Archives for October 2025

In season two of “Wizards Beyond Waverly Place,” Billie grapples with the fact that being part of the Russo family might be more complicated than she thought —especially now that she’s not the only wizard in the house. Thanks to Roman and Milo’s new magical powers, Justin is now tasked with training three young wizards for the Family Wizard Competition. As the stakes rise inside and outside the family, a mysterious new threat emerges—one that could unravel the Russos forever.

KIDS FIRST!  Film Critic Kennedy P. comments, “I absolutely love Wizards Beyond Waverly Place: Season 2. It’s one of my favorite shows on Disney Channel because it mixes magic, family, and humor in such a fun way. The show’s message teaches us that family, love, and responsibility are more powerful than magic alone.” See her full review and interview with cast and crew below.

Wizards Beyond Waverly Place: Season 2
By Kennedy P., KIDS FIRST!  Film Critic, age 11

I absolutely love Wizards Beyond Waverly Place: Season 2. It’s one of my favorite shows on Disney Channel because it mixes magic, family, and humor in such a fun way.

In this season, Billie grapples with the fact that being part of the Russo family might be more complicated than she thought, especially now that she’s not the only wizard in the house. Thanks to Roman and Milo’s new magical powers, Justin is now tasked with training three young wizards for the Family Wizard Competition. As the stakes rise inside and outside the family, a mysterious new threat emerges, one that could unravel the Russos forever.

The cast is amazing! I love how not only Billie (Janice LeAnn Brown) and Justin (David Henrie) have powers, but now Roman (Alkaio Thiele) and Milo (Max Matenko) also have powers and they’re definitely stirring things up in the Russo household. I also love how the new characters add more depth and excitement to the story. One of my favorite new characters is the talented Freya Skye, who plays Piper, a girl who can see visions of the future. The setting continues to be beautifully magical, with awesome spell effects, enchanting sets, and a sense of wonder that feels brand new.  Season 2 really takes the magic to the next level with bigger visual effects and deeper character moments, while still keeping the heart and humor that the series is known for. What is really special about Wizards Beyond Waverly Place is its message.

The show’s message teaches us that family, love, and responsibility are more powerful than magic alone. It shows that being true to yourself, helping others, and working together can overcome even the toughest problems and real magic comes from caring, courage, and staying strong in your beliefs.

Wizards Beyond Waverly Place Season 2 gets 5 out of 5 stars from me and I recommend it for ages 5 to 18, plus adults.  There are ten episodes; many are available on the Disney Channel now and new ones release every Friday night through October 17, 2025.  All of Season 2 will premiere on Disney Plus on October 8, 2025.

In New York City’s most quickly gentrifying neighborhoods, a group of fearless residents, activists, and nonprofit attorneys fight corrupt landlords and developers for the basic human right to a home.

Slumlord Millionaire is a feature documentary about gentrification and the housing crisis. The median rent nationwide has surpassed $2,000 per month for the first time in U.S. history. In NYC, the rent in Manhattan is now an unbelievable $5,000 per month and experts predict it will only get worse. As rents increase, some landlords have become more aggressive in trying to get long-term tenants to move out of their homes. They ignore repairs, turn off heat and gas, and do nothing to eliminate vermin infestations. The landlord’s goal is to make the apartment so uninhabitable that residents are forced out and the landlord can deregulate the apartment and turn it over to market rate for a high profit. These actions drive up costs in the already unaffordable housing market, and displace families who make up the fabric of the neighborhood, changing communities forever. 

KIDS FIRST! Film Critic Zoe F. comments, “I like the documentary Slumlord Millionaire because it is extremely educational and highlights so many powerful voices. It is a powerful documentary about activism and many brave initiatives and individuals. The biggest thing I learned from Slumlord Millionaire is how landlords can so easily control their tenants.” See her full review below.

Slumlord Millionaire
By Zoey F., KIDS FIRST! Film Critic, Age 14

I like the documentary Slumlord Millionaire because it is extremely educational and highlights so many powerful voices. It is a powerful documentary about activism and many brave initiatives and individuals.

Slumlord Millionaire gives us a view into the lives of families in New York City. It specifically explores the effect of the toxic real estate industry on middle and lower-class people. People, such as the Bravo Family share their story of an unfair landlord, horrible living conditions, and communities broken apart. This is especially true in locations like Chinatown, Brooklyn, and Manhattan.

The biggest thing I learned from Slumlord Millionaire is how landlords can so easily control their tenants. The Bravo family has been in a legal battle with their landlord for 15 years. Nathan Bravo developed asthma because of mold and cockroaches in his house. The Bravo family decided to try to get a law passed that forces landlords to fix these apartments. Then their landlord calls them in an angry fit, telling them that if they were smart enough to get a law passed, then they should just move out. This landlord was also known for being extremely racist to Hispanic families staying in one of their apartments. The Bravo family and one other were treated with the most disrespect due to their ethnicity. Landlords, especially for lower- and middle-class families, have so much power over their tenants. They constantly raise prices of housing, while the tenants’ income stays the same. A landlord determines what kind of conditions their tenants live in. This film explains that there are both good and corrupt landlords. The “good” landlords will have fair prices, showing their care for their tenants. The corrupt landlords will charge unfair prices to their tenants and not fix any damage in the apartment. The reason this is so impactful and important is because NYC is driven by the real estate industry. Most people in New York City have been housing insecure since after World War II. Housing costs have increased unfairly over the years. In fact, one-third of New Yorkers spend over fifty percent of their income on rent. Housing insecurity remains a big issue because, instead of helping people who already live in New York City, big companies are choosing to continue building apartments for middle to high class income people.

Slumlord Millionaire taught me to be more grateful for everything I have. The people whose stories are shared in this film live in horrible conditions. This documentary not only honors and respects those people but also plants a silent seed of gratitude in the audience’s mind. Slumlord Millionaire proposes that housing is a human right. Making money should not be more important than community and comfort. Please be advised that Slumlord Millionaire contains some profanity.

I give Slumlord Millionaire 5 out of 5 stars and recommend it for ages 12 to 18, plus adults. You can watch it on Prime Video, Netflix, Hulu and other streaming platforms now.

Trailer:

A deeply heartfelt picture book about sea turtle conservation efforts in Oaxaca, Mexico.

Papá Grande was once a sea turtle poacher but now he spends his days and nights caring for these endangered creatures. From greeting the turtles on the beach to protecting their eggs in the carefully constructed hatchery, there’s always something to do to help these turtles fight against looming extinction. With elegant text, lush illustrations, and detailed backmatter this book is the perfect way to introduce little ones to sea turtle conservation, ocean habitats and animal life cycles.

A great book that is educational and fun to read!

This novel in verse, based on a true story, follows twelve-year-old Roberto Alvarez as he becomes the lead plaintiff in a landmark school desegregation case against the Lemon Grove School Board, challenging the enforced segregation of Mexican children into a retrofitted barn school during the Great Depression.

Twelve-year-old Roberto Alvarez is the youngest of his siblings, born on United States soil. He’s el futuro, their dream for a life away from the fire of the Mexican Revolution.

Moved by anti-immigrant and anti-Mexican propaganda, the Lemon Grove school board and chamber of commerce create a separate “Americanization” school for the Mexican children attending the Lemon Grove Grammar School. But the new Olive Street School is an old barn retrofitted for the children forced to attend a segregated school.

Amid threats of deportation, the Comité de Vecinos risk everything to stand their ground and, with the support of the Mexican Consulate, choose Roberto as the lead plaintiff in a lawsuit against the school board in this vivid and uplifting novel in verse based on true events.

From critically-acclaimed author María Dolores Águila (Barrio Rising) comes an inspiring novel in verse set against the backdrop of the Great Depression and Mexican Repatriation, based on the true story of the United States’ first successful school desegregation case, two decades before Brown v. Board of Education ruled that racial segregation in public schools was unconstitutional. It is an extremely powerful story!

For fans of School’s First Day of School, this is a picture book about a young girl who is feeling mixed emotions about her first day of school.

Some feelings are so big, one word just doesn’t cut it.    

It’s the first day of school for Afua! There’s no one word to name her feelings. Is she scared? Excited? Oh wait, she’s scarecited! Her own combination of both. Why should she have to choose?

Scarecited on the First Day of School is a charming picture book that reminds us all that having the courage to be our authentic self is always just enough, and you can feel more than one big emotion at the same time. But if there isn’t one word to describe those feelings . . . there’s beauty in making it yourself.

he Little Gothic Bakeshop showcases over 50 spooky and inventive recipes from The Great British Baking Show star, Helena Garcia, who impressed the judges and audiences alike with her creepy creations. Brewing with mystique, this cookbook is your go-to guide to easily transform ordinary recipes into macabre masterpieces, including devilishly delicious cakes, cookies, pastries, breads, desserts, and drinks. 

Covering Bewitching Beverages, Spooky Cookies and Candies, Ghoulish Breads and Pastries, To-Die-For Desserts, and Macabre Cakes and Bakes, this book will be a hit!

A combination of tactile illustration and darkened photography throughout the book is a homage to the old Victorian aesthetic of gothic elegance. Step into the dark side of baking and discover recipes that are easy to make, fun and spooky to design, and delicious to consume. Whether you’re an everyday goth or Halloween-obsessed, The Little Gothic Bakeshop is filled with tricks and treats designed to bring some ghoulish fun to your baking repertoire! The perfect cookbook for Halloween!

About the Author:

Author, baker, and television personality Helena Garcia was born in Spain. Helena was one of the 2019 Great British Bake Off contestants, winning the hearts of the nation with her eccentric style, spooky approach, and fun-loving personality. She has also appeared in several television shows, including the hit series What We Do in the Shadows, and she continues to write for national and international publications.

Obsessed with anything witchy, Helena’s self-published book, Introduction to Witchery: A Magical Guide for Witches that Craft, is a go-to guide for crafty witches that covers a bit of history of witchcraft in Britain, a guide to magical plants, and plenty of craft projects and recipes to help you live like every day is Halloween. Her second book, The Wicked Baker, was released in 2020, followed by The Witch-Crafting Handbook in 2021 and The Book of Gingerbread in 2023. Her first picture book, My Mummy, was also published in 2023.

Helena lives in Yorkshire with husband Will, daughter Flora, and rescue wolf-dog Kato.

This dual-timeline story follows two young heroes—one in 731 China, and one in 1931 Chinatown—on perilous journeys to save their families. While Han Yu and Luli are living centuries apart, Karina masterfully weaves their stories together through the characters’ shared love of bao, silks, poetry, furry friends, and their families. The result is a timeless story that will encourage young readers to trust their instincts, step outside their comfort zones, and see the magic in their own lives. 

Middle school readers will love this book! It has adventure, and readers will be able to really relate to the characters! I also love that there are animal friends, and it truly is a magical story!

Self Disclosure: I received free copies of the above books to feature as book choices. I only feature books that I recommend. Cover images were also provided.