KIDS FIRST! News

Niah, Ari, Ellie and Jax are members of  Team Zenko Go, a secret squad of stealthy do-gooders who harness the art of distraction to perform anonymous acts of kindness for the unknowing residents of Harmony Harbor. These four kids have been taught by their mentor, Auntie Yuki, a special set of skills that allow them to do good deeds (or Zenkos) for others, making their town the happiest in the world. Like Auntie Yuki says “when we help people without them knowing, they start to think that the world is just a nicer place.”

KIDS FIRST! Film Critic Giana N. comments, “Team Zenko Go is a positive children’s series that shows kids that you don’t need to be a superhero to do something good. And that even though you might not agree on the same things as other kids, you can problem-solve to figure things out.” See her full review and interview below.

Team Zenko Go

Giana N., KIDS FIRST! Film Critic, Age 10

Team Zenko Go is a positive children’s series that shows kids that you don’t need to be a superhero to do something good. And that even though you might not agree on the same things as other kids, you can problem-solve to figure things out.  

Team Zenko Go focuses on a group of kids named Niah (Nakai Takawira), Jax (Dominic Mariche), Ellie (Penelope Good), and Ari (Hartley Bernier), who live in a town called Harmony Harbor. Together, they are Team Zenko. The people who live in Harmony Harbor think their town is the happiest place on Earth, and it’s all because of Team Zenko, who, in their free time, devote themselves to anonymously doing good deeds. The best Zenkos are the ones that are kept secret.

What makes this show unique is that the kids aren’t doing good deeds for fame and glory. They are doing it just to be nice and to help out. In fact, this is probably my favorite aspect of the show. Another thing I like about this show is the diversity. For example, Ari is in a wheelchair which demonstrates that just because you have a disability doesn’t mean you can’t accomplish things you would be able to do without it. My favorite character is Ari because he is optimistic and intelligent for his age. For example, in episode one, when Ari messes up his first mission, he gets kicked out of the team. But he uses his intelligence to figure out that it was all a test for him to prove he is worthy to be on Team Zenko. In most of the episodes when something goes wrong, Ari thinks positively and finds a way to get the job done.

The message of Team Zenko Go is that when good things happen to you, you are more likely to do good things for others, and that just makes everyone happy. The series is completely family-friendly.

Team Zenko Go is an amazing show for kids to watch with their families. I give Team Zenko Go 4.5 out of 5 stars and recommend it to ages 4 to 10. Parents will also enjoy watching it with their kids. This show is available to watch on Netflix starting March 15, 2022. Be sure to check it out!

Francis is exhausted. He has been working extra shifts. Francis decides that he will go to the beach and visit his lifeguard sister, Fiona. Fiona is delighted that her firefighting big brother is coming to see her. She wants to share with him all the amazing things the oceans have to offer.

KIDS FIRST! Film Critic Carlee S. comments, “Francis at The Beach is both entertaining and educational. The images are appealing and the cartoon characters are set against real-life photographs, which is nice. Readers will enjoy following Francis’s time at the beach with his sister Fiona while learning about beach animals and beach safety.” Avalon N. adds, “The story held my attention quite nicely without dragging. It is very accurate, especially when it talks about professions such as the lifeguard and firefighter. Good behavior such as listening to lifeguards is demonstrated.” Madeleine H. contributes, “The most appealing thing about Francis at the Beach is how much Francis learns and enjoys about the beach when he visits his sister Fiona. This would be a great book for someone to read who longs to go to the beach. I especially enjoyed when Francis discovers the conch shell; those shells are beautiful.” Katherine wraps it up with, “Francis at the Beach didn’t quite catch my attention…(but) A reader could learn about dolphins, turtles and birds, and also about climate change. It might make children more interested in knowing more about the beach or nature.” See their full reviews below.

Francis At The Beach
By Carlee S., KIDS FIRST! Film Critic, age 16

Francis At The Beach is both entertaining and educational. The images are appealing and the cartoon characters are set against real-life photographs, which is nice. Readers will enjoy following Francis’s time at the beach with his sister Fiona while learning about beach animals and beach safety.

Francis At The Beach is an educational children’s fiction book about Francis, a firefighter, who decides to take a vacation to visit his sister Fiona at the beach. He packs up his things and heads off to the beach where he is greeted by his sister who shows him around. Fiona talks about the different animals they see. The next day they head off to the beach where Fiona works as a lifeguard and she talks about certain dangers at the beach by explaining the meanings of the different flags. During his day at the beach, he enjoys learning to surf and collecting shells. Francis learns about the importance of keeping the beach free from pollution. In the end Francis returns home with a lot more knowledge and appreciation for the beach.

The characters in this book are kid family and good role models. The way they interact with each other and the environment is positive. The story has a well thought-out storyline that stays on topic. It gives reasons why Francis travels to the beach, explains the activities he enjoys and the things he learns while he is there. It held my interest because there is a lot of detailed information. For example, the information about the meanings of the different flags at the beach is interesting and useful. The facts about the beach seem accurate. Francis and Fiona, the main characters, are siblings and they have a positive relationship. They are polite and enjoy each other’s company. Fiona teaches Francis about the beach, and he appreciates it. The story also addresses the issue of pollution. There is one instance when Francis finds a plastic bottle floating in the ocean. They take it out and dispose of it properly. There are other examples, such as when a shark is spotted close to the beach, and they respond with the appropriate actions. The vocabulary is rich; however, some of vocabulary might be difficult for younger readers to understand. For example, the words quandary and dilemma are not words that are common for the target age group. The book’s cover is colorful and inviting to kids. It features an animated character with a beach as the background. As an e-book, you have option to view one page at a time or several in smaller panels. There is also a search option where you can type in a word, and it shows the pages where that word is featured. This book might make kids inclined to learn more about animals that live at the beach and to do things to protect the beach environment.

One of the important messages of the book is about pollution. Francis and Fiona discuss the importance of cleaning the environment and taking care of the ocean’s animals.

I give Francis At The Beach 4.5 out of 5 stars and recommend it for ages 8 to 13.

Francis at the Beach
Avalon N., KIDS FIRST! Film Critic, age 12

Something very appealing about Francis at the Beach is that it has amazingly edited pictures along with words. The story has lots of good messages and it is not too scary for younger audiences.

This is a very interesting and engaging book with terrific pictures, a nice plot and interesting storyline. The story follows a firefighter rat, Francis, who decides to go visit his sister who lives at the beach. His sister, Fiona, is a lifeguard. While at the beach Francis learns things about the animals that live there and what a lifeguard does.

The story held my attention quite nicely without dragging. It is very accurate, especially when it talks about professions such as the lifeguard and firefighter. Good behavior such as listening to lifeguards is demonstrated. It is very easy to get though; there are even arrows that make it very easy to follow the pages. Kids will find it entertaining to hear about Francis’s adventures. They may even decide to do some research on professions such as lifeguards and firefighters.

The story encourages kids to be grateful and to appreciate a vacation. It also talks about necessary professions such as lifeguard and firefighter.

I give Francis at the Beach 3.5 out of 5 stars and recommend it for ages 4 through 12. You can find it online where books are sold.

Francis at the Beach
By Madeleine H., KIDS FIRST! Film Critic, age 9

The most appealing thing about Francis at the Beach is how much Francis learns and enjoys about the beach when he visits his sister Fiona. This would be a great book for someone to read who longs to go to the beach. I especially enjoyed when Francis discovers the conch shell; those shells are beautiful.

This book is about Francis, a hardworking firefighter, who needs a rest and decides to visit his sister, Fiona, who is a lifeguard and lives at the beach. He learns so many things about the beach and ocean from his sister while he has a very relaxing time.

This e-book is an easy read with interesting illustrations featuring cartoon characters in live action settings. Francis learns how to ride the surf, relax and take better care of the ocean and its inhabitants. We can all take better care of our planet by recycling plastic. Francis at the Beach is a great book for a fun escape to the beach. One thing I found confusing is when Frances takes the bus trip, it states that he will need to take two busses. Then, he falls asleep and still wakes up where he needs to be. Otherwise, the story moves along nicely and is easy to follow. I like that Francis takes a vacation to rest from his hard firefighter job. I also like that Fiona is respectful of the baby turtles by leaving her porch light off. That is a kind and thoughtful idea. The vocabulary and concepts are easy to understand. At first the use of animated characters in a live setting didn’t make sense, but by the end of the book I liked it.

The message of the book is that we need to treat our planet better, especially our beaches. Picking up plastic bottles to recycle is important, or limiting the use of plastic.

I give Francis at the Beach 4 out of 5 stars and recommend it for ages 2 to 8. It’s a fun book that can be read by parents for little ones and older kids can easily read it for themselves.

Francis at the Beach
By Katherine S., KIDS FIRST!

Francis at the Beach didn’t quite catch my attention. I am not fond of the characters, which are unsettling to me and the storyline falls short. The wording is simple and the story is definitely easy to understand. I like that it has pictures, which make it more interactive, but they’re not great.

The story is about Francis, a firefighting rat, who is tired and needs a break. He decides to go to the beach to visit his sister, Fiona who is a lifeguard and lives on the beach. So, he packs up and goes. Together, they visit the beach, learn about animals, shells and lifeguard duties. They even get smoothies. Then it’s time for Francis to say goodbye to his sister and the beach so that he can return to work.

The story makes sense, but it is not very interesting and feels a bit choppy at points. The facts about the animals and shells are accurate, but seeing a rodent as a firefighter or lifeguard is definitely imaginary. The characters all portray positive interactions and respect for one another. The only questions they ask are about what the main character should wear or do on vacation. The vocabulary is mostly appropriate for its audience and, when new words, such as vacation, are introduced, they are explained. I expect most kids to the word vacation, but not words such as pristine or delectable. I did not find the characters attractive, but I’m not a fan of rodents. Stock photos are used for the backgrounds. A reader could learn about dolphins, turtles and birds, and also about climate change. It might make children more interested in knowing more about the beach or nature.

I can’t say I’m a big fan of Francis at the Beach, but it might appear to early readers, ages of 2 to 7. I give it 3 out of 5 stars.

Disney and Pixar’s Turning Red introduces Mei Lee (voice of Rosalie Chiang), a confident, dorky 13-year-old torn between staying her mother’s dutiful daughter and the chaos of adolescence. Her protective, if not slightly overbearing mother, Ming (voice of Sandra Oh), is never far from her daughter—an unfortunate reality for the teenager. And as if changes to her interests, relationships and body weren’t enough, whenever she gets too excited (which is practically ALWAYS), she “poofs” into a giant red panda! Directed by Academy Award® winner Domee Shi (Pixar short “Bao”) and produced by Lindsey Collins.

KIDS FIRST! Film Critic Katherine S. comments, “Turning Red is a vivid and dazzling animated story of friendship, parenting, adolescence, and boy bands. Director Domee Shi makes her feature film directorial debut and gives us her unique take on puberty and parenting. Kids and adults alike will find this movie enjoyable given the relevancy of the topics and relatability of the characters.” See her full review below.

Turning Red

By Katherine S., KIDS FIRST! Film Critic, age 14

Turning Red is a vivid and dazzling animated story of friendship, parenting, adolescence, and boy bands. Director Domee Shi makes her feature film directorial debut and gives us her unique take on puberty and parenting. Kids and adults alike will find this movie enjoyable given the relevancy of the topics and relatability of the characters.

Set in Toronto in 2002, this beautifully-animated movie follows Meilin “Mei” Lee (Rosalie Chiang), a confident 13-year-old girl who is torn between staying her overprotective mother’s obedient daughter and being an independent person with her own interest. And if that is not enough, whenever she feels a powerful emotion, she turns into a giant, fluffy red panda.

The world-building is phenomenal, specifically that of the boy band that Mei and her friends are obsessed with. 4-Town, the boy band, perfectly captures the essence of a boy band with corny love songs, crazy fanatics and, of course, cute boys. Along with that, Turning Red captures the complexity of mother-daughter relationships across generations with both comedy and drama. The animation is visually stunning as it mixes Eastern and Western animation techniques together to make a fresh, new style while still staying true to Pixar’s recognizable animation form and style. My favorite performances are that of Sandra Oh (Ming) and Rosalie Chiang (Mei) because there is such a strong chemistry between the characters in how the actors portray a real-life, genuine relationship.

The message of the movie is to honor your parents, but make sure to be your own person while doing so. The movie animates the idea of suppressing your emotions and personality for others. It also highlights the power of friendship and the key role it plays in your life.

I give Turning Red 4 out of 5 stars and recommend it for ages 7 to 18, plus adults. Turning Red releases exclusively on Disney+ on March 11, 2022.

After accidentally crash-landing in 2022, time-traveling fighter pilot Adam Reed teams up with his 12-year-old self for a mission to save the future.

KIDS FIRST! Film Critic Katherine S. comments, “The Adam Project is a sci-fi movie that takes you on a wild, CGI-filled flight that is out of this world—with futuristic technology that makes you excited but also afraid of what could come, and crazy fight scenes that defy gravity. This film also whooshes you into some very realistic topics, too, like grieving for a loved one, being bullied by classmates and accepting who you are.” See her full review below.

The Adam Project

By Katherine S., KIDS FIRST! Film Critic, age 14

The Adam Project is a sci-fi movie that takes you on a wild, CGI-filled flight that is out of this world—with futuristic technology that makes you excited but also afraid of what could come, and crazy fight scenes that defy gravity. This film also whooshes you into some very realistic topics, too, like grieving for a loved one, being bullied by classmates and accepting who you are.

The year is 2050 and time travel exists; however, it is proving to be too dangerous for humanity’s own good. After time-traveler pilot Adam Reed (Ryan Reynolds) misses the destination of his mission, to land in 2018, and instead crash-lands in 2022, he is found by his 13-year-old self (Walker Scobell). Together, they embark on a mission to “un-do” time travel so they can fix the past to save the future of the world. But first, the Adams must learn how to get along with each other.

The special effects are one of the most notable things about this movie. The wormholes have a mind-boggling appearance, and the ships are straight out of an alien planet. The sci-fi elements look so realistic – as realistic as those can be – that it gives the impression that the cinematographers used time travel themselves to capture these scenes. The overall storyline of the movie is creative, but it does not really have any unique plot twists nor is it fully developed.  And as a result, this film comes off a little bland and seems to be missing something. The Adam Project includes some great actors besides Ryan Reynolds, including Jennifer Garner (Adam’s mom). In Reynold’s performance, you can really feel all his tension and childhood trauma built up, ready to burst. He also manages to make you laugh really hard. Jennifer Garner is the perfect fit for Adam’s loving mother who’s trying to keep it together as a single mom.

This movie has great messages about never giving up and learning to live with your past. There is some profanity, intense fighting scenes, blood, and some adult jokes.

I give The Adam Project 3 out of 5 stars and recommend it for ages 11 to 18, plus adults. This movie releases exclusively on Netflix on March 11, 2022.

From director Amy Poehler, Lucy and Desi explores the unlikely partnership and enduring legacy of one of the most prolific power couples in entertainment history. Lucille Ball and Desi Arnaz risked everything to be together. Their love for each other led to the most influential show in the history of television, I Love Lucy. Desi — an immigrant from Cuba who lost everything in exile, became a band leader, and eventually a brilliant producer and technical pioneer. Lucille came from nothing and, with an unrivaled work ethic, built a career as a model, chorus girl and eventually as an actor in the studio system. She found her calling in comedy, first in radio. When Lucille was finally granted the opportunity to have her own television show, she insisted that her real-life spouse, Desi, be cast as her husband. Defying the odds, they re-invented the medium, on the screen and behind the cameras. The foundation of I Love Lucy was the constant rupture and repair of unconditional love. What Lucy and Desi couldn’t make work with each other, they gave to the rest of the world. Lucy and Desi is an insightful and intimate peek behind the curtain of these two remarkable trailblazers — featuring interviews with Lucie Arnaz Luckinbill, Norman Lear, Desi Arnaz Jr, Carol Burnett and Bette Midler.

KIDS FIRST! Film Critic Heather S. comments, “Lucy and Desi is a mediocre take on a story fans have heard millions of times! Throughout the film, you’ll be craving a sense of something new and fresh, but unfortunately this film simply doesn’t deliver anything worthwhile.” See her full review below.

Lucy and Desi

By Heather S., KIDS FIRST! Film Critic, age 16

Lucy and Desi is a mediocre take on a story fans have heard millions of times! Throughout the film, you’ll be craving a sense of something new and fresh, but unfortunately this film simply doesn’t deliver anything worthwhile.

Lucy and Desi is a documentary that tells the story of two of the biggest comedians in television, Lucille Ball and Desi Arnaz. The film provides behind-the-scenes clips of the hit show I Love Lucy, video recordings of Lucy and Desi throughout the years, and sit-down talks with some of their closest friends like Carol Burnett and Bette Midler.

This film falls flat for several reasons. The story of Lucy and Desi has been told too many times for this documentary to provide anything new or exciting. The timing of its release is unfortunate as another film on the two stars, from the same studio, Being the Ricardos, came out only a few months ago. Lucy and Desi fails to differentiate any information from what the biographical drama gave audiences.  Lucy and Desi feels like a watered down version of its predecessors and is unable to engage its viewers. However, it does have some incredible cameos like those by Carol Burnett, Bette Midler and Norman Lear. They give some anecdotes that not many fans have heard and will definitely leave you wanting to hear more of their relationship with Lucy and Desi, which this film does not deliver. The greatest part about the documentary is the romance between Lucille and Desi—their pictures and video clips show a love that is timeless.

The film’s main focus is the love of Desi and Lucy, how they were able to create a fantastic and iconic series, and still be in love off camera. There are no warnings for this documentary.

I give Lucy and Desi 3 out of 5 stars, and recommend it for ages 15 to 18, plus adults. It is being released in theaters and on Amazon Prime Video March 4, 2022.