Disney's Cinderella

“Believe in Magic” – Claudia Puig, USA Today

DISNEY’S BELOVED AND EMPOWERING FAIRYTALE TOLD 

IN A NEW BEAUTIFUL AND MAGICAL WAY

CINDERELLA

ON BLU-RAY™ COMBO PACK, DIGITAL HD AND

DISNEY MOVIES ANYWHERE on September 15, 2015

Over 12 Minutes of Additional Scenes, Including an Alternate Opening,

 Plus the “Frozen Fever” Theatrical Short!

SYNOPSIS:                        
Celebrate Disney’s “Cinderella,” a modern classic that shines with beauty, imagination…and magic! Despite being mistreated by her stepmother (Cate Blanchett) and stepsisters, a spirited Ella (Lily James) resolves to take charge of her fate. Add a royal ball, a Fairy Godmother (Helena Bonham-Carter) and a glass slipper, and suddenly – magic becomes reality!



My Thoughts:
For as long as I can remember, Cinderella has been my favorite Disney movie. When my daughter was three years old I was so excited to share the classic story with her, and was thrilled when she fell in love with it... just like I did. She is now 6 years old.... and taking her to see this new movie in the theater was beyond magical! Her uncle also came with us, and after the movie he said his favorite part was watching her watch the movie. He saw excitement and magic in her eyes throughout!

Now if you ask my daughter her favorite part she will tell you two things.... when the pumpkin grows too big for the green house and when the Fairy Godmother gives her the gown. Oh the gown! Every girls dream... no matter how old... is to wear a gown that beautiful!

I am so excited to have this now on DVD so that my daughter and I can relive the magic any time we want. It is filled with magic and laughter, as well as a little sadness and tears. My daughter cried when Cinderella's mother died, which made me cry! But the movie is filled with so much goodness.  The words, "Have courage and be kind," are words I want my daughter to live by. Cinderella is a beautiful, kind, caring girl who rises above life's greatest challenges and heartaches. And she comes out stronger and even more beautiful for it. Inside and out.

This movie is a classic brought to life. It is a must see for all princesses... no matter their age!

Sloth Slept On

Sloth Slept On

written and illustrated by Frann Preston-Gannon

Who's that sleeping in our tree?!

When a group of children find a mysterious animal napping in their backyard, they set out to learn what it is and where it’s from. They search and search, never noticing all the posters and news articles about a sloth that's broken out of the zoo…

When the kids finally discover the identity of the snoozing creature, they hatch a plan to get it home… boy, will this sloth be surprised when he wakes up!

Frann Preston-Gannon has created an endearing, adorable, and huggable title character; a group of intrepid children; and a wildly humorous situation in SLOTH SLEPT ON (Sterling Children’s Books, September 2015)!

Frann Preston-Gannon is the author and illustrator of The Journey Home (Pavilion Press), as well as How to Lose a Lemur and Dinosaur Farm (both Sterling). In 2011, Frann became the first UK recipient of a Sendak Fellowship and spent a month living with and learning from the great master of illustration, Maurice Sendak. She lives in London.

My Thoughts:
I have always had a love for the slow moving, adorable sloths. And the sleepy sloth in this story is definitely adorable! I love how the kids in this story have such creative imaginations. They want to know who this sloth is and where he is from. A pirate? An astronaut? While they may not notice all the posters looking for this sloth, they do figure out a way to learn all about him.

I think it's fabulous how the author combined imagination and fact to make this story so interesting. From outrageous ideas like a sloth knight to all of the interesting facts about sloths, it's a great way to encourage imagination and learning about animals and what makes them who they are. It was a fun story that both of my kids enjoyed!

Space Boy and His Dog

Space Boy and His Dog

by Dian Curtis Regan

illustrated by Robert Neubecker

Niko may live on boring old Earth with his family, but he’s always finding a new adventure. Using the spaceship that he built from a box in his backyard and a little imagination, he flies off into space with his robot, Radar, and his dog, Tag. The only one NOT invited is his sister Posh who keeps trying to insert herself into Niko’s story. In this first mission, Niko and crew (and maybe also pesky Posh) fly to the moon in search of a lost cat. Illustrated in comic–book style and featuring easy–to–read text packed with humor, Space Boy and His Dog is Niko’s first adventure, with two more books planned in the series.

My Thoughts:
This book was a hit in my household for so many reasons! The number one reason is probably because my kids and Niko have so much in common. Every time a box comes into our house it quickly becomes some amazing new adventure. From turning boxes into houses to trains to airplanes to rockets. Kids imaginations are absolutely amazing!

The next reason my kids liked the book so much was they could relate to the characters. Yes, we have the lovely brother-sister relationship where someone is always "not invited" or being left on the moon. I loved that Niko felt compelled to go back and rescue his sister...even if she didn't need rescuing. It was a great conversation for us to talk about including each other when they play and always being there for each other.

I love Niko's imagination and the adventures it takes him on! This is a great book to inspire kids and get them back into reading as we jump into a new school year!