Review: Route 60 - The Biblical Highway #Route60MIN

This post contains affiliate links - using affiliate links from Just A Second helps supply books and coffee.

I had the privilege of seeing the advance release of this fascinating documentary and want to encourage you to see it in theaters if you can. It will be in theaters September 18th and 19th only, so grab your tickets today! If you're interested in Biblical or ancient history, I think you'll really enjoy it. It would be a great addition to history, geography, world religions, or Bible studies for homeschooling families; and for anyone looking for background to understanding the geography where the Bible stories took place and the foundations of the nation of Israel, and how it's all intertwined.

Route 60 is a documentary about Israel's famous highway, one that passes through sites of great historical significance, places where the patriarchs, kings and prophets, disciples, and Jesus himself walked.

Synopsis: 

Carving through the heart of the Promised Land is the biblical spine of Israel, sometimes referred to as the Path of the Patriarchs and officially designated as Route 60. A highway of deep historical significance while often the scene of unrest and violence, this 146-mile road of asphalt and concrete begins in Nazareth, Israel's largest Arab city, and ends in Beersheba, one of Israel's high-tech centers. Running north to south, Route 60 connects ancient Israel with modern Israel, Jews and Christians with Muslims, and Israelis with Palestinians.

This trek is far more than a two-lane highway; it is a historic, sacred link to the roots of Judaism and Christianity and the stories of the Old and New Testaments. Follow world-changing diplomats David Friedman and Mike Pompeo as they venture down this sacred road, treading the very ground Abraham, Jacob, King David, and Jesus once walked. Discover the history, witness the healing, and realize the hope along Route 60, the Biblical Highway.

What others are saying:

"Visually stunning and compelling storytelling." ~Mike Huckabee

"ROUTE 60 combines the truth of the Bible with undeniable archaeological proof, and like our tour guides, Pompeo and Friedman, that's a powerful combination!" ~Erick Stakelbeck

My thoughts: The scenery and the views of historical sites was enough to draw me immediately, and the added graphics to help visualize the passages of Scripture referenced and the historical Biblical events were so appealing as well. But what I most enjoyed was the simple but compelling way Friedman and Pompeo related how the sites they visited were significant throughout the story of the Bible. Some of these sites, like Shechem and Bethel, are places where more than one greatly important event took place. I've watched many documentaries and video studies of sites in the Holy Land, yet some of the sites in ROUTE 60 were new to me, or I learned new context and significance to these places. Friedman is an Orthodox Jew and Pompeo is a Christian, and both have long and significant experience as American diplomats, so it was also fascinating to hear them talk about more recent history involving the nation of Israel such as the Abraham Accords and the relocation of the American Embassy to Jerusalem in light of Biblical history. Both men also told stories of the impact the truth of the Bible has had on how they view the world and the roles they've played, and about their personal faith as well.

Visit the movie's website Route 60 Movie to find out more.

Buy tickets at: Route 60 Movie

Hashtags: #Route60MIN #MomentumInfluencerNetwork

Disclosure: Many thanks to TBN for providing a sample of the product for this review. Opinions are 100% my own.

 ©2008-2023 Just A Second. All rights reserved. All text, photographs, artwork, and other content may not be reproduced or transmitted in any form without the written consent of the author. http://justasecondblog.blogspot.com/ 

 We are a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for us to earn fees by linking to Amazon.com and affiliated sites.

Route 60 - The Biblical Highway #Route60MIN

This post contains affiliate links - using affiliate links from Just A Second helps supply books and coffee. 

I'm always interested in movies and documentaries like this! Seeing the real sites where historical events took place, and where historical figures walked is fascinating to me. Even more so when it's Biblical history! I recently got the news about this movie and have been asked to pass along the news, and since I really want to see it, I'm happy to share it here too.

Route 60 is a documentary about Israel's famous highway, one that passes through sites of great historical significance, places where the patriarchs, kings and prophets, disciples, and Jesus himself walked.

Synopsis: 

Carving through the heart of the Promised Land is the biblical spine of Israel, sometimes referred to as the Path of the Patriarchs and officially designated as Route 60. A highway of deep historical significance while often the scene of unrest and violence, this 146-mile road of asphalt and concrete begins in Nazareth, Israel's largest Arab city, and ends in Beersheba, one of Israel's high-tech centers. Running north to south, Route 60 connects ancient Israel with modern Israel, Jews and Christians with Muslims, and Israelis with Palestinians.

This trek is far more than a two-lane highway; it is a historic, sacred link to the roots of Judaism and Christianity and the stories of the Old and New Testaments. Follow world-changing diplomats David Friedman and Mike Pompeo as they venture down this sacred road, treading the very ground Abraham, Jacob, King David, and Jesus once walked. Discover the history, witness the healing, and realize the hope along Route 60, the Biblical Highway.

Visit the movie's website Route 60 Movie to find out more.

Hashtags: #Route60MIN #MomentumInfluencerNetwork

©2008-2023 Just A Second. All rights reserved. All text, photographs, artwork, and other content may not be reproduced or transmitted in any form without the written consent of the author. http://justasecondblog.blogspot.com/ 

 We are a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for us to earn fees by linking to Amazon.com and affiliated sites.

The Journey: A Music Special From Andrea Bocelli (Review and Giveaway) #TheJourneyTBNMIN

This post contains affiliate links - using affiliate links from Just A Second helps supply books and coffee. 

The Journey: A Music Special from Andrea Bocelli - Coming to theaters April 2-9, 2023 (Dates extended!)

See THE JOURNEY in theaters starting April 2nd! Buy tickets at: TheJourney.movie

"We journeyed by horse for over 300 kilometers along a path that was not always easy to travel, but absolutely beautiful, made of meadows and forests; sacred places filled with lasting testimonies of faith, full of art of incredible beauty, and views in front of which one can't but ponder about creation and the miraculous work of our Heavenly Father." ~Andrea Bocelli, talking about his movie, THE JOURNEY, in theaters beginning Palm Sunday, April 2.

What is Andrea Bocelli's hope for you when you see THE JOURNEY? "My wish is that the movie can offer an invitation to fully live and recognize our daily miracles."

Synopsis: Combining world-class musical performances with intimate conversations across the awe-inspiring Italian countryside, THE JOURNEY: A Music Special from Andrea Bocelli is an exploration of moments that define us, songs that inspire us, and relationships that connect us to what matters most in life.

From TBN comes THE JOURNEY, a sacred pilgrimage of hope, beauty, and song featuring Andrea Bocelli and other great artists. In addition to Bocelli, THE JOURNEY features Michael W. Smith, Tori Kelly, Tauren Wells, TAYA, and many others in amazing musical performances across majestic locations. You'll be swept away by the beauty of THE JOURNEY. Experience the awe of the music, the Italian landscape, meaningful conversations, and the reality of hope, faith, and love. Get your tickets at TheJourney.movie.  

This special theatrical event opens on Palm Sunday and continues through Holy Week: April 2nd through April 9th.

My thoughts:  I love Andrea Bocelli's voice and couldn't pass up the opportunity to hear him along with other wonderful musicians like Tori Kelly and Michael W. Smith. To also get a glimpse of some of the beautiful buildings and landscapes along Italy's Via Francigena and be introduced to musical artists I wasn't familiar with made it even more special. 

Andrea and his wife Veronica begin their journey along this ancient road of pilgrimage in Rome, and as they travel, they talk with each other and with some of the guest artists about their own personal journeys of faith. Childhood memories and experiences that shaped them, and how God worked to give them hope and purpose, and what they want to share with the world through their music. Bocelli's children, Matteo and Virginia, make appearances as well, and both of those segments are very moving. Bocelli singing his own "Ave Maria" while joined by his daughter is breathtaking.

There are mini-concerts throughout the movie's journey, with Tori Kelly, Tauren Wells, TAYA, Michael W. Smith, and Clara Barbier Serrano performing on their own and with Bocelli. Two instrumental groups that I hadn't heard before joined in as accompanists and performers. 2CELLOS is a Croatian cello duo, and 40 Fingers is an Italian guitar quartet. It was intriguing to see a young lady conducting the orchestra. Her name is Beatrice Venezi, and she is one of the few female conductors on the international stage. British soloist Katherine Jenkins joined Bocelli at the end of the journey performing a couple of beautiful songs. 

The music ranges from Schubert's "Ave Maria" to a version of Bernstein's "Hallelujah", and each artist brings their own style and composition to share as well. I especially loved the set with Katherine Jenkins near the end, and the very moving closing song that featured all of the artists singing "Amazing Grace".

See The Journey in theaters April 2nd through April 9th!

Purchase tickets at: TheJourney.movie

As part of this promotion, Momentum is generously allowing me to host this giveaway of a $10 Amazon gift card. Please note: This giveaway is open to US only, opens on April 2nd and closes on April 9th. The same giveaway form appears here and on A Fresh Cup of Coffee and Homeschool Coffee Break.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Hashtags: #TheJourneyTBNMIN #MomentumInfluencerNetwork

Disclosure: Many thanks to TBN for providing a sample of the product for this review. Opinions are 100% my own.

©2008-2023 Just A Second. All rights reserved. All text, photographs, artwork, and other content may not be reproduced or transmitted in any form without the written consent of the author. http://justasecondblog.blogspot.com/ 

 We are a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for us to earn fees by linking to Amazon.com and affiliated sites.

His Only Son - Movie Review and Giveaway #HisOnlySonMIN

This post contains affiliate links - using affiliate links from Just A Second helps supply books and coffee.

His Only Son, a new movie from  Angel Studios (makers of The Chosen) is coming to theaters starting March 31, 2023. This powerful movie explores the Biblical story of Abraham and his son Isaac. The story in Genesis tells about God speaking to Abraham and promising to make him the father of nations and bless him, and after many years of waiting, Abraham and his wife Sarah finally have a son of their own. But God then calls on Abraham to sacrifice this promised and beloved son. 

Make plans today to see HIS ONLY SON in theaters March 31st! Buy tickets at: HisOnlySonMovie.com.

"After being called on by the Lord, Abraham's faith is tested on his three day journey to sacrifice his son."

Synopsis:  His Only Son recounts one of the most controversial moments in the Old Testament―when Abraham was commanded by God to sacrifice his son Isaac on the mountain of Moriah. While traveling to the place of the sacrifice, alongside Isaac and two servants, Abraham is flooded with vivid memories from the years he and Sarah spent longing for the son they were promised―the son he must now lay upon the altar.

My thoughts:  Although the movie essentially begins at the point where God calls Abraham and tells him to give Isaac as a sacrifice, it also lays all the background in a series of memories and flashbacks, so viewers are introduced to Abraham and Sarah in their younger years when God first spoke to Abraham about moving to a new land that God would show him. More memories add to the story of their years of longing for a child and Sarah wondering how God would keep his promises to her husband when she still couldn't get pregnant. Sarah's struggle to understand Abraham's faith in a God that she didn't know and her growing bitterness when she is well past her childbearing years and the promised child still hasn't come is portrayed poignantly.

Isaac's birth to a couple so old brings new life to Sarah and Abraham, and Sarah finds great joy in her son. So how do you think she reacted when Abraham insisted that Isaac was to go along on this journey through the wilderness to sacrifice to God? Don't you think she'd be worried about her elderly husband on this trip as well? What did the servants who accompanied Abraham and Isaac think about the whole situation? What about Isaac himself? I thought the movie did an excellent job of portraying some of the likely actions and reactions, and invited viewers along on the emotional journey as well.

I loved how Isaac's personality was shown, as a kind and generous young man, willing to go out of his way to rescue lost sheep and ready to give up his freedom to save a captive. But what would he do when told that he was to be the sacrifice?

The imagery and language also drew all the appropriate parallels between Abraham's call to give up his only son, and God's plan to sacrifice his only son two thousand years later. The connection to the death and resurrection of Jesus is clear and compelling, so it's just perfect that this movie will be in theaters just before the Easter season. 

After my husband and I watched the movie, he remarked that he had expected it to be an Easter movie, a movie about Jesus Christ dying in our place. And in a sense, it is. It points the way to Jesus the Messiah, to his death and resurrection, and helps us understand the greatness of that sacrifice and that gift to us. I hope you'll go see the movie, and I pray you'll be blessed by it.

Find out more at the previously livestreamed announcement video on YouTube.

Follow His Only Son on Instagram and on Facebook.

See His Only Son in theaters starting March 31st!

Purchase tickets at: HisOnlySonMovie.com.  

As part of this promotion, Momentum is generously allowing me to host this giveaway of a $10 Amazon gift card. Please note: This giveaway is open to US only, opens on March 24th and closes on March 31st. The same giveaway form appears here and on A Fresh Cup of Coffee.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Hashtags: #HisOnlySonMIN #MomentumInfluencerNetwork

Disclosure: Many thanks to Angel Studios for providing a sample of the product for this review. Opinions are 100% my own.

©2008-2023 Just A Second. All rights reserved. All text, photographs, artwork, and other content may not be reproduced or transmitted in any form without the written consent of the author. http://justasecondblog.blogspot.com/ 

 We are a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for us to earn fees by linking to Amazon.com and affiliated sites.

Coming Soon - His Only Son #HisOnlySonMIN

This post contains affiliate links - using affiliate links from Just A Second helps supply books and coffee. 

Have you been following the series The Chosen? I haven't seen all of it, but I've so enjoyed the episodes I have seen. It's done so well, and is so thought provoking! Well, the same studio that brought us The Chosen will soon have a new movie about a Bible character in theaters. The newest from Angel Studios, His Only Son, is coming to theaters starting March 31, 2023.

"After being called on by the Lord, Abraham's faith is tested on his three day journey to sacrifice his son."

Synopsis:  His Only Son recounts one of the most controversial moments in the Old Testament―when Abraham was commanded by God to sacrifice his son Isaac on the mountain of Moriah. While traveling to the place of the sacrifice, alongside Isaac and two servants, Abraham is flooded with vivid memories from the years he and Sarah spent longing for the son they were promised―the son he must now lay upon the altar. Get your tickets at HisOnlySonMovie.com.  

Purchase tickets at: HisOnlySonMovie.com.  

Hashtags: #HisOnlySonMIN #MomentumInfluencerNetwork

©2008-2023 Just A Second. All rights reserved. All text, photographs, artwork, and other content may not be reproduced or transmitted in any form without the written consent of the author. http://justasecondblog.blogspot.com/ 

 We are a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for us to earn fees by linking to Amazon.com and affiliated sites.

Coming Soon - The Journey: A Music Special from Andrea Bocelli #TheJourneyTBNMIN

This post contains affiliate links - using affiliate links from Just A Second helps supply books and coffee. 

The Journey: A Music Special from Andrea Bocelli - Coming to theaters April 2-6, 2023

It's been awhile since I saw a movie in the theater, but here's one that I am really hoping to see! The music and scenery and the promise of interesting conversations is capturing my attention already. I love Andrea Bocelli's voice, and with artists like Tori Kelly, Michael W. Smith, and Tauren Wells among the musical guests that I'm already familiar with, I'm expecting a variety of styles. Other guests include instrumental groups 2CELLOS and 40 Fingers. And I'm especially interested to see Beatrice Venezi after seeing that she is one of the few women to conduct orchestras of international standing. 

"Bocelli and his wife Veronica travel on horseback along Italy's Via Francigena, an ancient road traveled by pilgrims for centuries . . . joined by friends Michael W. Smith, Tori Kelly, Tauren Wells, and TAYA for world-class musical performances in some of Italy's most magnificent venues and majestic locations."

Synopsis: Combining world-class musical performances with intimate conversations across the awe-inspiring Italian countryside, THE JOURNEY: A Music Special from Andrea Bocelli is an exploration of moments that define us, songs that inspire us, and relationships that connect us to what matters most in life.

Join in a sacred pilgrimage of hope, beauty, and song with this special theatrical event opening on Palm Sunday and continuing through Holy Week: April 2, 3, 4 & 6. In addition to Bocelli, you'll hear Michael W. Smith, Tori Kelly, Tauren Wells, TAYA, and many others in amazing musical performances across majestic locations. Get your tickets at TheJourney.movie.  

Purchase tickets at: TheJourney.movie

Hashtags: #TheJourneyTBNMIN #MomentumInfluencerNetwork

©2008-2023 Just A Second. All rights reserved. All text, photographs, artwork, and other content may not be reproduced or transmitted in any form without the written consent of the author. http://justasecondblog.blogspot.com/ 

 We are a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for us to earn fees by linking to Amazon.com and affiliated sites.

Redeeming Love - Movie Review

This post contains affiliate links - using affiliate links from Just A Second helps supply books and coffee. 

Redeeming Love: The Movie - One of the most moving novels I've ever read is Redeeming Love by Francine Rivers. It is based on the story of the Old Testament prophet Hosea, but Rivers set her story during the Gold Rush. I remember wondering how the story of Hosea's unfaithful wife could possibly be told in any setting other than the paganism of the nations surrounding Israel in ancient times, but Redeeming Love did it so well that the story stayed with me for years.

Redeeming Love is a life-changing story of the power of unconditional love, the kind only God can inspire. The movie is coming to theaters January 21, 2022, and you will want to see it!

Synopsis: 

Based on the bestselling novel by Francine Rivers, REDEEMING LOVE is a powerful story of relentless love and perseverance as a young couple's relationship clashes with the harsh realities of the California Gold Rush of 1850.

Angel expects only pain from those around her. Sold into prostitution as a child, Angel survives with hatred towards herself and the men that use her. She meets Michael Hosea, a farmer who believes God wants Angel to be his wife. Dire circumstances force Angel to accept his proposal, but when Michael defies her bitter expectations, her wounded heart begins to mend.

As Angel encounters a love unlike anything she ever experienced, feelings of unworthiness and shame cause her to run from a life she doesn't think she deserves. As Michael sets out to find her, Angel discovers there is no brokenness that love can't heal.

My thoughts: Faithful to the story (as I expected, since author Francine Rivers collaborated on the screenplay), and with beautiful cinematography, the movie brought the characters and their struggles to life. Scenes of Angel's childhood and the suffering she endured that led to the brothel in Paradise are woven into the opening of the movie, and the portrayal of her broken and hardened character is heart-wrenching. Michael's goodness and perseverance in doing what he believes God has told him to is likewise endearing.

The shreds of humanity and goodness that are left in the evil of the world Angel lives in are few but sweet, and her situation seems hopeless. I loved the patience and gentleness of Michael's offers in contrast to the harsh greed and violence of Angel's masters and tormentors. 

One thing I was concerned about was how the brothel scenes and intimate scenes would be handled. After all, the novel could indicate what was happening without being graphic, but how would the movie version handle those scenes honestly but not gratuitously? I felt that it was done well, but with more realism than some viewers might expect from a "Christian film". Nudity is implied rather than shown, but the scenes of intimacy do not shy away from portraying the passion quite clearly. While in most love stories, I would consider these scenes gratuitous, I think that because of the way Angel has been used and exploited before meeting Michael, their interactions and the purity of his love for her are necessary to the story of her redemption. 

Although set during the Gold Rush, the plight of these fictional characters reminds us that sex trafficking still claims victims today. Redeeming Love: The Movie partners with Redeeming Love Sanctuary Foundation and Where Hope Lives, two organizations that work to support and help survivors and to stop sex trafficking. I'm glad that while this movie is heartwarming and truly entertaining, it also provides beautiful examples of faithful and sacrificial love and forgiveness, and draws attention to those who still need to be rescued and redeemed.

See Redeeming Love in theaters starting January 21st!

Purchase tickets at: RedeemingLoveMovie.com

Hashtags: #RedeemingLoveMovieMIN #RedeemingLoveMovie #MomentumInfluencerNetwork

Disclosure: Many thanks to Universal for providing a sample of the product for this review. Opinions are 100% my own and NOT influenced by monetary compensation.

©2008-2022 Just A Second. All rights reserved. All text, photographs, artwork, and other content may not be reproduced or transmitted in any form without the written consent of the author. http://justasecondblog.blogspot.com/ 

 We are a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for us to earn fees by linking to Amazon.com and affiliated sites.

TomlinUNITED Tour (Announcement and Giveaway)

This post contains affiliate links - using affiliate links from Just A Second helps supply books and coffee.

Of all the things we missed over the past year and a half, I've missed live music so much. Concerts and for me, especially live worship music. There's something incredible about being in a large venue filled with people singing praise to God. A little glimpse of singing with the multitudes in heaven, I think!

Well, I'm excited about any news involving live worship music, so I'm happy to be able to add my voice to those announcing this tour - Hillsong UNITED and Chris Tomlin are going on a 33-city tour! Tickets are on sale now - go HERE to find a city near you!

Keep reading for a little about the artists, and for a giveaway featuring their music!

Chris Tomlin has been a wonderful influence on praise and worship music for twenty years, and even if you don't know his name, chances are you know some of the music he's had a hand in writing. Classics like How Great Is Our God, Amazing Grace (My Chains Are Gone), and The Wonderful Cross come to mind. Those songs, along with Jesus Messiah and Whom Shall I Fear are my own favorites. As a worship leader myself, I love that his music is so accessible - easy for most congregations to learn and sing along. There's something so moving and wonderful about a whole group of people worshiping God together with one voice, and Tomlin is a gifted worship leader.

On this tour, Tomlin is joined by Hillsong United, a group of talented songwriters, musicians, and worship leaders known for songs like Another In The Fire and So Will I. I especially like the songs Oceans (Where Feet May Fail) and Scandal of Grace. Hillsong United is dynamic and exciting on stage, as they invite audiences to worship along with them.

Also featured on this tour is an artist whose music I have really been enjoying recently, Pat Barrett. Barrett has been a singer and songwriter with the band Housefires, and has been a co-writer with Tomlin as well. You might recognize his song The Way, which is one of my current favorites. Another of his well-known songs is Good Good Father, which was recorded by Chris Tomlin.

Visit TomlinUnited to see all the tour dates and to order your tickets today! 

Want to start singing along now? Be sure to enter the giveaway below to win a free music download!

Premier Productions is generously allowing me to host this giveaway of FREE music download codes. (The same giveaway form appears here and on HS Coffee Break)

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Hashtags: #TomlinUNITEDMIN #MomentumInfluencerNetwork

Disclosure: Many thanks to Premier Productions for providing this product/product information for review. Opinions are 100% my own. I did receive the product in exchange for this review and post.

©2008-2021 Just A Second. All rights reserved. All text, photographs, artwork, and other content may not be reproduced or transmitted in any form without the written consent of the author. http://justasecondblog.blogspot.com/ 

 We are a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for us to earn fees by linking to Amazon.com and affiliated sites.

Vooks - Kid-Safe Streaming Library (Review and Giveaway)

This post contains affiliate links - using affiliate links from Just A Second helps supply books and coffee. 

What if you could entertain and educate your child with animated storybooks? Sounds good, but of course you'd want to make sure it was safe, and you'd want to encourage reading and learning too. I've recently been introduced to Vooks and it ticks all the boxes for safe and fun storybook learning for kids. Read on - and be sure to enter the giveaway of a one-year subscription to Vooks at the end of this post!

Vooks is a streaming library, of ad-free, kid-safe animated storybooks. An entire library of positive themed storybooks, brought to life with quality narration and sounds. The site is trusted by teachers and enjoyed by millions of children around the world. The interactive reading system helps encourage the love of reading, and I'm certainly on board with that! Vooks strengthens literacy and vocabulary, promotes independent learning, and develops strong values like kindness and friendship.

Vooks offers more than just the storybooks. There are also free, fun, printable lesson plans. Vooks lesson plans offer discussion topics, activities, and more. 

100% kid-friendly and parent-approved!

Here are a couple of the titles for elementary and preschool aged kids that I thought were really cute:

But First, We Nap by David Miles and Darya Dremova

Unicorn (and Horse) by David Miles

A page from Luis and Tabitha by Stephanie Campisi:

And there are so many more titles to choose from! These stories should keep my four-year-old granddaughter entertained for quite awhile!

There are lesson plans to go with the stories, and some themed lesson plans as well. Perfect for homeschoolers!

For example, the fifteen-page pdf of suggested lesson plans around the theme Caring for Others/Kindness includes coloring pages, discussion questions (along with the time stamps) to go along with a book, worksheets, a lesson on rhyming, and more. The Lesson plan to go along with individual books like But First, We Nap include questions about the story, suggested activities and lessons, and a story summary. These are perfect for elementary age students, and some of the activities would be fun and educational for preschoolers as well.

My thoughts: It didn't take me long to fall in love with this charming resource and even though I don't have little children at home any more, I do have a granddaughter who loves books and also loves videos. Since she loves having people read to her, I'm sure she'll like this site where she can follow along with the book as it's being read to her, and she won't get frustrated by ads popping up in the middle of the videos. And bonus, the grown-ups won't have to worry about the ads or that she'll see something inappropriate. 

The narrators of these stories do a great job too. The voices are expressive, and they read slowly enough for beginning readers to be able to follow the printed words on the "page". I also love that there are visual cues to help kids follow the words - they darken or are bolded as the narrator reads them. The narrators do different voices for the different characters in the stories, and there are subtle sound effects and background music.

Try it free for 30 days! Go to www.vooks.com to sign up.

Membership: Purchase or gift a membership at www.vooks.com. 

Follow Vooks on Facebook, on Twitter, on Pinterest, on Instagram, and on YouTube.

Vooks is generously allowing me to host this giveaway of a one-year subscription to Vooks. (The same giveaway form appears here and on Homeschool Coffee Break)

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Hashtags: #VooksMIN #MomentumInfluencerNetwork #vooks #betterscreentime #vookspartner

Disclosure: Many thanks to Vooks for providing this product/product information for review. Opinions are 100% my own and NOT influenced by monetary compensation. I did receive a sample of the product in exchange for this review and post.

©2008-2021 Just A Second. All rights reserved. All text, photographs, artwork, and other content may not be reproduced or transmitted in any form without the written consent of the author. http://justasecondblog.blogspot.com/ 

 We are a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for us to earn fees by linking to Amazon.com and affiliated sites.