Adventures At School + Five
Little Monkeys (Scholastic Storybook Treasures/Weston Woods/New Video DVDs)
Picture:
C Sound: C+ Extras: C+ Episodes: B-
Continuing
their child-friendly series of DVD releases, Scholastic adds two new titles to
their Storybook Treasures
collection in the form of a set and a single.
For those unfamiliar with the series, try this link to our previous
coverage of titles in the series, which share the same picture and sound
quality:
http://www.fulvuedrive-in.com/review/9987/Scholastic+Storybook+Treasures:+Whe
The
singles is Five Little Monkeys,
which introduces children to sign language (ASL type) whether they actually need
it or not, but children with hearing can stand to learn about this world of a
language of a different kind and three stories are included with hosts signing
the words and ideas throughout. A good
idea, it allows all viewers to stretch the meaning of all languages and is very
effective. Extras include a sign
language vocabulary, alphabet fingerspelling, quizzes and a read along.
Adventures At School is a 3-DVD set that includes what
we could consider three singles, a main program the set is entitled, plus
additional tales and extras. Teacher From The Black Lagoon has four
shows, Illustrator Jared Lee and Author Mike Thaler interviews, quizzes and a
read along. Crazy Hair Day (narrated by Zack Braff) has five shows, quizzes, a
read along, Spanish Version of Monty and interview with
Author/Illustrator Barney Saltzberg, who is responsible for the title
tale. Miss Nelson Has A Field Day (involving football) has five shows
(Alfre Woodard and Thora Birch are among the narrators), quizzes, a read along
and Spanish Versions of two of the other tales: The Day Jimmy’s Boa Ate The Wash
and Amazing
Grace.
I wish
the picture was a little better throughout, but these are very constructive,
positive, progressive, well-rounded programs for developing minds and I liked
this batch overall a bit more than the last.
- Nicholas Sheffo
