Brave Books

As I'm sure you've noticed, I'm terribly excited for Brave, coming to theaters this June. Yesterday, I found a plethora of Brave books in the children's department at Barnes & Noble. I must admit that I got a bit carried away and purchased nearly all of them. But they are so cute, and I LOVE the story behind Brave, now that I know more about it. Of course, the books tell the whole story, so there will be few surprises in the movie, but after reading a few of the books, I want to see it even more! So, here are the books that I found.

Brave: The Junior Novelization $4.99 - The Junior Novelization tells the entire Brave story. It is available as a paperback and features 8 pages of glossy pictures from the film. Like other junior novelizations, it is a somewhat condensed version of the story, but includes all of the important points. We haven't read it yet, but it looks pretty good.

Brave Big Golden Book $8.99 - This hardcover Big Golden Book features images straight from the film. It briefly tells the entire Brave story in a manner appropriate for children ages 3-7. The images are absolutely gorgeous and really help to tell the story.


Brave: A Mother's Love $3.99 - If you're anything like our family, you love the Disney Step into Reading books. This level 2 book, perfect for emerging readers, tells the whole story, focusing on the relationship between Merida and her mother, Queen Elinor. It uses pictures from the film to help tell the story.

Brave: Big Bear, Little Bear $3.99 - This level one Step into Reading book is perfect for preschoolers who are just starting to sound out words. It is a book of opposites with few word and large type. The book features pictures from the film, but doesn't tell a story. By contrasting the various characters, kids can learn a little more about the character's personalities.


Brave: A Friend for Merida $3.99 -This 24 page book tells a short story about Merida and her best friend, her Clydesdale Angus. Angus and Merida love their adventures, as long as their together. This book is a square paperback with stylized images inspired by the film.


Brave: Magic in the Mist $6.99 - This 12 page board book has the most adorable pictures! Each page contains a short piece of rhyming poetry and a wonderful secret; each page has a several glow in the dark areas. Just hold them to a light for 30 seconds to charge the glow in the dark feature. The pictures in this book are my favorite of any of the picture books.


Brave Little Golden Book $3.99 - A traditional, hardcover Little Golden Book, this book features the stylized images popular in Disney Little Golden Books. The book briefly covers the whole story.



Brave: Read-Along Storybook and CD $6.99 - This paperback book features pictures from the film and tells the whole story of Brave. The CD includes character voices, sound effects, and word-for-word narration. I haven't listened to it yet, but with the voice talent from the movie narrating the story, I'm sure it will be fantastic.

Brave: Movie Theater: Storybook and Movie Projector $19.99 - This book has a light-up projector that can be removed from front of the book. Five reels each have four pictures that can be projected on the wall, and focused so that they are sharp and easy to see. Numbers to the side of each paragraph tell you which reel and picture to view. The book tells the entire story and uses pictures from the film.


Brave: One Perfect Day $15.99 - This book has the most wonderful stylized pictures of Merida. I absolutely love her wild hair in this book! The hardcover book tells the story of Merida's idea of the perfect day. Her adventures are hilarious and the pictures are a lot of fun. If you like visual books, this one is the perfect choice.


Brave: The Essential Guide $12.99 - A great behind the scenes book for children, this book tells about the characters, locations, and magic behind the story. In typical DK fashion, this book is like a photographic encyclopedia for the world of Brave. The images from the film are surrounded by fascinating trivia and fun.


Brave: Ultimate Sticker Book $6.99 - This softcover book contains over 60 reusable stickers. Each page talks a little bit about the characters as expected from a DK sticker book, and has a Celtic knot work or tartan filled shape to help kids figure out where each sticker should go. I must admit, I'm partial to DK sticker books and have several, although I don't always use the sticker inside the book. I often use them in my scrapbook when character stickers can be difficult to find.

Brave: Look and Find $7.98 - I love Look and Find books, like Where's Waldo. This book features hand-drawn cartoon images inspired by the film. The 8 scenes are fantastic, filled with tons of tiny hidden details in true Disney fashion. My favorite is the scene where the clans have all come together to kill the bear and tiny blue Will o'Wisps are flitting around everyone. They are so cute, like tiny sprites! There are so many things to look at on each page, that this book should keep kids busy for some time.


Brave: Triplet Trouble Watercolor Paint Book $7.99 - This book is filled with line drawings inspired by the film. There are 16 different colored paints and a brush to be used to fill each picture with color. The pages are one-sided and have perforations that make it easy to remove a picture for painting. The pictures feature characters from the books as well as some scenes, like Merida's castle, Castle Dunbroch.

Monsters University Books

I love Disney movie books and they have created a plethora of new books for Monsters University. I got a chance to see several of them recently at my local book store. I must admit, I did buy two, but I stopped at two although there were many great new titles. Here are a few that I think are worth checking out.

Go Sulley! A Hugs Book
This book is so cute! It was created for little ones ages 2 - 5 years. It has soft, furry arms sticking out of the book. Each page tells kids what to do with them, from helping Sulley carry Mike to competing in the Scare Games. I'm sure the preschool set would love this book.


Monsters University Little Golden Book
I can never resist a Little Golden Book. They are so sweet and remind me of my own childhood, so I have quite a few. And I love the way they use simple images when illustrating a Pixar story. This book is no exception. The story of how Mike and Sulley met is told in the perfect manner for kids ages 2 - 5 years.

 

Monster University Fearbook
I love this book! It looks like a real yearbook, complete with notes from friends, class photos, sports, faculty, most likely to..., and more. This is Mike Wazowski's yearbook and all of the notes are personalized as if written by the actual characters in the movie. This would be a fun book to leave out on the coffee table. It would be sure to start a conversation!

 Monsters, Inc Storybook Collection
This book includes 17 different stories about our favorite monsters. The first story is a retelling of the new Monsters University movie. Some of the stories take place in the time between the two films. There is also a retelling of the Monsters, Inc movie. Recommended for children age 3 and up, this would be a great collection for reading as good night stories.


Monsters University Big Golden Book
This is a complete retelling of the new Monsters University film. So, now that I've read it, I know the whole story. I can't say that this ruins the movie for me (I read the Toy Story 3 Golden Book before it came to theaters, too) but if you want to be surprised at the theater, don't read this book first. That being said, this book is full of great pictures and does a wonderful job of telling the ups and downs of Mike and Sulley's friendship.

There are many other Monsters University books out there, but these were my favorites. Be sure to check them out. And if you want a great deal, try Sam's Club. I got the Monster University Fearbook for $8.26 which was $4.73 off the cover price. A pretty good deal if you ask me.

The Captain Jack Sparrow Handbook

I received an awesome new book in the mail the other day. It's called The Captain Jack Sparrow Handbook: A Swashbuckler's Guide from Pirates of the Caribbean by Jason Heller. I must say, this book is absolutely hilarious and a must have for any fan of Pirates of the Caribbean and especially Captain Jack. With a brand new Pirates movie soon to be released in theaters around the world, Pirate mania is at an all time high.

The book begins with this disclaimer:
Ahoy, All Ye Would-Be Pirates, Take Heed: This book is a work of entertainment. The publisher and author hereby disclaim any liability from an injury that may result from the use, proper or improper, of the information contained in this book. We do not guarantee that this information is safe, complete, or wholly accurate, nor should it be considered a substitute for a reader's good judgement and common sense.

Then the fun begins. This book provides insights into the pirate lifestyle, covering everything from the basics of How to Sail a Ship, to more complex issues such as How to Fight Six Angry Men in a Tavern! (In true Captain Jack fashion, the books recommends that you 1. Deflect the blame, 2. Get out of the way, and 3. Don't stick around!) This book features several full color pictures both from previous Pirates of the Caribbean films, as well as a few new photos from On Stranger Tides. There are six chapters full of piratical skills and an appendix of Piratical Lingo.

Chapter One: Piracy 101 - This chapter covers the basics of what a pirate should know about being a pirate, including a section on how to dress the part.

Chapter Two: Maritime Skills - Useful skills such as how to fire a cannon, the many types of Jolly Rogers, and the names for the parts of a ship

Chapter Three: People Skills - From the expected section on how to recruit a crew, to the unexpected on invoking parlay and a list of pirate insults and their meanings.

Chapter Four: Acquiring Booty - Topics include how to acquire treasure as well as how to hide it so that you may keep it.

Chapter Five: Cheating Death - My favorites from this chapter include How to Survive Being Marooned and The Fine Art of Being Somewhere Else!

Chapter Six: Mysteries of the Deep - This last chapter involves dealing with sea monsters, mermaids, curses and Davy Jones.

Appendix: Piratical Lingo - Learn the meaning of common pirate words as well as some that seem more exotic, such as salmagundi: "A makeshift British "recipe" popular among pirates: meat, seafood, vegetables, fruits, roots, nuts, leaves, flowers, oils, vinegars, sauces - just throw in what you've got."

In all, this is a fantastic book full of wonderful illustrations and great ideas for living the pirate lifestyle. Hopefully, with the help of the Captain Jack Sparrow Handbook, you can avoid Jack's mistakes and learn to be a highly successful pirate, perhaps, even the most famous pirate in the Caribbean!

I was provided with a copy of this book by Quirk Books for the purpose of review. All opinions are my own.

William Shakespeare's Tragedy of the Sith's Revenge

I recently received a copy of William Shakespeare's Tragedy of the Sith's Revenge by Ian Doescher. I have seen these Star Wars as told in the style of Shakespeare books several times in recent months, but hadn't read any of them yet. I must admit, even though I have read many of Shakespeare's plays over the years, this book took me a little while to get into. However, once I figured out the flow, it was a fantastic read.

This book is the third in the Star Wars prequels. As such, it tells the tale of the fall of Anakin Skywalker to the Dark Side; a fall that the author has compared to the fall of Othello at the hands of Iago. The book uses Elizabethanan English, interspersed with technical jargon from the Star Wars Universe. While this can be a little jarring at first to the Shakespeare fan, it quickly seems fitting when describing lightsaber battles or strange creatures on distant planets.

I truly enjoyed this book. I was surprised by how lovely the rhyming quatrains between Anakin and Padme are. It makes Anakin's inevitable fall even more heart wrenching. And there is humor in the book as well. I especially enjoyed Yoda's speeches when written in Elizabethan English. Such as:

         "Yet some misgiving
           In mine old green gorge doth rise --
           Fear most unresolv'd."

Somehow, it makes his odd speach patterns even funnier. The illustrations are also wonderful. And each act is marked by an image of Chewbacca in an Elizabethan hat, bearing a standard declaring the act number.

I would highly recommend this book to Star Wars and Shakespeare fans alike. I do believe I will have to find the rest of the series and read them all! If you would like to know more about this book or any of the other titles in the series, please visit the Quirk website. There you will find information about the books, educators' guides, and an interview with the author. William Shakespeare's Tragedy of the Sith's Revenge is available in bookstores today, September 8, 2015.

I was provided with a copy of this book by Quirk Books for the purpose of review. All opinions are my own.

Autographs - An Adventure in Collecting, Part 1

One of my favorite things to do at a Disney park is to collect autographs. I didn't start collecting autographs until I was in my 20's, but the cast members and characters have never seemed to mind that I wasn't a child. My first autograph book was a home-bound stack of pastel papers, cut into 4x6 pieces. I removed the autographed pages when I got home and used them in my scrapbook.

When I went to Disneyland in 2007, I purchased a Disney Pirates of the Caribbean autograph book. It has plain, white pages inside and a skull on the cover. I have used it on multiple trips, marking each autograph with the date and park where it was collected. To use the autographs in my scrapbook, I scan each autograph and print it out sized to fit the appropriate page.

My favorite autograph book is the newest one. It is a Cars autograph book which is spiral bound so that it lays completely flat, unlike the Pirate book which is book bound. It has a pale background and Cars characters around the edges. It is much easier to use because it is flat and can be opened to a blank page and then handed to the character, preventing any fumbling for a blank page.

There are several Dis-Signers on Disboards that have designed some truly awesome autograph books that can be printed out and bound in any way you like. The pages have the characters image and name and a place for them to sign. The only problem with these pages, is you either have to plan out which characters you want to get autographs from, or you have to print all of them out and shuffle to the correct page for each character to sign.

An absolute must for collecting autographs is a pen. I've tried regular ballpoint pens, sharpie markers, and felt tip pens. A good ballpoint is your best bet as the others bleed through the thin paper of most autograph books. While the cute Disney pens are fun, they aren't always reliable. A regular ballpoint, preferably on the fat side to help characters with gloves to get a good grip, decorated with a few stickers if the kids think it's too boring, will give you the best results.

A few of the characters can't sign autographs due to costuming issues: King Louie can't close his hands to hold the pen, however, Buzz Lightyear has a stamp that he will use on autograph books. I would recommend having an autograph book for each child with their name and an "If found, please return to" label with the name of the hotel where you will be staying. That way, if a book is lost, it may be returned.

Finally, don't forget to bring your camera. While the autographs are great on their own, kids enjoy them more if they also have a picture of themselves with the character to go with it. And don't avoid a character just because you already have an autograph. The first time we saw Koda from Brother Bear, he was by himself. The second time we saw him, he had Kenai with him, so we got autographs again so that we could get both bears. As they both signed on the same page, it was fun to have the two different autograph pages.

Also, one trip we saw Belle 3 times on the same day at EPCOT. She was in the exit area for the Mickey and friends Meet'n'Greet. No one else stopped to see her, so we got to spend 5 minutes alone with Belle. Bean loved it! Later in the day, we stopped to see Belle near France. We were hoping to catch her with the Beast, but he was busy "cleaning the castle." About 10 minutes later, the Beast came back out, so we saw him with Belle again. At this point, Bean said, "How come I keep seeing you today?" and Belle said, "Because I enjoy seeing you SO much!" and gave her a hug. It was wonderful!

The Book Of Boba Fett Looks Amazing

All images: Lucasfilm

The first trailer and poster for the latest Star Wars series, The Book of Boba Fett, has arrived and it looks fantastic. 

Here's the official synopsis from Lucasfilm:

“The Book of Boba Fett,” a thrilling Star Wars adventure teased in a surprise end-credit sequence following the Season 2 finale of “The Mandalorian,” finds legendary bounty hunter Boba Fett and mercenary Fennec Shand navigating the galaxy’s underworld when they return to the sands of Tatooine to stake their claim on the territory once ruled by Jabba the Hutt and his crime syndicate. “The Book of Boba Fett” stars Temuera Morrison and Ming-Na Wen.

The Book of Boba Fett arrives on DisneyPlus on December 29th.

The Magic of Storytelling

Disney kicked off their fifth annual Magic of Storytelling recently. This year, they will donate up to one million books to First Book, a nonprofit that gives new books to teachers and low-income families, between now and March 31. A commercial voiced by Emma Watson, who stars as bookworm Belle in the upcoming Beauty and the Beast, launched the campaign. 

The Magic of Storytelling strives to inspire imaginations, encourage a lifelong love of reading, and bring books to underserved communities across America. Families are encouraged to read together during the second annual Disney Reads Day on February 4. Families can read at he or visit a participating Disney Store or Barnes and Noble for story-time, activities, and giveaways. 

Disney will donate one book for each of the following actions:

• One for One Book Donation - purchase an eligible book from the Disney Store or other participating retailers.
• Share a Shelfie - take a "shelfie", a selfie with a favorite book or in front of a bookshelf, using the hashtag #MagicOfStorytelling on Instagram or Twitter
• Disney Story Central - download digital books designed for parents and kids to read together. Disney will donate a book for every book read in the app
• Magic of Storytelling Sweepstakes - enter to win 400 books for your school and a personal library, too.
• Celebrate Disney Reads Day on February 4 - enjoy free family-friendly events: storytime, coloring, activities, and themed "shelfie" stations
• For more information, visit magicofstorytelling.com

In addition to the donations, Disney has created resources for schools to encourage reading in class and at home. They include lesson plans, reading activities, and more.

Star Wars Little Golden Books

I adore Little Golden Books! I love the retro pictures and classic stories. My favorites feature characters from Disney, Marvel, or Star Wars and are perfect for introducing young kids to these stories.

The latest Star Wars Little Golden Books will be released in July, and they look adorable! The four books include: I am a Hero, Heroes and Villains Collection, The Big Golden Book of Starships, Speeders and Space Stations, and The Big Golden Book of Aliens, Creatures, and Beasts. 

I am a Hero includes scenes from Rogue One, A New Hope, The Empire Strikes Back, Return of the Jedi, and The Force Awakens. The book features brave heroes from the saga, such as Luke, Leia, Han, Chewbacca, Finn, Rey, and Poe.

The Heroes and Villains Little Golden Book Collection features six previously released I am a... stories and the new I am a Hero, all in one hardcover volume. The six other titles are: I am a Jedi, I am a Droid, I am a Pilot, I am a Princess, I am a Sith,  and I am a Stormtrooper. 

The Big Golden Book of Starships, Speeders, and Space Stations is packed with stories about the incredible vehicles of the Star Wars Universe: from A-wings to X-wings and Death Stars to Star Destroyers.

The Big Golden Book of Aliens, Creatures, and Beasts contains stories about amazing Star Wars aliens, from banthas and wampas to Ewoks and Wookies.

Star Wars: The Book of Boba Fett Has Arrived

The wait is finally over. The first episode of Star Wars: The Book of Boba Fett has arrived.

Here's the official synopsis from Lucasfilm:

“The Book of Boba Fett,” a thrilling Star Wars adventure teased in a surprise end-credit sequence following the Season 2 finale of “The Mandalorian,” finds legendary bounty hunter Boba Fett and mercenary Fennec Shand navigating the galaxy’s underworld when they return to the sands of Tatooine to stake their claim on the territory once ruled by Jabba the Hutt and his crime syndicate.

Episode one of Star Wars: The Book of Boba Fett is now available on DisneyPlus. New episodes will debut each Wednesday.

The Book Of Boba Fett Has Fantastic Music

Lucasfilm

I really enjoyed The Book of Boba Fett. It is intriguing, and surprising, and occasionally hilarious. And the music is absolutely fantastic!

The Book of Boba Fett is available on DisneyPlus. 

Look Out For The Little Guy!

Marvel

Have you ever wanted to know more about Scott Lang, the man who became Ant-Man? Well, then you're in luck. In Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania, Scott Lang has written a best-selling memoir of his life and he's on a book tour doing readings. And this fall, you'll have a chance to read this book for yourself. What was once a movie prop will soon be an actual book!

Here's a statement from Scott Lang himself regarding Look Out For The Little Guy!

"Once upon a time I was just a guy living a normal life who committed a crime (for the greater good!), unfortunately, went away for a couple of years, got out and became a Super Hero, joined the Avengers, went down to the Quantum Realm, and then came back and saved the universe. You know, typical dad stuff."

"Dive into the pages of my new book, Look Out for the Little Guy, to read all about what it’s like to be the little guy (and sometimes, the very, very big guy) overcoming all the odds to help defeat Thanos."

"Shop Look Out for the Little Guy wherever books are sold, and to my two favorite partners, Hope and Cassie, this one’s for you!"

Look Out for the Little Guy! is available for pre-order with a release date of September 5, 2023. Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania arrives in theaters on February 17th.

Disney Classics, Part 1

I grew up watching what I would call classic Disney films. Swiss Family Robinson, In Search of the Castaways, Summer Magic, Parent Trap, Pollyanna, Bedknobs and Broomsticks; there are many to choose from. These films were all about family, and adventure and making the best of what life gives you while never giving up. Recently, I've introduced Bean to several of my favorites. The following includes spoilers of these classic films.

We started with Swiss Family Robinson. This film is based on a book by a Swiss pastor named Johann David Wyss, who wrote the book to teach his four sons about family values and how to use the natural world around us. It is the story of the Robinson family, Father and Mother, and their three sons, Ernst, Fritz, and Francis.

While moving from Switzerland to New Guinea, the family becomes shipwrecked on a deserted, tropical island. At first, the entire family just hopes to be rescued, but soon realize that they need to start planning for an extended stay on the island. Father, Ernst and Fritz build an amazing tree-house with parts from the shipwreck, including the captain's pipe organ. A replica of the tree-house is still open in the Magic Kingdom at Disney World, and is a lot of fun to walk through.

The family begins to enjoy the island, but wishes to know if they are truly alone. Fritz and Ernst decide to explore the island and discover a band of pirates and their captives, including a girl masquerading as a cabin boy, Bertie. The film ends with a bang, literally, as the family band together to fight off the pirates and protect their home. I have always enjoyed Swiss Family Robinson and am glad that Bean thought it was "one of the best movies ever."

Our next classic was In Search of the Castaways. This film is based on a book by Jules Verne. It's the story of two children, Robert and Mary Grant, who are searching for their shipwrecked father, Captain Grant. They are helped on their journey by a Frenchman, Professor Paganel, played by Maurice Chevalier, who has found a message in a bottle in the stomach of a shark, that seems to have been written by Captain Grant. They bring the message to Captain Grant's boss, Lord Glenarvon and his son John, who reluctantly agree to help them find him based on the information in the message. What ensues is an amazing adventure around the world.

They start in South America, where they experience an earthquake and avalanche, a flood that strands them in a tree, and the heartbreak of not finding Captain Grant. Next, they head to Australia, where they find someone else who says he knows where to find Captain Grant. They end up stranded in New Zealand, captured by Maoris, and must flee the lava field of a volcano before finally being reunited with their missing father. Between the adventure and the songs, I've always loved this movie, and Bean did, too.

These are only two of the great Disney classics, and there are many more classics to explore. Be sure to check out part 2 tomorrow.

"That's What Friends Are For" - The Jungle Book

Disney

I couldn't tell you quite why, but I've found this song to be absolutely hilarious since the first time I heard it as a kid. It's so ridiculous, but it always makes me laugh. So, if you need something to make you smile today, have a listen to those crazy vultures sing "That's What Friends Are For," from The Jungle Book. 

The Jungle Book Photos

Disney has released six stunning images of the voice actors from The Jungle Book alongside their digital characters. The photos are beautiful and each included a quote by the actor about their character. The Jungle Book arrives in theaters on April 15.

Lupita Nyong'o voices Raksha, a mother wolf who cares deeply for all of her pups–including man-cub Mowgli, whom she adopts as one of her own when he's abandoned in the jungle as an infant. "She is the protector, the  eternal mother," says Nyong'o. "The word Raksha actually means protection in Hindi. I felt really connected to that, wanting to protect a son that isn’t originally hers but one she’s taken for her own."

Akela is the strong and hardened alpha-male wolf who shoulders the responsibility of his pack. He welcomes Mowgli to the family, but worries he may one day compromise their safety. "Akela is a fierce patriarch of the wolf pack," says Giancarlo Esposito, who voices the character. "He believes the strength of the pack lies in what each and every wolf offers. He's a great leader, a wise teacher."

Bagheera is a sleek panther who feels it's his duty to help the man-cub depart with dignity when it's time for him to leave his jungle home. "Bagheera is Mowgli’s adoptive parent," says Ben Kingsley, who lends his voice to Bagheera. "His role in Mowgli’s life is to educate, to protect and to guide. My Bagheera was military–he’s probably a colonel. He is instantly recognizable by the way he talks, how he acts and what his ethical code is.”

King Louie is a formidable ape who desperately wants the secret of Man's deadly "red flower”–fire. He's convinced Mowgli has the information he seeks. "King Louie is huge–12 feet tall," says Christopher Walken, who voices the character. "But he's as charming as he is intimidating when he wants to be.”

Voiced by Idris Elba, Shere Khan bears the scars of man, which fuel his hatred of humans. Convinced that Mowgli poses a threat, the bengal tiger is determined to rid the jungle of the man-cub. "Shere Khan reigns with fear," says Elba. "He terrorizes everyone he encounters because he comes from a place of fear."

Kaa is a massive python who uses her voice and hypnotic gaze to entrance Mowgli. The man-cub can't resist her captivating embrace. "Kaa seduces and entraps Mowgli with her storytelling," says Scarlett Johansson. "She's the mirror into Mowgli's past. The way she moves is very alluring, almost coquettish."

The Secret of Kells

I recently discovered a fabulous movie called The Secret of Kells. It is the story of a young boy called Brendan, who live within the walls of Kells. He meets an amazing illuminator from Iona, who has fled to Kells when his abbey was destroyed by the Norsemen. To help brother Aiden finish illuminating the book, Brendan, along with Aiden's white cat Pangur Ban, ventures outside the walls of Kells for the first time. He meets a fairy called Aisling who aids him in his search for berries to use for ink. As the Norsemen move ever closer, Brendan, with the help of Aiden, Aisling, and Pangur Ban, must decide what is more important: following the rules of his uncle and staying inside the walls, or finishing the book, which will enlighten the world in a time of darkness.

The story is great, and the animation, inspired by images within the Book of Kells are beautiful. The movie is a good one for families, although young children may be frightened by the images of the Norsemen and Crom Cruach. If you love Celtic art and stories that blend myth and imagination, then this movie is for you.

Buffy the Vampire Slayer Coloring Book

While wandering through the bookstore the other day, I happened across something unexpected: a Buffy the Vampire Slayer Coloring Book. I still love all things Buffy, some 20 years later, so I had to check it out. The images inside are simple line drawings of characters and scenes with quotes from the show on the opposite page. The drawings are quite good and really capture the Scooby Gang's likenesses. The book is available at bookstores and from Amazon and retails for $14.99.

The Mortal Instruments

A friend loaned me the first three books of the Mortal Instruments series last week and I must say, I'm totally hooked! These books are fantastic! I love the story line and the characters are well written and believable. These books may become my new obsession. So far, I've completed reading the first two books and am nearly done with the third. The only problem with these books is that once you finish one book, you want to move on immediately to the next. I'm sad that there is only one more book to read at the moment. Cassandra Clare has two more books to write to complete the series. Fortunately, much like JK Rowling, she seems to know where she intends to go with the stories.

The stories follow the life of Clary Fray and how everything changes when she meets a certain boy, Jace Wayland. In meeting Jace, a chain of events is set in motion that will lead Clary to question everything she thought she knew about herself and the world around her. Jace, and the family that have taken him in, are Shadowhunters, a secret group of Demon fighters. The monsters humans think are merely fairy tales, are real. There are Demons, Vampires, Werewolves, Warlocks, and the Fey, or Fairies. Drawn into this world almost against her will, Clary must find her place among the Shadowhunters and aid them in their battle to save all of humanity.

I love these books and was excited to learn that they are currently casting for a movie based on the first book. The studio has only announced the casting of the two leads, but more should be released soon. Lily Collins, of the Blind Side, will play Clary. Jamie Campbell-Bower, of Sweeney Todd and the Twilight series, will play Jace. So far, it sounds alright, although I wished they'd picked Alex Pettyfer for Jace because as soon as I saw him in Beastly, I realized that's who I'd pictured. If you like supernatural, teen, romance/adventure books, The Mortal Instruments may be the series for you.

The Book of Boba Fett Is Fantastic

Lucasfilm

I have been surprised and delighted by the many Marvel and Star Wars series that have been a part of DisneyPlus. Each one gives a different glimpse into the untold stories behind a familiar saga. The latest series, The Book of Boba Fett, is truly fantastic. In addition to bringing back everyone's favorite bounty hunter, we returned to Tatooine once again to learn even more about the desert planet with binary suns. Many characters from previous stories, both animated and live-action, appear in this series and they are amazing. I was so excited to see the Mandalorian and Grogu again.

In all, it is a stellar addition to the Star Wars universe. And the finale is the best episode of all! All seven episodes of season one of The Book of Boba Fett are now available on DisneyPlus. I sure hope there's a season 2!

A Christmas Carol

Charles Dickens

One of my favorite holiday stories, either book or movie, is A Christmas Carol. I love the tale of the miserly curmudgeon, Ebeneezer Scrooge, and his unwanted search for redemption. The characters are fantastic, well written and believable and you really feel as if you know them. I read Dickens ultimate Christmas story every year and my Mom and I collect movie versions of the story as well. Bean has watched them pretty much since she was born. One Christmas, after watching the Patrick Stewart version for the millionth time, she ran around saying "I'm the ghost of Christmas NEVER, mwah ha ha ha!" The story of Scrooge has become a favorite Christmas tradition for our family and I look forward to it every year.

Patrick Stewart as Ebeneezer Scrooge

My favorite classic version is the one with Patrick Stewart as Scrooge. Stewart spent several years doing dramatic one-man retellings of the story in New York and Los Angeles. The one-man show is available as a cd and is fantastic. He really gets into the story and does multiple voices and sound effects. I wish I could have seen it live, but I'll settle for listening to it several times a year. The movie is also fantastic, and probably the closest version to Dickens. Another good version is the George C. Scott film, although it takes some liberties with the original. A very old version starring Alister Sim is also available on DVD.

Musical versions are also fantastic. My favorite is Scrooge with Albert Finney. Finney makes a very grumpy Scrooge, but he's a lot of fun to watch. The music is also fantastic and memorable. I especially love the song "Thank You Very Much" and how it changes once Scrooge has learned his lesson. Another great one is A Christmas Carol: The Musical with Kelsey Grammer. This version has a fantastic cast, including: Jane Krakowski, Jason Alexander, and Jennifer Love Hewitt. With music by Alan Menken of Beauty and the Beast fame, this Broadway-style show really shines with Christmas spirit. 

When it comes to children's versions, my favorite is still The Muppet Christmas Carol. I love the Muppets and Michael Caine as Scrooge is fantastic. The Muppet version has my favorite "Ghost of Christmas Present", a large, absent-minded spirit with fascinating hair. The new Disney version starring Jim Carrey in multiple animated roles is also very good. While they have added a bit of adventure to some otherwise simple scenes in the book, it is still a very good retelling of the story.

For smaller children, I love Mickey's Christmas Carol. A short, simple story that introduced the miserly Scrooge McDuck, this is a great way to introduce children to the classic tale. Another cartoon version with voices by Simon Callow, Kate Winslet, Nicholas Cage, and Michael Gambon, takes a lot of liberties with the story, but has a poignant song sung by Kate Winslet. A cartoon version featuring Tim Curry, Michael York, Ed Asner, and Whoopie Goldberg as the "Ghost of Christmas Present".
This version is full of catchy, silly songs, and my favorite is the utterly ridiculous "Santa's Sooty Suit" as sung by Scrooge's nephew Fred. A surprisingly fun children's version is Barbie in a Christmas Carol. With a few Barbie twists, the main character, Eden Starling, is shown how her selfishness hurts those around her. While obvious liberties have been taken with the story, the core lesson of overcoming selfishness and redeeming ones life are still present. For the truly silly, there's even a Scooby-Doo version that is good for a laugh and fun for Scooby lovers. Called "The Nutcracker Scoob", the gang, minus Velma, helps the children of a small orphanage to stop the "Ghost of Christmas Present".

In all, there are a lot of different versions of A Christmas Carol, and many of them are well worth watching. I personally watch at least 6 different ones every Christmas, and I'm always looking for new versions. This year, I plan to read the book to Bean for the very first time. It will take a few weeks as we only read a few pages each night, but it will be well worth it and I can't wait to share Dickens classic story with her as it was originally written.