Archives for November 2023

Actor and comedian Adam Sandler (Hotel Transylvania, The Wedding Singer) delivers signature laughs in this coming-of-age animated musical comedy about the last year of elementary school – as seen through the eyes of a class pet. Jaded 74-year-old lizard Leo (Sandler) has been stuck in the same Florida classroom for decades with his terrarium-mate turtle (Bill Burr). When he learns he only has one year left to live, he plans to escape to experience life on the outside but instead gets caught up in the problems of his anxious students — including an impossibly mean substitute teacher. It ends up being the strangest but most rewarding bucket list ever.

KIDS FIRST! Film Critic Madeleine H. comments, “I love the movie Leo —it is funny and relatable. Leo is a coming-of-age story, seen through the eyes of a school’s class pet, as much as it is a coming-to-terms with aging story.” See her full review and interviews below.  

Leo

By Madeleine H.K., KIDS FIRST! Film Critic, age 11

I love the movie Leo —it is funny and relatable. Leo is a coming-of-age story, seen through the eyes of a school’s class pet, as much as it is a coming-to-terms with aging story. 

The story features Leonardo (Adam Sandler) and Squirtle (Bill Burr) who are quick witted, full of jokes and the best classroom pets ever.  Leonardo, Leo for short, overhears a parent saying that lizards live up to 75; at age 74, Leo decides it is time to escape and live his life to the fullest.  In comes strict “old school” substitute teacher Ms. Malkin (Cecily Strong) who wants to teach the 5^th graders responsibility by taking turns to care for the classroom pets over the weekend.  Each reluctant 5^th grader who takes Leo home discovers his secret, along with wisdom about who they are and how they can better fit in the world.  Every student returns Leo to the classroom and Squirtle is his biggest fan, boosting Leo’s spirits and outlook on his caged life.  When his secret is revealed, jealousy and distrust seeps in and Ms. Malkin, who feels the most threatened, takes Leo away. 

Each 5^th grader experiences positive change after their time with Leo and, in return, Leo experiences living like he never has before.  The animation is colorful and realistic, from the background scenery to the small details like how a caterpillar is depicted.  Each of the actors who play the 5^th graders fits their character from their personality to their hair and body type. I especially liked Summer (Sunny Sandler) with her fast-talking, super sweet kindness, as well as the overly “great” and popular Jayda (Sadie Sandler).  The little balls of energy that represent the kindergarteners are on point.  And from the overprotected, super-safe, drone-watched home of Eli (Roey Smigel) to the over-the -top, mega-great mansion of Jayda’s family, it is easy to get a sense of each character from their surroundings. The musical element of Leo propels the characters into songs that tell of their struggles, hopes and dreams while moving the story along in a beautiful way. I like the opening song that expresses how the last year of elementary school is about being on top and the melancholy song toward the end of the film each 5^th grader sings about when they were younger.

While facing his mortality, Leo learns the important lesson that he has a lot of life experience to share. He is transformed from a grumpy old lizard with nothing to show for his 74 years to beloved friend and confidant who discovers he has many more years ahead of him.  Another theme of Leo is in the significance of not underestimating yourself and the film delivers the message to live an authentic life by sharing your talents and being true. 

 I give Leo 5 out of 5 stars and recommend it for ages 5 to 12, plus adults. Leo releases on Netflix November 21, 2023. Trailer: https://youtu.be/G_AEL-Xo5l8?si=d-3rNCjwdKmvwYkL

Looking for books for your little ones? These from Clever Publishing are a few of my favorites!

Looking for a fun activity book? This is a wonderful one! It has mazes, puzzles, coloring, and so many fun activities! It is perfect for preschool-age children and great for travel! It is affordable on Amazon.com.

Looking for a sweet story with the most adorable characters? Hedgehog’s Home For Fall is a must-buy! Children ages 4-8 will love this story!  Includes sweet, detailed illustrations that are full of humorous details; fun facts about fall; and a fun activity. You can also find it on Amazon.com.

This next one is perfect for ages 4-8. The love between grandparents and their grandchildren is the sweet topic of this book, which celebrates the individuality and special bond that an adorable giraffe, elephant, and rhinoceros each have with their grandmother and grandfather. I think this is a perfect book for the holidays! It can also be found on Amazon.com.

Clever Publishing was founded in 2010 with the purpose of changing children’s lives for the better. We create a world full of fascinating experiences for families through our books, games, sets, and series. Focusing on Pre-school and Edutainment, we’ve developed a wide range of innovative formats with modern teaching techniques. Kids love to read, touch, and play while learning, so our program includes products for all ages, including box sets; board books; puzzle books; learning flash cards; interactive coloring, activity, and word play formats; and boards games for the entire family. Our dream team – more than 100 employees worldwide – have a comprehensive understanding and knowledge of children’s books. With this expertise, we present products that are fun, entertaining, and vibrant. We are modern and educational and strive to always emphasize the importance of first experiences. We connect to the needs of busy parents and aim to enrich the time spent with their children. Our goal is to make children – and their parents – happy!

Self Disclosure: I received free copies of the above books to facilitate this feature. Images were also provided.