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In this episode of Amazing Animals, Henry the animated lizard hops into his time machine to travel back millions of years. Expecting dinosaurs to rule the world, he is surprised to find armadillos, ostriches, sharks, and many other animals that are still around today. Many of them, however, were much larger. The prehistoric crocodile grew up to about 60 feet long, or twice as long as today's croc. Henry also learns about tree ferns--the world's first forest--and how the lowly salamander was an ancestor of the dinosaurs. Birds also were around before and after the dinosaurs--indeed they have some similar features, and the first bird, archaeopteryx, was a close, contemporary relative of the dinosaurs.

All this information has been passed down to us through mammoths preserved in ice, fossilized skeletons, and--shades of Jurassic Park--insects encased in amber (early dragonflies had the wingspans of pigeons!). This 24-minute video also shows the Komodo dragon, who certainly has the features of a dinosaur, and the present Serengeti plain to give us an idea of how prehistoric plains might have appeared. Prehistoric Animals has a lot of good footage of today's animals as well as interesting facts about their relatives, but look elsewhere if you want dinosaurs. --David Horiuchi ... Read more

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A Good Tape for Dinosaur Lovers
I liked this video. It has dinosaurs and a horseshoe crab like the one I touched at the aquarium. You can learn a lot about prehistoric animals. Henry is the funniest, he's even funny in his reports! The cartoons are funny, too. I think that other dinosaur lovers would love this video even though it's not all dinosaurs. ... Read more

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Based on the groundbreaking series of books, Eyewitness: Weather is a whirlwind tour of our planet's many moods. State-of the art graphics and creative pacing weave viewers of all ages through a fun, smart exploration of wind, rain, hail, tornadoes, and hurricanes. From old Buster Keaton films to news footage to computer models, the images amuse and delight, while providing counterpoint to Martin Sheen's fact-filled narration. (The time-lapse movie of thunderstorms is worth the price of admission.) Eyewitness: Weather makes for great family viewing, inspiring questions and dialogue for long afterward, and bears repeat viewing well. As a really cool bonus, there's a "making of" trailer following the main attraction. We're all affected by the weather, we all talk about it, now it can be fun! --Rob Lightner ... Read more

Reviews (3)

Disappointed
I was very disappointed in this video. I bought it to use with a group of Cub Scouts (3rd grade) who are earning their Weather Belt Loop. I love weather, but this video is boring! The exciting things that kids want to watch -- tornadoes, hurricanes, floods, etc. -- are just barely touched on in short video clips. The video skims the surface of weather and doesn't linger on anything long enough to really entertain OR inform you. The recurring motif of the rotating rooster weather vane gets really annoying after a while.

Very good video, for kids
This was a very good video, but I don't watch TV and was therefore unaware that its format is suited for young people: kids and young adults. I enjoyed watching it once, but will probably put it up for sale at Half.com. I recommend it to anyone who has children interested in meteorology.

This will blow you away!
Weather takes you on a whirlwind tour of Earth's turbulent atmosphere and reveals the forces that make the day fair and foul.From hurricane to heat wave,weather is the most closely watched wild card in nature- yet it still baffles us. ... Read more

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The folks at National Geographic, with the help of narrator James Woods, take us on a zigzag road trip across the U.S. in this 1997 documentary. We follow photographers Susan Middleton and David Liitschwager, who gave up their earlier pursuits (museum and fashion photography, respectively) to capture on film the rarest fauna and flora of the North American continent. A selection of these pictures was published in their book, Witness: Endangered Species of North America.

This hour-long film takes us from a black-footed ferret breeding farm in Wyoming to Florida manatee pools to the Presidio in San Francisco where we see a plant that is so rare, only one exists and its exact location is a government secret. The portraiture is vibrant and truly stunning and the film is interspersed with interview clips of scientific luminaries such as Harvard's Edward O. Wilson. Despite a subject matter that is necessarily depressing, America's Endangered Species: Don't Say Good-Bye outlines a few recovery success stories and highlights the efforts of individuals throughout the U.S. who are determined to make sure that these species are around for future generations of National Geographic fans. --Douglas Dalrymple ... Read more

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Endangered Species of America Revealed!
This video chronicles a day in the life of just a few of America's most endangered species. As an educator, I found the video very moving, and would recommend showing it to any class. It sheds new light on the disastrous situation that is occurring in OUR backyards, giving an interesting and informative autobiography of some of our nation's top endangered species and the folks who are trying to do something about their plight. A great variety of species are included, from the Palisades blue butterfly to the manatee. A must see! ... Read more

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Great learning tool!!
We're adopting a baby from Russia & want to teach him as much Russian as possible. He hasn't arrived yet, but we've previewed the video. It really seems great!! It shows a word & then illustrates it (i.e., "boy"...then shows different ages of boys while repeating the word....in the corner at one point, the word "boy" in english will appear for parents to understand what exactly the word is). There is also a little paper guide to go along with it. We're looking forward to using it with our son!! :) ... Read more

Description

"Baby’s First Months…What Do We Do Now?" is America’s #1 how-to instructional video on newborn care and postpartum care.Real parents demonstrate many different techniques to make caring for your new baby easier.

Baby’s First Months was developed with the assistance of key healthcare professionals and specialist from across the country.You will find a wealth of up-to-date information to give you confidence to care for your baby.

Great refresher course for babysitters, grandparents and family members that will be caring for your baby!

Baby’s First Months covers over 30+ topics including:

Caring For Your Baby:Holding baby, Bonding, Diaper Change, Cord Care, Sponge Bath, Tub Bath, Dressing Baby, Sleep Positioning and SIDS, Fingernail Care, and Commonly Asked Questions.

Feeding Your Baby:Breast Feeding, Expressing and Storing Milk, Breast Care and Engorgement, Bottle Feeding, and Solid Foods.

Your Baby’s Health and Safety:Car Seat Safety, Crying and Colic, Shaken Baby Syndrome, Jaundice, Signs of Illness, Taking Baby’s Temperature, Minor Emergency Items, First Doctor Visit, and Immunizations.

Postpartum Care:Uterus and After-birth Pains, Perineal Care, Episiotomy, Cesarean Birth, Hemorrhoids, Temperature, Activity, Baby Blues and Follow-up Exam.

A must for all new parents!

Purchasing a used video may not provide accurate and up-to-date medical information, as the educational content of the video is updated annually. ... Read more

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In this hour-long immersion into the intricacies of Form 1040, a fictitious family fills out its tax forms with help from narrators who offer information and advice. Basic lessons are offered about such topics as deductions, exemptions, and dependents, and members of the family used in the illustrations grapple with particular tax issues, such as a daughter with her own business who must pay self-employment tax. The video also covers a few common but somewhat complicated issues, such as how to declare capital gains or how to deduct moving expenses, and gives advice on how to fill out various schedules and then use the figures on the 1040 form. Reminders to always keep careful records of financial transactions that will be needed at tax time are delivered in a manner that stresses their importance. The narrators, mostly peppy young actors, use jokes that sometimes fall flat, but at least an attempt is made to present filing tax forms in an entertaining (and easy-to-remember) manner. Those who are used to the yearly routine of filing their own tax forms will find little in this video they haven't already learned from experience, but beginners will find this to be a palatable introduction to filing their own tax forms. --Robert J. McNamara ... Read more

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Few biological wonders can rival those in Australia's Great Barrier Reef for spectacular beauty, and few filmmakers can rival National Geographic's lush photography. The giant colonial organism, though endangered by pollution and other threats, still spawns once each year in a gorgeous frenzy of new growth. It's a fertile time for all of the creatures dwelling in and around the reef structure, and the National Geographic cameras capture barracuda, bright damselfish, giant marine worms, and many other lovely and fascinating neighbors. Neville Copland's gentle music complements the serene photography, and the narration, while interesting, doesn't distract the viewer from the stunning delights on the screen. We can't all afford a diving trip down under, but Australia's Great Barrier Reef is the next best thing. --Rob Lightner ... Read more

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Beautiful
This documentary brings splendid color, beautiful creatures, and amazing music to the screen. You get one full hour of nothing but the creatures of the Great Barrier Reef. This video is loaded with information and keeps your eyes glued to the screen. The music is also very relaxing, whenever I get tired and want to relax I'll even turn on the movie to just hear the music. ... Read more

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Blake's words "Tyger, tyger burning bright" come alive in this lush documentary from National Geographic. Tigers of the Snow spotlights the Siberian Tiger, which once roamed over the wide ranges of northern Asia but now is limited to a tiny region on the Sea of Japan. Footage of their active muscles, their piercing eyes, their regal pelt, all attest to the beauty of a dying breed. Russian and American scientists have banded together to study the 300 remaining not-so-gentle giants in an effort to save them from extinction. You'll see these men and women track tigers from helicopters, brave a mother's fury to tag her young, and strive to breed them in captivity. The effort is Herculean, given the massive logging and rampant poaching which cuts down the population and the tigers' territory, but there is hope that we can educate the next generation to protect these beautiful animals and their environment while there's still time. After all, a planet without tigers would be a much poorer place, and Tigers of the Snow shows exactly what we'd miss. --Rob Lightner ... Read more

Reviews (6)

Not much!
There was not very much footage of the tigers here. It looks like the fillmakers spent a lot of time in some town in Siberia, which is apparently a lot like white trash America. So instead of feeling taken away, I felt like I was taken back to the Ohio. Also, the scientists spend lot of time looking for tigers or avoiding seeing the tigers so they don't get eaten. And not much time actually running with the tigers.
There is one really cool part about hunting tigers from a helicopter (with dart guns to put radio trackers on them.) They should make a video game out of that part.
I think the whole idea of a nature documentary about one animal sounds good on paper, but it works a lot better to watch a documentary about a geographic region - you get more variety in your movie.

They Must Survive
This video is heart wrenching. All the effort that goes into saving these magnificant cats, and it's likely too late. Human greed is the worst enemy any species can face, and the Siberian Tiger is in the crosshairs now.

A world without these Tigers will be a poorer place indeed. Blake's words, once so potent, will only echo hollow in the ears of generations to come who can only see Tigers on TV, or in captivity. What that says about humankind is undeniable, we are truly inept (or uncaring) when managing the resources of this planet, myself included.

The biggest and most powerful of all cats, these Siberian beauties are so majestic. What gorgeous footage of these mammoth cats in action. Take a good, close look at your kitty and you will see the same fire smouldering in those attentive eyes. Lets save these magnificant animals!!

Professional Job. Tigers to be rescued.
This dvd has been filmed under very difficult circumstances but, still, can convey the feeling of geographical remoteness, resourceless cientific crusades and endangered wonders, such as the cats shown here. Nevertheless, the video quality, though not bad at all, might have been improved if done with IMAX cameras, such as it has been done with whales or sharks. Anyhow, the information provided and some shots, like the helicopter chases or the tiger cub at it's den, make this documentary worthwhile.

Tiger of the Snow
One of the best video on tiger especially on the Siberian Tiger, the largest big cat of them all. Too bad they are extremely endangered. This is definitely the best tiger video. The DVD also include Tiger's Eyes, a half an hour show on Bengal Tigers.

A great video for the classroom
"Tigers of the Snow" is a great video for the classroom. It has an acceptable balance of scientific study with awesome footage of tigers. No question that my college-bound biology students saw the application of science occurring out in the field. Better yet though, my remedial 16 year old science students were totally captivated by most parts of this video, especially the experiment in tiger territorality. I rarely show videos in Biology; this one is worth the time. ... Read more

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Adults familiar with Baby Einstein educational videos understand the concept behind the company's products. Studies show that repeated exposure to pleasant images and sounds will create greater brain capacity in wee ones, as neurons become connected in the brain's auditory cortex. (And you thought you were just playing with your child.) Here, in time for Christmas, Baby Einstein takes a holiday breather. In Baby Santa's Music Box, the stimulation is similar, yet the learning is not quite so intentional--a relief for those of us a bit intimidated with the Russian, Japanese, and French introduced in the original film. No human words are spoken here. Rather, the sights and sounds of Christmas are presented in a visual feast of whimsical, happy scenes accompanied by seasonal music. From sledding and snowmen to glowing candles and shimmering ornaments, dozens of animated and live-action settings communicate the beauty and wonder of the holiday season. Penguin puppets unwrap presents, ring bells, and toss tinsel. Santa's sleigh in a gentle snowfall segues smoothly into a playful group of Christmas-clad youngsters dancing to Tchaikovsky's "Nutcracker." Kids decorate a tree, twirl in stocking caps, and careen down a sledding hill. Throughout the program, the Baby Einstein Music Box Orchestra performs soothing music from Christmas carols and classical favorites to traditional melodies from around the world. Infants and toddlers already sense the magic of Christmas. This "video board book" will help them celebrate it. --Lynn Gibson ... Read more

Reviews (45)

Disappointing
Triplet 2 year olds have been watching videos from the Baby Einstein series since they were 6 months old. The quality of this one does not measure up to the rest. It seems almost like a 'home-movie'. The sound quality and music selecions are not as good and the visuals are slow. There is not much action and for infants and young toddlers it is difficult to have much reference to what it is they are seeing (ie. that the puppets are reindeer, etc). I think the video should be more self-explanatory in some way so that the 'Christmas-uninitiated' will have more understanding of it. The boys will watch it but are not as captivated by this one as by the others. They seem to get more out of it now though than they did when they were 17 months (at Christmas).

Wonderful addition to the Baby Einstein library!
When I heard this was being produced, I could hardly wait for it to come out! It certainly did not disappoint. Of the Baby Einstein series, our 9-month-old seems most interested in Baby Mozart, and after several days of watching Baby Santa's Music Box, she seems just as interested in this one. It holds her attention longer than Baby Einstein, Bach, or Shakespeare (we haven't yet tried Van Gogh). There's a good balance of color, movement, and live action, and the music is varied and fun. It's also just plain festive, and I'm sure we'll play it often as the Christmas season begins.

My kids love it
As always, when reviewing Baby Einstein products, I have to make a distinction between what I think and what my kids (now age 20 months) think. Other reviewers have mentioned that it's short, and that they might have picked different songs. I agree, from my own point of view, but my kids are transfixed by this video and absolutely love it. They are at the "word explosion" stage of development right now, so love pointing out all the snow, horses, trains, etc. While I might have liked different songs, they bop to the ones that are here with no problem.

For whatever reason, the Toys 'R Us that I went to had only the VHS version. All my other Baby Einstein products are on DVD, and I have to say that I would much prefer the DVD version. The tape that we bought has some skips, and the quality just isn't the same - and I guess I'm not used to having to rewind things anymore...

All in all, again from the toddler point of view, another successful video from Baby Einstein.

Bah Humbug!
I couldn't wait for the holiday season to arrive so that I could play this DVD for my son. He loves the other DVDs in the series, especially Baby Neptune and Baby Galileo. Baby Santa's Music Box on the other hand, is not so well liked...not by my son, my nephews, or myself.

In my opinion, it just doesn't seem to live up to it's potential. Think of all the wonderful, amazing, and magical things that go along with Christmas and the holiday season - alot of it is missing from this DVD. Sure, there are some things included that pertain to Christmas on this DVD, but there could have been so much more. To me, most of this DVD looks like just a bunch of random images thrown in to fill up the time. How many times did they really need to have that reindeer puppet pop in and out of gift box? How many irrelevant scenes were included so that Julie Clark's kids could play a part? This DVD could have been so much more, but it misses the mark by a long shot.

Don't even get me started on the music. Of all the beautiful Christmas songs available, both secular and non-secular, they could have had a much better selection to say the least.

In general, I am sorry I wasted my money on this DVD. Who knows, maybe my next child will want to sit through it.

Fun Christmas Video
This is my Daughter's favorite. She can't get enough of it. Everytime she watches it I would swear it was for the first time. She loves the kids and ornaments and can't get enough of the reindeer puppet (it's her favorite). The music is fun and gets the whole family excited about the Holidays. ... Read more

Description

Get both videos! Anatomy, featuring Slim Goodbody, will teach you the fundamentals of the human body. Learn about anatomical position, the skeletal system, the muscular system, the central nervous system, and much more! ... Read more

Reviews (1)

Thumbs up for Standard Deviants Anatomy!
This video set is spectacular for presenting anatomy in an educative and entertaining style. Having used many videos to explain various anatomical concepts and principles, I have found this set keeps my student awake, and even more importantly, helps them learn and apply this knowledge in a difficult and demanding curriculum---Naval Hospital Corps School! ... Read more

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The battleship Bismarck, the pride of the Nazi navy, was thought, like the ill-fated Titanic, to be unsinkable. When it left port in May 1941, even the formidable British navy professed to be nervous, and the rallying cry "Sink the Bismarck!" was born. Amazingly, just two weeks into its maiden voyage, the Bismarck was spotted, torpedoed, and sunk by the British in the North Atlantic, an almost unbelievable turn of events--as crucial a turning point in World War II for the Germans, according to one survivor interviewed in this video, as Pearl Harbor was for the Americans. In 1989 Dr. Bob Ballard, the man who discovered the Titanic, and a crew painstakingly searched a 100-square-mile area off France, and after some heartbreaking near misses, ultimately found the remains of the once-glorious ship. The video cuts effectively between historic footage, interviews with British and German survivors, and scenes from the Ballard expedition, expertly woven together to paint a complete portrait of the sinking and its aftermath. Fans of Titanic and World War II buffs especially will be fascinated. --Anne Hurley ... Read more

Reviews (5)

An Exciting Video About the Bismarck
In keeping with National Geographic's excellent video tradition, this video skillfully combines actual battle footage and the story or Dr. Robert Ballard's (Titanic, USS Yorktown) search for the Bismarck. Commissioned in 1939 and completed in 1941, the Bismarck was one of the most feared ships afloat. With a main battery of 8 15-inch guns, she could easily wreak havoc on British convoys sailing from America. The Bismarck was spotted by a British fighter plane in Norway, and the Royal Navy was alerted. The British battlecruiser Hood was the first ship to sight the Bismarck. The ensuing battle lasted all of 6 minutes, and the Hood was destroyed by the Bismarck. Only 3 men out of a crew of 1,400 survived the Hood's sinking. However, other forces had been alerted, and the British closed in on the Bismarck. In a brave attack by British carrier-based torpedo planes, the Bismarck's rudder was damaged, and the ship could only sail in a straight line. The rest of the British battleships and cruisers now closed in. Finally, the Bismarck succumed to the British guns and slid beneath the Atlantic.

Dr. Ballard's search for the Bismarck is vividly portrayed in this video. Ballard is an accomplished undersea explorer, and his adventures have been captured in other videos, including the discovery of the Titanic, The USS Yorktown, and the lost ships of Guadalcanal. Ballard encounters trouble in his first expedition. Thinking he had found the Bismarck, he is disappointed to discover that he had found a 19th century sailing vessel. Undeterred, Ballard returns to the Atlantic the following year with a new research ship. This time, Ballard and his crew spend their time searching the dangerous underwater mountain area where the Bismarck was believed to have went down. Finally, the ship is discovered, and, except for her main turrets, is in remarkably good condition. Numerous underwater shots are shown in the video, as well as testimonials from both British and German crewmembers. Their tales bring this exciting chase to life.

I own several of Ballard's other National Geographic videos, and this one maintains the other's high standards of actual battle footage and undersea exploration. I recommend this video to anyone who enjoys naval history and undersea exploration.

Another successfuly deep sea exploration by Robert Ballard
After having successfully located the wreckage of the Titanic, there is much less of the thrill of discovery when Dr. Robert Ballard found the underwater remains of the German battleship Bismarck, pride of Hitler's navy, in 1989. Still, when you see the giant swastika on the deck of the sunken ship three miles deep, it is hard not to feel something. This hour-long National Geographic Video also relives the successful attempt of the British to "Sink the Bismarck" on May 27, 1941, talking with survivors from both sides of the notorious World War II sea battle, saving the exclusive footage of the shp for the video's climax. Before watching this one you might check out the 1960 film "Sink the Bismarck" starring Kenneth More. Certainly they make an obvious double-bill. Final Note: In July 2001 the wreckage of the H.M.S. Hood, the famous victim of the Bismarck, was found as well.

Great story of the search for the Bismarck
This video tells of the story of the hunt for the Bismarck: Both the 1941 sea chase led by the Royal Navy that succeded in sinking Bismarck and the 1989 expedtion led by Oceanographer Robert Ballard that succeded in locating her wreck. Includes video, photos and paintings of how Bismarck appears today as well as photos of her in 1941. The interviews with various survivors, both from Bismarck and the other british warships, tell the Bismarck story like it happened. A video I would reccomend for fans of Bob Ballard, of warships, of World War 2 or of this lengendary warship.

Interesting but plodding mini-documentary
Robert Ballard finds another wreck, and makes a rather boring documentary about it. The subject matter is certainly interesting, but it is unfortunate that the tired format of intercut historical footage and 'will they find it' video is so predictable and unimaginatively done. Not very inspiring, and makes the mistake of assuming that the modern explorers are more interesting than the history. If Ballard finds more wrecks let's hope he finds a better director for the video.

Good informative and exciting documentary
I loved this documentary and saw it over and over again. Good thing about it is the perfect balance between footage of the underwater search for the Bismarck, the historical background and the interwviews with survivors of the Hood (English Battleship destroyed by the Bismarck) and of the Bismarck. Great documentary with a lot of suspense! ... Read more

Description

Join Alex, Leah, their frog Hopkins, and Signing Time's Rachel Coleman for more "Signing Time" fun!

ABC Signs teaches the alphabet in American Sign Language, and introduces more than 50 signs for words corresponding to different letters.

Sign and sing along with the fun and fabulous new songs:
A is For Alex and Alligator
LMNO
Lonely Letter X ... Read more

Reviews (4)

Best signing video/dvd yet
I bought 3 different baby signing dvd's/vhs ; "signing time" vol.1 and vol.5, "baby see and sign" and "my baby can talk first signs".Signing Time videos by far are the most informative and fun ones yet. The songs are so catchy! and it is put together so well. The narrator is meant to make these videos. These are perfect for kids of all ages. My 4 year old (girl) LOVES IT, and my husband's 6 and 9 year old (boy and girl) LOVE IT...and can't wait to teach my 3 month old son!I love how the DVD's have so many other options you can review...like on vol.5 you can have Rachel go over the alphabet clearly...and much more!I never thought of it as a 2nd language but am so glad so many people are bringing it to our attention---thanks to the Fokker's!For small babies and toddlers it is so helpful for them to be able to tell you what they need!Another way to communicate!And who knows , you may use it when you least expect it!A MUST BUY!
I wish they had the entire set for sale!

Learn your Sign Language ABC's!
Volume 5 in the "Signing Time" series is absolutely wonderful for teaching children (and adults) the American Sign LanguageManual Alphabet, as well as over 50 Signs to use in your daily activities.

If you think this video is too advanced for your little ones -- think again!Even Toddlers can learn the handshapes, what the printed letter looks like, the sounds of the letters, and a few ASL Signs for each letter of the alphabet.There are cute kids, cute graphics, Alex and Leah are having lots of fun, and (in the usual Signing Time fashion) there are some FUN new songs that pertain to learning your ABC's!

In the song, "A is for Alex and Alligator" the fingerspelling is quite fast, but really fun to TRY if you are learning American Sign Language and want to get to Rachel Coleman's level of skill...Good luck with that!!!The "LMNO" song is about how some children think that 'LMNO' is just one letter, or word.Educators are really going to love it!

There are many young children of different ages and abilities showing the handshapes, so you can see that children don't need to do the Signs perfectly.We don't expect them to, either.Some children just don't have the fine motor skills yet, and for some we just have to adjust to the way they are capable of making the shapes.(This is another aspect of learning and using Sign Language, everyone has their own 'accent' and skill level.We learn to be flexible.)

I wish this had been available a few years ago, when my son was younger!He learned the manual alphabet at age 2, but it would have been really easy if we had this Signing Time video!

I know that many families will benefit from this useful learning tool.Two Thumbs (or... "Hands") Up!!!

Learn to Sign your ABC's
I have been signing for 25 years and trying that long to teach my Mom the alphabet.In ONE viewing of this Volume of Signing Time (we love them ALL) my Mom learned to sign ALL her letters!She said "Rachel could teach me anything! She is fabulous to watch!"This video not only helped my little girl with her Signing alphabet, but she no longer has trouble speaking her alphabet.Thank you Signing Time!!!

Learn sign language
We discovered Signing Time while researching ASL (American Sign Language) as a 2nd language for our children. We knew we wanted to teach ASL as a 2nd language because of the many benefits such as earlier communication. You can communicate with your baby as young as 8 months old, maybe even younger. What a gift to know what your child needs before they can tell you with spoken words! For more information on the benefits of ASL check out the Signing Time website at www.signingtime.com

What fun the songs are in this volume. The ABC songs are very catchy and show you lots of new signs. If you can only get one of the Signing Time shows I would suggest this one because it covers so much information. The entire alphabet is shown along with words for each letter. Also numbers 1-10 in ASL. This volume is currently my kid's favorite.

We love that we get to hear Leah's voice. What a positive experience for children who are Deaf and Hard Of Hearing to see another Child who is Deaf proudly using their voice. Leah does a great job. It is also great for children who are hearing to see that children who are Deaf can and do use their voices. Alex does a great job as well. We love to see the 2 friends/cousins interacting together. We also enjoyed the addition of the frog Hopkins. He helps transition from one theme to another smoothly.

One downside to this volume. While it does introduce tons of new signs not all of the words from the show are shown in sign. I know it is difficult to show every sign but we would have found it very helpful. For example B is for bubbles but they don't show the sign for bubbles. If you have a child who wants to know the sign for everything you need to do your homework for this volume. I have made a list of the words that are discussed in this volume but don't have a sign in the show. Many of the words are shown in other volumes of Signing Time and I have marked them with a * the rest are not shown in any of the volumes so you may want to look them up. Also a slide and a horse are shown. They do not say the word or show the sign. My 2 year old saw them though and wanted to know those signs as well so you may want to look them up also.

Apples*
Bubbles
Car*
Dog*
Feet
Grass*
Hopkins or frog*
Helicopter
Hat*
Ice Cream*
Jump*
Kick
Light
Monkey
Newspaper
Organ
Picnic
Pink* and Pig*
Quilt
Sleep*
Turtles
Tree*
Under
Unicycle
Van
Water*
Yo-Yo
Yellow* and Yarn

One other thing that may be confusing for some younger kids is some of the word choices. For example O is for organ. Many kids are not familiar with this instrument so you may find your younger ones arguing with you that O is for piano, Q is for blanket (quilt), N is for paper (newspaper), V is for car (van), and K is for ball (kick).

We like that the written word comes on the screen first and then they show the sign. It is very helpful for practicing the signs. It is like a video flashcard. It also helps children develop reading skills because they start to recognize the written word that goes with the sign. We love watching the children do the signs because you see lots of different kids and lots of different skill levels. It gives you an idea of how your child might make the sign at different ages. Rachel also does the sign so you can clearly see the proper way to do it. She has paint on her fingers to help you focus on her finger positions. This is a new addition for Volumes 3-6. Some people find it distracting at first but I found it very helpful.

The song during the credits is a great way to learn additional signs that were not covered in the show. You can really add to your signing vocabulary if you pay attention. The new version of the theme song is a little slower (so you can sign along) and has an additional verse. Some may not like it as well as the original but we loved it. We love the original version too so make sure you get both. The older version is in Volumes 1-3. We liked the new verse "Where friends can meet and find we're not so different after all" Isn't that what Signing Time is all about?

I highly recommend this volume of signing time as well as the other 5 in the series. As a mother and a teacher I can say it is truly the best educational tool I have found for teaching ASL to children (and adults too). I hope they make many more and I will buy them all without hesitation. These shows are a labor of love for these families and we are thankful they chose to share with us.

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First and foremost, Asteroids: Deadly Impact is a story about how the world could end. Underlying its premise we find the pillars of asteroidal impact theory, the scientists Eugene and Carolyn Shoemaker. The Shoemakers will go down in the books as codiscoverers of Comet Shoemaker-Levy 9, but their story here is of meteorological sleuthing and, quite frankly, the sheer horror of unpredictable planetary collision. An asteroid slightly more than a mile wide would destroy life on Earth in an unforgiving blast of heat and dust. The funny thing is, there wouldn't be much evidence of this other than a crater (to be mistaken later as volcanic) and a strange mineral called coesite. How do they know? The Shoemakers would say the answer is in the fragments long forgotten. In Asteroids, we follow them from airy theory to cold, hard evidence of asteroids and their deadly havoc on Earth. Hauntingly narrated by Robbie Robertson, this tightly written documentary from National Geographic is as heart-stopping as an "earth-crosser" from deep space. --Jamie Friddle ... Read more

Reviews (2)

Easily the Best On This Topic
It's astonishing that as recently as 1963 the preponderance of opinion was that Meteor Crater was not caused by an impact.

After the last lunar landing impact was established as the overwhelmingly dominant process at work on the lunar surface, but such impacts on Earth were generally still denied.

Despite the fact that the Alvarez theory gained ground from 1980 until the middle of 1994, impact as a common occurence continued to be denied. After the SL9 impact on Jupiter (well covered in this video) the last significant resistance to the K-T impact as the mechanism of extinction for the dinosaurs was swept away. That this catastrophe on another world brought about an overnight change in the sciences was appropriate.

Now there are many impact craters recognized AS impact craters found throughout the world and not just in some comfortably remote location like the Moon or Jupiter. It is now much cheaper to read constrasting views about such events since the anti-impactors' books have appeared in the remainder lists.

Asteroids Deadly Impact is my favorite National Geographic video of all time, and I believe I've seen them all. Perhaps it would be a much better world if people would tune out the daytime (and nighttime) tv garbage and watch stuff like this. Certainly would be worth a try.

"Asteroids" make definite impact
As you might expect, National Geographic scores a bullseye with "Asteroids." Although much of the content has been explored in other specials, the presentation here is nicely done and the material easily understood. Peter Coyote's voiceover work helps to authenticate the very real threat that asteroids pose to our planet. END ... Read more

Amazon.com

Kodiak bear cubs learn to fish, springbuck fawns learn to walk, andbaby alligators hatch from their eggs--all to information-packed rhymingcouplets. The puppet trio of bush baby, honeypossum, and cerebral chameleonintroduce many of the segments from their shared perch 67 feet above theground. Francisco Flamingo, an animated bird with a calypso flair, helps outby introducing animals with names beginning with b and by leading viewersin ananimal-themed count to 10, in this half-hour installment of the NationalGeographic Kids collection aimed specifically at preschoolers. Children learnthat mudskippers are fish who spend part of their day above sea level andthat daddy seahorses have the honor of getting pregnant (for a whopping fourweeks), while also getting an earful of "animal doo-wop" and the Nutcracker Suite. Animal lovers will lap this up, but their less-obsessed siblings and friends will enjoy this entertaining series as well. (Ages 2-5) --KimberlyHeinrichs

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Reviews (4)

Lots of fun for the young(and mommy too)
I bought the video on a lark after seeing it on Amazon. Thankfully, my child loves it and I can hear him laughing at certain parts from across the hall. Worth the investment. Pictures are beautiful, and the tape teaches young children while entertaining them.

hooray!
A great combination of informative animal facts and entertaining animal footage. My 3 and 1 year old love this video. There are several songs (that aren't annoying, honest!)and lots of good footage of baby animals in the wild. I highly recommend this video and probably will purchase the whole set.

Warmly educational and entertaining
Both of my daughters (ages 9 mos. and 4 years) are captivated by this video. It has the Sesame Street format - moving from segment to segment, with rhyming couplets and video clips about mama kodiak bear and her cubs, to daddy seahorse giving birth to baby seahorses (among others), interspersed by informative conversations between muppet-type animals in the canopy of a rain forest, and portions with an animated flamingo. The educational rhymes are nice without being overbearingly cutsie. The video clips are great - my older daughter and I especially like the jellyfish with classical music accompaniment. The songs teach about letters and numbers, too, but subtly - without interrupting the pleasing flow and animal theme. The skits are salted with light humor, too. It strikes the perfect balance between entertainment and education. I am going to buy the whole series, having seen this one!

Adorable!
You and your children will love this video! Not only is it full of terrific footage of various baby animals but also contains interesting characters, games and songs. It moves along at a pace that is suitable for small children and is a great learning tool as well. ... Read more

Reviews (8)

a great way fun way to expose your children to Italian.
My children 2, 4, and 6 love to watch the video and listen to the audio tape (that came with it) in the car. They even try to say words along with it. My 6 year old was not interested last year when we got it, but now he is excited to listen to the songs about the zoo, the store, the seasons, and the alphabet.

It is a nice thing for my children because my in-law speak Italian, but my husband does not speak it to our children. So this is a good way to expose them to the language more often and in a fun musical way.

Lyric Language italina
For young children only. The adult learned will not pick up anything useful on this tape. The Standard Deviants Italian is the video of choice for those who wish to learn Italian. It is well organized and contains all the basics for learning the language

Excellente!
The easiest way to learn is through repetition...the songs are catching, easy to learn and the words are displayed at the bottom of the screen....it feats a trip to the zooo, the beach, supermarket, counting, the alphabet and more. So, this is a well rounded intro to italian for babies, kids and adults. Also, the pronuciation is excellent! You will learn alot of basics!

great for babe's to learn
my babe and i are learning italian just for fun.. and this is a great video and cassette set for kids. the video is sung by kids(who can sing on key). the lyrics are simple, with good music (in sterio), and the words are shown at the bottom of the screen as you watch. each song starts with a tiny bit of family circle animation and realistic sound effects... one begins with a rainstorm. the cassette contains the same soundtrack, fun for in the car or the baby's crayola cassette player. there is a small book to give you the words to sing along. we have tried many tapes and really like this one, and series 2 is good, too. caio!

Lyric Language Live Action Video Italian/English Series 1
This video is a success for both parents and children alike. Learning Italian is fun while watching a video that is so captivating. The children enjoy a trip to the zoo, the beach, the supermarket--all things they can easily relate to. And the songs are fun to sing and easy to remember. I recommend this to anyone who wants their child to learn a second language. ... Read more