Review and Giveaway: As One Devil to Another

As One Devil to Another is an astonishing debut work that C. S. Lewis’s biographer and foremost Lewis authority Walter Hooper calls “a stunning achievement, the finest example of the genre of diabolical correspondence to appear since this genre was popularized by C. S. Lewis.” Enter into this chilling and diabolical tale, one that reveals the very tricks and strategies of Hell. 

Through a series of letters between devils created by Platt, senior devil Slashreap trains his young protégé, Scardagger, to win an individual soul away from Heaven and into their clutches. As the devils plot their way to triumph, they reveal the spiritual dangers and risks we face in today’s society. Their frighteningly accurate perspective on issues such as contemporary technology and sexual mores is interwoven with timeless matters such as the power of prayer, the purpose of suffering, and the promises held out by Heaven . . . and Hell.(publisher's book description)

Screwtape Letters by C.S. Lewis has been on my to-read list for many years.  In fact, the very book has been sitting in my nightstand drawer for about a year.  So, when I had the opportunity to review Richard Platt's As One Devil to Another, written in the style of C.S. Lewis, my interest was piqued.

I actually started reading Screwtape Letters in anticipation of the arrival of Platt's book.  I wanted to have an idea of the comparison of the two.  Part of my concern is that Platt's book would seem unoriginal and too much copy of Lewis' unique style in Screwtape Letters to the point of annoyance.  I needn't have worried.

I found the tale woven among the letters between senior devil Slashread and student Scardagger thought-provoking and interesting.  I enjoyed the little nods to C.S. Lewis or the original Screwtape Letters.  For example, Slashread is Screwtape's brother.  Slashread warns Scardagger that the "client's" aunt has titles by "a pestilential writer named Lewis" and later references a lion and children (from the popular Naria Series, for those unfamiliar).

The "fiendish correspondence" gives the read a glimpse into all the tricks and strategies of Hell in order to turn one away from the "Adversary" (Slashread's address of God) all with a modern twist of issues of today.  Political correctness, homosexuality, reality TV, the sexual revolution, and the Internet are all topics addressed.  Also addressed are those issues and questions with which humanity has always struggled: competition, sufferance, pride, humility, good works, and more.

While there was at least once I questioned some theology as presented, overall I found it was good read.  At just under 200 pages, it won't bog you down, but it also has enough meat to it to make you think. I'll likely require my high school student to read this title, after reading Screwtape Letters first, especially since the "client" is a young woman at the university pursuing an English degree, an area of interest for my daughter.

Giveaway! (Closed)

Congrats to commenter #5, Julieanne!

I have one certificate for a copy of As One Devil to Another to giveaway to one lucky U.S. reader. See below for how you can enter.  Please make sure to leave your contact info in each comment.

Mandatory entry:

• Do you have a favorite C.S. Lewis book?

For additional entries (leave a comment for each):

• Follow this blog through Google Friend Connect
• Subscribe to this blog (rss or email)
• Like Chatter, Clatter, and Things That Matter on Facebook.
• Follow Chatter and Clatter on Twitter
• Leave a comment on another post on this blog. Let me know which post.
• Post about this giveaway on your own blog, Facebook, Twitter, or others (please specify in your comment).  This will count for two entries for each! Make sure you leave two comments.

The giveaway will end on May 25th at 6 p.m. EST and will be chosen by a random number generator. 

Disclaimer/Disclosure of Material Connection: I received the book mentioned above for free from Tyndale Publishers in the hope that I would mention it on my blog. All opinions are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 255: "Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.

Review: Staying Sane as You Homeschool

Just because some think we are crazy for homeschooling our children, our homeschool shouldn't feel that way! Yet, if we homeschoolers are honest with ourselves, many of us often wonder if we’ve lost our sanity while doing this thing called “homeschooling”.

Staying Sane as You Homeschool is the first booklet of a new series written by Kathy Kuhl of Learn Differently. This series will consist of “short, practical books to help you focus on your goals, encourage your children, and stay the course.”  It makes sense that the very first topic would be about maintaining peace of mind while homeschooling.

Kathy Kuhn comes right out of the gate in Part 1, Are You Sabotaging Your Homeschool?, and addresses one of the most important influences on our homeschool – our attitudes. Are we locked in to a certain method or vision of how our school should look, what our kids should be doing, and when things should happen? Kuhl exposes the comparison trap many of us fall into, whether those comparisons are against others or our own internal expectations.

Once attitude adjustments are addressed, Part 2, Balancing Your Priorities, gives practical advice and encouragement with tips on taking care of ourselves emotionally, spiritually, and physically, planning and finding support for our homeschool, and maintaining healthy relationships.

Those teaching kids with different learning needs will benefit from the tips geared toward to this area.  Scriptural references are also included. However, neither of these perspectives is overwhelming, and this booklet has sound advice that is applicable to homeschoolers of all types and circumstances.

At 44 pages, this first booklet in the Learn Differently Series is a quick read for busy homeschool moms. It zooms right in on obstacles that stand in our way to keeping peace and contentment in our homeschool and delivers a big dose of encouragement.  Staying Sane as You Homeschool is available at Amazon for $5.95.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received one or more of the products or services mentioned above for free in the hope that I would mention it on my blog. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 255: "Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising. This review includes Amazon affiliate links. 

Review & Giveway: Night of the Living Dead Christian

What kind of monster are you? Matt Mikalatos' Night of the Living Dead Christian, published by Tyndale House, will help you realize your inner monster while at the same time causing explosive laughter.  While seemingly an odd mix, it is quite reflective of Makalotos' exploration of spirituality and transformation in a unique, campy style that has been described as Monty Python meets C.S. Lewis.

The video below is of the author explaining the allegory and book.

watch on tyndale.com

Having read Mikalatos' first book, Imaginary Jesus, I knew I was in for some laughs and self-exploration. I was not disappointed.

The story starts out with Matt, self-appointed Chief Office of the local Neighborhood Watch, patrolling his neighborhood when he runs across a mad scientist and his side-kick android conducting an experiment with a machine that will bring werewolves out of their hiding.  Not only does the machine work, but it calls out a horde of zombies as well.  After being chased by zombies, then nearly taken out by a werewolf, who is then wounded by a monster hunter, Matt and his new friends run for safety and contemplate the new status of the neighborhood, concluding the first chapter.  It left me thinking...very entertaining, in a B-rated movie sort of way, but just where is Mikalatos going with this?

Next, enter Luther. Luther has a problem.  His lack of control of his anger turns him into a monster, a werewolf to be precise. He's desperately looking for a transformation from his state of lycanthropy. He's seeking a cure for his inner monster and he thinks Christianity may be the answer, even though his upbringing under a fanatical father makes him not want to associate with Christians. Yet, he's looking for answers - for salvation - to cure him.  Hence the beginning of his quest, with the assistance of Matt, the mad scientist, and the android.

One of the first stops is visiting a church unknowingly full of zombies, people who lack original thought and are unaware of their undead state, yet try to infect you with their disease. Between the zombies trying get the victims to listen to podcasts and breaking out in song and dance to a blend of polka and 1980s praise music, this chapter was by far my favorite in the book.

And so the quest continues, and the introduction of other monsters, too.  A neighbor is a vampire, intensely selfish creatures that steal the life force of others for self-preservation.  Matt eventually explores his own inner monster, that of a mad scientist, a person who thinks they have "the answer" to any problem and tries to fix the world. Androids are beings with stunted emotions and relationship issues. It seems monsters are everywhere. Eventually the group learns what it means to be truly transformed.  The ending isn't all neat and tidy, and shows that transformation is a process.

Night of the Living Dead Christian is an allegory about transformation and become the person Christ intended.  I love humor in this book and appreciate Mikalatos' willingness to approach a serious subject in such a manner, all the while digging deep down.  I never thought a book with singing zombies would cause much self reflection, but I found a monster or two hiding within me.  There is even a monster guide in the back of the book for a "layman's self-diagnosis".  I look forward to future titles from Matt Mikalatos.

Giveaway!!!

One lucky reader will win a certificate to claim their very own copy of Night of the Living Dead Christian. See below for how you can enter.  Please make sure to leave a way for me to contact you, should you be the winner.

Mandatory entry:

• Just let me know that you are ready to discover your inner monster and that you'd like to win.

For additional entries (leave a comment for each):

• Follow this blog through Google Friend Connect
• Subscribe to this blog (rss or email)
• Like Chatter, Clatter, and Things That Matter on Facebook
• Follow Chatter and Clatter on Twitter
• Leave a comment on another post on this blog.
• Post about this giveaway on your own blog, Facebook, Twitter, or others (please specify in your comment).  This will count for two entries for each! Make sure you leave two comments.

The giveaway will end on January 6th at 6 p.m. EST and will be chosen by a random number generator. 

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received a copy of the above title from Tyndale House Publishers in exchange for my honest review. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 255: "Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.

Kid Review: Raising Dragons (Dragons in Our Midst, Book 1)

I'd like to welcome a guest blogger today, my 12-year-old son, as he shares his opinion on a book he's recently read.

Everyone knows about dragons, huge beasts that can breathe fire. I never got interested in dragons until I read the book Raising Dragons by Bryan Davis*. This book is about two kids named Billy and Bonnie that find out that they’re dragons. They also discovered that dragon slayers, who swore an oath to the round table, are trying to kill them.

What I liked about the book is it has a lot of commotion and conflict. It also has some Biblical references about dragons. There are also some verses and some Bibles woven into the story. For example, they were illegally smuggling Bibles into another country. Another example is Billy’s parents brought out their family Bible to show Billy verses. What I didn’t like is that the main characters got hurt almost every other chapter. It was very repetitive. I also didn’t like that the slayers thought that they were the Knights of the Round Table.

Overall I give this book a four out of five stars and I think that grades sixth though ninth would like it because it has a lot of action. I wouldn’t recommend it to little kids because of the violence.

*Affiliate link

Review: Aletheia Writing Magazine

My daughter has loved to write since she was a very little girl.  Even before she could write, she was crafting stories and sharing them verbally.  While some interests come and go, writing has been a true passion.  I am always looking for ways that serve as an outlet for that passion, and for opportunities to learn and share.  Reading the works of others of a similar outlook and position is certainly inspiring and having a written piece published for others to read is the ultimate encouragement and validation. Read on if you have a teen writer needing inspiration and encouragement.

Aletheia Writing Magazine is a quarterly publication comprised of literary and artistic works of Christian teens ages 13-19.  I received both a print copy of Altetheia Writing Magazine and a digital copy of a previous issue for review.

Aletheia Writing Magazine takes teen writers, and their need to have a place for expression, seriously. You won't find watered-down and cutesy works or features. Among the pages of stories, poems, and artwork, each issue also offers a variety of features, included a Writer's Challenge, the Featured Contributor, a book review, Glory to God for the Beauty of Nature, Ancient Ink, interviews, and more.

Regardless of the style of the story or poem, the magazine does have one particular requirement for publication, and that is that all pieces must contribute a final message of hope.  The website's explanation is as follows:

This is what differentiates Christians from the rest of the world- they have hope. They have hope that Jesus is truly who He says He is, and that He has conquered sin and death and all of the darkness of this world and opened up the gates of Paradise for humanity. So, even admist the struggle, the hope needs to shine through.


What we're not looking for: sentimentalism, apologetics, legalism, preachiness, plainness, recreations of biblical stories or events, themes that focus on drugs/alcohol, stories or poems that end in hopeless situations.

While some of the published works are more obviously Christian pieces, others are more general expressions of a teen's thoughts on life. While I found quite a bit of variety in the pieces, I did find that all followed the above criteria.

My daughter is currently a subscriber to another literary (secular) magazine that targets teens, and Aletheia reminded us both quite a bit of it in terms of the target audience and the variety of pieces.  However, there are a few distinctions worth noting.  First of all, my daughter has mentioned in the past that some of the pieces in the other magazine have been outside of her liking as far as content, even venturing into the area of strange and bizarre. The stories in Aletheia Writing were refreshing in that in addition to Christian works, they had much more positive themes in general. Secondly, she felt that the quality and tone of the writings in Aletheia Writing Magazine were deeper and of a different quality and focus.  Aletheia's target seems to be older teens and has a more serious tone than other literary magazines for kids that we've seen in the past.  For us, this is a very positive difference and I intend to add Aletheia to our subscription list as a result.

Overall, I think Aletheia is an excellent resource for any teen interested in writing, illustrating, and artistic pursuits. You can check out a  sample issue for yourself to see if you agree.

Aletheia Writing Magazine is approximately 40 pages each issue and is published four times a year.  Subscriptions are available for $26/year in the United States and $29/year in Canada. You can subscribe though the website, as well as get writing tips, read reviews, submit pieces, and more.


Want to see what others think about this product? Visit the official TOS Crew blog to read more reviews on Aletheia Writing Magazine.

Disclaimer: This review was provided as a result of my participation in The Old Schoolhouse Magazine Crew. I was provided the product free of charge in exchange for my honest review. I have received no other compensation. I strive to give a balanced overview of each product, detailing my opinion of both pros and cons and how the product worked for my family. What works for one family may not work for another. I encourage you to read reviews of other Crew members and research sufficiently to determine if any product will be a benefit to your homeschool.

Review: The Boy Who Came Back From Heaven

The Boy Who Came Back From Heaven, by Kevin and Alex Malarkey, is a true account of a near-death experience of then 6-year-old Alex Malarkey.  Alex and his father, Kevin, were in a horrific car accident in 2004, with resulting injuries (an internal decapitation injury) that gave Alex little chance to survive.  In fact, doctors caring for Alex had never seen a child survive such an injury.

Alex did survive the accident, though it was a long and difficult road.  He remained in a coma for nearly 2 months.  During that time, however, the family received tremendous support from friends, family, and strangers that served as prayer warriors.  All that happened while Alex was in a silent coma is story in itself.  However, when Alex woke from his coma, and then eventually learned to speak again, he shared stories of angels, heaven, Satan and being with Jesus.  Not only was Alex able to share experiences from beyond what anyone could imagine, but he was also able to give details of the accident and his early moments in the hospital that he had no way of knowing. Biblical references, a Q & A with Alex, and discussion questions sections are also included. 

The Malarkeys share their remarkable story with humility and a focus on Above. They share their struggles, their hope, and their faith. The Boy Who Came Back From Heaven is not just an account of a near-death experience.  It is about those who touched the Malarkeys, while in turn were blessed back. It is about endurance, trust, and unexpected blessings, in difficult times. It is about an incredibly strong and determined boy who has experienced challenges that are beyond what most of us could even imagine. Most of all, it is about how God carried an average family through extraordinary circumstances.

Disclaimer: Tyndale House Publishers has provided me with a complimentary copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

Review: The Whole Bible Story

The Whole Bible Story, by Dr. William H. Marty, is described on the cover as "Everything That Happens in the Bible in Plain English".

As someone who gets bogged down with some of the books describing laws and genealogies every time I attempt to read the Bible Genesis to Revelation, I thought The Whole Bible Story, with a focus on the beautiful story of the Bible, would be something I would both enjoy and appreciate.

While I did appreciate this title on some level, it was not what I expected.  It didn't quite have the story-telling narrative that I had envisioned.  Instead, it was more like an extended Cliff-Note version of the Bible, with straight-forward rewording and retelling of the original text.  I did, however, find some value in it despite not being what I anticipated.  The text is broken down into chapters of topic, rather than book and verse, and presented chronologically.  Some might find reading this "plain English" version before reading the actual Bible may help give them the broader picture they need to understand the original better.  On its own, though, The Whole Bible Story just didn't pull me in as I had hoped.


This isn't a title you'd want to curl up with and read aloud to your kids.  However, if you are a "just the facts" type of person, or are looking for an overview of the events of the Bible, this title may be worth a read through once.


Disclaimer:   This product was given to me by Bethany House in exchange for my honest review.

Review: Homeschooling for the Rest of Us

Have you ever felt discouraged when you see homeschooling magazine covers portraying the perfect homeschool family, complete with 10 identically dressed smiling children that you just know never fight, have spotless bedrooms, and always get their advanced school work done early?  I know that my family photo would not look as serene. Homeschooling for the Rest of Us, by Sonya Haskins, is meant as an encouragement to those who don't exactly fit the perfect homeschooling family mold.

Through personal stories and a conversational tone, Haskins covers the concerns of a beginning homeschooler,  Questioning relatives, messy homes, schedules, nurturing a child's heart, special needs children, homeschooling on a budget and, yes, even the socialization question are all part of this down-to-earth and practice guide to real-life homeschoolers.  Haskins gives very specific tips, schedule examples, chore lists, life skills to teach, field trip ideas, and more.

While I, a veteran homeschooler, didn't find this title very useful, it is sure to be a refreshing read as encouragement for those just beginning. 

Disclaimer:  I was provided the product free of charge by Bethany House in exchange for my honest review. I have received no other compensation.

Review: What Your Son Isn't Telling You

Even though my son has not yet entered the teenage years, I found What Your Son Isn't Telling You, by Michael Ross and Susie Shellenberger, great preparation in “unlocking the secret world of teen boys".  Having been a teen girl at one time, I felt a bit more equipped when my daughter entered the teen years.  However, I recognize that teen boys are entirely different creatures and the turbulent teenage years of boys were not going to look the same as girls. 

Through discussion of topics such as the needs of teen boys, risk taking, anger and depression, potential battlegrounds, rejection of Christianity, and sexuality, the authors help parents reach and assist their teen sons though greater understanding.  I found the numerous quotes of teen boys throughout the book to be especially helpful.

Ross and Shellenberger give parents a glimpse into issues that concern a teen boy the most, where the greatest challenges lie, strategies to walk along side your teen son, and  how to keep the communication lines open.  This is an excellent read for both moms and dads, even if your son has not hit the teen years yet.  After reading What Your Son Isn't Telling You, I certainly feel better equipped for when I'll be mom to a teenage boy in a couple of years.

Disclaimer:  I was provided the product free of charge by Bethany House in exchange for my honest review. I have received no other compensation.

Review: Foundlings by Matthew Christian Harding

Author Matthew Christian Harding's storytelling days first began at the requests of his young children at bedtime.  His creative tales would sometimes last for months as he developed characters and wove intricate details into the storyline. Then, one day his wife, unaware of the verbal escapades going on in the evening, began to sit in on the storytelling and soon became his biggest supporter in putting his stories to paper.

Foundlings,  Harding's first novel, is the result of that encouragement.  Set at the time of the Tower of Babel disbursement, Foundlings is described as a cross between Christian fantasy and historical fiction.  It attempts to give an accurate portrayal of the confusion and mayhem that may have taken place at that time, with wandering beasts, confusion of languages, lost and retained technology, and conflicting groups and religions.

The author brings this story to print with a strong intended message, rather than just entertainment, and categorizes it in a number of ways, including Creation Fiction, Leviathan Literature, Behemoth Books and Young Earth Dragon Fiction .  You can read about the author and his explanation of these categories at the Zoe and Sozo Publishing website.
From the back cover:

There be dragons. There be giants.   And God: our maker, our help, and our righteous judge." The Warrior's broad hand rested upon the eager shoulder of the boy. "Does it not stir your soul?"

It was in the days of Peleg, when the world was divided.  After the flood of Noah, after the tower of Babel and the dispersion, when men wondered where they were upon the earth, and where their fellows had gone to, when beasts were more numerous than men - predators in the world, in the water, and in the air.  But men struggled and fought, carving their place.  And in the process of time they once again began to multiply upon the face of the earth.

The story revolves around the the plight of two child characters, Susie and Thiery, to escape from becoming sacrifices by dragon cultists.  Sir McDougal, his shield-bearer Fergus, and dwarf Gimcrack come both to their assistance and put themselves in danger as well.

When I read the synopsis of Foundlings, I was excited to dig in.  I appreciate fantasy fiction and thought the setting and time period quite unique.  My 13-year-old daughter picked up the book first.  When I checked in with her later, she told me storyline was a bit slow going and she had set it down for awhile.  After picking up Foundlings on my own,  I had to agree.  It took me a good 100 pages to start to get wrapped up in the storyline.  There was a bit of jumping from scene to scene and numerous introductions of characters, that initially it was a bit hard to follow.  However, while I did eventually pick up on the concurrent story lines and able to see how it all fit together, it wasn't the only issue I had.

Though the book as a whole comes from a Christian perspective, there was a dark element to Foundlings that interfered with my enjoyment of  the story.   I found the Dragon Priests, with their hooded attire and dragon tattoos, along with their drive to find human sacrifices, to be a bit creepy for the age range intended for this title.  There are no gory details, but there was one scene that described the beginnings of a “Cozen Sacrifice” where the victim, being prepared by her soon-to-be graveside, was rescued from a drugged Dragon Priest. Granted, good always prevails and the victims and characters of the story are never actually sacrificed, but I felt there was too much emphasis on the cultist and evil element for the target audience (ages 10 and up).

I typically don't have such a reaction to well-placed and purposeful evil in a storyline and have greatly enjoyed other fantasy fiction with a good versus evil plot. In fact, I tend to have a difficult time with books that are all rosy and predictable. I really liked the premise of the book.  However, it wasn't one that I particularly enjoyed.  As a result, I didn't require my daughter to complete the book, especially since it hadn't already grabbed her, and did not suggest my son read the title.

However, many of my fellow Crewmates did enjoy Foundlings and I suggest you visit the Official TOS Crew Blog to read their reviews for another perspective.

If this is a title that you suspect you may enjoy, you will also be interested in the second book in the series, Paladins, that picks up from the absolute cliff hanger in the first book.  A third in the series, is planned for May 2011.

Foundings, offered through Zoe and Sozo Publishing,  can be purchased for $11.95 at the author's website, local bookstores, and through major online retails.  It also comes with a “Good Read Guarantee”.  If you or your child doesn't love the book,  keep your copy, and they'll send you your money back.

Disclaimer: This review was provided as a result in my participation in The Old Schoolhouse Magazine Crew. I was provided the product free of charge in exchange for my honest review. I have received no other compensation.

I strive to give a balanced overview of each product, detailing my opinion of both pros and cons and how the product worked for my family. What works for one family may not work for another. I encourage you to read reviews of other Crew members and research sufficiently to determine if any product will be a benefit to your homeschool.

Review: Andrea Carter and the Trouble with Treasure (Kregel)

This is my second title for review from Kregel Publications. You can read my first, which also includes some background on the company, here. This time around, I received a title from a series that I've heard about in the past, but had never read, Circle C Adventures by Susan K. Marlow.

There are six titles in the Circle C Adventures series, which tell the tales of Andrea Carter, a spunky tomboy who lives on a cattle ranch near Fresno, California in the 1880s. I received Andrea Carter and the Trouble with Treasure for this review.

Whenever I read a book from a series out of order, I'm always concerned that I'll be a bit lost in the storyline. While Trouble with Treasure referenced some previous adventures from other titles, this title is pretty much a stand-alone story. Even so, the very first page includes a letter from the main character telling a bit about the character's family and what has happened in the other titles.

I immediately liked the character of Andrea, who goes by Andi, as she reminded me a bit of my own daughter. While Andi constantly falls into trouble at her cattle ranch in the 1800s - the spirited and adventurous tomboy reminded me quite a bit of my trouble-free, modern, suburbia young teen.

In this particular title, Andi and a visiting out-of-town friend, Jenny, start their adventures off in the jail after getting caught by the new deputy horseplaying in town. After their quick release, the pair is looking forward to putting their troubles behind with a trip into the mountains with Andi's brother, Mitch, and friend, Cory. Little did they know more troubles were awaiting them! I don't want to give the story away, but Andi has much more to worry about in the mountains than she did sitting in a jail cell for a couple of hours.

I would describe this as a light adventure story for tweens. It was wholesome, but not so much so that it doesn't include a good gun fight. I like that Andi certainly has faults, but is learning to deal with her quirks. She's a young girl that is growing into a young woman, but isn't quite ready for the leap. After her adventure in the mountains, Andi comes to realize that growing up might not be so bad after all.

Maybe growing up wasn't such a bad idea, after all. She like the idea of being considered a sensible young woman - even if she'd been scared half to death at the time.

I think my daughter, now 13, would have really liked this series around age 8 or 9. While she enjoyed the title, she tends to read more fantasy or science fiction with more complicated plots now. I also had my tween son, age 10, read the title. He read it rather quickly, so I know it was enjoyable enough, though not the typical type of book he would read. However, I think the Circle C Adventure series would be most appealing to young tween girls. While it is categorized as Christian fiction, it really is more just wholesome than overwhelmingly Christian. I think it would be enjoyable to non-Christian audiences as well.

You can read an excerpt of Andrea Carter and the Trouble with Treasure to get a feel of the writing style. There is also a longer preview of another title in the series, Andrea Carter and the Family Secret, available here. Also of interest is the FREE 24-page Enrichment Guide for Trouble with Treasure. More excerpts, study guides, puzzles, and video clips are also available at the Circle C Adventures site. Readers will also enjoy following Andi on Andi's very own blog!

Overall, this is a great wholesome series, particularly for young girls. Each title retails for $7.99 and can be purchased from Kregel Publications. Be sure to visit the official TOS Homeschool Crew blog to read what other TOS Crew members thought.

Disclaimer: This review was provided as a result in my participation in The Old Schoolhouse Magazine Crew, a team of 100+ homeschooling parents. While the product was provided at no expense to me in order to provide this review, I have not received any other compensation. Furthermore, receipt of the product does not guarantee a positive review. I strive to give a balanced overview of each product, detailing my opinion of both pros and cons and how the product worked for my family. What works for one family may not work for another. I encourage you to read reviews of other Crew members and research sufficiently to determine if any product will be a benefit to your homeschool.

Review: The Terrestria Chronicles

Ed Dunlop, Christian author, definitely has a heart for children and the Lord. Since 1988, Ed and his family have traveled in full-time evangelism offering summer camps and programs to kids, teens, and adults.

His ministry is also carried out in books for children, two of which I received for review. The Terrestria Chronicles is a seven-book series that takes the reader back to a time of castles, knights, princes, and princesses as a tool to teach children ages 10 and up of the truths of the Christian walk. From the website:

The Terrestria Chronicles allegory series was written with a three-fold purpose: to honor Jesus Christ as King, to challenge young readers to love and serve Him, and to teach them to guard their hearts for Him. The focus of the series is always on the King.

I received books 6 and 7 of the series, The Golden Lamps and The Great War.

In The Golden Lamps, the reader follows the small village of Hazah as they build a castle for protection after an attack by Argamor's dark knights. After a petition to King Emmanual, help is sent to the village to construct the castle. All starts out well, until a villager finds a golden lamp at the building site that has powers to bring about prosperity to the owner. Soon more lamps are found by villagers, turning the focus on finding more lamps instead of setting about the King's business of building a castle. Will the village return their focus to what is right?
Theme: The King's business must always be priority.

The Great War follows Prince Josiah, Princess Gilda, and the Castle of Faith in the battle of all time. Argamor and his dark forces are determined to take over Terrestria at all costs. Follow along with the struggles of the prince and princess as they discover that almighty power of King Emmanuel and the future of his kingdom in the Golden City.
Theme: The Great War gives an overview of the Book of Revelation and the power of our Lord. Prayer is also a central theme.

This series is meant to be read in order, and I did not have the benefit of being able to read from the beginning. While the books are not fully stand-alone and they would be enjoyed more being read in order, I didn't find them so interconnected that I couldn't follow along. Of the two books I read, each has a particular focus or theme woven into the allegory. Book 6, The Golden Lamps, teaches that worldly things are not everlasting and it is best to go about God's business instead. The Great War, Book 7, not only tells of the Book of Revelation, but encourages the reader in the power of prayer, or petitions in the book.

While I like the idea behind these books, I didn't really enjoy them as much as I hoped. Initially, it took me a while to get used to the writing style and get into the story. The allegory is quite obvious and the author makes sure it doesn't slip by the reader with names like King Emmanual, the Castle of Hope, the Castle of Bitterness and The Golden City. For children, this might be preferable. In fact, to attest to this, my son, whom we call Mr. Literal for his lack of ability to read into things, was able to tell me the message and representation of The Golden Lamps. However, adults and older children may not appreciate being lead down the path so obviously. The look of The Golden Lamps did appeal to my son enough that he asked to read it when he saw it and he finished it rather quickly.

One area in particular that bothered me, at least in the two books I reviewed, is that the female characters seem to be a bit weak in their faith. One of the symbols in the stories are that the men carry around books (Bibles) that turn into swords of protection. They also take parchment out of the books in order to write a petition (prayer) to King Emmanuel in time of need or for praise. The problem is, the women aren't carrying swords and it wasn't until the very end of the second book I received that one of the female characters even sent a petition. In addition, I wasn't exactly sure how this was accomplished without her own parchment and the story didn't really explain. While there was a focus on petitions/prayers in The Great War, it was Prince Josiah and other male characters sending petitions, not Princess Gilda, even when their child was deathly ill. Perhaps some stronger female characters are in the earlier books, but I was a bit disappointed in the lack of faith-filled women in Books 6 and 7, especially since I have a 13-year-old daughter.

I do like that each book has a particular theme of the Christian walk and how to carry out your faith. You can read a bit more about each book and the related theme at the website. There is also a study guide for the complete series, to get even more out of the books' teaching, available for a very reasonable price. To get an idea of what the study guide covers, you can download the answer key for free: Visits to Terrestia Study Guide Answer Key.

Perhaps my expectations were too high because I have heard many good things about this series before receiving them to review. The fact that I have heard good things means they are indeed a fit for other families and I encourage you to read the reviews of other TOS Crew members.

Each book of The Terrestria Chronicles series is available for $7.99 or the complete series can be purchased at a discounted $39.99. They can be purchased at the Ed Dunlop Ministries, Christian book suppliers, or other online book retailers. I encourage you to visit the website as there are many FREE resources available, including Jed Cartwright Adventure Series E-Books and two titles from the Sherlock Jones Detective Series. You will also find the companion series, Tales of Terrestria.

Disclaimer: This review was provided as a result in my participation in The Old Schoolhouse Magazine Crew. I was provided the product free of charge in exchange for my honest review. I strive to give a balanced overview of each product, detailing my opinion of both pros and cons and how the product worked for my family. What works for one family may not work for another. I encourage you to read reviews of other Crew members and research sufficiently to determine if any product will be a benefit to your homeschool.

Review: Seasons of Faith by Children's Bible Hour

Many may be familiar with CBH Ministries, the producer of Our Daily Bread and Keys for Kids devotionals. With its beginnings in 1942, under the name of Children's Bible Hour, CBH Ministries is an international Christian ministry that shares the gospel of Jesus Christ through radio programs, print materials, and online media. See CBH's Statement of Faith here.

CBH provided me with their new book series, Seasons of Faith, designed to encourage children to grow in their faith. Each title addresses a different "season" of faith development and teaches core truths of the Bible. Ecclesiastes 3:1, "To everything there is a season, a time for every purpose under heaven," is the inspiration for the title of this series.

There are four books in the series:

Race with Midnight (spring) -Will Becky share her faith with her cousin Sarah when she visits? Will Sarah listen?

You Can't Come In (summer) - While building a fort, Adam shares his faith with his new friend Zack and invites him to church. Zack begins to understand why we need the gift of Jesus to cleanse us of our sins.

Seventy Time Seven (fall) - After breaking the local ice cream shop's sign, Brad learns a hard lesson about forgiveness. Find out how Brad learns to extend forgiveness to his friends.

Braving the Storm (winter) - Thomas doesn't understand why bad things are happening to him and his family. Follow along with Thomas as he learns that growing your faith deep in Jesus will help you weather the storms of life.

All of these stories are adaptations of radio scripts from the classic Children's Bible Hour program. Included with each paperback is a read-along CD narrated by Uncle Charlie. Keeping with the focus of the ministry, every book has the ABCs of salvation (Admit, Believe, Choose) on the last page. There are also discussion questions available for each title. While CBH Ministries targets ages 6-12, these titles are picture books with full-page watercolor pictures on every other page. My guess is that the appeal will be for a more narrow age range, perhaps ages 6-8 or 9.

I don't have any little ones to test drive these stories; my kids are long past the picture book stage. Instead, I read them myself with the target age group in mind. These are wholesome stories and remind me of something that would be in a Sunday school classroom environment. There is a very strong gospel message in each title, which is indeed the purpose of the story. However, the story lines are a bit unrealistic, which I struggled with some. The plot takes second to the message and overall is quite old-fashioned. Of course, these are adapted from dated scripts and the tone of the books very much reminds me of an old radio show. If you enjoy the Children's Bible Hour programs, this print version will likely appeal to you. My favorite title was Braving the Storm, simply because it deals with topics relevant to families today, e.g. financial issues and forced moves from homes. I also love that each title comes with a read-along CD, making it a perfect item to pull out for little ones when you need a bit of free time.

Each title retails $10 each. Considering that these picture books also come with a CD, I found this a very reasonable price. Four more titles adapted from scripts are expected out by the end of the year. Visit CBH Ministries to learn more about the Seasons of Faith series as well as other products offered for sale and by donation.

Visit the TOS Homeschool Crew's blog to read more reviews on this product and others.

Disclaimer: This review was provided as a result in my participation in The Old Schoolhouse Magazine Crew. I was provided the product free of charge in exchange for my honest review. I strive to give a balanced overview of each product, detailing my opinion of both pros and cons and how the product worked for my family. What works for one family may not work for another. I encourage you to read reviews of other Crew members and research sufficiently to determine if any product will be a benefit to your homeschool.

Review: Homeschool Library Builder

Want books? What homeschooler doesn't? I think most of us have a serious addiction. The problem isn't the addiction, but funding it!

Homeschool Library Builder is a family-run book business by two fellow homeschooling moms whose goal is to affordably fill home libraries with quality literature. Both new and used books and materials are available at reasonable prices and a satisfaction guarantee.

I reviewed Homeschool Library Builder last year. You can read my full review here. At the time, I had ordered some books that I needed for our Sonlight program, which were easy to find in with the "Search by Curriculum" category. Since that time, I have again ordered more from Homeschool Library Builder and received the same great service. This time I found two new DVDs that had been on my wishlist for some time. The prices were great and I was able to use my membership points for a discount.

If you order in the month of February, you will receive and automatic 20% off your order. If you find a treasure to add to your library, make sure you take advantage of the free HSLB Book Points Membership Rewards Program when ordering to earn points for discounts off future purchases.

Review: Kregel Publications & Bertie's War

Whenever I run across a new-to-me company, I make it a point to explore its website to learn a bit more about them before ordering products. Discovering how long a company has been in business, what inspired its creation, and the focus usually gives me a pretty good overall feel for the organization.

Having never heard of Kregel Publications before this review, I headed over to the website to find what they were all about. I discovered they are a well-established company founded by veteran missionaries to Spain, Harold and Esther Kregel. From the website:

Sensing a growing need for solidly evangelical works, Kregel Publications began in 1949 to supply resources to meet the spiritual needs of evangelical readers as well as the professional needs of pastors, missionaries, teachers, and Christian leaders. Today Kregel's backlist has over 900 titles including books in Christian education and ministry, contemporary issues, Christian living, fiction, and Biblical
studies, in addition to reprints of classic works.

While I was unfamiliar to Kregel before this review, I did see some familiar titles. They have a variety of categories, for kids through adults, from which to choose. You can browse by subject to see all they have to offer.

I was sent, Bertie's War by Barbara Tifft Blakey, from Kregel's tween category to review. Bertie's War covers an era of history that I don't see covered in historical fiction often – 1962 and the Cuban Missile Crisis. Throughout the book the reader is pulled into the thoughts of Bertie, a sensitive 12-year-old girl, as she struggles with the world around her. Bertie is both paralyzed and blinded by her fears. The current events intensify her fears and bring her to an utter out-of-control point. Moving beyond her self-absorption, her eyes are opened at the very end of the book.

To be honest, I haven't decided if I like this book or not. I can't say I particularly enjoyed it, but I spent quite a bit of time trying to decide exactly why. For me, a contributing factor is that the reader is given limited information through Bertie's eyes. I do not believe this is unintentional, but rather the author wants the reader to experience Bertie's feelings and perspective without realizing their full irrationality. As an adult reader, it is marginally successful.

For example, a central theme throughout the book is Bertie's fear of her father. I really didn't like Bertie's father, but in the end I discovered he wasn't as bad as he seemed as did Bertie. However, as an adult reading from the perspective of a 12-year-old, I found I was not relating to Bertie so much and instead being critical of the parenting going on. Did these parents not realize their daughter was an emotional mess? Were they clueless to her irrational thoughts and imaginary worlds? Or did I just not see it through Bertie's eyes? On the other hand, I was quite the irrational and emotional tween and felt empathy for Bertie, though I can't say I liked Bertie all that much. I was torn between feelings of wishing Bertie should stop all her blubbering, criticizing the parents, and having flashbacks to when I was 12. No, I can't say this was an enjoyable read for me.

Granted, this book isn't meant for adults. I was curious what my 12-year-old daughter would think, especially given she's a rather sensitive creature herself. Her first comment was, “Nothing happened.” The main action in this book was the steady increase of Bertie's fears; my daughter enjoys books with a bit more adventure. When asked what she thought of Bertie, her response was, “Cowardly,” delivered with a bit of disgust. Without a connection with the main character and high adventure, it wasn't an enjoyable read.

I don't think I would have purchased this title for my shelves, but it did give a glimpse into the historical period. It could have used a little more development. I liked the concept of the ending but it was a little too abrupt of a transformation after spending nearly 200 pages reading how deep-rooted Bertie's fears were. There is something to be said, however, for the amount of thought the book has prompted in deciding if I actually liked this title. Also worth noting is that the author, Barbara Tifft Blakey, is the creator of Total Language Plus, a literature-based language arts program. At the TLP website, discussion questions are available for Bertie's War that may open up a dialog that address character and fear, both very useful topics to tackle with tweens and teens.

Bertie's War retails for $7.99. Kregel Publications carries many other titles worth considering for your home library. To purchase Bertie's War or to learn about available titles, please visit the Kregel website.

Visit the TOS Homeschool Crew's blog to read more reviews on this product and others.

Disclaimer: This review was provided as a result in my participation in The Old Schoolhouse Magazine Crew, a team of 100+ homeschooling parents. While the product was provided at no expense to me in order to provide this review, I have not received any other compensation. Furthermore, receipt of the product does not guarantee a positive review. I strive to give a balanced overview of each product, detailing my opinion of both pros and cons and how the product worked for my family. What works for one family may not work for another. I encourage you to read reviews of other Crew members and research sufficiently to determine if any product will be a benefit to your homeschool.

Review: Sarah Books

When my daughter was about 8, she was extremely interested in the Underground Railroad. I don't recall what in particular sparked it, but her interest continued strongly for over a year. She was so intrigued on the topic that she started writing a research paper (at 8!) and we even visited an actual station on the Underground Railroad. It's too bad that author Jim Baumgardner hadn't penned Sarah's Wish yet; I know my daughter would have loved this perfect compliment to an Underground Railroad study.

While he had an interest in writing at an early age and his first magazine article printed at 19, it wasn't until the age of 59 that Jim Baumgardner published his first novel. Baumgardner's 9 grandchildren, all homeschooled, were his inspiration for his novel series, Sarah's Wish. The books contain no sex, profanity, or offensive material; Baumgardner never puts in material which he wouldn't subject his own grandchildren.

Sarah's Wish, set in the 19th century, is about a recently orphaned girl who is dealing with her mother's loss while trying to maintain and keep secret the Underground Railroad stop her mother ran on their property in OH. Sarah encounters slave catchers, runaways, gypsies, and a riverboat captain during her hopeful wish-fulfilling travels and adventures with Doc and the funny actin' and tawkin' Granny. In the end, Sarah does discover her wish, but not in a way that she expected.

Sarah is strong in her faith and some might call this Christian fiction. Baumgardner likes to think of it differently.

The books have been referred to as Christian fiction. I prefer to describe them as Young Adult fiction written by a Christian author. Sarah’s faith is important to her and she lives by it, but the books do not try to convert the reader to anything. The stories do teach Christian principals of living a good life and treating others as you would have them treat you. I do not ignore the evil in the world and Sarah must confront it at times just as we all do.

The main characters are likable and the story gives a glimpse into the time and area. There is a glossary of terms in the beginning of the book just in case you aren't familiar with terms such as "light a shuck" and "slantindicular" or historical references like "Orphan Train" and "apothecary".

At 12, this 123-page book was a quick read for my daughter. She thought this story would appeal more to the 8-10 year old range, though still enjoyable for older kids. Also, there are two more books in the series, Sarah's Promise and Sarah's Escape, at 248 and 304 pages respectively, that may appeal more to the older crowd. If your child finds the first in the series enjoyable, they will likely to be up for the challenge of longer sequels. Additionally, this is a series that can grow with your child. Click here to read excepts of each book in the series.

As an added bonus, in the back of Sarah's Wish is a code to download an audio version of the book. Narrated by Eva Hamlin, the audio version provides 3 hours and 41 minutes of listening either from the computer or a MP3 device. Rather than have my 10-year-old son read the book, I had him listen to the audio while playing Legos. Since the cover of the book has a butterfly, I figured he'd be more open to the story in the audio version. He seemed to enjoy the story just fine and complained when it was time to turn it off for awhile to do something else.

We love audio books around here and I loved that it was included with the book purchase. Struggling readers could listen to the audio while following along in the book to strengthen reading skills while non-readers could just listen in. The audio version gives you options for multiple ages and levels within your family to enjoy Sarah's Wish. You can listen to an excerpt of the audio a Audible.com (click"sample' under the book cover).

Jim Baumgardner sends out a quite enjoyable newsletter every month that includes history facts, a question of the month, letters from readers, and other tidbits. To sign up for the newsletter, send an email to sarahbooks@cox.net with "send newsletter" in the subject line. Sarah's Wish can be purchased for $9.99 with free shipping and handling at the Sarah Books website. Each book comes autographed by the author and would make a great Christmas gift for young friends and relatives.

Visit the TOS Homeschool Crew's blog to read more reviews on this product and others.

Disclaimer: This review was provided as a result in my participation in The Old Schoolhouse Magazine Crew, a team of 100+ homeschooling parents. While the product was provided at no expense to me in order to provide this review, I have not received any other compensation. Furthermore, receipt of the product does not guarantee a positive review. I strive to give a balanced overview of each product, detailing my opinion of both pros and cons and how the product worked for my family. What works for one family may not work for another. I encourage you to read reviews of other Crew members and research sufficiently to determine if any product will be a benefit to your homeschool.

Review: Guardian Angel Publishing

Guardian Angel Publishing is provider of children's literature targeting the 0-12 age range. Each title is available in a variety of format options.

Welcome to Guardian Angel Publishing, Inc.- where our publishing goals are to lovingly create fun, affordable and educational eBook computer & print book experiences for preschoolers and primary age children. And to embed positive, loving and worthwhile meaning into these books.

I was sent five titles for review in the e-book format: Stubby's Destiny, Gifts from God, Hamster Holidays, No Bones About It, and Earthquakes!

Stubby's Destiny by Dixie Phillips













This 22-page story is about an orphaned donkey who desires to be in the royal service of the king but is discouraged that he doesn't look as regal as the stallions.

“I was born wrong. I'm just an orphan colt, who lived with chickens. Sly is a thoroughbred. He lived with peacocks. I could never be chosen for the king's royal service.”

In the end, Stubby finds himself in service of the King of Kings!

While this title has won a Best of 2008 award for literary excellence, Stubby's Destiny wasn't exactly my favorite title of the bunch. It reminded me of another familiar story but just didn't compare. I didn't care for the character development of the two main characters, Stubby and Sly. I found Stubby a bit too Eyeoreish and Sly a bit arrogant. Regardless, young children will likely still enjoy this story and appreiciate the soft watercolor artwork. In the end, this hopeless donkey found his devine destiny, which may be inspirational to young children. The publisher recommends this title for ages 9-12, but I would recommend a younger set of ages 5-8.

Gifts from God by Cynthia Reeg













Each 2-page photo art spread of Gifts from God has a scripture verse on the left side and an easy reader sentence about a gift from God on the right. For example, the first scripture is Genesis 1:3, “And God said, Let there be light and there was light.” The accompanying sentence is “God smiles at me.” The picture is of a little girl hula hooping in a field of flowers. Most of the photos include young children and babies and are enhanced artistically.

This title would be best for very young children. The words are few on the pictures vibrant. The recommended age is 4-8. I know when my kids were toddlers, they would have enjoyed looking at the pictures of the children in this title.

Hamster Holidays: Noun and Adjective Adventures by Cynthia Reeg












At the start of this 26-page book, nouns and adjectives are well-defined and explains that nouns appear in blue and adjectives appear in red throughout the story. Each page is devoted to a silly holiday for a month of the year with artwork showing how each hamster enjoys the holiday. My favorite, being a book lover, is Book Pal Day:

May 18th
In Page Town, how do hamsters enjoy
Book Pal Day?
Smiling Jennie reads happy books.
Frowning Carlos reads sad books.
Silly Billy reads foolish books with
corny jokes all around.

Each page has similar verse and rhythm.

Pages 15 – 22 are devoted to more noun and adjective examples, a story puzzle, a noun match-up, a crossword, answer key and suggested activities/games to play with your child.

The recommend age for this title is ages 5-12. Personally, I think the upper level of this range is set way too high and would suggest an age of 5-8. Older children will find this title too childish, though it certainly can give them a better understanding of nouns and adjectives if they are weak in this area. For the younger set, they are likely to find this a fun way to study grammar.

The Sum of Our Parts: No Bones About It! by Bill Kirk













This title is a rather humorous 30-page presentation about the bones of our body, from the bottom up. Each page has a Did you know? factoid section about bones and a catchy verse about the bone being studied on the page.


The rhyme is intended as a humourous learning and memorization tool. The following verse is for the pelvis bone:

Your legs keep you standing
On top of your feet,
While pelvis joins sacrum,
To help make your seat.

The illustrations give characterization to the bones with eyes and mouths. Most of these are just plain silly, but there were a couple that my kids called “freaky” and one that may scare small or sensitive children.

The book concludes with two pages of a full male and female skeleton, one page labeled and another blank. This title is recommended for ages 8-13.

Earthquake! by Susan Berger













This book isn't just about the why and how of earthquakes, but how to be prepared and the appropriate response should you find yourself experiencing one. This title also has a factoid section on each page. There are graphics on each page, but much more of the page is devoted to the text than some of the other titles I received.

Some of the questions and topics addressed in this title include:

• what causes earthquakes
• earthquake terms
• prediction of earthquakes
  
• how are they measured
• what an earthquake feels like
• locations earthquakes are likely to occur
• how to prepare for an earthquake
• what to do during an earthquake
• how to help after an earthquake
  

The last of the 30 total pages in this title includes some charts and graphs, as well as preparedness lists. This title is recommended for ages 6-9.

I found this title to give kids a realistic view of earthquakes and preparing for them without scaring them. Being in MI, I can't say earthquakes are a big concern. The preparedness focus of the book was interesting, though perhaps not something we'd put into action here.

This title has enough general information on earthquakes to keep a science-oriented child interested. However, if you have a child that is concerned about earthquakes, this would be an excellent title because it explains to kids things they can do to be prepared.

At first I wasn't sure about the e-book versions I was sent. I am simply not an e-book fan and didn't see a practical application for colorful picture books. My kids actually slept with their books rather than stuffed animals as babies and toddlers. They were and are in love with printed pages! However, after I handed my son a laptop to read the books, it dawned on me we are heading into a new age. I can see how this might be a good way to travel with books to keep little ones occupied on road trips or in doctor offices with a laptop or book reader that you already carry around. E-books are cheaper and take up less space as well.

Each title is available in three formats. E-books cost $5 each as a download. E-books can also be purchased on a CD for $9.95 + $5.95 S & H. Print books of the above titles are available for $10.95 - 11.95 + $6.95 S & H. Soon many of the titles will also be available for iPhones and iPods as well. Guardian Angel Publishing also has a number of free musical e-books and downloads. To see a full listing of titles available, visit the Guardian Angel Publishing website.

Visit the TOS Homeschool Crew's blog to read more reviews on this product and others.

Disclaimer: This review was provided as a result in my participation in The Old Schoolhouse Magazine Crew, a team of 100+ homeschooling parents. While the product was provided at no expense to me in order to provide this review, I have not received any other compensation. Furthermore, receipt of the product does not guarantee a positive review. I strive to give a balanced overview of each product, detailing my opinion of both pros and cons and how the product worked for my family. What works for one family may not work for another. I encourage you to read reviews of other Crew members and research sufficiently to determine if any product will be a benefit to your homeschool.

Review: Maverick Books (Hank the Cowdog)

Hank the Cowdog. Have y'all heard of him? Why, he's the most popular West Texas cowdog among the homeschooling community. I'll fess up. I had heard of Hank, even had a few titles hangin' out on my shelves, but I had not read a one. Not a one, I say! Great guns, was I missin' out!



The Hank the Cowdog series by John Erickson has been around for years. Erickson, while working full-time as a cowboy, farmhand and ranch manager, began to publish short stories in 1967. In the early 80's, Erickson started his self-publishing company, Maverick, and the Hank series took off immediately. The popular audio recordings, performed by Erickson, soon followed and became the longest running successful children's series on audio ever.

What a fun package we received for review from Maverick books! Included were a book titled The Case of the One-Eyed Killer Stud Horse, A Tales and Tunes from Hank the Cowdog CD, and the Tornado game.

Each story is told from the perspective of Hank, a mischievous, smelly, cowdog who is takes very seriously his job of Head of Ranch Security. Drover, Hank's sidekick, is a loyal "little white mutt" who looks up to his pal Hank. Hank is quick to fill in his buddy Drover with his infinite wisdom on daily happenings at the ranch and life, like when he informed Drover he was just being a "hypocardiac" about his conveniently bum leg in this title. The books are really quite hilarious. The Texas slang and colloquialisms, especially from the perspective of a cowdog, make for an enjoyable read.

My son, who isn't much of a reader, finished this title in no time. I actually was able to squeeze a book report out of him as well, though he despises writing. While it was certainly not a thorough report of the whole story, it was rather telling of the boy appeal these books have with talk of Hank being whacked on the nose with a spoon, Hank eating bacon grease and throwing up in Sally May's shoe, and Sally May scaring off the One-Eyed Killer Stud Horse with a shot gun. After finishing this title, he actually requested some more to read. Hank equally appeals to girls, and my daughter fondly remembered reading Hank from years ago when she saw the review package and snuck a read of the new title.

These books have a rough and tumble sense of humor. This is a cowdog, afterall, not some sophisticated show poodle. For many, Hank's tendency to be uncouth in ways that only a cowdog could is what makes for great belly laughs. For those more sensitive to such humor, a pre-read may be in order. Hank's character doesn't hesitate to call another beast of the ranch a moron, but all-in-all one can tell he's just trying to earnestly be Man's Best Friend and protect the ranch. Hank usually suffers the consequences of his poor actions and feels remorse, giving some moral stories interwoven into all of Hank's mischief.

The Tales and Tunes CD is a collection of songs and story excerpts. Erickson portrays each character with a unique voice and I have to say he does a fabulous job. After hear Erickson's voice in character, the books are all the more enjoyable. There are 9 songs included on this CD, including two that came from the title sent in our package. However, I vote "It's Not Smart to Show Your Hiney to a Bear" the most humorous title on this CD.

Lastly, we were sent the Tornado game, described as the "wildest race and chase game ever!" This game plays very similarly to Trouble. There are four colors with three characters: Hank, Drover and Junior Buzzard. Players take turns spinning the center spinner and moving their characters around the board and then safe to home. Players can get sent back to home if another player lands on them and then have to wait again for the appropriate number to come up in a spin before moving their player out to the board. The game comes with a 30-minute cassette tape with excerpts from The Case of the Swirling Killer Tornado. I like that the game folds in half and the pieces can be stored inside, making it a convenient game to take on travels.

Sure'nuff, Hank was good for a giggle or two in our house before we started some more studious readin' this school year. Book titles retail for $4.24 (paperback) to $12.49 (hardcover). The Tales and Tunes CD is a very reasonable $3 and the Tornado game is $12.99. Maverick has a host of other products available at their website, including audio books, plush toys, t-shirts and playing cards. Kids can also join Hank's Security Force, explore the ranch, learn about the characters and leave Hank a message.

To read more reviews on this product, visit the official TOS Crew blog.

Disclaimer: This review was provided as a result in my participation in The Old Schoolhouse Magazine Crew, a team of 100+ homeschooling parents. While the product was provided at no expense to me in order to provide this review, I have not received any other compensation. Furthermore, receipt of the product does not guarantee a positive review. I strive to give a balanced overview of each product, detailing my opinion of both pros and cons of how the product works for my family. What works for one family may not work for another. I encourage you to read reviews of other Crew members and research sufficiently to determine if any product will be a benefit to your homeschool.