Jingle the Husky Pup Interactive Storybook & Story Buddy

*This is a cross-post between my two blogs. You will find the exact same post at Callista's Ramblings today. 


This is a Great Last Minute Gift Idea - if you still have more shopping to do like me!

When I saw this cute book-toy set in a Hallmark flyer, I thought it was the cutest idea and something every child would love. So I contacted them and they were nice enough to send one along for me to review.

This is the first Interactive Storybook from Hallmark but they have plans for future ones in 2011. The book is titled Jingle All the Way and as you read key phrases from the book, Jingle the Husky Pup responds with barks, whines and other doggy noises.

The stuffed dog is really cute, with a really big head that makes it top heavy and a cute little bell around it's neck. My kids love him. He looks just like he does in the book. When you are ready to read, you just press a button in his ear and he's ready to go. Turn him off when you are done to conserve batteries.

The story is a GREAT story. Although it mentions Christmas and you see some of Santa, it's more of a holiday book than a Christmas book. It teaches that everyone deserves a home, especially for Christmas.

An adult or older child should read this book as you have to speak clearly for Jingle to respond. If the words are stumbled over or there is too much background noise, Jingle may not respond properly.

KID TESTED!
I brought the story to our Spark/Brownie meeting and to playgroup to share. All 12 children total loved it. I was going to send it with my daughter to her JK class but didn't get around to it since she was sick one day but another teacher brought it in and her class of 45 loved it. At playgroup, the older kids listened attentively while the younger ones (under 2) zoned out of the story but perked up every time Jingle made a peep. If it wasn't for Jingle, the under 2s would have wandered off but they started to watch Jingle, anticipating that he would make a sound again. A few times Jingle barked when he wasn't supposed to or didn't bark when he was supposed to but that was because the classroom next door was unusually loud.

My only qualm... Jingle should have responded more. I think he should have had something to "say" on EACH page.

After you fall in love with Jingle, you may be interested to know Hallmark also has a Jingle the Husky Pup keepsake ornament, Jingle webcam greetings and an iphone/ipad app.

*Disclaimer: I was sent the product in exchange for a review. All reviews are honest and are not affected by how I acquired the item.

CSN Bookcase Review

Back in December I announced I was going to be reviewing a bookcase (bookshelf) from CSN Bookcases. I received it just before Christmas and almost immediately hung it up. A few days later I piled books onto it and I've been using it ever since.

So why haven't you seen a review yet? My camera broke. I wanted to provide photos of the bookcase in my house but my camera broke and the cheap one be bought to replace it takes really bad photos most of the time.

Anyways, with the help of my mother's camera, I bring to you, the review.

*Although I received the bookcase for review from CSN Bookcases, the review is honest and in no way affected by how I received the item.

I received the 4D Concepts Hanging Corner Storage in Espresso to review (pictured top right.) You can see what it looks like with books on it below.  I didn't exactly get the whole thing in the photograph as I was in a hurry and I forgot about the little princess heart hanging on the wall at the top but you get the idea.

It came in a small box as each piece was disassembled and laid flat. It wasn't as easy to put together as I've heard others say theirs were but it wasn't impossible. It took me 10 minutes to figure out which way the connected but actually connecting them was easy and just required a simple screwdriver. It was hanging the bookcase on the wall that was difficult. I had my father help me. I wanted it in a certain place so it didn't necessarily go into studs but it came with plastic anchors. I don't like electric drills so I helped line it up and he screwed the holes, put in the anchors and then screwed the bookcase to the wall.

I love it though. I chose it because I didn't have room for another one to sit on the ground. I wanted to make good use of my corner space. If you put more than a few books on it or a bunch of paperbacks, you do need bookends. My corner bookcase is over my couch so I was a little worried about the bookend falling off and hitting someone, especially since I'm using heavy brass ones. However so far it hasn't happened.

You can put your books on the case in different ways. I started out with each shelf different to show you the different ways but that photo was taken with the now broken camera. By the time I got a different camera here I had rearranged the shelves. I have my book spines facing out one wall but you could face them the other way. However then you see the back of your outermost book whereas this way you see the front. You could also stack them but it didn't look good that way. I also tried fanning them out in a quarter circle like the shelf they sit on but it didn't look as good as I thought it would.

I'm very happy with my bookcase, it is keeping my to-be-reviewed books and some to-read books handy but out of the way. It sells for $34.99 + shipping and taxes at CSN Bookcases, the place to buy bookcases. They ship to Canada or the USA.

Thanks again to CSN Bookcases for allowing me the opportunity to review a bookcase.