There is a lot of entertainment news this week! New movies and trailers, upcoming new TV shows, DVD releases – all kinds of goodies.
The Hunger Games: Catching Fire
For all The Hunger Games fans – the first official movie poster for the upcoming The Hunger Games: Catching Fire has been released. They also have a new Instagram account you can follow. Currently, there’s lots of great pictures up from the Cannes Film Festival. Aside from loving the story, we cheer for The Hunger Games movies because Jennifer Lawrence is from here in Louisville and we like to support hometown girls!
The Hunger Games: Catching Fire begins as Katniss Everdeen has returned home safe after winning the 74th Annual Hunger Games along with fellow tribute Peeta Mellark. Winning means that they must turn around and leave their family and close friends, embarking on a “Victor’s Tour” of the districts. Along the way Katniss senses that a rebellion is simmering, but the Capitol is still very much in control as President Snow prepares the 75th Annual Hunger Games (The Quarter Quell) – a competition that could change Panem forever.
Peg + Cat (PBS KIDS TV Series)
PBS KIDS has a new series targeted at preschool-aged kids called Peg + Cat that will debut on October 7th, 2013. Each episode features a story in which Peg (voiced by Haley Faith) and Cat encounter an unexpected challenge that requires them to use math and problem-solving skills in order to save the day. Their adventures take viewers from a farm to a distant planet, from a pirate island to a prehistoric valley, from Romeo and Juliet’s Verona to Cleopatra’s Egypt to New York’s Radio City Music Hall. While teaching specific math lessons, the series displays the value of resilience and perseverance in problem-solving.
Nature: The Private Life of Deer
Bubbles loves animals so we watch a lot of documentaries about them. PBS Distribution has a new DVD titled Nature: The Private Life of Deer that will release on June 11, 2013. In Maine deer were everywhere, so I’m especially interested to watch this show and see what cameras were able to capture.
Whitetailed deer seem to be always around us, whether they’re grazing alongside our roadways, feasting on plants in our backyards or darting into the woods, though these “neighbors” do like to protect their privacy. But if it seems as though we are seeing more whitetails these days, there’s a good reason. Just a century ago, there were less than a million deer in North America. Today, there are nearly 30 million. How these wild deer interact with one another and how they adapt to living in a suburban environment is demonstrated in this feature.
Disney’s Planes
Check out the cool new video spot for Disney’s upcoming animated movie Planes. We are super-excited to see this film and love that there’s a clip out now featuring music by Mark Mancina, the film’s composer. It’s one of those clips that will give you that excited feeling in your chest. Seriously – cannot wait for August 9th.
Free Educational Fun Apps
If you’re looking for a bit of free entertainment for the kiddos while waiting for all these releases, then consider checking out the following apps.
- The “WH Question Cards App” by Super Duper Publications (iPhone & iPad) is a free app that asks “who” questions, like “Who flies an airplane?” (a pilot). There are four activity and game categories such as matching and secret decoder. Additional decks are available for $2.99 each.
- The Super Duper StoryMaker App (iPhone & iPad) is a free app with two different activities. They can Create Story where you create a story, add pictures, and more; alternately they can Tell Story that let’s the read their story and also record voice. The paid version lets you print, email, and more and is currently on sale for $2.99.
- For something parents and kids can play together, check out the free PBS Parents Play & Learn App (iPhone, iPad, Nook, Kindle & Android). This app has more than a dozen games parents can play with their kids, each themed around a familiar location – including at the grocery store, in a car, in the kitchen, and many more.
About Liza
Liza is a mom (5-year-old daughter, 20-year-old stepson, and 24-year-old stepdaughter) and wife living in Louisville. She loves spending time with her family, visiting the local zoo and parks, as well as planning travel adventures. Cooking and baking, DIY projects and crafts, and coffee - lots and lots of coffee - round out some of her other hobbies.
This is such a great year for entertainment.