The Happy Crab Book Teaches Children to be Selfless with the help of a Shellfish - Review and Giveaway

We'll start with the Disclaimer - Yes, we did receive a complimentary copy of this book for review, but this just means we're able to offer you a chance to win one too! Enter the contest at the end of this post.

The Crustacean that is Crushing It!

As the story of The Happy Crab opens we meet a curious crab that travels the seas, finds treasures and makes new friends.  You could say this little crustacean is truly crushing it.  He knows that life is good.

Sometimes you come across Rocky Waters and decisions need to be made

One day the crab is mistaken for an empty shell and is pulled from the water by a young boy. When the boy discovers the crab inside he must make a big decision. The shellfish hopes that the young child will decide not to be selfish and instead be selfless and return him to the sea. He knows that is where he is happiest.

The Happy Crab Book Makes a Great Gift

With vibrant images and easy-to-understand lessons, The Happy Crab illustrated book will make a great gift this holiday season.  Your family will learn the importance of curiosity, the feelings of friendship, the security of home and how acts of kindness can make a big difference. This story is based on the true-life events of the authors Layla Palmer, Kevin Palmer and their son Steevenson

and what took place when they found a beautiful shell.  As you see in my Reel below, The Happy Crab has me feeling happy too!

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A post shared by Diane Morgan & Lisa McDonald (@those2girls)

Enter to Win

Thanks to a partnership with Graf-Martin Communications, we are able to giveaway a copy of The Happy Crab to a lucky reader! Enter for a chance to win below.

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For Pete’s Sake, Go See Disney’s Pete’s Dragon - Review

When I first received the press release in 2015 that Disney would be releasing a new live action version of Pete’s Dragon I had no idea just how amazing this film would be.  Not only was this movie on point with the visuals it also pulls at your heart strings. So much so though that I keep thinking that it’s a pun on a famous Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers song.  I feel the title of the song should now be “Stop DRAGON My Heart Around”

So yes during this film I laughed and cried. We can say it had “all the feels” that you expect from a Disney classic. 

What To Expect From Pete’s Dragon

 

The film begins in a very sweet way but soon you learn how Pete became lost in the forest.  The young boy is in what could be a very awful situation until he happens to be saved by a dragon.  Soon you see the film change as you learn Pete has been growing up in the woods under the watchful of dragon he named Elliot.  This scene in the forest are very reminiscent of Mowgli and the animals in THE JUNGLE BOOK that was released earlier this year.  Soon after the plot changes again as Pete and Elliot learn about the world just outside of the forest.

The animators did a great job of bringing Elliot to life through CGI.  When he is first introduced you notice the fur and the forest colours in it, but as the movie goes on you begin to recognize the facial features and characteristics of the 1977 animated version of Elliot.  They also kept the time frame the same with the use of station wagons, pickup trucks and corded telephones from that era. 

For years, old wood carver Mr. Meacham (Robert Redford) has delighted local children with his tales of the fierce dragon that resides deep in the woods of the Pacific Northwest. To his daughter, Grace (Bryce Dallas Howard), who works as a ranger, these stories are little more than tall tales…until she meets Pete (Oakes Fegley). Pete is a mysterious 10-year-old with no family and no home who claims to live in the woods with a giant, green dragon named Elliot. And from Pete’s descriptions, Elliot seems remarkably similar to the dragon from Mr. Meacham’s stories. With the help of Natalie (Oona Laurence), an 11-year-old girl whose father Jack (Wes Bentley) owns the local lumber mill, Grace sets out to determine where Pete came from, where he belongs, and the truth about this dragon.

We think this film is a great way to spend some family time, not only to see the film, but also to learn about the importance of trees and surrounding environment.

Click Image To Enlarge

 

Drayton Entertainment Starts Summer With Brighton Beach Memoirs

Last week we were invited to the attend the Brighton Beach Memoirs MEDIA NIGHT for  at the Drayton Festival Theatre.  What we witnessed was a story of maturity.  Both the maturity of Eugene the main character and narrator, along with the maturity of his family as they come to terms with their living situation.  It began as comedic tale of Eugene, a teenage boy beginning to understand the interest in the female form, while dreaming about becoming either a major league baseball player or his fallback career choice of being a writer.  Soon after, the tone of the play changed as Eugene was learning more and more what adult life would look like.  The storyline went from snappy banter to emotional speeches about the strenuous situation his family was living in.  While the time frame of this stage production was set in the months leading up to the second World War, this relate-able tale could very well have taken place in today's world.  Learning how a family deals with live-in relatives, being overworked and underpaid, the threat of war, and children growing up to fast are still issues families deal with in a modern day world.  To see how Eugene's family dealt with the circumstances they felt they were forced into, be sure to plan a trip to see Brighton Beach Memoirs and kick off your summer with a show!

Tickets are $44 for Adults and $26 for Youth under 20 years of age. Tickets may be purchased online at www.draytonentertainment.com, in person at any Drayton Entertainment Box Office, or by calling toll free 1-855-DRAYTON (372-9866)

Disney's Alice #ThroughTheLookingGlass Reminds You To Make Time For Your Family - Review

We had the opportunity to attend an advanced screening of Disney's Alice #ThroughTheLookingGlass last week and we really enjoyed it.

For fans of their previous film Alice In Wonderland you will be delighted to see the characters from the first film in a new light. For those new to the live action Alice films by Disney you will be enchanted by the look and tone of these films.  They are visually impressive and almost display the feelings of the characters by their surroundings.  Both the heroes and villains run through a rollercoster of emotions in a "matter" of minutes.  Which brings me to the "Matter of the Hatter"


This film follows the story of what happened to the Mad Hatter and how Alice must once again save him and their friends.  This "TIME" around all the characters learn about the importance of time with their families.

Alice Kingsleigh (Wasikowska) has spent the past few years following in her father’s footsteps and sailing the high seas. Upon her return to London, she comes across a magical looking glass and returns to the fantastical realm of Underland and her friends the White Rabbit (Sheen), Absolem (Rickman), the Cheshire Cat (Fry) and the Mad Hatter (Depp), who is not himself. The Hatter has lost his Muchness, so Mirana (Hathaway) sends Alice on a quest to borrow the Chronosphere, a metallic globe inside the chamber of the Grand Clock which powers all time. Returning to the past, she comes across friends – and enemies – at different points in their lives, and embarks on a perilous race to save the Hatter before time runs out.

We think this film is great for families with older children, as there are a few frightening scenes throughout the film. If your family members enjoyed the first film, then they will surely enjoy this movie as well.

For more updates about this and other upcoming Disney films, we suggest you follow these links
Facebook: https://facebook.com/WaltDisneyStudiosCanada
Twitter: https://twitter.com/DisneyStudiosCA
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/disneystudioscanada/

Disney's Cinderella Kindness Campaign

Disney’s “Cinderella" is coming to Blu-ray Combo Pack September 15. In support of the release, they are launching a very special Cinderella Kindness Campaign, encouraging people to post their words of kindness on a special microsite, and then share with their friends and family.

Have Courage And Be Kind

Have courage and be kind is a running theme in Disney's Cinderella.  In the video above the film's star encourages you to post your own words of kindness, so that's exactly what I did.

Be sure to leave a comment below with what your words of kindness are! 
For more information about the movie be sure to visit our post on Cinderella and Frozen Fever

and check out these Disney websites

Website:http://disney.com/Cinderella

Like us on Facebook:https://www.facebook.com/Cinderella

Follow us on Twitter:http://www.twitter.com/CinderellaMovie

Follow us on Instagram: http://www.instagram.com/DisneyCinderella

Follow us on Pinterest:http://www.pinterest.com/disneystudios/cinderella

Follow us on Google +:https://plus.google.com/+disneycinderella

Follow us on Tumblr:http://cinderellapastmidnight.tumblr.com/

Follow us on WeHeartIt:http://weheartit.com/disneycinderella

Like Walt Disney Studios Canada on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/WaltDisneyStudiosCanada

Follow Walt Disney Studios Canada on Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/DisneyStudiosCA

 

 

The Birdy Book Series - Review, Event And Giveaway

Getting To Know The Author

As many of the readers of this blog know I wear many hats (and a tiara) which includes working at The Sign Depot where I regularly attend Chamber of Commerce meetings.  Recently Stephanie Van De Ven joined our group as a representative of Lutherwood (which is a wonderful community organization).  When we got to talking she let me know that she follows this blog and was working on an upcoming children's book.  Now that that book has been published we thought it would be a great book for the familes visit this blog.

Review Of The Birdy Book Series

The Birdy Book Series is great book for families with children in the 4-7 age range.  As you can see in the image above it provides Life Lessons and Positive Affirmations for Kids and Their Families. It is well written and beautifully illustrated.  It teaches children about the power of positivity in an easy to follow format.  There are even spots for families to write there reflections in the book.  These areas are called My Mindful Reflection Section.  I always say if I need to remember something I write it down.  This takes that idea and turns it into a positive mental attitude.

Meet The Author Event

Our friends at Chapters Waterloo are hosting a FREE Author Event with Stephanie and The Birdy Book Series on June 6th at 10:30am.
Here are some of the event details

• Kids who sign up can create and decorate their own little bird houses, and will receive a goody bag to take home!
• Stephanie will read a story from her book as well!
• Juynet who many of you may know from various Kitchener Market and local events will be performing and giving away copies of his CD to those who purchase The Birdy Book at the event.
• The Chapters Waterloo Starbucks location will be offering 50% hot beverages during the event.

To get all the information be sure to RSVP on the event page https://www.facebook.com/events/1389840721343184

If you cannot attend the event you can always click here to purchase her book online

Enter To Win

Want a chance to win this adorable book?
I have a signed copy of The Birdy Book to giveaway to one lucky reader (Canadian Residents Only).

Stephanie asks her readers, "what is your song" so it is part of our contest!

What keeps you in a positive state of mind? In other words, what is your song?
Answer in the comments and here are the full contest instructions.
The contest listed below (might take a minute to load the rafflecopter contest form. If the contest does not pop up, clear your cache and refresh) is for a chance to win a signed copy of The Birdy Book. Be sure to post your answer to the question listed in the Rafflecopter Widget in the comment section below.

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