In a lot of ways, the TRANSFORMERS are like BATMAN. At the core, you know the basic gist, but they can be re-worked for different age groups and interests, from preschool to grownups, lighthearted to completely dark. I dig that, and TRANSFORMERS: RESCUE BOTS are a prime example of how the franchise can be molded - to get kids into that robotic action at a young age, with fun stories that help teach the virtues of safety and kindness. There are no battles with the Decepticons here, instead placing a team of Autobot Rescue Bots (at the request of Optimus Prime) on the island of Griffin Rock, Maine, where they work side-by-side with their human friends to learn valuable lessons each week. Airing on The Hub Network (where Season Two just began this month), Shout! Factory Kids has been handling the DVD side of things, and the latest collection, HEROES ON THE SCENE just hit the streets.

It's National Reading Month, and to celebrate, Kindie Rockers KEY WILDE & MR. CLARK are giving readers of THE ROCK FATHER a special treat - a FREE DOWNLOAD of their popular track, "Animal Alphabet." The song has already racked-up over 300,000 views on YouTube, and comes from the duo's fantastic 2013 album, PLEASED TO MEET YOU (available on Amazon and iTunes). You can stream and download the track via the Souncloud Widget below, but do it quick - because on March 25, 2014, this free download offer will be eaten by angry alligators and balancing bears! 

Here's a Rock Father fact that most people don't know: In 1987, while in Fifth Grade, I became an award-winning author... a "Young Author," to be exact. After penning a short story called THE LITTLE CHAMP (which I'd later come to find out was a very technically-inaccurate portrayal of a race horse), I got to represent my school at the Illinois Reading Council's Annual Young Authors' Conference at Illinois State University. Fast-forward about 27 years, and I'm a parent, and through my relationship with PBS KIDS, am helping to spread the word about getting other kids writing for the annual PBS KIDS Writers Contest. TONIGHT (March 18, 2014), I will be co-hosting the #PBSKIDSWrite Twitter Party, and I'd love it if you could join!

April is Earth Month, and as we eagerly await warmer weather and the emergence of "green" in the area around Rock Father HQ, now comes news that my friends at PBS KIDS are getting ready to celebrate with a month of Earth-themed programming, and it all kicks off on April 7 in partnership with The National Recreation and Park Association as the "Explore the Outdoors" initiative. Check out all the details below, right here on THE ROCK FATHER...