KIDS FIRST! New Endorsements

Description:

It's "all for one and one for all" as Barbie™ and her friends co-star in Barbie™ and The Three Musketeers! Join Barbie™ as Corinne™, a young country girl headed to Paris to pursue her big dream – to become a female musketeer! Never could she imagine she would meet three other girls who secretly share the same dream! Using their special talents, the girls work together as a team to foil a plot and save the prince. Come along on an action-filled adventure that dares you to dream as never before.

Description:

Beautiful Christmas, Halloween, Little Brick Lego Trains, Big Garden Railways and other model trains plus handmade scale scenery and accessories. Set to original sing-a-long songs. Bonus shows real live trains! Recommended for autistic children.

Description:

A reality competition series to inspire a new generation of engineers, as eight high-schoolers contend with a wild array of engineering challenges for real-life clients. Episodes include: "Gravity Bikes" - the Design Squad teams build high-speed gravity bikes; "Water Dancing" - dancer and performance artist Lisa Bufano, a bilateral leg and finger amputee, challenges the teams to build specialized prostheses for an underwater performance; "Cardboard Furniture" - the Design Squad teams create innovative, yet practical, cardboard furniture for the home goods superstore, IKEA.

KIDS FIRST!® Adult Juror Comments:

Reality shows have appeal but this is particularly engaging as kids are split into teams to solve problems, build their ideas using sophisticated engineering principles and power tools, and then compete with one another. The teams are well mixed, boys and girls, different ethnic groups and skill levels. Kids watching this series should feel inspired and confident to try new ideas. Some of the challenges are quite remarkable. For example, In Water Dancing, the teams must make water prosthesis for a woman with no legs and limited hands. The task is not only to make her swim better, but to be innovative in the design. Technical aspects of the program are very good with clear audio and video and lots of interesting camera shots. With each episode, the teams are given pretty sophisticated challenges. They must solve them as a team which has the added challenge of working together.

Description:

This Christmas, a great secret will be revealed. Have you ever wonder how Santa Claus came to be Santa? A long time ago, the world's greatest story was born when a young boy named Nikolas took on a mysterious mission and created a legend that would be carried on from generation to generation.

KIDS FIRST!® Adult Juror Comments:

Christmas Story is the feature debut by Finnish director, Juha Wuolijoki who creates a wonderfully believably story about the unique and journey of the young boy who becomes Santa Claus. Raised by an entire village after he loses his family he is passed from one family to the next every Christmas day. The English dub of the film has lip synch issues but truly, the quality of this production is so outstanding that this aspect is easily overlooked. The cinematography, sets and costumes are outstanding and suitable for the time. Santa's voice over makes this story feel like a very heartful retelling of a diary obout a young man's life. This makes a nice addition to any family holiday collection.

KIDS FIRST!® KID Juror Comments:

Three stars! Our young jurors really enjoyed this. "I would watch it over again, probably during the holiday season with my family." "My friends would enjoy it as well. It is very believable." "The story is very sad at the beginning. Nicholas' family went to take his younger sister to the doctor and never made it; they were lost and died in the snow and ice. Nicholas was left without a family and because not one family could take on the responsibility of raising a child, the entire village helped raise Nicholas. That was cool." "I could feel the pain Nicholas felt with no family of his own. Isaac reminded me of someone I knew a long time ago who acted mean but in reality was a very kind person and willing to share what he had to others." "I liked the photography. It made me feel as if I was in the fishing village." "I liked how Nicholas made toys for the other kids, even when he was a kid himself." "It made me think about how the parents started taking responsibility for making the toys." "It made me tear up, feel good and happy." "in the end, Nicholas was not going to live forever but he wanted the tradition to continue." "I liked seeing a real reindeer."

Description:

Librarian Molly McGrew introduces birds and beasts to this new something called reading. In no time, they are "forsaking their niches, their nests, and their nooks," going "wild, simply wild, about wonderful books!" This rollicking rhyming story will have the same effect on your young homo sapiens.

KIDS FIRST!® Adult Juror Comments:

The fun story and colorful characters make this a fun book to "watch." The rhymes and endearing characters immediately draw you in. The animals in the zoo are particularly fun and full of action. This story encourages all to read and share books.

KIDS FIRST!® KID Juror Comments:

Really enjoyed it. "This movie is great about everybody liking books. The animals are all very funny." "The animals read and the librarian makes a silly mistake by going to the zoo." "My friends would like it because it's so funny." "I'd watch it again." "It just makes you laugh because it's so silly." "This is definitely a keeper."

Description:

Includes six award-winning stories: "Bear Snores On," "Bear Wants More," "Henry Hikes to Fitchburg." "Goldilocks and the Three Bears." "Panama," and "The Bear & the Fly." Narration by James Naughton and others. In "Bear Snores On" (By Karma Wilson, Illustrated by Jane Chapman, Narrated by Karma Wilson) Forest animals stop by a cave to warm up from the snow. They drink tea and eat popcorn, but Bear just snores on. What will Bear do when he wakes up to a lair of noisy guests?

KIDS FIRST!® Adult Juror Comments:

All six of these short films have bears in them, some are old animations from 1985. Very cute. "Henry Hikes to Fitchburt" has an interesting history lesson about Henry Thoreau at the end. Three of these shorts have the words on the screen which aids kids who are learning to read to follow along. All the stories are short enough to stay interesting and all of them are funny. For example, in "The Bear and the Fly" the bears overreact to a fly and end up breaking everything in the house and never kill the fly. Three of these were made before 2000 so while they do not measure up to 2009 standards of animation they are still fun to watch. The visual and audio production is very good although the audio does not always match the visual in "Panama" but it doesn't affedt the story. Other fun things - "Bear Snores On" and "Bear Wants More" both rhyme. "Henry Hikes to Fitchburg" has a fun historical plot. "Goldilocks," "Panama," and "The Bear and the Flly" are all funny and entertaining.

Description:

Follow charismatic Malibu teenager, Lyon Herron, who has a rare disease called Gardner's Syndrome, as he deals with is two worlds - the normal surf, school, work world and the world of the hospital where he often finds himself.

KIDS FIRST!® Adult Juror Comments:

Very touching story, well shot but long.

Description:

Follow Abby and Elmo down the rabbit hole in this enchanting re-imagining of Alice's Adventures in Wonderland. Elmo the Rabbit is late and has rushed away with Abby's wand in his back pocket. Abby must follow him into Wonderland to get it back.

KIDS FIRST!® Adult Juror Comments:

Very fun. Bright and colorful, with the muppets playing these classic characters. The story keeps moving at a pace that holds the kids' attention. Good humor that's perfect for this age such as when Abby covers the mouth of the talking bottle with her hand. Kids will love that. The play on the Tea Party with a T Party is fun, featuring words starting with the letter "t" which are sometimes difficult for kids to grasp. The rhyming words are a great teaching method and a great way to tell the story. English and Spanish are used throughout. The part with the "Counterpillar and Flower" are clever. The behavior in the croquet game starts out negative but turns around eventually. It makes potentially scary things safe, like when Abby falls down the hole and they give her wings to help land softly. This is so imaginative , it's really hard not to just gobble it all up!

KIDS FIRST!® KID Juror Comments:

Kids were definitely excited to see their favorite Sesame Street characters but the storyline did not capture their attention. Some kids got into it, called out their favorite characters' names. One child responded positively by dancing and singing along. The pace seemed a bit slow for the kids. It would most likely go over better with older kids, ages 4-6.

Description:

Follow Abby and Elmo down the rabbit hole in this enchanting re-imagining of Alice's Adventures in Wonderland. Elmo the Rabbit is late and has rushed away with Abby's wand in his back pocket. Abby must follow him into Wonderland to get it back.

KIDS FIRST!® Adult Juror Comments:

Very fun. Bright and colorful, with the muppets playing these classic characters. The story keeps moving at a pace that holds the kids' attention. Good humor that's perfect for this age such as when Abby covers the mouth of the talking bottle with her hand. Kids will love that. The play on the Tea Party with a T Party is fun, featuring words starting with the letter "t" which are sometimes difficult for kids to grasp. The rhyming words are a great teaching method and a great way to tell the story. English and Spanish are used throughout. The part with the "Counterpillar and Flower" are clever. The behavior in the croquet game starts out negative but turns around eventually. It makes potentially scary things safe, like when Abby falls down the hole and they give her wings to help land softly. This is so imaginative , it's really hard not to just gobble it all up!

KIDS FIRST!® KID Juror Comments:

Kids were definitely excited to see their favorite Sesame Street characters but the storyline did not capture their attention. Some kids got into it, called out their favorite characters' names. One child responded positively by dancing and singing along. The pace seemed a bit slow for the kids. It would most likely go over better with older kids, ages 4-6.

Description:

The re-telling of the classic "Heidi," an adorable orphan sent to live with her cranky Grandfather in the Swiss Alps…starring all dogs. Voiced by Angela Lansbury, Stephen Rea, Julian Sands, Steve Guttenberg and others.

KIDS FIRST!® Adult Juror Comments:

Based on the classic 1880 story, it offers a heartwarming tale with a twist - dogs as the characters. The characters are intriguing and delightful to watch. The story is filled with lessons, wisdom and meaningful situations. The combination of animation and live action works very well, including the costuming and sets. It has a very child like quality that draws you in and after a while you tend to overlook the silliness of the costumed animals. The production is quite well done. The story goes back to the original book, turning pages and transitioning into film. One concern we have in terms of film festival play is that the images become quite pixilated at times which would deter it from being screened on the big screen.

KIDS FIRST!® KID Juror Comments:

Loved it! "It was the best!" "Funny and cute baby dogs." "My friends would love it because they would like the dogs and how they talk funny." "It is the story of Heidi, an orphan who finds true happiness in a home with her grandfather." "We really liked Heidi , Clara, Peter and Grandfather." "Heidi reminded me of Jr. Asparagus from Veggie Tales." "At first, the grandfather was mean, he was used to being alone." "Miss Rottenmeir wasn't nice. She didn't want Heidi, but Clara wanted her and then Miss Rottenmeir missed Heidi when she left." "The story took place in the mountains and the photography made it look like the dogs were in the mountains." "We loved the pretty costumes. They fit the puppies pretty well." "The dogs actually looked like they were talking." "I liked how the pictures in the book came alive at the end." "We liked how they made this story with real dogs."

Description:

The animated tale of two amiable and zany figures, who live on a faraway planet and travel through outer space in search of adventure.

KIDS FIRST!® Adult Juror Comments:

Interesting story, nicely animated, non-narrative. It's a bit strange for a kids' film as the characters don't talk, just make animated computer like sounds. The two characters travel through space in a space ship built by one. It's a big zany, a bit simple and has some environmental messages imbedded in it. If you are an animation fan, you will absolutely love this.

KIDS FIRST!® KID Juror Comments:

Kids had mixed reactions. The animation at the beginning is interesting enough to grab your attention right away. The scenes in the space ship are fun, especially the shower scene. Then, it gets confusing when they land and interact with the one person who runs a sort of desert oasis. When the whole trip gets played in fast forward reverse though, the kids became totally confused. My grandson called it purposeless.

Description:

World music infused songs that inspire families to sing, dance and get lost in the magic of the music.

KIDS FIRST!® Adult Juror Comments:

Love it. Very bright and uplifting. Delightful musicians and onscreen kids. Fantastic music. Very enjoyable music, catchy and upbeat. Alex and Natalie work together and keep the children in the audie3nce engaged. Very original song choices. There is lots of audience participation from the preschoolers. The language is very appropriate for them with a few new words tossed in for good measure. One almost feels like you are at the concert.

KIDS FIRST!® KID Juror Comments:

There was immediate participation on everyone's part. The children sang and danced along to it. They also said, "I'm Alex" or "I'm Natalie" as they tried to mimic them. The particularly enjoyed the song about dads. "He said my Dad is as big as the sky." "I played guitar like Alex." "I would like to play drums." "I saw two guitars - I like guitars." "I liked slapping knees and making thunder." "I'm gonna teach Colby that." This is exactly the type of video that one enjoys sharing with kids.

Description:

Willy (Matthew Knight) is terrified about moving into the family's new house. He's convinced it's filled with evil space aliens out to get him. In response to his longing for someone to save him , Gooby (Robbie Coltrane, Harry Potter) comes to life as a big, loveable, scruffy creature who quite possibly may be more frightened of the world than Willy. The two new pals embark on hair-raising adventures and learn about courage and the power of friendship. In the end, Gooby fulfills Willy's wish by bringing Willy and his Dad (David James Elliott) together in a heart-warming and exciting climax. Starring Eugene Levy from American Pie.

KIDS FIRST!® Adult Juror Comments:

Willy has serious issues about moving - something any kid who has ever moved can relate to - new house, new neighborhood, new school, new friends, not able to spend more time with his parents - particularly his father. It's a good story that points out to kids that they are not the only ones with these same issues. Then, there is the issue of the space aliens that he sees inside the house - enough to make even a brave boy want to leave. Fortunately, a stuffed bear with a Scottish accent comes to life and helps Willy make friends and inspires his parents to spend more time with their son. The boy and his "fuzzy orange monster" have funny adventures together for example the bear goes to the store to buy marshmallow cookies and he and the boy avoid being seen by a crazy teacher in a music montage. While the movie is mostly funny, it also deals with issues such as being a new kid in a new school, and not being able to make friends. The structure and continuity of scenes is professional, scenes in which a bad monster comes for Willy the boy are edited well but not too scary. The visual production is high quality but the audio production has some problems. The parents ignore their son for most of the movie until the father has to save his son from falling in an abandoned building. This parents realize they have been selfish and begin to spend more time with their son. There are also small lessons such as Willy learns that he needs to teach his bear to recognize what constitutes stealing and that it is bad to steal. Excellent sound track.

KIDS FIRST!® KID Juror Comments:

Mixed reactions. Some really liked it. "It was scary at points, funny at others, and very entertaining. One 12-year-old thought it was too babyish. "The story was about a boy who had to move to a new house. He was scared of the hoolies. He was sad about not spending time with his parents, especially his Dad. His old teddy bear, Gooby came alive and helped him make friends. He was a good friend and helped him get his Dad back. Sometimes, the background music was too loud and you couldn't hear the characters talking." "It made me think about how when things change, I don't have to be scared." Favorite part: When Gooby and Willy were in the grocery store trying not to be seen and when Willy and his father build a tree house."Gooby did things that caused trouble for Willy." "I didn't like the beat costume of Gooby. It was scary."

Description:

Seven children get sucked into the magical world of the Music Box. In order to free themselves and the Prince they must dance along and learn each music box character's dance. Interactive.

KIDS FIRST!® Adult Juror Comments:

Nicely done, probably best suited for a niche audience, especially those who are into fairy tales and dance. It tells a story but younger ones may have difficulties following it. It flows very nicely, with a different characters being represented by different dance styles. The idea is to get kids up and dancing and, although it tries to simplify the move, it would be difficult for kids under age five. The production is good, backgrounds are simple but they work. The costumes are fun.

KIDS FIRST!® KID Juror Comments:

Kids were quite enthusiastic about the dancers but did not want to dance along to the video. They seemed to believe it was a video to watch. They did some arm movements but didn't get up and move along like it encouraged them. They did enjoy the story and the characters. The boys eagerly awaited the pirate waking up to see his dance while the girls wanted the fairy tale to unfold and free the prince. Each child had their favorite character - Colby liked the pirate, Cara, the cat. The girls who go to dance class talked about dance class; that's how she related to it.

Description:

Have you ever wondered where that Yellow School Bus came form or how it was made? Visit IC's bus factory in Tulsa OK with an assembly line a mile long under one roof. See first hand the process of building on of the safest vehicles on the road.

KIDS FIRST!® Adult Juror Comments:

Very well made. Good production quality, clearly narrated with an age-accessible script. The teamwork and safety modeled is exemplary. The interest group may be somewhat narrow. The visual explanations and details are excellent. The reinforcement of information through "fun facts" segments add variety to the flow of the show. This is a bit slow at times but it does cover from nuts to bolts, the task of building a school bus. It does not water down vocabulary and is respectful of young viewers in its explanations of words such as chassis. There is a variety of races and genders working in the plant who appear to work together seamlessly. It will potentially make viewers look at buses with new eyes and appreciation.

KIDS FIRST!® KID Juror Comments:

The opinions of the kids who watched this changed dramatically through the discussion about it. One vocally expressed his boredom while others were riveted to the screen. After discussing his observations, one "bored" student ranked this show "Great." "It started off kind of boring but, my dad does welding so it was kind of cool." "I loved it! I'd watch it all day!" (This student was fascinated with the robotics and the human-technology interaction.) All the students related it to the work their fathers do in one way or another - welding, safety harnesses for roofing, and similar things. "There were all kinds of people but they all worked together well. If they don't, someone could get really hurt." The video shows numerous safety features such as gloves, masks, harnesses and huge fans to keep the workers cool. The kids noticed these things and how they contributed to the comfort and safety of the workers. They liked the "fun facts" and the slow motion repetition. "It got me thinking about all the different types of jobs there are and how much fun it would be to take a field trip to watch people do them. It was really interesting to see the robots. I want to learn more about them."

Description:

Features animals and stories from around the world. Will leave you in awe of the most amazing and diverse ocean life on our planet. Pristine reefs of Papua New Guinea, Komodo Dragons of Indonesia, mating dolphins of the Caribbean Sea, whale sharks in the Galapagos and magnificent kelp forests off the California coast.

KIDS FIRST!® Adult Juror Comments:

Beautiful photography and background music. Watching all the ocean life was amazing. Fascinating animals to see and learn more about. Very enjoyable to watch this beautiful presentation. Good format that is suitable for adults as well as kids. Encourages respect for the ocean and stimulates interest in learning more.

KIDS FIRST!® KID Juror Comments:

Loved it. "It was beautiful to watch." "We liked all of the fish." "I loved seeing the dolphins." "My friends would like this; they like seeing all the schools of fish and other creatures." "We liked the pictures of dolphins and anemones and fish and coral and really all the things in the oceans." "It made it so pretty to see under the water." "Nice music." "We had to look up what some of the fish were because we thought they were one kind but weren't sure." "This show has so many different kinds of fish and other animals - it's unbelievable how many things there are in the ocean."

Description:

Welcome to my world. It's a brand new day. Wear a smile on your face. These are the words that introduce you to the Journey with Terry the Tarsier, a new preschool show designed to entertain and educate your preschooler.

KIDS FIRST!® Adult Juror Comments:

I liked this movie because everything was fun, games and dance with no violence. The boy and girl were siblings and treated one another respectfully. The Jungle Run had so many wonderful parts like the yo-yo and the girl always wanting to play games. It has great kid appeal because of the animals, the animation and the music, especially the foot beat. Graphics are colorful and the music is very danceable. It addresses an important topic about animal rights and how we should respect everyone.

KIDS FIRST!® KID Juror Comments:

Enjoyed it, especially the songs like Yo-Yo and Welcome to My World. Favorite part: When the Master Trapper was running after the kids trying to get Terry. Also, the Stomp Dance when it looks like water moving every time they stomp on the dance floor.

Description:

Nominated for nine Emmy Awards®, this "astute and compelling" (Variety) biography based on the remarkable life of Nobel Peace Prize winner Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., takes an intimate look at one of the world's most public heroes during one of the most tumultuous times in American history. Starring Paul Winfield, Cicely Tyson and Ossie Davis, King is a riveting tale that appropriately honors a true legend.In 1950s/60s America, the civil rights movement found its leader in a Southern Baptist minister. Using lyrical eloquence, Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., motivated masses of people black and white to demand equality by way of nonviolent protest. But in spite of his peaceful agenda, Dr. King was often the target of terrible violence. He was never swayed from his path, however; for by the time he was assassinated in 1968, Dr. King had already defined dream that would change a nation forever. Starring Paul Winfield, Cicely Tyson, Ossie David, Howard Rollins, William Jordan, Cliff DeYoung, Tony Bennett

KIDS FIRST!® Adult Juror Comments:

Excellent epic series. At 270 minutes, you've got a mini series here that most will want to watch in sections. It moves along chronologically and pays homage and respect to some of our early leaders in the civil rights movement but Dr. King is the main focus. Nicely done, excellent structure and style. It takes a pretty object view of our nation's civil rights history and highlights some of the embarrassments and some of the triumphs. The racial discrimination characteristic of the times is portrayed in historically accurate ways. What is also portrayed is King's stand and conviction to non-violence. It gives a lot of insight into the life of an important individual and is very inspirational. It exposes the tragedy of the assassination, the riots and the discrimination of the time. On the heels of the historic election of an African American to the office of the President of the United States, this is dually compelling.

KIDS FIRST!® KID Juror Comments:

Kids enjoyed it though felt it was too long. "It was really really long." "I learned things I didn't know about Martin Luther King Jr." "Dr. King is quite a role model. He was against violence to anyone." "Wow! I can't believe people treated each other like that." "It was like the slave times all over again." They recognized the discrimination and racism as wrong and commented on how incredible it was to learn about since they had not seen it in their lifetime (fortunately). "I wrote a report on MLK last year so this was interesting." Favorite part: When he gave his 'I Have a Dream' speech."

Description:

"A study of crazy brilliance and flamboyant sincerity" (LA Herald-Examiner), a.k.a. Cassius Clay presents a fascinating look at the incredible life and achievements of one of the most courageous, outspoken and charismatic figures of boxing: Muhammad Ali. Born Cassius Clay in 1942, Alisoon rose to become a renowned athlete, an articulate author and a compelling political leader. Audacious, ambitious and totally fearless, Ali became a symbol of pride, a legend of hope and one of the most extraordinary cultural icons of the 20th century. Filled with "plenty of meat in the visual material" (Newsweek), a.k.a. Cassius Clay charts the voyage of a man who grabbed Olympic gold at the age of 18, captured the world heavyweight title at 21 and ultimately came to power as one of the most forceful leaders of the American civil rights movement. Featuring clips from his most celebrated fights with Archie Moore and Sonny Liston, rare interviews with his trainer Cus D'Amato and extraordinary footage of Ali during his alliance with Malcolm X, a.k.a. Cassius Clay is an "intelligently and artistically assembled" (Los Angeles Times) and "provocative" Box office) documentary. Starring Cassius Clay Cus D'Amato, Richard Kiley, Robert De Niro.

KIDS FIRST!® Adult Juror Comments:

Cassius Clay was very aggressive in his quest to live out his personal legend. This documentary is well constructed. It tells a well rounded story about this World Championship boxer. It is easy to become involved in the film and follow it from beginning to end. It explores his life from resilient boxer to inspiring speaker - stressing Muhammad Ali's important role in history. It includes information and footage about slavery and the past struggles of the African American people. At the end of the film, the narrator says that "A champion is a species of hero who is nourished by misfortune which is why he attracts legend," which goes directly hand in hand in describing the life of Muhammad Ali. The editing of the archival footage comes together nicely. It follows a linear timeline, starting with Ali's beginnings of boxing and ending with his newfound beliefs,. It shows how the one-tracked Cassius Clay who cares about nothing more than being great becomes Muhammad Ali. There is a fair amount of violence in this film and it does tent to glorify his pride and lack of humility. He would repeatedly say things such as, "I'll whoop any man in the world… I am the greatest!" to any opponent.

Description:

In this "four-star, straightforward account" (Blockbuster Entertainment Guide) of the man who opened athletic doors for people of all ethnicities, Jackie Robinson plays himself so well that "he can drop the diamond for the sound stages any day he chooses" (The Hollywood Reporter)! Jackie Robinson's uphill battle to the big leagues began when he was just a little boy. Given a mitt and a chance, Jackie easily proved how good he was on the field. But it would take more than just his amazing talent to get him to the top. Being African American in a time of racial discord, Jackie had to break through impossible barriers to get his shot. By playing hard and overcoming unbelievable odds, Jackie proved that he was not only one of the best players ever to set foot on a major league diamond, but also one of the bravest men ever to grace American sports! Starring Jackie Robinson, Ruby Dee, Minor Watson, Louise Beavers.

KIDS FIRST!® Adult Juror Comments:

Very enjoyable documentary about someone who made such an impact on the world of baseball and on athletics and organized sports in general. Of course, most of us know who Jackie Robinson is but very little about his actual life - such as serving in the armed forces. Jackie Robinson plays himself in the film which makes it more real. The black and white archival clips are slower paced that today's films but they do not detract from the story. Good format, very upbeat and encouraging. Relevant to those interested in studying history, civil rights, equality issues, courage, and athlete celebrities.

KIDS FIRST!® KID Juror Comments:

Mixed feelings from the kids. "I prefer more modern movies. This felt old, since it was in black and white. It was okay but I didn't love it. "I loved learning more about this baseball player." "It's a true story. People were mean to Jackie but not everyone was." "There were a lot of prejudiced people then. The baseball owner (Branch) was really good and didn't care about people's color - he only cared if they could play the game." "It was very original and very interesting." Favorite part: When the team accepted Jackie for his skill and stopped seeing only that his color was different. Also, when he got his own locker.

Description:

Based on a fable, Renny is a sly fox who can always talk his way out of sticky situations. A hilarious, yet moving adventure of Renny, an outlaw constantly at odds with the laws of society. In his quest for an elusive treasure, Renny has amply opportunity to demonstrate how a quick mind can triumph over brute strength, despite the incompetence of his motley gang of associates. Received Audience Award for Best Animated Film at Sprockets Toronto International Film Festival, 2006.

KIDS FIRST!® Adult Juror Comments:

Entertaining. Good topic, well presented. Good animation. Renny is framed for something that he didn't do and sets out to prove he has been wronged. Renny is very good at talking his way out of a problem. Perhaps he tells so many stories that no one believes him any more. Renny redeems himself at the end by saving the King and exposing the crooks.

KIDS FIRST!® KID Juror Comments:

Enjoyed it. They liked that animation and the storyline. "Renny would do things and then have to talk his way out. I understood some of it and other parts I missed." The pictures and the animation were very creative. The sound effects made it more interesting. "It was hard to keep my eyes focused on everything that was going on."

Description:

A sister and brother team, called The Riddle Solvers, must solve a mysterious riddle about the ocean, with help from sea turtles, tide pool animals, frogs and a one-legged singing pirate. Featuring vivid underwater wildlife footage and original music from Laura and Robert Sams.

KIDS FIRST!® Adult Juror Comments:

Fun blend of live action and animation that offers up an environmental message in a mystery. Their sense of humor permeates the entire show with quirky take offs on dry educational shows. The hosts have a great way of being onscreen that is authentic, funny, and informative. The shots of the turtles emerging from the sand are awesome. The animals are anthropomorphized, in an amazing way. Another hit from Laura and Carl Sams, plus a great educational message in a very fun, breezy way (complete with pirates). Funded by Save Our Seas, gives a very positive environmental message to kids.

KIDS FIRST!® KID Juror Comments:

Enjoyed it. "We liked this movie because it is funny and entertaining. The music goes along with the movie very well. There are lots of catchy songs."" We could relate to the main characters, a brother and sister who solve riddles. They remind us of ourselves and our siblings because they are humorous and got along." "Everyone treats each other nicely, with respect, humor, understanding and good listening skills." "The ocean scenes are beautiful. Thumbs up!" "Favorite part: Learning about where salt came from and where baby sea turtles live and what could eat them. The baby sea turtles lived in sea weed called sargasm (at first we thought they said sarcasm). We found out that some salt comes from volcanoes." "Overall, we think this show is going to replace or compete with Dora the Explorer, Go Diego Go and Handy Manny. We have high hopes to see this more in our future."

Description:

Dr. Owl needs Tiny's help to protect the forest animals from greedy poachers. When Tiny's friends get captured and held prisoner in an evil castle, Tiny must take on new responsibilities and gather the courage needed to go rescue them.

KIDS FIRST!® Adult Juror Comments:

Good lessons on responsibility and teamwork. It emphasizes to children that no matter how small you are, you are important and can make a difference. Pretty fast pace with bright colors, cute animals. And good songs. The story doesn't take too long to get the point across such as when tiny has to make a choice to go save his friends or stay at his house. The animals are very respectful to their elders and the little girl in the show is as well. She's polite, even to the bad characters. There is a scene where some weasels pray for food and the little puppy throws a bag of food in and they think God has answered their prayers. It makes you think about what's right and wrong through the characters' actions. Only drawback was total lack of diversity and perhaps a bit too preachy.

KIDS FIRST!® KID Juror Comments:

Kids loved it and asked to watch it again. "The animals are cute and they can do things grown ups can do like help catch the bad guys and help keep each other safe." "We liked Tiny and the little rabbits. The weasels are funny when they almost get hit by the big snowball and the good guys win." "We liked the songs too." They liked that the animals were smarter than the bad guys in the story and that there were lots of songs and action. After viewing, the children asked how they could become guardians of the forest and help stop animals from being captured.

Description:

Includes two episodes: Room to Move and Carnival. "Room to Move" - The bunnies move into a new home, only to hear from a meddling magpie that it's haunted. "Carnival" - The Bellflower bunnies decide that they're responsible enough to go to the fair by themselves. But, will clever foxes dressed in bunny clothes prove too big a challenge for the spirited bunnies?

KIDS FIRST!® Adult Juror Comments:

Very cute for kids. Well animated, likeable characters. Kids like simple animations and this has lots of characters who are "kids." Well structured in an easy to follow storyline with a little intrigue and a well-resolved ending. A good story about family that sometimes argues but when they move to a new home and one of the kids disappears, they all pull together. Other stories are equally well balanced with suitable content. Some of the stories have scary moments which makes this unsuitable for youngest kids.

KIDS FIRST!® KID Juror Comments:

Enjoyed it. "We liked the video because the main characters are our ages. They're jut like us. They like to explore and play games and go to carnivals." "I'd like to watch it again. The part where they think there is a ghost in their new house if funny. I like the songs too. They're fun to sing along with." There are two episodes. "In the first one, the bellflower bunnies were moving and one of the bunnies didn't want to move away from his home and friends. In the second episode, the bunnies learn about being responsible and look out for their littlest brother." The bunnies are all loving to each other. They had some little fights but kids could relate to those as similar to what they experience with their siblings. "The pictures were really colorful and clear." Favorite part: "Responsibility. I learned how important it is to do what you say you are going to do." "The little bunnies said they would keep an eye on their youngest one and they didn't. Then, he was taken by foxes and they had to go get him back and it was dangerous. But, no one really gets hurt and it teaches us good lessons. " "I loved it." "I think it should get 5 stars. There are lots of things that are scary and I liked that." "I especially liked the fireworks at the end."

Description:

When Widow Mattie Rigsby (Ellen Burstyn) forgets she's taken the cushions out of her favorite chair and sits in it, she gets stuck. That's exactly where her life is, stuck. "I've got about as much business keeping a dog as I do walkin' across Egypt," she tells her son, when he suggests she could keep a stray dog for company.

KIDS FIRST!® Adult Juror Comments:

This film is about second changes. It does a wonderful job at showing how there is good in everyone. Walking Across Egypt points out the importance of preserving love in our lives and allowing that love to radiate out towards all those we encounter. This is a heartfelt, "feel good" film that allows its viewers to see the effects of unconditional love and reflect on themselves. Very enjoyable is the portrayal of the elderly widow, Mrs. Rigsbee. Her kind heart and ability to see everyone as a child of God makes her a remarkable role model. Even when her church was against her for befriending Wesley, a juvenile delinquent, she chose to follow her heart rather than her social standing. Her character is so strong that her choice to do what was ‘wrong' by the standards of her church and family became almost martyr-some. This film explores the idea that every human has equal value, needs, and dreams. The idea of ‘locking' somebody away for being ‘uncivilized' is a silly and cruel way of rehabilitation somebody. When a whole bunch of unhappy and hurting people are put together, they're just going to become more unhappy. The little seed of love that Mrs.Rigsbee planted in Wesley's life allowed him to wake up and realize that even though life is never always blue skies and sunshine, there are still people out there who care and when two people are hurting, love and kindness can help heal the pain. The content is highly beneficial. It's a morally strong story that's both genuine and effective in terms of allowing it's viewers to be able to empathize and feel compassionate towards the characters. Walking Through Egypt is rich in visuals, sets, and costuming. The opening scene in which a stray dog walks through the town is beautifully shot which was a good aesthetic choice since the stray becomes a small motif into the entire theme of the film. Walking Through Egypt is a simple and heartwarming story that is deep and meaningful and can also act as a therapeutic and reflecting film.

KIDS FIRST!® KID Juror Comments:

Most enjoyed it. They pointed out how Miss Mattie was a good role model. Their favorite part was when the lady banged the muffin pan and the boy ducked down because he thought it was gunfire. Also, when the cop was singing in the choir and when they rescued the dog and gave him a home. Last, when she finds the money and realizes he had put it back. They liked that it has a happy ending. "It was fun to watch." The teen girls thought Jonathan Taylor Thomas, the actor, was "really cute."

Description:

Rebecca and Don Reece are careening toward separation. But their four children know their parents still love each other, so they form "Operation Get-Together." After a well-staged anniversary surprise dinner goes awry, their best hope is a wacky science-fair experiment and a clever voice-altering apparatus. But despite everyone's best efforts, only Don and Rebecca can let go of past offenses and restore their lines of communication.

KIDS FIRST!® Adult Juror Comments:

Cute premise. One wouldn't want all kids who have separated parents to have false hopes that their parents will reunite, but it did make a cute story. The tie in with the science project was good. The biggest problem was that it was the mouth movements and voices don't match up. This is apparent right from the start. The storyline does move along in a logical sequence, albeit a bit slow at times. A plus is that the parents do not immediately reconcile after one happy moment, which is often the case, instead it takes some time, which is a bit more realistic and would appeal to the more skeptical audience members. The behaviors modeled are very positive. Unlike many who get divorced, there wasn't a lot of anger displayed. There are different ethnic groups represented, and both male and female characters.

KIDS FIRST!® KID Juror Comments:

Mixed reactions from the kids from "not realistic" and "stupid" to "it was corny but likeable." They laughed through much of it and were very agitated from the start because the sound doesn't sync up. "It was like watching a "bad Bootleg movie" one kid said. Unfortunately, this colored their reaction to the entire film. Also, kids whose parents are divorced really felt it was extremely unrealistic. "Not believable" was their judgment.

Description:

Based on the best-selling classic book, Toby's father has packed away in ice his grief over the death of his wife. When Toby is sent to stay with his very proper and somewhat forbidding grandmother over the Christmas holidays, he does not know what to do with himself. Then he discovers an attic filled with toys from the past and an unopened present from his angel mother. Inside the box is a velveteen rabbit that opens up he world of imagination for Toby. Rabbit along with Swan and Horse fill Toby's world with exciting animated adventures. Their love and insights help Toby melt the heart of his grandmother, who calls his father home. Their world reaches a crisis when Toby contracts Scarlet Fever and his beloved rabbit must be burned. Through this loss Toby and the grownups in his life come to realize the importance of family and the power of love to make us real.

KIDS FIRST!® Adult Juror Comments:

Wonderful film that appeals to the entire family. The relationships, the visuals and the classic, sweet story make this one film that appeals to adults as well as children. The filmmaker took a simple story and expanded it into a full length feature without making the story feel forced. The boy's loneliness that draws him to bond with the rabbit sets the stage for a relationship change between his father, grandmother and himself. The story is simple to follow and unfolds in a natural manner. Some kids might get frightened by the fires and destruction in the imaginary world toward the end. Most will identify with the boy and his relationship with his stuffed rabbit. They will most likely be happy that the boy becomes closer to his grandmother and isn't lonely anymore. Each character is true to his or her status including the strict grandma. When poor behaviors are shown, so is kindness. I.e.. when Toby is locked in his room on his grandma's order, she still tries to find his rabbit. Some kids might have a difficult time separating the imaginary scenes from the real ones at first but will soon understand that the animated scenes signify the imaginary scenes. The characters, especially the goose and the horse, explain difficult concepts in detail. Beautiful animation mixed with live action. The scene in which the boy turns from live to animated is incredible. The quality of the cinematography is very good. Love how it brings classic literature to life.

KIDS FIRST!® KID Juror Comments:

Loved it. "I loved this story." "It is good because the imaginary world is cool. I like how he played with the bear." "I liked how one minute it is animated and the next, it isn't." "The part where the velveteen rabbit sees the other rabbits is cool. You can't tell what's real and what's not." "I would definitely watch it again. In fact, I would watch it at every chance I could as if it was the only movie I had." "The grandma was kind of mean sometimes but then she was nice. The toys tried to save the boy at the end and they did." "The rabbit almost burned saving the boy." "It made the imaginary world seem more real." "It seems like this took place long long ago. The attic was full of toys. I think it took place in England. It looks like the olden days."

Description:

Through compelling reminiscences of his grandfather's life in the United States and Japan, Allen Say poignantly recounts his family's journey to America. The feelings of being torn by a love for two different countries are sensitively expressed. Narrated by B. D. Wong, with music by Ernest V. Troost. Includes a bonus interview with author Allen Say.

KIDS FIRST!® Adult Juror Comments:

Wonderful short that offers a very positive story that should make kids proud to be who they are and proud of where they come from - whether they have always lived in one place or have been transplanted. Also, it should instill pride in their families. The grandfather's stories told to the grandson and the dreams of going back to California make for good talking points for family history conversations. The visual presentation offers just enough details to hold your interest. The attire and toy details are very true to the era and place that this takes place. In a gentle way, it teaches respect for our family's values and history plus a little inter-generational bonding. It may make kids more interested in their family history and stories.

KIDS FIRST!® KID Juror Comments:

Kids enjoyed it. "It was a nice story, and made me think about my own family. " "It was kind of sad because the Grandpa never got to go back to California." "My grandparents moved here from Germany and they go back to visit sometimes." "It was kind of a story about being homesick and family." "Everyone was very loving and understanding." "The pictures were like from a storybook. They were okay." "It made me think about how I would miss my family and friends if I moved away but also how cool it would be to go to a different place and make new friends."

Description:

In celebration of the 45th anniversary of the March on Washington, Martin Luther King Jr's sister presents a personal, stirring account of the remarkable day Dr. King delivered his "I Have a Dream speech, and of the man who went on to inspire a nation. Narrated by Lynn Whitfield with music by Michael Bacon. Includes a bonus interview with Dr. Christine King Farris.

KIDS FIRST!® Adult Juror Comments:

Wonderful story about partnership and equality. The collection of actual photographs and illustrations makes for an interesting way to view the story. Younger kids may get bored with the still photographs. The story tells about important events in the history of our country. The March in Washington D.C. was based on love and peace. That is what is made clear in this film. It definitely gives viewers things to think about. The background of Martin Luther King Jr. from his sister's point of view is interesting. Most appropriate for kids age eight and older. This is a show that makes us all think about how we treat others. It shows how people in the 60s worked towards equality and peace. The basis of Martin Luther King Jr's speech is still true today. We cannot move forward unless we consider everyone equal. We must have hope and move ahead with our own dreams. We must work together and speak up for what is right.

KIDS FIRST!® KID Juror Comments:

Kids really "got" the message. "It was a good story about treating everyone the right way." "If you are interested in knowing more about Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., this is a film that will really inform you. I've heard about him but I didn't know that much about him before." "When they talk about equal rights, I thought about the way that people are treated - at school, at the theater, at other places." "The pictures looked like they were from a book. They were ok but they could have been better." "This film definitely made me think about how people are treated and how we should all have the same rights." "Dr. King worked hard and had a lot of good things to share."

Description:

Art, a young boy, joyfully draws Scribbles that Squiggle, Splotches with blotches, Zigs and Zags, Doodles and Dogs, and so much more! Children are introduced to the imaginative world of art and how a picture really can be worth a thousand words. Narrated by Bobby McFerrin. Directed by Konstantin Bronzit. A co-production of Weston Woods Studios, Studio Mir and Rembrandt Films. Includes a bonus interview with author Patrick McDonnell.

KIDS FIRST!® Adult Juror Comments:

Cute video, reminiscent of Harold and the Purple Crayon. It flows nicely from scene to scene. Most kids enjoy art to some degree. This attempts to make drawing fun and demonstrates different styles. Good color and narration. Loved the narration by Bobby McFerrin and the read along subtitles.

KIDS FIRST!® KID Juror Comments:

This short four minute program works particularly well in a classroom or library setting. The kids get a brief glimpse of images and then have the opportunity to try to draw afterwards.

Description:

Join Wubbzy, Widget and Walden in Wuzzleburg in this fun, fun, fun collection of eight great episodes! Friendship takes center stage as Wubbzy and his pals search for a lost Wiggle Wrench, escape a runaway Doodleberry Cake, build a Super Robot, teach Walden to boogie and work hard for Wuzzleburg trophies! Together they discover the importance of positive values like confidence, cooperation, team work and above all, the meaning of friendship. There's hours of singing, dancing, laughing and learning in this Emmy?-award winning series that will have pre-school kids and parents alike saying WOW!

KIDS FIRST!® Adult Juror Comments:

Great show. Uses humorous situations to show the importance of friends who can help us with our problems. The characters who inhabit Wuzzleburg are endearing. This video consists of eight episodes. In each one, Wubbzy's friends help him when he has a problem. Kids will easily relate to how quickly one little mistake can lead to big problems. Thankfully, Wubbzy has his friends to help him. The situations are ones that kids can easily relate to. Most children have felt "not cool." They can learn from Wubbzy how to face these feelings and be themselves instead of just trying to please others. The music sets the pace of each episode and supports it throughout.

KIDS FIRST!® KID Juror Comments:

All the kids enjoyed Wubbzy a great deal. Their favorite episode was "A Clean Sweep" where Wubbzy makes a big mess with his kick ball and Widget's gadget explodes but the mess is eventually cleaned up the old-fashioned way. "We like it because they are nice to each other and they help each other." "We would watch it again because it is very funny." The characters all help each other out if there is a problem. Widget makes inventions to fix Wubbzy's mistakes. Sometimes her inventions don't work but that's ok too.

Description:

Strawberry and her friends bring two beloved fairy tales to life in magical adventures filled with very berry fun! In "Sleeping Beauty," Brambleberry Fairy (Angel Cake) feels neglected and casts a spell that puts Princess Strawberry Rose to sleep. The Princess's fairy friends (Appleberry, Rainbowberry, Gingerberry, Tangerinaberry and Orangeberry) aren't able to awaken her. It's up to Prince Huckleberry to work his magic – and teach Brambleberry Fairy an important lesson in friendship and listening.
The enchantment continues in "A Princess Named Rap." Princess Rapunzel's (Rainbow Sherbet) teacher is disturbed by her non-royal interests – especially her fascination with ships and navigation. But when the teacher's rowboat is swept out to sea, "Rap" shows everyone she has the right stuff to rule her kingdom.

KIDS FIRST!® Adult Juror Comments:

Fun, colorful video that make you feel happy just watching it. Many adults remember this show from their own childhoods and immediately relate to them. It flows nicely from start to finish. The stories address daily problems that are relevant to children. I.e.. learning how to get along with friends. It accomplishes the goal of making you think about choices you make in your life while enjoying the fun and fantasy of the show. Nicely produced with bright colors and adorable characters.

KIDS FIRST!® KID Juror Comments:

Enjoyed it. The kids immediately started talking about the colors and the characters, the clothes and the animals, the rainbows, the cupcake shapes and the ice cream - all very kid friendly stuff. "I want to be Strawberry Shortcake." "I want to have that toy." "I like the puppy." They definitely wanted to watch it again and had fun with it but it will take some adult prompting to understand the lessons.

Description:

Conceived by child literacy expert Dr. Brij Kothari and his team, at Stanford University, BookBox Stories entertain children and improve their reading skills at the same time. Using scientifically tested SLS (same language subtitling), children will improve their listening comprehension, reading skills and foreign language skills by watching these fascinating 'Stories from Around the World' that bring cultural and educational values to children. BookBox uses Same Language Subtitling (SLS) synchronizing the text, audio and visual components of a story shown on screen or 'reading Karaoke style.' SLS is the simple idea of subtitling music videos, film, television and DVDs in the same language as the audio. Word for word, what is heard is what will be read on screen. BookBox Stories from Around the World is a compilation of five short animated films which has been proven to aid early readers in developing their reading skills. Stories included are:: The First Well - A magical tale from a kingdom far, far away about how the very first well was created. The Boo in the Shoe - Meet playful Boo creatures who hide under beds at night and come out to play during the day. The Whispering Palms - A charming tale about Mori, who lives with her parents in a coconut grove and helps her father who goes fishing every morning. A random dream changes their lives forever and they decide to live in harmony with nature and find alternative methods of earning their living. The Little Pianist - Azul loves to play the piano and practices regularly. His piano teacher confuses him one day when she asks him to play from his heart for the upcoming recital. How can you play piano with your heart and not your fingers? Azul nervously begins to play at the recital and magically his fingers move by themselves, thus finding the true meaning of playing from the heart. Elephant Goes to the City - Rosa, a baby elephant is terribly unhappy as she lives all alone in her cage at the zoo. A chance escape gives her the freedom to explore the city and raise a bit of havoc! When the zoo keeper finds her, he realizes she would be best living with other elephants in the freedom of a forest reserve. Stories From Around the World is available in English only, English/Spanish, English/French, English/German, English/Italian, English/Mandarin Chinese, English/Hindi, English/Gujarati, English/Russian and English/Portuguese.

KIDS FIRST!® Adult Juror Comments:

Unique and moving. The stories have nice messages and are simple and well-told. Kids can enjoy them just as they would a short bedtime book. These are re-enactments of stories from other countries. They are done in a literary style, showing pictures like drawings in a book. They are easy to follow and bring us closer to understanding people from other places in the world by sharing their lessons with us. For example, the elephant story helps children see why animals don't like to live in cages and how to treat the ones we love well. The well story tells about optimism and hope. They are suitable for a wide range of children though the younger ones won't be able to read along and the older ones might not like the slow pace. They are respectful of animals and other people. The king treats his warriors well; the zookeeper treats his animals well.

KIDS FIRST!® KID Juror Comments:

Enjoyed them a lot. "I liked the characters because they are very funny." Kids stayed engaged while watching the stories and, since they were unfamiliar with the stories, were curious to find out what happened at the ending. "It was funny how they planted a piece of ice and thought it was a water seed and funny when they dug a hole to look for it and woke up the next morning to find a well full of water. It was also funny when the elephant ate all the ice cream and kicked the coconut." "My friends would like the elephant." "It made me think about what the elephant would do when she gets out of her cage." All the kids liked the elephant story best.

Description:

Promotes social and inter-personal skills, targeting some of the toughest behavioral problems parents are faced with. Each video is personalized with your child's photos.

KIDS FIRST!® Adult Juror Comments:

Short, attractive bright images, good lesson about being nice to everyone. This is set up as if it is a slide show with a narrator saying things such as "my parents will be proud of me" if the children are nice to everyone. Biggest problem with this DVD was that we had problems playing it on every machine in our office. It froze up, the audio track was uneven.

KIDS FIRST!® KID Juror Comments:

Kids liked the pictures of the animals being nice to each other and those of all the pretty plants. "It teaches us to be nice and how to treat other people." "It made me think about being nice and how I want other people to be nice to me." The kids enjoyed the animals in the video.

Description:

After the death of his father, troubled teen Jake Gattison (Hugh) travels with his mother to Harmony Ranch, a special retreat for families dealing with problems. There, Jake discovers a kindred spirit in Troubadour, a young stallion that has lost his mother and is acting out. Ranch owner Chief (Rooney), allows Jake to work with him to calm the uneasy horse. When Troubadour suddenly runs away, Jake makes it his mission to bring the lost stallion home. He sets out with his new friends Nicki (Handy) and Isaac (Stroud), two other troubled teens, on a journey into the wilderness. It's an adventure that will change their lives forever.

KIDS FIRST!® Adult Juror Comments:

It is a joy to watch the horses in this film. The film explores several families working through their problems together. It's message of faith and family are invaluable but the lack of acting talent in some of the characters detracted from it at times. The storyline follows a young man distressed by his father's death and how he handles his grief with the help of others who are also hurting. There are several instances of violence by the youth taken out on others his age and he verbally attacks his mother at some point but these scenes are addressed. The family and peer group relationships are all portrayed in positive ways except for these outbursts. There are scenes that deal with the deaths of a parent and a beloved animal. Some viewers may be disturbed by these emotional themes. It is a decent family movie that could generate discussion on some of these difficult topics.

KIDS FIRST!® KID Juror Comments:

Mixed reviews. "Liked it all right. It was too sad because people were dying and getting hurt. " "It was a good movie about people praying, practicing their faith in God and dreams of heaven." "My friends would like this. They would like the part where the kids are building the fence and the ranch owner makes them do it over. That was funny." "Nicky was a good character and her acting was the best. I liked that she had long hair and was feminine and modest." "Jake was mean to his mother but he thought she had lied to him." "We liked the scenes of the mountains, lake and the horses," "The music was great but it was overused. At times, they changed from one song to another and it detracted from the conversations between the characters." "I liked the big house that Katie lived in. It made me want to go to the retreat." "It made me think about being braver. Remember Isaac jumped into the water to save Jake?" They loved the part when Troubadour, the horse came to save Jake from the wolf.

Description:

Adam Beach stars in this tale of a stray whale who brings a message of hope for the future and respect for the past to a small B.C. community. Inspired by a true story, this film dramatizes the plight of a lone orca whale and how he impacts the life of a man searching for his place in the world. Starring: Adam Beach (Flags of Our Fathers, Windtalkers, Smoke Signals) Jason Priestley ( Eye of the Beholder, Shades of Black, TV's Beverly Hills 90210) Graham Greene (Snowdogs, The Green Mile, Dances with Wolves)

KIDS FIRST!® Adult Juror Comments:

The real orca lived freely in the harbor of a Vancouver Island village, loved by the entire community and the Mowachaht-Muchalaht First Nations Band for five years until his tragic death earlier this year. In this fictionalized account, the orphaned orca becomes the center of spiritual and political controversy. While the government plans to transport Luna hundreds of miles overland in an attempt to reunite him with his pod, the tiny Mowachaht-Muchalaht First Nations Band fights to protect the young killer whale that they believe embodies the spirit of their late chief. The story centers around an aboriginal boy struggling with his identity and the Band's new chief, Mike Maquinna, who finds himself embroiled in a storm that tests his abilities to lead. Adam Beach (Flags of Our Fathers, Wind Talkers) leads the cast as Mike Maquinna, a First Nations Hereditary Chief who comes to believe in the traditions of his people through the sudden appearance of Luna; Graham Greene (Transamerica, The Green Mile) as band member Bill Louis, who questions Mike's ability to be chief; Tantoo Cardinal (Indian Summer: The Oka Crisis, H2O) as Mike's mother, who encourages him to follow in his father's footsteps and Jason Priestley (Shades of Black, Beverly Hills 90210) as a government representative who devises the controversial plan to capture Luna.

KIDS FIRST!® KID Juror Comments:

Loved it. "It was great. The whale was beautiful and the people learned good lessons about how to treat each other and nature." "It's a nice story and it is kind of exciting how they saved the whale." They liked the parts where the kids work to clean up the boats and go to the water to help the whale. There were stereotypes of wildlife people who treated the Indians badly. They said mean things at the beginning when the kids took the boat. In the end, it made the kids think about how to treat whales and where they should live. It also brought about a conversation about respecting other people's beliefs. Liked that it is based on a true story. Loved the friendliness of the whale. They did not like the people trying to touch and feed the whale. The best part was seeing the children take care of and use the canoes.

Description:

Classmates are lured to a fantasy camp on a mysterious island where pirates from the past make strange counselors. Soon Cooper (Seth Atkins) discovers Captain Hookbeard (Corbin Bernsen) a voodoo with Mama and the legendary Blackbeard (John Kassir) are tricking the campers into a contest to find a cursed treasure. With plenty of sword fighting, pranks and magic, this wacky summer camp becomes an adventure of a lifetime as competitors and friends rally together and fight to save themselves.

KIDS FIRST!® Adult Juror Comments:

Pirates are fun. The camp is very realistic and the things that the campers do look like lots of fun. This film moves quickly and has lots of action, adventure and a little suspense. The hag/witch is quite frightening at times and user voodoo and sorcery. Best for kids in older age group as it is a bit frightening for younger ones. The pirates do not use kind names for each other and are not respectful of others at times. The production quality is very good. Good sets and acting. Encourages kids to think about doing the right thing and what makes you a better person.

KIDS FIRST!® KID Juror Comments:

Kids loved it. "The pirates were funny and there was some mystery." "It's a fun idea. I'd like to go to that camp." "My friends would love it because it's about pirates and treasures and things like that." "The kids are like teenagers I know. The pirates aren't." They weren't always nice. The pirates said mean things and the voodoo and other things weren't nice." "The pictures made it look just like where pirates would live. It was neat." "The pirates looked like real pirates. The magic people were cool." "Going to a fun camp like this would be neat. I'd love to be a pirate for a while, but not the real scary stuff, just the pretending stuff."

Description:

When Ham III, the slacker grandson of NASA's legendary chimpanzee astronaut, is recruited to help retrieve a lost space probe, he has a close encounter of the hilarious kind as he teams up with the lovely Lieutenant Luna and their by-the-book commander, Titan. The ship crash-lands on a strange planet and we wonder if this mismatched chimp crew can work together to save the mission without driving each other bananas. Produced by John H. Williams and Barry Sonnenfeld. Starring voice talent of Andy Samberg, Cheryl Hines, Stanley Tucci, Jeff Daniels, Jane Lynch, Patrick Warburton and Kristin Chenoweth.

KIDS FIRST!® Adult Juror Comments:

Engaging film with a great moral message. Some viewers might be offended by some of its humor. It is imaginative in its exploration of space and thoughts about other beings in the universe. It's very funny and twists science as well know it, leaving us wondering what really is out there and what a chimp's role in science really could be. There are great messages about teamwork, friendship and believing in oneself and respecting those who came before us.

KIDS FIRST!® KID Juror Comments:

Loved it. Very funny. Entertaining. "That was hysterical" "Can we watch it again?" "That chimp was really funny when he kept crashing. " "Can you say Kilowatt's real name?: "What do you think would happen if we really went through a worm hole?"

Description:

Welcome to the Happyland Zoo, where Sue and her seven colorful monkeys live, learn and play. Each day at the zoo is a magical adventure of music, laughs and discovery of how we can grow together and learn from one another. Introduces letters, numbers, shapes and colors, and stresses responsibility and other important character traits.

KIDS FIRST!® Adult Juror Comments:

Fun way for kids to learn some ideas such as dental hygiene and passing along what they have learned. Brightly colored 2D animation with silly characters that will appeal to the kids. Flows well and contains subjects appropriate to preschoolers. Models good social interactions, manners and teamwork. Promotes health life style - encouraging kids to want to brush their teeth and move along to the music. It is easy to understand with vocabulary appropriate for preschoolers.

KIDS FIRST!® KID Juror Comments:

Pretty enthusiastic response from the kids. They particularly enjoyed the knock knock jokes. "I thought it was funny." "I liked the funny jokes." The monkeys were a big hit - they talked about how cute they right after the screening. "The monkeys were silly. They were all nice." They sang along with the songs. The dental hygiene message seemed to have been absorbed. "What is that ugly monster in the teeth?" Everyone loved the catchy music.

Description:

Playful, easy poses for the whole family. Helps parents consciously connect with their baby/toddler. Cultivate mindfulness and compassion while interacting with children through yoga and music.

KIDS FIRST!® Adult Juror Comments:

Good advice for a mom who wishes to practice yoga with her infant or toddler as part of the practice. The child benefits from the bonding experience of being held while Mom exercises. Mom benefits by tuning into her body in a new way. Well paced, this is definitely designed for a very specific audience. The music is very soothing, as is the host's voice. If you are looking for something to bring some peace into your life as a new Mom, go no further - this is it! Very sweet.

Description:

In the second episode of the Jack, the Cuddly Dog, Jack chases his red ball across the USA by plane, train, automobile and balloon making many friends on the way. He explores spatial concepts with a unique soundtrack of American classics.

KIDS FIRST!® Adult Juror Comments:

Very enjoyable, great background scenery. Seeing all the animals in their natural habitat is a plus. Jack's name is repeated often enough to keep kids looking for him. The jack in the box is good and its movement helps hold the kids' attention. Good way to teach colors and words. It could be a good learning tool for history with older kids. The language is very age-appropriate and easy to follow. Good repetition that is not annoying. The storyline of going from one side of the country to another is cute and shows us examples of geographical significance such as the Grand Canyon, the sunflowers in Kansas. Those jurors from Kansas loved that their state song, "Home on the Range" is used. The music is well done throughout.

KIDS FIRST!® KID Juror Comments:

All the kids except for the baby waved hello and goodbye to Jack and the ball. The older kids repeated the words such as dog, rain, ball and water. The baby did watch the bouncing balls or the movement of things across the front of the screen. One five-year-old who is attention deficit and usually doesn't watch anything from beginning to end was quite interested in watching a second time. Another five-year-old asked why Jack kept going away. Two kids both picked it out the next day to watch it again. A few scenes are slow and at the end, most lost interest in it. Overall, the kids enjoyed following the ball and Jack. They really liked the real scenes of animals, trains, etc.

Description:

Learn Chinese by going on an exciting adventure through ancient China. Children will learn more than fifty vocabulary words and sentences as they follow Jason and Jenny in their quest to help The River Dragon King.

KIDS FIRST!® Adult Juror Comments:

Teaches Chinese words and phrases while it tells a light and enjoyable story. The animation is simple but effective and consistent throughout the movie. The simplicity allows the viewer to focus on the language rather than being swept away by fantastic animation. It is age appropriate and the language learning is slow and consistent enough for actual learning. Social interactions are very respectful. The story is simple and is told as though it is a Chinese fable. Very respectful of kids' ability and propensity to learn new languages. It repeats the words enough so that kids can mimic them and become part of the story. Good quality production, though very simple. Good starter to learning Asian languages. The words are simple and repeated a number of times. The viewer is encouraged to learn the words and repeat them through the movie.

KIDS FIRST!® KID Juror Comments:

The kids had trouble understanding a lot of the Chinese words. The characters are endearing and fun and their adventure is fun but the sound quality was not always up to par as it was difficult to hear the pronunciations. It is fun for kids to learn some basic words in a different language. Kids wanted to learn more.

Description:

A perfect blend of dream-fulfillment, fantasy & facts, about horses and the young girls who love them. Perfect for a child who would like to learn more about horses through educational fun stories. Original sound score & theme song.

KIDS FIRST!® Adult Juror Comments:

Great show for children who like horses and who already have a fairly extensive knowledge about horses. It is somewhat slanted towards a female audience. The storyline is targeted towards young viewers yet when the narrator describes a horse and why it is considered a particular type of horse it is like listening to an entry out of Grolier's Encyclopedia. Flows well from one type of horse to another with great visuals examples of each. It is mostly narrated by a young child so the language is very appropriate for kids.

KIDS FIRST!® KID Juror Comments:

Kids who were into horses really enjoyed this. "I liked it because it teaches about horses." They liked how the little girl follows her dream. "She's a kid like me." The cinematography was appreciated by the kids. "The pictures and photography are beautiful." Favorite part: Seeing the horses gallop. Kids who weren't interested in horses did not find it compelling. Those who did were vocal about wanting to share it with their friends.

Description:

Benjy, a 14-year old boy, is presenting his classroom video blog on respect. Through a combination of skits, group discussions, commentaries, and a short documentary, Benjy's blog reveals how young people think about and practice respect for others.

KIDS FIRST!® Adult Juror Comments:

Very enjoyable. Seeing how involved the young people are is compelling. They share their views on respect in a variety of ways. The format is engaging as it switches formats, using skits, discussions, and other examples. Students can easily see what it means to show disrespect. The production is wonderfully assembled with excellent video and audio quality. Many children are not being taught good values today. Respect is such a basic quality that children need to learn and would eliminate a lot of problems in the world that emerge from lack of it. What is great about this short film is how the children talk about this subject and give their views.

KIDS FIRST!® KID Juror Comments:

Liked it. "It makes us aware of how bad it is to disrespect someone." "Although it is not entertaining, it helps us improve ourselves and the different activities are fun." "It points out how bad it is to participate in disrespectful behavior and how hurtful it is." "It made us think about always being respectful to ourselves, to others and to the Earth. "It takes a difficult issue and makes it interesting."

Description:

Blogger Judy presents trust through a video vignette, teen discussions and a skit about lying to fit in. This combination of elements is bound to provoke moving discussions about honesty and trustworthiness.

KIDS FIRST!® Adult Juror Comments:

Great video that shares kids' perspectives on trusting each other. Offers wonderful interviews with children about why you can and can't trust others. Excellent examples to illustrate the points. The style of the interviews is excellent for kids because they get the information in many ways. Kids need to know why they are and aren't trusted. The kids in the video do a good job of making it pertinent to many age groups.

KIDS FIRST!® KID Juror Comments:

Enjoyed it. The students liked the scenario about trusting drivers when you cross the street. They thought that was a good example because we all trust those people, but usually don't them at all. The group discussion didn't hold their interest. They said that it seemed as if the same people got to talk all of the time and others didn't participate.

Description:

Responsibility, one of the six pillars of character, is presented by our video blogger in a dynamic combination of teen discussion and two moving documentaries that truly show responsibility in action.

KIDS FIRST!® Adult Juror Comments:

Nicely done. Particularly impressive is the Win Team and their efforts to rid their area of e-waste. The program addresses the issue of irresponsibility by contrasting responsible and irresponsible children and the outcome of their choices. The story moves from everyday responsibilities of teenagers towards their parents and each other to their responsibilities as a resident of this planet. Children depicted seem to be in high school and their discussions are appropriate to the 12-18 year old group. The e-waste portion of the program stands out and would be an inspiration to any age child. The children demonstrate consideration and empathy for one another. The irresponsible choices were looked upon as negative and the kids who chose to be more responsible were held up as a positive example. The first child choosing to be responsible, Veronica, gives concrete examples about how she re-ordered her life which gives the viewer practical applications for their own situations. The discussion group shows how it is sometimes difficult to do the "right" or responsible thing but their experiences relate the negative consequences of choosing to be irresponsible.

KIDS FIRST!® KID Juror Comments:

Kids enjoyed this to some degree. "Pretty good. The kids' comments are funny." "At times it's annoying." "Liked it a lot. It was like a really good Hanna Montana episode." "I enjoyed the part about recycling computers." "Irresponsible people became responsible - I liked that." Kids talked afterwards about responsibility and how they failed at it and wanted to do better. "I liked the Win Team's I AM ON A MISSION t-shirts. It added to the idea that they were serious about their cause." "The idea of being responsible is a good thing to learn and some parts were really funny."

Description:

Indian blogger, Shiv, shows inspiring stories and teen discussions to demonstrate that caring is about doing, not simply feeling. He encourages other kids to become caring people by doing caring things.

KIDS FIRST!® Adult Juror Comments:

The Character Chronicles is an ideal film that KIDS FIRST! stands behind because it dispels rumors about youth being selfish and lazy and it shows a sense of equality towards the gap between child versus adult. Particularly enjoyable is the youthful approach in this informative video. The topics discussed are simple themes such as the importance of caring, however the kids' passion towards the subjects and examples they talked about held a certain depth and power. The example at the beginning in which the boy rushes off to meet his friends and ignores his little brother is a good example that hooks the viewer. It's something we've all been guilty of. However, the boy handles the situation and fixes his mistake in a way that sends the message that even though we're all imperfect, we still have the chance to fix our mistakes through caring and kindness. Excellent editing and use of effects. The pacing is fast with plenty of attention to details and cutaways, which make it a wholly interesting piece. Highly suitable for children because the content is about children taking a stand to better society. It puts children in a position of positive power and expels negative stereotypes. As an educational video, the compositions and b-roll are highly beneficial to the production quality. Again, the editing was really good and no shot was too long or too little. The picture quality, audio, and overall design of the video are clear, engaging , and interesting. This video gives children hope that they can make good things come out of bad situations. The little boy who lost his leg could've chosen to be angry and depressed because of the misfortune, however instead he chose to accept his loss, work a little harder, and start living his life again and helping other kids do the same.

KIDS FIRST!® KID Juror Comments:

It is good because it shows how we can care about others. "Nick and Kassandra showed what they did to help other people and that we should show people we care by helping them." "It made me think about what I can do to help other people or to show them that I care." "It was motivating to see Nick with his handicap and how he didn't give up but started helping others. Also, Kassandra was very smart to come up with the idea to help foster children. It was interesting and held out attention."

Description:

African American blogger, Malik, shows citizenship in action through a combination of teen discussions and documentaries. This program is designed to show other young teens that they have the power to make a difference in their communities.

KIDS FIRST!® Adult Juror Comments:

This is a positive episode demonstrating that even though kids under 18 are barred from doing normal things a good citizen do, such as vote, they can do their own part to help their communities - feeding the elderly, testing toys for lead, etc. The film is not just educational but an inspiration to kids to educate them in how they can help others. The fact that the film does not just preach about HOW to be a good citizen but shows kids who are actually DOING community service is inspirational. Well structured, good production quality, positive message.

KIDS FIRST!® KID Juror Comments:

It's inspiring because kids are talking for themselves about the projects they are doing and the choices they have made, on their own, not because their parents told them to do it. It's very likely that kids who watch this will be motivated to do something in their own community. "I was impressed to see the control the teens took over their lives to help others when they could have been playing video games or doing something less challenging. "

Description:

This DVD tells you what you need to know to become a Veterinarian. You'll hear tips and advice from a working Veterinarian, students at a college of Veterinary Medicine and the dean of the college. You'll get to see what a typical day as a Veterinarian is like.
You'll find out about careers working as an animal keeper at the zoo and how to prepare for a career as a zoo keeper. Animal Keepers featured are, Koala, Giraffe, Zebra and Nubian Ibex and Orangutan.
You'll learn about careers in animal conservation as you get a close up view of the California Condor which is an endangered species. This program takes you to a government protected preserve where Fish and Wildlife Service Staff and Interns work to study and protect this incredible bird. Their diligent efforts have helped nurse the California Condor population from 22 to 275.

KIDS FIRST!® Adult Juror Comments:

Good introduction to help children start thinking about what they want to do when they grow up and how to get started. It moves a bit slowly and has a lot of talking heads. It highlights a particular career, veterinarians - and answers many questions about working with animals. Most kids love animals which adds to its appeal. It covers a broad area and suggests that they might start by volunteering - a good idea. The surgery for spaying was interesting but may not be appropriate for younger kids.

KIDS FIRST!® KID Juror Comments:

Kids enjoyed it. "It made me start thinking about what we want to be when we grow up." "My friends would think it is interesting and educational." "It told me about what I had to do it I wanted to become a veterinary." "It takes you to different places where you might work with animals." It was a bit slow though. "I got tired of watching people talk."

Description:

This safari musical will have kids swinging and singing through the trees to the award-winning tunes about iguanas, lions, orangutans and more! Hear amazing instruments like marimbas and didgeridoos on this adventure into the world of music. Special DVD features include a Singin' Safari Drum Circle, "Guess the Instruments" where all 22 instruments from the DVD are heard and named, "Rangy" outtakes, and a special commentary for parents by Lisa and Linda.

KIDS FIRST!® Adult Juror Comments:

Offers an adventure into the world of music with a very engaging duo, trio band and Kim the Guide, along with live action kids, audiences of kids and adults, and animals from the Woodland Park Zoo in Seattle. Everyone contribute to the original songs and introduction of all kinds of musical instruments from around the world. Lots of movement and dancing. The audience is invited to "swing and sing" through the trees to Lisa and Linda's original tunes. Good lessons about musical instruments, some common like the drum, piano and guitar and some unusual ones like the didgeridoo, ocarina, and mrbira (thumb piano) and tunes about lions, orangutans , lions and more. Nicely done with live action, film animation and claymation of animals.

KIDS FIRST!® KID Juror Comments:

Very enjoyable. Kids kept interested, sang along and danced to the music. They liked all the songs and the images of the animals. "We all liked the instruments they played. The didgeridoo was really neat sounding." "We liked the music and the animals." One boy said, "I think my friends would like the cool instruments they play and that we saw kids playing them!" Overall, "great" was their response.