KidCrunch

Two star-filled, G-rated Disney movies were released on DVD today:

• Hannah Montana The Movie (Rated G)  Hit Disney film starring Miley Cyrus as herself and her other self, Hannah Montana.  Miley returns to her roots in this wholesome movie with a message about remaining true to your family and friends.  Also includes must-have How to Do the Hoedown Throwdown line dance instructions!
• Pete’s Dragon (Rated G) Another Disney movie with even more star power (in its day) than Hannah Montana.  This often overlooked Disney classic features the talents of Helen Reddy, Jim Dale, Shelley Winters, Red Buttons, Jim Backus, Mickey Rooney and even a young Jeff Conaway.  The animation seems a bit primitive by today’s standards, but the live action/cartoon combination was ground-breaking when released in 1977.  A great movie for the whole family, including the grandparents.

Shop for these kids DVDs and other new kids DVD releases at the KidCrunch Store.

Related posts:

• New Kids DVDs:  Super Heroes and Sci-Fi
• Best G-Rated Movies Since 2000
• Best G-Rated Movies of the 1990s

My daughter (who started first grade today!) has been reading Cowgirl Kate and Cocoa books by Erica Silverman.  When I spotted the first book at our library, I knew it would become a favorite because my daughter’s name is Kate and she looks a lot like the giggling cowgirl on the cover.

These books are great for girls starting to read chapter books.  The books are divided into four short chapters, each telling a different tale about Cowgirl Kate’s daily adventures with her horse pal Cocoa.  These are sweet stories about friendship in situations familiar to young girls - like starting a new school year (School Days), playing hide-and-seek (Partners) and doing chores (Rain or Shine.)

The stories remind me of Henry and Mudge books by Cynthia Rylant, which are among my favorite beginning chapter books for boys. 

The first Cowgirl Kate book, published in 2005, is a Theodor Seuss Geisel Honor Book and was selected as an ALA Notable Children’s Book.  The books are illustrated by Betsy Lewin, a Caldecott Honor recipient for Click, Clack, Moo: Cows That Type.

Shop for Cowgirl Kate books and other beginning chapter books at the KidCrunch Store.

Girls will love these recent and classic Newbery Award-winning books:

1. Hattie Big Sky by Kirby Larson (2007 Newbery Honor)  16 year old orphan becomes Montana homesteader in 1918.
2. Rules by Cynthia Lord (2007 Newbery Honor)  12 year old big sister creates rules to deal with brother’s autism.
3. A Year Down Yonder by Richard Peck (2001 Newbery Medal)  Mary Alice spends year of Great Depression with her grandmother in Illinois.
4. Lily’s Crossing by Patricia Reilly Giff (1998 Newbery Honor)  Girl develops friendship with a refugee boy in the Rockaways during World War II.
5. Walk Two Moons by Sharon Creech (1995 Newbery Medal)  13 year old Salamanca Tree Hiddle travels with grandparents to Idaho in search of missing mother.
6. Number the Stars by Lois Lowry (1990 Newbery Medal)  Brave girl helps best friend in Nazi-occupied Denmark in 1943.
7. Blue Sword by Robin McKinley (1983 Newbery Honor)  Fantasy book chronicles young girl warrior’s adventures in the desert.
8. Roll of Thunder, Hear My Cry by Mildred D. Taylor (1977 Newbery Medal)  Nine year old Cassie faces segregation and bigotry in Deep South of the 1930s.
9. Up a Road Slowly by Irene Hunt (1967 Newbery Medal)  Ten years in the life of a girl raised by her aunt after her mother’s death.
10. The Witch of Blackbird Pond by Elizabeth George Speare (1959 Newbery Medal)  In 1687, headstrong teenager encounters witch hunt in Puritan New England colony.

Shop for these favorites and other Newbery-Award winners at the KidCrunch Store.