The Newsstand - KIDS FIRST! News 2007

Dear Friends,

Ranny Levy, founder and president of the Coalition for Quality Children's Media--KIDS FIRST! has a blog! Now, on a regular basis, you can get the absolute latest updates of what's happening in media and in our organization! Feel free to send her your own questions about anything related to KIDS FIRST! and add your own comments to her blog entries. Check in at http://www.kidsfirst.org/addenda and see what's currently on Ranny's mind.

Speaking of current, have you noticed that recently more media articles and shows are focusing on health? Even electronic gaming companies are addressing parents' desire to get children in better physical condition. The Nintendo Wii and Dance, Dance Revolution encourage kids to become active in their houses, while schools are considering changing menus and adding more activity to their programs. The revolution is not coming a moment too soon. Obesity and malnutrition are wreaking havoc with our children's health. In my article below, Tony Findlay addresses this serious issue and offers suggestions for combating the disease and getting out children excited about good nutrition and exercise.

Now, if you'll excuse me, I'm off to cheer on my kids as they participate in their Little League games and tennis matches. . . .

Christine Pollock, Editor

KIDS FIRST! WEB STORE FEATURES
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Open your child's window to the world with quality media educates, inspires and entertains. The KIDS FIRST! Web Store offers you the opportunity to customize your family movie library with confidence through its blend of studio and independent titles. Search by age or interest and find out what child professionals and kids themselves have to say about the titles you choose.

Hunk ta Hunk Ta Funsies. Fifteen skill-building activity songs for care givers, parents and babies. Musical tracks for sing along fun and activity guide available. KIDS FIRST! Adult Juror Comments: Marvelous tool for parents of infants. Well organized. Includes instructions for how to use with song lyrics so parents can sing along. Covers the whole range of infants' readiness for response to music and rhythms from six to 18 months. KIDS FIRST! KID Juror Comments: Parents loved the clarity of this presentation and having the song lyrics included. Kids sang along and were genuinely engaged. Audio. 58 mins. Ages infant - two. Hunk-Ta-Bunk-Ta Music.

Round the Campfire. Superior recording of a lovely voice with a lot of range. Folk songs have lots of heritage, texture and history. Imminently listenable and sing-along-able. Perfect for music programs in Scouts, schools, churches, or family singing in the car. KIDS FIRST! KID Juror Comments: Loved the cannibal song and wanted to play it over and over, dancing and laughing. Liked songs with kids' voices. "Good variety." Woody Guthrie's "This Land Is Your Land" was a big hit. "It's very patriotic." "I like the African beat of Kumbaya." Audio. 30 mins. Ages 6-18. KT Music Productions, Inc.

NEW ENDORSEMENTS
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The KIDS FIRST! endorsement is one of the most highly recognized film, DVD, audio and game rating programs. Titles are evaluated by members of our adult and child juries. More New Endorsements can be found on our site.

Ratings key below.

DVD - Ages 5-8

** "The Big Rescue." The US Coast Guard in action! From San Diego to the icebergs of Newfoundland, watch crew members perform real land, sea, and air rescues. KIDS FIRST! Adult Juror Comments: Exciting footage of boats and helicopters at work. Learning about the equipment and tasks of crew members is fascinating. Racial and gender diversity is evident in the cadets; both males and females play vital roles. Rich vocabulary is explained at a child's level. Clearly links physical and mental health to important societal contributions. KIDS FIRST! KID Juror Comments: Enjoyed it."It is a very cool movie." Kids uttered many "awesome" and "cools" and "whoa's." They loved the boats, the location footage and seeing actual people who are rescue heroes in action. One boy wrote, "I would watch it 100 times." "The people respect one another and act together as a team. They help each other get dressed and help each other in the helicopter." Throughout the viewing, boys were heard repeating the names of the boats, helicopters and others. "I appreciate what these guys do. I didn't know they were the ones who get people off their roofs in a storm." "This movie is so good - it honors heroes." Ages 5-8. Little Mammoth Media.

DVD - Ages 8-12

** "The Sandlot: Heading Home." Major League Baseball superstar Tommy "Santa" Santorelli (Perry) racks up great numbers at the plate, but his "me-first" attitude drags his team down. But Tommy gets a second chance when he's knocked unconscious and wakes up as a 12-year-old on his childhood playing field - the sandlot! Now, with a greedy developer, Earl Needman, threatening to bulldoze the sandlot unless Tommy's ragtag friends can beat Needman's much-better team, Tommy must decide whether to put his own interests first by switching teams - or stay true to his friends by leading them to their greatest victory yet! Stars Luke Perry ("Beverly Hills 90210") and is directed by William Dear ("Angels in the Outfield"). KIDS FIRST! Adult Juror Comments: Well done. When Tommy Santorelli revisits his past, he gets an opportunity to change who he is and become a better person. The flashbacks to the Sandlot take the viewer back to the mid-70s, to what life was like then. As a sequential film to the original "Sandlot," this one stands up pretty well. The acting is honest and the storyline plausible - especially if you look at the flashback as more of a dream than reality or as something similar to "Groundhog Day." KIDS FIRST! KID Juror Comments: Enjoyed it. "I liked the haunted house with the big baseball in it. The characters in the film were really funny." "I loved the design of the sandlot and the cool hideout." "The last baseball game was exciting, especially when he caught the ball at the end." "The sandlot team was a fantastic team." "Tommy had good hits that were fun to watch." "The sandlot was old and a cool place to practice baseball." "The story had a good ending." "When Tommy did the deja vu scene, it was funny. My friends would like it because it is about baseball and friends having fun."

SELECTIONS FROM KIDS FIRST! FILM FESTIVAL
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The KIDS FIRST! Film Festival is a showcase for new and classic children's films from studios, independent producers and youth producers worldwide that exemplify qualify media for children. The Festival travels year round and is hosted locally by more than 100 different venues including established film festivals, art and children's museums, nonprofit film centers, libraries, schools and local organizations. Venues include: Los Angeles County Museum of Art, Newport Beach Film Festival, Avalon Theater in Washington D.C. , Belcourt Theater, Brooklyn Children's Museum, Denver Film Society and Starz Denver International Film Festival, Film Center at the Cinema Cafe. To find out what is being played in a venue near you, click this link. For a complete list of all Festival titles currently being shown, visit our list.

"Shrek" 89 mins.
In this fully computer-animated fantasy from the creators of "Antz," we follow the travails of Shrek (Mike Myers), a green ogre who enjoys a life of solitude. Living in a far away swamp, he is suddenly invaded by a hoard of fairy tale characters, such as the Big Bad Wolf, the Three Little Pigs, and Three Blind Mice, all refugees of their homes who have been shunned by the evil Lord Farquaad (John Lithgow). They want to save their homes from ruin, and enlist the help of Shrek, who is in the same situation. Shrek decides to offer Lord Farquaad a deal; he will rescue the beautiful Princess Fiona (Cameron Diaz), who is intended to be Farquaad's bride. Accompanying Shrek on his adventure is the faithful but loquacious Donkey (Eddie Murphy), who has a penchant for crooning pop songs. The two must face various obstacles in order to locate the Princess, but they find their world challenged when she reveals a dark secret that will affect the group. Shrek is based on the children's book by William Steig and features additional voice-work by Vincent Cassel, Cody Cameron, and Kathleen Freeman. Ages 7-15. Paramount Home Entertainment.

"Shrek 2" 92 mins.
The cranky beast with a heart of gold returns to the big screen in this sequel to the computer-animated smash hit "Shrek." After massive green ogre Shrek (voice of Mike Myers) and his new bride, Princess Fiona (voice of Cameron Diaz), return from their honeymoon, they receive an invitation to visit Fiona's parents, King Harold (voice of John Cleese) and Queen Lillian (voice of Julie Andrews), who are the monarchs of The Land Far, Far Away. However, the king and queen are more than a bit alarmed to discover their new son-in-law is a monster the color of algae, and that their daughter's little problem with a magical spell gone wrong has turned into a full-time skin condition. Certain this isn't the sort of "happily ever after" they dreamed of for their daughter, King Harold decides to take Shrek out of the picture and return Fiona to her former beauty with the help of Prince Charming (voice of Rupert Everett), the Fairy Godmother (voice of Jennifer Saunders), and ogre-slaying feline Puss in Boots (voice of Antonio Banderas). Shrek 2 also features the voice of Eddie Murphy returning as Donkey, as well as Larry King as an Ugly Stepsister. Ages 5-12. Paramount Home Entertainment.

"Eloise Goes to School" 45 mins.
Eloise's tutor has quit, and now she is on her way to the prestigious Hawthorne Academy. She soon learns that there is a lot more to school than she had planned - mean girls, strict teachers, and lots of rules, rules, rules! She's on a mission to make school fun by teaching her new friends to stand up to bullies, helping her teacher to be a little nicer and learning a few lessons along the way. Can she fit in at her new school while staying the same fun Eloise? Ages 5-8. Starz Home Entertainment.

MEMBER NEWS
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"Danger Rangers Safety Rules" Live Show
RWS & Associates Entertainment and Educational Adventures have entered into a licensing deal to market and distribute the "Danger Rangers Safety Rules!" Live Show into entertainment venues. Under the deal the live show will be marketed to theme parks, cruise ships, resorts, shopping centers, and conventions. Now in its second season, the show is co-produced by RWS and Educational Adventures.

Sony Pictures Home Entertainment
May 22 is the big day with releases of "It’s a Big Big World - Safe and Sound" and "The Earth Needs You."  "Safe and Sound" shows children how to be safe when playing outdoors and with others. "The Earth Needs You" teaches children how to care for and about the environment.  On the same day, Sony Pictures Home Entertainment is releasing two volumes of adventures from the HBO Family series "Harold and the Purple Crayon - New Worlds to Explore" and "Let Your Imagination Soar." Based on Crockett Johnson¹s classic book, Harold and his purple crayon encourage kids to use their own creativity to learn about the world around them.

Sesame Street Goes Country
Howdy y’all!  Everyone’s favorite furry red monster, Elmo, and his cousin Elmer, get down for a star-studded rootin’ tootin’ hootin’ hollerin’ country jamboree with original songs and old favorites in Kid’s Favorite Country Songs from Sesame Workshop and Genius Products. Joining the popular Sesame Street Muppets for lots of fun and learning are several Grammy-Award winning musicians including Lee Ann Womack, Tim McGraw, Faith Hill, Garth Brooks and John Popper. Hitting shelves June 5, 2007.

V-me and Sesame Workshop Address Military Challenges
Their special program, which airs over Memorial weekend, addresses the challenges and sacrifices military families face with deployment and separation. The 30-minute special, "Cuando el Servicio Llama: Vivencias de Familias Militares," is adapted from Sesame Workshop's "When Parents are Deployed" and will hosted by Gaby Rivero. V-me will also offer links to support materials for active duty families on http://www.v-me.tv/ from Sesame Workshop's "Talk, Listen, Connect" bilingual kit.

Smoking Changes Ratings
In a significant change to its movie ratings system, the Motion Picture Association of America said portrayals of smoking would be considered alongside sex and violence in assessing the suitability of movies for young viewers. Films that appear to glamorize smoking will risk a more restrictive rating, and descriptions of tobacco use will be added to the increasingly detailed advisories that accompany each rated film. Read Article.

FAMILY AND PARENTING NEWS
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My Cyberchase Summer
Launching June 4, as the ringing of school bells gives way to whoops of summer fun, Thirteen/WNET New York ushers in a fun-filled "My Cyberchase Summer." Kids will have plenty of super-cool shows and activities to add to the fun of summer vacation. Check out PBS KIDS GO! (check local listings) and the web at Cyberchase Online.

Funday Night at the Movies
Turner Classic Movies is looking to bring mom, dad, and the kids, hey and maybe even grandma and grandpa, together this summer with Funday Night at the Movies, slated to air Sundays, June-August at 8p. The idea is a simple one, show classic movies that adults enjoyed when they were kids, and will want to share with their own kids. Hosted by Tom Kenny (aka the voice of SpongeBob among other cartoon characters), pictures set to be part of Funday Night at the Movies include: "Abbott and Costello Meet Frankenstein;" "Mr. Smith Goes to Washington;" "Pride of the Yankees;" "Shane;" "Singin' in the Rain;" "The Wizard of Oz;" "Treasure Island;" "Sounder" and loads of others.

FEATURE ARTICLE
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Addressing Obesity
by Christine Pollock

“This is probably one of the scariest times in human history. A child can die before their parents from a preventable disease that, at the moment, most people are in denial of,” stresses Tony Findlay, former physical training instructor in the Australian Navy, “Body Mechanics” creative director, health and fitness entertainer, and leading children’s health advocate. The disease? Obesity. “The Role of Media in Childhood Obesity” report from the Kaiser Foundation concurs that the rapidly rising rate of obesity in American children is alarming health practitioners. The Surgeon General has predicted that “preventable morbidity and mortality associated with obesity may exceed those associated with cigarette smoking. ”

The Kaiser Foundation report points out that contributing causes of childhood obesity include: schools cutting physical education classes and after-school athletic programs; increased sales of sodas and snacks in the schools; and a trend of “super-sizing” food portions, in addition to an explosion in media targeted to children. While viewing media, among other negative effects, children are less likely to participate in physical activities and are at the mercy of food advertisements touting unhealthy food choices, wrapped in the glitter of popular TV and movie character endorsement. Findlay, whose own father died from complications from obesity, dedicates his life to educating families on proper nutrition and exercise. On tour in the United States, Findlay is constantly reminded of the frustration many people are feeling. In his experience, obese parents, and parents of obese children flounder in finding a good starting place to make dietary and lifestyle changes; some almost to the point of panic. Findlay recommends that parents start with themselves. Eating properly and exercising gives you the nourishment and strength you need to take care of your children. In turn, you are setting an example for your children.

To further aid parents in their fight against childhood obesity, Findlay wrote and directed a 3-D animated film to make the study of the body interesting for children. With a one-hour, action-packed, 3-D animated movie, and a bonus interactive DVD game, "Body Mechanics: Superheroes of the Human Body" helps parents and kids implement effective changes. Over 25 million American children under the age of 17 are obese. It’s time to fight back, especially in media. Films such as “Body Mechanics” are a great start. Findlay isn't alone in his efforts to stem the obesity epidemic. Organizations such as the Campaign for a Commercial Free Childhood are raising awareness through petitions to get marketing of junk food to children off the air.

Canada’s food and beverage advertising initiative announced that 15 of its biggest companies will promote healthy food choices and active lifestyles in at least 50% of their ads directed to children under 12. The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, the nation's largest foundation making grants to improve health and healthcare, plans to spend more than $500 million over the next five years to attempt to reverse the increase in childhood obesity. It is one of the largest public health initiatives ever tried by a private philanthropy. Last November, 11 major food and drink makers, including companies such as McDonald's, The Coca-Cola Co. , and PepsiCo Inc. , committed to devoting at least half their child-directed advertising to promote healthier diets and lifestyles. On May 8, McDonald's announced it will use Shrek to feature its salads, milk, and apple slices instead of burgers and fries. Working together to fight back, we have the ability to save our children from this preventable disease – obesity. Slowly but surely, the public outcry is making a difference. Findlay sums it up, “Changing habits saves lives. ”

CRAFTS AND ACTIVITIES
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Activity - Be a “Big, Big World Helper.” Complements the KIDS FIRST! Film Festival title, "It's a Big, Big World:The Earth Needs You."

Hey, I’m so glad you’re here! Can you look for ways to be a “Big, Big World Helper” with me? It might sound like a big job, but there are lots of little things you can do every day to help the world around you. Let’s get started!

First, read the checklist and decide which things you would like to investigate – you can pick just a few things to start! Then, print out the Snook “Big, Big World Helper” pictures. Make sure you have one Snook cutout for each item you are going to investigate. If you need more, you can photocopy or trace extras.

Start with the first item you have chosen, such as “Turn off the lights when you leave a room. ”  Look in a few different rooms. Are any lights on that don’t need to be? If so, turn them off. Then use a piece of tape or string to hang a “Big, Big World Helper” Snook cutout to remind you to always turn the lights off when no one is using them. Before you hang it up, you can write or draw a picture on it to help you remember what you should do to help the earth. . . . All graphics and the rest of this activity can be found on our craft page.

For other craft/activity ideas, go to our craft index.

EVENTS
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June18-22 - Mad River Valley, Vt."Media Literacy Education to Create 21st Century Media-Savvy Kids and Classrooms!" emphasizes combining advanced media education pedagogy with skills and exciting “new media. Information.

June 20 - 21 - Centerville, OH."Putting New Literacies Into Action In K-12 Classrooms." This two-day workshop by Dr. William Kist & Frank W. Baker includes: Blogging Across the Curriculum, Non print Response Activities, Multi genre Research Projects, Assessing New Literacies and Standards and New Literacies. Information at this link.

June 23 - 27 - St. Louis, MO."iPods, Blogs and Beyond: Evolving Media Literacy for the 21st Century." The biannual National Media Education Conference (NMEC), hosted by the Alliance for a Media Literate America, is the largest, oldest and most comprehensive professional conference for teachers, academics, youth advocates, health professionals and media activists to learn about media literacy education. Details.

July 2 - August 30 - Hollywood, CA. The International Family Film Festival Presents the FreshiFilm Camp and FreshiFilm and Screenplay Festival this summer. Application information or call for information at 661-257-3131 Patte Dee McKee or 661-993-3152 Kim Turney.

July 9 - 13 - Ithaca, NY. Project Look Sharp is offering a 5-day intensive media literacy workshop includes both the theory of media literacy and hands-on practice with digital/computer technology (Mac-based). More.

SPECIAL OFFERS
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KIDS FIRST! Cares
Through the combined efforts of Corporations for Character, KIDS FIRST! , and your generous donation, we can fulfill our mission to provide positive, encouraging movies into each of more than one million children's hospital beds. This effort will provide entertainment for children while they are confined in a hospital. To support KIDS FIRST! Cares, go to www.kidsfirstcares.org. All credit card transactions are secure.

SUPPORT THE COALITION
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Become a Member - If you've found our e-zine and web site helpful, please consider becoming a member of KIDS FIRST! By doing so, your contribution helps help underwrite the various projects of this organization. The Coalition relies on the generous support of its members and donors to support its programs. An individual/family membership is only $25/year. An organizational membership is $100/year. An independent producer membership is $200. To join, visit our site or contact our office at 505.989.8076. KIDS FIRST! Travel Site - Support KIDS FIRST! by booking your travel on our travel website. Prices compare with those of Travelocity and KIDS FIRST! earns a commission on any travel booked here. What a great way to support a nonprofit without having to write a check. Become an Affiliate of the KIDS FIRST! Web Store - By linking with our online store which sells films from our independent producers, you can earn a commission off of each sale.

VISIT OUR MEMBERS' SITES
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Support our members. Visit their sites by visiting our members' page.

ABOUT CQCM AND KIDS FIRST!
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The Coalition for Quality Children's Media is a national, nonprofit organization founded in 1991 whose mission is to teach children critical viewing skills and to increase the visibility and availability of quality children's media. More.

Our Ratings:

*** = Titles receiving the highest scores are given a three-star rating. ** = Titles that meet or exceed the criteria receive a two-star rating. * = Titles that meet the baseline criteria but require some extra consideration on the part of the viewer receive a one-star rating.