In the season of newsworthy remakes (Spike Jonze’s hipster ode to Where the Wild Things Are, Tim Burton’s forthcoming Alice in Wonderland) it's hard to know which films you’re supposed to be dragging the kids to, and which ones you’re supposed to steal away to watch by your nostalgic lonesome. Wes Anderson’s stop-action remake of the Roald Dahl book Fantastic Mr. Fox (now playing in select cities, opening nationwide on Thanksgiving) is the clear winner of this brood: its silly, imaginative, stylish world is for absolutely everyone.
Mr. Fox (George Clooney) spends his life outwitting 3 local farmers -- very different men who share an equal hate for Fox. A life of sinking his chops into live chicks dead-ends in domestication when he falls for Mrs. Fox (Meryl Streep), swears off his life of daring-do, and becomes a newspaper columnist. Alas, animal nature is too strong: One night, he feeds the watchdogs laced blueberries, slides into the coop, and back into a familiar life of crime.
It's a real joy to see Anderson’s style expressed though animation, and every intricate detail has his stamp, from the retro corduroy suit dawned by a Mr. Fox to the smart bluegrass soundtrack. The take-homes are heartfelt, not mushy: Accept your family the way they are, know your true nature, and if you break into a grocery store, remember to do a little dancing before you leave.
Photo courtesy of us.penguingroup.com
Plus: Check out this clip featuring the song "Let Her Dance" from the Fantastic Mr. Fox soundtrack!
Of course, you want your child to love books...have you heard of
animated books? Not cartoons, but story books brought to life on DVD.
There are 38 titles available at Moving Picture Books, including classics like On Top of Spaghetti and Princess and the Pea.
You can choose to have the text read aloud or not, depending on your
child’s age and development. These are a really cool new way to enjoy
books with your kids. The best part is the books are available as
digital downloads for easy syncing to your iphone, itouch, or
video-enabled ipod. And coming soon: books on microSD cards, to work
with mobile phones.
Sounds like a supermarket-meltdown diverter to me.
Every child has that book that they make their parents read to them over and over again, until they memorize it and fool everyone into thinking they can read. Mine was Madeline. To this day, I can spew the rhythmic verses about the twelve little girls in two straight lines.
So I was star-struck to meet John Bemelmans Marciano, the author's grandson, who has recently written and illustrated the newest Madeline book, Madeline and the Cats of Rome. I was almost worried to read it -- could a new Madeline book hold a candle to the original? As I sat reading on the subway to meet Marciano in Brooklyn, I was overcome with memories of my mom and dad reading to me. The new book stays true to the most beautiful, distinctive aspects of the original, with added, unique charm.
There are a lot of kids' cookbooks out there, but Handstand Cookbook Kits have a little bit of everything -- they each feature the cuisine from around the world and incorporate the country's language and culture with colorful illustrations. The kits are adorable; the Chinese Cookbook comes packaged in a takeout box with a pair of child-friendly chopsticks. We think it'd be a great way to get your kid to be a little more adventurous with food. He might not think he likes "chow mein noodles", but "chocolate noodle clusters" sound much more delicious! Below is an excerpt from The Handstand Kids Chinese Cookbook. Check out the Mexican and Italian kits, too.
The Emperor's Favorite Treat, Chocolate Noodle Clusters Serves 8 to 10
Tools:
Measuring cups
Medium microwaveable bowl
Large mixing bowl
Rubber spatula
Nonstick baking sheet
2 soup spoons
Instructions:
1. Line a baking sheet with wax paper, parchment paper, or aluminum foil.
2. Melt the chocolate chips and butter together in a microwave-safe bowl in a microwave oven, stirring every 30 seconds. Heat just until the chocolate is melted and the mixture is smooth.
3. In a large mixing bowl, toss the noodles and peanuts together. Pour the melted chocolate mixture over them and stir. Use a rubber spatula to coat the noodles and nuts with chocolate quickly before the chocolate hardens.
4. Use 2 soup spoons to scoop up spoonfuls of the mixture and place on the prepared baking sheet. Set the baking sheet in a cool place or refrigerate for 15 minutes until the chocolate hardens.
5. The clusters can be stored in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 1 month.
Alternative: Try using different types of nuts. You can also leave out the nuts and just use the chow mein noodles!
You know those adorable DIY glossy brag books you can order online? Well, imagine all your kid's treasured Art projects in one, professionally produced, coffee-table-style book.
Just clear all those paintings off your 'fridge, scan the art, save the files on your computer, upload the images at MyPublisher.com, customize your book, and that's it!
What a cute idea for Father's Day. (Or any day! What grandparent wouldn't love one of these?) And they have a short turnaround time for shipping – just 4 days – so it's a great solution for last minute shoppers!
Shawn: "Sure, it helps to know what a mucus plug is, but mostly guys need books that offers simple, streamlined, practical info that doesn't get bogged down with a lot of 'medical diagrams' or 'compound sentences.' Well have I got the book for you, Pops." Updated frequently.
