Archives for March 3, 2017

The Cat in the Hat joins Nick and Sally who are exploring the backyard when something extraordinary finds them – a flying robotic dog! The robot lands and does some exploring of his own, gulping up rock samples and photographing the Cat, Nick, Sally and Fish before blasting off back into space!  What was that thing? Where did it come from? Where is it going? The Cat in the Hat fires up his Space-ama-racer and whisks Nick, Sally and Fish off on a cosmic adventure in search of the robot. KIDS FIRST! Film Critic Tristan T. comments, “Young children will appreciate the rhyming lyrics and easy to follow story line.  Parents can be assured their children are learning within a fun environment.”  Abigail Zoe L. adds, “I really enjoyed this DVD. The animation is colorful, the storyline is engaging and the characters are fun to watch. I like how the Cat rhymes and sings. I also like learning about space and the solar system. My favorite character is Rover the Dog who explores different planets and takes pictures of them.”

See their full reviews below.

Cat in the Hat knows a lot about Space

By Tristan T. , KIDS FIRST! Film Critic, 14 years old

The Cat in the Hat knows a lot about Space is a delightful animated film that incorporates learning with fun. Young imaginations soar as Cat in the Hat leads Nick and Sally through space on this easy to follow, yet engaging film.

It is just another day playing in the backyard for Nick and Sally, until they are once again joined by the always lovable Cat in the Hat and his trusty pal, Fish.  They soon have a visitor from outer-space – a flying robotic dog.  The Cat in the Hat prepares his Space-ama-racer and takes Nick and Sally on an adventure to follow this space dog on a cosmic mission.  The team encounters many obstacles along the way and must work together to help their new space dog friend and find their way back to planet Earth.

My favorite character is Space Rover because he has fun while learning and exploring his environment. Much like a real dog, Rover uses his senses to guide him and sometimes this gets him into some sticky situations. Thankfully the Cat in the Hat, Nick, Sally and Fish are there to help him out. This teaches the value of teamwork and problem-solving skills.

While Cat in the Hat knows a lot about Space is not considered a musical, the characters do break into an occasional song. I find these songs enjoyable and they actually add another level of fun to the experience. The Cat in the Hat (Martin Short) has a goofy voice that kids feel comfortable with and he uses words and phrases that are age appropriate, making the story easy for young audiences to follow. In line with other Dr. Seuss videos, this also speaks in rhyme throughout, but never to the point where I felt it was annoying. The animation is simple and plain, but still visually appealing.  It is consistent with other Cat in the Hat videos.

I recommend this film for ages 2 to 8.  Young children will appreciate the rhyming lyrics and easy to follow story line.  Parents can be assured their children are learning within a fun environment.  The Cat in the Hat knows a lot about Space does not disappoint, as it is right in-line with the other Dr. Seuss stories. I rate this DVD 4 out of 5 stars.  It is available now on DVD.

The Cat And The Hat Knows A Lot About Space

By Abigail Zoe L., KIDS FIRST! Film Critic, age 9

I really enjoyed this DVD. The animation is colorful, the storyline is engaging and the characters are fun to watch. I like how the Cat rhymes and sings. I also like learning about space and the solar system. My favorite character is Rover the Dog who explores different planets and takes pictures of them. His tail squirts out fire when he flies, which I think is hysterical.

The story is about the adventures of Cat in the Hat with Sally, Nick and Fish as they follow a robot dog into space. They meet up with Rover’s owner, Astronaut Audrey who guides them to different planets, through Asteroid fields and space junk. We learn that when Rover is on different planets he brings back rock samples to the space station so Astronaut Audrey can study them. The cool thing is that not only do the characters learn facts about space but so do we!

My favorite part of the DVD is when Rover the Dog goes to Nick and Sally’s house and spends time digging in the yard, taking photos of flowers and everyone. I laughed my head off when Rover takes a picture of Fish which causes him to freak out! Fish freaks out because he thinks he’s going to be eaten. Oh do I love Martin Short as the voice of The Cat in the Hat. He’s super animated and super funny. I can’t think of a better voice.

The message of this collection is that space is fun and, as The Cat in The Hat says,“Space is planet Earth’s biggest backyard.” This means that space has a lot for us to explore and learn about such as: Venus is the hottest planet in the solar system. Mars is half the size of earth and has no gravity. Dust storms can cover the entire planet of Mars and last for days. Jupiter is the biggest planet, has no surface to land on and has a red spot that is a storm which has lasted for years. Also, the sun is so large that you can fit all the planets in the solar system into it. Wow! My head is spinning with all this exciting new information!

There are a lot of great songs and rhymes by the Cat in the Hat. Fish is really funny, has lots of personality and attitude, but at the same time is always worried.  This DVD is extremely enjoyable. Not only does it teach kids about space but it has a dog. Who doesn’t like a cute robot dog? I recommend it for ages 4 to 7 and give it 4 out of 5 stars (or should I say) cat hats for its humor, colorful animation and educational lessons. The DVD is available now wherever DVDs are sold so, be sure to check it out for your budding scientists!

Credit: KIDS FIRST!

This is such a delightful book that I highly recommend for young children!~ SoCal City Kids.

Helping Kids Develop an Attitude of Gratitude

By Kat Kronenberg

“No pessimist ever discovered the secret of the stars or sailed an uncharted land, or opened a new doorway for the human spirit.” —Helen Keller

Life can be hard. Life can be scary and filled with crazy twists and turns we don’t see coming. How do we navigate these crazy roads with our kids? How can we help them process their pain, disappointment, and perceived failures? BY DEVELOPING AN ATTITUDE OF GRATITUDE!

Viktor Frankl, who was the only survivor of his family along with his sister from the Nazi concentration camps, came out of this grueling experience to write a book he titled “Saying Yes to Life in Spite of Everything.” Our English translates this title to “Man’s Search for Meaning.” No matter how treacherous and scary the roads we travel, if we choice to say “Yes!” to find ways to use what we go through for the good of ourselves and others, then we too can give our hardship meaning and purpose. We get to rise above the dark clouds to where the sun is always shining. Gratitude always lifts a fallen spirit.

Over the years, with a lot of research and trial and error, I found “three parts of the road” that can help lead and show our kids how to rise above, where to travel, and what direction to go in so that they too can find meaning no matter how scary, dark, or undefined the turns that come racing into their reality might be. These three parts are your smile, hope, and connection.

A Smile: Your U-Shaped Bridge leads to an attitude of gratitude                                                                             

A smile speaks every language, transcends any hardship, changes the energy in a room, and the depth of a mood. A smile has power to create or change any reality. A smile allows us to give thanks no matter what, and develop an attitude of gratitude that can allow us to hold and withstand any load. If we can find a way by ourselves or with the help of another to put a smile on our face, we can prevail with a “YES”! We can cross any crevice. We have a U-Shaped bridge to anywhere.

Hope:  Your “Pillar, Whoopy, Lovey, favorite blanket or stuffed animal” that is by your side no matter what happens

Hope is the pillar on one side of your U-Shaped bridge. I like to call this deeply-rooted, stable pillar a belief in yourself, your dreams, and the strength of “Something Bigger” that is out there always watching over you. When we believe in all three, we can endure almost anything. We have the warmest, safest, best blanket that can cover any pot hole we encounter. We can and will get to the other side. We are not alone.

Connection: A pillar of strength created by your ability to look into the eyes of someone you love dearly and see their adoration, inspiration, and motivation

As Frankl wrote in his book, “Love is the ultimate and the highest goal to which Man can aspire…In a position of utter desolation, when Man cannot express himself in positive action, when his only achievement may consist in enduring his sufferings in the right way – an honorable way – in such a position Man can, through loving contemplation of the image he carries of his beloved, achieve fulfillment.” A truly firm, enduring pillar on the other side of our U-Shaped bridge that can weather any storm. The gift, beauty and strength of love.

To make your kid’s U-Shaped Bridge the road they choose when they are lost and confused, every morning and night together name three things you are grateful for, and start sharing smiles every day. Help each other. Train one another to travel down the most beautiful landscaped roads. Allow each other to radiate smiles through tears, pain, and heartache; to share smiles of complete, abandoned, and silly fun with no care for how others will judge you; to give genuine smiles to people who have hurt or disappointed you; and to smile just because.

Remember when we choose to say “YES” we are celebrating this great adventure we call life no matter what road we are on. We can always rise above, bridge any void with a smile, and find at least three things we are thankful for. No matter what kind of day we have had we can always find, share, and smile about a best part.

Kat Kronenberg is a debut children’s book author living in Austin, Texas. As a member of the Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators, her hope and dream is that through reading we can encourage one another other to “follow our bliss,” stay in the arena fighting for our dreams, and allow joy and fulfillment to be our internal GPS. In addition to spreading her message through her children’s book Dream Big, she also provides interactive games that promote positive thinking, Common Core aligned discussion and project guides, and free downloadable activity sheets at www.katkronenberg.com.

Dream Big (Greenleaf Book Group, January 2017) will be available from Amazon as of January 10, 2017 and other booksellers nationwide.

Credit: Guest post by Kat Kronenberg.