I'm a country fan. I have been since I went to college. In Texas. Where its hard not to be swayed to love country. Up north, my kids call my music genre "Cowboy Music." Giving it this nickname was a way to get the boys to listen to someone that wasn't singing about a "Big Red Car" or his love of trash.
But with the recent release (April 22) of the new series Hushabye Baby (volumes 1-4), you can introduce your babies to Country long before they begin to favor songs that rhyme every name ever heard. Hushabye Baby has rendered songs of popular country stars (like Kenny Rogers, Dolly Parton, Garth Brooks and Carrie Underwood) into lullabies: calming music that helps calm baby, and reminds parents of the beauty of their favorite tunes.
My favorite, volume 2, features songs by Faith Hill, The Dixie Chicks, and, the kids' favorite, Toby Keith's Shoulda Been a Cowboy (of course, I told them the title!) . Give them a listen over at Amazon, where they're eligible for Free Super Saver Shipping when you spend $25. So, go ahead, add some to your cart, your wishlist, and definitely to your baby registry!
Volume 2 is currently sold out and available as a Pre-Order, but volumes 1, 3 and 4 are all currently available and can even be delivered by Mothers Day if you purchase expedited shipping. You can also purchase the MP3s of many of the songs for only $.99, also at Amazon.
"Mom? Can you turn up the music?" "Mom, I want number 4" ..."Can you play Pop Fly again?" ... "Hey Dad, I want SUPER KID!!"
This was the depth of conversation we had in our car yesterday. After listening to Justin Robert's new CD Pop Fly for two weeks (it was released on the 17th) my children have memorized the tracks and the words, and are now selecting favorites. In the end, its easier just to play the CD through, because eventually they'll listen to every song, each time.
For those who haven't heard Justin Roberts' so fun music (I was one of you until I got this one), his mix of music genres ventures from folksy to beachy to fun rock and roll. So easy to dance to, so fun to listen to and sing along. I find myself singing 'Pop Fly' at the top of my lungs. But when I was quiet today, I noticed that my four year old sings it just as well (okay... better). The words of Pop Fly, Roberts' 6th family album, are very elementary--as in elementary school. Each song tell a story of which kids of elementary age will surely relate. And the preschoolers and toddlers? No question they're loving it.
Listen to the tracks to get a preview--its easy to get addicted. I'll admit--I'm one of his newest fans. Justin Roberts' Pop Fly is fun fun music for kids and their parents. You'll soon be shouting out about catching a pop fly yourself.
A lot of noteworthy children's movies released recently or coming soon:
Baby Einstein: Baby's First Sounds: Released this month, $14.99 on Amazon and Baby Einstein's latest video for 6 months plus, encouraging babies to learn to say their first sounds.
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, Season 6 - $14.99, these episodes are from 1987 - not that Nate can tell, he loves them! What's crazy is that I remember watching a few of these growing up.
Wonder Pets: Save the Beetles: $14.49 on Amazon, released this month. The Wonder Pets save a group of "Beetles" who are trapped in a yellow submarine. We saw this one - it's cute!
Sleepytime Stories: $14.49 on Amazon, a cute collection of short movies including some favorite characters including Dora, the Wonder Pets and Blues Clues.
Accomplished Jazz musician Hayes Greenfield has a pretty large mission, and to summarize, it's to share the message of Earth Day with children and their families.
In Music for a Green Planet, Greenfield is joined by a list of other musicians (including jazz legends and Broadway vets) as they turn favorite children's songs into a celebration of the Earth. The first time we heard the first track, my 2-year-old started singing "Coming Round the Mountain" as we've all known it for years. With a confused face, we listened as the words began to shift:
We’ll be cruising in our hybrids when she comes
We’ll be getting better mileage when she comes
We’ll be a part of the solution
Cause we're making less pollution
We’ll be cruising in our hybrids when she comes
And by the end of the song, we were soon singing along with the catchy chorus. So was the same for the duration of the CD. We loved it. The lyrics are catchy, meaningful, and discussion worthy (what's a hybrid, Mom?). Music for a Green Planet creates a wonderful introduction to living Earth-healthy and inspires the children, as well as their families.
In celebration of the Earth, buy the CD today for $14.98, or download the individual MP3s for $.99 each. Check out some samples first and read the lyrics (I love that they're on the site).
Music for a Green Planet didn't just make "jazz cool for kids" as New York Magazine commented, he's making a cool, jazzy Earth... for kids!
A few weeks ago, a friend's little 6 month-old was screaming in her car in the pick up line. The poor mom couldn't seem to calm her. Thinking how much I was enjoying the calming melodies of the music in my car, I quickly grabbed a CD by Rockabye Baby. "Here! Try this! She'll love it."
I haven't seen the CD since. Its being held hostage by that sweet little 6-month-old who, I can only assume, adores it.
And you will, too. As will your babies and children. Rockabye Baby! has taken all the classics and trends (23 albums including Rolling Stones, Beatles, AC/DC, No Doubt, NIN, Coldplay) and set them to sweet sound. Its a task the label VP describes as "...[to create] album that's gentle enough for babies but won't bore Mom and Dad is trickier than it sounds." I beleive it. Not being musical person, I doubted I'd recognize the songs inside the pretty lullabies. Yet, listening to the music, I notice that I'm singing along, recognizing enough to know which words fit in, yet being calmed by the lullaby that now meets the heavy rock or beachy sound.
Its hard to put a sound like this into words. I invite you to listen to snippets of your favorite album (be it Pink Floyd, The Beach Boys or Bob Marley) to hear what an amazing thing Rockabye Baby! has done with your sounds. They're just so pretty. Find a song you've always loved (in my case, Greenday's Good Riddance) and listen in to the lullaby--you'll soon start singing, or calmly humming while your baby relaxes, too.
Seriously, this is reason to celebrate. Tonight my 4-year-old sat and listened to an audio story for 30 minutes, never moving. He was captivated.
Billy Brown stories are produced by Giddio, a children's entertainment company. Using several actors they tell adventurous stories filled with educational facts about the characters and plots. In the story we listened to, Billy Bear Goes Camping, we join Billy and his best friend Emma on an educational hike. At the same time, the Wilson family of humans are on their own canoeing/camping trip when adventure strikes.
The sound effects are wonderful. The sounds of nature had me looking outside for a crow or a hawk. The river took me back to white water rafting trips. The story is a bit farfetched, as Billy Bear communicates with both humans and animals, and explains that some animals only speak the sounds of the forest. But, don't tell my 4-year-old, who held onto the CD and plans to listen on our next car trip. I was a bit surprised by some of the conversation in the story, like the mentioning of a dirty diaper which seemed off topic, or the gasp of the mother saying, "Oh G-d!" Both were true to life, but not something I expect in audios or videos for 3 year olds.
For a limited time, receive free shipping when you order any Billy Bear adventure. And save $5 when you buy the set of 3. You can also download Billy Brown and the Mystery Package for free.
I love sharing stories with my kids, but I've noticed that in finding new stories, I've tended to ignore a lot of the old classics, so I've been picking up chances to share some old favorites like The Three LIttle Pigs and Goldilocks.
I recently shared Bygone Production's story of Humpty Dumpty, Foodledoo and Peekaboo in Humpty Dumpty's Big Surprise with my boys. In this clever story, the characters join the adventures of Humpty Dumpty, an explorer with big dreams. With 4 original songs, an adorable storyline and the nursery rhyme, my 2-year-old was entranced through the entire 25 minutes of play, and my four-year-old enjoyed the surprise ending.
The simplicity of the graphics makes for a calm, enjoyable show that kids will laugh and sing with again and again.
Take your children to the ballet without leaving the house! (Giveaway)
Ever since we opened the DVD, my daughter hasn’t stopped dancing with Prima Princessa, a fabulous DVD that showcases the Paris Opera Ballet performing excerpts of Swan Lake. I actually enjoyed watching this children’s DVD! It is just the right length to keep your child engaged throughout the 40 minute video. This is a truly beautiful performance and features an animated fairy ballerina that narrates the story of Swan Lake using kid-friendly story telling (which is fabulous). Between acts, there are adorable little girls that dance around in tutus and learn simple ballet steps. These steps are shown mixed into colorful montages of toys, animals, children and young dancers from the School of American Ballet. Thanks to Prima Princessa, my daughter doesn’t have to wait until ballet class on Saturday to do pirouettes!
If you would like to have your child enjoy this amazing DVD and perform for you at home, here’s your chance to win a copy of this DVD. Two copies will be given away! All you have to do is answer the following two questions and then e-mail your name and answers to tutuzone@gmail.com
What is the name of the Prima Princessa blog? Can you name at least one other blog that has reviewed them?
The giveaway will run until Friday, March 28th and two winners will be announced on our site.
I forgot to add the Bee Movie in my post on Sunday about the latest movie round up. Amidst much hype, the Bee Movie comes out today on DVD.
I have yet to see it but I've heard mixed reviews - one friend told me it was "weird but had it's funny moments" and another MWS reader told me it was "cute and funny." So there you go. Jerry Seinfeld's the main "bee" in the movie. It's selling on Amazon for $15.99 (47% off list price)
The big one was last week's release of 101 Dalmatians: Platinum Edition. You'd have to be living in a bubble to have missed some of the PR on it; I feel like it's everywhere. It's been re-released from the Disney vault as a double disc with improved colors and sounds from the original feature. It has a bunch of bonus features added, including a virtual dalmation game for kids. It's currently 47% off on Amazon and selling for $14.99 with free shipping when you spend $25 or more on eligible products.
Other Disney movies released include:
Tigger and Pooh: Friendly Tails - a 72 minute movie from the tv show with the familiar characters welcoming spring. $14.99 on Amazon.
Not yet out but coming out soon (March 18th), is Disney's Enchanted which is a fun story for all about a princess who gets transported from fairy world (animated) into the real world (non-animated). It has a familiar cast too with Susan Sarandon as the evil witch and Patrick Dempsey as the real world prince. It's currently listed at $16.99 for the pre-order price on Amazon.
Non-Disney notable releases include:
Barney Animal ABC, released March 4th from Hit Entertainment and is currently $12.99 on Amazon.
It's been nothing but cold and winter blues here in Philly recently and lots of indoor time. So I know most of you are there with me (except those of you in Florida and the California girls who were rubbing it on our faces about going to the beach earlier this week - you know who you are!) and we've had to do a lot more TV watching than normally. Thankfully, there've been a couple of new releases recently to keep us occupied including:
Snow Buddies, which is just an adorable movie about a team of sled dogs made up mostly of golden retriever puppies. Released earlier this week. $19.99 on Amazon.
A Special Edition release of the Aristocats, which I remember watching myself as a child. Nate (4) loves it. We're cat people here so that helps but I love that sometimes an old classic can still entertain. Released earlier this week. $16.99 on Amazon
Barney Celebrating Around the World, this one got a bad review from one person on Amazon but we think it's just fine here. Barney drives me nuts but Cole (15 months) just loves him. Released last week. $12.99 on Amazon.
Caillou Family Favorites, a compilation of four Caillou episodes - this one is a good one to have on the road if you have a child who's a fan of the show, releasing February 26, 2008. $11.19 with a pre-order off Amazon.
The Game Plan
High-living Boston Rebels quarterback Joe Kingman finds his world turned upside-down when seven-year-old Peyton Kelly shows up at his door and announces she is his child from a brief early marriage and needs a place to stay while her mother is away on business. Joe never knew about Peyton, and her mom doesn't know that Peyton has gone to find Joe. For the next month, Joe is suddenly burdened with unfamiliar parental responsibilities like ballet class and homework, while also getting to know his daughter. As he tries to lead his team to a championship season, Joe tries navigating between macho man and girly-girl customs. Plenty of bonus features are included in this hilarious and heartwarming family comedy!
Hannah Montana: One In A Million
If your child is anything like mine, then they will be thrilled to watch their favorite pop princess in this movie that was just released today. Hannah Montana finds herself in some hilariously unexpected situations that offer her once in a lifetime opportunities. The movie features four episodes from the Disney original series. In addition, there is a special episode starring the Jonas Brothers! Included are special bonus features and behind the scenes footage. Join Hannah and her wonderfully funny family and friends for laughs, (mis)adventures and cool, hip music. Makes a great Valentine’s Day gift!
Twitches Too
The sequel to Twitches where twins, who were separated at birth, were kept unaware of each other and their magical powers until their 21st birthday when they first meet. The girls focus on harnessing their magical powers, getting to know each other and reuniting with their birth mother, who is a powerful witch. When a shadowy underworld presence seeks to destroy them, their family and their world, Alex and Camryn have to learn to combine their strengths to ward off complete disaster. A great movie that has plenty of fun, magic and suspense!
Dora Saves the Mermaids -- currently $16.99 on Amazon. I have to say, I think our Dora days are numbered (for Nate, age 4, anyway) but for now she's still entertaining to us and little brother loves her.
Undercover Dora -- currently $9.99 on Amazon. I just noticed that they categorize Dora as age appropriate for ages 3-6. (!) They should try telling that to my 14-month-old when Dora comes on.
Springtime Fun -- will release next week on January 29, 2008. These movies from HIT entertainment are great. Those of you with the PBS Sprout channel will recognize most of these shows (Including Fireman Sam, which is currently the favorite in our house). This movie is a collective of several shows, some of which include Barney, Angelina Ballerina and Thomas. I like these movies for road trips as it always seems to hold their interest more than two hour long movie. Plus, all the HIT Entertainment shows are great for differing kids' ages - the shows are a good mix for preschool aged kids.
Pingu on the Ice -- will release next week on January 29, 2008. We love Pingu here - it's an odd show and they don't speak but the kids laugh for this show more than any others. It's silly and cute and currently $9.99 on Amazon for this winter-related movie they're releasing next week.
Just Released....Cinderella II: Special Edition & Underdog
Underdog is a cute story about a beagle named Shoeshine who flunks out of K-9 training and falls into the hands of a devious doctor, who through a secret experiment gone wrong, gives Shoeshine incredible superpowers including the ability to fly and speak. After escaping from the crazy doctor and his henchman, Shoeshine is adopted by an ex-cop. Armed with a fetching superhero costume, Underdog vows to protect the stressed citizens of Capitol City and, in particular, one beautiful spaniel named Polly Purebred. When an evil plot by the doctor and his henchman threaten to destroy the city, only Underdog can save the day! This movie is fun for the whole family and will have them rooting for the amiable super hound!
Bibbidi Bobbidi Boo.....In Cinderella II: Dreams Come True Special Edition, Cinderella’s story continues with three magical tales! Cinderella plans her first royal ball as the princess. But, she struggles to do things the “right” way and realizes she must do things her way to prepare for the ball! In trying to help her out, her friend Jaq the mouse wishes he could be human. Additionally, Cinderella’s stepsister Anastasia needs her help in a delicate matter of the heart. She has fallen in love with the village bread maker and him with her, but the wicked stepmother does not approve. Cinderella shows her that dreams can come true. Along the way, Cinderella learns that the best way to succeed in life is to be true to yourself. The wicked stepmother and her cat Lucifer are still making trouble for Cinderella, but the princess has her Prince Charming at her side, along with the King, the Grand Duke and, as always, her Fairy Godmother. New bonus features include a game called “Race To The Royal Banquet” where you can help Jaq and Gus dash through mazes, slip past obstacles and outwit Lucifer and Pom-Pom on their way to Cinderella’s big event. Buy it today before it goes back into the Disney vault on January 31, 2008 when it will no longer be available.
Purchase (scroll down to Best Value) both of these movies together and save an additional $6.00 and receive free super saver shipping!
A couple more hot ones for the season that I've either seen or taken note of include:
Arctic Tale (done by the same folks who did March for the Penguins), which is along the same lines as the all-play family movie as it's a documentary. It's narrated by Queen Latifah and it follows the lives of a polar bear and a walrus in the arctic. It may be a little slow for the under-5 crowd but it has it's compelling moments even for them and it's definitely educational.
Randomly, I got Stardust. I had read the book awhile back so I should have known it wasn't "family" as it's labeled. Nonetheless, it's a totally entertaining movie that's fun for the over 13 crowd (adults too) that I thought worthy of a mention as my husband and I were definitely entertained. (And it's one of those movies that's actually not half-bad when compared to the book). It has a good cast which includes Michelle Pfeffier, Robert DeNiro, Claire Danes and Sienna Miller.
So another one is MeerKat Manor. I started Tivoing it recently in preperation of the whole writers' strike/lack of new TV shows for my husband and I. We've only watched one episode but I'm already hooked - the documentary/series follows a family of meerkats in South Africa. They all have names. It's a good show for all ages and makes a good Christmas gift.
If you order off Amazon, today's the last day to get it in time - select one-day shipping to receive in time.
We tried out a bunch of their games, including Word Chase which my son loved. This game helps children learn the most common sight words, in lower case letters, which is the way that they will see them the most. As a blooming reader, this was right up his alley. My eleven year old daughter brought Hail to the Chief to school to share with her class. Her Canadian teacher in particular, was impressed with how this game made learning about the US electoral system fun for all the students. And finally my husband and I had a blast playing Jabber Jot. This game gives you random story elements from which to construct a humorous tale - in about a minute. The funniest story wins the round. It's a game that would be great to play with adult family members at a holiday gathering. One other product that they sell - the Multiplication Rap DVD - was completely responsible for finally making it easy for my dyslexic daughter to learn her times tables.
Learning is an Art embraces the philosophy that kids learn best when they are doing something fun, especially with family. Playing games is a natural and effective hands on way to teach that is especially effective for kinesthetic learners. And we all know we remember things better when we enjoy them. The games from Learning is an Art have all been carefully chosen by educational experts. You won't find a dud amongst them. I've bookmarked this site for future use. I know I will be shopping there again and again over the years!
What time is it? It’s time for the release of the much anticipated High School Musical 2: Extended Edition. The entire gang is back and full of infectious music, high energy dancing and an exuberant young cast that created worldwide High School Musical mania and brings back Troy, Gabriella, Sharpay and the entire Wildcat gang in another spectacular musical experience!
High School Musical 2: Extended Edition is packed with bonus material including music videos, sing-alongs, karaoke, bloopers and behind the scenes footage! Fans of the movie will want to watch again and again as the gang from East High takes the stage at the local country club summer talent show! Drama queen Sharpay is at the center of intrigue once more, using her influence to get Troy a job at the club in order to make him her singing partner at the annual show. When Troy arranges jobs for Gabriella and the Wildcats too, Sharpay has to do some fancy maneuvering to keep the others off the stage. To get Troy to go along with her plan, she makes him an offer she thinks he can’t refuse: a chance at a college basketball scholarship forcing Troy to choose between his friends and his future. Purchase it today for the perfect family holiday gift!
Unwinding with the whole family can get stressful at holiday time. Particularly when you want to sit and watch a film. It's a tall order to find a single choice that will entertain everyone from your short-attention-spanned three year old, on up to Grandpa, who wears a hearing aid. But the newly released Mr. Bean's Holiday, is just that film.
Rowan Atkinson's portrayal of the bumbling Mr Bean has long been beloved because he is such a pure source of comedic entertainment. His gags are almost entirely physical and call to mind the silent film era, because you don't actually need the dialog to understand what is going on in the film (good thing for Grandpa and the three yr old). The humor is clean enough for the young crowd, and hysterical enough for the adults. If you have ever seen a Bean movie you know that it is out of the frying pan, and into the fire from start to finish. Just when you think the hijinks could not get more preposterous, they do. And the cartoonlike expressions on Rowan Atkinson's face, are nothing short of priceless.
In this latest Bean movie, our hero has won a trip to the South of France. His one goal is to see the beach at Cannes. But along the way he misses a few stops, picks up some friends, loses his money and ID, is accused of kidnapping and gets swept up into the Cannes film festival. Nothing is too outrageous for Mr Bean and I think the highlight of the film may be his portrayal of a double jointed, slightly spastic, goose stepping Nazi when he is unwittingly cast in a yogurt commercial.
Pick up Mr. Bean's Holiday for your family to watch this holiday season and you won't be disappointed. Just one word of caution from my eleven yr old - careful what you eat or drink while watching this one. It may come out through your nose when you are seized with laughter.
Out on DVD today: Land Before Time's latest movie, the "Wisdom of Friends." This one is number thirteen! We started our dinosaur obsession a few months ago so of course any Land Before Time movie is a big hit.
It's an hour and sixteen minutes long. Listen for the voices of Cuba Gooding Jr. and Sandra Oh.
As of this review, it's 25% off and on sale for $14.99. Free shipping when you spend $25 or more - blah blah blah Whitney. You guys know the drill.
And check out this little puzzle they sent over - you can print it out for your kids to color and cut out.
Getting into the spirit of the holidays with two new movies
Hands down, our favorite holiday video this season is this assortment of short movies on DVD called Winter Wonderland from Hit Entertainment. 60 minutes long, it has short episodes from Barney, Kipper, Bob the Builder, Pingu, Thomas & Friends and Fireman Sam.
Both my boys love this, which is a feat in this house as it's hard to find something that's entertaining for both a 4 and 1-year-old at the same time. I'm not sure if it's the fact that each episode is so short but they both laugh, clap and sing to these various episodes that are all winter-themed.
And for fans of Disney's My Friends Tigger & Pooh, here's a new movie about the Super Sleuth's centered around Christmas. The group finds a reindeer tangled up in a string of jingle bells - they help him out of the tangle and go on a mission to try and return him to the North Pole. It's cute, as the show is, entertaining and festive. It runs for 44 minutes. It's also on sale on Amazon for $19.99.
One note too today: today ends Amazon's 99-cent present wrapping deal. Order these DVDs or other items off Amazon and you can pay 99 cents to have each present wrapped. I recently placed a big order to be shipped to my parents in Florida and paid to have a number of things wrapped - in my case, it saved money. Normally I'd have everything shipped to me, I'd wrap them and then head to the PO to reship. It saved time and cash. Anyway, check it out by the end of the day today (or do it later but you'll pay more than 99 cents per item.)
Like many moms, I find my time in the car to be spent being entertained by either my children fighting over who gets to hold Thomas, replays of "Happy Birthday Princess" and "The Curious George Song", and an incessant report of the signs, the weather, the clouds and airplanes. So when I do get a moment of peace, I do enjoy my music, my thoughts, my calm.
But since being introduced to That Baby DVD and CD, I'm actually getting a little bit of my music, my calm in my car, even when the kids are awake and strapped in. The producers, a Seattle mom and dad just like us, searched through their old cassette tapes and albums (okay... they aren't that old... but this is record album music) to find child-friendly songs that we enjoyed. With vocals by talented Portland artists, That Baby DVD and CD remix songs of our lives, starting off with a fantastic mix of Circle Game and Happiness Runs. Yes, I am talking songs we know, songs that, if I can ever dig out the many cassette mixes from my parents basement, I'll find on nearly all of them. And now my kids know them. I love that we're all singing along to These Are Days, Pony Boy and Garden Song (Inch by Inch).
The CD that we listen to so often is actually a complement to That Baby DVD, which includes most of the songs on the CD as well as a few perks like the alphabet. On the DVD, the songs are joined by children and their families playing, enjoying nature and life around them. A favorite on our DVD player is the puppet show that accompanies When We Grow Up (Free to Be).
Get your copies and coupon code rockinmommies for 20% off your order of That Baby DVD and CD.
Notables releasing today: Ratatouille & Pixar Short Films
More great stocking stuffers releasing on DVD this week: Ratatouille and Disney's Pixar's Short Films. I'm sure you guys know what Ratatouille's about - it's a cute story about a rat who can cook and ends up in Paris assisting a cook in a restaurant. And Pixar's Short Films Collection is a series of mini movies. This one is actually really fun - it's all the "shorts" you see as the previews before the longer movies; Mater and the Ghostlight from Cars, One Man Band and more you'll recognize. It's very cute and entertaining.
Ratatouille is currently 50% off on Amazon and being sold for $14.99; Pixar's Short Films is $19.99. Buy either or spend $25 on Amazon and you'll receive free shipping.
No matter the sport you pleasure, you're likely to find your favorite team represented in a child-friendly DVD. Narrated by a famous fan, Team Baby Entertainment's DVDs feature babies and children decked out in fan-gear, real-life scenes of players having fun and working hard, as well as introductions to all things sport.
In Team Baby's baseball series, the children will learn colors, words shapes and numbers, as they pertain to baseball. For example, in the Red Sox video, Ben Affleck narrates as we learn that there are 9 players on the field, and 9 innings. Each DVD includes cheers, songs, and an introduction to the game and locale.
The perfect gift for the Uber-fan's baby, Team Baby Entertainment is officially lisenced by the MLB, NBA, NCAA, and Nascar. Since I learned of them this summer, their line-up has grown, and their latest baby: New York Knicks Baby, is soon-to-be released.
Mommies with Style reades can use promo code 8326 at checkout and receive 10% off their entire order.
Just in time for the holidays... Meet the Robinsons releases on DVD today. A great movie and a great stocking stuffer, this is one of those movies that's an all-play for the whole family. We went to see it when it was in theatre and it was good for us, good for our 3.5 year old and even good for the baby. (Who alternated between watching and nursing, but hey, it worked and we got to spend two hours in a movie theatre! That's a feat for us these days.)
It's a cute movie that involves an orphan, time travel and a battle to save the future of the world. Buy it on Amazon starting today for $16.99 (free ship with a $25+ purchase). Definitely think this one is a great holiday pick - it's a good stocking stuffer for the kids!
I don't normally review non-kids movies but hubby and I recently watched Evan Almighty and it was cute and stuck me as a good family film. It has the whole Noah's arc thing going with tons of animals that make it entertaining for kids. It's a follow up from Bruce Almighty but I didn't really see any connection other than the Morgan Freeman/God thing.
Anyhow, it's a cute one good for all ages if you're looking for a family film. It released last Tuesday; you can find it on Amazon for $16.99 (eligible for free shipping when you spend $25 or more)
Disney released a 40th anniversary edition to the Jungle Book last Tuesday -- I had never seen it before, it's cute.
The story is based on a Rudyard Kipling book and the plot's similar to Tarzan, a boy is raised by animals in the jungle. Only in the Jungle Book, the animals are trying to send him back to a "man camp."
It's a classic and it's definitely appropriate for all ages. It's currently on sale at Amazon for 50% off at $14.99. (spend $25 total and you'll get free shipping)
Mickey Mouse Clubhouse: Halloween Treat - this one's fun for the upcoming holiday, it's a couple of episodes of Mickey Mouse Clubhouse, all with the theme; plus a bonus episode of Little Einsteins (also Halloween-themed)
This one is releasing next week, you can preorder now:
Disney Princess Enchanted Tales: So with two boys we don't normally watch princess movies but we got roped into this one (it was actually requested by my 3.5 year old!) I had forgotten how girly princess movies can be! I truly have to laugh because I'm so used to the boy movies that this one was refreshing to watch. It's a split movie with two tales - one about Sleeping Beauty and the other about Jasmine. I'm sure any little girl would love this. (Or boy, in our case, although we got about 1/4 of the way in and I think he wanted to know where all the action was; Sleeping Beauty prancing around in a pink dress and singing didn't quite cut it in the end.)
Get all three movies on Amazon and spend $25 to receive free shipping.
Inspired by a love of animation and the intent to educate parents and children, a team of Southern California animators formed Punch Bowl Productions. Together, they recently produced their first DVD, Funky Monkey presents Music Time.
This simple DVD introduces an oh-so-happy monkey, Funky. With simple illustrations, music basics (like those I remember learning in about 4th grade) are introduced to preschoolers, toddlers and their families.
As I type, the boys are watching Funky swinging rhythmically on a vine, while notes "lay down on a line." And we've been clapping out half-notes, quarter-notes and eight-notes. Let me tell you... I'm not musically inclined. There's been no musical inclination in my family in generations... I didn't even know what what a half-note was until this week. (sorry Mrs. K, I don't remember what I learned in your music class in 4th grade.) The kids are really enjoying the different styles of music in this DVD. There are scenes of kids playing instruments and dancing, and many other scenes with our animated friend while a narrator talks to him, singers entertain wtih a variety of music styles that teach music lessons through out.
If your kids, or you, are even the tiniest bit interested in music, check out this DVD. You can view a preview on their website (my 2-year-old sampled the preview and said "Whoa! Mom! Whoa!") There's also a sampling of their music on the site. I'm sure its only a matter of time until a CD is released... and I'm sure that CD will be playing on our roadtrips!
Funky Monkey isn't stopping with one DVD. Punchbowl Productions is currently developing sequels, like Nursery Rhyme Time and Hip Hop Time.
Releasing today: Muppet Show 2 and Darkwing Duck 2
Two childrens' DVDs coming out today include Darkwing Duck 2 and the Muppet Show 2. I wasn't sure how the kids would react to either one of these, and normally I wouldn't review something quite so random, but they were pretty entertained by both.
The Muppet Show 2 was a blast from the past for hubby and I and we were quite amused to watch Kermit and Miss Piggy's antics. The Muppet Show 2 comes out on August 7th. And I completely remember watching this show with my parents.
Season Two was from 1977 so although I don't remember that specific year, it did run until 1981 and I definitely have memories of watching this as a child. It's fun to watch because they definitely have late 70s/early 80s adult-humor in the show, all while keeping the kids entertained. Watching Miss Piggy's antics trying to catch Kermit was certainly a blast from the past for me. (Did she ever get him?)
I didn't remember Darkwing Duck, which ran in the early 90s and is a funny series about a bumbling superhero duck. This one's for the older kids but it's also entertaining.
Both DVD sets release August 7th, 2007 and you can find them on Amazon.
Okay, well not really. But we've been showing him some products from Your Baby Can Read! to see if it'll help advance him in any way. We're using this Starter DVD and word card set. And both the boys are big fans of the cards. In fact, I actually think it's helping my 3-year-old more than the baby as the word recognition matched with the picture is quite helpful at his age. But in any case, the baby's having a fun time looking at the words and watching as we slide out the matching pictures.
According to the materials, studies show that infants and toddlers can learn the written word at the same time they are learning the spoken word if they are taught at an early age.
It's going to be a long hot summer.The newness of summer break has worn off and it has hit me that I still have my 7&10 year old girls at home for the next three-thousand weeks. While I enjoy sleeping in a bit, I am not looking forward to the inevitable end of the day cranky hr. You know the one that strikes post pool/beach/playdate when everyone is hot, tired and a little hungry and there is nothing good on tv? It's when I try and make dinner and try to stamp out sibling squabbles while juggling fire. Or at least it feels that way.
Which is why I am glad to have High School Musical: The Concert to pop in the DVD. We're watching it a ton this summer. For starters - it was a spectacular show. Check out a clip here. My kids still have not forgiven me for not securing the front row seats that some of their peers scored ( I suspect the parents had to get a second mortgage to finance) but they do feel pretty cool to be amongst the first viewers to have watched the concert on DVD. The exuberance of the performers, catchiness of the tunes and awesome dance moves ensure that this DVD is going to get a lot more play this summer.
Ten minutes into their first viewing, my girls stopped bickering decided to pause the show, and take their no longer cranky selves outside to work on their dance moves. My house was blissfully quiet. This DVD is quite possibly the antidote to the afternoon
I'm a country fan. I have been since I went to college. In Texas. Where its hard not to be swayed to love country. Up north, my kids call my music genre "Cowboy Music." Giving it this nickname was a way to get the boys to listen to someone that wasn't singing about a "Big Red Car" or his love of trash.
"Mom? Can you turn up the music?" "Mom, I want number 4" ..."Can you play Pop Fly again?" ... "Hey Dad, I want SUPER KID!!" 
Baby Einstein: Baby's First Sounds
SpongeBob's Pest of the West
Wonder Pets: Save the Beetles
Accomplished Jazz musician Hayes Greenfield has a pretty large 
A few weeks ago, a friend's little 6 month-old was screaming in her car in the pick up line. The poor mom couldn't seem to calm her. Thinking how much I was enjoying the calming melodies of the music in my car, I quickly grabbed a CD by Rockabye Baby. "Here! Try this! She'll love it." 
Seriously, this is reason to celebrate. Tonight my 4-year-old sat and listened to an audio story for 30 minutes, never moving. He was captivated. 
I love sharing stories with my kids, but I've noticed that in finding new stories, I've tended to ignore a lot of the old classics, so I've been picking up chances to share some old favorites like The Three LIttle Pigs and Goldilocks.
Ever since we opened the DVD, my daughter hasn’t stopped dancing with 
Barney Animal ABC
Snow Buddies
Dora Saves the Mermaids
Springtime Fun
Pingu on the Ice
Bibbidi Bobbidi Boo.....In 
I've got a new favorite site to shop for all my educational games. It's called 
Learning is an Art embraces the philosophy that kids learn best when they are doing something fun, especially with family. Playing games is a natural and effective hands on way to teach that is especially effective for kinesthetic learners. And we all know we remember things better when we enjoy them. The games from Learning is an Art have all been carefully chosen by educational experts. You won't find a dud amongst them. I've bookmarked this site for future use. I know I will be shopping there again and again over the years!
What time is it? It’s time for the release of the much anticipated High School Musical 2: Extended Edition. The entire gang is back and full of infectious music, high energy dancing and an exuberant young cast that created worldwide High School Musical mania and brings back Troy, Gabriella, Sharpay and the entire Wildcat gang in another spectacular musical experience!
Unwinding with the whole family can get stressful at holiday time. Particularly when you want to sit and watch a film. It's a tall order to find a single choice that will entertain everyone from your short-attention-spanned three year old, on up to Grandpa, who wears a hearing aid. But the newly released 
Like many moms, I find my time in the car to be spent being entertained by either my children fighting over who gets to hold Thomas, replays of "Happy Birthday Princess" and "The Curious George Song", and an incessant report of the signs, the weather, the clouds and airplanes. So when I do get a moment of peace, I do enjoy my music, my thoughts, my calm. 
More great stocking stuffers releasing on DVD this week: 
No matter the sport you pleasure, you're likely to find your favorite team represented in a child-friendly DVD. Narrated by a famous fan, 
Inspired by a love of animation and the intent to educate parents and children, a team of Southern California animators formed 
The Muppet Show 2
It's going to be a long hot summer.The newness of summer break has worn off and it has hit me that I still have my 7&10 year old girls at home for the next three-thousand weeks. While I enjoy sleeping in a bit, I am not looking forward to the inevitable end of the day cranky hr. You know the one that strikes post pool/beach/playdate when everyone is hot, tired and a little hungry and there is nothing good on tv? It's when I try and make dinner and try to stamp out sibling squabbles while juggling fire. Or at least it feels that way.
