KIDS FIRST! Jury Blog

Family-friendly, rocking kids’ tunes for all ages to enjoy. Fun and educational songs with positive messages about appreciating our environment, using our imaginations, and validating the one and only you, plus a wonderfully relaxing sleep song and even a tune with a yak’s perspective, co-written with the author of Yak Girl.

KIDS FIRST! Music Specialist, John Wood comments, “Jenn Cleary has created an accessible, appealing musical experience in this CD Happy Day. There’s an organic energy to the tracks that Cleary’s voice rides with a sense of wonder – nothing is unappealing… The album is custom made for its audience. The songs are kid-friendly, energetic and fun.” KIDS FIRST! Film Critic Kira O. comments, “Jenn Cleary is great at creating fun songs such as “I Like Candy.” Her voice is clear and upbeat. She has the kind of voice that younger children will find appealing and soothing. Although the music is appropriate for kids younger than me, I still enjoyed many of the songs.” Ava C. adds, “The most appealing thing about the music on the Happy Day CD is that it is upbeat and it should capture the attention of little kids very well. Little kids like fun, catchy music, which most of the songs on the CD are.” Ashleigh C. wraps it up with, “Funky and fun, Jenn Cleary’s Album Happy Day is sure to make you gleeful and ready to bust out your best moves while learning! Happy Day is a CD filled with jazzy and groovy music that shares a variety of topics that teaches us about loving ourselves and also our planet.”

Happy Day
By Ava C., KIDS FIRST! Film Critic, Age 13

The most appealing thing about the music on the Happy Day CD is that it is upbeat and it should capture the attention of little kids very well. Little kids like fun, catchy music, which most of the songs on the CD are. The least appealing thing for me is the type of music. It seems more like folk music, but that’s just a personal thing.

My favorite thing about the songs is that they all have positive messages and an upbeat tone. I played a couple songs for my twin three-year-old nieces and they really liked the songs titled, “Turtle Time” and “Happy Days.” The lead singer, Jenn Cleary, has a fun, soothing voice. I like how she includes the kids singing in the song, “Happy Days.” I also like the instrument choices. The guitar and harmonica bring a fun vibe to the music. The music is age appropriate for its audience. The vocabulary is well chosen and the words are easy to understand and sing along to. The children can relate to the lyrics in the songs. I found myself singing along with my nieces with the chorus for “Happy Days.” We played the song about three times. The quality sounds really good. Everything is clear. It is a professional level production. I’ve always wanted to start a garden and the song, “Plant A Garden” inspired me to want to do it even more.

This is a fun CD and adds a new flare to teaching children about the world around them, rather than the traditional ABC and nursery rhyme songs.

I give Happy Day 4 out of 5 stars and recommend it for ages 2 to 8. It is available now on digital platforms.

Happy Day
By Ashleigh C., KIDS FIRST! Film Critic, age 18

Funky and fun, Jenn Cleary’s Album Happy Day is sure to make you gleeful and ready to bust out your best moves while learning!

Happy Day is a CD filled with jazzy and groovy music that shares a variety of topics that teaches us about loving ourselves and also our planet. This album features Jenn Cleary and includes Mad Dog Freidman. There are a total of ten songs on the CD, each one averages around three minutes.

Jenn Cleary’s vocals are engaging, fun and calming, when appropriate. Most songs have a twangy, country vibe that is sure to make your head bob and foot tap. The instrumentals in this album are all fantastic; my favorite is It’s Time to Go to Sleep. This particular song reminds me of the meditation app Headspace that helps relieve the listener of stress, which is exactly what this song does. All the way down to the sound effects in the background, each song has a story that reminds me of a podcast. This is a CD parents wouldn’t mind sharing the aux for.

The message of Happy Day is to have fun and let loose, but don’t forget to take a nap once and a while. This CD promotes positive social behavior.

I give Happy Day 4 out 5 stars and recommend it for ages 5-8. It is available now on all audio streaming platforms such as Spotify. Be sure to give a listen!

Happy Day
By John Wood, KIDS FIRST!

The artist – Jenn Cleary – has created an accessible, appealing musical experience in this CD Happy Day. There’s an organic energy to the tracks that Cleary’s voice rides with a sense of wonder – nothing is unappealing.

“I can hear Cleary now!” The album is custom made for its audience. The songs are kid-friendly, energetic and fun. The continuity of the ten songs flows flawlessly. It’s professionally written and presents a wide variety of musical styles. It’s totally appropriate for a youth audience, but families will also enjoy on road trips. Love of animals, love of the environment and love of self are all emphasized. The artist does not talk down to her audience and makes familiar subject matter fresh with a twist of whimsy. There is a genuine respect in the lyrics and a positive message throughout.

All the performances are first-rate, especially the lead vocals. The musicians rock and the production is excellent. With all the negativity in the world that children assimilate, positive input from music and stories such as this can have a lasting positive effect. One would hope that the loving appreciation of animals and the environment would be further fostered.

Jenn Cleary’s terrific album is a bright sunshiny day on the children’s musical horizon. Clear and present vocals, terrific musicians and stellar production value make this recording a winner – winner winner chicken dinner. When a song is lovingly scribed to the hard-working good old yak you can’t go wrong. Imagination, magic, wonder and discovery make a fragrant potpourri of uplifting sounds and Happy Day delivers on all counts!

I give Happy Day 5 out of 5 stars and recommend it for ages 5 to 8, plus adults. It definitely meets or exceeds the KIDS FIRST! criteria, is well produced, entertaining and has a place in the world of children’s music.

Zed anticipates an athletic scholarship while Addison is gearing up for Seabrook’s international cheer-off competition. Then suddenly, extraterrestrial beings appear around Seabrook, causing more than friendly competition.

KIDS FIRST! Film Critic Tiana S. comments, “This Zombie-filled, “cheertastic,” beastly and out-of-this-world film, is everything a Disney movie fan could want! With the same original characters from Zombies 1 and 2, as well as, some new extra-terrestrial friends, Zombies 3 will have fans singing, dancing, cheering and feeling every emotion.” See her full review below.

Zombies 3
By Tiana S., KIDS FIRST! Film Critic, age 12

This Zombie-filled, “cheertastic,” beastly and out-of-this-world film, is everything a Disney movie fan could want! With the same original characters from Zombies 1 and 2, as well as, some new extra-terrestrial friends, Zombies 3 will have fans singing, dancing, cheering and feeling every emotion.

Zombies 3 is about Addison (Meg Donnelly) who is still trying to find where she belongs and graduate from Seabrook High along with her zombie boyfriend, Zed (Milo Manheim), who is trying to break history as the first monster to go to college. While humans, zombies and werewolves have learned to co-exist in Seabrook, everything changes when aliens show up on Earth on a mission to uncover a code that leads them to their home planet. Will the aliens be able to reach their goal while the Seabrook students fight to win the Cheer Cup during their last year in high school?

The main characters are Addison, Zed and the aliens. As the third installment of the Zombies’ franchise, this film still has the same spirit as the previous ones. The soundtrack is quite different, with more of an “alien-like” vibe to it.

I love the aspect of inclusion in this film and how, even though the franchise is called Zombies, it includes many types of monsters with different powers among the humans. It’s heartwarming to see how Addison is always there for everyone and welcomes them to Seabrook High. She is the activist, leader and overall best friend of everyone at Seabrook, plus newcomers.  This film is based on Secrets Galore. Be prepared to be stunned by what is revealed in Zombies 3.

Some lessons from Zombies 3 are that anything is possible when you try, trust is always the key, and people have to do what they need to get what they want and need in life. This is demonstrated when Zed advocates to become the first zombie to go to college, how Addison trusts the aliens and welcomes them to join the Cheer Cup, despite their entrance and alien bodies, and how the aliens come to earth to find the most precious thing and will do whatever it takes to achieve that.

I give this film 4 out of 5 stars and recommend it for ages 8 to 12, plus adults. You can watch Zombies 3 on Disney+ now.

Into Flight Once More, narrated by Gary Sinise, brings the history of June 6, 1944 to the present through the lens of one squadron and their epic recreation journey across the North Atlantic to Normandy for the 75^th Anniversary of D-Day.  Along the way we meet some of the last remaining D-Day veterans and younger generations of men and women who have re-charted their path to honor their sacrifice and thank them for their service.

KIDS FIRST! Film Critic Benjamin P. comments, “Within the film, we get to see some of the brave pilots and servicemen who helped secure victory on that historic day. We also follow the teams of crafts persons and aviation enthusiasts who dedicated sweat, tears and valuable time to making sure this show of appreciation for those who served went down as planned.” See his full review below.

Into Flight Once More
By Benjamin P., KIDS FIRST! Film Critic, Age 16

Into Flight Once More is an engaging, educational documentary about honoring the veterans of World War II.<p>Into Flight Once More follows the flight of restored vintage aircraft to the beaches of Normandy to mark the 75^th anniversary of D Day. For those who are unaware, D Day marks the Allied powers siege on the beaches of Normandy to take back Nazi-occupied France. It is often marked as a major turning point in World War II that ensured an Allied victory.

Within the film, we get to see some of the brave pilots and servicemen who helped secure victory on that historic day. We also follow the teams of crafts persons and aviation enthusiasts who dedicated sweat, tears and valuable time to making sure this show of appreciation for those who served went down as planned. The intercutting of footage is very effective in this film. Not only is there some striking aerial footage where the camera is seated on the wing, but it also includes some black and white archival video captured during almost a century ago. There are also animated portions that illustrate the intricacies of the feat that took place on D Day.

The frequent visual reserves keep the documentary consistently interesting. This film reminds us that we have a thin window of opportunity to show our appreciation for the sacrifices our WWII veterans made, as mentioned frequently in the documentary by many who participated in this commemorative flight. The chief reason for making sure this flight happened is to demonstrate a level of admiration to these veterans for their bravery and to do it while they’re still here.

The lesson of Into Flight Once More is to understand and appreciate the sacrifices of those who fought and those who died to preserve our freedoms and way of life here in the U.S.A.

I recommend Into Flight Once More for ages 8 to 18, plus adults.  It helps to have some understanding of D Day because that puts the ultimate value of this endeavor in perspective.  I give Into Flight Once More 4 out of 5 stars. I implore you to seek this one out. It’s currently streaming on several video on demand platforms.

The story begins when a cattle baron starts using trail hands to terrorize homesteaders in a small mining town a preacher comes to the rescue. With a Bible, not a gun this man is able to sway the homesteaders into standing their ground for their rights to free land. The homesteaders are rallied by preacher Carson to hold their position and not be frightened away by the constant barrage of raids on their families. Mike McCray, the cattle baron, doesn’t stand for the resistance, claps back and causes much damage to the preacher’s family and homesteaders. Frustrated with the outcome, one of the preacher’s own family members turns against him and sides with the McCray clan.

KIDS FIRST! Film Critic Ashleigh C., comments, “A blast to the past! The Lonesome Trail captures the dramatic and heartwarming history of how faith is used to keep hope during dark times. “ See her full review below.

The Lonesome Trail 
By Ashleigh C., KIDS FIRST! Film Critic, age 18 

A blast to the past! The Lonesome Trail captures the dramatic and heartwarming history of how faith is used to keep hope during dark times.  

The Lonesome Trail, set in the American cowboy era, follows a preacher named Brent Carson (Peter Wray) who just recently moves to a small mining town. With the help of the local teacher Elizabeth Turner (Kelly Schwartz), he makes it his mission to ensure that the new visitors are welcomed and accepted despite their race and ethnicity. However, he faces some challenges when the town founder Mike McCray (Donald Imm) starts plotting to remove him and other new residents out of town. 

The Lonesome Trail captures the true environment of an old western film quite well. I am a big fan of Western films starring Black actors such as Buck and the Preacher with the award-winning Sidney Poitier. However, some modern elements do not mesh well in this film such as the appearance of some of the characters where the haircuts of the male characters are too modern. The sets and props are authentic to the time. The cinematography gives us an old Western vibe however; in some instances you cannot fully see the characters because the lighting overexposes the actors. Another thing that makes a Western film special is the set. This was clearly shot against a greenscreen and I missed having it take place on an actual Western set. I am curious if director Arlette Thomas-Fletcher did this intentionally in order to provide the audience with what a film may have looked like in the 1950s.  The music is appropriate to the theme. The twangy, western tune that is often heard during tense moments makes the film feel familiar and nostalgic. My favorite character is Preacher Carson because, in every scene, he seems like a genuine person that you would want to get to know in real life. My favorite scene is when Preacher Carson stands up to Mike McCray. I love how he uses faith to combat the hardships he faces. What an important lesson, especially in times of difficulty. 

The message of The Lonesome Trail is to be true to who you are and be kind to others. In times of inequality and unfairness, we must respect each other and have faith. You should be aware that this film contains scenes that mention racial inequality. 

I give The Lonesome Trail 4 out 5 stars and I recommend it for ages 5 to 18, plus adults. The Lonesome Trail comes out on digital July 12, 2022. 

Hallelujah: Leonard Cohen, A Journey, A Song is a definitive exploration of singer-songwriter Leonard Cohen as seen through the prism of his internationally renowned hymn, “Hallelujah.” This feature-length documentary weaves together three creative strands: The songwriter and his times; the song’s dramatic journey from record label reject to chart-topping hit; and moving testimonies from major recording artists for whom “Hallelujah” has become a personal touchstone. Approved for production by Leonard Cohen just before his 80^th birthday in 2014, the film accesses a wealth of never-before-seen archival materials from the Cohen Trust including Cohen’s personal notebooks, journals and photographs, performance footage and extremely rare audio recordings and interviews.

KIDS FIRST! Film Critic Zoe C. comments, “This captivating documentary shows the origins and evolution of the iconic song “Hallelujah,” written by poet, author, singer/songwriter and musician Leonard Cohen. A song that transcends generations, ‘Hallelujah’ is more than music; it is a work of art and this film is an immersive exploration of this iconic song.”  See her full review below.

Hallelujah, Leonard Cohen, A Journey, A Song
By Zoe C., KIDS FIRST! Film Critic, age 13

This captivating documentary shows the origins and evolution of the iconic song “Hallelujah,” written by poet, author, singer/songwriter and musician Leonard Cohen. A song that transcends generations, “Hallelujah” is more than music; it is a work of art and this film is an immersive exploration of this iconic song.

The documentary narrates how Cohen started his music career back in the ‘60’s. Disappointed by his lack of success in the literary world, Cohen decided to explore a career in music, despite not intending to sing or play an instrument. In fact, Cohen didn’t start writing songs until age 30. The narration in the film explores his early success in music and other aspects of his life, including his Jewish roots, politics, relationships and more. He was a spiritual seeker and his oeuvre constantly gravitated around spirituality. “Hallelujah,” his most renowned song, was released in 1984. The song is a moment of realization—a revelation—about love and loss, and it touches the listener in so many different ways. The song is so larger-than-life it’s almost its own person, and we see how it has become an anthem.

As of today, there are over 300 cover versions of “Hallelujah.” Originally 150-180 verses were written for “Hallelujah” until the perfect edition of the song was written. More popular versions have come from artists Eric Church, Jeff Buckley and John Cale. Through many different interviews, the documentary shows how most people know the song through Jeff Buckley and many thought he wrote it. It was really interesting to me to see how a lot of the film is devoted to Leonard’s spirituality. One of my favorite clips was the 2009 Coachella concert where Cohen sang “Hallelujah,” and you could really feel how moved and captivated the audience was.

The visuals, the archived interviews and footage are all nicely arranged. I particularly enjoyed listening to the interviews with various artists, reporters and people that were close to Cohen and to witness the warmth that emanated from him. One I found very interesting was with Vicky Jenson, where she talks about how “Hallelujah” was used in the movie Shrek. Another washow singer Judy Collins remembers when she first met him how he didn’t believe in his own music. Cohen’s work was not always praised as some music labels rejected his albums, but his talent has proved to be immortal.

The message of the film is that music is cross-generational, and it establishes an emotional connection that unites people in a powerful way.

I give Hallelujah, Leonard Cohen, A Journey, A Song 5 out of 5 stars and recommend it for audiences 12 to 18, plus adults. Hallelujah, Leonard Cohen, A Journey, A Song opens in select theaters July 15, 2022.

In an era when terrifying beasts roamed the seas, monster hunters were celebrated heroes – and none were more beloved than the great Jacob Holland.  But when young Maisie Brumble stows away on his fabled ship, he’s saddled with an unexpected ally.  Together they embark on an epic journey into uncharted waters and make history.  From Academy Award winning filmmaker Chris Williams (Moana, Big Hero Six, Bolt), The Sea Beast takes us to where the map ends, and the true adventure begins.

KIDS FIRST! Film Critic Keila V. comments, “The Sea Beast is an amazing animated film that I and my family loved! It has lots of hilarious moments and some sad moments. The cast is first class, and the movie is about fantasy, family and comedy.” See her full review below.

The Sea Beast
By Keila V., KIDS FIRST! Film Critic, age 9

The Sea Beast is an amazing animated film that I and my family loved! It has lots of hilarious moments and some sad moments. The cast is first class, and the movie is about fantasy, family and comedy.

The storyline follows an orphan girl named Masie (Zaris Angel Hator) who wants to be part of a ship’s crew, but is too young to participate. However, after the ship almost sinks, Masie has an opportunity to be accepted by the crew and their leader Jacob (Karl Urban).

The Sea Beast is a fantastic movie.  It has an exceptional combination of sad, funny and happy scenes. One of the sad scenes is when Masie tells the crew why she is an orphan living at a big orphanage and how her parents passed away when she was very young. There are also several funny scenes such as when Masie and Jacob travel inside of one of the sea beasts and explore the insides of the monster. Another funny one is when a sea beast named Red starts playing with Jacob, making him go up and down on a rope. One of my favorite scenes is when Masie finds a tiny sea creature and wants to keep it, although Jacob doesn’t quite agree with her wishes.

I love the animation; it looks so realistic. All the characters are wonderfully drawn and developed.  Masie is terrific because she is so brave and persistent. She never gives up her dream of becoming a sea beast hunter or helping those she trusts and loves the most. There isn’t much background music, but at times the music matches the scene perfectly like when everyone from the ship is at a bar and Masie tries to become one of them.

The message of The Sea Beast is that “No matter who you are or what you look like you can do anything! And don’t always believe the past.” 

I give The Sea Beast 5 out of 5 stars and recommend it for ages 5 to 18, plus adults. It is available now on Netflix. 

Disney’s Summer Magic Quest, the third installment of Disney’s popular “Magic Quest” specials, is set to debut with Zombies 3 stars Meg Donnelly, Pearce Joza, Kylee Russell, and Matt Cornett competing in a playful battle royal featuring new monumental challenges. This installment takes our competitors through the iconic locations of EPCOT where the impossible becomes possible. The two teams race around the world and beyond, competing throughout all four neighborhoods. The competing stars also get premiere access to the all-new Wonders of Xandar Pavilion with the “Guardians of the Galaxy”: Cosmic Rewind attraction and get an insider’s look into the Remy’s Ratatouille Adventure attraction.

KIDS FIRST! Film Critic Katherine S. comments, “Are you ready for the most exciting adventure of this summer? Disney’s Summer Magic Quest is an entertaining game show full of crazy challenges and thrilling quests that’s sure to keep you anxiously anticipating the newest experiences at Epcot Center in Disney World.” See her full review and interview with the director below.  

Disney Summer Magic Quest
By Katherine S., KIDS FIRST! Film Critic, age 14

Are you ready for the most exciting adventure of this summer? Disney’s Summer Magic Quest is an entertaining game show full of crazy challenges and thrilling quests that’s sure to keep you anxiously anticipating the newest experiences at Epcot Center in Disney World. 

In this next installment of the Disney Magic Quest specials, we follow the stars of the new movie Zombies 3 as they go head-to-head across the world, and beyond, in Walt Disney World’s Epcot Park after hours. During the show, Team Red and Team Blue compete in games and try out the exciting new rides that Epcot has to offer all while trying to win the first ever Disney Summer Magic Quest.

Disney Summer Magic Quest is so much fun to watch. It is so interesting to see some of the cast of the Zombies movies, such as Milo Manheim, Meg Donnelly, Matt Cornett, Kylee Russell, and Pearce Joza, outside of their movie character personas and to watch their own, genuine reactions. The competitors also get access to the Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind and Remy’s Ratatouille Adventure rides, which really makes me want to go to Epcot now! The cinematography is excellent, as it perfectly captures and enhances all the challenges. 

The message of Disney Summer Magic Quest is to both celebrate the world and give back to it. Note that the activities of the stars in the parks should not be performed while visiting the park on your own.

I give Disney Summer Magic Quest 4 out of 5 stars and recommend it for ages 5 to 12, plus adults. It releases on Disney Channel June 26, 2022 and comes to Disney+ August 12, 2022.