Of course you already know about the Disney and Pixar movies! And Lakewood Public Library has them all, and more -- including many videos of the popular TV shows (Arthur, Blue's Clues, Dora, Kipper, etc.). This page is about the stuff you might not know about ... yet. These are the hidden gems of the Children's video collection. And while I haven't delved too far into these yet, as my son is only 2 years old and hasn't gotten into TV or movie-watching yet, fear not! I worked in the Children's department and have friends with children. And if you know of any gems that aren't listed -- please send us an email!

 

Animated Delights

A perfect antidote to too many repeated viewings of Disney movies is the video version of Robert Munsch's The Paper Bag Princess (Cinar Productions). How can you not love a princess who realizes the dragon is more fun than the prince? As I said in the book review, some of the cultural references scream  "late '70s-early '80s," but isn't that period the new hip thing? The story is fun and creative, the art and animation closely follows the book, and the music is catchy. Worth a look!

Animated versions of children's books are fun to follow-up the stories.  High-quality animation and original music enhance the production of two popular books: Marcus Pfister's Rainbow Fish (Sony Wonder) and Barbara M. Joosse's Mama Do You Love Me? (Sony Wonder). Each tape is approximately 30 minutes, and Rainbow Fish includes the bonus Dazzle the Dinosaur. Are they better on video than on the page? I think it's a toss-up, and the cuddle factor is about equal. If your kids already like the book, the video can be a fun, different way to return to the story. If it's new to them, why not bring home the video and book?

For children with a flair for the dramatic -- and who doesn't?! -- plus an ear for a tune (especially those more sophisticated than "I Love You, You Love Me" from our big purple friend), and preferring animation to live action (don't they all at this age?) -- The Maurice Sendak Library (Children's Circle Home Video) is a big winner on all three criteria. Lasting a little over 30 minutes, the tape contains three programs: The Nutshell Kids, Where the Wild Things Are, and In the Night Kitchen. The first program sets four of Sendak's poems to music composed and sung by Carole King, a big bonus for this over-30 mom. You get "Alligators All Around, "Pierre," "One was Johnny," and "Chicken Soup with Rice." The classic Where the Wild Things Are is narrated by Peter Schickele, also known as P.D.Q. Bach. A talented composer of contemporary classical music, Schickele also composed the score accompanying the story, and a team of Czech animators does justice to Sendak's wonderful illustrations. Finally, the adventures of Mickey with the bakers (In the Night Kitchen) also features Schickele as narrator. Don't expect Disney-style animation -- these stories are done more subtly, with a real affinity for the material. At the end of the tape is a live documentary-style interview with Sendak, whom a colleague's daughter refers to as the "Wild Thing Man."

To delight the train enthusiasts in your house, check out I Love Toy Trains! (Tom McComas Productions). With about nine different volumes, these videos show the magical world of toy trains, including sleek diesels and smoke-puffing steamers zipping up the mountainside, operating milk cars, log loaders, and hilarious toy train bloopers, plus lively music and loopy jokes. (The series recently came out on DVD, with a compilation of volumes one through nine.)

And sometimes the classics are still the best. It doesn't seem to matter with some movies that they were made decades ago; they still delight, they still inspire, they still beguile. In that vein, I offer The Wizard of Oz (MGM/UA Home Video), Charlotte's Web (Paramount Home Video), and E.T., the Extra-Terrestrial (MCA/Universal Home Video).

 

Learning Fun

For some fun for little ones while learning, the See How They Grow series (Sony Wonder) is quite cute and entertaining. The series includes volumes on Pets, Farm Animals, Sea Animals, Jungle Animals, Forest Animals, Pond Animals, Wild Animals, and Insects & Spiders. Each video has short segments on each animal from birth to 'adolescence,' toe-tapping background music, and some cute narration. They are found in the children's nonfiction video section.

Another fun-while-learning series is Geo Kids (National Geographic Kids Video) -- a great series on animals and the world around them, also in the nonfiction video section. Created and directed by Hank Saroyan, with original songs and animation, this series features Sunny and Bobby, and their Uncle Balzac de Chameleon, as they explore exotic locations to learn fascinating stuff about animals and bugs. Even the titles are fun: "Cool Cats, Raindrops, and Things that Live in Holes"; "Chomping on Bugs, Swimming Sea Slugs, and Stuff that Makes Animals Special"; "Camouflage, Cuttlefish, and Chameleons Changing Color"; "Tadpoles, Dragonflies, and the Caterpillar's Big Change"; "Flying, Trying, and Honking Around"; and "Bear Cubs, Baby Ducks, and Kooky Kookaburras."

 

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