Crystal Bowman Reviews

I was first introduced to Crystal Bowman when we adopted Isaac. She is a good friend of Joni VanWyck, and Joni purchased a bunch of Crystal's books to start off a library for Isaac.

Since then, I have written about her books frequently on my Blog.  I am a HUGE fan and just love the sweetness and solid messages in her books. They emphasize children being children and learning to praise God in their childlike way. She also helps take "big concepts" and bring them down onto a child's level.

Here are some past Blog posts I have done about Bowman's books:

• Our Daily Bread for Preschoolers
• My Mama & Me
• My Christmas Stocking
• Christmas Recommendations
• My Happy Pumpkin

Today I want to introduce you to two more Bowman books that you will want to include in your child's library! They are from the "I've Got Questions" series and are both written by Crystal Bowman and Teri McKinley and illustrated by Allie Busby.

Do Baby Bears Have Mommies? (I've Got Questions)

This 30 page book in hard cover format answers all kinds of questions that children would have about animals. Like: why ducks have funny feat and feathers, where mice make their homes, why giraffes are so tall, and what kangaroos keep in their pouches. Here is a sample verse:

Do baby bears have mommies

that give them food to eat?

And when it's cold and snowy, 

do cubs get chilly feet?

Mommy bears feed

baby cubs

with berries, nuts,

or bugs.

They snuggle closely 

in their dens

with warm and 

furry hugs.

Each question is asked on the left side of a two-page spread which includes full color sweetness! These books are fantastic end-of-the-day reads. They are peaceful and uplifting and simply a delight to read with your little ones. Any age child would love these, but I think they are perfect for ages 1-7.

Does God Takes Naps? (I've Got Questions)

Staying with the same "I've got Questions" theme, this book asks the "bigger" questions about character and values and life that children may have. Here is a sample verse:

I want to make God smile.

I want to make him glad.

What can I do to please him,

so God will not be sad?

The Bible says God loves us,

and God wants your love too.

Thank him for the gifts he gives,

be kind in all you do.

The book is the same size as Do Baby Bears Have Mommies? and includes the same format as this book as well. The question and answer are asked on the left side of the page with beautiful artwork covering both pages.

If you are a grandmother looking for a positive message to send to your new grandchild, take a look at Bowman's books. I promise that you will NOT be disappointed.

Review: The Pencil Grip, Inc.

Folks, I have done reviews for this product before. And I wish I could say different things. But I keep saying the same thing because: Oh boy do we have fun with this product! My kids loved the Thin Stix 6pk of Classic Colors from The Pencil Grip, Inc.  They have loved them from the beginning, and they KEEP LOVING THEM!

You know how it is. You want to do crafts with your kids and get out art projects and have tons of fun doing all those Pinterest things you see all the other moms on Facebook doing. But the thought of getting all the stuff out and cleaning it all up. Man, it is just TOUGH to have a good attitude about it. I want my kids to paint and color, but the work involved. And honestly, I feel like just as I finish setting up, the first kid is done and moving on, and I am left with tons of mess to clean up.

(And then tomorrow comes and the same scene is repeated in various formats.)

As I have said on previous posts about this product: I try to be a good sport. I try to say YES many more times than I say NO, but I just can't help it sometimes. Set up and clean up ... it can break one down.

But take a look at this video of my kids painting with Thin Stix 6pk of Classic Colors  from The Pencil Grip, Inc. I open the package, they paint, it is dry in a matter of minutes and clean up requires me to put the sticks away! That's it!

Thin Stix 6pk of Classic Colors from The Pencil Grip, Inc.  are basically painting sticks! They are solid tempera paint sticks that you just uncap, twist, and paint! They dry in 90 seconds, but the painting dries looking like paint. You don't add water. You don't need paint brushes. You just uncap and color!

For a mom with four kiddos, this is nothing short of a painting miracle!

So first, I would like to show you some pictures we have done in the past with these products. (You will notice how much smaller the kiddos look in these pictures because they are almost a year old!)

Sidge with his bald eagle.

Isaac with a bird house.

Abigail painting rocks outside with her friend Jonah as we prepared to lay Scrubs to rest.

Isaac helping with the rock painting.

Look at Abigail! She just kept painting and painting. She looks so much chubbier here! Man she has grown up a lot since we initially did a review for The Pencil Grip, Inc.

Okay and now let me show you some of the painting we did this time around:

Eight-year-old Sidge who is often not a fan of art projects. I love this picture!

Three-year-old Hannah (see the big "H" for her name on the corner?) She didn't want her face shown for this review. (She was having an attitude.)

More proof of the attitude. 

Isaac and his painting project. I love this one!

By the time I took photos, Abigail (who is our biggest lover of this product) was outside helping Daddy on the farm. So I got a photo of the finished project without her in it. 

We had a blast with these sticks yet again! And you will too. Truly. This is a great product which is completely affordable. Check these out! Thin Stix 6pk of Classic Colors from The Pencil Grip, Inc. is easy and just plain fun!

Review: My Lift-the-Flap Bible Stories

The Creation, Noah's Amazing Ark, The Exodus, Daniel, Jonah, Jesus' birth, The wedding in Cana, Through the Roof to Jesus, Jesus Feeds Five Thousand, Jesus Walks on Water, The Last Meal of Jesus, Jesus is Alive!, The Big Catch of Fish .... thirteen stories with more than thirty corresponding lift-the-flaps. 

My Lift-the-Flap Bible Stories includes short stories and fun flaps teach kids about the Bible. A sturdy board book style and a great price ($7.46!) make this a fantastic gift book for that special child in your life. 

I think this book is perfect for children in the 2-7 age range. Take the time to check this adorable book out for yourself.

I received a copy of this book from booklookbloggers.com in exchange for my honest review.

Review: My Toddlers App, LLC

I recently stumbled upon an incredibly fun app opportunity for parents of toddlers and was so excited when they agreed to allow me to review one of their programs in exchange for my honest review. There are actually four different available all from My Toddlers App, LLC. I used these with my three-year-old daughter Hannah. I think you could easily use the app with children ages 2-5. 

The four different programs include:

• MTA FAMILY
• MTA ANIMALS
• MTA READER
• MTA MATCH

This is a USA family owned and operated company. It was actually inspired by the creator's granddaughter. He watched her operating an ipad so easily and wanted to make the "teacher" for these programs the child's family instead of some random cartoon character. 

MTA FAMILY allows the parent to add a family member's photo and voice to teach a toddler to associate a person's name and how it is spelled with that person. The family member's voice will tell their toddler how to spell their name while it displays across the screen one letter at a time. There is also no limit to how many people you enter in the family section of the program. This means that you can add tons of friends and family to this program on behalf of the child.

Each of the apps provides a great video which goes through step by step instructions for setting the program up. I was confused about a few parts but was so impressed with the video and customer service in helping me figure out how to fix what I was doing wrong. Here is a video for the MTA FAMILY app.

MTA ANIMALS allows the family to choose from over 40 animals to present to their toddler. I recorded my voice telling Hannah how to spell the animal name while it displayed across the screen one letter at a time. After I am done reading it, Hannah can click on the name of the animal and listen to what sound the animal makes.

MTA READER is so cool! I can read a book and record it into the program. Then Hannah just touches the book cover on their main screen to listen to me reading the book. I especially want to have my far away relatives read books that Hannah can listen to in the future.

MTA MATCH is the traditional match game all kids play with individualized pictures. I can put pictures of animals on our farm or family members, and Hannah then matches them!
You can visit My Toddlers App, LLC on Facebook and on YouTube. I love that this company is just a family like us, and really encourage EVERYONE to help support what they are doing. It is a simple idea that will leave a huge smile plastered across your child's face!

Review: Thank You, God, for Grandma

Perfect for the little one in your life, this hard back book Thank You, God, for Grandma with cushioned cover is just a sweet and loving reminder of how special family is in our lives. The first page includes an "all inclusive" naming system for the Grandmas too so that it can work for every family!

Thank You, God, for Grandmas, 

Nanas and Mimis too,

Gigis and Grams and Grandmommies—

They’re great, grand gifts from You!

The text includes sweet rhymes and beautiful illustrations, and this is simply a book that leaves you feeling happy! 

Amy Parker’s children’s books have sold more than 800,000 copies, including two Christian Retailing’s Best award-winning books and the bestselling A Night Night Prayer. 

This is a perfect book for an Easter present from Grandma to child.

Booklook Bloggers provided me with a copy of this book in exchange for my honest review. 

Homeschooling Early Elementary: My Current Product Recommendations

Here is my truth: with four young children at home, I canNOT homeschool them one-on-one. Everyone homeschools in different ways. Our current plan is this. We attend our homeschool co-op on Mondays. The other five days of the week (we also homeschool on Saturday), we do between 2-4 hours a day of independent learning.

Don't get me wrong. I am there, and still answering a LOT of questions and guiding. But I am moving inbetween all the kiddos, and they are getting on their computer or iPad and leading the way.

We DO also do about 30-60 minutes of day of non-computer work. This usually includes reading/writing/workbooks. But the other part of our work is done with amazing online products.

This may not be for everyone, but I have had many people asking me the top products I recommend. Here they are!

Math: 

CTC Math

Okay folks. Hang on to your hats. I have found you the most INCREDIBLE math program EVER!!!!!!!!!!!! (Is that enough exclamation points?!) We have absolutely LOVED ... and I mean absolutely and whole-heartedly LOVED utilizing the Homeschool Membership from CTCMath. There is no doubt that we plan to keep this in our curriculum for the foreseeable future. And I can honestly see using this with all four of my kids throughout their entire school-aged years. This is a math program for kids starting in pre-kindergarten but you can stay with it through high school. It is completely online and requires very little parental needs. The kids watch a short lesson and then answer questions about the lesson.

Times Tales

This is an awesomely fun way to learn your multiplication facts. This product is very similar to the one below, however, this one doesn't cover the "easy" facts like zero, one, and five. it is probably a bit more refined than the product below but both are excellent.) I actually let my pre-kindergarten daughter use this, but I'd recommend it starting at about 1st or 2nd grade.

Times Tables the Fun Way

This is the same idea as the Times Tales product listed above. However, this one covers ALL facts (including the "easy" ones.) Perfect for kiddos in first or second grade.

Reflex Math

And then there is REFLEX MATH. Here is a link to this one! This has been one of the BEST thing we have done Math-wise. It says it is for grades 2-8 but I totally disagree and think you can start it with K or probably 1st grade. It basically provides games to DRILL math facts. It is set up for kids to get on and do themselves for 15 minutes each day. It gives them a green light when they are done for the day. You can do a 14 day trial. After that it is $35 for a year. This program has brought my children's math facts to a great place. (There is an add/subtraction option and then multiply/divide) option.

Spelling/Phonics: 

Talking Fingers

This is a fantastic program that combines reading, writing and typing. To understand the vision behind this program, I encourage you to read the biography of the developer of this program, Neuropsychologist Jeannine Herron. Seeing the alarming reports that reading instruction in our country was failing an alarming number of students, Dr. Herron took her belief that children needed phonics as well as whole language to master reading skills to a new level. Pre-kindergarten through early elementary can benefit from this product.

Talking Shapes

This product is by the makers of Talking Fingers above, but is designed for younger children: those just learning their letters. 

Science:

EdTechLens

I have been waiting for this company to do an additional product, but right now, they only have one on the rainforest. This is an awesome online science program. 

Magic School Bus Science Club

The main thing we are doing for science right now is this monthly delivery service from the Magic School Bus. (We also watch the DVD's.) An excellent product and totally worth the money!

Art:

ArtAchieve

This is an online art program that walks children step-by-step through art products. Really fun!

Bible: 

Veritas Press

I cannot recommend this Bible program enough. My children LOVE LOVE LOVE it, and it continues to be the least complained about thing we do every day. The only downside is that it is is pricey. But it is completely done online with very little need for parental help. This is really good beginning when your child is an independent reader, but you could do it younger if you helped and walked through it with them.

General Knowledge: 

Essential Skills Advantage

This program is FANTASTIC! It is completely online, and allows your child to answer questions on various topics like geography, science, math, etc. This is a completely independent product, and I am able to use it from pre-kindergarten on. Really great!

Reading:

Raz-Kids

This is a great online reading program that allows kids to read books and answer questions. If you are interested in trying this product, please let me know via email: flakymn@hotmail.com as I might be able to get you a free use through a friend.

Writing:

Here to Help Learning

If you are looking for an online writing program, this is a good one. This will require you to help guide your students and is not completely independent. But it offers a "classroom" setting for your child. Good from about 1st grade on.

Online Apps:

Inventioneers

Man do my kiddos LOVE this online app! You have to invent "ways" to get out of boards using products. Excellent thinking game!

Stack the States / Stack the Countries

And my last all-time favorite is Stack the States (or the follow-up Stack the Countries.) I cannot begin to say enough about this game and what it has done for my kids geography. They love it and have learned SO much. We have also used this site online with great success. This one is also very cheap -- and you can buy a lite version to try it for free. Your children do need to be able to read to do this one.

Learn with Homer

The first is LEARN WITH HOMER. It is my FAVORITE! You can try it for one month for FREE so I suggest that even if the $8 a month isn't in your budget, you try it for free! It has won all kinds of awards and is perfect for ages 4-6. You can also do this one right on the computer. This has two major "sections." The first is one for learning to read. The second is for learning great subject matters (the incas, health, different animals, etc.)

Teachme

The second is Teachme. Here is the link to the second grade one but you can start with toddler, preschool, K, 1, etc. This one is very cheap ($2 per grade) and you can have multiple kids on each grade level. We do this every day for 15 minutes to refine skills when I just need a break from direct teaching. This app does a little bit of math, reading, and writing and is definitely worth the money.

Books:

The Action Bible

My boys are obsessed with this Bible. A strong recommend from us on this one!

Read and Share: Look I'm Reading Bible

My favorite preschool Bible recommendation!

Board Games/Toys:

Sequence for Kids
I love finding games that the entire family can play together. This is one of our favorites!

Busytown

Another whole family recommendation.

Magnatiles

Best toy ever. Not cheap. But totally awesome!

Review: Baa! Oink! Moo!

What a sweet book. (Especially for a farm-loving-family like us!) Written by Rhonda Gowler Greene and illustrated by David Walker, This sweet board book Baa! Oink! Moo! travels around the farm meeting all the different animals.

Mama, look!

A swishy tail!

Who made that milk

that fills a pail?

No one knows

exactly how.

only God

can make a cow.

This is just a darling book. We absolutely love it, and it will be a part of our library for a long time to come. The illustrations are so sweet and the sing-song poetry just makes you want to curl up with a kissable little kiddo for some reading time. 

Booklookbloggers provided me with a complimentary copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

Review: The Beginner's Bible Stories About Jesus

My three-year-old Hannah just loves this book. It is small enough for her little chubby hands and nice and sturdy with a hard cover and tough pages. The Beginner's Bible: Stories About Jesus is a wonderful little before-bed book that touches on the "big" stories of the Jesus' life including:

• Baby Jesus is Born
• Fishers of People
• Jesus Calms the Storm
• Jesus and the Children
• Jesus Feeds Thousands
• Jesus Heals a Blind Man
• The Easter Story

This series of books first emerged in 1989, and since then they have sold over 25 million products. This book is no different and is the perfect inclusion in soon-to-be-coming Easter baskets!

Booklookbloggers provided me with a free copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

Review: God Made you Nose to Toes

What a sweet book! Written by Leslie Parrott and illustrated by Estelle Corke, God Made You Nose to Toes provides beautifully illustrated pages in hard cover and sturdy page format.

God made many sounds
that he wants you to hear,
so on each side of your head
he planted an ear.

This page then has a little boy splashing in the water and a toucan (who joins him on every page) and frog and bird and bees are next to him. You see the sounds tweet, tweet, splosh, splash, squawk, bzzzzz, and ribbet scattered around the page.

When God made the ostrich, 
the monkey, and giraffe,
he knew
that you'd need
a mouth 
just to laugh.

All over the earth
God planted tall trees.
And so you could climb them,
he gave you two knees.

This is an incredibly calm and beautiful book that parents everywhere will love to read to their little one day or night. A high recommendation from me!

Booklookbloggers.com provided me with a free copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

Kwik Stix: Thin Stix

I have had the opportunity to do two reviews for Kwik Stix in the past. They have both been incredibly favorable reviews so I was excited when they contacted me again with an opportunity to review another awesome product for them.

Before I get into my new review, here are my previous reviews so you can glance back at them:

Review #1
Review #2

This time I was able to review a product for them called Thin Stix. Just like the regular Kwik Stix product, Thin Stix are solid tempera paint sticks. The advantage of this product is that you are now able to paint with finer detail while still avoiding the mess of paint. They still dry in 90 seconds and work beautifully on wood, canvas, post paper, cardboard, etc. Also, like all of their products, they are AP Certified which means they are non-toxic and perfectly safe for young children.

I took a video of Hannah using this product. You can see how easy this product is to use. In addition, after she was done, I was able to quickly clean up without any issue. The picture dries in minutes and the paint comes off so easily. (I promise!)

I'm a huge fan of this product, and really encourage everyone to try these out. The Thin Stix product is available in 6, 12, and 24 packs of assorted, neon, and metalix colors.

Review: Zonderkidz The Beginner's Bible

It is time for my first Homeschool Review Crew Review for 2017! I am so incredibly honored to have a second year to "work" for this awesome of group. I consider it such a privilege, and I also consider it a huge responsibility. It allows me to receive amazing products for free in exchange for my honest and fair review. This allows us to keep our homeschooling costs down, allows me to share what products I love with all of you, and allows me to have some fun too. And today's review is a great one. Our family has loved the opportunity to review The Beginner's Bible from Zonderkidz and I can't wait to share this post with you.

As always, if you have questions about a product I review, do not hesitate to leave a comment, email me (flakymn@hotmail.com) or send me a Facebook message. I can always answer more of your questions personally about a particular product and go into even more detail.

The Beginner's Bible from Zonderkidz is packed with 511 pages and bound by a hardcover to keep it safe while in little hands. This Bible includes an introductory page where your little one can write his/her name. It also includes a Table of Contents in the front and a dictionary in the back.

The rest of the pages are jam-packed with stories that include awesome colored pictures and stories. Take a look at some of the awesome samples of pages included in this children's Bible below:

This Bible is perfect for children from ages 2-8. I think parents can really start reading this with their 3-6 year old and then kids ages 6-8 can start reading it themselves as they learn to read more and more. The stories are short and sweet, include a scripture reference, and allow the newly reading child to get the words and pictures that they desire so much when first beginning to love reading. 

I have four children ages three to eight. My second grades boys (they eight-year-olds) can tackle this book by themselves, and they are zipping right through it. My five-year-old is just starting to read so she looks at it a little bit, but depends on me to read it to her. The three-year-old of course brings it to me often to read it to her and is constantly saying "Is this my very special Bible?"

In addition make sure you take the time to visit their website and check out all the other incredible products that this company has to offer. There are so many wonderful things that you can look to purchase for the child in your life. In our family we do four gifts at Christmas: something for the body (clothing), mind (educational), soul (Christian literature) and sprit (fun gift). This is the perfect SOUL gift, and so are a lot more of the products that they offer.

If you are interested in finding out more, feel free to contact me. In addition, you can find Zonderkidz on: Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, Pinterest, and Instagram.