Release Info:
DVD Release Date: May 4, 2010
Online Availability: Amazon for $19.99

We are both children of the 80s. The Saturday morning cartoons of the 80s were what we grew up watching. Having reviewed Saturday Morning Cartoons: 1960s, Vol. 1 and Saturday Morning Cartoons: 1970s, Vol. 1, we’ve been waiting for a chance to watch classic cartoons from the 80s. Well, here it is and while some of it is cool, there are some disappointing aspects to this release.

We expected The Smurfs, The Flintstone Kids, and other Hanna-Barbera shows to dominate this set. Instead, we have a lot more of Hanna-Barbera competitors, Ruby-Spears’ cartoons represented. That is okay because Ruby-Spears isn’t all bad. BUT, most of these cartoons aren’t as well known as the Hanna-Barbera titles. Some we had never even heard of and others are just plain awful, like the Chuck Norris animated show, Karate Kommandos. We assume some didn’t air as prominently in the Midwest, like Goldie Gold and Action Jack. We never even remember these shows being on.

Don’t get us wrong. There are some cool shows on here. We’ve been waiting for The Flintstone Kids to be put out, in any form, on DVD. Both of us watched this show all the time, as kids. We’d all but forgotten about The Biskitts, those cute “little” puppies, every person from the 80s knows Mr. T, unless they were living in a cave, and I (Dom) finally got to refresh Ashtyn’s memory of what a monchhichi was. So, essentially, in this set, fans of 80s cartoons are going to win some and lose some. Ultimately, it will be up to each person to determine whether there are enough winners in the bunch to merit a purchase.

While we’ve been waiting for Saturday Morning Cartoons: 1980s, Vol. 1 to come out, we cannot help but feel a sense of disappointment that more of our favorite cartoons were not included in this set. The source material for some of these cartoons isn’t as great as today’s but most of it has held up well. If nothing else, it has given us a chance to introduce the kids to a bunch of retro, lesser known cartoons they have never seen.

Saturday Morning Cartoons: 1980s, Vol. 1 Episode Synopsis’
There are 11 different cartoons in the Saturday Morning Cartoons: 1980s, Vol. 1 set. Some of the shows feature multiple segments and episodes. These shows are spread out across two discs. Here is a list of the episodes with a description of the shows and episodes.

Disc 1

Goldie Gold and Action Jack
Episode: “Night of the Crystal Skull”
Original Air Date: September 12, 1981

Think Richie Rich, a little ditzier, in female form and you have Goldie Gold. Goldie Gold is the richest person ever. She has more money than anyone else in the world. With so much money and time on her hands, Goldie has to do something to pass the time. Goldie owns the newspaper, the Gold Street Journal. Her boyfriend, Jack, aka “Action Jack” works for the paper. Jack, Goldie, and her dog, Nugget, use the paper to allow them to investigate crimes and save the day.

In “Night of the Crystal Skull”, Goldie arrives at her party to find men dressed as Incan warriors kidnapping two astronauts and a professor/scientist with the knowledge of how to create a space shuttle. When Goldie and Jack go to the Gold Street Journal, they are attacked by the Incans. The two chase them back to Peru. There they discover the Crystal Skull Masked man’s plot to take over the world, which they must stop.

Chuck Norris: Karate Kommandos
Episode: “Deadly Dolphin”
Original Air Date: September 15, 1986

Chuck Norris is a douche and his cartoon just seeks to prove that. I think he just likes hearing his name (if parents played a drinking game for every time anyone says Chuck or Norris, they’d have alcohol poisoning in the first 2 minutes). Hearing it makes Chuck Norris giddy. Sure, he wants to teach kids lessons, and his show supposedly has moral values, but who wants to spend 20+ minutes seeing a badly drawn, bushy mustached, Chuck Norris kick butt? The funny part is, Chuck Norris really takes himself seriously in the live action sequences before and after the main show. Wow…

I will give Chuck credit. He has a crew that help him, including a totally annoying kid. I never watched this show when it originally aired, and I can definitely see why. In “Deadly Dolphin”, Angel Fish and Super Ninja capture Dr. Sanford. Angel Fish reads Dr. Sandford’s mind to discover how to get in Sealab. With control of Sealab, they can control the seas, something their boss, the Claw, has hired them to do. It is up to Chuck Norris and his rag tag team of Karate Kommandos, Tabe, the fat sumo champ, Pepper, the Tech expert/mechanic, Pepper’s brother Reed, who is Chuck’s apprentice, Too Much, the young Asian boy, and the samurai, Kimo, to stop them.

The Completely Mental Misadventures of Ed Grimley
Episode: “Tall, Dark & Hansom”
Original Air Date: September 10, 1988

There were quite a few cartoons based on live-action actors in the 80s. One of the later shows was The Completely Mental Misadventures of Ed Grimley. This vehicle for Martin Short has the comedian playing the spastic and weird Ed Grimley. The show is part live-action, part animation. Ed Grimley is just as weird as you’d expect Martin Short to be in cartoon form. His quirks are on full display in the episode presented in this 80s cartoon set.

In “Tall, Dark & Hansom”, the spike-haired E, is sad that his Cousin Lamar is sick, but is happy because this means that he is taking over driving Lamar’s horse and buggy for the day. Ed is celebrating with music, when we meet his talking rat, Sheldon, and his biting fish, Moby. Ed gets excited when his attractive neighbor, Miss Malone, says hi to him. He also is friends with Miss Malone’s little brother, a young, destructive boy named Wendall, who introduces him to a walkman and some loud music. Unfortunately, when he goes to do Cousin Lamar’s job, Ed has trouble getting the horse to move.

The Amazing Gustav Brothers interupt the action right before the horse looks sure to get it when a piano is about to fall on him. The brothers, Emile and Roger, teach about gravity. Emile jumps out of a plane with no parachute to show how gravity works, before returning to the cartoon with Ed. Ed manages to get the horse, Leonard, to move, but loses his cousin’s job for him, in the process. The show is interrupted again with a live action portion. In it, Count Floyd (Joe Flaherty) tells kids scary stories. This story is about an archeologist, Dr. Smite, who was investigating inside a pyramid, when he discovers a headless mummy. The kids seem unimpressed. The animated show returns with Leonard the horse entering a horse race to impress a female horse he has a crush on. In the end, Ed saves the day, though we won’t tell you how.

The Flintstone Kids

The Flintstone Kids was our favorite of all the shows in this set. We have fond memories of watching this show when we were kids. The segments are all from different episodes of the show. The first is a full length episode of the show, while the other are segments that became a central part of the show. These segments are, Captain Caveman and Son, Dino’s Dilemmas, and Flintstone Funnies.

In this quirky, Flintstones spin off, Fred, Barney, Betty, Wilma and the rest of the gang are young kids. They have the same kind of wacky adventures the adult Flinstone cast has, only they are much shorter and have to answer to their parents!! The regular characters are joined by their friend, Philo Quartz, the mean bully, Rocky Ratrock, and a spoiled, filthy rich girl who thinks Freddy is cute, Dreamchip Gemstone.

Episode: “The Bad News Brontos”
Original Air Date: October 4, 1986

Fred is the pitcher of the kids’ losing baseball team, the Bedrock Brontos. When Edna, Fred’s mom, takes on the job of coach, they start to improve and start winning. With the Brontos set to be the town champs, Rocky, who is on the Bedrottens team, bullies Fred into betting on the game. The prize is a seat next to Wilma at the baseball banquet afterwards. Rocky uses Dreamchip Gemstone to keep Fred up late the night before the game. With Wilma mad because Freddie can’t stay awake, things turn from bad to worse when she finds out about the bet!

Captain Caveman and Son
Episode: “Invasion of the Mommy Snatchers”
Original Air Date: September 27, 1986

The Flintstone kids are watching their favorite TV show, Captain Caveman and Son. In Bedrock, on the show, mothers are being kidnapped. Their only hope is Captain Caveman and his son, Cavey Jr. Unga-Bunga!! Kids are crying, running around causing trouble, and upset because their moms are gone. Captain Caveman and son try to search for the women. A man has a clue and after getting it, Cavey Jr. has Captain Caveman dress up as a mom to get abducted. When Riff and Raff the two headed alien arrive in their UFO to get him, they realize these child aliens aren’t willing to do what they are told and release the moms.

Dino’s Dilemmas
Episode: “Dreamchip’s Cur Wash”
Original Air Date: September 27, 1986

Freddy and Dino visit Dreamchip at Gemstone Manor. There, she asks Freddy to convince Dino to test out her new dogasaurus washing machine. She doesn’t want to ruin her expensive pet, Fluffy’s fur. Dino is forced into it by Fred, but it is humiliating, as is Dreamchip constantly calling him a mutt. Dino has a plan to get even and Freddy apologizes for letting Dino be humiliated in the first place.

Flintstone Funnies
Episode: “Princess Wilma”
Original Air Date: December 16, 1986

A sick Wilma is stuck in bed. Her dad won’t let her meet Betty at the Bedrock Mall. Sad about missing her mall trip, Wilma imagines being a real princess and doing whatever she wants. Princess Wilma has a magic mirror. She wishes for a true fairytale. When Sir Rocky of Ratrock shows up, her father, King Slaghoople, makes a decree. Whoever beats Sir Rocky wins Wilma’s hand in marriage. Enter Sir Freddy of Flintstone, who sets out to win the hand of the fair princess.

Mister T
Episode: “Mystery of the Golden Medallion”
Original Air Date: September 17, 1983

In a more successful live-action inspired, Ruby-Spears production, Mr. T, an 80s hero, fights the bad guys. AND…he’s not nearly as annoying as Chuck Norris while doing it. After a brief live action intro (in which Mr. T says, “I Pity the Fool!”), Mr. T joins his team, a group of young gymnasts in San Francisco, in cartoon form. The team solves mysteries and kicks butt while doing it, but you probably already figured that out.

The team gets a new gymnast, Woody, and they are none too pleased While Woody is performing, someone swipes all the gold medallions and Woody is unable to get his first place medal. Spike, gymnast Robin’s little brother and the boy who has hero worship for Mr. T, stumbles upon the thieves and he is kidnapped by them. The team must set out to find him, but nobody wants to work with Woody to find Spike. With Woody helping Mr. T and his mohawked dog, Dozer, the team soon realizes just how much they underestimated Woody.

Disc 2

The Biskitts
Episodes: “As the Worm Turns/Trouble in the Tunnel”
Original Air Date: September 17, 1983

Imagine The Smurfs living in a castle instead of mushroom houses, and as little dogs instead of tiny blue creatures. These dogs even sound like Smurfs. We think some of the same actors that voiced The Smurfs voiced The Biskitts. The pups live in a castle on an island in the swamp. They are protecting royal treasure. Of course, they have a Gargamel-esque character, King Max, who wants nothing more than to take the treasure. His entire quest revolves around finding the island castle and, in turn, the treasure.

In “As the Worm Turns”, Sweets gets a pet caterpillar, Fuzzy. Fuzzy is hungry and eats up their entire garden. In the meantime, King Max has the hounds out to find Biskitt Island. With King Max looming near the castle, the Biskitts have as much trouble hiding their castle as they do with Fuzzy, who the other Biskitts say must leave due to his destructive eating.

In “Trouble in the Tunnel”, The Biskitts are flying bone kites. It is a beautiful day, and Shiner convinces Scat to polish the treasure, by saying it is a big honor. Inside the castle, Scat heads off to polish. Outside, the ground begins to shake and quake. Something is going on beneath the island, and they soon realize it is a mole. When King Max discovers the mole has some of the Biskitt’s treasure, he realizes he can use it to his advantage to find the island. Scat, who has followed the mole, learns of the plot, so it is up to the young Biskitt to warn the others.

Monchhichis
Episode: “Tickle Pickle”
Original Air Date: September 10, 1983

Dom had a Monchhichi when he was 2. His little monkey sucked his thumb. This show is definitely for the younger crowd. These monkeys are simply adorable. The cute little Monchichis live in the trees. They have to live high up to avoid the Grumplins. The Grumplins are evil looking monkeys who wish to ruin the lives of the Monchhichis.

Go to Page 2 of the Saturday Morning Cartoons: 1980s, Vol. 1 DVD Review.

Couric, who lost her husband in 1998 to colon cancer, knows first hand how difficult it is to talk to children about death and grieving after the loss of a parent. Her children were under 10 when her husband passed away. Now, she has the chance to help other families tackle the difficult task of explaining grief, loss, and death to children when she helps a variety of Sesame Street characters host the PBS special, When Families Grieve.

In the special, Elmo and his cousin, Jessie, must deal with the death of her father, Elmo’s Uncle Jack. The Sesame Street characters provide helpful strategies that allow children to grieve, yet keep their parents in mind, even after they’ve passed away. We’ve posted some clips of the special, so you know what to expect when it airs on PBS.

When Families Grieve is set to air on PBS at 8 PM EST on April 14, 2010. You should check your local listings to verify the time in your area.

To find out more about this special, visit the Sesame Workshop Grief page.

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Famous Figures of Ancient Times: Movable Paper Figures: Nothing inspires children more than making their learning time fun. A great way to introduce historical figures to kids between the ages of 6 and 12 is with movable paper figures. Kids slightly older and younger will still want to play with these figures and cutting them out and putting them together is a great project for younger and older children to do together. The book also contains a selection of facts about all 20 of these amazing figures from history.

In our house, favorite figures included Hannibal (who comes with his elephant), Alexander the Great and Julius Caesar, though these are just a few of the figures your child will be able to play with and learn about. The book retails for $19.95. You can find out more about the Famous Figures Book at http://www.figuresinmotion.com, and don’t forget to check out our full length review.

Holiday Recommendation Rating: 3.5 out of 5 stars

Ripley’s Believe It or Not!, Seeing is Believing: This is the 2010 Annual release of fun, weird, wacky, and hard to believe facts and stories by Ripley’s Believe It or Not! We have a child in our house who loves to read about the unbelievable. If you have any relative (of any age) that likes to read about weird, unbelievable, and amazing feats, stories, and events then this book is bound to make the perfect holiday gift. Ripley’s Believe It or Not!, Seeing is Believing features 256 pages full of out of this world storytelling.

What’s more is that this is the first edition by Ripley’s Believe It or Not! that offers links to the Ripley’s website. These links take the reader to a selection of videos that feature accompanying stories about some of the amazing people and stories brought to the public by Ripley’s. The entire family is able to enjoy this great book, and it makes a great, semi-educational addition this holiday season. For more on Ripley’s Believe It or Not!, Seeing is Believing, check out our full length review on this book.

Holiday Recommendation Rating: 4 out of 5 stars

My Heritage Book: As your children age and grow, it is the personal gifts they are going to cherish the most. While all the hip fad toys will fade away, it is those personal presents that have meaning that they’ll hold onto. This holiday, consider buying your child My Heritage Book for this very reason. The book is individually designed for your child’s unique heritage. It discusses a specific culture based on the parents’ individual family history, which is also the child’s family history.

There are many nationalities you can choose to include in the book. There is even something offered for Native Americans and Native Hawaiians. You can add up to four different heritage types for the book and it is even personalized with your child’s name and a greeting from whoever orders the book for the child. My Heritage book can be purchased for more than one child or it can be personalized further for one child with middle name and birth date included. Our heritage book features French, German, Native American and Polish. The book contains excellent information and will make an amazing holiday gift for any child. For more information, check out our full length review of My Heritage Book.

Holiday Recommendation Rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars

When Santa Turned Green: Being parents, we’ve tried to be conscious of the issues affecting the world around us and have tried to instill this in our children. One of those issues pertains to the environment. We live in this world, so we need to take care of it. While our oldest is more conscientious of this, our five year old nephew, Lil B, is just beginning to learn about the environment. To help him, we gave him When Santa Turned Green.

This book takes two concepts young children are bound to get excited about; Santa Claus and helping the environment. The story points out that everyone, including Santa, has to worry about the environment and the effects our actions have when we decide not to go green. This book is absolutely adorable with colorful illustrations and a great story to go along with it. For those looking to teach their children about going green, this is a must buy book this holiday season. For more on When Santa Turned Green, check out our full length review.

Name Your Tune personalized CD: What’s better than a selection of songs that features your child? Younger kids get very excited when they are included in songs and other creative projects, so the Name Your Tune personalized CD is bound to be a hit in your house. We had one made for our nephew, Lil B, and he won’t stop listening to it! This is an innovative gift your child is going to be surprised to get as a holiday present.

The songs included on the Name Your Tune personalized CD go from standard classics like “Old MacDonald” (your child is the farmer) and “Wheels on the Bus” to newly created songs like “Boom Boom, Ain’t It Great To Be YOU!” and “Hello, How are You?” No matter what song is sung, these personalized songs will delight your child and provide them with a unique gift this year. To learn more about the Name Your Tune personalized CD visit their website and read our review.

Alex Beard Popup Puzzles: Alex Beard is an exceptionally talented artist. Before we reviewed the puzzles he designed, we’d never heard of Alex Beard. The pop up puzzles were something the teen and the 5 year old did together. While Lil B wanted to see the popup puzzle, the teen had to put it together for him. This is recommended for ages 10 and up most likely for this reason. If you have an older child and younger child, we recommend they play with the popup puzzles together because the younger kids are definitely going to be fascinated by them. We wouldn’t recommend a young child under the age of 5 put this together, though.

The Alex Beard popup puzzles have a jungle theme. We were sent the giraffe and the elephant. These popup puzzles are extremely affordable, look excellent and are very well constructed. We highly recommend the Alex Beard popup puzzles as a gift for your children this holiday season. For more information on Alex Beard visit his website and check out our full review on these puzzle sets.

Crayola Crayon Town – My House: Crayola has always been a trusted name in our house, so we were thrilled to receive the Crayola Crayon Town – My House set. This is a set your child can not only color and design, but he or she can then construct their very own Crayon Town, 3D My House environment. The playset is more than just a coloring activity though. It comes with the playmat, vehicles, accessories, and figures. Old crayons can even be used to help construct trees.

Lil B is very artistic. There was no doubt he’d be the recipient of the toy. He played with it with his best friend, Lil E. The boys loved coloring the playset and then once it was colored, they spent hours playing in the town they created. If your kids like Crayola and are between the ages of 4-6 (the boys are both 5) then this is a perfect holiday present. For more on the Crayola Crayon Town – My House Playset, read our review.

Uberstix Pirate Ship: We’ve had a budding pirate in the family for the past few years. Lil B loves anything pirate related. So, when we had the chance to review the Uberstix Pirate Ship, we jumped at it. The awesome thing about the Uberstix Pirate Ship is that it is made completely of recycled materials. Your child will use the recycled materials to build a real, floating pirate ship. This is a great way to get the kids into going green.

We can’t tell you how neat this pirate ship is. It looks so intricately designed and yet you are using things like plastic cups and paper clips for the design of the ship. This toy is economical, fun and will last a long time, so your child will enjoy playing with their pirate ship more than just the one time after they put it together. This is a building project parents can enjoy with their children and is one of our top toy picks/holiday must haves this season. For more on the Uberstix Pirate Ship check out our review.

Would You Cahootie: We designed the paper version of the toy Cahootie is making, back in elementary school. A group of us would predict our futures. Who would we marry? Would we be rich? What kind of job would we have? It was all so dazzling back in those days. Now, a new generation of kids can experience the wonder of the paper game in many different ways thanks to the various products by Cahootie. While the teen thought it was kind of lame, though he got into it when nobody was looking, the five year old was certain the Would You Cahootie was magic.

The Would You Cahootie asks ‘would you rather’ type questions and kids get to decide between the answers. While this isn’t going to be something the older kids will want to get into and adults will think they are pointless, except for nostalgic purpose, the younger crowd really seems to like the Would You Cahootie. For more on all the products available by Cahootie, visit the Would You Cahootie website.

Eye Can Art (Sumi-e): Children who are interested in art projects will love the art kits by Eye Can Art. We can only speak for the Sumi-e, because that is the kit that we received for Lil B. B is a very creative child, so he was ready to get painting right away. This kit is great for younger children as it teaches them a easier, structured way of painting. The kit contains black watercolor paint, sponges, sumi-e paper, a bamboo brush, other items to help with the creative process and an instruction guide.

After going through the instructions with him more than once, Lil B went to town and had a ball painting with the Eye Can Art (Sumi-e) Kit. If you have a budding artist or a child who just likes to express themselves artistically, Eye Can has other kits, too. These kits aren’t just for the younger crowd. Older children will enjoy them, as well. For more on the various Eye Can Art kits, visit the Eye Can website, and don’t forget to check out our review.

Color Me Tables: What’s better than a table that’s functional? How about a table you can color on? Color me tables are a unique new idea for birthday parties, slumber parties, or any kid’s event. Your children can even color them on their own! The table is constructed of a very sturdy cardboard material that can be colored on with crayons and markers. We got the birthday theme for Lil B and he took it to his friend’s birthday party. All of the kids there had a blast coloring.

Color Me Tables also are available in Teatime and Underwater Aquarium themes. This is one of those toys that is creative, but remains functional long after the project portion of the playtime is over. Once the tables are designed, kids can sit at them and use them as they would any other kid’s sized table. The only difference is kids actually design the table and chairs themselves, which makes them even more excited about this playset. For more information on Color Me Tables, visit the Color Me website and check out our review.

Technorati Tags: Color Me Tables, Ripley’s Believe it or Not, Seeing is Believing, Alex Beard, Crayola, Crayon Town, Uberstix, Pirate Ship, Would You Cahootie, Eye Can Art, Famous Figures of Ancient Times, Movable Paper Figures, Holiday Gift Guide, Learning Presents, My Heiritage Book

A brand new Dora Christmas Adventure is set to premiere on Nickelodeon. DORA’S CHRISTMAS CAROL ADVENTURE will air on Sunday, December 6, 2009 at 8:00 PM EST. In the latest press release we received from Nickelodeon, the station had this to say about the brand new special.

Dora and Swiper explore the past, present and future of Christmas in Nickelodeon’s new hour-long primetime TV special, Dora the Explorer: “Dora’s Christmas Carol Adventure,” premiering Sunday, Dec. 6, at 8 p.m. (ET/PT). The episode, which includes a special holiday version of the Dora the Explorer theme song recorded by the Young People’s Chorus of New York City, will encore on Nickelodeon on Monday, Dec. 7, at 9 a.m. (ET/PT) and on Nick Jr. on Sunday, Dec. 13, at 7 p.m. (ET).

In “Dora’s Christmas Carol Adventure,” Swiper tries to swipe the Christmas star from Dora’s Nochebuena party and winds up on Santa’s naughty list. Dora appeals to Santa, who says that if Swiper can learn the true sprit of Christmas, he will put him back on the nice list. Believing Swiper can change, Dora accompanies him on a journey to the past, the present and the future to help him find four missing ornaments and discover the true meaning of Christmas.

“Dora’s Christmas Carol Adventure” features new, original music including the special holiday version of the theme song, performed by the Young People’s Chorus of New York City, an organization providing children of all socio-economic backgrounds with a unique music education and performance program. More than 1100 children participate annually through the chorus’ core after-school program and its satellite program in New York City schools, and its national affiliates in Erie, Pennsylvania, and Tenafly, New Jersey.

Nickelodeon will roll out content from “Dora’s Christmas Carol Adventure” across the following platforms:

+ Beginning Monday, Nov. 30, Nick Jr. Video, the broadband video service available on Nickjr.com, will begin streaming a two-minute sneak peek of “Dora’s Christmas Carol Adventure.”
+ A two-minute sneak peek from “Dora’s Christmas Carol Adventure” will be available on wireless carriers via video on demand beginning Monday, Nov. 30.
+ “Dora’s Christmas Carol Adventure” will be simulcast in full on Nick Mobile.
+ “Dora’s Christmas Carol Adventure” and two other previously aired specials – “Dora Saves the Crystal Kingdom” and “Dora Saves the Snow Princess” – will be available for purchase on iTunes beginning Monday, Dec. 14.

You and your child/children can check out the Nick Jr. website at http://www.nickjr.com. This award winning site is offering a selection of complimentary activities to coincide with the release of DORA’S CHRISTMAS CAROL ADVENTURE. These activities include a game, a riddle book and arts and crafts (Santa’s Hat, Swiper’s Christmas Card, etc.). The game on the site has Dora and Swiper delivering Christmas presents. Kids have to match present boxes with presents based on matching shapes.

You can purchase DORA’S CHRISTMAS CAROL ADVENTURE on DVD at a selection of stores including Amazon. There is also a CD, Dora’s Christmas, that you can purchase. The CD songs can be purchased through iTunes. The advantage of purchasing the DVD is that you’ll receive six additional minutes of bonus footage that will not be aired on the TV special and two music videos. The CD is a selection of 16 holiday songs sung by Dora. These are Christmas classics with a Latin flavor to them and include: “Deck the Halls,” “Jingle Bells,” and “Santa Claus Is Coming Aquí!”

About Nickelodeon:
Nickelodeon, now in its 30th year, is the number-one entertainment brand for kids. It has built a diverse, global business by putting kids first in everything it does. The company includes television programming and production in the United States and around the world, plus consumer products, online, recreation, books, magazines and feature films. Nickelodeon’s U.S. television network is seen in more than 99 million households and has been the number-one-rated basic cable network for more than 15 consecutive years. Nickelodeon and all related titles, characters and logos are trademarks of Viacom Inc.

Technorati Tags: Dora the Explorer, Dora Christmas Carol Adventure, Christmas CD, Latin, Nickelodeon, Nick Jr. Christmas Special, Boots, TV Special

Ripley’s Believe It or Not!, Seeing is Believing is the sixth title/release by Ripley’s Believe It or Not! Ripley’s has been releasing these books annually for the last few years. The book contains information you’d find if you visited the Ripley’s location. Each book is made up of a plethora of true yet weird facts, stories and other tales that you might (or might not) believe. This hardcover book is large, well designed and you truly get your monies worth considering how many bizarre stories and facts are contained within the 256 pages of this book. You can pick up a copy of Ripley’s Believe It or Not!, Seeing is Believing at a variety of retailers, including Amazon for between $15-$20.

Ripley’s Believe It or Not!, Seeing is Believing is the 2010 annual release, and one cool feature of this book is that it contains icons within it that tell you where to find video clips that accompany the book. These clips are available through the brand new Ripley’s Believe It or Not! website. This brings the stories off the pages of the book and gives younger fans of the Ripley’s Believe It or Not! books a more interactive experience.

Another feature of Ripley’s Believe It or Not!, Seeing is Believing is the photographs peppered throughout the book that show pictures from the Ripley’s archive in black and white. Added together with the 2010′s addition of outrageous stories, makes for one, extremely entertaining book. What we liked the most was the online extension. Watching videos about the feral child and free diving, amongst other topics, held our interest as well as our son’s. It was something we could enjoy looking at as a family.

If you have a child that is interested in weird or crazy facts or know of a member of your family (of any age) who enjoys Ripley’s or the Guinness Book of World Records for their unique and amazing stories, then you should definitely consider buying them the Ripley’s Believe It or Not!, Seeing is Believing book. This book is available with a durable, hard cover and has a very nice front cover design. For more on Ripley’s Believe It or Not!, Seeing is Believing and other books by Ripley’s Believe it or Not, visit the Ripley’s website. You won’t believe what you’ll find on this site.

Technorati Tags: LI Kids, Holiday Review, Ripley’s Believe It or Not!, Seeing is Believing, Book, Fun Facts, Book Review

Here is what the page looks like:

CLICK HERE to download the FULL SCREEN Coloring Sheet. You must be able to open Adobe PDF files to get the Coloring Sheet.

Technorati Tags: Thomas the Train, Thomas and Friends, Holiday Express, Hit Entertainment, Coloring Sheet, Free, Extras, DVD Release, Winter

The first thing we noticed after opening the Famous Figures of Ancient Times book was just how sturdy the paper figures are. While these are paper figures, they aren’t so paper thin your child will be able to rip them just by playing with them. He or she would actually have to intentionally try to rip these figures up. Your child/children can help cut the figures out and assemble them before playing with the figures. The figures are put together in a way that makes them movable, which is a lot more enjoyable then the standard, paper figure design.

An in depth biography of each figure throughout history is included, so children have the chance to learn about the significant contributions the figure they are playing with made to the society of their time. Each movable figure comes already colored, and there is also a guide you can use that will show you exactly how to assemble each figure.

The book is recommended for ages 6-12, but our boys are 14 and 5 and they enjoyed the history lesson, as well as playing with the figures together. The famous figures included in Famous Figures of Ancient Times are Alexander the Great, Aristotle, Hannibal and his elephant, Caesar Augustus, Constantine, Cyrus the Great, Sargon the Great, Hammurabi, Moses, Julius Caesar, Jesus, King David, a Greek hoplite, Ashurbanipal, Narmer, Khufu, Nebuchadnezzar II, Qin Shi Huangdi and Augustine.

Despite our family not being of the Christian religion, we have absolutely no problem with the inclusion of Moses, Jesus, and King David. The stories included about these figures are handled in a secular way. It looks as though the creators of this book are merely stating facts as they are written in books about these figures. I commend the developers of the book for making a book that can appease both Christians and non-Christians. With so many varied figures throughout history, our boys loved playing with all of them.

Famous Figures of Ancient Times: Movable Paper Figures has won a variety of toy awards this year including a 2009 Creative Child Award, a Best Classic Toys 2009 Award, and a National Bronze Medal from the 2009 Independent Publisher Book Awards. The book retails for $19.95 and can be purchased through the Figures in Motion website.

Holiday Recommendation Rating: 3.5 out of 5 stars

Technorati Tags: Moveable Paper Figures, Book, Figures of Ancient Times, Julius Caesar, Hannibal, Alexander the Great, King David, Famous Figures, History, Books, Kids, LI Kids, Holiday Review

Release Info:
DVD Release Date: April 21, 2009
Online Availability: Amazon for $9.99

Who didn’t grow up with Sesame Street? When we were little, in the early 80s, Elmo wasn’t a regular on this long running children’s show (though we’re told he made the occasional appearance – we don’t remember this personally). My (Dominick) favorite characters were always Bert and Ernie. The duo have a very special place in my heart, and I would sing “Rubber Duckie” endlessly when I was a toddler. My (Ashtyn) favorite characters were Snuffy and Oscar. I was enthralled by the fact that Snuffy was invisible (for a short time – younger Dominick had no idea of this until I (Ashtyn) told him he was Big Bird’s imaginary friend).

Today, kids have our old favorites and they also have the adorable Elmo and his friend Abby. Elmo’s World is one of the most popular Sesame Street inspired series. What’s not to love about Elmo? He’s absolutely hilarious, fun, and just so darn cute. Abby is slowly becoming a new favorite, too and that’s good because she’s an active part of Elmo’s world. With the release of some of these episodes, which aired on television first, your children can do something we were left out of, as kids. They can rewatch their favorite episodes over and over thanks to these DVDs.

I (Dominick) am also ecstatic that Sesame Street decided to include Bert and Ernie on this DVD. There is an episode of Bert and Ernie’s new show in claymation. Children get to enjoy old and new favorites in this set. Sesame Street educated us, they educated our kids (son and nephew), and the show will continue to educate future generations of children with their engaging and entertaining shows. It doesn’t seem like the show changes (in a bad way) like other child-oriented shows. The formula has worked for Sesame Street since before we were born, so obviously Sesame Street and PBS are doing something right.

We don’t usually watch Sesame Street these days. Our youngest is five, so he’s growing out of the age where Elmo is cool. When he was a toddler, he was a huge fan of the little red fella, and many of our friends who have young children have mentioned their little ones love Elmo, too. Elmo and the Bookaneers – Pirates Who Love To Read! has to be one of the cutest Elmo/Sesame Street DVD’s we’ve seen. It combines a love of reading with typical Sesame Street fun, and for mom and dad, it also happens to feature Tina Fey. What more could you want in a DVD for your toddler?

The Sesame Street: Elmo and the Bookaneers Plot
In the first episode on this DVD, Elmo has a bookshelf, but he doesn’t know about all the books on it or how much fun reading can be. A group of pirates, called the Bookaneers, leave the seas for dry land long enough to enter Elmo’s world. There, they find his bookshelf and get to it. The group, led by Tina Fey, love to read! They love to read so much, they want to take the bookshelf contents as their booty!

Elmo is excited to learn about the Bookaneers. They seem really passionate about reading. Their passion for books inspires Elmo, who wants to read, too. So, Elmo sets out to become a bookaneer, as well. To do so, he must help the pirates find their treasure. Your children are invited to come on the adventure and help out, along the way.

The second episode is for the new claymation series of Bert And Ernie’s Great Adventures. The dynamic duo are searching for treasure and they will do everything they can to find it. Adding on to everything are plenty of songs. Abby sings about Words, Elmo sings about reading. It wouldn’t be a Sesame Street DVD without plenty of singing and dancing to inspire your children to get into the lessons being taught.

Finally, there is an Elmo’s World episode, Books. In this episode, Elmo discusses books. He sings about all of the books that are important to him and mean something to him. Themes of this DVD include treasure, reading, and books.

Replayability: 5 out of 5 stars

Audio/Visual:
As expected, the visual quality for this DVD is standard. The video is presented at a 1.33:1 aspect ratio. This is standard for a television series, especially one for children. The video for Sesame Street: Elmo and the Bookaneers – Pirates Who Love To Read! looks good. Colors are vibrant and not washed out. The images on screen are sharp, defined, and not blurred. I honestly didn’t notice too many errors visually. This is standard, decent, but not stunning. It’s great for its intended audience, which is truly all that matters.

The audio is in English Dolby Digital 2.0 Stereo. Again, this is standard, especially for a television show of this sort. The only thing that really matters about this track is the fact that it is clear. Dialogue can be heard easily. It’s crisp and clear. Volume toggling is unnecessary. The music doesn’t override the dialogue and vice versa. The main disappointment is no Closed Captioning or Subtitles, leaving hearing impaired children out while non-impaired kids can enjoy this DVD.

Visual: 3.5 out of 5 stars
Audio: 3 out of 5 stars

Bonus Features:
You might have already guessed this, but the Elmo and the Bookaneers – Pirates Who Love To Read! DVD is devoid of bonuses.

Bonus Features: 0 out of 5 stars

Bottom Line:
Elmo and the Bookaneers – Pirates Who Love To Read! is a must have if you have a small child or children. Sesame Street not only entertains children. The show also educates them. In Elmo and the Bookaneers – Pirates Who Love To Read!, your child will not only have fun, they will learn about the importance of reading. Elmo and the Bookaneers – Pirates Who Love To Read! comes highly recommended for the youngest of audiences out there.

Overall Rating: 3.39 out of 5 stars

Technorati Tags: Sesame Street, DVD Review, PBS, Elmo and the Bookaneers, – Pirates Who Love To Read, Children’s Television, Pirates, Family, Educational

For all the details, check out the following press release:

An Exciting Industry First: Blu-ray™+ DVD Combo Pack — October 6, 2009 — 7 Weeks Before Standard Definition DVD Release November 24

Burbank, Calif., April 3, 2009 – Walt Disney Studios Home Entertainment (WDSHE) proudly announces the highly-anticipated, October 6 high definition debut of the most-acclaimed animated movie ever made, Walt Disney’s original classic Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs. Making history again with its exciting debut, the Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs’ Blu-ray bow marks the first time Disney Blu-ray + DVD Combo Pack (2 Blu-ray discs + DVD) has ever been released, followed seven weeks later with the release of a Deluxe 2-Disc Classic standard definition DVD on November 24. The Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs’ Blu-ray edition will undoubtedly represent the quintessential way to experience this landmark film.

“We are thrilled that the consumer has clearly recognized the value in our Blu-ray + DVD Combo Pack releases and will have another opportunity to maximize their viewing options in October with Snow White,” Bob Chapek, President of Walt Disney Studios Home Entertainment, said. “With today’s technological breakthroughs found in Blu-ray, we are confident that this version of Snow White will easily become the reference point for high definition home entertainment libraries and family collections all over the world.”

Perfectly timed for holiday gift-giving and available for a limited time only, Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs’ historic high definition release will include a spectacular assortment of all new bonus features. A magical tale filled with laughter and excitement, Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs is the jewel in Disney’s cinematic crown.

Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs has been unavailable in any form, since 2001. The film earned a 1939 honorary Academy Award® for “significant screen innovation which has charmed millions, and pioneered a great new entertainment field.” And now, Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs Blu-ray becomes the ultimate home entertainment experience with state-of-the-art picture restoration and a pristine 7.1 Digital Theater System Hi-Def Surround Sound.

About Platinum Combo Packs (Blu-ray + DVD in a single package):
To provide consumers with unprecedented quality, value and portability of their favorite Disney classics, in 2008 WDSHE pioneered the Combo Pack – Blu-ray Disc(s) plus a DVD in a single package. Current Disney Platinum Edition titles available as Combo Packs include Sleeping Beauty and Pinocchio.

About Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs:
Celebrated as an entertainment landmark for over 70 years, the first full-length animated film ever made, and still the ‘fairest of them all,” Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs’ world premiere represented a major milestone for the world of animation, a giant leap forward for The Walt Disney Company. It is one of the most beloved and most watched films in history. As one of the first films ever to be designated for preservation by the Library of Congress, it has been entertaining movie-goers and critics alike for decades. It is also the first film ever to have a motion picture soundtrack, as well as the first film that uses music to advance the story. To date, Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs has been released theatrically a total of nine times.

Synopsis:
Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs is the time-honored story of a beautiful princess whose blossoming beauty disturbs her stepmother the Queen. Each day the Queen asks a mysterious magic mirror the quintessential question: “mirror, mirror on the wall, who’s the fairest of them all.” As long as the mirror answers the Queen’s name, all is well. However, when one day the mirror replies with Snow White’s name, the evil Queen begins her quest to kill the young girl, so she may once again be “the fairest of them all.”

Snow White’s escape from the evil Queen’s plan leads her deep into the forest and to a small cottage where she meets, in one of the most famous scenes in motion picture history, the Seven Dwarfs. Once “off to work” they go, the wicked Queen persuades Snow White to take a bite of a poisonous apple that places a powerful sleeping curse on the young beauty. Heartbroken, the dwarfs make a glass coffin for their friend, because she is too beautiful to bury. Only when a handsome Prince — who had previously fallen in love with Snow White — finds her and kisses her, does she awaken, “to live happily ever after.”

The Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs Blu-ray™ + DVD Combo Pack is priced at $39.99 SRP and the 2-Disc DVD set is priced at $29.99 SRP.

BLU-RAY STREET DATE: October 6, 2009
DVD STREET DATE: November 24, 2009
Direct prebook: August 11, 2009
Distributor prebook: August 25, 2009
Pricing: Blu-ray and DVD Combo Pack $39.99 SRP
2-Disc DVD: $29.99 SRP
Feature run time: 84 minutes
Rated: G
FastPlay™: FastPlay enabled

*Technical specifications may only apply to feature.

–Blu-ray Disc–

Aspect ratio: Widescreen (1.33:1)

Sound: 7.1 DTS-HD Master Audio

Languages: English SDH

–DVD–

Aspect ratio:
Widescreen (1.33:1)

Sound: 5.1 Disney Enhanced Home Theater Mix (DEHT)
5.1 DEHT French and Spanish Language Tracks

Languages:
English SDH, French and Spanish Subtitles

Walt Disney Studios Home Entertainment, a recognized leader in the home entertainment industry, is the marketing, sales and distribution company for Walt Disney, Touchstone, Hollywood Pictures, Miramax and Buena Vista product, which includes DVD, Blu-ray Disc™ and electronic distribution. Walt Disney Studios Home Entertainment is a division of The Walt Disney Studios.

We hope you are as excited about this as we are. Feel free to let us know by sharing your thoughts in our comment section!

Technorati Tags: Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs, Disney, Walt Disney Video, Press release, Blu Ray, DVD, Film

In my house, we go through a lot of ice packs, use of the heating pad, and spend a lot of money buying soothing scented air freshener. In our house alone we have someone with arthritis and diabetes, a person in a wheelchair who has a lot of muscle pain, someone with severe PMS and migraine headaches, and an autistic, bipolar child. The Sootheze Toasty Spa Friends are absolutely perfect for our household, due to all the various health issues we face.

I (Dominick) am in a wheelchair due to a progressive muscle disease. I have had a lot of issues due to a bone fracture, which has led to many other health problems. I am in physical therapy on a regular basis and this leads to many aches and pains. Add in general aches not necessarily caused by therapy, and I’m spending a lot of time icing up and heating up my muscles.

I’ve tried the cold packs, which burn and stick to your skin. I’ve tried the heating pads, which can burn if they get too hot. I’ve tried the various creams and lotions, such as Icy Hot. Nothing works quite as well as our Sootheze Toasty Chocolate Bear. I can heat him up or put him in the freezer before therapy and he’s ready to soothe those achy muscles once my therapy is over.

I (Ashtyn) get really bad cramps. I also get very bad, migraine style headaches. These are especially harsh when I’m dealing with other issues of PMS. Any ache or pain can be eased with my Sootheze Bear. The only relief I’ve found for my headaches is closing my eyes in a dark room. I put my Chocolate Bear in the freezer, then put him on my head as I lay in a dark room, inhaling the healing, aromatherapy herbs and breathing in the in the delicious scent. This doesn’t make my headache go away completely, but it certainly makes my headaches more manageable. For cramps, I just pop the little guy in the microwave and cuddle him to my stomach. He soothes the cramps and makes life easier!

My mom (Ashtyn’s) has bad arthritis. She also is diabetic. We’re always looking out for bruising and tenderness on her legs and feet. When she’s having trouble with pain or aches from arthritis or other issues, She curls up on the couch with Sootheze Bear and he makes her feel better. He’s become a part of the family and everyone loves to cuddle him. Her favorite part is the aromatherapy, which calms her down, something that can make aches, pains and arthritis flair ups worse, when a person is tense.

Finally, our teenage son has Asperger’s Syndrome (an autistic spectrum disorder), Bi Polar Disorder, and the jury is out on if he has ADHD. He is hyper, gets bad headaches, and has moments of uncontrollability. Hugging the Sootheze Chocolate Bear is one way to calm him down. The aromatherapy contains lavender, an herb known to calm and sooth. Sure, it doesn’t make his problems go away completely, but if it gets him to sit for a short while, it’s worth it. The cold and hot pack is also something he can press to his aching head. It’s a win-win situation having the Sootheze Toasty Spa Friends Chocolate Bear in our house.

I was excited about receiving our Chocolate Bear, which I (Ashtyn) have nicknamed Hermie. We’re considering purchasing other Sootheze Toasty Spa Friends, so everyone in the family has their own. There are just so many benefits to having a Sootheze Toasty Spa Friend. There is also a wide variety of products to choose from, as not only are there Bears, but there are also Bunnies, Wild Animals, Barnyard Animals, Chamois Neck Wraps, and Marine Life Toasty Spa Friends.

Positives & Negatives:

There are many more positives to owning this bear than negatives.

Just check them out:

Positives:
-Multipurpose pain relief – Hot/Cold
-Aromatherapy calms and soothes which can help ease pain
-Relatively Affordable
-Adorable
-Large Variety of Toasty Spa Friends to choose from
-Well made
-Though it will wear out, seems to be long lasting

Negatives:
-Kind of big (unless you get the juniors) to put in the microwave (if your microwave is small, especially)
-is said to wear down over time (though depending how often you use the product could take a very long while)

Pricing & Availability:
Sootheze has a website that is available online at http://www.sootheze.com. Here you can find all of the locations that offer Sootheze products. I put in my zip code in the location finder and multiple locations within an 1-2 hour distance popped up. Most of the locations were stores such as the Whole Foods store in Ann Arbor, MI. Sootheze Toasty Spar Friends are also available at Senior Centers in the area, which are using these Toasty Friends to ease the pain and lack of companionship, providing comfort to the elderly.

You can also purchase Sootheze Toasty Spa Friends through the website’s online store. I found Sootheze Toasty Spa Friends at a wide selection of online stores by searching for Sootheze Toasty Spa Friends on Google. Depending on where you purchase your Toasty Friend, the price will vary a bit, though not by much. For example, the junior Toasty Friends are less than $20 at most retailers.

Our chocolate Bear cost between $30-$40. This price is reasonable considering all the uses we’ve gotten from our Sootheze Chocolate Bear, Hermie. He’s fun, cuddly, and serves his purpose as a Hot & Cold, Aromatherapy bear. This is something the whole family can enjoy and isn’t so expensive that most people can and will be able to purchase their very own Sootheze Toasty Spa Friend.

Price: 4 out of 5 stars

Requirements & Instructions:
Hermie came with instructions on how to put him in the freezer and heat him up. The instructions should be followed. They are pretty simple though. You just have to have a freezer and microwave big enough to accommodate the size of your Toasty Spa Friend. Our microwave is kind of small, so Hermie filled up nearly the entire thing.

When heating your Toasty Spa Friend up, do not heat them for more than 1 1/2 minutes. You should heat them up in 30 second intervals, flipping them over, every 30 seconds. You can then place the bear to your sore and aching body or put them under the covers with you to warm you up. The heat can last anywhere from 1 to 4 hours.

Our freezer is kind of small merely because it’s usually full of food. We had to make space for Hermie to fit whenever we needed to freeze him. You must place your Toasty Spa Friend in a plastic bag so their fur doesn’t stick to the freezer or take on the freezer burn/odor. The bear will remain cold for at least an hour once it is frozen. You don’t have to do anything for the aromatherapy to work. Just cuddle the bear, inhale, and enjoy.

It’s easy to use the Sootheze Therapy Bear and other Toasty Spa Friends. Even a child can use them and they are cuddly enough your child will want to have them as a comforting cuddle friend when they are sick and/or hurt.

Durability:
We’ve had our Sootheze Bear for a few months. He’s constructed very well. He seems to be made of the finest quality and despite the flaxseed used to stuff the bear eventually wearing out, the freezing/heating up and the scent of Hermie is as strong as it was the first time he was used. If this continues, Hermie will last for a few years, or more.

With as much as we use him, it’s a great investment to purchase a Sootheze Toasty Spa Friend. When the flaxseed and aromatherapy stop working, Hermie will still be sturdy enough to make a great cuddle bear. His fur is very soft, but it hasn’t fallen out and his body is weighted, which makes it feel almost like you are holding a baby when holding him.

Durability: 5 out of 5 stars

Fun Factor & Overall Appeal:
Sootheze Toasty Spa Friends aren’t toys, but kids don’t know that. This is a great way to ice up or heat up an injured child without them even realizing they are using a form of therapy/medicine. Everyone in the family, of every age is going to love using a Toasty Spa Friend. My mom is in her early 60s and she loves Hermie. Our 4 year old nephew loves to cuddle and pet Hermie whenever he comes over. Every age in between can and will find a use for a Sootheze Toasty Spa Friend. So, even if Hermie isn’t a toy, he’s still pretty fun.

Because Hermie and the other Toasty Spa Friends are both fun and have a purpose, I can see the long lasting, overall appeal of them. I know that in the few months we’ve had Hermie, we’ve found a multitude of uses for him. He’s a great asset to our family and we plan to get more Sootheze Toasty Spa Friends, so everyone in the family can have their own.

Fun Factor: 4 out of 5 stars
Lasting Appeal: 5 out of 5 stars

Bottom Line:
Everyone has moments where they need to be calm, soothed, and they need their aches and pains eased. Whether your have a sick child, a chronic illness, or you just seek companionship, the Sootheze Toasty Spa Friends are perfect for making you feel better and easing your woes. Sootheze Toasty Spa Friends are loved by everyone in the family regardless of age. You should pick up your very own Sootheze Toasty Spa Friend today.

Overall Rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars

Technorati Tags: Sootheze, Toasty Spa Friends, Aromatherapy, Heat Relief, Cold Pack, Therapy Bear