http://www.wklb.com/Blog/nugget-island/home.aspxMatt Siden blogs about all things kid culture, from books and movies to apps and live shows.en-usCopyright 2013, WKLB-FMThu, 20 Jun 2013 12:13:57 GMTMon, 04 Feb 2013 18:34:44 GMT1http://emmisinteractive.comThe iTunes store has no shortage of fairy tale-themed apps and eBooks. A quick search for any of your favorite Hans Christian Andersen or Brothers Grimm stories will turn up hundreds of options for both “free” (quotations marks very intentional)  and paid options. Unfortunately, many of them feature artwork right out of a bad Disney rip-off film. As for the game-play, I never get that far. Of course, pretty art doesn't always equal an engaging app either, so after going on a few fairy tale app journeys, we came back with a few favorites. Hansel and Gretel: Lost by PB&J Publishing The beautiful, bright hand-drawn illustrated style of  Chilean artist Alvaro Pantoja Busch is what initially brought this app to my attention. The experience itself measures up to the art, with 21 interactive pages including 60 points of interaction. For my two girls, stuffing the two lost siblings full of witch house candy ...http://www.wklb.com/Blog/nugget-island/blogentry.aspx?BlogEntryID=10499159matt@nuggetisland.com (Matt Siden)http://www.wklb.com/Blog/nugget-island/blogentry.aspx?BlogEntryID=10499159Mon, 04 Feb 2013 18:34:44 GMTI’ve seen the look of horror on people’s faces when they see my 20-month-old swiping and poking away on our iPad. I know they are thinking, “Isn’t she too young?” Frankly, my dears, I don’t give a damn. At 20 months, I have already seen the payoff in the dozens of apps I have purchased for her. Whether it is her advanced vocabulary, growing knowledge of her ABCs and 123s or basic memory skills, I attribute a good portion of it to the wonderful iPad apps being built by smart and talented developers. So what are some of these apps that are turning my little girl into a pint-sized prodigy and burgeoning tech wiz? Here is Part 1 of an introduction to our favorite apps for the under-2 set. (Please note: When apps have multiple levels for different age ranges, I will be reviewing the portions of the app relevant ...http://www.wklb.com/Blog/nugget-island/blogentry.aspx?BlogEntryID=10491607matt@nuggetisland.com (Matt Siden)http://www.wklb.com/Blog/nugget-island/blogentry.aspx?BlogEntryID=10491607Thu, 17 Jan 2013 22:23:30 GMTChrismukkah is over at our mixed-marriage residence. Please ignore those lingering decorations. It's time to call out just a few of the Santa (and Hanukkah) successes of the 2012 Holiday season. Disney Apples To Apples – Surely, you have played the adult-targeted version of this game at a party or two – possibly under the influence of an adult beverage. “Disney Apples To Apples” down-ages this word association game so the whole family can participate and integrates pictures from almost every Disney property – including Parks, Pixar, Princesses and tween TV. We have been playing this non-stop since Hanukkah and it has become an instant favorite for our 6-year-old. Star Wars Princess Leia Fashion Set – Most parents of Disney Princess-loving girls have spent much time helping dress the rubber-dressed, Polly Pocket-esque Disney Princess mini-figures. This Disney Parks “exclusive item,” also available on Amazon, gives Princess Leia the Disney “fashion ...http://www.wklb.com/Blog/nugget-island/blogentry.aspx?BlogEntryID=10487322matt@nuggetisland.com (Matt Siden)http://www.wklb.com/Blog/nugget-island/blogentry.aspx?BlogEntryID=10487322Wed, 09 Jan 2013 15:42:16 GMTIt’s the holidays, so you and your kids are likely to have some car travel or down time ahead. How to keep the kids happily occupied? Two words: Negative Nimbus. This new app for iPhone and iPad from the Boston-based, Emmy-nominated studio CloudKid is the perfect diversion for you and your family. The first game for the iOS platform from the folks behind the popular PBS web series “Fizzy’s Lunch Lab,” “Negative Nimbus” delivers the same candy-colored, bold and innovative design and is a bargain at only 99 cents.Already awarded “best visual and design” at the Boston Festival of Indie Games, “Negative Nimbus” focuses on a lovable and grouchy rain cloud as he makes his way through the brightly colored Sunnyland. Players ages four and up can tap, swipe and pinch their way through different levels, trying to water flowers while avoiding the quirky characters that populate the sunshiny ...http://www.wklb.com/Blog/nugget-island/blogentry.aspx?BlogEntryID=10477464matt@nuggetisland.com (Matt Siden)http://www.wklb.com/Blog/nugget-island/blogentry.aspx?BlogEntryID=10477464Mon, 10 Dec 2012 20:20:06 GMTIn reviewing children’s shows, I often chance upon two types: First, there are the wonderful, niche productions aimed at a specific audience with specific goals. Then, there are the broader, mainstream-aimed shows that are just waiting for their national breakthrough. The Choo Choo Bob Show falls in to the later category. Based out of Saint Paul, Minnesota, The Choo Choo Bob Show is a live-action comedy show aimed at children 2-7 that has echoes of Pee Wee’s Playhouse, Captain Kangaroo and Howdy Doody. Choo Choo Bob is set at Bob’s clubhouse and features visits from his wacky human pals (including actors with experience at Comedy Central) and his puppet friend Charlie Rat. Choo Choo Bob keeps it updated for modern audiences with stop-ins from hipster musicians (Ozomatli), humor that will appeal to parents and kids (“Cleaning with Autotune”), and a likable lead host (Sam Heyn) that won’t scare off parents. ...http://www.wklb.com/Blog/nugget-island/blogentry.aspx?BlogEntryID=10470948matt@nuggetisland.com (Matt Siden)http://www.wklb.com/Blog/nugget-island/blogentry.aspx?BlogEntryID=10470948Mon, 26 Nov 2012 20:08:11 GMTIf you kvell over the artistic sensibilities and pop-art style of Yo Gabbba Gabba and its animated segments, then it is time to take a trip to Goon Holler. While we have written about this property in the past on Nugget Island, all has been quiet out of the Holler, until now. “The Goon Holler Guidebook” was written and illustrated by four-time Emmy-nominated Yo Gabba Gabba art director Parker Jacobs, based on a a property he created with his brother Christian (co-creator and director of Gabba and The Aquabats! Super Show!). This fully-illustrated “guidebook” introduces readers to Tooba the Bigfoot as he wanders into the land of Goon Holler. There he meets a wizard named Uncle Wiznat, a girl named Dosie Doh, an alien named Xöranj and the mischievous furry goons that give the book its name. “The Goon Holler Guidebook” shirks the traditional format to create what can be ...http://www.wklb.com/Blog/nugget-island/blogentry.aspx?BlogEntryID=10467337matt@nuggetisland.com (Matt Siden)http://www.wklb.com/Blog/nugget-island/blogentry.aspx?BlogEntryID=10467337Fri, 16 Nov 2012 22:05:41 GMTReady to refresh your family playlists? Here are some albums sent to us for review that we have been listening to on the road, during dinner and at our mandatory family dance parties. In the Twang of ThangsBoxtop Jenkins brings in some marquee names and a mix of bluegrass, country, rock and folk for their excellent debut release, You’re Happier When You’re Happy. “Wag More” takes the now-classic bumper sticker and turns it into a bluegrass jam with an assist from the Indigo Girls. Boxtop also likes to get their rockabilly on with the dental health lesson “The Crocodile (Wouldn’t Brush His Teeth)” and Halloween tunes “Getting Down on Halloween” and “Rattlin’ Rattlin’ Bones.” Full of down-home nonsensical tunes (and I mean that in the best way possible), the Coloma, Michigan-based Deep Fried Pickle Project uses harmonicas, banjos and even kazoos on Green and Bumpy to create a unique ...http://www.wklb.com/Blog/nugget-island/blogentry.aspx?BlogEntryID=10463151matt@nuggetisland.com (Matt Siden)http://www.wklb.com/Blog/nugget-island/blogentry.aspx?BlogEntryID=10463151Mon, 12 Nov 2012 13:37:19 GMTWhen I was 17, I was diagnosed with epilepsy. The good news is my epilepsy is controlled by medicine (unlike some people who suffer from this disorder). The bad news is I have epilepsy - a random, rare version caused by sleep deprivation and extended periods of reading. When I was 17, there were no online resources to go to find out more information. In the early-to-mid-90s, there was barely an “online” at all. Your lucky friend may have had AOL, but you were not likely to use it to research seizure disorders. Instead, you were probably on it to find out when your favorite band was at the Tweeter Center. Thankfully, today we have websites like TalkAbout It.org. TalkAboutIt.org is a website and 501(c)3 charity created by actor Greg Grunberg - known for his role on Heroes. The goal of the website and the Talk About It organization is ...http://www.wklb.com/Blog/nugget-island/blogentry.aspx?BlogEntryID=10462760matt@nuggetisland.com (Matt Siden)http://www.wklb.com/Blog/nugget-island/blogentry.aspx?BlogEntryID=10462760Wed, 07 Nov 2012 21:47:46 GMTIt’s the season of the witch, and we have been playing our Halloween music and watching our Halloween films since mid-September. We have already rolled out our yearly music playlist, and are ready to follow up with some more ways to get your kid-friendly scares on this Halloween. Listen To: “The Grand Scream of Things” by Andy Z Award-winning kids’ musician Andy Z has just released an ambitious musical audio play for kids 8-12 called “The Grand Scream of Things.” The 66-minute music adventure takes listeners on a Halloween day journey with protagonist Andy, his dog Reggie, his buddy Danger Dude and Pleadia, a teenage alien and potential romantic interest for Andie. Interspersed through this “old time radio show” style adventure are stand-alone songs that span the punk, hip-hop, pop and hip-hop genre. Guest kid musicians like Paula Messner (Candy Band) and RhymeZwell show up while production is handled ...http://www.wklb.com/Blog/nugget-island/blogentry.aspx?BlogEntryID=10457014matt@nuggetisland.com (Matt Siden)http://www.wklb.com/Blog/nugget-island/blogentry.aspx?BlogEntryID=10457014Fri, 26 Oct 2012 19:55:05 GMT