Talking about children's books and films. Useful information for parents.
02 Nov 2011 Leave a comment
in Books, books 6+, Classics Tags: adventure, family, little people
CARNEGIE MEDAL WINNER – 1952
by Mary Norton
Orlando: Harcourt Books, 1953
180 pp, 20 chapters
Age: (read to) 6 + ; (read independently) 9 +
Interests: family, old houses, little people, adventure
Sequels: The Borrowers Afield, The Borrowers Afloat, The Borrowers Aloft, The Borrowers Avenged
Also by this author: The Magic Bed Knob and Bonfires and Broomsticks (which together were made into the movie Bedknobs and Broomsticks)
18 Oct 2011 Leave a comment
in Books, books 6+ Tags: action, adventure, cars, crime, family, Magic
by Ian Fleming
150 pages, 12 chapters
London, Penguin, 1964
Age: 6 +
Interests: cars, magic, adventure, action, family, cops and robbers, science/inventions
Next: see the movie Chitty Chitty Bang Bang (story is much different)
06 Oct 2011 2 Comments
in Movies, movies 6+ Tags: action, adventure, cars, castle, inventions, Magic, science, scientists, song and dance, spies
Chitty Chitty Bang Bang
Released: 1968
Rated: G
Length: 144 min. (with an intermission at the 1:27 mark)
Age: 6 and up Commensense Media sez: 6 +
Scary Factor: fantasy adventure story abounds in peril but all is exaggerated and cartoonish; the Baron and his spies are too bumbling to be truly scary; the Child Catcher on the other hand is extremely creepy, he’s the scariest thing in the movie, especially when he captures Jemima and Jeremy
Intense Scenes: all the children living underground is a rather pathetic sight, it stuck with me as a child; Caractacus and Truly posing as dolls is a bit suspenseful, but mostly amusing
Questionable Language: apparently Grandpa says “ass” at some point
Other Violence and Mayhem: the Baron and Baroness are pretty weird, especially the Baron’s sly attempts to do away with his wife, particularly during their cutesy song together before the party; in an earlier scene the Baroness is ejected high into the air, she floats gently down thanks to her large skirts and the Baron hauls out his shotgun and shoots at her! (the resulting holes in her billowing skirt bring her down quickly, and he expresses disappointment that he only hit her skirt!)
Interests: cars, inventions, magic, action, adventure, castles, scientists, inventors, spies, musicals
Next: Ian Fleming book Chitty Chitty Bang Bang (very different plot)
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30 Sep 2011 Leave a comment
in Movies, movies 5+, Old Movies, Silent Movies Tags: action, adventure, arctic, history, romance, snow, weather, winter
Written, directed by, starring: Charlie Chaplin
Rated: — (unrated)
Length: 95 min. 1925 release / 72 min. 1942 re-release
Age: 5 and up Commonsense Media sez: 8 +
Scary Factor: Little Tramp menaced periodically for comedic effect; two men struggle over a shotgun which is always pointing at the Tramp; he is also chased by starving, hallucinating miner with a gun and then an axe; cabin tipped precariously on edge of precipice; all threats are treated comically and violence is bloodless and kept at a distance
Intense Scenes: a wanted criminal shoots and kills two police officers before perishing in an avalanche
Other: a bear is shot offscreen for food; some smoking and drinking
Interests: old movies, silent movies, arctic adventure, history
Versions: restored 1925 print is 95 minutes long, with piano music and title cards; 1942 sound release is 69 minutes long, has an orchestral score, no title cards, narration written and performed by Charlie Chaplin
Next: other Chaplin – Modern Times, City Lights
See also: Top 5 Silent Movies for Preschoolers
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22 Aug 2011 Leave a comment
in Books, books 3+ Tags: adventure, boats, ocean, pirates, soccer, treasure
by Melinda Long
illustrated by David Shannon
Orlando: Harcourt, 2003
34 pp.
Age: 3+
Interests: pirates!, ships, ocean, adventure, soccer
Also by this author and illustrator: Pirates Don’t Change Diapers
Also by this illustrator: No, David! (Diaper David series), A Bad Case of Stripes, Alice the Fairy
06 Jul 2011 Leave a comment
in Books, books 6+ Tags: adventure, grandparents, horror, Magic, mice, witches
by Roald Dahl
illustrated by Quentin Blake
London: Jonathan Cape, 1983
208 pp. – 22 chapters
Age: 6 +
Interests: witches, magic, mice, adventure
21 Jun 2011 Leave a comment
in Books, books 4+ Tags: adventure, hotels, mice, motorcycles, toys
by Beverly Cleary
New York: Harper, 1965
158 pp.
Age: 4 +
Sequels: Runaway Ralph, Ralph S. Mouse
Also by this author: Ramona the Pest, Ramona and Her Father, Dear Mr. Henshaw
20 Jun 2011 Leave a comment
in Books, books 5+, Classics Tags: adventure, castle, Magic, storms, strong girls, travel, witches, wizard
The Wizard of Oz (aka The Wonderful Wizard of Oz)
by L. Frank Baum
original illustrator W. W. Denslow
first published 1900
158 pp. (in New York: Sterling, 1999) – 24 chapters
Age: 5 +
Interests: magic, witches, adventure, travel, tornadoes
Also by this author: 14 Oz sequels, of varying quality
24 May 2011 Leave a comment
in Books, books 3+ Tags: adventure, boats, ocean, pirates, treasure
by John Ryan
London: Bodley Head, 1957
32 pp.
Age: 3 +
Interests: pirates, ships, ocean, treasure
Sequels: Pugwash Aloft (1960), Pugwash and the Ghost Ship (1962), Pugwash in the Pacific (1963) – and many more
16 May 2011 Leave a comment
in Books, books 5+, Gender Differences Tags: adventure, Fairy Tale, folktales, pirates, Princess, strong girls
retold by Katrin Tchana
illustrations by Trina Schart Hyman
Boston: Little, Brown and Company, 2000
109 pp. – each individual story averages about 6 pages
Age: 5 + (some stories suitable for 4)
Interests: folk tales, princesses, pirates, fairy tales, magic, other cultures
Other books by this illustrator: St. George and the Dragon, Rapunzel
Rarest Kind of Best 