{"id":34553,"date":"2023-12-23T17:42:48","date_gmt":"2023-12-23T22:42:48","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.beliefnet.com\/columnists\/faithmediaandculture\/?p=34553"},"modified":"2023-12-23T17:42:48","modified_gmt":"2023-12-23T22:42:48","slug":"candace-cameron-bure-backs-kid-lit-book-series-film-review-freuds-last-session-the-chosen-drops-season-4-trailer-perry-comos-christmas-in-the-holy-land","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.beliefnet.com\/columnists\/faithmediaandculture\/2023\/12\/candace-cameron-bure-backs-kid-lit-book-series-film-review-freuds-last-session-the-chosen-drops-season-4-trailer-perry-comos-christmas-in-the-holy-land.html","title":{"rendered":"Candace Cameron Bure backs kid-lit book series + Film Review: “Freud’s Last Session” + “The Chosen” drops Season 4 trailer + Perry Como’s “Christmas in the Holy Land”"},"content":{"rendered":"

Here’s the latest from the crossroads of faith, media & culture: 12\/22\/23<\/strong><\/h3>\n

\"Candace<\/p>\n

Candace Cameron Bure’s full plate.<\/strong> Actress<\/a>–author<\/a>–TV executive<\/a> (not to mention wife and mother) Candace Cameron Bure<\/strong> (who in April can be seen on the big screen in Liongate’s Unsung Hero<\/em><\/strong><\/a>) is teaming with Generous Family<\/strong><\/a> to promote a new series of values-based children’s books. Available now, Jasper G and the Me-Thinking Madness<\/a><\/strong><\/i> (the first in the series) is an illustrated hardcover work telling the story of a “me-thinking” giraffe who learns to give generously.<\/p>\n

Aimed at kids ages 4-12, the book is part of the Generous Kids Book Club<\/strong><\/a>, a\u00a0 subscription service that, besides books, delivers family activities, stickers, collector cards, access to coloring sheets, an eBook animation, family conversation starters, and more on a monthly basis. The activities are designed to drive home the messages of the books which are all aimed at teaching a specific Value of the Month (i.e. gratitude, empathy, compassion, or thoughtfulness).<\/p>\n

The stories are written by Betta Tugive <\/strong>(pronounced Better to Give), the pen name for a group of parents, educators, and experts who have come together with the goal of creating meaningful stories for kids.<\/p>\n

Generous Kids Book Club Founder and President Brad Formsma<\/strong> says \u201cWe wrote Jasper G and the Me-Thinking Madness<\/i> because we want to help parents teach values in a way that makes learning fun,\u201d adding \u201cIt has been incredible to see students, teachers, and families respond positively to the book and its message of giving.”
\n____<\/p>\n

Freud’s Last Session<\/em> hits theaters in limited release today<\/strong>. The Sony Pictures Classics<\/strong> film, based on a play of the same name by Mark St. Germain<\/strong><\/a> (who co-wrote the screenplay with director Matt Brown<\/strong>) and the book The Question of God<\/strong><\/em> by Armand Nicholi<\/strong><\/a>, imagines a meeting between a dying Sigmund Freud<\/strong> (Anthony Hopkins<\/strong>) and Chronicles of Narnia<\/strong><\/em> author C.S. Lewis<\/strong> (Matthew Goode<\/strong>) in which the noted atheist and Christian apologist engage in a lengthy and passionate debate about the existence of God and what happens after we die.\u00a0 My review follows the trailer.<\/p>\n