Entertainment

Here’s our weekly showcase of the latest and greatest new selections in media for youth.

From books and games to educational toys and DVDs, there’s never a dull moment for active and eager young minds.

This week, three new book selections prove the holidays are soon to be in full swing, offering fun page-by-page perspectives from everyone ranging from snowmen and mice to kittens and even Horrid Henry!

BOOKS

AGES 7 AND UP

Horrid Henry’s Christmas
by Francesca Simon and illustrated by Tony Ross (
Source Books, $4.99)

The reigning prince of mischief is back, and Horrid Henry isn’t worried about Santa Claus or anyone else watching his bad behavior during this special time of the year. Besides trying to sabotage the school’s holiday program, he’s also spending his allowance to buy some “not very nice” presents for those around him. With fun illustrations, this entertaining 100-page paperback read makes a great stocking stuffer to teach children how NOT to behave. It’s available now in stores or at sourcebooks.com.

THIS WEEK’S FEATURED EVENT

Dec 11: Snowflake Skate
MERRILLVILLE | Girls ages 4 and older are encouraged to bring a doll or a teddy bear to join the fun both indoors and out at this ice skating party. Participants will get to skate on the outdoor plaza, learn skating moves, get their picture taken and make a souvenir craft to help commemorate the event before having lunch. Find out more here.

ALSO THIS WEEK

• Ongoing: Chicago Fire Juniors Northwest Indiana Soccer Club Tryouts at the Crown Point Health and Fitness Center

• Through Dec 9: And a Child Shall Lead at Adventure Stage Chicago

• Through Dec 10: Christmas on the Buckley Farm Long Ago at Buckley Homestead in Lowell

• Through Dec 13: The Story of the Nutcracker at the Center for the Visual and Performing Arts in Munster

• Through Dec 17: Caroling at Cloud Gate at Adventure Stage Chicago

• Through Dec 25: Lake County Animal Shelter Drive at Settings in Crown Point.

• Through Dec 31: Pinkalicious at the Apollo Theater in Chicago

• Through Jan 2: Winter Pageant at Redmoon Central in Chicago

• Through Jan 2: The Wizard of Oz at the Apollo Theater in Chicago

• Through Jan 9: A Christmas Story Comes Home at the South Shore Convention and Visitors Authority in Hammond

• Through Jan 9: Christmas around the World and Holidays of Light at the Museum of Science and Industry in Chicago

• Through Jan 23: Jim Henson’s Fantastic World at the Museum of Science and Industry in Chicago

• Through Mar 13: McCormick Tribune Ice Rink at Millennium Park in Chicago

• Through Mar 13: Mexico—Festival of Toys at the Chicago Children’s Museum

• Dec 10-11, 17-18: Holiday Pajama Days at Bellaboo’s Play and Discovery Center in Lake Station

• Dec 11, 18, 19: Santa and Mrs. Claus are Coming to Town at the Courthouse Lower Level Shops in Crown Point

• Dec 11-12: Candy Cane Express at the Hesston Steam Museum in LaPorte

• Dec 11-12: The Nutcracker at the Morris Performing Arts Center in South Bend

• Dec 12: Family Snow Ball at Chicago Children’s Museum

• Dec 12, 19: Free Soccer Clinics at the Crown Point Health and Fitness Center

• Dec 14: Parenting Together at Bellaboo’s Play and Discovery Center in Lake Station. This month’s topic is “Eating Healthy Starts at Home.”

• Dec 15-Jan 2: Irving Berlin’s White Christmas at Bank of America Theatre in Chicago

Books open a world of discovery in ways even the coolest toys can’t achieve. This season, tempt a kid to turn off the TV and find an adventure in words and pictures on a printed page. These acclaimed titles were winners or finalists for some of the most esteemed awards in children’s literature for 2010.

1. Going Bovine by Libba Bray (Delacorte Books for Young Readers, 2009) $17.99 Printz Award for Young Adult Literature

2. When you Reach Me by Rebecca Stead (Wendy Lamb Books, 2009) $15.99 Newbery Medal

3. Claudette Colvin: Twice Toward Justice by Phillip Hoose (Farrar, Straus and Giroux, 2009) $19.95 Newbery Honor

4. The Lion & the Mouse by Jerry Pickney $16.99 (Little, Brown and Company for Young Readers, 2009) Caldecott Medal

5. Bad News for Outlaws: The Remarkable Life of Bass Reeves, Deputy U.S. Marshal, by Vaunda Micheaux Nelson (Carolrhoda Books, 2009) $17.95 Coretta Scott King Award

6. The Evolution of Calpurnia Tate by Jacqueline Kelly (Henry Holt and Company, 2009) $16.99 Newbery Honor

Here’s our weekly showcase of the latest and greatest new selections in media for youth.

From books and games to educational toys and DVDs, there’s never a dull moment for active and eager young minds.

This week, robots, dinosaurs and dragons populate the pages of three new hardcover books sure to stimulate young minds and creative imaginations.

BOOKS

AGES 8 AND UP

The Robot Book
by Heather Brown (Accord Publishing, $16.99)

Best described as an interactive story, this clever 12-page book uses the true and original 3D design. It features real cardboard twisting and turning gears that spin page by page without any buttons or batteries. From cogs to nuts and bolts, young readers are given a visual sense of the working mechanics for machinery in the guise of a robot. Best of all, the book also emphasizes the most important part of any project found ticking away inside, front and center. It’s available in stores now.

THIS WEEK’S FEATURED EVENT

Dec 3: Holly Days
VALPARAISO | A live nativity scene, the arrival of Santa and Mrs. Claus and the Holly and JJ Jolly Show highlight this annual holiday event. Carols will be sung by local Girl Scout Troops and downtown stores and restaurants will be open for holiday shopping as well. Find out more here.

ALSO THIS WEEK

• Through Dec 9: And a Child Shall Lead at Adventure Stage Chicago

• Through Dec 17: Caroling at Cloud Gate at Adventure Stage Chicago

• Through Dec 25: Lake County Animal Shelter Drive at Settings in Crown Point.

• Through Dec 31: Pinkalicious at the Apollo Theater in Chicago

• Through Jan 2: Winter Pageant at Redmoon Central in Chicago

• Through Jan 2: The Wizard of Oz at the Apollo Theater in Chicago

• Through Jan 9: A Christmas Story Comes Home at the South Shore Convention and Visitors Authority in Hammond

• Through Jan 9: Christmas around the World and Holidays of Light at the Museum of Science and Industry in Chicago

• Through Jan 23: Jim Henson’s Fantastic World at the Museum of Science and Industry in Chicago

• Through Mar 13: McCormick Tribune Ice Rink at Millennium Park in Chicago

• Through Mar 13: Mexico—Festival of Toys at the Chicago Children’s Museum

• Dec 1: C.H.O.I.C.E.S. Natural Birth & Parenting Network Monthly Meeting at the Hebron Community Center. This month’s topic: Alternative Medicine and Allergy Elimination.

• Dec 1-2: The Nutcracker at the Star Plaza Theatre in Merrillville

• Dec 2: Family Game Night at the Hammond Civic Center

• Dec 2: Kids’ Movie Night at the Crown Point Civic Center

• Dec 3-Jan 2: Winter WonderFest at Navy Pier in Chicago

• Dec 4: Hammond Holiday Parade. Parade begins at Gavit High School in Hammond

• Dec 4: Tree Decorating Naturally at the Gibson Woods Nature Preserve in Hammond

• Dec 4-5, 11-12: Candy Cane Express at the Hesston Steam Museum in LaPorte

• Dec 6-10: Christmas on the Buckley Farm Long Ago at Buckley Homestead in Lowell

It’s been three years since Greg Heffley self-consciously entered middle school in Diary of a Wimpy Kid, with misguided attempts to fit in among the “gorillas who need to shave twice a day” and the girls who didn’t even know he existed. Four books, 37 million copies and one hit movie later, Greg is back and as desperate as ever in Diary of a Wimpy Kid: The Ugly Truth, the latest in Jeff Kinney’s comedic series that can be found in the bedrooms of most third-grade boys.

The Ugly Truth picks up on the theme that kicked off the series in 2007: Greg’s ex-friendship with the portly, innocent Rowley. Rowley, a coddled only child, has spent the summer with a new best friend that his mom and dad hired through a mentor rental service. And Greg, with just a couple days left before school restarts, is considering his options for a substitute friend who could cushion his discomfort at being 52nd most popular in class.

It’s slim pickings. There’s Christopher Brownfield, whom Greg befriended over the summer only because the boy was such an effective mosquito magnet, and Tyson Sanders, who pulls his pants down too far when using the urinal. Greg decides it’s better to fly solo than to risk his already shaky social standing.

Here’s our weekly showcase of the latest and greatest new selections in media for youth.

From books and games to educational toys and DVDs, there’s never a dull moment for active and eager young minds.

This week, Charlie Brown and the Peanuts gang are ready for Thanksgiving revisiting their TV special, while in a new children’s book, a young Asian boy has his eye on another bird besides turkey and Barney is sharing his favorite fairy tales in a new DVD.

BOOK

AGES 5 TO 7

The Boy in the Garden
by Allen Say (Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, $17.99)

When young Jiro looks out the window into Mr. Ozu’s garden, he sees a long-legged crane with beautiful gray feathers, which reminds him of the story of the young woodcutter and his mysterious wife. This 32-page beautiful hardcover book is both written and illustrated by author Say, and includes a wonderful lesson about being happy without lots of money. It’s available in stores or at hmhbooks.com.

THIS WEEK’S FEATURED EVENT

Nov 26: Crown Point ‘Polar Express’
CROWN POINT | All aboard the Polar Express! During this family-friendly free event, children and their families are invited to be transported into the classic holiday tale on an historic trolley that will make stops throughout downtown Crown Point. Activities include decorating a custom trolley ornament, listening to a reading of The Polar Express, and visiting with Santa and Mrs. Claus at the last stop on the journey, the Courthouse Lower Level Shops. Children are encouraged to wear warm pajamas under their winter coats. Additionally, artists will be in select business from 6 to 9 p.m. during the November installment of 4th Friday Arts, and stores will be open later for holiday shopping. Find out more here.

ALSO THIS WEEK

• Through Nov 27: The Lion King at the Cadillac Palace Theatre in Chicago

• Through Nov 28: Billy Elliot the Musical at the Ford Center for the Performing Arts/Oriental Theatre in Chicago

• Through Nov 28: FUNundrum! at the United Center in Chicago

• Through Dec 9: And a Child Shall Lead at Adventure Stage Chicago

• Through Dec 31: Pinkalicious at the Apollo Theater in Chicago

• Through Jan 2: The Wizard of Oz at the Apollo Theater in Chicago

• Through Jan 2: Winter Pageant at Redmoon Central in Chicago

• Through Jan 9: Christmas around the World and Holidays of Light at the Museum of Science and Industry in Chicago

• Through Jan 9: A Christmas Story Comes Home at the South Shore Convention and Visitors Authority in Hammond

• Through Jan 23: Jim Henson’s Fantastic World at the Museum of Science and Industry in Chicago

• Through Mar 13: McCormick Tribune Ice Rink at Millennium Park in Chicago

• Through Mar 13: Mexico—Festival of Toys at the Chicago Children’s Museum

• Nov 24: Registration deadline for Lil’ Chefs at the Crown Point Civic Center, Dec 1-29.

• Nov 24: Registration deadline for the Born to Build Lego Class at the Crown Point Civic Center, Nov 29.

• Nov 24-28: 2010 Orak Shrine Circus at the \Hammond Civic Center

• Nov 24-28: 2010 Orak Shrine Circus at the Hammond Civic Center

• Nov 25: State Street Thanksgiving Day Parade in Chicago

• Nov 26: Santa Parade and Luncheon at the Crown Point Civic Center and the Pointe Shopping Center in Crown Point

• Nov 26-Dec 17: Caroling at Cloud Gate at Millennium Park in Chicago

• Nov 28-29: Christmas Craft Show in Portage

• Dec 1: C.H.O.I.C.E.S. Natural Birth & Parenting Network Monthly Meeting at the Hebron Community Center. This month’s topic: Alternative Medicine and Allergy Elimination.

• Dec 1-2: The Nutcracker at the Star Plaza Theatre in Merrillville

Here’s our weekly showcase of the latest and greatest new selections in media for youth.

From books and games to educational toys and DVDs, there’s never a dull moment for active and eager young minds.

This week, kids are ready for the Christmas spirit with a new CD of holiday tunes and cows are now wearing superhero capes in a new fun book, while Barney and Thomas the Tank Engine are on board for a new DVD about animals.

BOOK

AGES 6 AND OLDER

Amazing Cows: Udder Absurdity for Children
by Sandra Boynton (Workman Press, $10.95)

There are more than 90 pages all dedicated to the superstar status of cows in author Sandra Boynton’s newest page-by-page tribute to nature’s milk providing by four-legged heroes. From cow stories and cow poems to cow jokes, myths and puzzles, this comic book style illustrated book is fun and educational, with plenty of humor along the way. It’s available in stores now or at workman.com or sandraboynton.com.

From the NWI Parent Inbox—We’re always keeping our eye on what’s new and what’s going on in Northwest Indiana. Here’s today’s submission, sent by Indiana Ballet Theatre:

Indiana Ballet Theatre is proud to announce the production of the timeless Tchaikovsky ballet. Accompanied by the LaPorte County Symphony Orchestra and the local Children’s Choir, join Clara as she sees the Nutcracker come to life.

Andrew Amos is returning for his fifteenth year as Drosselmeyer and the Snow King with local Crown Point native Sarah Holland as the Snow Queen. Claude Gamba returns for his second year as the Sugarplum Cavalier with Crown Point native Kara Lozanovski who will perform as the Sugar Plum Fairy.