Toy Story 3 Movie

Toy Story 3 written by Michael Arndt, directed by Lee Unkrich and produced by Disney Pixar.

Andy's toys continue their friendship and adventures. As Andy prepares to leave for college, his toys accidentally end up at a day care center. The toys quicky discover that not all kids play with toys like Andy did, plus the other toys have plans for them. Woody must go to the rescue of his friends trapped in the day care center and bring them all back to Andy where they belong.

While adults cringe to see younger children have access to age inappropriate toys, the kids in the audience love to see the misuse the toys get. Kids may be frightened by "Baby" who's head spins and is unable to talk, but will enjoy the teamwork that the toys use to get back to Andy. Toward the end, the toys find their way back to Andy's house right when he's leaving. Andy needs to make a hard choice - should the toys get stored in the attic or go to a good home; Woody needs to make a hard choice - to let Andy go or stay with his friends.

Several rescue scenarios are cleverly executed. Lots of humor for kids and adults alike. Like other Pixar films, this segment has lots of entertainment value for the kids, but lots of thought provoking sentiment and jokes for adults. Life's choices, for the toys and for Andy, are not always black and white. Great movie for 10 to 13 year olds.

P.S. There's a cute scene with Molly, Andy's sister, reading Tween magazine.
Visit the Disney ToyStory website.

ISLAND Book One: Shipwreck

ISLAND- Book One: Shipwreck (2001) by Gordon Korman. 129 pages.
ISBN: 0-439-16456-7

Adventure, survival

A program called "Charting a New Course" brings together six young teens on boat with a captain and first mate. Each teen has been sent there for a reason - getting in arrested, fighting, causing havoc, watching too much TV, having a breakdown. They are quickily put to work manning sails and cleaning decks.

The ship leaves Guam where the kids feel like they are in the middle of nowhere. Stuck on a boat they don't want to be on and living in tight quarters, the kids learn to deal with the mean captain's mate, sea-sickness and terrible food. But that's not all, a terrifying storm comes. The schooner is severely damaged, the captain is lost at sea, the first mate abondons ship and the kids are left to fend for themselves. Through will and problem-solving, they work together to survive.

This is a fast-moving, adventurous story taking place over 15 days. The plot keeps the reader interested in what will happen next. Good read for 10 to 13 year olds.

This book is the first in a series of three: Shipwreck, Survival and Escape. At the end of the book, the author encourages the reader to "continue your Island adventure online" at Scholastic (linked here) where you can meet the crew and take the quiz, "Can you Survive?"

Official Gordon Korman Website