Gruntly Is Too Greedy in All For Me and None For All

Pigs are widely considered to be rather, well, piggy, and that particularly comes across in children’s books. One recent picture book that utilizes this stereotype is All For Me and None For All, written by Helen Lester and illustrated by Lynn Munsinger. This duo has teamed up on many occasions to tell tales of critters behaving badly or having just a little trouble discovering their place in the world. In this case, the main character is a pig named Gruntly who has never learned how to share.

Gruntly’s greediness has given him a bad reputation among his peers, which include a sheep, a chicken, a small dog and two more well-mannered pigs. They know that his motto is the titular phrase; he wants to get as much as he can, and he doesn’t care who he has to deprive in order to satisfy himself. Gruntly certainly comes across as a bully, though it’s hard to say whether he is truly malicious or just completely clueless about how to behave. Either way, his pushy, self-serving demeanor does not make him very popular. Is there any way of reforming this hog?

Lester and Munsinger make a great team, with Lester’s simple but lively text accompanied by Munsinger’s fun pictures. In this book, Woolworth the sheep is the only named animal not to wear clothing of some kind. The pigs are fully garbed in shirts and pants, while the dog wears a shirt and the chicken wears a bandana. While the two other pigs, Hampshire and Berkshire, are difficult to tell apart since they are both gray, Gruntly is easily identifiable as the only pink pig in the bunch, aside from the park ranger who is dressed all in green.

Part of the fun of this story is that it involves a scavenger hunt. Each leg of the hunt features a rhymed clue. Gruntly comes to his own conclusions about the end of each verse in an effort to move things along more quickly, but he guesses the wrong word each time. This leaves kids open to try to guess the correct word themselves before it is revealed. It also furnishes a lesson about the importance of patience and of following directions accurately.

The primary lesson in the book, however, is to share with others and not take things that don’t belong to you. For a hoggy youngster like Gruntly, drilling that message into his head is no easy task, but the method is a good one for impressing upon children the value of courtesy and generosity.

This Little Piggy Conquers Fears Through Hospitality in John Pig's Halloween

In the classic Peanuts special It’s the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown, Linus Van Pelt skips trick-or-treating in favor of greeting the Great Pumpkin from the pumpkin patch, and Sally Brown gives it a pass because she wants to hang out with Linus. They’re both bowing out of Halloween fun for the sake of doing something that they feel will be more rewarding. In John Pig’s Halloween, written by Jan L. Waldron and illustrated by David McPhail, the title character does not have other plans. He is simply too frightened to go trick-or-treating.

This tall picture book is written in well-crafted verse. Each page features between two and eight lines following a simple AABB format. The rhythm is consistent if not perfect, and the wording is vivid without being overly complex. There are a few words that may be unfamiliar, but picture books are wonderful places for kids to bolster their vocabulary. One particularly promising verse reads, “One of the pigs wore a huge rubber nose, suspenders with knickers, and blue-checkered hose. A tiny, chic pig donned a towering chapeau, then finished things off with a tangerine bow.”

John appears to live in some sort of boarding house occupied solely by pigs. Based on the fact that they are trick-or-treating, I would presume them to be kids, though if that’s the case, there don’t seem to be any adults in the house. Additionally, John seems to be unusually handy in the kitchen for a youngster. It is not entirely clear what age these characters are supposed to be, but they feel youthful, at any rate.

The other pigs want to include John, but he is just too wimpy. He’s afraid of things that go bump in the night. Nonetheless, when a witch turns up at his house looking for tasty treats, kindness compels John to let her in. Perhaps he initially thinks her only another pig in costume, but it soon becomes apparent that she has magical powers. I’m reminded a bit of Bilbo Baggins, who welcomes Gandalf and extends his typical hospitality only to find his house filled with dwarves. John, instead, plays host to monsters and magical beings of all types. When they first arrive, his anxiety is apparent in his eyes, but as the night wears on, he begins to loosen up. Maybe these monsters aren’t so scary after all!

As I am a jittery sort myself, I can relate to John’s shyness and trepidation. While I have never been afraid to go out trick-or-treating, I understand how someone might be, and his nervousness at having all those odd creatures invade his home is entirely natural. Nonetheless, he not only muddles through, he actually enjoys himself. This, then, is a story about overcoming fear through compassionate impulses. The rhyme adds to the appealing storybook quality, and the illustrations are wonderful. I’ve enjoyed McPhail’s work since I was a toddler, and this 1998 book shows the same detail and artistry that I came to expect through books like Those Terrible Toy-Breakers.

This is the cutest Halloween picture book I have read in some time. Along with the quality illustrations and verse, it includes a worthwhile message about facing your fears, which security blanket-toting Linus would most likely appreciate. John Pig’s Halloween really is an occasion worth celebrating.

Michael J. Fox Takes a Major Detour in Doc Hollywood

The first man I ever had a crush on was Michael J. Fox. When I was a kindergartener, I never tired of watching him on Family Ties – with a very goofy expression on my face, I’m afraid. By the time I dove into the Back to the Future franchise a few years later, my enthusiasm had dimmed to a more respectable level, but I’ve always enjoyed Fox’s performances, so I’m surprised I never saw Doc Hollywood until this year.

In this 1991 movie based on the book by Neil Shulman and directed by Michael Caton-Jones, Fox plays Dr. Benjamin Stone, a hotshot physician on his way to L.A. to begin a promising career as a plastic surgeon. After he takes a wrong turn, Benjamin wipes out on the highway, landing in the sleepy town of Grady. His car’s a shambles, and so is the picket fence that the judge built with his own two hands. While he waits to regain his wheels, Benjamin must serve the sentence the judge hands down to him: 32 hours working as a doctor in the town’s clinic.

What this movie reminded me of right off the bat was Cars, the Pixar film about a self-absorbed racecar who blunders into a small town, makes a mess and, in the process of cleaning it up, learns the value of a simple life and genuine friendships. It’s pretty clear from the beginning that this movie has the same general arc. Benjamin doesn’t think much of Grady at first. However, as he treats its residents, he gradually comes to feel real affection for them – and especially for Lou (Julie Warner), a strong-willed single mother who drives the town ambulance.

The romantic storyline is fairly sweet, a typical tale of two seemingly very different people learning that they actually have more common ground than they realized. It’s made more entertaining by the presence of a large pig that gets passed around town as payment for various services rendered and ultimately helps Benjamin win the approval of Lou’s young daughter. Woody Harrelson’s turn as the not-as-dopey-as-he-seems Hank Gordon, who has his own romantic designs on Lou, is fun as well.

However, it’s the town as a whole that really serves as the movie’s heart. While Benjamin falls in love with Lou, he also becomes enamored of the way Grady’s residents live. It’s funny to see David Ogden Stiers, usually so uppity, as Nick Nicholson, the folksy mayor of Grady. Yes, he is in a leadership position, but he is very much a down-home kind of guy and the chief proponent of the town’s charms. While others extend a temporary welcome, it’s plain that Nick would be happy to have Benjamin stay. Less gracious is Dr. Hogue (Barnard Hughes), the cantankerous physician currently serving all of the town’s residents on his own.

From the surly nurse to the humble, illiterate family whose letters from a long-winded relative become a favorite entertainment, the people of Grady gradually open their hearts to the doctor, and he does the same as kindly widows push food upon him and the mayor entreats him to at least stay for the town’s big festival. Benjamin is starting to feel at home, but his destiny lies on the opposite coast on the sunny streets of Los Angeles. Or does it?

While there is some profanity, as well as a bit of nudity that surprised me but helps establish the remote setting, it’s generally a pretty mild PG-13. Hence, I would term this a cute and mostly family-friendly movie about a young man’s deepening sense of community and compassion. I may not swoon for Fox anymore, but Doc Hollywood aptly demonstrates just how charming he can be.

A Kind and Steady Heart Conquers Doubt and Fear in Babe: Pig in the City

Earlier this month, Dick King-Smith died. I read dozens of books by this prolific author, but it all started with The Sheep Pig, the book that inspired George Miller’s acclaimed 1995 movie Babe. I adored that movie but never saw the sequel until this year. While it’s not quite the classic that the original is, Miller’s Babe: Pig in the City is a sweet follow-up.

Babe (E. G. Daily) is a champion sheep pig, but his glory is short-lived, as he accidentally does something that leaves his beloved boss, Arthur Hoggett (James Cromwell), incapacitated. The farmer doesn’t blame the pig, but Babe feels terrible, especially since, with Hoggett unable to work the farm, it is in danger of going into foreclosure. His boisterous wife Esme (Magda Szubanski) decides to accept an offer to make an appearance with Babe at a county fair, but a transportation kerfuffle leaves her stranded in the city with the pig. And then the trouble really begins…

The original Babe is such a quiet, simple story, beautifully executed, and much of its charm lies in Cromwell’s understated performance as the farmer of few words but deep thoughts. Though Hoggett’s injury drives the plot, Cromwell’s role in this movie is scarcely more than a cameo. Moreover, instead of the bucolic beauty of Hoggett Farm, we’ve got a chaotic city to contend with, and there are several scenes that go on much longer than necessary just for the sake of slapstick. But Babe is still the same lovable pig he was in the first film, and this movie is all about weathering mistakes and disappointments for the sake of a noble goal.

The love and respect that Babe has for Farmer Hoggett are never in question. At the same time, as he gets to know a ragtag crew of dogs, cats and simians hiding out in the hotel run by a kind-hearted animal lover (Mary Stein), the considerate nature that made him so popular with the sheep serves him yet again. Despite his determination to help his boss, he puts himself at risk for the sake of others, even those that are unkind to him. Meanwhile, Esme fights her own battle to reclaim her honor and her husband’s pig. While her role is once again largely comical – and a couple of her scenes are quite absurd – her determination to retrieve Babe at any cost to her dignity is admirable, especially considering the reluctance to look foolish that she displayed in the first movie.

While I prefer the farm setting, the look of the film is still lovely, and the Celtic-flavored score is stirring. The movie also boasts a magnificent Oscar-nominated theme song. Written by Randy Newman and performed by Peter Gabriel, it extols the virtues of courage and kindness and incorporates Babe’s iconic concluding line: “That’ll do, Pig. That’ll do.” If you’re looking for a pleasant family film, this movie will do.

Merry Christmas, Amanda & April Celebrates Sisterhood With All Its Wrinkles

Amanda is a young pig who wants to be good. Really she does. But sometimes, it can be so hard! As Christmas approaches in Merry Christmas, Amanda & April, she has only one thing on her mind: a Snuggly Baby Pig that says “Mama” whenever you pull its string. But she worries that Santa will find her virtue lacking. She must work to improve her track record, even if it means taking care of her little sister April.

Bonnie Pryer’s prose makes clear that one of these sisters is very good at following instructions, while the other is not. There’s a thread of sibling rivalry running through the book as Amanda resents the fact that being obedient comes so naturally to April and April fears that Amanda is going to get them into trouble by dawdling at the park when they should be going straight to the store for the baking supplies their mother requested. What’s more, April appears to be pretty young - about the equivalent of a preschooler - and Amanda is fairly neglectful when it comes to keeping an eye on her.

Throughout the book, Amanda makes a number of mistakes. However, while she has a forceful personality, a desire to change is evident, as is a sense of concern for others. That becomes especially clear toward the end of the book when she makes a significant sacrifice for the sake of someone in need. Hence, this is a story of personal growth, and though April acts largely as Amanda’s conscience, Amanda performs her most noble act with no prompting from her sister.

Diane de Groat’s watercolor illustrations are charming, showing the anthropomorphic pigs all dressed in their cozy winter best as they trek through town. It’s fun to point out all of the pig-centric items in the book, from the snowpigs that April creates while waiting for Amanda to finish sledding to the little toy pigs in April’s dollhouse. Other animals that come up include a hound dog, a Billy goat, a rabbit, a beaver, a porcupine and a squirrel. The paintings are full of colorful details, and de Groat’s representation of the sky’s changing colors as the sun begins to set is especially lovely.

For young children with siblings, Merry Christmas, Amanda & April is a cute book that encourages heartfelt generosity and celebrates the sisterly bond despite all of the squabbles that often accompany it.

Pig Christmas Books

Put a little oink in your Christmas with these books with pig protagonists.

Join Piggley and His Friends in a Treasure Hunt on Raloo Farm

Four years ago, I was delighted to discover the television show Jakers!: The Adventures of Piggley Winks. This charming computer-animated show with a rollicking theme song airs on PBS and features a cast of anthropomorphized farm animals living out a series of simple adventures in rural Ireland in the 1950s. The main characters are Piggley (Maile Flanagan), an imaginative pig, and his best friends Ferny (Russi Taylor), a timid bull, and Dannan (Tara Strong), a strong-willed duck.

Each tale is framed by present-day Piggley (Peadar Lamb), now a grandfather in America, using memories of his youth to impart entertaining lessons to the youngsters in his life. Grandpa Piggley is a mischievous storyteller fond of embellishments, so there is often a sense that these tales are a shade removed from reality. Treasure Hunt on Raloo Farm, one of several collections of thematically linked episodes, has an especially fantastical bent.

Treasure Hunt - Piggley’s grandsons Sean and Seamus (Nikka Futterman) are hiding from their mom, who wants them to clean their room, but Piggley tells a story to convince them to get on with the job. He recalls a time when he too wanted to avoid his chores, only to be tricked into doing them by his father (Charles Adler), who concocted a clever plan that allowed the work to get done while still letting Piggley and his friends have a good time. A cute episode with a bit of mystery mixed in, it also presents a neat idea that industrious parents might be inspired to try sometime.

Our Dragon’s Egg - The twins have found a baby bird, and they want to keep it as a pet. Piggley is sympathetic, but his own experience tells him that some animals are not meant for captivity. He recounts one long-ago day when he, Ferny and Dannan found what they believed to be a dragon egg. There’s both suspense and humor as we see the children try to find a suitable sitter for this misplaced egg, all the while fearing that it will gobble them up once it hatches, and a bit of a lesson once the occupant‘s true species is revealed. As a bonus, we get to hear Ferny sing and watch wisecracking sheep Wiley (Mel Brooks) get thrown into a tizzy as he comes to believe that he has miraculously become a mother.

Dannan Does a Jig - The twins are quarreling because they’re supposed to do a karate demonstration together, but one is much better at it than the other. What fun is it to perform in public when your skills are inferior? Piggley intends to demonstrate that it can be lots of fun no matter how talented you are. He remembers a time when Dannan’s grandmother, an accomplished Irish dancer, decided to give lessons to the schoolchildren. Dannan loved to dance, but her coordination was not up to speed with her exuberance, leading to embarrassment. A nice lesson in the joy of self-expression. Also, the music here is especially good, as there are several stretches of schoolteacher Mr. Hornsby playing a jig on the fiddle, and classroom bully Hector (Pamela Adlon) is surprised to discover that he has an aptitude for dance.

Growing Pains - Sean and Seamus resent the fact that their older sister is now allowed to stay up later than they are. Piggley lets them know that they shouldn’t be in any hurry to grow up. He reminisces about the time he was in charge of the farm for the day when his mother was out of town and his dad twisted his ankle. Dannan and Ferny are only minimally involved in this episode; we mostly see Piggley trying to hold down the fort all by himself while the mishaps pile up. Taking care of the farm turns out to be a lot more complicated than he thought, and on top of the chickens on the loose and water flooding the house, he has to deal with an extremely pregnant sheep. The most slapsticky of the four episodes, with a cascade of comical disasters.

Unfortunately, it seems that Jakers! is no longer in the regular lineup on our PBS station, but it’s nice to know that I can count on Netflix to deliver a quartet of engaging episodes whenever I get a longing for Piggley and his pals. Go searching for Treasure Hunt on Raloo Farm, and you’ll find a pot of gold.

Around Epinions in 80 Days: Kipper's Playtime Is a Fine Time Indeed

A few years ago, while I was babysitting, I discovered the television show Kipper, based on the book series by Mick Inkpen. I found the slow pace and kind characters charming, so I was delighted to find that several collections of episodes are available for Instant Viewing on Netflix. What can I say? I’m a big kid. These remind me quite a bit of Cynthia Rylant’s Poppleton stories about a timid middle-aged pig and his friends, but I would say that they aim at a slightly younger audience. The television series is probably best suited to children younger than kindergarten age, though I still found it entertaining at age 28. Kipper: Playtime features seven different stories and is just under an hour long.

In The Treasure Hunt, Tiger, a gray and white terrier who is one of Kipper’s best friends, gets a metal detector, a gadget for which I always longed as a child. I had visions of combing the backyard or the beach and digging up long-buried treasure, and that’s just what Tiger has in mind too. Generous dog that he is, he invites Kipper, the orange and white beagle who is the main character, to join in his search. After a hard day of looking, their most valuable finds are a couple of old toys belonging to Arnold, the toddler cousin of their friend Pig (whose name is self-explanatory). Good for Arnold, disappointing for the dogs. Could there still be a treasure in store for them?

Looking After Arnold finds Kipper taking on the task of babysitter. Pig needs a little break, and Kipper is happy to help out, but little Arnold is not nearly as tired as Pig suggests he will be, and a nap is the last thing on his mind. Hence, Kipper has his paws full keeping up with this little tyke. Throughout the entire video, Arnold never speaks, and he’s hardly a Tasmanian devil here, but he does seem to have an endless supply of energy that Kipper can’t quite match. He sure is a good sport, though, and I especially love the nostalgia of watching him construct a playhouse using the table, a blanket and some cushions and a train using an old cardboard box. Classic!

Tiger’s Joke Box is perhaps the funniest of the episodes. Tiger has a rather spunky personality, and here, it seems an extra “g” might suit him well, as he’s up to all kinds of mischief. Toting a box full of tricks that ought to have Weasleys’ Wizard Wheezes stamped right on it, he spends his day fooling his friends with whoopie cushions, trick candy, an eye-blackening telescope and the like, chortling with laughter as he flees the scene of the crime. But what will happen when his friends realize they’ve been had?

Pig’s Sweater takes place on a hot summer day. While Kipper is enjoying a refreshing dip in the kiddie pool, Pig stops by to show off his new sweater. He doesn’t want to get in because he’s concerned about damaging his new clothing, but a different problem presents itself when Arnold discovers a mysterious trail of arrows. Under the hot sun, Pig becomes quite uncomfortable. What’s more, unknown to him, his sweater gets snagged, leaving a trail of yarn stretching far behind him. Where could the arrows be leading, and what’s to be done about the sweater?

Clay Time makes me think of Ghost, since Kipper and Tiger make huge messes of themselves while attempting to create pieces of pottery. Of course, the scene here is hardly steamy, just silly, especially when Pig, stopping over to Tiger’s for tea, mistakes the not-yet-baked pots on the tray in the living room for chocolate cookies.

Aladdin has nothing on Kipper when it comes to getting rides on enchanted objects. In The Magic Carpet, one of the fabled conveyances slips in the window while Kipper is asleep, leaving him to discover, the next morning, that he has a passport to go anywhere he likes - but he can only make three destination wishes. Big-dreaming Kipper decides to go to the moon and hang out with the Bleeper People, strange creatures who look a bit like Snowths, the Muppets who sing back-up for Mahna Mahna, and sound like Elmer Fudd speaking gibberish. A cute I Don’t Want to Live on the Moon sort of story.

Kipper the Hero ends the collection on a high note as Kipper, reading about his favorite superhero, decides that he will become a hero himself. Giving himself a new name, a cape and a super-bike, he dashes about trying to prevent catastrophes, but instead, he only seems to cause them. But when a real disaster strikes, Kipper is ready to spring into action and show what he’s really made of.

Each of the seven stories has a good mix of humor and kindness. These are clearly friends who care about each other, and while each has his quirks, there is no malice to be found here, even when Tiger goes a little overboard on the practical jokes. The main characters are well defined, and though the sheepdog Jake only appears in a couple of episodes, his shy, gentle personality comes across pretty well too.

Martin Clunes voices Kipper, who speaks with a lower voice than any of the other characters. The rest are portrayed by Chris Lang, who makes his characters sound similar to one another but still distinct. The animation is simplistic but appealing, and the jazzy score has a soothing quality to it that matches the nature of the stories. I also like the British feel of the characters, evident not only in the accents but also in some of the phrases, like “have a go,” “fancy a sweet” and “brilliant”. Additionally, the ducks on the duck pond are white, rather than the brown ones we have around here.

I’ve been known to complain that cartoons nowadays just aren’t up to the standards of what we had as kids, but shows like this make me reconsider. Teletubbies and Booh-Bah still give me the willies, but Kipper is high-quality programming, and Kipper: Playtime is a fine representation of that.

A Considerate Farmer Makes Animals' Dreams Come True in Dream Snow

When it comes to crafting artistic, interactive, creative picture books, Eric Carle is truly a master. Whether it’s the expanding size of the Very Hungry Caterpillar or the long-awaited chirp of the Very Quiet Cricket, his books, while immediately recognizable as his from his unique style incorporating layers of colored paper, always seem to hold a surprise or two.

Carle’s books tend to be short on words, and this is no exception, with a couple of sentences per page the norm. The story concerns an affable farmer with a rotund figure and a bushy white beard. Modeled after Carle’s friend Barry Moser, the man also happens to bear an uncanny resemblance to a certain jolly old elf. Before the story ends, that similarity will come in handy.

The main portion of this book is very repetitious, as it involves the farmer, while asleep, dreaming of snowflakes that “gently covered” someone “with a white blanket.” At first, that someone is him. Then it’s each of his five animals (One, Two, Three, Four and Five). By the time he awakes, the snow is real, and it’s time for him to pull on his winter gear and provide a surprise for his barn-dwelling friends.

Carle first shows these creatures in their barn, with just their backs or bottoms visible through the windows, but this glimpse should be enough to tell readers which animal is which; they should, for instance, be able to tell that the horse is the first animal under that blanket of snow in the farmer’s dream. If they don’t remember that far back or feel like checking, they might try guessing based on the shape of the “blanket”.

The bulk of the story features just that quick succession of three pages several times over. One sentence in italics in the middle of a white page. One full-color illustration featuring a horse, a cow, a sheep, a pig or a chicken. And in between the two, a clear plastic sheet featuring a large white splotch and several smaller, snowflake-sized splotches. There is also a surprise at the end of the book, one that requires batteries. It’s a fun element, though it doesn’t add a great deal to the story, and it also makes less sense than the plastic snow pages.

If you’re a fan of Carle’s style or know a youngster who is, I recommend giving his original Christmas tale a look. I don’t think it will ever quite match the classic status of The Very Hungry Caterpillar, but Dream Snow should satisfy those who already appreciate Carle’s work.

This Little Piggy Learns a Lesson in Crispin: The Pig Who Had It All

When I see the name Crispin, the first person who always comes to mind is Crispin Glover, an actor who excels at portraying characters who are extremely socially awkward (though judging by the interviews I’ve seen with him, I’m not sure that’s much of a stretch for him). So as I began to read Crispin: The Pig Who Had It All, a picture book by Ted Dewan, I couldn’t help comparing him with jittery George McFly and brooding Willard. He has a certain kinship with those characters.

Crispin, as the title indicates, is a little pig with a seemingly endless supply of possessions. The trouble is that he always gets tired of them, and he leads a lonely existence in his fancy home surrounded by broken toys. Then, one Christmas, he receives a most unusual present from Santa: a giant box with nothing inside. Like Dudley Dursley, the spoiled rotten cousin of Harry Potter, Crispin is accustomed to getting whatever he wants, but an encounter with this emptiness alters him. When the sight of his box on the front lawn attracts some neighborhood children, he begins to understand that friends are much more valuable than stuff.

Dewan’s paintings are colorful and exceptionally detailed, from the first page of the story, in which he slips in visual references to Pringles, Green Eggs and Ham and the Velveteen Rabbit. On most pages, there is ample white space, upon which the text is printed. But some illustrations take up a full page or even two. These two-page spreads are the most lavish portions to pore over, and Dewan makes especially good use of light, with tiny bulbs blinking out at the reader from the page. The effect is especially striking in the almost gothic image toward the middle of the book of Crispin’s home in the midst of a downpour, with strings of white lights covering the bushes and trees that surround the extensive property.

Most pages feature somewhere between one and half a dozen sentences, and aside from some odd names of high-tech fictional toys, there’s little here likely to trip up a tot’s tongue. The print is large, and there’s some repetition as Crispin responds to various changes in his circumstances, each time fearing that the friends he has made will abandon him. The book effectively shows how friendships can begin and develop and also demonstrates the value of imagination. While Crispin has some undesirable traits, they dissipate as he becomes less self-absorbed.

Though Christmas is a key element of this book, very little time is spent on the holiday itself, and the its lessons are important in any season. So while I would especially recommend Crispin: The Pig Who Had It All at Christmastime, Dewan’s tale of a little nothing going a long way is worth perusing all through the year.

My Top Ten Movies of the Late '90s ('95-'98)

The 1990s were incredibly big years for me movie-wise. Half my childhood happened in the '90s, including most of my teenage years. While I didn't necessarily get out to the theater that often back then, the movies I saw at the cinema really stuck with me. And I've had lots of time to catch up with the others - though almost all of my favorites are ones I saw in the '90s themselves. It was such a big decade for me movie-wise, I have to split it up into two. This first list covers 1995 to 1998; I'm skipping '99 since I did a top ten list for that one already and I'm looking for any excuse to trim down my list.

Babe (1995) - This beautifully shot fairy tale about a pig who becomes an expert sheep-herder simply by being polite led me to an obsession with Dick King-Smith. For an entire summer, I read every book of his that I could find in the library. As much as I love his writing, I like the film version of Babe even better than the book. The sun-drenched cinematography, the folksy music, the special effects and, perhaps most of all, James Cromwell as Farmer Hoggett, the ultimate man of few words.

Braveheart (1995) - It took me until 2001 to see this one, just because I knew it would be extremely bloody, not to mention long. I finally watched it when my brother brought some friends home to see it at midnight one night. No matter; bloodthirsty battles have a way of keeping one awake... The music, the cinematography and the accents were glorious. And Mel Gibson was a tour de force on this one. I still had to avert my eyes many times, but on the whole, I was a little surprised by how much I liked it.

Mr. Holland's Opus (1995) - My dad saw this in the theater with a friend of his who happened to be a music teacher himself. They loved it, as did my freshman theology teacher, who took every opportunity she had to recommend it. I can definitely see why any educator would appreciate this movie, in which Richard Dreyfuss shows us the lifetime of a composer who discovers untapped talents as a teacher. Powerful demonstration of John Lennon's observation: "Life is what happens to you while you're busy making other plans."

Sense and Sensibility / Pride and Prejudice (1995) - Yes, I'm cheating and putting the Austens together, though if you really pressed me, I'd have to claim the first as my favorite. Emma Thompson's incredible screenplay makes it one of the most faithful adaptations I've seen, making Sense and Sensibility manage as well in a couple of hours as Pride and Prejudice does in five. This was the movie that introduced me to her and made me really fall for Alan Rickman and Hugh Grant. Excellent all around. Of course, the latter is considered by many to be the ultimate Austen adaptation, and it certainly is terrific, thanks to a screenplay that sticks close to the book and an amazing cast, with Colin Firth the clear standout as the dashing Mr. Darcy.

Toy Story (1995) - A dazzling movie that ushered in the era of computer-animated films. It would be nice if they all came close to the standard this set. Tom Hanks and Tim Allen lead a top-notch cast of voice actors that includes Wallace Shawn, Don Rickles and Pixar mainstay John Ratzenberger in this funny, touching tale of jealousy and cooperation in the playroom. This one was first recommended to me by my freshman English teacher, who couldn't say enough good things about it. She was sure I'd love it, and she was right.

Phenomenon (1996) - I'd been wanting to see this one but hadn't yet gotten around to it when we watched it as part of my senior theology class. I wrote a four-page-long paper about it, and I could have gone on longer. A fascinating film about a humble man played by John Travolta who suddenly finds himself with remarkable abilities. I loved the story, as well as the excellent supporting performances, especially by David Strathairn, Forest Whitaker and Robert Duvall.

That Thing You Do! (1996) - Who would've ever thought that my little town of Erie would pop up in a Tom Hanks movie? This movie came just a year after Forrest Gump made me fall head over heels for Hanks, who I'd enjoyed in several other movies already. His role as an actor in this is comparatively small, but he wrote and directed the film, which is a fun, family-friendly reflection on the meteoric rise and fall of many bands in the '60s. An exuberant movie with one of the catchiest title tracks around, it's a winner for anybody who loves this era of music.
 
Anastasia (1997) - One of my favorite animated films, this Don Bluth movie was one that my brother and I caught in the theater together. It 's a highly fictionalized version of the life of Russian princess Anastasia Romanov, who was long rumored to have survived the attack on her family; one of the places she supposedly came was Erie, where there is a house named after her. The recent revelation that she died along with the rest of her family doesn't ruin this movie's charm for me. It's a touching love story with a wonderful cast that includes Meg Ryan, John Cusack, Kelsey Grammer and Angela Lansbury, and I loved the music so much I bought the soundtrack and the sheet music.

Ever After (1998) - Speaking of fairy tales, this live-action version of Cinderella directed by Andy Tennant is one of my favorite adaptations of the classic story. Drew Barrymore is headstrong but lovable as Danielle, an intelligent young woman devastated by the loss of her beloved father and oppressed by her cruel stepmother and stepsister. One of my favorite touches in this version is making the second stepsister sympathetic; wonderfully played by Melanie Lynskey, she is sweet and marginalized because she is portly, giving her more empathy with Danielle. Also fun is the incorporation of Leonardo da Vinci, which helps the film almost feel more like historical fiction.

The Truman Show (1998) - Jim Carrey is surprisingly low-key in this thought-provoking movie about a man who unknowingly spends his life as the subject of a reality show. Everything about his life has been manufactured, but there is one person from his past who is determined to tip him off. The lengths these people go to in order to keep up the artifice is incredible; the scary thing is that it's not so terribly removed from reality. I loved the concept of the movie and its family-friendly execution, and for the first time, Carrey's character didn't give me a headache. This is probably still my favorite of his performances.

2006 Delivers a Solid Pack of Movies With No Clear Stand-Out

The year 2006 was a busy one for my family, with one brother graduating from college, another from high school, an international guest staying for the summer and a cousin getting married. In the midst of all the activity, we got around to watching a few movies - though the majority of 2006 movies I’ve seen were watched later, thanks to Netflix. I don’t know that I can identify a clear favorite among the films, but there were several I enjoyed very much.  These were my ten favorites.

Akeelah and the Bee - An uplifting movie about a young girl overcoming obstacles to compete in a national spelling bee. Keke Palmer is terrific as the young spelling whiz, while Laurence Fishburne shines as her determined mentor.

Cars - It’s hard to go wrong with Pixar, and Cars is one of my favorite of their films, particularly once we leave the frantic energy of the race track for the drowsy comfort of Radiator Springs, where dwell a colorful collection of automobiles, most of them weathered and rustic, none more so than Mater, a rickety, dim-witted, open-hearted tow truck voiced by Larry the Cable Guy. The characters are lovable, the animation glorious, the vision of a world populated exclusively with vehicles clever. Plus, it has Our Town, an original song by James Taylor, one of my favorite tunes to grace a Disney film in quite some time.

Charlotte's Web - The E. B. White classic was one of the first chapter books I ever read. I’d seen the cartoon many times but was excited for a live action version, and I was quite satisfied with the results. Dakota Fanning is wonderful as always, and the movie has a quiet charm to it most of the time that definitely does justice to the novel. Beautiful cinematography and a lovely theme song by Sarah McLaughlin help make this an exquisite movie.

The Holiday - I didn’t catch this one in the theater, but renting it made for a perfect cozy evening at home. I love the idea of switching houses for a few days or weeks; sounds like a grand way to take an exotic vacation. Here, it’s a workaholic American and a disgruntled Brit who exchange homes and lifestyles, leading each of them to romance and revelation. All four leads are likable, but Eli Wallach steals the show as an elderly screenwriting legend who bonds with Kate Winslet’s character.

Miss Potter - I tend not to be a big fan of Renee Zellweger, but I love her in this gentle biopic about feisty turn-of-the-century author Beatrix Potter. This movie focuses primarily on her beginnings in the writing business, when an enthusiastic young publisher played by an utterly endearing Ewan McGregor sees promise in the project his brothers saw as silly. Their business relationship blossoms into one of the sweetest love stories I’ve seen captured on film.

Nanny McPhee - Emma Thompson stars in this Mary Poppins-like tale of a nanny who tames a bunch of unruly children. She arrives, snaggle-toothed and intimidating, to help the harried single father played by Colin Firth; as her unusual disciplinary methods begin to have an effect, her appearance gradually changes for the better. A funny and tender fantasy.

Pan's Labyrinth - This dark but moving Spanish film written and directed by Guillermo del Toro delves into magical realism as it explores the story of a girl named Ofelia who seeks a fantastical inheritance while the world around her crumbles. Sergi Lopez is a horrific villain, but del Toro’s magnificent vision of Ofelia’s submerged kingdom and Ivana Baguero’s spirited performance as the young heroine, as well as Alex Angulo’s turn as a compassionate doctor, keep the film from getting bogged down in despair. This was the film I’d most hoped to see before the Oscars. I didn’t quite manage it, but when I did rent it I was able to get first-hand confirmation of what all those little gold statues had assured.

The Queen - It was a good year for biopics, and while Forrest Whitaker deserves equal recognition for his towering performance as Idi Amin in The Last King of Scotland, the horrors of that movie are such that I don’t think I could stomach another viewing. However, I’d be glad to return to Helen Mirren’s excellent performance as the restrained Queen Elizabeth II trying to wrap her head around the international outpouring of grief for Princess Diana. That incident made a big impression upon me, and it was fascinating to see it portrayed on film from the perspective of the Royal Family.

Superman Returns - I’ve always been a Superman fan, but my fondness for Clark Kent was dramatically refreshed when my brother got me hooked on Smallville in early 2006. Over the course of his last term of high school, we breezed through three seasons of the show, so when the new Superman movie hit theaters that summer, I was especially pumped. So we went to Tinseltown and bought tickets for opening night, and I went in my glow-in-the-dark Superman shirt and cheered as Superman saved the day yet again in a funny, touching, action-packed update.

We Are Marshall - I caught this one in the dollar theater, one of many films whose main draw was a LOST connection. In this case, it was Matthew Fox, who portrays one of the few surviving members of a college football team devastated by a plane crash. Fox is the brooding assistant coach, while Matthew McConaughey plays the enthusiastic newbie determined to rebuild the team practically from scratch. Meanwhile, as Marshall University’s president, David Strathairn fills a small role with great significance. This true tale of resilience in the face of tragedy is one of the best inspirational sports movies I’ve seen.

Well, there you have it. Of course, there are still a lot of major movies from 2006 that I haven’t seen, but what I saw was pretty impressive.

Piggley Learns a Few Important Lessons in School Days in Tara

Three years ago, I discovered Jakers!, a computer-animated show on PBS that follows the adventures of Piggley Winks (Maile Flanagan), a young lad growing up in 1950s Ireland, as recollected by Piggley as a modern-day grandpa. Piggley is a pig, while his best friends Ferny and Dannan are a bull and a duck. All of the characters are types of animals that are commonly found in Ireland. Each episode is framed by a modern-day situation involving Grandpa Piggley (Peadar Lamb) and at least one of his three grandchildren, twins Seamus and Sean (Nika Futterman) and their older sister Maggie (Melissa Disney). In honor of St. Patrick's Day, I rented School Days in Tara, a collection of four Jakers! episodes. As the title indicates, all four episodes have something to do with Piggley's experiences at school, where he and his friends are under the tutelage of the strict but dedicated goat, Mr. Hornsby (Charles Adler).

In The Salmon of Knowledge, Piggley is bummed out when Mr. Hornsby warns his students that they'd better study up for Monday's big test over the weekend. He'd much rather spend his time blasting off in his Raloo Rocket with his buddies. When his mother jokingly mentions the Salmon of Knowledge, Piggley invents a history for this remarkable fish and determines to catch it. He does succeed in snagging a fish, but Dannan has serious doubts about how useful it will be, while Ferny ultimately decides he'd rather earn his good grade by studying. Will Piggley's salmon provide him with the answers he seeks or just one important lesson? In the modern day, the twins want to cut corners cleaning their room and wish they had a leprechaun who could do the whole thing for them. Their grandpa's story illustrates the importance of putting in the work needed to achieve a desired result.

Rock Around the Cluck was a new episode for me, and it surprised me in a couple of ways. First, I had no idea that Piggley could play the guitar, but he shows his grandkids that he's quite adept at it. I also suspected that a story about Piggley learning to play a musical instrument would involve him growing frustrated with the practice involved, but young Piggley is diligent with his lessons. His problem is a lack of confidence. Though he boasts that he is as talented as the band whose music introduced him to rock and roll, he's not nearly as sure of himself as he appears. When it's time for the Raloo Rockers, featuring Piggley on guitar, Dannan on makeshift bass and Ferny on drums, to debut, lip-synching suddenly starts to look like an attractive option. Music is a big part of this show, which has one of my all-time favorite theme songs, and it's always fun when an episode focuses on it. I also like that this episode allows buttoned-down shop-keeping goat Miss Nanny (Susan Silo) a chance to show her wilder side as a music teacher taken with Piggley's lively tunes.

I hadn't previously seen New Best Friends, either, and I liked it even better than the preceding episode. After Meggie complains about her best friend being out of town, Piggley suggests that she spend some time with a neighbor girl she doesn't know very well. He goes on to recall the time Mr. Hornsby sent his class off in pairs to observe nature one fine spring day, forcing the typical Piggley, Ferny and Dannan trio to split up. Ferny finds himself with impressionable young rabbit Fergal. Dannan winds up with Gosford, a goose just as concerned about grades as she is. Meanwhile, Piggley struggles to cooperate with Hector (Pamela Adlon), a bullying badger. Hector's antagonism and Piggley's hard-headedness cause them to spend most of the day arguing, but when they finally work together, the result is impressive. Dannan and Gosford settle upon teamwork more quickly, though there's still some bickering involved. While sweet-natured Ferny is nervous about taking the lead in a project, he quickly shows that he is a fine mentor to Fergal. Their storyline scarcely has any conflict at all, but I love it because the characters are just so sweet. It's also nice to see Hector show his softer side, which is revisited in the last episode.

In A Little Bit of Something Extra! Extra!, an essay by Dannan about a famous reporter and a dismissive remark by Hector inspire Mr. Hornsby to assign his students to find some news over the weekend and bring it back to the class. Naturally, Piggley wants to take things in a creative direction, figuring an exciting story with a nugget of truth is better than a bland just-the-facts narrative. Disapproving Dannan sets out to prove that facts can be just as fascinating as fantasy, and her search leads to a discovery about Hector that mirrors his gentle behavior toward the end of the third episode. Every installment of this show has a subplot involving Wiley the Sheep (Mel Brooks), a wise-cracking transplant from New York whose monologues whose words just sound like bleating to Piggley and his friends; this is the only episode on the disc in which Wiley's adventures intersect significantly with those of the main characters.

All four episodes are excellent, and the DVD also comes with a number of special features, including games, previews, and informational live action segments. I'm much more interested in just the episodes themselves, but children might have fun exploring these extras. I'd recommend any of the Jakers! collections for folks of all ages seeking a well-crafted show with an Irish flavor. The hour-and-a-half-long School Days in Tara puts particular emphasis on the value of hard work and cooperation with classmates, making it a great tool for encouraging reluctant students. I think we all could learn a thing or two from Mr. Hornsby!

Toot and Puddle Are a Credit to Pigdom

When I was little, my dad often wore a shirt that read "Pigs Are Precious". I've always been inclined to agree with that sentiment, and lots of books seem to back me up on that. Now to Wilbur, Babe and Piglet I add a pair of porkers named Toot and Puddle. Evidently they're not newcomers, but while I'm familiar with Holly Hobbie, I'd never had the pleasure of meeting the congenial Toot and Puddle, who remind me pleasantly of Frog and Toad, only not so obviously disparate in personality. Oh, they're unique all right, and distinguishable from one another, but while curmudgeonly toad seems to do rather more receiving than giving, Toot and Puddle have comparable temperaments.

In Toot and Puddle Let It Snow, both are excited to find the perfect Christmas gift for each other, and they know it won't be easy. Toot muses that "the best present was usually something you made yourself, a one-of-a-kind thingamajig, not just a whatsit anyone could buy in a store." And there's Opal to consider as well, since this young female pig will be joining them for Christmas morning. But mostly, they are preoccupied with one another and searching for inspiration, and Opal's advice on that score doesn't seem to be getting them very far.

The watercolor paintings are pleasantly drab, making the book feel homey, with the sparseness of the landscape contrasting the closeness of the friendship. We watch Toot and Puddle struggle separately, recalling past gifts they have given each other and examining notable hobbies and traits that might offer a clue as to the perfect present. While there are many full-page paintings, some pages feature a series of small illustrations. The variety gives the book an extra dash of the unexpected, and all of the pictures, large and small, are endearing.

"I wish I could take this morning and put it in my pocket and keep it forever," Puddle remarks at one point in the story when he and Toot walk together through a woodland freshly coated in snow. Readers can essentially do just that, and what's more, they can have an added reminder of the book's simple beauty with the four cardboard ornaments that are included.

Toot and Puddle Let It Snow is a story of friendship in winter that warmed me like the soft glow of Christmas lights emanating from an evergreen. There's an indication that this is the last book in the series. I hope Ms Hobbie changes her mind; these pigs are too precious to be retired!

Olivia Prepares for Christmas

Working in a bookstore, I've seen several books in the children's section featuring a whimsical pig named Olivia, but I never read of the stories in Ian Falconer's series until I came across the latest, Olivia Helps With Christmas, in my ever-earlier pre-Christmas picture book perusal.

Although I have read many tales with porcine protagonists, the fictional character of whom Olivia immediately reminded me was Ramona, irrepressible young (human) star of several Beverly Cleary books. Olivia is a mischievous little piggy who wants to be helpful but doesn't always manage so well, especially as her creative outlook on life sometimes causes her to make simple tasks more complicated.

Her primary preoccupation here is preparing for Christmas, along with her younger brothers Ian and William, who share in her anticipation, particularly Ian. William is a bit young to understand what's going on, but that doesn't prevent him from getting caught up in the excitement.

The prose style is simple, with the charcoal and gouache illustrations doing most of the talking. While most of each page is black and white, certain elements are colorful, such as the green Christmas tree Olivia helps to decorate and the red and green clothing she and Ian wear. Additionally, scattered among the pages are views of the piglets gazing out a window, and the scene through the window is in a much different style than the rest of the illustration.

My favorite series of pictures depicts Olivia in a quandary familiar to anyone who's ever dealt with Christmas lights. In six small illustrations spread across two pages, she become more and more tangled until she finally leaves it to the experts, who probably aren't much more adept than her, as Christmas lights are inherently frustrating. Another entertaining illustration shows her on Christmas morning reacting differently to each of her gifts.

Olivia Helps With Christmas is a fun little book about a child's experience of Christmas and the days leading up to it. Falconer dedicated it to the memory of his father, and it's the sort of story parents and children can enjoy together, laughing at Olivia's antics and enjoying the feeling of togetherness the book espouses. Nothing terribly profound here, just sweet simplicity and silliness. But that's enough to make this one worth the time to read it.

Matt Groenig Must Be Feeling an Immodest Amount of Pride in The Simpsons Movie

Back when The Simpsons began airing on Fox, I was a tot in early elementary school, and while my friends quoted the show and talked of its greatness, I scoffed, sanctimoniously declaring that I would never watch something so tasteless. I maintained that attitude for several years, but then my brother started watching the show occasionally, and the rest of the family got sucked in. And I realized that although it may be irreverent, The Simpsons is actually one of the most thought-provoking, spiritually stimulating shows on television. And boy, is it clever, skewering pop culture week after week - and I can't tell you how many parodies I watched on the show only to see the source material later and crack up again because now I really got the joke. The Simpsons is top-notch stuff. So I was looking forward to the movie.

And then I saw a commercial a few weeks ago in which a predictably dopey Homer clutches a pig around the middle so that it walks upside-down, leaving muddy hoof prints on the ceiling as Homer sings, "Spider-pig, Spider-pig, does whatever a spider-pig does..." Before I was enthusiastic; now I was obsessed, and the members of my immediate family soon wished I'd never seen that clip, since I was prone to bursting out in song at random moments. Yesterday, I finally got to see the movie, after having acquired the coveted picture of myself on the theater's promotional three-dimensional couch next to life-size replications of the Simpsons clan. And oh, was I satiated, with not one but three recitations of the aforementioned song, two of which were performed by a distinctly creepy choir. Delirium...

Matt Groenig pulled together most of the writers who've ever worked on the show to create a film that incorporates most of the characters who've ever appeared on the show. Well, no, that's a stretch, but certainly the regulars are out in force, and in the case of this series, that means a cast of dozens, though of course heavy hitters like Dan Castellaneta, Hank Azaria, Nancy Cartwright and Harry Shearer occupy a dizzying large number of roles. Springfield is a caricature of small-town America, and even big-town America, and it's riddled with folks representing different stereotypes. There's the Indian convenience store owner; the irascible bartender; the crazy old cat lady; the overweight, self-important comic book expert; the malevolent multi-billionaire; the smitten nerd; the school bully... The list goes on and on.

My favorite of these has always been the cheerfully self-righteous neighbor - in other words, Ned Flanders. I've heard complaints that the show is using Ned to poke fun at evangelical Christianity, and while it's true that there's some gentle ribbing going on, the fact remains that however much pleasure the bespectacled, mustached diddly-doodler might get from waggling his finger about, like Millie Kentner, the squarer than square ex-best friend of protagonist Lindsay on Freaks and Geeks, he's always someone who can be counted on for support when the chips are down. I suspect even Fred Rogers would have trouble living up to the neighborly ideal set by Ned Flanders. So I was very glad to see him playing a prominent role in this film as an unlikely mentor for Bart.

This happens when Bart finally gets fed up with his dad's self-absorption and immaturity after a dare goes horribly awry. It's during a dinner out after the most traumatic day of Bart's life that Homer meets the pig that will change his life when the Homer-as-clueless-father subplot meets the Lisa-as-frustrated-environmental-activist subplot and all of Springfield pays the price. The laughs come fast and furious, and the whole film exists within the construct of the Simpson family watching the movie while Homer complains that they could be seeing this stuff at home for free, but the film's messages are compelling, particularly the importance of environmental stewardship and of nurturing one's family.

As with most episodes of the show, you're likely to miss things the first time around, since some of the jokes are visual and pass by in the blink of an eye. Among the quickest flashes of humor are the glimpses of Apu changing the "06" in an expiration date to "08", Bart writing "I will not illegally download this movie" on the classroom board and elderly Abe Simpson perusing the magazine Oatmeal Enthusiast; there are dozens more where those came from. Because of my great fondness for Flanders, his subplot was probably my favorite, but the Spider-Pig stuff was hilarious, and it was rather exhilarating to see Lisa getting swept off her feet by my - I mean her - dream guy. And I have to give these folks props for really rewarding those patient enough to stick with the credits. Several short scenes pop up at unexpected intervals, right down the very end of the credits, and there's also an entertainingly pointless song, the singers of which seem to share Ned's contritely confessed sin of "an immodest amount of civic pride" in their little town.

If you've loved the show for years, you won't need convincing from me to go see the movie. If you've avoided it the way I did in the beginning, give the film a fair shake. You might miss a couple self-referential jokes, but on the whole I don't think familiarity with the show is much of a prerequisite for thorough enjoyment. Yes, there are bits of off-color humor, but only a smattering, and it's all handled very adroitly. Give The Simpsons a shot and see what you think. I sure am glad I did.

I'm In Love With Uptown Girls

I usually can't stand the raspy-voiced Brittany Murphy, but I'm a sucker for Dakota Fanning, so when my mom suggested renting Uptown Girls, I hoped my enjoyment of the latter would outweigh my irritation with the former. Happily, not only was Fanning winning as always, Murphy was perfectly tolerable, and the story that developed around them was both funny and touching.

The titular girls in this Boaz Yakin film are Molly Gunn (Murphy), a 22-year-old free spirit who inherited the fortune of her musician parents after they died in a plane crash when she was eight, and Ray Schleine (Fanning), an uptight eight-year-old who runs through nannies faster than Jane and Michael Banks. Molly's world comes crashing around her for the second time when she discovers that the man in charge of all her money has skipped town and left her practically penniless. Suddenly, the girl who's never worked a day in her life, who's too scatterbrained to keep any of her appointments, whose cluttered abode is littered with candy wrappers and take-out boxes has to figure out how to fend for herself.

Molly scores the nanny gig after a first job attempt goes hopelessly awry. Her cheerful pal Huey (Donald Faison) pulls some strings, and she finds herself in the employ of the acid-tongued eight-year-old. While Molly is clueless about how to be a responsible adult, she's also pretty guileless, and her attempts to connect with her charge are genuine. But Ray, hardened after years of inattentive parenting, is a hard child to reach, and both girls have a lot of learning to do before they will be able to reach a happy medium.

Thrown into the mix are subplots about Molly's friends - the rather shrill and controlling Ingrid (Marley Shelton), whose friendship with Molly is tested when she offers to share her apartment (with strings attached), and Huey, whose affable manner makes him a solid source of comfort - and a romantic interest, an up-and-coming musician by the name of Neal (Jesse Spencer). Having become familiar with Spencer on House, I enjoyed seeing him in the role of a sensitive singer-songwriter, and I must say that I've never seen him quite so cute.

Among the smaller parts in the film are two appearances by Short Circuit alums, and as huge fans of that 80s comedy about a robot who develops a personality, my parents and I thought it likely that the director had been involved in that film in some way. I can't find any evidence to support that, however, so if the inclusion of Austin Pendleton and Fisher Stevens was an homage to Short Circuit, it must have been just because Yakin liked the movie. More likely, it was a coincidence. Also coincidence? The fact that Molly has a pet pig she gives to Ray after Ingrid refuses to house him, making this one of two movies thus far in which Fanning has shared considerable screen time with a porker.

After watching the deleted scenes, my mom observed that had they been included, this film would have been much raunchier. (Unfortunately, an inoffensive scene featuring the adorable Michael Urie as a dog walker was also cut, removing the Ugly Betty co-star from the movie.) As it was, it rarely earned the PG-13 rating; she was inspired to rent it after the recommendation of my uncle, who watched it with his 9- and 11-year-old daughters, and it was perfectly appropriate for them, especially since the bulk of the movie focuses on Molly's relationship with Ray. As a romance, it builds to a sweet conclusion, but the real focus is the way these two girls, in the words of the film's tagline, "teach each other how to act their age," uplifting audiences in the process.

11 Pairs of Outstanding Animal Movies

I am an animal lover, so movies about animals have always been among my favorites. Here are ten pairs of outstanding animal flicks - eh, make it 11 for good measure. There are just way too many good ones out there...

Two Brothers / The Bear - If you're looking for outstanding nature footage, either of these will do. Both are efforts by director Jean-Jacques Annaud attempting to instill in audiences a respect for nature. The Bear barely has any dialogue at all, leaving the bulk of the action to the bears, while the few humans in the film don't have much to say. Two Brothers involves a lot more people, but once again the main focus is on two creatures of the same species making their way in the world when their well-being is threatened by humans.

Old Yeller / The Yearling - Tearjerkers. Just about everybody must know by now how Old Yeller ends, and The Yearling isn't any better. But in the meantime, they are great stories about powerful friendships between boys and the animals they love, and about how life forces those boys to grow up too quickly.

Bambi / The Lion King - In the first, we get haunting hints of humans, while in the second, there are no traces of people to be found. The animation on both films is gorgeous, displaying all the glory of two very different natural landscapes and its inhabitants. Both feature fairly carefree young princes that lose a parent, drastically change their living arrangements, fall in love with childhood playmates and take on the leadership roles they were born to play in closing scenes that echo the films' dramatic openings.

The Shaggy Dog / The Incredible Mr. Limpet - Pure silliness about people turning into animals. The former has more ridiculous sight gags than you can toss a stick at, and its sequels are similarly ludicrous. I haven't seen the recent Tim Allen adaptation, but despite advances in special effects, I can't imagine it provided more laughs than the original. The latter, meanwhile, boasts Don Knotts, who's always good for a laugh, and Don Knotts as a fish is even better. I'm always a fan of half-animated, half-life action films, and this one is lots of fun.

Beethoven / 101 Dalmatians - I like the original 101 Dalmtians just fine, but the new version tickles my fancy even more. It's just the right amount of slapstick for a modern-day Disney movie - not quite as relentless as in years past, but still plenty of well-executed gags, not to mention some very sweet moments, all those adorable puppies, and Hugh Laurie. And Beethoven may have gone a little overboard with the sequels, but the first one is a blast, another throwback to classic Disney family films; Dean Jones even shows up as a not-so-competent villain. Grand fun.

The Rescuers Down Under / Cheetah - Down with poachers! One of these is animated and the other live action, but both feature valiant struggles to save endangered creatures. One is a bald eagle, the other a cheetah. The latter is an inspiring story of friendship and determination complete with wonderful footage of Africa, while the former features dazzling animation of the Australian outback and its dazzling array of creatures, not to mention one of my all-time favorite Disney villains, voiced by George C. Scott.

Andre / Free Willy - Both of these inspirational movies are about children who are outcasts in one way or another bonding with aquatic mammals. In each case, the animal is the child's closest friend, yet the time comes when they realize that it is in the best interests of the creature to depart. Both films thus come to a conclusion that is both exhilarating and sad.

Fly Away Home / March of the Penguins - Two very different types of migration, both very inspiring. The first is more of a traditional movie than the second, telling the true story of a girl and her father who use ultra-lights to help guide a flock of geese to their proper home at the changing of the seasons. The second is more a general story of survival that repeats itself again and again. It's a documentary, but that doesn't signal boring, since the cinematography is exceptional and Morgan Freeman's narration has all the right shading to help us see the beauty in these creatures forced to cope with such a forbidding environment.

The Incredible Journey / Homeward Bound - Same story, two different versions. The first is a lot closer to the real story, and the movements of the animals on their epic trek are compelling enough on their own that there's no need to imagine dialogue for the intrepid pets. But when they do talk, in the second film, it adds another, albeit not quite as realistic, dimension to the tale. The dynamics of the three very different personalities add to the fun and allow for some truly heartwarming moments.

Watership Down / The Rats of NIMH - Two fairly dark animated films about small animals - rabbits and rats - trying to start over after their lives are fundamentally altered by humans. The somber tone of each is alleviated by a raucous bird providing comic relief and a gorgeously soothing theme song.

Babe / Charlotte's Web - And we mustn't forget about the pigs. These two films feature beautiful cinematography and state-of-the-art computer animation techniques allowing real animals' mouths to speak in synch with human actors. Both movies are adaptations of classic children's books about porkers who evade the slaughterhouse thanks to a combination of sweet-naturedness and very good friends. The latter ends on a bittersweet note, but the former's conclusion is just plain satisfying, in no small part thanks to James Cromwell's outstanding portrayal of the taciturn farmer who sees the possibilities in an unassuming little pig.

Well, I think that's more than enough. I was supposed to list ten and instead I mentioned 22. And I've no doubt seen another 22 that are worth a look. What can I say? Movies and animals. They just go together so well...

Meet Poppleton, a Perfectly Pleasant Pig

Over the past few weeks, I have been a voracious reader of books by Cynthia Rylant. This prolific Newbery Award-winning author has penned several series, of which I am currently working my way through three. Henry and Mudge are a red-headed boy of seven or eight and his big drooly dog. Mr. Putter and Tabby are an elderly bald man and his creaky orange cat. Poppleton, whose series is comparably short, is a quiet, unassuming middle-aged pig. After reading several installments of each series, I recently got my hands on the first volumes. All three mark a big change in the lives of the protagonists, but Poppleton makes the biggest change of all when he leaves his city life for a charming house in a small town. Far from anyone he knows, he has taken a risk, which is rewarded with a very special friendship with his new next-door neighbor, a llama named Cherry Sue.

We meet her in Neighbors, the first of three stories in this book, which is illustrated by Mark Teague. We get one illustration of Poppleton jogging along in a park in a hoodie, a street lamp behind him, a roller-blading chicken beside him, the cityscape off in the distance. Then it's off to the small-town life for him, in a lovely white house with a pine tree and a picket fence. He can garden in the yard and nap in the sunroom. He can put all his knick-knacks on the shelves throughout the house. And he can enjoy the company of his very friendly neighbor, who comes over constantly with food she has prepared. Though he likes her and her food, Poppleton begins to feel smothered. How can he make her understand that he needs a little time to himself? This tale is a charming introduction to the rather anxious Poppleton and a good lesson on the importance of assertiveness reminiscent of the George and Martha story Split Pea Soup.

My relationship with the library has wavered through the years, but at the moment it's going strong, so I can appreciate the importance of Poppleton's weekly visits in The Library. The text tells us that no matter what else is happening on Monday, he has to go to the library, where he sits and reads an adventure book all day, armed with a few essentials like tissues and a pocket watch. This is a good story to get kids excited about reading, though I confess I thought there might be some sort of twist at the end. Like Cherry Sue's birthday would fall on a Monday and he would become flexible in order to celebrate his friend's special day. Or he would discover that books can be checked out of the library, so he doesn't have to sit at the library reading all day. But he seems to truly savor this routine, so there's nothing wrong with that.

The Pill is a very silly story in which Poppleton offers to tend to his friend Fillmore, a goat who is sick in bed. (Incidentally, while another book shows a framed picture of a cheeseburger on Poppleton's wall, Fillmore has a framed painting of a just-opened can.) Every once in a while, my cats need a pill, and we often use the trick of putting the pill in something tasty so they will eat it without realizing it. Fillmore wants Poppleton to do just this. Not just any tasty something, mind you: something sweet and soft with raspberry filling and chocolate on top. What's more, he insists Poppleton divide the cake into ten pieces and not tell him which piece the pill is in. After each piece, though, he demands to know whether he has eaten the pill. What will happen when only one piece remains and the pill is inside? This story shows that Fillmore can certainly match Poppleton when it comes to eating. One can't help but wonder if he is really sick, or he just wants an excuse to eat lots of cake...

Poppleton is a perfectly pleasant pig, thanks to Rylant's marvelous writing that is perfect for early readers and Teague's soft, wonderfully detailed illustrations. Once you meet Poppleton, you'll want to come back and visit often!

Poppleton, Cherry Sue, Hudson and Fillmore Will Be Friends Forever

Poppleton is a portly middle-aged pig. Cherry Sue is a stylish, furry llama. Hudson is a tiny, cheese-loving mouse. They may not look much alike, but Poppleton is blessed with the friendship of the other two, not to mention several other creatures of varying species and dispositions. In Cynthia Rylant's Poppleton Forever, Cherry Sue, Hudson, a dog named Newhouse who delivers packages and a munchy goat named Fillmore try to assist Poppleton by bringing their expertise to the solving of three different problems.

The Tree is a sweet springtime story in which Poppleton plants a little dogwood tree in his yard and is delighted by its growth - until one day it suddenly starts looking brown and withered. When the tree doctor, a raccoon with a white lab coat and stethoscope, can't figure out what's wrong - other than that "the tree needs something" - Poppleton turns to his friends for help. Hudson and Newhouse offer suggestions based upon what they knew would make them perk up, but it is Cherry Sue who hits upon a wise solution that turns out to be just right.

The Cold is a funny little tale in which only Cherry Sue makes an appearance. It opens with an illustration of a very vexed Poppleton blowing his nose and leaning against the wall at the end of a trail of tissues. (Incidentally, above his head is a framed picture of a cheeseburger and ketchup, which I think is a marvelous piece of artwork for a pig to display on his wall.) Kindly Cherry Sue, who probably could hear him sneezing through the window, comes over bearing a bowl full of ten oranges, full of cold-defeating Vitamin C. When he peels the first orange, however, a surprising thing happens. Just as he is about to eat a slice, the fruit flies out of his hoofed hands and into the fishbowl. So the resilient pig tries again, but this time the orange lands in the piano! Will poor Poppleton ever be able to take advantage of his friend's thoughtful gift?

Wallpaper is the third and final story. Poppleton decides to wallpaper his house, and he enlists the aid of his good friend Hudson. He soon realizes, however, that at three inches tall, this furry brown mouse may not be the best pal to help in this matter. So he calls in Fillmore, but the insatiable goat begins chewing on the wallpaper! Even Cherry Sue is ineffective, since her luxurious fur keeps sticking to the glue. This is a sweet story that gently hints at the notion of self-sacrifice, as Poppleton's friends show themselves willing to change in order to better help him, while he offers to repay their generous spirit with a palatable reward inspired by the design on his troublesome wallpaper.

Rylant's writing style is pleasing as always in this fourth book in the Poppleton series for young readers, and I'm enchanted by Mark Teague's illustrations, which have a soft but richly detailed look about them. I've been enjoying two of Rylant's other series, Henry and Mudge and Mr. Putter and Tabby, and each set of characters has a different illustrator with a distinct style. Although the Poppleton books exclusively feature anthropomorphic animals, as opposed to the others that show humans residing with natural-acting dogs and cats, I would say Teague's style is considerably less cartoonish than the others. These animals look both very realistic and very human, and the combination makes them extremely lovable, especially when they're showing as much consideration for each other as they do in Poppleton Forever.