This recent Parent’s Choice Award winner DVD collection does a great job in teaching children and adults a like American history, being appreciative, and the importance of friendship. Stories are narrated by people such as Danny Glover and Chief Jake Swamp. The illustrations from the very books are brought to life making those familiar with the stories and even those who aren’t in for a real treat!

Run time of the collection is over 90 minutes. You can have children watch all stories at one time or split them up however you choose. It’s a great collection to work into a lesson plan if you are thinking of getting a copy for your home or school or homeschool classroom. Children will be taught many things about the Pilgrims, The New World, Native American’s, Historical figures, and more.

**Coloring Page is also available for this title on the the NewKideo.com website!*

If you are interested in purchasing the Giving Thanks…and More Stories To Celebrate American Heritage DVD collection, it’s $14.95. It’s a must have for home, libraries, and the classroom!

Disclaimer: I was sent the above product mentioned for review. This review is 100% my opinion and has not been edited or reviewed by anyone. I was not compensated in any other way for this product review.

“Kids Music That’s All Grown Up!”

We jumped at the opportunity to review Debbie and Friends’ New Story Songs and Sing Alongs DVD! This DVD features 10 animated music videos and bonus live performance footage, Story Songs & Sing Alongs will be available from NewSound Kids distribution on March 29, 2011.

The  Debbie and Friends’ songs, including tuneful twists on the familiar tales of of “Little Red Riding Hood” and “Jack and the Beanstalk,” plus original songs like “Willy Won’t” and “Home Run Ronnie.” Each offers an entrancing, sing-along story line set to catchy pop music. Most of the songs are also featured on Debbie and Friends’ two Parents’ Choice and iParenting Media award winning CDs, Story Songs and Sing Alongs and More Story Songs & Sing Alongs.

The DVD also features two live concert videos featuring Debbie Cavalier and her band performing “So So Happy” and “Simon Says,” plus a behind-the-scenes chat with Debbie, hilarious concert outtakes and fun fan interviews.

When this DVD plays it gets both my kids attention! My daughter personally loves the Three Little Pigs story song. She always giggles and shrieks for the little pigs to hide when the wolf comes by. I really enjoy the music videos for kids because  they are so much fun.  It really makes me happy to see how much this collection brightens my kids day! And I’d one day hope to thank Debbie personally for such a great collection of songs brought together for children and parents alike to enjoy.

I highly recommend this DVD and I know if we are out on vacation or if the kids are off somewhere rather than at home that we’ll be bringing this DVD along!

Debbie maintains a blog, Kids Music Matters, with regularly updated band and industry news. Soon Debbie will be offering activity suggestions to parents and educators to use with the new DVD.

Please visit the Debbie and Friends’ website to learn more about, well, Debbie and all her friends!  You can also see the impressive list of all the awards they’ve won.  Don’t forget that The Debbie and Friends’ New Story Songs and Sing Alongs DVD will arrive on March 29th – so be on the lookout!

^{CLICK HERE TO CHECK OUT DEBBIE’S YOUTUBE CHANNEL!}

**Disclaimer: The product/s mentioned above will be given to me free of charge from the company or PR firm in exchange for being featured on Connected2Christ.

Pretty Please Press publishes various titles of children’s books that were made to be read aloud and later discussed. Each of the books available are hoped to be building blocks in helping to enlighten and teach children various values through each issue displayed with the end results of learned life long character skills.

A special thanks to Pretty Please Press for giving me the opportunity to Review and Giveaway a set of their character building books! I hope you benefit from the short write up of each book below.

My thoughts…

Kick Block Punch by Jacquie Hann

This book is the perfect story for children who may have an interest in martial arts. We find the main character, a boy named Sam, learning that to master a certain skill he must start at the bottom and work his way up. This story teaches patience, practice, and determination and is perfect for discussion. I personally love seeing the character development through the story. This book is quite special to me because I took karate classes growing up and learned these lessons in self-discipline first hand.

Basset Ballerina by Laura Aimee Garn & Illustrated by Valerie Sokolova

This book will be quite a treat to all dog lovers out there. I know a friend of mine who has a basset hound, and I’m sure she would just eat this book right up!  I love this whimsical tale of Bella the Basset hound whose dream is to become a great ballerina. The illustrations in this book are ever so delightful. Though everyone tries to deter Bella from the dream she has, she tries her very best no matter what, which is really counts the most.

Pynx by Jeffrey Greene

My husband being a fan of science fiction is a real fan of the illustrations that can be found throughout the pages of this book. The creatures have fun names Long- Tailed Lavender Cripe, White Fuzzbun, Blue Pipsqueak, and other names! In this story you’ll learn what it means to accept others despite their differences and to look within yourself in to try and make a point. Perfect story in teaching children to not be so quick to judge others who may live, look, and act a little different than themselves. It really makes me think about the song “Why can’t we be friends?”. 

The Scritchy Little Twittchell Sisters by Laura Aimee Gran and Illustrated by Erik Brooks

I literally laughed out loud when reading through this story. I grew up with four sisters, one older and three younger, so I can really relate to this book though quite a bit of the parts are exaggerated for amusement purposes, I’m sure. Siblings will fight, there’s no preventing that. In this book, despite the good, bad, and the sometimes ugly, the point put across is that through it all understanding and appreciation for each other can be learned. Anyone whom has a sibling especially girls with  sisters as well as their parents would really love this book, in my opinion.

Giveaway is now over.

Disclaimer: I was given a  set of book from Pretty Please Press to review. This review is 100% my opinion and has not been edited or reviewed by anyone. I was not compensated in any other way for this product review.