I have been keeping rather quiet about my position with the TOS Homeschool Crew, so far.  It has been a really exciting experience, though, and I can't keep quiet any longer!  I just got to thinking, with the Christmas holidays coming up so quickly, that I should share about some awesome products that the Crew has received to review - and I'd like to share my thoughts on them as well.  (Be watching my blog for upcoming posts about some curriculum products as well.)

If you have not already discovered the Crew's blog, you should really check it out.  I post a bit about each product on the blog, and then the Crew members all sign Mr. Linky's with direct links to their reviews.  So, if there's something you're particularly interested in, you can get a lot of opinions on it before decided whether or not it's worth your purchase.  The Crew has been doing an awesome job, and I'm so proud of them. 

One of the first things i'd like to tell you about is a company called One 2 Believe.  They create some great toys for kids - all encouraging Biblical character traits and learning more about Jesus.  The Crew all received their Nativity Set for review.  You can read their thoughts here.  One thing that I have learned is that there is a reason why magazines such as Parents and Family Fun get children to test their toys - what I might think of something just by seeing the box is going to be a very different opinion than what my kids think when they open that same  box and start to play. 

Ian was thrilled when we took all the pieces of this nativity set out of the box.  I allowed him to play with it for awhile, and then we put it away for a few weeks.  We just got it out when we set up our Christmas tree - I have provided a table in the living room JUST for this set and the kids love walking over to it and rearranging the little characters.  Ian is very conscious about the baby Jesus, and making sure that he's tucked away in his "little bed".  So cute!

Some of the other Crew members had issues with various things about this set - such as the fact that it is made of pvc, or maybe they don't agree with likenesses of Jesus - none of those things really bother me and the nativity set has  been a fun way to share the Christmas story with my 2 year old - something he can actually touch and feel.

The Schoolhouse Store carries several of the One 2 Believe products (these include the Messenger of Faith and Proverbs 31 dolls).  Check them out - shipping is ALWAYS FREE at the Schoolhouse Store, so it's the  best place to shop (especially if you're a cheapskate like me!)

Another company that carries some great Biblical-based toys for children is Alphabet Alley.  Their byline is "smart fun for little souls".  Ian is a little soul, so he was great to test these toys.  The Crew received both the Noah's Ark Go Fish Game and the Two by Two Matching Game.  These are some high-quality games!  I was very impressed with them when I first opened the box - and we have become even more so as we have actually been playing with these things. 

The Noah's Ark Go Fish card game is made of high-quality playing cards that are large enough for little hands to hold.  These cards don't feel like any other cards I have ever seen - they are coated with a plastic coating that makes them seem to be waterproof and easy to wipe off if something were spilled on them.  Go Fish is a game that many children already know how to play, but there is so much more you can do with these cards.  My kids love looking at them and organizing them into pairs, etc.  The characters on the cards are "cartoonish" in appearance, so they're fun for little ones to look at.  They are also a great conversation starter or a way to supplement the telling of the Noah's Ark story.

The Two by Two Matching Game is much the same.  There are so many matching games available on the market today. We've had some of them in the past.  This particular matching game is so much cuter and of better quality than the ones you buy at the store.  The cards are much thicker (probably about twice as thick) - making them extremely easy for toddlers to handle.  Ian absolutely adores this game and is always looking for someone to challenge him at a game!

We also received the In the Beginning Magnet Set, which is a two-sided magnetic board and accompanying magnets to help tell the Creation story.  It's adorable.  I must admit I've been putting off opening this one, as I'm contemplating possibly giving it away for Christmas.  These toys would all make wonderful gifts, especially for those unchurched people on your Christmas list. 

Again, you can find many Alphabet Alley products for sale at the Schoolhouse Store - check them out!

Need more toy ideas?  Another great company that the Crew has been working with is ee publishing & productions.  I received two book & doll sets from this company. The books are part of a series of Nana Star books that ee publishing & productions are coming out with.

The first is simply entitled Nana Star and is about a little girl who finds a little lost star and sets out to help him find his way back to the heavens.  A nice addition to this story is the plush Nana Star doll.  This company thought of everything - including a removeable star, branch, and even Nana Star's handkerchief!

The second book in the series is called Nana Star and the Moonman.  In this  book, the Moonman helps Nana Star as she tries to get the little star back home.  The Moonman doll is adorable and so soft!  What makes him extra special is the fact that his head lights up and, when the star on his belly is pressed, he plays a soothing lullaby. 

I enjoyed reading these nice hardback books with the kids.  If it weren't for Ian, though, I might not be so impressed with the plush dolls.  Ian took a shine to the Moonman and hasn't allowed him to be out of his sight since we received the package last week!  He wakes up in the middle night and the first words out of his mouth are "Moonman is?"  Around our house, Moonman has become a member of the family.

If you're looking for something for one of those hard-to-buy-for children in your life, you might consider a book and plush doll.  These items can be purchased through the company's website.

I'm on a roll now.......
I'll share more soon.

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