My Storytime Friends Review and Giveaway

Giveaway now closed, thank you to everyone who entered and congratulations to Tj and Amy, comment #9, who said,"I follow u."
Yesterday we got a very special delivery from My Storytime Friends. I had to share this great company with you right away, because I know it would be a wonderful holiday gift for someone special on your list. As you'll see, it's a gift that's enjoyment is ongoing with fun new material and content each month available on their website for FREE, that your child will have access to with the included lifetime membership.ER was thrilled and began jumping up and down as soon as she saw the box. She just knew something special was inside, and was there ever! A 13 inch cuddly bear and a 32 page hardcover book set were quickly revealed and she immediately had to give her new friend a big hug and kiss. You can also begin enjoying the benefits of the free lifetime membership that comes with your Storytime Friends interactive toy and book set right away. Each set comes with a special code so you can access the new monthly books and resources. That membership is where the real value in this toy is at!

But first things first, enjoying what we got in the mail! I can't tell you enough how happy ER was to get her very own package with a surprise just for her in it. Daddy had to come see what all the excitement was about and got to read ER her new book.

A Winning Dream is about Brady Bear who finds his talent at skiing and uses it to help rescue a little bear in trouble. I liked the positive message to overcome challenges and finding your strengths and using them to help others, instead of just focusing on winning the race. It was also nice to find out that Brady grows up to be a rescue skier who's an everyday hero.

There is a fair amount of text, and at three years old, ER is only just now ready for a story of this length. I wouldn't shorten it though or it won't be detailed or interesting enough for children at the top of the age range, ages 3-8, that the set is geared toward. I think it would be best to give this set to a child aged 3-5 and let them grow into it. Parts of the online resources are appropriate to the entire age range. Kids who have the toys and like them would probably be interested in continuing to use the online materials up to age 8. I just don't think I'd purchase it for a child who is already 8 years old. It would however, be a great gift and learning tool for a struggling reader aged 4-8 to help get them interested in reading and to give them extra help at home.

ER was very interested in the online components of the set. Since she's at the early stages of being ready for the toy, the library activities were best suited for her. She really liked listening to each of the interactive version of the book that would reads the story aloud and flips the pages on its own. I liked that the oral reading modeled good flow, pacing, and intonation. That it self turned pages was important for us because ER hasn't quite mastered using the mouse yet.

Afterward, we downloaded some of the pages of the book Going Up and ER enjoyed coloring several of them. You can download entire books in a coloring book format, get a full color PDF version to print or view online, and also get an MP3 audio version of the book. A hardbound version of each new book of the month is also available for $6.95, shipping included in the price. This is a nice option if there is a book your child likes in particular and wants read over and over and less than seven dollars for a hardcover book is a good deal too.

For older kids there are additional online features that look like fun. At the newsstand you can download a newsletter from Bear Corners, featuring familiar characters from the books and even a step by step illustrated recipe for pizza grilled cheese sandwiches in the issue I looked at. It looks like Storytime Friends may be expanding to include other animals too, according to one article in it.

At the post office kids can practice their writing skills by submitting a book review, sending a character from the books an letter, or by making a suggestion. There is also a monthly activity book section where actual activity books are available for download, the one that correlated to A Winning Dream included activities such as making a coffee filter snowflake, a word scramble, everyday hero badges to color and cut out, find the differences page, and a maze.

Also on that page are sight word flash cards, a cute full color Read It Myself booklet perfect for beginning readers, build a story cards with words you can use to make sentences and then a story with, and a very nicely done themes and values parent guide. All are downloadable, come with instructions on how to use them, and new ones are available each month. I liked how you also continue to have access to past months too.
Most of these activities are best suited for four year olds and above and are a really great component that make Storytime Friends a wonderful gift. Find out if a store is near you! Long distance family members this is a great gift to send at the holidays, for birthdays, or for any special reason. The recipient will get a toy to love and squeeze, a book to read over and over, and something new to enjoy and learn from each month.

I know from teaching that making reading a positive experience at a young age is crucial, this interactive set will capture their interest and hold it, provided parents are there to help guide their child and do the offline activities with them. Having their bear, a tangible character to play and learn with will, I believe, increase their connection between reading and fun. What is fun is done more often and children who read more, as we all know do better at school. The new materials, with a strong education and literacy focus, each month mean that it'll never get old and boring.

Additional bears and outfits for them are available in the Friend's Store. My daughter has already requested a pink bear and found two outfits she loves. Your bear can dress in the same outfits as each month's book character, how fun! You can also get them play clothes, party dresses, and pajamas. Your child will enjoy and love the interactive toy and book set and online activities, even without these extras though. But they sure do add to the over all interactive experience and round out the collection of products available for your bear.
Giveaway!

An interactive bear and book set would make a wonderful gift! I have a set to give away to one lucky winner from Storytime Friends, retail value $39.99!
To Enter:
Tell me who you'd like to surprise with a special delivery from My Storytime Friends.

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Good Luck!  Open to US residents through December 29 midnight EST.

Disclaimer: I received My Storytime Friends interactive toy free from My Storytime Friends because I am a reviewer for the Mom Bloggers Club.