Wednesday, November 13, 2013

Great Holiday Gift Ideas for Dinosaur Train Fans, Including Puzzles, a New DVD and Even Wall Decals (Review)

Disclosure:  I was sent samples from the vendor in order to write up an honest review.  The views shared are mine and mine alone.

Dinosaur Train



Last year for Christmas, we surprised Savannah with Dinosaur Train pajamas.  They ended up being her favorite pajamas to wear during the winter, and then come the summer, as they came with a pair of orange shorts.  


While you would think these pajamas were for boys, girls who love tuning into to PBS Kids to watch the hit animated series, Dinosaur Train, would think otherwise. :-)  I oftentimes wonder why they don't offer pajamas for so-called boys shows/characters in the girls section, as many girls like the same shows and characters that boys do, and vise a versa.  Whenever I go shopping now, I make a point to check out both the boys and girls sections for fun character clothing for the girls to wear.  And, this holiday season, I am hoping they have more Dinosaur Train pajamas to surprise Savannah with. :-)  But, in the meantime, I get to enjoy looking at Savannah dressed as Tiny this past Halloween, and smile.



Come on, doesn't she look cute?  She is the cutest dinosaur I have seen. :-)  While Halloween is over, Savannah and Arabella love to dress up in the costume, and will wear it around the house when playing with their Dinosaur Train toys, while watching an episode of this hit show on television, or on occasion, fall asleep wearing it at bedtime, as I read them some of their favorite Dinosaur Train books. :-)  With the holiday shopping season just starting, I wanted to share some great gift ideas for those with Dinosaur Train fans in their house, including the following, which I was recently sent to review:

·      Winter Lights, an all-new holiday-themed Little Golden Book from Random House          
       Children’s Books (SRP: $3.99)
·      Peel & Stick Wall Decals from RoomMates (SRP: $14.99)
·      Troodon, a 24-piece jigsaw puzzle from Karmin (SRP: $4.99)
·      We are a Dinosaur Family DVD from PBS Distribution (SRP $9.99)

---


I always make a point to pick up books to give the girls, and my nieces and nephews for the holidays and their birthdays.  It is great being able to share the love of reading with them, especially with books featuring their favorite characters or hit shows, like this recent release from Golden Books/Random House Children’s Books -- 

Dinosaur Train: Winter Lights – (Golden Books/Random House Children’s Books)







Ages: 2–5

SRP: $3.99

Published: September 10, 2013

Available wherever books are sold.



"The Pteranodon family celebrates the beginning of winter with a trip to the North Pole! This Little Golden Book retells an episode of the PBS Kids show Dinosaur Train in which Buddy the T. Rex and his siblings get to see the amazing Aurora Borealis! "

---
My Thoughts:

If your child is a fan of this hit show, then they have probably seen the episode this book is based on.  This was one of my girls' favorite episodes, so I knew that they would like the book once I sat down to read it to them.  As I began reading the story and flipping through the pages, the girls started to see how this was based on one of their favorite episodes, and then tried to tell me the rest of the story based on the illustrations in this storybook, as well as what they remember from the television episode.  I am amazed at how much they can remember, as well as how excited they get telling stories and talking about the Dinosaur Train as a whole.  This book is easy to read, and little ones will enjoy listening to it over and over again.



Dinosaur Train Peel & Stick Wall Decals - RoomMates









Ages: 2 and up

SRP: $14.99

Launch: February 2013

Availability: Sears and sears.com



"All aboard the Dinosaur Train! These fun wall decals will help you bring Buddy, Tiny, Shiny, Don, and more of your favorite dinosaur friends into any room. Your child will love having their Dinosaur Train friends on their walls! Like all RoomMates, these decals are removable and reusable, and can be repositioned over and over again without damage or residue. Help your little one go on their very own expedition by decorating their room with these stickers!  Decorate a room in seconds: Peel and stick, repositionable, removable with no sticky residue,

easy to hang and easy to remove.  Made in the USA.   Decals range in size from 1.1" wide x 1.7" high to 8.5" wide x 11.6" high; 4 Sheets 10" x 18"."
---

My Thoughts:

Stay tuned for photos of Savannah's bedroom walls decked out with these fun Dinosaur Train decals.  As a treat before bed the other night, I let her help me peel the decals from the sheet and put them on her walls.  Even though I know who the characters are, she kept telling me this is so and so, before pointing to places on the walls that she couldn't reach, that she wanted these decals to be placed.  Once we were done with the four sheets of Dinosaur Train decals, Savannah was so happy.  She kept running circles in her room, looking at the different Dinosaur Train decals that now adorned her walls.  And, before bed, she made a point to say goodnight to Buddy, Dawn, Tiny, Mr. Conductor, etc. Too cute!



Dinosaur Train “Troodon” 24-Piece Jigsaw Puzzle – Karmin






“Troodon” is just one of six new 24-piece jigsaw puzzles from Karmin, each one featuring a bonus laminated Dinosaur Fact Card.  Kids can have fun putting the puzzle together while learning interesting facts about dinosaurs.



Ages: 3+. 

SRP: $4.99.

Launched: Fall 2013

Availability: AC Moore, Christmas Tree Shops and other independent retailers.
---
My Thoughts:

Savannah is growing up fast.  Instead of the wooden peg puzzles that I am used to seeing her work on, she is now able to put together 24-piece jigsaw puzzles like this one from Karmin.  The detail on each puzzle piece is bright and eye catching.  And, once the puzzle is put together, it offers a great scene from this hit television series.  As a bonus, Savannah loved the dinosaur laminated fact card that was included in the puzzle box.  She had me read her the fun facts, and then surprised Daddy with her dino knowledge at the dinner table that night. :-)


Dinosaur Train: We are a Dinosaur Family – PBS Distribution








"The holiday season is the perfect time of year to reinforce the importance of family. In the new DVD, Dinosaur Train: We are a Dinosaur Family, eight adventures feature prehistoric family fun at its best – the Pteranodon kids visit with their grandma and grandpa; Buddy, Tiny and Mr. Pteranodon join a few other dinos for a dad’s day out; and Buddy and the Pteranodon kids look for flowers to give to mom on her special Mother’s Day."



SRP: $9.99

Runtime: Approx. 100 minutes

Street Date: October 8, 2013

---

My Thoughts:

This is a great DVD about family and the importance of spending time together, holiday or not.  With 100 minutes of Dinosaur Train fun, your little one will enjoy watching all eight episodes, which have already aired on PBS Kids all over again.  We have had this DVD for less than a week, but have already watched it half a dozen times.  And, so far, the girls are not getting tired of it, as they keep asking to watch it again and again.

---

So, if you have a Dinosaur Train fan, why not check out some of the above gift ideas to surprise your child with?  I plan to pick up additional jigsaw puzzles for Savannah, as well as pick up a set of wall decals for Arabella's room, as well as the playroom.  And, while any of the above Dinosaur Train gift ideas would put a smile on your child's face, as a parent/grandparent, you will be happy with the affordable prices of these products. :-)



And, don't forget to keep an eye out in January 2014, when new episodes of the Emmy® Award nominated and Parents’ Choice Silver Honor PBS KIDS series, Dinosaur Train, will air on PBS Kids.  



Follow Dinosaur Train:




Follow The Jim Henson Company:





Follow Golden Books / Random House Children’s Books:





Follow PBS KIDS:







About Dinosaur Train

Dinosaur Train, created by Craig Bartlett, embraces and celebrates the fascination that preschoolers have with both dinosaurs and trains while encouraging basic scientific thinking and skills. Each episode includes animated segments with live-action sequences featuring a paleontologist who brings to life the show's natural science and natural history curriculum for preschoolers, giving specific facts about dinosaurs and comparing their features to animals of today. The series has been airing on PBS KIDS since September of 2009.



About Random House Children’s Books

Random House Children’s Books is the world’s largest English-language children’s trade book publisher. Creating books for toddlers through young adult readers, in all formats from board books to activity books to picture books, novels, ebooks, and apps, the imprints of Random House Children’s Books bring together award-winning authors and illustrators, world-famous franchise characters, and multimillion-copy series. Random House is the longtime home of the beloved and bestselling Dr. Seuss books, which continue to make learning to read fun for millions of children everywhere. The company’s Web site, kids@random (www.randomhousekids.com) offers an array of activities, games, and educational resources for children, teens, parents, and educators. Random House Children’s Books is a division of Random House LLC, a Penguin Random House Company.


Disclosure:  I was sent samples from the vendor in order to write up an honest review.  The views shared are mine and mine alone.

1 comment :