Review: Disney Publishing... It's A Small World

Disney Publishing Worldwide, the world’s largest publisher of children’s books and magazines, is dominating the App Store charts with six new children’s titles in the Books, Entertainment, and Education categories. Entering the New Year as a leading publisher of children’s book apps, Disney Publishing has garnered more than 7 million App Store downloads to-date with apps including:


 "Beauty and the Beast: Storybook Deluxe" – Rated 5-stars by Common Sense Media, this app - newly released in 3-D - allows children to experience a tale as old as time in storybook form. Complete with games, movie clips, puzzles, coloring pages, and sing-along songs from the film, kids will find a surprise on every page. Hear the story read aloud, record your own narration, or explore at your own pace. (MSRP $6.99)

“Don’t Let the Pigeon Run This App!” – Rated as one of the “Best Apps in 2011” by iTunes, this app features the creative work of three-time Caldecott Honoree Mo Willems, who brings the Pigeon to the digital screen with this original, feature-rich, animated app. The app lets users create your own Pigeon stories and is fully animated with hilarious shake-and-play technology and customized voice integration. (MSRP $6.99)

"It's A Small World" – Recommended by Consumer Reports, this app gives families a chance to experience the “It’s A Small World” ride, song, and lyrics in an inspiring new way. Taking readers on a world-class adventure, the app is packed with whimsical interactivity, beautiful artwork by illustrator Joey Chou, and unforgettable music. Featuring the original Sherman Brothers’ song lyrics, this simple, poetic story encourages kids to meet new people, explore new places, and discover that it’s a small world, after all. (MSRP $3.99)

“Pooh’s Birthday Surprise” – Rated 5-stars by Common Sense Media, this storybook app features Winnie the Pooh illustrations and exciting tap-and-play animation designed to help children acquire and reinforce early literacy and pre-math concepts. As children read along with the word-by-word narration, they are invited to join in the birthday party planning with their favorite friends in the Hundred-Acre Wood. (MSRP $4.99)

"Toy Story Showtime!" – Rated as one of “15 Fantastic iPad Apps for Kids” by Apple Gazette, this storybook app is designed to help children explore essential early reading concepts. Kids are invited to join Buzz Lightyear as he sets out to impress Jessie the Cowgirl in the talent show. As Buzz tries his luck at everything from comedy to juggling, emerging readers discover new vocabulary words in the context of a rich, interactive storytelling experience. (MSRP $4.99)

I was given the opportunity to try one of these apps by Disney Publishing. I chose "It's a Small World". Although I do not personally have little ones, the children that I babysit enjoyed this app. They range in age from 2-4 and this, IMHO, is the perfect age group for this particular app.

As expected from Disney, the graphics are great. The application is colorful and a little interactive. My kids enjoyed tapping around to see what they would find. Their favorite was the areas that they could set off fireworks and pop balloons. Plus my kids have learned to say "Hello" in several different languages. Of course, you have to help them. I tell them the language and let them listen to the pronunciation. My 4 year old already knows how to say Hello in French, Hawaiian, Italian and Swahili. So cute.

My only gripe is that the sing-along does not include the full lyrics. Although, it does continue on in verse form throughout the rest of the app. I also expected more along the lines of learning about different countries and cultures.

All in all, it's a cute application. I love Disney and this is a nice addition to my Disney Apps folder.Again, it is primarily for kids between 2-4. Children 5 and up ( or even an older 4) might find it bit boring. This is simply a short storybook poem with a bit of interactivity thrown in. But the kids were entertained with it for a short while.  It's not really an app that will hold their attention for a long period of time. They do love the song plus I have shown them video of the ride as well. They are now pestering their parents to take them to Disney World. You're Welcome!

All Disney Publishing apps are available from the App Store on the iPad, iPhone, and iPod Touch or at www.itunes.com/appstore.


For more information, visit http://disneybookapps.com and www.facebook.com/DisneyReads, or follow @DisneyReads on Twitter.


This post was written for Family Review Network & Disney Publishing who provided the complimentary product for review in exchange for my honest opinion.

Cars 2 Giveaway Winner

And the winner is.........

Send me your snail mail address and desired shirt size (Youth S,M,L,XL) and I'll send the information to the sponsor. Enjoy the prize pack!

Disney/Pixar Cars 2 Giveaway & Freebies!! (closed)

Rev your engines as your favorite characters from Cars are back with Cars 2 racing into theatres everywhere on June 24th!

When star race car Lightning McQueen (voice of Owen Wilson) and the incomparable tow truck Mater (voice of Larry the Cable Guy)
head overseas to compete in the first-ever World Grand Prix, Mater gets caught up in an intriguing adventure of his own: international espionage!
 Disney/Pixar always brings out the kid in me. Not only am I a Disney Parks fanatic, but I have not met a Disney flick that I did not like! I loved the first Cars movie. I enjoyed the drive through Route 66, especially Cozy Cone Motel which reminded me of our drive past the Wigwam Motel . Oh, and two words, "Tractor Tipping"!

I am really looking forward to seeing the new Cars 2 because I can't wait to see how the international cities are depicted. The animation in the original Cars movie was superb and I expect no less from Cars 2. Plus it's available in 3D! Are you as excited as I am? Let the race begin!


GIVEAWAY:
To celebrate the upcoming release of Cars 2, Disney is offering one lucky Just For You Reviews reader a Cars 2 Prize Pack! Which includes all of the following:

CARS 2 t-shirt in youth sizes of S, M, L, XL

 CARS 2 set of 3 bumper tickets

 CARS 2 temporary tattoo sheet (2 per winner)

 CARS 2 puzzle

How to Enter:
Main Entry:
Just leave me a comment below and tell me which is your favorite Cars character.

Optional Entries:
For additional entries do any or all of the following and be sure to leave me a separate comment for each :
Follow me on Twitter (Be sure to post your Twitter handle in your comment.)
Subscribe to my feed.
Follow DisneyPixar on Twitter(Be sure to post your Twitter handle in your comment.)
Like Cars 2 on Facebook (Be sure to post your FB name in your comment.)
Tweet the following: "Win a @DisneyPixar Cars 2 kids prize pack from Just For You Reviews http://is.gd/O5qCPv #Giveaway" ( Link to your tweet)

* Giveaway is open to U.S. & Canada residents.

* Last day to enter is June 28, 2011 @ 11:59 PM EST . I will draw a winner using a random number generator. After notification, winner will have two days to respond or an alternate winner will be drawn.

Freebies:
In addition to giveaway, Disney/Pixar has created an awesome activity pack for kids. that you are free to share with your readers! These include Mazes, Soap Box Dragster Activities, T-shirt Designs, a Radiator Springs Play Set and much, much more!

All of these great family activities can be found here: http://media-file.net/11/cars2/family/

Save the Date: June 24,2011

**This is not a paid or sponsored post. Disney/Pixar kindly provided the prize pack for this giveaway. All opinions are 100% mine**

Epcot Food & Wine Festival 2010

I started this post on the 14th and now finally have time to (attempt to) finish it!

Although I am not a huge foodie, I always look forward to the Epcot Food & Wine Festival. For one, it's EPCOT, my favorite park. And two, there are desserts everywhere! Yes, we are not wine connoisseurs either. We just know what we like. Even if it is a $7 bottle of locally produced wine. I lean towards reds and enjoy a Zinfandel every now and then. White wine is the devil and has me on the floor after just one sip. I LOVE Sangria and I make a mighty good pitcher, if I do day so myself. But no, I'm not a wine connoisseur, I am a pretty good froo froo drink know-it-all though! D is a beer drinker...and loves trying regional beers, so he was content.

First, we would look at the menu, then hang back and watch what others would buy and see what it looked like. We would also buy just one plate to taste between the two of us. Except for desserts. I require one dessert sample all for myself. I'm greedy like that. I would offer him on tiny taste though, so I did share.

We were there for two short days. and had the most amazingly beautiful weather on both days. Crowds were light and manageable. Perfect Disney weather and conditions!

Most of the food that we tried was just ok. Nothing was WOW! Some sample portions were generous, others were downright tiny. For instance, the cheese soup from Le Cellier in the Canada Pavilion. I LOVE this soup and I love Le Cellier! The portion served was approximately 1/4 cup! Tini tiny!

Now, the Asopado in the Puerto Rico booth was way more generous plus we also had the media noche sandwich here. Go figure, we're Latin and have that stuff here.

We both enjoyed the Nurnberger sausage in a pretzel roll from Germany. And D enjoyed their beer as well.

D liked the escargots en brioche from the France booth. I don't like snails, but I tasted the garlicky bread part and it was really good! The Chocolate Creme Brulee, on the other hand, was a HUGE disappointment! It was served cold and not at all creamy. I make a killer creme brulee, so I may be a bit biased. But come on, creme brulee is not served cold. Period.

The BBQ Short Rib in South Korea was ok. Quite tasty but very fatty. Didn't care for the kimichi at all.

I love fondue, but I was just not feeling the fondue from the Charcuterie & Cheese booth. All I know that the cheese was a white cheese, as no one knew exactly what cheese or combination of cheeses was used. It also had an over powering white wine taste.

My FAVORITE booth was, surprise surprise, the Desserts & Champagne booth! YUM! I got the sampler. Three times. The sampler comes with one of each or any combination of the three.

Strawberry Angel Verrine A+
Pear Strussel Pudding Cake B+

Dark Chocolate Sensation A++

As for drinks, I really don't remember what we had. I never got around to trying the Cranberry Cosmo thingy in France. But I did have a couple of my favorite Grand Marnier Orange Slushes!

The Eat to the Beat concert was a hit. I hope not to date myself by my next comment, but back in the day, I LOVED Dr. Noah Drake. I had my Tiger Beat posters all over my walls. Right there next to Shaun Cassidy & John Travolta. So, it was no coincidence that I chose these days to go to the festival. Rick Springfield was performing and I am happy to say, that at 61 (OMG!) he still puts on a great show! There were even groupies in attendance. Albeit, middle age groupies, but groupies nonetheless!

The line for the concert started about 2 hours prior to the show and reached all the way to Germany before they started letting people in. If you really, really want to see the show, and actually get a seat, make the line. The America Gardens Theater holds a lot of people, and I can tell you that even if you're all the way to Germany, You'll get a seat! :-))

Can't wait to see what's in store fore 2011!