guides, shoebox labels and more. Also check this website for some cute VeggieTale present tags.

 You can see a trailer of Merry Larry and the True Light of Christmas here:

How does your family help others throughout the year or around the holidays?

Gwyns review (7 yrs old):

I really liked the movie we watched it a bunch of times. I loved the silly songs and learned about helping others!

Links to follow:
-Veggie Tales Website
-Veggie Tales Facebook page 
-Veggie Tales Twitter page

Where to buy:
You can order it directly off the VeggieTales website for $14.99 currently reduced to $8.99. I also suggest visiting Amazon because many times you can get it there on sale.

Now time for the giveaway: 
Big Idea has graciously offered to giveaway a copy of Merry Larry to one lucky reader. Only the first entry is mandatory. Other entries are optional and give you extra chances. This giveaway is not affiliated with Facebook in any way. The winner will be posted on the blog and will be emailed. Winner must reply within 48 hrs with their contact information or another winner will be chosen. Prize will be mailed via Big Idea. USA only!

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Review and Giveaway The Sparkle Box - A Gift With The Powre To Change Christmas

Christmas is only 52 days away!!! Are you ready? Do you have "A Gift with the Power to Change Christmas?" Well if your on the look for one then "The Sparkle Box" is just what you need. This fabulous book is targeted for children ages 4-8 yrs old but it will definitely become a favorite for the ENTIRE family. 

A moms review:

The Sparkle Box is a beautifully illustrated 32 page 10x10 hardcover book which even included your very own sparkle box. The book is published by Ideals Publications and written by Jill Hardie and illustrated by Christine Kornacki.

I was more than EXCITED to be selected for this review. I was ecstatic, overjoyed, thrilled..... Before signing up for the review I watched the trailer and immediately knew this was a book that I needed to  read to my children. I am always on the search for heartwarming, wonderfully illustrated books that teach children valuable life lessons. I get so frustrated with books that talk down to children, treat them like they are not intelligent and have no lesson to be learned. 


  THE SPARKLE BOX - Official Book Trailer from Ideals Books on Vimeo.

I would like to issue a mascara warning for this book. Yup this momma cried while reading it. I automatically consider any book I cry during a 5 STAR book. 

The Sparkle Box is about a young boy named Sam who learns the "REAL" meaning of Christmas and the secret about the special gift inside the Sparkle Box. Sam just like every other boy and girl has begun to make his Christmas list. At the top of the list is a shiny red train that he spotted at the toy store. But at home Sam begins to get even more excited and a little (okay a lot) curious about a beautiful sparkly silver box with a blue bow that sits on the mantel. He asks his mom what is in the box and she replies that its a special gift which has not yet been filled. The next day Sam and his mom drop off food and blankets at a local shelter. Sam is confused, he didn't notice anyone in the building that looked hungry or cold and he doesn't quite understand  how someone could not have enough food to eat or blankets to keep warm. On the way home he spots a man sleeping on a park bench and his mother explains to him that the man has no place to live and is probably someone who would receive some of the items they donated. At home Sams curiosity sparks again and he asks his mom if the Sparkle Box has been filled yet. His mom tells him that she has indeed placed something into the box but that its not ready to be opened yet because a couple more things must be added.

Now because I don't want to spoil the amazing book for you I will not continue to tell you all the amazing things Sam and his family do for others throughout the Christmas season which helps show Sam how fortunate his family really is. Every time Sam asks what in the Sparkle Box his mom tells him that another item has been added but that it's not quite ready yet. Then Christmas morning arrives. A very excited Sam runs down the stairs to spot a shiny red train in front of the Christmas tree along with the sparkly silver Sparkle Box. With tons of excitement Sam lifts the lid on the box and inside he finds 3 pieces of paper. Puzzled he begins to read the words on the paper........Now go buy the book or enter the giveaway to find out the SECRETS inside the SPARKLE BOX.

This book is fabulous and after reading the book just one time to the children both understood what the message was. They were very excited to put our Sparkle Box together and to show their daddy when he got home from work. They explained that Sparkle Box was where we put gifts for Jesus to give to him on his birthday.

Prior to receiving "The Sparkle Box" we had already begun getting prepared to spread JOY to those less fortunate this Christmas season. I had heard about a fabulous organization called Operation Christmas Child at a local homeschool expo several months ago and decided that we were going to put together a couple of shoe boxes with all sorts of goodies to send to a child in need somewhere in the World. I am so happy to share that we were also able to get several families from our homeschool group on board and should have about 20+ boxes to drop off at a local church. So the first item we put in our Sparkle Box was a slip of paper with Operation Christmas Child written on it. Yesterday we also wrote 5 "Letters of Thanks" to soldiers overseas. They will receive these letters around Thanksgiving. I had also explained to the children that we don't just need to do selfless acts at Christmas and that we can do them all year round. 

Other items we hope to add to our Sparkle Box this Christmas season are: donate coats to a coat drive, donate 5 toys to Dollar Trees Operation Homefront, make a monetary donation to St. Judes, write Christmas cards to soldiers, donate food to a food pantry and donate 2 toys to toys for tots. If you need some ideas be sure to check out the Sparkle Box Gift Ideas and Activities and Materials tabs on The Sparkle Box website (there is even a coloring page).

  

Each December I lay out our favorite Christmas books on our coffee table and The Sparkle Box is certainly going to be finding a spot on the table and cherished for years to come.

I hope you will join believers across the country as we do selfless acts this Christmas season and offer them up to Jesus as our gift to Him!

"You are the light of the world - like a city on a mountain, glowing in the night for all to see." Matthew 5:14 (NIV)

Synopsis:

Here is the touching story of a young boy who unknowingly participates in a powerful new Christmas tradition: honoring Jesus on His birthday by giving to others.

Sam is so excited about Christmas! He's thinking about his Christmas list, looking forward to holiday parties, and puzzling over one very mysterious gift: a sparkly box sitting on the mantel. In the midst of the festivities, Sam and his family participate in various acts of kindness to others. On Christmas morning, when Sam finally opens the Sparkle Box, he finds only slips of paper that record the family's good deeds. Sam's mom explains that the things that they've been doing are, in fact, a gift for Jesus, for Jesus said that whatever we do for those in need, we do for Him.

Author Bio

Author Jill Hardie and her family began placing a gift for Jesus under their Christmas tree as a way of bringing more meaning to the holiday.  The first time they opened His gift, the commercialism of the season melted away and they felt a profound joy and peace.  Jill hopes that The Sparkle Box will spark a new Christmas tradition, bringing light into thousands of lives.  

Illustrator Bio

At a very early age, Christine Kornacki developed a love for painting and bringing stories to life.  After receiving a BFA in illustration from the University of Hartford, her dreams of illustrating children's books began to take shape. She spends her days painting in her studio, which adjoins a charming cafe in New Haven, Connecticut. 

Gwyns review (6 yrs old):

I liked the book a lot it had the Christmas spirit. My favorite picture in the book is of the Jesus stable. I learned that its good to show goodness to people who need help. Giving to people who need help makes me happy and Jesus happy. 

Links to follow:

-The Sparkle Box Facebook

-The Sparkle Box Website

-Author Video

Where to buy:
You can visit The Sparkle Box website or your local bookstore to purchase the book for $19.99. You can also purchase The Sparkle Box on Amazon, right now its on SALE!

Now time for the giveaway:  Ideals Publications has graciously offered to give away a copy of the The Sparkle Box to one lucky reader. Only the first entry is mandatory. Other entries are optional and give you extra chances. This giveaway is not affiliated with Facebook in any way. The winner will be posted on the blog and will be emailed. Winner must reply within 48 hrs with their contact information or another winner will be chosen. Prize will be mailed via the marketing company.

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*Disclaimer - I received a copy of The Sparkle Box in return for my honest review. 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." Please note that prices indicated in the post are subject to change. I was not compensated for my review and all opinions are our own! Many of the links found on my side bars and in my blog posts are affiliate links. As a result, I might get paid money and I will most likely spend the money on homeschool supplies.

Operation Christmas Child - Spreading Joy Via A Shoe Box

This year we are participating in Operation Christmas Child. I learned about this organization at a local homeschool expo back in July. I thought it sounded like an amazing opportunity for our family to help out a child in need. After researching it more and reading some blog posts from my friends over at iHomeschool Network I decided this would be one of the organizations we help out this Christmas. Our family is personally going to try to do 1-2 shoe boxes but I have posted details about Operation Christmas Child on our homeschool group board and hope to get the 80+ families that are part of the group to participate by filling 1-2 boxes.

Just imagine how wonderful a child will feel getting a shoe box filled with awesome gifts!!!!! 

I am writing this post to let you know about this organization so that maybe you too will join in participating. There is plenty of time to purchase several items (check out the clearance sections and dollar sections at your local stores) to place either into a wrapped cardboard or plastic shoe box. I plan on using plastic shoe boxes from Dollar Tree.

It is super easy and here is what you need to do:
1) Get a cardboard shoe box or plastic shoe box container
2) Fill it with various items (see list above for ideas)
3) Fill out the label for the box which can be found here. If your interested in tracking your box to learn more about where it goes make the $7 mailing donation online and print the special barcode label.
4) Include a check for $7 to cover the shipping cost in your box (if you are not making your donation online). You can also include a photo of your family, your address and a note...you never know your kids make make a pen pal.
5) Then drop off your boxes during National collection week which is November 12 -19, 2012. Mark your calendar! You can find out where your closest drop-off point is by searching OCC drop-off locations.

That's it...super easy. Don't forget to also get your friends, family, homeschool group, church group, etc involved as well. Read more here or view the video below to learn more about Operation Christmas Child.


There are many other ways you can get involved as well besides packing shoe boxes. Check with your Regional office to see what other ways you can help.

The Georgia Regional office is having a family day on November 17th. Most likely we will be attending this event. The event lasts about 1 hr and families will experience the environment of the processing center and participate in specific activities that will teach them more about Operation Christmas Child.

Georgia Regional Office
5755 North Point Parkway, Suite 66
Alpharetta, GA 30022
770-777-9342 phone

Follow Operation Christmas Child:
-Facebook
-Twitter (hashtag #operationchristmaschild)
-Blog

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