THE BIG WEDDING New Image!

With an all-star cast led by Robert DeNiro, Katherine Heigl, Diane Keaton, Amanda Seyfried, Topher Grace, with Susan Sarandon and Robin Williams, THE BIG WEDDING is an uproarious romantic comedy about a charmingly modern family trying to survive a weekend wedding celebration that has the potential to become a full blown family fiasco. To the amusement of their adult children and friends, long divorced couple Don and Ellie Griffin (De Niro and Keaton) are once again forced to play the happy couple for the sake of their adopted son's wedding after his ultra conservative biological mother unexpectedly decides to fly halfway across the world to attend. With all of the wedding guests looking on, the Griffins are hilariously forced to confront their past, present and future - and hopefully avoid killing each other in the process. Screenplay by Justin Zackham. Directed by Justin Zackham.

Official Trailer:
Official Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TheBigWeddingMovie
Official Site: http://thebigweddingmovie.com/

All opinions expressed in this review are my own and not influenced in any way by the company.  Any product claim, statistic, quote or other representation about a product or service should be verified with the manufacturer or provider. Please refer to this site's Disclaimer  for more information. I have been compensated or given a product free of charge, but that does not impact my views or opinions.

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Book Review - Sam and Charlie (and Sam Too!)

About the Book
When Charlie moves next door to Sam, he's thrilled to have a new friend--even if she is a girl. Charlie has a little sister, also named Sam--or Sam Too, as the other Sam comes to call her. Both Sam and Charlie (and Sam Too) are Jewish, and they try to live by the religion's motto: Love your neighbor as yourself. The five brief stories in this book, accompanied by colorful illustrations, highlight the value of friendship and its ups and downs.

About the Author
Leslie Kimmelman is the author of many picture books including The Three Bully Goats and Round the Turkey. She lives with her family in Ardsley, New York.

Stefano Tambellini is an artist, filmmaker, and illustrator. He lives in London, England.

My Take on the Book
This is a sweet story abut new friends and the challenges that can arise in a new friendship. If you and your child recently moved, this story is particularly focusing on adjustments a child must make in that transition . It also shows how friends can be boys and girls, not same sex friends.

The author included information about Jewish special days that I was unaware of before reading this story. It is story that any child will enjoy. It has some elements of teaching something new in it too.

All opinions expressed in this review are my own and not influenced in any way by the company.  Any product claim, statistic, quote or other representation about a product or service should be verified with the manufacturer or provider. Please refer to this site's Disclaimer  for more information. I have been compensated or given a product free of charge, but that does not impact my views or opinions.

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Book Review - The Buddy Files: The Case of the Fire Alarm

About the Book
Buddy is starting his work as a therapy dog at Four Lakes Elementary School, where Connor attends and Mom is the principal. On his very first day, he accidentally knocks down a little kid on the playground...


About the Author
Dori Hillestad Butler has always wanted to be an author. She wrote her first novel when she was in sixth grade. She wrote it to find out if she could write a novel, and because she needed extra credit in her English class. Her dream of becoming a published author came true in 1997, with the publication of The Great Tooth Fairy Rip-Off. She's gone on to publish more than 35 additional books for children.

Her books have been appeared on children's choice award lists in 18 different states. Trading Places with Tank Talbott won the Maryland Children's Choice Award in 2007. And The Buddy Files: Case of the Lost Boy won the 2011 Edgar Award for best Juvenile Mystery.

Dori has also been a ghostwriter for the Sweet Valley Twins, Unicorn Club and Boxcar Children series, and a children's book reviewer for several publications. She's published numerous short stories, plays and educational materials, and has served as the Iowa Society of Children's Book Writers & Illustrators' Regional Advisor.

She grew up in southern Minnesota and now lives in Coralville, Iowa with her husband, son, dog and cat. She visits schools and leads writing workshops all over the country.

For more information, visit her website at www.kidswriter.com.


My Take on the Book
Buddy the therapy dog/detective and his owner Connor are trying to solve the mystery of who pulled the fire alarm at school. There is good discussion concerning the seriousness of pulling the fire alarm when there is not an actual fire. In that respect the book has a very valid lesson to learn.

As the story progresses , once again, there is detailed dialogue between the characters and especially between adults and the children as they try to solve the mystery. Using a process of elimination and clues the child is identified.

The book can be read aloud or independently. It is a chapter book with short easy to read chapters.

This is a sweet story abut new friends and the challenges that can arise in a new friendship. If you and your child recently moved, this story is particularly focusing on adjustments a child must make in that transition . It also shows how friends can be boys and girls, not same sex friends.

The author included information about Jewish special days that I was unaware of before reading this story. It is story that any child will enjoy. It has some elements of teaching something new in it too.



All opinions expressed in this review are my own and not influenced in any way by the company.  Any product claim, statistic, quote or other representation about a product or service should be verified with the manufacturer or provider. Please refer to this site's Disclaimer  for more information. I have been compensated or given a product free of charge, but that does not impact my views or opinions.

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Book Review - Lincoln's Gettysburg Address

About the Book
The Gettysburg Address is one of the most influential speeches in our history, written by Abraham Lincoln at a crucial period in his presidency and in United States history. Caldecott Honoree and Newbery Medalist James Daugherty's pictorial interpretation of President Abraham Lincoln's famous speech, the Gettysburg Address, was originally published by Albert Whitman in 1947. This book is available again in a fresh new edition just in time for the 150th anniversary of the Gettysburg Address with a new introduction by Lincoln- and Civil War-scholar Gabor S. Boritt.

About the Author
Gabor S. Boritt is the Robert Fluhrer Professor of Civil War Studies and Director of the Civil War Institute at Gettysburg College. He is the author, co-author, or editor of sixteen books about Lincoln and the American Civil War. Boritt received the National Humanities Medal in 2008. He and his wife live on a farm near the Gettysburg Battlefield.

An influential twentieth century artist and illustrator, James Daugherty lived in Indiana, Ohio. In 1940, his book Daniel Boone won the Newbery Medal. His book Gillespie and the Guards won the Caldecott Honor in 1957. Daughtery passed away in 1974.

My Take on the Book
I have visited Gettysburg and the most memorable experience was the day I hired a tour guide to drive my car through the battlefield. His knowledge and stories of the people and battle brought the Gettysburg battle and the scene of Lincoln's Gettysburg Address to life.

James Daugherty's amazing illustrations do the same thing. The illustrations which accompany each passage of President Lincoln's words will leave you with lasting impressions of the meaning and emotions behind this short but powerful speech.

After you read the speech and take the time to absorb all the details of the illustrations, read the "afterward" and the pages included by James Daugherty which interpret his paintings. These two additions to the book are excellent resources.

All opinions expressed in this review are my own and not influenced in any way by the company.  Any product claim, statistic, quote or other representation about a product or service should be verified with the manufacturer or provider. Please refer to this site's Disclaimer  for more information. I have been compensated or given a product free of charge, but that does not impact my views or opinions.

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Book Review - The Buddy Files: The Case of the School Ghost

About the Book
There have always been rumors of a ghost at Four Lakes Elementary. On the night of the fourth grade sleepover, Mr. Poe, the custodian, tells the story of Agatha, the girl who haunts the school. Then secret notes, unusual banging, and a ghostly voice invade the sleepover. Buddy is determined to find out if there really is a ghost.


About the Author
Dori Hillestad Butler has always wanted to be an author. She wrote her first novel when she was in sixth grade. She wrote it to find out if she could write a novel, and because she needed extra credit in her English class. Her dream of becoming a published author came true in 1997, with the publication of The Great Tooth Fairy Rip-Off. She's gone on to publish more than 35 additional books for children.

Her books have been appeared on children's choice award lists in 18 different states. Trading Places with Tank Talbott won the Maryland Children's Choice Award in 2007. And The Buddy Files: Case of the Lost Boy won the 2011 Edgar Award for best Juvenile Mystery.

Dori has also been a ghostwriter for the Sweet Valley Twins, Unicorn Club and Boxcar Children series, and a children's book reviewer for several publications. She's published numerous short stories, plays and educational materials, and has served as the Iowa Society of Children's Book Writers & Illustrators' Regional Advisor.

She grew up in southern Minnesota and now lives in Coralville, Iowa with her husband, son, dog and cat. She visits schools and leads writing workshops all over the country.

For more information, visit her website at www.kidswriter.com.


My Take on the Book
The Buddy Files are a series of books that are mysteries for mid to upper elementary children. In this particular book Buddy, the therapy dog who likes to consider himself a detective too, and his owner Connor are involved in a mystery at the school. The mystery centers around a "ghost" named Agatha who lives in the school. With humor, lots of great dialogue between the children, and a sense of adventure, Connor and his friends solve the mystery. It is a story which highlights a school tradition and the inside help of Mr. Poe, the school custodian. This story can be read aloud chapter by chapter or read independently.


All opinions expressed in this review are my own and not influenced in any way by the company.  Any product claim, statistic, quote or other representation about a product or service should be verified with the manufacturer or provider. Please refer to this site's Disclaimer  for more information. I have been compensated or given a product free of charge, but that does not impact my views or opinions.

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Product Review - Polaroid Kids Tablet

About the Product
Polaroid is pleased to introduce a tablet specifically designed for children— a 7.0” kids tablet. Featuring the Android 4.0 OS, the tablet combines all the fun and entertainment kids love with the security, durability and educational content that provides parents with peace of mind. The tablet will be on display in the Polaroid Booth #13613 and Southern Telecom Booth #13022 at the 2013 International Consumer Electronics Show, Jan. 8-11 at the Las Vegas Convention Center.

The Polaroid kids tablet has been named a CES Innovations 2013 Design and Engineering Awards Honoree in the Tablets, E-Readers & Mobile Computing product category. Products entered in this prestigious program are judged by a preeminent panel of independent industrial designers, engineers and members of the media to honor outstanding design and engineering in cutting edge consumer electronics products across 29 product categories.

“Throughout our 75 year history, we’ve been known for creating innovative and easy-to-use products that are fun for all ages,” says Polaroid President and CEO Scott W. Hardy. “The kids tablet is no exception. It epitomizes the Polaroid brand personality and brings together a host of features that will delight kids and parents alike.”

Fun and Games
Included are a customized suite of apps like Kids Cam, Music Studio and Draw that encourage children to develop creative capabilities, and show off their creative side to friends and family members with videos, pictures and songs. The tablet also features Kids Vids, an app that allows children to stream safe and filtered videos for all age groups and Free Play, a simple and unique way to display all the free games/apps available for download from the kid-friendly App Shop.

Safe, Tough and Durable
Equipped with innovative side and rear bumpers to help protect the tablet from accidental bumps as well as built-in parental controls and a safe web browser that are quick and easy to setup, the tablet is designed to provide a safe interactive experience. Also included is the exclusive App Shop which is loaded with a variety of free and paid kid-friendly apps. The tablet even features a display lock, which locks the tablet's display and buttons, allowing young children to enjoy videos or interactive books without interruption.

Reading options for children of all ages!

The Polaroid kids tablet is designed to make learning fun. It comes preloaded with a selection of top-rated interactive children’s books, as well as NOOK for Android from Barnes and Noble. The tablet includes award-winning Dr. Seuss™ and Smithsonian interactive books which offer kids three different ways to read- “Read to me” where you listen to the book with the words highlighted, “Read it myself” where you read the book in its traditional form, and “Auto-Play” where the book plays like a movie, automatically reading and turning the pages. It also features top-rated learning apps that children will have fun with as they learn their numbers, letters and much more.

Features and Specs

• Display
• 7.0" capacitive, multi-touch
• Screen Resolution: 800x480 (16:9)
• Storage
• Internal Storage: 8GB with additional external SD card slot
• Processor & OS
• CPU: 1.0 GHz CORTEX-A8
• RAM: 512MB DDR3
• OS: Android 4.0 (Ice Cream Sandwich)
• Camera
• 2MP Rear Camera
• Battery
• Rechargeable (Li-ion Polymer) 3500 mAh
• Connectivity
• Wi-Fi (802.11 b/g/n)
• Preloaded with over 35 premium apps (all full versions)

My Take on the Tablet
This was an amazing educational tablet! My youngest daughter took hold of this and just took off. She loved the pre-loaded books and enjoyed being in control of how she read the books too. As a father I have to say that I really loved this feature as it allowed her to be able to put it on auto play, Read to Me, or Read By Myself mode. This by itself is so innovative and it allows the child to grow and learn with the story itself.

On top of this there are 35 other pre-loaded applications. My daughters' favorite so far was the Kids Video App. I really liked how the app pulled videos based on the age of the viewer, so I can be comfortable allowing her to look at videos that were appropriate for her age.

My daughter also really likest using the camera that is built into this tablet and seeing that it has quite a bit of internal built in memory. Now, the only downside is that it is only a 2MP camera so the overall quality is not the highest, but for her it is fine.

On top of the built ins, there are some great physical features such as the outside bumpers that make this tablet made for younger users, and you will find that these safeguard the tablet well from accidental drops, which is perfect for small hands.

All-in-all, I was very impressed and I think that you will be too. If you have a young child and are looking for a tablet for your child, I encourage you to check this out today!

All opinions expressed in this review are my own and not influenced in any way by the company.  Any product claim, statistic, quote or other representation about a product or service should be verified with the manufacturer or provider. Please refer to this site's Disclaimer  for more information. I have been compensated or given a product free of charge, but that does not impact my views or opinions.

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Book Review - Wings of Fire: The Dragonet Prophecy

About the Book
A thrilling new series soars above the competition and redefines middle-grade fantasy fiction for a new generation!

The seven dragon tribes have been at war for generations, locked in an endless battle over an ancient, lost treasure. A secret movement called the Talons of Peace is determined to bring an end to the fighting, with the help of a prophecy -- a foretelling that calls for great sacrifice.

Five dragonets are collected to fulfill the prophecy, raised in a hidden cave and enlisted, against their will, to end the terrible war.

But not every dragonet wants a destiny. And when the select five escape their underground captors to look for their original homes, what has been unleashed on the dragon world may be far more than the revolutionary planners intended . . .

My Take on the Book
If you are a fan of dragons or anything to do with dragons, you will love this book. This book does a great job of bringing dragons into the reader's imagination and allowing the reader to see what dragons would be like if they held human-like personalities. I have to say that I really enjoyed reading this book and the world that the author created. The author has developed a world unlike our own, but one that truly is magical. As I was reading the book I noticed that I could close my eyes and be able to picture the world in which the author created, which is exactly what I want in a book.

As a reader you will love the characters the author shares, and you will be drawn in to the drama of the five young dragons at the author has developed. There is much suspense and mystery within the book and you will not know what is coming as you get closer to the end. the book does have its violent parts but all-in-all, the book was a ton of fun and a book that will make you believe in dragons and see the wonder in the world the book, and make you question whether you will side with good or evil.

All opinions expressed in this review are my own and not influenced in any way by the company.  Any product claim, statistic, quote or other representation about a product or service should be verified with the manufacturer or provider. Please refer to this site's Disclaimer  for more information. I have been compensated or given a product free of charge, but that does not impact my views or opinions.

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