Book Review: Harry Potter, Film Wizardry

Hardcover: 160 pages

Publisher: Collins Design (October 19, 2010)

Language: English

ISBN-10: 0061997811

ISBN-13: 978-0061997815

Harry Potter: Film Wizardry by The Creative Team Behind the Celebrated Movie Series

Immerse yourself in the world of the spectacular Harry Potter film series. Learn why Yule Ball ice sculptures never melt, where Galleons, Sickles, and Knuts are really "minted," how to get a Hippogriff to work with actors, the inspiration behind Hogwarts castle, and why Dementors move the way they do. Written and designed in collaboration with the cast and crew that brought J. K. Rowling's celebrated novels to the silver screen, Harry Potter: Film Wizardry delivers an enchanting interactive experience, transporting readers to the wizarding world by sharing filmmaking secrets, unpublished photography and artwork, and exclusive stories from the stars. Full of removable facsimile reproductions of props and paper ephemera from the movies, this collectible volume offers a privileged look at the Harry Potter films and the talented group of Muggles that has made true movie magic.

My Review

This was one of my Christmas gifts, and I spent most of Christmas day reading this book. It is full of many cool things. There are little envolopes that have a bunch of stuff from the movies. Harry's acceptance letter to

Hogwarts, the Maurader's Map, Dolores Umbridge's educational decrees. You can't understand my delight as I turned each page to find... stuff. Really cool stuff.



All of the main characters have their own page, giving you information about the actor who plays them, how that actor was chosen for the role and, in cases such as Alastor Moody and Lord Voldemort, how they were transformed into their character. To some people, I can see how this might sound a little boring. It isn't. This book, this awesome book is highly recommended to anybody who is even slightly interested in Harry Potter. Even if you still think that it's boring, get for the things that come with it. Ever wanted to read the Marauder's Map? Here's your chance. And it also has snapshots from Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows part 2. These pictures show The Room of Requirement before and after Fiendfyre is set to it and The Room of Requirment in it's Dumbledore's Army hideout form. It also has many concept art drawings of pretty much everything. Pretty much every page has concept art drawings of characters, creatures, and structures.

Seriously, any fan of Harry Potter would be practically drooling over this book if they had any sense at all. It is highly enjoyable and it points out small details that are in the movies that you never noticed before. It is a seriously awesome book.

-Austin

Hey to all you people who read for fun. U R COOL.



Winner of The Chronicles of Narnia

Thanks to everyone who participated in our Chronicles of Narnia Giveaway!!  It was a lot of fun!  Have you seen the movie yet?  It's pretty awesome!  

The winner is (I will email you)

Tabathia Barrett

Congratulations!  From Reading Tween!

President of the Whole Fifth Grade by Sherri Winston

Reading level: Ages 9-12

Hardcover: 288 pages

Publisher: Little, Brown Books for Young Readers; 1 edition (October 5, 2010)

Language: English

ISBN-10: 0316114324
ISBN-13: 978-0316114325


President of the Whole Fifth Grade by Sherri Winston

Gr 4-5–Brianna Justice is good at setting goals and knows what she wants for her future: to become fifth-grade class president and eventually be rich and famous with her own cupcake business and cooking show. She's sure the former is the path to the latter and has been planning her election strategy all summer. When unscrupulous newcomer Jasmine runs against her, the competition takes an ugly turn with both girls trying underhand tricks in order to win. The story begins to resemble a Mean Girls of elementary school as Brianna makes one bad decision after another, turning into a rather unlikable character and nearly losing her friends in the process. She learns from her mistakes, however, and is able to turn both her friendships and the election around.

My Review


 "If You Can't Stand the Heat Get OUT of the Kitchen!"
OK. just writing this review is going to make me hungry. I was craving cupcakes the whole time. Not only does this book have cupcake recipes but a very cute story about Brianna who really works hard to reach her dreams of becoming class president and while making delicious cupcakes. Of course you get the whole drama-girl-meanness from Jasmine, they girl running against her. Let me just say Jasmine needed to be punched. But, it did make the story that much better. Oh, the drama.
I really enjoyed this book because it was funny and yummy at the same time. You can't say that too often about books. Read it. It is a great book for girls not guys. Sorry dudes.

My Favorite cupcake recipe from this book:


*Brianna's Cookbook*
Itsy-Bitsy Wild Banana Bites (Why do you think this is my favorite?)

Miniature cupcake pan
Mini-Cupcake liners

Ingredients:
1 box yellow cake mix
2 small bananas
2 tbsp. sour cream

Frosting:
1- 8oz. pkg. cream cheese
3 cups confections sugar
5-6 tbsp. milk
1/2 cup creamed bananas
dash of vanilla

Prepare your pan: The easiest way to do it is make sure your pan is clean. put the cupcake liners in pan. Trust me- it help with clean up and it's just easier. Prepare the cake mix based on instructions on the box. Take the two bananas and sour cream and mash in food processor. Place batter in the cupcake pan then bake according to directions on box.
For the frosting: combine the cream cheese, milk, confections sugar, and a dash of vanilla flavoring in food processor. Gently fold in creamed bananas.
Allow cupcakes time to cool then frost.
If you like bananas like Beck does and I do then you'll LOVE this recipe!

Merry Christmas!!!!

"Jingle Bells, Jingle Bells, Jingle all the way... Oh' what fun it is to ride in a one horse open sleigh... HEY!!!!"

The Reading Tween team is taking a Christmas vacation... See you later!!!!!

We hope you all have a wonderful Christmas.

We Love our followers... STAY TUNED in 2011 for the most AMAZING book reviews!

Review: Goosebumps, Headless Halloween

• Reading level: Ages 9-12
• Paperback: 144 pages
• Publisher: Apple (October 1998)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 059076781X
• ISBN-13: 978-0590767811

Brandon loves to scare other kids. This Halloween he buttons his shirt up over his head and parades around as a headless freak! But even Brandon gets queasy at the creepiest Halloween party of all time, where guests bob for rats and eat doughnuts filled with worms!

This Goosebumps book starts out when Brandon is telling some kids (that he is babysitting) a scary story.  He loves scaring people.  On Halloween night, his pranks go too far and he ends up being chased by some angry dogs.  He tries to jump a ravine and he falls down and dies.  Then he finds one person on the other side, a boy named Norband.  Norband tells Brandon that he has to rescue three frightened people in one hour or else he will stay dead forever.

This was the first Goosebumps book that I ever read, but it is the tenth book in the series.  You don't have to read them in order.  It was a really scary book, but it didn't actually scare me.  I think it was a really good book.  Except I wasn't very happy with the end.  These books are really easy to read.  My favorite part was when they went to the Halloween party.

Parents might want to know:  There are some pretty scary parts in this book, and Brandon has a bad attitude, and doesn't treat people very well at first.

My kiddos are sooooo beyond excited about this!!!


 Introducing >>>> Gore Verbinski’s new CG animated movie RANGO, about a chameleon with an identity crisis. The film stars the incredible voice talents of Johnny Depp, Isla Fisher, Abigail Breslin, Stephen Root, Ray Winstone, Ned Beatty, Harry Dean Stanton, and Alfred Molina.

Great Christmas Gift: Harry Potter Pop-Up-Book

This book looked really fun to me.... good Christmas idea for the younger HP fans.

This collectible Harry Potter pop-up book, based on the creative development of the films, features exquisite original artwork by Andrew Williamson, concept artist for all eight movies. With dynamic pop-ups animating memorable moments and locations — like the Triwizard Tournament, Diagon Alley, and Hogwarts Castle — Harry Potter: A Pop-Up Book offers a 3-D glimpse into the amazing world, as seen in the films. This deluxe book will delight Harry Potter fans with dynamic pop-up ingenuity, insights from the creative team who turned JK Rowling’s stories into movie magic, fascinating facts about the magical universe seen in the movies, and Harry Potter memories and memorabilia packed into every page.

Vlog Review! The Lost Hero by Rick Riordan

• Reading level: Ages 9-12
• Hardcover: 576 pages
• Publisher: Hyperion Book CH; 1st edition (October 12, 2010)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 142311339X
• ISBN-13: 978-1423113393

After saving Olympus from the evil Titan lord, Kronos, Percy and friends have rebuilt their beloved Camp Half-Blood, where the next generation of demigods must now prepare for a chilling prophecy of their own:

Seven half-bloods shall answer the call,
To storm or fire the world must fall.
An oath to keep with a final breath,
And foes bear arms to the Doors of Death.

I listened to this on audiobook which was amazing!  I liked the reader from Percy Jackson and the Olympians (Jesse Bernstein) better, and I wish he had done this one, too.  But this reader, Joshua Swanson, was pretty good.  He did different voices for all of the characters.  He was an American reader.  Sometimes I like listening to the audio better because I can get through it better, and I can listen to it when I'm going to bed.  Plus, it helps me to know how to pronounce all the names!

Pirates of the Caribean 4.....Can't Wait

Pirates of the Caribbean:  On Stranger Tides


We can't wait!! Can you?


When we went to see The Voyage of the Dawn Treader, we walked into the theater and saw this:

We got SO excited!!  Pirates of the Caribbean is one of our absolute, all-time favorite movies.  It looks like Will Turner and Elizabeth Swan will be sitting this one out, but who are we kidding, we all know it's Jack Sparrow that we care about.  And it looks like he'll have a lady-friend in this one!  Check out this trailer, it looks awesometastical!






The movie comes out May 20, 2011!  Can you believe they're going to tease us for that long???  I think they just like to make us crazy!  But we're still excited, and will watch the first three over and over till it gets here!


What do you think?  Do you like the movies?  Does this one look good?

SecondHand Saturday! A Book Giveaway!

Welcome to Second Hand Saturday a once a week giveaway started by Reading Teen. In an attempt to clear our bookshelves, and pass on great used books to our stalkers followers, WE =  Austin, Andrew, Faith, Reagan, Anna, Bransen and Adrien have decided to hold weekly giveaways of some of the books on our bookshelves! Every Saturday, we will post the books available, and the following Saturday, we will announce the winner and our next challenge. The winner will get to choose a book from the list and we will ship it to that lucky person! Each week we will have a different challenge to complete (see below). YOU MUST BE A FOLLOWER TO ENTER!  Open Internationally.  Ends at 10:00 pm EST the following Friday!

Middle Grade

-  Middle School Confidential Books 1-3 by Annie Fox (PBR) 

-  Eragon (hardback) by Christopher Paolini (PBR)

-  Eldest (hardback) by Christopher Paolini (PBR)

-  Inkheart by Cornelia Funke (PBR)

-  Inkspell by Cornelia Funke

-  Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows (hardback no jacket) (PBR) (RT)

-  Mattimeo (library copy) by Brian Jacques

-  A Wrinkle in Time and A Wind in the Door by Madeleine L'Engle

-  Summer Ball by Mike Lupica

-  Half Moon Investigations (library copy) by Eoin Colfer

-  Island Girl (library copy) by Sandra Byrd

-  Nothing But The Truth: A Documentary Novel (paperback) By AVI

-  Triss (Redwall, Book 15) (paperback) by Brian Jacques

-  Clovermead by David Randall

-  The O'Reilly Factor For Kids by Bill O'Reilly
-  Nerds by Michael Buckley
-  Zan Gah by Allan Richard Shickman
-  The Carnival of Lost Souls by Laura Quimby
-  Star Power book 1 Supernova  by Catherine Hapka
-  A Wrinkle in Time by Madeleine L'Engle
-  High School Musical: The Junior Novel Disney
-  High School Musical: Stories from East High #6 Disney
-  Animal Ark Pets books #12 - #16
-  25 (very small thin) books from The Babysitters Club (you pay media shipping)
-  Madison Finn #1 Only the Lonely Boy, #2 Boy, OH Boy! #3 Play it Again ( whole set)

WE WILL TAKE A BREAK FROM SHS UNTIL AFTER THE HOLIDAYS... SEE YOU AFTER THE NEW YEARS. MERRY CHRISTMAS!

Thank You so much for following. We could not would not do this without our followers. Come back next Saturday to see the winner and enter in for another book giveaway!

This week's winner is:

Ashley

said...

My favorite series this year has been The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins; the last installment came out in August, Mockingjay. That has been by far the best series of books I have ever read! I'm so sad that it's over. :/

Email us at ReadingTween(at)ReadingTeen.net with your address and book choice!  You have a week to respond!

Tangled: Movie Review

For my birthday my Nana and Papa took us all to see Tangled.  Everyone loved it!  We had the theater almost all to ourselves, which was a good thing because my Papa laughs REALLY loud!  My mom said that was her favorite part, listening to her dad laugh like crazy!

TANGLED

Rapunzel- a girl with blond long hair.....well really, really, really, long hair; 60 feet long I think. She is a happy person and funny in my opinion.  I liked how she could use her hair as a weapon.

Flin Rider- a thief with brown hair and brown eyes (I think he has brown eyes at least). And he is AWEOME!!  He can climb roofs and escape from the guards, but hardest thing he had to do was to help Rapunzel find her dream.

Mother Gothel- as you can see below she has black hair and brown eyes (I think so) she is evil. She loves staying young forever! She is in love with herself.  She was creepy!

King- the king that has arrested Flin Rider many times married to the Queen and gray hair and beard, father of Rapunzel.

Queen- married to the king and brown hair that is waist length, green eyes like her daughter.

Pascal- A gecko that can talk to Rapunzel and for a little thing like him he has a lot of personality! He is really feisty!  Pascal made me laugh through the whole movie.

The Stabington Twins- I can't remember their names but they have blond hair, one has a eye patch and  a scar on the right side of his face. The other has side burns and a scar on the left side of his face.

The Ruffians- a group of bad guys who might not be so bad after all, searching for their dream.  The old "cupid" was really funny.  

Tangled was an awesome movie.  There is a girl named Rapunzel who has been locked in a tower for 18 years.  More than anything, she wants to see the magical lights that float in the sky every year on her birthday.  But her mother says it isn't safe for her in the real world.  When Flin stumbles upon her tower, she finally sees her chance to get out and make her dream become reality.

Tangled is totally awesome!  Whoever made this movie.....you are totally awesome!  My favorite part was right after she snuck out of the tower and she kept changing emotions.  First she was really excited, then scared, then happy again, then guilty.  It was so funny!  I REALLY, REALLY, REALLY recommend that you go see this movie.  It was one of my favorites, ever!

I hope you love it as much as I do!!