Warning! Contains spoilers about Sharpay’s dress! (It sounds a-mahhhhhhzing) Read it here!

Changing Hands Bookstore(6428 S. McClintock Dr., Tempe, www.changinghands.com, (480) 730-0205 ) has assembled a world-class group of authors and illustrators to lead summer classes this year:

CREATING DYNAMIC HEROES
& NEFARIOUS VILLAINS
with J.S. Lewis, co-author of The Grey Griffins series (Ages 11-18)
Tuesdays, June 10, 17, 24 • 3-4:30pm $50 for the series
In this three-part creative writing series led by J.S. Lewis, co-author of the Grey Griffins fantasy novels for
young readers, you will learn to develop compelling heroes and villains that will grab your readers and never let them go. You’ll discuss the importance of a name, the pros and cons of stereotypes and archetypes, techniques of applying personality twists and quirks that will create a deeper connection between your characters
and your readers, and a slew of other methods that will help your characters spring to life.

NOVEL WRITING FOR TEENS
with Robin Brande, author of
Evolution, Me and Other Freaks of Nature (Ages 12-18)
Thursday, June 12 • 1-4pm $35
You have a great idea for a novel—now what? Or maybe you’ve always wanted to write a novel but have no clue where to start. Learn the fundamentals of novel-writing and get that manuscript started with Robin Brande, author of Evolution, Me, and Other Freaks of Nature (selected by the American Library
Association as one of the Best Books for Young Adults, 2008).

CREATING STORY LINES
with Janette Rallison, author of How to Take the Ex Out of Ex-Boyfriend (Ages 12-18)
Thursdays, July 24, 31, August 7 3-4:30pm $50 for the series
Learn about the elements of writing and plot with Janette Rallison, author of thirteen books, seven of which are young adult novels. You’ll learn about point of view and why you need to use it correctly. You’ll also learn about character goals, motivation, and conflict.

COMIC DRAWING FOR TWEENS
with Tony Carrillo, creator of F Minus
Mondays, July 7, 14 • 2-3:30pm $40 for the series
Learn how to draw basic cartoons (people, animals, monsters, anything you can think of!) with Tony Carrillo, whose nationally syndicated comic strip, F Minus, currently runs in more than 100 newspapers. Participants will create their own original comic characters. Come prepared with pencils, pens and drawing paper, and let the cartooning begin!

Read all about the new cartoon starring Flapjack, a kid raised in the sea by Bubbie the whale and a shipwrecked pirate Captain K’Nuckles here and watch a sneak preview on the Cartoon Network site.

The video is pretty funny! And it’s about candy! I’m totally tuning in to see WHAT HAPPENS NEXT! What do you think? Will you watch the premiere on June 5?

Jonas Brothers: Living the Dream starts on Friday, May 16 on the Disney Channel at 7:55 p.m. 

The five-minute mini-shows contain behind the scenes with Kevin, Joe and Nick Jonas of the Jonas Brothers as they tour the U.S. In the opener, the guys prepare to leave home to begin a concert tour.

Here are the rest of the episodes:

Big Game, May 23 - The guys check out their stage before the concert in Tucson.

Down Time, May 30 - Some indoor sky diving with Frankie and guys.

Our Fans Rock, June 6 - Check out the surprise concert given in Tucson, AZ.

Drivers Ed, June 13 - Joe takes some driver’s education.

Our Mom and Dad, June 27 - Meet the parents and what they do to keep the guys grounded.

Hello Hollywood, July 4 - The guys play a concert in Hollywood with a friend and a post concert party.

Health Kick, July 11 - See what the guys do to stay healthy by exercise and eating right.

We Are Family, July 18 - See what it takes for the family to tour.

School Rocks, July 25 - Nick still participates in school activities while on the road.

Musical Scrapbook, August 1st - The guys show you what they do to create their songs.

Nothing’s Gonna Slow Me Down, August 8 - Nick manages his diabetes while on the road.

Rock Star In Training, August 15 - Frankie hangs out with his brothers in this episode.

We’re The Boss, August 29 - Watch the guys write their songs, and work on their fan club.

Dream On, September 5 - The final episode where the guys end their tour in New Jersey.

Source

Aug. 8 sounds like an afterschool special!

that i REALLY want this messenger bag from a TELEVISION movie that doesn’t come out until next month??? Check out the others here.

Check out this primer of virutal online worlds for kids from the New York Times…

Want to know more about these cool new products and promotions available in grocery stores? Go here and read all about it!

How TOTALLY COOL would it be if it stopped by the Phoenix area!!

D-D-D-DO YOU HAVE IT?

 GUTS, the AWESOME game show from the ’90s, is being recreated for a new generation of families as Nick at Nite. The new version, My Family’s Got Guts, will commence production on two 10-episode tournaments, (20 new half-hour episodes and two hour-long specials), created and executive produced by the digital entertainment studio Worldwide Biggies. The series will be shot on location at Universal Studios in Orlando, Fla., beginning in August and is scheduled to premiere in prime time on Nick at Nite in fall 2008 with the finale on the Worldwide Day of Play.

Here’s how it will work: every member of the team (family) — from the smallest to the strongest — plays a vital role and works together to complete each challenge. Each episode will feature a host and three teams of four players (two adults and two kids) who gather in the Extreme Arena to compete against each other in four rounds of events inspired by extreme sports. The point values increase each round giving all teams a chance to come from behind. The family with the lowest score is eliminated after round three. In the final round, two players from the highest scoring teams face each other on The Crag, a new updated 3D, super challenging version of the original GUTS’ Aggro Crag fantasy mountain. The team with the most points at the end of all four rounds wins the competition.

Read about the ORIGINAL (and totally great) GUTS here. And witness the genius that was THE AGGRO CRAG!! (later renamed to the Mega Crag, and finally the Super Aggro Crag)

Photo source

 The sold-out concert event that rocked the nation is bursting onto Disney DVD and Blu-ray Disc for a limited time only in a two-disc extended edition with a 3-D concert experience so real it’s like having a backstage pass! “Make Some Noise” and get ready for the year’s most eye-popping, dance-in-your-seat music experience with HANNAH MONTANA & MILEY CYRUS BEST OF BOTH WORLDS CONCERT MOVIE! For the first time ever, Miley performs as herself and Hannah in the same epic show! With a special appearance by the Jonas Brothers and exclusive bonus features, including a sing-along mode, additional songs, and a rare, inside look into the rock star lives of Miley Cyrus and the Jonas Brothers, this movie sensation is “as close as you’ll come to achieving the best of both worlds” (Elizabeth Weitzman, New York Daily News).

The DVD is set to hit shelves on August 19th.

Bonus Features:

2-D Viewing Mode
3-D Viewing Mode
The Ultimate Personal Tour — Spend A Day With Miley Cyrus And Jonas Brothers
Additional Songs
Sing Along With The Movie

In other Miley news, she won’t be appearing this week at the Disney Channel Games after all…