Library and Educational Services LLC: A TOS Crew Review

Library and Educational Services LLC

I get to share one of my favorite resources... Library and Educational Services LLC. They are a supplier with hundreds of titles of books and audios available, and you can purchase directly from them for wholesale prices - 30-30% off publisher price. Be sure request a catalog from them here.

I have to confess, I am a book hoarder.  I love having a home library filled with resources we can use for our homeschool adventure. Many of our books have come directly from Library and Educational Services LLC.  I am so grateful to have discovered them years ago.

I was like a kid in a candy shop for this review. I got a chance to order several titles from a variety of their products. When the box arrived, it felt like Christmas!  Let me show you what I picked...

First - I love the series "Who Was..", "What Was...". They offer hundreds of titles to choose from!  These easy-to-read books for middle grades are a great supplement to your history studies. The books are biographies of significant historical figures, including artists, scientists, world leaders and important events.

I was excited to get "What Was the Alamo?" to go with our Texas history study this year.
This book is filled with facts and information about the Alamo. It also includes 16 pages of historical photographs as well. The book is illustrated with black and white drawings.

This book tells the story of the brave defenders of the Alamo.  Throughout the book, there are spotlights on each of these famous figures.  Living in San Antonio, I am looking forward to our next visit to this popular tourist spot.  I have learned so much more of the true story!


Another item I choose was an audio CD from the Lifehouse Theater series.  These are fully dramatized audio adventures.  They have 10 titles to choose from, a variety of classic stories.

We got Rikki-Tikki-Tavi, a 33 minute recording of the classic story from the Jungle Book.  I love listening to audio books in the van, a great way to entertain us all. These are very high quality and captivating stories, with full sound effects that really bring the story to life.

Library and Educational Services LLC also offers other great audios like Adventures in Odyessy and Drive Thru History at great discounted prices.

I also got to select $60 from their HUGE selection of Reinforced Hardcover Library Binding Nonfiction books.  

 Since we are spending the year learning American History, I was drawn to the The American Revolution Through Primary Sources and The Civil Way Through Primary Sources sets.  Each of these sets contained 4 hardcover books, all designed to stand up to use.  They were full color, filled with photography and artwork.

These books are a great supplement or alternative to your history textbooks. Learning history with the primary sources is so much more interesting!  Each book included extras like chapter notes, a timeline, glossary and suggested further reading.

Library and Educational Services LLC offers titles in a huge variety of subjects like:

• Bilingual
• Biographies
• Careers
• Geography
• History
• Learning
• Nature
• Science
• Social Studies
• Sports

The titles are also conveniently organized by grade level as well.  In addition, they offer curriculum, gifts, crafts and games. Their customer service is excellent, and they are so easy to order from.

If you are wanting an affordable way to build a great home library, Library and Educational Services LLC is the place to shop!


Find Library and Educational Services LLC on Social Media:


Facebook: facebook.com/libraryanded
Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/libraryanded/
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCf-f2T2eIghJkxinFu4xVgQ
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/libraryanded/

Hashtags: #hsreviews #homeschoolwholesale #homeschool #homeschoolsupplies #libraryandeducationalservices #libraryandeducationalservices #libraryanded #whowasbooks #whowasbookseries

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For The Temple from Heirloom Audio: A TOS Crew Review

For The Temple from Heirloom Audio

Welcome back!  Our first review of the new Crew year - and one of our favorite companies! For The Temple from Heirloom Audio is a fully dramatized audio adventure.

This 2 CD set is 2 1/2  hours of action-packed excitement, set in the days of Roman occupation of Israel around AD 70.   Heirloom Audio has a star-studded cast of voices including, Brian Blessed, Chris Larkin, George Blagden and more!  In addition, we were sent a 51 page downloadable Study Guide to go along with the audio.

We love taking our learning on the go with us in the van.  This audio was a HUGE hit!  Our protagonist, named John, is a courageous young man that must face deadly difficulties and heart wrenching decisions as he defends the Jewish temple. He must leave his family and finance to face his fears.

This story is part of The Extraordinary Adventure of G.A. Henty series.  G.A. Henty was a prolific author.  He combines historical events with fictional characters.  His books have been a big hit with my boys, and his characters exhibit strong character traits, true heroes for our children to look up to.

In For the Temple, we listen as John learns what is worth fighting for.  Historical figures like Nero, Josephus and Vespasian are interwoven into his story.  John encounters Jesus through his early followers. You will get an up-close view of this time period as you listen.  John must use his courage and cunning to protect the Temple, but he learns that the threats are not only from the Romans.  Themes of courage, friendship, duty and love are brought to life by the characters.

This story kept all of us on the edge of our seats, and we may have actually spent time simply sitting in the van...just to listen!  These audios are professionally produced, the sound effects make the story come to life.

In addition, we were sent a 51 page downloadable Study Guide to go along with the audio.The PDF Study Guide makes this listening adventure a learning adventure too!

Each listening section of the audio has 3 types of questions you can use:

• Listening Well - Comprehension style questions to make sure they are understanding what they hear.
• Thinking Further - Questions that make your child think deeper by doing additional research, discovering maps or even using the Bible to answer questions.
• Defining Words - vocabulary and important words to know.

Throughout the Study Guide - sidebars with interesting figures, art, maps and historical importance are highlighted.   Background information is included to make sure your child understands the historical setting.  Additional Reading Suggestions are included for your older students.

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Best of all - 3 Bible Studies are included on "No Other Savior", "Proper Worship" and "Christ, our Temple".

I love how Heirloom Audio takes us back in time, to truly experience events that change history.

These audios are family favorites and we highly recommend them.

Other Heirloom Audio editions you don't want to miss!

• St Bartholomew's Eve - St. Bartholomew's Day and religious persecution
• Under Drake’s Flag - the story of Sir Francis Drake 
• In Freedom’s Cause - William Wallace and Robert the Bruce in their fight for Scottish independence 
• With Lee in Virginia - the American Civil War 
• The Dragon and the Raven - the Viking invasions of England 
• Beric the Briton - the Roman invasion of Britannica 
• The Cat of Bubastes - Ancient Egypt
• In the Reign of Terror - the French Revolution
• Captain Baley's Heir - American West
• Wulf the Saxon - The Batlle of Hastings

Find Heirloom Audio on Social Media:

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/HeirloomAudio
Twitter: https://twitter.com/HeirloomStories
Instagram: @HeirloomAudioOfficial


Hashtags:

#hsreviews #HeirloomAudio #FortheTemple #LiveTheAdventure #BringingHentyBack #AudioAdventures

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St. Bartholomew's Eve from Heirloom Audio: A TOS Crew Review

St. Bartholomew's Eve from Heirloom Audio

Get ready to get swept away into history!  We have been listening to another new favorite St. Bartholomew's Eve from Heirloom Audio.   We have been enjoying these fully dramatized audio adventures for the past several years, and were so excited for another!

This 2 CD set is over 2 hours of action packed adventure.  Recommended for ages 6 and up, my entire family loves to listen.  It is filled with some big name actors like -Brian Blessed, Elizabeth Counsell, David Shaw-Parker, Brian Deacon, Andy Harrison and Hugo Docking just to name a few.  The music has been written by Emmy Award Winning Composer John Campbell.

Based on The Extraordinary Adventures of GA Henty, this story takes back to 1572 and a true historical event, the St Bartholomew's Eve massacre.  My boys have been long-time GA Henty fans.  His stories are full of edge-of-your-seat adventure, but also of noble characters and godly wisdom.  I highly recommend introducing your family to his writing and these audios are the perfect way!

In the story we follow young Philip Fletcher, a young Englishman with French family ties, and his friends as they find themselves inside the religious war between Catholics and the French Hugenots (protestants).  We are currently studying the reformation time period, and this story brings the struggles these Christians faced to life, and makes the time period unforgettable.  I love this short video from Heirloom Audio about the power of stories...



The audio is full of sound effects, swords clashing, hand-cannons firing, and beautiful music.  A Mighty Fortress is our God, a Martin Luther song, is unforgettably sung by our heroes in a dark hour.  To be persecuted by other Christians simply for a difference in expression of worship to the same God, is a sobering history we share.  My testers and I will never look at this historical time period the same.

The story is an intense one, so be sure your young children are ready to listen.  This time period is violent, and the audio does a great job showing an accurate picture of the time.  The story focuses around the question, Whom shall we obey? The King of France, or the King of Kings?  I think it's so important our children know and understand our Christian history... if they don't, they will be destined to repeat it.  This story gives them a clear charge to obey God, whatever the cost.

All through the stories, we hear our hero, Philip and his friends quoting scripture, and openly displaying their Christian values, even at great personal cost.  I love how these stories demonstrate true heroic values like courage, friendship and devotion without being preachy.  Our families need heroes to look up to, and their are few better that those GA Henty has given us and Heirloom Audio has brought to life for us.

We highly recommend them!!  Be sure to check out our reviews other audios we have enjoyed:

• Under Drake’s Flag - the story of Sir Francis Drake 
• In Freedom’s Cause - William Wallace and Robert the Bruce in their fight for Scottish independence 
• With Lee in Virginia - the American Civil War 
• The Dragon and the Raven - the Viking invasions of England 
• Beric the Briton - the Roman invasion of Britannica 
• The Cat of Bubastes - Ancient Egypt
• In the Reign of Terror - the French Revolution
• Captain Baley's Heir - American West
• Wulf the Saxon - The Batlle of Hastings

Find Heirloom Audio  on Social Media: 

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/HeirloomAudio
Twitter: https://twitter.com/HeirloomStories
Google+: https://goo.gl/d8btpX
Instagram: @HeirloomAudioOfficial

Hashtags: #hsreviews #HeirloomAudio #LiveTheAdventure #BringingHentyBack #AudioAdventures

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Season 6: Underground Rising by Brinkman Adventures: A TOS Crew Review

Season 6: Underground Rising by Brinkman Adventures

Hold on to your seats... it's time for another amazing audio adventure - Season 6: Underground Rising by Brinkman Adventures!

These fully dramatized audios are part of a family favorite, the Brinkman Adventures.  We enjoyed Season 4 last year, check out our review.   Season 6: Underground Rising continues following the fictional missionary family - The Brinkmans around the globe as they encounter true-to-life adventures.

My family loves to listen to these audios in our van together.  This edition has about 2 hours of listening, which we received as a download.  It's simple to copy it onto a cd to take it with you, or from your mobile device.  Season 6 the recent addition in this series which has 60 episodes now!  Each episode is around 20-30 minutes, short enough to enjoy in one trip.

• 55 -  Dutch Underground Part 1
• 56  - Dutch Underground Part 2
• 57 - Twice Born Fly
• 58 - I Wonder Why
• 59 - Free Burma Rangers Part 1
• 60 - Free Burma Rangers Part 2

Most of my children want to be part of missions when they grow up.  I really love getting to share a taste of what adventure their lives will be, and the Brinkman's give us a real, up-close view. Their goal is to "inspire, motivate, and facilitate the next generation of Christian world changers!"

The audio stories are very well done, with sound effects that make it come alive.  In this season, history comes alive as we travel to the Dutch Underground during WW2 all the way to Burma to fright for freedom.  Other episodes take us around the globe as we experience real-life stories of sharing the gospel.

My favorite episode was "I Wonder Why" - it follows a real life family that decides to move to India to become missionaries.  Young Sam (Samanatha) is the main character as she adjusts to a difficult new life in a foreign country.  I just connected with so many points in this story - I've had a miscarriage, I LOVE India - and in fact, I've been there twice, my son (who wants to be a missionary in India) is named Sam, I worked with Indian orphans(and know who naughty they can be), and I never ever get enough of hearing Indian accents.  It was truly inspiring to see it through Sam's eyes as she learns compassion and love for the Indian orphans as she trusts God's plan.

One of the best parts of this series is found online, in the "Real Stories" section.  You can read the true stories behind the audios.  They have interviews, photographs, even recipes you can explore the reality behind the stories better.  It is a wonderful way to expand the conversations with your family.

For a limited time - you can use a coupon code for 10% off of what you purchase from the Brinkman Adventures website.  The coupon code to use at checkout is FALL10.  The coupon is good from October 10th - the 31st.

We highly recommend these inspiring stories!

Find Brinkman Adventures on Social Media: 

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Brinkman-Adventures-152895116079/

Hashtags: #hsreviews #AudioDrama #MissionaryStories #AudioMissionaryDrama #BrinkmanAdventures


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Wulf the Saxon from Heirloom Audio Productions: A TOS Crew Review

Wulf the Saxon from Heirloom Audio Productions

We're back for another year with the TOS Review Crew - and we can't wait to introduce to you Wulf the Saxon from Heirloom Audio Productions.  This is the ninth production of one of our favorites - we have LOVED them all! This 2 audio drama CD set is designed for ages 6 and up.

It is jam-packed-adventure-filled listening with  , true history, memorable characters and vital life lessons.  With over 2.5 hours of listening, your and your children will not want to turn it off.

These audios are called The Extraordinary Adventures of G.A. Henty and are based on the books from GA Henty, the amazing author.  His stories have been family favorites for years, especially with my sons.  However, these stories appeal to all my children - boys and girls.  We listen to them in the van, and everyone - ages 8 to 18 love them!

The fully dramatized audios are professionally done.  They feature a star-studded cast: Brian Blessed, Chris Larkin, Helen George and Patrick Godfre7 (just to name a few!)

 They truly transport us into the time-period.  This is a great way to expand your child's imagination.  Heirloom Audio is passionate about bringing Christian history to life. They get to "see" the entire story as they listen.  I assure you, this alone has made listening worthwhile!

But, there's always more - the story is not only filled with edge-of-your-seat adventure, it contains valuable lessons like courage, honor, honesty, loyalty.  All of this unfolds in the story, and never sounds "preachy".  The characters are true role-models for our children, in an age where finding those can be a challenge.

We are currently studying this time period in our history class. Wulf the Saxon is set in the 1060's in medieval England. We join him in daring escapes, fierce battles and even in learning to love - as he discovers the meaning of "Fortunate are the few who marry for love".

Young Wulf is a character that you can identify with.  Eager, but headstrong, he must learn patience and self-control along with his courage.  As we follow his story - we get a first row seat for one of the conflicts that has shaped history - The Battle of Hastings.

My testers LOVE the sound effects of these audios - the clash of swords, the sounds of the sea (we were almost seasick ourselves), the din of the battles.  Listening to them inspires them to want to read the original books (homeschool mom win!)  My older testers, long time GA Henty readers, were thoroughly impressed at how the audio followed the story plot closely.

They also appreciate how these stories often tell the other, lesser-known side to history.  We all learn about William the Conqueror in history - but, how often do we get the opportunity to see it through the eyes of a Saxon?  This is part of the brilliance in this audio.

We highly recommend them!

In addition, you should consider becoming part of the  Live The Adventure Club.   It's filled with resources to help you make history come alive.  They offer links to many useful articles, projects, recipes, and more in the Parent Resource section. Study Guides for all the The Extraordinary Adventures of G.A. Henty and lots of fun activities to explore!  Check it out - they are offering a free 30 day trial!

 Other Heirloom Audios include:

• Under Drake’s Flag - the story of Sir Francis Drake 
• In Freedom’s Cause - William Wallace and Robert the Bruce in their fight for Scottish independence 
• With Lee in Virginia - the American Civil War 
• The Dragon and the Raven - the Viking invasions of England 
• Beric the Briton - the Roman invasion of Britannica 
• The Cat of Bubastes - Ancient Egypt
• In the Reign of Terror - the French Revolution
• Captain Baley's Heir - American West

Find Heirloom Audio Productions  on Social Media: 

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/HeirloomAudio

Twitter: https://twitter.com/HeirloomStories Tag: @HeirloomStories 

Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/heirloomaudio/ Tag: @heirloomaudio 

Instagram: https://instagram.com/HeirloomAudioOfficial Tag: @HeirloomAudioOfficial 

Google+: https://goo.gl/d8btpX

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCQ9d9hNYwfUAUHhpcvnJ1_Q

Hashtags: 

#hsreviews ,#HeirloomAudio, #WulfTheSaxon, #LiveTheAdventure, #BringingHentyBack

#AudioAdventures

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