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The Velveteen RabbitThis is a newer edition of the classic tale about a young boy who receives a cuddly toy rabbit in his Christmas stocking. The boy takes the rabbit everywhere, including outside to play, where the toy meets real live rabbits. The “real” rabbits tease the toy because he can’t run and play. The rabbit feels sad because he believes that he is “real.” One day, the boy comes down with Scarlet Fever and anything that touched his bed, including the rabbit, must be burned to get rid of the dangerous virus. The rabbit gets tossed into a sack with other items and put in the garden shed. That night,…
Lalaloopsy: Sew Magical! Sew Cute!Lalaloopsy: Sew Magical! Sew Cute! allows kids to explore the Lalaloopsy world as one of their favorite Lalaloopsy characters. All 12 dolls in the real-world product line are included in the game as playable characters so kids can select from such favorites as Mittens Fluff ‘N’ Stuff, Crumbs Sugar Cookie (my personal fav.), Tippy Tumblelina, Bea Spells and the rest as they set out on such adventures as finding their pets and growing flowers.
LEGO Harry Potter: Years 5 - 7We said goodbye to Harry Potter in J.K. Rowling’s books and then the Warner Bros. movies, so it looks like it’s time to say goodbye to Harry and friends in the LEGO video games. LEGO Harry Potter: Years 5-7 continues the adventure that was launched in Years 1-4. The game takes us through the final three books and last four films of the Harry Potter franchise. Once again, the world of Harry Potter has been recreated in LEGO style, and the game plays out as an adventure title with puzzle-solving elements throughout each level.
Holiday 2011 Round-UpA true joy for this time of year is snuggling up with the kids and reading some favorite holiday stories. Every family has books that they cherish and reread many times throughout the season. While it’s fun to rediscover holiday books that have been packed away for the past eleven months, it’s also a great time to pick up some new ones at the library or bookstore. Following are some books we’ve recently discovered, plus an all-time favorite. For even more choices, check out last year’s list as well. Here’s to a joyous holiday season and healthy New Year to all!
Fisher Price Laugh and Learn Apptivity CaseAn iPhone/ITouch case holder that is basically indestructible and allows your child to use their apps on it.
Disney UniverseDisney Universe is the first video game to bring together characters and worlds from both animated and live action films. This multiplayer game has players select a costume for their avatars based on popular characters from Disney Animation Studios, Pixar Animation Studios and Walt Disney Pictures. Once costumes are selected, players are dropped in a setting based on a scene from a Disney or Pixar movie and are tasked with battling enemies, solving puzzles and accomplishing tasks in order to progress through the game.
The Nutcracker Ballet by AleksandraThis new release is a picture book adaptation of the classical ballet, “The Nutcracker.” The traditional story has been abridged, and the authors have added a feature that is designed to stimulate conversation between parents and children on the themes within the story. With that in mind, the book has been designed for co-reading the story, and adults are encouraged to open dialogue with their children about various character building themes, including manners, showing respect and helping others, among others. This can help young people to appreciate and understand the story on a deeper level, whether or…
HugoHugo (Asa Butterfield) has a milky pale complexion and sharp blue eyes. The first is at least partly because he lives inside the walls at the Gare Montparnasse in Paris; the second he uses to watch everything and everyone he can, from inside those walls. Indeed, Hugo begins as he’s looking out at the bustling train station floor: travelers carry their suitcases or sip coffee at a café, men get their shoes shined and a live band plays pop tunes. And the station inspector Gustav (Sacha Baron Cohen) makes his rounds, his leg brace squeaking and his Doberman pinscher sniffing.
The MuppetsWalter loves his brother Gary. As you see in the early montage moments of The Muppets, they grow up in a suburban idyll, all wide smiles and freckles, backyard pools and chocolate-covered Oreos in front of the TV. But as the boys grow up, Walter discovers they’re growing apart, literally. Gary grows up tall and strapping, like a human boy (the tall version played by Jason Segel), while Walter stays short and fuzzy, like a Muppet (voiced by Peter Linz).
Milly And The Macy’s ParadeYoung Milly’s father worked at Macy’s Herald Square department store, one of the most exciting places in New York City back in 1924. “Papa” emigrated with his family from Poland and missed his country’s holiday traditions. It turns out that many of the immigrant workers had the same homesick feelings. Milly had an idea to cure the workers’ homesickness and bravely barges into Mr. Macy’s office to share her thoughts. Her idea was a parade that would be put on by Macy’s workers, who could each incorporate some of their homeland traditions. Mr. Macy liked the idea and…
