Video/DVD

K-Gr 5–Ramon loves to draw: “Anytime,” like the middle of the night; “Anywhere” including on the toilet; and “Anything”—even smelly trash cans. When his older brother laughs at his efforts, he becomes self-conscious and frustrated. Months later he is still haunted by Leon’s cruel jeers, ready to give up. Then his little sister Marisol snatches one of his crumpled pictures and runs off to her room. The angry artist chases her but is speechless when he enters her sanctuary—a gallery of his discarded artwork. As she admires her latest acquisition, Ramon confides that it “was supposed to be a vase of flowers, but it doesn’t look like one.” She ponders the work and maintains that it is “vase-ISH.” This new perspective leaves him “light and energized;” his ideas “flow freely” and he draws everything he sees and feels. “His ish art [even] inspired ish writing.” And, in the end, he lives “ishfully ever after.” This animated version of Peter H. Reynolds’s book (Candlewick, 2004) is sure to inspire and empower young artists of all abilities to make their own “ish” drawings and poems. The simple cartoon illustrations, rendered in watercolor, ink, and tea, effectively capture the characters’ feelings with humor and sensitivity. Bursts of color and light and cool jazz music reflect Ramon’s mood throughout the story. Viewers can also watch the film with subtitles, though the white letters, outlined in pink are somewhat difficult to read. Libraries will want to purchase this delightful offering to support the art curriculum.—Barbara Auerbach, New York City Public Schools

Gr 7 Up–The series offers a short synopsis of many styles of art from the 11th century to today. Each production features 24 artists. Romanesque to Post-Impressionism covers eight periods of art between 1050 and 1925, and presents works such as Michelangelo’s Pieta and Van Gogh’s Starry Night. Fauvism to Nonfigurative presents the work of artists from 1904 to the 1950s, such as Matisse and Kandinsky, while Regionalism to Installation Art covers artists and their styles from the 1940s to the present, including Jackson Pollock and Andy Warhol. The young adult female host speaks at a very fast pace and describes the art movements in detail. Each masterpiece—painting, sculpture, architecture–shown is described in terms of its elemental characteristics. In each video, viewers are shown several important pieces and are asked to think about the artists’ intent. This series provides a good introduction to art movements throughout history.–Anita Lawson, Otsego High School, MI

PreS–Created by a pediatric speech-language pathologist for babies ranging in age from 3 to 36 months, this production utilizes toys and music to engage the children while introducing them to appropriate speech and language concepts. The DVD includes a section with vocabulary and language tips that would be very useful to parents and care givers. The main part of the program features mostly live-action video of toys and animals. The slow-paced footage is appropriate for young children. Brief bits of narration consist primarily of single vocabulary words and a few phrases such as “bye-bye” and “blow a kiss.” The vocabulary features common household items and concepts appropriate to infants and toddlers. Some of the words highlighted include: train, ball, shoes, car, bird, and squirrel. For the word “cup,” a mug and a sippy cup are pictured. Both a real and a stuffed animal are shown for the word “cat.” The vivid and colorful scenes will entrance babies and young toddlers. An additional purchase for public libraries.–Maren Ostergard, King County Library System, Issaquah, WA

PreS–The purpose of this DVD is to teach very young children musical concepts using auditory, visual, and kinesthetic learning techniques. Simply animated characters and live-action footage help teach the notes in the treble staff and introduce various instruments. Opening and ending credits are accompanied by Mozart’s Sonata #16 in C. Trebellina (an animated treble clef), Rock Bassy (an animated bass clef), and Rhythmo (an animated spring) teach the musical concepts in short vignettes, suitable to the limited attention spans of preschoolers. The first scenario introduces the piano, which is playing Für Elise by Beethoven. Next, Trebellina warms up her voice by singing notes in the treble staff, beginning with middle C and ending with high F. She sings the pitches for middle C through middle F again while each of those notes jumps from the staff onto the corresponding (animated) piano key. Next, 11 percussion instruments are shown along with the sound each one makes. Trebellina resumes note lessons with middle G through middle B. In a short video, youngsters hear various instruments playing “Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star,” “Row Your Boat,” “Frère Jacques,” and “Old MacDonald.” Trebellina concludes the note lessons with high C through high F. Rhythmo teaches viewers how to count out notes, and eight more instruments are introduced along with their sounds. Apart from the pieces by Mozart, Beethoven, and Pachelbel (Canon in D Major), the DVD contains original music. Despite the low budget appearance of this production, it will be useful in teaching beginning musical concepts to young children.–Beverly Bixler, San Antonio Public Library, TX

PreS-K–This wonderful production contains four episodes from the PBS children’s show, which debuted in July 2005, and features popular children’s singer/performer Courtney Campbell and her four cute-as-a-button puppet pals: Oogleberry Ink Dog (a mutt), Tiny Tina Ten Toes (a beagle), Mo (a Labrador retriever), and Mr. D (a snooty, aristocratic cat). In each episode, Courtney uses the story spinner to tell a tale that reinforces the lesson and she sings a song with her pals. In addition, they all gather at the round table to learn about another country such as Mexico or Turkey. Each episode ends with Oogleberry in his lair, writing in his diary. In “See How the Garden Grows,” Courtney’s brother cancels a much-anticipated visit, so her puppet pals make dinner for her as a surprise. Oogleberry is sprayed by a skunk in “Oogleberry Ink Dog,” but is afraid and too embarrassed to ask for help. Mr. D plays a mean trick on Mo and learns the hard way that telling the truth is better than making excuses in “Tongue Twister” In the original pilot, “Mustard Pancakes,” the four puppet pals learn the importance of respecting other people’s feelings. This TV show has great acting and singing, cozy sets, and other excellent production values. A treat for children and parents alike.–Beverly Bixler, San Antonio Public Library, TX

PreS–The animated mollusk trio pick up fish and other aquatic objects as they ride in a motorboat across the sea in this new title in the series. The name of each item they find is shown on the screen with the initial letter sound highlighted as the narrator reads each word and isolates its initial sound. After all of the consonants are presented, the Pocket Snails visit Phonic Island where vowels are introduced through music and animation. Songs such as “Tell Me All About (Phonics)” and “We Love the Vowels” are sung as alphabet letters are briefly highlighted onscreen. Bright colors, engaging tunes, and unique characters may entice three- and four-year olds to “stay tuned” as the Pocket Snails take their friend Jake on an adventure through the alphabet; however, most of the content is too advanced and likely to be confusing for preschoolers. For example, both the long and short vowel sounds are presented, and in an effort to have all of the words used to model each sound relate to the aquatic theme, many words will be unfamiliar to young children. While there is some repetition of key words, letters, and sounds, an insufficient number of words are modeled to enable a child to recall the letters and sounds presented. The publisher recommends this program for ages three and up; however, the slow pace of the program will likely not appeal to most five- and six-year-old children, many of the aquatic animals and objects will still be unfamiliar to this age group, and the letters and sounds are presented with insufficient modeling to be of any real benefit to youngsters who need to master alphabet recognition and letter-sound correspondences.–Kathy H. Barclay, Western Illinois University, Macomb

PreS-K–The brainchild of Deepa Rajagopal, this production’s purpose is to teach preschool children concepts such as the alphabet, colors, body parts, fruits, and actions through fun traditional songs and action. Eight Indian (not Native American) children gather at their friend’s home for a sleepover. During the course of the afternoon and evening, they play and sing a number of traditional songs, including “Itsy Bitsy Spider,” “The Hokey Pokey,” “Head, Shoulders, Knees and Toes,” and others. They help to make a fruit salad with mangos, apples, grapes, oranges, bananas, and watermelon, using these fruits to introduce counting and colors. Afterwards, they sing the “Alphabet Song,” with the last letter being “zed.” Then the youngsters demonstrate brushing teeth, have a pillow fight, and put away their toys while singing “We’re Cleaning Up Our Room” to the tune of “The Farmer in the Dell.” The next day, the children teach colors, body parts (with the help of a clown), and actions such as combing hair, hugging, clapping, walking, etc. The video ends with a brief talk by the program’s creator to parents about the importance of traditional songs and rhymes in children’s language development. A bonus section of the DVD contains the children singing all 17 of the songs, while the lyrics are shown in a band across the bottom of the screen. Despite the low-budget appearance and the fact that the child actors seem over-aware of the camera, this will be a good tool for introducing young children to basic concepts and traditional nursery songs.–Beverly Bixler, San Antonio Public Library, TX

PreS-K–It’s little Kavya’s birthday, and her family and friends celebrate with songs, dancing, and food. All sorts of topics are rather clunkily introduced as the party goes on: the simple question, “What time is it?” leads to “Hickory Dickory Dock,” and the mention that today is Kavya’s birthday leads her sister into singing about the days of the week. Populated by youngsters of Indian descent, this program is unique for its cultural approach—though the revelers eat cake and ice cream, they also share a favorite Indian dish during the song “Pav Bhaji.” Following the party, Kiko the clown leads a review of concepts covered, including facial expressions and Indian and western clothing. Though some of the songs are clever (“Chewing Quietly” is a cute little round sung to the tune of “Frere Jacques,” for example), the lyrics are often difficult to understand and the voice and visual tracks are not synchronized. While the cultural approach is unique, the program’s technical aspects leave much to be desired.–Kathleen Kelly MacMillan, Carroll County Public Library, MD

PreS-Gr 2–These eight episodes, inspired by the stories originally written by the Reverend W. Awdry, portray the adventures of Sir Topham Hat and his crew of playful trains and machines on the Island of Sodor. The adventures are narrated by comedian George Carlin and emphasize getting along and working together. In the title story, Thomas crashes into the stationmaster’s house. In “Double Trouble,” Thomas has a run in with a coal chute and ends up covered in coal. In other episodes, including “Pop Goes the Diesel” and “Diesel’s Devious Deed,” Diesel causes loads of trouble for the engines when he arrives at the station. The other stories are “A Close Shave for Duck,” “Gordon Takes a Dip,” “A Cow on the Line,” and “Trouble in the Shed.” The DVD includes a read-along story (“Thomas and the Naughty Diesel”), a sing-along song (“Little Engines”), a character gallery, and more. A welcome choice for young Thomas fans.–Maren Ostergard, King County Library System, Issaquah, WA

Gr 5-9–Live-action vignettes featuring ethnically diverse teens highlight the difficulties of peer relations. Students in a middle school act out scenarios centering on jealousy, family problems, bullying, and gossip. Each one follows a similar pattern: a social conflict is presented, the scene cuts to older teen narrators describing what is going wrong and how a better solution might be realized, and then the scene is replayed based on the more desirable model. The actors are credible, but the more mature teen narrators seem to be overreaching. Checklists of actions to take after each scenario make emotionally charged situations seem more manageable. Following through with a demonstration of preferred behavioral choices is helpful, creating clear and memorable conclusions. This straightforward program will spur discussion among students. A useful choice to teach behavior management techniques.–Robin Levin, Fort Washakie School/Community Library, WY

K-Gr 2–Through the use of live-action video and animation, Wise Owl helps children distinguish between tattling and telling. The animated owl defines a tattletale as someone who is trying to get another person in trouble. Then he defines telling, and offers guidelines to determine when it is the right thing to do. Four live-action vignettes model situations where telling or tattling may happen. Each scenario can be paused in a specific place for discussion. The program is narrated by Wise Owl and features a diverse group of children in the vignettes. The organization is clear and useful as a teaching tool. A good way to tackle a prevalent classroom problem.–Ann Elders, Mark Twain Elementary School, Federal Way, WA

Gr 11 Up–In this extremely lengthy documentary, two novice teenage models are taken through the steps necessary to begin a modeling career–make-up application, hair styling, body movement training, runway demonstrations, photography, and finding an agent. The DVD takes viewers through a modeling course devised by Alayna Seron, a former model and model/talent agent for more than 15 years. One young women is recruited at a casting call and the other is discovered on the steps of a local college campus. While they seem to enjoy the experience, only viewers with a very strong interest in becoming a model will be able to sit through this verbose and lengthy production. In some cases the instructors seem very aware of the camera and speak in an unnatural manner; this is especially true of the runway instructor. In the hair styling segment, the instructor rambles on for too long and fails to answer the question about face shapes. In some places the editing is sloppy, the sound indistinct, and the microphone appears in the frame. However, young women who are determined to pursue a career in modeling may find this production helpful.–Alice O’Grady, Wilson High School, Long Beach, CA

Gr 7 Up–Viewers are introduced to various facets of life in the world of dance. The program describes many dancers’ visceral attraction to their chosen profession and presents nearly two hours of anecdotes and interviews. The dynamics of competition are explored in detail. What inspires dancers to devote so many hours of preparation for two and a half minutes worth of competition? How does the intensity and focus on training affect dancers’ lives? Dancers, both men and women from different ethnic backgrounds, provide answers to these questions. We are taken behind the scenes for interviews with parents, dancers, and veteran professionals driven to pass their enthusiasm on to younger generations. The high incidence of eating disorders among dancers and the crushing blow of injuries are mentioned briefly late in the program. One young woman talks about her decision to leave dance because of the dangerous emphasis on weight loss. Although the dancers mention the self-sacrifice that is necessary to succeed, they believe that it is all worth it. The filmmaker’s focus on the intensely personal nature of a dancer’s relationship to his or her craft is at once the video’s strength and its weakness. It provides the program’s most involving moments (such as the sequence where a father overcomes his prejudices and learns to appreciate his son’s passion for dance), but also slows the pace of the film which will cause younger viewers to disengage. Devotees of dance will find value in the occasionally lengthy or repetitive interviews. Select portions of the program will be useful for units exploring careers in the performing arts.–Meghann R. Matwichuk, University of Delaware, Newark

Gr 2-8–This production is based on the concept that as a child’s coordination improves so does his or her ability to learn. The DVD has three segment: “New Recruits: A Quick Overview,” “Ranger Program: Time for Movement,” and “Simple Science: Just the Facts.” The first part offers guidelines for using the DVD and encourages adults to help children. In “Time for Movement,” four school-aged children and an adult present a variety of exercises to stimulate the brain and take the body through its many different ranges of motion. All of the narration is provided by children, which may be a distraction to some young viewers. In addition, the information is presented in a military format. Viewers are called “Rangers” and military chants are used throughout. In the very first activity, children are instructed in how to determine which of their eyes is dominant and told to put a patch on that eye in order to strengthen their under-used eye. However, in some of the activities the children are not wearing the eye patch. Also, in some of the exercises a stick is used for balance, but there is never any information provided on how or why the stick is used. While in the brief overview adults are encouraged to help children, they are given little direction during the actual exercises. All of the activities take place on a beach. The exercises are simple and include squats, crab walking, and visual tracking. The production may be too fast paced for some viewers to follow. In the final section, Dr. Gerald Brickley, the creator of the film, presents his ideas on the connection between movement and learning. An additional purchase for public libraries.–Maren Ostergard, King County Library System, Issaquah, WA

Gr 6 Up–This is the familiar tale of a young boy on his way to a big school dance, eager to impress a young lady. Timmy is a portly young fellow, and when he tightens his belt, in an attempt to appear more slender, he forces a small zit to pop out near his nose. This is only the start of Timmy’s nightmare; he’s faced with a pimple problem unlike any other, and every attempt to be rid of the zit only makes matters worse. In less than 30 seconds, what was once a tiny, pea-sized pimple becomes a balloon and then practically a new appendage. Not even the tines of a fork can penetrate this pulsing, glowing abnormality. Thankfully, kitty’s attraction for birds gives Timmy an idea for getting rid of the zit, and the surprising and frankly disgusting conclusion results in surprising consequences. This film was a labor of love for more than 70 professional Disney animators who worked on it as an after hours project for three years. For a zero-budget film, it has remarkable graphics, thanks to cutting edge computer animators and the very best traditional animators. Produced and directed by Disney veteran animator Mike Blum, technical supervisor for Toy Story 3, The Zit features excellent computer graphics. This award-winning short film will amuse and captivate viewers of all ages.–MaryAnn Karre, Horace Mann Elementary School, Binghamton, NY

Gr 4-8–Five middle-grade panelists talk about the plot, theme, and characters in  Avi’s Crispin: The Cross of Lead (Hyperion, 2002), set in 14th-century England. Tim Podell, the host, poses questions to the diverse group of students who eagerly share their thoughts about life in the early 14th century for a peasant boy, how hard it must have been for real-life character John Ball to take a stand against feudalism, and other topics related to the novel’s themes and plot. The students talk about the fact that the boy had no name and they relate Crispin’s search for identity to modern day teens trying to make themselves unique in the world. The host likens Crispin’s journey to a homeless boy suddenly becoming the CEO of a company and asks how likely it would be for this to happen. One panelist purposely takes an opposing view on many of the questions, making for an interesting dialogue. Avi appears in a short segment talking about John Ball’s notion of freedom, and Podell solicits comments from the panel about comparisons to Martin Luther King, John Lennon, or the struggle for women’s right to vote. The discussion is preceded by a plot summary, narrated by a guest magician who performs a few tricks as he speaks. Original student artwork relating to the book is shown in slide-show fashion in the background. Teachers and librarians will want to use the program to initiate book group discussions of their own.–Vicki Reutter, Cazenovia High School, NY

Gr 4-8–Tim Podell, well known for his Good Conversation! series of author interviews, has produced another interesting series. In this video guide to Andrew Clements’ Frindle (S & S, 1996), a magician offers a plot summary of the book and performs a magic trick, and then Podell hosts a discussion about the book by posing some questions to a five-member panel of diverse middle school-age students. They offer their opinions about the book’s characters, theme, and plot, as well as how readers might apply the lessons contained in the text. Information about dictionaries and how words are adopted into general usage is included. In a brief visit with the author, Clements explains how the story idea originated. Art work by high school students related to the novel accompanies the production. This isn’t a flashy presentation, but the responses to the thought-provoking questions asked by Podell and the information about the novel that is provided makes this a good way to enhance a novel study unit.–Teresa Bateman, Brigadoon Elementary School, Federal Way, WA

Gr 4 Up—Film producer Tim Podell interviews the Newbery Award-winning author about her life and writing at her home in Long Beach, CA. Kadohata admits that her work is inspired by her childhood, and viewers familiar with Kira-Kira (Atheneum, 2004) will be able to draw many connections between the two. Though she was born in Chicago, the author moved to Georgia and then Arkansas by the time she was two. She was one of the few Japanese Americans to grow up in the South in the 1950s and, like the main character of the book, developed a thick Southern accent as a result. Also like Katie, her father worked at a chicken hatchery and she had an older sister she admired. When questioned about the theme of the book, Kadohata states that there are “things you can change and things you can’t…but you can still have a beautiful and happy life.” Herein lies the key to the novel’s ultimate sense of hope, even in the face of great loss and sadness. Like Lynn, the author is in awe of the natural world and savors “the small moments…a tree blowing…the wind hitting your face.” Kadohata shares her feeling of “pure, uncomplicated joy” at winning the Newbery and shows viewers the first galley of the book filled with questions, notes, and post-its. She reads aloud a short excerpt and advises young writers to “write what you know” explaining that “out of our homes come our stories.” The interview includes a piece on the single mother’s family—her adopted two-year-old son and her beloved Doberman. A valuable resource for classes that have read the book.–Barbara Auerbach, New York City Public Schools

PreS-Gr 2–In 1856 Miss Bridie set sail for America. She could have taken a clock or a figurine with her, but instead she chose a shovel. The book by Leslie Connor (Houghton, 2004) follows Miss Bridie through her adult life as the shovel spades gardens, clears snow, plants seeds for an apple orchard, digs post holes for a fence around her farm, carries coal, and finally plants a tree by her husband’s grave. The story is introduced by the author and read by a female narrator. Miss Bridie’s character is defined by her wise choice of a shovel, and the tale exemplifies how choices follow us through life. Through her resourcefulness and hard work, she was successful in her endeavors. Mary Azarian’s woodcut and watercolor illustrations are scanned iconographically. This is a gentle story, with carefully chosen, poignant words and original music that will resonate with youngsters. It will lead naturally into classroom discussions and writing assignments about family history. Viewers might ponder what choice they would make in similar circumstances, and how that choice might impact a lifetime.–Teresa Bateman, Brigadoon Elementary School, Federal Way, WA

PreS-Gr 2–This Canadian production attempts to encourage young children’s early language and literacy skills as they view a series of very simple stories. True-to-life video is used, making the production appear very similar to a home movie. Each of the six stories is played twice. During the first showing, the words to the story appear on the screen as the narrator reads. For example, the first story shows a big dog and the words “Big Dog was bored” are shown and read by the narrator. When the tale is played a second time, the narrator signals that it is the viewer’s turn to read and a cursor points to each word on the screen. Other stories include “Oscar Makes Muffins,” “The Trail,” “Let’s Paint,” “Rocks in the Water,” and “Softy the Cat.” Overall, the pace is very slow and the video as well as the story content is amateurish. At times, words on the screen are positioned at a slant or vertically, which will confuse most young children. The difficulty level of the vocabulary is uneven. For example, the words ingredient, egg, and fork are all introduced in “Oscar Makes Muffins.” There are too many problems with this production for it to foster literacy skills in young children.–Kathy H. Barclay, Western Illinois University, Macomb

PreS-Gr 1–Written and illustrated by Peter McCarty (Holt, 2004), this is the tale of a Tyrannosaurus rex who doesn’t know why he is so terrible. He wonders if maybe things would be better if he were pink or blue. He was hatched from an egg and had a mother just like the other dinosaurs, yet he is still scary. He wishes that he could be a vegetarian, but in the end understands that because he is a T-rex, he must be terrible. The pencil on watercolor-paper illustrations give the dinosaur a soft edge. David de Vries’s growly, gruff narration is appropriate for the T-rex, yet a little scary at the end of the story. The illustrations are brought to life with slight animation. Original music features oboe, flute, and clarinet, calling to mind the time when dinosaurs roamed the earth. The music appropriately changes with the mood of the story and continues during the times when there isn’t any narration. A solid addition to dinosaur collections for young children.–Veronica Schwartz, Des Plaines Public Library, IL

Gr 10 Up–Neil Simon, August Wilson, Arthur Miller, Edward Albee, Peter Shaffer, Tina Howe, Wendy Wasserstein, Stephen Sondheim, and other giants in the field of drama discuss the act of creating a play from the first glimmer of an idea. The playwrights describe their individual writing processes, where their ideas originate, and how they develop a storyline to create dramatic tension. There is an interesting piece on giving a character his or her voice. The film features the authors discussing various aspects of their creative process in a “talking heads” format. Peter Ellenstein, Director of the William Inge Center for the Performing Arts, hosts the presentation and provides transitional narration. As the writing process is unique to each individual, it is interesting to learn how the greats do it even down to a discourse on the pros and cons of using paper and pencil over a computer. In spite of being rather static visually, the video has a warm feel to it. This will be a wonderful addition to public and school libraries and a must-see for teachers and students of creative writing or drama.–Mike Brown, Bowie High School, MD

Gr 7 Up–Fifteen-year-old Davie Balfours leaves his lowland Scotland home to travel to the Shaws estate to claim his inheritance after his father’s deathbed confession reveals Davie to be the rightful heir. His uncle, who has no intention of giving up his home, arranges for Davie to be kidnapped by a sea captain and to be sold into slavery. While on board, Davie meets exiled Highland rebel Breck, and soon Davie is in for the adventure of a lifetime. A superb cast is very engaging, particularly James Anthony Pearson as Davie and Iain Glen as Breck, the charming knave with a heart of gold. The scenery is breathtaking and haunting; the highlands of Scotland have as profound a presence on the screen as the actors. Although this version is not faithful to Robert Louis Stevenson’s classic coming-of-age novel, it is grand entertainment and would make a fine addition to school and public library collections.–Jane Halsall, McHenry Public Library, IL

PreS-Gr 4–Singer/songwriter Stephen Fite sings, dances, bops, and boogies his way through a live performance of his upbeat music in this lively production. Interactive all around, this program will have viewers jumping along to “It Makes Me Jump,” dancing to a new twist on the Hokey Pokey in “Put Your Little Hand In,” chanting along to the classic “Hello, My Name Is Joe,” and giving Fite a big “Thumbs Up.” Adults get in on the fun with “Teacher, You’ve Got to Move.” Two bonus videos, “Herman the Worm” and “Let’s Shake it Out,” offer more sing-along fun. Fite’s infectiously silly sensibility is ready-made for live performances, and young viewers will want to know when they can go to see him perform live in concert.–Kathleen Kelly MacMillan, Carroll County Public Library, MD

PreS-Gr 2–Children’s music superstar Laurie Berkner and band (Susie Lampert and Brian Mueller) sing, dance, hop, and swing to one traditional and ten original lively songs. A number of multiethnic youngsters also sing and bounce along. Berkner plays guitar, while the other two members of the band back her up with keyboards and bass guitar. A couple of songs feature cute, minimally animated characters. In colorful outfits on sets decorated appropriately for each song, Laurie, the band, and the children sing “I’m Gonna Catch You,” “We Are the Dinosaurs,” “Victor Vito,” ““Walk Along the River,” “Under a Shady Tree,” “Bumblebee,” “O Susannah,” “The Goldfish,” “Pig on Her Head,” “Moon, Moon, Moon,” and “Telephone.” Most of the songs are in a folksy rock musical style. “O Susannah” is sung in beautiful barbershop harmony, and “Moon, Moon, Moon” is sung a capella in barbershop harmony. The three bonus features include a look behind the scenes at the taping while “I Know a Chicken” plays; “I’m a Mess,” a chant with hand claps; and the band teaching the hand motions for “Moon, Moon, Moon.” The bonus CD contains four of the songs from the DVD plus “The Happiest Song I Know.” This wonderful production will have young viewers singing and dancing along for hours.–Beverly Bixler, San Antonio Public Library, TX

K-Gr 6–Beautiful computer animation with a 3-D look coupled with expert voice-over acting tell the Bible story of the nativity. The animated characters look like Middle-Eastern people and the costumes, buildings, and backgrounds faithfully recreate the period. While the narration and dialogue are not always word for word from Biblical texts, the story faithfully conveys the Scripture story and its meaning. The tale begins with the Roman tax and census decree and covers the angelic visitations to Mary and Joseph, the journey to Bethlehem, the housing in the stable, the shepherd and Magi visits, Herod’s plot to murder all two-year-old and younger males; and the angelic warning to Joseph. The story ends with Joseph and Mary sneaking out of town to head for Egypt, while Roman soldiers are all around. This lovely production will greatly enhance public library Christmas video collections.–Beverly Bixler, San Antonio Public Library, TX

Gr 10 Up–A moving and insightful program about the impact of missionaries and their work to produce a Bible in the language of the Yali people of Papaua, a Stone-Age community. This documentary relates how, in the past 40 years, missionaries learned their language, gained their trust, taught them to read and write, converted many of them from cannibals and warriors to Christians, and worked for years with a small group to accomplish the Bible translation. Along the way, one missionary was killed by hostile members of another tribe but, despite the danger, the missionaries persisted. The film presents the story of their dedication as well as commentary by tribal members about how the work of the missionaries has impacted their lives by bringing them literacy and their newly found faith. The criticism that is sometimes leveled against the missionaries for changing the lives of remote tribes is answered with spirit by one of the Yali interviewed, whose believes that their lives have changed for the better. Well produced and well edited, this program powerfully conveys the impact of this work on both the missionaries and the people with whom they work. The 27-minute documentary is supplemented with bonus features on the DVD including a 40 minute mission discussion, “Lessons from the Yali Story.” A good choice for social science classes and public libraries.–Melody Moxley, Rowan Public Library, Salisbury, NC

Gr 8 Up–This presentation is chock full of information about sponges, one of the most interesting animal phyla. The quality of the photography, the pace, and the organization of information on sponge structure, cell types, feeding mechanisms, and skeleton-like crystals is excellent. Views of growth development from gemmule and seasonal relevance are particularly well done. Three major classes of sponges are described and many examples are shown. Very basic information about predators, ecology, and asexual and sexual reproduction is provided and modern evidence of the location of sponges at the base of animal evolution is explained. More information on regeneration, attachment, and the structure and function of the osculum would have been helpful. Labeled drawings, animated sequences, and time-lapse photography are skillfully used in portions of the program. There are a few important terms that don’t appear onscreen. The 68 stills in the “Image Bank” are very useful for review. The stills library can be self paced or run on auto advance, a feature that will be popular with marine science and biology teachers. There is also an option of three minutes of non-narrated film excerpts. Computers with DVD drives and Adobe Acrobat 4.0 or later can access a teachers guide, an answer key to questions in the guide, and descriptions of the 68 still images. The narrated portion of this program is very similar to the company’s previously released The Biology of Sponges. For those who already own the previous version, this would be a useful replacement if the added features of the DVD are needed.–Joan Karasick, Greenwich High School, CT

Gr 5 Up–South Africa’s Kruger National Park is the setting for an in-depth look at invertebrates and birds that live among the better known larger mammals of the bush. TV actor Grant Goodeve hosts and ably narrates a tour of the microworld as seen through the camera lenses of David and Carol Hughes, longtime filmmakers in Africa. The excellent photography and attention to detail is enhanced with frequent pauses in narration so we can just observe. Unobtrusive music flows seamlessly behind the action and enhances it. Feeding, mating, and nesting behavior of bees, ants, wasps, slugs, millipedes, ants, mites, flies, mantis, spiders, and dozens of other creatures is spaced between watering hole and savannah shots of elephants, monkeys, giraffes, lions, and others. Dung ball rolling beetles, a termite queen’s long productive life, and close-ups of moth life cycles are fascinating. The sequence of a dying giraffe weakened by ticks and reduced to dry skin and bone after death by fly larvae is difficult to watch, but important to understand the balance of nature. Scenes and sounds of the Hughes team at home and at work in the field are a bonus in a fine program with only one negative–the conclusion announces the triumph of nature’s incredible design in the kingdom of creation, an inappropriate bias in a science program. However, this is not a total surprise from a company that produces Christian material. A scene selection menu on the DVD would have been helpful. With the caveat mentioned, the program can be useful in biology classes, and could lead to discussion about evolution vs. intelligent design.–Joan Karasick, Greenwich High School, CT

Gr 7 Up–Well paced, ably narrated, and beautifully photographed, these public television programs feature two extraordinary museums devoted to science. However, the material is promotional in nature and would be most useful as an introduction to the collections for museum goers who live in the Chicago or Philadelphia area. The Chicago Field Museum’s specialty is the environment and world diversity. Samples of plant, animal, fossil, and cultural exhibits are shown. The time-lapse photography of the exhibit installation of “Sue,” the largest Tyrannosaurus found to date, is very interesting and could be used to supplement a dinosaur or fossil unit. Museum staff members such as a geologist, an anthropologist, an educator (the only female), and the CEO extol the museum’s philosophy and the potential for greater human understanding offered visitors. There are two sub-sections of the program. “People of the Planet” briefly describe anthropology exhibits, and “Evolution of Knowledge” covers the history of the museum and research and preservation that goes on there. The Franklin Institute, founded in 1824 as a training institute for engineers and scientists, has evolved into one of America’s premier science museums with an emphasis on interactive exhibits. Benjamin Franklin’s experiments and his legacy are described. A brief tour of the museum features a huge steam locomotive, a human heart model visitors can walk through, and the aviation hall (first opened with Orville Wright and Amelia Earhart on hand and shown in film clips). “Mind Over Matter” explains the awards program recognizing scientists, and “Answers in the Heavens” highlights the planetarium observatory and a moon rock and asteroid, popular with visitors. The Franklin Institute president as well as a curator, an astronomer, and two staffers are featured in recurring interview clips. Viewers are urged to visit the museums, a much better idea should you be in the area than this expository approach.–Joan Karasick, Greenwich High School, CT

Gr 4-6–Students will enjoy this fun-filled look at organs, health, and nutrition presented by a variety of animated characters and set in the distant future when robots rule the world. There are more than 20 very brief videos, each dealing with a topic related to the human body. Difficult vocabulary words can be defined via a glossary link. By clicking on a “Friends” link, youngsters can meet the characters that perform throughout the program. Students are introduced to the body through music videos, mystery stories, and “news” reports, all filled with illustrations and photographs. The Smalltime Boyz start the show with a music video, “What I’m Made Of,” all about the elements that make up our bodies. The program ends with a blooper reel of Mr. Skeleton and his costume fittings. This entertaining and informative program will be an excellent choice for elementary or middle school science collections.–Lisa W. Baker, Chocowinity Middle School, NC

K-Gr 5–Gerald Bestrom is an Abraham Lincoln look-alike and a Lincoln re-enactor. This program features a school performance of his one-man show with a live audience of students and teachers sitting on the gym floor. There is also a short interview with the performer on a separate track. Dressed in Lincoln’s traditional black suit and stovepipe hat, Bestrom delivers a reasonably good monologue about the trials and tribulations of Lincoln’s time. He talks about the books Abe read and how difficult it was for him to procure them; the “blabbing school” of Lincoln’s day where every child was expected to recite out loud at all times; and the clothing Abe wore as a child (buckskin britches and a coonskin cap). Bestrom plays “Battle Hymn of the Republic” on a hand saw, leads the audience in singing “America the Beautiful,” recites the Gettysburg Address in its entirety; and discusses the colors of the American flag and what they represent. However, he strays from his role as re-enactor and uses the vehicle of Abraham Lincoln to promote character traits and habits associated with traditional values. He also makes numerous references to God, the Ten Commandments, and the Bible. In character as Lincoln, Bestrom’s performance would be an interesting complement to Presidents’ Day observances in elementary classrooms, but the religious references make it most appropriate for parochial school classes.–Marilyn Hersh, Hillside Elementary School, Farmington Hills, MI

Gr 6 Up–The last half of the 19th century saw unprecedented expansion into parts of our country that was fertile ground for wonderful stories–a sort of American mythology. Using a rich mix of visuals (contemporary video reenactments, prints, and vintage photos, film and TV clips), this well-paced presentation balances what is generally accepted as fact with what we know to be fictional. Our ancestors’ relationships with Native Americans and the classic street shootouts in the American West are among the examples of situations which need clarification. While those refinements constitute a significant portion of this program, much emphasis is also placed on what we generally always believed to be valid. Viewers will find the information on the role of the railroad and gold mining to be particularly intriguing, both in content and in the captivating manner in which vintage and contemporary photographs are juxtaposed. Narration by young people and questions posed relating to students’ lives today (e.g., “Under what circumstances would your family leave its current home for new territories?”) will hold the attention of viewers. Teachers will appreciate the DVD’s additional curricular and support materials segments, including Web links. A popular addition to most collections.–Dwain Thomas, Lake Park High School, Roselle, IL

Gr 9 Up–Nomadic. Rootless. Invisible. The only constant—change. All colors and all creeds, they followed unquestioningly in childhoods simultaneously “cruel, magical, privileged, and painful.” They are worldly, yet sheltered. They are Brats—children of military personnel, numbering 15 to 20 million. Donna Musil has created a film for, by, and about Brats but of interest to everyone. Brat Kris Kristofferson narrates. Psychotherapist and Brat Stephanie Donaldson Pressman terms the military family “the narcissistic family”—one where the focus is on the father as in Brat Pat Conroy’s The Great Santini (the film starred Brat Robert Duvall). Mission comes first and personal needs are subservient. Crying and emotion become shameful as children strive to “be the good soldier.” By interspersing archival footage and photos with interviews of a cross section of Brats, Musil reveals the Brat’s world. Some language in Kristofferson’s donated songs may be a bit harsh for more conservative libraries or audiences. With the advent of the Internet, “lost” Brat friends have found each other and learned that their personal experiences were not unique. Musil’s film examines a culture that is just beginning to realize that it exists and has started to explore itself. Brats offers a powerful glimpse of life “inside the fortress.” It is a must see for Brats and will be surprisingly popular with non-Brats.–Mike Brown, Bowie High School, MD

Gr 9 Up–Almost 150 years after the American Civil War began, there’s an unfinished skirmish still playing itself out in our country. The appropriateness of the familiar “Stars and Bars” flag of the South is still the focal point of disagreement today. This program attempts to present the viewpoints of those who feel it is a symbol of continued and past racism as well as those who see the flag as an historical symbol of regional pride without any link to its previous use as a representation of segregation. Unfortunately, the issue is clouded by the contemporary adoption of the flag by those who see themselves as rebellious and defiant. A very brief history of the flag precedes a series of interviews with people from Alabama on both sides of the issue, and therein lies the principal shortcoming of this presentation. While it seems that the producers intended that the program focus on a huge Confederate flag erected on private property adjacent to a main interstate highway in Alabama, the overall concern in our country is its placement in or on public structures. That topic receives only a minor nod toward the very end of the main body of the program. While the question of the flag’s significance to individuals is noteworthy, it becomes the theme of the entire production. Interestingly, there are white and African-American interviewees on both sides of the issue. A bonus section of the DVD includes four additional in-depth interviews, but these add little new information. Technically, the review copy of the program included several instances of amateurish camerawork and loss of sound. While the topic could be useful in history, contemporary issues, and debate classes, preview prior to purchase.–Dwain Thomas, Lake Park High School, Roselle, IL

Gr 4 Up–Emmanuel’s Gift tells the story of a courageous, spirited, and motivated young man in Ghana whose personal drive has allowed him to move beyond his physical deformity and impoverished conditions to become an inspiration for people across the globe. For the ten percent of Ghana’s population who are disabled, the lack of social support and cultural stigma limits many to a life of begging. Emmanuel learned to overcome the limitations of his malformed leg at a young age, finding ways to coerce neighborhood children to allow him to participate in soccer games. With an aim towards raising the profile of his disabled countrymen and women, Emmanuel earned a grant for a bicycle. His ride across the country captured the attention and imagination of many and set the stage for numerous accomplishments that would take him around the world, eventually allowing for legislative and cultural changes back home. Narrated by Oprah Winfrey, the presentation of Emmanuel’s journey includes interviews with a number of individuals affected by his vision. Family members speak of him with pride, and celebrities and world leaders speak of him with awe. The young man’s story is accentuated with a bold visual presentation, accompanied by a lively soundtrack layered with funk and jazz undertones. Vibrant colors highlight and contrast the drab backdrop of poverty, setting the stage for Emmanuel’s campaign. A rhythmic editing style and inventive framing keeps the pace lively. Among the special features on the DVD is his appearance on The Oprah Winfrey Show. Use of this film need not be relegated specifically to units exploring disabilities; it will be useful for any discussion that pertains to goal setting or surmounting great odds. It will enlighten, inspire, and entertain audiences.–Meghann R. Matwichuk, University of Delaware, Newark

K-Gr 6–Children often wonder what life is like in other parts of the world. This series offers a kids-eye view of exactly that. Divided into two segments, the program focuses on two children in Canada–one living in a rural community and the other in an urban area. Seven-year-old Hannah lives in Nova Scotia. Her father is a lobster fisherman, and her mother works for a dentist. Hannah and her older sister attend a small rural school with multi-age classrooms. Students follow Hannah through a typical day as she takes the ferry to school, studies, plays, cares for pets, and goes to a piano lesson. Viewers also get a taste of her parents’ day at work. The urban child, 11-year-old John, lives on the outskirts of Toronto. Two days of his life are featured–a family celebration of Thanksgiving, and the school day that follows. John and his brothers are shown doing typical kid things. His parents’ jobs are briefly introduced. The roles of church, school, and family in his life are explored. While John and Hannah’s days differ in many ways, there is still much they have in common. This is an interesting series that allows young viewers a glimpse into the typical day of someone who lives in a different country. There is a wonderful opportunity for compare and contrast here, as well as a chance for viewers to see how much they have in common with children in other parts of the world.–Teresa Bateman, Brigadoon Elementary School, Federal Way, WA

Gr 7 Up–These episodes from the PBS “Great Museums” series take viewers to some of our country’s best museums. Each opens with an introduction to its featured museum, explaining why it was founded and describing its unique mission to preserve some aspect of American life and culture. Although viewers see each museum’s interior and exhibition areas, these productions are not merely “tours” of each building. Instead, they are divided into segments where each museum’s directors and curators discuss the philosophy that guides how they preserve and exhibit the museum’s collection or that discuss some aspect of the museum’s exhibits or collections. Visuals include shots of each museum’s exterior, interior, exhibit areas, and collections. The footage from the museums is supplemented by interviews with museum employees and comments from people whose experiences are represented in museum collections, such as Native Americans, immigrants, and World War II veterans. There are some brief oral history clips from some of the exhibits. While these productions are more suited to a television rather than a school audience, they give viewers a glimpse into these exemplary museums and the aspects of American history and culture they preserve and display. They could be used in history or geography classes, and should be considered as an additional purchase dependent upon need.–Mary Mueller, Rolla Junior High School, MO

Gr 9 Up–Had this program been in print format, it might be described as “the definitive work on America’s bloodiest battle” because of its depth of coverage. With four times the casualties suffered during the Normandy invasion of World War II, this 14-hour battle challenges Gettysburg as a crucial confrontation during our Civil War. As the first conflict fought on Northern soil, Antietam gave President Lincoln the opportunity to present the Emancipation Proclamation in the context of a huge military victory. This exhaustive presentation utilizes a wide variety of techniques–vintage still photographs, live-action recreations of the combat in grand scale as well as actors portraying significant characters, plus a striking original musical score–to underscore the importance of the mêlée to the course of the war. The producers masterfully share the events and circumstances which led up to the clash as well as how the battle actually ensued, even to the unique manner in which it is still memorialized today. Interviews with scholars add much to our understanding. Chapter selection is included for ease of use. The narration, while smooth, is undistinguished as are some speakers’ attempts at regional and ethnic accents, but that is a minor distraction. A very valuable addition to school collections.–Dwain Thomas, Lake Park High School, Roselle, IL

Gr 9 Up–Personal history accounts continue to be a favorite of students as well as an unparalleled source of first-person information. This dramatic recollection of the experiences of four survivors of the Nazi occupation of Holland will be a valuable resource in any media collection. The program is divided into well-developed sections beginning with the May 10, 1940 German invasion of the small country and its eventual official capitulation five days later. However, the spirit of the Dutch people is portrayed through individual reminiscences interspersed with moving archival footage as well as still photographs of individuals and events taking place over the ensuing five years of occupation. The four individuals, who now live in the United States, recount their experiences during program segments covering the years of occupation, their treatment as slaves to the Nazi war machine, the continual chance of arrest for helping Jewish people and total strangers who faced particularly harsh treatment, accounts of underground activity undertaken by the infamous Resistance Movement, their ongoing faith in their eventual freedom even while inmates of the notorious concentration camps, as well as the exhilaration felt during their ultimate liberation. In addition to the award-winning main program, the DVD offers the movie trailer as well as supplemental scenes not included for reasons of time; conveniently for classroom use, a chapter selection option is also available. This moving and well-crafted narrative should be on every library’s must purchase list.–Dwain Thomas, Lake Park High School, Roselle, IL

K-Gr 3–Understanding communities, and their place in them, is one of the first social studies skills children must learn. This live-action series aptly supports that skill, providing clear, concise information about communities and many of the elements that make them thrive. Youngsters become familiar with rural, urban, and suburban communities and the importance of being a good citizen. They learn about the police station, post office, fire station, library, and hospital, and are introduced to the jobs performed by the people who work there. Equipment, vehicles, and special clothing are all highlighted. Job training, daily schedules, and the importance of each of these in serving the community is covered. Other programs cover transportation, local government, local businesses, and schools. Public and private schools are presented, and home-schooling is mentioned. Many types of local businesses are highlighted, and many forms of transportation are explained. The program on local government shows a variety of public servants at work, and provides clear information on how local governments work to impact their communities positively. A female narrator clearly presents the well-organized information. Children’s voices occasionally chime in, and light background music adds a nice touch. Video quality is excellent. The productions feature diverse men and women doing the jobs that make our communities flourish. This is an up-to-date production showing barcode scanners at stores, computers in the libraries, and the newest equipment in other segments. Unfamiliar words are shown onscreen and clearly defined. There are nice computer-generated animation transitions between segments. DVD options include discussion questions and activities, and a language choice between English and Spanish. This exceptional series will beautifully support the community studies curriculum.–Teresa Bateman, Brigadoon Elementary School, Federal Way, WA

Gr 4 Up–Nearly 20 years after a group of 14-year-old boys formed a pro wrestling league in their basement, the now adult men tell the story of how they came to start an all-kids sports league. This unusual documentary begins in 1984, when teens Shawn Crossen and Charley Lane began airing a weekly cable TV show from Crossen’s basement in Anoka, MN. Twin-bed mattresses provided the set and roughly drawn posters appeared in the background. The shows featured live pro wrestling with an all-kids cast, including the announcers. For the next five years, Crossen would overcome serious obstacles to keep the National Wrestling Federation (NFW) afloat as the sets changed from basement to school gymnasiums to cable TV studio to local armory. The NWF league picked up steam when Crossen mailed out copies of videotaped shows to cable stations all over the country. Ironically, the drama behind the scenes was nearly as theatrical as pro wrestling itself. Crossen, Lane, and other key players are shown in a series of interview segments as they talk about the league’s early days, its successful pursuit of media coverage, and its live events. Video footage of the boys wrestling in various makeshift sets is interspersed between these segments. The overall technical aspects of this independently produced DVD are very good, and the men’s sincerity and infectious love of their sport is apparent. Crossen’s sensational tale is based on his book, Pro Wrestling Kids’ Style (Arborhouse, 2004), which tells the same story of male camaraderie, sportsmanship, teen ingenuity, and tenacity. This tale of youthful entrepreneurial spirit coupled with sports documentary might just inspire other young people. A worthwhile purchase for school or public libraries.–Celeste Steward, Alameda County Library, Fremont, CA