Movie Review: Brave

Hi Readers,

Have you heard of the new movie Brave? It opens in theatres today, and our Chirp Editor, Katherine, got a special sneak peek last weekend. Here’s what she had to say about the film:

Hi chickaDEE Readers!

I had a chance to see the movie Brave, which stars Merida (say: MAIR-i-duh), a courageous and outspoken young girl growing up in Scotland hundreds of years ago. As the daughter of a king, Merida was expected to behave like a proper young lady. But she preferred to spend her time thundering through the forest on horseback, firing arrows with perfect aim.

Soon Merida learns of her mother’’s plans to marry her off. Four clans, or family groups, rule Scotland together, and the other three are coming so Merida can choose one of their sons to marry. But Merida has a plan of her own, one that involves a cake and a witch’s dark spell to change her mother’’s mind.

The movie is lovely to look at, taking place in ancient Scotland’s shadowy forests, misty lakes and rocky cliffs. It’’s a land of magic and danger, where scary things can happen. But it’s also a place where family matters most, and with the help of her three mischievous, cake-swiping brothers, Merida learns a lot about herself and comes to see her mother in a new way.

Did I mention the movie was funny, too? Keep an eye on Merida’s triplet brothers. The “wee devils” are always up to something. If you like adventure stories, you’’ll enjoy Brave.

Katherine,

Chirp Editor

Summer and Strawberries

Hi Readers,

Happy first day of summer! To start off the summer season, I went strawberry picking with my family this weekend. Let me tell you–it was a lot of fun!

Here’s a short list of things I didn’t know about strawberry picking:

1. Picking strawberries is hard work.
2. You can tell if a strawberry is ripe if the bottom is red.
3. Strawberries with green tips need a little more maturing before being picked.
4. To pick a strawberry, you gently tug at the end of the stem.
5. Strawberries have prickly thorns so you have to be extra careful when you’re picking.
6. They taste absolutely delicious!

Have you ever picked strawberries or any other fruit or vegetable with your family? Write to me at chickadeeblog@owlkids.com. I can’t wait to hear your stories!

Happy Summer!

Natalia

chickaDEE Editor

Reader Art of The Week

Hey readers!

I think you’ll really jump for this Reader Art of the Week submission!

It’s chickaDEE reader Rya Weber, 8, having a good time on the trampoline with Chick, Dee and Shelldon! How fun would it be to bounce around with those three?

Thanks to Rya for sharing this great drawing with us!

Do you have a trampoline? Is there another kind of equipment that you like to use during the summer? Leave a comment below!

Have a great weekend!

Melissa

Assistant Editor of chickaDEE

Movie Review: Madagascar 3: Europe’s Most Wanted

Hi readers!

This week, our Owlkids editorial assistant, Ashley, had the chance to see the new movie Madagascar 3: Europe’’s Most Wanted.

Have a look below to see what she thought!

Hi readers,

Everyone’’s favourite zoo escapees are back for more adventures in Madagascar 3: Europe’’s Most Wanted. I was lucky enough to see it earlier this week and wanted to share with you what I thought of this awesome animated adventure.

When we last saw Alex the Lion, Marty the Zebra, Gloria the Hippo, and Melman the Giraffe they were left in Africa by the Penguins who promised to return for them (but they never did!). Instead of waiting, the friends have to find their own way back to New York. Through their travels, they make their way to Europe and meet some animals that need a helping hand.

Here are some things I noticed about the movie:

1) The 3D effects are awesome. Animated movies make the best 3D movies. You really feel like you are flying and flipping through the air. Who knew Lions make great acrobats?

2)The tunes are catchy. If you’ve seen the commercial for this movie, then you’re probably singing Marty’’s Afro Circus song along with me. By the end of the movie, kids were dancing in the aisles!

3) There are some sad parts. Friends were sometimes hard to find for the animals in this movie.

Overall, I had a great time watching this movie and would really like to see where Alex, Marty, Gloria, and Melman go next. If you are a fan of the first two Madagascar movies, then you will definitely love this movie.

See you later!

Meet the New chickaDEE Editor!

Hello blog readers! Big chickaDEE news.I will be taking a break from chickaDEE for a year to have a baby. I will miss you all a lot, but while I am away, Natalia Diaz will be taking good care of chickaDEE and the blog.

To help you get to know her, I sat down and asked her a few important questions. Here we go!

Q: Hi, Natalia! Tell us about yourself!
Hi, Mandy! I was born in Argentina and moved to Canada when I was 10. It was the first time I ever saw snow and it was an amazing experience! I love playing soccer, canoeing, and reading chickaDEE, of course. I have two cats and a goldfish. I also love music, art, and comics. And laughing.

Q: What is your favourite thing to do in your spare time?
In my spare time, I usually hang out with my family. We love the outdoors so we do everything from hiking to biking to swimming. When it’s raining outside, you can usually find me curled up with a good book or watching one of my favourite TV shows. Since we moved out of the city, we see a lot of wildlife, so bird watching and searching for deer, snakes, and frogs are also favourite pastimes.

Q: What are you most looking forward to working on chickaDEE?
What I am most looking forward to doing at chickaDEE is getting to know YOU, the readers. I can’t wait to get letters from you, contest entries, crafts, and any other ideas you might have for the magazine. YOU inspire me and I hope to inspire you. My motto is dream big and have fun!

Q: And most importantly, which superhero ability would you rather have? Would you rather fly or be able to turn invisible?
If I could only choose one, it would have to be flying. I am terrified of heights but I think I could overcome my fear if I could actually fly. Imagine all the places I could go to and all the people I could help being able to fly. Plus, I’d get to wear a super-cool outfit while gliding through the sky. And a cape. Who doesn’t love capes?

There you go chickaDEE readers! I hope you have a lot of fun with Natalia. I can’t wait to be back with you next year!

‘Til then,

– Mandy