Watchman Pictures ~ Princess Cut DVD (Review)

While my daughter was home from college for Spring Break we made time to watch a DVD from Watchman Pictures, Princess Cut, that I had received for review. Promoted as a Romantic "Family Film," I was definitely more comfortable watching it with my daughter than I would have been with my tween and teen sons.

The cinematography is nicely done. The story?  Well, I personally think it could use a little work. While I appreciate much of the message of the film, there are some little details and inconsistencies that could have been refined. I will also note that it comes from a strongly Patriarchal point of view.

Short Synopsis:
The basic premise of the film is that Grace, a farm-grown college girl is dreaming of perhaps the infamous "Ring by Spring" as she has been dating a fellow for 15 months. She has apparently been through some previous relationships that didn't work out, but she's convinced that her current beau is going to present her with a "Princess Cut" ring at a special dinner he's arranged. When it turns out not to be a romantic proposal, but more a celebration with his college buddies and announcement of his engagement to someone else, Grace is understandably upset, and laments that there is no one out there for her.

Her little brother introduces some comedy into the story by surreptitiously placing a "want ad" in the paper which produces a parade of amusing, but unlikely suitors to her door.

Grace's mother is a bit of an enigma, her Father is caring but troubled by the status of the family farm, her best friend is a bad influence, a new neighbor is (thankfully) a doctor whose services are required during one tense scene, a new romantic interest pushes Grace to ignore her convictions (which I may or may not agree with, but the boyfriend pressuring her definitely brings up the opportunity to converse about acceptable behaviour and mental manipulation, no matter how minor the infraction).  Throughout the film there were some scenes that I felt were trying to connect some dots, but I never really saw the bigger picture. It is pretty obvious, however, that this movie promotes courtship based relationships, with parental approval.

Little details that got lost or were confusing~ 

• There is a huge college project that gets ruined~ big part of a scene, but we never find out what happens with that. With my Art Ed major college student watching with me, we BOTH wanted to know how that was resolved. 
• There is a blond girl who shows up at the beginning of the film, but then isn't seen until much later~ I understand that it was perhaps a bit of foreshadowing. However, I thought she was a different character, which ended up being very confusing to me when she did eventually show up. 
• Grace's family are soybean farmers, and they end up picking the beans by hand into baskets. At a certain point, they just leave the baskets in the field, as a machine starts working... Ack! Pick up the baskets before they get crushed ~ or don't show the machine working, and leave it entirely to our imagination. A minor thing, but it bothered me. 
• .... when a ring does show up, is it a "Princess Cut" ring? That's a detail that would have wrapped things up nicely, but we don't know the answer to that question. 

Deeper Issues and some general commentary about some of the themes:
A note about the 2nd blond I mentioned~ she is supposedly Grace's best friend. This is one place where I felt the film was inconsistent with the values it was trying to portray. It is implied that they have been best friends for a LONG time, not just since college. If Grace's parents were as conservative as suggested, I think they would have helped to steer Grace away from this unhealthy friendship while she was of an age to be fully under their influence. The friend is a bit of a troubled wild-child who gives very ungodly advice. I realistically know there will be other influences in an adult child's life, but in this particular family, I felt that the dynamic wasn't terribly believable.

If you are on the extremely conservative end of things and/or fall in the Patriarchal/Courting camp as I mentioned earlier, this film may suit your family admirably. However, those who don't fall into that camp will possibly take issue with the dynamic between Grace and her father, given her age. I will also note that if you are unfortunate enough not to live in an intact family unit (due to any number of circumstances, including death of a husband), the patriarchal tone of this film may not be something you will enjoy.

I certainly believe that a mother and father's job of "parenting" never ends, that offering guidance, and watching out for the best interests of their children is always the right and healthy thing to do, and I personally don't think it matters if they are a daughter or a son. However, at a certain point, the parent also needs to understand when their children are adults, that while guidance may still be offered, it won't necessarily be taken. Just like when they were little and we couldn't save them from every scraped knee or elbow, we can't always save them from the school of hard knocks as young adults either, no matter how much we hope to.

Young Adults ~ Sharing not Hiding
Parents ~ Advising not Instructing
Both~ Discussing
Communication {both ways} is key to healthy relationships

Not So Nutty Nitty Gritty 

As I mentioned at the beginning of my review, there * are * some good messages and themes. The discussion guide on the Princess Cut Resource page is actually really good, and each point is worth discussing with your young adults (Older teens+) BEFORE they get involved in any romantic relationships~ a few of the themes, with my thoughts:

• (2,3)God's wisdom and direction should be sought ~ before undertaking any relationship it's important to seek His guidance in prayer and the word
• (4) Parents should be honored ~ seek out their wisdom, honor their opinions
• (5) Pure, Godly friendships should be cultivated ~ good advice and peer pressure (if you will) to do the right thing
• (6)His timing should be waited on ~ don't push for a relationship before its time
• (7) The way a family (yours and theirs) is spoken about by a romantic interest should be noticed~ is the conversation honoring or disparaging? 

I believe the intent behind Princess Cut is good, but I, unfortunately, have to say once again, that while the filming was good, this story could have used some refining and possibly different directing. As is, I feel it isn't quite up to the standard that I have been seeing in today's Christian Films.

• Company: Watchman Pictures
• Product: Princess Cut
• Ages: Older teens would be my recommendation
• Price: $9.99

You can visit Watchman Pictures on their Social Media Pages: 

Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, Instagram, Google+, and YouTube

Please click the banner below to visit the TOS Homeschool Review Crew and see what others had to say (There are other viewpoints offered, so please do check them out). As always, I hope that this review was useful to you as you choose where best to spend your homeschool/entertainment budget.

Blessings~

Captain Bayley's Heir (Another Fantastic Heirloom Audio Production)Review)

Following fast on the heels of my most recent Heirloom Audio Productions review of In The Reign Of Terror, is this review of their newest title, Captain Bayley's Heir. This story mainly follows the adventures of a young English lad named Frank Norris.  Frank is falsely accused of theft, and upon his notion that his guilt is believed true by those closest to him (due to extreme circumstantial evidence), he heads to America, and California's Gold Rush Country. His hope is to return a rich man, with the ability to prove his innocence.  It also traces the circumstances of Frank's family~ his Uncle, Captain Bayley,  his cousin, Fred Barkley, and his "adopted cousin," Alice Hardy as events occur back in England.

As to the title~ there is some question throughout the story as to WHO, exactly is (or will be) Captain Bayley's heir, but you'll have to get nearly through the entire story to find out the answer to that question. ;)

So, to backtrack a tiny bit, if you haven't read any of my previous Heirloom Audio Productions Reviews, I received in the mail a 2 disc CD audio production (Radio Drama-style) of G. A. Henty's story Captain Bayley's Heir. Along with the physical CD, I was given access to the Live the Adventure Club Website, which offers bonus materials to go along with the CD, plus a whole lot more.

Live the Adventure Club is a unique subscription service. It offers:

• Three physical products shipped to your door per year (New Henty Audio Dramas, as they are produced)
• Educational Treasures and Teaching Resources which include Study Guides produced for those CDs, as well as History and Grammar Textbooks from the 1700s and 1800s
• The Ability to Stream over 500 Old-Time Radio Shows
• Listen and Learn Read Along Program
• Daily Inspiration and Devotionals
• Hundreds of Fun activities and Games
• Full Access to Live the Adventure Radio
• Community Forum to exchange ideas and tips

I will mention right here that there is a 3-Month Free Club Trial being offered (at the time of posting) with a deeply discounted $1.00 purchase of the 2-CD set of Captain Bayley's Heir, as well as $20 worth of Adventure Credits to use in their online store. That seems like one of those deals that is too good to pass up, in my opinion. ;) Be sure to check that out after you read the rest of my review. 

Now, I want to tell you a bit more about the Adventure club features as they relate specifically to the Audio Dramas. 

There are some online options for younger listeners that include coloring pages, word-searches, and other activities that relate to the time period of various audio drama productions. The word-searches can be completed online, or downloaded and printed. The letters can be reduced or enlarged in size to suit your child's needs. That's pretty cool attention to detail! 

Coloring Pages

Word-search

The Listen and Learn Along Program offers the ability to listen to each chapter of audio while reading along with the script (With each word highlighted as spoken in the color of your choice). 

Following the audio portion, your child can then take a listening/reading comprehension quiz to earn points towards an adventure badge. There are also more questions that offer the opportunity to think more deeply about the text, and what the character's motivations are, or what they might be thinking to cause them to act in a certain way, or say certain things. 

At the end of those deeper questions you will find a number of vocabulary words that are defined as you mouse over them. Sadly, I couldn't capture a screenshot while mousing over, but it does work nicely. ;)

This portion of the website is the multimedia version of the pdf Study Guides that I've mentioned in the past. These are still available as part of the Educational Treasures found on the website, if you prefer to have something to print and bring with you, or if you have limited internet access, are traveling, or what have you. Here are some screenshots of the pdf study guide.

The study guide still includes the comprehension questions (Listening Well), the digging deeper style of questions (Thinking Further), and the vocabulary words (Defining Words). It also includes some other interesting tidbits that Expand Your Learning with information that correlates to the story. At the end of the study guide you will find a list of extra reading resources for further expansion on the historical time presented, as well as 3 Bible Studies That focus on some of the themes in the story. In Captain Bayley's Heir the Bible studies are about:

• God's Grace
• Becoming A Christian
• Honoring Your Parents

They each include a number of statements, followed by Scriptures that back up those statements, and can provide a good opportunity for discussion.

This brings up something else~ in my last review I mentioned that I was disappointed that the ability to download the mp3s of the Audio Dramas was no longer an option, as that made it more difficult for my son to listen to the audio while traveling. I am happy to report that they are once again available as a downloadable zip file, and I appreciate that as the convenience it truly is. 

I am happy to say that this audio drama has lived up to my previous expectations, and the Live The Adventure Club as I mentioned, is a unique product, that I expect will be enjoyed by many households due to the vast number of resources and value that it offers.

Not So Nutty Nitty Gritty 

• Company: Heirloom Audio Productions
• Product: Captain Bayley's Heir
• Ages: 6-adult (Publisher's age) 10-Adult (my age recommendation)
• Price: As mentioned above, Heirloom Audio Productions is currently offering a $1.00, 3 month trial ~ (After the trial period is up the plan charges $24.97 every three months, and guarantees that three new physical CD sets will be sent three times per year as they are produced) this gives you the 2 CD set of their newest title Mr. Bayley's Heir and access to many MORE resources including the bonus features mentioned above.

You can visit Heirloom Audio Productions' Social Media pages on
Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and Google+

Please click the banner below to visit the TOS Homeschool Review Crew and see what others had to say. As always, I hope that this review was useful to you as you choose where best to spend your homeschool budget.

Blessings~

#hsreviews  #HeirloomAudio  #CaptainBayleysHeir #LiveTheAdventure  #BringingHentyBack  #AudioAdventures #AudioDrama

ESV Family Devotional Bible (Review and Giveaway)

I was recently sent a neat item for a review, the ESV Family Devotional Bible, published by Crossway. This is a complete Bible in the English Standard Version, with 130 different illustrated devotions, each centered around a passage in the Bible.

There are no center-column references, no concordance, no "Theme Index" beyond the devotional index near the end of the book. Just the Word of God with devotions that are geared towards a family audience, with occasional brief notes on words/word choices.

I appreciated the devotions I scanned (and the one that I planned for a Sunday School lesson), as they don't talk down to children, but they also don't go into more depth than is necessary. For instance, the devotion that centers around the story of Jesus and the Samaritan Woman at the Well simply notes that Jesus could tell her all about her sins. It didn't go into detail as to what her sin was, which I am grateful for when reading to younger children (although that is certainly included in the actual Scripture text... they didn't leave anything out).

The Bible includes some nicely detailed maps at the back, and the illustrations that accompany the devotions are pleasant if somewhat Anglo/Saxon in nature. Each devotion includes Questions for the Family (to gauge comprehension and stimulate conversation) and a Key verse that coordinates, but isn't necessarily from the same passage.

This is an easy-to-bring-with-you Bible that may be a helpful tool to incorporate more family devotion time throughout the year, and that can only be a good thing!

You can purchase your own copy of the ESV Family Devotional Bible from Amazon, but you might want to wait and see if you win my giveaway first! :)

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Blessings~

Disclosure (in accordance with the FTC’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising”): Many thanks to Propeller Consulting, LLC for providing this prize for the giveaway. Choice of winners and opinions are 100% my own and NOT influenced by monetary compensation. I did receive a sample of the product in exchange for this review and post.

Only one entrant per mailing address, per giveaway.  If you have won a prize from our sponsor Propeller / FlyBy Promotions in the last 30 days, you are not eligible to win.  Or if you have won the same prize on another blog, you are not eligible to win it again. Winner is subject to eligibility verification.

FishFlix.com Movie Review: Little Boy

The Old Schoolhouse Review Crew doesn't always have curriculum to review~ we've seen some games, music, and household/beauty products come along, and occasionally some movies.

This time around,  FishFlix.com  (which offers a huge inventory of Faith and Family Friendly movies) had a few movies for members of the crew to review.  I was sent the movie Little Boy.

Other titles that were reviewed by TOS Crew Members were
Do You Believe?, Living Waters: Intelligent Design in the Oceans of the Earth,
Faith of Our Fathers, and When Calls the Heart, Heart of the Family

Little Boy takes place during World War II. "Little Boy" is the nickname of a young boy, Pepper Busbee, who lives somewhere on the west coast.

Quick Synopsis:
Pepper's brother London wants to enlist, but is refused because of his flat feet, and their father determines that it is his duty to go to war in his son's place. This hits Pepper particularly hard, as he is something of an outcast, due in good part to his diminutive stature. His father appears to have spent a good deal of time on imaginary adventures with Pepper (Pepper's motto came from the frequent refrain of his father "Do you believe you can do this?" when facing a danger in their game), so he is losing not only his parent, but also his playmate to the war.

One of Pepper's "heros" is a magician Ben Eagle, who comes to visit the town. Pepper is called up on the stage, and appears to move a bottle from one end of a table to the other, simply because he believed he could do it. This begins Pepper's conviction that he can bring his father home from the war.

When one of the local priests gives a sermon on faith the size of a mustard seed, Pepper goes looking for answers. The older priest in town takes this as an opportunity to kill two birds with one stone, as it were. This introduces the secondary story line (And to me, personally, the more interesting story line) of an elderly Japanese gentleman (also an outcast) who returned to his home, after being released from one of the Japanese interment camps.

The priest finds a way to bring the two together, in the hopes that they will be able to help one another...

I won't tell you the rest of the story~ if you're intrigued you'll have to check it out for yourself. I *will* however, give you my impressions of the movie.

I watched it with a friend and my Eldest. I took seriously, and agree with, the PG13 rating. My Middlest kept Youngest occupied elsewhere while we watched (and DH watched football, but I think he would have enjoyed watching with us if the circumstances were different... ;) ).

Right off the bat we were struck with the beauty and quality of both the music and cinematography. It really felt as if you were being pulled into a Norman Rockwell painting. Well Done!  The acting went right along with that. I particularly enjoyed the Japanese character, Mr. Hashimoto.

As a general movie, I thought it was well done, and something that I could enjoy watching with appropriately aged friends and family~ no objectionable language, gratuitous violence, etc...

As a "Christian" film, I felt a bit of a "twinge" in the emphasis on an individual's faith "Do you believe you can do this?" vs placing that faith in God~ however, it opens up the opportunity to discuss real faith, vs an almost "Works-based" faith. Not a major criticism, but definitely worth keeping in mind, as you watch with your own worldview in mind. ;)

I will mention again the secondary story line that brought to light the discrimination shown towards Japanese-Americans during that time period. Not something that is mentioned quite as frequently as other acts of discrimination in our nation's history, which made it especially powerful.

All in all, I enjoyed the movie-watching experience, and would recommend this film to families with 13+ children, with the suggestion to enjoy it as a story, and then discuss it afterwards.

Not So Nutty Nitty Gritty 

• Company: FishFlix.com
• Product: Little Boy
• Ages: Personal recommendation~  PG13 
• Price: $18.99 List 

You can visit FishFlix.com on Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, Google+ , and YouTube. 

Please click the banner below to visit the TOS Review Crew and see what others had to say about Little Boy, and the other films that were reviewed. As always, I hope that this review was useful to you as you choose where best to spend your homeschool budget.

Blessings~

Real Life Press ~ Firmly Planted, Books of Moses, Part 2, Family Study Guide and Student Book (TOS Review Crew)

Are you familiar with Heidi St. John and her company Real Life Press ? I had heard good things about her, but had never had occasion to hear her speak, or see any of her materials first hand, therefore I was pleased to be sent the second set of books in the Firmly Planted Bible Study Series ~ the Books of Moses, Part 2 Family Study Guide  and the accompanying Books of Moses, Part 2 Student Book.  The books are available  in both digital and physical formats, both of which were sent to TOS Review Crew members. As you will see from the photos, I was sent physical copies for my review. 

The Firmly Planted Bible Study series is set up to be just what it says, a family devotional/Bible study, although it could be appropriate for other group study situations as well (just be sure to read and adhere to copyright information for the student books). Finding devotions that are appropriate for a wide range of ages can be difficult, which makes it especially handy that the Family Study Guide is set up to be read to/with a mixed age group.

Each lesson incorporates the Scripture for the lesson (generally ESV) directly in the text. The Bible stories are condensed (with the chapters and verses designated), which on one hand makes sense (saves space, and helps with focus), but can be a little confusing if one's children know the story well, and pieces are missing from the telling ("What? Wait a minute! What happened to___? Did I miss something?").  My oldest was concerned about not reading directly from the Bible when we first started, but the Daily Devotions do give the scripture references for the lessons, which relieved her on that point. 

There is a "Seed" for each lesson (The main idea) which is "Planted" in hearts via memorization (with an additional challenge for older children). A conversational discussion of the Scripture story "Waters" the seed.  

The Daily Devotionals each emphasize a section of the Scripture, directing the reader/listener to think about the "Seed" in relation to their lives. Next, there is a "Digging Deeper" section for upper level students that cross-references other verses and encourages deeper thinking and discussion. Each Daily Devotional ends with "Tasting the Fruit" which is the Life Application portion of the study. 

Once we completed reading/discussing the Scriptures, I gave my children some of the pages from the Student Book to further their engagement in the study (please note that families are allowed to copy pages for their own children, but in a group setting, a Student Book should be purchased for each child/family). Because I have children in 2 levels, and I wasn't planning to have them do every activity, I appreciate being able to make copies for my two older, and have my youngest only do select pages. 

My youngest had some questions to answer, as well as fun activities: crosswords, word-searches, mazes and more. There are also coloring pages for the very young, or those who enjoy coloring while listening to the lesson. I loved the variety of options for the younger set especially. The comprehension questions, the puzzle worksheets and optional activities mean that there is something for everyone. 

My older students participated somewhat in the Student Book activities (answering questions and filling out acrostics were some of the things they accomplished), but because they have outside Bible Studies with fairly heavy loads, I didn't have them do as much as my little guy. 

For more sample pages be sure to check out the links below. :) 

Not So Nutty Nitty Gritty 

• Company: Real Life Press 
• Product: Firmly Planted Bible Study Series
• Books of Moses, Part 2 Family Study Guide  (pdf $9.95, print $14.99)
• Books of Moses, Part 2 Student Book (pdf $24.95, print $39.99)
• Ages: all ages (Family!) 

Visit Heidi St. John on Facebook, Twitter, and Pinterest

Please click the banner below to visit the TOS Review Crew and see what others had to say about this and other products from Real Life Press. As always, I hope that this review was useful to you as you choose where best to spend your homeschool budget.

Blessings~

Ring The Bell~ Movie Review

I may be dating myself just a bit, but do any of you remember when the Wonderful World of Disney was on Sunday nights? If we hurried home from church we could usually see just about the whole movie. As an adult and a parent, I appreciate those memories, in part because so many of the movie options today are generally NOT palatable for those with young children. How I long for true "Family Friendly" feature films.

This is why our family was so excited (and blessed) to be able to review the new movie Ring The Bell. This movie features some of our favorite things... baseball, and music (including a performance by Casting Crowns). I should mention that I had hoped to get this review up LAST week, but the craziness of ... you guessed it... BASEBALL interfered (we're discovering how life rolls with TWO boys in baseball this year, added to the 2x/week dance schedule of the daughter...).

Here is the "official" synopsis:

About Ring the Bell:
Ring The Bell shares the story of a slick, big city sports agent Rob Decker who seems to have it all. But on his latest mission to sign a high school baseball superstar, Rob becomes stranded in a small town where the simplicity of life—and the faith of the people—stand in stark contrast to his own fast-paced, win-at-all-costs mindset. Torn between these two worlds, will Rob have the courage to let faith transform his life? This heartwarming story of redemption is sure to entertain and inspire the whole family.
Ring The Bell features a host of well-known Christian music artists, such as Mark Hall along with his band Casting Crowns, Steven Curtis Chapman, and Matthew West, all who play a role in this inspirational drama. Several former and current Major League Baseball all-stars are also featured in the film: ESPN analysts John Kruk and Rick Sutcliffe (a former Cy Young Award winner), along with Ben Zobrist.
This family-friendly movie was produced by Mark Miller, Beach Street Records' founder and Casting Crowns’ producer. Miller, who is also the lead singer and founder of country music group Sawyer Brown, co-wrote the script with Thomas Weber and Weber directed the production. 

Here's a trailer for you to check out~

So~ what did our family think? 
I am gratified to know that my children have developed the same sensibilities that I have regarding what is appropriate/not appropriate for general viewing, and they all, from the 5 yo to the 15 yo enjoyed being able to watch a movie that did not require muting, fast forwarding, or closing their eyes. 

What a relief not to hear obnoxious language, or themes that required "Censoring for the 5yo" (the only sensitive bit that would have bothered my eldest when she was 5, but didn't phase my current 5yo was a scene that included a brief, non-graphic discussion about a boy whose parents were in an accident). 

Although the movie is somewhat "slow-moving" that didn't bother any of us, and it fit the theme/subject matter of the film. My two eldest particularly enjoyed seeing the "Casting Crowns" performance, after having seen them live in concert last summer~ and CC gave a heartfelt message that will speak to the viewer as well as to the main character in the film. 

The videography is beautiful and well done. Left me with a very nostalgic, small-town, slower-pace-of-life feel that I enjoyed. The characters are well drawn, and my only negative is that there is a side-story romance that I felt could have been fleshed out a bit more ~ hard for me to jump from quiet attraction to suddenly holding hands, but that could just be me~ since it was a side-story, and not the main plot theme, perhaps it wasn't quite as relevant.

If you are looking for adventure, mystery, or action, you won't find it here. What you will discover is a feel-good story that touches on the mystique of "All-American, Baseball and Apple Pie" while telling about the greatest love story there is, and it might inspire you to want to go out and buy your own bell! :) 

Our family gives Ring the Bell 2 thumbs up!

Ring the Bell is available on DVD for only $19.99
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Blessings~

 

"Disclosure of Material Connection: I received one or more of the products or services mentioned above for free in hope that I would mention it on my blog. 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."

Melissa & Doug "Terrific Twenty List" and Giveaway

Yes~ it *IS* that time of year~ time to be thinking ahead, and picking up some fun things for the children in your life (Or for Toys For Tots, or some other such good cause). 

If you are not familiar with Melissa & Doug, they have been providers of quality children's gifts and toys since 1988 (and I have been purchasing their products pretty much from the start~ first as a nanny, and then as a mother :).
Many of the toys are "heirloom" wooden toys. My kids have all loved "cutting" the wooden bread and fruit and veggies, and my youngest, more recently has enjoyed "cooking" cupcakes and sugar cookies. They have expanded the line beyond wood to other Terrific Gifts like the tea set and cuddly lion you see pictured to the left. 

To help you with your shopping, Melissa & Doug has just published their list of the "Terrific Twenty"~ some great gifts to consider! To celebrate they are having a “20 Days of Terrific Twenty” Giveaway on their Facebook page! Every day (starting November 6)  they'll be giving away one item from their Terrific Twenty list to at least one of their Facebook fans! So go visit Melissa & Doug on facebook to enter to win a gift every day (Until my birthday! Imagine that! :D)  from the Terrific Twenty list. 
 
In addition to Melissa and Doug's Facebook giveaway, they are offering me the opportunity to give away one item from the Terrific  Twenty list here on my blog! I have chosen to give away the "My Own Mailbox" pretend play set, as it follows the great Melissa & Doug tradition of open-ended, re-useable pretend play. This is also the toy my 15 year old thought I should give away~ seeing that the children in our neighborhood have over the years (Starting with her) been obsessed with playing post-office, and sending each other mail~ she thought it would have been fun to have this, as opposed to a shoe box!

From the website:
Everyone likes getting letters! Sending and receiving "mail" is even more fun with this toy mailbox, complete with a bright red flag. The sturdy wooden box comes with letter and number stickers so kids can decorate it with their name, address or a special message. The hinged door opens to make room for two postcards and a ruled letter and envelope, all reusable with the wipe-clean crayons that come with the set. Need even more inspiration? Drawing activities and play ideas are included to keep this letter box filled with creative correspondence and lots of fun!

My Own Mailbox Classic Toy

Item # : 4089

Price: $19.99

Dimensions: 7.87" x 7" x 4" Assembled
Recommended Ages: 4+ years


a Rafflecopter giveaway

Blessings~

Disclaimer: I received an item of my choice for free as a thank you for getting the word out for Melissa & Doug. 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."