Thomas and The Runaway Kite DVD Review + Giveaway!

From Lionsgate and HIT Entertainment:

Hang on tight for a high-flying ride with Thomas & Friends™ in the all-new Thomas and the Runaway Kite flying onto DVD March 2, 2010 from Lionsgate and HIT Entertainment. There are jobs to be done, visitors to meet and friends to greet in this never-before-seen DVD featuring full CG animation and individual voices for all the engines. All-new content available only on the DVD features live-action host Driver Perkins, who has to rely on a naughty parrot to save the day.

Teaching timeless life lessons such as discovery, friendship and cooperation, the Thomas & Friends animated series invites children to enter a world of imagination through the tracks of a train and the words of a story.

There’s a kite on the loose and Thomas must catch it before the wind blows it from Sodor. With Gordon, Charlie and Toby by his side, Thomas learns that a helping hand keeps him right on track when it comes to rescuing kites, saving a swarm of bees, and preventing railway disasters from taking flight! Hop on board for a high-flying ride with Thomas & Friends™ in these all-new, never-before-seen train adventures!

Episodes include: “Thomas & the Runaway Kite”, “Buzzy Bees”, “Toby’s New Whistle”, and “The Biggest Present of All”.

If you've read my blog before, you know that I always jump at a chance to review Thomas DVD's, because finding a program that makes two children who are three years apart agree and sit quietly to watch is usually quite the feat. For our family, the only television show to date that this rare occurrence continually happens is with Thomas and Friends.

As a parent, I find it difficult to consistently find a positive story line that is not too "babyish" for my seven year old, and captivating enough for my 4 year old. EXCEPT with Thomas.

Aside from the traditional, adorable story-lines and tales of teamwork and problem-solving, Thomas and Friends solves my television woes with both of the children. The special features on the DVD allows my gifted son the ability to take his experience further, and role play as Abbigaile's teacher using the "How Many Shapes Do You See” Game, and the “Find What Doesn’t Belong” Game.

I was going to save this DVD for our Easter baskets, but after an excellent week, I decided to use this DVD as a reward for the kids. They loved it. I love the fact that there are multiple episodes on THOMAS AND THE RUNAWAY KITE. I love that they both can agree on this DVD, and I love the way my children interact while watching Thomas and Friends DVD's.

Whether you are like our family and are long time Thomas fans, or just looking for something for your toddler or preschooler Thomas and Friends and the Runaway Kite is a great spring time choice. This DVD would make a great addition to any Easter basket or as a reward for potty training or excellent behavior.

WANT IT?
Be sure to visit Amazon.com to find Thomas & Friends products, or a store in your area that sells home entertainment products to purchase this product and others like it.

WIN IT!
Our friends at Lionsgate and HIT Entertainment have offered one copy of this DVD to a lucky reader!

CONGRATULATIONS!!

Please visit our WINNERS PAGE for more information on how to claim your prize!

This giveaway is open to residents of US and Canada. This giveaway will end on March 26, 2010 at 11:59pm EST. The winner will be chosen using Random.org, and all winner information will be posted on our WINNERS PAGE. Any unclaimed prizes will be redrawn accordingly and at the discretion of 4BabyAndMom. Disclaimer: I received this product to review at no cost from the PR firm representing Lionsgate and Hit Entertainment. I received no monetary compensation for this review, and any opinions expressed are 100% my own. Your experience with this product may differ.

Read more...

Thomas & Friends Splish, Splash, Splosh Review + Giveaway!

This brand new release hits the shelves today!

From the press release:

From Lionsgate And HIT Entertainment
DVD SRP: $14.98

PROGRAM DESCRIPTION
Soak up adventure with Thomas and his engine friends as they travel around the Island of Sodor in the all-new Thomas & Friends™ Splish Splash Splosh arriving on DVD January 5, 2010 from Lionsgate and HIT Entertainment. Teaching timeless life lessons such as discovery, friendship and cooperation, the Thomas & Friends animated series invites children to enter a world of imagination through the tracks of a train and the words of a story.


The new host, Driver Perkins is new on the Island of Sodor, and can be seen ONLY on DVD. Driver Perkins helps out Sir Topham Hatt, all of Sodor’s engines and the train engineers. This friendly character also engages children with interactive dialogue and extra fun, like showing how to make a cake that looks just like Thomas and more!


DVD SYNOPSIS
Even when it’s wet outside you can still have plenty of fun, especially when you share your adventures with Thomas & Friends! Grab your galoshes and join the team as they prepare for rainy day visits and sudsy spills, and then get unstuck from a snowy situation in this collection of stories from the Island of Sodor.


The DVD includes the following episodes:
Playtime, Splish Splash Splosh, Slippy Sodor, and Snow Tracks


DVD SPECIAL FEATURES
All-new interactive games:
Lift and Load Crane Game and Counting with Thomas Game

Our family had the opportunity to review Splish, Splash Splosh!, and by far, this is one of my favorite Thomas DVD's. The episodes on it are entertaining and fun to watch. The kids loved the real people, as well as the animated trains and new friend Charlie. Once I even caught them shouting at the TV for the trains to "Slow Down" and "stop" because it was too wet outside. This DVD opened up a great discussion about the weather between my husband and kids, filled with oodles of questions like, "Why would the train have problems stopping, daddy?". Both of the children enjoyed every minute of this DVD, and my son especially loved the special features Lift and Load game.

This is a great dvd to add to your collection, especially if you're a Thomas and Friends Fan, and I would definitely reccommend it to friends and family with children from toddlers-early elementary school age.

WANT IT?
Head to your nearest electronics store and pick up this brand new release- in stores today. Splish, Splash, Splosh! is also available at online retailers, such as Amazon.com.

WINNER!
This giveaway has ended. Disclosure: The product mentioned above was provided to me, at no cost, by a representative from the PR firm promoting this item. I did not accept monetary compensation for reviewing or writing about this experience, and all opinions expressed are my own.

Please visit our WINNERS PAGE for more info on how to officially claim your prize!

Read more...

Thomas & Friends: Hero of the Rails The Movie In Stores Now! *REVIEW & GIVEAWAY!*

From the official Press Release:

Peep! Peep! All aboard for new friends, new destinations, and new voices when Thomas and his engine friends embark on their greatest adventure yet as Thomas & Friends™: Hero of the Rails steams onto DVD September 8, 2009 from Lionsgate and HIT Entertainment.

See and hear Thomas, Percy, James, Gordon and all the other engines as never before in this brand-new CGI-animated movie, which marks the debut of individual character voices for the engines. For the first time, fans will hear the voice of Thomas and his friends, including three new characters who debut in Hero of the Rails, as they share stories that lead to timeless life lessons of discovery, friendship and cooperation.

DVD SYNOPSIS
In this action-packed tale of friendship, determination and teamwork Thomas discovers an abandoned and broken down engine named Hiro from an exciting far away land. Fearing that he will be scrapped, Thomas enlists help from many friends including Victor, a new steam engine and Kevin, a new crane vehicle who both work at the spectacular Sodor Steam Works. But mishaps, mistakes and one boastful engine could foil their plans for a heroic rescue. Can the engine pals work together to help their new friend? Join the adventure and find out!

I love Thomas, as the lessons that are taught are practical, meaningful, and packed with traditional morals and values of honesty, helpfulness, and teamwork. The new style of animation was beautiful to watch, and the story line was very well rounded. I happened to find Sir Topham Hat a grumpy old man in this movie, but the kids enjoyed every minute.

Both of the kids have had the opportunity to watch this DVD several times. Like all Thomas the Train movies, they stared wide eyed, watching as Thomas tried to find parts to save the very old, wise, and broken down, Hiro. The kids were quick to react to when Spencer made "bad choices" and flaunted his Express talents, and just as quick to point out the positive moments as well.

If your child likes Thomas, I definitely recommend adding this movie to your home collection.

Want it?
Visit the HIT Entertainment shopping site and add yourself to the waiting list, or visit Amazon.com to purchase it now.

WIN IT!
Our friends at HIT Entertainment have offered one lucky reader their chance to WIN one copy of Hero Of the Rails!

Here's How:
Visit the Official Thomas the Tank Engine Official Shop and sign up for the mailing list. Come back here and let me know that you did, and any product that caught your eye while you were there!

Extra Entries:

• Become a FAN of 4BabyAndMom on Facebook. Leave a message on my wall, and then tell me here.
  
• Subscribe via e-mail. Your email must validate or it will not count, & your comment will be deleted. Please include email in your comment.
• Follow 4BabyAndMom on Twitter and tweet about this review & giveaway. You may tweet something on your own or R/T: "I just entered to win the new Thomas the Train full length DVD- Hero Of the Rails @4BabyAndMom! http://bit.ly/1oInEa Contest ends 9/25 #Thomas" Leave the link to EACH tweet in your comment, please. (Up to 3x/day, please!)
• Grab our button and post it on your sidebar or blog roll. Please include link.
  
• Post about this giveaway on your blog or website! Please include a link to 4BabyAndMom in your blog post. Add the link to your post on your comment.
  
• Follow 4BabyAndMom on Blogger publicly
  
• Subscribe to our RSS feed
• Email at least 3 of your friends and CC 4BabyAndMom [at] gmail [dot] com
• Fave this post on Technorati and leave comment with your ID/link.

This giveaway is open to residents of US & Canada and will end on September 25th, at 11:59pm EST. One winner will be chosen at random using Random.org. Special thanks to Andrea Blain Public Relations Inc. and HIT Entertainment for sponsoring this review and giveaway.

Read more...