Last Fall Big Idea released their first feature length movie with the debut of "Jonah, a VeggieTales Movie".  Now, you can bring home all the fun and valuable lessons with the release of "Jonah" on DVD and VHS.
 
 

Jonah, a VeggieTales Movie Produced by - Big Idea

    I am completely delighted by the quality, enjoyability and actual teaching found in this excellent movie.  Which of our children, or even ourselves, has not had to struggle with the choice to obey or not obey?  Jonah brilliantly combines quality animation, second to none, with humor, an enjoyable story line and important lessons for a movie watching experience that goes far beyond just watching a movie.  Children and adults alike will relate with Jonah as he struggles to obey God when it involves a situation he doesn't understand.  When Jonah chooses to disobey children and adults will be pulled into the story as Jonah discovers, albeit the hard way, God gives second chances because He loves us and wants to forgive us when we make bad choices.  We all get to think about how we do with forgiving others as we watch Jonah, when he has the opportunity to give a second chance to others, forget he was given a second chance and chooses not to forgive others.  I like how the story line includes a "real life" setting illustrating a situation where the veggie kids come to understand they need compassion and mercy as well as they need to extend that same compassion and mercy to others.  I found this movie to be tremendously well written not only so it would be enjoyed, but also so it would effectively communicate the truth of God's love and forgiveness and how we can show that love and forgiveness to others.

    The quality of work in animating, use of deep, rich colors, developing of characters - both familiar characters like the Pirates who don't do anything and the new characters like Khalil - and the music are all completely beyond enjoyable.  The addition of humor that appeals to adults and children makes this movie one that will be enjoyed each time it is watched!  I highly recommend this movie as a must have edition to every family's video library.  Parents, watch this with your children and then be sure to talk about the important lessons taught throughout the movie.   Tremendously well done, Big Idea!

• Favorite Features:
• available in DVD & VHS
• incredible computer animation
• excellent songs, fit well with the story line and make movie more enjoyable
• utilizes humor children and their parents will truly be delighted by
• story communicates important messages on compassion, mercy, forgiving, obeying and treating others as God wants you to
• bonus disc in DVD with "out takes", interviews, games and more

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    I am also delighted to see so many "Jonah" items available to go along with the movie.  When children read the books, play with the games and toys they can be reminded of the important lessons taught in the movie and be encouraged to live those truths in their lives.  We will take a look at a few of these "Jonah" items.

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Manufacturer - Blue Box Toys
Ages 3 and up

	Jonah's Pirate Ship		Jonah's Whale Puppet & Jonah figure
Jonah Talking Plush		Khalil Talking Plush

• fun way for kids to act out and replay Jonah story from the movie
• encourages creative and interactive play
• pirate ship includes characters from movie
• talking plush figures repeat 2/3 sayings from the movie
• reminds children of the lessons from the movie and allows them to put compassion and mercy in action as they share and play with others
• clearly marked for age intended

    These toys are excellent choices for children to play with at home or for use in the church preschool ministry.  Tremendously well done Blue Box Toys and Big Idea!

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Jonah a VeggieTales Game Produced by - Big Idea Ages 5 and up

• tremendous, colorful, quality computer animation
• parental "egg timer" allows parents to determine how long their children may play - when the time is up the game is saved so children can pick up where they left off the next time they play
• 12 arcade games for children (and parents) to enjoy as they work through the story of Jonah
• favorite movie characters - Pirates Who Don't Do Anything, Jonah, Khalil and the angels
• game teaches how God wants to give us a second chance and encourages kids to show compassion and mercy to others
• encourages hand, eye coordination, memory skills, problem solving

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Jonah a VeggieTales Movie Sound Track Produced by - Big Idea

• Available on CD and cassette
• includes songs from the movie plus some extra fun features

    Kids will be singing these songs for a long time and when they do, they will be reminded of the important lessons on compassion, mercy, forgiveness, second chances and God's love.  Tremendously well done, Big Idea!
 
 
 

Jonah a VeggieTales Movie A Very Veggie Family Adventure! Authors Mark Whitlock and Cindy Kenney Publisher - Zonderkidz & Big Idea  Ages 4 and up

• Favorite Features:
• complete resource providing 10 adventures for the entire family to enjoy together as they take a closer look at the important lessons to be learned from Jonah
• easy to follow directions, questions and answers to help parents feel confident as they lead their family adventures
• each adventure includes -
• topic, such as admitting when wrong, learning the meaning of second chances, prayer and how to glorify God in your own back yard
• complete listing of supplies needed
• video clips
• game to play or activity to do to apply the point of the adventure
• questions to work through or steps to talk about for further understanding
• a fun way to remember the point - hand jive, story or additional activity
• opportunity to practice the point
• opportunity to journal what your family is learning in their "captain's log"
• time to tie what you are doing in with the Bible lesson
• fun, creative ways for kids to help clean up from the adventure

    I'm always looking for resources families can use to learn and live God's Word together - this is one of the best resources I have found to provide the tools for families to have fun learning and living God's Word!  I can not recommend this resource highly enough!  It would be a great resource for families to use on their own, or to invite friends over - parents and kids - and involve several families together as they enjoy their Very Veggie Family Adventure together!  You may consider planning an event at your church to launch a 10 week Very Veggie Family Adventure challenge where the first adventure you hold at your church for families to enjoy together.  Then team a few families together and have them rotate around to each other's homes from week to week as they complete the remaining nine adventures together.  This would be an absolutely tremendous way to encourage families to learn and live God's Word together while building strong relationships with other families from their church.  No matter what way a family uses this resource, they are sure to benefit from it!  Tremendously well done ZonderKidz and Big Idea!

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