Tag Archive | cook book

June’s DVD and Book Product Roundup 2017

I get products sent to me daily to try out. I unfortunately don’t have time to do a post for each item that I get to review. So I want to make sure these items get seen and learned about. The only other solution I could see to do is to do a June’s DVD and Book Product Roundup 2017 on the products I like and want my readers to know about. I hope you enjoy these as much as I and my other reviewers did.

Blu-Ray + DVD A timeless classic that has been loved for generations, BAMBI now joins the Walt Disney Signature Collection. In this life-changing adventure, Bambi sets off with his best friends Thumper and Flower to explore the wonders and challenges of the woods — and fulfill his destiny as prince of the forest. Full of humor and heart, and featuring awe-inspiring animation, BAMBI remains a family favorite, ready to delight a whole new generation.|In striving for realism, the artists heard lectures from animal experts, made field trips to the Los Angeles Zoo, watched specially filmed nature footage shot in the forests of Maine, and even studied the movements of two fawns that were donated to the Studio.|”Fellas, this stuff is pure gold,” Walt Disney told the animators. The story of the little deer coming of age has endured, and today, BAMBI is universally regarded as one of Walt Disney’s most charming films.

Actors: Hardy Albright, Peter Behn, Tim Davis, Donnie Dugan, Ann Gillis
Directors: David Hand
Writers: Vernon Stallings, Melvin Shaw, Carl Fallberg, Chuck Couch, Ralph Wright
Format: AC-3, Animated, Color, Dolby, Dubbed, NTSC, Subtitled
Language: English (Dolby Digital 5.1), French (Dolby Digital 5.1), Spanish (Dolby Digital 5.1)
Subtitles: French, Spanish, English
Dubbed: French, Spanish
Region: Region 1 (U.S. and Canada only.)
Aspect Ratio: 1.33:1
Number of discs: 1
Rated: G General Audience
Studio: Walt Disney Studios Home Entertainment
DVD Release Date: June 6, 2017
Run Time: 70 minutes

DVDFrom the mind of Gwen Stefani comes the world of Kuu Kuu Harajuku!

Say hello to HJ5! A super cool band made of 5 super cool girls! Love, Angel, Music, Baby and their inspirational leader G love to sing, dance and sport the latest “kawaii”, fashions (kawaii is “cute”, in Harajuku speak)!

With help from their lovably incompetent manager Rudie, HJ5 travels all over to put on shows for their fans! Although they are totally talented, every time they start a gig, something wild and crazy happens before they finish the first bar! I mean, it’s not easy performing while you are being attacked by space aliens, adorable (and ravenous) monster pets OR hunger (you don’t want to mess with Baby when she’s hangry).

No matter what challenges (or creatures) come their way, they always work together to save the day! Maybe, JUST MAYBE, they’ll finally get to do a show without any problems! The road to stardom is a Kuu Kuu ride!

As seen on Nick!

Actors: Emma Taylor-Isherwood, Charlotte Nicdao
Directors: Various
Format: Animated, Color, NTSC, Widescreen
Language: English
Region: Region 1 (U.S. and Canada only.)
Aspect Ratio: 1.78:1
Number of discs: 1
Rated: NR Not Rated
Studio: Shout! Factory
DVD Release Date: June 13, 2017
Run Time: 132 minutes

DVDWhen his father’s bird circus is stolen by a cruel rival, a brave young parrot takes flight for Hollywood in order to find his TV hero, AMERICANO and save the day.

Actors: Rico Rodriguez, Kate Del Castillo, Edward James Olmos, Cheech Marin, Erik Estrada
Directors: Ricardo Arnaiz, Mike Kunkel, Raul Garcia
Format: AC-3, Animated, Closed-captioned, Color, Dolby, NTSC, Subtitled, Widescreen
Language: English
Subtitles: English, Spanish
Region: Region 1 (U.S. and Canada only.)
Number of discs: 1
Rated: G General Audience
Studio: LIONSGATE
DVD Release Date: June 13, 2017
Run Time: 88 minutes

DVD“Inspired by the world of Playmobil® toys, embark on a series of adventures with the Super 4 as they travel throughout the wider Playmobil® universes. Whether it be a sci-fi futuristic world, a magical fairy world, a world of pirates, or a world of medieval knights, the adventures are never ending! Welcome to Enchanted Island, an island covered with a mysterious enchanted forest, which is home to every form of magical creature you could ever imagine fairies, mischievous boy sprites, unicorns, sirens, ancient tree spirits, and magic wishing wells. Visitors to Enchanted Isle must beware for nothing is ever quite what it seems, and dreams and reality quickly become one. At the center of the forest is the palace of the capricious Fairy Queen, who is in a constant temper due to being turned into a frog by a talented young fairy who overdid herself and, in an attempt to grant the ultimate favor to the queen by making her even more pretty , she cast a spell that in fact gave her the head of a frog! Unfortunately, that talented young fairy is our friend, Twinkle. Twinkle has great potential as a fairy but she must learn to master her wand and its magic. Join Twinkle along with her Super 4 friends as they band together to fight villains and save their worlds from chaos.”

Actors: Sarah Natochenny
Directors: Cyril Adam, Arnaud Bouron
Format: Animated, Color, NTSC, Widescreen
Language: English
Region: Region 1 (U.S. and Canada only.)
Number of discs: 1
Rated: NR Not Rated
Studio: NCircle Entertainment
DVD Release Date: May 16, 2017
Run Time: 80 minutes

Showing Roots DVDIn 1977, as the miniseries “Roots” hits the airwaves, two women are inspired to try and integrate their small Southern town. In a place where there are still “right” and “wrong” sides of the tracks, these two young women — one white, one black — forge an unlikely friendship that sparks a journey of independence and self-discovery, and ultimately results in the creation of the perfect hairdo. Stars Maggie Grace, Uzo Aduba, Elizabeth McGovern, Adam Brody, Cicely Tyson.

Blu-Ray + Digital HD A teenager is magically transported to China where he must transform his video game skills into those of a Kung Fu Warrior to battle the empire’s tyrannical ruler.

Deleted Scene

Beyond the Gate: Making ENTER THE WARRIORS GATE

The Journey East: Bridging the Cultural Divide

Actors: Mark Chao, Ni Ni, Dave Bautista, Sienna Guillory, Uriah Shelton
Directors: Matthias Hoene
Format: AC-3, DTS Surround Sound, NTSC, Subtitled, Widescreen
Language: English
Subtitles: English, Spanish
Region: Region A/1 (Read more about DVD/Blu-ray formats.)
Number of discs: 1
Rated: PG-13 Parents Strongly Cautioned
Studio: LIONSGATE
DVD Release Date: June 6, 2017
Run Time: 85 minutes

DVDAlisa Knows What to Do! is based on the extremely popular Russian science-fiction novels by famous Russian author Kir Bulychiov about a young girl from the future, Alisa Salazar. This animated series weaves a tale about the adventures of a group of teenagers living at the end of the 21st century. The world has changed yet the burning questions that occupied people at the beginning of the century are still pertinent today. Alisa and her friends not only battle evil and injustice but they are also concerned with global problems like the natural balance, both on the planet and in space.

Actors: Laurie Hynes
Directors: Olga Baulina, Viktor Glukchushin
Format: Animated, Color, NTSC
Language: English
Region: Region 1 (U.S. and Canada only.)
Number of discs: 1
Rated: NR Not Rated
Studio: NCircle Entertainment
DVD Release Date: June 13, 2017
Run Time: 630 minutes

Paperback BookUnfortunately during the holiday season, we often overlook what we are putting on our plates. We compromise our food choices by making excuses and allowing ourselves to grab those naughty foods that are full of refined flours, sugars and toxic, “processed food” ingredients. The truth is, when you eat this type of crap, you FEEL like crap. Not only that, it’s the start of a dreaded winter weight gain that hits home for far too many. But we’re making it really easy to bid farewell to those days. We have transformed those naughty holiday dishes into something oh so very nice and nourishing. From the traditional Thanksgiving menu, to beautiful family brunch ideas, to adult beverages and big family gathering meals – we have included every single recipe you need to LOVE on yourself and your health throughout the holidays! 50+ Nourishing Recipes, with beautiful photography and detailed, step-by-step instructions. Holiday Etiquette for Real Foodies, including tips for how to politely say “no thanks”… Tips to Stay Energized, for when you need a pick me up during those exhilarating and exhausting hours in the kitchen, car, airplane and in-laws’ house. Holiday Detox Strategies, because feeling your best during the holidays is the number one goal! A List of Our Favorite Foodie Brands, a great resource if you find yourself away from your familiar kitchen this season. What’s Inside Our Pantries, a sneak peek at what we keep on hand – always!

Paperback: 108 pages
Publisher: CreateSpace Independent Publishing Platform (December 2, 2014)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 1505439310
ISBN-13: 978-1505439311
Product Dimensions: 8.5 x 0.3 x 11 inches
Shipping Weight: 12 ounces

Paperback bookThe Indian Cuisine Diabetes Cookbook brings the taste, aroma, and health benefits of basic and exotic Indian spices into the kitchen for those with diabetes or prediabetes, or those simply looking to eat and feel better. Delicious Indian dishes that are packed with flavor and fiber-rich ingredients are simpler than you think, and the quick, easy-to-make meals have all been adapted to meet the guidelines of the American Diabetes Association. Emphasizing a healthy eating philosophy, this cookbook helps the home cook make non-processed meals from scratch in no time at all.

Each recipe has been carefully crafted to deliver authentic and bold Indian flavors while using practical techniques and tips for the modern cook who doesn’t have the time nor the complicated tools used in traditional Indian cooking.

This collection is a culinary trip through the flavors and spices of India.

Paperback: 200 pages
Publisher: American Diabetes Association (May 31, 2017)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 1580405991
ISBN-13: 978-1580405997
Product Dimensions: 7.9 x 0.6 x 8.9 inches
Shipping Weight: 1.2 pounds

Paperback bookThe smells in the kitchen, the unforgettable flavors—these powerful memories of food, family, and tradition are intertwined and have traveled down from generations past to help make us the people we are today. Now, Tavis Smiley’s America I AM exhibit has joined forces with Chef Jeff Henderson and Ramin Ganeshram to create the America I AM Pass It Down Cookbook.

This special keepsake preserves African Americans’ collective food history through touching essays, celebratory menus, and over 130 soul-filled and soul-inspired recipes. There’s something for everyone—from traditional southern cooking like Apryle’s Seafood Gumbo, Craig Robinson’s Mom’s Buttermilk Fried Chicken, and Russel Honoré’s Barbecued Boston Pork Butt, to healthy new millennium twists, including the Duo Dishes’ Honey Dijon Spiced Pecan Coleslaw, Ron Johnson’s Crunchy Collards, and Scott Alves Barton’s Fragrant Jerk Chicken. Irresistible desserts like Mama Mabel’s Apple Dumplings and Saporous Strawberry Cheesecake, and beverages like Very Exciting Fruit Punch and Tom Bullock’s classic Lemonade Apollinaris are sure to delight.

As you read this book, you’ll discover the voices of real cooks and their triumphs in the kitchen, and the ways in which African Americans have impacted the way the whole nation eats. You’ll learn healthy cooking variations filled with heart and soul, and how to make cooking with kids fun. There’s even a section for you to add your own family recipes and “pass it down” to the next generation.

It’s time to turn the pages and join us at the table. After all, our shared experience is the greatest feast of all.

Paperback: 320 pages
Publisher: SmileyBooks (February 1, 2011)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 1401931359
ISBN-13: 978-1401931353
Product Dimensions: 7.3 x 0.8 x 8.9 inches
Shipping Weight: 1.6 pounds

March’s DVD and Book Product Roundup 2017

I get products sent to me daily to try out. I unfortunately don’t have time to do a post for each item that I get to review. So I want to make sure these items get seen and learned about. The only other solution I could see to do is to do a March’s DVD and Book Product Roundup 2017 on the products I like and want my readers to know about. I hope you enjoy these as much as I and my other reviewers did.

DVDA Strange Transformation — Open your eye to a new dimension of the Marvel Cinematic Universe, and see how the filmmakers brought one of comic books’ greatest characters to life|Strange Company — Find out what it’s like for the cast to work on a Marvel film, and how Director Scott Derrickson engineered one of the most ambition, imaginative films ever|The Fabric of Reality — Take a closer look at the movie’s extraordinary sets, meticulously crafted costumes and amazingly detailed production elements|Across Time and Space — Explore the endless hours of dance and fight choreography the actors endured in preparation for their physically demanding roles|The Score-cerer Supreme — Join composer Michael Giacchino and a full orchestra during live recording sessions, and experience the movie’s mind-bending music|Marvel Studios Phase 3 Exclusive Look — Get an early peek at Marvel’s spectacular upcoming films, including MARVEL STUDIOS’ GUARDIANS OF THE GALAXY VOL. 2, THOR: RAGNAROK, BLACK PANTHER and AVENGERS: INFINITY WAR|Team Thor: Part 2 — See more of the hilarious partnership between Thor and his roommate Darryl in this satirical short|Audio commentary with Scott Derrickson|Deleted Scenes|Gag Reel

Actors: Benedict Cumberbatch, Chiwetel Ejiofor, Rachel McAdams, Benedict Wong, Mads Mikkelsen
Directors: Scott Derrickson
Writers: Jon Spaihts and Scott Derrickson & C. Robert Cargi
Format: AC-3, Color, Dolby, DTS Surround Sound, Dubbed, NTSC, Subtitled, Widescreen
Language: English (DTS-HD High Res Audio), French (Dolby Digital 5.1), Spanish (Dolby Digital 5.1)
Subtitles: French, Spanish, English
Dubbed: French, Spanish
Region: Region A/1
Aspect Ratio: 2.39:1
Number of discs: 1
Rated: PG-13 Parents Strongly Cautioned
Studio: Buena Vista Home Entertainment
DVD Release Date: February 28, 2017
Run Time: 115 minutes

DVDKate and Mim-Mim know a special place filled with great music Mimiloo! After Mim-Mim accidently breaks a recording of the gang’s favorite song, Kate, Mim-Mim, Tack and Gobble head off on an adventure to the Singing Seas to find Callie so they can re-record her wonderful tune. When they arrive and discover that Callie’s Mega Music Maker is broken, Kate leads her friends on a quest to fix the instrument.

Format: Animated, Color, NTSC, Widescreen
Language: English
Subtitles: English
Region: Region 1
Number of discs: 1
Rated: G General Audience
Studio: PBS Distribution
DVD Release Date: March 21, 2017
Run Time: 35 minutes

DVDJoin Whyatt and the Super Readers for fun adventures set in some favorite classic fairytales. The fun starts when reading begins and the SUPER WHY gang save the day!

Format: Animated, Color, NTSC, Widescreen
Language: English
Region: Region 1
Number of discs: 2
Rated: G General Audience
Studio: PBS Distribution
DVD Release Date: March 14, 2017
Run Time: 280 minutes

DVDJoin Martin Kratt and Chris Kratt as they meet amazing animals from around the world. With wild creatures and dastardly villains, WILD KRATTS makes learning about animals and nature a fun-filled adventure!

Format: Color, NTSC, Widescreen
Language: English
Region: Region 1
Number of discs: 1
Rated: G General Audience
Studio: PBS Distribution
DVD Release Date: March 14, 2017
Run Time: 205 minutes

DVDJoin Daniel Tiger for some grr-ific farm fun! Daniel rides a horse for the first time with encouragement from Dad Tiger, helps his sister Margaret feed adorable ducks, and plays farm with O the Owl. Have fun with Daniel Tiger as he learns how to help others, conquers his fears, and much more!

Format: Animated, Color, NTSC, Widescreen
Language: English
Subtitles: English
Region: Region 1
Rated: G General Audience
Studio: PBS Distribution
DVD Release Date: March 14, 2017
Run Time: 60 minutes

DVDAfter mysterious visitors arrive in the Kingdom, Princess Alise, Lucas and their friends go undercover on a secret spy adventure to see if they can be trusted. They will need all of their superior detective skills as well as some super cool gadgets to solve the royal mystery and save the Kingdom.

Directors: Richard Rich
Producers: Richard Rich, Seldon Young, Jared Brown
Format: AC-3, Animated, Closed-captioned, Color, Dolby, Subtitled, Widescreen, NTSC
Language: English
Subtitles: French, Korean, Mandarin Chinese, Thai, Spanish, English
Dubbed: French, Korean, Mandarin Chinese, Thai, Spanish
Subtitles for the Hearing Impaired: English
Region: Region 1
Aspect Ratio: 1.78:1
Number of discs: 1
Rated: G General Audience
Studio: Sony Pictures Home Entertainment
DVD Release Date: March 28, 2017
Run Time: 79 minutes

Hardcover BookFollow Me Down is a rare find―a gutsy, visceral, and beautifully crafted psychological thriller that Diane Chamberlain called “an engrossing page turner [that] will keep you guessing right up to the delicious ending” from talented new author Sherri Smith.

Mia Haas has built her life far from the North Dakota town where she grew up, but when she receives word that her twin brother is missing, she is forced to return home. Back to the people she left behind, the person she used to be, and the secrets she thought she’d buried.

Once hailed as the golden boy of their town, and now a popular high school teacher, Lucas Haas disappears the same day the body of one of his students is pulled from the river. Trying to wrap her head around the rumors of Lucas’s affair with the teen, and unable to reconcile the media’s portrayal of Lucas as a murderer with her own memories of him, Mia is desperate to find another suspect.

All the while, she wonders: If he’s innocent, why did he run?

As Mia reevaluates their difficult, shared history and launches her own investigation into the grisly murder, she uncovers secrets that could exonerate Lucas―or seal his fate. In a small town where everyone’s lives are intertwined, Mia must confront her own demons if she wants to get out alive.

Hardcover: 352 pages
Publisher: Forge Books (March 21, 2017)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0765386704
ISBN-13: 978-0765386700
Product Dimensions: 5.5 x 1.5 x 8.4 inches
Shipping Weight: 15.2 ounces

Hardcover BookBig kids Anna and Oliver give young readers the inside scoop on what to expect when a new baby is expected. In a fresh picture book/comic style, Ready, Set . . . Baby offers up a funny, loving, reassuring peek into life as a big brother or sister—with solid information, kid-friendly humor, and even tips for parents on how to help kids thrive when the new baby arrives.

Age Range: 4 – 7 years
Grade Level: Preschool – 3
Lexile Measure: 560 (What’s this?)
Hardcover: 32 pages
Publisher: HMH Books for Young Readers (February 7, 2017)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0544472721
ISBN-13: 978-0544472723
Product Dimensions: 9 x 0.4 x 11 inches

Paperback BookGet thousands of facts at your fingertips with this essential resource.

The World Almanac® and Book of Facts is America’s top-selling reference book of all time, with more than 82 million copies sold. Since 1868, this compendium of information has been the authoritative source for all your entertainment, reference, and learning needs. The 2017 edition of The World Almanac® reviews the events of 2016 and will be your go-to source for questions on any topic in the upcoming year. Praised as a “treasure trove of political, economic, scientific and educational statistics and information” by The Wall Street Journal, The World Almanac® and Book of Facts will answer all of your trivia needs—from history and sports to geography, pop culture, and much more.

Features include:
• 2016—Top 10 News Topics: The editors of The World Almanac® list the top stories that held the world’s attention in 2016.
• 2016—Year in Sports: Hundreds of pages of trivia and statistics that are essential for any sports fan, featuring complete coverage of the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio, the 2016 World Series, and much more.
• 2016—Year in Pictures: Striking full-color images from around the world in 2016, covering news, entertainment, science, and sports.
• 2016—Offbeat News Stories: The World Almanac® editors found some of the strangest news stories of the year.
• World Almanac ® Editors’ Picks: Time Capsule: The World Almanac® lists the items that most came to symbolize the year 2016, from news and sports to pop culture.
• 2016 Election Results: The World Almanac® provides a comprehensive look at the entire 2016 election process, from the roller coaster of the early primaries to state and county presidential voting results and coverage of House, Senate, and gubernatorial races.
• The World at a Glance: This annual feature of The World Almanac® provides a quick look at the surprising stats and curious facts that define the changing world.
• World Almanac ® Editors’ Picks: The Best Teams That Never Won It All: In light of Golden State’s unprecedented regular season success and eventual downfall in the NBA Finals, The World Almanac® takes a look back into sports history for the best teams that fell just short of championship glory.
• Statistical Spotlight: A brand-new feature highlights statistics relevant to the biggest stories of the year. These data provide context to give readers a fresh perspective on important issues.
• Other New Highlights: Newly available statistics on sexuality, student loans, overdose deaths, state minimum wages, and much more.

Series: World Almanac and Book of Facts
Paperback: 1008 pages
Publisher: World Almanac; 2017 ed. edition (December 6, 2016)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 1600572057
ISBN-13: 978-1600572050
Product Dimensions: 5.4 x 1.7 x 8 inches

Paperback BookFrom the co-founder of the Vera Bradley empire, a practical and inspiring book that shows women how to awaken their full potential, at any age.

“This place could use some color!” That’s what Barbara Bradley said to her friend Pat during an airport layover. It was 1982 and all the women could see was a succession of drab, bulky suitcases. When they returned home to Indiana, Barbara and her business partner got out a few Simplicity patterns and a Singer sewing machine and set to work. And the Vera Bradley Company was born.

A Colorful Way of Living offers practical, inspiring advice to empower women of all ages to navigate life by the values that provide the foundation of the Vera Bradley empire. Women looking for the encouragement to start a new chapter, women balancing career and family, and new graduates entering the workforce will all benefit from the Baekgaard’s learned wisdom has as it applies to career, life, and relationships. Lessons include “Noticing Every Detail,” “Choosing Nice,” and “Remembering Always―there’s enough room for everyone.”

In this highly readable book, Barbara Bradley Baekgaard shares the values that have helped her to thrive in business, health, and relationships–in every aspect of her personal and professional life.

Hardcover: 256 pages
Publisher: St. Martin’s Press (April 4, 2017)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 1250121914
ISBN-13: 978-1250121912
Product Dimensions: 7.5 x 1 x 9.2 inches

PaperbackGrilled cheese is the most perfect food in the world. And paired with the right beer there is nothing finer! In your hands is a masterwork of creative collaboration between a brewer and a chef, combining an extensive knowledge of beer making, food and good humor to create the most amazing cookbook ever!

In these pages you will find one-of-a-kind grilled cheese sandwich recipes, perfectly paired with craft beers designed to draw out the full flavor of each ingredient. Grilled Cheese & Beer is spiced with wit and a passion for all things grilled cheese and beer, with easy-to-follow instructions that make it perfect for any skill level.

Grilled Cheese & Beer has over 50 expertly paired sandwich recipes including:
● Bacon Me Crazy with Stone Brewery’s Arrogant Bastard
● The Nature Boy Ricotta Flair with Moosehead Lager
● The Big Kahuna with Hell or High Watermelon
● Dia de los Quesos with Modelo Especial
● The Ham of La Challah with Briney Melon Gose
● Johnny Apple Cheese with Angry Orchard
● Muenster Mash with Stella Artois
● Funky Bâtard with Unibroue La Fin du Monde
● Turkey in the Rye with Keegan Ales’ Mother’s Milk

Paperback: 160 pages
Publisher: Hatherleigh Press (November 22, 2016)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 157826653X
ISBN-13: 978-1578266531
Product Dimensions: 7 x 0.4 x 9 inches

Paperback BookThe life he knew the day before was long gone… Who will protect his mother now? The future of our civilization has always been in the hands of our children. What you may not know is that many years ago, a few of our young ones fought a quest against evil—an evil unlike anything anyone has ever seen under this sun. They didn’t know it, but their sacrifices allowed our forefathers—and us—to maintain our fragile ownership of this world. In Seven & Two, the first book of the Our Young Guardians series, we begin the chronicle of one who was brave enough to leave behind what he knew. His faded handwriting not only captures how they struggled through that war, but how they learned to find themselves as they grew up away from their families. You and I owe them more than we could ever give. And even though there is no word of them ever asking for anything, my heart tells me they would only ask for one thing—to keep them where their friends are. The least we can do for them is honor their story.

Series: Our Young Guardians
Paperback: 364 pages
Publisher: Rodi Szoke; 1 edition (September 30, 2016)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0997565918
ISBN-13: 978-0997565911
Product Dimensions: 6 x 0.9 x 9 inches

Paperback BookAppalachian Appetite is a groundbreaking, influential cookbook featuring over 100 recipes that represent an innovative take on tradition, with contributions and stories from this mountain region’s best chefs, restaurants, and citizens. From Asheville, NC to Nashville, TN; Oxford, MS to Millinocket, ME, when asked which cuisine most typifies America, chefs are bound to tell you it stems from the South, the heartbeat of which is Appalachia.

Hailing from the very depths of Appalachia in western North Carolina, author and chef Susi Gott Séguret honed her culinary skills in France earning a diploma in Gastronomy and Taste from the Cordon Bleu and the Université de Reims. This unique combination is highlighted in Appalachian Appetite as (says Fred Sauceman, author of Buttermilk & Bible Burgers) “the loving product of that convergence.”

Appalachian Appetite is filled with recipes straight from the heart of Appalachia. As Dr. Jean Haskell, co-editor of Encyclopedia of Appalachia says, the book brings together “the region’s music, food, stories, and its great chefs and home cooks.”

Recipes featured include:
● Tennessee Corn & Truffle Flan
● Ramp & Nettle Quiche
● Venison Country-Style Steak
● Cast Iron Trout, Smoked Grits, Farm Egg, & Potlikker Jus
● Bourbon-Marinated Flank Steak with Blueberry Barbecue Sauce
● Southern Sweet Potato Praline Spoonbread

An inspired collection from chef Susi Gott Séguret, Appalachian Appetite brings together the beloved recipes of the region for, as proclaims Jess McCuan, former Business Editor for The San Francisco Chronicle and Founding Editor of The Asheville Scene “an authoritative and colorful guide.”

Paperback: 256 pages
Publisher: Hatherleigh Press (November 29, 2016)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 1578266572
ISBN-13: 978-1578266579
Product Dimensions: 7 x 0.6 x 9 inches

BookHow to Draw Cool Stuff shows simple step-by-step illustrations that make it easy for anyone to draw cool stuff with precision and confidence. These pages will guide you through the basic principles of illustration by concentrating on easy-to-learn shapes that build into complex drawings. With the step-by-step guidelines provided, anything can become easy to draw. This book contains a series of fun, hands-on exercises that will help you see line, shape, space and other elements in everyday objects and turn them into detailed works of art in just a few simple steps. The exercises in this book will help train your brain so you can visualize ordinary objects in a different manner, allowing you to see through the eyes of an artist. From photorealistic faces to holiday themes and tattoo drawings, How to Draw Cool Stuff makes drawing easier than you would think and more fun than you ever imagined! Now is the time to learn how to draw the subjects and scenes you’ve always dreamt of drawing. How to Draw Cool Stuff is suitable for artists of any age benefiting everyone from teachers and students to self-learners and hobbyists. How to Draw Cool Stuff will help you realize your artistic potential and expose you to the pure joy of drawing!

Series: How to Draw Cool Stuff
Paperback: 254 pages
Publisher: Library Tales Publishing, Incorporated (March 17, 2014)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0615991424
ISBN-13: 978-0615991429
Product Dimensions: 8 x 0.6 x 10 inches

How to Draw Cool Stuff: Holidays, Seasons and Events is a step-by-step drawing guide that illustrates popular celebrations, holidays and events for your drawing pleasure. From the Chinese New Year to April Fools’ Day, Father’s Day to Halloween, Christmas and New Year’s Eve – this book covers over 100 fun days, holidays, seasons and events, and offers simple lessons that will teach you how to draw like a pro and get you in the spirit of whichever season it may be! The third book in the How To Draw Cool Stuff series, this exciting new title will teach you how to create simple illustrations using basic shapes and a drawing technique that simplifies the process of drawing, all while helping you construct height, width and depth in your work. It will guide you through the creative thought process and provide plenty of ideas to get you started. The lessons in this book will also teach you how to think like an artist and remind you that you are only limited by your imagination!

Series: How to Draw Cool Stuff
Paperback: 426 pages
Publisher: Library Tales Publishing, Incorporated (May 6, 2016)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0692661980
ISBN-13: 978-0692661987
Product Dimensions: 8 x 1 x 10 inches

“How to Draw Cool Stuff: Basics, Shading, Texture, Pattern and Optical Illusions” is the second book in the How to Draw Cool Stuff series. Inside you will find simple illustrations that cover the necessities of drawing cool stuff. Specific exercises are provided that offer step-by-step guidelines for drawing a variety of subjects. Each lesson starts with an easy-to-draw shape that will become the basic structure of the drawing. From there, each step adds elements to that structure, allowing the artist to build on their creation and make a more detailed image. Starting with the basic forms, the artist is provided a guide to help see objects in terms of simplified shapes. Instructions for shading to add depth, contrast, character and movement to a drawing are then covered. The varieties of texture and pattern that can be included in an artwork offer another layer of interest and depth to a design. These elements are necessary to indicate the way something looks like it feels in a work (texture) or creating the repetition of shapes, lines or colors (patterns). Illustrated optical illusions involve images that are sensed and perceived to be different from what they really are, showing examples of how the mind and the eyes can play tricks on each other. All you need is a piece of paper, a pencil and an eraser and you are ready to draw cool stuff. Once the drawing is complete, it can be colored, shaded or designed in any way you like to make it original. Following these exercises is a great way to practice your craft and begin seeing things in terms of simple shapes within a complex object.

Series: How to Draw Cool Stuff
Paperback: 240 pages
Publisher: Library Tales Publishing, Incorporated; 1 edition (March 7, 2015)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0692382518
ISBN-13: 978-0692382516
Product Dimensions: 8 x 0.6 x 10 inches

January’s DVD and Book Product Roundup 2017

I get products sent to me daily to try out. I unfortunately don’t have time to do a post for each item that I get to review. So I want to make sure these items get seen and learned about. The only other solution I could see to do is to do a January’s DVD and Book Product Roundup 2017 on the products I like and want my readers to know about. I hope you enjoy these as much as I and my other reviewers did.

DVDThe Power Rangers continue their search for the Energems after Sledge’s defeat, but soon learn that his most dangerous prisoner, the evil Heckyl, survived! In light of this new threat, Kendall creates a powerful new Dino Charger that unlocks the Red Ranger’s T-Rex Super Charge mode! It will take every Zord, Megazord, and Dino Charger in the Power Rangers’ arsenal to finally unite all ten Energems and save the universe!

Actors: Brennan Mejia, Camille Hyde, Yoshua Sudarso, Michael Taber, James Davies
Directors: Peter Burger, Karl Zwicky, Michael Duignan
Format: Closed-captioned, Color, NTSC, Widescreen
Language: English
Region: Region 1 (U.S. and Canada only.)
Number of discs: 2
Rated:NR Not Rated
Studio: Lionsgate
DVD Release Date: January 10, 2017
Run Time: 132 minutes

DVDWhen a rival agency called Weird Team arrives with a gadget that fixes any odd problem, Odd Squad doesn’t have any cases to solve and goes out of business forcing the agents to go back to their lives as regular kids! After using math and teamwork to uncover that Weird Team’s gadget isn’t actually fixing problems, Olympia and Otis join forces with Olive and Otto to stop Weird Team and save the world from destruction!

Format: Color, NTSC, Widescreen
Language: English
Subtitles: English
Region: Region 1 (U.S. and Canada only.)
Number of discs: 1
Rated: G General Audience
Studio: PBS Distribution
DVD Release Date: January 24, 2017
Run Time: 90 minutes

DVDThere’s a dog adoption fair in Storybrook Village and Whyatt has made a new friend named Woofster! When Whyatt discovers that Woofster needs a new home, the Super Readers make it their mission to help out. Before they know it, Woofster has become part of the team! This fun-filled collection of four puppy-packed stories features tons of new furry friends and will have kids begging for more reading adventures!

Format: Animated, Color, NTSC, Widescreen
Language: English
Region: Region 1 (U.S. and Canada only.)
Number of discs: 1
Rated: G General Audience
Studio: PBS Distribution
DVD Release Date: January 10, 2017
Run Time: 120 minutes

DVDThe Gruffalo tells the magical tale of a mouse who takes a walk through the woods in search of a nut. Encountering three predators who all wish to eat him a fox, an owl and a snake the plucky mouse has to use his wits to survive, creating an imaginary monster who then turns out to be only too real.

dvd*Parents’ Choice Award: Gold Winner 2012* This enchanting film tells the story of a mouse who goes in search of a nut. Along the way, he is confronted by three hungry animals who think that the mouse looks good to eat! Forced to rely on his wits for survival, Mouse invents an imaginary monster to scare them away, but what happens when he comes face to face with his own creation? The Gruffalo is based on the bestselling children’s picture book written by Julia Donaldson and illustrated by Axel Scheffler. Bonus content includes a photo gallery and the making of The Gruffalo.

DVDRough, tough and roarin’ to go, your favorite heroes are back for more epic adventures based on the legacy of THE LION KING. Join Kion and his fearless friends as they celebrate within the Circle of Life and race to the rescue in five action-packed episodes also featuring King Simba, the spirit of Mufasa and the hilarious antics of Timon and Pumbaa. You’ll go wild for all the ferocious fun, because whether THE LION GUARD team is tracking a rogue leopard, foiling tricky jackals or facing stubborn crocodiles, LIFE IN THE PRIDE LANDS is always “hevi kabisa” — totally intense!

Actors: Max Charles, James Earl Jones, Rob Lowe, Dusan Brown, Sarah Hyland
Format: Animated, Color, Dolby, Dubbed, NTSC, Subtitled, Widescreen
Language: English (Dolby Digital 2.0), French (Dolby Digital 2.0), Spanish (Dolby Digital 2.0)
Subtitles: French, Spanish, English
Dubbed: French, Spanish
Region: Region 1 (U.S. and Canada only.)
Aspect Ratio: 1.78:1
Number of discs: 1
Studio: Walt Disney Studios Home Entertainment
DVD Release Date: January 10, 2017
Run Time: 110 minutes

dvdLong Way North is set in late-19th century Saint Petersburg. Sacha, a young girl from the Russian aristocracy, has always been fascinated by the exciting life of her grandfather, Oloukine, a renowned scientist and Arctic explorer who has yet to return from his latest expedition to conquer the North Pole. But Sacha’s parents, who have already made arrangements for her marriage, strongly disapprove of her fascination, to say the least. Defying her parents’ wishes, Sacha flees her home and launches an adventure-filled quest toward the Great North in search of Oloukine and his ship.

Actors: Chloe Dunn
Directors: Remi Chaye
Format: Animated, Color, NTSC, Widescreen
Language: English
Subtitles: English
Region: Region A/1
Number of discs: 2
Rated: PG Parental Guidance Suggested
Studio: Shout! Factory
DVD Release Date: January 17, 2017
Run Time: 81 minutes

Hardcover BookWhat can six kids from a local neighborhood do when they have a goal in mind? Embark on a quest to Appleville, of course! Join Liu-Liu, Kenan, Tu-Tu, Lizzy, Pedro, and Cassie as they overcome their fears with the help of the Appleville Fairy. Can you help them earn their golden apples?

Publisher: Mascot Books (December 6, 2016)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 1631778935
ISBN-13: 978-1631778933
Product Dimensions: 10.4 x 0.4 x 8.1 inches
Shipping Weight: 12.8 ounces

PaperbackWinner of the Mom’s Choice Award for excellence in family friendly media, Fuzzwippers Find Good Listeners empowers children to practice good listening skills as they become great communicators. The Fuzzwipper series includes tips for children and a parent’s pointer too. The Fuzzwipper series promotes self-esteem, socio-emotional health, and life skills for children through the power of story. In this story our Fuzzwipper friend, Fuzzoola meets Katherine and they both learn how to listen and learn from each other.

Paperback: 32 pages
Publisher: 4 Sunflowers Media (October 11, 2012)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0615678629
ISBN-13: 978-0615678627
Product Dimensions: 8.5 x 0.1 x 8.5 inches
Shipping Weight: 3.2 ounces

PaperbackWinner of the Mom’s Choice Award, Fuzzwippers are friendly creatures that reach out to anyone who needs to be assured they are wanted and needed. Children of all ages will be fascinated by these new-found friends who whisper to them in the language of Imaginarius and accompany them wherever they go. Introduce your children to their very own Fuzzwippers! Hello, We’re the Fuzzwippers is the first book of the Fuzzwipper series which promotes self-esteem, socio-emotional health, and life skills for children through the power of story.

Paperback: 30 pages
Publisher: 4 Sunflowers Media (April 25, 2012)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0615588131
ISBN-13: 978-0615588131
Product Dimensions: 8.5 x 0.1 x 8.5 inches
Shipping Weight: 3.8 ounces

PaperbackMaking delicious meals doesn’t have to be complicated, time-consuming, or expensive. You can create satisfying dishes using just four ingredients, or even less! In this new and revised edition of the bestselling 4-Ingredient Diabetes Cookbook, author Nancy Hughes has added more than 25 new recipes that can be made in a snap! With more than 175 quick, easy-to-prepare recipes, this one-of-a-kind cookbook now has recipes for breakfast, lunch, dinner, and everything in between.

PaperbackWe all want to be loved. The good news? Everyone falls in love, most of us more than once. Falling in love is innate and inevitable, and the process seems the same for all people in all places in all times. In True Love, the first book on love and the brain written by a neurologist, you’ll learn what actually happens in your brain while seeking love, and well after. Dr. Nour details, in plain English, how our brain chemicals and genes cause love to happen in four distinct phases. He explores the genetic, chemical and behavioral aspects of each phase of love. In this book, you will discover how ‘Falling in Love’ is not ‘True Love’. You will find the answers to many questions, such as: – Why do people who has fallen in love do things that some may deem “crazy”? – What attracts us to certain people and not others? – Why do arranged marriages have a lower divorce rate? – Is falling out of love really “the end?” – Are certain behaviors exhibited by a mate that aren’t actually love, yet appear to be? – What is the difference between love in heterosexuals and homosexuals? – Could love be a disease or an addiction? – Are sex and love really the same? – Is there anything we can do to grow our current love into True Love? – Why do we always marry the wrong mismatching partner? – Can marriage of convenience result in True Love? Is there a biological reason for this? – Has love changed over the centuries? – Why do we need love? – Can understanding “falling out of love” help reduce divorce rates? Dr. Nour hopes that this information, rooted in science, will better inform your future decisions and expectations in relationships, ultimately leading to unions that are more genuine, rewarding, meaningful and permanent. Whether you’re in a relationship, still looking for that special someone, or want insights to make your next relationship last for a lifetime, you’ll find True Love a vital and eye-opening resource.

HardcoverKid Crazy Carlson thirsts for adventure in the far-off and bustling City of Ever. One day he meets a robot that warns him of the grumpy Kilowatt King that rules there―who forces people to sing for him. Despite the robot’s warning, Kid decides to make the voyage to the city and the two travel in a car made of bread through candy bar men, robot travelers, and dancing elephants to reach their destination. Finally, Kid stands before the sour King Kilowatt and teaches him a lesson in manners: the value of the word “please.”

Paperback Go beyond the calm coloring craze: Train your brain and enhance your memory as you copy, complete, and color a series of 90 beautifully complex animal creations–from cats and dogs to elephants and zebras.

Research shows that drawing keeps your mind focused and your memory sharp. DRAW YOUR WAY TO A YOUNGER BRAIN includes 90 intricate line drawings of cats, dogs, and safari animals to boost your brainpower using proven art therapy techniques. Train your brain and enhance your memory as you copy, complete, and color in outlines, doodle in the gaps, and progress to forming your own artistic designs. Line by line, heal your mind, spark your creativity, and improve your cognitive function as you fill in the pages with art and color.

Paperback: 176 pages
Publisher: Grand Central Life & Style; Clr Csm edition (January 24, 2017)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 1455543616
ISBN-13: 978-1455543618
Product Dimensions: 9.8 x 0.6 x 9.8 inches
Shipping Weight: 1.5 pounds

Disclosure review

October’s DVD and Book Product Roundup 2016

I get products sent to me daily to try out. I unfortunately don’t have time to do a post for each item that I get to review. So I want to make sure these items get seen and learned about. The only other solution I could see to do is to do a DVD and Book Product Roundup on the products I like and want my readers to know about. I hope you enjoy these as much as I and my other reviewers did.

Kate & Mim-Mim: The Mimiloo Zoo DVDIt’s off to the fantasy world of Mimiloo after Kate’s visit to the zoo gets canceled! In Mimiloo, Kate, Mim-Mim, and their pals create their own zoo animals from the surrounding bushes and hedges when, with one spritz of Gobble’s presto potion, the animals come to life and things quickly get wild!

Format: Animated, Color, Widescreen, NTSC
Language: English
Subtitles: English
Region: Region 1 (U.S. and Canada only.)
Number of discs: 1
Rated: NR Not Rated
Studio: PBS (Direct)
DVD Release Date: September 20, 2016
Run Time: 66 minutes

Daniel Tiger's Neighborhood: You Are Special, Daniel Tiger! DVDAnimated series, targeting ages 2-4 featuring the son of the original Daniel Tiger from Mr. Rogers Neighborhood

Format: Animated, Color, NTSC, Widescreen
Dubbed: English
Region: Region 1 (U.S. and Canada only.)
Number of discs: 1
Rated: NR Not Rated
Studio: PBS
DVD Release Date: September 6, 2016
Run Time: 110 minutes

Wild Kratts: A Creature Christmas DVDIt’s Christmas time and the Wild Kratts are taking a break to celebrate. They are beginning to open their presents when the Wild Kratts alarm sounds. The villains, Zach Varmitech, Gaston Gourmand, and Donita Donata are kidnapping all the baby animals to turn them into Christmas ornaments! Christmas will have to wait as the Wild Kratts spring into action to save their friends and get them home for Christmas.

Format: Color, NTSC, Widescreen
Dubbed: English
Region: Region 1 (U.S. and Canada only.)
Number of discs: 1
Rated: G General Audience
Studio: PBS Distribution
DVD Release Date: October 4, 2016
Run Time: 60 minutes

Kate & Mim-Mim: A Christmas Wish DVDJoin Kate and Mim-Mim with their friends in Mimiloo as they use Tack s letter launcher to send their Christmas wishes to Santa! When the letter launcher malfunctions, can Kate and Mim-Mim save Christmas? In addition to this Christmas adventure, this DVD features more exciting tales!

Format: Animated, Color, NTSC, Widescreen
Dubbed: English
Region: Region 1 (U.S. and Canada only.)
Number of discs: 1
Rated: G General Audience
Studio: PBS Distribution
DVD Release Date: October 4, 2016
Run Time: 45 minutes

Caillou The Courageous DVDGrowing up can be fun, but sometimes preschoolers get scared! From overcoming a fear of spiders to trying something new, Caillou empowers preschoolers to take on life s little challenges and to explore the world around them! Caillou the Courageous features seven stories that will help kids feel like they can accomplish anything!

Format: Animated, Color, NTSC, Widescreen
Dubbed: English
Region: Region 1 (U.S. and Canada only.)
Number of discs: 1
Rated: G General Audience
Studio: PBS Distribution
DVD Release Date: October 11, 2016
Run Time: 55 minutes

Power Rangers Dino Charge: Rise [DVD + Digital] The Power Rangers rise and take action-adventure to the next level as Tyler and Ivan put their differences aside to defuse a bomb; Chase races to free his friends from an underground tomb; Prince Phillip learns that he can’t buy his way into the Power Rangers; and Riley and Koda restore the team’s broken bonds of friendship in these dynamic, thrill-filled adventures.

Directors: Peter Salmon, Mike Smith
Format: Closed-captioned, Color, NTSC, Widescreen
Language: English
Region: Region 1 (U.S. and Canada only.)
Number of discs: 1
Studio: LIONSGATE
DVD Release Date: September 27, 2016
Run Time: 93 minutes

Legend Of Everfree Fresh air – check. Starlit nights – check. Scary stories – freaky deaky! The Equestria Girls are leaving the halls of Canterlot High School for a field trip to Camp Everfree. However, they get more than canoeing and camp fires when magic begins to wreak havoc on the camp. They’re surprised to find a magical force is causing strange things to happen, and the girls seem to be developing new powers. The Equestria Girls will have to work together to control the magic or it will destroy their beloved camp!

Actors: Ashleigh Ball, Tara Strong
Directors: Jayson Thiessen
Format: NTSC, Widescreen
Language: English
Number of discs: 2
Studio: Shout! Factory
DVD Release Date: November 1, 2016
Run Time: 73 minutes

Alice Through the Looking GlassDisney invites you to step through the looking glass and join Alice, the Mad Hatter, Cheshire Cat and the Red Queen on a wild ride back to Wonderland! The adventure begins when Alice embarks on a daring quest to save her dear friend the Hatter (Johnny Depp). Plunging back into the whimsical, topsy-turvy world of Wonderland with all her old companions and a host of zany new ones, Alice must take on Time himself to right a past wrong, find her muchness… and remember that nothing is impossible.

Actors: Johnny Depp, Helena Bonham Carter, Sacha Baron Cohen, Anne Hathaway, Mia Wasikowska
Directors: James Bobin
Writers: Based On Characters Created By Lewis Carroll, Written By Linda Woolverton
Format: AC-3, Dolby, DTS Surround Sound, Dubbed, NTSC, Subtitled
Language: English (DTS-HD High Res Audio), French (Dolby Digital 5.1), Spanish (Dolby Digital 5.1)
Subtitles: French, Spanish, English
Dubbed: French, Spanish
Region: Region A/1
Aspect Ratio: 1.85:1
Number of discs: 1
Rated: PG Parental Guidance Suggested
Studio: Walt Disney Studios
DVD Release Date: October 18, 2016
Run Time: 113 minutes

Doc McStuffins: Toy Hospital DVDJoin Doc as she goes from running her backyard clinic to taking charge of a new, state-of-the art TOY HOSPITAL! The excitement begins when Doc is transported to McStuffinsville, a magical new place filled with toys! There, she becomes the new Chief Resident of McStuffins Toy Hospital. Thankfully, she’s brought the whole gang to pitch in, with Lambie in the nursery, Stuffy on vet duty, Chilly as receptionist, Rosie the ambulance and, of course, Hallie too. Together, they’ll heal toys from near and far. Plus, there’s more! You’ll get to join Doc as she meets her new baby sister and learns how to care for her with toy Baby Cece! Super-stuffed with over two hours of heartwarming, song-filled fun, this is Doc’s biggest adventure ever!

Download Doc McStuffins Toy Hospital Activities

Actors: Kiara Muhammed, Lara Jill Miller, Robbie Rist, Loretta Devine, Jess Harnell
Format: Animated, Color, Dolby, Dubbed, NTSC, Subtitled, Widescreen
Language: English (Dolby Digital 2.0), French (Dolby Digital 2.0), Spanish (Dolby Digital 2.0)
Subtitles: French, Spanish, English
Dubbed: French, Spanish
Region: Region 1
Aspect Ratio: 1.78:1
Number of discs: 1
Studio: Buena Vista Home Entertainment
DVD Release Date: October 18, 2016
Run Time: 142 minutes

Take Heart [DVD + Digital]There’s exciting news in the land of Care-a-Lot! The Care Bear Cousins – Brave Heart Lion, Bright Heart Raccoon, Lotsa Heart Elephant, and Cozy Heart Penguin – have returned home. The Cousins make sure that the Share Cloud is always full of the Care Hearts that Care-a-Lot needs. When the Cousins’ ship is stolen, the Care Bears and the Cousins use their caring skills to retrieve the ship, save the Share Cloud, collect the lost Care Hearts, and much more in these heartwarming adventures!

Actors: Michaela Dean, Doug Erholtz, Braeden Fox, Olivia Hack, David Lodge
Directors: Andrew Young
Format: Animated, Closed-captioned, Color, NTSC, Widescreen
Language: English
Region: Region 1 (U.S. and Canada only)
Number of discs: 1
Rated: NR Not Rated
Studio: Lionsgate
DVD Release Date: November 1, 2016
Run Time: 132 minutes

We Wish Ewe A Merry Christmas DVD’Tis the season to be woolly with Shaun the Sheep™ and his farmyard friends. Frolic with the flock as they decorate the farmhouse for the Farmer, watch Bitzer and Pidsley battle for a spot by the fire, join a massive snowball fight and much more in these seven hilarious episodes.

Format: Multiple Formats, Animated, Closed-captioned, Color, Dolby, Full Screen, NTSC
Language: English
Region: Region 1 (U.S. and Canada only)
Aspect Ratio: 1.33:1
Number of discs: 1
Rated: NR Not Rated
Studio: Lyons / Hit Ent.
DVD Release Date: October 18, 2011
Run Time: 50 minutes

Hero [DVD + Digital]Join the Power Rangers on a quest for a new hero! Get set for dino-charged adventure and nonstop thrills as the Power Rangers discover their newest ally, the Purple Ranger! But when the Purple Ranger decides to leave the team, it will take all of the Power Rangers’ skills combined to battle the villainous Sledge – and find a new hero fit for the Purple Energem – in this action-packed collection that features the bonus episode, “Race to Rescue Christmas.”

Actors: Brennan Mejia, Camille Hyde, Yoshi Sudarso, Michael Taber, James Davies
Directors: Mike Smith, Peter Salmon, Charlie Haskell
Format: Closed-captioned, Color, NTSC, Widescreen
Language: English
Region: Region 1 (U.S. and Canada only.)
Number of discs: 1
Studio: Lionsgate
DVD Release Date: November 1, 2016
Run Time: 125 minutes

Project Droid #1 & #2It’s a pretty normal day for Logan Applebaum—until his inventor mother announces that she’s built him a new robot cousin. And Java may be really smart, but he’s also going to be a major handful. No one can know about his secret. This is going to be a long school year.

With the third grade science fair coming up, though, Logan thinks maybe a super computer cousin could come in handy and he’ll finally have a shot at beating the nosey Silverspoon twins who win at everything.

But when Sherry and Jerry steal Java as their partner, and then start suspecting something is up with the new kid, can Logan think fast before this crazy experiment becomes an epic disaster?

In Science No Fair! internationally bestselling author, Nancy Krulik and her incredibly talented daughter, Amanda Burwasser, team up to introduce a new comedic pair that combines the literalness of Amelia Bedelia with a wacky modern edge, making for hours of laughter.

Age Range: 7 – 9 years
Grade Level: 1 – 4
Series: Project Droid (Book 1)
Paperback: 112 pages
Publisher: Sky Pony Press (September 6, 2016)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 1510710280
ISBN-13: 978-1510710283
Product Dimensions: 5.1 x 0.4 x 7.4 inches

When Mom tells Logan that Java is joining his soccer team, the Purple Wombats, he’s not thrilled. It’s a lot of work teaching his new robot cousin how to act like a human—and keeping him out of trouble—and Logan needs a break.

Still, being programmed for success means that Java’s also great at scoring. He might just turn the Wombats into a championship team, beating Sherry and Jerry Silverspoon and their Red Polar Bears . . . if he’d just let the other kids play, too. After being replaced as the Wombats’ MVP, Logan’s had enough.

But when Java gets wet and goes on the fritz, can the whole team—even a short-circuiting Java—come together to score the winning goal?

The second in a fantastically funny new chapter book series by internationally bestselling author Nancy Krulik and her daughter, Amanda Burwasser, Soccer Shocker is destined to win tons of fans.

Age Range: 7 – 9 years
Grade Level: 1 – 4
Series: Project Droid (Book 2)
Paperback: 104 pages
Publisher: Sky Pony Press (September 6, 2016)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 1510710299
ISBN-13: 978-1510710290
Product Dimensions: 5.1 x 0.3 x 7.4 inches

Travels with Gannon and Wyatt: Hawaii Hardcover BookA HIGH-ALTITUDE BLIZZARD, BUBBLING RIVERS OF LAVA, AND BEACHES WITH RAGING SURF; one thing’s for sure: The Hawaiian Islands offer no shortage of adventure! Teaming up with fellow explorer, Alana Aukai, thrill-seeking twins Gannon and Wyatt begin an expedition to study rarely visited parts of this Pacific paradise. When an ancient map is found on a drowning archeologist, the explorers shift their attention to uncovering the map’s secrets. To their astonishment, they discover that it might lead to one of Hawaii’s most puzzling mysteries—the burial place of the islands’ most-revered ruler, King Kamehameha the Great! Adding danger to an already perilous journey, someone else is after the map—someone who seems willing to do just about anything to get it.

In the tradition of the historic journals kept by explorers such as Lewis and Clark, Dr. David Livingstone, and Captain James Cook comes the adventure series Travels with Gannon & Wyatt. From Africa to the South Pacific, these twin brothers have traveled the world. You never know what they will encounter as they venture into the wild, but one thing is certain—wherever Gannon and Wyatt go, adventure is their constant companion.

Series: Travels with Gannon and Wyatt
Hardcover: 200 pages
Publisher: Greenleaf Book Group Press (September 6, 2016)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 1626343071
ISBN-13: 978-1626343078
Product Dimensions: 5.8 x 0.8 x 8.1 inches

The Adventures of Celia Kaye Hardcover BookCelia Kaye is a little girl who has something she thinks she needs to hide. She goes to great lengths to keep her mysterious secret concealed from her friends by becoming a master storyteller.

It is often difficult and frustrating for children to navigate food allergies and intolerances. This book is designed to help kids cope with and understand not only celiac disease, but all differences.

Kids will follow Celia Kaye on her adventures as she creates stories about her limitations using unlimited imagination.

Hardcover: 38 pages
Publisher: Bent Frame (November 17, 2015)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0996432906
ISBN-13: 978-0996432900
Product Dimensions: 8.5 x 0.2 x 8.5 inches

Peep and Egg: I'm Not Trick-or-Treating Hardcover BookPeep can’t wait to go trick-or-treating with Egg. But Egg is NOT trick-or-treating! No way, no how. With monsters, witches, and mummies out there, it is just too scary. Even when Peep tells Halloween jokes to soothe Egg’s fears, Egg is not cracking. How can Peep help Egg realize that trick-or-treating isn’t so scary when you have someone you love by your side?

Age Range: 2 – 6 years
Grade Level: Preschool – 1
Series: Peep and Egg
Hardcover: 40 pages
Publisher: Farrar, Straus and Giroux (BYR) (August 9, 2016)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0374301220
ISBN-13: 978-0374301224
Product Dimensions: 9.3 x 0.4 x 9.4 inches

The Truthful Story PaperbackWhen ten-year-old Genevieve Donovan’s Nannie dies mysteriously in the Lowcountry river she’s loved and lived near all her life, Genny and her family are heartbroken. In 1960s South Carolina, new industry is encroaching on old country, and Genny fears her grandmother may have gotten in the way of so-called progress. Even Daduh, Nannie’s dearest friend and longtime housekeeper, doesn’t know what to make of Nannie’s death. Was it an accident, or did the drunkard son of a local businessman play a role? What’s more, ever since Nannie passed, Genny has been hearing and seeing things she’s not sure she can share with anyone except her mother, whose own grief is making it harder and harder to get through to her. Seeking answers, longing for guidance, and unsure if Mama will ever be the same again, Genny gingerly forges a path out of childhood and into adolescence. As Genny struggles to understand justice, healing, and a world in which Nannie is gone but still present, The Truthful Story traces a family’s difficult journey through the pain of loss and the survival of love.

Ripley's Believe It Or Not! Unlock The Weird! HardcoverRipley’s Believe It or Not! Unlock the Weird! 2017 is bursting with 100% ALL NEW facts, features, and photos from around the world—all verified to be 100% TRUE! From weird feats to bizarre food, strange animals, and more, this brand-new collection of Ripley’s stories and photos includes exclusive features not found anywhere else. Filled with thousands of unbelievably strange oddities to discover, children and adults alike will find a new favorite on every page.

All true, 100% ALL NEW, Ripley’s Believe It or Not! Unlock the Weird! 2017 will amaze and astound readers from the first to the last page. Hair-raising photographs, incredible stories, and the mind-blowing facts Ripley’s is famous for promise hours of entertainment for every Ripley fan! With thousands of stories—including submissions from readers around the world—you’ll discover something new each time you read it!

Series: ANNUAL (Book 13)
Hardcover: 256 pages
Publisher: Ripley Publishing (September 6, 2016)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 1609911652
ISBN-13: 978-1609911652
Product Dimensions: 9 x 1 x 11.8 inches
Shipping Weight: 3.2 pounds

Growing Up Gourmet: 125 Healthy Meals for Everybody and Every Baby HardcoverGarlic, cinnamon, cardamom, sage, basil—you’ll be amazed by what your baby will eat! Here are 125 healthy, delicious, kitchen-tested, and pediatric dietician-approved baby food recipes that will nurture your child’s adventurous palate and guarantee smiles from everyone at the dinner table.

Growing Up Gourmet is a total guide to your baby and toddler’s diet. Jennifer Carlson built her business, Baby Gourmet, into one of the top-selling organic baby food brands in North America—and she’ll show you how to make nutritious, delicious, home-cooked meals that will complement your child’s development schedule and make everyone else in the family happy too. Her mouth-watering recipes reduce picky eating and introduce your baby to the wide world of textures and tastes, from veggies such as kale and fennel, to grains such as amaranth and spelt, to herbs and spices such as turmeric and ginger that will help you avoid added sugar, salt, colorings, and preservatives.

As a busy mother of two, Jen understands that it’s easy to feel overwhelmed by feeding struggles and the sheer mass of parenting information, not to mention the challenges of finding time to make wholesome, flavorful meals from scratch. In this essential guide, she clearly lays out everything you need to know about feeding your baby: when to wean; how to get the right nutrients at every stage; how to deal with finicky eating habits; which foods will treat gassiness, colic, constipation, low iron, or poor sleep; and how to adapt your special dietary considerations for your child. As daunting as it may seem, there are shortcuts and techniques to make it all manageable, whether you’re cooking for a single little one or a family of five and counting.

Hardcover: 240 pages
Publisher: Atria Books (June 21, 2016)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 1501110551
ISBN-13: 978-1501110559
Product Dimensions: 7.5 x 0.6 x 7.5 inches
Shipping Weight: 1.4 pounds

BookA runaway bestseller in Japan, now available in English for the first time, Life Works Itself Out is an unforgettable collection of adorable cat photos and sage life advice that will appeal to fans of Texts from Mittens, I Could Pee on This, and Grumpy Cat.

Humans could learn a thing or two from cats—and Life Works Itself Out is here to relay all of kittendom’s accumulated wisdom to mankind, one loveable photo and wise aphorism at a time.

A mega-bestseller in Japan (where it has sold more than 700,000 copies), this book is filled with inspirational quotes and entertaining four-color photographs of cats that range from the heartwarming to the humorous. Whether you’re feeling down and looking for a lift, or you need some lighthearted life advice, who better to turn to than man’s TRUE best friend—the trusty feline. The purr-fect pick-me-up or gift book, Life Works Itself Out will have cat lovers pawing through its pages over and over again.

Paperback: 176 pages
Publisher: Touchstone (October 11, 2016)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 1501127853
ISBN-13: 978-1501127854
Product Dimensions: 5.1 x 0.7 x 7.4 inches

BookFor fans who loved bestsellers like Underwater Dogs and Shake comes Flying Dogs, a fun and stunning photography book capturing adorable dogs from a unique perspective: mid-air.

Inspired by her Frisbee-loving pup, Flinn, photographer Julia Christe set out to photograph the athleticism and freedom of dogs leaping in mid-air. She published some of these images of airborne canines digitally, and they quickly went viral with features in The Guardian, Huffington Post, and on the Today show.

The delightful result prompted her to capture other dogs from this hilarious and unique perspective. Featuring over 120 airborne dogs of all breeds and sizes—from the tiniest of Chihuahuas to full-grown Siberian Huskies and German Shepherds—Flying Dogs is the delightful, swooping sensation that will have dog lovers laughing out loud and begging for more! (And never fear: No dogs were harmed in the making of this book.)

Hardcover: 128 pages
Publisher: Touchstone (October 18, 2016)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 1501145886
ISBN-13: 978-1501145889
Product Dimensions: 7.4 x 0.7 x 8 inches

1-2-3 Magic Teen bookHelp your teens grow into the very best versions of themselves!

From rule-breaking and risk-taking to defensive communication and disrespect, parenting a teenager can feel like modern warfare–but it doesn’t have to be that way. In 1-2-3 Magic Teen, internationally renowned parenting expert Thomas W. Phelan explains how to better understand your teenager, which problems are not worth fighting over, and why your child’s behavior likely matches the definition of a normal adolescent! With helpful, straightforward advice backed up by research and parent-tested strategies, 1-2-3 Magic Teen will help you establish a calmer, more respectful home and family life and show you how to guide your teenager into healthy, functional young adulthood.

• Learn the Language: Communicate with open and engaging language, and listen to your teenager the right way.
• Establish Expectations: Learn how to set limits while still encouraging independent decision-making and helping your child develop their emotional intelligence.
• Stay in Touch: Allow your teen to open up to you in more meaningful and inclusive ways through four simple connection building strategies.’
• Take Care of Yourself: Take time to maintain your own emotional well-being to avoid allowing your own anxieties and stresses to influence your children

You’ll also find tools and advice tailored for the challenges of a teen lifestyle, including:
• Forgetting to do chores
• Absence in family outings
• Drop in grades
• Missed curfews
• Parties and drinking
• Work responsibilities

The author of the million-copy parenting bestseller 1-2-3 Magic applies his time-tested, trusted advice in this straightforward, encouraging guide that walks parents through the ups and downs of teen life, allowing them to help their kids gain confidence and push toward independence.

Paperback: 192 pages
Publisher: Sourcebooks; 4 edition (November 1, 2016)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 1492637890
ISBN-13: 978-1492637899
Product Dimensions: 6 x 0.6 x 8.9 inches

Outdoor Science Lab for KidsLearn physics, chemistry and biology in your own backyard!

At-home science provides an environment for freedom, creativity and invention that is not always possible in a school setting. In your own backyard, it’s simple, inexpensive, and fun to whip up a number of amazing science experiments using the great outdoors. Science can be found all around in nature. Outdoor Science Lab for Kids offers 52 fun science activities for families to do together. The experiments can be used as individual projects, for parties, or as educational activities for groups. Outdoor Science Lab for Kids will tempt families to learn about physics, chemistry and biology in their backyards. Learn scientific survival skills and even take some experiments to the playground! Many of the experiments are safe enough for toddlers and exciting enough for older kids, so families can discover the joy of science together.

Age Range: 8 – 12 years
Grade Level: 2 – 5
Series: Lab Series
Flexibound: 144 pages
Publisher: Quarry Books (June 1, 2016)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 1631591150
ISBN-13: 978-1631591150
Product Dimensions: 8.8 x 0.6 x 8.8 inches

Disclosure review

May’s DVD and Book Product Roundup 2016

I get products sent to me daily to try out. I unfortunately don’t have time to do a post for each item that I get to review. So I want to make sure these items get seen and learned about. The only other solution I could see to do is to do a DVD and Book Product Roundup on the products I like and want my readers to know about. I hope you enjoy these as much as I and my other reviewers did.

When Calls The Heart: Troubled HeartsBig revelations are in store for Hope Valley as Elizabeth moves into her own rowhouse, dismaying Jack, who has been planning to build a new home for the both of them. Rosemary discovers that Lee has taken out a loan and worries that he is in financial difficulties. And Jesse, the young drifter who works in Abigail’s kitchen, has information that could ruin Pastor Frank’s good standing in Hope Valley, and begins his plan to extort the pastor with an old “Wanted”, poster…

Goldie & Bear: Best Fairytale Friends DVDEveryone knows “Goldilocks and the Three Bears,” but after that story ended… a remarkable friendship began! Team up with best buddies GOLDIE & BEAR on amazing adventures as they laugh, play and learn important life lessons in wondrous Fairytale Forest. Climb a beanstalk with Jack, try on Little Red’s famous hood, outsmart the tricky Big Bad Wolf — and much more. Join GOLDIE & BEAR — and your favorite fairytale and nursery rhyme characters — for magical, song-filled fun you’ll treasure today and ever after!

Norm Of The North When Norm the polar bear learns that humans are moving to his Arctic home, he heads to New York City with a ragtag team of lemmings to try to stop them. Norm has ”oodles of charm” in this cool adventure the whole family will love.

Actors: Rob Schneider, Heather Graham, Bill Nighy, Zachary Gordon, Ken Jeong
Directors: Trevor Wall
Format: Animated, Closed-captioned, Color, NTSC, Widescreen
Language: English
Region: Region A/1
Number of discs: 2
Rated:PG Parental Guidance Suggested
Studio: LIONSGATE
DVD Release Date: April 19, 2016
Run Time: 90 minutes

Wildflower DVDCreatively gifted, college student Chloe Moray (Nathalia Ramos, House of Anubis) finds solace from a difficult childhood in her extraordinary art. But when an alarming dream begins to recur nightly, Chloe starts to believe that it might be a suppressed memory and that she may have witnessed a terrible crime as a little girl. Her search for peace takes her on a journey that forces Chloe to confront her past traumas and leads her to cross paths with Josh (Cody Longo, Not Today), a young man dealing with his own painful loss. Together they find in each other someone they can trust as they seek to unlock a cold-case mystery from years before. But with the authorities blocking the way, Chloe’s new-found hope is challenged in this powerful story of faith, triumph and healing.

Actors: Nathalia Ramos, Cody Longo, Shari Rigby, Alex Steele
Directors: Nicholas DiBella
Format: Color, NTSC, Surround Sound, Widescreen
Language: English
Region: Region 1
Number of discs: 1
Rated:PG-13 Parents Strongly Cautioned
Studio: PROVIDENT
DVD Release Date: April 5, 2016
Run Time: 90 minutes

Bubble Guppies: Fun On The Farm Bubble Guppies fans won’t want to miss this new collection of fantastic farm-themed episodes in Bubble Guppies: Fun on the Farm. This new collection explores the world of farming as the Bubble Guppies meet new animal friends like Bubble Kitty and Spring Chicken, and join in exciting farm events like the Cowgirl Parade. In the five featured episodes, the Bubble Guppies meet new friends that oink, moo and buzz, having tons of farming fun along the way.

Bubble Guppies: Fun on the Farm includes the following episodes:
Have a Cow!
The Cowgirl Parade!
The Spring Chicken is Coming!
The Bubble Bee-Athalon!
Bubble Kitty!

Format: AC-3, Animated, Color, Dolby, Dubbed, Full Screen, Widescreen, NTSC
Language: English
Dubbed: French, Spanish
Number of discs: 1
Rated:NR Not Rated
Studio: Nickelodeon
DVD Release Date: May 10, 2016
Run Time: 120 minutes

Transformers Robots In Disguise: Season 1 When a Cybertronian prison ship filled with Decepticons crash lands on Earth and unleashes its prisoners, Bumblebee returns to the planet he once called home and with his team (Strongarm, Sideswipe, Fixit and Grimlock) tracks the escapees down in order to bring them to justice. Along with their new human allies, Denny and Russell, this unlikely team of robots in disguise must protect the Earth while preparing for an ominous threat suited only for a Prime.

Includes All 26 Episodes Of Season One!

Actors: Constance Zimmer, Darren Criss
Directors: Various
Format: Animated, Box set, Color, NTSC, Widescreen
Language: English
Region: Region 1 (U.S. and Canada only.)
Number of discs: 4
Rated: NR Not Rated
Studio: Shout! Factory
DVD Release Date: May 10, 2016
Run Time: 570 minutes

The Finest Hours DVDBased on the extraordinary true story of the greatest small boat rescue in Coast Guard history, THE FINEST HOURS is a tale of courage, loyalty and honor in the face of overwhelming odds. When a massive storm strikes off the coast of Cape Cod, it rips a T-2 oil tanker in half, trapping more than 30 sailors on its rapidly sinking stern. As Captain Bernie Webber (Chris Pine) and his crew set out in a 12-seat rescue boat to save them, Chief Engineer Ray Sybert (Casey Affleck) struggles to buy his men more time. Packed with heroic larger-than-life action and driven by the men’s faith in their mission, themselves and one another, THE FINEST HOURS is a triumph.

Kindergarten Cop 2 DVDDolph Lundgren and Bill Bellamy star in the hilarious next chapter of the Arnold Schwarzenegger classic, Kindergarten Cop. To recover stolen data in a progressive school, the FBI’s toughest agent (Lundgren) must go undercover on his most difficult assignment yet: teaching a class full of liberal kindergartners. Kindergarten Cop 2 is an action-­packed comedy the whole family will love!

Mickey Mouse Clubhouse: Mickey's Sport-Y-Thon DVDPut on your sneakers and get ready for the greatest sporting event ever! Join referee Goofy and all your Clubhouse Pals from earth and outer space as they compete in wonderfully wacky games. Share the excitement — and a sky-high view of the action — as sportscasters Pete and Donald Duck broadcast live from above in the Sport-y-Thon Blimp! Who will earn a prized Golden Mickey Medal? Help our heroes discover that with teamwork and good sportsmanship, everybody wins! Jam-packed with over two hours of song-filled fun, MICKEY’S SPORT-Y-THON will have you calling for an instant replay!

Actors: Russi Taylor, Bret Iwan, Tony Anselmo, Bill Farmer
Format: Animated, Color, Dolby, Dubbed, NTSC, Subtitled, Widescreen
Language: English (Dolby Digital 2.0), French (Dolby Digital 2.0), Spanish (Dolby Digital 2.0)
Subtitles: French, Spanish, English
Dubbed: French, Spanish
Region: Region 1 (U.S. and Canada only.)
Aspect Ratio: 1.78:1
Number of discs: 1
Studio: Buena Vista Home Entertainment
DVD Release Date: May 24, 2016
Run Time: 132 minutes

Mack & Moxy: The Great Helpee Heroes DVDJoin Mack, a lovable, moose-like lummox, and Moxy, a feisty whirlwind of a raccoon/fox go-getter, on four exciting adventures! Together with a helpful Trooper, Mack & Moxy set out to rescue another Great Helpee in a far off mystical place called HelpeeLand. Along the way, Mack & Moxy meet a new Friend in Need who ends up teaching us a new important cause. Let’s embark on the first adventure! Mack & Moxy set out on a colorful adventure to HelpeeLand in search of a Great Helpee. Along the way, they met Nolie, a loveable little puffball who has never had any friends to play with. As the Heroes become her first friends, they share and sing about the joys of reading books. Guest celebrity, Josh Duhamel (Transformers, All My Children), helps the Heroes mission in support of Save the Children, providing quality preschool programs to under served children around the world since 1932. In this DVD, Mack & Moxy introduce us to Save the Children, American Red Cross, Feeding America, and World Wildlife Fund. Other guest celebrities featured include Kal Penn (House M.D., How I Met Your Mother) and Eva LaRue (CSI Miami, All My Children). Mack & Moxy teaches children life-long lessons of charity and compassion while celebrating the joy of helping others.

Actors: Mack & Moxy
Directors: NCircle Entertainment
Format: Animated, Color, NTSC
Language: English
Region: Region 1 (U.S. and Canada only.)
Number of discs: 1
Rated:NR Not Rated
Studio: NCircle Entertainment
DVD Release Date: May 24, 2016
Run Time: 80 minutes

Curious Feast: 100 Postcards by 10 Artists This delightful box features one hundred postcards from ten celebrated artists exploring the subject of food. These extraordinary cards in our popular box format offer a rich variety of imagery from various mediums, from photography and collage to painting and illustration. An accompanying booklet on the artists includes information on creative processes and cooking styles from each contributor. Perfect for correspondence or display, this newest postcard box is a must for anyone interested in food and art.

Wealth and Celebrity in the Gilded Age PaperbackLarz and Isabel Anderson were wealthy socialites whose extraordinary lives spanned a century of American history-from the Civil War to World War II. Their world included dozens of celebrities who helped define modern culture and politics: Henry and Clover Adams, Alice Pike Barney, Cecilia Beaux, Lord and Lady Curzon, Maud Howe Elliott, Henry James, Isabella Stewart Gardner, Robert Todd Lincoln, Theodore Roosevelt, John Singer Sargent, and William Howard Taft.

In his dual biography based on six years of archival research, Stephen Moskey offers a fresh look into America’s Gilded Age while focusing not just on the lives of the Andersons, but also on the intersection of wealth, celebrity, politics, gender, and race as one century ended and another began. While leading others back in time, Moskey shines a light on Larz’s professional achievements as well as Isabel’s emergence as an American woman of the early modern era whose words and deeds anticipated women’s roles in culture and society today.

Larz and Isabel Anderson shares the story of a glittering Gilded Age couple as they lived, worked, prospered, and gave back during a fascinating time in America’s history.

Paperback: 340 pages
Publisher: iUniverse (April 4, 2016)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 1491788747
ISBN-13: 978-1491788745
Product Dimensions: 6 x 0.8 x 9 inches

Pressing Pause: 100 Quiet Moments for Moms to Meet with Jesus (Hardcover) Whether you’re juggling a career, kids’ schedules, and church commitments or you’re covered in spit-up and anxious about what the next eighteen years might hold, you can carve out a few quiet moments to rejuvenate your spirit.

Pressing Pause offers you a calm way to start your day, to refresh yourself in Jesus and drink deeply of His presence so that you are ready to pour out love, time, and energy into the people who matter most to you.

These 100 encouraging devotions for moms will help you begin each day with Scripture, drawing on God’s power, ingesting His Word, and learning practical ways to love and serve more like His Son.

Just a few minutes each day can help you center your heart and mind on what God has for you as His beloved daughter. So resist the rush. Halt the hustle. Press pause and find some calm in the chaos.

Hardcover: 256 pages
Publisher: Zondervan (March 29, 2016)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0310357799
ISBN-13: 978-0310357797
Product Dimensions: 6.4 x 1 x 8.4 inches

The Boy with a Bamboo HeartOrphaned at the age of five in a rural Thai village, Lek is thrust into a life-long struggle to find his place in the world. Alone and impoverished, he treads a precarious path, barely surviving in the markets of Surin until, at age fifteen, he finds himself brandishing a rifle as a boy soldier in the Cambodian jungle. Despair leads him to two suicide attempts. He is hell-bent on succeeding on his third try, but a stranger intervenes and offers him hope. Thus begins Lek’s journey to become Dr. Amporn Wathanavongs, foster father to more than 50,000 Thai children. Driven to become a reputable member of society, he returns to his boyhood village to study at the local temple. But when his vows as a monk collide with his desire to learn English and have a family, he must choose between settling for a safe and predictable life, or risk living as a vagrant on the streets of Bangkok while searching for a way to make his dream a reality.

Through the generous support of a Jesuit missionary working in Thailand, he achieves his objectives. But having a family, a formal education, and a respectable job in social work are not enough. He perseveres and finds his true calling helping others. With the exotic landscape of Thailand as a backdrop, Boy with A Bamboo Heart tells the story of one man’s quest for happiness.”

Surviving Alzheimer's With Friends, Facebook, and a Really Big Glass of Wine PaperbackWith unfiltered observations and sometimes dark humor, author Dayna Steele chronicled her mother’s journey with Alzheimer’s on Facebook. This collection of Alzheimer’s updates posted on the social media network includes biting humor and raw emotion as Dayna carries you from the diagnosis to the inevitable end. Also included are sections from a neurologist, Long Term Care insurance specialist, other caregivers, documents expert, elder care attorney, and an assisted living advisor. This is a journey way too many of us are going to experience in one way or another. If you have to experience Alzheimer’s and chances are you will – do it like Dayna with love, wit, and wine. I would normally never read a book about Alzheimer’s or click LIKE on a Facebook post about someone’s declining mother. Dayna Steele sneaked past my defenses the same way that she dealt with her own misery – with humor – by making me laugh, she managed to break my heart. –Lisa Gray, Houston Chronicle Gray Matters These observations are so gripping and so graphic. –a Facebook comment This book is going to be of tremendous help to so many. –Dr. Roy Goldberg, Geriatrics, Albert Einstein College of Medicine

Paperback: 234 pages
Publisher: Daily Success Publishing (March 1, 2016)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 1519370849
ISBN-13: 978-1519370846

Disclosure review

January’s DVD and Book Product Roundup 2016

I get products sent to me daily to try out. I unfortunately don’t have time to do a post for each item that I get to review. So I want to make sure these items get seen and learned about. The only other solution I could see to do is to do a DVD and Book Product Roundup on the products I like and want my readers to know about. I hope you enjoy these as much as I and my other reviewers did.

Captain Jake and the Neverland Pirates: The Great Never Sea Conquest DVDJoin newly promoted Captain Jake as he unites Never Land’s all-time greatest pirates! Together, they must risk everything to battle Lord Fathom, an evil mer-wizard who’s out to rule the Never Sea by unleashing a ferocious, three-headed sea serpent. Outfitted with a magical new sword, a powerful new ship (the Mighty Colossus) and the new “Never Land League of Pirate Captains” at his side, can Captain Jake — along with Izzy, Cubby and Skully — foil Lord Fathom and save the day? Loaded with excitement, adventures and a powerful message about believing in yourself, this high-stakes, high-seas saga is oceans of swashbuckling fun for everyone!

Nickelodeon Favorites: Whiskers & Paws DVDNickelodeon’s favorite characters are preparing for the spring with some cute and cuddly new friends in Nickelodeon Favorites: Whiskers and Paws. This furry and fun collection features over two hours of content from some of Nick’s newest and greatest shows. New Nickelodeon shows Shimmer and Shine and Fresh Beat Band of Spies make their DVD debut as they encounter a zoo full of animals and an out-of-control bundle of bunnies. Other Nick adventures include the PAW Patrol pups trying to control some naughty kittens; Dora and Friends making peace between cat and dog; the Bubble Guppies getting an education in house cats; and Blue spending time with her bilingual kitten friend Periwinkle in Blue’s Clues.

Postnatal Vinyasa Yoga DVDPostnatal Vinyasa Yoga has been carefully crafted to allow a new mom the opportunity to resume her yoga practice slowly, starting with the 5 minute, getting back on your mat practice. This practice is designed to get her back in touch with her body so she can safely resume her yoga practice while sending healing energy to the space where her baby lived for all those months. As a new mom it is difficult to find time to fit yoga in, this is why we have created a 15 and a 30 minute practice. Finding 15 minutes a day to do yoga is easy and she will notice the huge difference it will make. Just 15 minutes a day of making time for herself and the healing of her body, will contribute to more positive moods, more and energy during the day, becoming a stepping stone to reclaim her health and fitness. After making the 15 minute practice part of her routine, she will be able to integrate the 30 minute practice, this is where she will really start to see the benefits in her body, energy levels, strength and stamina. Eventually, with these two practices, she will feel ready to return to her regular yoga practice in a safer and more comfortable way.

Mickey Mouse Clubhouse: Pop Star Minnie DVDMinnie’s dream of singing onstage is about to come true — until her Clubhouse backup band pals discover that their musical instruments are gone! Now, the race is on to track them down and reach Melody Mountain by sunset. But, even if they find the missing instruments in time, should Minnie sing the blues, croon a country tune or boogie to a disco beat? It’s going to take help from YOU — plus a few Mouseketools — to get Minnie in the right groove to totally rock out! Bursting with fun, surprises, additional episodes and two delightful “Bow-Toons,” POP STAR MINNIE is simply song-sational!

The Land Before Time XIV: Journey of the Brave Join your favorite dinosaurs, Littlefoot, Cera, Ducky, Petrie and Spike, on their exciting adventure to rescue Littlefoot’s father. As they travel across strange landscapes and meet new friends, Etta (voiced by Reba McEntire) and Wild Arms (voiced by Damon Wayans Jr.), Littlefoot and friends discover that by pulling together they can overcome any challenge. Filled with fun songs, surprises and laughter, it’s an inspiring tale of friendship and courage that the whole family will treasure.

Snow White & The Seven Dwarfs Blu-Ray + DVD + Digital HDIn Walt’s Words — For The First Time Ever, Hear Walt Himself Talk About SNOW WHITE Iconography — Explore How This Film Influences Pop Culture, Art And Fashion @DisneyAnimation: Designing Disney’s First Princess — Modern-Day Disney Artists Discuss The Design Of SNOW WHITE And How It Influenced The Look Of Some Of Your Favorite Disney Characters The Fairest Facts Of Them All — Disney Channel Star Sofia Carson Reveals Seven Intriguing Facts About Snow White Alternate Sequence — Never-Before-Seen Storyboard Sequence Where The Prince Meets Snow White And Much More!

Actors: Adriana Caselotti, Harry Stockwell, Lucille LaVerne, Moroni Olsen, Billy Gilbert
Directors: David Hand
Writers: Dorothy Ann Blank, Richard Creedon, Merrill De Maris, Otto Englander, Jacob Ludwig
Format: AC-3, Animated, Color, Dolby, DTS Surround Sound, Dubbed, NTSC, Subtitled, Widescreen
Language: English (Dolby Digital 2.0 Mono), English (DTS-HD High Res Audio), French (Dolby Digital 5.1), Spanish (Dolby Digital 5.1)
Subtitles: French, Spanish, English
Dubbed: French, Spanish
Region: Region A/1 (Read more about DVD/Blu-ray formats.)
Aspect Ratio: 1.33:1
Number of discs: 2
Rated: G (General Audience)
Studio: Walt Disney Studios Home Entertainment
DVD Release Date: February 2, 2016
Run Time: 83 minutes

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Bridge of Spies BD + DVD + Digital A Case Of The Cold War: BRIDGE OF SPIES — Delve Deeper Into The Film’s Characters And The Real-Life People On Whom They’re Based, And Discover Why The History Behind BRIDGE OF SPIES Still Resonates Today|U-2 Spy Plane — Witness The Making Of The Spectacular U-2 Plane Crash Sequence, With Archival Voice-Over By U-2 Pilot Francis Gary Powers And A Cameo By His Son, Francis Gary Powers, Jr.|Berlin 1961: Re-Creating The Divide — Experience The Berlin Wall, Checkpoint Charlie And Frederic Pryor’s Arrest Through A Mix Of Archival Imagery, Behind-The-Scenes Moments And Firsthand Accounts|Spy Swap: Looking Back On The Final Act — Relive A Page Of Cold War History On The Glienicke Bridge While Shooting The Historic Exchange Of Soviet Spy Rudolf Abel And U-2 Pilot Francis Gary Powers

Actors: Tom Hanks, Mark Rylance, Amy Ryan, Alan Alda, Austin Stowell
Directors: Steven Spielberg
Writers: Matt Charman And Ethan Coen & Joel Coen
Format: AC-3, Color, Dolby, DTS Surround Sound, Dubbed, NTSC, Subtitled, Widescreen
Language: English (DTS-HD High Res Audio), French (Dolby Digital 5.1), Spanish (Dolby Digital 5.1)
Subtitles: French, Spanish, English
Dubbed: French
Region: Region A/1
Aspect Ratio: 2.40:1
Number of discs: 2
Rated: PG-13 (Parents Strongly Cautioned)
Studio: Walt Disney Studios
DVD Release Date: February 2, 2016
Run Time: 141 minutes

Two-Step Diabetes CookbookNearly everyone is looking for quick, simple recipes that can be prepared in a snap, and people with diabetes are no different. To meet this need, there has been an explosion of healthy, low-step recipes—simple, low-ingredient meals that can be prepared quickly and with a minimum of complicated techniques and steps. Unfortunately, a number of these recipes either skip steps at the cost of taste, or stretch the concept by combining a number of steps into one.

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