The Newsstand - KIDS FIRST! News 2007

Dear Friends,

A lot has happened since our last issue. We at KIDS FIRST! extend our heartfelt condolences to all who were impacted by the Virginia Tech incident. As parents and educators, we see how the media coverage affects our children. Ranny Levy, president and founder of KIDS FIRST! wrote an article after 9/11 with suggestions for parents in dealing with the overwhelming media blitz. It is still applicable. To read it, go to Parents: Turn Off the Media Violence.

On a more positive note, producers please take notice: Your last opportunity to submit your film for consideration for a KIDS FIRST! Best awards is our May 15 deadline. This annual event honors the best films in 20 different categories, selected from more than 600 films that have been submitted and played at our KIDS FIRST! Film Festivals throughout the year. New this year are two awards from Feature Films for Families, one for the best family feature film and one for the best family film scripts. These films must exemplify Feature Films for Families' values. The winning film will be offered a distribution contract from Feature Films for Families, the winning script will be offered a licensing contract. These two awards may not be awarded every year as they are subject to the properties meeting specific requirements. The KIDS FIRST! Best 2007 Awards will be hosted in October at the Los Angeles County Museum of Art in collaboration with the Los Angeles International Children's Film Festival. All films accepted by the KIDS FIRST! Film Festival are considered for the awards. To submit your film, you may use Withoutabox or the KIDS FIRST! submission form. If you are also submitting the film for KIDS FIRST! endorsement, you must use the KIDS FIRST! form.

Enjoy the rest of April and enjoy the emergence of those May flowers!

Christine Pollock, Editor

NEW KIDS FIRST! JURORS
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Congratulations to our new graduate, Juanita Seon!

Juanita says: I am currently the owner and primary caregiver of Seon's Hugs & Kisses Childcare Home, in Stafford, Virginia. I think the KIDS FIRST! juror program is a way to create value for everyone with media literacy. The youngsters will learn how to evaluate and review media, both verbally and in writing. In addition to becoming a junior film critic, young people who want to learn and do more can participate in workshops from our new program, the Curtain Call Movie Lovers & Junior Film Critics Club (coming in the fall of 2007). It will be a time where youngsters can come to just hang out and enjoy movies. Parents will have a few hours on Saturdays to do what they need or want to without the kids.

ONLINE JUROR TRAINING PROGRAM
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Concerned about what kids watch? Want to do something about it? Become a KIDS FIRST! juror. It's easy. Take our online training. It will take you about four hours to complete, and we will provide you with your own personal trainer. The $40 fee is 100% reimbursable once you evaluate six titles for KIDS FIRST! . You may keep any movie you approve. What a wonderful way for teachers, librarians, parents, and daycare providers to build their own quality media library while helping evaluate movies for others. KIDS FIRST! Independent Producer members get an additional benefit of one waived submission fee, once they complete the training and evaluate their first six titles. To register or get more information, please visit here.

KIDS FIRST! WEB STORE FEATURES
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Open your child's window to the world with quality media educates, inspires and entertains. The KIDS FIRST! Web Store offers you the opportunity to customize your family movie library with confidence through its blend of studio and independent titles. Search by age or interest and find out what child professionals and kids themselves have to say about the titles you choose.

Oceans of Wonder. Marine songs set to spectacular underwater footage. Sing along with song subtitles (On/off option). For entertainment; language development, ESL, deaf. Includes an ocean screen saver. KIDS FIRST! Adult Juror Comments: This is an undersea music video with great underwater cinematography and lyrics that carry a good message about taking care of the environment. Makes an excellent supplement to a classroom lesson on oceanography or environment. Can be viewed with or without lyrics shown as subtitles. Quiet music appealed to some and not to others who said it put them to sleep. KIDS FIRST! KID Juror Comments: Most enjoyed it. "I liked this film because of the songs - very calm and relaxing." Kids enjoyed seeing the marine animals. "My friends would like seeing the sharks and dolphins." "I learned that sharks are misunderstood. They don't really enjoy eating humans." "It made me want to learn about manatees. I've never heard of them before." DVD. L. 35 mins. Ages 3-8. Clevershow Corporation.

Baby Signing Time! Vols. 1 & 2. Puts your baby's day to music as you learn American sign language signs for eating, family, and pets. Designed for babies with an age-appropriate pace, delightful animation and signing babies. Adult Juror Comments: Wonderful for both adults and children. It teaches children to communicate non-verbally during the time just prior to their talking. Studies show that babies can sign before they talk. It helps them communicate about the world and helps parents understand what they are saying and talk back. Well constructed. The sections blend together well. Words are perfect for this age group. The extra section is very informative, and the words taught are printed on the back of the DVD cover. Kid Juror Comments: Kids were totally into it, attentive, talked about it, and learned a lot. All wanted to watch it again. They were signing and singing right away. One boy was really into the manners section and discussed politeness afterwards. The two-year-olds said things like, "That's a shirt like mine." One child fabricated some "ouchies." DVD. 30 mins. Ages 1-6. Two Little Hands Productions.

NEW ENDORSEMENTS
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The KIDS FIRST! endorsement is one of the most highly recognized film, DVD, audio and game rating programs. Titles are evaluated by members of our adult and child juries. More New Endorsements can be found here.

Ratings key here.

DVD - Ages 5-12

*** "The Wright Brothers." (See online video clip here). Learn the story of brothers Orville and Wilbur Wright - how they defied critics and persevered until they successfully demonstrated the first controlled, powered, human flight in 1903! A thrilling, animated story of triumph about two American bicycle repairmen. KIDS FIRST! Adult Juror Comments: Excellent production, educational and entertaining. Shows how the Wright brothers were inspired from a very young age. Displays perseverance, ingenuity, caring for others and putting safety before fame. Refers to the Frenchman who is competing against them which adds a bit of suspense and helps hold the audience's attention. Excellent music. The live footage from the first flight, makes a dramatic finish. KIDS FIRST! KID Juror Comments: Big success with the kids. "I liked it because I like learning about how airplanes are made." Kids wanted to learn more about how the airplane was invented. Some kids felt the music was too loud in the beginning and you couldn't hear the dialog that well. Favorite part: "When he walked out and said, "We went very far." Overall, it was a hit. "It was really good. My friends would like this. They like airplanes and engineering stuff." Ages 5-12.

** "Travel With Kids Hawaii: The Islands of Maui and Molokai." Explore Maui & Molokai with the Roberts family. Discover Lahaina's history in whaleboats and sugar cane trains. Check out life below the waves. Watch spinner dolphins jump through the air. Hike to hidden waterfalls on the Road to Hana. Bonus features include crafts and recipes to try at home. KIDS FIRST! Adult Juror Comments: Interesting and educational. Beautiful nature cinematography, interesting history and cultural information. "I liked the pop-up info blocks." Offers a tour of the islands in short segments showing interesting aspects of each island. Flows easily from one point of interest to another. Covers how the islands are formed to a history of Lanai to the squabbles between whalers and missionaries over banning drunkenness and adultery. Format and language are suitable for the audience. Good role modeling showing both mom and dad take turns handling the kids. "The running history was fascinating such as the section about King Kamehameha who joined the islands together into one nation in the 1700s. It made me want to learn more about Hawaiian history." KIDS FIRST! KID Juror Comments: Enjoyed it. "It is really good and tells a lot about Hawaii, history and stuff." "I was disappointed that it doesn't show more clips of surfing." "I love Hawaiian stuff." "They explained things well and let the kids try things." "I loved the Hawaiian music." "This would be a good DVD to watch if you were planning a trip to Hawaii." "It made me think about how bad it would be to have leprosy." Ages. 5-12. Equator Creative Media LLC.

SELECTIONS FROM KIDS FIRST! FILM FESTIVAL
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The KIDS FIRST! Film Festival is a showcase for new and classic children's films from studios, independent producers and youth producers worldwide that exemplify qualify media for children. The Festival travels year round and is hosted locally by more than 100 different venues including established film festivals, art and children's museums, nonprofit film centers, libraries, schools and local organizations. Venues include: Los Angeles County Museum of Art, Newport Beach Film Festival, Avalon Theater in Washington D.C., Belcourt Theater, Brooklyn Children's Museum, Denver Film Society and Starz Denver International Film Festival, Film Center at the Cinema Cafe. To find out what is being played in a venue near you, visit here. For a complete list of all Festival titles currently being shown, visit here.

"Night At The Museum" L. 108 mins.
Ben Stiller leads an all-star cast, including Robin Williams, in this hilarious blockbuster hit. When Larry Daley (Stiller) is hired as Museum night watchman, he soon discovers that all the exhibits come to life after the sun sets. Suddenly, Larry finds himself face to face with frisky T-Rex skeleton, tiny armies of Romans and Cowboys and a mischievous monkey who taunts him to the breaking point. But Larry may just figure out a way to control the chaos and become a hero in his son's eyes. Ages 8-12. Twentieth Century Fox Home Entertainment.

"Eye of the Dolphin" L. 96 mins.
Alyssa moves to the Bahamas to live with her long-lost father, Hawk, a dolphin researcher who is fighting with greedy locals wanting to turn his research center into a tourist trap. Alyssa discovers a skill for communicating with dolphins and befriends a wild dolphin. When the threat to close down her father's research station increases, Alyssa calls on her dolphin friend for help. Ages 12-18. Monterey Media.

"Happily N'Ever After" L. 87 mins.
An alliance of evil-doers, led by Frieda (Sigourney Weaver), looks to take over Fairy Tale Land. Cinderella - aka Ella (Sarah Michelle Gellar) - must save the day by taking on her power-hungry stepmother and will have to do it without her Prince Charming (Patrick Warburton). An unlikely army of dwarves, fairies, and the wizard's bumbling assistants join forces with her as she blossoms into the leader of the resistance. Ages 5-8. Lionsgate Family Entertainment.

"The Sandlot: Heading Home" L. 97 mins.
Major League Baseball superstar Tommy "Santa" Santorelli (Perry) racks up great numbers at the plate, but his "me-first" attitude drags his team down. But Tommy gets a second chance when he's knocked unconscious and wakes up as a 12-year-old on his childhood playing field - the sandlot! Now, with a greedy developer, Earl Needman, threatening to bulldoze the sandlot unless Tommy's ragtag friends can beat Needman's much-better team, Tommy must decide whether to put his own interests first by switching teams - or stay true to his friends by leading them to their greatest victory yet! Stars Luke Perry (Beverly Hills 90210) and is directed by William Dear (Angels in the Outfield). Ages 8-12. Twentieth Century Fox Home Entertainment.

The Comical Sense Company is producing a series of videos based on the best selling books from Trevor Romain. Laugh and Learn with Trevor Romain are videos that can change children's lives. We feel we're creating "Entertainment that Matters." Our mission is to create exciting and humorous kids' motivational videos designed to enhance the moral and spiritual fabric of our society. It is our goal to make a difference in children's lives.

Don Juan and Miguel, as Blind Dog Entertainment, utilize the musical and creative talents of the unique Renaissance festival arts community to develop and bring to the public a full spectrum of original family friendly CDs and DVDS. With two award-winning films under their belts (The Lost Princess and El Gusano) they continue to develop unique and fun material. Their latest project includes "The Adventures of Don Juan and Miguel" - a TV mini-series and the development of a Saturday morning cartoon series based upon the wacky and whimsical world of Don Juan and Miguelâ. They also offer musical and comedy audio CD selections from some of the finest entertainers on their circuit.

Status Productions produces documentaries to help teach about the world we live in and protect it.

MEMBER NEWS
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The Care Bears Turn 25!
To celebrate, American Greetings Properties (AGP), in partnership with The Hatchery, has developed new Care Bears entertainment. "Oopsy Does It" is a new CGI feature to debut this summer with two additional 2D releases planned for 2008. FoxHome Entertainment has signed on as the exclusive U.S. distributor of this content. The classic Care Bears series, including 1980s episodes, will be available at MIPTV.

Congratulations to Christopher Canole
His KIDS FIRST! endorsed title, "Felix the Flyer" has won first place in the AAA Screenplay Contest. There will be an article on him in Creative Screenwriting Magazine.

Reel Grrls Have Been Real Busy
Seven films produced by Reel Grrls graduates were screened at the Women's Film Festival in Seoul, South Korea; April 5-12, 2007. Now, you can come see films that will entertain and inspire you. Their Spring Gala Screening will be held in Seattle on May 17, 2007. More information can be found here. Check out the Reel Grrls blog here.

Lionsgate Signs DVD agreement with Christian Publisher
Thomas Nelson is named as the exclusive distributor of Lionsgate productions in the Christian retail market. Lionsgate also purchased the North American home entertainment rights to 3 faith-based documentaries based on Lee Strobel's novels, "The Case for Christ," "The Case for a Creator," and "The Case For Faith." Illustra Media produced the three in association with Carmel Entertainment.

Nelvana Plans to Produce "My Friend Rabbit"
This is a new animated preschool TV series based on author Eric Rohmann's book of the same name. The 2D animated series revolves around the exploits of two best friends, Mouse and Rabbit. The series will make its debut this fall 2007 in the US on qubo, the multi-platform TV network, followed in 2008 by its premiere on Treehouse. Both Nelvana and Treehouse are subsidiaries of Corus Entertainment.

Calling all Animators!
Nicktoons Network and partner Frederator Studios are looking for entries for the fourth annual Nicktoons Network Animation Festival. They are looking for original short-form films in any animation style that do not exceed 10 minutes. Entries will be chosen by a pre-selection jury and featured on-air and online on Nicktoons Network with 5x30' episodes running August 26 - 30, 2007, followed the next day, on August 31, by a Best of episode. One winner will be selected from the top ten films. Projects can be submitted now through Friday, June 1, 2007, and entry forms can be downloaded here.

Time For the Second Annual Nation Student Writing Contest
They're looking for original, thoughtful, provocative student voices to tell what is the most important issue for young people in the 2008 presidential campaign. Essays should not exceed 800 words and should be original, unpublished work that demonstrates clear thinking and superior quality of expression and craftsmanship. Cash prizes and publication. Entries (only one per student) will be accepted through May 31. A winner will be announced by September 4. Please send entries here. More information can be found here.

Mixed FTC Grade
Limited self-regulation by retailers of unrated and R-rated DVDs to minors contributed to a mixed grade by the Federal Trade Commission in a report on the marketing of violent entertainment to children. According to FTC Chairman Robert Pitofsky, the report illustrates clear shortcomings in industry efforts to limit access to age-inappropriate material to children. "Companies in the entertainment industry routinely undercut their own rating restrictions by target marketing violent films, records, and video games to young audiences." These industries can and should do better than this report illustrates. Read the report here.

FAMILY AND PARENTING NEWS
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New Scholastic Release
The most popular fairy tales of all time come to rich life in a brand-new collection of animated short features with a modern twist in James Marshall's "Cinderella...and More Beloved Fairy Tales." The title tale, based on the best-selling picture book by James Marshall, along with four other unique and magical adaptations, will entrance children everywhere on April 24 in one DVD…only from the Scholastic Video Collection™.

Sprout's Dance Party
PBS KIDS Sprout dances into spring with a week-long event that will run Friday, April 20-Friday, April 27, 6a-6p each day. Coinciding with National Dance Week, Sprout's Dance Party will feature the world TV movie premiere of Angelina Ballerina's "All Dancers On Deck" on Friday, April 20 at 5p, as well as a special presentation of Angelina Ballerina's "Princess Dance" on Saturday, April 21 at 9a. Additionally, dance-themed episodes of series including Bob The Builder, Sesame Street, Teletubbies, Jay Jay the Jet Plane, Dragon Tale and Angelina Ballerina, will air each day during the event, as will viewer submitted videos featuring preschoolers dancing. Viewer submitted videos will also be available here and on Sprout On Demand.

FEATURE ARTICLE
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Dr. Christakis and The Elephant in the Living Room
by Christine Pollock

Things aren't what they used to be-at least not in regards to the "digital divide," says "The Elephant in the Living Room" Co-author, Dr. Dimitri Christakis. The digital divide is no longer between the rich and the poor. Now, according to Christakis, the divide is between parents and children. We need to know what our children are watching. When we sit down and watch programs with our little ones, then do activities and crafts based on these programs, we can narrow that divide. Family supportive organizations like PBS help parents in this endeavor with multi-platform viewing activities (see our early March issue). We can also narrow the divide by watching programs with our teens and tweens.

Christakis' book points to an experiment where a small group of volunteer adults and teenagers were asked to discern the emotion shown on a series of faces while the volunteers were being monitored via a functional magnetic resonance image (fMRI) scanner. The results were surprising. The teenagers used a part of the brain associated with emotion, or gut reactions, while the adults use an area of the brain associated with judgment. While 100 percent of the adults correctly identified the emotion portrayed, only half the teenagers did. For example, the teens tended to interpret the emotion of fear as sadness or confusion.

As my thirteen-year-old surpasses me in height and holds regular adult conversations with me, it is often easy to forget that his brain is still in critical development and will be until his mid-20s when his brain reaches full maturity. According to Jay Giedd, a neuroscientist at the National Institute of Mental Health, puberty into the adult years is a particularly critical time for brain sculpting to take place. It is when the brain's gray matter thins as the excess connections are eliminated or pruned. This means that my son will process information in a very different manner than I would.

If teens' brains are at such a critical level of development, and if they have a tendency to misinterpret information in front of them, it is even more important than we previously thought for parents to know what their children are viewing on television and other media sources. It is also important to talk with our children about what they are viewing so we can fully identify the way they are interpreting what they see. On a "Friends," episode, Rachel told Ross she was pregnant even though they had used a condom. The show twice mentioned that condoms are 97 percent effective. According to Nielsen Media Research, about 1.7 million children ages 12-17 saw the episode. A study through the Kaiser Foundation showed that teens' reactions to the episode were changed by viewing or discussing the episode with an adult. These teens who talked with an adult were more than twice as likely to recall information about condom efficacy.

Christakis urges producers to remember their own sense of social responsibility. What would they want their own children watching? How do they want the children influenced? Remember the positive influence of media. Back in the 1970s Fonzie got his library card during one particular Happy Days episode. The demand for library cards increased 300% at the same time. Christakis points out that the screen is a very powerful tool. We all recognize that media are a growing part of our lives and we need to work together to make sure they are a positive influence. With education, time and a strategic family media viewing plan, we can narrow the gap on this digital divide between parents and children.

CRAFTS AND ACTIVITIES
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Activity - Spring Hat

Materials: A paper plate, colored construction paper, crayons, scissors, glue

1. Color paper plate green like grass.
2. Fold the plate in half and cut a slit from the center of the folded side to an inch away from the outside edge.
3. Cut two more slits like pie wedges, ending each slit one inch from the outside edge.
4. Bend the triangles formed by the cuts upwards.
5. Cut out some construction paper flowers--any shape is fine.
6. Glue flowers to top of triangles.

For more craft ideas, go here.

EVENTS
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May 18 - Seattle, WA. Reel Grrls Spring Gala Screening. The screening starts at 7 p.m., and includes a silent auction, screening of films produced by Reel Grrls, and a reception with music and refreshments. Tickets will be available here.
June 20 - 21 - Centerville, OH. Putting New Literacies Into Action In K-12 Classrooms. This two-day workshop by Dr. William Kist & Frank W. Baker includes: Blogging Across the Curriculum, Nonprint Response Activities, Multigenre Research Projects, Assessing New Literacies and Standards and New Literacies. Information here.

June 23 - 27 - St. Louis, MO. "iPods, Blogs and Beyond: Evolving Media Literacy for the 21st Century." The biannual National Media Education Conference (NMEC), hosted by the Alliance for a Media Literate America, is the largest, oldest and most comprehensive professional conference for teachers, academics, youth advocates, health professionals and media activists to learn about media literacy education. Information here.

July 2 - August 30 - Hollywood, CA. The International Family Film Festival Presents the FreshiFilm Camp and FreshiFilm and Screenplay Festival this summer. Application information here or call for information at 661-257-3131 Patte Dee McKee or 661-993-3152 Kim Turney.

July 9 - 13 - Ithaca, NY. Project Look Sharp is offering a 5-day intensive media literacy workshop includes both the theory of media literacy and hands-on practice with digital/computer technology (Mac-based). More information here.

SPECIAL OFFERS
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KIDS FIRST! Cares
Through the combined efforts of Corporations for Character, KIDS FIRST!, and your generous donation, we can fulfill our mission to provide positive, encouraging movies into each of more than one million children's hospital beds. This effort will provide entertainment for children while they are confined in a hospital. To support KIDS FIRST! Cares, go to www.kidsfirstcares.org. All credit card transactions are secure.

SUPPORT THE COALITION
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Become a Member - If you've found our e-zine and web site helpful, please consider becoming a member of KIDS FIRST! By doing so, your contribution helps help underwrite the various projects of this organization. The Coalition 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, visit here or contact our office at 505.989.8076. KIDS FIRST! Travel Site - Support KIDS FIRST! by booking your travel on our travel website here. Prices compare with those of Travelocity and KIDS FIRST! earns a commission on any travel booked here. What a great way to support a nonprofit without having to write a check. Become an Affiliate of the KIDS FIRST! Web Store - By linking with our online store which sells films from our independent producers, you can earn a commission off of each sale.

VISIT OUR MEMBERS' SITES
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Support our members. Visit their sites by visiting our members' page here.

ABOUT CQCM AND KIDS FIRST!
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The Coalition for Quality Children's Media is a national, nonprofit organization founded in 1991 whose mission is to teach children critical viewing skills and to increase the visibility and availability of quality children's media. More

Our Ratings:

*** = Titles receiving the highest scores are given a three-star rating.
** = Titles 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 receive a one-star rating.