Wordless Wednesday

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Educational Family Board Games: Continent Race ~ a TOS review

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Disclaimer: I received a FREE copy of this product through the HOMESCHOOL REVIEW CREW in exchange for my honest review. I was not required to write a positive review nor was I compensated in any other way. All opinions I have expressed are my own or those of my family. I am disclosing this in accordance with FTC Regulations. 

I don’t know about you, but our family loves to play board games. So even if you are cooped up because of the Corona virus quarantine learning fun can still happen. We love playing family board games and it's a plus when they are educational like Continent Race from Byron's Games. Today I am excited to share with you a fun educational game that the whole family can enjoy! 
Continent Race was created by a 6 year old boy, Bryon, who found himself hospitalized for six months. During his hospital stay he was inspired to create something fun and educational for kids like himself during their hospital stay. Learning doesn’t have to be boring and with this game your children will learn the locations of countries in a fun way!

The Continent Race game includes: 

 ~ 1 World Map 

~ 5 Continent Lists with maps 

~ 205 Country Cards 

~ 3 Antarctica Wild cards 

The game included two levels of game play, basic and advanced. The basic level is for beginners while the advanced level is for the geography buffs. The game was created for two or more players who are at least 7 years old. The object of the game is to race to be the first person to collect the most countries from each continent. The first person to collect 3 or 5 continent cards (depending on the game play level) wins! Typical game playing time averages about 30 minutes.

I love that this geography game is constructed of heavy duty material so that it will last. The continent cards also include a detailed map of the area on the back. The Country Cards are also made of a heavy card stock and include the countries flag as well. The Country Cards also include three special cards, the mystery card, the challenge card, and the wild card. And everything is color-coded!

Continent Race has won several awards, including the 2019 Creative Child Award “Game of the Year award! The game is economically priced at $34.38 on Amazon and Bryon’s Games donates a portion of the profits to benefit select children’s charities.

We have been studying different countries this year and learning about all the different cultures our world has. Continent Race has been a great way for us to review the continents as a family. I have played this family board game with my girls who are 17, 13, and 10. My son, who is 5, was also able to play with us as a partner player on my team. Continent Race has been a breath of fresh air as we learn, especially for my younger daughter who thrives with hands-on learning.

Learning about your world can happen whether you are public, private, or homeschooled! And with everyone currently at home, now is a great time to learn about our big great world. We definitely recommend that you check out this fun educational game! But don’t just take my word for it. Fifty-nine of my CrewMates also reviewed this family board game. So be sure to click the banner below and read their thoughts as well. 


Ready, set…GO!

Company ~ Byron's Games

Product ~ Continent Race

Format ~ family board game, 2+ players

Price ~ $34.48

Ages ~ 7+

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 © 2008 - 2020 A Stable Beginning. All rights reserved. All photographs, text, artwork, and other content may not be reproduced or transmitted in any form without the written permission of the author. 

  http://astablebeginning.com

Conjurske Publications: Venturing With God in Congo ~ a TOS review

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Disclaimer: I received a FREE copy of this product through the HOMESCHOOL REVIEW CREW in exchange for my honest review. I was not required to write a positive review nor was I compensated in any other way. 

I love adding missionary stories like Venturing With God in Congo from Conjurkse Publications to our homeschool read-aloud time. Let me tell you about this new book we received that was written by Darrell Champlin.

Venturing with God in Congo is an autobiography that tells of Champlin’s missionary adventures in the Congo jungles during the 1950’s and 60’s. This hardcover book is jam-packed with adventure stories all the while Darrell Champlin and his family share the gospel of Jesus Christ in the deep jungles of the Congo.

Can you imagine living on just $28 a month? Well that’s what the Champlin’s did during their first term in the Congo. Eventually, their total monthly support rose to $168 but the majority of the money went into the mission. This families love of Christ is clear and evident in each page as they poured their hearts into the Congolese people.

I have been reading Venturing with God in Congo out loud to the children during the day, here, there, and everywhere. Because we are on the road so much now that spring baseball/softball has started I make sure to keep books in my read aloud basket in the van. Everyone has been enjoying the stories, even my most sensitive kids.

I will say the cover of the book is what caught our attention right away! The snack and then the eyes of the predator cautiously waiting to pounce made us want to open the pages of the book and dive in. Upon doing so we found a timeline of important events that span from 1917-1965 that includes the birth of the Champlin’s children and other important events. There is also a map of Congo where towns are mapped out so you can see the exact location.
There are also several pages of black and white photographs that give a first hand look into life and important events in the Congo. I always enjoy seeing photographs such as these as they help to paint the true picture of the stories and gives you a connection to the people in the story.

With over 50 stories you get to read just how God uses ordinary people to do extraordinary things for His glory! Darrell and Louise Champlin’s courage and devotion to God and the greater mission is truly inspiring for all. I can only pray that my children will be able to live for God with such sacrificial love of the Lord as best expressed by Borden of Yale: “NO RESERVES, NO RETREATS, NO REGRETS.”
Be sure to check out what my CrewMates thought of this book by clicking the banner below. I definitely recommend you getting your hands on a copy for your own family.

Company ~ Conjurske Publications 

Product ~ Venturing with God in Congo 

Format ~ hardcover book 

Price ~ $14.99

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 © 2008 - 2020 A Stable Beginning. All rights reserved. All photographs, text, artwork, and other content may not be reproduced or transmitted in any form without the written permission of the author.  

 http://astablebeginning.com

If You Were Me and Lived In... children's books by Carole P. Roman ~ a TOS review

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Disclaimer: I received a FREE copy of this product through the HOMESCHOOL REVIEW CREW in exchange for my honest review. I was not required to write a positive review nor was I compensated in any other way. 

My bookshelves may be overflowing, however, I always welcome more especially when they are high quality books that help my children explore the world around them. Some people like shoes or maybe even purses or fancy cars. For me though, give me a quality children’s books to add to our home library any day. I love them!

We love the books from Carole P. Roman here so I am excited to share with you four more titles from Carole P. Roman's If You Were Me and Lived In... assorted series. Children's books like the ones written by Carole P. Roman can be such a fun way to explore history, or culture or even practice reading.

Carole P. Roman started writing as a dare from one of her sons and has penned a new groundbreaking nonfiction series about living in different cultures around the world. With what started out as a dare has led to more than 35 children’s books, and over 100 book awards for Mrs. Roman. Including turning the fun game she played with her grandson into her first book “Captain No Beard- An Imaginary Tale of a Pirate’s Life”. By combining her teaching past with her love of exploration and interest in the world around us, she has given us the reader a chance to explore "If You Were Me and Lived in..."

Let me tell you about the following books from Carole P. Roman's If You Were Me and Lived In Series that we received:

If You Were Me and Lived In…France ~ Discover Western Europe and see what holidays they celebrate in France? The French love their crepes and I know I would love to visit the Eiffel Tower some day.

If You Were Me and Lived In…Russia ~ journey to the world’s largest country and discover some of the most recognizable sites including the Kremlin and the Red Square. Discover the magic of the New Year’s tree and celebration and the sweet treats they eat.

If You Were Me and Lived In…Brazil ~ visit the largest country in South America when you open the pages of this book. Travel through the Amazon Rain Forest and see over 390 billion trees and the thousands of different species of animals present. Did you know that Brazil has the Grand Prix car race? And don’t forget about the Carnival do Brasil one of the country’s biggest holidays.

If You Were Me and Lived In…Mexico ~ climb the steps of Chichen Itza, the Mayan temple shaped like a pyramid. Can you guess how many steps it has? 365, one for each day of the year. Discover the tasty treats eaten here, including tamales and avocados.

All four of the books we received are apart of the If You Were Me and Lived In series. The books in this series are most appropriate for children aged 6-10 and give you a glimpse of what it would be like to live in another country. Each of the books is a short book with 28 pages each. The print inside is large and set in a typeface that is easy to read. The colorful illustrations draw you into the book and make you want to know more about each page. These books are perfect for our family as we study world geography. I was able to use these books for my youngest two children McKenzie and Micah as a read-aloud.

Each book is choke full of fascinating information about the country so you get a firsthand look at daily life. A list of names is given for what you might be called if you were born there and we are also told what we would call our parents in our native language along with some popular places we could visit. Where would you get your education, what kind of sports would you play? It's all included in the book!

Pronunciations of the foreign words in the book are included in the pronunciation guide found at the back of the book to help your read the words correctly. The pictures in the books are bright and eye-catching making you want to know more.

We have happily read and re-read all of these books over the last few weeks. My children have been asking me questions and really digging into the books.

But don't just take our word for it, check out what 73 of my CrewMates thought of these books by clicking the banner below!

Company ~ Carole P. Roman

Product ~ If You Were Me and Lived In…France, If You Were Me and Lived In…Russia, If You Were Me and Lived In…Brazil, If You Were Me and Lived In…Mexico

Format ~ paperback softcover book

Price ~ $9.99 each

Ages ~ 6-8 years old

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 © 2008 - 2020 A Stable Beginning. All rights reserved. All photographs, text, artwork, and other content may not be reproduced or transmitted in any form without the written permission of the author.  

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Wordless Wednesday ~ moved up to coach pitch

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© 2008 - 2020 A Stable Beginning. All rights reserved. All photographs, text, artwork, and other content may not be reproduced or transmitted in any form without the written permission of the author.  

 http://astablebeginning.com

Time to Read with The Boxcar Children Early Reader Set from Albert Whitman and Company ~ a TOS review

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Disclaimer: I received a FREE copy of this product through the HOMESCHOOL REVIEW CREW in exchange for my honest review. I was not required to write a positive review nor was I compensated in any other way. 

You know we are a book loving family here at A Stable Beginning, so I couldn’t pass up the opportunity to review The Boxcar Children Early Reader Set. Micah and I are enjoying The Boxcar Children Early Reader Set based on the books by Gertrude Chandler Warner and published by Albert Whitman and Company.

My older girls have read some of The Boxcar Children books through our main curriculum and loved them so when I saw that Albert Whitman and company has published a set as part of the Time to Read program I was excited to get this set for my Kindergarten son, Micah.

The Boxcar Children Early Reader Set tells the familiar story of Henry, Jessie, Violet, and Benny in these Level 2 reader set that is geared towards children aged 5-7 or grades K-2. These books help your child make the transition from pictures books to chapter books.

There are four books included in this set including:

The Boxcar Children ~ In an effort to stay together as a family, Henry, Jessie, Violet, and Benny find an abandoned boxcar in the woods and make it home.

Surprise Island ~  As the children spend the summer on their Grandfather’s island they have awesome adventures and encounter fun surprises.

The Yellow House Mystery ~ Who was the man who disappeared from the yellow house and why?

Mystery Ranch ~ The children make an amazing discovery at their Aunt’s ranch house.

As part of the Time to Read series that is geared towards early reader these books were created to provide reading success for all. This series includes three levels to help parents and teachers to be able to pick the best fitting books for the Childs reading level.

The levels include: 

 Level 1 ~ Beginning to Read

 Level 2 ~ Reading with Help 

Level 3 ~ Reading Independently

 

I love that these books are hardcover books with bright colorful illustrations to grab the young readers attention. Micah and I have been reading these books over and over for the last few weeks. He is not quite able to read all the words himself, but he does know quite a few. Plus, he loves looking at the detailed pictures and asking questions.

These books went with us on several trips and Micah would be in the back reading as we traveled. Or we he would be reading while we were at the ball field before his own practice or while waiting for his big sister.

Overall, this is a great set of books! Not many books can earn a spot on our overflowing bookshelves, but these have! Not only do they tell a great story, but I can feel confident giving handing over the book to my son without wondering if there is any questionable material inside. I look forward to adding more titles to our collection in the near future. I think these would make a great birthday gift for any young reader. But don’t just take my word for it! Check out what my fellow CrewMates thought of this series by clicking the banner below.

Company ~ Albert Whitman & Company

 Product ~ The Boxcar Children Early Reader Set 

 Price ~ $14.99 Format ~ hardcover books 

 Ages ~ 5-7 year olds

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 © 2008 - 2020 A Stable Beginning. All rights reserved. All photographs, text, artwork, and other content may not be reproduced or transmitted in any form without the written permission of the author.  

 http://astablebeginning.com