I’ll be honest, when . . . → Read More: Product Review & Giveaway: The Golden Pickle – CLOSED]]> http://mommynewsblog.com/product-review-giveaway-the-golden-pickle/feed/ 14 Blogiversary,Contests,give-aways,Product Reviews,The Golden Pickle As part of my blogiversary celebration, Judy Kirby, author of The Golden Pickle, sent me her CD to review (and giveaway!!). Her company makes an audio CD for children called "The Golden Pickle" and it is full of stories that she told to her own childr... As part of my blogiversary celebration, Judy Kirby, author of The Golden Pickle, sent me her CD to review (and giveaway!!). Her company makes an audio CD for children called "The Golden Pickle" and it is full of stories that she told to her own children when they were young. I'll be honest, when I first received the CD, I didn't know how I was going to get my son to listen to it. He is always so busy and very visually oriented. If it was a movie, I'm sure he'd watch it! But just an audio CD? I was skeptical... A little bit about the CD. The CD has stories mixed with riddles and rhymes from traditional children's lore. The stories have 2 main characters "A Pirate Boy" and "A Balloon Girl". Most stories feature one main character or the other. In each story, The Pirate Boy or The Balloon Girl are in search of a "Golden Pickle." Interspersed between the stories are riddles and rhymes targeted at children. Once upon a time there was a boy. A pirate boy. And he had a ship. A pirate ship with monkeys. A hundred pirate monkeys with banana swords. The Pirate boy was looking for a golden pickle. Just like every other day. Here are two clips from the CD for you to listen to (you'll need to click the link below and then click the link again when the new page appears - I'm not sure how to insert the clip in an easier way): 1) Davy Jones - one of the Pirate Boy Stories 2) Rhymes Set 1 One day, I decided to just start playing the CD while my son was playing. The first time I did it he was too busy and he didn't pay attention. I was playing it on my computer. But the second time I did it, I put the CD into our DVD player while my son was playing in the living room so that the sound actually came out of our TV. Within minutes, my son was sitting next to me on the couch "watching" the blank TV while we listened to the stories on the CD. He was giggling and asking questions and really getting into the story! In today's world, which is filled with TV and video games, it was so refreshing to sit down and listen to a story that relies on our imaginations to make it complete! My son had to VISUALIZE the story! As soon as the first story ended, he asked to "watch" it again! I convinced him to go on to the next story instead. so we listened to each story on the CD and after each one he would say "Can we watch that again?" Or "Can we watch the one with the Pirate Boy?" Did you notice that my son asked to "watch" the stories over and over? Maybe it was his limited four-year old vocabulary, but I actually think he "saw" the story unfold in his mind. To him, we were watching the Pirate Boy and his band of monkeys or the the Balloon Girl and her friends the baboons! We listened to the entire CD and at the end he asked to listen to the very first story again! My son doesn't even get this engrossed by movies! I was stunned and so pleased! It was fun to sit on the couch and snuggle up under the blanket with my son and listen to these wonderful stories. And watch his expressions. He really "lived" the stories. And I enjoyed the time it gave us together giggling and listening. And if you have a daughter, she will easily connect with the stories focused on the Balloon Girl. This CD was a life-saver when we took our 12 hour flight to Hawaii just recently - my son listened to it and it kept him occupied for at least an hour on the flight! And there aren't many things that can keep a 4 year old occupied for a whole hour!! This CD has something for every child - from toddler hood, through preschool and beyond - for boys and for girls! Don't be surprised if your little one starts their own quest to find the Golden Pickle! Would I change anything? There is always something you'd change right? Remember how I mentioned about the riddles and rhymes that are interspersed between the stories? Well, for my son's age group (age 4), I would get rid of them. Maybe when he is older he might enjoy them more, Mommy News and Views Blog no 1:27