Synopsis: Set in what seems to be Victorian England, Tim Burton's flick is an adaptation of a Russian fairytale about a young man, the son of the local fishmonger, who is betrothed to the daughter of a once-wealthy family now facing life in the poorhouse. Both families arrange the marriage for their own supposed monetary gain. The young couple meets for the first time before the wedding rehearsal and develop a fondness for one another. When Victor fails to memorize his wedding vows to the satisfaction of the presiding minister, the minister sends him off to practice. As Victor rehearses his lines out in the woods, he places the ring on what appears to be an old branch but is actually the bony finger of the Corpse Bride, a young woman who was murdered by her evil husband on her wedding night. She believes the marriage to be valid and, in short, proceeds to introduce Victor to the Land of the Dead. All the while, even though he's fond of the sweet Corpse Bride named Emily, Victor is trying to devise ways to get back to his intended, Victoria.

Messages: You're not defined by whom you marry. Greed never pays. Life is precious. Love is precious.

Guide's Opinion: Tim Burton's stopped action animation is, once again, incredible. You often forget that you are indeed watching an animated film! I didn't find any parts of this movie to be frightening. As a matter of fact, the skeletons and other assorted creatures of the Land of the Dead were entertaining, often breaking into song and dance. There are no creatures with horrible faces that pop out at the audience or otherwise frighten the moviegoers. A lot of the comedy was rather slapstick. For example, the Corpse Bride's eye keeps falling out and her hand falls off while she's playing the piano. Burton uses black and white animation for stodgy Victorian England, while the underworld is bright and colorful. In a sense, this as a sweet movie because the overriding message is that of the preciousness of love and life. The fact that the bride is dead adds humor, not morbidity.

Suggested Ages: 8 to 18; adults will also enjoy this movie. (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:

Whales on Stilts!

By M.T. Anderson

Synopsis: In a hilarious tale of insane happenings told by a tongue-in-cheek narrator who often shares tidbits from his own zany adventures, 11-year-old Lily Gefelty begins her life as an adventure star. Lily's life pales in comparison to her fiends' lives until the day she discovers that her dad's boss is a mad scientist who's trying to take over the world. Her friends, Katie Mulligan of the Horror Hollow thriller novel fame, and Jasper Dash, boy technonaut, help devise a plan. Disguises, secrets, and adventures ensue. Against adults that refuse to believe that whales on stilts are about to invade North America, the three pre-teen stars manage to save earth. The author adds a touch of satire with illustrations that depict non-existent product sales and rambling footnotes that are silly beyond comprehension.

Messages: Kids are capable of more than adults give them credit for.

Guide's Opinion: For fans of comedy and children's literature, Whales on Stilts! was a pleasure to read. Like many old cartoons, the humor was such that kids can understand most of it, but adults will understand more. The outrageous book club questions at the end are a great bonus. It's the perfect choice for a kids' book club.

Suggested Ages: 8 to 12. Adults will enjoy it also.

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

Rooting for the Three Rs

Carolyn Johnson imparts her passion for reading

Carolyn Johnson says that the most rewarding aspect of her 31 years of teaching in Austin, Texas, was "having the opportunity to hook kids on reading." Now retired, Johnson's goal during her tenure was to transform her students into lifetime readers and writers. "I gave them the opportunity to read during class everyday," Johnson recalls. "My job was that of a facilitator. When you give kids the time to read and the choice of what to read, they're going to read."

Her experiences in the classroom led to her commitment to Discovery Journey's mission and to her passion as a Discovery Journey guide. Johnson's students would read certain books with their parents' permission, yet, she says, "I was greatly disturbed that some of the books were too violent or had terrible language. I thought, 'Parents don't really know that their kids are reading these books.'" Johnson feels strongly that parents need to know what their children are reading, and says, "Discovery Journey is a great tool for parents, and allows them to make choices about what their kids are reading."

Johnson's commitment to children hasn't waned since her retirement in 2001. Today, she spends much of her time surrogate parenting ten girls who live at a children's home and who attend a charter school there. Johnson also volunteers in the schools 3,000-volume library, and is responsible for ordering the library's books. In addition, she conducts summer reading programs for girls who live in the home. All of these activities, Johnson says, "motivate me to read books that are appropriate for children."

Johnson's own taste in books run from mysteries to Christian books. "I've read 500 books since I retired, stuff that I never had a chance to read while I was teaching." Two of her favorite authors are Dee Henderson and Neta Jackson, and she recently read Lt. Carey Cash's A Table in His Presence: The Dramatic Account of How a U.S. Marine Battalion Experienced God's Presence Amidst the Chaos of the War in Iraq.

When she's not reading and encouraging others to read, Johnson helps care for her 94-year-old mother, who lives in a nearby assisted living facility. She and Jim, her husband of 36 years, also enjoy being grandparents to Luke, 3, and Allie Grace, 18 months. "I try to see my grandchildren as much as I can," says Johnson, who plans to needlepoint Christmas stockings for them this year.

Johnson also enjoys quilting, and has scrapbooked since her daughter Debbie, 33, was born. Each summer, Johnson would put the previous year's pictures in scrapbooks. "I didn't know the paper had to be acid free," she says ruefully, explaining that she is now slowing refurbishing the faded photos. Johnson is currently working on scrapbooks for her grandchildren, as well as one of Jim's 2004 retirement party.

Since Jim's retirement, Johnson and her husband have had time to indulge their wanderlust, planning trips and traveling with two of Jim's University of Texas roommates and their wives. "This summer, we made a trip to New England, and at the end of October, we're taking a two-week cruise to the Panama Canal," Johnson says.

Jim and Carolyn made their own voyage to Alaska this summer, where they visited Carolyn's cousin in Anchorage. Johnson was impressed by the Land of the Midnight Sun. "We went to a soccer game at midnight!" she exclaims. "They were complaining about the summer heat wave, and it was only 75 degrees!"

Wherever their travels take them, however, Johnson's heart remains in Austin. "It's probably the prettiest part of Texas," she says. "It's hill country, and there are lakes. We're in the middle of the state, so it's easy to get to other places from where we are."

And, of course, she's still intent on hooking kids on reading. Her goal of making "her kids" lifetime readers has paid off. "One of my students is now teaching school for the first time. He's teaching at the school that I retired from," Johnson says with pride.

Public Schools Embrace Character Education

Positive character traits added to curriculum

Across the country, schools have recognized the importance of character education and are reinforcing character-based values inside and outside of the classroom. For several years, John Ehrhardt Elementary School in Elk Grove, Calif., implemented the STAR program, which reinforced a different character trait each month, ranging from compassion to loyalty, from friendship to responsibility.

Children would discuss the meaning of the theme in the classroom, and each time a student exhibited the theme on the playground, he or she would receive a "STAR coupon." These coupons were turned in for a monthly prize drawing, held at the STAR Assembly. During the assembly, one student from each classroom would be recognized by his or her teacher for exemplifying that month's theme. The child would receive a certificate, and have his or her picture taken and displayed in the school's office.

Although John Ehrhardt Elementary recently switched from the STAR program to one called "Project Wisdom," the foundation remains the same. With Project Wisdom, monthly themes reinforce the choices that children make, such as "Choose a Gratitude Attitude," "Choose to Persevere," and "Choose Honesty." According to staff member Mrs. Tamala, "These programs are wonderful. They help to boost the self-esteem of the kids."

Beginning this school year, students in Austin, Texas, will benefit from the school district's new character education initiative. At any given time, one of ten "Touchstone" character skills will be emphasized, with the trait changing bimonthly. According to the Austin Independent School District's Character Education Toolkit, the ten Touchstones are: caring, courage, fairness, honesty, integrity, perseverance, respect, responsibility, self-discipline, and trustworthiness.

The Austin program has developed a three-pronged approach to their character education program. At the district and community levels, there will be public service announcements and banners, a celebrity character of the month, a speakers' bureau, and monthly superintendent announcements. At the individual school level, there will be morning announcements, campus slogans and mottos, and the development of behavioral descriptions of character traits. Within the classroom, teachers will implement student essays and journals, readings and discussions, and service learning activities.

Discovery Journey is working with the Austin Independent School District to provide teachers access to Discovery Journey's reviews and activity-related information. Searching Discovery Journey's book and movie reviews by character trait will assist teachers in promoting the Touchstones by introducing books and related learning activities to the class that reinforce the Touchstones.

Educators who teach in districts without character education programs can also benefit from Discovery Journey's reviews and activities, and can work themes such as responsibility and honesty into their classrooms.

Supercross: The Movie

Synopsis: Brothers K.C. and Trip Carlyle love motorcycle racing and dream of someday racing in the Supercross, a combination dirt and paved-road race that's the ultimate in motorcycle racing. But no "privateer" (non-backed racer) has ever won the race. When older brother K.C. lands a spot with the Nami motorcycle team, he thinks his dreams have been realized. He soon finds out, however, that he's being used as a wingman for their superstar racer, Rowdy Sparks. In the meantime, a jealous Trip, who believes that he's the better rider and should have been recruited by Nami, finds a way to make it on his own. Both end up racing in the Supercross, where one brother ultimately steps in to defend the other, risking his own life for his brother.

Messages: Family is everything. Don't give up on your dreams. Don't settle for second best when you know you have what it takes to be the best.

Guide's Opinion: While there was some mild sexuality and a little foul language, middle school and high school kids who enjoy the sport of motocross will probably like this movie. The story line is predictable, but the racing scenes help it out by holding the attention of the audience. This movie is short but probably just the right length needed to tell this story.

Suggested Ages: 13 to 18; adults will also enjoy this movie. (Rated PG-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:

Valiant

Synopsis: Set in the U.K. and France during World War II, this movie tells the story of a group of five misfit pigeons, including tiny Valiant and street-wise Bugsy, who join the prestigious flock of carrier pigeons that assisted in delivering messages during the war. When the group is given a mission before their training is complete, they rise to the occasion and complete a task that helps the Allies eventually secure victory.

Messages: Love of country. Leave no comrade behind. Uphold and support your friends and comrades at all costs. No matter what your size, you can accomplish big things.

Guide's Opinion: Although this wasn't a dazzling Disney animated movie, the messages are certainly important. The U.K. jokes were often lost on the American audience, but the kids will still enjoy the silly antics of the birds. Adults may be a bit bored. The animation is decent, but lacks the pizzazz of other Disney animated films. Some of the scenes with falcons may be scary for the youngest audience members. The story line is predictable, but that's okay. We don't expect the hero to be killed at the end of a Disney movie!

Suggested Ages: 4 to 10 (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 Light in the Forest

By Conrad Richter

Synopsis: Synopsis: This classic is about a young boy trapped between cultures. Four-year-old John Butler is kidnapped from a frontier family and adopted by Culoga, a Lenni Lenape warrior. Because Culoga's natural son died from the "yellow vomit," it was appropriate to adopt another son to replace him. John Butler is now True Son. In 1765, a treaty states that all white captives must join a white Army to be returned to their birth families. Angry, 15-year-old True Son refuses to go. After he tells Culoga that he will never give up Native American life, True Son hears, "Give me no shame. Go like an Indian." True Son hates his white family. Relatives, especially his Uncle Wilse, are equally hostile. Defiant and depressed, True Son scoffs at their speech, their customs, and secretly steals food and weapons from the family to help him escape in the spring. His cousin, Half Arrow and friend, Little Crane, travel to the town to visit True Son. Uncle Wilse shoots and scalps Little Crane. True Son and his cousin manage a dangerous escape, and True Son is reunited with Culoga. When the tribe learns of riverboats carrying white setters west, they ask True Son to trick them. Dressed like a white boy, True Son is to pretend that he needs a ride. As he wades into the water toward the boat, True Son remembers a dream about his white family and commits an act of betrayal that eventually forces the Lenni Lenape to disown him forever. The book ends when Culoga walks True Son to the river, and they part. They will always be enemies. Dejected, True Son asks, "Who am I? Where do I belong?"

Messages: This historical fiction book offers a powerful message that tolerance and acceptance of all cultures is the way to a peaceful society.

Guide's Opinion: Middle school students are fascinated with True Son. Because the story is told from the Native American perspective, students gain a perspective often overlooked by historians. Richter's vivid descriptions and fast moving action incites kids to read further. This is a great book for literature circles or whole class novels. Although there are violent events in the story, it is appropriate for older children as a mechanism to change opinions about events in our country's history.

Suggested Ages: 11 to 15; Adults will also enjoy the book.

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: