Etiquette and Espionage by Gail Carriger*

The first book in Carriger’s finishing school series, this tells the story of Sophronia who goes to a finishing school that trains young ladies to be spies. Here she meets a vampire and werewolf that act as teachers at the school. Sophronia also gathers friends and a small mechanical dog that she names Bumbershoot. There is also a possible romance with the “sooty” named Soap. In their flying school they have to defeat the bad guys and rule the day. A fun and charming read.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y8BqtTBCP8w

Robin Hood (1973)

Based on the classic English legend, this version of Robin Hood has Robin as a fox and Little John as a giant bear. And that is the extent of the Merry Men because it would take too much time to add others to the story. We still have Friar Tuck as a badger though. This was actually my first introduction the Robin Hood legend. It is a fun romp through the story. One of my favorite characters is actually the rooster minstrel that provides musical commentary throughout the movie. I also like the song “The Phony King of England.”

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eMj16A7j4RM

The World Above by Cameron Dokey

The World Above takes a different take to the traditional Jack and the Beanstalk story. When Jack brings home the magic beans, Jack’s mother cries, with joy. For she recognizes them. They are the pathway back to their homeland above the sky. Jack immediately climbs the beanstalk that springs up and gets himself captured. It is then up to his more practical twin sister Gen to save Jack from his fate. Upon her own climb up the beanstalk, she finds a Robin Hood like character, but is he friend or foe. A good twist upon a traditional tale.

Peter and the Magic Egg (1983)

Peter and the Magic Egg is another of the silly Easter programs of my childhood. It is totally sponsored by the Paas Easter Egg Dye.

Anyway it tells the story of the Doppler family who owes a bunch of money to Tobias Tinwhiskers. In order to help them pay off the bill, Mother Nature sends them Peter Paas. Peter makes a deal with the Easter Bunny to supply him with colored eggs. This angers Tinwhiskers, and he almost kills Peter. Peter and the Dopplers, and even old Tinwhiskers himself are saved again by Mother Nature and the crazy Kookibird. As is said throughout the special this movie is a wonderment!