The 39 Clues - PKTR 41

It's here! The exciting adventure series we told you about last December, "The 39 Clues" has been released and is now in stores. We received our copy just moments before the show was taped, so bear with us as we try to make sense of it.

You'll notice a gap in the show at the 10 minute mark - but stay with us - we return within two minutes. Technical difficulties...



Think of this show as our initial impression of the hot-off-the-press first book, "The Maze of Bones" in what will ultimately be a ten book series. Rick Riordan, author of "The Lightning Thief" and all of the books in the Percy Jackson series, wrote the story arc for The 39 Clues as well as this first book.

On our next show we will have much more information for our listeners when we do a full show about The 39 Clues, so tune in again on October 4 to Parents and Kids Talk Radio.

Thanks for listening!

Tween Time - PKTR 27

What do tweens think about the world today?

We talk about a variety of topics in this show and check in with our resident tween to get a sense of what she and her friends think.

For example:
Passion? What does it matter? Who has it and why? How does it affect what people do? Do we see people display it on American Idol? Does David Cook have it? Archuleta?

Hannah Montana's takeover by Miley Cyrus. What's the deal?

Politics. Very briefly. Okay?

Blogs by tweens and about tweens. Good idea?

The hottest book series for tweens. Do you know what it is?

Then ... back to passion. As it relates to music programs in schools. Is your school cutting back on the arts due to lack of funding? Let us know!

Have you ever been to that diner that Jerry, Elaine & George frequent on Seinfeld? We ate lunch there and had an experience that could have been right from the show. We tell you a little about it.

That's the show!

Thanks for listening.

Join us again next week on Parents and Kids Talk Radio!

39 Great Gifts and "The 39 Clues" - PKTR 13

Download today's show and you'll hear the PKTR hosts discuss 39 great last minute gifts and "The 39 Clues."

First, you'll hear 39 great last minute gift ideas for preteens. Then you'll get information about "The 39 Clues." Some say it may be Scholastic's next big thing after "Harry Potter." Or is it? Hmmm. The PKTR hosts believe that it's not at all like Potter. If you haven't heard about it yet, listen to this week's show!

Great Gifts for Girls:

Music:
iTunes gift card ($15, 25, 50, 100)
iPod (any type - shuffle ($79), nano (from $149), classic (from $249), iPod touch (from $299))

Video:

Look at our earlier post here for our Top Picks - Video Games for Tweens
Wii --
Super Mario Galaxy (Read our earlier, detailed post about this must-have game!)
Dance Dance Revolution: Hottest Party Bundle

PS2 --
Sing Star --80s--

UPDATE: Do NOT buy this game! Our family was unlucky enough to get it as a gift and it stinks! It is full of bad, bad, cheesy 80s music that no kid (or very few kids) will enjoy.* We apologize for including it in our show and retract the recommendation. We made a mistake. We meant to recommend SingStarPop.

Terribly sorry...

Moving on...
Karaoke Revolution: American Idol
DDR SuperNova2 Bundle

Nintendo DS --
Hannah Montana: Music Jam

Online games --
Club Penguin Membership (from www.clubpenguin.com)
[Wait...did she actually say "bummer"?? Listen to the show to find out!]


Webkinz (buy the stuffed animal at Target or Hallmark, then go to Webkinz.com)

Flip Video Camera



Sports:
Gift cards to sporting goods stores (e.g., Sports Authority, etc.)

Technology:
Kajeet cell phone (subject to parents' approval)
Firefly/Wirefly pay-as-you-go phone (same caveat)

Clothes:
Gift cards to appropriate stores
for younger girls (7-10), Ltd. Too
for older preteens (10-13), Abercrombie, Hollister, Nordstrom, or Delia's

Books/Magazines:

• Beacon Street Girls books (visit their website for more info and to get an understanding of what they're all about)
• The City of Ember, by Jeanne DuPrau (if your budget allows, also get the sequel, The People of Sparks and/or the prequel, The Prophet of Yonwood). Psst - here's some info about the upcoming movie...
  
• anything by American Girl (especially for the younger girls), consider a subscription to American Girl magazine

Great Gifts for Boys:

Books:
Any of the Calvin & Hobbes books
Cool Stuff & How it Works (or Cool Stuff 2.0)

(and check out the website that Oprah mentioned in her recent rerun with Marshall Brain, founder of How Stuff Works)

The Lightning Thief by Rick Riordan

Music:
iTunes gift card ($15, 25, 50, 100)
iPod (any type - shuffle, classic, nano, video, iTouch)

Video:
Look at our earlier post here for our Top Picks - Video Games for Tweens
Wii --
Super Mario Galaxy

PS2 --
Sing Star Pop
Top Spin Tennis
NBA 2K8

Nintendo DS --
Dragon Quest Heroes - Rocket Slime



Flip Video Camera (see photo above)

Sports:
Jerseys of their favorite players
Gift Cards to local sporting good stores (e.g., Sports Authority)

Great Gifts for Families

Here are the great gift ideas for families or for a twist on the ordinary hostess gift:

Anything from Cranium (e.g., Cranium Cadoo, Cranium, Whoonu)
Taboo, Jr.
Outburst, Jr.
Sequence
Blokus
Buzz: The Big Quiz (for PS2)

For more information on these and other games, listen to last week's podcast here.



Finally, the PKTR hosts were even more excited to tell you about

The 39 Clues

Just when the preteen kids are losing interest in books, or, at the very least, slowing down with reading and moving to computer games or video games, Scholastic helps us parents with The 39 Clues.

The 39 Clues is a sort of project, really, to be released beginning next September. It will consist of a series of books, cards and internet activities. So, it should appeal to the readers who love good writing and adventurous, thrilling, mystery novels (wait 'til you hear the authors who will be participating!), as well as the card lovers, online game lovers, and kids who just want more from their reading experience.

Different authors will write ten different novels, following a story arc developed by the first author. Who's the first author? None other than Rick Riordan, author of the popular, exciting, (and my daughter's favorite) Percy Jackson novels, including The Lightning Thief. We're so excited about this venture!

Riordan's book, The Maze of Bones is due for release in September, 2008 and the online clues and activities should begin around the same time. Each book will include six cards (with clues the readers then use online). The main characters of the story are a 14 year old girl, Ann Cahill and her 11 year old brother, Dan Cahill. They come from a very powerful family but readers don't yet know the source of the family's power.

The characters are racing other family members to uncover 39 clues to find the source of the family's power (and treasure). Readers/players will share in the excitement (and possibly even win some prizes!). Stay tuned as details unfold....and be sure to check the official website (currently in development).

Thanks for listening! Join us again next week on Parents and Kids Talk Radio!

_____________________

Images from Webkinz, Amazon, and the39clues.com

*The possible exception is ladies of a certain age who were in high school around that time. They would probably have a blast with this title, especially if they play it with girlfriends from that time period...it's just not good for kids.