Description - A documentary that tells the story of America's addiction to oil, from its corporate conspiracy beginnings to its current monopoly today, and explains clearly and simply how we can end it - and finally win choice at the pump. Directors: Joshua Tickell and Rebecca Harrell Tickell. Write: Johnny O'Hara. Starring Adhemar Altieri, Dr. Greg Anderson, Edwin Black, John Hofmeister, Elon Musk and Luiz In�cio da Silva.
KIDS FIRST!® Adult Jurors say - PUMP is an eye-opening documentary that tells the story of America's addiction to oil, from its corporate conspiracy beginnings to its current monopoly today, and explains clearly and simply how we can end it and finally win choice at the pump. This film is well researched and easy to understand. The directors, Joshua and Rebecca Tickell won a Sundance award for their 2008 documentary Fuel. They have honed their skills and come across stronger than ever. This film is a wake up call offering alternatives that you can implement today and help break the oil monopoly. Appearances are made by John Hofmeister, Elon Musk and Luiz In�cio da Silva. KIDS FIRST! Film Critic Keefer Blakeslee comments, "The purpose of this film is to spread the word that oil is not the only source of fuel for the U.S." Gerry Orz adds, "This film should be seen by everyone who thinks we pay too much for gas and appreciates how it negatively affects all aspects of our lives." See their comments in the youth comment section.
KIDS FIRST!® Kid Jurors say - Riveting! This film examines the story of oil addiction in America. The question is, do we have a choice of fuel?The purpose of this film is to spread the word that oil is not the only source of fuel for the U.S. I'm guessing parents out there love their cars and know that gas prices are the highest they've been in years. In order to take your child to school, you need to pay and pump expensive gasoline. Or, do you? This film shows that we can have a choice about fuel. Fuel is available that is safer, better for the air and cheaper. Pump proves these ideas with intriguing facts and mind-boggling statistics.
This movie's focus is not about which fuel is better. This documentary provides information about alternative fuels such as ethanol, methanol, natural gas and even electric. Each one has its pros and cons, but just being able to have the ability to choose is what moves this production along.
We hear extremely intellectual interviews with people who are strong about the subject. My only criticism is that the audience for this film is not young kids. Teens who are driving or those starting driver's education will find this important enough to watch. While I found the subject interesting, I do not think kids from 7 to 13 care about the big oil epidemic.
My favorite part is when we see the comparison of air pollution with regular gasoline and methanol, also known as "Wood Alcohol." Dr. Robert Zubrin conducts an experiment where he ignites both fuels. We see that methanol is clean and leaves no residue while gasoline is the opposite. It made me realize what we put in the air every time we run a gasoline engine.
My favorite person interviewed is Luiz Inacio Da Sliva, 35th president of Brazil. The movie states, "under Da Sliva's leadership, Brazil's economy grew by the trillions." He did something that no other country has ever done, achieve complete independence from foreign oil. He gave Brazil the choice of gasoline and ethanol. Da Sliva is what you might call a dreamer. He states, "I believe we will conquer this. I believe the world will learn to live without oil."
This film wants to expose U.S. citizens to the idea of having a choice. We know that there are other forms of fuel and you might think we would use them. This idea was introduced in 2006 with the "Open Fuel Standard Act." Sadly, it never left a committee for a vote. The reason being, that members of the Congress receive 32 million dollars in campaign contribution from big oil.
I give this film 5 out of 5 stars and recommend it to 14 to 18-year-olds. This film shows a great message and an even more amazing vision. This film was released September 12 so check your local theaters.
Reviewed by Keefer Blakeslee, KIDS FIRST! Film Critic, age 14
This movie shows you the real, untold story behind oil usage, what we can do about it and how it affects real people. Pump is a film that shows the truth about the current oil crisis and the start of an oil movement.
This film has intensity wrapped together with a side of history and, of course, an educational aspect. All that while still presenting an entertaining documentary.
This examines our love for oil since the first automobile - our highs and our lows in oil history, the people who it affects and the people who are happily profiting from it. We see the businesses that have fallen and others that rose. Most importantly, this movie shows what we can do to stop this oil epidemic and make things better in U.S. as well as around the world.
I believe this film has a great message. We also see a story and a timeline based of the history of oil usage. The part where they describe how to adapt your car for healthier and cheaper fuel by just clicking on the computer is very exciting. But then, 20 minutes later, they mention it is illegal. I wish they pointed out this little detail right in the initial scene.
My favorite part which shows people trying to stop oil-dependency is when they talk about all these electric cars and natural gas cars and how hundreds of cars today can run on multiple fuels, if not all the cars. You know if you are using more than fuel in your car RIGHT NOW if you check your fuel tank cap. If it is orange, you have one of those special cars.
This film should be seen by everyone who thinks we pay too much for gas and appreciates how it negatively affects all aspects of our lives. There is a little bit of action, so I recommend it for ages 8 to 18. I also give it 5 out of 5 stars for its message and desire to make things better. I always admire those that stand by what is right.
Reviewed by Gerry Orz, KIDS FIRST! Film Critic, age 12.
Juror Recommended Age: 10-18
Suggested Retail Price: $
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I SPY UNIVERSE FOR NINTENDO DS - SCHOLASTIC ENTERTAINMENT
Series: VIDEOGAME, AGES 5-8
Description - Players search for and find objects located on twelve photorealistic planets to reach and re-power the sun. Players unlock and explore the universe by finding over 400 objects in 36 I SPY riddles, playing six brain-teasing games.
KIDS FIRST!® Adult Jurors say - Great game for early school-aged kids. Especially helpful in early reading skills, and the words are displayed on the screen, and also can be read. The hint option/function is helpful and can keep a player from being frustrated. By successfully locating the hidden objects, the player can unlock games that involve critical thinking skills. As a fan of the I SPY books, this is a great alternative for a generation of computer savvy kids. Helps children to develop visual-motor skills and critical thinking. They can feel accomplished as they complete different levels. There is no violence, bad language or unsafe behavior we see in many other games. I really liked the idea of my child learning while she played her video game.
KIDS FIRST!® Kid Jurors say - Kids loved playing this game. "I didn't even read the direction or get help from mom!" "I like the pictures and hiding things." "I had fun finding the toys." This was easy for my child to use. Even the 17-year-old enjoyed it. Younger kids needed little or no assistance. All the kids were excited to play, recognizing the I Spy series. Some children squealed with delight whenever they found something. One young boy yelled "that's what I'm talking about!" The kids really liked it, in fact, we had to work out a "fair" schedule to play so each would have their turn. They all asked to play again and loan it out to their friends who are all able to enter their own unique entry name in the system.
Juror Recommended Age: 5-8
Suggested Retail Price: $ 19.99
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SCOOBY-DOO!: FIRST FRIGHTS (NINTENDO DS) - WARNER BROS. INTERACTIVE ENTERTAINMENT
Series: VIDEOGAME, AGES 8-12
Description - Explore spooky environments as Scooby, Shaggy or any of the super-cool teen Mystery, Inc. team. The game also features co-op play allowing two members of Mystery, Inc. to work together.
KIDS FIRST!® Adult Jurors say - Entertaining and a lot of fun. It stimulates the mind and encourages kids to solve problems. You have to solve mysteries by working together as a team and figuring out clues. Each team member has special attributes (like Scooby can go through small holes and Shaggy can get things with his yoyo) that help them move through the courses and solve the mysteries. The characters are recognizable from the TV show and the music is pretty good. The words are easy to read and the narration and directions are clear. Some of the skeletons and other "bad guys" might scare younger viewers. There are different courses but not different levels of difficulty. Kids are praised for correct answers and given other chances when they are wrong. The main characters are never killed, even in battles. It does contain some cartoon-type violence but no blood and guts. If you exit out during the game you need to start the level over the next time you play but you don't have to go all the way back to the beginning. User can't control the pace of the material and it only has one level of difficulty. The content is geared for a younger crowd who enjoys Scooby Doo (8-10), yet the game is a bit difficult for users of that age. Users can review past materials but you cannot skip ahead nor can you make the game easier or harder. The mysteries are generally easy to solve; it is finding the clues that is difficult.
KIDS FIRST!® Kid Jurors say - Kids enjoyed it. "I think it is a good game but the problem was that there weren't enough levels to play in." "It is really easy. The difficult part was remembering what to press and when." "The characters stop the other people from doing other things they want to do by dressing up like monsters and scaring the other ones. Of course, there are bad guys." "We loved the sound but the images were kind of fuzzy and you couldn't see them all that well. But, overall, I'd say, pretty good and I would play it again." "It was easy for experienced people but the instructions were written very tiny on the screen so you pretty much had to figure it out on your own." "It was a short game. It only took me an hour to get through half of it." "In five minutes, I was great at the game. (11-year-old) " Favorite part: Scooby Doo! Probably most suited for 8 to 12-year-olds though kids who like Scooby Doo will enjoy this at 6 or 7. Some kids, who are scared by Scooby Doo at a younger age, will most likely not like this game until they are older.
Juror Recommended Age: 8-12
Suggested Retail Price: $
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SCRIBBLENAUTS (NINTENDO DS) - WARNER BROS. INTERACTIVE ENTERTAINMENT
Series: VIDEOGAME, AGES 8-12
Description - Scribblenauts for Nintendo DS is a videogame where players use their imagination. Players jot down the word for any object that comes to mind in order to help their character Maxwell solve a series of puzzles. Write anything; solve everything!
KIDS FIRST!® Adult Jurors say - Very entertaining. The main character locates the little stars and has to figure out how to get to them by using tools and overcoming obstacles. You feel good for getting through the obstacles and finding the stars. This game definitely encourages planning and strategy and using tools on hand. The levels get more difficult and challenging. The child loses information from the level they are on, but can start the level again when they restart without having to repeat the lower levels. Provides hours of entertainment that is engaging, creative and wholesome. Good value. This is a terrific problem solving game. Really encourages "out of the box" thinking. Cause and effect is easily and readily seen. Encourages creative use of everyday items. Offers pracr5tice in spelling in a fun way. It is not only inventive but is highly entertaining, with a bit of learning thrown in. It is actually very clever and requires the player to not only figure out how to get out of situations or solve puzzles but also requires them to be creative and to be able to spell words. If a player spells something wrong, then they are shown several options, so they actually learn spelling along with the normal game play and problem solving. Like most games for the 10-14 age group, the player can choose more violent methods of solving problems such as using a gun to stop an animal from attacking you, although the animal poofs away and there are bonus points given for selecting non-violent methods. Graphics are pretty standard for current DS games although what is unique is that you can write almost any word down and that object will appear on the screen.
KIDS FIRST!® Kid Jurors say - Enjoyed it. It is a very fun game where you get to draw things that come to life. It's really cool. Awesome!" "I can control the game with my clicks and it is very easy to get started. "You just type things and they come to life. Love that." "Maxwell, the main guy who you are, during missions sometimes helps save cats and stuff like that." "I would definitely play this again."
Juror Recommended Age: 8-12
Suggested Retail Price: $
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I SPY FUN HOUSE - SCHOLASTIC ENTERTAINMENT
Series: VIDEOGAME, AGES 5-8
Description - Features over 100 levels of play, 18 riddles set across six photo-realistic scenes and unique magic riddles. Play three fast-paced games that test your brain power, toss objects from screen-to-screen, & advance to bonus rounds. Platform: Nintendo.
KIDS FIRST!® Adult Jurors say - Overall, this game is packed with benefits and fun. It is a great value at the price. It is easy to use, the child can control the pace of the material and it holds your place when you exit so you can easily return to it. Kids can easily turn it on and run it by themselves. It is a terrific game for problem solving and creative thinking. There are multiple levels of difficulty to choose from. This is a game that gets the brain working. It is not simply, "not harmful," it is engaging, creative and fun. Kids will want to play this and have their friends play along. Trying to find hidden objects on a small screen is quite challenging and, as with most I Spy products, you have to think outside the box. Great graphic design. The only drawback is that it may be too frustrating to find the hidden objects on such a tiny screen. The game is well thought out and a great instructional tool. Users are positively encouraged and instructed, if they make an error in a non-demeaning way.
KIDS FIRST!® Kid Jurors say - Enjoyed it, some loved it. All ages wanted to play it. The kids said they would tell their friends about this game. It was very easy to play. Some were frustrated because they couldn't change the level of difficulty. "It just starts out hard." Earning the tickets gave the kids a goal within the game. Favorite part: They loved the riddles. Many were challenging even for the 11-year-olds."Awesome!" "It was a little challenging at parts."
Juror Recommended Age: 5-10
Suggested Retail Price: $ 29.99
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ISBN # 47875-75407
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ANIMAL GENIUS - SCHOLASTIC ENTERTAINMENT
Series: VIDEOGAME, AGES 5-8
Description - Five games will test your animal smarts, quick thinking and instincts on your quest to populate habitats around the world. Gameplay features include over 140 rounds, five different games, hundreds of photos, and trivia questions. Platform: Nintendo.
KIDS FIRST!® Adult Jurors say - Right on target for kids 5-10 - the market for this group has been largely ignored. This is a great start to changing that. Fun, flashy, great music, easy to use. The "no fail" system encourages you to play on. Kids can learn about animals, they can repeat games until the facts become a part of their memory. Great educational value. It's a valuable tool to get kids thinking about animals and early science. It's enjoyable to play so kids will want to play it. As a handheld game, kids can take it anywhere. On the go, it will keep them edu-tained.
KIDS FIRST!® Kid Jurors say - Loved the game. It's a terrific addition to the Nintendo DS library. It is easy to play independently. "My friends would definitely like this game. If I had it and they had it we would play it together." "I leaned stuff about sea animals and artic animals that I didn't know." I liked the mazes." "I liked the guessing game where you had to figure out which animal it was." Nothing negative to say about this game. It brings fun and learning together. All the kids enjoyed playing it. During free play time, after play9ing the game you could overhear the kids talking about the facts they learned from the game.
Juror Recommended Age: 6-12
Suggested Retail Price: $ 29.99
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ISBN # 47875-75413
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BACKYARD BASEBALL 2007 -
HUMONGOUS ENTERTAINMENT
Click to purchase directly from the producer
Series: BACKYARD SPORTS
Description - Fifth iteration of best-selling youth baseball video game. Only kids' baseball game with Major League Baseball licenses. Features top MLB pros as kids. Includes all thirty Major League teams in realistic fields and environments. Game is easy for rookies, yet challenging for veterans. Works in full season or single game mode.
KIDS FIRST!® Adult Jurors say - Fun, wholesome, non-violent entertainment. Teaches about the game of baseball. Installation is a breeze. "An eight-year-old picked it up and showed me how to use it." Graphics are great. Audio is first class. The design is easy to navigate and the difficulty of the games easy to control.
KIDS FIRST!® Kid Jurors say - Really easy to figure out how to play. You can play mini games like the Home Run Derby and you can play with another person by linking. You can pick what team you want to be on. You can choose your players and position them where you want them. You can also choose how you want to hit the ball, like bunting, line drift, power hitting, and grounder. It's fun and easy to learn and really fun to play. Girls loved it as much as boys. Challenging for a variety of ages, including adults.
Juror Recommended Age: 5-12
Suggested Retail Price: $ 29.95
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