Archives for June 2022

Season Six, titled Bunk’d: Learning the Ropes, begins as Lou, Parker, Destiny and Noah arrive at the soon-to-be Kikiwaka Ranch in Dusty Tush, Wyoming, where Lou must convince the surly owner, a.k.a. “The Marshal” to officially sell the property to her. In the meantime, counselors Noah and Destiny have their hands full with the newly arrived campers, including Bill, a no-nonsense descendant of famous cowboy Bill Pickett who prefers roping cattle to hanging out with friends; Winnie, a fearless girl who’s earned the nickname “Wild Winnie” by breaking the rules and occasionally blowing things up; and Jake, a laid-back, easy-going boy who also happens to be a video-gaming fanatic.

KIDS FIRST! Film Critic Carlee S. comments, “Bunk’d is back for Season Six with many exciting surprises. Bunk’d: Learning the Ropes welcomes familiar faces along with new campers to Kikiwaka Ranch in Dusty Tush, Wyoming for a Wild West experience.” See her full review below.

Bunk’d: Learning the Ropes
By Carlee S., KIDS FIRST! Film Critic, Age 17

Bunk’d is back for Season Six with many exciting surprises. Bunk’d: Learning the Ropes welcomes familiar faces along with new campers to Kikiwaka Ranch in Dusty Tush, Wyoming for a Wild West experience.

The first episode starts off in a new setting called Kikiwaka Ranch where we learn that Lou (Miranda May, who is also director and executive producer) has opened a new Wild West camp to campers. However, Lou later reveals she isn’t exactly the legal owner of the camp, yet. This is a problem that she asks Parker (Trevor Tordjman) to help her with since new campers are arriving. Meanwhile, Destiny (Mallory James Mahoney) and Noah (Israel Johnson) are the camp counselors at the new camp. They are eager to meet their new campers, but soon realize that three new campers — Jake (Luke Busey), Bill (Alfred Lewis) and Winnie (Shiloh Verrico) — are not who they were expecting.

My favorite scene is when the new campers Winnie, Jake and Bill set off on an adventure alone.  Bill is distracted and falls deep into an abandoned mineshaft. Without hesitation, Winnie and Jake jump in to try and save Bill. Alone in the cave they realize that no one is around to save them. The suspense of the scene and getting to see the new campers work together to try and escape before the cave collapses is entertaining. The Wild West setting is a new refreshing addition to the series. The décor of the camp and the addition of the mine help viewers get a sense of the Wild West without being overdone. The new campers are relatable to many viewers. Each one has a personality that adds interest to the show.  Their outfits fit perfectly with their personalities. Bill is a young cowboy trying to uphold a family legacy whose clothes fit perfectly the theme of the show. Luke is a laid-back gamer trying to find enjoyment at camp without video games. Winnie is daring, yet kind- hearted and wears edgy clothes. In contrast, her counselor, Destiny, is affectionate and very stylish. Her bright clothes and curled hair display that she is really into fashion.

The messages in the show this season are about building friendships and accepting others for who they are helps people grow. The campers each have their own style and their own strengths, which make them unique. Despite their differences, the bonds they create working together as a team help them form friendships.

I give Bunk’d: Learning The Ropes, Season Six, 5 out of 5 stars and recommend it for ages 8 to 14. Season six premieres June 10, 2022 on Disney Channel.

Looking for a summer book for your middle schooler this summer? This one is highly recommended! The newest book in the eco-fiction Sharks, Inc series by Randy Wayne White is the third book in the middle-grade series, a spin-off of the New York Times bestselling Doc Ford series, where each book is an exciting adventure-mystery that tackles different conservation issues in Florida.
 
CROCS follows the three friends, enlisted by Doc Ford himself to help Floridian wildlife, as they discover a huge saltwater crocodile, illegal reptile selling, and claims about the ghost of a dead king.
 
This series is great for kids who love mystery, adventure, and science, and it’s the perfect introduction to environmentalism and conservation efforts! 

You can find it at https://us.macmillan.com/books/9781250813510/crocs

Self Disclosure: I received a free copy of the book to facilitate this post. A cover image was also provided.

Welcome back to Equestria, where pony magic is everywhere. With friends Zipp, Sunny, Izzy, Pipp and Hitch leading the way, adventure is sure to follow! The series will center on the adventures of Sunny Starscout and her friends after the events depicted in the film. Created with a dazzling 3D CG animation style evocative of the recent film, the special and series will follow the MANE 5 on a journey of self-discovery told through action-packed, hilarious, and heartfelt stories.

KIDS FIRST! Film Critic Giana N. comments, “My Little Pony: Make Your Mark is an entertaining, full-length episode that will have audiences counting the days until the release of the upcoming series. This show doesn’t really require you to watch the My Little Pony movie beforehand, and that is a good thing.” See her full review below.

My Little Pony: Make Your Mark

Giana N., KIDS FIRST! Film Critic, Age 11

My Little Pony: Make Your Mark is an entertaining, full-length episode that will have audiences counting the days until the release of the upcoming series. This show doesn’t really require you to watch the My Little Pony movie beforehand, and that is a good thing. You’ll be entertained watching this show either way.

This show focuses on the new characters that were first presented in the previous movie, My Little Pony: A New Generation. In Maritime Bay, it’s now normal for Earth Ponies, Unicorns, and Pegasi to interact with each other and to be friends. But lately things have been tense between some of the ponies, and their friendship has been off. Zipp Storm (Maitreyi Ramakrishnan) has noticed this tension has caused the unity crystal’s power to fade. Now Zipp and her friends have to figure out a way to stop it before it gets out of hand.

In My Little Pony: Mark Your Mark I like that the five ponies’ friendship is so strong it’s the only thing needed to keep the power of the crystal from fading. They don’t do it individually—they do it together. My favorite characters in this show are Sunny (Jenna Warren) and Izzy (Ana Sani). I like Sunny and Izzy because they both have positive attitudes no matter the situation, and they are nice, genuine ponies. I think that was one of the key factors in saving Maritime Bay. I also like Zipp because she is funny and confident. Another thing I like about this show is that it includes everyone’s differences, which sends the message that even if you are different, you can still be friends and work together.

The message of My Little Pony: Mark Your Mark is that you have to do what is right and good for you and not what’s good for other people. Throughout the show, this is shown through Zipp’s character. She doesn’t know whether she wants to go back home and become a princess, or stay in Maritime Bay with her friends. In the end, she does what is right for her. My Little Pony: Mark Your Mark is family friendly and has a really good message that everyone, no matter who they are, will take away

I give My Little Pony: Make Your Mark 4.5 out of 5 stars and recommend it for ages 4 to 8. You can watch this show on Netflix starting May 26, 2022. Be sure to check it out!

Hollywood Stargirl is a sequel to the 2020 Disney+ hit about free spirit Stargirl Caraway, a silver-voiced teenager whose simple acts of kindness work magic in the lives of others, that follows Stargirl’s journey out of Mica, Arizona and into a bigger world of music, dreams and possibilities. When her mother Ana is hired as the costume designer on a movie, they relocate to L.A., where Stargirl quickly becomes involved with an eclectic assortment of characters. They include aspiring filmmaking brothers Evan and Terrell; Mr. Mitchell, one of Stargirl’s neighbors; and Roxanne Martel, a musician Stargirl admires and encounters on her journey.

KIDS FIRST! Film Critic Heather S. comments, “Hollywood Stargirl is the perfect sequel! We reunite with favorite characters from Stargirl and see how much they’ve grown. By the end of the film we are left wanting to see more of these characters—which is a good thing!” See her full review below.

Hollywood Stargirl 

By Heather S., KIDS FIRST! Film Critic, age 16

Hollywood Stargirl is the perfect sequel! We reunite with favorite characters from Stargirl and see how much they’ve grown. By the end of the film we are left wanting to see more of these characters—which is a good thing!

Hollywood Stargirl is very relatable and follows Stargirl (Grace VanderWaal) who has recently moved to Los Angeles. She meets new friends in her apartment building and begins filming a movie. In the first Stargirl film, Stargirl herself is incredibly free spirited and inspires others. In Hollywood Stargirl, she struggles with her emotions, living somewhere new, and wanting to make friends. Seeing a teen girl who is lost and isn’t quite sure where her place in the world is so comforting because it reminds young audiences that others feel the same way they do.  And it’s a good motivation to live life to the fullest.

Stargirl’s wardrobe is spectacular, and it encapsulates her character perfectly. Grace’s acting is magnificent, too, and how she shows Stargirl’s deepest emotions in quiet scenes is very engaging. Stand out scenes like Stargirl singing in her room and going to a club to watch singers perform are heartwarming—it’s wonderful to see her grow comfortable in herself and her music. Grace’s chemistry with her co-star Elijah Richardson, who plays Evan, is phenomenal. Two young actors bring comedy, friendship, and all awkward teenage emotions to the screen with such simple performances.  Hollywood Stargirl proves that contemporary cinema needs more movies like these. 

Stargirl learns several lessons throughout the film. She learns to communicate her feelings to her mom, to feel comfortable in her music and how to turn her life into an adventure. For the first time, Stargirl learns the importance of friendship and camaraderie. 

I give Hollywood Stargirl 5 out of 5 stars and recommend it for ages 12 to 18, plus adults. It begins streaming on Disney+ June 3, 2022.