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Calling All Film Buffs!

November 12, 2024 By Leave a Comment

Do You Love Movies; Love Talking About Them; See Yourself Interviewing Celebs on the Red Carpet?

If so, then, we have an opportunity for you. Our KIDS FIRST! Film Critics are an international team of tween and teen reporters that watch all the latest films rated PG-13 and younger and create written and videotaped reviews. Plus, they interview the celebrities from these films at press junkets and red carpets.

This fall, KIDS FIRST! has partnered with SoCalCityKids to offer three kids, ages 9 to 16, from the greater LA area a place on our KIDS FIRST! Film Critics team. This is a limited competition and the first, second and third place winners will be comp’d the registration fee for the KIDS FIRST! Film Critic Boot Camp. ($120)

Please submit your application here: https://forms.gle/VQr9HwwX7h8URenf8

Don’t wait, the deadline is November 20!

For additional information about what the KIDS FIRST! Film Critics, go to

https://www.kidsfirst.org/become-a-juror/

You can see some of our Reporters in action here: https://www.instagram.com/kidsfirstcoming_attractions/reels/

Credit: KIDS FIRST!

Filed Under: SoCal City Kids News

Wildlife in Focus photography exhibit opens at the California Science Center

November 12, 2024 By Leave a Comment
New exhibition opens November 16, 2024

The California Science Center presents Wildlife in Focus, a beautiful photographic exhibit featuring 12 portraits of some of the animals who have called the California Science Center their home. Captured by photographer Joel Sartore for his Photo Ark project, dedicated to documenting every animal species before they disappear. Wildlife in Focus opens November 16, 2024.

More than 3,000 animals reside at the California Science Center, and together they represent hundreds of species. Some thrive in the wild, while others are at risk. Many are easy to overlook. Every animal in a zoo, aquarium, or wildlife refuge is an ambassador for its species. They help scientists, staff and the public learn the animals’ needs and how to protect them in the wild. This is especially important for rare and endangered animals. These animals may be hard to find and study in nature. Photography is a powerful tool that inspires people to help protect species while there is still time. Photographer Joel Sartore visited the California Science Center in 2019 and captured portraits of 18 animals and twelve of these photographs are on view in the exhibition.

This exhibit also highlights the team at the California Science Center who care for the animals, keeping them healthy and protecting species by tracking natural ecosystems and supporting research on threatened animals. The animals at the California Science Center are ambassadors that teach guests, staff, and researchers about the animals in our world; the first step towards caring about any animal is knowing that it’s there.

Wildlife in Focus includes a digital interactive experience where guests can input an address anywhere in the world and see photographs of local animals that have been observed in that area, demonstrating that wildlife, however big or small, is all around us.

“Our Wildlife in Focus exhibit offers a rare and intimate glimpse into the animals that call the California Science Center home and emphasizes the importance of species conservation,” said Jeffrey N. Rudolph, President and CEO of the California Science Center. “The exhibit and the stunning portraits by Joel Sartore highlight not only the beauty of these creatures but also the critical role they play in teaching us about biodiversity and inspiring action to protect wildlife for future generations.”

The Wildlife in Focus exhibit is a new addition to the Ecosystems gallery of the Science Center. Admission is FREE, and reservations are not required. Other highlights of the Ecosystems include:

  • The giant Kelp Forest where guests can join a Q&A session with a diver to learn more about these underwater forests and the animals that live there.
  • The Rocky Shore which includes a touch tank where visitors discover how sea life survives harsh conditions and can touch a creature or two.
  • The Desert with live animals including a desert tortoise, scorpions, fennec foxes, among others.

Additional zones in the Ecosystems gallery include Poles, Deep Sea Vents, Island Zone, River Zone, L.A. Zone, and Global Zone – all with interactive elements to explore.

About Joel Sartore

Joel Sartore is an award-winning photographer, speaker, author, conservationist, and the 2018 National Geographic Explorer of the Year. He is a regular contributor to National Geographic Magazine and an Eagle Scout. Joel specializes in documenting endangered species and landscapes around the world. He is the founder of the Photo Ark, a 25-year documentary project to save species and habitat.

Credit: The California Science Center.

Filed Under: SoCal City Kids News

Au Zoo: French Learning Songs * I love this CD. It’s so amusing and entertaining I forgot I was learning French!

November 12, 2024 By Leave a Comment

This lively musical introduction to French invites kids to dance and sing along to playful rhythms from reggae, merengue, and blues to African soukous, country, and more. The album enhances children’s language skills as they embark on a musical journey to the zoo filled with French-learning fun!

KIDS FIRST! Film Critic Junior R. comments, “Singing and dancing? Sign me up! Wait, and you learn French at the same time. I love this CD. It is amusing, enjoyable, and entertaining. I was having so much fun that I forgot I was learning French at the same time.” Josephine K. adds, “This CD is excellent! All the songs are fun and well written. The lyrics include a lot of beginning French words, and the music uses multiple genres. Everything is designed to help beginning French language students learn vocabulary and pronunciation.” Zoey F. wraps it up with, “Au Zoo: French Learning Songs reminds us that learning a new language can be fun. With a playlist like the one here, it makes it much easier and enjoyable to learn French.” See their full reviews below.

Au Zoo (At The Zoo): French Learning Songs

By Junior R., KIDS FIRST! Film Critic age 10

Singing and dancing? Sign me up! Wait, and you learn French at the same time. I love Au Zoo (At the Zoo): French Learning Songs CD. It is amusing, enjoyable, and entertaining. I was having so much fun that I forgot I was learning French at the same time. As soon as the music started, I was up on my feet and didn’t sit down until the entire CD was over.

This CD takes listeners on a journey through a zoo, concentrating on different animals found there like lions, flamingos, ostriches, giraffes, and monkeys, while learning to speak French. Each song has its own concept which acts as a mini-lesson. The songs introduce and repeat vocabulary, building language skills bit by bit.

The appealing thing about this CD is the creative lyrics and the fun, upbeat music. I was humming along to every song. I also appreciated the animal noises and sound effects, especially the lion’s ferocious roar! The music provides a solid, creative avenue for students; they won’t even know they are learning because the songs take the hard work out of learning a new language. Besides animals, the songs focus on holidays, back to school, the alphabet, and dancing – all familiar things for young kids. The animal theme also emphasizes an appreciation for nature and animals and learning a new language promotes an accepting other cultures and languages.

Included are 20 quirky, fun, and vibrant songs. Artist, Didier Prossaird, has exquisitely mixed an instrumental element with lyrics and lively background noises. I truly felt that I was on a safari at one point! They are all easy to sing along to and remember. I immediately recognized some, such as The Itsy Bitsy Spider. All the lyrics help beginning students learn and understand the French language. It didn’t take me long to sing along to most of the songs. Besides the animal songs, songs like Your Birthday, Happy Father’s, Happy Valentine’s Day, and Happy Back to School are included as well. My favorite songs are My Donkey, Have You Seen Fritzi, and Move and Dance. My Donkey is a silly song about a sick donkey that gets a lot of items from the doctor to feel better. Have You Seen Frizti has a memorable tune that I really enjoyed. Move and Dance made me want to move and dance!  Although the songs are geared toward younger children, I was completely engaged and wanting more. Whether you’re a young kid or just someone who loves animals and music, this CD makes learning French enjoyable.

I give Au Zoo (At the Zoo): French Learning Songs 5 out of 5 étoiles (that’s French for stars!) and recommend it for ages 2 to 12, plus adults. It is available now at online retailers.

Au Zoo French Learning Songs
By Josephine K., KIDS FIRST! Film Critic, age 12

This CD is excellent! All the songs are fun and well written. The lyrics include a lot of beginning French words, and the music uses multiple genres. Everything is designed to help beginning French language students learn vocabulary and pronunciation. My favorite song is La Tortue a Faim, which means The Hungry Turtle, and is about a turtle trying to get across a yard. It is extremely catchy and creative, plus it is very educational and has lots of action words and adverbs. This song uses a lot of repetition as well as call and response methods. The singers are quite talented and have very melodic voices that are a pleasure to listen to. The music includes many different instruments, as well as scatting and whistling which fit the songs perfectly and makes them unforgettable. Many of the songs feature children’s voices, which is great representation for the target audiences and makes the songs even more relatable.

The CD’s purpose is to teach children how to speak beginning French at a young age. It definitely hits the mark for its educational impact while delivering fun and entertaining music.

I give The Au Zoo Learning Songs 4.5 out of 5 stars and recommend it for ages 5 to 8. It is available now through online retailers so look for it.

Au Zoo (At The Zoo) – French Learning Songs

Zoey F. KIDS FIRST! Film Critic, age 12

I really like the new Au Zoo: French Learning Songs CD! It has catchy beats that are appealing to young kids and includes new and remade classics that make learning a new language a wonderful experience!

Au Zoo: French Learning Songs is a new immersive language learning CD from Whistlefritz! It uses fun songs, skits, and more to teach kids a new language – French! This CD helps kids learn French with catchy beats and simple lyrics that are easy to learn. The artist, Didier Prossaird, uses his diverse background to influence his music.

My favorite songs are Pour Faire Une Chanson and L’araignée Gypsy. Pour Faire Une Chanson is a song instructing kids about the joy of singing. I love it because the children’s vocals sung by Laura Prossaird make the mood of the song very warm and natural. She makes the children’s vocals imperfect, just as a child would sound singing it. L’araignée Gypsy is a French rendition of The Itsy-Bitsy Spider. It is a bit simpler than the other songs, and still a good song. For kids from an English-speaking country learning French a classic like this would be extremely helpful. Prossaird includes catchy rhythms from a variety of genres — reggae, African soukous, and country music. His rendition of these songs is what makes his songs so enjoyable, even for older kids.

Au Zoo: French Learning Songs reminds us that learning a new language can be fun. With a playlist like the one here, it makes it much easier and enjoyable to learn French.

I give the Au Zoo: French Learning Songs CD 5 out of 5 stars and recommend it for ages 5 to 12. It is available now through online retailers so look for it.

Filed Under: Media Reviews