It began as a whimsical idea that occurred to Daniel Leigh after an idyllic trip to the United States: Sell his family's five-bedroom home in England and travel the world with his wife, Lauren Vaknine, and their two children.

So he was surprised when, a few months later, Vaknine and their children, Braxton, 10, and Viva, 7, agreed to go along ...Read more

Foster children will now have more support when they age out of the foster care system after a new law was signed by Gov. Gretchen Whitmer that prevents the state from keeping children's full federal benefits to pay for the cost of their care.

The bill, spearheaded by state Rep. Kathy Schmaltz, R-Jackson, in 2023, was signed into law by Whitmer...Read more

'MOTOR CITY'

Rated R for strong bloody violence, some grisly images, drug content, sexuality/nudity and language.

What it’s about: Set in 1977 Detroit, a factory worker wrongly imprisoned goes on a revenge spree to win back his woman.

The kid attractor factor: This is a bloody thriller — for adults, not kids.

Good lessons/bad lessons: ...Read more

LOS ANGELES -- It was after the death of her son, Laith, that Esme Saleh decided to become a folk artist.

She had always been creative, experimenting with watercolors and learning to sew and embroider at a young age.

"I had a creative inkling," she said, "but I never pursued it."

Everything changed on Aug. 17, 2013.

When Saleh was nine ...Read more

'THE ODYSSEY'

Rated R for violence and some language.

What it’s about: An adaptation of Homer’s epic poem that follows Odysseus’ 10-year journey back home after a decade in the Trojan War.

The kid attractor factor: Teens and older kids might be drawn to the spectacle and story of this epic fantasy adventure.

Good lessons/bad lessons: ...Read more

The Fourth of July has come and gone, and for many families, summer has reached its sweet spot. The pools are open. The bikes are out. Library reading logs are filling up. School feels far away.

At least, that’s the nostalgic version.

And yet, for many children in the city and suburbs, summer doesn’t look like that at all. Children of ...Read more

'MOANA'

Rated PG for action/peril, some scary images, rude humor and brief thematic elements.

What it’s about: The young princess Moana is chosen by the ocean to return the heart of Te Fiti in order to save her island and she teams up with the demigod Maui to do so (same plot as the first movie!).

The kid attractor factor: The familiarity ...Read more