While my friends who still find time to read grown-up books argue over the merits of the film version of Gone Girl, I've been worried about a completely different page-to-screen adaptation: Disney's live-action take on Judith Viorst's 1972 kids' classic Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day (PG). I know from experience that sweet and slim picture books often become stale and bloated family movies. Yet my nine-year-old still insists on seeing pretty much every one of them, especially when they're based on a beloved book like Alexander, which she read so many times its spine finally gave out.

But though the title is tailor-made for bad reviews, Alexander is far from terrible, horrible and all those other negative adjectives. The film cleverly expands on the premise and moral of the book—that we all have bad days—by making every member of Alexander's family suffer the same kind of rotten luck and humiliation he usually does. My daughter and I laughed out loud several times during the brisk 80-minute movie, though often at different things. And looking around the New York International Children's Film Festival preview screening we attended, most families seemed to have a similar experience. The kids were particularly enthusiastic about the movie—afterward, a bunch of them shared their hilarious reactions on video.

My daughter is looking forward to celebrating Rosh Hashanah by eating lots of apples dipped in honey, a Jewish New Year tradition that gets us off to a sweet start. Of course you don't need to be Jewish to enjoy this treat, especially since apple-picking season is in full swing. This four-day holiday weekend is a great time to hit a nearby orchard for fresh fruit, or pick a pumpkin for Halloween.

Speaking of, October 31 is just five weeks away and we're furiously updating our Halloween posts on all our sites. This week, New Jersey rounded up haunted houses and creative pumpkin carving events, while Westchester highlighted cool corn mazes, hayrides and pumpkin fests. Fall is a wonderful season for these kinds of fun-filled day trips, and it's worth browsing all of our tri-state area sites for even more destination ideas.

But if you're in need of a real vacation, check out our review of the luxurious Grand Lucayan Beach & Golf Resort on Grand Bahama Island on our Travel site—even though you can't get there this weekend there's always winter break!

Here's what else we covered on the NYC site this week:

As a cliched jaded New Yorker, I am rarely starstruck. But I found myself grinning like a baby when I met Bob, Maria, Oscar the Grouch and Abby Cadabby at a special preview of the Sesame Street exhibit that just opened at the New York Public Library for the Performing Arts. (Look for my full review on Sunday.) When I was growing up in NYC in the '70s, Sesame Street was my preschool experience. But early childhood education today is a whole other world. That's why we're proud to be sponsoring this Saturday's Lower Manhattan Early Childhood Education Fair with HRP Mamas, where parents can meet preschool directors from some of downtown's most prestigious programs while tots have fun making adorable WeeWork clothespin critters at the Mommy Poppins table. The fair is FREE but preregistration is required.

Fall officially arrives next week, which means apple- and pumpkin-picking season are about to kick into high gear. This week we updated a bunch of posts in our Pick Your Own Guide including the best apple orchards in Westchester and Rockland County, and the top pumpkin patches in New Jersey, on Long Island and in Connecticut's Hartford County. And if you're on the hunt for giant corn mazes, try Long Island and Fairfield County, CT.

Happen to know a few kids in Massachusetts who are doing great things for their communities? Then nominate them for our Beantown site's Kids Who Really Rock contest. Finalists will be featured in a Mommy Poppins Boston post and get to appear on stage at the Boston Kids Really Rock music festival. One grand prize winner will also receive a $500 donation to a charity of his or her choice. We're accepting names through Saturday, September 27 so tell all your friends in MA.

Here's what else we covered on the NYC site this week: