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Blankies, booms & brainiacs
REVIEWS BY LORILEI SONGY
Another fun-filled film has arrived, with all the favorite Sesame Street characters. In The Adventures of Elmo in Grouchland, one of Elmo's most beloved possessions -- his blankie -- takes a starring role. When a vicious tug-of-war breaks out with Zoe, Elmo's blanket is sent flying to a far away land -- Grouchland. This video will hold a child's interest from start to finish with its compelling music and familiar and friendly characters. The production quality of the DVD version is so excellent, it feels as if the audience is part of the action. Children will find themselves singing along.
Columbia TriStar, DVD, $24.95 ISBN 0767839277
Video, $14.95
Anything that goes "boom" is explored in this new entry in the The Big Adventure Series, The Big Boom. Detailed information is provided, with demonstrations of everything from an expert demolition team imploding a 22-story building to active volcanoes in Hawaii. It's an informative video that stimulates creative thinking. The video includes live footage of things that go boom as well as a child narrator to relate the story to the young audiences.
Little Mammoth Media, video, $14.99 ISBN 1929294026
Who says your best friend can't be 4,000 years old and a genie? That's the case for a brainy but bashful 13-year-old named Simon in the fun and entertaining video, The Incredible Genie. This modern day twist on Aladdin and the Lamp addresses issues such as friendship, peer pressure, and morals without being too preachy. The story is slightly camp and predictable but very amusing. This is an excellent video to view with the whole family.
Paramount Home Video, video, $9.99 ISBN 0792145461
Lorelei Songy is director of public relations for KIDS FIRST!, a project of the Coalition for Quality Children's Media. KIDS FIRST! evaluates and rates children's videotapes, CD-ROMs, DVDs, audio recordings, and television programming using a volunteer jury that includes child development professionals, teachers, parents, and children of diverse geographic, socioeconomic, and ethnic backgrounds. KIDS FIRST! has published a book, The New York Times/KIDS FIRST! Guide to the Best Children's Videos (Pocket, $16, ISBN 0671036696) and hosts an award-winning web site for families and children at www.cqcm.org.
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