Maverick Books - Hank the Cowdog!
Mood:  happy
Topic: Homeschool Product Review

When I first found out that I would get to review Hank the Cowdog, I was really excited, but when I found out that we would be receiving not one but three Hank items, I was ecstatic!

My introduction to these fantastic books was years ago when I was still substitute teaching in the local public schools. I had gone into the school library and found one of John Erickson's Hank books. The assistant librarian immediately began to sing the praises of this series. She encouraged me to get one of the books on tape to entertain the kids during a trip that we were about to take. I checked one out of the library and we were not disappointed!

Hank considers himself "head of ranch security" for the large ranch that he, Drover (his dog sidekick), Junior the buzzard and a host of other characters live. Hank and his friends get into all kinds of trouble and adventures that will leave you rolling with laughter. But, although they help, it isn't the cast of characters that make the audio books so fun to listen to. What is it you ask? I'll reveal that later! 

Since I joined the TOS Homeschool Crew, we get, on average, about a package a week containing homeschool items to review. Whenever one arrives it is like Christmas, and everyone crowds around to see what is in the box. This was no exception. We tore open the package and on top was Hank's "Tornado" game.

 

 

The subtitle for Tornado is "The Wildest Race and Chase Game Ever" and they are right. Tornado is similar to Sorry or Aggravation but with a twist. Along with moving Hank, Drover and Junior around the board and trying to reach home without being landed on and sent back to start, you may end up on a tornado space, which could send you flying anywhere. Based on the book "The Case of the Swirling, Killer, Tornado", the game includes a tape with a 30 min. hilarious segment from the book. I was a little concerned that the sending back part would throw Joshua (our Asperger's child) into a tizzy, but I was pleasently surprised that he took it all in stride and both he and his older brother, John Allen, loved it. Little three year old, Jacob, even tried to play. Although he didn't understand the strategy or really what was going on, he loved to spin the spinner, and count how many spaces he was to move. It can also be played while you travel, so the kids even played in the car! The game board folds shut and all of the pieces are stored inside! It, along with the audio tape, can make for some fun and wacky family nights!

Taking the game out of our "Christmas" box revealed our next great gift - "The Case of the One Eyed Killer Stud Horse"!

 

 

Since Joshua was in the midst of another reading project, I handed this short chapter book to John Allen. Now, let me tell you, John Allen has never complained about reading. I can assign him to read a book, and he will read it, usually without a problem. But, it takes a special book for him to want to pick it up to read on his own instead of playing one of his favored video games. This was one of those books! It's about an untamed stud horse who keeps escaping from the neighbors field and finding it's way onto the ranch. As head of ranch security, Hank, ends up saving the day, but not before some amusing events. You'll have to read the book to find out about the poison bacon, Sally May's "fundamental disagreement" with Hank, and what Hank is wearing when he confronts the wild horse.

Now, although the boys love the Tornado game, and John Allen loved "The Case of the One-Eyed Killer Stud Horse", the family favorite has to be the treasure that we found at the bottom of the box... 

 

...a CD titled "Tales and Tunes fron Hank the Cowdog"! This recording contains story excerpts from ten of the Hank books along with nine original songs. We brought this out to take with us on a recent trip to Grandma's house and were, once again, entertained by the selections. What makes the audio books so great you asked? John Erickson, the author, reads the books himself, but gives each one of the characters a hilariously funny voice. From, Pete the cat's "Paul Lynde" voice to Rip and Snort's (coyotes) untamed, uneducated voices, they are all very entertaining and fit the character to the T! Mr. Erickson even sings all of the songs in the character's voices. The excerpts include selections from such titles as "The Case of the Swirling, Killer Tornado" and "The Case of the One-Eyed Killer Stud Horse". Some of the song's are "Drover's Tornado Safety Song"-

Turn me loose, turn me loose, I'm as silly as a goose - for barking at a thing that's bigger than a moose

and Rip and Snorts "We Don't Give a Hoot" -

We don't give a hoot - We don't ever wear a suit

Our personal favorite, however, has to be "I'm Trapped in Madagascar"

They left me here to rot and to be broiled by the sun, - But only if I'm lucky and the pirates do not come.

The kids continue to beg to play the Tornado game and to listen to the CD. John Allen has even asked for another Hank book to read. Hey, anything is better than him playing video games all day!

These books would be great for reluctant readers. Better yet, you could even have them read along while listening to the tape!

To find out more about these great products just press on any one of the highlighted titles above, or here, and you will go straight to the Hank Website. On their website, Hank's paperback books range from $4.24 (for older editions) to $5.24 (for Hank's newer adventures), the Tornado game is only $12.99 and the "Tales and Tunes" CD is just $3.00. You'll also find deals on Hank the Cowdog plush items, t-shirts and other Hank themed games. Have fun shopping, and happy reading.

 

     

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John Allen's Excitement
Mood:  incredulous
Topic: The Kids

I've talked a lot about Joshua and his problems with Asperger's Syndrome, but I haven't talked much about my oldest son, John Allen. When John Allen was 15 months old, he was diagnosed with a rare form of eye cancer called Retinoblastoma. Retinoblastoma (RB) is a childhood cancer that usually hits infants and toddlers between the ages of birth and 5 years old. The primary goal of physicians who work with RB children is, of course, to save the child's life, with the close secondary goal of preserving the eye. However, when John Allen's RB was diagnosed, the tumor was so large that his pediatric ophthalmologist suggested enucleation (removal of the eye). John Allen's left eye was enucleated November 7, 1997. A few months later, he was fitted for an artificial left eye.

One of the problems of having only one eye is depth perception. Thankfully, God made us so that some parts of our brain take over when other parts are damaged. So, although he will never be able to see like a person with two eyes, he does have some depth perception. Nevertheless, however hard your brain works, there are some things that can't happen without two eyes. Like seeing 3-D.

I know that John Allen has never seen anything remotely in 3-D. He goes to the 3-D shows at amusement parks and theaters, and faithfully puts on the special glasses, but they really don't do anything for him. He doesn't see things the way the others do. Nothing comes out of the screen. Nothing has any depth. It's just a fuzzy flat picture.

As a homeschooler, I am notorious for signing up for anything free that I can. Yahoo groups, newsletters, emails, you name it, if it's free and has anything to do with education, I probably am signed up for it. One of the email newsletters that I'm signed up for is a weekly science experiment written by Robert Krampf from www.thehappyscientist.com . In one of his last emails, he talked about...you guessed it...3-D. 3-D chalk to be exact. This prompted me to write to him about something I had been curious about for a long time. Can someone with only one eye see in 3-D? Here is his response:

 Hi Tim,

Have a wonder-filled day.

Rob Krampf

 

The link is to a picture taken by Jaime Martinez, the artist who developed this technique. I have since corresponded with Jaime and become Facebook friends (what else?) with him. Click here for more of his pictures including several excellent 3-D pictures. (Be cautious however. Although, the 3-D pictures are fantastic, some of his other work can be quite graphic. Make sure you peruse his site before allowing your young ones to view it.)

 

When I showed them to John Allen he became so excited! He could actually see depth! They actually seemed 3-D! In fact, when I shut my left eye, it seemed to me like I could see them better. Take a look yourself. Just press the play buttons on each picture. When we originally saw them, they were in a loop mode where they shook continuously. For some reason it's not allowing me to loop these, but I think that the four seconds that it lasts will be long enough for you to get the picture (no pun intended )! This is still in the experimental mode, but someday, John Allen may be able to see a real 3-D movie!

 

Thank you, Lord, for making us intelligent creatures. Thank you for giving men the intelligence to create things for our enjoyment. Thank you for people like Jaime Martinez who are creative enough to develop this method of seeing 3-D.

 

 

 

And here are the pictures:

 

 

 

 

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Get Ready for Some Reviews!
Mood:  energetic
Topic: Homeschool Product Review

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Ode to a Community Garden
Mood:  lyrical
Topic: Ministry

Every once in a while, I will talk about something going on with our ministry here at Good News Mission. Sarah tries to write a prayer letter at least every other month, and I always link to them, but I know it is hard to remember to click on the link, and, besides, she can only go into so much detail in her letters. That's why I try to mention ministry happenings from time to time, and am going to endeaver to highlight a particular aspect of our ministry more often.

As most of you know, we work with the low income folks in the small town that we live in. In fact, Good News Mission, and the attached house that we live in, is located right across the street from the housing projects. Now, these projects are nothing like the projects in big cities. Although there are drugs and alcoholism, there are no gangs or violence. In the eight and a half years that we have lived here, there has not been any major incident that we can speak of. But, the people are impoverished both financially and spiritually, and need the Lord. Our main goal is to always give them the Gospel, and teach them how to grow spiritually, but we also strive to help them lead better lives through money management help, cooking classes, tutoring etc.

One of the new things that we began this summer was a community garden. It had been one of my goals for some time, but never got implemented until this year. We had our ups and downs but basically it was a success. Last night, after enjoying some corn on the cob direct from the garden,  I sat down to write a little poem about our community garden experience. I hope you enjoy it. It's called:

Ode to a Community Garden

 

There was a community garden

That started quite nice - if you pardon!

            Many families indeed

            Came to help plant the seed.

And that was the start of our garden.

 

The rain - it watered our soil.

The sun? It was also loyal.

The seeds they grew!

But the weeds did too!

But our garden the weeds won’t spoil!

 

“Come pull the weeds” was my pleading!

And many did come at my leading.

            But the heat of the sun

            Made some families run.

And a few were left to the weeding.

 

With no help our hearts did not harden!

We knew it was all in the bargain.

            We ate quite a bit

            So I have to admit

It was a successful garden!

 Tim Tinkel - August 2009

 

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Super Star Game Giveaway!
Mood:  a-ok
Topic: FamiliesAgain Freebies
A fellow blogger, and fellow homeschool Crew member, Debbie Lott, is having a game giveaway on her blog, Debbie's Homeschool Corner. Debbie is a speech pathologist and homeschool mom who has created several games to help reinforce the things that her children are learning. She sells these great games on Currclick, and is giving away one of them via a drawing on August 20th. Check out her games by clicking here, then click here to go to her blog and enter the drawing. I love history, so her historic games caught my eye right off the bat, but I decided to try for the Silly Snail - Parts of Speech game. I'll be praying that God will choose the person who needs the game the most to win! Remember, we are all home educators, whether we send our kids to school, or teach them ourselves. Check out these great games to supplement your child's education today!

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