Little Shop of Horrors + Botanic Garden Visit = Kids Off The Couch

Remember the carnivorous plant that got movie star billing in Little Shop of Horrors twenty years ago? Believe it or not, this campy film musical still seems fresh today. There's an all-star comedic cast (Steve Martin, Bill Murray and Rick Moranis to name a few), catchy lyrics, but best of all, a man-eating plant from outer space. The film was the perfect "entree" to watch Venus Fly Traps and Pitcher Plants devour their insect prey at the Conservatory Lab at our local Botanical Gardens. This glass-domed building was specifically designed for kids to get their hands dirty. Our boys hung out in the Carnivorous Bog where they watched plants munch on flies and our girls smelled coffee beans and cinnamon bark in the Rain Forest. The moms? Well, the steamy Cloud Forest was just perfect for a mini-facial while the the kids explored! (Click here to learn about Ferngully: The Last Rainforest, a film that younger viewers will enjoy with this adventure).

Seabiscuit + A Day at the Racetrack = Kids Off The Couch

Seabiscuit is the true story of the little horse that could. An almost-forgotten thoroughbred ran a spectacular race right into the history books, raising the hopes of downtrodden Americans during the Great Depression. With a great performance by Tobey Maguire, and gorgeous period detail, the film got a blue ribbon from parents and kids alike. We spent a balmy day at the Racetrack -- our husbands have never been so psyched about an adventure -- and the whole family took in the heart-pounding thrill of a day at the races. (Click here to find a track near you).

Snow Dogs + Hitting the Slopes for a Day = Kids Off The Couch

Dog Days of Winter

No matter where you live, kids and snow go together like hands and gloves. Whether your kids are starting out with a pizza-pie wedge between their first skis or just biding their time until their next snowboarding trip to a serious mountain, getting some slope savvy at your local ski resort makes for a wonderful wintry weekend. There's not a kid in the world who needs much of a push to slide down a hill, so get yours ready to sled or ski or snowboard by watching Snow Dogs on the drive to the slopes. Ours love this improbable tale that stars Cuba Gooding, Jr. as a Miami dentist who travels to Alaska to collect his inheritance... which turns out to be a team of sled dogs! Click here for a list of other fun ski films -- we love the vintage James Bond ski sequences -- and a link to our chapter on tracking the Itidarod sled dog race (starting March 7) from your computer.

All The President's Men + Visiting Your Local Newspaper = Kids Off The Couch

Kids who expect a multitude of information to magically appear from their computers don't always understand the power of a free press. Watching All the President's Men as a family opened up a conversation about how reporters follow a story and tell the truth, which makes this movie newsworthy in our household. It was front page news all over the world when Richard Nixon became the first American president to resign and the film, which won four Oscars in 1976, is a thrilling look at how the investigative reporters at the Washington Post became political heroes. We had fun bringing the headlines home with a tour of our local paper's printing facility, where our kids watched robots load reams of paper on to four story-high printing presses and enjoyed a sneak peek of the weekend comics section four days before the Sunday paper landed on our doorsteps.

Click here for more about the movie, a link to Walter Isaacson's article in Time on How To Save Your Newspaper, and our tips on visiting your local paper.

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Kids Off The Couch's Hints and Tips - All About Abraham Lincoln

Happy 200th Birthday Abe!

There have been more books written about Honest Abe than any other historical figure. In honor our 16th President's big day, we have come up with a few ways to peek under his big hat and get to know him better.

If Your Kids Read Only One Book about Lincoln: The Lincolns: A Scrapbook Look at Abraham and Mary is an exciting new biography for kids that combines photos, letters and text. Common Sense Media says "this is the way biographies for children ought to be done".

If You Only Read One Book About Lincoln: Okay, we couldn't narrow it down to one -- here are several excellent choices. Doris Kearns Goodwin's Team of Rivals is a lively portrait of the President's election and his historic, inclusive Cabinet choices; our current President is said to be influenced by this biography, and Steven Spielberg has optioned the film rights. Garry Wills' Lincoln at Gettysburg: The Words that Remade America is a Pulitzer Prize winning deconstruction of Lincoln's most famous speech, and Gore Vidal's Lincoln: A Novel gets below the skin of the iconic figure. In Sunday's New York Times, William Safire reviewed several new books about the 16th President -- from a concise 79 page book to a momentous 2,000 page study. Click here to learn which one is right for you.

If Your Teens Only Have Ten Minutes: Have them check out this great NPR podcast, a brief tribute to Lincoln with music and anecdotes.

If You Want to Build Lincoln's Log Cabin with your Tots: Lincoln Logs were designed by John Lloyd Wright and let kids re-create Lincoln's early days with their own hands.


If You Only Watch One Movie About Lincoln: Young Mr. Lincoln is a wonderful John Ford film starring Henry Fonda in an unforgettable performance. Made in 1939, this black and white film is geared for adults, so not a natural fit for kids (unless yours are either devoted to classic film, or Abe himself). (1939, UR, 100 minutes)

If You Like to Learn Online: The Ford's Theater, where Lincoln was assassinated, is a surprisingly cool place to visit (next time you are in DC). Check out their Learn The Story website, a great one-stop resource for all things Lincoln.

If You Only Read One Speech or Poem: Read Lincoln's Gettysburg Address (in his own handwriting) and Walt Whitman's poem in response to the news of Lincoln's assassination.

If You Love The Huntington Library: A brand new exhibit, The Last Full Measure of Devotion: Collecting Abraham Lincoln showcases documents and relics that will thrill adult Lincolniana lovers. Through April 27.

The Pink Panther 2 + What's Priceless in Your City = Kids Off The Couch

The Pink Panther has slinked his way into a new generation of fans, and our kids loved seeing Steve Martin reprise his role as Inspector Clouseau in The Pink Panther 2 (opening nationwide on Feb. 6). When a thief called "The Tornado" steals priceless treasures from all over the world, the infamous Clouseau -- sidelined as a meter maid to stay out of trouble -- is asked to join an international Dream Team of sleuths. Desperate to impress his fancy colleagues (including Andy Garcia and Alfred Molina), Clouseau nearly loses the one girl who actually admires him (Emily Mortimer) in a globe-trotting caper that will put a grin on your family's faces. The international intrigue gave us a perfect opportunity to create local intrigue of our own -- what would a sophisticated thief steal in Los Angeles? We put together a Tornado's Hit List of invaluable objects -- both precious and iconic -- and took our families to see our own local treasures. From a Van Gogh's masterpiece, to our favorite hamburger in town, we enjoyed a day of inestimable value! (Click here for more about the film and for ideas about creating your own family's Hit List.

Read Any Good Movies Lately!

From Page to Screen 2009

The 2009 calendar is replete with book adaptations for all ages. We've scoured the press so you can put a stack by the bedside and be ready for some witty criticism when these tales hit the big screen.

IN THE THEATERS:
Inkheart
The book by Cornelia Funke was our daughter's favorite book, bar none, when she was in sixth grade. Does the movie do the book justice? Read, watch and compare!
The Tale of Despereaux
Released over Christmas, the lovely animated movie based on the Newbery Medal winner, is another of our family's favorite books. Kate DiCamillo's books (Because of Winn Dixie and Tiger Rising) are great for elementary aged kids (and their parents).

COMING SOON:
Coraline (Feb)
Neil Gaiman's stories lean toward the macabre, and this animated adaptation looks pretty spooky to us. Gaiman's latest book, The Graveyard Book just won the Newbery Medal; a macabre riff on Kipling's The Jungle Book, the movie rights have already been snatched up, so get reading, book fans!
Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince (July)
Many folks think book six is one of J.K. Rowling's better yarns, so get ready to see the characters grow up a bit more... and, for this film to take over the summer. Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs (Sept)
A sweet, early reader book with wondrous illustration, we are excited to see what becomes of this as a movie.
Cirque du Freak (Oct)
Popular with elementary school boys, these books are about a boy who goes into training with a Freak Show vampire - turns out, Twilight doesn't have the monopoly on vampire stories -- or teenage girls! From director Paul Weitz.
Where the Wild Things Are (Oct)
All bets are off as director Spike Jonze (Being John Malkovich) takes on Maurice Sendak's classic tale.
Fantastic Mr. Fox (Nov)
Roald Dahl's fabulous tale will be brought to the screen as an animated tale by Wes Anderson (Rushmore, The Royal Tenenbaums) and include talent such as George Clooney, Cate Blanchett and Bill Murray.

FOR TEENS AND ADULTS:
The Soloist (April)
Steve Lopez's true story about a reporter who befriends a homeless man who is an extraordinary violinist stars Robert Downey, Jr.
Angels and Demons (May)
Tom Hanks stars in Dan Brown's sequel to The DaVinci Code.
My Sister's Keeper (June)
Teens and sophisticated tweens are ready to handle Jody Picoult's complex issue books - this one is about a girl whose body has been used to keep her sister with leukemia alive; with Cameron Diaz.
Julie and Julia (Aug)
Great book about a young New Yorker who sets out to cook every recipe in Julia Child's famous cookbook, starring Amy Adams and Meryl Streep.
New Moon (Nov)
More of the wildly popular teen vampire tale from the author of Twilight, with same successful cast.
Sherlock Holmes (Nov)
Robert Downey, Jr and Jude Law star as the detective and his sidekick. Time to pull out some of Arthur Conan Doyle's classic stories!

Diane and Sarah
Founders, Kids Off The Couch