There was one summer a few years back when it seemed that Mary Poppins was constantly being placed in the DVD player by one of the children. That summer we all fell in love with Julie Andrews as Mary and Dick Van Dyke as Bert. We were always singing songs like “A Spoonful of Sugar,” “Let’s Go Fly a Kite,” Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious,” and “Something about Mary.” Plus, I swear those wonderful animated penguins must be the grandfathers of the ones in Madagascar.

As an adult you have to wonder about the crazy Banks family. Mom is so busy being a suffragette that she’s ignoring the children, who are running all over London. Dad is no better since he’s entirely too wrapped up in his career and constantly firing the help. Then there’s the nutty neighbors shooting cannons and the nanny lets the children hang out with chimney sweeps and gives them a “tonic” to get them to sleep at night. And what’s going on with Mary and Bert anyway, wink, wink, nudge, nudge, say no more indeed! Sounds like a Victorian version of Cops, and I’m not so sure Super Nanny would approve. Then again she’s no Julie Andrews.

Mary Poppins, based on the popular children’s stories by P.L. Travers, is in my opinion, is one of the best Disney films of all time. Just set the DVD player to “Repeat” please and the speakers up loud, it’s that good!

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Recently released just in time for Chinese New Year comes one of China’s top grossing family films and Disney’s first Chinese language film, The Secret of the Magic Gourd. It’s the story of a young boy, Raymond, a daydreamer whose vivid imagination has made him an outcast at school.

On a solo fishing trip, Raymond reels in the mysterious Magic Gourd, who offers to make all his wishes come true. When each of Raymond’s seemingly simple wishes backfires, creating unintentionally hilarious consequences for the boy, he realizes that “there’s no such thing as an unearned reward,” but with a little hard work, he can create his own kind of magic and achieve his dreams.

If you love Chinese children’s folk tales, you’ll enjoy it since the movie is based on the Chinese children’s novel, The Secret of the Magic Gourd. In addition to the English soundtrack, Mandarin and Cantonese soundtracks are also available on the same DVD – great practice for all of you learning Mandarin or Cantonese!

High School Musical’s Corbin Bleu’s does the voice for the character of Bailey the Gourd. If that doesn’t get your reluctant tween to watch the movie, I don’t know what will.

My children enjoyed watching The Secret of the Magic Gourd. They have cousins who live in Hong Kong, and I know they’d love it, too.

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Disney continues the Little Mermaid franchise with The Little Mermaid II: Return to the Sea. Ariel and Eric must hide their precious daughter Melody’s mermaid heritage to protect her from Ursula’s revengeful sister Morgana. But when the lure of the sea proves too strong for Melody, they call upon King Triton and all land and sea creatures to help rescue their daughter.

For once in a Disney film, there’s no princess pining over a prince. Or any dead parents to make you feel sorry for the main character. So in this, The Little Mermaid II is perfect for the younger set who are in love with mermaids like my five-year-old daughter Lucie. She especially loves the songs and doesn’t care that the animation isn’t quite up to Disney standards.

Mermaid snacks and recipes

If you’re looking for some mermaid food to snack on while you watch the movie, check out MermaidMary.com from Lynn E. Hazen. She’s the author of Mermaid Mary Margaret, about a ten-year-old girl who accompanies her recently widowed grandmother on a cruise to the Greek Islands (for ages nine to 12).

Lynn has recipes for Blue Jello Mini Oceans, Octopus and Other Sea Creature Pretzels, and Mermaid Cookies, as well as mermaid activities and projects for teachers, parents and homeschoolers.

If you’re looking for more recipes, check out the The Mermaid Cookbook, which offers ones perfect for mermaid, ocean voyage, treasure island, and pirate parties for kids. (Or just for watching an Arial movie!)

This spiral bound cookbook offers an abundance of fun recipes including Paradise Pineapple Fruit Dip, Sea Foam Floats, Treasure Island Trail Mix, Goldfish Gorp, Mermaid Hair Salad, Sea Turtle Cookies, Little Luau Cakes, Water Fairy Ice Pops, Rainbow Fish Fudge, and more. Includes salads, fruit dishes, and main courses as well as snacks and desserts.

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As a mom, I think the Power Rangers TV shows and movies are pretty cheesy, but in a harmless, ‘60s sci-fi, Godzilla destroys the world sort of way. However, my kids gobble them up like so much sugary breakfast cereal.

At least their interest in Power Rangers got them involved in martial arts. Lucie and Nathan have taken karate lessons for over a year and a half and will be getting their brown belts next month. And did I mention that Lucie was a Power Ranger for Halloween?

So when I heard that there were two new Power Rangers movies, I had to get them for the kids for Christmas.  First, there’s Power Rangers: Jungle Fury – Into the Jungle (Vol. 1). The fury of an ancient evil is unleashed, calling for three new teenage heroes to rise up and defend the world. The valiant skills of the Order Of the Claw have kept a 10,000-year-old spirit completely caged…until now. Dai Shi has escaped and three new warriors must find and destroy him.

Then there’s Power Rangers: Jungle Fury – Way of the Master (Vol. 2). Our heroes team up against the evil Dai Shi forces once more. This time the Power Rangers are trained in the ways of the master by members of the Kung Fu clan. But can they learn new weapons, work closely as a team, and harness their jungle pride? (Oh my, the drama! I have to laugh.)

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If you were watching the the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade! closely you may have seen Horton from Horton Hears a Who come to life as an enormous balloon. First a book, then a movie, then a balloon? Boy, that Horton gets around a lot!

Dr. Seuss’ classical tale, Horton Hears a Who, imparts to children and adults alike the meaning of compassion, forgiveness and faith. A Horton themed gift set would make great holiday present. You can give them the original, classic Dr. Suess book , and the DVD movie version with an all-star voice cast including Jim Carrey, Steve Carell, and Carol Burnett.

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