Classical Baby “I’m Grown Up Now”: The Poetry Show, HBO, 2008; 30 min.; $9.97; http://store.hbo.com; ages 2 to 5.

 

Fun for both adults and children, this title brings classic poetry to life through various mediums, including animation, songs and live-action dancing. Readings by well-known actors – including John Lithgow and Susan Sarandon among many others – highlight some of the world’s greatest poems, from “The Owl and the Pussycat” to “The Wheelbarrow.” When children are interviewed onscreen as they discuss how poetry affects their lives, one notes that a rhyme is like music: you can feel the beat of a rhyme which makes the poetry even more fun to listen to.

 “I love this DVD! It reminded me of poetry I knew from my childhood, and now I can share the poems with my own children. Great narration!”
– Adult Juror

“I love this ‘cuz it tells you what poetry’s about after they say one of the poems. It had some real pictures and some animations. I like that.”
– Kid Juror, age 5
 

Thousand Hills Productions, 2008; 107 min.; $19.99; www.thousandhillsmovie.com; for ages 9 to 12. Faith and prayer play an important role in this feature film about a 13-year-old boy who tries to save his family’s farm from an evil land developer. A series of incidents – both uplifting and painful – teach him who to trust.

Baby Einstein/Walt Disney Studios Home Entertainment, 2008; 33 min.; $19.99; www.babyeinstein.com; for ages 1 to 3. Great for bilingual families, this DVD features lots of colorful images along with sounds from different languages. First, toddlers are exposed to five basic sounds (ah, buh, duh, ee and mm) and then each of these sounds is connected to simple words in other languages, accompanied by images of the objects described by those words. Good for co-viewing for parent and child, this DVD exposes young ears to English, Spanish, Chinese and French.

 

More winners from Baby Einstein include:

Musical Motion Activity Jumper
10th Anniversary Edition Baby Mozart DVD
Baby Einstein Discover & Play Stackers

An American Girl: Chrissa Stands Strong, American Girl, 2009; 90 min; $19.98; www.americangirl.com; ages 8 to 12.

 

This title realistically captures bullying and provides a conversation starter for parents of school-age children on a subject that begs attention.

 

When Chrissa (Sammi Hanratty) moves to a new school, a group of female bullies torments her in class, on the bus, online and at the swim club. The worst bully, Tara (Adair Tishler), becomes Chrissa’s swim rival until the teasing and taunting finally go too far. Although Chrissa is surrounded by a loving, supportive family, she’s reluctant to confide in them for fear she’ll be considered a tattletale. Finally, push comes to shove: Chrissa realizes that she needs adult help and that a person shouldn’t keep bullying a secret. This is one lesson that all children should be taught.

“Bullying, beginning in elementary school, needs to be brought into the open before it will stop. This video tells a good story that holds your attention while delivering an important message.”
– Adult Juror and mother

“We loved seeing Sammi Hanratti and Adair Tishler in this film! We have seen kids bullied at school and liked how this teaches you how to deal with it.”
– Child Jurors, girls ages 9 and 10
 

MGM Home Entertainment, 2008; 101 min.; $22.98; www.mgm.com/dvd.php; for ages 8 to 12. High school soccer prodigy Sara Davis struggles with an overzealous sports dad, a free-spirited boyfriend and a hectic high school life. Amid these challenges, she becomes the youngest player ever selected to the U.S. National Team.

Genius Products, 2008; 51 min.; $12.93; www.geniusproducts.com; for ages 2 to 5. Elmo and his friends – his pet goldfish Dorothy, the zany Mr. Noodle and adorable Super Grover – share tales of their summer vacations, along with a collection of bubbly new songs. They cover almost everything you need to prepare for a beach vacation, such as how to take care of your skin – or fur, if you are a monster!

 

For more Sesame Street fun, check out:

Abby in Wonderland

Abby Cadabby Building Set by K'NEX

Anchor Bay Entertainment, 2008; 92 min.; $16.98; www.anchorbayentertainment.com; ages 2 to 5. Cute, yellow and animated Wubbzy and his best buddies in Wubbzleburg are hilarious and offbeat. Little ones will be entertained while they learn about the value of friendship, helping others, honesty, self-control, self-acceptance and taking responsibility for one’s actions. 

Walt Disney Home Entertainment, 2008; 72 min.; 19.99; http://home.disney.go.com/shopping; for ages 5 to 8. This DVD features episodes from the delightful Little Einsteins TV series. While not specifically about space, the story is about the main characters racing in space to save the Three Little Piggies, whose planes have spun out of control. Children are captivated by the elements that both they and their parents have enjoyed on TV: classical music, art and a life lesson or two. 

 

For more adventures with the Little Einsteins, check out:

Local Girl Productions, 2008; 35 min.; $18.99; www.lilalohababies.com; for ages 1 to 3. What a fun way for toddlers to learn Hawaiian words and get their first view of the rare geographical beauty of these magnificent islands. Both engaging and entertaining, this delightful DVD is well-paced, with pleasant background music.

 

For more Hawaiian fun, check out:

The Riddle in a Bottle, Sisbro Studios, LLC, 2008; 30 minutes; $19.95; www.sisbro.com; ages 5 to 8.

 

Beautiful underwater photography provides the backdrop for this fun video. All ages delight in solving riddles that are provided as little viewers learn about animals, currents, tides and weather – and how moving water connects them all. A sister and brother duo add entertaining interaction as they lead their audience on an adventure through water. Jokes, puns and fun songs make this entertaining for the whole family.

“We laughed, we hummed along and, most importantly, we tried to figure out the riddle. A movie that made us think and discuss; it was fun!”
– Adult Juror and mother

“I really liked watching the little turtles. It was neat to see them come out of the sand and go to the ocean.”
– Child Juror, age 7