KIDS FIRST! News

This fall, Arthur and his friends are back for a 12th season premiering Monday, October 6, 2008 on PBS KIDS GO! (check local listings). In all-new episodes, Arthur, D.W., Buster, and the whole gang learn the importance of getting out, getting active, and getting involved in their community. New episodes will air Mondays throughout the fall, with five additional episodes premiering in spring 2009.In “Room to Ride” (October 13), Lance Armstrong makes a special trip to Elwood City during an episode about the importance of bike safety and good citizenship. Worried that there aren’t enough safe roads to ride their bikes, Binky and his friends take to the streets to convince residents to vote for new bike lanes. When all hope seems lost, Lance gives Binky support and encouragement to never give up his cause. Boston’s Bike Czar, former Olympic Cyclist Nicole Freedman, lent her expertise developing this episode. Freedman was hired by Boston’s Mayor Thomas Menino in 2007 to help make the city more hospitable to bikes.“This fall is an especially crucial time for kids to learn the importance of voting and community involvement,” said Executive Producer Pierre Valette. “We’re so happy that Arthur and his friends–with the help of familiar faces like Lance Armstrong–continue to help bring awareness and understanding to kids about what’s going on in their world.”Additional episodes premiering this fall include “The Chronicles of Buster,” where Buster’s obsession with an epic film series on DVD starts to take a toll on his friendship with Arthur; “D.W.’s Stray Netikin,” where D.W. panics after a scary clown virus ruins the Read family computer; and “On this Spot,” where Arthur is thrilled to learn that the legendary Sitting Bull once passed through Elwood City–but wonders how he can get his friends to care more about local history than celebrity sightings.ARTHUR, based on Marc Brown’s best-selling books, is the highest rated weekday children’s series on PBS among children 6-11 (Source: For PBS, NTI Pocketpiece, October 2007-June 2008). ARTHUR has won numerous awards, including the George Foster Peabody Award, a BAFTA and six Daytime Emmys–four for Outstanding Children’s Animated Program. ARTHUR is produced by WGBH Boston and Cookie Jar Entertainment Inc. Executive producers are Pierre Valette (WGBH) and Toper Taylor (Cookie Jar), and Marc Brown (Marc Brown Studios). Directed by Greg Bailey.

For the second straight year, Twentieth Century Fox Home Entertainment (TCFHE) and MGM Home Entertainment (MGMHE) are joining forces with Susan G. Komen for the Cure on a multi-title, *DVDs for the Cure®* promotion to raise awareness for the breast cancer cause. One of the leading organizations in the fight against the disease, Susan G. Komen for the Cure’s promise is to save lives and end breast cancer forever by empowering people, ensuring quality care for all and energizing science to find the cures. Timed to hit shelves just before National Breast Cancer Awareness Month in October, the *DVDs For The Cure *promotion features 15 romantic comedies decked in special pink packaging. Each will be available for sale September 23 for $14.98 U.S. “ $16.98 Canada.Following the success of last year’s campaign which sold nearly 400,000 units, TCFHE and MGMHE have pledged to donate fifty cents from the sale of each specially packaged DVD, with a minimum cumulative donation of $100,000, to Susan G. Komen for the Cure. Upon completion of this year’s *DVDs for the Cure* program, TCFHE and MGMHE will have donated a cumulative of $350,000. With an aggressive marketing campaign targeting high-profile outlets including “O, The Oprah Magazine” and “Fitness,” among others, TCFHE and MGMHE hope to exceed last year’s sales, continuing to make *DVDs for the Cure* the divisions’ largest charitable campaign to date.“DVDs For The Cure is a great example of how anyone can easily support the promise to end breast cancer and add hope to many women’s lives,” said Katrina McGhee, vice president of marketing at Komen for the Cure. “Being a part of the breast cancer movement is easy, and there are many ways to get involved. Due to our partnership with Fox Home Entertainment, people can make a contribution by simply purchasing beloved movies.”“We were thrilled at the outpouring of support for last year’s campaign,” stated Steve Feldstein, Senior Vice President of TCFHE. “It’s great that we can provide individuals with the ability to support the fight against breast cancer by doing something so simple – offering them their favorite romantic comedies to watch.”The selection of best-selling DVDs will be available in distinct pink packaging that includes the Susan G. Komen for the Cure logo. This year TCFHE and MGMHE have added five new titles – “Edward Scissorhands,” “The Princess Bride,” “Just My Luck,” “Little Miss Sunshine”and “When Harry Met Sally,” to the 10 returning favorites from last year: “A Walk in the Clouds,” “An Affair to Remember,” “Ever After,” “In Her Shoes,” “Legally Blonde,” “Moulin Rouge,” “Never Been Kissed,” “Say Anything,” “Thelma & Louise” and “There’s Something About Mary.”

If you’re like most of us, you’re usually on the lookout for ways to help your home and homeschool run smoothly. You want suggestions, encouragement, and practical how-to information. You need a storehouse of helpful articles for those days when you yearn for a fresh idea, a little boost, or facts to share with potential critics – all from a solid Christian perspective. That’s where The Old Schoolhouse Magazine comes in.

The Old Schoolhouse Magazine has just launched their fabulous Fall Special for new U.S. subscribers and you’ll want to respond early. It’s a 50% savings off of cover price and they even have a homeschooling tote bag for the first 1000 to respond!

Right now, during their Fall Special you can subscribe for only $39! You’ll receive 2 years of The Old Schoolhouse Magazine (8 large quarterly issues), the current issue (so you get a quick jump start!), and 6 fabulous Bonus Gifts (for the first 3000). PLUS, the first 1,000 new subscribers will also receive their Homeschooling with Heart tote bag!

View the full details and subscribe online at www.TheHomeschoolMagazine.com/US_Promotion.php.

According to posted in Marketing Daily, kids are still enjoying books, television and toys. Yes, a majority of kids under the age of eleven do hit the Internet on a regular basis, but not for long periods of time.What are kids doing when they do go online? In addition to game playing, kids are watching videos online. Nielson data released in June cites that children between the ages of two and eleven viewed more video than adults during the month of April.

Anash Interactive is a free, no-advertising award-winning website where kids create comics, build stories, play games & puzzles, watch webisodes, download podcasts, find out more about the Tlingit people of Canada and read stories & comics created by other online users.  It’s for kids aged 8-13.This site is a new online project from Reel Girls Media, who also worked on the KIDS FIRST! title, WildFiles.TV.