Arnie the Doughnut and Other Fantastic Adventure Stories - Scholastic DVD Review & Contest

The new DVD collection from Scholastic is fresh out of the oven, iced with chocolate, coated in rainbow sprinkles and is absolutely delicious. This grouping of five animated shorts is incredibly strong and is anchored by two runaway hits at the front of the disc, one featuring the title character, a charmingly verbose pastry, and the other a civic-minded insect. Arnie the Doughnut and Roberto the Insect Architect are two cartoons that go a long way in reminding this dad and author just how much creative juice exists in the world of children’s entertainment.

Laurie Keller (of Scrambled States of America fame) is the creative mind behind Arnie the Doughnut. As with the hilarious romp through a jumbled United States, her work here is pure kiddie comic genius. Her trademark style blending wit with whimsy, you know the same one that made you want to snuggle up with Rhode Island and shake a leg along side New Mexico, is all over this 17 minute film about a sprinkled breakfast treat unaware of his intended fate or purpose in life, which is, of course, to be eaten! Arnie’s story begins very early in the morning, as most days in a fine bakery will, when we met the star doughnut and his yummy peers and watch them as they go from raw dough to deep-fried goodness.

The fun really begins after Arnie is purchased a carried away by a hungry, doughnut-loving regular in the person of Mr. Bing. Here Keller’s dialogue-heavy approach to silly storytelling takes center stage as the relationship between the two characters, man and breakfast item, is formed, explored and defined. The banter back and forth about the potential alternative roles a doughnut can play in a household is a true pleasure to witness as is the eventual arrangement decided on at the end of the film. A child of almost any age will appreciate the absurd nature of talking food and the mere notion that a simple doughnut could stand in as house guest or even as a paperweight. The give and take during the brainstorming session between Mr. Bing and Arnie is classic, as is the voice of the baker, who Arnie, naive as to his true calling, phones to warn once he discovers that Mr. Bing eats one of his doughnut cousins everyday of the week.

Arnie the Doughnut, featuring the voice talents of Michael McKean (Spinal Tap, Best in Show, Laverne & Shirley), is sure to delight your entire household - from babies (not that they should be watching television) to grandparents - the story is that appealing. The 17 minutes of doughnut brilliance is worth the price of the DVD alone, but you would be remiss in stopping the disc from spinning too early. If you did, you would miss the wonderful story of Alberto, a kind-hearted termite with a passion for design.

Roberto the Insect Architect is a sweet and humorous tale of role reversal - a termite who dreams of constructing versus destroying. While not as laugh-out-loud funny as Arnie, Roberto the Animal Insect is filled with lovely storyboard illustrations and a warm narrative about following your heart amid negative feedback, ridicule and skepticism. Roberto puts his considerable talents to work for other bugs, who like him, find themselves unwanted and on the outskirts of (bug) society. What is super sweet about his work is that, while he eventually receives both, he seeks no credit or fame. How nice a message is that the hey-look-at-me YouTube generation we are currently living through?

The three remaining tales on the disc are pleasant, if not awe-inspiring or entirely memorable.

Arnie the Doughnut and Other Fantastic Adventure Stories is one of the most enjoyable Scholastic DVD collections to hit shelves this year. OWTK cannot recommend this DVD enough.

To stoke the interest of your little ones, click to enlarge then print off this coloring sheet of Arnie!









THE ARNIE the DOUGHNUT CONTEST!

OWTK has two copies of Arnie the Doughnut and Other Fantastic Adventure Stories to give away. For your chance to win, simply send an email to outwiththekids@comcast.net with ARNIE in the subject line. Two lucky winners will be selected at random on Monday, July 2nd 2007. Oh, one more thing OWTK will never share your email address or send you unwanted mail, so don't worry about that. Thanks for reading and GOOD LUCK!

My Royal Heinie Contest!

Not on OWTK, but over at Adventures in Babywearing. Enter win a very swanky diaper bag (although I am rooting for myself and not you). There is a pocket for wipes and everything. How snazzy!

1st day perfect, 2nd day...not so much

My girl is through two days of her new school/camp. Yesterday's drop off went well, I was totally surprised by this fact. Turns out that she had some mini-crying episodes during the morning but napped well and had a fine P.M. Today, very different story. She was absolutely hysterical when I tried to leave. She did not want her special breakfast (a freshly made, still warm croissant from the amazing French bakery next door) even though she was giddy for the past month that she would get one on her first day at camp (well, daddy forgot that the bakery is closed on Mondays, so she got to buy one this morning). After about 1/2 hour of tears and screams, she went to the bathroom and then wanted to sit down to eat. I laid out her pastry and when I turned around to throw away the bag I did not hear any crying. I kept walking to the corner, where the trashcan sits and still nothing. Weird. I looked back and she wasn't even looking in my general direction. I gave the teacher a heads-up and bolted. Hate doing that, even though I know it is for the best. She ended up having an awesome day. Go figure. She promised to be cool in the A.M. on day three. We'll see.

When I picked her up I saw one of the teachers reading a Finding Nemo book. And in looking at her daily sheet I see that the class listened to "Under the Sea" which my wife told me is from another Disney picture. It is Sea Creatures week after all. I called the school right away to better understand their no-licensed character/branded products-policy (one of the many bright spots with this establishment). Seems the book was brought in my another child, most likely, but the music was the school's doing. I decided right then that I would take a proactive role at this school, unlike the prior one where I complained too much on OWTK and at home with my wife but did not step up to make a positive change. I told the manager of the facility that I get supplied with a great deal of terrific, original kiddie music to review and asked if I could bring in some of it for the class/entire school. She truly seemed excited to have new sounds brought into the building. So, tomorrow I take in my very own copies of The Terrible Twos and Joe McDermott discs for them to keep and enjoy. I will recommend the McDermott tune "Dolphins", in keeping with the Animals of the Sea theme.

After school we picked up a pizza and a salad at our favorite little pizza shop (way too hot to cook - 94 degrees today) and stopped into Target for a new bathing suit for the little lady of the house (the bigger little lady, how will I ever distinguish between the two girls here?) The baby cried pretty much the whole time, even the pacifier was not pacifying her. I hate even using the thing, as we barely and rarely ever did with #1, but #2 seems to need it more often and she has certainly not been the happiest child in the world during her first three weeks around here. A very different experience thus far. We really have no idea what we are doing with a fussy and sick infant. Totally foreign to us. Not really enjoying ourselves, to be honest. Bound to get better though, at least that is what we are telling ourselves, pretty much every hour.

We have Winners!

Congratulations to Chris from Ontario and Joe from Kentucky - they have each won a copy of Joe McDermott's "Everybody Plays Air Guitar" CD. Stay tuned to OWTK for another big review and contest coming up soon!

In other news, I am about to take my gal to a new school for summer camp. She has been home for a month since we removed her from her old school. I have a feeling leaving mom and baby this morning is going to be, at best, a freakin' disaster. Wish me luck!

Oh What a Night

Our weekend started off with a trip to the ER. The wee one upchucked, letting it fly a few inches and then repeated that projectile action 15 minutes later. Pediatrician was called and he advised us to take her in to the ER. After three looong hours, she checked out okay and we were discharged. Rough night for everyone involved. OWTK Toddler was hysterical at 8pm when we had to pry her sister away and take her to the hospital. So painful, but adorable at the same time - she said it was her job to take care of the baby and how could she if she wasn't with us. Mommy and baby are still sleeping soundly now. Hopefully we can be ER-free for the remainder of the weekend (and our lives).

"The swing will be there for me in the morning"

An email I just received from my wife. She is at home, of course, with new baby, our 3 yr old and my mom...

"Oh, and I almost forget to tell you about her nap! She was outside on the swing after lunch, around 1:15 or so, and told your mom she wanted to come in because she was tired (imagine that!). They came in and she was kissing the baby on my lap and talking to me, and then she walked away down the hall, so I assumed she was getting something or playing in her room, etc.

After about 10 minutes, I decided to go check on her. She had climbed into bed and was under the covers, almost asleep! The bed was made, so she was lying on both pillows which were standing up, so I walked over to pull one of them out so her neck wouldn't be stiff and she opened her eyes because she thought I was taking her pillow. I told her I was just fixing it, and I said I love you, sleep good. She looked at me & said "the swing will be there for me in the morning. Good night" She is so amazing."

I second that sentiment.

Tidbits at the end of a loooong week

Rapid fire format today, cause daddy-o just ain't got the energy for anything else...

• $10873.00 - that is our bill for having a 2nd child. This number is the cost of having a healthy baby with a 1 day stay in the hospital. Amazing. How do folks without insurance have babies in hospitals?
• We ordered our birth announcements from Tiny Prints. Cannot say enough about how cool their website is, how creative and plentiful their announcement options are and how neat the functionality of designing/writing the things is. Check out the Pink & Chocolate pattern we went with and use the coupon code THANKYOU07 to save $10 off your order (No min. purchase and no expiration date associated with this offer given to us with our shipment). The card stock is thick and the colors of the paper and the photos are brilliant.
  
• Baby #2 has had a cold for about a week. She is having trouble breathing through her nose which, in addition to being extremely scary for us, is causing her much discomfort while attempting to sleep. Our first girl was not sick until 7 months old - so we have no clue how to ease the pain of a 2 week old child. Sleep, at least quality sleep, is at a premium right now.
  
• The Joe McDermott "Air Guitar" contest deadline has been extended until the end of the weekend. Throw your name in the hat to win a great new kids' CD!
• In music news - A Better Offer is featuring Okkervil River right now. They are my favorite band going these days (since The Afghan Whigs broke up). I am counting down the days until OR's new record, "The Stage Names", is released in August.
• Speaking of music and August....That month is setting up to be quite excellent. We are heading up to NYC for The National's free South St. Seaport gig on the 17th and may head south straight from there for Charlottesville, VA to spend the weekend in that cool college town, catching the John Prine/Josh Ritter show on the 18th. Like Okkervil River, Ritter's new disc is also out in mid-August - again very excited! So, my new little girl's first live music will be The National at 2 1/2 months old. Cool, but not as cool as Willie Nelson and Bob Dylan at 5 months old.
  
• Despite my lack of mentioning it, I am still writing over at Families.com .

That is about it for now. Happy Fathers Day to all the Rockin Dad's out there!

Joe McDermott "Everyone Plays Air Guitar" CD Review & Contest

You know the saying “don’t judge a book by its cover”? Well, you shouldn't form an opinion of a CD based solely on its sleeve art either. If you did, you may very well be inclined to skip over this tremendous new effort by Joe McDermott - I almost did!

“Everyone Plays Air Guitar”, McDermott's fourth full-length childrens disc - being released on True Blue Records on June 12, 2007 - is a kiddie folk-pop gem. Joe manages to bring an honest and, by all accounts, genuine sense of humor and love of entertaining young people to the table on this record.

[Quick sidebar - it is related, I swear]
We live in an age where virtually all of the entertainment that is made for and marketed to kids (even toddlers) contains subtle adult messages, jokes and innuendo. It is a fairly despicable that we as parents must be fed something racy, sensual or crude at every turn in order to sit through a film or television program packaged and sold as "kid-friendly." Seemingly nothing anymore can be purely above-board, innocent and fun for kids.

I am happy to report that Joe McDermott’s “Everyone Plays Guitar” is a pure kids album, but don’t let that make you think it sounds like a cornball collection of safe, dull and inane tunes. That assumption would be 180 degrees from the truth. McDermott’s lyrics are energetic, heartfelt and 100% hilarious and his musical arrangements are imaginative yet at the same time clearly rooted in classic American folk music. Even a bit of John Denver can be heard in McDermott’s vocal delivery on a couple tracks.

“Everyone Plays Guitar” contains two of the best kids’ songs released this year. For sentimental reasons, “Momma’s Gonna Have A Baby” is an instant classic - recanting a parent-to-child conversation about the pending arrival of a new baby. Anyone who has, or is about to, break this big baby news to a preschooler or an older child will fall in love with this tune immediately. It is heartwarming to hear a newly minted “Big Kid” volunteer to help cook, shop, clean and change the diapers of the “built in best friend made for me”.

The other gem of a song is a romping good-time live cut that sounds as if it was recorded in a packed house full of adoring little ones. “Ride, Ride, Ride” features a charming, stellar give-and-take conversation between the artist and his elementary school fan base. It is here that you discover the true essence of Joe McDermott – a real good guy, making delightful music for the love of the craft and a terrific musician who truly respects his youthful audience.

While "Ride, Ride, Ride" and "Momma's Gonna Have a Baby" are the faves in my household, there really is no weak track on "Everyone Plays Air Guitar". From the title track to "Dolphins" to "Roller Coaster" and everything in between, your entire family is going to find something that connects with them and stays in their head for a long, long time. "Dolphins" is a super song on it's own, but has the benefit of following "Ride, Ride, Ride" - which is like the sitcom that NBC would put behind Seinfeld, it was an instant hit regardless of what it was about. In "Dolphins", McDermott manages to successfully work in references to Hemingway, Cousteau and Aflac - now that is some impressive songwriting!

As an adult, you will not tire of this record. It is infectious, funny and witty and because it has a deep connection to a traditional songwriting style, it will be adored after the first and fiftieth listen. You will not find yourselves cringing when your little one asks, once again, for more Air Guitar please!

The "Everyone Plays Air Guitar" Contest
OWTK is excited to be able to give away two copies of Joe McDermott's "Everyone Plays Air Guitar" CD. All you need to do to enter and try to win one of them is send an email to OWTK with "Air Guitar Contest" in the subject line between right now and 11:59pm ET on Thursday, June 14 2007. Two winners will be drawn at random the next day. Good Luck!
(no worries - your email address is safe with us and you will not receive any unwanted notes in your inbox from OWTK)

Joe McDermott's Official Website

OWTK Spring Music Roundup

It feels like forever since I reviewed a CD. Here are three somewhat shorter reviews of some quality kiddie music passing through my ears recently...

Ernie and Neal "Rock the House"
There is certainly a bias one possess when you're about to listen to a record (as there is with picking up a book or just about anything else in life). When I sat down to listen to Ernie and Neal's "Rock the House", the latest effort from this classic rock-cum-kids music duo, I had a positive bias heading in. I really wanted to like it. After all, they are from my neck o' the woods, are appreciated by the WXPN Kids' Corner crowd and have a reputation for stellar live performances. However, with all that being said, "Rock the House" leaves a little something to be desired. The first couple spins were pleasant enough on the ears. The recording quality, while solid, does give the impression of being homemade despite the name of a studio credited inside the sleeve. The main problem with "Rock the House" is the music itself. After a while, the tunes lose their charm as the lyrics repeatedly let you down and the straight-forward instrumentation, which forms a patchwork quilt of genres, does not do nearly enough to hold your attention. At its best "Rock the House" invokes a workman-like pathos - not brilliant songs but a good-old-college-try feeling from two guys who clearly love what they do. At its worst, Ernie and Neal's sound recalls Poison, you know C.C. Deville, Brett Michaels and gang (you may not hear that reference, but I cannot help but imagining the "Every Rose Has It's Thorn" video from 20 years ago). There is just something here that does not resonate with me, neither the lyrical content nor the music itself gets me or my three year old excited to listen repeatedly. I imagine that seeing and hearing the guys bring these tunes to life on stage would change my mind about their sound, by all accounts their performances are terrific, but this record and the recording doesn't successfully capture the energy and excitement that the Ernie & Neal name carries with it. One caveat, from a music standpoint I come from a decidedly angular/noisy/etc indie rock background which could very well be why "Rock the House" doesn't work for me. I did not grow up listening to commercial FM radio or classic rock. For any family that enjoys Bob Seeger, George Thorogood and the like or even a little Jimmy Buffett will more than likely derive a fair amount of sonic pleasure from these thirteen tracks.
Official Ernie & Neal website
Head on over to The Pokey Pup, pick up a copy and give it a shot.

The Terrible Twos "If you ever see an Owl"
Hook filled toddler & preschool rock from ex-Get Up Kids Matt Pryor. Absolutely infectious lyrics and melodies, one of those children's discs that you will be drawn to even when you are riding solo in the family car. "The Math Stomp" contains one of the more clever lyrical phrases you will ever hear, in kids or adult music - "the rules start to change when we start to multiply. the T turns to X but we still keep the equal sign." The cut "Smickey" cracks my youngster up every time - seriously, when are burp and fart humor ever NOT funny? And the little baby trying to say excuse me? Great stuff. This CD has turned out to be an instant hit which makes me pretty happy. I feel like I have come full circle here. Way back in the day, a band on MindWalk, my defunct record label, played a couple gigs with the Get Up Kids, long before they were putting hundreds or even thousands of fannies in the seats. Now, my little lady is digging the vocal extension of that same band. Very cool.
Official Terrible Twos website
Preview the whole darn record here.
Buy it today from The Pokey Pup and get free Terrible Twos temporary tattoos (yikes, say that really fast a few times).

Johnny Cash "The Johnny Cash Childrens Album"
The Pokey Pup featured this 1975 record-now available on CD in their latest email newsletter which reminded me to include it here. I love Cash and love this album. I picked it up at the Library a couple months ago and my girl has been intrigued and enthralled by the easy to understand-and-follow-along with storytelling voice of Johnny Cash as he tells of "Nasty Dan" (which you may know from the famous duet with Oscar the Grouch on Sesame Street), dinosaurs, explains hilariously why fire engines are always the color red, tours water fountains, the ABCs (one of the more clever alphabet songs you'll hear) and more. I never thought about it before, but is any legendary musician more suited for childrens music than Johnny Cash (I would love to hear John Prine give it a try)? I had no idea this CD even existed but I am sure glad I found it buried in the library bin and I'm excited that The Pokey Pup is bringing it to light. I figured OWTK should do it's part as well to let folks know that this record is out there.
Cash works through 16 tracks in just under 39 minutes. Perfect length of songs for even the littlest ones. Pick up a copy today from The Pokey Pup for under $12!

KEXP Summer Pledge Drive

I just gave $180 to KEXP.org.

I was not going to, as I just became a member at the $100 level last Fall, but I realized that I have to do my part to ensure that great independent radio never leaves the public airwaves/computer streams (which is how I listen to this Seattle-based radio station every day at work). Turns out my employer will match donations to cultural organizations (like public radio), so my $180 should be doubled.

I want this station (and stations like it, although they are not nearly as many as when I was young - and that IS the point) to be around as my daughters grow up - so they have a chance to discover amazing music like Pela, The National, The Long Winters and more.

Plus, KEXP has these kick-ass kiddie tee shirts as thank you gifts!

If you have never listened to KEXP, yet love quality indie rock, underground hip hop and electronica, give them a shot at kexp.org. And, if you like what you hear send 'em some cash.

Another birth...at the other house

For those following along, we have had another birth. My gal's other Daddy, the one at her other house, delivered a baby girl. You may recall his dilema - he has no vagina, only a rear-end. Well, my girl has informed us that she had a magic wand and was able to turn him into a Mommy, thus allowing her other baby sister to be brought into the (other) world.

Congrats to him, er, her/him...whatever.

Oh, the baby's name: Sacew (Sock-eww)

Stinky Cord

We had our new girl to the doctor's this morning, for an impromptu visit. Her cord stinks to the high-heavens and the outermost piece is black, nasty-looking and is dangling off. We needed to make sure it was not infected and that she was not feverish - which meant an old fashion rectal temp check (ouch!)

She is cool (literally and figuratively) right now, but the bit on the end fell off when the Doc applied silver nitrate to the belly button region - the worry now is that the chance of infection is greater as the area is exposed to the world o' germs. A trip to the NICU will be in our future if the "redness expands" - in the Dr.'s words. Good times!

In better news, here are two of the cutest feet in my home.

At my other house

For quite some time now, my daughter (the three year old - I have to get used to the fact that I have two now and cannot simply say "my daughter") has told us stories about her "Other House". There, she has three dogs and three cats, her daddy has blue hair with orange eyes and she has a baby brother. There is a lot more about this house, but I will spare you all the silly details. Tonight though while lying in bed, up WAY too late, she let me know that her daddy, the one at the other house, has a baby in his belly. Here is the transcript - as best as I can recall:

Daughter: Why can't daddys have babies?
Me (very tired): Because we have different stuff inside then girls (how's that for a technical, mature answer?)
Daughter: And because you don't have milk?
Me: Yep, and no vagina.
Daughter: Well, at my other house my daddy has a baby in his belly but because he only has a hiney he says "how is this baby going to come out. what is going on here. I only have a hiney."

I have no response ready for that, other than to laugh, kiss her and tell her once again how amazing she is and how much I love her.

Oh, and up until 5 minutes ago I had no idea how to spell HINEY. Is the internet great or what?

Drumroll please...

The OWTK Anniversary Contest Winners are:

#1 - $25 Gift Certificate to ThePokeyPup.com - Melissa from Pittsburgh, PA
#2 - Gustafer Yellowgold Kids Gift Bundle - Melissa from Yarmouth, ME
#3 - $50 credit to World's Fair online tee shirt & gift shop - Naomi from Wichita, KS
#4 - Can Do Kid Fun Pack - Gwyenth B.
#5 - Putumayo Kids "Playground" 3 CD set - Josh from Philadelphia, PA

Thanks to everyone for reading and playing along with the OWTK 1st Anniversary Party. I wish I could give everyone a prize...which is a nice segue into the next couple weeks and months. OWTK is going to play host to several more contests throughout the summer. These forthcoming contests will be tied directly to the content on OWTK - meaning great Kids' music, DVDs and Books will be up for grabs all summer long.

Thanks again!