Heirloom Audio Productions Captain Bayley's Heir Review

My family had the privilege of listening to the Captain Bayley's Heir from Heirloom Audio Productions for this review to use in conjunction with our own homeschool curriculum. This is a Homeschool Review Crew Review. All opinions expressed are my own or those of my family.

My family and I love audio books! We love to listen to them while: I am multitasking, we have a long drive ahead of us, or there is cruddy weather and we are stuck inside. My family usually enjoys them better if they are fun and adventuresome. I believe they are better than movies because audio books require more imagination which is great for growing minds.

Captain Bayley's Heir is Heirloom Audio's 8th dramatization which is adapted from a novel by George Alfred Henty. G.A. Henty authored many historical fiction novels in the late 1800's and early 1900's, including Captain Bayley's Heir in 1889. All seven Christian audio dramas are from Heirloom Audio's series known as The Extraordinary Adventures of G.A. Henty. This audio production and theatrical radio drama consists of 2 and a half hours of masterful storytelling on 2 CDs recommended for ages 6-adult. I cannot say enough good things about this. Really, the presentation is very extraordinary! It brings the history to life.

This audio theater follows 18 year old Frank as he is wrongly accused of a crime in England and goes to America to try to clear his name. While on his way to discover gold in California, he experiences a deadly storm on the Mississippi, makes friends with story-telling cowboys, and encounters Indians and gun toting outlaws. This exciting and adventurous tale of the Old West is all about the power of God's grace.

inside the case to Captain Bayley's Heir audio theater

I had some definite favorite parts of the Christian radio theatre. We liked the part of where Frank met up with Rube, Dickens and Abe and what they said about the coffee. My family laughed at this part. We thought that the "Burps" from Dickens were profound. We loved finding out about Harry and who he really was as well.

The 2 CD audio theater set itself has some nice bonuses if you get the physical version with the download. It has a list of the cast on the back of the case, a pamphlet insert that has a bit about Heirloom Audio's other audio dramas, and in the center under where the pamphlet goes is the line from John Newton's timeless hymn, Amazing Grace, “Amazing Grace How Sweet the Sound...”. This inspirational hymn also comes as a digital download (only with purchase of the Live the Adventure Club) so you can print it out as a poster to put on your wall.

Captain Bayley's Heir Single Package includes:

• Captain Bayley's Heir (CD Set - Physical Copy + Instant Access MP3 Download)

Adventure Progress

• Chapter 1 – A Grand, American Adventure
• Chapter 2 – Our Story Begins in London
• Chapter 3 – Captain Harold Bayley
• Chapter 4 – The Westminster Boys
• Chapter 5 – A Real Fight
• Chapter 6 – Harry's History
• Chapter 7 – Dismissal
• Chapter 8 – America!
• Chapter 9 – Abe, Rube, and Dickens
• Chapter 10 – Danger on the Trail
• Chapter 11 – Indian Attack
• Chapter 12 – Disquieting News
• Chapter 13 – The Plot Thickens
• Chapter 14 – Prospecting
• Chapter 15 – "Pay Dirt, Gentlemen!"
• Chapter 16 – Amazing Grace
• Chapter 17 – The Shootout
• Chapter 18 – Frank, The Hero
• Chapter 19 – Investigation and Exoneration
• Chapter 20 – More Stories to Be Told, More Adventures to be Had

I want to also mention that Heirloom Audio was being generous to the Homeschool Review Crew that received this for review. We received additional bonuses other than that were supposed to be in the Single Package. The additional items are only available if you purchase the Live the Adventure Club. Right now you can get a FREE 3 Months Membership + Captain Bayley's Heir - 2-CD Set for only $1!! Go to the website for more details.

The Homeschool Review Crew that received this for review received all of the above and these additional bonuses:

• Captain Bayley's Heir (Listen Online, Digital Download)
• Captain Bayley's Heir Study Guide (Read Online, Digital Download)
• Captain Bayley's Heir Soundtrack (Listen Online, MP3 Download)
• Printable copy of the Inspirational Hymn Poster (Digital Download)
• Captain Bayley's Heir eBook (Digital Download)
• Captain Bayley's Heir Cast Poster (Digital Download)
• Captain Bayley's Heir Desktop Wallpaper (Digital Download)

The all-star cast in this audio book is expansive and amazing. Some of the cast consists of Brian Blessed as G.A. Henty (Star Wars, Tarzan, Robin Hood, King Lear), John Rhys-Davies as Captain Bayley (The Lord of the Rings, Indiana Jones), Jade Williams as Alice (The Royal Shakespeare Company), Ian Porter as Rube, Dickens, and John Little (Saving Private Ryan), Flinty Williams as Ella (The Importance of Being Earnest), and David Shaw-Parker as Hiram Bosarge (The Muppet Christmas Carol). It is always great to hear the boisterous voice of Brian Blessed on these productions. All of the cast's performances are wonderful! The character building is wonderful too as long as you can keep up.

I love the music and sound effects that accompany this program. The music that is used on the CDs is adventurous and is also by itself in soundtrack form as Listen Online and MP3 downloads. It is an original score by Emmy-winning composer John Campbell (of Narnia). The Foley sound effects make you feel like you are right there with the characters and immerses you more into what's happening.

There is also a study guide that is 38 pages long. It has discussion points and questions to ask your children as they listen to the radio theater. This is wonderful to use as part of a history curriculum while homeschooling. It is really easier to listen to the whole program before you do the study guide and then listen again a second time to do the study guide, in my opinion. It feels awkward to stop and start the program so many times (every 4 to 10 minutes) during play. The study guide does have the tracks and time-stamp to stop at marked in the guide so you know where the narrative takes a new turn.

At the beginning of the study guide there is a list of the cast and crew, a brief introduction, and a short descriptions about G.A. Henty. Each track has questions in the study guide having three parts: Listening Well, Thinking Further, and Defining Words. There are questions in the Listening Well section which are to see if you and your child are really paying attention. There are questions in the Thinking Further section that helps you understand deeper and get you and your child thinking more. The Defining Words section is a list of words that will enhance the vocabulary of your child and places more meaning for the story. Having a dictionary handy might be appropriate because the definitions are not already spelled out.

At the end of the study guide there are four main parts. The first is a recommended reading list for learning more about Victorian England and the American West. After that there are three Bible Studies: one on God's Grace, one on Becoming a Christian, and one on Honoring Your Parents.

My children learned and understood so much more with this study guide. We used the questions and Bible study section throughout and it made for a very lengthy, but interesting discussion session with my older kids. I am very glad that it was included. I love the scriptures it had you look up and ponder too. I also love that there were Expand Your Learning sections throughout the guide for sources for further reading and other information to further your knowledge. I do wish, however, that there was an answer guide as well to the questions, because it would make the whole thing flow better in my opinion.

This was a very good production and my family enjoyed listening to it thoroughly. This audio book would be a wonderful addition to a Christian homeschooling curriculum and perfect to go along with a study about the Wild West and the Gold Rush. 

This will include access to the Live the Adventure Club website, where you can download the study guide, among other things.

BUY IT
Two options to choose from: MP3 Download version for $19.97 or the Single Version for $29.97.

You can also purchase the Live the Adventure Club in which you get access to listen & learn audio adventures, parenting resources and daily inspiration, teaching guides and educational treasures, award winning audio adventures shipped to you free, and great learning activities for kids. Get a FREE 3 Months Membership + Captain Bayley's Heir - 2-CD Set for only $1 and get instant access to the digital version! Plus, you'll also receive $20 worth of Adventure Credits to use in their new online store!!!

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