Synopsis: Voldemort has returned to the scene with plans to kill Harry Potter as soon as the Quidditch World Cup ends. Quidditch World Cup is the major excitement in the wizarding world that summer. The Weasleys invite Harry and Hermione to go with them and the Dursleys allow it. The game was very exciting and Harry saw one of the greatest seekers of all time (Viktor Krum). However, after the game, one of the Death Eaters (name for Lord Voldemort's followers) used Harry's wand to illuminate the Dark Mark in the sky. This terrified all the people and they quickly disbursed. In a few days, it's back to school and what an exciting year it's going to be! The Triwizard Tournament will be held at Hogwarts this year, for the first time in 100 years. The tournament pits three of the wizarding schools in Europe in a competition so intense, only those 17 and older may compete. Anyone who is old enough may enter by dropping his or her name into the Goblet of Fire, but only one champion from each school may compete. The goblet selects who that will be. Although he's younger than 17, someone entered Harry's name in the competition and the goblet selected Harry, in addition to Cedric Diggory, to compete for Hogwarts. Fleur Delacour is the champion from Beauxbatons and Victor Krum is the champion from Durmstrang. Mad-Eye Moody is the new Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher. He is very unusual looking, with a magical eye that can roll around and see in any direction and through objects. The students are fascinated by him because he used to be an Auror, someone who fights against the Death Eaters. He teaches them very useful spells in class. The Triwizard Tournament gets underway and the first challenge the champions face is to get around a dragon and collect the golden egg. They all pass. Christmas approaches and, in celebration of the tournament, a Yule Ball is held. Harry is very nervous about finding a date for the ball (required of the champions). He asks Cho Chang, but she is going with Cedric. He can't ask Hermione because she is going with Viktor! Harry ends up going with his friend, Parvati Patil. Since Harry won't dance, they don't have a very good time and he soon hangs out with Ron instead. The second challenge is quite a bit more difficult. Someone very precious to each champion is taken from them and put in the bottom of the lake. They have to swim underwater and rescue that person within an hour. Harry's precious someone is Ron, Cedric's is Cho, Fleur's is her little sister, and Viktor's is Hermione. The four of them are chained together and guarded by merpeople. Harry gets there first, followed by Cho and Viktor. It takes Viktor so long to get there that Harry gets frightened and tries to save Hermione himself. Fleur never gets there, so Harry saves her little sister and Ron, taking both of them to the surface. The end of the school year arrives and with it is the third, and final, challenge. The Quidditch field has been turned into a huge maze. Each champion has to have a variety of spells at their disposal, not knowing what obstacle they might come up against. In the middle of the maze is the Triwizard Cup. The first person to reach it wins the task. However, a dark spell had been cast on the cup and something terrible happens to the first person to reach it. Who will reach it first and what happens to that person? Lord Voldemort knows and when you finish the book, you will too!

Messages: Have courage to face the obstacles life throws at you. Show compassion towards others. People deserve second chances when they show true remorse for their previous actions.

Guide's Opinion: When I read the book a few years ago, I didn't like it. Upon reading it a second time, I liked it better. I think it is perhaps because I didn't know what to expect the first time. It was quite a bit darker and more violent than the previous three books in this series. A student actually dies. Lord Voldemort returns and calls his people into action. As J.K. Rowling said in an interview about the book, it really is the pivotal book in the series; it is the halfway point and Harry is becoming much more of an adult and less child-like. Therefore, the situations he encounters are more adult. I guess I wasn't ready for Harry to grow up. Like all of Rowling's books, it has some wonderful quotes spoken by the wise Professor Dumbledore. For example, "Curiosity is not a sin, but we should exercise caution with our curiosity" and "Understanding is the first step to acceptance, and only with acceptance can there be recovery." He also says, "It matters not what someone is born, but what they grow to be" and "Remember, if the time should come when you have to make a choice between what is right and what is easy, remember what happened to a boy who was good, and kind, and brave." I feel strongly that 11 is the youngest a child should be to read this book. It really is a step up in maturity level than book three. Consider that Hollywood gave the movie PG-13. If even Hollywood doesn't think it is appropriate for younger children....

Suggested Ages: 11 and Up

Character Traits		Absence of Influence
Self-Discipline:		Violence:
Compassion:		Language:
Responsibility:		Nudity:
Friendship:		Sexual:
Work:		Drugs/Alcohol:
Courage:		Scary:
Perseverance:		Bad Behavior:
Honesty:
Loyalty:
Faith:

Dreamer: Inspired by a True Story

Synopsis: The Crane family was once at the top of the racehorse game, training winners on their sprawling ranch in Kentucky. Due to a series of circumstances, owner Ben Crane is now reduced to training horses for wealthy owners who care only about making money and little about the well-being of the animals. When Sonador, a prize filly trained by Ben, is injured in a race, Ben and daughter Cale take her home and nurse her back to health. They hope to one day breed her and sell the foal to save their ranch, which is in foreclosure. With the help of Cale's grandfather, Pop Crane, also a great horse trainer and long estranged from his son, the horse becomes stronger and stronger. When they discover she's unable to breed, they groom her to once again race among the top contenders in horseracing.

Messages: Hold on to your dreams. Spending time with your family is of utmost importance. Money isn't everything. Don't hold lifelong grudges.

Guide's Opinion: This is a terrific family movie. Even if the plot seems familiar, the story is good enough to hold your attention. Dakota Fanning is not only adorable, but she's a talented actress as well. Kris Kristofferson does a nice job as the wise old grandpa who's willing to forgive and forget and join his family in a new venture. There's barely a swear word in the entire movie, making it acceptable for the youngest family members. Children who love animals will especially enjoy this movie.

Suggested Ages: 7 to 13; Adults will also enjoy. (Rated PG)

Character Traits		Absence of Influence
Self-Discipline:		Violence:
Compassion:		Language:
Responsibility:		Nudity:
Friendship:		Sexual:
Work:		Drugs/Alcohol:
Courage:		Scary:
Perseverance:		Bad Behavior:
Honesty:
Loyalty:
Faith:

Meet the Guides

A Nose for Adventure

Jillian Gregory embraces kid's literature

Like Gabrielle, her 13-year-old Bichon Frise, Jillian Gregory has a nose for adventure. In fact, it was while she was walking Gabrielle that Gregory found the inspiration for writing her first children's book, Dobbs Dog Detective: Operation Fido and Fifi. "Gabrielle was sniffing around, and I started imagining that she was a secret operative, sniffing for clues." From that point, Gregory's imagination blossomed, devising the Feline Canine Federation, the four-pawed version of the FBI, along with Dobbs and his feline partner, Petunia. In the book, "dogs and cats have been disappearing, and Dobbs and Petunia have to find out why this is happening," explains Gregory. "They go on action adventures with high-tech gadgets," in an attempt to solve the case.

Gregory's love of mysteries and fast-paced adventure stories dates back to her childhood, and she credits her sixth grade teacher with inspiring her to write. "I had to write in a journal every day, and I really enjoyed it and always looked forward to it," Gregory says.

Gregory is among that rare group of people whose talents encompass both the world of creativity and the world of logic. Following in the footsteps of her two older brothers, Gregory pursued an engineering education, earning her degree in Industrial and Operations Engineering from the University of Michigan. "I was always good in math and science," says the 28-year-old, "and the Internet was taking off when I was in college." Gregory embraced information technology and, after college, used her knowledge to take a job in New York City at an investment banking firm. "I applied my degree through a computer perspective, and did software training and testing."

Then came the tragedies of 9/11, and Gregory found herself not far from Ground Zero. "They shut the city off at 23rd Street, and I lived on 24th. I used to see the towers from my apartment window," she recalls. Afterwards, she says, "I had to leave." Gregory moved to Charleston, S.C., where her parents had relocated from Michigan. Since then, she's received her M.A. and teaches algebra at a local community college.

When she's not teaching, Gregory continues to doggedly pursue her writing career. Calling Gabrielle "my writing companion," Gregory has written a sequel to Dobbs Dog Detective that takes place during the Winter Olympics. With Gabrielle sleeping at her feet, she has also written two other children's books that feature kids as the main characters.

With these three books ready to go, Gregory is searching for a larger publisher. While that's often a daunting process, she recently received a call of encouragement from Wendelin Van Draanen, author of the Sammy Keyes series of middle school mysteries. "She told me to keep trying, and said that she got rejected for ten years before being accepted by Knopf."

Luckily, perseverance is one of Gregory's strong suits. Raised in Traverse City, Mich., Gregory took piano lessons for eight years, and still plays for enjoyment. Her childhood tap, ballet, and jazz dance lessons served as the impetus for taking more tap lessons when she found herself living next door to a dance studio in New York City. While growing up, Gregory's love of sports led her to compete in the slalom and giant slalom in high school. She was on the varsity tennis team in high school, and today plays both singles and doubles in a weekly league for what she calls "competition and fun." At five feet, ten inches tall, she says, "My serve is my weapon of choice, though I'm also good at playing the net."

In truth, Gregory has a multitude of weapons, the most effective of which is her determination. While she sniffs out publishing opportunities, Gregory - with Gabrielle at her feet - will continue to follow her nose for adventure.

Read a Book or Watch a Movie?

How about both?

Reading a book from which a movie is made is almost always a richer experience than simply watching the movie. The experience of savoring the words on the page and allowing yourself to be taken on a journey inspired by the author is sublime. As the author paints a picture with words, your imagination fills in the blanks until the voices of the characters and the images of the settings resonate in your mind.

After reading and thoroughly enjoying a well-written book, watching the movie adaptation can be a jarring experience. The voices and images from your imagination are replaced by those created by the actors, the director, and the cinematographer. It's not that the experience of watching a movie adaptation is necessarily bad - it's simply different. It also presents a wonderful opportunity to demonstrate to your children the difference between words on a page and images on a screen - and to have a great family experience in the process.

Between now and the end of the year, there are two opportunities to read a great book and then to see the movie adaptation. The movie, Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire (PG-13), will be released in theaters on November 18, while the movie, The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe (not yet rated) is set for release on December 9.

As a family, take the opportunity to read Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire before watching the movie. Discuss which scenes you think will make it into the movie and which they may have to cut. Have family members choose favorite characters, and act out some scenes from the book. These types of activities build excitement and set the stage for seeing the movie together as a family. If you want to go all out, dress in costume to see the movie. Afterwards, discuss how the movie differed from the book, and, more importantly, how it differed from the scenes created in family members' imaginations.

You can follow the same process by reading The Chronicles of Narnia prior to seeing the movie. Younger children may enjoy hearing the classic tale of Chicken Little prior to seeing the Disney movie, which will be released on November 4. Discuss the moral of the story, and, after watching the movie, talk about how the storyline in the movie demonstrated the principles of the classic.

Wallace and Gromit: The Curse of the Were-Rabbit

Synopsis: Wallace and his beloved dog, Gromit, own and operate "Anti-Pesto." Anti-Pesto is a humane pest control service. They don't kill rodents and pests, but catch them and care for them instead. Wallace is an avid inventor and his entire house is filled with gadgets, such as a machine that picks him up out of bed in the morning and dresses him. Wallace and Gromit help Lady Tottington catch a large group of rabbits that have overrun her gardens. While Wallace believes in humane pest control, he has gathered quite a considerable number of rabbits in his house. Therefore, he tries to brainwash the rabbits with his mind manipulator into thinking that carrots are disgusting. The experiment goes haywire and a giant were-rabbit is on the loose. This were-rabbit storms the town and threatens the annual giant vegetable growing contest. Can Wallace and Gromit stop this madness in time to save the vegetable competition?

Messages: Treat animals with kindness. Things are not always as they seem.

Guide's Opinion: I had a wonderful time watching this movie. The Claymation was realistic and of exceptional quality. The story was interesting, active, and funny. Several of the kids in the theater audience were laughing out loud. I would recommend it to anyone of any age.

Suggested Ages: 1 and Up; adults will also enjoy this movie. (Rated G)

Character Traits		Absence of Influence
Self-Discipline:		Violence:
Compassion:		Language:
Responsibility:		Nudity:
Friendship:		Sexual:
Work:		Drugs/Alcohol:
Courage:		Scary:
Perseverance:		Bad Behavior:
Honesty:
Loyalty:
Faith:

The Greatest Game Ever Played

Synopsis: Two true stories collide for The Greatest Game Ever Played. Harry Vardon grew up dirt poor in England in the late 1800s. His family's land was taken by rich gentlemen who were building a golf course. Those "gentlemen" told him he would never be in the likes of their social circle and, therefore, he couldn't play the game. He set out to prove them wrong and won several British titles. Meanwhile, Francis Ouimet, an American, also grew up poor and had a fascination/obsession with golf. As a boy, his mother took him to see Harry Vardon. Francis actually made it on stage and Harry gave him a pointer to help his game. Time went by and Francis became a fabulous amateur player, but his hardworking father strongly disapproved. His father felt that Francis needed to get a real job and help support his family. For a while, Francis kept his word to his father, but then, because the U.S. Open was being played in his hometown, Francis had the chance to play as an amateur. He played the game of his life and wound up in the championship playoff against Vardon. Will he rise to the challenge and beat Vardon or will Vardon show experience is key and bring the trophy back with him to England?

Messages: If God gives you a gift, use it. Live your life, and don't let others keep you from pursuing your dream. Your parents' approval means a great deal. Believe in yourself and do your best every day.

Guide's Opinion: I loved this movie. I took my children and we were literally on the edge of our seats. There was so little to object to and so much to teach by watching it with my kids. The audience clapped when it was over. Go see it!

Suggested Ages: 10 and Up; Adults will also enjoy. (Rated PG)

Character Traits		Absence of Influence
Self-Discipline:		Violence:
Compassion:		Language:
Responsibility:		Nudity:
Friendship:		Sexual:
Work:		Drugs/Alcohol:
Courage:		Scary:
Perseverance:		Bad Behavior:
Honesty:
Loyalty:
Faith:

The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe

By C.S. Lewis

Synopsis: The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe is the second book in the Chronicles of Narnia series, which is a series of fantasy books written for children by the famous Oxford professor and theologian, C. S. Lewis. This book can be read as part of the series, but it also stands on its own. Four young siblings are sent to live with an older professor in a large house in the country during World War II. Lucy is the youngest, followed by Edmund, Susan, and Peter. The children, feeling more than a little lost and lonely, look for ways to fill their days. They begin to explore the house, and one day, in an attempt to avoid tourists, they find places to hide. Lucy finds herself hiding in a large wardrobe with four fur coats hanging there. She moves toward the back of the wardrobe, only to find there is no back to the wardrobe. Instead, she finds herself in an enchanted land where she meets a fawn that invites her to tea. From there, the story is off and running. Throughout the book, the children deal with issues of honesty, loyalty, and trust.

Messages: Love does conquer all. Sacrifices made in love can transform people. It is important to trust people you care for, particularly if they have proven themselves to be trustworthy. This story can also be seen as an allegory of the story of Christ, in that Aslan the Lion sacrifices himself to save the creatures of the Land of Narnia. He remains dead for three days, and then comes back to life, and all of Narnia celebrates its newfound freedom.

Guide's Opinion: I have read this book aloud to several groups of fifth and sixth graders, and the book keeps them spellbound. They love the fantasy. The book also has important messages about siblings and their love for each other.

Suggested Ages: 7 to 13

Character Traits		Absence of Influence
Self-Discipline:		Violence:
Compassion:		Language:
Responsibility:		Nudity:
Friendship:		Sexual:
Work:		Drugs/Alcohol:
Courage:		Scary:
Perseverance:		Bad Behavior:
Honesty:
Loyalty:
Faith: