Funnybone Toys Brings Ancient Game to Life

I would like to introduce you to a great game from Funnybone Toys.

Knucklebones was an ancient game similar to jacks originally played with small ankle bones of sheep. Funnybone Toys has taken that idea and made it new in the game of Funny Bones.

 The cute, almost retro game box. I think this box alone is pretty cool. 

 The game comes with 5 'bone' pieces, an instruction book, storage bag, and beaded key chain which the pieces can be put on between play times. ( I don't care for those bead chains, so we just store the pieces in their box).

 The Funny Bones game mat. 

 Now that you have seen the game, you may be asking "So what do I do with these pieces?" Well, it's pretty simple. Game play involves holding the plastic 'bone' pieces in your hand, tossing them in the air, and trying to catch as many as you can before they hit the playing mat. The trick is it is much easier to explain what to do than actually do it. The first time my son played with Funny Bones, he caught one or two pieces each time. It took a while before he was able catch 3 or 4 pieces each time and do it consistently. The Funny Bones game and mat sell for $29.99.

 My 14 year old daughter and 11 year old son play this for the longest time. They have fun playing together as well as individually with Funny Bones. They had fun just tossing and catching them, but they also made of their own scoring system to keep track of how many they caught over multiple tosses. They assigned different point values based on if they caught the pieces or if they landed inside or outside of the circle or on a colored part of the mat. I also enjoyed playing Funny Bones with them. I think Funny Bones is pretty cool. We had read about the ancient game of knucklebones during a study of ancient Greece. I thought it sounded like fun, but wasn't overly enthusiastic about about making the playing pieces out of clay as an activity book suggested. So Funny Bones would be a great alternative to making your own pieces.


 I like many things about Funny Bones. I think my favorite part of the game is how it is so open ended and gives the player the opportunity to make their own game. It is refreshing to see a new recreational item which is fun and doesn't require batteries or electricity. I also love the bright colors of the pieces. The small size of the box is great for small storage areas, it also makes the game very portable. So, if you are looking for a unique gift check out Funny Bones and the whole line of fabulously unique, award winning games and stationery products from Funnybone Toys.

 Disclaimer: I received the products mentioned here for free for the purposes of review. I have not been compensated monetarily or in any other manner and all thoughts shared here are solely my own.

Funnybone Toys Brings Ancient Game to Life

I would like to introduce you to a great game from Funnybone Toys.

Knucklebones was an ancient game similar to jacks originally played with small ankle bones of sheep. Funnybone Toys has taken that idea and made it new in the game of Funny Bones.

The cute, almost retro game box. I think this box alone is pretty cool.

 The game comes with 5 'bone' pieces, an instruction book, storage bag, and beaded key chain which the pieces can be put on between play times. ( I don't care for those bead chains, so we just store the pieces in their box).

The Funny Bones game mat. 

Now that you have seen the game, you may be asking "So what do I do with these pieces?"

Well, it's pretty simple. Game play involves holding the plastic 'bone' pieces in your hand, tossing them in the air, and trying to catch as many as you can before they hit the playing mat. The trick is it is much easier to explain what to do than actually do it. The first time my son played with Funny Bones, he caught one or two pieces each time. It took a while before he was able catch 3 or 4 pieces each time and do it consistently.

The Funny Bones game and mat sell for $29.99.

My 14 year old daughter and 11 year old son play this for the longest time. They have fun playing together as well as individually with Funny Bones. They had fun just tossing and catching them, but they also made of their own scoring system to keep track of how many they caught over multiple tosses. They assigned different point values based on if they caught the pieces or if they landed inside or outside of the circle or on a colored part of the mat.  I also enjoyed playing Funny Bones with them.

I think Funny Bones is pretty cool. We had read about the ancient game of knucklebones during a study of ancient Greece. I thought it sounded like fun, but wasn't overly enthusiastic about about making the playing pieces out of clay as an activity book suggested. So Funny Bones would be a great alternative to making your own pieces.

 I like many things about Funny Bones. I think my favorite part of the game is how it is so open ended and gives the player the opportunity to make their own game. It is refreshing to see a new recreational item which is fun and doesn't require batteries or electricity. I also love the bright colors of the pieces. The small size of the box is great for small storage areas, it also makes the game very portable.

So, if you are looking for a unique gift check out Funny Bones and the whole line of fabulously unique, award winning games and stationery products from Funnybone Toys.



Disclaimer: I received the products mentioned here for free for the purposes of review. I have not been compensated monetarily or in any other manner and all thoughts shared here are solely my own.

When Lightning Struck! The Life of Martin Luther Review

When Lightning Struck! by Danika Cooley is a new historical fiction book about Martin Luther. Martin's entire life is covered. The story begins with his birth and baptism on the next day, the Feast of St. Martin. It moves on to his strict upbringing and education, the joys of marriage and family life, his fight to share Biblical truth, and events up to the time he dies. The story of Luther is told clearly, but is made interesting to captivate the reader or listener. The reader meets the Luther the man with all his questions, faults, and faith. It is designed for middle and high school ages, but slightly younger students may like it also. Adults may find it enjoyable as well.

The entire story of Luther is told with fast paced action, from Martin, caught in a thunderstorm, seeking shelter under a tree, praying to St. Anna to save him, to the very end of his life. It brings to life a period of history that sometimes is viewed as uninteresting and misunderstood.

Some of the features of  When Lightning Struck!

• Vocabulary is not difficult, but very exciting to convey actions and feelings. Readers are brought into the story. It is easy to picture the action you read or hear.

• The events of history are brought into the story as they impact Luther and his activities or actions. For example, Luther's response to plagues in 1503 and the mid 1520s, along with the Peasants war, are parts of the story.

• Luther's writings and works are also prominent in When Lightning Struck!  His catechisms, the Augsburg Confession, his study of Romans and Psalms, as well as the translation of the Bible into German are all are part of the narrative. The reader also learns how much preaching and teaching Dr Luther did and the varied audiences that he addressed. 

• An extensive list of sources that the author used in her research, which can be used as a springboard for further study. 

As the 500th anniversary of the Reformation approaches in October 2017, this volume will be a great resource for readers, young and old alike, who wish to learn about Dr. Martin Luther, a pivotal figure of the Reformation. However, I think for those readers who are familiar with Luther and his life and work, there may not be a whole lot of new information here. The story nevertheless is engaging and exciting .

When Lightning Struck! The Life of Martin Luther is available from Augsburg Fortress and Amazon.







To have some fun with the release of When Lightning Struck! there will be a Facebook Party on Tuesday November 10th at 9pm EST. You can learn more about the party and RSVP here.

If you haven't already entered the giveaway for a copy of When Lightning Struck! and many other great prizes, you can do so here. The winner will be announced at the Facebook Party.





Danika has also written a discussion guide (for grades 3-12) and 12 week unit study (for grades 6-12) to go along with When Lightning Struck! You can find both of them on her blog, Thinking Kids. At this time they are free!!

Also, to celebrate the release of When Lightning Struck! The Story of Martin Luther all Cobblestone Path Products and Bible Road Trip materials are on sale for 50% off through November 11th. Details can be found at Danika's Thinking Kids blog.

Affiliate links are used in this post.