Amazon.com

The irresistible pull of chocolate is the catch for this lesson from the dandy kids series The Magic School Bus. The kids give a cocoa tree to their intrepid teacher Ms. Frizzle (voiced by Lily Tomlin) for an Earth Day present. When the tree yields only one bean, it's off to the rain forest to discover why. The life of a cocoa plant, including how pods, mud puddles, and bugs play a part in its development should have the little ones curious (and a bit shocked) about how the basic ingredient in chocolate comes to be. All this plus side trips to visit iguanas and other animals of the rain forest. (Ages 6 to 12) --Doug Thomas ... Read more

Reviews (2)

Chocolate And The Rainforest
Enjoyable, well produced and very respectful. It's interesting to examine the interdependence of everything in the rainforest's ecosystem. The presentation is very age-appropriate and encourages kids to think for themselves and solve the mystery. The children loved it and were attentive. They talked about how their mom makes hot chocolate and liked learning about where it comes from. "Cocoa beans turn into pods and then it makes chocolate, right?" "I liked how everyone solved the mystery together." Best for ages 2 to 5.

Excellent
All of the Magic School Bus videos are great. My 6 year old says that the best part is when the Magic School Bus goes through the mud. They worst part is when the "investigator" gets angry. ... Read more

Description

Sing, dance, and play along with your favorite Disney songs! It's fun and easy as you read the on-screen lyrics and join your favorite characters in their most memorable musical moments! Celebrate the music and learn your favorite songs from Disney's 33rd animated hit, POCAHONTAS. This colorful musical celebration includes "Just Around The River Bend" and "Colors Of The Wind," plus a new "Can You Feel The Love Tonight" montage from THE LION KING, "Cinderella Work Song," and other popular Disney songs performed by your favorite Disney characters! ... Read more

Reviews (3)

Song Listing
I wished Amazon had listed the songs on this video to help in selecting which sing along tape to buy. I got this one and liked the Lion King DVD better. Here's a list of songs: 'Just around the river bend' Pocahontas; 'Cinderella work song', 'Why should I worry' Oliver & Co. (Billy Joel), 'Little Wooden Head' Pinocchio, 'Can you feel the love tonight' Lion King; 'Higitus Figitus' Sword in the Stone, & 'Colors of the Wind' Pocahontas.

Some great songs!
There are some good songs but most of them are a waste of time. I Saw this video. This is the perfect video for my mother's friends baby.

Put a smile on your child's lips and a song in your heart.
There is no denying that Disney makes the best childrens' movies and videos. Their collection of "Sing-Along Songs" videos is a perfect addtion to anyones movie collection, both young and old. The wonderful part about the "Colors of the Wind" video is that they have videos of songs from several different Disney movies on it, as well as two songs from Pocahontas (Just around the river bend & Colors of the Wind). There are songs from Cinderella (Cinderella Work Song), Oliver & Company (Why should I worry?), Pinocchio(Little Wooden Head), the Lion King (Can you feel the love tonight), and the Sword in the Stone (Higitus Figitus). I orginally bought the video because I collect Disney movies. I have a newphew who is a year old. At nine months I thought he was too young to pay attention to TV, though he seemed to like music. One day while he was being extra fussy I put the video on hoping the music would calm him. He immediately quieted down and began watching the video. He now watches it several times a day. He smiles, laughs and dances when we put it on. It's a pleasure to see the enjoyment he gets from the video. It's funny, but he isn't the only one who loves it. His grandparents watch it with him and we've caught them around the house singing the songs from it. I'd recommend this video to anyone. ... Read more

Description

CHICKA CHICKA BOOM BOOM (By Bill Martin, Jr. & John Archambault; Illustrated by Lois Ehlert): The letters of the alphabet race each other up the coconut tree.But is there enough room for all of them?

TRASHY TOWN (By Andrea Zimmerman and David Clemesha; Illustrated by Dan Yaccarino): Dump it in! Smash it down! Follow Mr. Gilly around Trashy Town until his truck is full of glorious garbage.

ROSIE’S WALK (By Pat Hutchins): A clumsy fox can’t quite catch an unsuspecting hen on this fun-filled walk through the farm.

THE CATERPILLAR AND THE POLLIWOG (By Jack Kent): The polliwog watches the caterpillar grow up and turn into "something else." But the caterpillar isn’t the only one who’s changing! ... Read more

Reviews (11)

The most adorable video out there!
What a fun collection of cute stories! "Chicka Chicka Boom Boom" has little kid letters (lower case letters) climbing up a coconut tree and then falling out of it & getting hurt (of course, the upper-case adults come to their rescue!) is such a fun way for kids to learn the alphabet! I actually had this particular story on auto-repeat for the longest time. The song is cute and the story fun & sweet. My 3-year old daughter also loves "The Foolish Frog" which is about a man who makes up a song about a show-off frog who in the end, literally blows himself up with pride. This story, like "Chicka Chicka Boom Boom," is fun & has a catchy tune), "Trashy Town" which is about two mice who go along for a ride in a trashman's truck for the day and narrate his activities is also a fun story. There are a few other stories on this DVD which my daughter could watch & listen to all day if we let her. If you have a toddler, this is a must-have video!

Even though it's been mentioned a couple times in other reviews already, I'll mention it again: the songs on this DVD won't grate on your nerves so it's grown-up-friendly.

toddler loves this..and mom doesn't mind it either!
Grandma bought this video for my 2 1/2 year old son. He absolutely loves it! The stories are interesting and colorful-and short enough to keep his attention. He loves Chicka Chicka Boom Boom (my favorite too) and talks about the caterpillar and polliwog who "change into something else when I grow up." We went to the library and got a few of the books-he turns the pages and "reads" along with the video. The stories also make the books more interesting. I doubt I'd have checked out "Trashy Town" from the library without this video-but it's really a fun book for my son. This is one video that I don't mind watching over and over-especially if my son can get a head start on reading with the books.

Lots of Fun
My Boys, ages 2 and 4, enjoy watching this video. The older boy was not one for books, but watching the stories helped him make the jump to enjoying reading. This DVD has a read-along feature, where the words are displayed on the screen. The music is catchy and enjoyable.

Good material, bad production
The best thing about this video is that it makes you appreciate the production quality of other animated programs, like Veggie Tales or Richard Scarry's "Best Ever" series. My 2 year old daughter loves the book "Chicka Chicka Boom Boom" and I thought this video would be a great addition to her collection. She likes it ok, but the problem is that I have to leave the room whenever it comes on. I am not easily irritated at children's fare, but the poor woman who sings the Chicka Boom story (I hope she never reads this) has an abrasive, pitchy voice that is pushed to the limit on this song, making it quite grating to listen to. In addition, the animation on the "Trashy Town" story, though similar to the book, is repetitive and cheaply done. Finally, both my daughter and I find "Rosie's Walk" very dull. She usually gets up and leaves. "The Caterpillar and the Polliwog" is the only redeeming one of the bunch. While clearly not expensive to produce, it is sweet, happy, and pleasant to watch and listen to. Unfortunately, it is a brief highlight in a 25 minute video. My advice? Buy the books instead.

INCREDIBLE!
I bought this after reading all the positive reviews on the Amazon site, but this video really surpassed all my expectations. The music is catchy, and the way they bring the books to life is wonderful. My three-and-a half year old son and I go around singing "Chicka Chicka Boom Boom" at odd moments, and when we clean up the house we keep referring to "Trashy Town." Yesterday in the bookstore we found "Rosie's Walk" and he immediately wanted to buy it and bring it home. This is the first time my car/truck/cement mixer-obsessed son has been really excited about buying a book, so naturally I am extremely pleased.
Even though the content of the four books themselves is educational, I think the real lesson learned here is how exciting and rich a book can be. ... Read more

Amazon.com

Eric Carle'swonderful books are among most children's favorites--and they're evenbetter on video.Yes, the pictures are still Carle's signature collagestyle, a layering of painted tissue paper, and they continue to beaccompanied by the simple, repetitive phrases that kids love.Whatanimation adds is even more wonderful artwork that magically springs tolife, an aural version of the sounds Carle so carefully describes in hisbooks, and some terrific musical accompaniment.This video contains fivepopular stories: "The Very Hungry Caterpillar," "Papa, Please Get the Moonfor Me," "The Very Quiet Cricket," "The Mixed Up Chameleon," and "I See aSong." Lovable characters abound, and the subjects (insects, planets,family, animals, and music) are fascinating to kids.Especially intriguingis Carle's vision of how a song "looks."Brightly colored musical notesand waves of sound pour forth from a variety of instruments--they dance,swim, and metamorphose into animals, plants, and almost anything else foundin the natural world.By the time "I See a Song" is over, you and yourchild will both be convinced that you really can see a song. What agreat supplement to your favorite books. (Ages 1 to 5) --TamiHoriuchi ... Read more

Reviews (18)

A Beautiful, Calming Video
This is one of the first videos I showed my child starting when he was about 6 months old. I was amazed that a video could hold the attention of a baby that age! At about 11 months of age, we started showing the video to him during his dinner time. He actually stayed quiet in his high chair and ate dinner for the entire 30 minutes of the tape. Now, at 19 months of age, he still loves this video and we will often watch it together just before bedtime.

The illustrations are lovely and the music is beautiful and very calming. There are five short segments in the video showing the stories of Eric Carle. You will not regret purchasing this tape. I wish there were more like it!

Excellent!
My 15 month old daughter loves this tape! Before we purchased it, she already owned 2 of the books upon which these stories are based, "The Very Hungry Caterpillar" and "The Mixed Up Chameleon." And, because of her reaction to "Papa, Please get the Moon for Me" I will be buying her a copy of that book as well. She enjoys "The Very Quiet Cricket" but not as much as the others. All in all, she is captivated by this video, and she will point at objects, laugh, dance and repeat words during this tape. If you are familiar with Eric Carle's books, you will notice in the animation the same type of colorful collage in use in his books. The narrators alternate between male and female for the first 4 stories, and the final segment is an explosion of color and music that delights my child. I would recommend this tape highly. My only reservation is that the first 5 minutes are an advertisement for other Disney children's tapes. If you have a fidgety toddler, you might want to fast forward this part.

Dull endings
I just finished watching this tape. I have to say that the I found the endings to each of the stories...anti climactic. "The Very Hungry Caterpillar" and "The Very Quiet Cricket" actually have no story. It's just a day in the life of these creatures. The Cricket story was the worst. Why could he not make a noise? Eric Carle never explains. Your kids will ask. In "Papa, Please Get The Moon For Me", a spoiled child plays with the moon...and it concludes with another odd ending. The only story with any type of message is "The Mixed-Up Chameleon"...the message: Just be yourself...and you will be content. "I See a Song" is the highlight of the tape, but it's more of a music video (i.e. Fantasia). I doubt my family will be popping this tape in again anytime soon. I like stories that stimulate the mind and make you think or laugh...these stories did neither.

Excellent video!
I love this video, and so does my 4-year old daughter. The images are beautiful, as is Eric Carle's artwork in general; the music fits the style and stories well; even the narration of the stories is great. I was actually hoping I would find more of Carle's stories on video for Christmas... I definitely recommend this one to anyone, kids and adults alike. It is really nicely done.

Disappointing
I love reading Eric Carle's books to my toddler, but I found this to be very dreary. Everytime I put it on he didn't even glance at it. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

Tasty chemistry!
This video is appealing to kids because it is about cake! They learn that baking is actually chemistry! And what an adventure they have learning about how ingredients look up close! When they get stuck inside the cake while it is cooking, they learn how heat, the final ingredient, turns batter into cake! ... Read more

Reviews (7)

great stoner movie
this film is trippycational! the part where they show a pentagram inside a pentagram inside a pentagram was the best. it's worth buying.

This sticks in your head!
I can still remember seeing this film in class when I was 10 (1983-1984), and that they covered at one point how to use the diamonds on the sides of pool tables to calculate your shots! So many times since I would think back to this movie whenever I played pool, wishing I could remember the exact formula. That's how interesting it made math! It's still in my head 20 years later!

Great math movie for fifth and sixth graders!!
As a teacher of upper elementary children for many years, I showed Donald in Mathmagic Land many times. It served as a springboard for studying different aspect of mathematics and for relating math to numerous areas of life. Students often had difficulty seeing the sense in learning math, but by watching this movie, their curiosity was piqued and they were inspired to do further study. Now that I teach math methods as a college professor, I show the movie to my preservice educators. They find it as interesting and useful as I do!

Walt Disney world on Sunday Nights
I too watched this delight as a child and that was long before video tape. I caught it on a Sunday Night edition of Walt Disney world. It stuck w/ me, the floating numbers, the calculations, the games, oh the never ending possibilities. I learned to play chess, and I have taught my two boys to play. I shared this video w/ my children w/ fond memories.

Into to Geometry
As a Middle School math teacher, I have found "Donald in Mathmagic Land" to be a very useful tool in introducing middle school students to the master egghead, Phythagoreas. I have shown this video in class every year for the past 5 years. The students find it to be very informative as well as entertaining. You know you have a hit on your hands when a 12 or 13 year old tells you a math video is COOL!

C. Mort, Naylor Middle School, Tucson, Arizona ... Read more

Amazon.com

This 90-minute video contains the 3 favorite episodes as picked by kids on the Magic School Bus Web site. (Ages 5 to 10)

Gets Lost in Space
When the planetarium is closed for a field trip, it's no problem for Ms. Frizzle--star of Scholastic's award-winning Magic School Bus series. She simply takes the class to outer space on the Magic School Bus turned spaceship. As she puts it, outer space is "the only planetarium open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week." The kids explore each of the first four planets with Ms. Frizzle, until they hit an asteroid and are separated from their teacher. They must play detective to figure out which planet she's on, working from a few clues. For example, Ms. Frizzle tells them, "The colder it gets, the hotter you are to finding me." Kids age 5 and older will learn interesting facts about each planet throughout the adventure. They'll also pick up information about relative distances in space, how gravity works, and why Earth is the only planet in our solar system that can sustain life. --Elisabeth Keating

In a Pickle
Mrs. Frizzle is on trial in this episode from the popular PBS show. Seems Keesha's prized cucumber has disappeared over spring break and she suspects Mrs. Frizzle of foul play (or eating it). The unflappable teacher has other ideas, shrinking the class down to minuscule size. Gooey and yucky (the way kids like it), the show teaches the students how microbes have very particular assignments in changing things and battling bacteria. They can even do mysterious things to cucumbers. --Doug Thomas

The Busasaurus
A visit to a dinosaur dig turns exciting when the Magic School Bus becomes a time machine that takes Ms. Frizzle's class back 67 million years to the time when dinosaurs roamed the Earth. There, they must put aside their prejudices and preconceptions about dinosaurs as they investigate which are dangerous carnivores and which are herbivores. By noting their observations in their science journals, the class classifies dinosaurs according to their diets. An encounter with a T. rex concludes the journey. They realize that dinosaurs came in all shapes and sizes, and use the scientific methods of recording data and hypothesizing to reach their conclusions. They also discover how scientists today use evidence such as teeth to tell which dinosaurs ate what. A female paleontologist answers their questions at the end, explaining which part of the journey was fact and which was speculation. Kids will learn how scientists work, as they enjoy this exciting adventure in time travel. --Elisabeth Keating ... Read more

Reviews (3)

triple the fun!
What a ride! My two boys just LOVE this video ... they get to travel to outer space, learn about tiny living things AND go back into the time of dinosaurs. The Busasaurus is their favorite. (Warning: every time my four year old watches this, he wants to eat pickles)!

Educational
I got this for my 6 yr old daughter (5 at the time). She saw some at school and begged me to get her her own copy. I sat and watched it with her and I think they way they explain everything is great. Highly recommend it!

Great Science For Kids
This is a great value compilation of three of the Magic School Bus episodes - Gets Lost In Space (about the Solar System), In a Pickle (about microbes) and Busasaurus (about dinosaurs). All my children (aged 10 to 2) love Ms Frizzle and the adventures her class become involved in - "Space" is my 2 year olds favorite request - I just wish they made a model Magic School Bus that he could play with. The comments at the end of each episode (from suposed phone calls to the production team) help sort out the known facts from the supposition in the episode (e.g. it would take more than a day to reach all the planets). All in all a brilliant introduction to science topics. ... Read more

Amazon.com

Similar to the interactive environment of Blue's Clues,but geared toward a younger audience, comes Dora the Explorer, afully animated Nick Jr. cartoon. Like all Dora episodes, To theRescue resembles a computer game (sans mouse and cursor) to teachSpanish, number and object recognition, deduction, reasoning, and earlymath skills. Its host is a girl, not much older than her viewers, witha sunny disposition, bilingual abilities, and a no-nonsense approach toproblem solving; in other words, a worthy role model for toddlers andpreschoolers who willingly play along with the show's format. In thefirst of two 25-minute segments, Dora discovers that threeaward-winning piglets have escaped from their pen. She enlists the help ofviewers to rescue them before Swiper the Fox swipes their blue ribbons."I need your help," she explains. "If you see the fox, yell 'Swiper'."And yell they will. They'll also choose items from her backpack, countpiggies, and steer the swine clear of danger. The second segmentcharges viewers to help Dora return a lost baby bird to her mother, wholives in a hard-to-find little blue tree. But first, they must selectan object from Dora's backpack to help dry the wet bird and then locatethe tree on her map. Children will learn a handful of Spanish words asthey successfully resolve the dilemmas, and can shake out their wiggleswith "The Monkey Dance." Parents should be mindful that Dora ismeant for the ages 5-and-under crowd. Older kids will find itrepetitive, predictable, and slow-going--the very qualities that makeit a winner for its intended audience. --Lynn Gibson ... Read more

Reviews (12)

Dora: Another Winner from Nick Jr.
My 2YO son loves this video and he wants to watch it just about every day.
If you are familiar with the TV show, this is familiar territory: interactivity, a little Spanish, enough repetition to help reinforce concepts, and a celebratory dance at the successful end of each adventure. Boots the Monkey is as hyper as ever.
If you are not familiar, please note that the video has two self-contained episodes on one tape. There are opportunities for your child to participate in the action (by pantomiming a pulling action to help Dora pull her wagon out of the mud, for example) and to apply knowledge of shapes, colors, numbers, etc. You will probably be surprised by how much even very young children can and do participate. I have not found this video to be tiresome to watch repeatedly, as some products targeted for preschoolers can be. The stories follow a very strict formula (so your child will catch on to how to participate), but the actions are not so repetitive as to be boring.
If your child likes the interactivity of Blue's Clues, then Dora the Explorer: To the Rescue will be another good fit for your video library.

A Good Role Model
My 2 1/2 year old daughter loves this. She is adopted and is hispanic. Dora is a great role model for her and is helping me teach her Spanish. The video teaches social, moral, and academic skills and is fun as well. The stories are sweet as Dora rescues baby animals.

D D D D Dora!
My 2 year old LOVES Dora the Explorer. We now have a few of these tapes, since Dora is not on t.v. all day long. This tape, the second in our collection, is adorable. She loves the episode with the little blue bird (where does he have to go? To the little blue tree!). I like these videos because they do teach the children some basic Spanish words, instead of just having them glued to watch the show. Now my daughter uses words like "Vamanos!" and "delicioso" correctly, and at 2, I think this is a pretty big accomplishment. We recommend Dora the Explorer videos to everyone we know and give them as birthday gifts. They are always a hit!

I'd probably buy more Nick Junior tapes if it wasn't for..
the huge volume of marketing material at the beginning. There's almost more preview material than actual show. That said, I do think Dora is a great role model for pre-schoolers. The tapes have opened up lots of conversation between my 2 year old and me on being brave, helping others and figuring things out. She loves to act out the 2 stories on the tape - especially the baby blue bird one.

Dora the explorer - To the rescue.
This is a fun and sweet video.The kids even learn something, the boy i gave this video to is three and he absolutely loves Dora the explorer. Often he stands in front of the tv and screams with it. It's a good movie for little kids, i recommend it. ... Read more

Description

Sing, dance, and play along with your favorite Disney songs! It's fun and easy as you read the on-screen lyrics and join your favorite characters in their most memorable musical moments! This sparkling collection of Disney hits will send you and your family soaring to magical heights of fun! Your heart will take flight as you sing the high-flying favorites "You Can Fly!" from PETER PAN, "When I See An Elephant Fly," from DUMBO, "Step In Time," from MARY POPPINS, and other popular songs from classic Disney films! ... Read more

Reviews (2)

Marching Elephants Steal the Show
I have a two year old who loves this video, especially the marching elephants. We now have regular marching around the house. He has now collected up his toy elephants we got from the zoo last year and has them march with him or just pretends they are having a parade.He always loved parades, and the elephant parade in this video is something he is very taken by. The only draw back to this video is the "you can fly" part (from Peter Pan) is repeated so many times, I think a two year old could begin to believe that they could.

Peter Pan - You can fly !
My 2 years old son loves this video! Songs include the elephant marching song from the Jungle Book. My son marches all around yelling "company march". Disney sing alongs are the best videos for 2 year olds. ... Read more

Amazon.com

Clark Gesner's musicalization of Charles Schulz's "Peanuts" comic strips was a hit off-Broadway in 1967 and on Broadway in 1999. This video presents 49 minutes of the show, combining the familiar look of "Peanuts" animated television specials with Gesner's charming skits and songs, including the title tune, Snoopy's ode to eating "Suppertime," the Beethoven adaptation "Schroeder," the baseball yarn "T-E-A-M," and the sweet-as-a-warm-puppy anthem "Happiness." It should be noted that Gesner's clever score, while inspired by the actual strips, is aimed at a slightly older viewing audience than are most "Peanuts" videos, and that these young voices occasionally strain to keep up with its demands. Still, it's solid entertainment, and for anyone who performed the show in school and wishes there were a stage performance recorded on video, this is the next best thing. --David Horiuchi ... Read more

Reviews (12)

CHARLIE BROWN IS GREAT FOR ALL AGES!!!!!
When I was little I loved watching Your a good man Charlie Brown. I loved listening to the music like "The Kite" Which I learned in 4th grade. All my friends and I did was sing songs from "charlie brown." Whenever you dont feel good about yourself you can refer to Charlie the boy who was most of the time miserable and who had a huge crush on the red hair girl. Sometimes if you think that a boy/girl doen't like you, you can see poor Charlie who know one likes him. HE IS A WONDERFUL CHARACTER LOL

You're a cood man Charlie Brown
A wonderfull musical treat.The songs are witty and imaginative
with a big dose of just plain fun!
The "book report on Peter Rabbit" just makes my day and I'll never hear Home-on-the-Range the same again

Love it.
You are a good man, charlie Brown, is the best peanuts show I've ever seen. It is also a great musical.

It's a great musical, Charlie Brown!
I've loved this Peanuts special from the minute I saw it. I own the CD soundtrack from the 60's play (with Gary Burghoff from "M*A*S*H* as Charlie Brown). I used to sing with the songs all the time. The highlights are the main title, and anything done by Snoopy. "Queen Lucy" and "Oh Give Me a Home" are funny points. All in all, this is one of the best Peanuts cartoons that have ever been made.

We love Charlie Brown
This video is cute. I have a record from the 60's with the show. One or two of the main songs seem to be missing but the animation is cute. My daughter loves it and she is 5. ... Read more

Amazon.com

Dora the Explorer is a Nick Jr. cartoon adventure aimed at young preschool children. The setting is a simulated computer game--flush with interactive pauses, colorful animation, repetition, and song--in which Dora and her monkey friend Boots journey through natural settings while solving small dilemmas. Dora is bilingual, speaking primarily English and offering a new Spanish word or phrase every episode. The series teaches children simple concepts and aids in the development of memory and problem-solving skills. In "Sticky Tape," Dora's friend Benny needs some sticky tape in order to mend a hole in his hot-air balloon and prevent it from crashing into Crocodile Lake. Young viewers are charged with helping Dora and Boots find the sticky tape in Dora's backpack, then delivering it across a windy river and over a slippery rock to Benny--all the while preventing Swiper the Fox from swiping the tape. In "Berry Hunt," Dora and Boots's excursion to pick blueberries leads them across the river, through a prickly forest, and into Swiper the Fox's homeland on Blueberry Hill. Their journey is relatively uneventful until they're forced to outsmart Swiper the Fox and a blueberry-loving bear. While parents are likely to find this 48-minute Dora the Explorer pedantic and repetitive, children 2 to 5 years old are fascinated by the show and will actively participate by singing along, shouting answers to Dora's questions, and offering a warning cry whenever Swiper the Fox appears. The series is quite similar to the popular Blue's Clues--in both, viewers help the main character fit together bits of information to solve a puzzle or complete a journey--but Dora the Explorer is aimed at a slightly younger audience. --Tami Horiuchi ... Read more

Reviews (6)

Could it get any better than this?
This video along with the other Dora The Explorer videos are magnificent! My daughters, ages 2 and 6, adore these shows and I have found myself singing along with them! Both of my children have learned several spanish words and a variety of fun songs. Dora has got there attention from beginning to end with her educational yet fun videos. Thank you Nick Jr.!

Dancing Toddlers Learn Spanish
My daughter, Rachel, was instantly taken with Dora when she first saw the Dora the Explorer program on NickJr. The bright colors and the interactive format (Dora asks questions and Rachel answers) appeal to my preschooler. Rachel has also become interested in making maps as a result of this show. It's fun to listen to her speak Spanish to her baby sister, and watch her dance to the music with Dora and Boots the Monkey.

I used to be awakened by my daughter on Saturday mornings, clamoring, "Mommy, get up! Dora's on! Hurry, we'll miss her!" Fortunately, NickJr has released the videos, and mommy can now sleep in on Saturday Mornings (worth the price of the video for that alone!).

As an elementary school teacher, I can tell you that the Dora videos offer ample problem solving opportunities and good exposure to the Spanish language (3 to 5 words per episode, presented in context, and consistently reinforced).

Dora Teaches
I have two youngsters who watch Dora everyday on Nick Jr. so I decided to get these tapes...Dora uses English and Spanish to help her friends find clues to find her way to help someone or to get somewhere..To my surprise when I was listening to my children play, they were counting in Spanish..These kids are only 2 and 3..and they learned that from watching her cartoon everyday..She teaches phrases and little words that would be easy for children to remember..Dora is a good learning show for any age...

My daughter is only 15 months old and loves Dora.
She can already say "Backpack", she dances to all the songs and even runs over to the TV to show Dora the 3 places they need to go. We can't even turn the video off before the program is over or she'll start screaming.

Dora is here to stay!!!
My preshool aged kids are nutz about Dora - and FINALLY a female heroine/charcter for them to follow! They have learned as many as 20 spanish words since we started watching and not only do they know how to just say them, they KNOW what they mean and what context to use them. Make sure you check out...onine games that your children can play! ... Read more

Amazon.com

Beverly Cleary's entertaining sequel to The Mouse and theMotorcycle comes to life in another stop-motion animation TV short,starring a young Fred Savage. Ralph, a squeaky-voiced mouse with apenchant for peanut butter, decides to run away from the Mountain ViewInn when his uncle threatens to ground him for reckless motorcycleriding. He winds up at the Happy Acres Camp, where an unenthused campernamed Garfield (Savage) captures the tiny rodent. When "Garf" saves Ralphfrom a hungry cat, Ralph starts talking and a friendship develops.Together, boy and mouse combat Garf's own desires to run away from adifficult situation and solve a camp mystery to boot. Wholesome fun bestdescribes this 42-minute family feature, which does not rely oncliché-ridden dialogue or breakneck action. The '70s go-go style ofmusic is a little dated and Ralph's stop-motion movements may seem alittle jerky by today's animation standards, but he and his furrycostars still garner plenty of appeal. Children 4 years old and upwill easily comprehend this film's lesson about the importance of workingthrough problems rather than avoiding them. --Liane Thomas ... Read more

Reviews (4)

The Mouse and the Motorcycle 2!
Hi, people! If you liked the TV special The Mouse and the Motorcycle(1986), yu'll really like this 1988 TV special! They were both based on novels written by Beverly Cleary, a children's author. It's about a mouse named Ralph who runs away from home on his toy motorcycle, and stops at a summer camp. There, he meets a lonely boy named Garfield (Fred Savage, later of "The Wonder Years") and they become friends. Well, I don't want to spoil it, so this is all I'm going to tell you about the story.
This film was originally aired on ABC in 1988, and, aside from cheap animation, is GREAT! Ya just gotta get it! And, in addition to this movie, get Mouse and the Motorcycle too. They are two excellent movies for all ages.

They don't get any better than this
This classic needs to be in every video library. Children of all ages will find this movie irresistable. I'm ordering my 4th copy because friends and family have a cute way of begging my copy away from me and ironically, I have no children. When guests come over, a guaranteed way to capture the attention of their unruly children is to put this in the VCR. It usually captures the attention of the adults too. Unfortunately, the film is only 45 minutes long.

I like Runaway Ralph because I like animal books.
Dear Beverly Cleary, I just read Runaway Ralph. I loved the book a lot. My favorite part was when Ralph met Chun because Ralph asksed Chum what kind of animal he was. I am going to ask you a couple of questions-OK? Why did you want to write so many books? Which of your books do you like the best? When you were little is this what you wanted to do? Please answer my questions. Sincerely, Sarah Teixeira END

Very good
The mouse on the motor cycle is kickin butt on his motor cycle he's trying to get back to his home but in the process he gets cought and put in a cage thats all for now END ... Read more

Reviews (6)

Better...but not good...sequel...
The second sequal is...marginally good on account of one good song (yes I know that sounds impossible). However, it doesn't make up for the fact that the rest of the movie stinks.

Especially Sarah...my god she does nothing but scream for five minutes in one scene!! It makes you irritated beyond belief! Oh sure, you may think I'm overreacting, but you listen to some one give a girly high-pitched scream every two seconds for five minuntes and then tell me how you feel. Sarah should have been killed off and saved us all a lot of mercy. She probably should have been killed by Sharptooth in the first movie!

This sequel could be enjoyable for some. Could be.

Fun way to learn about working together
Even though words like "dumb" were used, this is a reality for children. It gives parents an opportunity to talk to children about how it feels to be called names and to be sensitive to others feelings. My kids love all the movies and pretend play the characters. They see what being a good friend is all about. I can refer back to the movie to make a point.

Warning, Warning! Not suitable for children!!!! 0 stars!
"Hip" the young bully dinosaur refers to Littlefoot, Cera and the other young dinosaurs as big babies. He also uses the words stupid and dumb. This is very unfortunate for an otherwise wonderfully creative concept. I now find myself trying to explain to a 2 year old that these are unacceptable things to say.......

Great fun with Great morals!!
My 3 1/2 year old son can not get enough of this whole series. He wants to watch them over and over. The stories & characters are fun and the songs are wonderful. The best part is they all have great lessons and messages for kids to learn. They are all about caring and good morals without preaching to the children. My son loves to talk about the story after watching them and doesn't even realize he has learned whatever message they were trying to get across. Kids seem to identify with the little dinosaurs and their relationships with the adults. A great video collection that makes both children and adults happy.

One of the best of this series.
Excellent film, with interesting characters and well-chosen topics ... Read more

Amazon.com

This fourth sequel in the series finds "leaf gobblers" eating all the vegetation in Great Valley, driving Littlefoot, the young brontosaurus, and the other dinosaur inhabitants out. Arguments break out among the adults during migration, and Littlefoot and his friends decide to take matters in their own hands by crossing the "big water" to an unknown island. There they meet an old friend from The Land Before Time II--Chomper, the T-rex, who has to protect the gang from his own, carnivorous parents. Plenty of drama in this one, and as the series has been wont to do from the beginning, it shows adults as sometimes being less than perfect. --Tom Keogh ... Read more

Reviews (9)

Very cute little movie
For every Land Before Time video I buy, it seems to appeal to me every time, and this one is no exception. In this film, "swarming leaf gobblers" (grasshoppers) eat up all the food in the Great Valley. This means that all the dinosaurs will have to move. :( Soon, the grown-ups start fighting (again) about where they should go to find more food. Of course, Littlefoot and his friends try and solve the problem by setting of on another journey to find food themselves. And they find it, on an island. The rest of the story follows up with a "return of Chomper" part in it, a t-rex chase (of course), and "peace on dino earth" (a happy ending). Over-all, it's a cute movie that kids of all ages are sure to love.

Kids (of all ages) love this movie!
My girls are 3 & 4 years old. My 3 year old asks to watch a movie from this series at least once every other day! This one has catchy tunes "Big Water" and "Friends for Dinner" that even my husband and I sing along with! My husband & I don't mind watching this one with the girls, it's entertaining! It teaches kids how to work together...and a few other life lessons. It's a keeper! I recommend it, and all of the movies in this series.

A tasty animated delight
I was introduced to "The Land Before Time V: The Mysterious Island" by my 5-year old nephew, and it's one of our favorite films to watch together. This animated tale, the fifth in the series, takes the viewer on an adventure with Littlefoot and his mixed-species group of young dinosaur friends. Separated from their parents after an invasion by locusts, Littlefoot and pals wind up on the "mysterious island" of the title, where they are re-united with the friendly little Tyrannosaur named Chomper. The story concerns the young dinos' effort to survive dangers and to find their way back to their families.

"LBT5" has likeable characters, fun songs (especially the catchy "Friends for Dinner"), and some good humorous moments.

I felt that the movie's one weak link was its unsettling portrayal of relations between predator and prey species. Granted, this is a fantasy about talking dinosaurs, but it's still unnerving to know that Chomper and his family eat members of the other characters' species. The film's attempts to mine humor out of this grisly situation (thankfully, no successful predation occurs in the film) left me uneasy. (You may get the same queasy feeling from the way the same theme is addressed in "The Lion King"). This aspect of the film didn't bother my nephew at all, but it left me wondering if the filmmakers were unconsciously putting messages about social Darwinism into the film.

Oh, well--I may be reading too much into a kid film. Bottom line: LBT5 is good fun, as long as the adults in the family don't think too much about the film.

3-year old review
My three-year-old daughter loves this movie. She repeatly watches it and even sings along with all of the songs. I sometimes even find my nine-year-old son watching the movie with her. We all love this movie because it teaches morals and lessons to the children without lecturing them. This is an overall wonderful movie and my daughter and I would recommend it to everyone, but I still think the 1st movie is the best of them all.

Prodigious! Amazing! But...
Prodigious! Amazing! But some songs always make me cry like "Always There." It always makes me cry. In that song, LittleFoot and his friends reflect on their parents. Hinting from the first movie when LittleFoot reflects about his mother. I have seen all 6 movies and I like all of them except the first one. It's the saddest of them all. When I mean sad, I mean crying sad. Once I saw that movie, BAM! The waterworks were on! I want a seventh movie! My little brother imagines that the last movie will be when the asteroid hits the earth and sometime cavemen come! He has a nice imagination. The land before time is appearing in commercials. Hinting on the next movie... ... Read more

Description

Get set for a hilarious, fun-filled adventure as one of the world's most enduring and beloved characters Pippi Longstocking, debuts in her first animated feature film. Inspired by Astrid Lindgren's timeless books and featuring a host of unforgettable songs, Pippi Longstocking is an instant classic that will knock the socks off your entire family! Year: 1997 Director: Waldemar Bergendahl, Michael Schaack, Starring:Melissa Altro, Catherine O'Hara, Gordon Pinsent, Dave Thomas ... Read more

Reviews (7)

Let's talk about Pippi...
Chances are you've heard of Pippi Longstocking. The little red-haired girl that makes a habit of tossing around livestock, drawing on floors, washing the floor with her feet and so forth... Is this movie an accurate representation of her character? Is it even fun to watch?
The answer? To some degree.
The movie suffers from having too many songs, but many of them are frenetic enough to be easy to get used to and even like, though there are a couple of unlikable ones, I found the sound to be in general, good.
My main problem with this movie is that it tamed the story for some reason. Most of Pippi's wild stories are completely gone, and she no longer manhandles anyone who isn't a farm animal. The characters themselves often change on the spur of the moment to accomidate this. Even the fight at the circus (one of my favorite parts in the book,) became a tamer weight-lifting contest.
However, unlike the live version, the general attitude of Pippi is mostly similar to the one she had in the book, except perhaps that she's slightly less arrogant and lies a LOT less. This certainly gives it the edge it needs to be superior to the live-action movie, which trampled all over the character of the girl wonder.
There's only one scene in the movie that disturbed me a little, and that was near the end, where Prissilious tries to grab Pippi and she actually looks scared. That's not like Pippi at all.
But still, that's a fairly small thing, and if you MUST see Pippi on your TV screen (and I can't imagine why that would be,) this is the place to do it.
However, you're still far better off getting to know the REAL character of Pippi by reading the books, if you happen to have the time and literacy.

Mr. Nillson
Her real name is Pippilotta Delicatessa Windowshade Mackrelmint Efraim's Daughter Longstocking, but you can call her Pippi. Anyways, Pippi's father gets washed away at a sudden storm at sea and says these last words that Pippi heard him say, "I'll see you in Villa Villekulla!" Villa Villekulla is Pippi's home, where she is by herself execept for a monkey named Mr. Nillson and her horse named Horse. To Pippi's surprise, a boy and girl live next door. A boy named Tomy and a girl named Annika and their parents live in the house. (By the way, Pippi's mother is anangel.). . .

The funniest movie in the history of movies!
Pippi Longstocking was one of the few movies I loved the first time I saw it. A couple of my favorites in Pippi's gang are Kling, Klang, Bloom, and Pippi herself. I advise you (especially if you need some cheering up) to watch this movie. It is great for kids of all ages.

This was a great movie for my 7yr son.
I enjoyed watching Pipi with my son. I remember watching Pipi Longstocking movies in the theaters when I was young, in the 1970's. I have been unable to find those movies, so I was excited to see some new updates on Pipi.

Excellent Story and Brilliant Animation
I have seen this animated children's story on the Disney channel and it never fails to amuse and entertain. Pippi is high spirited and infectiously non-conformist. All of the musical performances are memorable especially the duet with the school teacher. Highly recommended! ... Read more

Amazon.com

Hearing-impaired (and Academy Award-winning) actress Marlee Matlin bookends two "Blue's Clues" episodes and gives the tape its theme by teaching Steve some American Sign Language. In the first story--in which Steve and friends attempt to ascertain where a certain blue dog would like to eat her snack--Steve teaches some signs and follows signs of another kind on poster boards. The written signs, of course, lead to the canine's clues, designated by her famous paw print. Blue Scadoo finds Steve jumping into Jane's book and meeting her deaf friend Carly, who tells a story in sign language. In the second episode, Steve tries to figure out where Blue wants to go by using a map the cunning dog has left behind. He eventually jumps into a Candyland-style game, finds Blue with the Gingerbread Girl, and winds up going to the library. Children ages 2 to 5 will enjoy and learn from this 51-minute video. --Kimberly Heinrichs ... Read more

Reviews (8)

Fair - not much learning of SIGNS.
There is not a lot of SIGNING - more talking and running around, better for just entertainment. However, my 22 mo. old likes it, but I would rather have her LEARNING while being entertained, after that IS why I bought the video, right? "Talking Hands" is MUCH better.

Not Much ASL
This is a good video for Blues Clues fans. However, it is billed as having ASL content, which I actually found to be minimal.

Happy Face
The whole show over all is the best of children's shows, the way they encourage children to interact with the show is wonderful, the colors that teaches them of the colors of the world, shapes and detective work which teaches them to figure problems out on their own, it has help my daughter to speak, I find myself wanting to watch it with her. Thanks for a wonderful show. Melinda Fields

Absolutely Fabulous!!!
My 18 month old is glued to this show, and this one is really focused on sign language. It has helped my son learn to communicate with signs rather than screeching. I give it really high praises.

You can't go wrong
We have most of the Blue's Clues tapes, and this is easily one of my favorites. Not my son's, mine. He loves virtually all of them, so I tend to see them a lot and develop my own preferences. This one, perhaps because of the heavy interspercing of ASL I find less likely to drive me up a tree if I end up having to watch it with my kids. My son knows most of the signs in the tape by now, and will actually use them in other situations. He's also starting to get the idea of maps. If you feel you should watch TV with your youngster and want something that's less drivel than standard preschool fair, Blue's Clues and Bear in the Big Blue House would be my highest recommendations. ... Read more

Reviews (28)

You'll Laugh! You'll Cry! You'll Hope He Comes Back!
This is probably the most emotional of all the Peanuts movies and specials combined. Sure, you have the moments that'll have you laughing: the 500+ "No Dogs Allowed" signs (complete with a hilarious song sung in deep bass!), the obnoxious Clara who kidnaps Snoopy and loves him nearly to death (like Elmira years later on Tiny Toons), Snoopy challenging Lucy to a fight (with one boxing glove on his nose!), Linus telling Charlie Brown "You got a used dog!", and of course Snoopy fighting Linus for his blanket (can you blame him for tossing that beagle the shoe! ). Then there's the tear-jerking moments: the going away party where everybody is in tears (even Lucy), Lila begging Snoopy to come to stay with her (btw, Lila is Snoopy's original owner), and the scene where Snoopy says his final goodbye to Woodstock (who makes his screen debut) and Charlie Brown (it's going to be hard not to miss the long-suffering round-headed kid if you're depending on him to feed you!). Tough decision on Snoopy's part.

"He's Not Much Of a Dog, But, After All, Who Is?"
I don't know what exactly Lucy was trying to say in her going away speech (and I'm sure she didn't either), but let's face it- Snoopy was more than just a dog. This is the most emotional of all Peanuts efforts (and is Woodstock's animation debut). The plot: Snoopy gets a letter from his original owner, Lila, who misses him and wants him back. This means he would leave the security of the Brown residence. It has his funny parts: the No Dogs Allowed signs everywhere (one of them is just what he needs in the end!), Snoopy surfing, fighting Lucy with 1 boxing glove (on his nose!), fighting Linus for his blanket (Linus retaliates by flinging 1 of his shoes at Snoopy!), the obnoxiously friendly Clara who kidnaps Snoopy (probably inspired Elmira on Tiny Toons), and Linus's classic line: "You got a used dog, Charlie Brown!". Then, of course, are the tear-jerking scenes: poor, sweet Lila begs Snoopy to stay with her, Snoopy's going-away party in which the entire Peanuts gang is in tears (even the crabby Lucy), and Snoopy bidding his final farewell to his pal Woodstock and his long-suffering master, Charlie Brown (who laments "I need more hellos!").

Snoopy's Worst! (SAD MOVIE)
Although I enjoyed lots of Snoopy entertainments but I have to say that "Snoopy Come Home" dissapointed me. This is certainly a sad story, lonely story about loss which can sometimes make me a bit sad, but I enjoyed "Nemo". I don't remember a Snoopy movie making me cry, but they were so funny and no why are they putting some sad stuff in a Snoopy cartoon. Children should laugh and enjoy and we adults should try to let them enjoy their childhood and protect themselves from the sadness. There'll be plenty of time for that when they grow up. Visually, Snoopy's so CUTE and he's really funny and worth watching but this movie was so sad than funny. If you want something funny than sad, then watch "Shrek 2".

Classic Peanuts and a tearjerker.
I bought the VHS (because it has not been released on DVD) version of this movie for my 5 y/o daughter (an avid Peanuts fan) and myself. I last saw this movie at least 25 years ago, yet I remembered all the songs/lyrics as if I had just watched it yesterday. My little girl was captivated by the movie and the so very sad "goodbye scene" even made her cry (which in turn almost made me cry).

I can't stand it... I just can't stand it
You know, under this façade of sheer machismo, I'm really just a pathetic little wuss-bag of a girly-man. Yep, here I am in my late twenties, and I still get misty watching "Snoopy Come Home"! Oh, I've tried endless viewings of Clint, Sly & Arnie flicks- and any other cinematic fare that's saturated in pure manliness- to exorcise this little skeleton in my closet, all for naught. Snoopy's drawn-out farewell to ol' Chuck is just as weepingly heart-breaking today as it was when my eight-year-old eyes first saw it. If it weren't for the upbeat ending, I'd likely be on heavy antidepressants now!

But that's not the worst of it- some time ago I let a close friend in on my softer side surfacing whenever this harrowing tale comes on the tube. This ended up being one of the biggest mistakes I've ever made. Not one to keep the knowledge of a fellow man's secret shame to himself, he made sure my little quirk became well-known among our other less-than-sympathetic hang-out buds. Now I can't even host an old-school Star Trek eppie marathon party without some wiseguy slipping a "Snoopy Come Home" video in between the second season finale & the third-season premiere. With friends like these, who needs grief counselors?

My word of advice to you: if watching "Snoopy Comes Home" (or any other movie for that matter) leaves you feeling a little misty- and no one else knows about it- do yourself a favor and keep it to yourself. You'll be spared quite a bit of pain & anguish if ya do, believe you me!

'Late ... Read more

Amazon.com

In his book, Robert C. O'Brien called his brave widow mouse "Mrs. Frisby," but Disney escapee animator Don Bluth must have thought kids would laugh the wrong way at that. They renamed her "Mrs. Brisby" for NIMH. That acronym stands for the National Institute of Mental Health, and the rats that live near Mrs. Brisby came from NIMH--they have strange ways. But they're the only ones who can save her house and her children, so Brisby seeks them out with the help of a humorous crow (Dom DeLuise). The magic gets laid on a little thick but this is Don Bluth's most successful attempt to achieve a complete, sincere, animated film. It's often forgotten, but it's a true surprise and a rare treat in the vast wasteland of insubstantial children's fare. --Keith Simanton ... Read more

Reviews (106)

the ultimate in animated movies
I'd give this movie 10 stars if possible. I watched this movie everyday when I was a kid and when i watch it now, i can still recite it. This is such a great movie. As some of the other reviewers said, this movie is a little more realistic, a little grittier.
This movie truly does have something for everyone. Children will love the talking creatures, the ridiculous crow, Jeremy, (voiced with perfection by Dom DeLuise), and they'll recognize the overwhelming, self-sacrificing love Mrs. Brisby (the mother) displays for her family. Adults will enjoy the more subtle humor as well as the message of pure love conquering all obstacles. This movie (along with my role model mother) formed my image of how mothers should be: loving, strong and self-sacrificing. Even when Mrs. Brisby if forced to face her deepest fears (an owl, the cat), she does it, not without fear, but to save her son's life. This is a touching movie.
Another point of appreciation for this movie is that it does not try to simply dumb things down for kids. I like most Disney movies but this aims a little higher. There are some deep issues, such as death, jealousy, fear and hate, that aren't dwelt on but are brought up and as children grow older, they will grow to understand and love this movie more and more.

An enduring tale of love, courage and trust
Don Bluth's "The Secret Of NIMH," based upon the novel "Mrs. Frisby and the Rats of NIMH," was released in 1982 and was quickly forgotten at the box office in favour of Steven Spielberg's E.T. (which was released around the same time). I picked this up for less than ten dollars on DVD and I haven't stopped playing it since. It has been at least fifteen years since I had last seen it, and I enjoy it more than ever.

Bluth and close to two dozen Disney animators defected from Disney's studios in favour of having a chance to express and explore their artistic visions and creativity. One of their first animated films was "The Secret of NIMH." Other Bluth films include "Anastasia," and "An American Tail." But no other animated film captures the sense of magic and wonder like "The Secret of NIMH."

Mrs. Brisby, a recently widowed field mouse, tries desperately to protect her invalid son Timothy from Moving Day, when the farmer's plough will destroy their underground home. She is led to a colony of superintelligent rats, ex-subjects of laboratory experiments at the National Institute of Mental Health. They are led by wise old Nicodemus, a friend of Mrs. Brisby's late husband Jonathan, also an escaped lab mouse from NIMH.

The somewhat dark tale does feature light-hearted comedic relief in the form of Jeremy, a trouble-prone young crow voiced by Dom Deluise. The story sticks fairly close to the book version, although several new elements are added and some side plots are cut due to time restraints. The artwork is breathtaking; vibrant backgrounds, clever special effects, the play of light and shadow. The characters are real and you quickly become attached to them. No one breaks into song every five minutes, although there is a very beautiful lullaby on the soundtrack that Mrs. Brisby sings to Timothy.

To me, this film is deeper, darker, and more imaginative than anything that Disney has produced. There are no fancy CGI effects, only the skilful work of animators that love what they do. The film carries a message of courage, love, and trust without being preachy or simple. There are plenty of tense, dark scenes, some of which might upset smaller children. But "Secret of NIMH" is a beautiful, intelligent movie that is so much more than a cartoon or a children's fable.

filled with wonder
As a kid in the 1980's, this was a favorite film of mine. I remember thinking how cool and imaginative this was compared to the sludge of rerun 80's tv cartoons (did anyone else have to suffer through the "USA network cartoon train" as a kid?) like "The Flintstones."

Don Bluth, like Tim Burton, was a very talented artist and animator who broke away from Disney. Both Burton and Bluth could not stand redrawing the same animation cells for other people all day long. Burton found profit, Bluth, sadly, did not. However, that is not to say that Bluth did not create some very fascinating films along the way.

This is a tale of wonder and imagination. Watching this film is almost like seeing the equivalent of an American film with Miyazaki style and presentation. If you have ever seen "Spirited Away" or "Kiki's Delivery Service" there is an obvious similarity here between Miyazaki and Bluth. However, Bluth is very much an American, as is the setting for this imaginative tale.

It is a tale of rats who were experimented on by humans, who became very intelligent, strange, and different as a result of what the humans had done to them. Eventually, these creatures managed to escape their bondage from humans, and formed their own kingdom far out in the country. This is the tale of Mrs. Brisby encountering this strange race of rats, but it is so much more.

Please check it out and experience one of the more unique animated films ever made. This is not Disney, this is a new and different style. Sadly, these films just didn't catch on with the 80's crowd and Bluth was forced to go underground and now, today, makes a living in the straight-to-video kid market (He churns out those Land Before Time sequels just about every month).

Not the same as the book, but just as good anyway!
While this movie is a bit more fantasy-like than the book, I think it's just as good. The first time I saw this was several years ago when Nickelodeon used to play movies on Sundays. Once I saw it, I immediately went after the book, Mrs. Frisby and the Rats of NIMH. Told in the style of Poppy or Watership Down, both the movie and the story have the same main plot: A family of mice must move out of their home before the tractor comes for the yearly harvest. The problem is, little Timothy mouse is sick with pnemonia (forgive my spelling) and if he goes out of the house, he will die. Now Mrs. Frisby must look to the Rats, a race of intelligent rodents, to help them to be able to survive the tractor without leaving their home.

A childhood classic
This had been my favorite cartoon movie since I was six years old. I knew every line Mrs. Brisby spoke. This is the stuff that flying dreams are made of and will always be treasured in my heart.

A great tale of bravery and overcoming the odds with a touch of magic. ... Read more