DVD Review - The Lion Guard: Return of the Roar on Disney DVD

About the DVD
Disney’s epic adventure The Lion King continues with Simba and Nala's second-born cub, Kion, and his Lion Guard team as they embark on adventures together throughout the Pride Lands! Follow him as he brings together a group of unlikely heroes: Bunga the honey badger, Fuli the cheetah, Beshte the hippo and Ono the egret. Join this heroic band as they use their unique abilities to defend the Pride Lands from predators and maintain the Circle of Life. As King Mufasa said,” Everything you see exists together in a delicate balance. As king, you need to understand that balance and respect all the creatures, from the crawling ant to the leaping antelope.”

This new movie is packed with laughs, music, beloved characters and heart, The Lion Guard: Return Of The Roar is a must-own for the entire family!

Voice Cast: 

James Earl Jones and Ernie Sabella reprise their roles from "The Lion King" as Mufasa and Pumbaa, respectively, alongside Rob Lowe ("The Grinder") as Simba and Gabrielle Union ("Being Mary Jane") as Nala; Max Charles ("The Amazing Spider-Man 2”) stars as Kion; Joshua Rush ("The Adventures of Puss in Boots") as Bunga; Atticus Shaffer ("The Middle") as Ono; Diamond White ("Sofia the First") as Fuli; and Dusan Brown ("Blaze and the Monster Machines") as Beshte.

Additional cast members include: 

Eden Riegel ("All My Children") as Kiara; Sarah Hyland ("Modern Family") as Tiifu; Madison Pettis ("Jake and the Never Land Pirates") as Zuri; Khary Payton ("Teen Titans") as Rafiki; Jeff Bennett as Zazu ("Jake and the Never Land Pirates"); Jonny Rees ("Star Wars Rebels") as Mzingo; Andrew Kishino ("Star Wars: The Clone Wars") as Janja; Vargus Mason ("Sofia the First") as Cheezi; and Kevin Schon (“The Lion King 1 1/2”) as Chungu and Timon.

KION’S FIRST ROAR
FULI FLEES THE BABOONS




My Take on the DVD

This was an interesting series that brings you back to the prideland and allows you to meet Simba’s kin as well as new friends as they have to create a team that will lead the prideland into the future. It was fun to see the relationships build, but also experience the humor, music, and more in every episode. The writing in the series was strong and the characters that are developed are strong. In every episode there are specific messages being shared as well and as a parent I can say that the messages I saw were ones that I want my daughters to be hearing. The animation was of high-quality and you can see and experience the passion of the animators and writers in how well both mesh together to create a wonderful series your whole family will enjoy!

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Book Review - Li'l Rip Haywire Adventures: Escape from Camp Cooties

About the Book
A rollicking new adventure story from the creator of Rip Haywire!

Rip Haywire thinks he's got it made. Instead of going to bed early, doing fractions and eating Brussels sprouts, he gets to accompany his soldier-of fortune dad on laughably dangerous international missions. He's the only 12-year-old in the world with a working knowledge of the Seven Most Common Booby Traps Used by Ancient Civilizations to Protect Their Precious Treasures. It sure beats school, right?

But Rip's life is about to change when his dad, in a sudden fit of responsibility, assigns Rip his toughest mission yet: a historically all-girls summer camp. Will Rip learn how to get along with his feminine camp mates, most of whom have never even seen a flame thrower, let alone used one to fend off a pack of rabid hyenas? Can Rip solve the mysteries that surround the camp and one intriguing girl in particular? Readers will follow Rip's misadventures in his whimsically illustrated journal, helping him to solve puzzles and beat the bad guys, as he learns that friendship can be more valuable than ancient treasure, and more powerful than a well-placed land mine.



My Take on the Book
This was a great book full of adventure, mystery and intrigue. You are left guessing until the end on whether Rip and his team will win or if they will actually make it through all of the twists and turns that they have encountered in their journey. The book also has some great humor that my tween daughter thought was funny.  The illustrations in this book also are amazing. If you are a graphic novel fan or just a fan of these type of genres then pick this up today - you will not be disappointed!


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Book Review - Ten Playful Tigers: A Back-and-Forth Counting Book

About the Book
Who can resist fuzzy tigers? With this sturdy touch-and-feel book, young fingers can poke and prod to their heart's content and count along as one little tiger turns into ten playful tigers (and their mama!).



My Take on the Book
This was a fun board book that while short, was still well written and the Tigers are definitely active and well, playful. Young readers will definitely be engaged from beginning to end, and with the hole in the book creating part of the story, any child can get physically into the story as well!

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Book Review - Book-O-Teeth: A Wearable Book

About the Book
A sturdy board book of six TEETH masks for kids of all ages. With catchy rhymes and colorful illustrations, kids of all ages will enjoy this wearable book again and again. Includes die-cut mask holes.

My Take on the Book
This was quite a book, that really was a ton of ton to try out with the kids. You could get some great selfies with the teeth you will get when you hold this fun book in front of your face, and every page spread within the book is different. The book has rhyming words on them which is also fun, but in the end the illustrations and the giggles and laughs you get from using the book is priceless!


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Book Review - Big Nate: Thunka, Thunka, Thunka

About the Book
There's never a dull moment with Nate Wright in the picture. Whether getting caught playing table football in the library or raiding the teachers' lounge, Nate's antics are always hilarious and detention worthy!

Sixth grade can be a tension convention for Nate Wright. His baseball team’s just been given the lamest name in Little League history; he’s on the verge of becoming know-it-all Gina’s personal servant for a day; and Spitsy, the closest thing he has to a dog of his own, is in love with a CAT. Yup, Nate’s up to his ears in stress. Luckily, the perfect remedy is close at hand: an empty plastic soda bottle. All Nate has to do is drum it gently against his head — thunka, thunka, thunka -- and the pressures of dealing with Coach John, Mrs. Godfrey, and the terrifying Kim Cressly begin to fade away. Who knew an empty bottle could be so therapeutic? There’s only one stress-buster that’s better: reading Big Nate comics! So sit back, relax, and enjoy this latest collection, Thunka, Thunka, Thunka.




My Take on the Book
This is such a great book that really captures the challenges of 6th grade. The realism is what draws my daughter to reading this. Well this, along with the humor that author Lincoln Pierce brings to the book too. I tend to love the entire story itself but even more is the illustrations / artwork that are shared too as they just explode off the page and the situations that Nate finds himself in tends to be just so funny. This was a great book that I cannot say enough good things about!


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Book Review - Image & Imagination: Ideas and Inspiration for Teen Writers

About the Book
More than 150 compelling photos and provocative writing prompts work together in this hybrid photo book/journal to inspire young adults to think, dream, create. Writers looking for inspiration and ideas will find what they need here. Image and Imagination is a repository of story starters, a practice space for fun and informal writing, and a turnkey to unlock the writer within.


My Take on the Book
This was a well written book with so many great writing prompts held within the book itself. I was really impressed with the overall book and all of the beautiful images and small thoughts that will get your creative juices flowing. As a father of a daughter who loves this write this was a great book to get her thinking about the world around her in a new way. On top of this though it also gave her a ton of new topics that she now can write more about!


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Book Review - Josh Baxter Levels Up

About the Book
Josh Baxter is sick and tired of hitting the reset button. It's not easy being the new kid for the third time in two years. One mistake and now the middle school football star is out to get him. And Josh's sister keeps offering him lame advice about how to make friends, as if he needs her help finding allies!

Josh knows that his best bet is to keep his head down and stay under the radar. If no one notices him, nothing can touch him, right? But when Josh's mom sees his terrible grades and takes away his video games, it's clear his strategy has failed. Josh needs a new plan, or he'll never make it to the next level, let alone the next grade.

He's been playing not to lose. It's time to play to win.




My Take on the Book
What was great about this book was that this is the type of book that any student in middle school will relate to. The main character is dealing with so many of the things that middle-school kids do. He is working hard to find some wins and you will have to read to see what he does next to bring it to the next level as it is something you will not want to miss. The story is a fun read that I really loved to read with my oldest who is almost in middle school!


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Book Review - Amulet: Firelight

About the Book
Emily, Trellis, and Vigo visit Algos Island, where they can access and enter lost memories. They're hoping to uncover the events of Trellis's mysterious childhood -- knowledge they can use against the Elf King. What they discover is a dark secret that changes everything. Meanwhile, the Voice of Emily's Amulet is getting stronger, and threatens to overtake her completely.




My Take on the Book

I probably should not have started reading the series of books at book #7, but that being said, the author does a good job at bringing you along within the story itself. The book has a strong story with mystery, action and intensity throughout. I love all of the secrets within the book and if you like a story that keeps on giving, this is it. Now that I have read this, I know that now I need to go back and start from the beginning!

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Book Review - Bunny vs. Monkey

About the Book
A team of scientists has sent a monkey into space! And good thing, too, because he's a mean, selfish, noisy, bullying little fur-bag. But... all does not go well with the flight, and Monkey's spaceship barely clears the first hilltop before crash-landing in a peaceful forest. Monkey decides this is a new world and claims it for his own. And his first decree is that all other animals should be banished! What follows is a series of hilarious, off-the-wall interactions between Monkey and the other forest animals.



My Take on the Book
My daughter loves monkeys so I thought she might like this! Being only 8, this was written at a bit higher level that she expected at first, but we read it together and I have to say that it was a funny story with two great characters that you will fall in love with. On top of this the illustrations / artwork in this book was so well done. Some of the humor was a bit over the head of y 8 year old, but she was still drawn in by the pictures and the story itself. This is a must read!


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Book Review - To Catch a Cheat

About the Book
Jackson Greene is riding high. He is officially retired from conning, so Principal Kelsey is (mostly) off his back. His friends have great new projects of their own. And he's been hanging out a lot with Gaby de la Cruz, so he thinks maybe, just maybe, they'll soon have their first kiss.

Then Jackson receives a link to a faked security video that seems to show him and the rest of Gang Greene flooding the school gym. The jerks behind the video threaten to pass it to the principal -- unless Jackson steals an advance copy of the school's toughest exam.

So Gang Greene reunites for their biggest job yet. To get the test adn clear their names, they'll have to outrun the school's security cameras, outwit a nosy member of the Honor Board, and outmaneuver the blackmailers while setting a trap for them in turn. And as they execute another exciting caper full of twists and turns, they'll prove that sometimes it takes a thief to catch a cheat.



My Take on the Book
Get ready for mystery, action and adventure in this fun story. The book has some amazing characters and the author has done a great job at bringing Jackson Greene and all of his friends back again to solve yet another "job". I love to see the teamwork in action and the author does a masterful job at getting you to relate to the characters which in the end encourages you to connect with them on a deeper level. This being said. my girls loved the book and they are already asking me for more book in the series!

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Book Review - Geronimo Stilton Cavemice: My Autosaurus Will Win!

About the Book
It's the start of an exciting cavemice contest: a race to Boulder Bay and back! It's a dangerous route, but it will supply the village cheese maker with rare hot lava peppers, and there's a big cash prize. Trap teams up with Geronimo -- who has a lazy, slow, city autosaurus (the cavemice mode of transportation). Can they reach the finish line without going extinct on the way?



My Take on the Book
Get thrown back in time with this fun adventure with some of Geronimo Stilton's ancestors. We love the fun, quirky way in which the authors create these stories. It is the way in which they write that is so engaging. The combination of fun plot, memorable characters and images that just jump off the page is what keeps bringing us back. On top of that though this book really was an engaging read and my own daughters both took this and would not put it down - and I am sure that this will happen in your own home too!

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Book Review - Geronimo Stilton Spacemice: The Underwater Planet

About the Book
While at the beach, Geronimo Stiltonix stumbles upon a mysterious treasure map! The spacemice follow it and end up on Aquarix, a planet that's entirely underwater. During their exploration, they face fur-eating seaweed, ferocious piranha aliens, and . . . pirate spacecats! Squeak! Can the spacemice keep the spacecats from stealing the treasure?



My Take on the Book
Get ready to get a bit wet in this fun, zany action-filled story that will keep you on your toes and keep you wanting to read the next page. We love this series as not only was the story a ton of fun, but it is really the characters that keep us coming back time and time again. On top of that, where else can you fin pirate space cats! This is definitely a great book with great illustrations that you and your kids can enjoy reading together!
 

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Book Review - Eerie Elementary: Recess Is a Jungle!

About the Book
This series is part of Scholastic's early chapter book line called Branches, which is aimed at newly independent readers. With easy-to-read text, high-interest content, fast-paced plots, and illustrations on every page, these books will boost reading confidence and stamina. Branches books help readers grow!

Sam, Antonio, and Lucy are passing around a soccer ball at recess when something strange happens... They soon find themselves in a fog-filled jungle! The grass and trees have come alive, growing high into the sky. And the friends discover that it's not just the school itself that's alive -- it's everything on the school grounds! Sam, Antonio, and Lucy must find their way out of a monstrous hedge maze in time to rescue the rest of the students!



My Take on the Book
My youngest has been devouring these books for some time so she was excited to hear that a new book was available. When we received this she took it and did not want to put it down. So as you can guess the book is engaging and is a ton of fun. The book is full of suspense and some mystery and really does not give anything away until the very end. By the end of my own daughter reading this book she was ready for book 4, but alas she will have to wait!


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Book Review - Nnewts: The Rise of Herk

About the Book
In this exciting sequel to Escape from the Lizzarks, Herk is happy to have a new family and a new place to call home. But when the Lizzarks make an all-out assault on Amphibopolis using a giant monster, Herk must seek the help of the megasloth to save the city and his adopted family. Meanwhile, Sissy, Herk's sister, discovers the dark truth about their long-lost brother Zerk.


My Take on the Book
I had not read the first book in this series, but after reading this book I definitely want to go back and read that now to. In this book you get a very strong story and even stronger artwork. The story was a bit quirky, yet funny. The book was easy to read and you get drawn into the action that is depicted on every page. My daughters loved the characters too and by the end wanted me to get the first book for them to read too. All-in-all this was a great book and we are hoping that there are more in the series!


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Book Review - 10 True Tales: Titanic: Young Survivors

About the Book
Eleven-year-old Billy Carter kneels down on the slanting deck of the Titanic and hugs his beloved dog -- a tan and black Airedale. Can Billy save himself and his pet? Fifteen-year-old Edith Brown and her mother climb into Lifeboat 14. Edith begs her father to join them. Why won't he? Seventeen-year-old Jack Thayer looks over the side of the sinking Titanic and stares into the frigid sea. There are no lifeboats left. He knows he has to jump, but can he? These and other young people came from many walks of life. Now, on the night of April 14, 1912, they all face a life-or-death crisis abroad the Titanic. When the unthinkable occurs, can they survive?



My Take on the Book
My daughter has loved the story of the Titanic since she was a little girl. I don't know what it is about the story that intrigues her but she is drawn to it, so when I received this, I knew she would devour the book and I was not mistaken. The nice things about this book is that it is relatable for the audience that it is written for. You really get to know some of the kids that were on the Titanic in a new and interesting way. The book is also written in a way to keep the reader on their toes as they try and see whether the kids will survive or not. This was a great book for the history buff, but also was an enjoyable read in general too!

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Book Review - Geronimo Stilton: Mouse Overboard!

About the Book
My family and I, Geronimo Stilton, were invited to Lisbon, Portugal, to retrace the journey of the great explorer Vasco da Gama. He was the first European to reach India by sea -- and was apparently an ancestor of the Stiltons! But once we got on the boat, I learned that someone was trying to sabotage the voyage. Could I figure out who?



My Take on the Book
What a funny, engaging book that will not only delight your kids, but it will tickle the funnybone of anyone that reads it. This book has a fun mystery within it and best of all it has characters that you will want to get to know. The combination of easy to read pages and colorful illustrations make this book a family favorite within our home and I think you will love it within yours too!


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