It¹s Family Fun Month! Room on the Broom DVD and Picture Book Giveaway

All year round, there are special months, weeks and days to celebrate—but is there anything more rewarding than sharing time with family?  August is Family Fun Month and a good time to consider putting aside the many things that interfere with quality family time to celebrate the joy of being together with family… and friends too!

Family Fun Month just happens to coincide with the August 6^th DVD release of the multiple award-winning half-hour animated family film, Room on the Broom, from NCircle Entertainment. Based on the #1 best-selling children’s picture book in America, written by Julia Donaldson and illustrated by Axel Scheffler (the same author and illustrator team that created the critically acclaimed The Gruffalo and The Gruffalo’s Child), Room on the Broom is filled with humor and adventure, and teaches the importance of family, friends and teamwork!  

Why not kick-off Family Fun Month with Family Movie Night? In Room on the Broom, the witch and her cat couldn't be happier, flying through the sky on their broomstick—until the witch drops her hat, then her bow, then her wand! Luckily, three helpful animals—a dog, a parrot and a frog—find the missing items and all they want in return is a ride on the broomstick. But is there room on the broom for so many new friends? The kindly witch thinks there is—much to the frustration of her cat.  But when disaster strikes, and the witch is about to be eaten by a fearsome dragon, she is saved by the gang of animals, all working together.  The witch’s cat learns the importance of friends and family, and the witch rewards her new friends with a magnificent broom that is big enough for everyone!

Beautiful CGI animation brings the book’s drawings to life under the direction of Max Lang.  Gillian Anderson (The X Files) provides the voice of the witch; while Timothy Spall of Harry Potter fame, lends his voice to the dragon. Simon Pegg (Hot Fuzz, Shaun of the Dead) narrates the story which also features the recognizable voices of Martin Clunes, Rob Brydon and David Walliams portraying the helpful animals that comprise the witch’s family.  Room on the Broom is produced by Magic Light Pictures (the team behind award-winning animations The Gruffalo and The Gruffalo’s Child).

Complete Family Movie Night by enjoying together the fun-filled activities available for FREE for download at NCircle Entertainment’s activity site, EntertainmentThatEducates.com, including a coloring page featuring all of the endearing characters from the film; the “find the…” challenge that incorporates counting skills; templates for creating your own Room on the Broom finger puppets; and the elements for creating your very own magical wand! There’s also a word search puzzle and a dizzying maze to navigate.

The Room on the Broom has already earned numerous awards and accolades, including Britain’s Royal Television Award for “Best Children’s Program” and France’s Annecy Animation Festival’s Crystal Award for “Best TV Production.” It has been named “Best Animated Short” by the Toronto International Film Festival Kid’s Festival; was the “Audience Choice” at the Cleveland International Film Festival; and was the winner of the Curtinhas Competition for children’s programming at the Curtas Vila do Conde Film Festival in Portugal. 

And now for even more family fun!  Get a jump-start on Halloween this August by creating a witches costume with your child.  Most people have the basics they need right at home, except for the broom, which you may have to purchase.

To make a witches hat, you will need:

•   Construction paper

•   Scissors

•   Pencil

•   Ruler

•   String

•   Glue

•   Compass

•   Stapler

•   Things to decorate your hat with: glitter, craft foam, felt sheet, etc.

Note: 

•      Kids 8 years and younger should use child-safe scissors.

•      Keep the stapler out of young children's reach.

See complete details here:

http://www.firstpalette.com/Craft_themes/Wearables/witchwizardhat/witchwizardhat.html

 

To make a costume:

You can create the costume using a black top, skirt and tights, or even a black trash bag!  Cut out the head hole and arms, then try on the bag for size to see how much of the bag to cut.  Cut the bottom of the trash bag off in zig zags or v-shapes. The part of the bag that was cut off can be used for the belt, or use some rope.  Add black plastic over any pair of shoes!

For the broom:

Use any old broom you have at home, or check out how to make these fun mini-brooms:  http://www.makeandtakes.com/mini-witch-broom

Need more Family Fun Ideas for the month of August?  Here are just a few:

August 9 is Book Lovers Day 

Bring the family together and find a shady tree to sit outside and enjoy reading books together, including Room on the Broom.  Reading is educational, informative and relaxing and sharing a love of reading with your family and friends makes everyone smarter, too. 

August 23 is Ride the Wind Day    

No broom is required as you can catch a ride on a gentle summer breeze by flying a kite, riding a bike, standing on a hill or just driving in the car with the windows down!

August 26 is National Dog Day    

Where would our witch be without the help of a dog?  This day, organized by the National Dog Day Foundation, honors dogs everywhere for all that they do for us – love, companionship, protection, service, safety and so much more.  Get your kids involved by playing a little longer with your family pooch, by volunteering at your local animal shelter, donating unwanted blankets to Operation Blankets of Love or by making a family donation to one of the many worthy animal rescue groups.  

August 27 is Just Because Day

As the final days of summer get swept into the early days of Fall, this holiday gives us all a chance to do something special “just because.”  Replicate the kindness of the witch and the helpfulness of the dog, bird and frog.  Open your heart as the cat ultimately did—and before you know it… iggety, ziggety, zaggety, zoom … you’ll be falling in love with Room on the Broom!

Planning ahead for Halloween gifts?  Although the Room on the Broom book is not a traditional Halloween story, it is Penguin Publishing’s best-selling Halloween title, selling over 500,000 copies in 2011/2012.  So stock up on Room on the Broom to share with your friends and family!  Room on the Broom DVDs are available at Target, Walmart, Toys”R”Us, amazon.com, Kmart, and many other retailers (SRP $9.99); Room on the Broom books are available everywhere books are sold (SRP: 16.99).

NCircle Entertainment Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/NCircleEntertainment
Room on the Broom website: roomonthebroom.com /us

Penguin website: http://www.us.penguingroup.com/static/pages/publishers/yr/dial.html

Room on the Broom Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/roomonthebroomus 

Room on the Broom Pinterest: http://pinterest.com/NCircleE/room-on-the-broom/

To celebrate Family Fun Month, NCircle Entertainment and Penguin Publishing, have teamed together to offer a limited supply of Room on the Broom DVDs (SRP $9.99), as well as copies of the Room on the Broom hard-back picture book (SRP $16.99)for giveaway for one lucky readers.

 To enter, just fill in the Rafflecopter form below. This giveaway will end on 8/17/13. If you have already won this title on another blog, you are not eligible to enter or win. Open to the US & Canada only. The winner will be notified via email and will have 48 hours to reply. Thanks again to NCircle for offering this fantastic prize.

 a Rafflecopter giveaway

 ***Please note that I received no form of monetary compensation for this post. This is not  review. New Age Mama not responsible for the delivery of this prize and can not be held accountable if, for any reason, is it not received. Furthermore, New Age Mama is in no way liable for any injuries that may result from the use or misuse of this product. ***