Stuff Parents Need

Easing the chaos in the nest, one find at a time.

Weekend Pick: Merry Christmas, Splat!

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If you are looking for some quality Christmas shows for the kids, I have a recommendation for you! Scolastic Storybook Treasures has just released Merry Christmas Splat…And More Winter Stories. We were sent a copy for review, and we loved it!

This is a fun 37 minute DVD that brings 3 different delightful books to life on video.

MerryChristmasSplatSSTDVD

Merry Christmas, Splat is first up, and it is about an adorable cat named Splat who is trying sooo hard to be good before Santa comes. He’s got his hopes up for some special presents. Darah can definitely relate to this story line, and has already watched it 4 times!

Next is Fletcher and the Snowflake Christmas. Fletcher is very concerned that Santa might have trouble finding his home with all the snow that has fallen! This story has prompted a good conversation between Darah and me about how Santa handles different situations (for example, how does he come to our house since we don’t have a fireplace?).

Snowflake Bentley tells the true story of a boy in Vermont who loved snowflakes so much that he studied them very carefully. This was a favorite of mine, as it reminded me of just what a marvel snowflakes really are!

Finally, Owl Moon, which is narrated by the author, Jane Yolen (a favorite of ours! She wrote How Do Dinosaurs Say Goodnight!). This story is about a special search by a father and daughter through the woods at night for the Great Horned Owl.

The video is suitable for ages 3 and up and is the perfect DVD to purchase in anticipation of the upcoming winter school break! Amazon’s currently got it at a discounted price of $13.46.

Two Fantastic New Releases from Scholastic (Giveaway!)

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Special thanks to Scholastic for providing these fun DVDS for review and giveaway. All thoughts and opinions expressed here are strictly my own.

Today I have a fun hodgepodge of new releases from our favorite DVD source, Scholastic!

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First up, let’s talk all things Halloween! Scholastic has just released a 3 disc set of Halloween favorites that are sure to get your kids talking! Definitely check out the Halloween Stories Collection, Volume 2. You’ll find witches and skeletons, and also a lot of fun and bravery. My 4-year-old is able to watch everything on the set without freaking out, just to give you a litmus test of the “scary factor.”

I think Darah and I both have the same favorite video on the set, and that is the Day of the Dead. Darah really enjoys seeing the dancing and instrument-playing skeletons, and it also gave us the opportunity to talk about another culture, as well as what happens to people when they die. Being able to talk about celebrating the memory of others seemed to really resonate with her, which got me thinking that we need to do a little Dia de los Muertos celebration of our own, this year!

This DVD set retails for $24.95 and provides some great stories for this time of year! I definitely recommend it. It would be fun to show at a sleepover! 🙂

children make terrible pets dvd

I have two other great DVDs to share as well! Children Make Terrible Pets, and More Stories About Family (ARV $14.95) is SO cute, you guys! The title story is all about a bear who finds a young human and wants to keep it as a pet. Her mother tries to warn her that children make terrible pets, but this is one lesson she has to learn on her own. Darah thought it was absolutely hilarious. Such a fun one….great for the stocking!

mo willems dvd

And last, but certainly not least, there’s a new Mo Willems DVD out!!! Don’t Let the Pigeon Stay Up Late is, like all the pigeon tales, quite funny. But the real treasure in this set, in my opinion, is Knuffle Bunny Free. I’m not going to give away too much about this story, but I’m going to be real with you guys and tell you that I BAWLED my eyes out while watching it. Darah did not…so please know that it isn’t horrifically sad. It just struck one heck of a chord with me as a parent, thinking about my own child growing up a little bit. I’m actually tearing up just thinking about it now. It is such a sweet, touching story. MUST WATCH! This one also retails for $14.95 and should be required viewing. Just sayin’.

Win it!: Let’s do a giveaway for TWO winners, today! One will win the Halloween set, and the other will win the Children Make Terrible Pets and Don’t Let the Pigeon Stay Up Late discs.

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Magic School Bus Presents: Revving Up and In a Pickle

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This post on The Magic School bus may contain affiliate links. Thanks to Scholastic for providing DVD copies for review purposes. 

Beep Beep! The Magic School Bus is ready to leave on some more great adventures. So hop on the bus and I’ll tell you all about them!

As I have mentioned before in previous Magic School Bus reviews, I was just a little too old to personally enjoy this show as a child, but I loved watching it later on while babysitting, and now I’m thoroughly enjoying it with Darah. I’m (re)learning a lot of great information (especially on STEM-related subjects) and Darah and I are having very animated conversations about what we learn in each episode. You cannot go wrong to get a little Magic School Bus action in your home, for sure!

magic school bus revving up

Scholastic just released two new DVDs. First up is The Magic School Bus: Revving Up. This is a 3 disc set that includes “Under Construction,” “Getting Energized” and “Cracks a Yolk.” Each DVD has 3 episodes, and each also includes a bonus episode, which means the set has over 4 1/2 hours of great educational entertainment! It retails for $24.95 (and is even on sale right now!). To get so many episodes for the price is a great bargain!

magic school bus in a pickle

You can also now pick up The Magic School Bus: In a Pickle. You’ll find 4 episodes about microbes, smell and decomposition. Stinky, but fascinating stuff to young minds, I promise! This DVD retails for $12.95 (and is currently 45% off on Amazon!).

The Magic School Bus has made my list of fantastic gift ideas for kids, and I recommend these and their other already released DVDs for personal and school libraries. They are fantastic!

Win it!: TWO lucky Stuff Parents Need readers will be winners! The first winner drawn will win Revving Up, and the second winner drawn will win In a Pickle!

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Exploring the Role of a Friend: Bink & Gollie DVD (Giveaway)

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Is your best friend a carbon copy of you, or very different? I think in most cases of friendship, opposites really do attract. My BFF and I are different in so many ways (a fact we definitely learned when we were college roommates for two years!). But our differences are part of what keeps our friendship so interesting. I can count on her to offer me a different perspective than the one I’d have on my own, and that is a very good thing, indeed! When you truly respect and care for someone, you are more likely to be able to really listen to them and learn from them.

bink & gollie learn about friendship

Scholastic has just released a delightful DVD that is all about unlikely friendships and what it takes to be a lasting pal to someone. Introducing Bink & Gollie….and More Stories About Friendship. The timing of this release is absolutely perfect for Darah, as she has just transitioned from her school year placement to a summer program, so there are new friendships to be made. She is also starting to develop stronger ties to friends, in general, so it is a good time to start talking about what it means to be a friend.

In addition to the story of Bink & Gollie and how their friendship came to be, you’ll also find 3 other stories, including the following:

  •       A Sick Day for Amos Mcgee: Amos receives unexpected guests from the zoo when he’s home with the sniffles and sneezes.
  •      The Other Side: A friendship develops between two kids from opposite sides of a segregated town.
  •      Cat and Canary: Cat’s unlikely friend Canary shows him a great time when his master is away at work.

This is a terrific DVD for any child who is making new friends or learning how to be a good friend. It has 36 minutes of videos plus some extras (such as author and illustrator interviews). It retails for $14.95 (though it is currently on sale for $12.99 on Amazon!).

Win it!: One lucky Stuff Parents Need reader will win a copy of Bink & Gollie!

Be sure to enter my other current giveaways, found on the sidebar of my page.

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I received a complimentary product for review purposes. All thoughts and opinions expressed here are strictly my own.

The Perfect Easter Basket DVD: The Springtime Collection (Giveaway!)

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Have you noticed a trend this year to move away from candy kids’ Easter baskets? I’m not jumping on that band wagon, but I do see the point and I am making some changes in the types of candy I am purchasing. I mean, the type that the Easter Bunny will be bringing. 😉

But I do like the idea of having some non-candy stuff in the basket, and if you are looking for a great DVD option, this is it! Scholastic has just released The Springtime Collection Featuring Max’s Chocolate Chicken. It is going to be released on March 26th and will retail for $24.95. It contains 13 stories over 3 discs and they are all winners! Easter DVD Max's Chocolate Chicken

Disc 1: MAX’S CHOCOLATE CHICKEN…AND MORE STORIES BY ROSEMARY WELLS – also includes “Max’s Christmas”, “Morris’s Disappearing Dog”, “Otto Runs for President”, “Max’s Christmas – Spanish Version”. (Max, by the way, is from Max and Ruby which is currently on Nick, Jr.)

Disc 2: THE RED HEN…AND MORE COOKING STORIES – also includes “Bread Comes to Life”,  “How Do Dinosaurs Eat Their Food?”, and “Arnie the Doughnut” (This is one of Darah’s VERY favorite Scholastic DVDs, by the way)

Disc 3: CHICKEN LITTLE…AND MORE ZANY ANIMAL STORIES – also includes “The Great White Man-Eating Shark”, “The Three-Legged Cat”, and “Dooby Dooby Moo”

Darah has asked to watch Max’s Chocolate Chicken multiple times, and it has gotten her very excited about the Easter Bunny’s upcoming visit! If your little one would love some new shows to watch, I highly recommend this set. It has almost 3 hours of quality content! It can be purchased on the Scholastic website or on Amazon.

Win it!: One lucky Stuff Parents Need reader will win a copy of The Springtime Collection Featuring Max’s Chocolate Chicken!

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Be sure to enter my other current giveaways, found on the sidebar of my page.

I received a complimentary product for review purposes. All thoughts and opinions expressed here are strictly my own. This post may contain affiliate links. Gotta pay for those Easter eggs! 

Get Your Kids Inspired to Cook! The Red Hen DVD GIVEAWAY!

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Do you have a child who is currently interested in “helping” in the kitchen? Or do you want to give a little nudge to get your child more interested in the process of making food? I have a DVD to share with you today that I think will help make cooking with kids a regular event at your house!

the red hen dvd from scholastic Scholastic (of course!) has recently released The Red Hen and More Cooking Stories. This 56 minute video has 3 really cute stories all related to food. The first one is about a red hen and all the trouble she goes through to do a little baking.

After The Red Hen comes a live action film narrated by the fantastic Lily Tomlin. It’s called Bread Comes to Life and it is REALLY fascinating, showing the entire process from start to finish of making lots and lots of bread. It sort of reminded me of trips Mr. Rogers would take from time to time to different factories.

Finally, one of our very favorite authors, Jane Yolen, has her book How Do Dinosaurs Eat Their Food? is brought to life. If you aren’t familiar with her dinosaur books, they are really delightful. I purchase copies of them for gifts every time I find them at our local used book store.

I highly recommend this DVD for all the little chefs-in-training! It retails for 14.95.

Win it!: One lucky Stuff Parents Need reader will win a copy of The Red Hen And More Cooking Stories!

Be sure to enter my other current giveaways, found on the sidebar of my page.
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I received a complimentary DVD for review purposes. All thoughts and opinions expressed here are strictly my own.

 

March On and Stone Soup DVDs (GIVEAWAY!!!)

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Scholastic has just published some great new DVDs and I’m excited to be sharing them with you today!

scholastic dvd stories about african american heritage featuring march on

First up, we have Stories About African American Heritage Featuring March On. This is a FANTASTIC 3 DVD set that commemorates Black History Month. In the set you will find 13 award-winning stories that run a total of 3 hours. You will see stunning illustrations and hear narrators such as Phylicia Rashad (one of my childhood idols…this is Claire from The Cosby Show!), James Earl Jones, Samuel L. Jackson and Forest Whitaker. I would say that this box set is a true treasure, and a must not only for schools, but also for personal collections.  This set retails for $24.95 and can be found here.

Scholastic Stone Soup DVD cover

In addition, Scholastic is celebrating Chinese New Year by releasing Stone Soup And Other Stories from the Asian Tradition. Stone Soup is actualy one of my favorite folktales because of what it highlights: when people pool their resources, the sum is greater than the parts! Three other stories are also found in this collection, and if you are a Law and Order: SVU fan, you will recognize the voice of B.D. Wong. This DVD is 43 minutes in length (that’s the perfect amount of time for a Saturday afternoon “movie” viewing experience for my 3 year old!). It retails for $14.95 and can be purchased here.

Our Scholastic DVD collection is one of our prize possessions in our home. If you haven’t had the pleasure of owning any of their titles yet, let 2013 be the year you give them a try. You will love them, I absolutely know it!

Win it!: One lucky Stuff Parents Need reader will win a copy of March On, and one reader will win a copy of Stone Soup!

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Be sure to enter my other current giveaways, found on the sidebar of my page.

I received a complimentary product for review purposes. All thoughts and opinions expressed here are strictly my own. 

Make Way for Robots! Scholastic My First Collection DVD Set Review and GIVEAWAY!!

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Volume 4 of the My First Collection from Scholastic was recently released, and it is fantastic! This DVD series features stories that are aimed at children from ages 2-6. Darah has consistenly loved every My First Collection series she has received. She has MANY Scholastic DVDS, but the ones from these collections get viewed the most frequently.

Volume 4 has some very cool stories, including Robot Zot (and more rhyming stories), Too Many Toys (and more stories about problem solving) and The Curious Garden (and more stories about nature). There’s something for everyone! I also like how thoughtfully Scholastic has each book narrated. They are interesting to listen to in their own right, but adults will often hear familiar voices (on this set you will hear Zach Braff).

And of course, the Scholastic Read-Along feature (where the words are at the bottom of the screen and highlighted as they are read) is available. I always have that feature turned on to help Darah with her reading skills.

The set of 3 DVDs is available for $24.95 and would be a fabulous holiday gift. You can also purchase each single DVD for $12.95. If you don’t have any Scholastic titles in your video collection for your kids, I just can’t say enough wonderful things about them. They are true treasures for us. In fact, I will be giving a DVD set to a niece of mine for Christmas and I know she is going to giggle and laugh again and again as she watches it, just as Darah does! Scholastic videos are winners, to be sure!

Speaking of winners, it’s time to win it!: One lucky Stuff Parents Need reader will win a copy of My First Collection Volume 4!

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Be sure to enter my other current giveaways, found on the sidebar of my page.

I received a complimentary product for review purposes. All thoughts and opinions expressed here are strictly my own.

 

The Magic School Bus: The Complete Series GIVEAWAY (ARV $79.95)!!!

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Do you remember The Magic School bus books, which of course launched the wildly popular tv series? Get ready to feel old, because The Magic School Bus is celebrating its 25th anniversary! The books actually first were published by Scholastic in 1986. The tv series premiered in 1994. I remember watching The Magic School bus with kids I would babysit. Even as a teenager, I always learned something when I watched an episode!

If you aren’t familiar with the series, you are in for a treat! It’s all about the world’s coolest teacher, Ms. Freizzle, who takes her students on AMAZING travels all over the world in her magic school bus. Each episode is chock-full of educational content that captivates children, as they are learning in the mist of a major adventure!

Scholastic Video is pleased to announce the release of The Magic School Bus: The Complete Series. This set has every single episode from the series available for your viewing (and learning!) pleasure. You probably already know from experience that this show is awesome, but if you need some convincing, just know that it has won the following awards:

  • Daytime Emmy®
  • Six CINE Golden Eagles
  • National Educational Media Network Gold Apple
  • Parents’ Choice Gold Medal for Excellence in Children’s Programming

The complete series has 8 dvds with 52 episodes, and extensive guides for parents and kids that help enhance the learning experience with more experiments and other ideas you can do together. There are also some fun activity sheets you can download right now! Click here and scroll down to middle part of the right section of the page. This set is so popular that it is currently on backorder! It will ship as soon as new stock is in, and it is listed at $79.95.

There are also two 3 packs (each featuring 12 episodes) for $24.95 as well as four single episode dvds for $12.95. But c’mon, don’t you really just want to have them all?!?

Here’s your chance!

Win it!: One lucky Stuff Parents Need reader is going to win The Magic School Bus: The Complete Series! EEEE!!
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Be sure to enter my other current giveaways, found on the sidebar of my page.

Disclosure: I received complimentary products for review purposes. All thoughts and opinions expressed here are strictly my own.