Celebrate Christmas and Hanukkah with a collection of funny and festive poems from the author of the hugely popular Kindergarten, Here I Come!
D.J. Steinberg, humorous poet for kids and author of many award-winning children’s books, is back with two new installments in his bestselling Here I Come series: Christmas, Here I Come (PRH/Grosset & Dunlap; 10/12/21; ISBN: 978-0593094242; Paperback $5.99; Ages 4-6; 32 pages) and Hanukkah, Here I Come (11/9/21; ISBN: 978-0593094266).
Christmas, Here I Come
It’s the most wonderful time of the year, and everyone is getting into the Christmas spirit! From writing letters to Santa to picking the perfect tree, these heartwarming poems — plus a page of stickers! — from author D. J. Steinberg are sure to delight even the most sullen Scrooge.
with pictures of Saint Nicholas.
My sweater’s just ridiculous
with pictures of Saint Nicholas.
The right sleeve sports a massive hole.
It smells like green bean casserole.
It’s so big, it’s preposterous.
It might fit a rhinoceros.
But my sweater’s still the snuggliest—
who cares if it’s the ugliest?!
Hanukkah, Here I Come
The candles are lit and the latkes are frying — Hanukkah is here! Welcome in the holiday with poems — and a sheet of stickers! — from author D. J. Steinberg that highlight the family fun, dizzying dreidels, and mighty Maccabee stories that Hanukkah is sure to bring.
Gelt are special Hanukkah coins, and no other coins can beat ’em, ’cause they’re the only kind in the world that you can unwrap and eat ’em!
PJ Library, known for sending free books that celebrate Jewish values and culture to children worldwide, will launch PJ Library Presents, a podcast network featuring two new free podcasts for kids this fall. “Afternoons with Mimi” and “Beyond the Bookcase” both bring well-known stories of all types to life in a fun new way that connects them to Jewish traditions, culture, holidays, and values. On the go or at home, families can now listen to Jewish stories everywhere with PJ Library Presents podcasts.
First up from the storytellers at PJ Library comes an afternoon with the ultimate storyteller: everyone’s favorite warm and spunky grandmother, Mimi. Kids 2 to 5 and their families are invited to listen to the “Afternoons with Mimi” podcast and join Mimi for an afternoon of snacks and stories ranging from favorite PJ Library books to Jewish folktales and new original fables that will capture the imaginations of young and old alike. “PJ Library Presents: Afternoons with Mimi” premieres on October 4, 2021 on pjlibrary.org/podcast and your favorite podcast streaming platforms.
Next, PJ Library Presents “Beyond the Bookcase.” Developed for kids ages 6 to 12, “Beyond the Bookcase” features the serialized adventures of intrepid siblings Micah and Miri and their friends as they explore the magical land of Mashal, where familiar fairy tales come to life in unexpected and hilarious ways – weaving Jewish holidays and traditions with an exciting mystery that unravels week after week, “PJ Library Presents: Beyond the Bookcase” premieres October 18, 2021 also on pjlibrary.org/podcast and your favorite podcast streaming platforms.
The newest collection from the folks at shopDisney is the Designer Collection. Kicking off this limited series is Jasmine.
The Disney Designer Collection is proud to introduce the Ultimate Princess Celebration, a limited edition series of dolls carefully crafted by artists across The Walt Disney Company. As inspiration for our Jasmine doll, Mark Monterroso uses the rich scenery of the Sultan’s Palace to present her as a modern, radiant jewel of a collector’s wish come true!
This 14” doll features amazing intricate detailing and bold colors from head to toe. The doll will be available for $129.99 and comes in a collector’s box fit for royalty.Keep an eye out for a new doll launching each month as part of the Disney Designer collection which will include15beloved heroines dressed in the most elegant and fashionable designs.
Ron’s Gone Wrong is the story of Barney, a socially awkward middle-schooler, and Ron, his new walking, talking, digitally connected device, which is supposed to be his “Best Friend out of the Box.” Ron’s hilarious malfunctions set against the backdrop of the social media age launch them into an action-packed journey in which boy and robot come to terms with the wonderful messiness of true friendship.
Ron’s Gone Wrong opens in theaters October 22, 2021
Julia tells the story of the legendary cookbook author and television superstar who changed the way Americans think about food, television, and even about women. Using never-before-seen archival footage, personal photos, first-person narratives, and cutting-edge, mouth-watering food cinematography, the film traces Julia Child’s surprising path, from her struggles to create and publish the revolutionary Mastering the Art of French Cooking (1961) which has sold more than 2.5 million copies to date, to her empowering story of a woman who found fame in her 50s, and her calling as an unlikely television sensation.
She’s back! Maya the Bee returns with her best friend Willy for their third feature film. Maya the Bee 3: The Golden Orb is a fun adventure for the entire family.
Maya is an energetic, good-hearted little bee but sometimes she manages to cause havoc. That’s exactly what happens when she excitedly tries to wake up the hive for the first day of spring. But Maya and Willy accidentally cause a disaster in the hive and the Queen decides they should be separated. This disastrous duo can only stay together if they do something very special, so Maya and Willy set out to find something they can do that will endear them to the Queen.
They come across a green ant that entrusts them with a sacred regal orb. They are tasked to deliver it safely to a specific location. So Maya immediately and eagerly takes on this adventure unaware of the dangers that lie ahead. Willy, on the other hand, is a little apprehensive. After all, he doesn’t have the courage that Maya has, but he does have a big heart.
They quickly discover the beetles that have moved into the area want the orb. The beetles and the ants do not get along, although the ants insist they can live together in peace. The beetles, on the other hand, disagree and want to vanquish the ants from their territory.
The orb turns out to be an egg and it hatches along the way. This adorable little baby is the ant princess and Maya names her Smooshy. Smooshy bonds immediately with Willy who at first dismissed the little ant, but soon falls under her spell. She is an innocent little baby and it’s up to Willy and Maya to get her safely to her family.
Along the way they face one obstacle after another, with the beetles hot on their tail. But knowing Maya, she will never give up until she delivers little Smooshy safely to her home. In the end, they all discover that the ants and beetles can work together and live together in harmony. This is all thanks to Maya and Willy.
Maya is absolutely adorable. She’s full of energy, love, compassion, and optimism. This third film in the franchise lives up to the others. It is fun, full of music, and entertaining for the whole family.
Maya the Bee 3: The Golden Orb is not rated however it is suitable for everyone. It is available on DVD.
About the Author
Francine Brokaw has been covering all aspects of the entertainment industry for over 25 years. She also writes about products and travel. She has been published in national and international newspapers and magazines as well as Internet websites. She has written her own book, Beyond the Red Carpet The World of Entertainment Journalists, is the entertainment correspondent for Good Day Orange County, and has her own TV show, Beyond the Red Carpet, on Village Television in Orange County. She is a longstanding member of the Los Angeles Press Club and the Television Critics Association and is accredited by the MPAA. Follow her on Twitter.
Attention future astronauts, space lovers, and everyone who is awed by man’s journeys away from Earth, Among the Stars is a fascinating documentary airing on Disney+. There have been many successes and failures throughout the decades and there have been relationships forged by missions into space. The cooperation between several countries have combined to bring space exploration, new discoveries, and hopes for the future to our little planet.
This documentary examines all the elements that go into space missions. From the crucial folks on the ground to the brave people who put their lives in their hands, this is a fascinating series. Check it out on Disney+ and if you do not have that streaming service, this might be the right time to look into subscribing. Space…it’s out there!
About the Author
Francine Brokaw has been covering all aspects of the entertainment industry for over 25 years. She also writes about products and travel. She has been published in national and international newspapers and magazines as well as Internet websites. She has written her own book, Beyond the Red Carpet The World of Entertainment Journalists, is the entertainment correspondent for Good Day Orange County, and has her own TV show, Beyond the Red Carpet, on Village Television in Orange County. She is a longstanding member of the Los Angeles Press Club and the Television Critics Association and is accredited by the MPAA. Follow her on Twitter.
DreamWorks Animation’s (DWA) larger-than-life CEO-in-training, The Boss Baby, is available for personalized video bookings on Cameo.The wildly popular franchise from DreamWorks Animation was born in 2017 with the Oscar®-nominated blockbuster film The Boss Baby, which went on to spawn the top, most-viewed DreamWorks Animation TV original series The Boss Baby Back in Business, and this summer’s smash Universal Pictures’ film, The Boss Baby: Family Business, which currently continues its worldwide rollout.
The Boss Baby’s video greetings are made possible through a combination of DreamWorks Animation’s unparalleled custom-animation team and technology from Hour One, an end-to-end cloud-native video creation platform powered by AI.
The Boss Baby is now available to book on Cameo. To order a personalized video from The Boss Baby, visit https://www.cameo.com/bossbaby.
If your child loves The Boss Baby, this is a cute way to add some fun, cheer up someone, ore reward a job well done.
The short film Blush is a special one for writer/director Joe Mateo. It is a tribute to his late wife Mary Ann and if this sweet little film doesn’t touch your heart, you have a heart of stone.
The story is about a young horticulturist astronaut who crashes on a strange, uninhabited, little planet. Soon he has another visitor. This ethereal young woman also crashes her ship on the planet. She ends up helping the guy with his plants. She has a special way with living things. As their relationship grows they make the planet into their own Garden of Eden.
Soon the couple has two young girls and the entire family enjoys all that they have created. They are a loving and happy family of four. But something happens to shake up their idyllic life.
There is no dialogue in the short 14-minute film. There does not have to be. It is absolutely perfect just the way it is. It is interesting how animated characters can touch our emotions so deeply, but they certainly do.
SPOILER ALERT: This is a personal story for Mateo who lost his wife and made this film to commemorate their life, love, and show how he and his daughters healed after the loss of their mother and wife. It is a touching story that will undoubtedly bring a tear to viewers’ eyes or put a lump in their throats.
Blush can be seen on Apple TV+.
About the Author
Francine Brokaw has been covering all aspects of the entertainment industry for over 25 years. She also writes about products and travel. She has been published in national and international newspapers and magazines as well as Internet websites. She has written her own book, Beyond the Red Carpet The World of Entertainment Journalists, is the entertainment correspondent for Good Day Orange County, and has her own TV show, Beyond the Red Carpet, on Village Television in Orange County. She is a longstanding member of the Los Angeles Press Club and the Television Critics Association and is accredited by the MPAA. Follow her on Twitter.
What do you get when you mix a little The Truman Show, The Twilight Zone, and Ralph Breaks the Internet? The answer is Ryan Reynolds in Free Guy.
There are so many people addicted to online gaming. Even the hit sitcom The Big Bang Theory dedicated several episodes to this. Do you remember when Penny was so addicted to the game and her character? Well, in this new movie that is only the tip of the iceberg.
The movie is a video game inside a feature film. Ryan Reynolds is Guy, a bank teller in a city ridden with crime. Every day is the same thing. But then he discovers he is only a superficial character in a video game and is not real. Well, he is real enough for the game but his life can only exist within the game.
It turns out the main code for the game was stolen by a corrupt tech guy named Antwan (Taika Waititi). But the real inventors of the code, Millie and Keys (Jodie Comer and Joe Keery) want their share of the profits from this worldwide Internet sensation. Millie’s game character interacts with Guy and she realizes his AI character is actually becoming sentient.
Guy discovers he must go from being a meek non-starter to the hero to save his friends from ultimate destruction. While doing so, he is confronted by a larger, more intimidating version of himself. This guy (Dude, played by Aaron W Reed) is a tough obstacle but guy forges through.
There are several bonus features on the disc. Besides deleted and extended scenes, there is a gag reel and other features that delve into the making of the show and the action. One of the most interesting bonus features is called “Dude vs. Guy” in which the filmmakers show how Reynolds confronted his double and how they filmed those scenes. Instead of simply using CGI to add a second, more bulky Reynolds, they turned to a professional body builder and then substituted Reynolds’ face into the film to look like he was fighting with himself. Director Shawn Levy takes viewers through several aspects of the story and the making of the film and explains how the project began.
In this high tech world of AI, it’s not too far fetched to think artificial intelligence could evolve to be feeling, thinking, free beings. Just ask Siri.
Free Guy is rated PG-13 for strong fantasy violence throughout, language, and crude/suggestive references. It’s available on Blu-ray, 4K, and DVD beginning October 12, 2021. Don’t have a good day. Have a great day!!
About the Author
Francine Brokaw has been covering all aspects of the entertainment industry for over 25 years. She also writes about products and travel. She has been published in national and international newspapers and magazines as well as Internet websites. She has written her own book, Beyond the Red Carpet The World of Entertainment Journalists, is the entertainment correspondent for Good Day Orange County, and has her own TV show, Beyond the Red Carpet, on Village Television in Orange County. She is a longstanding member of the Los Angeles Press Club and the Television Critics Association and is accredited by the MPAA. Follow her on Twitter.
