“Sometimes not helping someone can be just as bad as actually hurting them.”

Trying to teach compassion, empathy and integrity to a six year old boy isn’t always easy.

While Jackson can show surprising emotion in some situations, such as a branch he accidentally severed from a lilac bush, (I currently am nursing a huge branch in a pot in the backyard because Jackson was so devastated that the leaves were going to die,) getting him to show some mercy in the school yard, on the sports field, or on a play date is another matter.

If it isn’t a matter of life or death, but merely a case of sharing or helping out a friend, it is often difficult for Jackson to find empathy.

With grade one almost here, I am even more aware of the need to help Jackson learn how to be a good friend.

So, when I slipped in the new Veggie Tales, Tomato Sawyer and Huckleberry Larry’s Big River Rescue, I was thrilled to hear the fantastic message they were teaching the kids.

Inspired by James 4:17, this latest Veggie adventure has Bob and Larry starring as Tomato Sawyer and Huckleberry Larry homesteading along the banks of the mighty Mississippi River. As they look forward to owning their own land, building a home and opening Huck’s Jerkyland and Tom’s Tax Preparation, they discover an important lesson in helping others.

Veggie Tales is always a safe bet to entertain kids and please parents, but VeggieTales®: Tomato Sawyer and Huckleberry Larry’s Big River Rescue is one of my favorite to date! It is hilarious. I should seriously have recorded Jackson when he was watching it. I don’t know which was funnier, the movie or listening to him split his gut laughing.

And it teaches one of the most critical lessons a child – and an adult – needs to learn: the importance of helping others.

If you want some screen time for your kids that not only has them laughing out loud, but actually helps them learn compassion, empathy and integrity, this is a perfect DVD. I give it top scores!

We have two copies of VeggieTales®: Tomato Sawyer and Huckleberry Larry’s Big River Rescue to giveaway, so just leave a comment to enter to win. We will announce the winner August 30th.

P.S. You can check out a trailer of the Tomato Sawyer and Huckleberry Larry’s Big River Rescue here.