Posts Tagged ‘Children’

Over the Moon: The Broadway Lullaby Project is both a timeless benefit effort and a uniquely compelling multimedia experience. The project—which incorporates a 2-CD, 26-song set; a lavishly illustrated hardcover book of 17 songs from the album; a corresponding e-book encompassing the entire collection; and a documentary film and web series —gathers many of contemporary musical theatre’s greatest composers and vocalists, as well as illustrators, all of whom have donated their talent to deliver an emotionally affecting set of new lullabies, some written specifically for this project. Proceeds from sales of the book and 2-CD set will benefit breast cancer research, support and education.

Here, for your viewing and posting pleasure, is a behind-the-scenes look at the recording session for “Lucky” (Music and Lyrics by Stephen Schwartz, from the opera Seance on a Wet Afternoon). Schwartz, who was inducted into the Songwriter’s Hall of Fame and the Broadway Hall of Fame in 2009, is the composer of the smash Broadway musicals Wicked, Godspell and Pippin.

The song is performed by Tony Award-winning actress & singer Donna Murphy, with Gil Goldstein (piano), and Jody Redhage (cello), produced by Matt Pierson. Illustration by three-time Caldecott Medal winner Marc Simont.

My two children have enjoyed both mommy and daddy reading the Over The Moon book to them before bedtime. And my daughter whom always goes to sleep listening to music has insisted on the accompanying CD many times. I highly recommend the CD to help calm your children into a more restful sleep and in help to calming the business of each day far away.

The book itself is quite a work of art. I enjoyed reading the lullabies and getting lost in the beautifully expressive heartfelt lyrics and illustrations. The lullaby It’s Time Little Man brought a whirlwind of emotion to me making me realize how fast my 16 month old baby boy is growing up and that before I know it he’ll be big and grown. There are many other titles in this book that really touched me as well but that one just really stood out.

I would highly recommend the Over the Moon: The Broadway Lullaby Project. You can purchase Over the Moon: The Broadway Lullaby Project on Amazon.com for $12.89 right now! I promise it’ll be a special collection that you’ll enjoy just as much as your children ( maybe even more too!)

Disclaimer: I was sent the above mentioned product to review. This review is 100% my opinion and has not been edited or reviewed by anyone. I was not compensated in any other way for this product review.

 Peter Pan is back––but his shadow is missing! When Peter loses his shadow while playing a game of Catch-Me-If-You-Can, he returns to Never Land to seek help from his kid pirate friend Jake. Embarking on one of his most daring and exciting adventures ever, Jake and his kid pirate pals, Izzy and Cubby, along with lookout parrot Skully, must use teamwork to find Peter’s shadow and return it to its rightful owner. However, their mission is nearly thwarted by the fiendish Captain Hook, and his bumbling first mate Mr. Smee. But bravery and justice win the day and Jake and his Never Land pirate crew once again reveal what it takes to become heroes, in Disney’s “Jake and the Never Land Pirates: Peter Pan Returns.”

We recently received the brand new Jake and the Never Land Pirates 2-Disc DVD and Digital copy set a week or so go and my kids are totally enjoying it! They’d been continually watching season 1 and singing along to the music cd for quite a while. You can imagine their excitement when I presented them with a brand new addition to the Jake and Neverland Pirates DVD collection featuring the one and only Peter Pan!

This a fun DVD as it features five action and adventure packed episodes teaching children lessons in a fun way. There are plenty of great sing a long songs and in total there are five episodes making the DVD run time at about 170 minutes.  We kids love setting sail so to speak with Jake and his crew and I guarantee your kids will too!

You can purchase Jake & the Never Land Pirates: Peter Pan Returns (Two-Disc DVD + Digital Copy Combo) on Amazon.com for 12.96 right now regularly 19.99. This is a real steal and one I would totally recommend!

2011 Academy Award Nominee for Best Short Film! An animated film based on the classic children’s picture book, The Gruffalo tells the magical tale of a mouse who takes a walk though the woods in search of a nut. Encountering three animals who all wish to eat him – a fox, an owl and a snake – the plucky mouse has to use his wits to survive. He announces that he is meeting a monster with terrible features, a ‘Gruffalo’, and the three animals are each panicked into running away. Mouse is now increasingly confident; there is nothing that can touch him….. or so he thinks. That is, until he rounds a corner and comes face-to-face with the terrible creature of his imagination: the Gruffalo himself! Beautifully animated and appropriate for children of all ages. Features the voices of Helena Bonham Carter, James Corden, John Hurt, Tom Wilkinson, Robbie Coltrane and Rob Brydon.

An interesting story and a movie that is extremely eye catching and adorable in many ways. A lot of people may have been introduced to The Gruffalo by book but for my family, the DVD movie version of it was our first take and introduction on this fun tale. After reading up about the movie, it was brought to my attention that word for word found in the book was taken to create this film. How pleasing to know that nothing was added or taken away story wise. The visuals on the other hand are completely amazing breath taking even, for a child’s movie. I don’t often get blown away by the main visuals but the background imagery as well. Brava!

I would say that this story and film would be best appreciated by children ages four year old and up. It might be a little scary for the younger crowd but both my kids found the movie interesting and have watched it numerous times. Even their Grandma who watched it with them a few weeks ago really liked it! From start to finish the movie is about 1/2 an hour, so not too long or too short for the attention span of young children! There are also special features which include the making of photos gallery!

Buy it: If you are interested in sharing The Gruffalo with your own family, you can purchase the title from Ncircle Entertainment or at Amazon.com for just $7.99 right now!

Disclaimer: I was sent the above product mentioned for review. This review is 100% my opinion and has not been edited or reviewed by anyone. I was not compensated in any other way for this product review.