Author: David Martin
Illustrator: David Walker
Hardcover: 32 pages
Publisher: Candlewick
Release Date: February 12, 2013

Our Score: 4 out of 5 stars

When it comes to kids book anything that is able to be read-aloud and literally rolls off your tongue is good for me. “Peep and Ducky” is very cute and fun. It backs some very colorful and bright illustrations from David Walker. David Martin tells a perfect story for little kids about friendship and does it well that it is able to be enjoyed even for adults with some clever rhyming. This book was originally put on my daughter desk until she gets older (she’s 1) but every day she pulls it out to look through.

Official Premise: Ready, set, go! Whether you’re playing pretend games (beep, beep) or flying off the slide (ka-thump), flopping into a puddle (splish, splash) or running around a tree (“Can’t catch me!”), an afternoon at the park is so much better when your best buddy is there. Peep and Ducky share giggles and tickles and bumps in this sweet excursion from David Martin and David Walker.

David Martin has written many kids books that we have enjoyed including “The Magic Christmas Tree”. David Walker has also illustrated several children’s books, including “Flip, Flap, Fly!”.  I like both their styles and will be keeping an eye out for their upcoming books.  I could also see them turning “Peep and Ducky” into a franchise…may I suggest “Peep and Ducky Go to the Zoo” etc.

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Author: Annabel Gibson, Moray Laing, Jason Loborik
Age Range: 7 and up
Hardcover: 208 pages
Publisher: DK CHILDREN
Release Date: April 1, 2013

Our Score: 5 out of 5 stars

If you are a fan of sci-fi, it is almost impossible not to love Doctor Who. Since the long-running series was revived in 2005, this series is only growing stronger and stronger with each new year. DK Books has been behind some of the best Visual Dictionary and Character Encyclopedia for various series including “Harry Potter” and “Star Wars”.  Doctor Who: Character Encyclopedia” is timed perfectly for the series’ fiftieth anniversary and is one hell of a perfect book.  I huge fan of “Doctor Who” and this is the ultimate companion book for the show covering all 11 doctors to date with more than 200 friends and foes included.

Official Premise: A cult favorite around the world, Doctor Who is the longest-running science fiction television show of all time. Perfect for fans of the popular BBC show, the Doctor Who Character Encyclopedia has been created in full collaboration with the producers of Doctor Who, and shares detailed profiles of all eleven incarnations of the Doctor, as well as in-depth looks at his many companions, enemies, and adventures through the years.

Even though this book is released under DK’s Children label that doesn’t mean that this is any less impressive for the series’ adult fans. The book ranges over 200 pages and high quality beautiful images of every character spanning from this series. The book is split into sections including “Alien”, “Companion”, “Cyborg”, “Earth Creature”, “Entity”, “Human”, “Robot” and of course “Time Lord”. They are all intertwined together and makes this a real page turner.  I think I knew everything about this series and even I was impressed with the amount of new information that I discovered. Each character from this show is extremely  detailed and classified, so we get to meet them, find out about them, what doctors they have met and their role in the show.  I am not sure what more you can ask for as a fan of “Doctor Who”.  Keep ’em coming DK!

Author: Robert Abele
Hardcover: 150 pages
Publisher: Insight Editions
Release Date: June 18, 2013

Our Score: 3.5 out of 5 stars

I have to admit, I was not too excited for “Turbo”. I do have a sweet spot for DreamWorks’ animated films though, since they have never let me down. Well, the day I received this book was also the same day I finally saw a trailer for this film. After seeing the trailer, I was excited to get home and cut right into this book. I have to say I was pretty impressed and now I am excited to jump the light and catch this film (Get it? A little racing humor…Hello?) The film itself looks extremely fun and very visually impressive. What else would you expect from the studio that brought us the “Shrek” and “Madagascar” films. So if you are expecting that from the film, “The Art of Turbo” will not let you down as it comes stocked with some amazing artwork from the industry’s top talents and an impressive look behind-the-scenes at this new CG-animated feature.

Here is a quick premise of the film, so you know what to expect “Turbo is a snail with big dreams. Obsessed with speed and all things fast, he is an outsider within his slow snail community and a constant embarrassment to his cautious older brother, Chet. Then one fateful day a freak accident suddenly vests Turbo with the power of incredible speed. So begins his extraordinary journey to achieve the impossible: racing against the best that IndyCar has to offer.” I was impressed to see that this book kicks off with a foreword by the voice of Turbo himself, Ryan Reynolds. Also the director of “Turbo”, David Soren, gives an encouraging Preface to this book as well. The setup for the book itself is split into four sections. The first is “Characters”, with focus on over 15 characters from the film. Second is “Locations”, which covers 10 different places from the film like “San Fernando Valley” and “Indianapolis Motor Speedway”. The last two sections are “Vehicles” and “Building a Sequence”.

I feel that the book is a very easy read and since it is split into a few sections, it is also easy to navigate through the behind-the-scenes process of the film. Since the film is very visual and colorful, the artwork really gives a very diverse collection of character backgrounds, concept art, design inspirations, and tons of great information about the production. I think that if you considering seeing this film, this would be a great way to lock in the deal and great some great anticipation.  On the other side, this would be a great follow-up to check out after actually seeing the film as well.  The author Robert Abele is a film critic for the Los Angeles Times.  His only other companion book to date is “The Twilight Saga: The Complete Film Archive”. So I was a little concerned about this one but he delivered a very entertaining book and I most definitely will keep an eye out for his future releases.

Author: Karen Palik
Publisher: Chronicle Books
Book Length: 172 pages
Release Date: June 1, 2013

Our Score: 4 out of 5 stars

When it’s comes to “Monsters Inc.”, it stole our hearts and of course laughs (spoilers alert, haha). Over the last decade or so the film continues to entertain and stands as one of Pixar’s most impressive films and we have been waiting to see more adventures with Mike and Sulley. Twelve years later, we are getting a prequel to the animated hit titled “Monsters University”, which follows the duo in school before they were on the scare floor. This book is being released by Chronicle Books, who handles most of the art of books for Disney and Pixar. They were also the publisher behind the art of for “Monsters Inc”. If you were a fan of that book, this is another gem from Chronicle. If you have never seen that book, this one really takes you into this film’s universe and makes you want to rush out and see this new film immediately.

The layout of the book is great and really has that college campus feel. I enjoyed the fact that you also get to see aspects of “Monsters Inc.” that were not shown in the first film. There is tons of great concept art, which I am a big sucker for. All the images are super crisp and high quality. Additionally there are various character profiles, sculptures, storyboards and more. Even though our lovable Mike and Sully are still the main characters, there are tons of new faces and they get some time to shine in this book as well. When I see a movie, I like to have some surprises so I usually won’t go too deep before seeing it but this was a nice introduction to get us ready to meet them. “The Art of Monsters University” also includes some very informative behind-the-scenes interviews with the film’s artists. I like that they get to step away from the drawing board and speak out.

The book is authored by Karen Paik, who works in the development department at Pixar. She has worked on various projects including “Ratatouille”, “Up”, and of course “Monsters University”. If you are questions her work as an author she also authored the wonderful companion book “The Art of Ratatouille”, as well as “To Infinity and Beyond!: The Story of Pixar Animation Studios”. So she not only brings her inside view from working at Pixar. She was also involved with this film hands on and allows us to get that inside view. There is also a great preface from John Lasseter, the head honcho for Disney*Pixar films, along with Pete Doctor, the director of “Monsters, Inc.”, “Up” and writer of “Monsters University”. The foreword is by Dan Scanlon, the director of Monsters University, also a great ending to a great book. Don’t miss this!

Author: Michaelbrent Collings
Publisher: CreateSpace Independent Publishing Platform
Release Date: January 19, 2013

Our Score: 3.5 out of 5 stars

Let’s travel back to September 2012, I was asked to review a DVD for a film titled “Barricade”. Pretty damn good flick, produced by WWE Studios (yes the wrestling company). I got asked to have my review appear on WWE Raw, which was a huge honor. Due to that exposure, I was contacted by the writer of the film Michaelbrent Collings with praise for my review. Since then I have been in contact with him and asked to check out his other works of horror literature. He offered me to check out “Darkbound” and right from the first chapter, I was hooked!

Official Premise: The New York subway system has: 656 miles of track… 468 stations… 31 thousand turnstiles… and 1.64 BILLION fares yearly. For six of those fares, the trip is going to be one they will never forget. Six strangers will board a subway. But this subway is unlike the others. This subway doesn’t take you where you want or where you need. It takes you where you fear. This subway…is DARKBOUND.

Michaelbrent’s writing is super easy to read.  It is intelligent without trying to ask like it is smart.  It is also crazy-ass graphic with the gore. I just kept thinking to myself this would make a killer movie but there is no way it could be filmed with an R-rating. The book is split into six different parts focusing on the each of its passengers. So we get like 6-9 chapters per section and then it restarts the count, at first I found this aspect a little confusing but after the first few it flowed pretty smoothly. I found myself literally hanging on each chapter. There is also quite a few nice twists thrown in, just when I thought I figured it out, I was thrown a loop.  I am looking forward to checking out Michaelbrent’s latest novel, “Strangers”, which was just released June 4th, 2013. Keep me coming!

Author: James Cameron with Don Lynch, Ken Marschall, and Parks Stephenson
Hardcover: 252 pages
Publisher: Insight Editions
Release Date: June 4, 2013

Our Score: 4 out of 5 stars

Who isn’t completely obsessed with events of the Titanic. James Cameron really did a number on us not only with delivers us his 1997 mega hit but also continuing to make this topic relevant. This expeditions are unlike any other of the sunken ship and the mysteries surrounding it. “Exploring the Deep: The Titanic Expeditions” is a great companion to his work over the years, it gives us a detailed look into his expeditions and more than thirty dives that he and his team has made with special robotic vehicles. We get to explore the interiors and exteriors of the Titanic wreck and get a great inside perspective our the teams voyages.

Director James Cameron, since directing “Titanic” has become the go-to person for anything relating to the sinking of that ship. This deluxe coffee-table book, coming just after the hundred anniversary gets to tell the complete story of his work with exploring the wreckage and also diving into many new technological advances to assist in capturing more information. There are tons of previously unpublished images and revelations about the wreck. The book itself is a powerhouse. Insight Editions really strives to deliver quality releases and they have most definitely succeeded here. My only main issue is the size of some of the images used. Since we are talking underwater images of a hundred old wreck, the quality is not perfect. But then again, I understand that but maybe I wouldn’t have blown the image up to a full page then. That was my only main issue, otherwise the content and visual feel is fantastic.

Even though James Cameron is the man, we can’t forget his team. This book contains contributions from three of the world’s foremost Titanic experts, Don Lynch, Ken Marschall, and Parks Stephenson. It really feels like a team effort also. If you still want more there is also Cameron’s exclusive dive journal and previously unpublished images include dive maps and personal photographs. That also adds a sort of human and emotional feel to the book, which is why I also feel that should recommend it. Overall, the book is very informative and impressive, any history buff or Titanic buff should want to jump all over this book.

Author: Robert Greenberger
Hardcover: 144 pages
Publisher: Insight Editions
Release Date: May 21, 2013

Our Score: 3.5 out of 5 stars

When it comes to M. Night Shyamalan, I think we all have had our share of his twist-filled films.  “After Earth” looks original and pretty interesting. It also starts Will Smith and his son Jaden Smith kicking alien ass.  So I am curious to see it.  When I saw that Insight Edition was releasing “United Ranger Corps Survival Manual” as the companion the film, I was very interested since they did a fantastic job with “The Dark Knight Manual” by Brandon T. Snider last year. This book tries to copy the success of that book but comes up a little short. Still though it is a great companion and definitely has peaked my interest more in seeing this film.  I even have a feeling that after seeing this film, I am going to enjoy this film quite a bit more.

Official Premise: Go beyond After Earth with this unique, in-universe journey into the world of the United Ranger Corps. From the history of the Rangers, to humanity’s exodus from Earth, and the ongoing battle against the Skrel, a fearsome alien race, the United Ranger Corps Survival Manual immerses you in the After Earth universe. Study the secrets of ghosting—the art of singlehandedly slaying the vicious Ursa—and complete your mastery of the cutlass, a Ranger’s greatest weapon, as you discover what it takes to be one of Nova Prime’s elite. Filled with interactive elements, including a schematic of the Ranger base, a complete guide to the highly evolved animals of Earth, and even a handwritten journal entry from Cypher Raige, the United Ranger Corps Survival Manual is the essential companion to the After Earth film.

The manual covers doesn’t just cover the film, they cover the world surrounding the film.  Some of the chapter topics range from “A History of Earth’s Last Days, “Ranger Cadet Training”, “Ranger Uniform and Equipment”, including “Mastering the Cutlass”.  The color tone of the manual is a little drab yet the images are sharp and high quality. Like “The Dark Knight Manual”,  this manual has a few pull out and neat little tricks taking this to a different level than most companion books. I feel that they should have consulted Brandon T. Snider for some tips on how to make it perfect like he did with “The Dark Knight” but it still works. The author of the book is Robert Greenberger, who has worked with DC Comics, Marvel, Starlog and knows his sci-fi, especially from his work with the “Star Trek” franchise. I look forward to further books from him and again another hit from Insight Editions.

Author: Richard Castle
Hardcover: 320 pages
Publisher: Hyperion
Release Date: May 21, 2013

Our Score: 4 out of 5 stars

Are you a fan of ABC’s “Castle” starring Nathan Fillion and Stana Katic? Well if you are then you should know that the literary work of author Richard Castle has a life outside the show. “Storm Front” is the latest novel from Richard Castle following “Heat Wave”, “Naked Heat”, “Heat Rises” and “Frozen Heat”, which follow the character Nikki Heat. If you see the trend in the titles, you will notice that this one differs. Last summer we were introduced to world of Derrick Storm with the following short-format eBooks, “A Brewing Storm”, “A Raging Storm” and “A Bloody Storm”. They were great but like I said short. So “Storm Front” is a great way to experience this character in a full length story. What I enjoy most about these books they are a real treat for any fan of “Castle”. But what makes them even better is that if you’ve never heard of “Castle” you are able to pick up this series like it is any other novel.

Official Premise: There’s a storm front coming! Four years after he was presumed dead, Derrick Storm–the man who made Richard Castle a perennial bestseller–is back in this rip-roaring, full-length thriller. From Tokyo, to London, to Johannesburg, high-level bankers are being gruesomely tortured and murdered. The killer, caught in a fleeting glimpse on a surveillance camera, has been described as a psychopath with an eye patch. And that means Gregor Volkov, Derrick Storm’s old nemesis, has returned. Desperate to figure out who Volkov is working for and why, the CIA calls on the one man who can match Volkov’s strength and cunning–Derrick Storm. With the help of a beautiful and mysterious foreign agent–with whom Storm is becoming romantically and professionally entangled–he discovers that Volkov’s treachery has embroiled a wealthy hedge-fund manager and a U.S. senator. In a heated race against time, Storm chases Volkov’s shadow from Paris, to the lair of a computer genius in Iowa, to the streets of Manhattan, then through a bullet-riddled car chase on the New Jersey Turnpike. In the process, Storm uncovers a plot that could destroy the global economy–unleashing untold chaos–which only he can stop.

“Storm Front” follows after the Derrick Storm trilogy, “A Brewing Storm”, “A Raging Storm” and “A Bloody Storm”. So there is some good continuity between the series. The plot is very clever like all novels from Castle and the writing is extremely top notch. Obviously, we know that Nathan Fillion is not writing these books and that is ok with me because he also does not write the scripts to the TV series either. So I think it is safe to say that the ghost writer behind Richard Castle is the show’s own writers. They bring the same wit and sharp dialogue right out of the TV show and you can literally watch the stories action play out like an epic episode of the show. The character of Derrick Storm, our ruggedly handsome agent, is just so sly and you can literally visualize Fillion in his shoes. Don’t get me wrong, I love Nikki Heat, she is amazing but who can so no to a little James Bond-esque espionage thriller. So those looking for more from Richard Castle, don’t worry next up is “Deadly Heat”, which is the fifth book in the Nikki Heat series. It is set to be released September 17th timed with the start of the sixth season of “Castle”.

Author: J. W. Rinzler
Hardcover: 352 pages
Publisher: Abrams
Release Date: May 14, 2013

Our Score: 4 out of 5 stars

I don’t know any other way to start this review but noting that it has J. W. Rinzler behind it. Right away that is an instant score for me. He is the executive editor at Lucasfilm Ltd. and the the author of many of my favorite “Star Wars” books including “The Making of Star Wars & “The Empire Strikes Back” and the recent “Star Wars: Blue Prints”. I know that the “Star Wars” universe will be well-represented if it is in his hands. That is definitely the case with “Star Wars Storyboards: The Prequel Trilogy”. I am not a super big fan of the prequel trilogy but I am huge fan of conceptual storyboards and artwork for films.

This book marks the first time that Lucasfilm has opened up the doors to its archives in order to present this collection of storyboards from Episodes I, II and III. The book itself includes the best-of storyboards from the three films complied into one volume and is accompanied with the scripts excerpts from the scenes shown. If you are a fan of “Star Wars”, this is a great way to really get a new perspective on these three films.  You will also really get a chance to see how these storyboards assisted in the creation of the Prequel Trilogy. Did I also mention that there were 1200 illustrations in the book spread out over the 350+ pages. Also I just want to through it out there since this book focuses on the Prequel Trilogy, I hope that there is a second volume in the works for Episode IV through VI.  Just sayin’ 😉

So if you are a hardcore “Star Wars” fan like myself, you are going to jump at the chance, fan of this trilogy or not, to see early takes on favorite scenes, alternate looks, unused approaches to character designs and environments and completely different approaches to key moments. When I first flipped through this book, I was “Alright cool, it is the prequels presented in storyboards”.  But upon a closer look there is so much more that will have you literally examining this book very closely to be sure not to miss a detail. Like I mentioned I am a fan of J. W. Rinzler’s works, so I will be awaiting the upcoming release of “The Making of Star Wars: Return of the Jedi”, this October very highly! Keep me coming J. W. and Lucasfilm!

Author: Tara Bennett
Hardcover: 143 pages
Publisher: Titan Books
Release Date: April 23, 2013

Our Score: 3.5 out of 5 stars

Titan Books is really on fire this year, after also recently releasing the impressive “The Art of The Croods”. “Epic” is the latest film from 20th Century Fox Animation and Blue Sky Studios, the creators of “Ice Age” and “Rio”. I haven’t heard much of this film before reading this like I did with “The Art of the Croods”, but this book makes me really want to see this movie right now!

“The Art of Epic” is really sharp art book with over 300 pieces of concept art, character sketches, storyboards and digital paintings spread out over the 140+ pages. Top that with some great interviews from the very talented animation talent that are behind the film and we’ve got a winner. The art is very detailed and very colorful. It really captures this world that was created for this film. I love the breakdown of each character and environment that we get introduced to throughout this film.

Official Premise: “Epic” tells the story of an ongoing battle deep in the forest between the forces of good and the forces of evil. When a teenage girl finds herself magically transported into this secret universe, she must band together with a rag-tag team of fun and whimsical characters in order to save their world — and ours.

The film is director by Chris Wedge, (“Ice Age”) and stars the voices of Colin Farrell, Josh Hutcherson, Amanda Seyfried, Christoph Waltz, Aziz Ansari, Chris O’Dowd, Pitbull, Jason Sudeikis, with Steven Tyler and Beyoncé Knowles. So there is no shortage of talent here for sure.

The author for this book, Tara Bennett, is no stranger to “The Art of” books. She has worked on several movie and TV companion books including “The Art of 300”, “The Art of Terminator Salvation” and “The Official Firefly Companions Vol. 1, Vol. 2 and Vol. 3”. She really knows how to give an inside look behind-the-scenes on a project and she does it very well here. She has me hook, line and sinker. I will be first in line for “Epic”. I look forward to future releases from both her and Titan Books.

Author: Ridley Pearson
Performed by: Christopher Lane, MacLeod Andrews
Publisher: Brilliance Audio on MP3-CD
Edition: Unabridged
Discs: 6, 10, 9, 11
Release Date: August 26, 2008, April 6, 2010; April 5, 2011; April 3, 2012
Running Time: 7 hours, 12 hours, 10 hours, 13 hours

Overall Series Score: 4 out of 5 stars

Flashback to November 2005 in Walt Disney World,  I am on my honeymoon with my beautiful newly wed wife. We are strolling around the Magic Kingdom shops and I come across a rather interesting book titled “Kingdom Keepers: Disney After Dark”.  And that was my first introduction to the world of Ridley Pearson.  I believe I finished the book before I even got home from the honeymoon and hungry for more.  I also went around and spreaded the word to my entire Disney family, who is also now hardcore fans of the series and Pearson’s work. “Kingdom Keepers II:” Disney at Dawn” arrived in 2008.  The book was a fantastic continuation of the series of Finn and his friends.  With the series on a hot streak the third installment as was up next “Kingdom Keepers III: Disney in Shadow” only two years later in 2010. Since the third book Ridley has been releasing a new episode every year with “Kingdom Keepers IV: Power Play” in 2011 and “Kingdom Keepers V: Shell Game” in 2012. This series not only gets better with each book it also reveals all new mysteries, adventures and villains that our heroes and their DHI’s have to face. A must have for an Disney fan!

The first “Kingdom Keepers” on audio book was performed by Gary Littman and the second book was performed Christopher Lane.  Both books were well performed don’t get me wrong
but he third book was is performed by MacLeod Andrews and easily became my favorite of all the performers. In fact MacLeod also has continued with the series straight through the latest fifth book in the series “Shell Game”. I like the fact of keeping it uniform especially when it comes to audio books.  When you listen to MacLeod you will understand what I mean.  He is very animated and really gives a voice to these characters. His performance also feels very theatrical, which I believe stems from his background of working on numerous stage production in New York. I believe that in order to deliver a convincing and also entertaining job for a book reading that you need to be able to get behind as well as into the characters. As the series also progress within the third book through the fifth book, it also get more epic and ambitious. This is where MacLeod really steps up and delivers the action, the comedy and the drama all mixed together very well.

Brilliance Audio has been behind this series since the first book and have delivered impressive productions throughout the series. “Kingdom Keepers II: Disney at Dawn” in book form is 384 pages, while the audio book is about 7 hours long. I have always loved the second book and Lane goes a good job with his performance. “Kingdom Keepers III: Disney in Shadow” in book form clocked in a 560 pages, which is a nice length especially of young adult book. The book is performed by Macleod in just over 12 hours over 10 compact discs.  The book edition of “Kingdom Keepers IV: Power Play” closes out with 448 pages.  The audio book runs 10 hours over 9 compact discs. Lastly, “Kingdom Keepers V: Shell Game” totals up 560 pages in the book edition, while the audio book runs the longest at 13 hours and 17 minutes and over 11 compact disc. Here are the packaging dimensions for each audio book: “Kingdom Keepers II: Disney at Dawn”, “Kingdom Keepers III: Disney in Shadow” and “Kingdom Keepers IV: Power Play” are both: 7 x 5 x 1.5 inches, while “Kingdom Keepers V: Shell Game” comes in a smaller and more concise packaging 5.5 x 5 x 0.5 inches. I have to say that I prefer the slimmer packaging since it stands better without the added Styrofoam. Also inside each of the three boxes are the same content, which are the varied number of discs in white paper sleeves, so you are not loosing anything due to the smaller packaging. Am I allowed to say “Brilliant job Brilliance Audio!” 😉 Can’t wait till the audio book of “Kingdom Keepers VI: Dark Passage” coming Fall 2013.

“Kingdom Keepers II: Disney at Dawn” Official Premise: It’s supposed to be a happy day at the Magic Kingdom – the teenage holographic hosts have returned. But things go very wrong when a sudden lightning storm disrupts the celebration, and Amanda’s mysterious sister, Jez, disappears. The only clue is the sighting of a wild monkey in the Magic Kingdom during the storm. The mystery deepens as Finn is contacted by Wayne, an old man he hasn’t heard from in months. Wayne tells Finn that there’s trouble at the Animal Kingdom: the evil Overtakers have gained control of one of the computer servers that will be used to operate Daylight Holographic Imaging there. That means if any of the holographic hosts fall asleep, they will go into comas – permanently. Filled with action and brimming with the same meticulous detail as The Kingdom Keepers: Disney After Dark (also available in audio from Brilliance Audio), this second audiobook in the series – Disney at Dawn – is the result of hands-on research behind the scenes at Disney’s Animal Kingdom Park. Younger and older listeners alike will get a glimpse into a second Disney kingdom. The wild rides have only just begun, and the clock is ticking. How long can the teens keep themselves awake in their quest to find their friend – and what happens if they fail?

“Kingdom Keepers III: Disney in Shadow” Official Premise: When Disney Imagineers installed hologram guides for the Magic Kingdom using teenage models, they had no idea the technology might backfire. But backfire it did: some nights when the kids go to sleep, they wake up in one of the Disney parks as holograms. The five teens have twice thwarted evil plots masterminded by Maleficent; but now Finn, Philby, Willa, Charlene, and Maybeck have another problem: Wayne, their mentor and head Imagineer, has mysteriously gone missing. Concerned that Wayne has been abducted by the Overtakers, the kids pick up a major clue from a close friend, Jess, whose dreams (nightmares, really) often accurately predict the future. This time, the clues from Jess’s dream lead the kids into Disney’s Hollywood Studios and Epcot. Each clue seems tied to the last, and with the stakes growing ever higher, what starts out as a puzzle ends up as a fight for their lives. As they quest for a sword, take rides on Soarin’ and Maelstrom, have life-and-death encounters with a giant snake, and attempt to stop Maleficent, the Kingdom Keepers not only begin to decipher deeper meanings in the clues, but discover new truths about themselves and their ever-growing friendships.

“Kingdom Keepers IV: Power Play” Official Premise: Just when life for the five Kingdom Keepers is beginning to settle down, an intriguing video suddenly appears on Philby’s computer at school. It’s a call to action: it seems that the Overtakers, a group of Disney villains, are plotting to rescue their two captured leaders, who were hidden away by Disney Imagineers after a recent violent encounter at Disney’s Hollywood Studios. A staged attack by some mysterious new Overtakers at DisneyQuest confirms the Keepers’ fears. One of their own, Charlene, has been behaving oddly. Has she tired of her role as a Keeper, or is there something more sinister at play? When she’s caught sneaking into Epcot as a hologram — which is strictly against the group’s rules — Finn and Philby know the Keepers must act. The Keepers have so many puzzles to solve: has the impossible occurred? Have the Overtakers created their own holograms? Have they found a way to “jump” from the Virtual Maintenance Network onto the Internet, and if so, what does that mean for the safety of the Parks, and the spread and reach of the Overtakers? Are they recruiting an army of kids for their evil purposes? Trouble looms as the Kingdom Keepers struggle to differentiate friend from foe and battle new and increasingly dangerous enemies, all the while knowing they may be nearing a point of no escape.

“Kingdom Keepers V: Shell Game” Official Premise: As the five Kingdom Keepers enter high school, everything is about to change. The Maintenance Base that controls all four parks in Disney World is under attack by the Overtakers, a group determined to change Disney forever. Relationships between the Keepers are no longer as simple as they once were. In fact, nothing is as simple as it once was. An after-hours visit to Typhoon Lagoon is a game changer. The Keepers lose one of their most valuable supporters. But there’s work to do. . . . The Disney Dream leaves Port Canaveral on a historic cruise to Los Angeles with a special treat in store for guests: the Disney Host Interactive teenage guides are on board. Finn, Maybeck, Charlene, Willa, and Philby join celebrity guests as the DHI experience moves to one of the most advanced cruise ships in the world. But all is not right belowdecks. Strange things are happening. Unexplained phenomena. Only the Kingdom Keepers know the truth behind their invitation to be in attendance: nearly every Disney villain is aboard the ship, including Maleficent. The Overtakers have infiltrated the cast and crew. And no one knows what they have planned. The Dream sets sail filled with enthusiastic guests and crew. But not for long. Maleficent takes over a video screen and warns the guests of trouble to come. With the ship arriving at the beaches of Castaway Cay—its first of many exotic ports of call—the Kingdom Keepers are under attack; back home the Base is threatened and about to fall. The Overtakers have expanded in ways never foreseen, and it’s clear they intend to use this element of surprise to accomplish what has eluded them so far: victory. But not if Finn Whitman and friends have anything to say about it.

Author: Diane Franlin
Paperback: 134 pages
Publisher: Diane Franklin
Release Date: August 2, 2012

Our Score: 4 out of 5 stars

If you grew up in the 80’s and watched movies then you know who Diane Franklin is. If you were a teen guy (or a girl) you most likely had a crush on her. Her first film role was “The Last American Virgin”, which started her career as an 80’s icon. From there she took on roles in film like “Amityville II: The Possession”, “Better Off Dead”, “TerrorVision” and “Bill & Ted’s Excellent Adventure”. These films were a big part of my life growing up. They are also all pinnacle films of the 80’s. This book is a real treat for anyone that is a fan of these films and are looking for an inside look into Diane’s career and life. When I recently spoke with Diane about her book, read here, she told me that she wanted to do this in a way to preserve her experiences and stories on these films for herself, her family and also her fans. It is great reflection of not only her films but also her life outside film.

“Diane Franklin: The Excellent Adventures of the Last American, French-Exchange Babe of the 80s” was self-publishing by Diane herself and is currently available for sale only on Amazon.com and for download to your Kindle devices, click here to purchase. This book is very personal and reads like a friendly conversation. It goes into a lot of Diane’s personal experiences. She includes a lot of great personal photos as well. My favorite part of the book though is how accessible it is. I am a big fan of “Better Off Dead”, so instead of searching through the whole book for what she wrote on that film in particularly, she has set up the book with chapters based on each film. So there are chapters on her films like “Last American Virgin”, “Bill & Ted”, “Better off Dead” etc. This is a very smart idea and a great selling point for the book. Maybe you don’t give a crap about “Amityville II” but you love her in another film. People can go directly to that movie and still enjoy the book.

Speaking of “Amityville II”, we all know Diane’s role in that film is a bit risqué. She goes into a lot of depth about that film as well in the book and fans of the film are going to LOVE IT! But speaking of risqué, Diane has actually rated each chapter dealing with her films, so some are rated PG-13 or rated R etc. So if you are a parent it will inform you on how mature each chapter of the book would be for your kids. It is not very graphic but the subject matter is more mature in the rated R chapters. This is a very unique book and one of the most interesting memoirs that I have ever read. Diane really goes back in time and relives these events and brings these wonderful stories for us to enjoy. What I also love is that the stories don’t stop with her 80’s films it goes into her early life as well and her life before and after she became an 80’s icon. It is very honest and engaging. If you are looking for a very quick, easy and fun read…then be sure to pick this up!

Author: Ridley Pearson
Age Range: 10 and up
Hardcover: 448 pages
Publisher: Hyperion Book CH
Release Date: April 2, 2013

Our Score: 4 out of 5 stars

Even since the first “Kingdom Keepers” back in 2005, I have been in love with this series. There was something interesting about what happens when Disney goes dark. This series has developed so well since it began its adventure exploring from park to park with some really great plot twists and fun characters. I love the fact that Maleficent gets center stage as she is one of my favorites. In “Dark Passage”, we hit the seas on the Disney Cruise Line and various Caribbean islands. Since Disney is so vast, there is no shortage of where we can go with this series. I feel that this sixth book in the series is the most ambitious and has yet to disappoint. So don’t worry this series is not running low on steam and continues to grow strong.

Official Synopsis: The five Kingdom Keepers and their core friends have uncovered a startling truth: Maleficent and the Overtakers (Disney villains) are plotting a catastrophic event that could have repercussions far beyond the world of Disney. Aboard the Disney Cruise Line’s inaugural passage through the new Panama Canal, the Keepers and their holograms uncover a puzzle hidden within the pages of a stolen journal. The point of that puzzle will reveal itself in the caves of Aruba, the zip lines of Costa Rica, and the jungles of Mexico. A destructive force, dormant for decades, is about to be unleashed. The five Kingdom Keepers are to be its first victims.

Ridley Pearson really knows how to speak to his audience.  The book is aimed at the “Young Adult” audience but it doesn’t talk down to them.  He treats his fans like they are adults and that is why I feel that this series also draws in an older audience as well, like myself.  Plus who doesn’t like to read about a different side of Disney with new and our favorite character. Ridley Pearson has stated before that this series will contain seven books, which means that we are getting close to the end to the “Kingdom Keepers” series. I still would like to see this series transform into a TV series or feature film.  Maybe one day. I feel that there is a major audience for this. Either way, I will be on the edge of my seat to see what Pearson has planned next.

Author: Paul Ruditis
Hardcover: 96 pages
Publisher: DK CHILDREN
Release Date: March 18, 2013

Our Score: 4 out of 5 stars

Are you a fan of the “Star Trek” franchise? Or just becoming a fan? Either way there is something here for you in the “Star Trek: The Visual Dictionary”. Obviously this book is aimed for the younger audience but it is still delivers. It covers the everything “Star Trek” including the live-action TV series and films. The book is only 96 pages, so it is a little crammed but there is a lot of great content included in this book. Fans of the “Star Trek” universe take a look at the characters, aliens, starships, and technology from this incredibly vast franchise. I highly recommend for all Trekkies.

We start off with a wonderful forward from John de Lancie (who played Q in “TNG”). I have had the priveldge of chatting with John and he is such a cool guy.  He contributed so much to this show throughout his few episodes and remains of my favorite characters. Each of the series gets its own sections to showcase their ship, captain, and crew. We also get to explore the various races in the series inclduing the Vulcans, Klingons, Romulans, Borg, Dominion, and Cardassians. If you know “Star Trek” then you know what a vast universe this is. So does this book cover everything? No. But it is enough to showcase the most important parts of the show and will easily assist with any new fans young and old.

For a long-time fan like myself, I was still able to learn new specific details about various characters and many obscure facts like costume or weapon background info. The images are extremely high quality and very detailed as well. You can tell that there is no shortage to the level of attention given to this book. The author, Paul Ruditis, worked in full collaboration with CBS Consumer Products on this, so you know everything is accurate and valid. With the new “Star Trek” movie just around the corner and the recent celebration of the 25th anniversary of “TNG”, “Star Trek” has never been more popular and this is a great way to get your fix.

Author: Noela Hueso
Hardcover: 176 pages
Publisher: Titan Books
Release Date: March 26, 2013

Our Score: 3.5 out of 5 stars

“The Croods” is the newest CG animated films from Dreamworks Animation.  They are the studio behind recent films like “How to Train Your Dragon” and “Rise of the Guardians”.  After “Guardians”, the studio really needs a hit.  To be honest, I was not interested at all in seeing “The Croods”…that is until I read this book.  I recently had the chance to check out “The Art of Oz The Great and Powerful” and I was hoping for something special there but was really let down.  This book here is what I expect when I want to read an “art of” book.

The book is split into three main sections. The first section, “Finding The Croods”, looks into our cast including Grug, Eep, Guy, and Belt. We get glimpses of early sketches, digital paint images and CG models.  I love getting to see different variations of the characters in order to see their evolution and in this case since they are pre-historic that work holds more of a meaning. The second part is “An Evolving World” looks at the creatures and landscapes that make up The Crood’s world.  We look into the various sets into the caves, jungles, tundras and gorges.  The last section looks into the “Anatomy of a Scene”.  This looks into the production from the story to the effects and how they are blended together into the final product.

“The Art of The Croods” clocks in with over 400 pieces of concept art, character sketches, storyboards and digital paintings. Like with all of Titan Books releases, this is yet another high quality book and has some very colorful and sharp images.  Along side the great art there are also interviews with the key animation talent. There is a foreword by Nicolas Cage, which I have to admit is one of the worse that I have ever read.  Sorry Nic Cage, I am usually a fan but this is foreword is about a paragraph long. This is author’s Noela Hueso first book, so with that in mind this is a great first go at it. Previously she had worked at the The Hollywood Reporter for 16 years, so she definitely has the necessary knowledge of the business.

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