KIDS FIRST! News

Dear Friends and Supporters,

The clock is ticking! ⏰ Only 5 days left to claim your exclusive treasure and support the next generation of youth voices!

Bidding for our KIDS FIRST! Annual Auction officially closes this Monday, June 15 at 11:59 pm MDT. Don’t miss your chance to own rare, one-of-a-kind collector’s items while directly funding our incredible youth Film Critics and Film Festival programs!

Browse the Full Catalogue & Bid Here
(And please share this link with your network to help us spread the word!)

Auction Highlights:

• The Don Hahn Animation Trio: Three original drawings of Pumbaa & Kronk sketched live by the Disney Legend at a KIDS FIRST! workshop in Burbank. Bid here.
• Autographed Godfrey Reggio Poster & Tote: Personally signed by the internationally renowned filmmaker himself! Bid Here
• Little Jeff Ventriloquist Figure: A professional-grade figure designed, sculpted, and autographed by Jeff Dunham. Bid Here
• Choose Your Own Adventure (40 Books): The ultimate “Whole Enchilada” set of the 4th bestselling children’s book series of all time. Bid Here
• Ultimate Hollywood Power Lunch: Two hours of insider access with Kenn Viselman, the visionary “Brand Architect” behind Teletubbies. Bid Here

And so much more! Filter by category or click “Show all Items” on the site to find treasures for every budget.

Pro-Tip: Use the “Buy It Now” option on available items to skip the bidding war and secure your treasure instantly!

Your bids and support mean so much to us. Thank you for helping to spread the word and make a lasting impact together!

With deep gratitude,

Robin Greenberg, Evie Kaatz, Nancy Kenney and Ranny Levy

KIDS FIRST! Annual Auction Team

We are thrilled to announce that our Entertainment Category is now fully loaded with rare opportunities for thrill-seekers, dance lovers, and collectors alike. Whether you want to skip the lines in Hollywood or experience the magic of the theater from the best seats in the house, these five items are ready for your bids:

• Universal Studios Hollywood Express Passes (2): Go straight to the front of the line! Experience the ultimate theme park day with Universal Express, including one-time express access to each ride, attraction, and seated show.
• Derek Hough: Symphony of Dance (2 Sets of Box Seats): See the Dancing with the Stars legend at the historic Wang Theatre in Boston . We are offering two separate sets of 2 box seats for an unparalleled view of this high-energy “Encore” tour.
• “Little Jeff” Professional Ventriloquist Figures (2): A dream for comedy fans! We have two professional-grade figures of Jeff Dunham’s “Little Jeff.” One is even signed by Jeff Dunham himself.

Bid Now on the Entertainment Collection (https://givebutter.com/c/kids-first-silent-auction-mhoskr/auction)

Every bid supports the KIDS FIRST! Film Critics, helping the next generation of entertainment journalists find their voice.

Dear Friends,

This week, we are thrilled to expand the KIDS FIRST! Online Auction with a curated selection for book lovers and art collectors alike. From the interactive nostalgia of a childhood classic to limited-edition photographic archives, these new additions are not to be missed.

Browse the New Book Collections Here: (https://givebutter.com/c/kids-first-silent-auction-mhoskr/auction)

The “Choose Your Own Adventures” Collection

We’ve added eleven distinct sets from the Choose Your Own Adventure series—the 4th best-selling children’s book franchise of all time.

Created by R.A. Montgomery and Edward Packard, these books became a cultural phenomenon by putting the reader in the driver’s seat. Whether you’re fighting dragons or exploring space, these sets are perfect for sparking a love of reading in 9- to 12-year-olds (and younger, there are now board books for ages 1 to 3).

1. The Connection: We are especially proud to feature these, as the company is currently led by Shannon Gilligan—widow of R.A. Montgomery and a longtime, dedicated KIDS FIRST! supporter.
2. Featured Titles: Look for classics like The Cave of Time, House of Danger, and The Abominable Snowman.

The Collector’s Corner: Southwestern Masterworks

From Clear Light Publishing, we are offering two rare, high-value volumes that capture the heart of New Mexico’s heritage:

1. Pueblo People: Ancient Traditions, Modern Lives by Marcia Keegan. A landmark, cloth-bound photographic archive. Keegan was the only photographer granted access to all 19 New Mexico Pueblos, making this the definitive visual record of our indigenous communities.
2. Old Father Story Teller (Limited Edition) Signed by the legendary Native American artist Pablita Velarde. This stunning 12.5” x 9” volume includes an exclusive art plate and over 20 full-color reproductions of Velarde’s original paintings.

Don’t Want to Wait? Use “Buy It Now!”

Skip the bidding war! Many of our most coveted books and fine art pieces feature a “Buy It Now” option. Secure your favorite treasure instantly and ensure your contribution goes directly toward our mission.

Our Impact: Every winning bid supports the KIDS FIRST! Film Critics and our international KIDS FIRST! Film Festivals. Your generosity empowers youth reporters to master media literacy and find their voices in the world of entertainment.

The Details:

• Bidding Is Open: More items are being added daily!
• Bidding Ends: June 15 at 11:59 p.m. MDT
• Our Mission: Championing the next generation of storytellers.

Log On & Start Bidding Now

Thank you for being part of our story. Happy bidding!

Evie Kaatz, Auction Chair; Ranny Levy, Evie’s Slave; Robin Greenberg, Nancy Kenney, Candace Carteen, Auction Elves

Dear Friends and Colleagues,

The year 2025 has presented unprecedented financial challenges for KIDS FIRST! We began the year with optimism, having secured two federal grants designated to support our Film Festivals in Ukraine, Pakistan, and across the U.S.

Unfortunately, a subsequent change in administration halted the release of federal grants, a dramatic move that impacted countless nonprofits, including ours. This forced us to immediately pivot and seek sustainable, forward-looking sources of revenue.

We responded by doing what we do best: innovating for the future. We successfully formed new alliances to ensure our stability and growth:

• We partnered with a company serving 5,000+ Montessori schools nationwide to host KIDS FIRST! Film Festivals for their families. This generates funds for their schools as well as for us.
• We relaunched our podcast with iHeartMedia, creating the potential for an ongoing ad-sales revenue stream from existing content.
• We established a relationship with three AVOD channels to create a dedicated KIDS FIRST! section, splitting ad revenue 50/50 with the independent filmmakers we champion.
• We launched our ambitious year-end fundraising campaign early, starting in June.

You Are Our Success Story

Your incredible support has made the difference. We successfully reached our first goal of $15,000 at the end of August, and we are now at 98% of our second goal of $30,000!

Your donations are truly keeping KIDS FIRST! alive and well, allowing us to continue our vital work and share our unique insights into youth-focused media with hundreds of thousands of kids and families globally.

We now invite you to help us cross the finish line—and even surpass it!

Will you contribute today? Click the platform link below to make a gift in any form. If you are unable to contribute, please consider forwarding this message to someone who can help us secure our future.

Thank you for your trust and generosity. We send our love and best wishes for the holidays.

Ranny Levy, Founder and President, and the KIDS FIRST! Team

https://fundrazr.com/kidsfirst2025

What are the best movies and TV shows for kids and families of 2025? While the year started slowly in cinemas, streamers quickly raised the bar. Kicking off the year were major home releases like Aardman’s Wallace & Gromit: Vengeance Most Fowl (Netflix) and StuGo (Disney+). Theaters quickly followed with family-friendly hits like Autumn and the Black Jaguar and Universal’s Dog Man.

The year gathered pace with blockbuster hits that our KIDS FIRST! Film Critics rated highly. February delivered five-star reviews for Captain America: Brave New World, Paddington in Peru, and The Unbreakable Boy. March brought excitement with Plankton: The Movie and the much-discussed Snow White (a KIDS FIRST! favorite), alongside The Electric State.

The major studios offered big swings in the spring and summer: April premiered Andor: Season 2 and Sea Lions of the Galapagos (Disney+). May saw Tom Cruise in Mission: Impossible – The Final Reckoning, Disney’s live-action Lilo and Stitch, and the return of Ralph Macchio and Jackie Chan in Karate Kid: Legends. June was dominated by Disney-Pixar’s Elio, F1® The Movie, and the live-action How to Train Your Dragon. Later, we enjoyed summer tentpoles like Smurfs, Superman, and the touching documentary Shari & Lamb Chop.

The fall was strong, featuring The Bad Guys 2 (August), Gabby’s Dollhouse: The Movie (September), and the cinematic event Wicked: For Good (November), alongside Zootopia 2 and Sarah’s Oil. Closing out the year in December are top contenders Avatar: Fire and Ash, Diary of a Wimpy Kid: The Last Straw, and Percy Jackson and the Olympians: Season 2.

Not every title mentioned is a blockbuster, but all are worthy of notice. Our KIDS FIRST! Film Critics reviewed over 385 films and TV shows in 2025, including many independent features and shorts submitted to our KIDS FIRST! Film Festival, which partners with venues nationwide.

Read on to see our entire list of what KIDS FIRST! believes are the best films and TV shows of 2025 — a year so strong we included over 70 titles! Click on the link below.

Best2025movies