Top 10

Girls' Life, Dec, 2003

See

CAT IN THE HAT

Uptown Girl Dakota Tanning phoned us (swear!) and told us Dr. Seuss' Cat in the Hat is one of her fave books of all time. Now it's a movie, and she's in it. As Sally Walden, she gets to tear up the house with an oversized cat and put it all together again. Oh, and Dakota says she's just as tidy in real life.

LOONEY TUNES: BACK IN ACTION

This is not your typical animated feature. Cartoon characters mingle with real people in this silly action adventure. Brendan Fraser (George of the Jungle) is all over the world in search of his missing father ... and the mythical Blue Monkey Diamond. Wouldn't you want Bugs Bunny and Daffy Duck by your side?

CHEAPER BY THE DOZEN

Imagine having 11 (that's eleven!) sibs. Hilary Duff is one of a dozen kids in this far-out family ruckus. The dad gets stuck in temporary single-parent status as the morn goes off to publish her book. This one's kinda like Mr. Mom multiplied by Daddy Day Care.

LOVE DON'T COST A THING

Christina Milian and Nick Cannon star in this remake of the '80s classic Can't Buy Me Love. It's got a geeky-guy-gets-the-girl plot. The geek is high-school senior Alvin, who gets popular princess Paris to front as his GE You can probably guess how it all turns out, but it should be fun getting there.

Play

Vital Idol

See if you've got what it takes to be the next sensation as you hit the stage in American Idol for your PC, PS2 or GBA. Create your look as you choose your hairstyle, makeup and stylin' wardrobe. Then compete for a top spot as you perform hit songs. But be warned: The celeb judges are there to pile on the praise--or dish out the diss! For more info, check out codemasters.com.

I'm Game!

Televise your next party with EyeToy ($49.99), a new tech wonder for your PS2. The camera puts your image on the TV screen as you play, so you become part of the EyeToy games. Toss your old-school controllers aside--the EyeToy can read your movements, so you can swat Ninja baddies with your own kung-fu moves, juggle UFOs, catch ghosts or work on your dance moves. Action!

Listen

Maybe This Christmas Too?, Various Artist

This is a musical most for your holiday CD collection. There are twists on yuletide Classics, like the Flaming Lips' version of "White Christmas," and Avril Lavigne and Chantal Kreviazuk's duet of "O Holy Night," But the real sparkly gems are the originals: Barenaked Ladies' Green Christmas, Dave Matthews' "Christmas Song," The Be Good Tanyas' "Rudy" and more.

Read

The Trouble Begins: A Series of Unfortunate Events

Books 1-3 Box Set by Lemony Snicket HarperCollins, $32.99

Great gift! Trouble begins for Violet, Klaus and Sunny when a disastrous fire destroys their home and leaves them orphans. Uncle Count Olaf takes them in, but only to enslave them and steal their fortune, Be warned: "There is no happy ending, no happy beginning, and very few happy things in the middle." Still, the orphans' tale is so farfetched it's funny.

The Great Art Scandal

by Anna Nilsen, Kingfisher, $16.95

The City Gallery is robbed hours before the opening of its new art show. The paintings are safe, but the info panels are missing, and the gallery's main competitor has planted a sabotage painting. Spot clues, solve the mystery, save the show, and learn about 32 of the world's greatest modern artists, You'll be art smart!

Shelf Life: Stories by the Book

compiled by Gary Paulsen, Simon & Schuster, $16.95

This short-story collection shows the power of books, Trashy novels help a girl's father "escape" from jail. A practical joker gets it good when his dream girl helps with his report. "Books saved my life," says author Gary Paulsen. who put this collection together to help others--its sales benefit ProLiteracy Worldwide.