Brave Movie

Scottish warrior movie BRAVE!

About a year ago, I gave you a sneak peek of the upcoming Disney Pixar movie, Brave. Well, now it's finally here! The U.S. release date is June 22, 2012, and I think it looks really good.

Since ancient times, stories of epic battles and mystical legends have been passed through the generations across the rugged and mysterious Highlands of Scotland. In Brave, a new tale joins the lore when the courageous Merida confronts tradition, destiny, and the fiercest of beasts. Merida is a skilled archer and impetuous daughter of King Fergus and Queen Elinor. Determined to carve her own path in life, Merida defies an age-old custom sacred to the uproarious lords of the land: massive Lord MacGuffin, surly Lord Macintosh, and cantankerous Lord Dingwall.

Merida’s actions inadvertently unleash chaos and fury in the kingdom, and when she turns to an eccentric old Witch for help, she is granted an ill-fated wish. The ensuing peril forces Merida to discover the meaning of true bravery in order to undo a beastly curse before it’s too late.

When you see the movie, you may recognize some of the voices because 3 of them were actors in the Harry Potter movies! The actors who played Ravenclaw's ghost (The Grey Lady), Professor Trelawney, and Hagrid all voice characters in Brave. Leave a Comment if you recognize their voices, and can tell which characters they play in Brave.

— Sonja, STACKS Staffer

Image courtesy of Disney/Pixar

Kid Power: Human Rights

Human Rights: Did You Know . . . ?

We know you care deeply about things. In addition to having fun just being kids, you want to actually do something to make the world a better place. We here at the STACKS are super-proud of you! 

Today, we are talking about human rights. The United Nations has a Universal Declaration of Human Rights which says that all people are born free and equal and deserve the same rights no matter who they are. Sadly, not everyone actually gets these human rights. 

Here are just a few facts about human rights around the world. Just talking about these things can make a difference, so go out and inspire your friends and family to do something about human rights!

Did you know . . .  

Discover More Technology

Discover More Technology

Have you ever wondered what the inside of a Smartphone looks like? Or how an Xbox Kinect works? Or who invented the iPod? Find out all this and more in Technology, the latest book in the Scholastic Discover  More series.

After you read Technology, use the digital code to redeem the free companion digital book, Cool Tech Heroes, onto your Mac or PC. In the digital book, you can read about the inventor of Facebook, the guy who invented Super Mario Bros.TM, and Ellen Ochoa, the first Hispanic female astronaut.

Take a special sneak peak at Technology!

 --Miriam F., Scholastic Nonfiction Publisher

Summer Word Scramble Game Answers

Summer Word Scramble Game

Happy summer, everyone! Last week's Trivia Quiz was a two-fer from AmberBlack111 from the STACK Back Message Board. You got a summer-themed word scramble game AND a Would You Rather quiz. How did you do?

Here are the answers.

Writing Prompt: Book Setting

Writing Prompt: Book Setting

Today's Write On Writing Prompt comes to us from Skyelark Moon who asks an interesting question . . . not which character would you be, but which place would you go?

If you were to go to any place in a book, where would you go? What characters would you like to meet? What would you like to do? Would you go on an adventure the character went on and change the whole plot of the book?

I couldn't decide between Hogwarts (from Harry Potter) and Willy Wonka's Chocolate Factory (from Charlie and the Chocolate Factory). In the end, my sweet tooth won out. Willy Wonka's Chocolate Factory just seems so fantastical that I wouldn’t be able to resist! I'd love to lick the lickable wallpaper, float along in the chocolate river, and sample sweets to my heart's content.

What about you guys? Let Skyelark Moon know in the Comments below!

— Ratha, STACKS Writer