Mission impossible? That's the first thing that flashed through my mind when I was asked to pick this year's top 10 DVDs for children and teens. After all, during the last 12 months, we've reviewed nearly 400 DVDs, and the thought of limiting myself to two measly handfuls seemed daunting. But after much soul searching, hair pulling, and pleading to be allowed to highlight dozens of great DVDs, I arrived at a solution: I'd create a list that spans the K-12 curriculum and offers something for everyone.
The following DVDs, culled from this year's 64 starred reviews, cover everything from hot health issues to fun topics in science and social studies and from outstanding picture books to you-won't-want-to-miss historical anniversaries. While these DVDs obviously don't represent all of the "best" titles we've recently critiqued, each is stellar in its own way and features superb visuals, spot-on narration, and engaging age-appropriate content.
My top choice, PBS's Freedom Riders, offers a stirring portrait of the Civil Rights Movement and the brave group of young people who were determined to make the world a better place. As for the other nine selections, any one of them could easily have been a worthy runner-up. So rather than ranking these creatively produced DVDs, I've simply listed them in alphabetical order. Without further ado, here are some of our favorite DVDs of 2011. Enjoy, and be sure to let us know what you think of our choices.
1. Fifty years ago, as chronicled in PBS's Freedom Riders, 13 courageous activists boarded two buses to challenge the South's Jim Crow laws. Their mission? To find out if the states they were traveling through would comply with a federal law declaring it illegal to segregate interstate travel and public accommodations. Eleven days into the planned two-week trip, a mob attacked one bus and the other was bombed. Although the violence put an end to the journey, the ugly incident attracted many sympathetic young volunteers. This superb documentary features recent interviews with some of the original freedom riders, as well as stunning black-and-white photographs and powerful live-action footage of this historic confrontation, which was a turning point in the Civil Rights Movement.
2. Flu season is here again. What's the best way to stay healthy? Start by watching Achoo! Stop the Flu (TMW Media Group). With the help of humorous skits and catchy sing-along tunes from the legendary folk group The Kingston Trio, along with their guests Julie Thompson and Brownie Macintosh (of The Julie and Brownie Show), this terrific DVD is perfect for teaching primary grade kids good health practices and how to avoid getting and spreading the flu.
3. Bullying is a serious problem in today's schools, and Bully Bystanders: You Can Make a Difference (Human Relations Media) tackles the topic head on. When Jason sees a classmate harassed, excluded, and cyberbullied, he doesn't lift a hand to help. But after he hears that the victim tried to commit suicide, he reflects on how it could have been prevented if he'd stepped in. This is an essential DVD for middle and high school students.
4. Lady Liberty turned 125 this year. In Emma's Poem: The Voice of the Statue of Liberty (Spoken Arts)-taken from Linda Glaser's picture book of the same name-viewers learn how Emma Lazarus's sonnet, written to commemorate the statue's dedication, helped make it an important symbol of American freedom. Featuring Claire A. Nivola's gorgeous artwork and Frances Sternhagen's expressive narration, this DVD is a treat for elementary schoolers.
5. Kids@Discovery: Creepy Creatures! (Cerebellum) is definitely not for the squeamish. That's because it's about snakes, bats, naked mole rats, frogs, tarantulas, and hissing cockroaches. Accompanied by some awesome videos, museum experts offer detailed introductions to these creatures, dispel some common myths, and present some amazing facts about these incredibly creepy critters. Bottom line? Elementary school kids will delight in these slimy, slithery, weird, and wonderful animals.
6.Weston Woods's version of Jerry Pinkney's Caldecott Medal winner, The Lion & the Mouse, is filled with action, suspense, and song. Based on Aesop's fable of a lion's merciful decision to release a defenseless mouse, this wordless production features the animal sounds of the Serengeti and riveting Zulu music. And believe it or not, Pinkney's lush watercolor-and-colored-pencil illustrations look even more beautiful here than they do in print.
7. Does the SAT's dreaded math section send shivers down your students' spines? Well, help is on the way. Private Tutor: Your Complete SAT Math Prep Course (Private Tutor SAT), a collection of five DVDs, familiarizes teens with the types of questions they'll encounter, walks them through the problem-solving process, and helps kids fine-tune their test-taking skills. Plus, an instructor explains important math concepts and patiently goes over various questions and answers.
8. This year marks the 100th anniversary of the tragic fire that killed 146 garment workers, many just teenagers, in New York's Triangle Shirtwaist factory. PBS's Triangle Fire, part of the "American Experience" series, incorporates heartbreaking images of the city's deadliest industrial disaster, which was fueled by unsympathetic management practices and unsafe working conditions. This is an ideal resource for high school reports.
9. President Theodore Roosevelt had a lot on his plate, but one of his biggest challenges was his oldest child, Alice, who continually bucked society's mores and drove him crazy. Barbara Kerley's superb picture bookWhat to Do About Alice? (Weston Woods) is enthusiastically read by Katherine Kellgren. Edwin Fotheringham's joyful illustrations, which are scanned iconographically, along with some archival photos, help bring this little-known bit of history to life for kids in grades three to six.
10. In Vivian French's fascinating Yucky Worms (Nutmeg Media), a young boy learns about these creatures from his grandmother. Featuring Scott Nilson's marvelous narration and Jessica Ahlberg's expressive pencil-and-gouache illustrations, which appear to move as the camera pans in and out, this kid-friendly DVD presents an intriguing close-up of worm anatomy and cool wormy facts.
Author Information
Phyllis Levy Mandell is SLJ's managing editor and multimedia
RSS
