The Adventures of Food Boy
A comedy about a teenage boy (Ezra) who inadvertently discovers that he has the power to make food appear in his hands. Ezra must ultimately choose either to embrace his unexpected but extraordinary talent or to return to his original life plan. Starring Lucas Grabeel, Brittany Curran, Kunal Sharma, Ryne Sanborn, Noah Bastian and McCall Clark.
Age: 8-14
90 min.
Independent Feature from Cold Spark Films.

Aurore
Once upon a time, there was a kingdom where dancing was forbidden. Despite the ban, Princess Aurore seizes every occasion to dance. Adult Juror Comments: This beautiful dance film will warm the hearts of any dance lovers, and some who never knew this was their passion. The story line is slightly predictable but not without its nuances.
Age: 8-12
DVD. 95 min.
Independent Feature from Maitland Primrose.

Ballet Shoes
Emma Watson leads and all-star cast that includes Emilia Fox, Victoria Wood and Richard Griffiths in the adaptation of Noel Streatfeild's enchanting novel about three orphans who embark on an exhilarating journey to realize their dreams. Adult Juror Comments: Visually appealing period piece that takes place in the 20s. The storyline about three orphaned children and the woman who raises them does everything to encourage their character and career development. Starring Emma Watson (Hermione Granger in the Harry Potter films) who plays one of the three sisters. It deals with the struggles of a poor English family during the depression and what they needed to do to survive whether it be lack of food or making their own clothing. The sisters rise above their situation to pursue their dreams - providing good role models for young people. Adult Juror Comments: This inspiring story of three orphan girls takes place in England in the 1920s. The orphans are each brought to Ms. Brown by her paleontologist guardian and she raises them in an impoverished home. In desperate need of money Ms. Brown rents rooms to people who turn out to be good influences to the children. She enrolls the girls into a performance school where the girls subsequently discover and pursue their dreams. Their dreams are to become a pilot, a ballerina, and a Hollywood movie star. The girls sacrifice for each other so each can pursue her dream.
Age: 8-18
DVD. 85 min.; $24.98
Feature Film from Koch Vision.

Captain Jon Adventure - Sharks: Knights of the Sea
In his most incredible adventure yet, Captain Jon takes us around the world to meet three sharks: the Lemon Shark, the Tiger Shark and the Great White Shark. Find out why these creatures are called the "Knights of the Sea." Adult Juror Comments: Like Captain Jon's other videos, this one is excellent. Great visuals, great audio, great pace. It is an exciting presentation to watch and learn from. "I would love to watch this with a child because of the information presented." "I like how the three sharks are contrasted and how they named the sharks they were studying. It makes it more personal." The information concerning the behaviors of the different sharks is very suitable for the target age group. The background music is impressive and very suitable to the show, it adds to the action and suspense. This show definitely adds to your awareness level about sharks and why it's important to protect them. Superb explanations. Sharks are animals that children seldom see and when they do, the sharks are in an aquarium someplace. The real footage is excellent and shows the sharks in their natural habitat. One great thing about this show is how it gives dispels some of the fearful sensationalism that some media has used to portray sharks. Kid Juror Comments: Kids loved it! "It has my favorite animal in it and had lots of scientific facts." For some reason, kids seem to have an insatiable hunger for information about sharks. "I liked seeing and learning about the sharks." "I liked seeing the people swim with the sharks." They all said they would watch it again. One kid said, "Everyone likes sharks even though they are bad." But their ideas changed after they watched the show and they all commented about how they learned about why we need to protect sharks. They loved the underwater scenes of the sharks, especially the night shots. One group said, "We didn't relate to the Captain and his helpers because we are not old enough to do that stuff. They reminded us of Indiana Jones or other adventure people." "We loved it. We loved seeing real sharks."
Age: 5-13
34 min.
Independent Feature from Status Productions.

Eon Kid: Season One, Volume One
In a future world, Marty, an enterprising 11-year-old who deals in scrap robot parts, stumbles upon an ancient iron Fist. Unexpectedly, the Fist comes to life and attaches itself to Marty's arm, endowing him with unknown fighting powers and, at the same time, putting him at the heart of a centuries-old struggle between good and evil.
Age: 5-12
110 min.
Series from Anchor Bay Home Entertainment.

Fat Albert's Halloween Special
Rudy and his new friend Devery plan to spend Halloween playing practical jokes on the elderly. They both take aim on Mrs. Bakewell, an old widow living in a spooky house by the graveyard. But the kids get the ultimate scare when two of them don't return from "trick or treating"! Did Mrs. Bakewell have something to do with their mysterious disappearance?
Age: 8-18
65 min.
Short from Genius Products.

Garfield's Fun Fest
Garfield celebrates his 30th Anniversary with the 2nd ALL NEW CGI feature film, "Garfield's Fun Fest." Garfield quickly learns that in order to make people smile, you don't need to make them laugh. Ladies and gentlemen, step right up for Fun Fest - the annual talent competition that determines the funniest comic strip in Cartoon World. And, as you can probably guess, a certain lasagna-loving, tubby tabby wins it every year. So why should this year be any different? Well, there's a new competitor, that's why. His name is Ramone, and he's tall, he's handsome and he just might unseat Garfield as the king of the comic strip! You'll want to watch every hilarious, suspenseful moment as the world's most comic cat competes - and eats - in Garfield's latest adventure. Let the games begin! DVD INCLUDES: Exclusive Comic Book In-Pack; 2 DVD ROM Games.
Age: 5-12
79 min.
Feature from Twentieth Century Fox Home Entertainment.

Goosebumps Wave 6
Experience a thrill ride of hair-raising scares and haunting humor from the pages of fright-master author R.L. Stine, with three new bone-chilling Goosebumps DVD compilations - "One Day At HorrorLand," "A Night In Terror Tower" and "Monster Blood."
Age: 8-12
261 min.
Series from Twentieth Century Fox Home Entertainment.

Her Best Move
The story of high school soccer prodigy Sara Davis as she juggles life, love and sports on her way to becoming the youngest player ever selected to the U.S. National Team. Conflicts arise as Sara deals with her over-zealous sports dad, a free-spirited boyfriend and her hectic existence in the social quicksand commonly known as high school. Through self discovery, Sara must determine if her best move is her next move. Stars: Leah Pipes ("Ghost Whisperer") and teen heartthrob Drew Tyler Bell ("The Bold and the Beautiful"). Adult Juror Comments: Good sports-themed film about girls and soccer.
Age: 8-12
DVD. 100 min.; $26.98
Independent Feature from Twentieth Century Fox Home Entertainment.

Jack London's Call of the Wild: Foxfire
Based on the classic novel by Jack London, "Call of the Wild: Foxfire" is the second volume of stories from the beloved "Animal Planet" series. They are about a 15-year-old boy who lives in an Alaska mining town, whose life is changed forever when he encounters a heroic and powerful dog named Buck. They provide that rare breed of adventure story that both parents and kids can enjoy together.
Age: 8-14
120 min.
Series from Allumination Film Works.

Jane Goodall's When Animals Talk
Just like any pet owner, Jane Goodall believes that all animals can talk - it's just that we don't always understand what they're saying. When Animals Talk recounts the amazing stories of animals that have changed the lives of the people they've touched. We witness how animals can learn our language and find unique human-animal partnerships that make the world a better place. We also will discover how we humans can learn the languages of animals through science. We will listen in on the "conversations" that can take place between animals and humans, and the amazing results that these mutual comprehensions can yield. Dr. Goodall's message is that communicating with animals brings humankind closer to another world, and that such liaisons can bring about unexpected benefits to both.
Age: 8-18
90 min.
Feature Film from Genius Products.

Math Test-Taking Strategies
Erase test-taking anxiety with Marko the Pencil! Students go through a practice test with Marko and learn his effective tips for scoring higher on multiple-choice math tests. This animated pencil may be a No. 2, but he will help make any student #1. ADULT JUROR COMMENTS: This is a super tool for teachers to use with classes preparing for standardized tests. It covers everything students would need to know and shows good examples. Wonderful explanations of different types of math problems that children may encounter. Great animation, great audio - nice and clear and easy to understand. The music accompaniment is very upbeat, the onscreen child is engaged as an active learner. "As a Math Teacher for 12 years, I really appreciated specific aspects to this video. For example, Marko explains in problem #1, 'don't be tricked by the number 4, she must count herself too - divide the 20 by 5.' The very next problem includes parallel wording which encourages kids to apply what was just taught." The only drawback to this show is its length. At 55 minutes, it's a bit too long for the attention spam of the target age for one sitting. If used in the classroom, it would be better to stop it frequently and allow the students time to work out the problem before the explanation is given and use the video over several days. KID JUROR COMMENTS: Enjoyed it. "This is fun! I love this video - it's a fun way to practice, and I love writing the answers on the screen to see if we are right." "I liked it because it taught us a lot of skills for math tests." "The pictures are colorful and show what they are talking about - like 'staying in the lines.'" "This video gives kids good strategies for taking tests. It helps a lot!" "I liked the bouncy pencil, Marko - he is like a teacher only fun." Most all of the kids who viewed it loved it. They were engaged and learning. They felt good about themselves even when they gave the wrong answers. You don't feel embarrassed when Marko explains the right answer like you do when it's the teacher telling you that you're wrong. Great show.
Age: 8-12
58 min.
Independent Short from Rock n' Learn, Inc.

Meerkat Manor: The Story Begins
As prequel to the Meerkat Manor television series, this feature film traces the rise of Flower from a young meerkat pup to leader of the pack. Narrated by Whoopi Goldberg, Meerkat Manor: The Story Begins will warm your heart and leave you awed by the magic of Flower's journey.
Age: 5-12
76 min.
Documentary from Genius Products.

Mist: The Story of a Sheepdog Puppy
Mist is one of three pups born at Borough Farm. From the moment she opens her eyes, she knows that she wants to be a real sheepdog. But things are not as straightforward as she would have hoped.
Age: 5-12
75 min.
Feature Film from Allumination Film Works.

Nim's Island
Nim Rusoe (Abigail Breslin) lives on a deserted island with her scientist father Jack (Gerald Butler) and her best friends: Selkie, a sea lion; Fred, a bearded dragon lizard and Galileo, a plucky pelican. But when Jack goes missing at sea and the island is "invaded," Nim reaches out via e-mail to the adventurous author of her favorite books (Jodie Foster), and together, each discovers what it takes to truly become the hero of your own life story. Directed by Jennifer Flackett and Mark Levin. Starring Academy Award® winner Jodie Foster, Academy Award nominee Abigail Breslin and Gerard Butler. Produced by Paula Mazur.

ADULT JUROR COMMENTS: Abigail Breslin ("Little Miss Sunshine") and her adventures in the tropics as a precocious yet self-sufficient 11-year-old, will have every kid wanting a zip line installed in the backyard. Nim and her dad (Gerard Butler), a famous scientist live an idyllic life on a secluded island somewhere in the South Pacific that they refer to as "our own perfect secret world." Clearly, that's the way they want to keep it. Nim's best friends are a lizard and a sea lion named Selkie. She pores over books about her favorite literary hero/adventurer - Alex Rover. The scene shifts when Nim utters the words, "when my dad gets back" as he takes off for a four day trip on his sailboat in search of protozoan. A terrific storm blows in unexpectedly and when her father doesn't return, Nim's life goes topsy-turvy as she ponders her fate and that of her missing dad. She reaches out to her hero for help, unaware that the author of her favorite adventures books is Alexandra Rover (Jodi Foster). While her fans think she's the swashbuckling hero of her adventure novels, the truth is Alexandra is a wuss with a crippling fear of leaving her own house - if even to go to the mailbox. All that changes with an email exchange with Nim and her fictional character, Alex Rover eggs her on and go to Nim's rescue. She somehow rises to the challenge but not easily. What I enjoyed about this film is how the action/adventure/fantasy/Indiana Jones theme has a girl hero. One of the current favorite TV shows for our KIDS FIRST! jurors is "Flight 29 Down." I believe the same audience will love this.

Directed by Mark Levin and Jennifer Flackett who also brought us "Little Manhattan," it brings out the best of young actress, Abigail Breslin. Miss Breslin's portrayal of Nim is charming, captivating and fun. Jodi Foster's performance captures her comedic qualities but doesn't have the same stickiness as her co-star. Gerard Butler's ("P.S. I Love You") performance as both Dad and Alex Rover demands little of the actor beyond his eminent good looks.

This is a great film for tweens who will resonate with an adventure of their peers. There are two issues that make me not give this the highest scores for KIDS FIRST! First is the scenes of Dad and Alexandria in the ocean without life vests. In real life, neither of these characters would have survived their ordeals in the turbulent seas without life vests, and it's inappropriate to even suggest that they would not be wearing them at the first hint of bad weather. The other objection is inappropriate treatment of animals. When Nim is protecting her island from an onslaught of dim-witted tourists, she catapults reptiles onto the beach. Ugh. I can hear the animal activist scream in the back of my head. It's not a big enough deal to diss the movie but enough to mention. My summary: A perfect action fantasy for tweens, where young Abigail Breslin captures your heart along with your imagination.

KID JUROR COMMENTS: Kids enjoy the scenes of Nim and her dad on their magical island. A bunch of kids wanted to put a zip line into their own backyard. They could sympathize with Nim when her dad doesn't return home and the storm hits. "That would have been really scary. I don't know what I would have done." Nim's resourcefulness does not go unnoticed. "She was pretty smart when she attacked the tourists who came to take over her island." In the end, the love story didn't escape the attention of the girls, who loved the ending.
Age: 5-12
Feature Film from Twentieth Century Fox Home Entertainment.

Travel with Kids: Paris
Discover Paris with the Roberts family. Climb the Eiffel Tower, soak in art at the Louvre, try a chocolate crepe, learn some French, ride the subways and more. Includes crafts and recipes to try at home. Adult Juror Comments: Well done. Great travelogue that shows Paris can be a great place for families to visit and offers helpful hints about how to see the city. If offers a kids' point of view with charming visuals, an incredible range of activity suggestions and great music accompaniment. It is well synthesized, covering everything from practical elements such as their recommendation to fly into London and take the Eurostar Chunnel train. It's filled with historical facts, maps and stories, which add educational value. Focuses on things that kids would enjoy such as food, fun places to tour and pony rides. The pace is very quick, way too fast for younger viewers but just right for older family members. The people filmed interacting with the family responded very positively to those efforts. The mom taking time to try to learn a bit of French and teaching her children to respect the country and the people by trying to speak their language helps dispel the Ugly American stereotype. One of the things that they took advantage of was the Hop On Hop Off bus which is a great way to get around many cities around the world. Says one adult juror, "I've watched other travelogues for kids and personally found this to be the best I've seen." "After watching this, I'm motivated to visit Paris and France." "Loved the bakery shots." "Loved the shots from the Eiffel Tower." Kid Juror Comments: Our older kids loved it, found the scenes fascinating, loved the beheaded king, the towering stairs, the music - many commented on the music. One 9-year-old asked to keep the DVD as his own. They liked seeing the family on vacation and hearing what they had to say about their vacation. "The mom and dad did fun things like creating a scavenger hunt to help the kids enjoy the museums." "The family was really nice to each other and did stuff that everyone liked." One of the older kids asked to watch it again because he felt he missed some. "It moves a bit too fast." Favorite parts: Trying out the recipes and exploring the extra sections gave kids ideas they wanted to try.
Age: 7-12
DVD. 52 min.; $14.95
Independent Short from Equator Creator Media LLC.