Britfield & the Lost Crown

Our family loves when we get the opportunity to review books. The kids spend a large portion of their school day lost in a book and we sit together and enjoy a good read-aloud as a family often, but there are times when reading just isn't feasible. It is those times especially when we enjoy audio books. 

Britfield & the Lost Crown by C.R. Stewart is a brand new book that is available in all formats. While I love a physical book--the smell of the paper, the touch of the pages, the visual of my progress, the entire experience really--I decided that the audio version would fit our needs better at this time.

This adventure book is geared toward ages 10-18 roughly and is part one of a projected five-book series. The author, C.R. Stewart, is a seasoned writer with much experience in film production, global strategy, international marketing, and public speaking. He was inspired to write the Britfield stories after sketching a scene of a boy and girl in a hot air balloon. The first book takes place all across the land of England and highlights places that Stewart himself has visited. His familiarity of the country shines through in his details, making the narrative come alive.   

The story follows the adventures of Tom and Sarah, orphans at Weatherly in Yorkshire. More like a prison than a loving home, the malevolent orphanage worked the children too hard, punished them too much, and gave them too little. One night, after an unethical and undeserved punishment, Tom decided to free Sarah from her solitary dungeon. He, with the help of the other orphans, staged a coup with an elaborate plan. Not only did they succeed, but both Tom and Sarah used the chaos as a cover to escape the orphanage through a secret tunnel.

The best friends were on the run, not only from the malicious supervisor of the orphanage, but from a renown detective who specializes in missing children, as well. They meet unlikely friends as they race all across England to outsmart their pursuers. The pair trekked through a muddy swap, commandeered a hot air balloon, joined a carnival in the air, gained a surprising companion, stayed in Windsor Castle, got shot, nearly drowned in Serpentine Lake, climbed out of two-story windows, and experienced many other adventures. Their quest, which began simply as wanting to get as far away from Weatherly as possible, became much more important as they started to make connections about Tom's past and who his parents might be.

The story is action-packed from the beginning to the end, and keeps the reader on the edge of his seat. Tom and Sarah find themselves in one nerve-wracking situation after another, making the story tense yet exciting. I feel that the writing is perfect for the target age, but still greatly enjoyed by my younger kids, as well. My group, ranging from 13 years down through 4, liked the book so much that they started asking for the next one before we even finished listening to this.

Aside from a thrilling story, I appreciate all the historical facts and geographical references sprinkled throughout. It is a delightful combination of fact and fiction as it weaves in places like St. Paul's Cathedral, Oxford University, Heathrow Airport, St. Mary's Abbey, Christ Church, Radcliffe Camera,  Blenheim Palace, and more. It mentions, Dickens, Churchill, Queen Victoria, Jane Austen, and other notable English people. 

C.R. Stewart, author

If you'd like to turn the book into a more thorough learning opportunity, there is an 8-week study guide available. This 83-page PDF is filled with exercises broken down by chapter: Vocabulary, Comprehension Questions, Going Deeper, Learn More With Technology. There is a variety of activities including fill in the blank, matching, crossword puzzle, word search, short answer, and  multiple choice for the first two sections. The others, Going Deeper and Learn More With Technology, require the reader to put more thought and effort into the assignment. There is a lot of "what do you think?" and "how do you feel?" and "justify your answer" type of things, along with researching online about various points in the book, such as facts about the current Prime Minister, learning about famous artists showcased in Windsor Castle, studying locations all around England, and more. The conclusion of the study guide also has sections to review the plot, conflict, characters, and theme of the book. There is a complete answer key at the very end. My only complaint is that the pages are done in a gray scale, requiring a lot of ink to print. A plain white background would be appreciated.

In addition to the study guide, there are many other free teacher resources to enhance the learning experience, including samples of the book, games, and creativity suggestions. The website itself is packed full of information, too. There are historical facts and beautiful pictures that help the reader visualize the places and landscapes of the country. 

The audio version is 9 1/2 hours in length and read with a British accent. It was produced by Devonfield Publishing, the author's own company, and is available from Audible.

Our family thoroughly enjoyed Britfield & the Lost Crown! My kids fell in love with Tom and Sarah and their journey. We can't wait to see the adventure continue in France in book two, Britfield & the Rise of the Lion.



You can connect with Britfield & the Lost Crown on the following social media sites:
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Other homeschooling families had the opportunity to review either a paperback copy or an ebook of Britfield & the Lost Crown. You can read those reviews and more of the audio version on the Homeschool Review Crew blog.

Library and Educational Services LLC

It is no secret that our family reads--a lot--so it's not surprising that our favorite reviews are often book reviews. This time though, we're not talking about a single book, but a whole pile of interesting and educational materials.

Imagine my excitement when we were able to choose our own books from Library and Educational Services LLC. We were given the choice of one book from the best-selling Who Was . . . ? series, one CD from the dynamic Lifehouse Theater CD series, and a selection of the Reinforced Hardcover Library Binding Nonfiction books.

      

Library and Educational Services is a small, family-owned company right here in Michigan. They've been in business as a whole-sale distributor for over 40 years, selling to libraries, schools, re-sellers, specialty stores, churches, missionaries, daycare centers, and ministry leaders. The merchandise is carefully selected to ensure they represent Christian morals and values. They specialize in materials for children, though they do offer many products for the adult crowd, as well. From Bibles to biographies to DVDs to marriage helps to coloring books and everything in between, there is something to appeal to everyone. 

On top of their great selection are their great prices. All of their materials are between 30% to 70% off publisher's list prices every day. I personally have ordered from them multiple times and have been very pleased with both the products and the prices. And my kids are always thrilled when they get a big box of new books!

We've been big fans of the Who Was . . . ? books for a while. In fact, we own over 50 titles from the series. I require my kids to spend a certain portion every week reading a biography. While we have many different types in our personal library, the Who Was . . . ? books are a favorite. They are perfect for the middle grades with a slightly larger font size and vocabulary usage. Each book is right around 100 pages and is filled with sketch drawings on nearly every page. There are also timelines in the back and additional bibliography suggestions. Along with the Who Was? books which focus on people of the past, there are What Was? (events), Where Is? (places), and Who Is? (people of the present) titles.  

We were given 1 book, but I ordered an additional 4 to add to our collection. Occasionally, a single title might drop lower in price from another retailer, but in general, this is the cheapest place to purchase these books. In fact, they have dropped even lower than the every day price during a current sale. All the titles in the series are only $2.89. I already placed another order of 10 of these books! The ones I got for this review though are Who Was William Shakespeare?, Who Were The Brothers Grimm?, What Was the Great Chicago Fire?, What Was Pearl Harbor?, and Where Is the Tower of London?.

Another great aspect that I never noticed before is that the What Was? books each have an additional 16 pages of historical photographs and the Where Is books have a full-color, fold-out map with pictures on the back. These bonus pages help the places and events comes to life and give the reader a more vivid understanding. I've enjoyed looking through these pictures of the past.

The Lifehouse Theater CD series is also something we were familiar with as we already owned a couple productions. These On-The-Air audio dramas are adaptations of classic stories from literature, history, and the Bible. The stories come to life through powerful performances, beautiful music, and rich sound effects, making a "theater of the imaginations."

We chose "Rikki-Tikki-Tavi." The story is based on a short account within Rudyard Kipling's Jungle Book. In it, a pet mongoose bravely protects his human family from a pair of deadly cobras. This version begins and ends with a side story as a missionary relates the courage of Rikki-Tikki-Tavi to calm a young boy who had been bitten by a snake and wins over the boy's aloof father in the process. The story encourages bravery, faith, and love. This production is well done and was enjoyed by the whole family. This particular story is right around a half hour, but others in the series are more than twice that length.

Choosing our Reinforced Hardcover Library Binding Nonfiction books was a more more difficult task than deciding the other materials. There are just so many options! Since my kids range in age from 4 years to 13 years and naturally have different interests, I picked books that would not only be educational, but intriguing, as well. Here is our loot:

• The Black Death 1347-1350
• Bloodiest Battles (set of 4)
• Ye Yucky Middle Ages (set of 4)
• Real Life Science Projects (set of 2)
• Extreme Survival (set of 2)

I admit, I am a book nerd, but I have to say that these books are beautiful! There is just something special about a brand new pile of books, especially ones that are as well-made as these. All but the survival books are hardcover with sturdy binding. The books are full of color with eye-catching pictures and pleasing formats. The books are designed to teach kids all sorts of important and fascinating facts, but even I have been reading my way through them and learning new things.

My daughter did find a single defect in one of our books. She was reading Who Was William Shakespeare? when she came across a page that was flipped and torn. The page wasn't cut properly so it was substantially larger than the others, causing it damage.

I headed to the site, clicked the contact us button, and then filled out the form through the email link. I gave my information and explained the situation. The next day I received a personalized email from customer service. She was friendly, apologized for the defect, and shipped me a new book. Mistakes happen; how you handle them is important. The customer service at Library and Educational Services LLC is fantastic.

I have always been pleased with my experiences with Library and Educational Services LLC. They have a vast selection of quality books at amazing prices. Here is a sampling of materials we own that they sell: the Rush Revere books, set of 26 Profiles of the Presidents books, Adventures in Odyssey CDs, Drive Thru History DVDs, pack of Cartoon Nation books, Go Science DVDs, and, of course, dozens of Who Was . . . ? books. They truly offer something for everyone.

Head over to Library and Educational Services LLC today and don't forget to take advantage of their sale on the Who Was . . . ? series!

You can connect with Library and Educational Services LLC on the following social media sites:

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Since members of the Crew were able to choose their own titles for this review, there are so many more books and CDs that have been used by homeschooling families this summer. You can read those reviews on the Homeschool Review Crew blog.

For The Temple

We are so excited to be starting another year with the Homeschool Review Crew with a review of one of our favorite vendors! Heirloom Audio produces some of the best audio dramas we have ever heard. Our schooling is literature-based, so we're often reading quality writings together that teach life lessons and new vocabulary. We are drawn to living books that bring the stories to life and teach valuable lessons. Instead of sitting and writing facts in a workbook, we choose to learn history through these stories. For those times though when I can't sit and read to the kiddos, we like to utilize audio books and incorporate them into our schooling and daily life.

We couldn't wait to listen to For The Temple. 

Heirloom Audio has converted multiple historical adventure novels by G.A. Henty into theater-quality audio dramas. Our main curriculum lists many Henty books in the reading list, because they are known for their deep history, rich literature, and exciting plots. So far, because my kiddos are still pretty young, they aren't drawn to the novels themselves, but they are truly captivated by these adaptations. If you close your eyes, you feel as if you're there in the story. The music, the actors, the sound effects--they all make the story come to life. You hear arrows flying through the air, torches flaming, a battering ram thumping, wood splitting, and fire crackling, and you feel as if you are there as one of the characters of the story. The narrator, Brian Blessed, has a rich, powerful voice that makes the drama exciting to listen to. We were immediately pulled into the plot.

The story begins in AD 67 when Nero was in power and the Jews revolted against Rome's authority. It follows the life of a young man named John as he was pulled into the fight of rebellion. He was trained by Josephus, survived a raging storm on the Sea of Galilee, and used his cunning skills to be one of the few survivors of the Battle of Jotapata. Using his experience and proficient abilities, he recruited a band of young men to harass the Roman armies. News of his feats traveled throughout the land as he continued to best the enemy. He fought the general Titus, won the one-on-one battle, earned his respect, and received a promise from him. Over time, John and his men continued in the fight and earned the trust of other Jews. They were crucial participants during the siege of Jerusalem as they gave the men resolve, offered strategic plans, and helped to feed starving people. John had made it his mission to defend the Temple at all costs. He watched the walls crumble, the gate burn, and men fall. He learned valuable lessons about God's character and His judgment. Through these experiences and the influence of others, John learned about Yeshua and what it meant to be a follower of His and that changed his life forever.

There is a downloadable Study Guide & Discussion Starter that accompanies the story. This complete guide is used to enhance your learning and complement your study. Each section, which correlates to the tracks on the CDs, is  filled with review questions (Listening Well), ideas to get you thinking deeper (Thinking Further), and vocabulary words (Defining Words). There is information about the biblical and historical background of the story, multiple Bible studies that coordinate with the story (No Other Savior, Proper Worship, Christ Our Temple), and many pictures from the times. There are boxes throughout the study that are filled with snippets of information that relate to the period. A recommended reading list about the destruction of Jerusalem in AD 70 is also included.  

While you can learn much simply by listening to the story and incorporating the guide, you can take your study even deeper by joining the Live the Adventure Club. As a member, you'll have access to a community forum, daily motivational quotes and stories, hundreds of articles about parenting and historical learning, a collection of rare textbooks from the 1700-1800s, and hundreds of fun activities. By signing up now, you can even get one of their audio dramas for free (just pay shipping and handling). The Live the Adventure Club makes history exciting.

We used the study guide questions to review the story and tackle difficult topics. The kids and I especially enjoyed the sections teaching about food in ancient Jerusalem, the Flavian Amphitheater, a map of the siege of Jerusalem, and Gideon's army defeating the Midianites (one of my favorite Bible stories). I always appreciate the content included in these guides as it is informative, interesting, and encourages us to really think.

For The Temple provides 2 1/2 hours worth of historical learning. The production is ideal for ages 6+ and was well-loved by my whole family. There are some elements that are more difficult for the young ones to understand, but this is a great way to introduce them to new topics. It's never to early to enjoy quality literature. We are thankful to add this story to our collection and await the next exciting adventure from Heirloom Audio.  

You can connect with Heirloom Audio on the following social media sites: 

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Be sure to read more reviews of this audio drama on the Homeschool Review Crew blog.

St. Bartholomew's Eve

Heirloom Audio produces some of the best audio dramas we have ever heard and reviewed. Our schooling is literature-based, so we're often reading quality writings together that teach life lessons and new vocabulary. We are drawn to living books that bring the stories to life and teach valuable lessons. Instead of sitting and writing facts in a workbook, we choose to learn history through these stories. For those times though when I can't sit and read to the kiddos, we like to utilize audio books and incorporate them into our schooling and daily life.

This time, we traveled to France in St. Bartholomew's Eve.  

Heirloom Audio has converted multiple historical adventure novels by G.A. Henty into theater-quality audio dramas. Our main curriculum lists many Henty books in the reading list, because they are known for their deep history, rich literature, and exciting plots. So far, my kiddos aren't drawn to the novels themselves, but they are truly captivated by these adaptations. If you close your eyes, you feel as if you're there in the story. The powerful music, the talented actors, the realistic sound effects--they all make the story come to life. You hear pistols firing, horse hooves clomping, swords clanking, money jingling, crickets chirping, and arrows whizzing through the air and you feel as if you are there as one of the characters of the story. The narrator, Brian Blessed, has a rich, powerful voice that makes the drama exciting to listen to. We were immediately pulled into the plot.

As is typical with the other Heirloom Audio dramas, this one also begins with Mr. George introducing the story to a couple of boys. It begins in 1567 as the Huguenots were being persecuted. It follows the life of a young Philip as he left the safety of England for the danger of France to help "break the bonds of Tyranny, to achieve our God-given right to worship Him according to our beliefs." Through many battles, he helped the Huguenots attack and capture their enemies. He made sure to pray to God before his battles and prayed specifically that he and the others would don each piece of the armor of God. He protected the prince in the heat of battle, captured leaders and officials in Toulouse, nearly died, and was dubbed a knight. He used his wisdom from God to set up a signal system that gave them an extra two hours to prepare for impending danger, to create an unconventional plan that involved cows to drive an enemy army away, and to remove Xs from doors to protect fellow Believers. It was not all victory, though. They felt that all hope was lost while trapped in a castle and sang a moving hymn and later were in Paris when a massacre was in progress. He and those close to him experience death, loss, and suffered from "wound no one could see." Through it all, he continued with his duty to protect others and "fought for not only his own rights, but the rights of those for generations to come." Along with the non-stop action and exciting adventures, there are plenty of morals and Biblical truths taught along the way. 

While you can learn much simply by listening to the story, you can take your study deeper by joining the Live the Adventure Club. As a member, you'll have access to bonus content about St. Bartholomew's Eve along with many more features. There is a community forum, daily motivational quotes and stories, hundreds of articles about parenting and historical learning, a collection of rare textbooks from the 1700-1800s, and hundreds of fun activities. By signing up now, you can even get this audio drama for free (just pay shipping and handling)! The Live the Adventure Club makes history exciting.

St. Bartholomew's Eve provides 2 1/2 hours worth of historical learning. The production is ideal for ages 6+, but even my little ones enjoy listening. There are some elements that are more difficult for the young ones to understand, but this is an ideal way to introduce them to new topics. It's never to early to enjoy quality literature. We are thankful to add this story to our collection and await the next exciting adventure from Heirloom Audio. 

You can connect with Heirloom Audio on the following social media sites:

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You can read more reviews of this audio drama on the Homeschool Review Crew blog.

Wulf the Saxon

We are so excited to be starting another year with the Homeschool Review Crew with a review of one of our favorite vendors! Heirloom Audio Productions produces some of the best audio dramas we have ever heard. Our schooling is literature-based, so we're often reading quality writings together that teach life lessons and new vocabulary. We are drawn to living books that bring the stories to life and teach valuable lessons. Instead of sitting and writing facts in a workbook, we choose to learn history through these stories. For those times though when I can't sit and read to the kiddos, we like to utilize audio books and incorporate them into our schooling and daily life.

This time, we traveled to England in Wulf the Saxon.  

Heirloom Audio Productions has converted multiple historical adventure novels by G.A. Henty into theater-quality audio dramas. Our main curriculum lists many Henty books in the reading list, because they are known for their deep history, rich literature, and exciting plots. So far, my kiddos aren't drawn to the novels themselves, but they are truly captivated by these adaptations. If you close your eyes, you feel as if you're there in the story. The music, the actors, the sound effects--they all make the story come to life. You hear the the wood on the ship creaking, waves splashing, chains clinking, water dripping, birds chirping, and swords clanking and you feel as if you are there as one of the characters of the story. The narrator, Brian Blessed, has a rich, powerful voice that makes the drama exciting to listen to. We were immediately pulled into the plot.

Just like the other dramas, this one begins with Mr. George introducing the story to a couple of boys. It begins in 1065 when 16-year-old Wulf has an interaction that sends him away from the king's court and home to assume his role as thane of his land. Despite disappointment, Wulf strives to serve his people well and quickly earns their respect. Over time, Wulf receives a pardon from the king and returns to the court in London. This experience changes the course of his life. He survives a terrible storm, capsizes in a foreign land, is captured by the enemy, is forced to serve in the count's court, and miraculously escapes. The king dies with no heir, producing a war over succession. Wulf receives help from an unlikely source as he helps his friend and newly crowned king, Harold, fight to keep the throne. Time after time, Wulf proves that he is an honorable man, full of courage and devoted to his country. The Battle of Hastings would seal their fate and change the course of history. Along with the non-stop action and exciting adventures, there are plenty of morals and Biblical truths taught along the way.    

While you can learn much simply by listening to the story, you can take your study deeper by joining the Live the Adventure Club. As a member, you'll have access to bonus content about Wulf the Saxon along with many more features. There is a community forum, daily motivational quotes and stories, hundreds of articles about parenting and historical learning, a collection of rare textbooks from the 1700-1800s, and hundreds of fun activities. By signing up now, you can even get one of their audio dramas for free (just pay shipping and handling)! The Live the Adventure Club makes history exciting.

Wulf the Saxon provides 2 1/2 hours worth of historical learning. The production is ideal for ages 6+, but even my little ones enjoy listening. There are some elements that are more difficult for the young ones to understand, but this is an ideal way to introduce them to new topics. It's never to early to enjoy quality literature. We are thankful to add this story to our collection and await the next exciting adventure from Heirloom Audio Productions. 

You can connect with Heirloom Audio Productions on the following social media sites:

Facebook

Twitter

Pinterest

Instagram

Google+

YouTube

You can read more reviews of Wulf the Saxon on the Homeschool Review Crew blog.

Captain Bayley's Heir

We've been blessed with the opportunity to review the newest audio drama from Heirloom Audio Productions. They have produced some of the best audio dramas we have ever heard and always make our family happy to learn history. Our schooling is literature-based, so we're often reading quality writings together that teach life lessons and new vocabulary. For those times though when I can't sit and read to the kiddos, we like to utilize audio books and incorporate them into our schooling and daily life.

We couldn't wait to listen to Captain Bayley's Heir.

Heirloom Audio Productions has converted multiple historical adventure novels by G.A. Henty into theater-quality audio dramas. Our main curriculum lists many Henty books in the reading list, because they are known for their deep history, rich literature, and exciting plots. So far, my kiddos aren't drawn to the novels themselves, but they are truly captivated by these adaptations. If you close your eyes, you feel as if you're there in the story. The music, the actors, the sound effects--they all make the story come to life. You hear the sound of horses' hooves pounding on the ground, guns shooting, fire crackling, bird chirping, glass breaking, and you feel as if you are there as one of the characters of the story. It is that realistic. The narrator, Brian Blessed, has a rich, powerful voice that makes the drama exciting to listen to. We were immediately pulled into the plot.

The story begins in England in the 1800s. There's a whole cast of characters, but mostly follows the life of 18-year-old Frank. He is noble and generous and well-liked by everyone. After a series of poor choices and being in the wrong place at the wrong time, he was falsely accused of a crime. Before his punishment were to take place, he escaped to America. He experienced much adventure in three years' time. He nearly died in a terrible storm, happened upon a caravan of murdered pioneers, was attacked by 200 Indians, killed a man in self-defense, saved a man's life, found gold, fought to protect strangers, and experienced a miracle. He worked hard and overcame many obstacles. Despite being doubted by many and betrayed by one closest to him, he chose forgiveness. It's a story of grace, forgiveness, and love. Along with the non-stop action and exciting adventures, there are plenty of morals and Biblical truths taught along the way.         

There is a downloadable Study Guide & Discussion Starter that accompanies the story. This complete guide is used to enhance your learning and complement your study. Each section, which correlates to the tracks on the CDs, is  filled with review questions (Listening Well), ideas to get you thinking deeper (Thinking Further), and vocabulary words (Defining Words). There is more information about G.A. Henty, multiple Bible studies that coordinate with the story (God's Grace, Becoming a Christian, Honoring Your Parents), many pictures from the times, and much more historical information. There are Expand Your Learning boxes throughout the study that are filled with snippets of information that relate to the period.

There are many more extras that are included as part of the Live the Adventure Club, too. There is the original Captain Bayley's Heir ebook, the official soundtrack composed by John Campbell, a printable cast poster, an inspirational verse poster, and a downloadable desktop wallpaper. Also as part of the Live the Adventure Club, you gain access to many more features, such as the community forum, daily motivational quotes and stories, hundred of articles about parenting, collection of rare textbooks from the 1700-1800s, and hundreds of fun activities.

The whole family loved this story! Some of the other dramas have been a bit complicated between the story line and accents, but this one was easy to follow. It has a couple surprising plot twists that add to the excitement, too. And that soundtrack? I think it's my favorite from all of the Heirloom Audio dramas! It's so peaceful and calming. John Campbell really did a great job with this one. I've enjoyed playing the music over and over. 

We used the study guide questions to review the story and tackle difficult topics. The kids and I especially enjoyed the sections teaching about Victorian money, the water routes to California, the dangers of the mining camps, and living in the gold fields. Of course, the little ones didn't quite understand everything, but it's never too early to introduce quality literature.

Captain Bayley's Heir is another fantastic resource from Heirloom Audio Productions. We'll enjoy this for years to come. 

  

You can connect with Heirloom Audio Productions on the following social media sites:
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You can read more reviews of Captains Bayley's Heir on the Homeschool Review Crew blog.

In the Riegn of Terror

Our family appreciates the privilege of reviewing products as a member of the Homeschool Review Crew. Over the years, we've been introduced to some amazing vendors and have fallen in love with their products. Heirloom Audio Productions is one of our favorites. They have produced some of the best audio dramas we have ever heard and always make our family happy to learn history.

Our schooling is very literature-based. Our family loves read-alouds and will often sit together to read various novels for hours on end. I love reading my kids quality literature and sharing that time with them. Not only does it teach them life lessons, it also introduces them to new vocabulary. Along with that time spent together, we love to incorporate audio books and dramas into our days. Whether we're folding clothes, driving in the van, or just needing some downtime, audio books are perfect. In the Reign of Terror is no exception.

Heirloom Audio Productions has converted multiple historical adventure novels by G.A. Henty into theater-quality audio dramas. Our main curriculum lists many Henty books in the reading list, because they are known for their deep history, rich literature, and exciting plots. So far, my kiddos aren't drawn to the novels themselves, but they are truly captivated by these adaptations. If you close your eyes, you feel as if you're there in the story. Think of it as watching a movie, but with no picture. In fact, each time we turned on the CD, my two-year-old would point to the television, "Turn on, Mama? I watch movie?" The music, the actors, the sound effects--they all make the story come to life. You hear a horse walking on cobblestone streets, the birds chirping, an angry mob shouting, swords clinking, crickets humming, and the glass from a window shattering, and you feel as if you are there in France as one of the characters of the story. It is that realistic. The narrator, Brian Blessed, has a rich, powerful voice that makes the drama exciting to listen to. We were immediately pulled into the story.

The story takes place in the late 1700s during one of the darkest times in history--The French Revolution. It follows the life of Harry Sandwith, a 16-year-old English boy who leaves his homeland to tutor the sons of the Marquis de St. Caux in France. Harry is befriended by the family and becomes like one of their own. Throughout the story, he protected the marquis' daughters from a rabid dog, stabbed a "demon" wolf to death, and escaped an angry mob. He experienced firsthand the terrors and injustices of the times as he watched the people he grew to love imprisoned and put to death, simply because of their heritage. He risked his own life as he tried to reason with the commoners and show them their unlawfulness. In all of this, he trusted in God to guide him. Along with the non-stop action and exciting adventures, there are plenty of morals and Biblical truths taught along the way.

There is a downloadable Study Guide & Discussion Starter that accompanies the story. This complete guide is used to enhance your learning and complement your study. Each section, which correlates to the tracks on the CDs, is  filled with review questions (Listening Well), ideas to get you thinking deeper (Thinking Further), and vocabulary words (Defining Words). There is more information about G.A. Henty, Maximilien Robespierre, and Marie Antoinette; multiple Bible studies that coordinate with the story, many pictures from the times, and much more historical information. There are Expand Your Learning boxes throughout the study that are filled with snippets of information that relate to the period.

There are many more extras that are included as part of the Live the Adventure Club, too. There is the original In the Reign of Terror ebook, the official soundtrack composed by John Campbell, a printable cast poster, an inspirational verse poster, and a downloadable desktop wallpaper. A new thing that I don't remember seeing with other dramas is the inclusion of the official script download. This was extremely helpful during portions of the story that were hard to understand and helped give appropriate information. Also as part of the Live the Adventure Club, you gain access to many more features, such as the community forum, daily motivational quotes and stories, hundred of articles about parenting, collection of rare textbooks from the 1700-1800s, and hundreds of fun activities.  

The 2+ hour audio production is ideal for ages 6-adult, but our entire family enjoyed listening to it. We had a harder time understanding this story than we have with the others. It was a combination of the heavy French accents and the softness of the voices, I think. Normally we can enjoy these while driving, but we realized it took more concentration to follow along because the road noise was a distraction. Even my oldest commented that all the voices sounded similar, so he had a difficult time deciphering which character was speaking.They did, however, enjoy the French words sprinkled throughout the story and laughed at the Frenchman who made funny mistakes when trying to speak English.

We used the study guide questions to review the story and tackle difficult topics. The kids and I especially enjoyed the sections teaching about architecture in Paris in the 18th century, fashions of the day, medical practices, and the guillotine. Of course, the little ones didn't quite understand everything, but it's never too early to introduce quality literature. 

This will be a story that we reference throughout the years. In the Reign of Terror is a wonderful resource to have.

You can connect with Heirloom Audio Productions on the following social media sites:
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You can read more reviews of this productions on the Homeschool Review Crew blog.

 

The Familyman's Review

I can't believe how quickly this year is going. We're nearing the end of October. Soon it will be Thanksgiving season. And then the Christmas festivities begin. In fact, I purchased several Christmas gifts this past week since I found some really great deals. The kids were singing Christmas songs this morning and were already talking about our big cookie-baking day. It's easy to get caught up in the the joy of the season. The music, the decorations, the treats, the time spent with family, the presents--it's an exciting time. But while there are many things to love about the holiday, we always want to remember the true meaning of Christmas. We want to teach our kids that the reason we give gifts is because God gave His greatest gift to us when He sent His Son to Earth. The reason we sing those beautiful songs is to remember the miracle of Jesus coming as a baby, born of a virgin. Yes, we enjoy snowmen and candy canes, but we make sure to keep the focus of Christmas on Christ.

We always appreciate when we find books and other resources that reinforce the true meaning of Christmas, just like these stories from The Familyman. We incorporate audio books into our schooling quite often, so it was a special treat to receive the Digital Downloads version of The Familyman's Christmas Treasury - Audio Collection. This set, written by Todd Wilson (and read by master storyteller Jim Hodges), contains 6 books that not only teach the true meaning of Christmas, but also provide many hours of entertainment. There are also 2 more books in the collection.

Cootie McKay's Nativity
This story takes place in 1956 and is a page out of the author's past. It starts when an elderly lady drives her car directly into the town's nativity set, nearly ruining Christmas for everyone. The people reluctantly depend on an eccentric man, Cootie McKay, to build a new nativity. Along the way, Cootie learns about the Baby in the manger, how He came to pay for our sins, and trusts in Him as his Savior. But what do the people think of his nativity set that was made with broken junk like aluminum cans, fishing lure,s license plates, and typewriter keys?

Captain Chaos and the Manger Blaster
Jason and his sister are playing with the nativity set when he decides that the Christmas story is boring. As a typical 10-year-old boy, he adds a superhero to the story and pretends to blast the manger to bits. After being sent to bed early because of his bad attitude, Jason comes face-to-face with Captain Chaos himself, and learns what the world would be like if there had never been the manger. He learns a valuable lesson and finds new excitement in the Christmas story.

The Stranger
It was Christmas Eve and the members of a small-town church were fearful of The Stranger that had been visiting their homes. Dirty, foul-smelling, homeless--no one wanted this man around. When he knocked at their doors, they hid and prayed that he left them alone. Sam and his family went home that night in a snow storm. They had plans to enjoy the evening, but things start to go wrong. The tree won't work, they lose power, and eventually, the dreaded stranger knocks. The family shows the man pity as they invite him in and share their hot cocoa. By the next morning, they learned the true identity of the Stranger and the importance of loving all men.

The Bishop's Dream
This is a story of the original St. Nicholas who loved orphans--poor, dirty children, clothed in rags. He and his donkey Jonathon went from town to town delivering food, clothing, and love to these little ones. He believed that "helping others brings joy, not only to oneself, but more importantly, to God." The bishop dreams that he travels to the future, where he learns of a big man in a red suit. He's chocked to learn that this man has taken the priority at Christmastime and even more shocked to learn that the man is him. He wakes with the prayer, "It's all about You, not me. Help them to remember that."

Harold Grubbs
Isaac is a little embarrassed when his dad pulls out the ugly red and green Christmas vest that he wears every Sunday in December. It's not until he hears the story behind it though, that he understands the importance of it. When his father was a boy, Harold Grubbs, a cranky old man who disliked children visited their church. Harold sat by himself with a scowl on his face. After many weeks, the man softened and accepted Jesus as his Savior. He was a changed man. He went from being the meanest man in town to the nicest; from hating children, to loving them. From then on, he wore that ugly vest in December.When Isaac's dad grew up and Mr. Grubbs died, he learned why the vest was special and how a nail and straw man reminds us that Jesus still changes people.

Gladys Remembers Christmas
There were two things Gladys hated: Christmas and her name. She was 6 years old when her mother died and her life was forever changed. Christmas was a depressing time as it reminded her that everyone else was happy, while she was not. When she grew up and moved her 90-year-old father into a nursing home, she revisits her childhood home to look for a box that he requested. It was while she was there in the attic that she receives a visit from her deceased mother. The home is transformed back to when she was young. Through this experience, Gladys understands that God loves her more than anyone else and why He allowed her mother to die. She gains a new love for Christmas and her name.

The Secret of the Snow Village
Katherine is staying at her grandmother's house with her whole family. She spends time by herself staring and the elaborate Christmas village scene, longing to be a part of it. That night, she's awakened by the sound of a bell chiming and kids giggling. She's drawn to the sounds and follows them, letting her curiosity guide her. As she walks out the front door of the house, she's surprised to see so many people on the streets. They all seemed to be walking in the same direction, following the sound of the bell. She gets caught up in the crowd and find herself by a Baby in a manger and discovers what she's been looking for all along. 

It's Called Christmas
What might the future look like?  Hover chairs, hydrated lasagna, and life without Christmas? This letter is written from the future when one boy is told, "It's called Christmas," from a man at the mall. When he can find no information from his parents, history teacher, or any historical documents and books, he becomes determined to learn why the word has been erased. He heads back to find the man and through a series of events, learns that Christmas is "not so much about what it is, but Who it's about."      

We have loved listening to these stories! They are all so different, yet all point back to the true meaning of Christmas. Each story puts the focus on Jesus, while bringing in different aspects of the holiday. I started the first book as the kids were playing with Legos. They were immediately absorbed in the story. When it ended, they begged for another. They sat for hours building with bricks and enjoying the quality books and story-reading. We all enjoyed them so much in fact that we've listened to them twice already. This Christmas stories collection is perfect for any family and would make a wonderful gift. These are stories that we will cherish for many years. 


         

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