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The Newsstand - What's Hot

Christine Pollock, Newsletter Editor
QUOTE OF THE MONTH
" Always aim at complete harmony of thought and word and deed. Always aim at purifying your thoughts and everything will be well." - Muhatma Gandhi

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KIDS FIRST!® NEWS 2005
Turning your TV Time into Quality Time
December 20, 2005 Issue #12b
Christine L. Pollock, Editor
Ranny Levy, Publisher
[email protected]


IN THIS ISSUE
1. Letters from the Editor and President
2. Miracle on Main Street: Donning the Magic Robes
3. Web Store Features
4. New Endorsements
5. Festival Titles
6.
New Members/Renewing Members
7. Media News
8. Family and Parenting News
9. It's a Big Big World by Christine L. Pollock
10. Crafts and Activities: Creative Experiences from Dr. Toy and How to Make a Quinzie
11. Festival City Schedule and Events

* Permission to forward or reprint the content herein is granted with complete attribution.

Interview with Center for Media Literacy Founder, Liz Thoman

Interview with Reading Rainbow Producer, Dr. Twila Liggett

The Inner Workings of Sesame Workshop with Dr. Ed Greene





New: KIDS FIRST! logo store
Your purchase of hats, t-shirts, baby jumpers, bibs, and totes benefit KIDS FIRST!


HOLIDAY SALE - 25% off!
EVERYTHING at the KIDS FIRST! Web Store


Become an Affiliate of the
KIDS FIRST! Web Store


The Coalition for Quality Children's Media is a national, not-for-profit organization founded in 1991. Because we believe that media profoundly affect children, our mission is to 1) teach children critical viewing skills and 2) to increase the visibility and availability of quality children's programs.

CQCM Newsletter Archive
2005 Jan / Feb / Mar / April / May / June / July / August / September / October/ Mid October / November / Mid November / December
2004 / 2003 / 2002
2001 / 2000 / 1999 / 1998
1997a 1997 b

Welcome to KIDS FIRST!® NEWS. All articles are by Coalition for Quality Children's Media unless otherwise noted.

Dear Friends,

Our congratulations go out to our coloring contest winners: Garrick (3) from WI, Marcos (8) from CA, and McKayla (10) from NY. The winners of the KIDS FIRST!® coloring contest will receive over $100 worth of DVDs. What a perfect gift for the holidays.

This has been a good week for winning. Last issue I wrote about my kids competing in a LEGO robotics tournament, and they won an award for the best research and knowledge on their topic. Part of this award was commendation for the DVD they filmed reporting their research. We are very proud of them.

While they were setting up for the competition we took our six-year-old to the mall. That's a big deal for us since we live in the country. I believe it might have been his first time seeing a mall decorated for the holidays, and it was really fun seeing his reaction to the mechanical Rudolph.

We have a special addition to this magazine for this holiday season. Arthur Kanegis tells how a Jewish Santa brings joy to all ages and races. It's a powerful story of how people of all religions and races can work together to help others. May you and your families have a wonderful holiday filled with love and laughter.

As always, I welcome your input. If you have comments on titles we have endorsed; notices of awards, publications, and products; or suggestions for articles...Contact me.

Christine Pollock, Editor

Dear Readers,

On this short Winter Solstice day, from everyone at KIDS FIRST!, we send our wishes for a wonderful Holiday Season. I hope all of you will have the opportunity to kick back and spend a bit of time with your friends and family.

Looking back on this year, I am amazed at all the changes at our organization. From our huge expansion of our Film Festival venues, to our first live KIDS FIRST! Best awards event, to our Webstore finally taking off and fulfiling a very important part of our mission - selling films from our independent producer members, to our always expanding Junior Film Critics program, it has been a very successful year for us. Many thanks go out to all the hard-working people who make this all possible - our festival partners, our event host Denver Film Society, our staff, our webmaster, our newsletter editor and copy editor, and you - our readers and supporters.

THANKS everyone!!!

And as a way of expressing our appreciation, we're offering a little end of the year bonus from our webstore. We have $20 grab bags full of VHS tapes, one for pre-schoolers and one for school-age children. Each bag is filled with vhs tapes worth up to $100. We're making this offer available as long as our inventory supports it so jump on board and order one for the children in your life today. Go to kidsfirstmedia to purchase.

Much love,

Ranny Levy
Founder and President, KIDS FIRST!




ONLINE JUROR TRAINING PROGRAM

To keep up with the fast-paced growth at KIDS FIRST!®, we offer juror training online. If you or someone you know is interested in becoming a KIDS FIRST!® juror, now's a great time to get started. There is a minimal $40 fee for the training. Jurors keep the titles they review and approve. What a wonderful way for teachers, librarians, parents, daycare providers and others involved with children to help KIDS FIRST!® while building their own quality media library. To register or get more information, please click here.


MIRACLE ON MAIN STREET: DONNING THE MAGIC ROBES by Arthur Kanegis
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"My clothes, I haven't worn my clothes in forty years!" That was my dad's spontaneous reaction when I came home for a visit in the early 1980's and gave him a Santa Suit. Although my dad was Jewish, one of his first jobs was a department store Santa in New Rochelle, New York, in the early 1940's.

When he donned the robes, something magical happened, and as he left work and wandered down Main Street he found himself filled with the Christmas spirit. Although he had never played a musical instrument, the spirit so infused him that he played Christmas carols on an accordion as he waltzed down the street. Little children, eyes wide, stared in wonder. One little boy was fighting with his sister -- until he looked up wide-eyed -- and knew he had to be good for goodness sakes! My dad felt drawn to enter a particular home. Inside was a paraplegic child who lit up with glee that Santa had come. His family was thrilled, and offered my dad a stiff brandy. My dad said he didn't drink.

"Then you couldn't be one of our friends! Did some social agency send you?" My dad just smiled and carried on playing "It Came Upon A Midnight Clear" for the young lad who practically wiggled out of his skin with delight. I asked my dad why he never played Santa for my brother, sister and me. "Since Lillian passed away (My mom died of cancer in 1952 when I was four) I lost the spirit." When he donned the costume, the spirit returned, and he loved being Santa again. Santa was for the children, and the spirit of giving, and to him it didn't matter if the child was raised in a Christian, Jewish or any other family.

The next Christmas, as I searched for a way to cheer up a friend in the hospital, I asked my dad if I could borrow the suit. He gladly agreed. I grabbed my dad's Santa sack of toys to complete the look, and went to surprise my friend. It worked - cheered him up immeasurably. Since I had the bag of toys, I asked a nurse if I
could visit the children's ward.

When I entered the ward my heart sank - one little girl bandaged with burns, a young boy with leg in traction - a room full of sad kids spending Christmas in the hospital. I tinkled my Santa bell, eyes turned, and at once a transformation occurred. Suddenly I was in a room full of children squealing with delight. As I gave a toy to each child and spent a little time talking with them, the pain disappeared from their faces and childish joy broke through. They couldn't have given me a more heartwarming present.

When every child was busy playing with their toy, I put my finger to my nose, wished "A merry Christmas to all and to all a good night" and flew back out to the nurses' station. The nurse thanked me and invited me to visit the other wards. "I don't know," I replied. "Older people aren't going to want some guy in a costume to come bug them." But the nurse insisted and I relented.

The first room I entered, an elderly lady's eyes lit up. "Santa, I'm so glad you came. I just found out that I'm dying." I put my hand on hers, and stayed with her a long time, just letting the magic robes do their mitzvah, sending love energy through her tightly clasped hand to help her on her journey. The next patient was a young African-American man whose foot has been shot off. His little boy was visiting, and he exclaimed, "Look, son, it's Santa!" The joy in the son's eyes
seemed to wipe away the father's pain.

That began a tradition, and every Christmas since, I've grown out my beard, bleached it white, and transformed into Santa Claus. One Christmas we were headed for Minneapolis to visit my wife's family. My wife asked me to do her a favor - to fly in my Santa robes. What a sensation that made. On the plane people were slipping me gifts to give to loved ones in other seats and children were looking out the window trying to locate Rudolf. When we got to our hub at Chicago O'Hare, kids were everywhere, speaking in all languages with only one word the same: "Santa."

When we arrived in Minneapolis my five-year-old nephew Eric was overjoyed to have Santa Claus come to his home for a visit. He excitedly told Santa what he wanted for Christmas, and what he was making for his mom and others.
We worried what Eric would say when later Uncle Arthur showed for dinner, sans suit, looking awfully familiar.

It turns out that's a problem that bothers adults - it posed no problem for Eric. He just chatted away with Uncle Arthur like I had just arrived. Since I couldn't remove my natural beard, I wondered if I really looked that different.

The next day when Santa came to visit his school, Eric gasped with joy: "Oh, you have your magic robes on!" Later we went to visit my wife's mom in a nursing home. With only children's toys in my sack, I began giving teddy bears and other toys to the seniors. Many became quite excited, clutching the toy bears like long-lost love ones. A nurse told me she was amazed - residents who had been catatonic, non-responsive for months or even years, suddenly sprung to life with a visit from Santa.

Since then I've been Santa every year. One year a friend who was closing her toy store in Santa Fe, New Mexico let me give away the entire store -kids were lining up around the block to visit the Santa Fe Santa. For the past five years, ever since I began spending most of my time writing screenplays from my beach house in Baja, I've done Santa for children in orphanages and in colonias in Mexico. Most of these impoverished children have never seen a Santa in person. They don't have stocked toy-chests - the one from me may be only toy they'll get this Christmas. So I take the time to make the presentation special. Each child gets to sit on Santa's knee and chat before receiving their present. The beanie baby puppies seem to come alive: "El perrito dice: No tengo una casa. ¿Es posible que viva en su casa?" Although Santa's "North Polean" Spanish is rather poor, the children glow with joy and welcome the toy dogs and stuffed monkeys into their homes and hearts.

One year we went to San Quintin where farmworkers live in a village made of scrap cardboard. A few lucky ones have found scrap plastic tarps to keep dry. The joy in these children's eyes in having Santa actually come visit THEM is burned in my memory forever. What a gift - from them to me! With the help of the local community in La Mision, one year we were able to bring in a truckload of toys, wheelchairs, blankets and other presents to a school for disabled children in Ensenada. One blind boy sat on my lap, felt my hat, beard and face, and lit up brighter than a firecracker when he called out "Santa! Santa!"

I'll never forget one paraplegic boy. As I carried him into his wheelchair, he was practically wiggling out of his skin with delight. Tears welled up in my eyes. I found myself singing to him: "It came upon a midnight clear, that glorious song of old. From angels bending near the earth, to touch their harps of gold Peace on the earth, goodwill to men…"

Practically every religion teaches that we are all one. Christmas is the one time of
the year when everyone who is filled with the spirit of Santa becomes the real Santa. We are all actually one. So when children ask me if I'm the real Santa Claus, I tell them yes. And my dad was the real Santa - and if the spirit of giving fills your heart, you, too, are the real Santa.
--------------------------------
©ArthurKanegis, 2005 [email protected] 310-909-8756. Donations of toys are always welcomed, and can be sent to me at 4492 Camino de la Plaza #642, San Diego, CA 92173
Santa and Disabled Child in Ensenada, BC Mexico

KIDS FIRST!® WEB STORE FEATURES
*****************************************************

GRAB BAG OF VHS TAPES FOR AGES 2-5

Media: VIDEO KF! Age: 2-5 Cat: FAMILY SPECIAL HOLIDAY SALE $19.95

This grab bag assortment of vhs tapes is worth at least twice the purchase price at MSRP. All titles are KIDS FIRST! Endorsed, recommended for ages 2-5, and are sure to be a hit with your kids. We are discontinuing all VHS tapes which is why we're offering you this grab bag assortment for this Holiday Season.

This collection features many of Ranny's Picks!

Juror Recommended Age: 2 -5
Category: Family, Educational/Instructional, Festival, others

GRAB BAG OF VHS TAPES FOR AGES 5-12

Media: VIDEO KF! Age: 5-12 Cat: FAMILY Price: SPECIAL HOLIDAY SALE $19.95

This grab bag assortment of vhs tapes is worth at least twice the purchase price at MSRP. All titles are KIDS FIRST! Endorsed, recommended for ages 5-12, and are sure to be a hit with your kids. We are discontinuing all VHS tapes which is why we're offering you this grab bag assortment for this Holiday Season.
For more information or to order

This collection features many of Ranny's Picks!

Juror Recommended Age: 5-12
Category: Family, Educational/Instructional, Festival, others

NEW ENDORSEMENTS ********************************

More New Endorsements can be found at http://www.cqcm.org/kidsfirst/html/newendorsements.htm

*** = Titles receiving the highest scores are given a three star rating.
** = Ttles that meet or exceed the criteria receive a two-star rating.
* = Titles that meet the baseline criteria but require some extra consideration on the part of the viewer a one-star rating.

Video/DVD-Ages 2-5
*** SIGNING TIME! VOLUME 6: MY FAVORITE THINGS. Join Alex, Leah, their frog Hopkins, and Signing Time's Rachel Coleman for more signing fun! Teaches ASL signs for fruits, vegetables, colors of the rainbow, and activities. Divided into segments for colors, fruits and veggies, and activities, this title includes ASL tips. Adult Juror Comments: Clear, humorous, and entertaining presentation. Vivid colors. Fruits and actions are presented in related vocabulary groups by an enthusiastic adult. Good repetition by kids for an uncluttered, well-paced educational presentation. Complimentary soundtrack of original songs. Kid Juror Comments: All watched intently, and some were signing and singing along. One child said, "I can spell all of those." (She was obviously proud of her spelling ability.) Kids had a blast sharing things that they could do like swimming. This stimulated lots of participation and conversation among the children. DVD. 30 min.; $21.99; Age: 2-5. TWO LITTLE HANDS PRODUCTIONS.


Audio-Ages 2-5
** I LOVE TOY TRAINS - THE MUSIC!
The James Coffey Express Delivers! Based on the soundtrack tunes he created for the popular I Love Trains video series, Coffey includes 32 previously unreleased songs relating to the magic and wonder of locomotives. Adult Juror Comments: Good music, fun to listen to. Combines songs to dance along to, some familiar tunes, and a variety of songs all about trains. These songs make more sense with the visuals of the video accompanying them. The kids always love to break into Old MacDonald, though. Kid Juror Comments: Kids sang along with some of the tunes. One child who has a harmonica could relate to the harmonica parts. Some kids enjoyed listening along as they played with their toy trains. One pre-school teacher took her kids to the library to get some books about trains as a follow up activity. Audio. 75 min.; $14.95; Age: 2-5. BLUE VISION MUSIC.


Video/DVD-Ages 8-12
*** TREVOR ROMAIN COLLECTION: FACING FEAR WITHOUT FREAKING OUT. Welcome to Screamworks Island, where Jack and Skye are forced to face their fears and deal with them once and for all. Whether it's the fear of heights or the fear of not fitting in, Trevor offers fear-busting guidance to kids hoping to overcome them all. Adult Juror Comments: Great message. We all face fears but many kids don't want to admit theirs. This brings fears into the open and helps kids identify and deal with them. Offers morally and ethically sound advice. Many times children fail to participate in activities because of their fear of failure. This presentation helps them recognize and overcome these fears. Catchy music, interesting graphics and animation. One librarian said, "After seeing this, I intend to purchase other titles in this series!" Trevor Romain is a master at presenting sensitive subjects to children. Kid Juror Comments: Liked it. I learned that you have five fears. "It shows you how to not be afraid and everyone is afraid of something." Kids related to the fears of rides and spiders. "I related to Skye because I love huge roller coasters, and I don't like spiders." "I learned about fight or flight." "I knew about the breathing thing." "Drawings were neat." "I liked how the mom was real and the kids were cartoon people." DVD. 80 min.; $14.99; Age: 8-12. THE COMICAL SENSE COMPANY.

SELECTIONS FROM KIDS FIRST!® FILM AND VIDEO FESTIVAL 2005
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Blue's Clues: Blue's Room: Holiday Wishes Charlie Brown Christmas, A Christmas Carol, A Jingle Bells
In Blue’s Room, Blue has transformed into a loveable plush puppet who can now talk with you! Blow on the Play Date Spinner- wherever it lands sets the theme for the play date, and even the look of the playroom itself! Blue’s Room can fill with snacks, turn into Birthday Party Land, host talking alphabet letters, or change into any imaginary setting. There’s no limit to what you can do when you talk, play, pretend with your best friend, Blue! Ages 2-5. Paramount Home Entertainment/Nickelodeon. This made for TV classic features Charlie Brown's problems producing the school Christmas pageant. All of the Peanut's characters are shown in their most endearing ways - Lucy, Snoopy, Schroeder, Pig-Pen, etc. Linus stops the show reciting from the gospel the story of Jesus' birth. Ages 5-15. Paramount Home Entertainment One of the best-loved holiday stories of all time is back in this animated musical version of Charles Dickens' most famous tale. An all-star voice lineup features the talents of Whoopi Goldberg, Ed Asner, Michael York, and Tim Curry as Scrooge. Come share the joy as cold-hearted Ebenezer Scrooge, the man who "bah-humbugged" his way through Christmas, discovers the true holiday spirit after he's visited by the Ghosts of Christmas Past, Present and Future. With original music and eight new songs, this uplifting, animated tale is destined to become a new holiday classic. Ages 5-18. Twentieth Century Fox Home Entertainment. As told by one of Santa’s merriest elves, this animated tale opens on a small farm where Beth, Tommy and their parents are all worried about finding the money to buy each other gifts. But when their Dad sells the one thing they care about most in order to give the kids store-bought presents, it looks like it might be the unmerriest Christmas ever! Now with a little Christmas magic and an unforgettable sleigh ride, the family learns the best gifts don’t come from stores…they come from the heart. Starring the voices of Jason Alexander, Don Knotts and Shelley Long. Produced in 1999. Ages 5-12. Lions Gate Home Entertainment.  
Lazy Town Surprise Santa We Wish You a Merry Christmas O'Christmas Tree
Davie & Golimyr
Stephanie has just moved to a strange new place called LazyTown. Along with the other kids in town, this optimistic 8-year-old is caught between a charismatic, health-conscious super hero named Sportacus, and the world’s laziest bad guy, Robbie Rotten. LazyTown is action-packed; in spite of its name, it’s anything but lazy. Ages 5-8. Paramount Home Entertainment. Brought to life with the voices of Nell Carter, Lacey Chabert, and Travis Tritt, this animated holiday special reveals how Christmas carols came to be – and how an entire town rediscovered the true spirit of the season. In the tiny town of Harmony, the people have been working so hard they’ve forgotten music even exists! Then, three determined little orphans set out to find a gift they can give the hardworking townsfolk. And with a little night-before-Christmas advice from kindly Mrs. Santa Claus, they give the town the most amazing present anyone could imagine: Christmas caroling! Ages 5-12. Lions Gate Home Entertainment This heartwarming animated tale begins in a snowy forest on Christmas Eve, where a forlorn little pine tree feels she is too homely to ever realize her dream of being a real Christmas tree. With the help of a comical Baby Bear, a happy-go-lucky Squirrel, a cynical Nutcracker, and a host of other forest critters, as well as a visit from Santa Claus himself, the little tree discovers the true beauty of the season… shines from within! Featuring the voices of Edward Asner, Tim Conway and Marie Osmond. Title song sung by Marie Osmond. Age 5-12. Lions Gate Home Entertainment.
Davie is a pear grower who stands up again a bully giant to protect his village. When Davie hits Golimyr in the head with a pear, Golimyr becomes a good, decent person. Good family story, based on the familiar biblical story of David and Goliath. Religious content. Claymation. Age: 8-12. Lumenas Studios and Ageless Animation.



Our complete list of titles is available by clicking here.

MEMBER NEWS
****************************************************
Long Island Children's Museum is having a New Year's Countdown by time zone around the world. At each midnight, they will play an episode from Families Around the World that corresponds to that time zone. For India, they are screening Going to School in India. Also showing on January 2 and 16 beginning at 11am. Read More

 


NEW AND RENEWING MEMBERS
****************************************************

Please welcome these new or renewing members and visit their web sites.

Hello Baby Productions
http://www.jackthecuddlydog.com

Kiddie Village
http://www.kiddievillage.com

MEDIA NEWS
****************************************************

Call For Entries
The 9th Annual Brooklyn International Film Festival is looking for entries for Feature, Documentary, Narrative Short, Experimental Short, and Animated Short FINAL DEADLINE: March 15, 2006 Read More

**
Little Airplane Academy for Kids
Kids have an opportunity to become creators of media instead of
passive consumers. Read More

FAMILY AND PARENTING NEWS
********************************************

Narnia-Out of the Wardrobe, Into the Mall?
Is the spiritual message dimmed by commercialism? Here is a great article on how the get the best from Narnia and how to use it as a lesson about marketing. Read More

******************************************
It's a Big Big World! by Christine L. Pollock

"Disney's got it wrong, it's not a small world. It's a big, BIG world with lots to discover and explore," Mitchell Kriegman enthuses over the phone. This creative genius of award-wining shows such as Bear in the Big Blue House and Clarissa Explains it All and Book of Pooh talked to me about his new show, It's a Big, Big World, which makes its debut on January 2, 2006 on PBS.

According to Kriegman, too often we give our children the message that this world is a dark place that we are destroying. It's somewhat true, but we often forget to show them the light. There are still many wonderful things on our planet. It's a Big, Big World is based on a multi-level age-appropriate science and geography curriculum, which taps into children's' natural fascination with a world much bigger than their immediate surroundings. "Children today are more affected by the global community than ever before. It's a Big Big World offers parents and kids a very natural, positive way to think and talk about the world around them. From a distance, the world still makes a lot of sense," says Kriegman. "The series presents science not just as a bunch of facts, but as a process of discovery.

A new form of animation gives the show and its characters a fresh and novel look. It's a Big, Big World's main characters, a charismatic sloth named Snook and his animal friends, are rich in texture and detail. It is produced in "Shadowmation," a visually striking technique that combines puppetry, animatronics and computer-generation. Kriegman came up with the idea for Shadowmation through his interest in bun-raku, an ancient Japanese art form of puppetry and storytelling. Each puppet in It's a Big Big World is controlled by several puppeteers at the same time so the puppet's movements are more varied and refined, more closely mimicking human movement. Combining the puppetry with CGI allows the creators to render an artistic environment for the viewer where the characters appear more realistic. This type of filming would not have been an option ten years ago. However, rapid advances in technology have made it possible.

In Kriegman's opinion, the titles that will stand out in the crowd of the future will be big budget, hi-bred shows and the "quirky, cool, lower end" productions. Kriegman's success with children's' programming demonstrates that he knows what families are looking for, perhaps because he is a parent himself and monitors the media in his own household. Kriegman asserts that parents have to be active in the media choices of a household. They need to be involved, co-viewing whenever possible. The success of a show depends on capturing both the parents and the children. From first glance, it seems as if It's a Big Big World is going to do just that.

If you want to learn more about the show before it debut's check out http://pbskids.org/bigbigworld/.

************************************************************

CRAFTS AND ACTIVITIES

Dr. Toy's Tips on Use of Video by Stevanne Auerbach, PhD./Dr.Toy
www.drtoy.com Smart Play /Smart Toys (www.educationalinsights.com)

Creative Experiences
Children like to paint indoors and outside. This is always a fun activity on a nice day. An easel can make it simpler to do this. Whatever type of products you select, make sure that they can hold up to the outdoors, tough and tumble things that can take more wear and tear. Show your child videos that provide stimulation, art and creative experiences that enrich their imagination and creative expression. Some KIDS FIRST!® recommendations are Brainy Baby - Art and Monet: Shadow and Light.



Craft
Quinzie based on AdventurePatrol: Snow Daze

Materials: Snow and shovels. For instructions, go to craft page.

 

 

KIDS FIRST!® Film and Video Festival Schedule
********************************************************************
Join us as we travel around the country with film festivals. Find out when we will be in a town near you. For details read here

ARIZONA
Yuma, AZ

BRITISH COLUMBIA, CANADA
Madeira Park

CALIFORNIA
Los Angeles, CA

Newport Beach, CA
San Jose, CA

COLORADO
Denver, CO

INDIANA
Fort Wayne, IN

KANSAS
Wichita, KA

KENTUCKY
Louisville, KY

LOUISIANA
New Orleans, LA

MASSACHUSETTS
Brookline MA
Williamstown, MA

MICHIGAN
Ironwood, MI

NEW MEXICO
Alamogordo, NM
Albuquerque, NM

Santa Fe, NM

NEW YORK
Brooklyn, NY

Garden City, NY

Queens, NY


OKLAHOMA
Oklahoma City, OK

OREGON
Ashland, OR

TENESSEE
Nashville, TN

TEXAS
Austin, TX
Dallas, TX

Houston, TX

Spring, TX

UTAH
Salt Lake City
, UT

WISCONSIN
La Crosse, WI
Milwaukee, WI

WASHINGTON DC
Washington, DC


Other Events:

Deadline: January 20, 2006: ITVS: International Programs for U.S. Audience
Independent Television Service (ITVS) invites international producers to create programs for television audiences in the United States that represent diverse global communities, advance underrepresented points of view, inspire public dialogue, tell powerful stories, and explore globally significant themes and issues. Visit http://www.itvs.org/ for complete program guidelines and application procedures.

To add your event to this list, please send a notice to Chris.

********************************************************************
Become a Coalition for Quality Children's Media Member

If you've found our e-zine and web site helpful, please consider becoming a member of KIDS FIRST!® Members help underwrite the various projects of this organization. The Coalition for Quality Children's Media's relies on the generous support of its members and donors to support its programs. An individual/family membership is only $25/year. An organizational membership is $100/year. An independent producer membership is $200. To join, go to: http://www.kidsfirst.org or contact our office at 505.989.8076.

VISIT OUR MEMBERS' SITES ******************
Please visit our website for an up-to-date list of Coalition members by clicking here: http://www.kidsfirst.org/kidsfirst/html/whomem.htm.

IF YOU FIND THIS NEWSLETTER USEFUL ...
FORWARD IT TO FRIENDS AND FAMILY ****************

ADVERTISE IN THE EMAIL EDITION OR ON THE KIDS FIRST! WEB SITE
Contact Ann. ******************


Send comments, questions and feedback to Chris.

To SUBSCRIBE to our free e-zine, KIDS FIRST!® NEWS: Send e-mail to join-[email protected] Or fill out the simple form at: http://www.kidsfirst.org To leave this list, send e-mail to [email protected] or use the link below: http://list.kidsfirst.org/cgi-bin/process.pl?id=18066423L

This newsletter may be reprinted with permission. Write to: [email protected]
Copyright 2002 by Coalition for Quality Children's Media, http://www.kidsfirst.org

ABOUT CQCM AND KIDS FIRST!®
******************************************
KIDS FIRST!® is the not-for-profit Coalition for Quality Children's Media's initiative that evaluates and rates children's media - videotapes, CD-ROMs and television - using a highly acclaimed method that has been praised by parents and educators alike. It utilizes professionally designed criteria and evaluation tools and engages a volunteer jury comprising child development professionals, teachers and parents nationwide and children of diverse geographic, socioeconomic and ethnic backgrounds. KIDS FIRST!® endorsed titles appeal to people around the world and include many programs on topics important to children's development. KIDS FIRST!®-endorsed titles are available on CQCM's award-winning Internet site, in the KIDS FIRST!® Film and Video Festival and in reviews we provide to more than 75 publications.

CQCM evaluates feature films, television programs, videos, CD-ROM, DVDs and audio recordings. For an application form and application deadlines, visit our website at http://www.kidsfirst.org, call our office (505.989.8076) or send us an email.

Coalition for Quality Children's Media, 112 W. San Francisco St., Suite 305A, Santa Fe, NM 87501.

CQCM Newsletter Archive
2004 / 2003 / 2002
2001 / 2000 / 1999 / 1998
1997a 1997 b
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