Entertainment

Tis the night when mini ghosts, vampires, and Harry Potters, as well as princesses and pumpkins wander the streets – Halloween is finally upon us. If you’ve been too busy to nab a costume or if costumes malfunction at the last minute, check out the beijingkids easy costume guide from our October issue. This year, you’re likely to see your fair share of Batmans and Jokers as well as a coven of witches – the most popular costume to date. But beware – some schools in the US think you might offend real witches (members of the Wiccan religion).

• Read more

Animation has come a long way from the first full feature animated film Snow White and the Seven Dwarves. Modern animated films are now incredibly realistic, creative and thought-provoking. The British Council is presenting a series of British Animation Awards nominees and award-winners five categories that film buffs, art lovers and animation dabblers should not miss! The best of the British Animation Awards Vol 7 (www.britishanimationawards.com) will be displayed as part of the Aniwow!2008 Animation Festival in Beijing (www.aniwow.org). Screenings include over 20 short and student films, animated commercial, TV graphics, sound and music, plus the unique artworks created especially for the British Animation Awards. Check out a few films below.

Date: Friday, Oct 24

Time: 8.30am-12.30pm

• Read more

Although I never understood the mania around Harry Potter’s movies, I was a devoted reader of the young magician’s adventures until the fourth book. A friend once gave me a surprising explanation about why Harry Potter is so incredibly successful: when children start reading the first book, they are generally around the same age as Harry and can identify with him. He grows older as the reader does, sharing the same problems; although he lives in a more fantastic world with magic and excitement, he still deals with typical problems sometimes. 

Before coming across the Harry Potter books, I had a Lords of the Rings phase that I still remember vividly, but my travels to middle earth were limited compared to the thoughts I gave Hogwarts. And although the fantasy genre has fans of all ages, it seems that children are especially attracted to fantasy worlds and mythical creatures.

• Read more

There is no greater bliss on earth than that enjoyed by kids on their summer holidays. The time before school starts again seems endless; the mischief available to revel in is irresistible; and all the time, there’s a spare afternoon to escape the beating sun (or rain!) and watch a magical movie.

Now, I’m not talking about the summer blockbusters that Hollywood likes to shove down our throats year after year. (Does anyone really care about the millionth installment of Spiderman?) I’m talking about the movies that seem to capture the excitement of these golden days in the sun. Maybe you have your own favorites, but here is a personal selection of three films that make me feel young, and give you the urge to eat a popsicle or icecream in front of the TV for a couple of hours.

• Read more

Calling all junior Olympians! Show your stuff this Friday at AmCham’s annual Kid Olympics at the International School of Beijing–complete with hula-hooping, dunking, contests and games for prizes. Enjoy the barbecue, cool off with cold drinks, and catch the firework show in the evening.

What: Kid Olympics

When: Friday, July 4, 3pm to 9pm

Where: International School of Beijing

Why: It’s fun!

The tbjkids June/July issue presented a guide to traveling around China, but for those of us spending most of our time in Beijing this summer, check out the summer program at the Beijing Concert Hall, Gateway to Music.  

From July to August, Gateway To Music, is a series of various concerts to introduce kids and families to the world of classical music and stimulate intellects during the lazy days of summer.  

Gateway to Music will feature performances by first-class musicians, including violinists Peter Winograd and Sheng Zhongguo, violist Daniel Avshalomov, cellist Wolfram Koessel, and pianist Seta Yuko. 

• Read more

2008 may be the Year of the Rat, but so far it’s seems more like the Year of the Panda as China’s most famous furry icon dominates headlines and the silver screen. 

• Read more

In my household, my father never received an elaborate Father’s Day celebration. We’d usually hunt for the latest gadget to get him, and we often failed. My brothers and I usually ended up giving my father a stunning new tie, but he didn’t seem to really mind. We focused most of our attention on Mother’s Day – showering my mom with flowers and pitching in with household chores. However, ever since my siblings and I left the nest, our gifts to my father have gotten better over the years—but your family doesn’t have to be as uncreative as mine was! tbjkids has compiled a few activities, gift ideas, and imaginative ways to show dads you really care on Sunday, June 15. 

• Read more

 After only having watched half an hour of Amir Bar-Lev’s  documentary My Child Could Paint That, I turned the TV off in disgust. The film depicts 4-year old painter Marla Olmstead’s rise to celebrity status. While she grins at the camera, refuses to be interviewed or sloppily spreads globs of paint around a canvas larger than her “pint-sized Pollock” body, the darker truth surrounding her artistic ‘genius’ is revealed.

• Read more

The best thing about having a younger sister is the excuse it gives me to re-read all those children books I loved so much as a child. Upon re-reading Beverly Cleary’s “Ramona the Pest,” I was happily reminded of the mistake Ramona made while singing the American National Anthem on her first day of kindergarten. The 5-year-old Ramona mishears the line “dawns early light” as “dawnzer lee light.” I found this exponentially more humorous than my younger sister, who stared at me blankly as I laughed until I cried.  

To redeem myself, I mentioned the incident to a friend of mine, who reassured me that Ramona’s mistake was indeed a funny one. She also mentioned a couple of similar mistakes she made as a child. To her, “The Wizard of Oz” was the “Wizard a Foz,” and up until two years ago the commonly used phrase “play it by ear” was misheard as “play it by year.” Hearing this, I again burst into a bout of embarrassingly loud laughter, while my friend glared at me.  

• Read more