The Princess and The Frog Releases

MARCH 16TH!

We can not wait to try some of these delicious recipes from Tiana’s Cookbook Recipes for Kids.

Here is one of our favorites…nothing says New Orleans like delicious Jambalaya

Jammin’ Jambalaya

Makes 6 to 8

(pages 26-27 in The Princess and the Frog: Tiana’s Cookbook)

Reprinted from the book DISNEY’S THE PRINCESS AND THE FROG TIANA’S COOKBOOK RECIPES FOR KIDS. Copyright © 2009 Disney Enterprises, Inc. Published by Disney Press, an imprint of Disney Book Group.

INGREDIENTS:

2 tablespoons olive oil

2 boneless, skinless chicken breasts, cut into 1-inch chunks

1/2 pound Andouille sausage, cooked and thinly sliced

1 medium onion, chopped

2 large celery stalks, chopped

1 small bell pepper, seeded and chopped

2 cloves garlic, peeled and chopped

1/4 teaspoon salt

1/8 teaspoon ground black pepper

1 cup canned chopped tomatoes, undrained

2 cups uncooked white rice

4 cups chicken broth

2 teaspoons Worcestershire sauce

1 teaspoon hot pepper sauce

DIRECTIONS:

1. Heat the oil in a large frying pan or pot over medium-high heat. Sauté the

chicken until cooked through, about 5 minutes. Reduce the heat to medium.

2. Stir in the sausage, onion, celery, bell pepper, and garlic. Sprinkle on the salt and

ground black pepper, and stir again. Cook the mixture for 5 minutes, stirring occasionally.

3. Stir in the chopped tomatoes and the uncooked rice. Then stir in the chicken broth. Bring the mixture to a boil.

4. Reduce the heat to low and cover the pan. Simmer the jambalaya until the rice is

tender, about 20 minutes. Stir in the Worcestershire and hot pepper sauces.

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Math Adventure to the Moon

Leap Frog

Join Tad and Lily as they blast off on an exciting educational adventure! Tad and Lily need the perfect collection of things to take to school for their math assignment. When they finally decide on moon rocks, there’s just one problem—how will they get them? With some magical help from their firefly friend Edison, they board a rocket ship to start their quest. Soon the twins learn that math is everywhere, even in outer space! Watch as they use their skills in counting, sorting, skip counting and recognizing patterns to overcome obstacles, find new friends and make the trip back to Earth!

PROGRAM DESCRIPTION

Lionsgate Home Entertainment and top educational toy brand LeapFrog^® have come together to teach beginning math skills in a fun out-of-this world experience with the release of an all-new educational DVD, LeapFrog: Math Adventure to the Moon. The new DVD takes both preschoolers and parents alike on an educational and entertaining mission to the moon where they will learn early math skills like counting, sorting and addition with their old friends Tad, Lily and Edison.

The LeapFrog brand is one of the best-selling and most recommended children’s DVD brands and is considered by moms across the country to be the leading educational toy brand.* The most recent production — Let’s Go to School — was the #1 selling Children’s Non-Theatrical title for two weeks in August 2009**, while LeapFrog DVDs held four of the top 20 spots on the Children’s Non Theatrical sales ranking for four weeks in August and September 2009.*** Continuing on this wave of success, the LeapFrog: Math Adventure to the Moon DVD will be available on February 23, 2010 for the suggested retail price of $14.98.

With more than 120 million educational platforms, books and games in homes worldwide, and multisensory technology in more than 100,000 US classrooms, the LeapFrog learning brand is trusted by parents, valued by teachers and loved by children and the brand proves itself to be a consistently strong seller year after year!

*Source: LeapFrog Brand Tracker, 2/2009 among Moms who have purchased an educational toy in the last 12 months.

**Source:  Nielsen data for children’s non-theatrical sales weeks ending 8/23/09 and 8/30/09.

***Source:  Nielsen data for children’s non-theatrical sales weeks ending 8/23/09-9/13/09.

DVD SPECIAL FEATURES*

• • • • • • • • • • The Sorting Game -help Tad & Lily sort crystals into their correct groups
                  • Four Sing-Along songs
                  • Alphabet Song from Let’s Go to School

We have many Leap Frog products in our home. It is a name I can trust and count on to help my girls learn. I feel that Leap Frog understands one of the great techniques of learning…repetition, repetition and repetition.

It takes a while to learn a new concept (the older you are the longer, it seems) so putting simple math skills to animation and singing allow my girls to grasp and retain the information they are learning.

Math Adventure to the Moon was created with the 3-6 year old age group in mind. While my girls already knew most of the concepts it was a great way to review what they have learned in school. I enjoy hearing them walk around the house singing the little songs that Tad and Lily sing in the DVD. It reminds me that they are obtaining the information.

Math Adventure to the Moon would be a perfect DVD to pick up for your preschooler or Kindergartner….allowing them an introduction into learning…yet, giving them the joy of music, cartoon characters and “friends” with which they can learn.

No wonder…I love Leap Frog!

March 14th is National Math Day!

Review Opportunity Provided by Click Communications
Opinions are strictly those of the blog owner
See my reviews at Amazon.com

Curious George 2

Follow that Monkey

The world’s most beloved and inquisitive monkey is back in Curious George 2: Follow That Monkey, the fun-filled sequel to the hit animated movie. Join Curious George and The Man with the Yellow Hat as they set out on a madcap cross-country adventure to reunite Kayla, a homesick elephant, with her family. This unlikely trio faces all types of comic calamities and colorful characters and in the end, learn that with family, friends and determination, you can achieve anything. Featuring the voices of Tim Curry, Matt Lauer, Jamie Kennedy and Jerry Lewis, Curious George 2: Follow That Monkey, “proves that family, friends – and curiosity – are number one.” (Francine Brokaw, Los Angeles Family Magazine)

Buckle up for an unforgettable experience when Curious George and his friends embark on a hilarious madcap cross country adventure in Curious George 2: Follow That Monkey, an all-new feature-length animated film available only on DVD on March 2, 2010 from Universal Studios Home Entertainment.  Filled with the delightful antics, gentle humor and heartfelt emotion that have captivated the hearts of families around the world, Curious George 2: Follow That Monkey includes a menagerie of entertaining bonus features: Two never-before-seen shows from the all-new TV season on PBS that does not air until Fall 2010, a brand new interactive game, an exclusive music video and more. Curious George 2: Follow That Monkey is priced at $19.95 SRP.

As an added savings value to consumers for a limited time, a $5 grocery cash check card mail-in offer will be included in DVD copies of Curious George 2: Follow That Monkey and the purchase of the DVD includes an instant $3 savings towards any Curious George catalog, TV or DVD title purchased in tandem.

In this sidesplittingly funny and heartwarming sequel to the hit 2006 animated feature, George sets out on a coast-to-coast journey to reunite Kayla, a homesick elephant, with her family . Curious George 2: Follow That Monkeyall-star voice talent including Tim Curry (“The Adventures of Jimmy Neutron: Boy Genius,” Home Alone 2: Lost in New York), Jamie Kennedy (Kickin’ It Old School, Malibu’s Most Wanted), Matt Lauer (“Today Show”), Frank Welker (“Curious George” TV series, “Futurama,”) and comedy legend Jerry Lewis, plus music from legendary songwriter Brian Wilson of the Beach Boys.

BONUS FEATURES

• Two Never Before Seen Bonus Shows from the all-new TV season! See the premiere episode 6 months before it airs!
• Curious George’s Cross Country Caper Game – It’s more fun than a barrel of you-know-what when George and Kayla go on the run with security specialist Marcus Wolfe hot on their trail!  Exciting puzzles lead the way from New York to California so Kayla can visit her brother and sister. But be careful—a wrong answer could bring the Wolfe right to their door!
• Hold On, Here We Go – Exclusive Music Video
• Coloring Pages and Wallpapers
  

Children and parents everywhere have delighted in Curious George’s adventures for nearly seven decades. Created by Margret and H.A. Rey in 1941, Curious George has provided the inspiration for a flourishing line of educational and entertaining properties that includes “Curious George and the Golden Meatball,” an original live musical stage show currently touring the U.S., as well as the popular and critically acclaimed PBS children’s program, a line of original books, interactive games and toys, and an interactive attraction at the Universal Hollywood theme park.

I absolutely, completely and totally am in love with this adorable little monkey. Curious George is the epitome of a fun loving, spontaneous toddler. He has a heart of gold…but trouble seems to find him no matter how good his intentions.

The IE Twins have watched this numerous time and each time have been excited about our adventure. Laughing, cautioning and cheering George on throughout every step of his adventure.

George’s heart of gold leads him to the aid and rescue of a baby elephant. George meets her when The Man With a Yellow Hat takes her (unwillingly) to see a Magic Show. George is enthralled and of course becomes part of the act…only to find a little sad baby elephant.

The rest of the DVD allows you to journey with George and The Man With a Yellow Hat as they find the baby elephant’s family.  A sweet happy ending is offered when the baby finally finds her family.

Definitely a keeper!

DVD Released March 2nd

Review Opportunity Provided by Click Communications
Opinions are strictly those of the blog owner
See my reviews at Amazon.com

The Best Outside Fun Ever!

Hurray for Huckle

I enjoy watching the Busytown friends DVD’s with my twins. It takes me back to my childhood and reading the wonderful Richard Scarry books….of course, now the characters are live and animated.

Watching the series’ DVD’s actually helped my daughters to be interested in reading the character’s books. Anything that will encourage curiosity and reading is great!

There are 6 mysteries (stories) in this DVD:

• Litterbug Busters
• The Playground Grabber Mystery
• The Bank Note Mystery
• The Falling Fruit Mystery
• The Disappearing Swimming Hole
• The Flying Saucer Mystery

Kids will always love cartoons…it’s part of childhood. But, there is a big difference between watching mindless cartoons that show disrespect or attitude as part of the norm versus watching shows that actually make you think.  While the Richard Scary videos are not actual “learning” videos in that they don’t teach ABC’s or 123’s…they are definitely encouraging logical thought.

For instance…our favorite story…Litterbug Busters…actually leads the viewer through a “mystery” trying to discover who is actually littering everywhere. It gave my twins food for thought…as they discussed who could possibly be so messy. Each mystery allows your child to logically think through the process along with the Busytown friends to reach a satisfying ending.

Busytown friends are as wonderful now as I remember them to be.

Review Opportunity Provided by NCircle Entertainment
Opinions are strictly those of the blog owner

Thomas & The Runaway Kite

Thomas and Friends

Hang on tight for a high-flying ride with Thomas & Friends^™ in the all-new Thomas & the Runaway Kite flying onto DVD March 2, 2010 from Lionsgate and HIT Entertainment. There are jobs to be done, visitors to meet and friends to greet in this never-before-seen DVD featuring full CG animation and individual voices for all the engines. All-new content available only on the DVD features live-action host Driver Perkins, who has to rely on a naughty parrot to save the day.

Teaching timeless life lessons such as discovery, friendship and cooperation, the Thomas & Friends animated series invites children to enter a world of imagination through the tracks of a train and the words of a story.

There’s a kite on the loose and Thomas must catch it before the wind blows it from Sodor. With Gordon, Charlie and Toby by his side, Thomas learns that a helping hand keeps him right on track when it comes to rescuing kites, saving a swarm of bees, and preventing railway disasters from taking flight! Hop on board for a high-flying ride with Thomas & Friends^™ in these all-new, never-before-seen train adventures!

Reviewed by: Krista, Mom of 2 year-old Jayden

Thomas the Train isn’t the ideal cartoon video I would choose for my son to watch. It doesn’t have a lot of animation or interactive music to dance to. As an adult, I would expect it to be boring for my son. I would assume he would become uninterested and bored, but this is certainly not the case. My son absolutely loves trains so Thomas is entertaining to him! He loves to watch all the different colored trains racing down the tracks to accomplish whatever they set out to do.

In this specific DVD, there is a kite festival. Right away, my son was intrigued. He loved watching the kids fly the kites in the sky. He kept saying, “Up, Up, Up!” The video explains wind and how it was used to blow away the runaway kite. Thomas chased the kid’s runaway kite because he was the fastest train. When people tried to help Thomas, he refused saying that he is the fastest and can catch the kite himself. When Emily and the other trains tried to help, Thomas refused. He wanted to do it himself because he knew he was the fastest engine.

The kite continued to blow away and Thomas ran out of coal and couldn’t continue on his journey of catching the kite. Charlie, a friend of Thomas, came along to help and Thomas admitted he was silly to try to do it on his own. He agreed to let Charlie help him and the trains worked together to catch the kite.

This is a good lesson for children. They might be really good at a specific thing, but it doesn’t mean they shouldn’t let other people help them. It shows that good friends work together.

DVD Released March 2nd

Review Opportunity Provided
by Andrea Blain PR, HIT Entertainment and Lionsgate
Opinions are strictly those of the blog owner and her affiliates

Egg-Cellent Adventures

Barney and Friends

Your search for tee-riffic fun with Barney & Friends™ is over! Baskets full of egg-citement abound when Mother Goose, a nest full of eggs, and a mysterious, carrot-eating visitor bring super-Dino adventures to the whole family. Hop along for the super-dee-duper™ adventures with Barney and his friends!

Reviewed by: Krista, Mom of 2 year-old Jayden

Barney is a fun and energetic Dinosaur from the kid’s imagination but this DVD does a great job of incorporating real animals. It not only describes the animal, it shows pictures of the animal and shows video clips of how that animal runs, swims, hops, or jumps. Animal sizes are discussed and different types of animal sounds are practiced.

A mystery is revealed when BJ, Baby Bop, and Barney, along with the children try to find out what took a bite out of Baby Bop’s apple. Cute songs and dances are done to help children learn about different animals. The characters of this DVD pretend to go in the jungle to experience the animals that live in the jungle.

My son enjoyed this video because of the engaging songs and dances. At one point in the DVD, the characters invite the audience to jump and hop like a rabbit or kangaroo. My son was dancing around the living room, and hopping when Barney said to hop. This is a great DVD for kids who are kinesthetic learners. My son struggles with jumping, but this gave him practice for trying it because he wanted to be like Barney and the other children in the video.

I also appreciated the song explaining the importance of taking care of pets. Barney explained that pets are important and need special attention and care. He also expressed that pets can be a lot of work. This helps children of an older age understand that a pet needs food and water and not just time to play. It helps teach the responsibility that is required with having a pet.

This DVD focused on eggs and rabbits, a great gift idea for Easter!

DVD Releases March 2nd

Review Opportunity Provided
by Andrea Blain PR, HIT Entertainment and Lionsgate
Opinions are strictly those of the blog owner and her affiliates

The Best of Bob the Builder

Bob the Builder

Enjoy over 3 hours of Bob the Builder action in this super cool The Best of Bob the Builder DVD.

With 10 great episodes that feature nearly three hours of nuts and bolts action, aspiring builders can revisit their favorite adventures with Bob, Roley, Dizzy, Muck, Scoop and the rest of the Can-Do Crew. Ready to tackle any project, Bob the Builder and his machine team demonstrate teamwork, positive thinking and the importance of getting the job done right. Can they build it? Yes They Can!

Reviewed by: Krista, Mom of 2 year-old Jayden

What does every little boy love? Tools and Tractors! Bob the Builder snags the attention of the viewer by starting out with a catchy song about Bob the Builder. The song introduces the Tractor, Dump Truck, and Bob himself. The song talks about working together to get things done and when a group of friends work together, anything is possible!

The tractors and big machines have fun names such as, “Scoops, Lofty, Muck, Dizzy, and Rolly.” They play together like good friends should.

In this episode Lofty, the tow truck, is nervous and scared of everything. He starts feeling bad and feels as if he is no help to anyone. He cries and goes off on his own. Lofty explains that he is afraid of everything and this doesn’t help anyone. Wendy, the human character, explains that it is okay to be scared. This is a great lesson for all kids! I want my son to understand that it is okay to be scared and that he can accomplish his fear. This episode teaches just that!

There is scarecrow that plays the trickster in this show. He teases Lofty and plays the part of a “Bully.” The scarecrow’s name is Spud. Spud is very mean to Lofty and chases Lofty away. Then…a good lesson is taught. Spud gets stuck in a tree and no one but Lofty can save him. Lofty puts his feeling aside and agrees to help the scarecrow that has been bullying him. Lofty is afraid of heights but becomes brave to help his bully.

Even though people can be cruel and mean, it is still important to put feelings aside and do the right thing. In the end, Spud apologizes to Lofty and they become friends. This is the type of lesson I want my son to understand and put into practice. Thanks Lofty!

Review Opportunity Provided
by Andrea Blain PR, HIT Entertainment and Lionsgate
Opinions are strictly those of the blog owner and her affiliates