June 2011 New Specialty Toys — Videos & DVDs

New firefighting engine friends Flynn and Belle come to the rescue with Thomas in the all-new, CG-animated adventure Thomas and Friends™: Day of the Diesels - The Movie coming to DVD, Blu-Ray/DVD Combo Pack, Digital Download and On Demand. When Thomas starts spending all of his time with Sodor’s newest heroes, Percy is drawn to the Dieselworks, where he is made to feel special by the master of mischief himself, Diesel 10. But Percy doesn’t know that he is part of Diesel 10’s master plan to take over the Steamworks. Running time: 58 minutes. Also available in a DVD/Blu-Ray combo pack for $24.99.

Geared toward preschoolers, Juno Jr. expands on the Emmy Award-winning Juno Baby line with original orchestral music, rich story lines and a deep emphasis on music education and appreciation. Join Juno and her brother, Rai Rai, as they take an adventure to the imaginary, magical, musical world of Harmonia Springs. After Bunny’s “serenade stand” doesn’t live up to her expectations, Indie hires her to be his own, personal “One Bunny Band.” Indie gets more than he bargains for as Bunny misses the music mark time and time again. But in the end, Bunny and her friends learn how to put feeling into their music through concepts such as tempo, dynamics and articulation. For every Juno product purchased, the Juno Company donates a music education DVD to a child in need.     

One of Disney's biggest and most fondly remembered hits, the screen version of the literary classic SWISS FAMILY ROBINSON is full of South Seas scenery, hundreds of exotic animals, and treacherous pirates. This heroic tale chronicles the courageous exploits of the Robinson family after they are shipwrecked on a deserted island. Using teamwork and ingenuity, they skillfully overcome the obstacles of nature and transform their new home into a "civilized" community. But the ultimate challenge lies ahead when a band of cutthroat pirates threaten to destroy the Robinson's Makeshift paradise. 2-Disc DVD, widescreen, closed-captioned, run time of 126 minutes.
— As of 06/14/2011 this product had 4.5 out of 5 stars from 120 reviews on Amazon.com. Pros:  Great scenery; offers many different genres for the whole family; special features are informative and entertaining. Cons: Not as good as the book; too much suspension of belief required for enjoyment by adults.

In this novelization of the upcoming Judy Moody film, Judy and her friends decide to make their summer vacation the best summer ever. Then, her parents announce they are going away and leaving Judy and her brother, Stink, with their Aunt. Judy comes up with an elaborate "Thrill Points" system and a list of daring activities that she and her friends in the T.P. (Toad Pee) Club must accomplish in order to earn points. But Judy must pull out all the stops when she realizes that she's earned less points than her friends. The book, written by the author of the original series and co-author of the screenplay, stays true to the character of Judy and her brother Stink, and Judy's unique language and penchant for misadventure keep the story going through all 136 pages. The book includes an interview with "Judy," a glossary for readers who want to speak like Judy, and information on the author.

The Oscar-winning creators of Wallace and Gromit and Shaun the Sheep show off their all-new preschool play group, with adventures showcasing Timmy and his young friends. Fun, laughter and surprises take center stage when Timmy performs groovy dance moves, genuine acts of kindness, and also learns the true meaning of saying "I'm sorry." This DVD is 40 minutes long and features five episodes.
— As of 05/12/2012 this product had 4.2 out of 5 stars from 10 reviews on Amazon.com. Cons: Recommended age may be too high; not as entertaining as other cartoons from the same creators.
Awards: Parents’ Choice Gold Award 2011

The Steps4Kids multiplication DVD provides engaging graphics and animation to help children memorize their math facts. Practice tests, memorization strategies, and parent/teacher section included. "The Steps4Kids multiplication DVD teaches math concepts, properties, single digit by double digit math and self help strategies to help children memorize their math facts of numbers 0 through 12," Nancy Holt from Steps4Kids told TDmonthly. Launch date: February 2011.