Here’s How to Get Free Books for Read Across America Day

by Karly WoodFebruary 27, 2022

The National Education Association’s Read Across America Day is Mar. 2 this year and the world’s first and only streaming platform that brings storybooks to life through animation is celebrating! Vooks (rhymes with books) is launching its “Read Along With Vooks” initiative, a special 7-day free preview that opens up the platform’s entire library.

From Mon. Feb. 28 through Sun. Mar. 6, kids can read anything they want on Vooks for free! Perfect for kids ages two to eight, the website helps inspire a love of reading at a young age.

As part of the “National Reading Month,” Vooks is also debuting a new friend at their special Read Along release party on Mar. 6, so be sure to mark your calendar.

Vooks is packed with animated storybooks that are specially curated for kids. Young readers and their parents can choose from books centered around SEL, STEM, vocabulary and more.

You can access Vooks available worldwide and on most devices including Apple’s iPad, iPhone, iPod Touch and Apple TV, in addition to Android platforms and devices, Roku and Amazon TV Fire Stick. If you’d like to sign up for unlimited access going forward, you can sign up for just $4.99 per month or $49.99 a year. Not sure yet? Sign up between Feb. 28 and Mar. 6 and get the entire month for free!

––Karly Wood

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Totally Paw-some: Walmart Offers Sneak Peek of New PAW Patrol Film with Toy Purchase

by Sarah ShebekJuly 28, 2021

Attention PAW Patrol fans! Walmart has a win-win proposal: right now, you can pre-order select toys from the new movie and when you do, you’ll get special access to a virtual showcase, including a sneak peek at the upcoming film!

Multiple toys are eligible in this offer, including an action figure set, transforming movie vehicles and eight-piece role-play sets for your little fans. Prices start at $12.97 and all of the toys come with free shipping. Totally paw-some!

Once you’ve purchased, you’ll receive ticket instructions in your inbox within 24 hours. The virtual showcase features a preview of PAW Patrol: The Movie with an intro by a special guest from the film. It also promises other fun activities for the family! You can tune in on August 8 starting at 1 p.m. ET.

In case you missed it, the new PAW Patrol movie comes out in theaters on August 20. Check out our preview for a look at the trailer and character images!

––Sarah Shebek

All images courtesy of Walmart

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You Can Add Shaq & Melissa McCarthy’s Voices to Your Alexa & We’re on It

by Sarah ShebekJuly 19, 2021

“Hey Shaq, what’s the weather today?” If you’ve ever wanted to mix up your Amazon Alexa experience, the company just dropped two new celebrity voices! Shaquille O’Neal and Melissa McCarthy are available now to tell you jokes, report on the forecast, or even do a little rap.

Following up on the hugely popular addition of Samuel L. Jackson’s voice, Amazon is offering the option to purchase two more instantly recognizable personalities at $4.99 each. Once you’ve bought one (or both) just say “Hey Shaq” or “Hey Melissa” to activate the option. If you need a little sneak preview, enjoy the following clips:

“We’re thrilled to add two new celebrity personalities to Alexa and had a great time working with Shaquille O’Neal and Melissa McCarthy on this project. We can’t wait to see what customers think,” said Toni Reid, vice president of Alexa Experience & Echo Devices.

Need more Alexa inspo? The digital assistant can read to your kids, cook your dinner, and even track Santa!

—Sarah Shebek

All images courtesy of Amazon

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Sesame Street Is Growing! Meet Its Furry New Character

by Karly WoodJuly 6, 2021

123 Sesame Street is getting a new resident! Sesame Street will be home to Elmo’s new adopted puppy, Tango. And today Sesame Street confirmed that Tango will be a live-action Muppet!

In today’s new 30-minute special airing on HBO Max, Furry Friends Forever: Elmo Gets a Puppy, Sesame Street watchers will learn how this petite pup found her new home amongst the Muppets. The first preview photo from the show is cuteness personified.

In the special, Elmo, Grover and Tango meet and head out on an adventure to find her a forever home. The trio will also be joined by Cookie Monster, Abby Cadabby and Oscar the Grouch and will show how Tango got her name.

The sweet puppy is sticking around for future episodes and will serve as a model for kids and how to help with family pets. Littles will see how to properly play and care for a pet, in addition to showing all the love they bring to a family.

Furry Friends Forever: Elmo Gets a Puppy airs Thursday, August 5 on HBO Max as part of the 52nd season, and will stream on PBS KIDS in 2022.

––Karly Wood

Feature photo: Richard Termine, Sesame Workshop

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“We The People” is the Star-Power Packed Series We’re Watching This Summer

by Sarah ShebekJune 3, 2021

Think of it as a Schoolhouse Rock remix! A new show about rights and citizenship is coming to Netflix, packed with starpower and produced by the Obamas. We The People will fittingly premiere on July 4 and you can preview the trailer now.

The series will feature 10 animated videos that bring musicians and directors together to present civics lessons for the next generation. And it’s quite the list of talent: H.E.R., Lin-Manuel Miranda, Adam Lambert, Bebe Rexha, Brandy Carlile, Daveed Diggs, Janelle Monae and more! You’ll experience original compositions and songs as the soundtrack for the narrative.

Chris Nee, who formerly created Doc McStuffins and worked as an associate producer on Sesame Street, is the brainpower behind the new show. Barack and Michelle Obama are executive producers along with Higher Ground’s Tonia Davis and Priya Swaminathan and Black-ish creator Kenya Barris.

Your family can brush up on civil rights knowledge, courtesy of each three minute episode—and have a lot of fun along the way. Add this one to your watch list for the summer!

––Sarah Shebek

Featured image courtesy of Netflix

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“Star Wars: The Bad Batch” Debuts Just in Time for Star Wars Day

by Erica LoopApril 30, 2021

Disney+ is set to debut an original animated series—and it’s a can’t-miss for Star Wars fans!

Lucasfilm’s Star Wars: The Bad Batch will stream beginning Tues., May 4, starting with a 70-minute premiere. After the initial launch you can catch a new episode on Disney+ every Friday.

Followers of the Star Wars franchise may remember the “Bad Batch” from The Clones Wars. The new series focuses this elite, experimental “batch” of clones, all of which have extraordinary abilities.

According to Disney+, this new Star Wars series is executive produced by Dave Filoni (The Mandalorian, Star Wars: The Clone Wars), Athena Portillo (Star Wars: The Clone Wars, Star Wars Rebels), Brad Rau (Star Wars Rebels, Star Wars Resistance) and Jennifer Corbett (Star Wars Resistance).

Even though you have to wait until May to watch the new streaming series on Disney+, you can catch a sneak preview trailer right now. For more info on the series as its debut gets closer, visit the Star Wars website here.

—Erica Loop

Featured photo courtesy of Disney+

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Nat Geo Has a Virtual Earth Day Eve Celebration You Can’t Miss

by Erica LoopApril 8, 2021

National Geographic recently announced an Earth Day celebration you won’t want to miss. The virtual planet-friendly party will be hosted by travel expert Jessica Nabongo, feature ethologist and conservationist Dr. Jane Goodall—and so much more.

The Earth Day bash kicks off at 8:30 p.m. ET on Wednesday, Apr. 21 and will include an array of appearances from around the world. The line-up includes notable names, such as Angélique Kidjo, AURORA, José González, Maggie Rogers, Rostam, Valerie June, Willie Nelson, Yo-Yo Ma and Ziggy Marley.

Along with this lofty list of performers, My Morning Jacket will premiere their new music video during the virtual viewing party.

As if that’s not enough, Nat Geo’s Earth Day Eve remote party will also include a special preview of the new four-part Disney+ series Secrets of the Whales. National Geographic Explorer and photographer Brian Skerry will introduce the series. Narrated by actress Sigourney Weaver, Secrets of the Whales is available to view on Disney+ at 12:00 p.m. PT on Apr. 22.

National Geographic Chairman Gary Knell, said of the virtual event, in a press release, “For over 133 years, National Geographic has strived to inspire people to care more deeply for the planet. This Earth Day, we hope to provide that inspiration with a one-of-a-kind celebration that invites audiences everywhere to unite around the power of music.”

Knell added, “Our Earth Day Eve event—virtual and accessible to everyone—will showcase environmentally passionate artists from around the world together with some of National Geographic’s most extraordinary Explorers. From AURORA’s forest performance in Bergen, Norway, to Jane Goodall’s greeting from her home in England, the celebration will give us even more of a reason to fall in love with the place we all call home—and empower us to act to protect it.”

If you’re into the after-party scene, Nat Geo will host a second virtual event on its new TikTok account at 10:00 p.m. ET on Apr. 21. To watch the Earth Day Eve event, tune in on the National Geographic YouTube channel or visit the Nat Geo website here.

—Erica Loop

Featured photo courtesy of National Geographic

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The Cast of Disney’s Juniors “The Chicken Squad” Features Egg-cellent Celeb Stars

by Erica LoopApril 5, 2021

Disney Junior recently announced the debut of a brand-new animated adventure series—and it’s over-the-top egg-citing! The Chicken Squad will premiere on Fri., May 14 at 7:30 p.m. ET. The Disney Junior and DisneyNOW series premiere will feature two back-to-back episodes.

The series chronicles the comedic adventures of three chicken sibs: Coop, Sweetie and Little Boo. Based on the popular children’s books penned by Doreen Cronin, The Chicken Squad tells the tale of the young chips and their problem-solving adventures.

Teaming up with rescue dog mentor, Captain Tully, the chicken stars of the show help their animal pals and model good community helper behaviors. Each episode includes two 11-minute stories and includes the Chicken Charge anthem song.

Along with the anthem, the episodes also include at least one new original song. The songs range the musical gamut, including everything from R&B to country.

The cast includes Yvette Nicole Brown (Captain Tully), Ramone Hamilton (Coop), Gabriella Graves (Sweetie),and Maxwell Simkins (Little Boo). Recurring guest voice cast members include Tony Hale as Frazz, a nervous squirrel, Jane Lynch as Dr. Dirt, a forensic scientist snail, Melissa Rauch as Dinah, the chicks’ mother, Sean Giambrone as Riley, a pack rat, Malcolm-Jamal Warner as Lt. Scruffy, a retired firehouse dog and Melissa Villaseñor and Zack Pearlman as Wheeze and Snick, mischievous raccoon sibs.

Watch a preview of The Chicken Squad on Disney Junior’s YouTube channel here!

—Erica Loop

Featured photo courtesy of Disney Junior

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These Top 10 Vrbo Rentals Are Going for Just $20 a Night

by Erica LoopMarch 20, 2021

Vrbo and Netflix want to give your kids a “yes day.” In celebration of the film Yes Day’s debut on the streaming service, the vaycay rental company is giving families the chance to live out their dreams through “Yes Day Stays.”

What exactly are “Yes Day Stays?” These perfect-for-the-family vacation properties have everything your kiddo come want—and so much more.

The 10 vacation homes included in this promotion typically rent for up to $1,000 per night. If that seems steep, don’t stress. “Yes Day Stays” are available for the awesomely affordable price of $20 per night.

Lish Kennedy, vice president of global brand marketing at Vrbo, said in a press release, “Nothing is more important and special than spending quality time with family, having fun and making memories together.” Kennedy continued, “We hand-picked some of the coolest vacation homes for Yes Day Stays to make sure kids can have the most unforgettable Yes Day with their families.”

These completely cool vacation properties include amenities such as water slides, decked out pools, a bowling alley, indoor slides, games rooms, entertainment centers and even a mini golf course.

Booking for “Yes Day Stays” starts on Vrbo on Mar. 19, 2021 at 12 p.m. CT for weekend stays starting in April. All homes are available on a first come first serve basis. Check the local travel restrictions before booking your “Yes Day Stay.” To preview the homes, visit Vrbo’s website here.

—Erica Loop

All photos: Courtesy of Vrbo

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Here’s How to Get a Sneak Peek at the New Season of “Fixer Upper”

by Karly WoodJanuary 13, 2021

It feels like eons since we’ve seen Chip and JoJo grace the silver screen, but with the launch of new streaming platform Discovery+, they’re officially back! Debuting on Jan. 4, the platform is now streaming several of the upcoming shows from Magnolia Network, that will debut later this year, and has all the Gaines goodies you could ask for.

The “Magnolia Network Preview” is currently showing advanced episodes of Magnolia Table with Joanna Gaines and the new Fixer Upper: Welcome Home. The rebooted DIY fan fave is set to debut on Fri., Jan. 29, with a new episode airing each Friday through Feb. 19.

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In a blog post by Chip, he writes “This past year, we have poured our hearts into content and programming for Magnolia Network. Searching for stories we believe the world needs to hear. Stories that bring us together, that let us see things in a whole new light. Stories that connect us to our roots, and to one another. And for Jo and me, it dawned on us that we wanted to be a part of this lineup with a new season of Fixer Upper.”

You can expect more of what you’ve come to love from Fixer Upper, including Demo Day, ham sandwiches, shiplap and a look into the Gaines family as they change homeowners’ lives. Get a trial of Discovery+ and stay tuned for the official launch date of The Magnolia Network later this year.

––Karly Wood

Featured photo: HGTV

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