Monkey Bread

Based on the award-winning novel by Wilson Rawls, Summer of the Monkeys brings together a snug ensemble of capable actors. The most recognizable cast members include Wilford Brimley (Cocoon) and the mild-mannered Michael Ontkean (Twin Peaks). Corey Sevier handles the role of Jay Berry Lee with the right blend of preteen adrenaline and emotion. Under the direction of Michael Anderson (Around the World in Eighty Days) the characters treat this moderately paced period piece with great care. Both the story and the dialogue are sensible without being sentimental, a quality that should appeal to all family members. Its clean, upbeat style may remind adult viewers of Disney's wilderness family classics of the 1970s. --Liane Thomas

Emile Hirsch plays Speed Racer, younger brother of a deceased racing legend, Rex, and son of car designer Pops (John Goodman). The latter invented Speed's Mach 5, and is singularly unimpressed by an offer from a giant conglomerate that would lock Speed into exclusive racing services. Speed opts instead for family loyalty, incurring the wrath of the conglomerate's unctuous head (Roger Allam). With family honor on the line and the affections of girlfriend Trixie (Christina Ricci) behind him, Speed hits the track in hopes of fulfilling his destiny as a master racer. The cast is largely enjoyable, including Susan Sarandon as Speed's mom, Matthew Fox as mysterious Racer X, and a pair of chimps as the irrepressible Chim-Chim. All well and good, but in a movie that lives or dies by the excitement level of races that look like computer-animated Hot Wheels action, Speed Racer is a dreary adventure. --Tom Keogh

What's in the Box
Two penguin speakers, user's manual.

Addressing his trademark reversals of perspective, Zinn--a teacher, historian, and social activist for more than 20 years--explains, "My point is not that we must, in telling history, accuse, judge, condemn Columbus in absentia. It is too late for that; it would be a useless scholarly exercise in morality. But the easy acceptance of atrocities as a deplorable but necessary price to pay for progress (Hiroshima and Vietnam, to save Western civilization; Kronstadt and Hungary, to save socialism; nuclear proliferation, to save us all)--that is still with us. One reason these atrocities are still with us is that we have learned to bury them in a mass of other facts, as radioactive wastes are buried in containers in the earth."

If your last experience of American history was brought to you by junior high school textbooks--or even if you're a specialist--get ready for the other side of stories you may not even have heard. With its vivid descriptions of rarely noted events, A People's History of the United States is required reading for anyone who wants to take a fresh look at the rich, rocky history of America.

Microsoft Office Professional 2007 is the tool that office professionals need if they crave a simplified business life. With the tools in this software set, they'll quickly accomplish routine tasks, manage customer information, produce high-quality marketing materials and simplify database and report creation. Business Contact Manager integrates contact management directly with Outlook, for better control over your customer & prospect information, e-mail messages, phone calls, appointments and more. With Office Professional 2007 you can save time, produce professional-quality marketing materials in-house and simplify your analysis and reporting of crucial business information. Forecast sales and prioritize tasks with flexible reports and a customizable dashboard Enhance your brand identity with colors, fonts, logos and business information New Publisher Tasks offers tips for key marketing processes - Preparing e-mail lists, tracking effectiveness, writing marketing copy and publishing & distributing materials Save time by reusing content - The new content store keeps text and graphics ready for use in other publications & formats Business Contact Manager helps you manage and track marketing activities - Create recipient lists, personalize communications and more Use Powerpoint 2007 to create more dynamic business presentations - It features an extensive library of slide layouts; new tools for charts, diagrams and tables; quick preview changes and more Distribute marketing materials in PDF format -- convert easily from Word, Excel, Powerpoint, Publisher and Access files

Kids will also love the Auto-Freewheel function, which lets them rest their feet on the pedals while a parent guides them around with the pushbar. And thanks to the Parental Control steering lock system, kids won't be able to steer the trike in random directions while the grownups push. Other details include a patented rear wheel steering system with an on/off mechanism and Safety-Trax wheels with a dual-layer safety tread wheel pattern that keeps the trike from spinning on wet pavement or other slippery surfaces. As with all Kettrikes, the Happy Navigator is backed by a three-year warranty.