The robot is built with a motion sensor to keep track of anyone who enters or exits your child’s room and then respond when someone does come or go.  With over 50 responses, phrases and sound effects, this robot can keep your kids entertained for a long time. When it is in Bank Mode, it can count, store and safeguard your child’s money.  At the push of a button it will let them know exactly how much it has stored, allowing your child a better understanding of money and how to save it.

‘Robot In My Room’ can al read stories to your child as they go to sleep and then serve as their first alarm clock to wake them up in the morning.  The illuminated LCD screen will display the time clearly and then the robot will wake them up with programmable alarms that will keep waking up in the morning fun.  This is an all around cool toy that will keep your younger kids entertained but don’t bother for the older kids.

Robot In My Room Stats

• Price – $39.95 from DiscoveryStore.com
• Requires 3 C batters (not included)
• Does contain small parts and not meant for small children under 3
• An AC adapter may be purchased to save batteries

Robot In My Room Reviews

“My son is seven and into all things Space. He loves the Robot alarm clock and actually jumps out of bed when it sounds to begin his day. He put all of his change into the bank and is looking for ways to earn more money so he can increase his bank account. Functional and fun!” – from a customer review via Discovery.com

“My son loved this clock. He has played with it every day since he received it. My teenage neighbor wants one for Christmas.” – from a customer review via Amazon.com

Easton Sports, along with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, has issued a voluntary recall of all their  bicycles with EA30 Stems.  This stem can crack and cause the rider to lose control, posing a risk of serious injury to anyone riding.  So far there has only been one reported incident of minor injury but Easton Sports is cooperating to make sure no others occur.

The EA30 stems are black with white-and-gray graphics and feature a four-bolt stem face cap. “EA30” is printed on the stem. EA30 stems sold as aftermarket items are included in this recall.  Independent bicycle dealers nationwide from August 2007 through August 2009 for between $500 and $1,200. Aftermarket stems were sold from August 2007 through September 2009 for about $30.

Easton and the CPSC are urging anyone who has purchased a product with these stems immediately cease use and contact any authorized Easton Sports dealer for a free replacement.  You can contact Easton Sports at 866-892-6059 or visit the website EastonBike.com

For more information on other recalls that may affect you, please visit these links:

• Maclaren Stroller Recall
• RECALL – Pacifiers May Come Apart And Be Swallowed
• RECALL – Daiso Issues Two Recalls On More Than 10 Different Children’s Toys
• RECALL – Targets Issues Recall and Pays $600,000 For Knowingly Violating Lead Paint Ban
• RECALL – ‘Wooden Bunk Beds’ Sold At Big Lots Stores May Collapse
• RECALL – O’Neill Hoodies Could Cause Strangulation
• RECALL – MAXI-COSI Child Safety Seats

I really hope you took my advice and caught the New England Patriots against the Indianapolis Colts football game Sunday night.  It was was a fantastic games by both teams but in the end Peyton Manning lead his Colts from 17 points down to the game-winning touchdown with only seconds left to keep his team undefeated.  Brady and Manning each showed why they are considered the top quarterbacks of the decade but this time Manning was superior.  Easily the best game of the season so far and a real treat to watch.

If you didn’t catch that game then it’s going to be a while before you see any good sports.  This week is pretty slow in the Memorable Games category but you never know what could happen.  Besides the games below (and even those were a struggle to come up with) there is not much worth watching sports-wise this week.  But that could be a good thing for families looking to go out to a game.

Tickets to games that are projected to be bad are usually pretty cheap and abundant.  Take the opportunity to take the family out for a fun night in an arena.  It doesn’t matter who’s playing because most likely your kids will remember the night for something completely unrelated to the actual game.  They’ll remember the funny dressed fan yelling in the stands or what happened during the ‘Kiss Cam’ part of the game.  The bottom line is that they will remember that part and remember that it was you who was there with them.

Top 3

1. NASCAR – Nov. 22 – Ford 400 – Homestead-Miami Speedway @ 3:30 pm

For the last few weeks I’ve been talking about how Jimmie Johnson would win and be the first driver to win four consecutive Sprint Cup Titles.  He slipped up a bit with a crash but that was just to keep us watching and wondering.  He pretty much solidified his title and the record with his win at Phoenix International Raceway on Sunday.  The Checker O’Reilly Auto Parts 500 win gave Jimmie a 108 point lead going into this last race of the year.  Without a doubt this will be a race for the record books and you can say you watched it and saw greatness.  Jimmie may be the best driver to ever race in NASCAR and watching this race will give you the opportunity to see a winner become a record breaker and go down in history.

2. MLS – Nov. 22 – Real Salt Lake & Los Angeles Galaxy - Qwest Field in Seattle @ TBD

I don’t know the game of soccer and I don’t really follow any of it until the World Cup comes around.  But a championship game in any sport is always worth watching because the intensity and finality of it all make the drama unlike anything else.  “Win or go home” never was more true than in a one game championship.  Real Salt Lake (pronounced ‘Ree-al’) and the Los Angeles Galaxy will meet to fight out who the best team in Major League Soccer is.  The Galaxy have the top two stars in the league with Landon Donovan and David Beckham who earlier this season seemed to be at odds with each other.  Will they be able to show that it meant nothing and that they can come together to be champions?  Or will Real Salt Lake continue being the successful underdog and go all the way?  Even though you may not understand it, watch and perhaps learn a little.  It is after all the most popular sport in the world.

3. NBA – Nov. 20 – Orlando Magic at Boston Celtics @ 8 pm

Two of the best teams in the Eastern Conference meet in this playoff rematch.  Kevin Garnett and his Celtics will try and prove their dominance after not being at full strength last year and coming up short in the playoffs to Orlando.  Dwight Howard and his Orlando Magic will try and prove  that they still are the best team in the Eastern Conference no matter who is healthy.  Dwight will show that Superman truly can beat a full dose of Celtic green.  These two powerhouse teams will battle it out from beginning to end and if you’re watching you will see what intensity means as Garnett shows his trademark passion on his sleeve and lets you know he is there to play for keeps.  Both teams will play physical basketball so look for a hard hitting game.

Quick Picks

• A good place to find cheap tickets to any sporting event is StubHub.com
• Chris Paul and his New Orleans Hornets have undergone some coaching changes recently.  See if the change help with the Hornets travel to Miami to take on Dwayne Wade and his Heat.  These gold medal winners are two of the most entertaining players in the NBA and they will put on a great show.

Has your child ever asked you how electricity works?  Well if they haven’t yet, try and think about how you would answer that question.  Instead of straining your brain to come up with something, why not just let them find out for themselves?  Elenco has developed a series of award winning scientific toys that will teach your child how electricity works while allowing them to build numerous gadgets, games and lights to learn from.  Their ‘Snap Circuit’ line of toys has won the National Parenting Center-Seal of Approval, Creative Child –Toy of the Year, the Toy Industry Association’s Specialty Toy of the Year award and many more so snatch this toy up before the holiday rush comes and sells them all out.

With each set they will get many pieces to build circuits to control lights, radios, alarms, bells and much more.  These pieces are small so keep this toy away from young children who may swallow them.  Kids build the gadgets completely from scratch so in the process they will learn how electricity is transferred and how it can be used to power many different things in many different ways.  They will use switches, jumpers, fans, sirens and many others things to make their projects and once they’ve mastered each set they move onto the next set which will include even more gadgets and gizmos to make.  Each set includes instructions on how to build each project but exploration and experimentation is always encouraged.  As they learn more, the difficulty increases and so will their knowledge.

They’ll start off with the ‘Snap Circuits Jr. SC-100,’ the beginning of their scientific exploration.  With the Jr. your  child will be able to make 101 cool gadgets and gizmos.  They will make burglar alarms, police sirens, music alarm, strobe lights and more than 90 other projects to get them started with their mad scientist skills.

Once they have gone to the limits of ‘Jr.s’ ability they can move up to the ‘Snap Circuits PRO SC-500‘ which will have even more things for them to build and experiment with.  This toy will expand on your child’s understanding of the workings of electricity with more challenging things to make.  Includes over 75 additional parts and a full instructional manual to teach them how to make 500 cool, new projects.

If they are still wanting more electrical fun then they can move onto the ‘Snap Circuits Extreme SC-750‘ where their skills will be put to the test.  They will build a sound activated switch, a lie detector, adjustable light controller, radio, rechargeable battery and much more.  This time the board can also be hooked up to a computer for even more projects.  Includes 80 additional parts, an instruction manual and 73 computer-interfaced experiments to truly make your kid a scientist.

Reviews of Snap Circuit Products

“Bought this set for my son’s 6thbirthday. He has been fascinated with electricity since he was two.This was probably the best present he has ever received. He puts together his own inventions. It really teaches the young mind a lot about how the world of electricity in every day life affects us. A few parts did not work when we opened the set. However upon calling the company I have never been more satisfied. You speak to a live person immediately. Very courteous.  I would recommended this and all snap circuits sets to any young scientist in the making.” – customer review for Jr. model via Toysrus.com

“I bought this for my son’s 9th birthday after we noticed a friend of his had a smaller version of this product. (the SC-300, I think).  The product arrived with a little damage to the box top surface, but all parts inside were in good condition.  There are A LOT of projects that any kid over 8 would love to make.  It is a good parent/child inter-action toy that never gets old and boring.  The projects start easy and become more complicated in size and scope.  My son loves playing with it and it is now one of his favorites.” – customer review for PRO model via Amazon.com

“I bought this for my son’s 12 year birthday. He LOVES it and does the most amazing things with it. I would say the only negative to this item is that that some of the parts can “blow” or break when used and must be replaced. It is not frequent, but wanted people to go into the purchase knowing there are some, almost consumable parts to the set. This toy is genius and has allowed my little budding engineer to build electronics and see them operate. Very cool!” – customer review for Extreme model via Amazon.com

MacPherson’s of Emeryville, CA and the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission have issued a voluntary recall of the ‘Young Artist Easels’ because its chalkboard surface coating contains high levels of lead which is in violation of the federal lead paint standards.

This recall involves a children’s art easel which has a chalkboard surface on one side and a white board surface on the other side. The item number is AA13301 and the UPC number is 082435133010 which can be found on the original packaging.  As of right now there have been injuries reported but MacPherson’s is acting proactively to prevent any injuries from occurring.  About 10,000 of these easels were sold in art supply stores nationwide and online from July 2004 through June 2009 and sold for about $75.

Consumers who purchased an easel are being urged to stop use immediately and keep out of reach of children.  Contact MacPherson’s at 866-319-5335, via email at recall@macphersonart.com or through their website, here, for more information and to claim your replacement unit.

For more information on other recalls that may affect you, please visit these links:

• Maclaren Stroller Recall
• RECALL – Pacifiers May Come Apart And Be Swallowed
• RECALL – Daiso Issues Two Recalls On More Than 10 Different Children’s Toys
• RECALL – Targets Issues Recall and Pays $600,000 For Knowingly Violating Lead Paint Ban
• RECALL – ‘Wooden Bunk Beds’ Sold At Big Lots Stores May Collapse
• RECALL – O’Neill Hoodies Could Cause Strangulation
• RECALL – MAXI-COSI Child Safety Seats

More than 280,000 wooden playsets are being recalled by the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission and Health Canada because they can weaken over time and eventually rot to the point of becoming a fall hazard.  ‘Adventure Playsets Wooden Play Sets’ by Adventure Playsets of Amarillo, Texas uses plastic coated whitewood that rots and will eventually break when stepped on.

Adventure Playsets has received more than 1,400 reports of rotting ladders involving 16 injuries that resulted in nine emergency room visits. The injuries include two arm fractures, lacerations, scrapes, and bruises to children younger than 8 years old. These sets were sold at Walmart, Toys R Us, Academy Sports, Menards, and Mill stores nationwide, and online at Walmart.com, ToyRUs.com, Willygoat.com from January 2004 through December 2007 for between $300 and $600.

This recall involves wooden play sets with swings, slides and ladders. Each set has an overhead monkey bar ladder that acts as both the monkey bar and swing beam, and an end ladder coated with cranberry or green plastic. The instruction manual has the name “Adventure Playsets” and one of the following model numbers printed on the cover:

• Durango 1-AP016 and 1-AP018
• Yukon 1-AP052
• Tacoma 1- AP017 and 1-AP051
• El Dorado 1-AP016
• Bellevue 1-AP048, and 1-AP012
• Dakota 1- AP046
• Sherwood 1-AP049
• Sedona 1- AP002
• Ventura 1-AP008
• Madison 1- AP006 and 1-AP015
• Belmont 1-AP003

If you or someone you know has purchased one of these products, you are urged to cease use immediately and contact the manufacturer to receive a replacement kit.  Adventure Playsets can be contacted at 877-840-9068 or on their website AdventurePlaysets.com.  You may also email custservice@adventureplaysets.com

For more information on other recalls that may affect you, please visit these links:

• Maclaren Stroller Recall
• RECALL – Pacifiers May Come Apart And Be Swallowed
• RECALL – Daiso Issues Two Recalls On More Than 10 Different Children’s Toys
• RECALL – Targets Issues Recall and Pays $600,000 For Knowingly Violating Lead Paint Ban
• RECALL – ‘Wooden Bunk Beds’ Sold At Big Lots Stores May Collapse
• RECALL – O’Neill Hoodies Could Cause Strangulation
• RECALL – MAXI-COSI Child Safety Seats

Congrats to the New York Yankees for winning the 2009 World Series.  They were absolutely the best team in baseball and they deserved to win. Alex Rodriguez played hard and proved that he can show up for big hits and runs in the post season.  So baseball is done and we can move on from it (at least for a couple months).

College basketball starts this week and unfortunately this is another sport that I am not too familiar with.  I pay attention during March Madness but the regular season is usually unimportant to me.  But, like hockey, I will try and keep you informed of any potential big memory games.  Feel free to share if you know of any.

I’m going to say this now so I don’t have to rank every game he is in: LeBron James is worth watching no matter who he’s playing or what the situation is. If he continues at his current pace, he will be considered the greatest ever to play the game.  Although it’s gonna take a lot to usurp Michael Jordan from many people’s minds.  So if he’s on TV, watch because he will do something worth remembering.  Without a doubt, try and get your kids to a game where he is playing.  Make sure they are able to say to their kids that they saw him play.

Top 3

1.  NFL –  New England Patriots at Indianapolis Colts – Nov. 15 @ 8:20 pm

The two greatest quarterbacks of this era meet for a highly intense and competitive game that will be very entertaining and remembered for a long time.  Tom Brady and his Patriots are the best team of this decade but Peyton Manning may be the smartest QB ever to play the game.  His Colts have won a Super Bowl and he has an honest shot at breaking every passing record in the NFL.  Brady is the most intense and competitive QB in the league and after being injured all of last year he wants to get back to the Super Bowl and redeem his loss to the New York Giants.  The Colts are undefeated this season and they will be trying to maintain that record with the Patriots set on being their first loss.  This game would be a lot better and more evenly matched if the Colt’s defense was not suffering from injuries and was at full strength but Peyton will come out shooting and he will score early and often to ensure the game is close.  This game will be a shootout with high scores and high flying footballs. Get your popcorn ready.

2. NBA – Cleveland Cavaliers at Orlando Magic – Nov. 11 @ 8 pm

Even after I said I didn’t want to rank a game he’s in every week, it’s so hard to when the match-up is this good.  The Magic upset the Cavaliers in last years Eastern Conference Finals and now LeBron is looking for some revenge.  It may not be as meaningful as a playoff game but I promise you that this one is personal for LeBron.  The Cavaliers acquired Shaquille O’Neal during the off-season specifically for the purpose of giving Dwight Howard hell under the basket.  LeBron will come out with a vengeance and he’ll have Shaq to back him up this time.  In recent years Dwight Howard has overtaken Shaq as the best big-man in the game so this will be a proving ground to show that he truly is.  A fun and fast paced game that will be exciting for the whole family to enjoy.

3. NASCAR – Checker O’Reilly Auto Parts 500 – Phoenix International Raceway @ 3:30 pm

I may have spoken too soon and jinxed Jimmie Johnson.  He crashed over the weekend and it cost him more than 100 points in his lead over Mark Martin.  There is the possibility that Jimmie could not finish well in these last two races and not get his 4th consecutive Sprint Cup.  No one has ever done four straight before and perhaps the Racing Gods would like to keep it that way.  Jimmie will come out looking to win and make sure he does capture the Cup but the other drivers will be all the more motivated.  They smell blood in the water and they will be driving to the edge of their car’s abilities to try and reach the newly re-attainable Sprint Cup.  I’ve said before but I will say it again; watch a NASCAR race on TV.  The information the give you and the depth of their coverage is unprecedented in sports.  Way cool stuff.

Quick Picks

• If you haven’t seen it yet, take a look at this video.  Just an awful display of sportsmanship that does not belong in any sport at anytime.
• Andre Agassi has made some headlines recently.  Kinda heart breaking for anyone who was a fan of this great player.
• The College Basketball season tips-off on Nov. 9.  Check out a full schedule here to find your favorite team.

Corey Wild has some interesting friends:  Poisonous snakes, huge spiders, man-eating tigers, flying lizards, gigantic crocodiles, basically all the animals you would never want to be near.  But Corey has been interacting and adventuring with these very animals all of his life and he has no qualms about picking any of them up and showing you just how unique and special they are.

He has traveled throughout the world in search of these animals, along the way visiting local villages and people and experiencing many cultures in ways not many get too.  Luckily he packs cameras along on his travels and now the adventures are available for your family’s enjoyment.  With plenty of information coupled with lots of animal action, these videos put Corey Wild right up there with the likes of Jack Hanna and Steve “The Crocodile Hunter” Irwin.

Corey previously introduced us to his friends the giant saltwater crocodile but now he will delve further into the continent of Australia and show other animals not found anywhere else on the Earth.  Australia’s trademark animals the kangaroo and dingo show up all over and Corey doesn’t hesitate to tell you everything about them as he interacts.  He shows us the deadly cassowary, the crazy emu, wrestles with a python and goes searching for spiders in the dead of night.  Corey really loves his native wildlife and he shows it in these amazing videos.  This is his latest video and it is his time to display what he loves about his country and he honestly wants you to see it all and love it just as much as he does.

To see even more adventures with Corey, check out his trek through Asia in ‘Corey’s Wild World’ – Volume 1 , Volume 2 , Volume 3 and Volume 5.  Watch him explore the jungles and villages in search of some of the world’s most venomous and aggressive snakes.  Creepy crawly fun for everyone in your family.

For more information please visit his website CoreyWild.com and for a chance to win a collection of his DVDs please stay tuned to KidGlue for our Corey Wild Give-Away.

Just watch this video and you’ll see the worst of the worst in sportsmanlike conduct.  New Mexico University’s Women’s soccer player Elizabeth Lambert brutally attacks and cheap-shots opposing players from Brigham Young University as her team loses 1-0 in the Mountain West Conference Women’s Soccer Tournament.  She elbows, kicks, trips, punches, pulls hair and cheap-shots players on the ground.   Would you want you son or daughter playing with someone on the field like this?  Better yet, how would you feel if your son or daughter were the one in the video.  How embarrassing.

Lambert was “smart” about her atrocious actions and seemed to only do them when referees were not paying attention so she was hardly punished during the game.  Luckily the camera man saw what was going on and focused on her rather than the otherwise uneventful game.  Lambert only received a yellow card for her actions and that was after she kicked the ball square into an opponents face from about a yard away while she was on the ground.

This sort of behavior is completely uncalled for and I think she should be permanently kicked out of college athletics.  The National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) will absolutely rule on the situation and I hope they never allow her on a playing field again.  It really should never even get to the NCAA Rules Committee because New Mexico University should take one look at this video and kick her off the team no questions asked.  As a college institution I wouldn’t want that girl representing me in anything unless I wanted to be known for dirty play.

How could she possibly explain her actions?  Did she think she was in a tryout for The Ultimate Fighter?  Maybe she felt this was the time to practice her crime fighting skills?  Did she think that with all the technology available today that just because the refs didn’t see it, no one would?  I don’t care what sort of explanation she could possibly give, there is simply no excuse good enough and no apology big enough to forgive this sort of stuff.  There is no place for these sort of actions on any playing field.  I think there are hockey players out there who wouldn’t want to be playing with this girl.  This girl does not belong in sports, well maybe MMA.

This is not what student athletics are for.  The NCAA was founded to give students the chance to participate in team building, positive athletics with healthy competition and fairness.  The competition will always be fierce but you should not have to worry about about an opposing player going completely rogue and just brutalizing unsuspecting opponents.  Make sure your kids know the difference between good and bad sportsmanship otherwise they may be featured on ESPN’s Sports Center in this flattering fashion.

Marvel Comics has become a huge hit in the motion picture box office and is slowly but surely starting to release a number of animated features direct to DVD with their most popular characters.  Besides Wolverine and Spider-Man, the biggest of the big in the Marvel Universe is the super powered team The Avengers which features all of Earth’s most powerful heroes teaming up to fight anything that may be threatening our planet.

Marvel has already released two titles featuring this cool team and each of them is perfect for that superhero lover in your home.  Yes, they are rated PG-13 for the violence but like ‘Superman/Batman: Public Enemies,’ it is nothing they haven’t seen before.  This violence is what kids read comics for so you really can’t have a good comic feature without someone getting knocked through a wall, punched across two counties or explosions aplenty.  The PG-13 is warranted but if your kids know the characters or watch other superhero stories, these movies will be fine (and perfect) for them and your family.

‘Ultimate Avengers: The Movie‘ is Marvel’s first adventure with this team and they start it out beautifully by introducing America’s greatest hero: Captain America.  The film follows Cap from his sacrifice at the end of World War II to his “reincarnation” in modern time by Colonel Nick Fury and his government agency S.H.I.E.L.D.  He is thawed out just in time to stop the Chitauri, the same alien menace he sacrificed himself for decades previously.

The Chitauri have returned to take over Earth and Colonel Fury is assembling a team to stop them.  Captain America will lead them along with Fury’s top soldier, The Black Widow, and they will need to recruit other heroes to help.  Iron Man, Thor, Wasp, Giant Man and even the Hulk are eventually brought into the mix and once they become a team they will be able to stop the invaders.

In the ‘Ultimate Avengers 2‘ the Chitauri have returned, in greater numbers and with a different plan.  They attack the secret civilization of Wakanda, a mysterious city cut off from the rest of the world deep in the heart of Africa.  They want to steal some powerful and ancient technology that keeps Wakanda safe and protected.  While the Wakandan leader, The Blank Panther, is initially able to hold off the invaders, he is soon forced to ask for outside help and that’s when The Avengers step in.  But without the Hulk (Bruce Banner is locked up for his previous actions) will the Avengers be able to hold of the powerful alien race a finally end the threat once and for all?  A great sequel that adds more to the characters and introduces cool new ones that everyone will love.

These movies are both available to buy at you local retailers and if you get the Blu-Ray version you get both movies on one disk.  If your universe has any superhero lovers flying around in it, these movies are for them.  I promise they will not be disappointed and neither will you when you get an entertaining and action packed movie.

This recall affects about 16,500 units and is being issued because the nipple piece can easily become detached and swallowed.  The pacifiers were sold at grocery stores, delis, and discount stores from August 2007 through July 2009 for about $1.

The “My Baby Soother” pacifier has a ring-shaped handle and a blue, pink, red, white or yellow heart-shaped mouth guard with two ventilation holes. The nipple is made of either silicon or latex. The pacifier package has the words “My Baby Soother” printed on the top and a picture of a baby on the background.

If you or someone you know has purchased one of these products you should take it and stop use immediately.  No refund can be issued since the company has not cooperated with the recall.  Consumers should contact the CPSC at (800) 638-2772 or visit their website CPSC.gov

For more information on other recalls that may affect you, please visit these links:

• RECALL – Daiso Issues Two Recalls On More Than 10 Different Children’s Toys
• RECALL – Targets Issues Recall and Pays $600,000 For Knowingly Violating Lead Paint Ban
• RECALL – ‘Wooden Bunk Beds’ Sold At Big Lots Stores May Collapse
• RECALL – O’Neill Hoodies Could Cause Strangulation
• RECALL – MAXI-COSI Child Safety Seats
• RECALL – 6 Types of Window Shades Can Cause Strangulation

Corey Wild has some interesting friends:  Poisonous snakes, huge spiders, man-eating tigers, flying lizards, gigantic crocodiles, basically all the animals you would never want to be near.  But Corey has been interacting and adventuring with these very animals all of his life and he has no qualms about picking any of them up and showing you just how unique and special they are.

He has traveled throughout the world in search of these animals, along the way visiting local villages and people and experiencing many cultures in ways not many get too.  Luckily he packs cameras along on his travels and now the adventures are available for your family’s enjoyment.  With plenty of information coupled with lots of animal action, these videos put Corey Wild right up there with the likes of Jack Hanna and Steve “The Crocodile Hunter” Irwin.

Corey seems to be a snake-magnet as he ventures further into the Asian jungles of Vietnam, Cambodia and Thailand to find more of these creatures and plenty of others along the way.  Watch as he travels on the back of an elephant around the countries, through the villages and into the heart of jungles to find wildlife for you to learn more about.  He’ll encounter hissing, striking and even spitting cobras, tarantulas that he just allows to crawl all over him (flashbacks to “Arachnophobia”) and even a pack of rambunctious monkeys that get in his way.  Throughout the way he will interact with the animals and pass along great information that any animal lover will love.  Travel with him through the villages and get an up close glimpse into the culture and traditions of many Asian peoples.  He’ll even find his way into the deserts to search the dunes for elusive lizards that almost seem to glide across the sand as they try to escape.  All these creatures and more are this Volume 5 DVD for you and your little herd to love and watch over and over.

To see even more adventures with Corey, check out his trek through Thailand in ‘Corey’s Wild World – Volume 1 , Volume 2 and Volume 3.  Watch him explore the jungles and villages in search of some of the world’s most venomous and aggressive snakes.  Creepy crawly fun for everyone.  Or you can watch him wrestle and tangle with giant saltwater crocodiles in Australia on his Volume 4 DVD.

For more information please visit his website CoreyWild.com and for a chance to win a collection of his DVDs please stay tuned to KidGlue for our Corey Wild Give-Away.

“Sports Memories in the Making,” by Jeremy Suede, is a weekly column that looks at all the sports for the upcoming week and picks out games and events that might just be special enough to create a moment that you and your kids will share forever.

Say good-bye to baseball because this week will absolutely be the end of the line for that sport.  The New York Yankees are poised to capture the championship after handling the Phillies in games 3 & 4 in Philadelphia.  They are truly the best team and deserve the World Series win.  Kudos to Alex Rodriguez for finally showing up in the post-season.

The NBA season has just begun and teams have started to shake off the rust and get into their grooves to make a run for the championship.  Teams like the Cleveland Cavaliers and the Los Angeles Lakers are working to find cohesion with their new stars and have stumbled a little out of the gate.  Don’t let that fool you though, look for them to gel as units and show dominance again after a couple weeks of playing competitively together.

I”m going to be 100% honest here; I have no idea what’s going on with hockey.  Growing up in Los Angeles we have had little in the way of a hockey team.  We had The Great One, Wayne Gretzky, but the Kings never really amounted to anything so I never really got behind them as a kid.  I”m asking for your help,  if there are any hockey fans out there, please comment with games people should be watching and why.  Give me a stern lashing about why I should be more into hockey too.

* Please note all times listed are Eastern Standard Time

Top 3

1. MLB – World Series Game 5: New York Yankees at Philadelphia Phillies – Nov. 2 @ 7:57 pm

The Yankees are on the cusp of capturing the title but they still have to win one more game.  The Phillies have their backs to the wall and if they don’t win all of the next three games their season is over.  This series has shown that these are absolutely the top two teams in the league and that whomever wins deserves the title of Champion.  Both teams have youth, power hitting and dominating pitching so this won’t be the last time either of these teams are playing for a championship but this could be the start of a dynasty.  Enjoy baseball while you can because after this week you will have to wait until Spring Training in 2010.

2. NFL – Dallas Cowboys at Philadelphia Eagles – Nov. 8 @ 8:20 pm

Each of these teams failed to live up to expectations at the beginning of the season but have since turned it all around and showed they belong at the top.  That’s what this game is for; to decide who will be in first place in the NFC East Division. Each team has a 5-2 record and comes in on a winning streak (Dallas 3, Eagles 2) but only one will get to continue the streak and be alone on top.  With quarterbacks Tony Romo and Donovan McNabb throwing the ball to their young receivers Miles Austin and DeSean Jackson there will be plenty of high flying plays and touchdowns.  This should be a very competitive game with each team looking to prove they are absolutely number one.

3. NBA – Chicago Bulls at Cleveland Cavaliers – Nov. 5 @ 8 pm

These teams should each make the playoffs and will be looking to establish a better record against the other to secure home-court advantage in the post-season (Yes, we’re already thinking that far).  Cleveland has the best player in the game, Lebron James and the newly acquired Shaquille O’Neil to assert their place at the top.  But Derrick Rose is an up-and-coming star who is looking to show he can take down giants and lead his Bulls to greatness like the original best player on the planet, Michael Jordan, did before.  LeBron will be looking to make a statement and prove that the stumble in the beginning was just rust and not a sign of things to come.  You really can’t go wrong when you watch LeBron, he is entertaining just when he’s dribbling down the court.

Quick Picks

• I mentioned earlier my lack of interest in hockey but that doesn’t mean I will pass up going to a game.  Seeing a live hockey game is consistently more entertaining, hard hitting and enjoyable than other sports and a fun time for the whole family.  The action keeps you interested and the possibility of a fight keeps the crowd energy at a fun level.  Tickets are usually pretty cheap so take the family to a game if you can.  Bundle up and I promise you will have a good time.
• Check out 5-year-old Giuliano Stroe.  How do you feel about that?

Tote and Go Pink Laptop Stats

• Price: $19.96 from Walmart.com
• Age Range: 3 years and up
• 3 AA batteries required
• Contains small parts that could be choking hazard to small children

Tote and Go Pink Laptop Reviews

“We bought this for our daughter about a year ago, and everyone in the house plays with it, her older and younger brothers both, and that means ages 2-5. It’s held up beautifully, nothing wrong with it and it’s been dragged all over the house (and car), fought over, and wrestled with and it’s still going just fine. As a plus, the mouse pad can either sit on a peg connected to the right side for easy travel stability, but for our left handed daughter, you just move it off the peg and move it on over. This is a huge plus for this system.” – from a customer review via Amazon.com

“My daughter got this as a present for her 4th birthday a week ago and has played with it everyday. It keeps her busy and content while it teaches her things.She loves it and its great for her to play with because it not only entertains her but teaches her numbers letters and all kinds of things. I would recommend this product and would buy it for someone else’s child.” – from a customer review via Walmart.com

If you’re not in the mood for a full length movie, check out these Top 10 Halloween TV Specials

For Kids – PG

Casper

One of the few cartoon to live action adaptations that was actually worthwhile and a good film.  This 1995 film tells the story of Casper the friendly ghost and how he tries to become friends with a living family and help them solve the mysteries of a huge mansion. Christina Ricci and Bill Pullman star as Kat Harvey and Dr. James Harvey who move into the mansion because Dr. Harvey specializes in ghosts and hopes to rid the mansion of any.  But Casper’s three uncles have other plans for their mansion and will spook who ever tries to step in.  A heartwarming tale of accepting people (or ghosts) for who they are, while providing laughs and haunts for the entire family.

Ghostbusters

This “horror” classic is one of the funniest movies ever made and if you or anyone in your family has not seen this then make them watch this movie.  Featuring Bill Murray, Dan Aykroyd, Harold Ramis and Ernie Hudson as some eccentric scientists who find a way to capture ghosts and become New York City’s ghost exterminators.  Also staring Sigourney Weaver and Rick Moranis who complete the great cast of characters along with the featured ghouls and ghosts.  Even though it is rated PG I would keep the younger kids away, it did scare me as a kid and I couldn’t watch it until 10 or 11.  Keep an eye out for the third Ghostbusters movie currently in production.

The Adventures of Ichabod and Mr. Toad

This 1949 Disney movie is a great Halloween film, not so much for the Mr. Toad adventure but for the fantastic telling of the classic tale “The Legend of Sleepy Hollow.”  The story is not watered down and cheery, it is actually pretty dark and true to the story, right down to the frogs croaking “Ichabod.”  The Headless Horseman is truly menacing and the suspense his presence creates can be felt even in the cartoon.  It won’t scare the kids but it will definitely show that it was a dark and spooky tale worthy of  Halloween.

For Teens – PG-13

Beetlejuice

This Tim Burton movie from 1988 stars Michael Keaton as Beetlejuice, a crude and crass undead ghoul who is looking for a way into the real world and finds a way through an unsuspecting family and a ghostly couple all trying to live in the same house.  If you like the design and look of “The Nightmare Before Christmas” then you’ll be happy to know that entire look all started with this movie.  Some vulgar language and humor but otherwise a harmless fun movie that will keep everyone laughing but still in the Halloween spooky spirit.

The Addams Family

Fantastic performances by everyone involved including the late Raul Julia, Anjelica Huston, Christopher Lloyd and Christina Ricci make this feature film of the old television series a good watch for anyone.  Language and themes may keep the younger kids out of the room but for the most part this movie is safe for the whole family.  Discover all creepy, spooky and the all together ooky mysteries of the Addams’ house and how they are still just a family that needs each other to be happy.  Another plus is getting to hear MC Hammer’s rap about the Addams at the end.

The Sixth Sense

The film that made us think M. Night Shyamalan could actually make decent movies because it was the only good one he did.  This film stars Bruce Willis and Haley Joel Osment, this suspense filled, supernatural horror story uses tension and off camera techniques to make you hold your breath and wait for what’s next.  The spirits that haunt this troubled child and the psychiatrist who tries to make sense of it all, help build up to a shocking ending that everyone should see before it gets ruined by hearing about it from someone.  The classic movie line “I see dead people.” is from this film too.

For Adults – R

Frailty

A movie that mostly went unnoticed while in theaters in 2001 but it is directed by Bill Paxton who stars along with Matthew McConaughey and Powers Boothe in this creepy and suspenseful film.  What would you do if you seemingly normal father burst into your room in the middle of the night and proclaimed that your family has been empowered by God to kill demons?  Well young Fenton Meiks finds himself in that exact situation and worse when his father starts bringing home “demons” and cleansing the world.  Very eerie with its use of music and off screen violence but it tends to move a little slow and makes you think.  Highly worthwhile just for the ending and may make you think twice about shaking hands in the future.

Dawn of the Dead

(2004)

A remake of George A. Romero’s classic zombie movie but with modern special effects and a different director with a knack for gore.  Zack Snyder (director of  “300″) tells the story of what happens when the dead start to rise and begin eating all living things on the planet.  The gore is nonstop but once you get used to it, the story and characters begin to show their true faces and you get to see what happens to society when all Hell really does break loose.  Great characters you really start to care for (and hate) along with some really cool zombie deaths and violence.  Good for scares and jumps from unsuspecting watchers.

Interview With the Vampire

Vampires are so popular these days so this should be easy to find in stores now.  This star filled film tells the story of the vampire Louis (Brad Pitt), from his creation at the hands of Lestat (Tom Cruise) to his time with the young vampiress Claudia (Kirsten Dunst) and Armand (Antonio Banderas) as told by Louis to an interviewer (Christian Slater) in the present.  A century spanning tale filled with many macabre scenes, gore and a different perspective of the vampire world that you will want to watch again later.  Watch just to see all those actors drink some blood.

Earlier this year he was on an Italian variety show where he performed the fastest ever 10 meter hand walk with a weight ball between his legs.  That video was then watched across the world on YouTube and now this new video has cemented him as an Internet star.

Giuliano’s father, Iulian, is a weightlifter himself and said “He has been going to the gym with me ever since he was born. I always took him with me when I went training.”  When asked about safety, “The gym is no place for a toddler,” Iulian stated,  ”I have been training  hard all my life myself.  He is never allowed to practice on his own, he is only a child and if he gets tired we go and play.”

On the surface it seems that the boy just picked up his father’s hobby and there is no steroids or foul play involved.  But it doesn’t make you wonder whether or not it is forced on the boy or if it really is by his own choosing? Something about it just doesn’t seem right to me.  What happens when he does inevitably get into an argument at school or something and it gets physical?  If it is against kids his own age, he will hurt them badly and that could lead to legal troubles?  Would you let your kids get this much into weight lifting at such an early age?

Out of the entire crowd only a 12-year-old boy would take the challenge.  Mark Benevento Jr. accepted the club, stepped up to the tee and smoothly struck a ball down the fairway 200 yards, easily out driving the stunned Tiger Woods. And what did young Mark do when Tiger asked him to do it again?  Hit the ball straight down the fairway again 200 yards.  The crowd loves it and so does Tiger.  Mark casually steps back and Tiger (doing what any great athlete should do) congratulates the boy, says he’s proud of him and shakes his hand.  That would be easily be the highlight of any golfer’s life and this boy gets it at 12.  A great moment and luckily cameras were around to see it.

Tiger handled the situation magnificently.  He encouraged the boy and was extremely gracious in defeat.  He built the boys confidence up even more and that’s what youth sports is all about.  Mark’s dad was also in the crowd and that moment must have been great.  To see his boy step up to Tiger Woods and win would have to fill him with pride.  I love the boys’ courage to step up when nobody else was going to and answer the challenge from the current (and perhaps all-time) best golfer in the world.  The fact that he did it twice under pressure speaks volumes for Mark, remember his name because you may just be reading about him in the future.

They were sold exclusively at Yankee Candle stores nationwide and at the YankeeCandle.com website for about $25.  Coyne’s & Co. estimate that about 7,800 of these products were sold.   The haunted house screen tea light holders are made of black metal with a coating on the glass windows. The house measures 15″ wide by 15″ high by 4″ deep and can hold up to six tea lights. Tea light candles are not involved in this recall.  Coynes has received three reports of the panes catching fire but no injuries have been reported.

If you or someone you know has one of these products, stop using it immediately and return it to the store for a complete refund.  For more information please contact Coyne’s & Co. at 800-336-8666, send an email to CustServ@coynes.com or visit their website Coynes.com.

For more information on other recalls that may affect you, please visit these links:

• RECALL – Daiso Issues Two Recalls On More Than 10 Different Children’s Toys
• RECALL – Targets Issues Recall and Pays $600,000 For Knowingly Violating Lead Paint Ban
• RECALL – ‘Wooden Bunk Beds’ Sold At Big Lots Stores May Collapse
• RECALL – O’Neill Hoodies Could Cause Strangulation
• RECALL – MAXI-COSI Child Safety Seats
• RECALL – 6 Types of Window Shades Can Cause Strangulation

Corey Wild has some interesting friends:  Poisonous snakes, huge spiders, man-eating tigers, flying lizards, gigantic crocodiles, basically all the animals you would never want to be near.  But Corey has been interacting and adventuring with these very animals all of his life and he has no qualms about picking any of them up and showing you just how unique and special they are.

He has traveled throughout the world in search of these animals, along the way visiting local villages and people and experiencing many cultures in ways not many get too.  Luckily he packs cameras along on his travels and now the adventures are available for your family’s enjoyment.  With plenty of information coupled with lots of animal action, these videos put Corey Wild right up there with the likes of Jack Hanna and Steve “The Crocodile Hunter” Irwin.

This time Corey adventures to his homeland of Australia to show off all of the exotic and dangerous creatures that the continent holds.  Mostly it’s an excuse for him to interact with the world’s most dangerous reptile, the estuarine saltwater crocodile.  This ferocious and powerful animal gives a true glimpse at what a dinosaur might look like if they were still around.  See its powerful jaws in action as it performs death rolls when Corey induces it to attack mode and watch as it rips apart a dummy used as an example.  Corey will also show you a crocodile in each stage of life from egg to adult and he isn’t just showing, he’s interacting and demonstrating at the same time.  This DVD is pretty much dedicated to these crocs so for any crocodile lovers out there, this is a DVD that just can’t be missed.  Educational, fun and a great video for any animal lovers in your pack.

To see more adventures with Corey, check out his trek through Thailand in ‘Corey’s Wild World – Volume 1 , Volume 2 and Volume 3.  Watch him explore the jungles and villages in search of some of the world’s most venomous and aggressive snakes.  Creepy crawly fun for everyone.

For more information please visit his website CoreyWild.com and for a chance to win a collection of his DVDs please stay tuned to KidGlue for our Corey Wild Give-Away.

“Sports Memories in the Making,” by Jeremy Suede, is a weekly column that looks at all the sports for the upcoming week and picks out games and events that might just be special enough to create a moment that you and your kids will share forever.

Buckle up and get ready for a big week in sports.  On tap this week is the emergence of the NBA and the grand finale for baseball.   Tuesday kicks off the NBA season with some good games including the Los Angeles Lakers receiving their championship rings.  Will the Lakers be able to repeat as champs this season or will LeBron James and his reloaded Cleveland Cavaliers with Shaquille O’Neal be able to take down the champs?  The curtain rises on the NBA season and all the drama that goes with it. Get your popcorn ready.

The World Series is now set; the New York Yankees will take on the reigning champs, the Philadelphia Phillies.  Now let’s bring on the final seven games so we can crown a champ.  These two teams are very evenly matched and it should be a great series.  Game 1 looks to be great with both team’s aces taking the mound but you never know which game will provide the most memorable moment.

Didn’t I tell you it was going to be a pretty bad week for football?  Geez, that was really bad.  There were six games that were complete blowouts with a few decent games mixed in.  This week promises to be a lot better with rivalries and grudges taking center stage.

Top 3

1. MLB – World Series Game 1: Philadelphia Phillies at New York Yankees – Oct. 28 @ TBD

This is going to be one hell of a World Series.  The Phillies and Yankees both boast very powerful lineups, ace starting pitchers and decent bullpens to back them up.  The Yankees will most likely start ALCS. Most Valuable Player, C.C. Sabathia against the reigning AL Cy Young Award winner, Cliff Lee for this game.  Both pitchers have dominated each of their appearances this post-season but going up against these lineups will be a different challenge.  With so much power from the Phillies’ Ryan Howard, Jayson Werth  and Jimmy Rollins to the Yankees’ Alex Rodriguez, Derek Jeter and Mark Teixeira, both teams will hit the ball eventually but this first game may be very quiet for a while.  Expect big things from this World Series where legends are made and championships are earned.

2. NBA - Boston Celtics at Cleveland Cavaliers - Oct. 27 @ 7:30 pm

The NBA season kicks off with one of the best match-ups you could ask for.  LeBron James is King of the basketball world and with the addition of Shaquille O’Neal to his team, the Cavaliers look to be a strong contender for the NBA championship.  But their first game is against the tough and also re-energized Boston Celtics, lead by Kevin Garnett, Paul Pierce and Ray Allen.  In the off-season the Celtics picked up big-man Rasheed Wallace whose defensive skills, combined with the already tough Big 3, make the Celtics another strong contender for their second championship in three seasons.  With all of these All-Star caliber players, this will be a great game to watch and cheer for no matter which side you want to win.

3. NFL – Minnesota Vikings at Green Bay Packers – Nov. 1 @ 4:15 pm

Brett Favre will step into the legendary Lambeau Field for the first time and not be in a Packers’ uniform.  This is a historic event.  The Favre saga has been told and retold so I won’t go into it, but the bad blood is still very much there and both sides will be looking to beat the other into submission.  Brett wants to prove they should never have given up on him and the Packers want to show that they are better off without him.  Oh, and the division championship is at stake as well.  Loser will most likely be out of the running for a division crown.  The Vikings won the first meeting between these teams but now it’s in Lambeau and Brett’s return to Green Bay as a Viking will be remembered forever.  Expect the fans to give him more punishment than they have given anyone in a long long time.

Quick Picks

• NFL – New York Giants at Philadelphia Eagles – Nov. 1 @ 1 pm – This old-school rivalry is intense and heated, providing for a great game with high emotion.
• Still playing in theaters is LeBron James’ movie ‘More Than a Game,’ check out our review of it here
• NASCAR – AMP Energy 500 – Talladega Speedway – There are only so many times I can tell you to watch these races.  Not only fun to watch but Jimmie Johnson is going to win his 4th consecutive Sprint Cup (prediction) and you need to say you saw him at least once. Do it!

As a Los Angeles Dodgers’ fan I was recently on the roller coaster ride that is the baseball postseason.  But for all the ups, there was a big down and it made me, what I like to call, “Sports Depressed.“  I didn’t want to talk about anything sports related, I was down in the dumps and just not a very cordial person for a little while.  It doesn’t last very long, maybe a couple of hours, but it is noticeable and I am lucky I don’t have any little ones around to see it.  My dog gets spooked enough when I yell at the TV.  If any of you know a sports fan then you know exactly what I”m talking about.  There may be variations but there is always an obvious difference in moods when a team wins or loses.

Kids notice everything and when they ask you “Why are you upset?” or “Why are you yelling at the TV, daddy?” what are you going to respond with?  How can you teach them that winning isn’t everything when you get so angry when your team loses?  Sometimes we all need to just take a step back and remember that it really is just a game and the results don’t mean much in the big picture.  Yeah we all want our team to win and be the best but there always has to be a 2nd place team and your team can not always win.

Sounds simple enough but to an emotionally invested sports fan, letting go is the hardest thing.  Be a fan on the couch but leave it there.  If your team had a bad game, turn off the TV and go outside.  There will be replays and analysis that just upset you more, get outside and forget about it.  Go play the sport, don’t let the sport play with your emotions so much.

Triangle eyes, an oval nose and a toothy smile just won’t cut it anymore these days when it comes to Jack-O-Lanterns.  That’s just too boring and with the tools we have available these days there is no reason why your Jack-O-Lantern can’t be the coolest in the neighborhood.  This project can be great fun for the entire family.  From going to the pumpkin patch, to putting them out and seeing them at night for the first time, these pumpkins are a holiday tradition.  Always remember to be safe though, carving does involve sharp instruments and adults should always be present no matter how old the carvers are.

Stencils

Every good pumpkin starts with a good plan.  Using a stencil can keep your pumpkin even and centered along with providing designs you wouldn’t normally think of.  Here are some links to sites with cool free stencils to use on yours.

• Faces of some of your favorite Disney characters can be found here
• ExtremePumpkins.com has a few stencils but plenty of tips on how to really make your pumpkin stand out.
• StarWars.com has some really cool Star Wars themed designs and instructions here
• PumpkinLady.com has more than 200 stencils you can browse through here
• CarvingPumpkins.com has many stencils including stuff from The Simpsons, Family Guy, Addams Family, Lord of the Rings and more.
• Even you “Twilight” fans can find stencils to make that pumpkin extra delicious.

How To

Once you’ve picked out the stencil it is time to prepare your pumpkin and cut away.  The people over at Howdini.com have prepared a very good video showing the process from start to finish (check it out above).  Great instructions and tips!

Here are some tips from experts in designing and producing some of the most original Jack-O-Lanterns you will ever see.

• Picking the right one – Hit up your local pumpkin patch with the whole family and find pumpkins that aren’t too big but will still give you room to design.  Have a design idea in mind while picking out is always a help.  Keep younger kid’s pumpkins smaller to not give them too much room to work with.
• Dry-erase makers make hand design easier – These markers wipe off the pumpkin shell so designing and redesigning is a snap.
• Scoop the seeds - Use an ice cream scoop or a big “lunch lady” spoon to get out the guts and seeds of the pumpkin
• Power tools – Using compact power tools like a jigsaw or router can speed things up.  Use only if familiar with the tools and how to use!

So pack up the family, head to the pumpkin patch and get that perfect pumpkin.  Find your stencil and start carving your amazing pumpkin.  Post pictures of yours and of any tips you may have.  Happy and safe carving!

“Finding Entertainment Appropriate for Kids,” or FEAK, runs every Friday and discusses places – mainly the movie theaters – where parents can look to find things for their kids to watch over the weekend.

Astro Boy first appeared back in 1951 in one of Osamu Tezuka’s manga comic books and instantly became a classic.  He thrilled fans in comic books until 1980 when an animated television series was released and soon became a staple of kid’s Saturday Morning Cartoons.  Then again, in 2003, a cartoon series was released worldwide and once again Astro Boy was enjoyed by millions.

Now Astro evolves to the next level with his own star packed movie released this weekend by Summit Entertainment/Imagi Studios and directed by David Bowers.  It looks great, using cutting edge computers to create an animation style that looks very smooth and colorful and the voice talents of major Hollywood actors always helps.

Read this over before you take the kids on the 23rd because I know they will want to see it and you should too but you may need a little information before going just to clear things up for ya.  Enjoy and also check out a clip from the film here, photos here and our review of “Astro Boy” here.

Metro City -The home of Astro Boy is a giant floating metropolis with an advanced technological civilization.  The city hovers above the Surface, a wasteland of discarded robots.

Astro Boy/Toby (Freddie Highmore)- Our hero for this adventure is created by Dr. Tenma using the all powerful Blue Core and programed with the best of human characteristics and values.  He is powered with super strength, x-ray vision, unbelievable speed, arm cannons and rocket boots to fly.  Astro strives to be human in a world of people looking to cast him aside as a robot.  He only uses his powers for good and will have to use them all o save the good people of Metro City.

Dr. Tenma (Nicolas Cage)- A brilliant doctor who experiences great tragedy when his son is killed and in his grief he creates a robot using the all powerful Blue Core and programming it with all the good human traits and values.  Dr. Tenmas is responsible for most of the technology that has made Metro City a thriving utopia.

The Peacekeeper- Astro Boy’s greatest and most powerful enemy is basically Astro but evil and powered with the malevolent Red Core, making him truly evil and state of the art at the same time.  Using adaptive technology to absorb and control anything, he threatens Metro City and only Astro Boy will be able to stop him.

President Stone (Donald Sutherland) – The leader of Metro City is power hungry and wants a powerful military to take control of the world.  He prematurely activates the Peacekeeper and puts the entire city in peril.

Cora (Kristen Bell)- A very smart 17-year-old girl who serves as mother to a ragtag gang of children on Earth’s surface.  She must team with Astro Boy to save the city.

Zog (Samuel L. Jackson)- A broken robot scrapped on the surface that Astro fixes and reactivates.  Creating a huge, powerful friend that will be an ally in his fight for Metro City.

Hamegg (Nathan Lane) – A father figure for the entire gang on the surface.  A sneaky man who runs a repair shop to bring old robots back to life.

Dr. Elefun (Bill Nighy)- The idealistic colleague of Dr. Tenma who invented the Blue Core Technology and acts as uncle for Astro Boy.

After the tragic loss of his son Toby, the brilliant Dr. Tenma creates Astro Boy, a super robot powered by the Blue Core.  When Astro Boy doesn’t initially live to expectations, Dr. Tenma gets rid of him by dropping him from the floating metropolis of Metro City to the wastelands of Earth.  Astro tries to be “less robot” and befriends a gang of orphans working for the robot repairman, Hamegg.  He becomes involved in robot fights but when government agents come to take the Blue Core, Astro escapes and the hard nosed President Stone uses the dangerous Red Core to power his ultimate war machine; Peacekeeper.  The machine goes on a rampage in the city and only Astro, with the help of his new friends and acceptance from his father, is able to save the city. To learn more about the movie we have also created a Character Primer along with photos and a clip for you to see what you’re getting yourself into.

The computer animation in the film has a cool retro style to it that is colorful, bright and easy on the eyes.  And the great animation is backed up by a star studded voice cast including Freddie Highmore (Astro Boy), Nicolas Cage (Dr. Tenma), Kristen Bell (Cora), Donald Sutherland (President Stone), Bill Nighy (Dr. Elefun and Robotsky), Nathan Lane (Hamegg) and many others.  These great actors give life and emotion into the characters that take them to a whole new level.  Some of the father/son relationship scenes will pull the heart strings a little so be ready for that.  You will see Astro grieve, experience loss and feel loneliness in a strange world he doesn’t know so the themes can be a little heavy at times.  But the goodness in him always shines through.

There are some not-so-subtle political undertones in the film as well. President Stone is determined to create an all powerful robot to conquer the world so that he can be the one to protect it.  You can’t help but notice the similarities to our most recent ex-Vice President, Dick Cheney.  But besides that, this is a great movie for the entire family.  A superhero that everyone can root for, using a bright and colorful medium that kids can enjoy.

It is a kids movie so the story lines are nothing original (”Pinocchio,” “Gladiator”) and the visuals aren’t anything you haven’t seen before (”WALL-E”) but that doesn’t mean this movie won’t entertain children and adults alike.  “Astro Boy” is a great movie to take the kids that are just too young for the blood and scares out in theaters this time of year.

I will never forget the Color-By-Number books from when I was a kid. My mom would give them to me and it was always good for some time-killing entertainment.  I also remember the little Casio Keyboards that would play all sorts of different sounds and instruments which was also good for some fun.  Well, kids today get the best of both toys.  Delta Creative and released the Musicolor.  A record-player shaped toy that creates music by using markers going over a coloring surface.

This toy is really cool for any kid who likes to color but wants a little more than just paper and colors.  The Musicolor allows them to not only color but they will also get some musical interaction and play.  As they color up the discs (included) they will hear corresponding notes from one of three different instruments.  It can play “Three Blind Mic,” “Hickory Dickory Dock,” “London Bridge,” “Old McDonald,” “Jingle Bells,” Humpty Dumpty,” “I’m a Little Teapot” and many others.

It works by reading the colors used on the systems pre-printed (or blank) coloring discs and then translates those colors into a pre-assigned note of music.  Sounds a lot more complicated than it actually is.  When a child colors on a song disk with red marker, the toy will play an F note, or when passing over with the blue marker, it will play B.  You can switch the instruments from piano, violin or trumpet simply by pressing a button.

Out of the box you get the Musicolor player, eight Music Note Markers, 14 pre-printed Song Discs, five blank Create-a-Song Discs and a pre-colored Song Disc.  You can also separately purchase refill packs with 20 more blank disc as well as a marker refill pack.

Musicolor Stats

• Price – $29.99 at Amazon.com
• Suggested Age – 6 years and up
• Weighs 2.4 lbs.
• Delta Creative has not set a release date but they say it will be out in time for the holidays.
• For more information you may visit their site: DeltaCreative.com

Other Music Toys You May Be Interested In

• Baby’s Learning Laptop
• Yookidoo Musical Kaleidoscope
• Little Superstar Sing-Along Stage