Archives for May 2025

In a remote village on the island of Carpathia, a shy farm girl named Yuri is raised to fear an elusive animal species known as ochi. But when Yuri discovers a wounded baby ochi has been left behind, she escapes on a quest to bring him home.

KIDS FIRST! Film Critic Mikella G. comments, “I really like The Legend of Ochi. It is an emotional, yet inspiring film. At the same time, it is also suspenseful, and creates a slight feeling of discomfort. I enjoy each of these different aspects, because they all help to build up the interesting storyline, and bring you into the world on the island of Carpathia.” IvyJoy C. adds, “I absolutely love The Legend of Ochi. Unlike movies that I usually like, this is not primarily CGI and special effects. The writer/director, Isaiah Saxon, uses creative and talented acting, cinematography, music and puppetry to create this beautiful film.” Avalynn G. wraps it up with, “This movie starts off a little slow, but once I started to understand it, I loved it! The settings for this film are very beautiful, especially the home of the ochi. I love the relationship between Yuri and the baby ochi.” See their full reviews below.

The Legend of Ochi

Mikella G., KIDS FIRST! Film Critics, age 18

I really like The Legend of Ochi. It is an emotional, yet inspiring film. At the same time, it is also suspenseful, and creates a slight feeling of discomfort. I enjoy each of these different aspects, because they all help to build up the interesting storyline, and bring you into the world on the island of Carpathia.

This storyline is about a young girl named Yuri (Helena Zengel) who lives on a remote island in the middle of the Black Sea. The island is filled with native animals called ochis. Her father, Maxim (Willem Dafoe) has always taught her to fear these animals, as they are a threat to humankind. However, Yuri has a special place in her heart for animals, and her desire to help a lost ochi takes her on a wild adventure, uncovering a world of secrets that she never knew about.

Something that I really enjoy about this film is the cinematography. Director Isaiah Saxon has a unique style that helps to bring out the cold, uncomfortable feeling that this film exudes. There are many moments of stillness and closeups – many scenes where the camera zooms in very close on Yuri’s face. This helps the audience to really feel her loneliness and sadness. It is clear that she is undergoing something from the very beginning, and this camera work helps us to understand that, even without dialogue. Additionally, the animatronics are outstanding. All of the ochis feel so real. They look incredibly realistic, and their interactions with the humans are so interesting to watch – especially all of the communication between the baby ochi and Yuri. They are all so special and it’s amazing how such a deep connection is established, even between an animatronic and a person. The ochi feels so human-like, and has such clear emotions and feelings. The noises and sounds they make are beautiful, and the overall qualities of the ochi are highly impressive. Lastly, the message of this movie is extremely powerful. It teaches us to not assume the worst in animals, and that violence is not the answer. This film also highlights how people’s opinions are able to change over time. This is a huge aspect of today’s society. With so much constant change, and things always evolving, it’s often hard to shift the mindset of those who are set in their ways and traditions. This movie breaks that stigma, and shows us how strong the power of family and love is. The ending is particularly compelling and really moved me. I had full body chills the entire time.

The message of The Legend of Ochi is that love will always be the most powerful form of connection. Violence is never the answer and won’t bring people together.

I give The Legend of Ochi 4 out of 5 stars and recommend it to ages 12 to 18, plus adults. The Legend of Ochi releases in select theaters April 18, 2025, and everywhere on April 25, 2025.

The Legend of Ochi

By IvyJoy C., KIDS FIRST! Film Critic, age 12

I absolutely love The Legend of Ochi. Unlike movies that I usually like, this is not primarily CGI and special effects. The writer/director, Isaiah Saxon, uses creative and talented acting, cinematography, music and puppetry to create this beautiful film. Everything artistically comes together in an amazing experience.

This storyline is about a withdrawn and lonely girl named Yuri (Helena Zengel) who lives with her father, Maxim (Willem Defoe) and adopted brother, Petro (Finn Wolfhard). Yuri’s village is plagued by the seemingly ferocious, yet undeniably adorable ochi. Yuri rescues and befriends an injured baby ochi (Paul Manalatos). Yuri’s village and her father have taught her to fear the ochi. Despite this, Yuri sets off to return the ochi to its family. Her courageous yet dangerous decision brings change and unity for all.

Willem Defoe plays a much older Peter Pan like character. Dressed in rather silly armor, he leads his band of lost boys on a misguided crusade to get rid of the ochi. Helena Zengel and Emily Watson show a complex mother/daughter relationship. Robert Tygner and the other puppeteers make the baby ochi so adorable. The adult ochi realistically show expressions. This casts’ performances are complex, heartwarming and, at times, comical. The ochi communicate their emotions through what Yuri’s mother, Dasha (actor), called an inborn melody. The soundtrack, composed by David Longstreth, communicates in the same way. It brings a beautifully consistent melody that expresses the essence of each scene throughout the film. Filmed in Romania, the director of photography (Evan Prosofski) brings the beautiful mountains, roads and lakes to life. My favorite part is when Yuri reunites with her parents. The enduring love of a father, the unbreakable bond between mother and daughter, and the strength of family deeply touched me. 

The film’s message is that sometimes you must have the courage to challenge beliefs. It reminds us to look beyond the surface to gain understanding. It also teaches us that fear can sometimes keep us from having great experiences.

I give The Legend of Ochi 5 out of 5 stars and recommend it for ages 12 to 18, plus adults.  It releases in theaters on April 25, 2025.

The Legend of Ochi

By Avalynn G., KIDS FIRST! Film Critic, Age 11

 The film The Legend of Ochi is a family adventure film with many unexpected events. I love the visuals in the film. This movie was filmed in very beautiful locations and the settings are perfect for the story.

The storyline follows a young girl named Yuri who finds a small creature called an ochi after she runs away from home. Her whole life, Yuri has been told how scary and harmful the ochi are, so when she finds one, the creature has to gain her trust. The ochi and Yuri go on an adventure to reunite it with its family and, in the end; Yuri gets reunited with her family too.

This movie starts off a little slow, but once I started to understand it, I loved it! The settings for this film are very beautiful, especially the home of the ochi. I love the relationship between Yuri and the baby ochi. When they are separated they always end up finding each other and they always have each other’s back. I love how the movie shows that it is important to have a connection with your family. This movie also shows another culture and a different part of the world which is very interesting. My favorite part of this film is when Yuri finds out she can speak the ochi’s language. The ochi and Yuri are both surprised and have a bonding moment when they discover that they can speak the same language. It really sets the tone for the rest of the film, especially at the end when all the ochi’s communicate with her and the baby ochi.

The film’s message is about family and the importance of connection with everyone, even those who seem different or misunderstood. This film does have some adult language, but other than that it was great!

I give The Legend of Ochi 4 out of 5 stars and recommend it for ages 12 to 18, plus adults. This film releases in theaters April 18, 2025.

The books we read on the train, at home, on the beach, and everywhere all have a story to them. Besides the actual adventures that unfold on the pages, the book itself has a story of its own. Explore what makes each book unique and the work behind it in the newest picture book from Caldecott honor recipient, Elisha Cooper, HERE IS A BOOK.  From the first sketches to the late-night editing, the words we read have traveled far and wide to reach us

Here Is a Book is a love letter to books that shows how many elements and people contribute to making something beautiful. In this poetic and beautifully illustrated ode to creativity and the process of making books, Elisha Cooper takes readers on a journey showing how word and art move from one person to another.

I think this is a unique story that all young children will love!

HOME IS A WISH by Julia Kuo (Roaring Brook Press, Ages 3-6): A deeply moving, gorgeously illustrated picture book about leaving home and finding a new place to fit in, for anyone dealing with a move, to another town or to a new country.

Can be found at Barnes & Noble and many other places!

The perfect book for young children who may have moved to a new place or are going to move. It also is beautifully illustrated!

The last day of school is quickly approaching!

ON THE LAST DAY OF SCHOOL by Maggie C. Rudd; illustrated by Taia Morley (Farrar, Straus and Giroux (BYR), Ages 4-8): For fans of All Are Welcome and Remarkably You, this is a joyful picture book that celebrates the triumphs of the school year and the wistful feeling of it ending – the perfect gift for graduates and classrooms.

This would also make a wonderful gift for Teachers who teach young children! Can also be found at Barnes & Noble and many other stores.

This debut children’s book brings a celebration of all the ways our different brains make us special in this adorable picture book about neurodiversity.

For share day at school, Nova has to bring in something that makes her unique and she knows just the thing: her breakfast pickles!

But when the fridge opens to an empty pickle jar, Nova has to find a new share and her morning medicine leads to the perfect idea: her brain sparkles!

When Nova tells the class about her epilepsy, at first they’re confused, and she starts to worry, are her brain sparkles too unique? But Nova isn’t the only one in her class with a unique brain, and when her classmates start sharing too, what follows is a fun exploration of all the wonderful ways people and their brains are different. Find out more here.

New Children’s Book Forest Magic for Kids Sparks Imagination with Fairy Hunts, Secret Forts, and Enchanted Outdoor Adventures!

FOREST MAGIC FOR KIDS: How to Find Fairies, Make a Secret Fort, and Cook Up an Elfin Picnic.

Your enchanted guide to 50+ magical activities for everything from finding hidden flower fairies in your own backyard and making a special wizard staff to creating a tiny woodland village and making your own forest potions.

Come discover the wild magic tucked into the nooks and crannies of forests, thickets, and meadows. Search for fairy dusted glow-in-the-dark mushrooms. Find secret worlds hidden in trees and uncover the tunnels, trails, and dens of gnomes and trolls, and mice and moles. Learn to listen to the forest, make sun-warmed pine tea, and wear an evergreen crown to an elf picnic.

Look inside to learn how to:

• Keep a secret notebook filled with maps, notes, and pockets for all your discoveries
• Go on a quest for wild treasures
• Follow a queen bumblebee to her castle
• Make your own forest teas and potions
• Become best friends with a tree
• Create tiny gnomes and build cozy gnome homes
• Seek where mushrooms grow after a fairy dance
• Carve a walking stick wizard staff
• Build your own hidden forest fort

This one is so much fun and just perfect for the upcoming Summer break!

About the Author:

Susie Spikol is a naturalist at the Harris Center for Conservation Education in Hancock, New Hampshire. A lifelong animal lover, Susie now helps people of all ages connect with the natural world. She is the author of The Animal Adventurer’s Guide (Roost Books, 2002). You can find her at www.susiespikol.com.

Self Disclosure: I received free copies of the above books. Cover images and information were also provided.

Introducing The Ultimate Chick Flick Cookbook: Fall in love with over 60 mouthwatering recipes, each inspired by the iconic romantic comedies you adore [RSargent Publishing, April 2025] by Richard S. Sargent, a swoon-worthy new cookbook offering creative food and cocktail pairings for fan-favorite films like Bridget Jones’s Diary, When Harry Met Sally, The Devil Wears Prada, and more.

Richard—an award-winning actor, filmmaker, and culinary enthusiast—invites you to recreate the magic of your favorite rom-coms at home with more than 60 easy-to-make recipes and fun drinking games. In The Ultimate Chick Flick Cookbook, you’ll find irresistible appetizers, entrées, desserts, and cocktails, such as:

• Ah Ma’s Special Dumplings (Crazy Rich Asians)
• Slippery Little Suckers (Pretty Woman)
• Baby’s Leftover Pot Roast (Dirty Dancing)
• Nine Lives cocktail (Breakfast at Tiffany’s)
• Black Tea Hot Toddy (Little Women)
• Cosmo Girl (Legally Blonde)
• Lonely Chicago Pie (Waitress)
• Brewski Beer Cheesecake (Barbie)
• Kalteen Bars (Mean Girls)
• And so much more!

“This book is my love letter to the romantic comedies I feel are universal,” Richard says. “I felt that by bringing the audience into the film through my love of cooking, it would make the films feel even more relatable.”

I love the movie choices and all the recipes! Here’s one of my favorite recipes:

Excerpted from The Ultimate Chick Flick Cookbook by Richard S. Sargent. Copyright © 2025 RSargent Publishing. Reprinted with permission from Richard S. Sargent. Palm Springs, CA. All rights reserved.

Wind Beneath My Cauliflower Wings

At a pivotal moment in the film, we hear Bette‘s “Wind Beneath My Wings,“ a timeless classic that is essentially a love letter from CC to Hillary. Even with its ups and downs, their friendship was able to stand the test of time, which might be why this movie makes me cry every damn time.

Difficulty: Easier than building a career on Broadway

Yield: 6 servings

Prep time: 20 minutes

Cook time: 40 minutes

Ingredients:

2 large heads cauliflower, cut into bite-size “wings”

11/2 cups oat milk

2 cups all-purpose flour

4 tablespoons melted butter, separated

1 tablespoon liquid smoke

1 tablespoon garlic powder

1 tablespoon onion powder

2 tablespoons salt

2 tablespoons pepper

2 cups panko breadcrumbs

1 cup seasoned breadcrumbs

1 cup Frank’s Red Hot

1/2 cup unsalted butter

1 teaspoon garlic salt

ranch or bleu cheese dressing, optional

celery sticks, optional

carrot sticks, optional

Directions:

1. Preheat the oven to 450°F, and wash and dry your cauliflower pieces.

2. In a large bowl, mix the oat milk, flour, 2 tablespoons of the melted butter, liquid smoke, garlic powder, onion powder, salt and pepper and whisk until smooth.

3. Using your fingers (or a fork), dip the cauliflower pieces in the batter, toss to coat completely, remove and shake off excess. Set aside.

4. In a medium bowl, combine the panko breadcrumbs, seasoned breadcrumbs, and remaining 2 tablespoons of melted butter. Toss the battered cauliflower in the breadcrumb mixture.

5. Place the cauliflower on a parchment-lined pan and bake for 15 minutes. Flip and cook for another 10 minutes or until the cauliflower is tender and the coating is crispy.

6. While the cauliflower is in the oven, heat the Frank’s Red Hot and 1⁄2 cup of butter in a pot on medium heat. Once the butter is melted, add the garlic salt and stir to combine.

7. Remove the finished cauliflower from the oven and place it in a large bowl with a lid. Pour the sauce over the cauliflower and put the lid on tightly. Gently toss the wings in the sauce, turning the covered bowl upside down and back again.

8. Plate and serve with ranch or bleu cheese dressing, celery and carrot sticks.

Happy Mother’s Day!

Self Disclosure: I received a free copy of the book to facilitate this holiday post. The images, and information were provided.

The I Love Trader Joe’s® Cookbook: 15th Anniversary Edition by Cherie Mercer Twohy 
$19.95; March 18, 2025
For the parent who loves to cook—or can’t resist a Trader Joe’s run—The I Love Trader Joe’s® Cookbook: 15th Anniversary Edition is packed with fun, budget-friendly, and delicious recipes, perfect for whipping up easy weeknight meals, party-ready bites, and special treats with their favorite TJ’s finds! 

One of my favorite recipes is the General TSAO Chicken Wraps! I love that the recipes are simple to follow and there is a great variety of recipes.

 CHICKA CHICKA I LOVE MOM (on-sale: 3/11/25), Mother’s Day shopping hasn’t been easier.

Featuring the same rhythmic charm and delightful illustrations that have captivated CHICKA CHICKA readers for 35+ years and sold close to 30 million copies, these two new alphabet books celebrate the joy of parent-child connections and are the perfect read aloud between a parent and child.

CHICKA CHICKA I LOVE MOM features engaging rhymes, vibrant artwork, and a gift-ready “To/From” section, making them the perfect present, not just for Mother’s Day, but also for birthdays, Valentine’s Day, and baby showers.

Author Bio

Bill Martin, Jr. (1916–2004) has been called “America’s favorite children’s author.” He wrote more than 300 books for children, including the classic texts Brown Bear, Brown Bear, What Do You See?, illustrated by Eric Carle, and Chicka Chicka Boom Boom, illustrated by Lois Ehlert.

John Archambault is a poet, journalist, and storyteller who worked with Bill Martin, Jr. on several projects. He lives in Idyllwild-Pine Cove, California.



Julien Chung has been a professional designer and illustrator for over twenty-five years. He is the illustrator of picture books such as Chicka Chicka Ho Ho Ho and Chicka Chicka Tricka Treat, companions to the bestselling Chicka Chicka Boom Boom; Becoming Blue by Ellen Tarlow; Vrooom, Vrooom! by Mary Lyn Ray; and 365 by Miranda Paul. He has created licensed characters for brands worldwide and works for La Presse newspaper in Montreal, Quebec. He lives in Montreal with his wife and a lovebird named Cookie.

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