Disney Media & Entertainment Distribution is finally giving us a sneak peak as to when we can expect some of the hottest new films. Like some of the successful films in the past, many will be available in theaters and through Disney+ with Premier Access simultaneously.
Get ready to welcome summer with titles that include Cruella, Black Widow, Luca and more! Keep scrolling to get all the details.
photo: Disney
When it comes to finally catching the live action Cruella starring Emma Stone, you can head to the theaters or tune in to Disney+ using Premier Access on Fri. Mar. 28. Is Marvel more your thing? You can do the same thing with the long-awaited Black Widow on Fri., Jul. 9.
Disney and Pixar’s Luca will stream directly in homes exclusively on Disney+ starting Fri., Jun. 18, and it’s bound to get you excited for summer. Theatrical release dates for more films include:
Free Guy on Aug. 13, 2021
Shang Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings on Sept. 3, 2021
After securing her historic win for Vice President of the United States, Kamala Harris heralded, “I may be the first woman to hold this office. But I won’t be the last.” Long before Harris, countless brilliant women throughout history have been paving the way for future generations. In honor of Women’s History Month and International Women’s Day, we’re highlighting 10 women who made history in San Diego. These exceptional women helped shape our vibrant and beloved city through their work in science, philanthropy, education and so much more. Read on to be inspired.
Going where no other American woman went before is an accomplishment only a few own. Sally Ride is one of the few. In 1983, astronaut and astrophysicist Ride became the first American woman in space aboard the space shuttle Challenger after beating out 1,000 other applicants to earn her spot in the National Aeronautics and Space Administration's (NASA) astronaut program. Born in Encino, California, Ride moved to La Jolla after her tenure at NASA and became director of the California Space Institute at the University of California, San Diego, as well as a professor of physics at the school in 1989. Wanting to share her passion for science and math with young girls throughout the county she created her own company in 2001 known as Sally Ride Science. Through this company she created educational programs and products to help and inspire girls and young women to pursue their own interests in the field of science and math.
A philanthropist at heart, well before she had money to share, Ellen Browning Scripps believed in promoting the welfare of others from her earliest years. It was this belief that led her to contribute a significant amount of her fortune, which was derived from the Scripps family's newspaper empire, to local causes throughout San Diego. One of the first women to attend college in the United States, she completed her studies in 1858 at Illinois’ Knox College. After graduation, she took a position as a school teacher earning just $9 a month. Ellen joined her brother at the newspaper he started, writing a column, “Matters and Things”, which enabled her to tap into her great intellect and share her progressive thoughts on subjects like women's suffrage and prohibition. One of few women to ever grace the cover of Time magazine, Scripps did so in 1926 at age 89, being named "most beloved woman in Southern California." Her gifts to San Diego are far-reaching and ever-lasting, from the Scripps Institute of Oceanography to the La Jolla Public Library and Scripps Memorial Hospital and Metabolic Clinic — schools, hospitals, churches and history societies throughout the county were all recipients of Ellen's inspiration and bountiful contributions.
Horton Hears a Who!, The Cat in the Hat, How the Grinch Stole Christmas, Green Eggs and Ham — these are books we all love and share with our children. They're also just a sampling of the 48 books that Theodor Geisel, affectionately known as Dr. Seuss, would write while living in La Jolla. Theodor died in 1991 and it was his wife Audrey Geisel who was appointed as the the overseer of his estate and guardian of his legacy. Audrey faithfully did that job and created her own legacy along the way. In 1993 she founded Dr. Seuss Enterprises, whose stated mission was to “protect the integrity of the Dr. Seuss books while expanding beyond books into ancillary areas.” In addition to running Dr. Seuss Enterprises, she devoted herself to philanthropy, supporting dozens of charitable organizations. She gave $20 million and thousands of her husband’s drawings and manuscripts to the University of California, San Diego, where the Geisel Library is named for both of them. Known as a strong businesswoman and advocate for causes she cared deeply about, Geisel's contributions to the area of San Diego are immeasurable.
Known as a "titan of public service in San Diego," Lucy Killea tops the list of most respected elected officials for her integrity and fearlessness while in office. She tirelessly advocated for women and was a role model for standing up for your beliefs and being effective in bringing change. She was inducted into the San Diego County Women’s Hall of Fame in 2002.
Often dubbed "St Joan of the Golden Arches, Joan B. Kroc of Rancho Santa Fe, Ca was the widow of Ray A Kroc, the founder of The McDonald's Corporation. Joan Kroc parlayed his fortune to become one of the greatest philanthropists of the 20th century. She was unconventional about her philanthropy and supported causes that were dear to her heart. Kroc also broke with tradition by giving away extraordinarily large amounts to social service organizations like the Salvation Army and National Public Radio upon her death. In total, Kroc donated more than one billion dollars.
Walking through Balboa Park you'll see a sculpture of Kate Sessions near Laurel Street Bridge. The sculpture honors her legacy as Sessions is best known as the "Mother of Balboa Park" and was instrumental in the planning and planting of Palm Canyon and The Aloe and Agave Garden. However, her seeds were planted literally and figuratively throughout San Diego County. A successful and tireless business owner, Kate operated nurseries in Coronado, Pacific Beach, Mission Hills and other locations throughout San Diego. In 1892 she contracted with the city to plant 100 trees a year for `10 years. As a matter of fact we have Sessions to thank for much of the exotic plants that we see throughout the county today such as jacaranda, poinsettia, bougainvillea and bird of paradise as she was the first to introduce them to the area.
We stand on the shoulders of those who came before us. Mabel Bell broke barriers and fought for the right of future generations of San Diegans. She was the first black resident to purchase property in La Jolla, a place where black people had previously been prevented from owning homes. An activist through and through, Bell founded the non-profit organization (SOFA) which stands for Strongly Oriented For Action, and campaigned for the creation of affordable housing in La Jolla. She used an alleyway near her home to help sick people and her humanitarian efforts led to her being acknowledged by her community after her death and naming the street Mabel Bell Lane.
Margaret Wood Bancroft lived a full life before passing away at the age of 93. From silent actress and socialite to naturalist and explorer, Bancroft had a strong work ethic and endless curiosity. In 1935, Bancroft led a small expedition to search for the legendary lost mission of Santa Ysabel in the Sierra de San Pedro Martir, Baja Califonria. She discovered cave symbols that contributed to archaeological study of the migration of ancient Native American tribes. Margaret was one of the original members of the Junior League and served as director of the Red Cross for many years. She was actively involved with the San Diego Natural History Museum, the San Diego Museum of Art, and the San Diego Museum of Man. She leaves behind an enduring legacy in the social and political life of San Diego County and the advancement of natural history and archaeological research in southern California and Baja California.
Following your passion and forging a new career sometimes happens later in life. This was the case for Ethel Bailey Higgins who combined her photography skills and plant studies to launch a long scientific career at the age of 67. She had an interest in botany from her early years living in New England and her studies intensified when she moved to California. Higgins was named curator of botany at the San Diego Natural History Museum in 1933. She is believed to have initiated the first accession records for the plant collections. Known for her energetic and fearless spirit, Higgins worked at the museum well into her 90s. A life-long learner with a keen sense of both humor and curiosity, Higgins' vast contribution to San Diego botanical science is unmatched.
Judge Judith N. Keep was a trailblazer for women in San Diego’s legal field. At a time when few than 5 percent of lawyers were women, Keep graduated valedictorian from the University of San Diego School of Law. She was nominated to become the first female District Court Judge for California’s Southern District, and later she became the District Court’s first female Chief Judge. Known in San Diego as much for her work as a mentor as she was for her work in the courtroom, Keep always made time to give back to her community and pass along her wisdom and experience to the next generation.
We’ve been waiting on details for Disney California Adventure Park’s Avengers Campus for months. The land, which will bring together all the Marvel characters in the universe is slated to open this summer and will finally provide a home to the galaxy’s best and brightest heroes.
On Mar. 6, Red Tricycle was invited to attend a special event at the Disneyland Resort to get a sneak peak at how the newest land is coming along. Representatives met with Disney Imagineers, sampled all the tasty treats, had hands-on interaction with new merchandise and even got to see our fave superheroes in action. Keep reading to get the first inside look at the brand new Avengers Campus!
Land Renderings
Avengers Campus is an all-new land where “Earth’s Mightiest Heroes” will unite and seek new recruits. Perfect for fans of all ages, guests will have the opportunity to not just see a hero, but become one and find the hero within.
This living, breathing campus will embrace three core themes of heroism, optimism and empowerment. If you’re wondering about the name, C.A.M.P.U.S. actually stands for Centralized Assembly Mobilized to Prepare, Unite and Safeguard.
Avengers Campus
The story behind the new campus starts with Tony Stark, who donated the complex which was previously one of his father's former Stark Industries sites. The land stands as a place to train the next generation of heroes, and is packed with authentic details.
To the right of the image above, guests will be able to enjoy an outdoor seating area at Pym Test Kitchen, the on-campus eatery. Park goers will have a prime viewing area to watch for their fave characters at the nearby Avengers Headquarters.
Avengers Headquarters
The center of the land, Avengers Headquarters will be a place for heroes to showcase their talents. Atop the building sits a Quinjet, an iconic aircraft often used by Avengers. There will be daily shows on and around the HQ as well as never-before-seen heroes and villains in the area, like General Okoye and the Dora Milage and the villainous Taskmaster and even Loki. Guests will also catch a peek at Iron Man in his new Disney-exclusive suit, the Mark 80.
Pym Test Kitchen- Exterior
Training superheroes will need to stay hydrated and fueled and they can head to Pym Test Kitchen, a "food innovation science lab." Taking their cue from Ant-Man's Hank Pym, the restaurant also uses Pym Particles to grow and shrink their food. Don't be surprised to receive a giant soft pretzel alongside an oversized chicken sandwich with a teeny, tiny bun.
Pym Test Kitchen- Interior
Pym Test Kitchen will also be home to Pingo Doce, the iconic soda from the Hulk franchise. In collaboration with Coca-Cola, Pym's Test Kitchen will be the only place to grab this "sweet drop" beverage. Get ready to see oversized soda cans hanging from the ceiling, and innovative ways to serve up ketchup and mustard.
Next door, adults will enjoy the Pym Tasting Lab with eight draft beers (four of which will be served via reverse draft) as well as wine and cocktails.
Doctor Strange at The Sanctum
The outdoor Sanctum will be home to Doctor Strange, a collection of overgrown ruins. Kids and adults alike can learn the secrets of the mystic arts as well as find magical artifacts.
The Sanctum at Night
Unlike traditional meet and greets with characters, Doctor Strange will help train guests in the mystic arts with powerful spells. The Sanctum will be a sight to behold come evening, with beautiful lights that pulsate with energy.
Avengers Unite
Any fan of Marvel Comics will note that some of our beloved characters are no longer with us. However, "We know now that there’s a vast multiverse with an infinite number of timelines and dimensions; we live in one where the Super Heroes have assembled from across time and space to meet with us at Avengers Campus."
Heroes will include Iron Man, Spider-Man, Groot and the Guardians of the Galaxy, Black Panther, the Dora Milaje, Ant-Man, the Wasp, Black Widow, Thor, Doctor Strange, Captain America and Captain Marvel.
Attractions
In addition to Guardians of the Galaxy: Mission Breakout, Avengers Campus will bring another attraction to the Marvel Universe. Red Tricycle was among the first to learn about the newly named ride, WEB Slingers: A Spider-Man Adventure.
Worldwide Engineering Brigade-WEB
Avengers Campus prized new address is the Worldwide Engineering Brigade, known as WEB. It's here that young recruits with innovative minds like Peter Parker come to share their knowledge so that everyday people can become heroes. WEB is also the sight for the newest attraction, WEB SLINGERS: A Spider-Man Attraction.
WEB SLINGERS: A Spider-Man Adventure
The students at WEB are bright, but a little eclectic, too. Their newest invention, Spider-Bots are designed as "robotic sidekicks" and can build anything you might need to take on evil. When guests enter the attraction, they will get to watch Peter Parker's demonstration about WEB's robots––but something goes amiss! The Spider-Bots become stuck in a replication loop and begin running all over the new campus.
On Mar. 11 it was announced that Tom Holland will reprise his role as Spider-Man in the new attraction!
WEB SLINGERS: A Spider-Man Adventure Attraction- Internal
Hop on a Web Slinger vehicle wearing 3D classes to help the WEB students capture all the Spider-Bots! This innovative attraction uses specially-designed technology that scans body movements 60 times per second, and simulates webs slinging from guests hands. Just reach out your hands like Spider-Man and use the webs to catch the bots and reveal hidden Easter eggs as the vehicles twist and spin. Throughout the ride, guests will virtually pass through the Campus, and at the end will be able to see how many Spider-Bots they caught. Do your best, and you could just make it on the marquee for the entire campus to see!
This ride has no height requirement, so park goers of any size can ride.
Food & Drink
The Avengers Campus will remain authentic to the Marvel Universe, even down to the robust collection of menu items. Be prepared to feast on inspired cuisine, sit back with a reverse draft beverage and dine at the Avenger’s favorite hangout, the Shawarma Palace Cart.
Red Tricycle had the opportunity to taste test many of the items you’ll see below, and we have to say the Avengers outdid themselves! You will be pleasantly surprised at the kid-friendly appeal, protein and plant-based options and the family-friendly portions.
Experiment No. IP42: Quantum Pretzel
Stop by the Pym Test Kitchen and pick up Experiment No. IP42: Quantum Pretzel, a snack that that has been enlarged by a quantum tunnel. The carby treat is big enough for the whole family and comes with mustard and beer cheese dipping sauce.
Experiment No. EE90: Not So Little Chicken Sandwich
Looking for a full meal? Order the Experiment No. EE90: Not So Little Chicken Sandwich which features fried chicken breast with teriyaki and red chili sauces, pickled cabbage slaw and crispy potato tots.
Experiment No. EE746: PB³ Superb Sandwich
The one of a kind PB³ Superb Sandwich is a feast for the senses. It features peanut butter, banana, smoked bacon and strawberry jelly with a banana smoothie shot and crispy potato tots.
Experiment No. EE10: PYM-ini
Sandwich lovers will enjoy Experiment No. EE10: PYM-ini, a panini on toasted focaccia with salami, rosemary ham, provolone, sun-dried tomato mayonnaise and arugula with marinara dipping sauce. Purchase as an individual serving or as a long, multi-portion sandwich.
Experiment No. EE45: ImpossibleTM Spoonful
Vegans will enjoy sinking their teeth into Experiment No. EE45: ImpossibleTM Spoonful. This pasta dish is made with plant-based Impossible™ large and micro meat-balls, served in a super-sized spoon with a tiny fork.
Snack Molecules
Head to the Pym Tasting Lab, adjacent to the Pym Test Kitchen to enjoy a few Snack Molecules featuring popped sorghum with mini pretzels and honey roasted peanuts.
Pym Tasting Lab Beverages
Get refreshed with a craft beer like theblood orange hefeweizen to an amber lager and more. Enjoy flavors like habanero and mango syrup, vanilla ice cream, lemon juice or cherry flavored pearls with an alcohol base of tequila, stout, gin or hard seltzer.
Featured above from left to right, alcoholic beverages: X-Periment, Molecular Meltdown, Honey Buzz and Particle Fizz.
The Regulator
The Regulator, a beer cocktail, is made with Patron Silver tequila, lime juice, habanero and mango syrup, Golden Road Mango Cart wheat ale and garnished with mango flavored popping pearls.
Proton PB&J Punch & Pingo Doce
Kids will also enjoy options from the Pym Tasting Lab and Pym Test Kitchen. Featured above, the kid-friendly Proton PB&J Punch features Odwalla® lemonade with flavors of strawberry and peanut butter, and Pingo Doce.
Cosmic Cream Orb
Terran Treats is a brand new cart that will be located near Guardians of the Galaxy: Mission Breakout! Created by Taneleer Tivan and his love for collectables, this cart will feature a creative intergalactic menu. Featured above is the Cosmic Cream Orb, a crispy cream puff with whipped raspberry cheesecake mousse.
Sweet Spiral Ration
Terran Treats will also offer the colorful Sweet Spiral Ration Churros with unique flavors. Don't let your eye deceive you––the color may not match the flavor!
Merchandise
Disney has developed over 100 new products, including park exclusives that will outfit your Avenger with everything they need to join the next generation of superhero recruits.
WEB Suppliers & Campus Supply Pod
WEB Suppliers and the Campus Supply Pod will be the destinations Avengers Campus gear and supplies. A short walk from WEB SLINGERS, park goers can expect to find performance-based apparel, robotics and STEM-based activities.
Spider-Bot
Grab your own Spider-Bot as seen in WEB SLINGERS: A Spider-Man Adventure. These buildable Spider-Bots can battle each other, have eight legs, light and sound effects, 360 degree remove functionality, and will help your little hero on the journey to saving the universe.
Spider-Bot Tactical Upgrades and Spider-Man Backpack
Heroes can use several tactical upgrades inspired by faves Black Panther, Iron Man, Black Widow, Ant-Man and The Wasp. Each upgrade not only looks different but brings a whole new set of battle options.
Carry your Spider-Bot in style with the Spider-Man backpack which offers the perfect spot to load your sidekick.
Spider-Man Light Goggles and Web Shooters
Sure to be a big seller, Spider-Man light goggles and Web Shooters will be sold at WEB Suppliers. The light-up goggles feature 17 expressions, while the Web-Shooters are worn as cuffs and will have authentic lights and sounds.
Disneyland Exclusive Funko Pop! Vinyl Figurines
The hype continues with Disneyland Resort-exclusive Funko Pop! vinyl figurines. Guest will be able to initially shop the Spider-Man with Spider-Bots and Iron Man, with the potential for more to be added in the future.
S.T.E.M. Compound Kits
WEB Recruits will be excited to get their hands on S.T.E.M. Compound Kits from WEB Suppliers. Little learners can create webs or Gamma Glow Goo, and learn about the science behind their fave heroes like the Incredible Hulk and Spider-Man.
WEB Youth Apparel and Spider-Man Costume
Lots of apparel items await at WEB Suppliers. Amongst the everyday wear, superheroes can also snatch the park exclusive Spider-Man costume. featured above.
Are you excited yet? Avengers Campus at the Disneyland Resort, inside Disney California Adventure Park opens July 18, 2020!
Your favorite snack cracker is about to get a whole lot more fun! Pepperidge Farm Goldfish are coming out in brand new shapes this June––and you won’t want to miss this special edition batch.
For the first time ever, Goldfish is teaming up with Marvel to feature Avengers characters! Fans of the comic book world will be able to shop special edition cheddar shapes that include Iron Man, Black Widow, Black Panther, and the Avengers symbol.
Goldfish crackers are also collaborating with Disney Princess again, offering new packaging and special shapes. Expect to find Jasmine, Moana, and Cinderella hidden in your handful of delicious goldfishes.
You can find these special edition crackers exclusively at Target starting the first week of June for $2.49 per pack.
Movie theaters are closed for the foreseeable future. Last month, The Walt Disney Studios announced several titles would be delayed due to the global health crisis. Since there is no clear date for when social distancing rules will be lifted, Disney has updated their movie release schedule.
Today The Walt Disney Studios announced updates to its upcoming release schedule. Disney’s Mulan is now slated to open on Jul. 24, 2020, with Disney’s Jungle Cruise moving to Jul. 30, 2021; while Marvel Studios’ Black Widow will arrive in theaters on Nov. 6, 2020, with The Eternals moving to Feb. 12, 2021.
Pixar’s Soul, featuring the voices of Jamie Foxx and Tina Fey, has been pushed from its planned Jun. 19 premiere in theaters to a spot later this year on Nov. 20.
Due to the changes with Pixar’s Soul, Raya and the Last Dragon, featuring the voices of Awkwafina and Cassie Steele, has been delayed as well. The premiere date has been changed from this Nov. 25 to Mar. 12, 2021.
The Walt Disney Studios also announced today that it will debut its new live-action feature film Artemis Fowl exclusively on Disney+. The release date will be announced soon.
The celebration of Dr. Seuss’ birthday on March 2nd kicks off National Reading Month! At Stratford School, we love to read. And we love to share our passion for reading with our students. Not only does reading enhance a child’s imagination, but it also expands their vocabulary, grammar, and writing skills but most importantly, it develops a love of literature. A wonderful way to encourage your child to read for fun is to have conversations about the books they read. Children love talking about their favorite part of the story, or connecting the story to their own lives, or comparing stories to others they have read. We hope you’ll enjoy reading along and sharing the fun with your children as they get to know the characters in these books.
Preschool +
I Ain’t Gonna Paint No More by Karen Beaumont, Illustrated by David Catrow
A dab of blue here, a splash of red there, a goopy smear of green… everywhere. To the tune of “It Ain’t Gonna Rain No More,” one creative kid floods his world with color, painting first the walls, then the ceiling, then HIMSELF! Before this feisty artist is through, he’ll have painted his head, back, hands, legs, feet, and… Oh no—here comes Mama! Karen Beaumont’s zippy text and David Catrow’s zany illustrations turn an infamous childhood activity into raucous storytime fun, giving a silly twist to the fine art of self-expression.
Alphabet Trucks by Samantha Vamos, Illustrated by Ryan O’Rourke
Everyone’s heard of a tow truck. And a pickup truck. An ice-cream truck? Of course! But what about a quint truck? A lowboy truck? A knuckle-boom truck? Readers will learn about these kinds of trucks and many more while learning the alphabet in Alphabet Trucks. Each letter of the alphabet is accounted for in this introductory concept book for young readers. Filled with playful and light-hearted illustrations, this story is perfect for the truck lover.
Elementary
I Am Picasso—ASPCA Rescue Readers by Lori C Froeb, Illustrated by Debra Melman
This book is part of a series of leveled readers that were inspired by actual ASPCA animal rescues and adoptions. Read about the everyday details of family life through the curious eyes and mind of a pet. This story is told with exuberance and humor from the pet’s point of view with appropriately leveled vocabulary. Woven into the story is the importance of care, protection, and love of animals. There are other fun books in the series about guinea pigs, cats, and other dogs.
Dr. Seuss’s Horse Museum by Dr. Seuss, Illustrated by Andrew Joyner
This amazing and lively introduction to art, art history, and museums is a delight. By focusing on horses, kids will see how different interpretations can be, depending on the style and technique of the artist. Dr. Seuss’s Horse Museum captures the zany spirit of Dr. Seuss’ books and the cartoon style of his characters, but illustrator Andrew Joyner doesn’t try to replicate Seuss’ drawing style—except when a beloved Seuss character steps into a scene, like the Cat in the Hat, Horton the elephant, or a fish popping out of a teapot. Kids will have fun spotting those beloved characters. There are 35 photographs of actual art, from cave paintings that are 22,000 years old to familiar artists such as Picasso and Manet, as well as contemporary sculptures. The book includes a bit of info about each artist as well as notes from the publisher about Ted Geisel and the unique creation of this book, which began with a manuscript from the 1950s found by his widow.
The Bad Beginning: A Series of Unfortunate Events Book One (series) by Lemony Snicket
Violet, Klaus, and Sunny Baudelaire are intelligent children. They are charming, resourceful, and have pleasant facial features. Unfortunately, they are exceptionally unlucky. In the first two books alone, the three youngsters encounter a greedy and repulsive villain, itchy clothing, a disastrous fire, a plot to steal their fortune, a lumpy bed, a deadly serpent, a large brass reading lamp, a long knife, and a terrible odor. In the tradition of great storytellers, comes an exquisitely dark comedy that is both literary and irreverent, hilarious and deftly crafted. Never before has a tale of three likable and unfortunate children been quite so enchanting, or quite so uproariously unhappy. Once your children have read the books, watch the series on Netflix together.
Middle School
Other Words for Home by Jasmine Warga Other Words for Home is a gorgeously written, hopeful middle-grade novel in verse about a young girl who must leave Syria to move to the United States. Jude never thought she’d be leaving her beloved older brother and father behind, all the way across the ocean in Syria. But when things in her hometown start becoming volatile, Jude and her mother are sent to live in Cincinnati with relatives. The American movies that Jude has always loved haven’t quite prepared her for starting school in the US—and her new label of “Middle Eastern,” an identity she’s never known before. But this life also brings unexpected surprises—there are new friends, a whole new family, and a school musical that Jude might just try out for. This lyrical, life-affirming story is about losing and finding home and, most importantly, finding yourself.
The Crossover – Graphic Novel by Kwame Alexander, Illustrated by Dawud Anyabwile
Author Kwame Alexander has teamed up with Dawud Anyabwile to create the graphic novel version of the Newberry Award-winning book by the same title. The original text is combined with action-packed graphics and the short lyrical style reads like a rap song, drawing the reader in. Twins Josh and JR Bell are seventh graders who have inherited their Euroleague champion father’s basketball skills. A distraction for the brothers is their father’s health. The former basketball star suffers from hypertension and recently chest pains that usually accompany heart disease. Fearful of hospitals and doctors since his own father’s death, ignoring his symptoms may be leading to serious consequences.
Keira Pride is the Head Librarian at Stratford School, the leading independent private school founded with a vision of creating a unique, multi-dimensional, educational foundation for children. As Stratford's Head Librarian, she manages the library services department across campuses throughout Northern and Southern California.
We always hear interesting responses when we talk about why news is a fascinating way for kids to discover the world. Reactions range between “Isn’t the world scary enough already?” to “Do kids even care?” to our favorite, which is, “That’s so true. What can we do about it?”
News isn’t always “scary” or “bad.” News is also about fantastic events, accomplishments, and the evolution of our world. And we are so excited for 2020 to kick into gear because we believe this will be the most interesting year to connect kids with the news. Here are five good reasons:
The Olympics: How many Summer Olympics do you get to watch with your kids, while they are still kids? Only about four, which makes them a pretty special event. Nothing matches the excitement of watching hairline finishes, near-perfect performances, and national pride in the biggest sporting event in the world. With more than 200 countries competing, the Summer Olympics starts in July and is sure to thrill sports fans the world over!
The 2020 highlight: Five new sports including skateboarding, sports climbing, surfing, baseball, and karate added to the mix this year. Other sports, for the first time, will have women’s events and mixed events as well! These include rowing, shooting, canoeing, and boxing. This year, it will be interesting to discuss why there are new rules about how athletes can protest—hot tip: taking a knee or raising your fist are now allowed!
Climate Change: It seems like not a week goes by without the topic of climate change coming up in the news. If anything demonstrated the power of youth activism this past year, it was the Climate March and the influence of Greta Thunberg. Last year, we heard from youth across the nation who participated in the march, and this year we’ll be talking about this event for the third year in a row, which has inspired kids everywhere to sit up, listen, and ask questions.
What’s happening in 2020? From the United Nations to Davos, activists continue to push for real action. If 2019 was the year companies announced steps like eliminating straws in coffeehouses or tiny bottles of shampoos in hotels, will 2020 be the year that governments step it up around the globe? 2020 began by witnessing the impact of the fires had in Australia, but will this be the year countries decide to tackle climate change with broader, stricter policies?
Elections: Interestingly, we started Xyza because we were inspired by the 2016 elections and all of the conversations we heard among students, teachers, and parents. In 2020, presidential elections will take place in the United States as well as in other countries around the world. Elections are a great time to talk about candidates, leadership, voting, and how people decide on candidates.
2020 highlights: The United States Presidential elections will continue to be a hot topic as we enter the year talking about impeachment, two powerful women candidates, Elizabeth Warren and Amy Klobucher and the first openly gay presidential candidate, Pete Buttigieg. We expect quite a few family dinner table conversations to turn towards politics and elections this year!
Space, Space, Space: Talk about out-of-this-world experiences! The world has a stupendous year of space exploration planned and we cannot wait. For every kid interested in space, science, astronauts, rockets, and everything in between, 2019 was an interesting year of the first all-female spacewalk, moon landing attempts, and the adventures of the Mars Rover Opportunity. But 2020 is expected to be bigger and better.
2020 highlights: ExoMars, or the alignment of Mars and Earth, makes it a spectacular year for Mars exploration, for one. In fact, more than four missions to Mars is expected to happen in 2020 alone! Could this be the year NASA launches astronauts in space with companies like SpaceX and Boeing? We hope so. Additionally, thousands of satellites will be launched in 2020 by different organizations, which brings up an interesting question for the family dinner table: How crowded can space get? (In fact, it’s already getting rather crowded!
Women in Hollywood: Did you know that the most anticipated blockbusters of 2020 are based on female leads, and…wait for it…they’re also directed by women? As a parent, you’ve probably had (or will have) at least one conversation explaining “boy” and “girl” stereotypes to your kids, or about why women are still fighting for rights to equal opportunities and pay.
2020 highlights: 2020 will likely be a year of women’s achievements in Hollywood (what kid doesn’t love a good movie?). Movies like Wonder Woman 1984, Black Widow, The Eternals, Mulan and Birds of Prey will be out this year, all directed by women!
We will be tracking the news for kids, inviting our Junior Reporters to share their thoughts, and connecting kids with the world through news in 2020. What other events in 2020 do you think we should cover?
We're two perfectly imperfect moms who have five very different kids between the two of us. We believe that topics in news are a fantastic way to spark conversations in families. That's why we started the Dinner Table Conversation series here at Xyza: News for Kids. Won't you join us in the conversation?
When Tom Hanks was picked to play the iconic Mister Rogers in the upcoming film A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood, it was met with approval from fans of both stars. And while the resemblance and ease with which Hanks stepped into the roll seemed uncanny, now it seems it was more than that––it was fate.
Through the work of Ancestry, a genealogy service, it was discovered that Fred Rogers and Tom Hanks are actually sixth cousins! At the New York City screening of the new film, Access Hollywood shared the news with a stunned Hanks and wife, Rita Wilson.
When shown the family tree pulled together by Ancestry, Wilson and Hanks immediately recognized relatives from the Hanks lineage, solidifying that Access Hollywood definitely wasn’t pulling anyone’s leg. Hank’s response? “It all just comes together, you see.”
For family tree enthusiasts, Rogers and Hanks share a five-times great-grandfather. The duo descended from two brothers who both fought for the Revolutionary War.
So what would Fred have to say about all of this? “That is just wonderful. Now, that is amazing and Fred would have loved it. He loved family tree stuff,” says Rogers widow, Joanne Rogers.
Don’t forget to catch a showing of A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood when it arrives in theaters on Nov. 22.
Two Pittsburgh area hospitals celebrated World Kindness Day in a beautiful way—a beautiful day in the neighborhood way, that is!
In a sweet tribute to beloved children’s television icon Fred Rogers, UPMC Magee Women’s Hospital dressed newborns in the classic red sweater-sneaker combo. Not only did the hospital outfit the completely cute kiddos in Mister Rogers-esque gear, but Rogers’ widow Joanne came to visit.
UPMC Magee wasn’t the only hospital in the area to honor Mister Rogers on this special day. Allegheny Health Network’s West Penn Hospital also dressed its newborns in cardigans. A spokesperson for the Allegheny Health Network, Stephanie Waite, told CNN, “In Pittsburgh, we are also celebrating Cardigan Day, in honor of Pittsburgher Fred Rogers, who modeled kindness and compassion to children.”
Fans at Comic Con were treated to a first look at all the new Marvel movies and shows coming in the next two years and there is plenty to be excited about. Perhaps the most thrilling news by far was the reveal of Natalie Portman as the new female Thor.
The newly announced Phase 4 slate of Marvel films will feature Portman starring as the first female goddess Thor in Thor: Love and Thunder. The new spin on the Marvel character, previously played by Chris Hemsworth, will debut in theaters Nov. 5, 2021. The new film will also feature Tessa Thompson as Valkyrie, the Marvel Universe’s first openly LGBTQ character.
In addition to the Thor news, Disney revealed a full slate of new Marvel projects set to be released in theaters and on the new Disney+ streaming platform, which debuts this fall. The new projects include a highly demanded Black Widow film starring Scarlett Johansson set to hit theaters May 1, 2020.
Other announced projects include Blade starring Academy Award winner Mahershala Ali, taking on the character previously played by Wesley Snipes. Keep an eye out for Falcon and the Winter Soldier (Fall 2020), The Eternals (Nov. 6, 2020), Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings (Feb. 12, 2021), WandaVision (Spring 2021), Doctor Strange and the Multiverse of Madness (May 7, 2021), Loki (Spring 2021), What If? (Summer 2021) and Hawkeye (Fall 2021). Several of the projects, like Falcon and the Winter Soldier, Loki, WandaVision, Hawkeye and the animated What If? will be released as episodic series exclusively on Disney+.
