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One of the Smithsonian Institution';s most popular museums reopened its doors on Friday. The National Museum of American History in Washington, D.C., is open after a two-year renovation. The museum was rededicated by President George W. Bush on Wednesday.

Robert Pattinson, Kristen Stewart, Taylor Lautner, Kellan Lutz, and Michael Welch all weighed in on their Twilight experiences. Check out what they have to say about each other, their characters, and life on the set of the biggest hit movie of the season!

Would you give one penny to help preserve America';s history? You can do that with the "Give a Lincoln for Lincoln" campaign that kicked off in Kentucky on Tuesday. First Lady Laura Bush was there to help with the ceremonies.

On the seventh floor of the Hart Senate Building in Washington DC, the office of Barack Obama, Junior Senator from Illinois, has been closed as President-elect Obama resigns his Senate post and focuses on moving into the White House.

Scholastic Editors have been poring over applications for the 2008-2009 Scholastic Kids Press Corps. Twenty-nine new Kid Reporters will join returning members of the Scholastic Kids Press Corps to cover breaking news, politics, sports, entertainment, and more in 2008-2009.

Get delicious recipes for Thanksgiving dishes, learn how to avoid overindulging when you eat out and take a break from planning your celebration with our fun Holiday House Game!

Go beyond ordinary every Friday night. Tune in November 21 at 8 pm for "Face Transplant," at 9 pm, "You: The Owner's Manual with Dr. Mehmet Oz" and at 10 pm, "Plastic Surgery: Before & After."

New season, new mysteries! Tune in Monday, November 24 @ 10 pm as baffled doctors race to find answers on a brand-new episode of "Mystery Diagnosis."

Tuesdays mean babies on Discovery Health. Tune in November 25 @ 8 pm for "Twins by Surrogacy," @ 9 pm, watch "Double Identical Twins" and at 10 pm, catch up with the busy ladies of "Deliver Me."

Learn the incredible story of history's first pregnant man, see photos of his amazing journey to motherhood and learn about gender identity.

Click here for FREE Kids Cartoon Pumpkin Carving templates, including the Backyardigans, Spongebob Squarepants and Dora the Explorer. And for all you old school parents, there are some great Classic Cartoon templates to choose from too, like Popeye, Garfield and Mighty Mouse.http://www.carvingpumpkins.net/kids/kids.html

It's true! Disneyland is giving away FREE tickets for your birthday. Yes, a marketing plan first introduced by Denny's restaurant who used to give away free meals for your birthday. But now, the concept has been upped by Disneyland with free entrance to Orange County's favorite amusement park. Bring the kids to celebrate their birthday along with Mickey, Minnie and all the princesses.All you have to do is register here at the Disney website and you will get an email reminder two weeks before your kids big day. And for all you annual passport holders, go ahead and register because there are…

The Kidsfaire-America's Family Expo is coming to Orange County. The Kidsfaire is California's Largest Children's & Family Event offering endless family entertainment,6 Stages of Live Character Shows, Acres of rides and attractions, Hundreds of Interactive Exhibits, Childrens Pavillions and Great Resources for your home and family. A place designed for kids of all ages and their families. We had the pleasure of attending this event last year and we had so much fun we plan on going back for more this year. Click her for more info. on this event:KidsFaireOctober 4-5, 2008Orange County…

This Saturday, September 27th from 2-4PM, BORDERS Bookstores are having a Kids Party! You're invited to bring the family for games, story times, activities and more!Check out the kids section at Borders!You'll find a new area devoted to kids graphic novels and manga, plus you'll discover fun toys and games for kids of all ages. And don't miss the weekly story times.We love taking our kids on a bookstore trip where we always find a great bargain on kids books. See you there.

Join us for some family fun today at the 12th Annual Laguna Beach Pet Parade & Chili Cook-Off located in South Orange County. There will be an assortment of entertainment provided for children, a pet parade for our furry friends, and a Chili Contest for the cook in your family.Sunday, September 14, 2008Noon to 3p.m.Tivoli Too- Laguna Beach (click here for directions)Admission: $5.00 (Children under 10 Free)Call for more information: 949-497-2474

Disney interactive studios challenges everyone to be the star with New Karaoke Video Game... Disney Sing It, the karaoke video game challenges players to out-sing friendswith songs and authentic videos from favorite Hollywood Records artists, Disney Channel Original Series and Disney Channel Original Movies.Fans of all ages can discover their inner performer by belting out hits from Camp ...

Disney Interactive Studios announced the release of new video games this Christmas season for the globally successful “High School Musical” franchise.                               High School Musical 3: Senior Year DANCE! for the Wii™ home video game console, Xbox 360® video game and entertainment system from Microsoft, PlayStation®2 computer entertainment system and ...

We've added today a new section of far west and Western coloring pages. Why not check out coloring pages of cowboys, horses or indians or bandits and sheriff coloring pages. 

We have added new coloring pages to our fantastic Christmas coloring pages collection: Santa and reindeers coloring pages, Christmas tree or snowman coloring pages. Find something new to print out and color for the kids!

Kids, you can make Christmas even more special this year by creating your very own Christmas gifts and Christmas decoration! Here you will find out Free Christmas crafts and easy homemade Christmas decorations, Christmas craft ideas for kids, Christmas craft patterns and projects. Celebrate Christmas with Christmas crafts and Christmas art ideas kids can make. Click the picture below to ...

If you read all of the responses to my blog about Twilight asking what age range the Twilight series is appropriate for, you will see a variety of answers. For...

Handmade Christmas gifts are always a hit, and there's still time for your kids to learn to knit scarves or other simple gifts. If you are looking for a...

With money tight for many families, it's nice to know that it's possible to find children's books at bargain prices. I shop at our public library's used bookstore and...

All across Canada this week, authors, illustrators, and storytellers are visiting communities as part of the annual TD Canadian Children's Book Week celebration. Schools, public libraries, bookstores, and community centers...

Often referred to as Sweden's best-known author, Astrid Lindgren gained international fame for her children's books, particularly those about Pippi Longstocking. Astrid Lindgren was born on November 14, 1907. When...

The Costa Book Awards shortlist has been announced.  This award was formerly the Whitbread Book Award and has continued the prestigious history. Here are the books on the Costa Children's Book Award Shortlist: Ostrich Boys by Keith Gray (not out in US) The Carbon Diaries by Saci Lloyd (coming out in February 2009 in US) Just Henry by Michelle Magorian (not out in US) Broken Soup by Jenny Valentine (coming out in March 2009 in US)

Patrick Ness has won the British Booktrust Teenage Prize for his amazing novel, The Knife of Never Letting Go.  Well done! You can read their press release here.

Lincoln and Douglass: An American Friendship by Nikki Giovanni, illustrated by Bryan Collier. At a reception celebrating his second inauguration, President Abraham Lincoln scans the crowds for his friend Frederick Douglass.  Though one man was black and the other white, one a slave and the other free, their lives parallel one another in remarkable ways.  Both men found themselves at the heart of the abolitionist movement in America.  The book documents the youth of both men in alternating pages, emphasizing their commonalities.  It also provides information on other…

Library Journal has an article titled 35 Going on 13: The Year's Best Teen Fiction for Adults.  Two of my favorites of the year are there: The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins and The Graveyard Book by Neil Gaiman. I would add a few more: A Curse Dark as Gold by Elizabeth C. Bunce The Knife of Never Letting Go by Patrick Ness The Red Necklace by Sally Gardner Season of Ice by Diane Les Becquets Trouble by Gary D. Schmidt   Any other teen novels you would recommend to adults?

The Mystery by Maxwell Eaton III. Max and Pinky return in another adventure, this time filled with mystery and intrigue.  Max and Pinky set out to paint the barn red.  They just manage to finish the entire structure before dark.  But when they awake, the barn is PINK!  They repaint.  They guard it all night, but fall asleep.  And now it's plaid!  Finally, they decide they must investigate.  They look for clues, conduct interviews, and set a trap.  Who is the mystery painter?  You'll have to read it to find out! This book in the series…

(adjective) hard to capture, grasp, or understand.

The PEN/Phyllis Naylor Working Writer Fellowship of $5,000 is offered annually to an author of children’s or young-adult fiction. The Fellowship has been developed to help writers whose work is of high literary caliber but who have not yet attracted a broad readership. As a result, an author’s books may not have achieved the sales that would allow the writer to support him or herself solely from writing. The Fellowship is designed to assist a writer at a crucial moment in his or her career, when monetary support is particularly needed to complete a book-length work-in-progress.

Let’s continue our series which will take us, step-by-step, from absolute beginner to published author. The topic of the previous issue: What Should You Write About? If you missed it, you can read it here. If you’ve been with us since the start of this series you’re (hopefully) well motivated, you know who your audience is and what you’re going to write about. Now it’s time to learn the rules of the game. Because kids grow and change so quickly, children’s book genres are far more structured and tiered than adult genres. What a 2nd grader and 6th grader…

Just got this e-mail, so I’m passing it along: “Rhyming Critters 2″ has ten membership slots, of which eight are currently filled. Our members are generally consider themselves to be at the Intermediate level.  All have been writing for a number of years in different formats (poetry, prose, plays, music) and for different audience age levels. In the group, we write and critique exclusively in rhyme.  That’s how we got started and we have retained that unique format.  Members can ask for critiques of other work but any critiques of prose or regular poetry are done…

Things got crazy around the office today so I just couldn’t get around to creating today’s best Children’s Lit Blog Posts video.  Free free to dock me today’s pay. The videos will return Monday.  In the meantime, why not peruse some of the awesome interviews that comprise day 4 of the Winter Blog Blast Tour: http://www.chasingray.com/archives/2008/11/wbbt_day_4.html

Every writer gets rejection letters.  How a writer reacts to those rejections is what usually tells the tale in the long run. Writers that go on to build successful careers manage to find ways to actually benefit from rejections, becoming stronger and more persistant.  Writers who spiral into depression and despair at the site of a “thanks, but no thanks” missive either learn to suck it up or soon find themselves pursuing another vocation. This fine piece from the Guide to Literary Agents blog can help you discover the silver-lined, half-full glass of lemonade (made from the…

Neuroscientist George Brainard is investigating the use of different kinds of light to enhance astronauts’ sleep — and to boost their waking performance.

Astronomer Robert Stencel talks about a star system 2,000 light years from Earth that might, in a couple of decades, go ‘bang’ in the night.

November 21, 2008. The two brightest planets – Venus and Jupiter – are now dazzling in the west after sunset. You won’t want to miss them. You’ll find these two worlds inching closer together each evening for the rest of November. Just be sure not to wait too long after sunset, because Venus and Jupiter will set before mid-evening.

Deborah Estrin of UCLA is experimenting with a new tool for science you probably have in your pocket right now. Cell phones – and their owners – are being used as “mobile sensors” in experimental studies.

In the 21st century, some species might need human help to survive, according to biologist Camille Parmesan. “Instead of being reactive and just dealing with populations going extinct right and left,” she said, “we should help them move and help them shift along with the climate when they can no longer do it for themselves.”

Why are stars different colors?

Is a tiny Chihuahua related to a wolf?

In the fall, leaves turn yellow, orange or red. Why?

What are flames made of?

1 in 10 guys never meet ROY G BIV.

New type of mold may be a bat killer

A seed-loving insect finds food by sensing its temperature

A gang of stars on the edge of our galaxy is running away.

Here is another great YouTube video, this one demontrating how to make “Instant Ice”. If you’ve ever used an instant hand warmer or a reusable heat pack, you’ve already seen and felt the same chemical process at work. What’s going on? Sodium acetate trihydrate crystals have a melting point of 58°C (136°F). When they are placed in water and heated to around 100°C (212°F) and then allowed to cool, the aqueous (water) solution becomes supersaturated. This means that the solution contains more of the dissolved crystals than it could normally hold. This…

While killing some time before a star show at the Science Center recently, I saw something very interesting at the space exhibit. When I spotted it, I thought it was a hologram. I later learned that people often describe it that way. What it turned out to be was a really remarkable substance called an aerogel, also nicknamed solid smoke, blue smoke or frozen smoke. The reason an aerogel looks so much like it isn’t really there is that in actuality there isn’t much there. Silica aerogel is an extemely low-density material derived from silicon based gel, in which the liquid…

Because we are all one big happy science-loving family… Enjoy 25% off plus FREE Shipping on $75 with DiscoveryStore.com’s Holiday Friends and Family Coupon! *** 5 DAYS ONLY! *** Orders of $50 or more are eligible to receive $10 off through the links offered here - $10 off $50 offer ends on 12/31/08. Discovery Store currently has an amazing array of 50 toys for under $50! Click on any banner below and then select “Sales & Specials” at the top of the landing page to check out the great selection. Don’t forget to enter your special “Friends and Family” coupon…

Here are 10 great sciency gift ideas all under $10 PLUS a coupon code that will save you another 15% AND FREE standard shipping on orders over $49 if you order by midnight on 11/25/08. To shop, click on any item below and remember to enter code “WC97483″ during check out. Alien Slime 9.99 Bug Boxes 8.99 Brain Model 7.99 Heart Mdl 5.97 ColorPaddles 4.99 Geodes 7.99 Magnifier 8.99 Grow-a-Head 8.99 Cactus Garden 9.99 24 Sun Catchers 8.29 These prices were current at the time of this post. ShareThis

I ran across this YouTube video the other day and thought is was really cool.  Take a look at this amazing demonstration of “invisible water”.  What do you think is going on here?  As you probably guessed, there is no water in the tank.  It is filled instead with a colorless, odorless (and non-toxic) gas called sulfur hexafluoride.  Sulfur hexafluoride is heavier than the air around us, actually 6 times denser than the surrounding air.  This causes the gas to sink to the bottom of the tank and to support anything less dense than itself (like the foil boat filled with air) on…

Some school districts have sophisticated sexual education courses for their students, offer contraceptives, pregnancy test kits, and advanced health classes. In addition to this many high schools and some junior high schools offer clinics in addition to the traditional nurse’s office where students can get personalized support on a wide range of sexual topics and services. Still other school districts see sex education, STDs and in-school contraceptives as taboo and want to leave that topic for parents to cover with their children. And what about college age students? Many university…

The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) bloodborne pathogen standard, 29 CFR 1910.1030, requires that employers supply employees with proper instructions, equipment, personal protection equipment (PPE) and disinfectant to safely clean up body fluid spills. This OSHA safety standard applies to employees who have occupational exposure to blood or other potentially infectious material. Does this apply to you? Yes. Whether you’re a school nurse, teacher, a campus security guard, administrative assistant, janitor, work at a daycare center, in a clinic, etc. this applies to you.

November Is American Diabetes Month®. Throughout the month the American Diabetes Association (ADA) will be working hard to raise awareness about the seriousness of diabetes and its potential complications such as heart disease, stroke, kidney disease, blindness and amputations. Diabetes affects 7.8% of the American population, that’s 23.6 million people. Of that 23.6 million 17.9 million people have been diagnosed but the remaining 5.7 million people have yet to be diagnosed. Adults and children alike are susceptible to diabetes. This disease does not age discriminate. What exactly is…

The awesome colored leaves in your neighborhood have probably dried out by now and are begging to be stomped on making that great crunching noise. You know what that means – no, not just the end of October – Halloween! Who doesn’t dig dressing up and getting candy? Whether you’re a skeleton, witch or this year’s “it” character have fun and stay safe. Here are some tricks ‘n tips for both the young and the young at heart: Tricks ‘n Tips For Young People Plan a route; share the plan with an adult, stick to it Know your phone number, address and when to call 911 Learn or review…

Who knew? “Stayin’ Alive” by the Bee Gees is not only a great song to dance to but it also provides an ideal beat to perform chest compressions as part of CPR on a heart attack victim. Dr. David Matlock, of the University Of Illinois College Of Medicine at Peoria, tested his theory on a small group of 15 doctors and medical students. Matlock discovered that having the small study group listen to “Stayin’ Alive” aided them in performing chest compressions on dummies at the correct speed. So, what is the proper speed? The American Heart Association (AHA) calls for a rate of 100…

Kandinsky is perhaps best known for his abstract work, but I personally love the rich city life paintings he made, such as “Houses in Munich”1. I tried out some pastel chalk pencils for my sample, but I think you could get very similar results with construction crayons. I like the pencils as they can be sharpened and your fingers need never get covered in dust. Starting with a sheet of black paper, ask the students to draw in pencil a horizontal ground line. Afterwards, they are to draw a series of building rectangles that sit side by side. Windows and roofs may be added.2. Ask the…

To be honest, I've never been able to get too excited about paper weaving. But I just can’t deny that it is a good way to introduce kids to the technique as the patterns are more visible than with yarn. And as I encounter 4th and 5th graders these days who have never tried any kind of weaving, I realize that this art area gets overlooked too often1. I did myself one favor and at least bought some good construction paper from Staples that was much brighter than the public school brand. One large 9" x 12" sheet needs to be chosen for the background “warp”, the term for the parallel lines…

Piet Mondrian is widely considered the founder of abstract art. There are many ways to imitate his style of painting, but I like this one best as the crayon naturally creates a wall between the watercolors.1. With a ruler, the students are to draw lightly draw about 4 parallel horizontal lines across a piece of watercolor paper, and then about 4 vertical lines.2. Ask them to randomly erase about 4 sections of the horizontal lines.3. Next the students need to add about 5 lines, in any direction, chopping up any the the large rectangles to make some small ones. The goal is to have relatively…

This scratchy-looking technique is called “sgraffito”, and it works well with drawing something like a turkey with all it’s lines and feathers.1. I made a simple line drawing of a turkey for the students (that you can download here) as they are a rather unusual and complex shape. Have the students trace the lines with a black Sharpie marker to thicken the lines.2. The turkeys are to be colored in with oil pastels. Important: this layer needs to be thick and it really helps to use some very soft oil pastels like the Portfolio brand. I'm not sure that the less expensive ones will work…

I sometimes look at stock illustrations on websites like gettyone.com for inspiration. I found a simple drawing of a snowman on skis that I really liked, and remade with my glue and pastel technique. 1. Drawing lightly on black paper, make three overlapping circles, each getting a bit smaller as they go up.2. Draw simple stick arms, a face and buttons.3. Add stick ski poles attached to the hands, and a hat that sits on top of the head. Stripes are nice as they allow for extra color.4. Draw two skis below the bottom circle, and then a curved horizon line. Trace all lines with a thin line of…

Today is the anniversary of Rene Magritte's birth. Wish him a happy birthday by learning about his life and artcreating your own Magritte masterpiece, or reading Dinner at Magritte's by Michael Garland

Dinner at Magritte’s, by Michael Garland, is a great introduction to Surrealism, Rene Magritte, and Salvador Dali.Pierre lives in the country outside of Paris. He is very bored because there are no other children to play with. One day he goes to visit his neighbor, Rene Magritte, and the evening is anything but boring!While Pierre watches Magritte paint, Magritte teaches him about how he paints and why he paints the things he does. Pierre, Magritte, and Salvador Dali play croquet, eat dinner, and play charades. Sounds like an ordinary evening but nothing the Surrealists do is ordinary.In…

Yesterday you learned about the Surrealist painter, Rene Magritte. The project I’m sharing with you today was inspired by his painting, The Dominion of Light. In The Dominion of Light, Magritte painted night and day in the same painting. He thought that including both night and day in one scene would give the viewer a nice surprise. I think he was right!Supplies Needed:Two photos of the same scene taken in different lightScissorsGlue stickThe pictures I chose I shown below. I printed my pictures onto plain white copy paper instead of photo paper. It’s easier to work with the pictures this…

Rene Magritte was a Surrealist painter who was born in Belgium in 1898. He wanted people to look at ordinary things in different ways. He sometimes painted objects in places were they didn’t usually belong, like in Time Transfixed in which a train is coming out of a fireplace. Other times, Magritte confused the foreground (the things at the front of the painting) with the background, like in Blank Signature, The Large Family, and The Seducer.Magritte did not enjoy school, and he knew he wanted to paint, so he went to the Academie dex Beaux-Arts in Brussels to study art. During this time, he…

I posted about Wayne Thiebaud (Tee-Bow) and his tasty food paintings awhile back. I also recommended using the National Gallery of Art's website to teach fractions with Thiebaud's paintings. Today’s book, Counting with Wayne Thiebaud by Susan Goldman Rubin, brings Thiebaud’s art to an even younger audience: those just beginning to count.This board book makes counting to ten enjoyable and delicious as kids count pieces of pie, ice-cream clowns, candied apples, hot dogs, and many more treats, illustrated with Thiebaud’s paintings.If you liked Susan Goldman Rubin’s Andy Warhol’s…

Some of today's fashion styles look better on teens than any other age group: what to buy and what to transform from your own wardrobe.

Last season's trends can be adapted for fashionable winter looks.

There are fashion lessons to be learned from these cable makeover shows.

The economy is in crisis, money is tight -- how to buy new clothes?

Teens can help out in creative ways on Thanksgiving.

Last week my husband’s car started a death rattle and I finally convinced him it was time to give it up and start looking for a replacement. ...

We’ve been working furiously on our 2009 Kids Today conference, “Momentum: Gaining Strength in Today’s Economy,” and I kn...

Nine years ago today I gave birth to my second (and last) baby. And, boy have things changed in nine years. I wasn't in the infant/juvenile industr...

As we're gearing up for the High Point Market next week and seeing a preview of the new looks in youth furniture I'm amazed at all the white. Be...

This weekend I had an epiphany about one of our industry's target demographic--the tween. If a company, be it retailer or manufacturer, could ma...

If you’re planning to travel by plane, bringing the kids along just got easier, thanks to a Burlington grandma. When her pregnant daughter came to visit with her toddler and the diaper bag and the car seat and the stroller, Louise Stall took one look at her as they came off the plane and knew that “there had to be a better way!” It took her 7 years to develop the product and get her device approved by the FAA for all US airlines, but now parents can have CARES (Child Aviation Restraint System). It’s a 1 lb. harness-type safety device that fits into a 6 inch stuff sac,…

If you’re looking for a gift you can really feel good about, check out the Annual Holiday Studio Sale at the Creative Women, a Vermont-based importer. The company imports elegant home and women’s accessories made from hand-woven Ethiopian and Swazi textiles. Shop among new collections of baskets, toys, jewelry and an extensive assortment of shawls, scarves, pillows, bags, blankets and more. You can even sample hembeshe (homemade Ethiopian bread) made by an Ethiopian woman living in Essex. “I founded Creative Women as a way to create jobs and sustain an ancient art form by…

The community, excitement, and great local foods and crafts of Burlington’s summer Saturday farmers’ market in City Hall Park will move indoors for the first time this winter. The market will be held in Memorial Auditorium, 10am-2pm, with the kick off on November 22. The market will then move to the third Saturday of each month from December through April (December 20, January 17, February 21, March 21, and April 18). Vendors will be offering a wide array of agricultural products and crafts. Locally grown and raised cheeses, meats, root vegetables, eggs, pickles, preserves, honey,…

Our White House: Looking In, Looking Out may be the perfect addition to any classroom library, and a book your child’s teacher would be happy to have. It’s an anthology about the most famous house in the world, with an introduction by David McCullough and contributions by over 100 distinguished children’s authors and illustrators and the National Children’s Book and LItteracy Alliance. Contributors include winners of the Pulitzer Prize, the National Book Award, and the Newbery and Caldecott Medals. This unprededented anthology presents a dynamic view of more tha 200…

If you’re looking for more detail on the gift suggestions featured in the November and December issues of Kids VT, check out all of the information at NAPPA.

I loved “The Secret Garden”. I thought it was inspiring and a fun and fabulous read for any age. It shows that animals can inspire people and people can inspire animals. I would recommend “The Secret Garden”! The Secret Garden Reviewed By: Lime Location: Etobicoke, ON Rating: 5 out of 5

The name of the book is Brisingr. It’s about a boy named Eragon who discovered an egg and there’s an evil guy named Galbotorix who’s trying to kill his dragon Sapphire. I liked the action and the romance. I didn’t like how at the beginning it was dark as in too much killing. I say it wasn’t the best but it was okay. It was sort of what I expected it to be it to be. Brisingr Reviewed By: Rhys Location: Coquitlam, BC Rating: 5 out of 5

The game is about two Pokémon that start a rescue team. You help Pokémon that need help. There are no Diamond and pearl Pokémon but there are Zapdos and other strong Pokémon. I liked that you can also get other Pokémon on your team and that there are some cool stories. I like all of it. It was good overall because it is just so fun. I used action replay so I cheated most of the time but I beat the game without action replay. Pokemon Mystery Dungeon Reviewed By: Andrew Location: Coquitlam, BC Rating: 5 out of 5

A boy named Harry Potter lives with his unfriendly aunt, uncle, and Dudley who is Harry’s cousin. Harry’s mom and dad have died from Harry’s greatest rival, Voldemort. After Voldemort killed Harry’s parents, he tried to kill Harry to, but right before Harry’s mother died, she cast a reverse spell on Harry so the curse that Voldemort put on Harry, went back to Voldemort. This movie is about Harry going to Hogwarts, a school of witch craft and wizardry. I like the adventures he had, but the bad guys are sort of violent. It would probably be better for 10 year old people and older.

I was watching Matilda and it was awesome. In Matilda, a poorly treated girl meets a wonderful teacher who teaches her to be confident. She also plans revenge against Ms.Trunchbull, the headmistress. My favourite character was Matilda because she is funny, brave and smart. Though anyone would enjoy it, I would especially recommend it to people ages 8 and up. I give this movie a 5 out of 5! Matilda Reviewed By: Sarah Location: Surrey, BC Rating: 5 out of 5

Examiner.comKids movie review: Bolt - Fantastic!Examiner.com - 2 hours agoI can't think of the last time a kids movie made me cry at the end. Travolta and Essman are both great in this. I never thought John Travolta and dogs had Video: John Travolta Gets Animated CBSCliched 'Bolt' will at least entertain the kids Seattle Post IntelligencerReview: 'Bolt' Christian Science MonitorTrading Markets (press release) - Columbus Dispatchall 575 news articles

The AgeChill out, parents: Time online teaches kids important skills San Jose Mercury News,  USA - 3 hours agoIt's the wired generation forwarding a new study to their peers and parents that suggests always-online digital kids aren't wasting time and deadening brain Study Says Wasting Time Online Is Actually Good For Kids Escapist MagazineStudy finds MySpace, Facebook good for kids WRDW-TVKids gain valuable skills from time online San Francisco ChronicleHouston Chronicle - eFluxMediaall 154 news articles

Pros, cons of kids missing school for vacationSan Francisco Chronicle,  USA - 8 hours agoThese days, most kids I know get two months for summer, two weeks for winter and a week in spring. That's it. And most parents I know calculate their

SAFE rules for dogs and kidsSan Jose Mercury News,  USA - 8 hours agoBy Linda Treml Hallam The Alameda Animal Shelter wishes to thank all those folks who came by the Pet Food Express on Blanding Avenue for the Dog Wash last

Travel tips: Put kids' safety on your holiday travel listSalt Lake Tribune, United States - 8 hours agoAlison Rhodes, who calls herself "The Safety Mom," has a Web site, www.safetymom.com, with suggestions for holiday travel with kids.

Lawmakers have given final approval to changing the Safe Haven Law. It will now have a 30-day age limit.

BEIJING a ' More than 19,000 students died in a massive earthquake that struck Sichuan province in May, China acknowledged Friday for the first time.

The state will pay more than $6 million to former foster children of Carole DeLeon, including the estate of a 7-year-old who died of starvation in her care.

Dear Carolyn: I recently found out that my sister and her husband have decided not to have any more kids.

The three survivors, all in their 20's and living in the U.S., say the group aims to create a global network of young people like themselves who can get rehabilitated with the help of education.

Leonardo da Vinci wasn’t just a painter: he liked gadgets, and he drew incredible flying, war and nautical machines. You can see these incredible inventions come to life at the Leonardo da Vinci Machines Exhibition, which is on at the New Zealand Gallery of Fine Art. Check out the website - it’s got photos of the exhibition, and they look really cool. Ticket prices are $12.00 for adults and $8.00 for children, but there are family passes too. It’s worth a look!

Here are some French terms of endearment, expressions, and other items of note found in The Daring Book for Girls written by Andrea J. Buchanan and Miriam Peskowitz Terms of Endearment: Ma petit chou means “My little cabbage” which can be used romantically to mean “my darling” or said to a younger person to mean ‘my little one” Bonjour ma petit chou, t’as passe un bonne journee? Means “hello my little cabbage, did you have a good day?” Ma puce means “my flea”. Bonne nuit, ma puce! means “goodnight, my flea!” Fun…

Calling all mums and daughters (and grandmothers and aunts and all other cool girls)! Sunday December 7 from 2pm to 3pm at the Central Library is Girls’ Day Out: Take time out from your Christmas shopping with your mums/daughters/best friends to enjoy a girly afternoon tea (including special treats and spot prizes). Meet Jill Marshall, author of the Jane Blonde Spylet series, who will talk about her new Jane Blonde book, Goldenspy, and her book for adults, The Two Miss Parsons. So talk your Mum/Grandmother/Aunt/cool female adult into coming along to a fun time! Let us know if…

Hey, if you really, really love High School Musical you’ll be wanting to check out The Essential Guide (to HSM #1,2 and 3). There are heaps of photos of your favourite stars, and lots of interesting facts. You can find out all you ever need to know (and some things you don’t) about Troy, Gabriella and the rest of the crew… what they like, what they don’t like and stuff like that. The back cover also says you can join the Wildcats for their senior year!

Francis L’Ollonais: The cruellest of the cruel pirates. The French buccaneer tortured his captives and cut them into little pieces. Rock Braziliano: He was named after his long exile in Brazil. He was called “brutish” and “foolish”, and a drunkard. He once spit-roasted two Spanish farmers alive because they would not give him their pigs. Batholomew Portugues: Once escaped from a prison ship by using wine jars for floats. Sir Henry Morgan: The most famous of the buccaneers. He carried out merciless raids on Spanish colonies. In 1668 he forced the men of El Puerto del Principe in Cuba…

Global Kids own Carole Artigiani had her letter to the editor featured in the New York Times online. Read the article below or on the NY TImes site here. Young Social Activists Published: November 20, 2008 (in response to) Op-Ed Columnist: Talia for President (November 16, 2008) Thanks to Nicholas D. Kristof for drawing attention to the efforts and accomplishments of entrepreneurial young people who take action to address the needs of people and communities suffering from natural disasters and social injustice. The projects inspired by youths like Talia Leman, an eighth grader in Iowa, are…

I recently had the opportunity to post on MacArthur Foundation's Spotlight on Digital Media Learning blog. The Spotlight discussion, entitled RezEd.org Releases First Seasonal Report on Ethics and Virtual Worlds discusses the first seasonal report for http://www.RezEd.org, the hub for learning and virtual worlds launched last spring. Global Kids Inc. has released the first seasonal report from RezEd, Global Kids’ new hub for learning and virtual worlds, with a membership surpassing twelve hundred people. The seasonal report summarizes the range of activities and discussions taking place…

Today Mimi Ito and the Digital Youth Research group released their long awaited ethnographic report on kids informal learning through digital media, and it's a must read for any parent, educator, policy maker, journalist or administrator who's ever heard the word MySpace. More than anything else, it dispels the myth that youth involvement with the connected, digital world is at best a waste of time and at worst an impediment to their social development. The report outlines the variegated and granular nature of youth habits online, differentiating between those that use technology to "hang…

Global Kids in collaboration with TakingITGlobal were recently featured on the MacArthur Foundation's Spotlight Blog to discuss Youth Media Exchange. TakingITGlobal's Natalie Rodic and Jennifer Corriero discussed the launch and development of Youth Media Exchange, the online social network for youth interested in using digital media tools to share information on major global issues. The demonstration phase of Youth Media Exchange sought to examine the question: how is youth-produced media best conceived, organized, and disseminated to engage and educate a broad audience of global citizens?

I first learned about the crisis in Burma last year from the 30-day campaign challenge to rally 50,000 voices to speak out for the Burmese who, in their own country are not allowed to speak out for themselves. If they did they could face serious time in prison. How much? Recently a blogger speaking the truth about the oppression was sentenced 20 years in prison. After following the campaign closely and spreading the word in my hometown I found that sadly Burma’s issues are unknown by the general public. So I decided that holding a fireside workshop in TSL on the topic would be a great idea.

Girls Gone Child posted a video from Momversation.com which discusses balancing work with motherhood. The Full Mommy reviews the What’s Inside? Toy Box from One Step Ahead. Seven Dogs & a Baby features Build-a-Bear - A Friend Fur All Seasons, a new Wii game! This week on Smarter Babies & Kids: Check out some cozy nursery sheets on sale at Pottery Barn Kids. We showed you an adorable baby video.  Check out some fun science learning toys on sale!  Product recalls this week: Four product recalls on Thursday Toy Trains and Pool Toys Recalled  Answer this week’s Freebie…

Eco Child’s Play shows us a homemade corn syrup free marshmallow recipe. Did you know Obama is a hot new baby name?  Goody Blog  links us to an article which discusses this new trend. Design Mom is giving away a Orla Kiely Handbag and a $150 to All About Cute! This week on Smarter Babies & Kids: We linked you to some great Thanksgiving recipes for kids. Get a classic Radio Flyer Wagon for under $100! The Smarter Sports Blog showed their readers a cute and funny baby video, so I thought I’d share. Check out some play cookware and food that almost looks real and is on sale!

Baby Gadget features modern kids’ furniture from P’Kolino. Babyccino explains why you should always have baking soda around the house. Cool Mom Picks features Baby Loves Salsa  a new CD that will help kids appreciate salsa music. This week on Smarter Babies & Kids: We showed you some great baby and maternity store coupons and deals that will expire soon! We featured a deal on a musical toy that will help stark your child’s artist abilities. Check out Jay McGraw’s book Life Strategies for Dealing with Bullies. We featured 8 board games on sale that would make…

Thingamababy asks:  Are your kids recession-resistant? BabyCheapskate shows us 10 great gender-neutral play kitchens under $130. Posh Baby Blog features the adorable Dream Meadow Baby Playmat. This week on Smarter Babies & Kids: We gave you some links to some fun Halloween craft ideas. We showed you a deal on some babies and kids furniture that will help you keep things tidy. Check out 8 cute and cozy baby sweaters and jackets on sale! I’m sure you already have your daughter’s Halloween costume for tonight, but check out some tips from Dr. Gail Saltz that will help you make…

Mom Most Traveled recommends AllStarBuddies.com, a new virtual world for kids who love sports.  Boston Mamas features tips on how to “Green Your Halloween.” Swanky Moms reviews stylish and recyclable shopping bags from Envirosax.com. This week on Smarter Babies & Kids: Check out an article that explains why doctors are now recommending double the amount of vitamin D previously recommended. Hate playing Pictionary?  You might change your mind when you try the new Pictionary Man. Order adorable Halloween socks for just $0.99! Why not pass out organic candy to the kiddies…

My daughters have been given various paper dolls books over the years, but after playing with the paper dolls several times they either get torn, folded or lost. So instead of buying books of paper dolls, I found free printable paper dolls! Now we can just print new paper dolls when they get worn out. Printable Paper Dolls Grace Kelly Paper Doll (as shown above) Florence Nightengale Paper Doll Vintage Paper Dolls Six Different Female Dolls with Their Own Wardrobes Fairy Paper Dolls Berenstain Bears Paper Dolls If your kids are really into dolls, check out how to make your own wooden spoon…

My two older daughters went to a girl scout function last weekend and couldn’t wait to show me the craft they made out of things found in a kitchen. Close your eyes Mom! Okay. Guess what we made out of things found in a kitchen? Hmmm. Paper bag puppet? No! A wooden spoon doll! Huh? Sure enough they made cute little dolls out of wooden spoons and dish towels. Who knew those kitchen items could be used to make such a cute doll! What You Need to Make Your Own Wooden Spoon Doll: Wooden spoon Small dish towel Yarn Scissors Glue Fabric flowers Markers How to Make Your Own Wooden Spoon Doll:…

One of our favorite Christmas traditions is counting the days until Christmas with our advent calendars every year. We hang our felt Santa Claus one on the pantry door, put our wooden box one on the desk in the kitchen and put the Christmas tree one on the piano in the playroom. With three kids, it helps to have three advent calendars! But now that I have a fourth child on the way, I’m on the lookout for another advent calendar. So I looked around and found some clever ways to make your own. Make Your Own Advent Calendars: Cookie Sheet Advent Calendar Button Advent Calendar Felt…

It’s no secret that I love crafts that can be made from items I have around the house already, like these coffee filter snowflakes and sock puppets. Maybe it’s because I’m lazy, cheap, interested in keeping things simple. Yeah, that’s it! Anyway, here’s a Thanksgiving craft you can make with items you likely have around the house already . . . the paper bag turkey. What You Need to Make Paper Bag Turkeys: Small paper bag Orange, red, yellow and brown construction paper Scissors Glue or stapler Black marker or crayon How to Make Paper Bag Turkeys: 1. Have your…

Each week I take my youngest daughter to story time at the library. The librarian reads stories to the preschoolers, leads a sing along and then demonstrates a simple craft. It’s very well done and my daughter thoroughly enjoys it. So I highly recommend that you take advantage of all the free services your local library has to offer! This week we made puppets out of paper bags. Since the books were all about owls, we made owl puppets. What You Need to Make Owl Puppets Out of Paper Bags: Small paper bag Yellow, orange and brown construction paper Glue Scissors Black marker or crayon How…

Subscribe to this blog's feedDanny Edelson is Vice-President of Education for National Geographic. November 5, 2008 Dear Senator Obama, Like so many Americans, I am filled with hope this morning. One of the many reasons is your belief in the...

Subscribe to this blog's feedOne thing you can do with a degree in Geography is, well, teach geography to others. Matt Rosenberg is not your traditional classroom instructor; rather, he practices his pedagogy primarily via the World Wide Web. Matt...

Subscribe to this blog's feed Toni Schneider is a former Peace Corps Volunteer who was stationed in Bulgaria from 2005- 2007. National Geographic has had the pleasure of her company in our education department since then, and we’re honored to...

Subscribe to this blog's feed Hopefully by Friday of Geography Awareness Week, you’ve realized the value of geography. It’s current, it’s everywhere, and it underlies most of what you do - even if it doesn’t have the word ‘geography’ in...

Subscribe to this blog's feed Finally, a selection of Community Action Plans from National Geographic’s Danielle Williams and the rest of the HSBC/Earthwatch Climate Change Team, as promised. Read more about Danielle’s work with the “Sustainable Forest Management in a...

Foster your child's creativity with this drawing and painting activity.

Paint directly on your toddler's hand to make an Thanksgiving day turkey stamp.

Foster your child's creativity with this arts and crafts activity.

Try a completely different approach to painting!

Gather leaves from outside for this fun art activity.

This classic art project is sure to be hung in your window on Thanksgiving.

Foster your child's creativity with this arts and crafts activity.

This activity will track your child's growth over a short period of time.

Drawing with wet chalk makes great smooth pictures.

Bury some nuggets in the backyard, make a treasure map, and let your child go prospecting.

This guide provides instructions for a bean bag throwing game. Can your child hit the ping-pong ball off the stick?

Prepare yourself for giggles when you and your child draw pictures with your eyes closed.

You and your children can make a collection of road puppets that will divert your kids' attention while you travel.

Create Pilgrim hats to hold treats at each place setting on your Thanksgiving table.

A guide to the rules of Roman Numerals.

The Grinch has been a children’s holiday favorite for 50 years. Let your kids help you make this guacamole version for a holiday snack. Guacamole is loaded with healthy good fats, nutrients, and fewer calories than most other spreads. It’s a great food to get your child interested in. Let them help you make these fun, healthy, guacamole holiday treats. To make this tasty version of the Grinch in your kitchen, cut your favorite sandwich into a triangle, cut off the points to make a pear shape. Top with Wholly Guacamole classic, smooth and etch Grinch brows and cheeks. For…

We have a new giveaway this week here at Play Library. The first one is an assortment of 4 Betty Crocker Cookie Icings. Each Decorating icing pack will decorate 12-2 inch cookies. The decorating bags are easy to use, you can just clip the tip off and start decorating. Five lucky winners will receive one each of red, green, blue, and white icing. These will be wonderful for letting your children help you decorate those Christmas cookies. Check out these posts for fun Christmas cookie decorating ideas you can do with your kids: Colorful Christmas Cream Cheese Sugar Cookies Cookie Pops Homemade…

We have Rock Band for the Wii, but my son keeps watching all the promos for Rock Band 2. Now it’s at the top of his Christmas list, so I’ve been checking it out. Rock Band 2 will have 84 new songs, and you can import most of your songs from the original Rock Band. There will also be close to 500 songs available online for download by the end of the year. The new version is supposed to have improved playability, and more options to compete with friends, and online. You can log on and compete to see if you’re the best in the country in the Battle of the Bands. You can also go…

Before you head out to toy shop this holiday season check out the CPSC Toy Safety Tips, and their list of the most hazardous toys. What toys top the list of most hazardous toys? Scooters and other ride on toys. The CPSC warns they should always be used with protective equipment and a helmet. They also warn of the choking hazards small toys, and un-inflated balloons can cause. Toys with small magnets should not be played with by children under 6, since swallowing a magnet can be very hazardous to your child’s health. Check out all their toy safety tips before you head out to do your…

The weeks in November are flying by! I still have so much to do to get ready for the holidays. It’s hard to believe Thanksgiving will be here in less than 2 weeks. Let the kids help you get ready for the holidays. I have some fun links to help you include your children in your holiday preparations. Check out these cute Cooking Gadgets, meet the Rhinestone Robots, a set of serving dishes made from recycled parts! They’re not toys, but the kids would love them. How cute is this March of the Penguins Cheese Ball? There will be smiles all around when your guests glimpse these cute…

Color by numbers meets basic math skills in this adorable activity! Help duck make it to swim lessons by first solving the math problems in the picture then coloring in each segment based on the number of its answer. Download Duck Color by Numbers printable

Have fun honoring our veteran’s by unscrambling these words that we often associate with Veteran’s Day. When you are done, don’t forget to color the page. Download the Veteran’s Day Word Scramble (scroll down to the comments for the answer key) You might also like some more free printables such as: Veteran’s Day Coloring Page Happy Birthday USA July 4th Coloring Page July 4th Word Search 4th of July Word Scramble

The kids on my daughter’s swim team love doing pencil games while waiting for their races. This word search puzzle is for swimmers everywhere! On your mark, get set, SWIM! Download Swim Meet Word Search Puzzle You might also like: Go for the Gold - Olympic Sport Word Search It’s Football Season! Football Word Search Hockey Word Search The Little Motorcycle Gymnastics Word Search Puzzle

A bunch of turkeys are dressed up as indians and pilgrims waiting for you to print them out, color, cut and play tic-tac-toe against your favorite opponent. Print out a few copies and paste them on cardboard and host your own Thanksgiving day tic-tac-toe tournaments. Download Turkey Tic Tac Toe Print, Color and Play activity Don’t miss the rest of our Thanksgiving printable coloring pages, word games, and activities.

The pups are back, but this time they are celebrating Thanksgiving, Plymouth-style as Pilgrims! Be creative with this coloring page - use it as a count and color activity, use it as an ice breaker activity for being thankful, or come up with an angle of your own. Download the Plymouth Pups Pilgrim Thanksgiving Feast Coloring Page Can’t get enough of the pups? Check out the other pups theme activities; Dog Days of Summer & Count and Color Dogs Fall Festival Looking for more Thanksgiving printables? Check out our selection of Thanksgiving coloring pages, word search and word scramble!