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A Monster Calls Comes to Theaters October 21

Tessa Smith
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A Monster Calls Comes to Theaters October 21

A Monster Calls

I am so excited to see A Monster Calls this October. The story sounds great (I need to go buy the book!) and the cast is incredible! I just know this will be a great movie. The poster was just released today and WOW! I am so anxious to learn and see more!

Synopsis
A visually spectacular drama from director J.A. Bayona (“The Impossible”). 12-year-old Conor (Lewis MacDougall), dealing with his mother’s (Felicity Jones) illness, a less-than-sympathetic grandmother (Sigourney Weaver), and bullying classmates, finds a most unlikely ally when a Monster appears at his bedroom window. Ancient, wild, and relentless, the Monster guides Conor on a journey of courage, faith, and truth. Toby Kebbell plays Conor’s father, and Liam Neeson stars in performance-capture and voiceover as the nocturnally visiting Monster of the title.

Connect on Social Media:
Official Site: http://www.focusfeatures.com/amonstercalls
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AMonsterCallsMovie/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/amonstercalls
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/amonstercalls/

Director: J.A. Bayona (“The Impossible,” “The Orphanage”)
Writer: Patrick Ness, based on his novel A Monster Calls
Cast: Sigourney Weaver, Felicity Jones, Toby Kebbell, Lewis MacDougall, and Liam Neeson

Space Science Experiments

Tessa Smith
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Space Science Experiments

Journey to Space

Journey To Space has been so popular at IMAX theaters and science centers all over the country that Shout Factory has decided to release it on Blu-ray. Narrated by Sir Patrick Stewart (Star Trek), Journey to Space offers spectacular space footage and gorgeous views of Earth. This dazzling film shows the magnificent contributions made by daring space pioneers, and illustrates how exciting and ambitious NASA’s next era promises to be, including space travel to Mars and capturing asteroids. My oldest daughter is really in to space and my husband and I were really excited to share this film with her. She immediately took to it – and keep in mind, she is just (almost) 5 years old. We have watched it several times already and she has now decided that she wants to be an astronaut when she grows up.

My husband is an engineer and works in the nuclear field so STEM is really important to him. We are constantly bringing math in to every day situations – and we even do science experiments with our daughters on a weekly basis. Our family activities usually consist of creating volcanoes and building robots – totally normal, right? Here are some really fun experiments that you can do with your little ones (my girls loved them all!):

Atmosphere Experiment

Download this Experiment Here —-> Atmosphere Experiment

Build A Martian

Download this Experiment Here —-> Build A Martian

Build A Space Station

Download this Experiment Here —-> Build A Space Station

Grow Plants on Mars

Download this Experiment Here —-> Grow Plants on Mars

Synopsis
Brilliantly narrated by film and television legend Sir Patrick Stewart, Journey To Space gives a sweeping overview of humanity’s accomplishments in space, as well as our ongoing activities and future plans. Journey To Space puts into historical context the magnificent contributions made by the Space Shuttle program and its intrepid space pioneers. It uses the most spectacular space footage – including unique views of Earth and operations in space – such as deploying and repairing the Hubble Space Telescope. It then goes on to show how the shuttle launched and assembled the International Space Station (ISS). Together, these programs have taught us how to live, build and conduct scientific experiments in space. The ISS will continue operating in space until 2024, and the film shows how it is building a foundation for the next giant leaps into space, concluding with a fascinating, realistic scenario of how astronauts will actually get to Mars, live there for long durations, and then return home after a two-and-a-half-year mission. Purchase here.

Bonus Features

  • Behind-The-Scenes Footage
  • 4K Photo Gallery
  • 4K Trailers

Connect with Shout! Factory on Social Media:
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/shoutfactoryofficial
Twitter: https://twitter.com/ShoutFactory
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/shoutfactory/
Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/shoutfactory/
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/user/shoutfactory

Giveaway Alert

Enter to win a copy of Journey to Space on Blu-ray using the Gleam form below. There will be THREE (3) lucky winners! While you are here, be sure to check out my other giveaways and GOOD LUCK!

Journey to Space Blu-ray

 

New Trailer: Disney’s Pete’s Dragon

Tessa Smith
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0
New Trailer: Disney’s Pete’s Dragon

Petes Dragon Poster

I have watched the original Pete’s Dragon more times than I can count. It was one of my favorite movies growing up (and still is) so I was so excited to hear that Disney is reimagining it! I got to learn just a little bit about it when I was at the D23 Expo last summer but now the official trailer is out and it is incredible. There is humor, heartwarming moments, and you even get to see Elliot, Pete’s Dragon! He looks so awesome, guys! I cannot wait to take my girls to see it this August – I guess it is time to pull out the original version to show them.

A re-imagining of Disney's cherished film, PETE'S DRAGON is the story of a boy named Pete (Oakes Fegley) and his best friend Elliot, who just happens to be a dragon.
A re-imagining of Disney’s cherished film, PETE’S DRAGON is the story of a boy named Pete (Oakes Fegley) and his best friend Elliot, who just happens to be a dragon.

Synopsis
A reimagining of Disney’s cherished family film, “Pete’s Dragon” is the adventure of an orphaned boy named Pete and his best friend Elliot, who just so happens to be a dragon. “Pete’s Dragon” stars Bryce Dallas Howard (“Jurassic World”), Oakes Fegley (“This is Where I Leave You”), Wes Bentley (“The Hunger Games”), Karl Urban (“Star Trek”), Oona Laurence (“Southpaw”), Isiah Whitlock, Jr. (“Cedar Rapids”) and Oscar winner Robert Redford (“Captain America: The Winter Soldier”). The film, which is directed by David Lowery (“Ain’t Them Bodies Saints”), is written by Lowery & Toby Halbrooks based on a screenplay by Malcolm Marmorstein and produced by Jim Whitaker (“The Finest Hours,” “Friday Night Lights”), with Barrie M. Osborne (“The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring,” “The Great Gatsby”) serving as executive producer.

Bryce Dallas Howard is Grace, Robert Redford is Mr. Meacham and Oona Laurence is Natalie in Disney's PETE'S DRAGON, the adventure of an orphaned boy and his best friend Elliott, who just so happens to be a dragon.
Bryce Dallas Howard is Grace, Robert Redford is Mr. Meacham and Oona Laurence is Natalie in Disney’s PETE’S DRAGON.

For years, old wood carver Mr. Meacham (Robert Redford) has delighted local children with his tales of the fierce dragon that resides deep in the woods of the Pacific Northwest. To his daughter, Grace (Bryce Dallas Howard), who works as a forest ranger, these stories are little more than tall tales…until she meets Pete (Oakes Fegley). Pete is a mysterious 10-year-old with no family and no home who claims to live in the woods with a giant, green dragon named Elliot. And from Pete’s descriptions, Elliot seems remarkably similar to the dragon from Mr. Meacham’s stories. With the help of Natalie (Oona Laurence), an 11-year-old girl whose father Jack (Wes Bentley) owns the local lumber mill, Grace sets out to determine where Pete came from, where he belongs, and the truth about this dragon.

PETE’S DRAGON flies into theaters everywhere on August 12th!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fPOamb6d_20&feature=youtu.be

Like PETE’S DRAGON on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/DisneyPetesDragon
Follow PETE’S DRAGON on Twitter: https://twitter.com/disneypetes
Follow PETE’S DRAGON on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/disneypetesdragon/
Visit Disney Animation on Tumblr: http://disneyanimation.tumblr.com/
Visit the official PETE’S DRAGON website here: http://disney.com/petesdragon

 

The Ocean is Calling: Disney’s Moana Teaser Trailer

Tessa Smith
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1
The Ocean is Calling: Disney’s Moana Teaser Trailer

Moana Poster

When I attended D23 last summer, I got to see some information about Moana, a story about an adventurous teenager who, with help from demigod Maui, sails out on a daring mission to prove herself a master wayfinder and save her people. Dwayne Johnson even walked out on stage to talk about his character in the film, Maui. Those moments got me overly excited for this film. The teaser trailer is officially out and I am so excited for you guys to see some of what I saw. I just know this movie is going to be amazing. It hits theaters everywhere this Thanksgiving, so save the date! I cannot wait to take my daughters to see it!

MOANA is an adventurous, tenacious and compassionate 16-year-old who sails out on a daring mission to save her people. Along the way, she discovers the one thing she's always sought: her own identity. Directed by the renowned filmmaking team of Ron Clements and John Musker (“The Little Mermaid,” “Aladdin,” “The Princess & the Frog”) and featuring newcomer Auli'I Cravalho as the voice of Moana, Walt Disney Animation Studios' “Moana” sails into U.S. theaters on Nov. 23, 2016. ©2016 Disney. All Rights Reserved.
©2016 Disney. All Rights Reserved.

Filmmakers auditioned hundreds of talented young women throughout the Pacific Islands before finding the gifted Native Hawaiian Auli’i Cravalho, who did not initially pursue the coveted role. The film’s Hawai’i-based casting director recalled her singing performance from a video submission for a fundraiser/talent showcase and asked Auli’i to come in and try out. Three auditions later, including her first trip to Burbank, Calif., she earned the title role, thanks to raw talent.

moana and maui

Synopsis
Three thousand years ago, the greatest sailors in the world voyaged across the vast Pacific, discovering the many islands of Oceania. But then, for a millennium, their voyages stopped – and no one knows why. From Walt Disney Animation Studios comes “Moana,” a sweeping, CG-animated feature film about an adventurous teenager who sails out on a daring mission to save her people. During her journey, Moana (voice of Auli’i Cravalho) meets the once-mighty demigod Maui (voice of Dwayne Johnson), who guides her in her quest to become a master wayfinder. Together, they sail across the open ocean on an action-packed voyage, encountering enormous monsters and impossible odds, and along the way, Moana fulfills the ancient quest of her ancestors and discovers the one thing she’s always sought: her own identity. Directed by the renowned filmmaking team of Ron Clements and John Musker (“The Little Mermaid,” “Aladdin,” “The Princess & the Frog”) and produced by Osnat Shurer (“Lifted,” “One Man Band”).

MOANA arrives in theaters everywhere on November 23rd!

Like MOANA on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/disneymoana
Follow MOANA on Twitter: https://twitter.com/disneymoana
Follow Disney Animation on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/disneyanimation/
Visit Disney Animation on Tumblr: http://disneyanimation.tumblr.com/
Visit the official MOANA website here: http://movies.disney.com/moana

Father’s Day Star Wars Gifts from Hasbro

Tessa Smith
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Father’s Day Star Wars Gifts from Hasbro

Star Wars Prize Pack

My family and I are huge Star Wars fans. My husband and I actually spent our honeymoon at Star Wars Weekend at Disney World. So this Father’s Day, I know he would love just about anything Star Wars! Lucky for us, Hasbro has some incredible items in their Star Wars collection – that are great for kids (and adults) of all ages! Check out these Star Wars gift ideas from Hasbro – and then enter to win a set of them!

Bladebuilders

STAR WARS BLADEBUILDERS JEDI MASTER LIGHTSABER
(Retail Price: $49.99)

The definitive LIGHTSABER of the BLADEBUILDERS system provides kids with the unique components needed to create 100+ combinations from their imagination. The JEDI MASTER LIGHTSABER comes with a main LIGHTSABER featuring lights and sounds, two independently-lit lightdaggers, expansion hilt, two elbow connectors, dual connector, and cross connector. Requires three AAA batteries, included. Purchase here.

My family and I had so much fun putting ours together! I know my husband wanted to keep it for himself, but he has been letting the girls use it. Having the batteries included was one of my favorite parts because we could start playing with it right away without running to the store or searching the house.

Darth Vader Figure in Package Darth Vader Figure

STAR WARS: THE FORCE AWAKENS 12” Figure Assortment
(Retail Price: $9.99)

The battle to restore order to the galaxy just got bigger! Each 12-inch scale STAR WARS: THE FORCE AWAKENS 12” figure features five points of articulation and an accessory. Choose from heroes and villains from STAR WARS: THE FORCE AWAKENS such as FINN, KYLO REN, FIRST ORDER STORMTROOPER, FIRST ORDER TIE PILOT and REY (Jakkku). The series also includes the iconic villain DARTH VADER from the classic Star Wars films! Each sold separately. Purchase here.

We have the Darth Vader one and it is amazing! We also have Rey and so it is fun to watch the girls play with them together (because that could never happen in the series). These are great for kids!

Chewbacca Mask

CHEWBACCA ELECTRONIC MASK
(Retail Price: $29.99)

Strike fear into the heart of scum and villainy across the galaxy with the first-ever CHEWBACCA ELECTRONIC MASK! This cool electronic mask transforms you into everyone’s favorite WOOKIEE. Move your mouth while wearing it to activate a variety of authentic WOOKIEE growls and howls to scare off every STORMTROOPER in sight! Open your mouth slightly for a light roar, then open it wider to make your WOOKIEE roar even louder. Requires two AAA batteries, included. Purchase here.

This mask is just as much fun as Chewbacca mom has made it look like. I love it and totally giggle every time I put it on. My daughters love it too – so much so that my oldest asked to take it to school with her (I had to tell her no, of course). It really is fun for the whole family!

Kylo Ren Figure in Box Kylo Ren Figure

STAR WARS: THE BLACK SERIES 6-Inch Figure Assortment
(Retail Price: $19.99)

The most anticipated film of the year, STAR WARS: THE FORCE AWAKENS, comes to life with STAR WARS: THE BLACK SERIES for the ultimate collection! Each new 6-inch scale figure is highly articulated and exceptionally detailed. Characters include FINN (JAKKU), REY (JAKKU) with BB-8, KYLO REN, CAPTAIN PHASMA, FIRST ORDER STORMTROOPER, CHEWBACCA, POE DAMERON, CONSTABLE ZUVIO, FIRST ORDER SNOWTROOPER and more. Each sold separately. Purchase here.

We have Kylo Ren and he is amazing! I tend to like the villains so he is one of my favorites. He hangs out on my desk with me and is a great working partner. The girls have asked to play with him – but this is one toy that mama is keeping for herself!

Giveaway Alert

Enter to win a set of these amazing Star Wars items from Hasbro using the Gleam form below. Be sure to check out my other giveaways while you are here and GOOD LUCK!

Star Wars Prize Pack

Shaun the Sheep: The Farmer’s Llamas

Tessa Smith
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0
Shaun the Sheep: The Farmer’s Llamas

Shaun the Sheep FARMERS LLAMAS

My daughters and I love Shaun the Sheep. There are so many great episodes and movies from Aardman featuring these characters that we love. We went to see the Shaun the Sheep movie in the theater and I couldn’t tell you how many times we have watched Wallace and Gromit adventures together. These movies and TV shows are truly enjoyed by our entire family – all the generations love them! My mom comes to visit for a month in the summer and we always end up watching Aardman Studios movies. We laugh and laugh – and just have a great time. So when I heard that Lionsgate was releasing a brand-new Aardman Shaun the Sheep adventure, I was thrilled! I couldn’t wait to let my family know.

Shaun the Sheep The Farmer’s Llamas is heading to DVD and Digital HD June 14th – and you should really pick this one up. We have had it for about two weeks now and have watched it 10+ times. It is fantastic! My 3.5 year old asks to watch it every single day. In this special, follow the adventures of Shaun the Sheep as he heads to the county fair where he encounters three exotic creatures and gets himself entangled in a plot to bring them back to Mossy Bottom Farm. Are these llamas just what the flock needs to get bit more pep in their step or are they party animals that are a wee bit to wild for the farm? Packed with laughs, fun characters and the type of zaniness that only Aardman can create, Shaun the Sheep The Farmer’s Llamas is a must-own for the entire family! This release also has bonus DVD episodes and special features. Bring home this wacky adventure on DVD and Digital HD June 14th! Purchase Shaun the Sheep: The Farmer’s Llamas here.

Shaun the Sheep

Synopsis
When the Farmer and Bitzer go to a country fair, Shaun decides to tag along for the fun and finds himself crafting a brilliant plan to bring three exotic and witty llamas back home to Mossy Bottom Farm. Shaun is delighted with his new friends and believes that the llamas are just what the flock needs to spice up their lives. At first everything is fun, exciting, and silly, but soon their new llama roommates get a bit too wild in their new home.

SHAUN THE SHEEP: THE FARMER’S LLAMAS DVD SPECIAL FEATURES*

  • “Meet the Llamas” Featurette
  • “The Director’s Perspective” Featurette
  • “Behind the Fleece” Featurette
  • 2 Bonus Episodes – “Cheetah Cheater” & “Zebra Ducks of the Serengeti”

*Subject to Change

Purchase Shaun the Sheep: The Farmer’s Llamas here.

Shark Week: Jawsome Encounters

Tessa Smith
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0
Shark Week: Jawsome Encounters

Shark Week

My husband and I look forward to Discovery Channel’s Shark Week every Summer. It is one of our favorite things to watch. Recently, we have started getting our daughters in to it as well. We have been prepping them for the last few months and they are just as excited as us! Now of course we won’t show them the really violent stuff, but they will just love the educational stuff. My girls are really in to science and nature – even at 3 and (almost) 5 years old. Right now, my oldest is begging for a Cuttlefish because she loves how they change their colors to camouflage themselves. They are both really interested in the ocean and all of the creatures in it. We could spend hours and hours at the aquarium and they would be happy little campers.

My husband and I have been together for almost 9 years and we have always tuned in to Shark Week together. So when we discovered there was a Shark Week DVD coming out, we just had to have it. This DVD, Jawsome Encounters, includes 13 episodes on 3 discs – totaling over 10 hours! We popped it in the first night we got it and nearly watched it straight through the night. They picked the best episodes for this DVD set, I must say. I love them all but my two favorites have to be Zombie Sharks & Megalodon: The New Evidence. Purchase Shark Week: Jawsome Encounters here.

Synopsis
Join America’s favorite summertime tradition when Shark Week: Jawsome Encounters arrives on DVD (plus Digital) on June 14 from Lionsgate. For the past 28 years, Discovery Channel has captured the world’s attention with Shark Week, an annual televised event that explores the ocean’s most magnificent creatures. Featuring 13 fintastic episodes from the 2014 season (never before released on DVD) just in time for the newest season of Shark Week broadcast on Discovery, the Shark Week: Jawsome Encounters DVD will be available for only $19.98.

Discovery’s annual event is bigger than ever! Dive deep into the mystery of “zombie sharks” in New Zealand, get up close and personal with Tiger Sharks lurking below the surface in idyllic Hawaii, and explore Great Whites off the coast of Australia.

Disc 1:

  • Air Jaws: Fin of Fury
  • Shark of Darkness: Wrath of Submarine
  • Jaws Strikes Back
  • Monster Hammerhead

Disc 2:

  • Alien Shark: Return to the Abyss
  • Lair of the Mega Shark
  • Spawn of Jaws: The Birth
  • Zombie Sharks

Disc 3:

  • I Escaped Jaws II
  • Sharkageddon
  • Megalodon: The New Evidence
  • Great White Matrix
  • Sharksanity

Purchase Shark Week: Jawsome Encounters here.

New from DreamWorks Animation on Netflix This June

Tessa Smith
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0
New from DreamWorks Animation on Netflix This June
This June sees the DreamWorks Animation premiere of the highly anticipated Voltron Legendary Defender, along with the Season 3 returns of DreamWorks hilarious award-winning series All Hail King Julien and Dragons: Race to the Edge! My daughters and I love watching Netflix together and these are three shows we are really excited for! We love the How to Train Your Dragon movies and are thrilled for a third season of this series. It starts on my oldest daughter’s 5th birthday, what a great gift for her.

Voltron

VOLTRON LEGENDARY DEFENDER Season 1 – June 10th on Netflix
From days long ago, from uncharted regions of the universe comes the Netflix Original Series, VOLTRON LEGENDARY DEFENDER! DreamWorks Animation reimagines one of the most popular fan-favorite shows of all time in this all-new comedic action-packed show from executive producer Joaquim Dos Santos (The Legend of Korra, Avatar: The Last Airbender) and co-executive producer Lauren Montgomery (The Legend of Korra).

Five unsuspecting teenagers, transported from Earth into the middle of a sprawling intergalactic war, become pilots for five robotic lions in the battle to protect the universe from evil. Only through the true power of teamwork can they unite to form the mighty warrior known as VOLTRON LEGENDARY DEFENDER.

King Julien

ALL HAIL KING JULIEN Season 3 – June 17th on Netflix
In Season 3, everyone’s favorite lemur, King Julien, brings back the party with Mort, Maurice, and Clover in fun-filled adventures in Madagascar! King Julien sets sail on a wild ride when he is held captive by pirates, performs a booty-shaking dance recital and competes in the Jungle Games. Mort is abducted by aliens, Clover discovers “fast food”, Julien’s needy parents show up and so much more in this Emmy Award winning original series!

How to Train Your Dragon 2

DREAMWORKS DRAGONS: RACE TO THE EDGE Season 3 – June 24th on Netflix
Hiccup and Toothless are back along with your favorite Dragon Riders in an all-new action-packed Season 3 of DREAMWORKS DRAGONS: RACE TO THE EDGE. The high-stakes continue as the Riders advance in their hunt for Viggo, Ryker and their expanded Dragon Hunter army. Tune in as the Riders encounter new dragons, a seemingly reformed Dagur, an underground Dragon Fighting arena, and learn along the way that Viggo has a Dragon Eye and dragon fortress!

Voltron Legendary Defender Themed Cupcakes + FREE Coloring Sheets

Tessa Smith
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41
Voltron Legendary Defender Themed Cupcakes + FREE Coloring Sheets

Voltron

The universe’s greatest protector will rise again in the all-new series DREAMWORKS VOLTRON LEGENDARY DEFENDER exclusively on Netflix. Witness the rebirth of the legend with this ambitious reimagining of the fan-favorite science-fiction saga, promising galaxies worth of action, comedy, and adventure, as good battles evil in an intergalactic war ten thousand years in the making. These series launches on Netflix TODAY with an hour-long origin story called “The Rise of Voltron,” and will be followed by 10 episodes. My daughters and I love Voltron so we have been counting the days for this series to finally hit Netflix. I can all but guarantee will we have watched all of the episodes by the end of the weekend.

Voltron S1 Button Placemat V3 Portrait

Voltron S1 Button Cupcake V4 Portrait

Synopsis
The Netflix original series DreamWorks Voltron Legendary Defender reimagines one of the most popular fan-favorite shows of all time in this all-new comedic action-packed show from executive producer Joaquim Dos Santos (The Legend of Korra, Avatar: The Last Airbender) and co-executive producer Lauren Montgomery (The Legend of Korra). Five unsuspecting teenagers, transported from Earth into the middle of a sprawling intergalactic war, become pilots for five robotic lions in the battle to protect the universe from evil. Only through the true power of teamwork can they unite to form the mighty warrior known as Voltron.

VOLTRON: LEGENDARY DEFENDER premieres exclusively on Netflix TODAY – June 10th!!

Fan Girl Friday

Giveaway Alert

Enter to win a Voltron Legendary Defender Prize Pack using the Gleam form below. This prize pack includes: 1 Voltron Drawstring Bag, 1 Voltron Hat, Voltron Sweatbands, Voltron Tattoos, 1 Voltron Water Bottle, & 1 Voltron Basketball. Be sure to check out my other giveaways while you are here and GOOD LUCK!

Voltron Prize Pack

Kid’s Zootopia Inspired Recipes

Tessa Smith
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2
Kid’s Zootopia Inspired Recipes

Zootopia is out on Blu-ray now (be sure to grab your copy!) and it is a great family film. My daughters love it – and so do my husband and myself. I highly recommend this one – you can never go wrong with Disney guys. To help celebrate, I wanted to share a new clip with you as well as some fun, kid friendly recipes.

Zootopia%20Recipe%20button

Walt Disney Animation Studios’ comedy-adventure “Zootopia” has broken records worldwide, earning nearly $1 billion at the global box office and becoming one of the highest grossing original movies of all time. Critics and audiences of all ages have fallen in love with the wonderfully innovative mammal metropolis of “Zootopia” and the comedic chemistry of rookie rabbit officer Judy Hopps (Ginnifer Goodwin) and scam-artist fox Nick Wilde (Jason Bateman). In fact, critics have hailed “Zootopia” as one of the best films of 2016 and Richard Roeper from Chicago Sun-Times calls it “One of the best animated films ever.” Read my full review here.

https://youtu.be/BSHPCQLaUXU

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