As the school year winds down, kids are compiling their summer reading lists. The Amazon Books editorial team works hard all throughout the year to determine the Best Books of the Month, Best Books of the Year So Far and Best Books of the Year breaking the selections down into different genres. Today they released their lists comprised of titles published from the beginning of the year until now.
These are the editors’ selections of the Best Children’s Books of the Year So Far:
Can you believe Chicken Run debuted in theaters 20 years ago today? It still remains the highest-grossing stop-motion animated film of all time. The sequel to Chicken Run is expected to go into full production in 2021 and the exciting new adventure will be released globally by Netflix (excluding China).
Peter Lord, Aardman Co-Founder and Creative Director says; “Fans around the world have waited patiently for a sequel idea worthy of Chicken Run so we’re delighted to announce, on the 20th anniversary, that we’ve found the perfect story. Netflix feels like the ideal creative partner for this project too: they celebrate the film-maker, which means we can make the film we want to make – the one we really care about – and share it with a global audience.”
Having pulled off a death-defying escape from Tweedy’s farm, Ginger has finally found her dream, a peaceful island sanctuary for the whole flock, far from the dangers of the human world. When she and Rocky hatch a little girl called Molly, Ginger’s happy ending seems complete. But back on the mainland the whole of chicken-kind faces a new and terrible threat. For Ginger and her team, even if it means putting their own hard-won freedom at risk. This time, they’re breaking in!
The Chicken Run sequel will be directed by Sam Fell (Flushed Away, ParaNorman) and produced by Steve Pegram (Arthur Christmas) and Leyla Hobart. Peter Lord, Carla Shelley and Karey Kirkpatrick will be returning as executive producers. The script is written by Karey Kirkpatrick, John O’ Farrell and Rachel Tunnard and Nick Park (creator of Wallace and Gromit and Shaun the Sheep) will have a consulting role on the film.
Punky is back! NBC’s streaming service, Peacock just dropped the first teaser for the upcoming sequel series, Punky Brewster. The show follows an all-grown-up Punky as a single mother of three trying to get her life back on track.
There’s no set date for a premiere, but it will be sometime in 2020.
Are you counting down the days until the digital release of Trolls World Tour? Now you can plan to attend a premiere party too. The Trolls World Tour #WalmartWatchParty premieres on Apr. 10 at 6 p.m. ET/ 3 p.m. PT on Vudu with a Red Carpet preshow on Walmart’s Twitter at 5:30 p.m. ET/2:30 p.m. PT.
Last month, Universal Pictures announced that Trolls World Tour will be released on demand on the same day it was set to hit theaters. Even though we can’t go to the movie theater, we can enjoy the sequel to Trolls right from our living rooms.
If you want to start prepping for the watch party in advance, Walmart has you covered. There is a special area on Walmart’s website dedicated to the Trolls World Tour premiere. You can find party accessories for purchase as well as a checklist for all of the must-haves for your movie night celebration, including a recipe for Tiny Diamond’s glitter popcorn.
If you want to rock a Trolls signature look, check out influencer videos to create a Trolls hairdo and Queen Poppy makeup. There’s also instructions for DIY wigs and instruments.
Families can also show off their look by downloading their own movie premiere backdrop for hair-raising pics.
Everyone who rents the movie on Vudu for $19.99 and buys a Trolls toy on the Walmart website will receive a $10 gift card.
It’s been twenty five years since Sam McBratney’s Guess How Much I Love You entered our hearts, and now the classic story illustrated by Anita Jeram is getting a sequel. Candlewick Press and Walker Books have announced the newest book to be released Sept. 29, 2020.
Will You Be My Friend? reunites both McBratney and Jeram and beloved characters Big Nutbrown Hare and Little Nutbrown Hare. The book follows in the footsteps of its predecessor, which has sold more than forty seven million copies worldwide.
In the story, Little Nutbrown Hare sets off on his own and finds himself at Cloudy Mountain, where he finds a new friend. A story about independence and friendship, it’s perfect for all ages.
Walker Books Group president and publisher Karen Lotz says of the new book, “This tale of first friendship is the perfect next step (hop!) for Guess fans around the world, a universal story sure to become as much of a beloved read-aloud as its predecessor. A picture book about friendship, created by two masters of the form, seems especially welcome as we search for new ways to stay connected to loved ones near and far.”
Director Colin Trevorrow has announced that production of the sixth film in the Jurassic World franchise has officially begun. He also revealed the upcoming movie’s title: Jurassic World: Dominion. The new movie is expected to depict the aftermath of 2018’s Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom, when dinosaurs escaped from captivity and went out into the world.
Chris Pratt and Bryce Dallas Howard are returning to star in the film, and Laura Dern, Jeff Goldblum and Sam Neill are reprising their roles from 1993’s original Jurassic Park.
According to Variety, Jurassic World earned $1.7 billion worldwide in 2015, while the sequel grossed $1.3 billion on a reported $170 million budget in 2018. The franchise itself has hauled more than $5 billion globally.
Jurassic World: Dominion is set to release June 21.
If you thought Stormi Webster’s 1st birthday was extravagant, welcome to the sequel. Kylie Jenner teased the party in December 2019 when she tweeted that it was going to be “insane.” On Saturday, Jenner gave her fans a sneak peek of the festivities when she shared photos and videos on her Instagram story.
Jenner was also joined at the celebration by Stormi’s dad, Travis Scott.
“StormiWorld 2” did not disappoint. The entrance to the party was comprised of a giant head made to look like Stormi inspired by Scott’s 2018 “Astroworld” album cover. The party was so large, guests needed guidebooks, mapping out the various attractions and where to find them.
A “Frozen” room featured Elsa, and ice sculpture of Olaf, a craft station, a bounce house, and furniture made from ice. The “Trolls” room had rainbow decor and characters from the movie. Finally, the largest room was dedicated to Stormi herself. It had a giant slide, a ball pit shaped like an “S”, and dancers on stilts.
Jenner captioned one of her posts, “Such a blessing to be able to create these magical experiences for my baby. StormiWorld!!!! ⚡️🌎 thank you God.”
Guests included Hailey Bieber, Rosalía, Chrissy Teigen, and John Legend. Attendees could stay entertained with a claw machine game, a photo booth, and a tie-dye station or by riding “Crazy Dumbos” inspired by the Disney elephant.
Guests sang Happy Birthday to the two-year-old around a Stormi World cake surrounded by sweets. As the theme of the party stated, “2 is better than 1!”
If your kids can’t wait for the new Trolls sequel, they’ll be delighted to bake up a batch of the new Pillsbury Trolls Sugar Cookies.
The ready-to-bake Pillsbury Shape Limited Edition Trolls Sugar Cookie Dough features your favorite Troll characters, Poppy and Branch, complete with their colorful hairdos. Each pack contains 12 already cut cookies ready to pop in the oven and enjoy during your next hug break.
photo: Courtesy of Pillsbury
The cookies are available at major grocers nationwide this month and are priced at $2.50 per pack. Trolls World Tour hits theaters Apr. 17, 2020.
Finding movies that the whole family will enjoy can be tough. So we looked around and found the most buzzed-about new movies for kids and parents—it turns out 2020 holds a treasure trove of new adventures for families. From theatrical release dates to cast information, we’ve got everything you need to know. Keep reading to see our top picks for the best new kids’ movies in 2020, and don’t forget the popcorn!
This is the third adaptation based on the Doctor Dolittle character since the classic 1967 film that starred Rex Harrison and 1998’s version with Eddie Murphy. This time it’s Robert Downey Jr. who talks to the animals in a reimagining of the story. Here, an eccentric famed doctor and veterinarian of Queen Victoria’s England, hermits himself away behind the high walls of Dolittle Manor with only his menagerie of exotic animals for company. But when the young queen falls gravely ill, a reluctant Dolittle is forced to set sail on an epic adventure to a mythical island in search of a cure. Along for the ride is a bunch of animals with attitudes to match.
Directed by: Stephen Gaghan
Cast: Robert Downey Jr., Ralph Fiennes, Jim Broadbent, Octavia Spencer, Antonio Banderas and more.
You may remember a little hubbub that arose after Paramount Pictures released a trailer for the Sonic the Hedgehog movie back in April. Fans hated the design of the main character, so the studio had to go back in and redesign the little blue guy, forcing the film to become delayed. Based on the Sonic video game franchise, Sonic has traveled to earth to hide from Dr. Robotnik (Jim Carrey) and asks a small-town sheriff (James Marsden) for help. While the film probably won’t do any favors for Jim Carrey’s career, it should delight many a young fan. Expect some mild rude humor jokes and over-the-top antics.
Adapted from the beloved literary classic of the same name by Jack London, this film vividly brings to the screen the story of Buck, a big-hearted dog whose blissful domestic life is turned upside down when he is suddenly uprooted from his California home and transplanted to the exotic wilds of the Alaskan Yukon during the Gold Rush of the 1890s. As the newest rookie on a mail-delivery dog sled team—and later its leader—Buck experiences the adventure of a lifetime, ultimately finding his true place in the world and becoming his own master. The movie mixes live action with high tech animation to make the wild animals look as realistic as possible.
Directed by: Chris Sanders
Cast: Harrison Ford, Dan Stevens, Omar Sy, Karen Gillan, Bradley Whitford and Colin Woodell
Studio: Twentieth Century Fox/Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures
Pixar has come a long way since the first Toy Story movie. This new adventure is set in a suburban neighborhood in a fantasy world where modern-day fairies, unicorns, mermaids, dragons and more live together in a land with no magic. But that's about to change for one family when two teenage elves, Ian and Barley Lightfoot, embark on a quest to find magic that will allow them to see their deceased father one more time. Disney and Pixar have a good track record for providing entertaining family fare, and we don’t expect anything less with this new movie.
Directed by: Dan Scanlon
Cast: Tom Holland, Chris Pratt, Octavia Spencer, Julia Louis-Dreyfus
Studio: Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures /Pixar Animated Studios
My Spy follows JJ, a hardened CIA operative (Dave Bautista) who has been demoted and finds himself at the mercy of a precocious 9-year-old girl named Sophie (Chloe Coleman) when he has been sent undercover begrudgingly to monitor her family. When Sophie discovers hidden cameras in her apartment, she uses her tech skills to locate where the surveillance operation is set. In exchange for not blowing JJ’s cover, Sophie convinces him to spend time with her and teach her to be a spy. Despite his reluctance, JJ finds that he is no match for Sophie’s disarming charm and wit.
Directed by: Peter Segal
Cast:Dave Bautista, Chloe Coleman, Kristen Schaal and Ken Jeong
Disney’s new live-action version of Mulan appears to be a faithful adaptation of the animated film. It features a fearless young woman who risks everything out of love for her family and her country to become one of the greatest warriors China has ever known. When the Emperor of China issues a decree that one man per family must serve in the Imperial Army to defend the country from Northern invaders, Hua Mulan, the eldest daughter of an honored warrior, steps in to take the place of her ailing father masquerading as a man. Unlike the former film, this is not a musical and doesn’t feature a friendly dragon to help Mulan get through her tasks, but it does send a positive message that upturns the ideals of a woman’s role in society. This may be more suited for the older kids in the family.
Directed by: Niki Caro
Cast: Yifei Liu, Donnie Yen, Jason Scott Lee, Yoson An and Gong Li
Oh, that lovable rogue is back. Like the first film, this sequel doesn’t have the same tone that the original Beatrix Potter’s book did, but kids love him. In the new movie, Bea, Thomas, and the rabbits have created a makeshift family, but despite his best efforts, Peter can’t seem to shake his mischievous reputation. Adventuring out of the garden, Peter finds himself in a world where his mischief is appreciated, but when his family risks everything to come looking for him, Peter must figure out what kind of bunny he wants to be. If you liked the last film, you’ll probably like this one too but expect some rude humor.
Directed by: Will Gluck
Cast: James Cordon, Rose Byrne, Domhnall Gleeson, David Oyelowo, Elizabeth Debicki and Margot Robbie
Trolls may not be everyone’s cup of tea, but the first movie was popular enough to warrant a sequel and at least the music is catchy. This time around, Poppy (voiced by Anna Kendrick) and Branch (Justin Timberlake) discover that they are one of six different types of Troll tribes located in six different lands and of course, they each prefer their own brand of music. Ozzy Osburne (we’re not kidding) is the villain this time playing the role of King Thrash who is bent on destroying all other kinds of music. This film will introduce little ones to different styles of music including funk, country, techno, classical, pop and rock in this animated adventure.
Directed by: Walt Dohn
Cast: Anna Kendrick, Justin Timberlake, Kelly Clarkson, James Corden, Mary J. Blige and more
Zoinks! Scooby-Doo is coming back to movie theaters, and this time the movie promises to be a lot more family-friendly. The movie is sort of a hybrid showing how Scooby and Shaggy first met, how they met Fred, Daphne and Velma, and how they solved their first case. The story then fast forwards to the present, where the Mystery Inc. crew will face their biggest case yet! Plus, parents will love that a few other Hanna-Barbera characters will be shown as well, including Dick Dastardly, Dynomutt, The Blue Falcon and Captain Caveman.
Directed by: Tony Cervone
Cast: Frank Welker, Zac Efron, Will Forte, Jason Issacs, Ken Jeong, Tracy Morgan and Gina Rodriguez
It takes a special kind of parent to endure SpongeBob Squarepants. This summer, that special parent could be you. The famous sponge stars in his third full-length animated movie only this time he is being rendered in a 3D live-action/computer-animated version. The regular voice cast of the animated TV series is also expected to join on the fun.
Directed by: Tim Hill
Cast: Tom Kenny, Bill Fagerbakke, Keanu Reeves, Awkwafina, Reggie Watts and Snoop Dogg
Ever wonder where your passion, your dreams and your interests come from? What is it that makes you... YOU? This new film by Pixar Animation Studios promises to take the viewer on a journey from the busy streets of New York City to the cosmic realms to discover the answers to life’s most important questions. Directed by Pete Docter, who also directed Up and Inside Out and because of that, we know that Soul will have lots of “heart.”
Directed by: Pete Docter
Cast: Jamie Foxx, Phylicia Rashad, Daveed Diggs and Tina Fey
Studio: Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures /Pixar Animated Studios
The new adventures of Wonder Woman happen in 1984 with Diana Prince facing two new foes: The Cheetah (Kristen Wiig) and Maxwell Lord (Pedro Pascal). Plus, Steve Trevors is back, but we're not entirely sure how that happened. Truth? This is about all we know about the movie as of yet. Though many DC Comics movies are dark, the first Wonder Woman didn't follow suit, and this one looks to be just as uplifting.
Directed by: Patty Jenkins
Cast: Gal Gadot, Chris Pine, Kristen Wiig, Pedro Pascal
Disney’s latest ride-turned-movie involves the popular Jungle Cruise attractions. The movie stars Dwayne Johnson as a riverboat captain/tour guide offering super cheap cruises along the Amazon rivers and providing special effects to elevate the experience. Although his fake adventures turn real when an explorer (Emily Blunt) hires him to help her locate a rare plant that offers special healing powers. The trailer for the action/comedy looks like a cross between Pirates of the Carribean and The Riverboat Queen with elements that may prove to be too scary for the younger set.
Directed by: Jaume Collet-Serra
Cast: Dwayne Johnson, Emily Blunt, Edgar Ramirez, Jack Whitehall, Jesse Plemons and Paul Giamatti
If you’re a Monopoly pro, then you know all about wheeling and dealing so you’ll definitely appreciate the awesome deal Amazon is offering on the Frozen 2 Monopoly game.
Based on the hot blockbuster sequel, this Frozen-themed Monopoly game is played similarly to the traditional game, but with some icy twists. Each token is based on a character from the film, while the properties to collect are locations from the film.
For a limited time this new game, which makes the perfect gift for any young Frozen 2 fan, is on sale for just $15 on Amazon.
If you want to make it a Frozen 2 game night extravaganza, you can also score the Frozen Trouble Game Olaf’s Adventure, also on sale for $15. This unique version of the classic game involves real ice game pieces that melt as you play.
