First, a little about the plot and the characters and the twists and turns that occurred that I didn't see coming. Inevitably though, my mind tends to wander to thinking about the author. How did they come up with these ideas? What is it like knowing the full story at the beginning and having to fill in the details? What does it feel like to hold your own book in your hand?
Because truly, there's just something pretty incredible about books. The story, the imagination, the adventure, it's just all there. So, really, how can they be made any better?
Thanks to Hallmark, that has happened. Because a book is great... but it's just a book, until it becomes an experience with the Hallmark Interactive Storybooks and Interactive Story Buddies.
Although they are best known for greeting cards, ornaments and television programming, at the heart of Hallmark is what they're really about: relationships and the emotional connections their products and experiences represent.
More than just being there to celebrate the happy moments and provide sympathy through the difficult ones, Hallmark wants us to focus on the simplicity of what their motto so clearly points out: Life is a Special Occasion.
After bringing books to life last year with their Hallmark Recordable Storybooks, Hallmark has since expanded and added new features to its collection, giving families more opportunities to bring home the innovation and uniqueness of these products.
Most recently, we were able to start celebrating the holidays early with two new characters found in Bell the Interactive Story Buddy and A Visit to the North Pole.
If you've ever wondered what your child's face would look like if, while reading from their favorite book, one of the characters suddenly spoke up, Interactive Story Buddies can provide that amazement and joy. After all, cuddling up to read a book with a stuffed animal is pretty great on its own... but having the animal join in? Well, that's just magic!
I immediately appreciated that Bell came fully prepared and ready to go right out of the box. There was no setup or installation required, simply remove the packaging tags and press the power button on her ear and you hear a message that she is ready to hear her story.
As we opened Bell's Big Move, the bright colors and cute illustrations had already caught our attention and we marveled for a minute on just how sweet Bell looked and how fun it was that she was in the book while also being here with us.
If the girls suspected that something was up with our soft Bell plush, they didn't let on and instead were content to pet her head gently. I began to read normally... and when I came to the first specially-marked sentence ("Bell was one pretty puppy!"), she chimed right in with a few cute barks!
Both girls' faces lit up and they continued to listen while watching Bell intently for her next story addition. From a dog-barked version of "Thank you" to an "I love you" to more little yips and woofs, Bell has over 40 responses that really turn a regular book into something so much more.
As an added bonus, there are actually four ways to interact with Bell — through this and other interactive books, the included read-along CD, online story time at Hallmark.com/Bell and to the Bell's Big Move app. How great that my girls can enjoy cuddling and hugging Bell (while seeing her magically chime in to the story) while listening to it on-the-go on the iPad or on their own with the CD.
When we haven't been spending time playing with Bell, my kids have both been big fans of our Be a Part of the Story book, A Visit to the North Pole.
Transforming traditional story time into an interactive adventure, Hallmark's newest storybooks remind me of an updated, extremely fun version of the Choose Your Own Adventure books of my youth.
I simply read the story aloud and, when the special lines are spoken, Santa himself chimes in with a question or choice for my girls to answer.
Once the child answers (they have four seconds to speak before Santa Claus will just continue with the story), the tale continues and actually takes into account the choice that has been made! Each time we have read our Be a Part of the Story book, both girls look at me in amazement as they almost get to have a conversation with Santa and determine the plot!
This holiday season, Hallmark has yet again found a way for families everywhere to embrace what truly matters most — spending time and creating lasting memories with loved ones. Each of these would make incredibly thoughtful gifts that can be enjoyed throughout the holidays and long into the future.
Bell the Interactive Story Buddy (as well as her male counterpart, Jingle) retails for $34.95, while A Visit to the North Pole sells for $24.95. There are also many other characters and titles to choose from to be sure that the lucky child in your life can have the one(s) that will fit best.
Plus, while you're over browsing and shopping at Hallmark.com, be sure to take advantage of their special offer to save money on your customized greeting and photo cards! From now until January 1, 2013, simply enter the coupon code BLOG30 at checkout and you'll save 30% off of your personalized greetings order!
Thanks to Hallmark's generosity, one person will soon get to enjoy the sweetest husky pup you'll ever meet as well as chat along with Santa, because...
One lucky person will win a Bell the Interactive Story Buddy and a Be a Part of the Story: A Visit to the North Pole from Hallmark (total ARV $60)!
(Enter with the Rafflecopter form below. If you have any questions or problems entering, there is a video tutorial found here that can help.)
a Rafflecopter giveaway
A big thank you to Hallmark for providing a Bell the Interactive Storybuddy and a Be a Part of the Story: A Visit to the North Pole for me to review as well as for one lucky giveaway winner. The opinions shared are my own and honest and if you really need to see more, click here to see how I roll.
As unoriginal as it might sound, my favorite holiday story is Twas the Night Before Christmas. This has become special to me b/c my 3 year old has been reading it all year and has it memorized.
ReplyDeleteI love baked ham, Christmas is the only time we have it.
ReplyDeleteThanks!
I love Christmas cookies... all of them.
ReplyDeleteWe like "the night before Xmas".
ReplyDeleteLittle Drummer boy is a favorite of mine!
ReplyDeleteI love sugar cookies
ReplyDeletedonnyandshelly at yahoo dot com
My favorit holiday food is my moms refrigerator fudge..:)
ReplyDeleteSnickerdoodle cookies
ReplyDeleteI love my uncle's punch he brings to Christmas Eve every year. But my favorite Christmas show is the 70's Frosty the Snow Man with the Claymation people. I just love those shows!!!!
ReplyDeletei just love the song Baby It's Cold Outside and Jingle Bell Rock!
ReplyDeletei love baby it's cold outside and i'll be home for christmas
ReplyDeleteI love watching Rudolph. Seems with my kids and now the grandchildren, I have done that for year and years now
ReplyDeleteI love sugar cookies!
ReplyDeleteMy guilty favorite is I love the Mariah Carey version of "All I want for Christmas is you" I crank it in my car and sing when I am alone
ReplyDeletechocolate covered cherries
ReplyDeleteI love Jingle Bells, it's just a classic! And my favorite holiday food is a good Pumpkin Roll, yum!
ReplyDeletefave story and show was the Grinch
ReplyDeletemsboatgal at aol.com
Favorite movie to watch is the Grinch Who Stole Christmas! Oh and have to watch The Christmas Story 24 hour marathon also!
ReplyDeletei love everything about christmas. jingle bells is my favorite song
ReplyDeleteI love Twas the Night Before Christmas! kim(at)kimberlychance(dot)com
ReplyDeleteI love candy canes!
ReplyDeleteJennifer Rote
wildnmild4u at yahoo dot com
I love Rudolph the red nosed reindeer !natbelinsky@verizon.net
ReplyDeleteRight now we are really into Elf on a Shelf and the movie!
ReplyDeleteWe love Twas the Night before Christmas
ReplyDeleteI love the story of the birth of Jesus. (Nativity Story)
ReplyDeleteWe love The Grinch around here :)
ReplyDeleteMy family favorite to bring out around the holidays is the Polar Express :)
ReplyDeleteI love the song O Holy Night
ReplyDeleteMy favorite song is Santa Claus is coming to town and my favorite food it Christmas pudding
ReplyDeletemummytotwoboys@yahoo.com
Favorite holiday song: Away in a manger
ReplyDeleteprime rib can't be beat
ReplyDeleteI like Frosty the Snowman movie. (Happy Birthday)
ReplyDeleteI also love Christmas sugar cookies and my homemade fudge at Christmas time.
ginaferrell3 at yahoo dot com
My favorite holiday food is my grandma's Martha Washington candy.
ReplyDeleteThis seems kind of random, but I really like Sheryl Crow's cover of 'Blue Christmas.'
ReplyDeleteMy favorite song is Oh Holy Night.
ReplyDeleteMy favorite song is Silver Bells.
ReplyDeletesflickinger at rocketmail dot com
I love Christmas decorated sugar cookies.
ReplyDeleteKathy Davis
kdavis1@centurytel.net
I like Thanks, Mail Carrier on Facebook as Kathy Newsom Davis.
ReplyDeleteKathy Davis
kdavis1@centurytel.net
I like Hallmark on Facebook as Kathy Newsom Davis,
ReplyDeleteKathy Davis
kdavis1@centurytel.net
Christmas cookies!
ReplyDeletemy favorite story is how the grinch stole christmas
ReplyDeleterypm25@aol.com
i love rudolph the rednose reindeer
ReplyDeleteJingle Bells!
ReplyDeleteOh Holy Night is my favorite song
ReplyDeleteLittle Drummer Boy is my favorite song
ReplyDeleteFrosty the snowman is my favorite holiday book
ReplyDeleteMy mom passed away last September of cancer. She made an awesome huckleberry cheesecake for Thanksgiving. It just doesn't taste right when anyone else makes it.
ReplyDeleteI love reading The Night Before Christmas to the family on Christmas Eve.
ReplyDeleteI like gingerbread cookies.
ReplyDeletekellywcuATyahooDOTcom
Walking in a winter wonderland.
ReplyDeletepumpkin pie with mocha whipped cream
ReplyDeleteI love the song Angels We Have Heard on High.
ReplyDeleteiced sugar cookies!
ReplyDeleteleia617 (at) hotmail (dot) com
My favorite Holiday story is Nestor the Long-eared Donkey!
ReplyDeleteI love the movie Polar Express, The Santa Claus and white Christmas
ReplyDeletemichelle riebeek
michellehaskell@gmail.com
favorite food is pumpkin pie
ReplyDeleteI love THE NIGHT BEFORE CHRISTMAS story:)
ReplyDeletejmatek AT wi DOT rr DOT com
I love Frosty the Snowman song, and pretty much listen to holiday music anytime I can (in teh car, etc)--I just love it and I know some people hate it....
ReplyDeleteentered as davis in rafflecopter
I love Mickey's Christmas Carol.
ReplyDeletejingle bell rock
ReplyDeleteChristmas cookies, sugar cookies are my fav
ReplyDeleteI like the book 'twas the Night Before Christmas
ReplyDeleteKims2312@verizon.net
I love White Christmas -Jenna O
ReplyDeleteMy favorite song is Silent Night and my favorite food is candied yams. Thanks.
ReplyDeletepartymix25(at)hotmail(dot)com
I'm a fan of Christmas ham :)
ReplyDeleteMy favorite holiday is Xmas and everything that comes with it; decorations, food, family & friends
ReplyDeleteI love chrismas carols and the really old classic holiday cartoons
ReplyDeleteI love the Song White Christmas
ReplyDeleteChristmas sugar cookies! thank you!!
ReplyDeleteAt my house we love the Grinch, I have it recorded and we watch it year round.
ReplyDelete"WHITE CHRISTMAS'
ReplyDeleteOLD FASHIONED, LOVE THAT SONG.
jimpat34@broadstripe.net
I love Alabamas "Thistle Hair the Christmas Bear." Brings back such great memories from childhood!
ReplyDeletemmc123456
I love gingerbread or ginger cookies!
ReplyDeletecjnedrow at gmail dot com
My favorite holiday food is gingerbread with whipped cream on top.
ReplyDeleteMy favorite holiday food is Honey Baked Ham.
ReplyDeletemy favorite holiday story is "the christmas box"
ReplyDeletejenny lloyd
red velvet cake
ReplyDeletejessicawedwards@gmail.com
My favorite holiday tradition is opening a package on Christmas Eve which always manages to mysteriously be a pair of new pj's.
ReplyDeleteConnie Gruning
CGruning at aol (dot) com
Best Holiday Story is The Best Christmas Pageant Ever
ReplyDeletepattifritz2000 at yahoo dot com
thank you
Love Silent Night and O Come, All Ye faithful.
ReplyDeletehuntandride@hotmail.com
Best story Twas the Night Before Christmas
ReplyDeletebabyteaganexplores at gmail dot com
My favorite holiday food is green bean casserole
ReplyDeleteNathansmommy619(At)aol(dot)com
Frosty The Snowman for sure! :)
ReplyDeletei loved my grandmas turkey gravy made from drippings. no one can make it like she did.
ReplyDeletebrittneydejajason at gmail dot com
Silent Night
ReplyDeletetwas the night before christmas! trishbazin(at)yahoo.com
ReplyDeleteMy fave song is O Holy Night!
ReplyDeleterbjj32825[at]lycos[dot]com
My favorite holiday food is homemade fudge! Yum!
ReplyDeleteWe love to read the Christmas story straight from the Bible. :)
ReplyDeleteMY FAVORITE CHRISTMAS STORY IS HOW THE GRINCH STOLE CHRISTMAS, BECAUSE WHEN I WAS YOUNGER MY DAD WOULD READ IT TO ME THE WHOLE WEEK LEADING UP TO CHRISTMAS
ReplyDeleteMy favorite holiday dish is "Tipsy Sweet Potatoes"
ReplyDeleteFacebook Name: Leslie Galloway (www.facebook.com/GallowayLeslie)
My moms sugar cookies r amazing
ReplyDeleteViolet101580@yahoo.com
My favorite holiday story is the story of Jesus' birth. My dad always reads it aloud on Christmas Eve. :)
ReplyDeleteI love White Christmas!
ReplyDeleteI love sugarcoookies!
ReplyDeleteChocolate gravy and biscuits on Christmas morning... Mmm!
ReplyDeleteHomemade cinnamon buns and hot chocolate for breakfast on Christmas morning.....yum!
ReplyDeleteI always love to get chocolate covered cherries around the holidays.
ReplyDeletethe cajun night before christmas
ReplyDeleteI don't remember the name, but I used to watch it as a kid every year. It was about a donkey with very long ears that was teased and forced out of his home. His mother died protecting him in a blizzard. I don't remember too much except that he was chosen by Joseph and Mary to take them on their journey and he got to be a part of Jesus' birth. I wish I could find that movie, but I don't remember the name. It was done in that doll like stop animation that the Story of Santa and those other awesome Christmas movies.
ReplyDeleteThe Night Before Christmas of course!
ReplyDeleteHope everyone has a wonderful Thanksgiving. I have a lot to be thankful for myself.
ReplyDeleteHmmm its hard to pick I guess its between Halloween and Christmas those 2 are my favorite holidays!!
ReplyDeletejingle bells
ReplyDeleteJingle Bell Rock is my favorite Christmas song!
ReplyDeleteholidays = baked apples here
ReplyDeleteThank you for hosting this giveaway
Louis
pumuckler {at} gmail {dot} com
bread pudding!
ReplyDeleteonecheaplady@yahoo.com
Let it Snow and homemade fudge!
ReplyDeletewrensbigtrou@yahoo.com
My favorite food is all the holiday desserts!
ReplyDeleteFav song, "All I Want For Christmas"
ReplyDeleteMy favorite Holiday food is cookies!
ReplyDeletepriscillavbenavides@yahoo.com
I love having christmas sugar cookies!
ReplyDeleteI like turkey!
ReplyDeletewhite christmas by ELVIS!
ReplyDelete12 Days of Christmas by Straight No Chaser
ReplyDeleteI love the song Silent Night it is a wonderful reminder of our Savior's birth.
ReplyDeleteMy girls would love these!
ReplyDeleteMy favorite Christmas song is Winter Wonderland.
ReplyDeleteMy favorite holiday treat food is English Toffee that I make. Yum!
ReplyDeletelove christmas cookies
ReplyDeletekport207 at gmail dot com
I love the song "I heard the Bells on Christmas Day". :) And the entire Handel's Messiah!
ReplyDeletegreen tamales!!!
ReplyDeleteRoast Beast :)
ReplyDeletefave food is fruitcake, since this is the only time of year we see it here in the states
ReplyDeleteOMG, My fave at the holidays is sweet potato pie. Yummmy. letessha@yahoo.com
ReplyDeleteI am so glad that Hallmark came out with another character (Bell) that can interact with Jingle and your child, watching the specials on Hallmark has become tradition!
ReplyDeleteHark the Harald Angels Sing
ReplyDeleteI love Pumpkin Pie!!
ReplyDeleteMy son loves books, so I'd love to win this!
ReplyDeleteFavorite song is "One Child" by Natalie Grant.
ReplyDeleteMy favorite is All I Want For Christmas Is You.
ReplyDeleteI love pumpkin pie.
ReplyDeletersgrandinetti@yahoo(DOT)com
I love pumpkin cream cheese rolls
ReplyDeletepedidentalasst at yahoo dot com
I love Cinnamon Rolls on Christmas Morning :)
ReplyDeletePralines that my grandma makes are my fav!
ReplyDeletei like 12 days of xmas
ReplyDeletevanitizebaby at yahoo dot com
My all time fave Christmas song is One Little Christmas Tree by Stevie Wonder.
ReplyDeleteapril yedinak
I love , All I want for christmas is you!! and I love fudge :)
ReplyDeleteI love Bing Crosby's White Christmas!
ReplyDeleteWe love Little Drummer Boy and decorating sugar cookies!
ReplyDeletejingle bells :)
ReplyDeleteMy fave holiday treat is peppermint bark.
ReplyDeletejtmagmom73(at)gmail(dot)com
My favorite holiday food is Christmas cookies.
ReplyDeleteThank you!
I like latkes and sufganiot (Hebrew for jelly donuts). I'm breaking the norm here and adding my Chanukah treats. ;)
ReplyDeleteMy favorite holiday food is Baked apples. We make them every Christmas morning.
ReplyDeletemy fave christmas food are our homemade cookies!
ReplyDeletelove our christmas decorated sugar cookies & fudge!
ReplyDeleteChristmas shoes!
ReplyDeleteJingle Bells and Christmas cookies that my daughter and I made!
ReplyDeletejenblogger7 at gmail.com
Away in a manger and peanut butter blossoms are my favorites
ReplyDeletedeb.rumball@gmail.com
I can't get enough of Transiberian Orchestra's Canon.
ReplyDeleteMy favorite holiday song is the First Noel
ReplyDeletebread pudding with warm lemon sauce
ReplyDeleteMy favorite holiday food is pumpkin pie.
ReplyDeletei love jingle bells and fruit cake
ReplyDeletechristinejessamine at hotmail dot com
I love the Christas story about Baby jesus and my fave song is Frosty the Snowman
ReplyDeletefrosty the snowman
ReplyDeleteMy favorite Holiday song is Christmas in Dixie!
ReplyDeleteMy favorite holiday food is a pumpkin roll!
ReplyDeleteMy favorite holiday food is pumpkin pie!
ReplyDeleteSo many favorite Christmas carols to choose from! Probably would choose "Joy to the World" or "Silent Night".
ReplyDeleteI LOVE GREEN BEAN CASSEROLE :)
ReplyDelete(SHAYNA)
shebebes@yahoo.com
I love Silent Night
ReplyDeletemarypopmom (at) yahoo (dot) com
I like "Winter Wonderland" a lot and I hum it from time to time during the season for no reason at all!
ReplyDeleteMy favorite Holiday song is O Holy Night
ReplyDeletepeppermint bark
ReplyDeleteMy favorite holiday song is Mary Did You Know
ReplyDeleteVery cute!
ReplyDeleteCarol of the Bells. Sausage Balls!
ReplyDeleteIt's the most wonderful time of the year - Andy Williams
ReplyDeleteFavorite Holiday Song is The Holly and the Ivy. Favorite holiday food is RUM Balls!
ReplyDeletePeanut Butter Balls are my favorite!
ReplyDeleteI love Here Comes Santa Claus!
ReplyDeleteThe Little Drummer boy
ReplyDeleteMy favorite holiday food i iced christmas cut out cookies
ReplyDeleteI love home baked Christmas cookies!
ReplyDeletejofo120 at yahoo dot com
I like SIlent Night
ReplyDeleteI love baking holiday cookies and lighting he Chanukah candles
ReplyDeleteDiane Baum
esldiane@gmail.com
Love divinity
ReplyDeleteI always look forward to enjoying my mother's brazilian food every year. She only makes it once, on christmas eve and if your not there, your really missing out!
ReplyDeletepauline15_01(at)hotmail(dot)com
Christmas cookies-love them all
ReplyDeleteJingle Bell's is my fav song.
ReplyDeleteshawnac68@hotmail.com
apple pie and here comes santa claus
ReplyDeletetcogbill at live dot com
I love Away in the Manager and my favorite holiday beverage is Eggnog.
ReplyDeleteLove the holidays and hot chocolate by the fire
ReplyDeletevmkids3 at msn dot com
Jingle Bells is my favorite Holiday song.
ReplyDeletehd6719@gmail.com
I love gingerbread cookies and anything to do with peppermint.
ReplyDelete"It Must Have Been the Mistletoe"
ReplyDeleteI love Silver Bells!
ReplyDeletePaula Michele Hafner
i love jingle bells
ReplyDeleteJoy To the World is my favorite Christmas song!
ReplyDeleteI like Christmas cookies, any kind. Thanks!
ReplyDeleteSilent Night is my favorite song :)
ReplyDeletesilent night
ReplyDeletecpsnsamples@aol.com
my favorite food cherry delight
ReplyDeletelmurley2000@yahoo.com
I love peppermint bark! tylerpants(at)gmail.com
ReplyDeletei love little drummer boy
ReplyDeletety
rc name rochelle johnson
I love Silent Night and Rockin Around The Christmas Tree.
ReplyDeleteLisa Garner
christmas cookies! i've already made 2 batches this year :)
ReplyDeletehollyngunter@gmail.com
I love Bing Crosby's Jingle Bells
ReplyDelete