SPONSORED BLOG POST: War Horse Movie

This post is sponsored by War Horse.

Big holiday parties at my house are always about sharing stories. The one about the time my brother knocked himself out by running into the gym wall has been told about a thousand times, and I never get tired of hearing about the restaurant my grandparents ran when they were first married.

This holiday break, write down your favorite family stories, and see if you can uncover some amazing new ones! Use this War Horse-themed activity sheet to discover how these great stories have helped shape you and your family!

Don’t forget that Steven Spielberg’s new movie, War Horse (rated PG-13), based on the book by Michael Morpurgo, hits theaters on Christmas Day. Check it out and start creating some new holiday memories!

Image courtesy of DreamWorks Pictures

Chloe Moretz and the Hugo Movie

Have you read the amazing book by Brian Selznick, The Invention of Hugo Cabret? If not, you totally should especially since the movie version (Hugo, rated PG) is out now. It is the story of a wily and resourceful boy named Hugo whose quest to unlock a secret automaton leads him on a wild adventure. For more about the movie, also check out the Hugo Movie Companion book also by Brian Selznick.

Chloe Moretz plays Isabelle, Hugo's partner in crime in his adventure. You may recognize her from The Diary of a Wimpy Kid movie. Here she is to answer some of our questions. . . .

How to Train Your Dragon Continues

Last year, when the How to Train Your Dragon DVD came out, we had a Q & A with Hiccup where he answered questions submitted by you, loyal readers! Well, some of you asked if there was going to be another movie, and guess what? There is! DreamWorks Dragons, a double DVD and Online Video Game Pack, will be released on November 15.

On Disc 1, the epic story of Hiccup and Toothless continues as they take flight in a thrilling, all-new adventure to discover an island of never-before-seen dragons. You'll discover new mythology and training secrets from Hiccup, Astrid and Gobber. Then on Disc 2, test your skills in the Dragons Online Video Game where you create your own avatar then battle and train new dragons, win badges and become the ultimate dragon trainer.

We know you have all kinds of questions, and since we had Hiccup here last time, for this DVD, Astrid and Gobber will visit for a Q & A! Now is your chance to ask Astrid and Gobber everything you want to know about dragons, what it's like to be a Viking movie star, and what they really think about Hiccup!

Leave your questions for Astrid and Gobber in the Comments and come back on November 11 for the answers.

UPDATE 11/10/11: Thanks so much for all your wonderful questions, but we have bad news. We just found out that Astrid and Gobber will not be able to visit the STACKS to answer them. We are so sorry!

— Sonja, STACKS Staffer

Image Courtesy DreamWorks

SPONSORED POST: Dolphin Tale

This blog post is sponsored by Dolphin Tale.

The Dolphin Tale movie (rated PG) about the dolphin named Winter with a prosthetic tail, comes out in theaters on September 23. To prepare you for the movie, Abby Stone, Winter's actual trainer from the Clearwater Marine Aquarium (CMA), has answered some of YOUR questions. Read on to find out more about Winter, the amazing dolphin with a fake tail, and what the life of a dolphin trainer is like.

Q: How did Winter feel about the tail and what was her reaction?

Hunger Games Movie Preview

You've read about The Hunger Games cast. You've seen the cool Hunger Games motion movie poster, but now we have the coolest Hunger Games movie preview yet, a sneak peek video! I'm not going to say anything about this video except to tell you I screamed out loud when I saw it. Enjoy!

SPONSORED POST Interview a Dolphin Trainer!

This blog post is sponsored by Dolphin Tale.

True story: a dolphin named Winter got its tail caught in a crab trap. It survived but had to have its tail amputated. How can a dolphin swim without a tail? It can't. . . BUT it got a prosthetic tail and now Winter can swim fine! You can read about the story in a book called Winter's Tail, and coming in September, you can see the movie based on the story called Dolphin Tale.

If you love dolphins, we have a special surprise for you at the end of this blog post but first, here is Nathan Gamble, the 13-year-old star of the movie to talk about what it was like to make the movie.

Q: Tell me about your character in Dolphin Tale.

Hunger Games Movie Motion Poster!

When we first revealed the cast of the new Hunger Games film based on the book by Suzanne Collins (for ages 12 and up), I thought this can't possibly get any better. But now I have a surprise for you that's even more explosive. Feast your eyes on the new Hunger Games motion poster released by Lionsgate Films this week!!

Harry Potter Then and Now

As you know, the final Harry Potter movie comes out on Friday, July 15. Of course, I am going to see it, but Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, Part 2 (rated PG-13) will be a bittersweet experience. As the day gets closer, I am thinking more and more over the last ten years of watching these movies, watching my favorite characters grow up and change.

I put together this slideshow of pictures from the movies. Remember Daniel Radcliffe when he was that tiny?! The final pictures in the slideshow are the newest pics from Part 2. Isn't it so strange to see Hogwarts all demolished like that? And just for fun, I added the pic of Voldemort hanging out on the set, with a normal nose and. . . even kind of smiling.

How do you feel about the Harry Potter movies ending? Leave a Comment.

Images © 2011 Warner Bros. Ent.
Harry Potter Publishing Rights © J.K.R. Harry Potter characters, names and related indicia are trademarks of and © Warner Bros. Ent. All Rights Reserved.

Soul Surfer DVD Giveaway!

Have you entered the STACKS Blast Sweepstakes? Every month is a chance to win a different prize. For July, we are offering you a chance to win a free Soul Surfer DVD (rated PG)! But, here's the thing. You can ONLY enter if you subscribe to the STACKS Blast Newsletter.

The STACKS Blast is our free monthly e-mail newsletter. You give us your e-mail address and an e-mail address for one of your parents, and once a month (usually around the 15th), we give you a newsletter full of games, videos, celeb news, books, message board happenings, and a sweepstakes you can enter. First, you sign up for the newsletter. Then you wait until July 15 when Hooray! the STACKS Blast will arrive in your e-mail inbox. Inside, you'll see a special section for the STACKS Giveaway. That's where you enter to win the Soul Surfer DVD.

While you're waiting for your newsletter to arrive, you can check out this trailer for the Soul Surfer movie.

Sign up for the STACKS Blast Newsletter now so you can enter the sweepstakes when it comes. Good luck!

— Sonja, STACKS Staffer

Jim Carrey in Mr. Popper's Penguins

Have you read the book Mr. Popper's Penguins by Richard and Florence Atwater? It's about a man who dreams of going to Antarctica, but never expects that Antarctica will come to him when he inherits a brood of penguins! The movie version starring Jim Carrey is coming out on Friday, June 17 and it looks really cute.

Scholastic News Kid Reporter, Damien Murphy, interviewed Jim Carrey to get the scoop on the movie and what it was like to work with the penguins.

Q: What are some of the things you learned about penguins making this movie?

The Hunger Games Cast Announcement

Wow! How time flies! It feels like just yesterday I was reading My Perfect Hunger Games Movie Cast post by Jack L. and was thinking how perfect Ellen Page would be as Katniss in The Hunger Games film. Man, how far off I was.

Three years have gone by since the release of The Hunger Games book (for ages 12 and up) by Suzanne Collins, and Lionsgate is now officially casting the film! Here's an overview of the cast so far.

Wimpy Kid Actress, Peyton List

Holly Hills in Diary of a Wimpy Kid

You know 13-year-old Peyton List from her role as Holly Hills in Diary of a Wimpy Kid 2: Rodrick Rules. But she and her twin brother, Spencer, have been acting for a while. In this interview she talks about working on the Wimpy Kid movie, embarrassing stories from her childhood, and her baby brother's hilarious nickname for her.

Q: What was the most fun acting job you've had?
Peyton: One of the most fun projects I got to work on was Diary of a Wimpy Kid, because I mean they had so many kids on the set. It was like summer camp. It was so much fun. Every night we would go out to dinner and we would go swimming, and we'd pull pranks on each other.