Review: Hullabazoo!

Titre : Hullabazoo ! Auteur : Lisa HollierIllustrator : Tracey RoperPublisher : Pingouin, date de $24.95 RRPPublication : Format du mai 2010 : coverISBN dur : âges 9780670074822For : 3+Type : bookAbout d'image : Si vous lisez ceci - bon - fait ! Je vous félicite pour pouvoir déchirer vos yeux à partir de cette couverture. Cela m'a pris tout à fait un bon moment de faire ainsi. Ouvrez le livre et il ne devient pas plus facile ; chaque page vous aura regarder dans fixement la stupéfaction pure. Sont ces illustrations de ce que rêve sont faits : le détail, les couleurs, le réalisme. Oh garçon. J'étais presque hésitant de lire le texte, ainsi étais sure I qu'il ne pourrait pas probablement vivre jusqu'au dessin-modèle. Mais je l'ai lu, littéralement à bouche ouverte dans la crainte au talent de ces deux femmes. C'est l'histoire d'un jeune garçon, Lochlan, qui part en voyage au zoo avec son papa. Ensemble, ils observent les crocodiles mais les choses tournent de ! travers quand Lochlan laisse tomber son chapeau dans l'eau. Ensembles rouges de ce un chapeau d'une série d'événements, une agitation énorme, quand elle bloque le drain et cause une trombe géante, tirant le chapeau dehors dans l'ouvert. Les crocodiles observent la scène entière avec le grand intérêt, et ils conspirent à employer cette méthode pour s'obtenir hors du stylo. Pendant que les crocodiles errent autour du zoo laissant tous les animaux librement, Lochlan propose un plan pour reconstituer l'ordre au zoo. Parviendra-t-il à faire gagner le jour ? Le texte rimant est drôle ; vraiment hilare. Il est rapide, énergique et plein des mots descriptifs qui auront des enfants bien là avec peu de Lochlan.This d'abord - oui, d'abord ! - le livre d'images par les soeurs Lisa Hollier et le cordier de Tracey est stupéfiant. Stupéfier. Inspiré par le fils de Lisa, Lochlan, l'histoire comporte plusieurs de leurs membres de la famille ; créant pas simplement un livr! e mais un morceau fabuleux d'évènements mémorables. C'est u! n voyage de famille au zoo que nous tous sommes invités - et à un que vous ne voudrez pas manquer. Je ne peux pas attendre pour voir ce que cette paire est soulevée avec après. Et ayez-moi a mentionné que j'adore ce livre ? ! Ce livre est accessible en ligne
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Review: The servant boy and the toy

Titrate: The servant boy and ToyAuthor: Sonya HartnettIllustrator: Lucia MasciulloPublisher: Penguin, date off $24.95 RRPPublication: Format off May 2010: Cover lasts with the jacketISBN off dust: old 9780670073627For: 5+Type: bookAbout off image: When year inventor manage to build the best toy in the world, it gives it to his sound. This toy, it promised, will Be have companion with the servant boy while his/her father left. The servant boy is captivated. This toy edge C all. It edge follow instructions, play off the plays, bath, make puzzles - all. All exclude the play with other toys, that is. The servant boy is horrified when it awakes one morning to find this toy destroyed all its other things, wanting that the servant boy play with him, and only him. And the toy is thus concentrated one things being right between itself and the servant boy, it not even let it send has note to his father. Conceive The servant boy must has plan to contact his father, and when it arrive A! t the house it throws has glance with the toy. Something is absent, it discovers. Important Something: this toy edge never not Be has broad friend. Instead off that, the father off the servant boy brings to the house has true friend. Adorable It is year history with has beautiful message butt the importance off the friends. Children are shown - and off the adults are recalled - that the toys and the instruments cuts to their place in the world, goal that the place is limited. People need more than just off toys. The illustrations cuts has true traditional feeling with them, with colors that you feel that you could melt in, and has contact off imagination which is irresistible re-creation and. It has need for all the collections off book. This book is accessible one line
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Vent: Time off history to the library off state off Victoria

Babies, the infants, the pupils off the preparatory race and the parents off Itsy-bitsy are invited to appreciate rhymes, stories and the activities special At this celebration with wild Margaret and janv. Ormerod, the prize winner author and illustrator off the babies off Itsy-Bitsy Babies.Itsy-Bitsy is the last book to distribute ace year element off the Young person storytime babies off the Program.Itsy-Bitsy readers: Date: Friday October 1,11.00am - 12.00pmCost: requiredEmail off FreeBookings: telephone slv.vic.gov.au off off bookings@: 03 8664 7099Venue: Library off state (off hand fan-in) off Victoria, street off 328 Swanston, Melbourne
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Review: Hour to make wee

Titre : Temps à PeeAuthor/à illustrateur : MOIS WillemsPublisher : Livres de marcheur, date d'A$15.95RRPPublication : 01/06/2006 format : SoftcoverISBN : âges 9781406301588For : 2 - 5Type : Image BookAbout : Ok. Ainsi vous avez un problème potty petit dans votre maison. Quel meilleur, puis, qu'un tome fortement d'instruction, parfaitement étendu-dehors, illustré sur les wherefores, les pourquoi et le comment-TOS de la potty-formation ? C'est exact - il n'y a aucun besoin de se ronger quand `que le feeling vient vous. Aucun besoin de soumettre à une contrainte, aucun besoin de courir. Et dans l'intéret de qualité, ne l'ignorez pas. C'est tout bon. Tout est correct. Vous pouvez le faire. Vous pouvez faire pipi. Dans le livre d'instruction adorable de Willems, nous rencontrons une série d'enfants magnifique-illustrés dans divers états d'on de possession de `- qui nous montrent combien grand il y a, et à quel point elles intelligentes sont - par la marche en bas du ! hall à cette salle de bains illustre. Et illustre, elle est. La scène d'une toilette couverte de troupeau le plus mignon de petites souris, jouant la musique, danse, cabriolant et célébrant autrement la grande porcelaine potty, est simplement sensationnelle, complète avec un peu de tapis rouge et des souris d'arc, accueillant l'enfant de pipi à leur trône. Le texte est minimal et chaque mot est annoncé avec beaucoup de fanfare dans une série de signes, bannières et formes colorées, faisant la facile-lecture pour des parents et des enfants. Des enfants sont traités aux images des enfants s'asseyant et se tenant le plus avec confiance pour faire pipi (les garçons devraient se tenir et les filles devraient s'asseoir). Il y a d'abondance des rappels - n'oubliez pas d'employer le papier hygiénique et ne rincez pas (bien que je prends l'exception à l'occurrence affleurante avec un couvercle ouvert de toilette ! ugh !), lavez-vous les mains - et surtout - reviennent! au jeu. Le dos de ce livre comporte une feuille d'autocollant! avec ce s souris et un bon nombre mignons superbes d'encouragement (meilleure chance y compris la fois prochaine !) pour peu ceux qui atteignent leurs objectifs de salle de bains. Vous pouvez acheter ce livre en ligne
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Review: Terrible Leonardo the monster

Titrate: Terrible Leonardo MonsterAuthor/illustrator: WillemsPublisher MONTH: Books off Walker, goes back to A$16.95RRPPublication: 01/09/2008 format: SoftcoverISBN: old 9781406312157For: 3 - 7Type: BookAbout image: Leonardo is not very good to Be has monster. In fact, it has terrible monster. Terrible ace ace they like. It boat frighten No matter whom to run away itself. It does not look At even the share. Live Sharp to until potential full sound off monstery, Leonardo seeks how not only to frighten people goal to find the victim perfect, and when it finds one - has tremor, resting Sam corner, Leonardo sees his chance. It cafarde to the signal Sam and gives him to frighten its life. And shout Sam off. Do goal it He shout because Sam frightened it development… gold is something under more serious there? Leonardo edge Be has terrible monster, goal it is broad has hugger. And has very good friend. Using the quintessencielles pages in pastel off Willems and the splendid illus! trations off retro-model, terrible Leonardo the monster is another chief off work in the conglomerate off Willems off the re-creation. You edge buy this book one line
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Beauty and the Beast Diamond Edition

Beauty and the Beast Diamond Edition Sunday September 26, 2010

Available on October 5, Beauty and the Beast is the second Diamond Edition Disney release. The first, Snow White, knocked our socks off with the smart mirror menu, in-depth making-of featues, and interactive games. Beauty and the Beast has similarly astounding making-of features, and an interesting interactive game which requires each player to use a phone as a remote control.

Our favorite bonus feature was the alternate opening, which showcases animators' original attempt at the movie. Vastly different from the final product, we learned that Disney threw out six months of work and started over from scratch. Obviously a good decision, since the film went on to become one of the most groundbreaking animated films of our time.

Now onto that game involving the use of phones. Of course, young children love it -- what little kid doesn't like to sit around pushing the buttons on the phone? We parents, however, were not thrilled about the game. Sure, it's fun to play once just to try it out, but we had to use the home phone plus cell phones, and I don't need to be using up minutes using my cell as a remote control for a Blu-ray game. Games are generally not the reason to buy a movie on DVD or Blu-ray anyway, though, and this release contains the extended version of the movie and plenty of other bonus features that make it worth the upgrade.

(Photo © Disney. All rights reserved.)

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Legend of the Guardians: The Owls of Ga'Hoole

Legend of the Guardians: The Owls of Ga'Hoole Saturday September 25, 2010

The new 3D family film Legend of the Guardians: The Owls of Ga'Hoole is now playing in theaters. The movie is based on the chileren's book series by Kathryn Lasky, and it stays pretty true to the target age group. Young children may be frightened by owlnappings and violent battles between good and evil owls, some of which also involve blood thirsty bats. For older kids, however, it may depend on whether or not they read the books.

I can easily compare and contrast Legend of the Guardians: The Owls of Ga'Hoole with The Last Airbender. Both films are adapted from epic stories that were originally written for the 8-14 age group. Where The Last Airbender was bashed for the horrible 3D and poor visuals, Legends of the Guardians is the complete oppisite with stunning animated scenery delivered masterfully and fully in eyepopping 3D; however, Legends has the exact same storytelling problem as The Last Airbender. They try to fit way to many events and chracters into too little time to tell the story well.

For those who have read the books, Legends of the Guardians will be a fun sort of highlight reel with some details changed. Those who haven't read the books may have a time keeping up with what is going on and why. The movie critically lacks the set-up, story development, and character development that made the Ga'Hoole tale so gripping. In this way, the movie is a huge disappointment. Though I would still say it's an action adventure movie worth seeing, provided kids are old enough to handle largely bloodless but graphic owl violence and peril throughout.

• Legends of the Guardians Review for Parents
• Legends of the Guardians Movie Trailer and Info

(Photo courtesy Warner Bros. Pictures)

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Interview off author - AJ Betts

Talented YA Author AJ Betts joins us with a wonderful interview on why she's obsessed with making up stories. Welcome AJ!What's your story? I currently live in Perth, by the sea. I work as a secondary English Teacher, so I have to write at nights, on the weekends, and on school holidays. I’ve been here for six years now, after driving across Australia and loving the Indian Ocean. Prior to this, I’d grown up in Far North Queensland, and lived in Brisbane and the UK.How long have you been writing? I’ve been writing for as long as I remember. My first poem got published at twelve. I was a poet for a long time until I turned to writing novels ten years ago. I remember loving the opportunity to write storie! s at primary school.What genre do you write in? I write for older teenagers (15+) but adults enjoy my books too. I write realistic novels that people can identify with.What other genres have you written in? Sometimes I write non-fiction, including a biographical story I wrote about my grandad, published in the collection ‘Lines of Wisdom’, published by Affirm Press, 2008. As a teenager I was interested in comedy and sci-fi â€" I was influenced by Douglas Adams. I’d like to try more fantasy and sci-fi in the future.Why do you write? I write because I’m obsessed with making up stories and if I didn’t get them down, I’d explode! I’m fascinated by people and the strange ways that life works. I love using language to show an aspect of life that readers haven’t considered before. I love the endless possibilities language holds â€" it’s like weaving magic out of sound and symbol.What made you decide to do a young adult fiction? I only realised halfway through my ! first novel that it was young adult. I really like writing tee! naged ch aracters because they’re interesting and I never know what they’re going to do. I love working with teenagers (as a high school teacher, I get to do this every day).Do you remember the first story you ever wrote? I think it was called ‘Evil Otto’ and it was heavily influenced by a computer game I’d been playing. Back when I was eight, I didn’t have the confidence to write brand new ideas.Tell us a little about Wavelength, your new release. It’s a story about Oliver, a 17 year old guy who’s stressed out about his upcoming final exams. For study week he decides to stay with his dad, in Busselton. The novel looks at what happens to Oliver in this new place, and how it changes his view on things: his studies, his exams, and everything that comes after.Are Oliver and Emma modelled on anyone? They both draw on hundreds of people I’ve met and taught, but they’re also influenced by my own experiences. They share my ambition and perfectionist streak. Emma probably! has my sense of humour and biting sarcasm.Why do you think slice-of-life fiction is so engaging for young adult readers? I think teenage readers identify with the characters because they’re going through similar experiences. There is a place for fantasy and sci-fi, but realism gets that little bit closer to the heart of real life.What do you hope Wavelength will impart to its readers? I hope readers begin to feel what Oliver does at the end of the novel â€" that life is good; life is long; and that it helps to go with the flow. The more we try to control every aspect of our lives, the more stressed we become.What are the greatest obstacles you've experienced on your writing journey? The biggest obstacle was initially my lack of confidence. For years, I was focusing on developing my poetry and prose, without the belief they should be published. But I don’t think that’s a bad thing. I got to really hone my skills without the embarrassment of putting something out there! when it was underdone. I’m still learning and improving and! every d ay, and I hope to continue doing so for the rest of my life.What do you love most about producing books for young adults? Definitely the feedback I get from readers â€" it’s so exciting and reassuring!What advice would you have for anyone wanting to write a book in the young adult genre? I’d say to write because you love to write. Forget you’re writing for teens â€" write for yourself. And never patronise your reader!If you couldn’t be a writer, what would you be? A teacher…but frustrated!Other than writing, what else do you love?CyclingNatureFilmsReadingFriendsCan you name your top five young adult books of all time?The OutsidersLord of the FliesThe Hunger GamesThe 10pm QuestionTomorrow When the War BeganDescribe your perfect day. Cycling with friends, swimming at the beach, writing in a café, seeing a film with friends. Bliss!What five words best sum you up?IndecisiveEasily excitablePerfectionistCheekyDown-to-earthWhat’s next for AJ Betts? Everything! All at o! nce! But realistically, I’d like to keep writing young adult fiction, and perhaps try my hand at children’s and junior fiction… and maybe adult fiction… one day.Amanda is thrilled with the overwhelming response she's received over her new YA novel - Wavelength. She says it’s so affirming to get great feedback, after so many years of 'solitude bordering on manic obsession'. Read KBR's review of Wavelength here and learn more about Amanda and her work at her website.

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Prince off the retrospective flocks off Perser: Prince of Perser: the sand off the hour for the ps2 the GAS CHROMATOGRAPHY, xbox and the magazines PC

So yeah, game-to-movie adaptations still don’t work out very well today. It sucks since there are some decent ones like the Tomb Raider and the Silent Hill movie. Yeah they still aren’t great, but they are fun to watch. Well, the ones that aren’t made by Uwe Bowell are not fun and are just horrible, though, some light has shined though since Prince of Persia: the Sands of Time came out and has gotten somewhat positive reviews. Of course, it won’t be as good as the games, but it looks fun and I’ll go see it with a friend or rent it. I decided in this honor and since a new Prince of Persia game came out, I would to do a special three-part review special of the Prince of Persia franchise. Now, I am going to look at three of the 3D Prince of Persia games and have no intention on looking for the original PC or the 3D vers! ion of the first PC game. I am going to look at the three that I think are worth reviewing. The first will be Prince of Persia: the Sands of Time, the 2008 version of Prince of Persia, and the most recent of the series, Prince of Persia: the Forgotten Sands. So, let’s get started with the first game I mentioned and winner of multiple awards from 2003, Prince of Persia: the Sands of Time.             The story starts us out with a narration by the prince himself, who for some reason, sounds like Legolas from Lord of the Rings. It shows us that he is a part of a kingdom that is very powerful, and this kingdom attacks another kingdom that holds an ancient relic known as the Sands of Time. After obtaining a unique looking dagger, the Prince leaves with multiple women and the Sands of Time themselves to this other kingdom to offer it as a prize for a sultan. Then, one way or another, the Prince gets persuaded by the m! age of the kingdom to stab the dagger into the hourglass and r! elease t he sands. The Prince then stupidly lets the sands out, and that changes everyone but the prince, the mage, and a girl into sand demons. It is up to the Prince and the girl who is a princess to stop the mage from controlling the sands of time, and restore peace to the land.            The game play featured in the Sands of Time is of an action platformer, like the PC games that came before this. You have interesting moves like wall-running and a wall jump, like in a Mario game. The sword fighting mainly has to deal with what you do and who your opponents are. You have to be very strategic with your fighting, unlike the Assassin’s Creed games. You can’t just slash willy-nilly when you have to fight sand demons that can easily surround you and kill you. By the way, here is my biggest tip for people who haven’t play this game yet. DO NOT and I mean DO NOT get yourself surrounded by enemies. You will find an early grave! if you do. Just keep moving and you should be fine. The main gimmick however, besides strategic sword fighting and great, but challenging platforming, is the dagger of time that you wield. If you are ever in a rut or you get killed, you can turn back time to a certain point as long as you have sand spheres. You gain more sand and powers by stabbing demons in the back, like Link in the Zelda series. You can also use this to fix a mistake you did, like jump the wrong way to get hit by a buzz saw or something. It becomes very handy, but there are some kinks in it, which I will talk later about in what are the bad parts of the game, in my opinion.            The graphics still hold up well, even though most of the people in the game look a little funny in a cartoonish kind of way. I think hands-down one of the best things of this game has to offer presentation-wise is the music. Composer Stuart Chatwood, who was famous for! the now-defunct band The Tea Party, composed a wonderful soun! dtrack t hat fits every moment of the game. If you are curious, he has basically done the rest of the soundtracks for the rest of the 3D Prince of Persia games, so that is what he is famous for. The voice work for me is a bit on-and-off. Personally, I do not like the Prince’s voice. He sounds too much like Orlando Bloom or that wizard guy during the first episode of Gargoyles. Yuri Lowenthal who does the voice for the Prince didn’t do a horrible job doing his voice, it’s just I don’t personally like it. Don’t get me wrong, I love the guy. He has done some legit work in voice acting, but he could have used a better voice for the Prince. I also like the wall running ability, I just never get bored of it.However, there are some things that didn’t age greatly with this game. The sword fighting, while it can be cool, is more or less tedious in this game. During the end of the game, demons become guard-happy and it becomes annoying. It becomes more tedious than fun. I also donâ! €™t like the little timer you are under, when you slow down time or reverse it. Even if I have four sand balls left and I die and the timer is low, I still can’t do jack about it! I also think the lighting could be better. A lot of areas look foggy and blurry. Why the heck are there flying enemies when the only way to kill them is to roll out of the way and then in 2 seconds strike them once? It makes no sense. Granted, it gives the enemy roster more variety, but it’s more annoying than creative. Another thing I have a deal with is with environmental stuff, like lamps and boxes. In some areas they are freaking everywhere and it makes fighting groups of enemies even more difficult than it should. I can’t count how many times I died because my back was stuck on a lamp or some form of item that you can easily smash. That’s another thing, why are there breakable things when they hold no money or reward? It’s like, “hey, I can smash things! Hey, where are the gold or! blue energy orbs?” There is no point in having destructible! items i f they don’t yield any reward from smashing them. The voice acting in this game is bad and I mean bad. Some people just yell and sound like people found in a Monty Python skit. I couldn’t find one person I liked who did a good voice acting job. So yeah, this game hasn’t aged well in some areas, but it’s still an interesting experience. If you are sick and tired of all the God of War clones, then I say rent this game, but ONLY rent it. I can see why it was a big deal back in 2003, but it didn’t age well at all in some areas. Oh well, that’s life, you know? Thanks for reading and stay tuned when I review the 2008 Prince of Persia.This game gets a 7.5 out of 10
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Katy Perry Will Not Be Shown on Sesame Street

Katy Perry Will Not Be Shown on Sesame Street Thursday September 23, 2010

In a segment that parodies her hit "Hot N Cold," Katy Perry was going to be one of numerous celebrity guest stars on the new 41st season of Sesame Street. The segment has been pulled, however, after appalled parents who saw the segment on YouTube spoke their minds to Sesame. Here is the statement issued by Sesame Workshop:

"Sesame Street has a long history of working with celebrities across all genres, including athletes, actors, musicians and artists. Sesame Street has always been written on two levels, for the child and adult. We use parodies and celebrity segments to interest adults in the show because we know that a child learns best when co-viewing with a parent or care-giver. We also value our viewer's opinions and particularly those of parents. In light of the feedback we've received on the Katy Perry music video which was released on You Tube only, we have decided we will not air the segment on the television broadcast of Sesame Street, which is aimed at preschoolers. Katy Perry fans will still be able to view the video on You Tube."

I want to point out the line, "Sesame Street has always been written on two levels, for the child and adult." This statement is interesting. It's true that Sesame has always used parodies and jokes that are quite cute and funny to adults, and that most kids have no idea of the reference. I love this about Sesame Street, and I, as a parent, appreciate the humor. However, these parodies are supposed to be a side note, secondary to the educational entertainment provided to kids. The show is not supposed to be written for adults.

The controversy has of course escalated since Sesame's statement, with many criticizing parents for complaining. The point is, though, that Sesame Street is a show for preschoolers, and parents make the decisions on what their kids watch, so it's their opinion that matters. And, in a kids' show, should there really be any question? Really? What is the point of pushing the boundries?

You can argue all day about whether or not viewing kids will ever in any way be affected by watching Katy run around after Elmo in a sexy looking "dress-up" dress, but in the end, there is no good reason to take the chance anyway. Many parents feel it does send an unwanted message. Period. Just dress characters, even celebrity guest characters, in clothing appropriate for little kids to view. It's not that hard. Sesame Street did the right thing by listening to their audience base (or at least those that make the decision for the base) and throwing it out.

• Vote in a poll about the Katy Perry Sesame Segment

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Commercial memories off manufacture off Disney

We Disney fans know, Disney Memories are like no other vacation memories. I love this video of real families and real memories at Disney parks featuring guests’ own videos of telling their kids that they are going to Disney as well as enjoying the magic of Disney parks.

To view & share your Disney Memories, visit: http://www.youtube.com/disneymemories

Discuss this post, and anything else related to Disney, at the TownSquare Forums. Disney’s Making Memories Commercial The Disney Blog - Disney News and Information -- by fans, for fans

                          

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Review: Prepare, strengthen, develop you!

Titrate: Prepare, strengthen, develop you! Compiled by: Royal horticultural SocietyPublisher: DK, goes back to $29.95 RRPPublication: Format off September 2010: coverISBN hardware: old 9781740337717For: Type off elementary school: non-fictionAbout junior: Filled At the edge off D.K astounding, modern photography, combined with small Nice illustrations, you will Be in the coils with this book before you throw even has narrow glance with content the. To contain the re-creation projects so that the children function above in the garden, this is reasonable, right to the book off not (and little off re-creation). He will teach children butt the joy off the gardening, and informs them how to approach it. The projects include all the increasing flowers in pots to create decorations off garden, and all in the interval. Edibles The crescents will Be has preferred inclusion, including fatty and vegetables, ingredients off écrimage off black and white pizza pie, bays, salads and even ! food so that the familiar animals appreciate. Each section contains easy-with-follow, off the instructions training course-by-training course and the additional ends to ensure success. My concern with this book was that, being produced with RU, it boat transfer well to the Australian gardens. However, each project was carefully selected like nonspecific to any particular destination. It has book recommended for the children who want to Be implied in the garden, goal does not know completely where to start. Prepare, strengthen, develop you! to their will give horticultural qualifications during the life. This book is accessible one line
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Review: The foams with the green eyes and the foam with the blue eyes

Title: The Green-Eyed Mouse and the Blue-Eyed MouseAuthor/Illustrator: Bob GillPublisher: Phaidon, $19.99 RRPPublication date: 01/09/2010Format: Hard coverISBN: 9780714848877For ages: 2 - 5Type: Picture BookAbout: Oh this is scrumptious. What is it about retro and retro-style books that strip away the pomp and ceremony and just operate on beautiful design and cleverness? It’s really that simple, and why they’re so simply fabulous.Legendary author/illustrator Bob Gill achieves simplicity, humour, beauty and more in this gorgeous book about two mice who spend the majority of the book peeking at each other through a teensy hole in the wall. One mouse sees nothing but a big green eye, the other mouse sees nothing but blue.‘Who ar! e you?’ says Noah, the blue-eyed mouse.‘Who are you?” says Raffaella, the green-eyed mouse.But neither of them are brave enough to reveal who they are â€" thinking that one is tricking the other and are really ferocious blue-eyed or green-eyed polar bears or snakes or traffic wardens.How can one tell, after all, what lies behind a teensy hole in the wall?Eventually, after much to-ing and fro-ing, Raffaella steps it up a notch (figuring the end of the book would not have a happy ending if it kept going on, ad infinitum) and suggests they reveal themselves after the count of three.But will the two mice be brave enough to trust each other and maybe even become friends?This clever book is punched throughout with a single hole on each page, showing both the blue and green eyes that are subsequently illustrated with imaginative possibilities â€" and much uncertain conversation between the two main characters.The text is classically Bob Gill funny (the green-eyed mouse was c! alled Noah despite having a Chinese mother, for example) and t! he illus trations are simple line drawings with the use of only a blue or green eye, peeking through snowy pages.This is an ideal book for any young child but it’s also a must-have for collectors of beautiful children’s books. A modern classic.This book is available online

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Post off guest: The writing off the moon off graffiti

Graffiti Moon feels small when I hold it. I flicked through it the other day and I couldn’t believe it took me such a long time to write. But it did. Because my writing process is long and muddled and it’s only at the end that I know exactly what it is that I want to say.The first draft was about 80,000 words and it took me about a year to write. Ed, Lucy, Jazz, Leo, Dylan and Daisy were in the story. But they were completely different to the characters that appear in the published book.I love the characters in the final version. I di! dn’t know the characters in the first draft very well and what I knew (or thought I knew) I didn’t like. There wasn’t nearly enough hope or poetry inside them.So I pretty much deleted the lot. I threw out everything except their names, the glassblowing, the art and the night. I decided to get to know them again, properly. I went searching for things that might happen in their world.I drove around the northern suburbs at different times. I took my laptop and wrote about the landscape while it shifted and changed with the light. I wrote most of Lucy’s descriptions while I sat under the Westgate. Some nights my friends would drive me over and over it so I could take notes. Lucy’s world is romantic, an industrial city covered in lights. It shines. In the first draft it was grimy and that didn’t work.Ed doesn’t see the same beauty that Lucy does, even at night. So for him I wrote near the docks, where I had a view of the crates and cranes.I went to parks and met a ! nighttime poet who eventually became Leo.I ate in cafés in di! fferent parts of the city, at different times of the night, to see who might come in.I talked to people about art (gallery and street). I spent a day in a glass artist’s studio and she told me not only about her craft but also about her life.I met a teenager who talked to me about her psychic abilities.And then from those small moments I went on to do what I love doing. I spent all of my time imagining the tiny details about my characters. What poetry did Leo write after Emma dumped him? What poems did he write when he was on the dance floor with Jazz? What paintings did Ed spray across the city?My favourite part of writing is imagining the dialogue. In the second draft, that was the easiest part. In the first draft it took forever. I know now that if the dialogue takes me too long then I don’t have the characters right.After I’d spent all that time in the night, the characters were easy. The second draft only took about three months. And because Ed and Lucy, Leo and Jazz, Dyl! an and Daisy had so much poetry in them, I missed them when they’d gone.Visit Cath's Website
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Review: Drive out off Charlie Duskin

Titrate: Drive out of Charlie DuskinAuthor: CrowleyPublisher cathedral: Macmillan pan, date of $16.95 RRPPublication: Format of April 2005: PaperbackISBN: ages 9780330421607For: Young person adultType: NovelAbout: Charlie Duskin is lost. She saw her life without friends or attention of her father, and treats the deaths of her mother and grandmother. Moving to the country so that the summer holidays spend time with his/her father, Charlie is again forced to face the fact which single tastes it. The other teenagers downtown - Rose, Luc and Dave - are generally unaware of it and, when they note it, it must call its names. Ignorant owing to the fact that Rose, also, is lost, Charlie becomes the target of the plan of Rose to escape this provincial town in bottom from bag. And in planning its escape, Rose wounds each one in her way to obtain one thing which she wants in the life. Since the hunting of Charlie Duskin was retained for the prestigious book of the CBCA of the year, it ! is foreseeable that it is a perspicacious novel and written well. There was just a thing which I did not like approximately this history: the dispersed use of the limits which made me the wonder sometimes if were supposed being placed in an American city. Although it is an Australian history, it does not feel a EC way; perhaps which was intentional to make the book call upon a broader assistance, but with me it carried honesty and reality of the piece of ground. It is not a case of having to be `Aussie true-blue however, just a need to feel the sincerity of the dialogues of the characters by their choice of the words. Except this, the hunting of Charlie Duskin is a traditional history to be true with yourself and to drive out not simply dreams, but also reality. This book is available onlineTeaching notes
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Absolute BEST Thing to Watch on TV? -- Home Videos

Absolute BEST Thing to Watch on TV? -- Home Videos Sunday September 19, 2010

No contest. Home videos provide the best TV entertainment possible. It's amazing how we think we remember those little moments, what our kids looked like at that age, how their little voices sounded, but pop in a DVD of that impromptu family gathering that happened last year, and a flood of unexpected memories and emotions come rushing back. The experience is very bittersweet -- look at how much they've grown, how much time has passed, how many things have changed.

We didn't have a video camera growing up, so I can't go back and relive those moments from my childhood, but I'm so grateful we are able to capture some of those moments now. We just recently subscribed to a cloud-based back-up service (finally accomplishing a goal I've had for like five years to safely preserve our precious family memories), so theoretically, all of the family footage we have on our computers is safe and will be there for family viewing for years to come. Home movies may not be the go to for prime time viewing, but don't just save them to the hard drive and forget about them. Make sure you have some sort of back-up to preserve them, and pull them up every once in a while to be reminded of what is truly important in life.

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Fred Meets Nick

Fred Meets Nick Saturday September 18, 2010

Did you catch Fred: The Movie on Nickelodeon yet? Fred, a character dreamed up and played by teenager Lucas Cruikshank, is an internet superstar. He is well known to kids, but many parents probably have not heard of him. Nick picked up on the Fred frenzy, though, and made a movie out of it.

So if you did see the movie, what did you think? Did you laugh your head off, roll your eyes, or change the channel in astonishment that Nickelodeon saw fit to put it on a kids' TV station? Nick likes to go for the edge in kids' entertainment.  I'm guessing that the folks over at Disney wouldn't have touched this one.

• Review for Parents of Fred: The Movie
• Fred: The Movie - Photos and Characters

(Photo courtesy of Nickelodeon)

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Review: Who ate all meatus magpies?

Title: Who Ate All the Pies?Author: CB LindsayIllustrator: Gabriele AntoniniPublisher: Tick Tock Books, $9.99 RRPPublication date: June 2010Format: PaperbackISBN: 9781848982666For ages: 6 - 10Type: Junior FictionAbout: Oh, how I'm craving a custard pie. This adorable book written by Belfast native CB Lindsay is resplendant with them, and you can taste their creamy sweetness on each and every page. Young Cutherbt is a custard pie fanatic (you only have to look at his middle section to tell) and his dear, overworked Granny has a full time job of keeping up with his sweet, sweet addiciton. When, one particularly horrifying day, Cuthbert awakes to a breakfast of... mashed turnips... he knows something is seriously wrong. But Granny ain't talking and the ! lad has no clue why the pies aren't being churned out of the oven.When Cuthbert saves a young professor's-son-nerd (Albert) from a bully at school, the two get talking about the strangeness of the pie-issue. You see, Granny is actually still cooking the pies but the whereabouts and who-abouts of their consumption is still unknown. Cutherbert is determined to find out and Albert is all too willing to help, but what they find out is so astonishing, neither of them can quite believe their eyes. That is until Albert's mad professor dad, Prof Ankles shows up and reveals all... what kind of creature has poor Granny in a custard pickle??Cleverly plotted, fabulous fun and written with style and wit, this adorable book is a delectable adventure for intermediate readers. With clever plays on words, a beautifully subtle moral message and delightful chapter headings like No Use Crying Over Spilled Custard and Search Every Nook and Granny, it's certainly a pleasure for adults, too.The i! llustrations in this book are truly gorgeous - even as line dr! awings t hey are so beautifully done and so smooth and easy on the eye, they perfectly complement the smooth-as-custard storyline.A whimsical, old-school story of fun, frivolity, drama and madcap crazyness that will jostle the imagination of any child. Love it. I'm looking forward to more of Cathryn's work.This book is available online Here is Cathryn at her book launch... with custard pies... sigh.

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Review: Insane to hate

Titrate: Insane HairAuthor: Neil GaimanIllustrator: Dave McKeanPublisher: Bloomsbury, date off $15.99 RRPPublication: Format off July 2010: SoftcoverISBN: old 9780747595991For: 4 - 8Type: BookAbout image: The prolific author Neil Gaiman added to the illustrator Dave McKean in this completely surrealist book off images concerning has standard with such insane, out off to hate order off - thatch thus insane insane has - it lives apparently has whole world off other worlds… off the jungles with tigers and bears and explorers with the broad African dancers and the sloops off pirates, sailing the high ones, unbrushed seas. When has Nice Young person insists this wild to hate must Be tamed, it also are transported in this mystical world contained placed one its undisciplined head - and live thus outside its days in the splendour off storybook, teacher to lions how rimer, and assembling slides and broad let us balloons (very represented in perfect, rétros interpretations off dra! wing the line). In extravagant year way imaginative and magnificiently rimant (… and good - rimer made), this book is right pure re-creation - with year irritated torsion which will attract readers slightly older (and adults, naturally). It is not any wonder which it was retained for the book off Kate Greenaway Medal.This is accessible one line
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Should Commercial Characters Become TV Stars?

Should Commercial Characters Become TV Stars? Wednesday September 15, 2010

According to a press release, The Campaign for a Commercial-Free Childhood (CCFC) has  filed a petition with the Federal Communications Commission urging the FCC to rule that the upcoming broadcast of the animated children's program Zevo-3 on Nicktoons is not in the public interest.  Developed by Skechers, the footwear giant, Zevo-3 is the first children's television program to feature characters known to children only as commercial spokes characters.

Although Skechers has promised there will be no product placement in the show, the CCFC contends that children associate the characters with the shoes, and therefore the TV show will constitute one big commercial for Skechers shoes. Thus, the CCFC argues that the program violates the Children's Television Act, which includes the requirement that that no cable operator shall air more than 10.5 minutes of commercial matter per hour during children's programming on weekdays.

I can see Skechers point, that the superheroes have become popular and kids will enjoy a TV show featuring the three  -- Kewl Breeze, Z-Strap, and Elastika -- as stars; however, the prospect of having a TV show based on a commercial character is a little unnerving. Still, the reality is, almost every super popular TV show character from kids' shows becomes the spokes character for a gillion products eventually, so it seems a little ironic to say it can't happen the other way around. I mean, I bet Dora sells a good share of shoes herself, along with toys, foods, clothing, you name it, so why can't Elastika get her own TV show? Commercialism is commercialism, and I don't know that it really matters that much which came first -- the TV show or the product.

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Interview off author: Wood off Fiona

We welcome author Fiona Wood to Kids Book Review. Fiona previously worked as a scriptwriter for several popular television shows and has just released her first novel for teenagers, Six Impossible Things.Tell us a little about you: what’s your background, your story? I live in Melbourne with my husband and our two university student children and a naughty old dog called Teddy. When my younger child started school, I started studying screenwriting at RMIT. Before writing Six Impossible Things I’d been working for ten years writing television scripts. Before that I wrote freelance journalism, and pr material for film and television. Straight after school I went to Melbourne University, where I dropped out of Law and finished an Arts Degree in which I did sub-majors in english and drama, and a double major in fine arts. I ! worked in arts management before I had children.Do you remember the first story you ever wrote? Not one in particular, but I do remember writing and illustrating a number of ‘books’ in primary school which were big on fairies in pretty dresses and small on narrative. In the first year of secondary school I wrote an extraordinarily bad boarding school ‘novel’ with many extremely short chapters.What genre do you write in? Six Impossible Things is young adult fiction in a humorous, realist vein, set in the present day.What other genres have you written in? In television I have written adult drama such as MDA and The Secret Life of Us, children’s programs such as Sleepover Club and Silver Sun, and soaps including Home and Away and Neighbours.What do you love about writing for kids? I clearly remember loving reading when I was in this age group, and have enjoyed seeing my own children develop as readers, so it is a thrill to write for this readership. There is a real w! illingness to enter a narrative and suspend disbelief which is! harder to experience as an older reader.What was the inspiration behind your new book, Six Impossible Things? I have to say it was the main character Dan, an angsty fourteen year old, who just started suggesting himself to me. I decided that it would be fun if this shy boy got to go to the ball â€" year nine social â€" and from that point I used some elements of the Cinderella story. I also had in mind the visual image of two terrace houses, identical from the outside, but very different inside with a shared attic space.What would you deem as six impossible things in your life?Walking every day. Three or four times a week seems to be the best I can manage.Remembering the content of last week’s French class.Getting the builder to start minor work on flood repairs.Keeping up with my reading. Those piles grow taller during the night.Getting my kids to cook dinner once a week. Their social lives get in the way.Finishing the current manuscript by the end of the year. Although you neve! r know.Tell us about your path to having your books published. It was relatively straightforward, though pretty slow. Lovely Simmone Howell (Notes from the Teenage Underground, Everything Beautiful), whom I met when we both worked on The Secret Life of Us, read my manuscript and suggested to her publisher Pan Macmillan that they might like to read it. They loved Dan, but thought the manuscript needed some more work. So with their notes, and some of my own, I did another big draft which I took back to them a year later. They offered me a contract then, but it was nearly two years between signing and the book being released.What are the greatest blocks or obstacles you have experienced on your book-writing journey? Initially it was giving myself permission to attempt writing a novel. (That took a long time.) Then it was find! ing the headspace and time to do the work while I was also wri! ting tv scripts. Now it is more the day to day challenge of trying to get what is in my head onto the page.What’s a typical writing day? I write every day. But I can never do more than about three or four hours of actual writing. Sometimes I need to be in my office for a full day to do that. Once I’m into the writing phase â€" as opposed to plotting, for example, which I take a long time over â€" I try never to write less than a thousand words at a sitting.What advice do you have for aspiring writers? Read, read, read. And try to finish something â€" whatever you’re working on. It’s possible to have lots of good ideas, but it’s hard to learn the craft until you complete something, figure out what’s not working and then start on the second draft.What books did you read as a child? Some of my favourite writers were Enid Blyton, Joan Aiken, Edith Nesbit, L. M. Montgomery, Louisa May Alcott, Susan Coolidge and Noel Streatfield.What else do you like to do, other than write bo! oks? I love reading, films, cooking - eating - and spending time with my family and friends.What would be your perfect day? There are so many very different possible perfect days â€" staying in bed with a good book - managing to write five thousand words - walking around a city I’ve never been to… But in general a perfect day would include, work, reading, coffee, good food, family, friends.What five words best sum you up? Mild catastrophist. Sense of humour.What’s next for Fiona Wood? Finishing my second novel Pulchritude (what an ugly word for beauty) and, through Booked Out Agency, getting out into schools to talk to readers.Read our review of Six Impossible Things
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Review: The Australian one nibbles series

Just six of the many books available in Puffin’s Aussie Nibbles series, these are books that will make beginner readers want to keep reading, thrilling and exciting them with adventure, mystery and humour.These stories are especially chosen for their high appeal to young children, helping them to gain a love of reading. They include a wide range of stories for boys and girls with a variety of interests, running at a fast pace and avoiding any slow, ‘boring’ bits.The characters in each of the stories are a delight, with positive messages to convey, and the language is easy to read, without being ‘dumbed down’.***Title: A Strange Little MonsterAuthor: Sue WhitingIllustrator: Stephen Michael KingPublisher: Puffin, $12.95 RRPPublication Date: June 2010Format: PaperbackISBN: 9780143304784For ages: 6 - 8Type: Chapter bookAbout: Sasha is dif! ferent from her sisters and the other monsters. She doesn’t like screaming and scaring like the rest of her family, preferring to sit quietly or play a nice tune on her flute.When she hears how disappointed her parents are with her being so different, Sasha tries to behave like all the other monsters. The problem is, acting that way makes her feel strange.But, when she is faced with scary trolls that need to be scared away, Sasha finds she has a special talent.This book is available online***Title: The Deep EndAuthor: Ursula DubosarskyIllustrator: Mitch VanePublisher: Puffin, $12.95 RRPPublication Date: August 2010Format: PaperbackISBN: 9780143305279For ages: 6 - 8Type: Chapter bookAbout: Becky loves going swimming, as long as she can touch the bottom of the pool.But when her teacher decides it’s time for her to swim in the deep end, Becky is terrified. S! he is sure that she couldn’t possibly do it.Or could she?Thi! s book i s available online ***Title: Hide That HorseAuthor: David MetzenthenIllustrator: Leigh HobbsPublisher: Puffin, $12.95 RRPPublication Date: August 2009Format: PaperbackISBN: 9780143304494For ages: 6 - 8Type: Chapter bookAbout: Mr. Conroy, who lives next door to young Tim, is hiding a horse in his backyard. This is against the law in the city area and, together, Mr. Conroy and Tim conspire to hide the horse from the local ranger, who happens to hate farm animals.This book is available online***Title: Jamie Spy and the Great Cookie MonsterAuthor/Illustrator: Christina MiesenPublisher: Puffin, $12.95 RRPPublication Date: March 2010Format: PaperbackISBN: 9780143305149For ages: 6 - 8Type: Chapter bookAbout: When Mum’s freshly baked cookies d! isappear, Jamie is sure he can solve the mystery. After, all he is Jamie Spy, a member of the great Spy family.Heading off to quiz each of his family members, Jamie finds his answer and uncovers the mystery of the missing cookies.This book is available online***Title: JerryAuthor: Ursula DubosarskyIllustrator: Patricia MullinsPublisher: Puffin, $12.95 RRPPublication Date: September 2008Format: PaperbackISBN: 9780143303022For ages: 6 - 8Type: Chapter bookAbout: Jerry is a white horse that the children stop and watch as he wanders around his paddock. He is so old that he gets cranky and looks sick, but the children still love him.Martha especially loves Jerry. And she discovers a secret about him that no one else knows, one that is magical and helps her to deal with her sadness when Jerry passes away.This book is available online***Title: The Princess Who Hated ItAuthor: Robin KleinIllustrator: Stephen Michael KingPublisher: Puffin, $12.95 RRPPublication Date: February 2009Format: PaperbackISBN: 9780143303428For ages: 6 - 8Type: Chapter bookAbout: Princess Althea simply hates being a princess, and spends much of her time getting into trouble for not being ladylike enough.She watches the farm children through the window as they play and get dirty and have heaps of fun â€" and she wishes she could be there with them.Eventually, Althea finds a way to play with the children and, after meeting the prim and proper Peggy, comes up with a cunning plan to make life a little more fun.This book is available online***Do you have a beginner reader in your life? Search for an Aussie Nibble that they’ll love!View the entire Aussie Nibbles series
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Review: Books with holes

Butt: I remember, ace has child, all the attraction off has broad book. Broad They edge seem not also with custom maintaining, goal when you are tiny, the broad books are ace carpets who cover has whole floor in imagination. The children edge almost plunge in the pages, and with the additional configurations ace the cut holes - good… it just too much is re-creation. The play off child make thesis books so much so much well - using the retro drawing-model, really the paper and the production off quality, the lucid color and the bruise and the succulent fables and the counting rhymes which must remain central with each childhood. Each is page has off new surprised with the indication holes off piaulement which new component waitings off character gold history one other side. This arranges off broad books is completely enormous and includes Ten small monkeys, star off flutter off flutter little, five small ducks, I amndt the man off music, cows in the kitchen, the dry bones, ! the wheels one the drunk, there was old Madam who swallowed has fly and more. Beautiful for littlies. Titrate: It is the Room which Jack built (above) the illustrator: Annie KublerPublisher: Play off child, A$32.95RRPFormat: coverISBN software: old 9780859536387For: 0 - 5Type: Titrate off book off images: Young stag we go around the BushIllustrator blackberry: Annie KublerPublisher: Play off child, A$32.95RRPFormat: coverISBN software: old 9780859538930For: 0 - 5Type: Titrate off book off images: This ManIllustrator old man: WFP AdamsPublisher: Play off child, A$32.95RRPFormat: ISBN off software cover: old 9780859536363For: 0 - 5Type: The picture book accessible thesis books are one line
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Final Fantasy of 10 for the magazines PS2

As you all may know, Final Fantasy 6 and 9 happen to be two of my personal favorite games of all time, right up there with Brutal Legend, Psychonauts, Heavy Rain, God of War 3, and Super Mario Galaxy 1 and 2. I really love the characters, the story, and the design of both games. You will all also know that I HATE how the fighting system has changed in the more recent games like Final Fantasy 12 and 13. I just don’t see the point, when the entire series has based itself on the turn-by-turn active time battle system. I don’t understand them making the game look like Engrave or Demon’s Soul. When I play a Final Fantasy game, I want active time battles with turns. I don’t want this Kingdom Hearts-style game play that requires a lot of multi-tasking. It all seems like it went downhill right after the release of what I think was and is the last great Final F! antasy game, Final Fantasy 10. The first official Final Fantasy title to hit the PS2, it was considered to be one of the greatest RPG games of all time. I still stand by that, even though some things didn’t age well throughout the game, but I still consider it better than Final Fantasy 7. So, let’s dive right into what I think is the last great title in the Final Fantasy franchise.The story weirdly starts us off with all the characters together, who will all be seen later in the game. The main hero of the game Tidus starts to tell us what has happened. It then takes us to the high tech city of Zanarkand, where Tidus made a living as a famous Blitzball player. While playing through a game for the multiple fans of this underwater soccer, something starts to attack the city. The thing that is attacking is a monstrous being called Sin. As Tidus escapes the stadium, he meets his mentor/guardian named Auron. They try to escape the city, fighting off Sin’s scale monsters and! a killer sea cucumber, Sin. Something goes down where Tidus i! s sent y ears, and I mean like 1000 years or so, into the future. He is then is found by a young woman named Rikku, who is a leader of a group of thieves. They finish a mission, and then Sin attacks. To make this shorter, Tidus then wakes up on an island, meets other warriors, and he meets this young summoner named Yuna. He then joins Wakka, a Blitzball warrior. Lulu a curvy black mage, Kimarhi a dragoon/blue mage, and Rikku and Auron also join the party. They must protect Yuna so she can use her powers to defeat Sin. I’m not going to spoil who the main bad guys are, since some people already know or haven’t played this game yet. This is for people who haven’t played the game or are just curious about what I think about it. Well, read on and you will find out.The game play featured in Final Fantasy 10 is just how I like it. It’s turn-based, where you can take all the time in the world to plan out your strategy to take out the monsters. Sadly, instead of 4 fighters, you get th! e Final Fantasy 7 and 8, a 3-person party, where you need to plan who you want out during the game. They basically all have their unique classes and abilities. A good example of this is when Yuna can summon a guardian monster that will take the place of the two other fighters, but will stay in battle unless killed. Other good examples are like Wakka has a slot machine-style special ability, Lulu can cast offensive magic, and Kimarhi can absorb some energy from enemies and sometimes learn different abilities from the monsters he fights. Just like other games in the series, there are limit breakers where the character can perform super powerful moves, like Lulu can cast multiple spells and Tidus and Auron have super powerful sword attacks. The main mini-game for this game is, of course, the Blitzball sport. To be honest, I don’t like it that much and I’m just going to say that you swim, make a move, and repeat. The graphics look pretty good even though by today’s standa! rds, some of the facial features look a little weird, but it c! an’t b e helped. I do like a lot of the monster designs, especially the robots. Now, in a second, I’m going to say my thoughts on the whole “future theme” that the later Final Fantasies have been using. The robots are especially cool looking, since they look like steam punk or some kind of earth robot thing like from Castle in the Sky. I also like the design of Sin. They could have easily gone cheap and made him a ghastly figure or the reaper, but I like the whole giant whale look. The music, while not as good as Final Fantasy 6 or 9, still holds up well, with entertaining battle music, creepy villain music, and great ambiance to the area music. The voice acting is, well…on and off. Sometimes, it’s good, but sometimes it’s just bad. Granted, this is the first time the series uses voice work and it does get better, but still. I also like the giant guardian designs that Yuna and the main villain use. They all have a creative look to them that still show flair. One of my f! avorite designs is of Yojimbo and Bahamut. I also like the design for the main villain’s guardian. It’s very creepy and threatening with an overdrive that I got handed to me first hand. Now, I’m going to talk about the villain, then I am going to talk about the whole future looking aspect of the games. While not the best villain, Seymour Guado is very threatening with his library of powerful spells, forms, and guardians that he can summon in battle. He is a very tough opponent and has some of the toughest battles in the game. To be honest though, his hair is quite silly looking, but it’s Final Fantasy, so characters are going to have weird looking hair. Now then, let’s talk about the whole future aspects of the future games and why I H-A-T-E them. When you think of the name, Final Fantasy, you think of magic, swords, and dragons. I don’t think of airplanes, helicopters, guns, and freaking tanks! If I wanted a future RPG, I would call it Final Science-Fiction Fan! tasy. What the heck is up with the future look? I like the bet! ter desi gned steam punk look of Final Fantasy 6, 9, 10, and any other games that don’t use modern technology theme. Yes, they have used uniquely designed future-looking vehicles, but it still doesn’t change the fact that they have totally messed up the fantasy look. This is what happens when you don’t have the original people who made the franchise so great. I know some ideas why the combat has also changed is because people want fast-paced action, but does that mean that kids these days don’t have the freaking patience to go through turn-by-turn to wait and attack? I mean, that is what made the series so great and fun. Sometimes, I wonder why I still like the series. I probably won’t review any of the future FF games, unless people send like 100 emails telling me to review it or something. Anyways, let’s get to the bad parts of the game. I know I said this already, but it’s a big issue, the voice acting is horrible. I know they did get a good amount of talent like Tar! a Strong, and the guy who does Ratchet from the Ratchet and Clank games, but still it sounds horrible. The sphere system is also rather pointless and here is why. You can actually cheat the system and make characters like Tidus learn Ultima before Lulu does. How is that possible?! Why can’t they just stick with job systems like Final Fantasy 4, 6, and 9? What is the whole point when Yuna a white mage can learn firaga? I mean it works in Final Fantasy 6 since the guardians you equip to each character have specific magic powers that the character can gain through time. They should have just made job spheres where Lulu only learns black magic and so on for the other characters. It’s just all kinds of brokenness, like the leveling system in Final Fantasy 2. While this review is a little shorter than my other Final Fantasy reviews, I still find this game pretty good. Yeah, you could find holes in the story, but who cares? You would sound like a guy who doesn’t have much of! a life if you spend all your time making videos about all the! plot ho les in games. No offense to the people who do this like on Internet sites. However, I think people should still pick this game up and play it. It’s still one of the better games in the series and stands as one of my favorite games. It still annoys me that Square Enix just doesn’t go back to what made the old games so great. I’m not saying that new games don’t hold up to modern games, since well, I think modern games hold up better than some older games, but I guess I’ll make an argument about modern games over retro games in the future. Oh well, all I can say is just check this game out.This game gets a 8 out of 10
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