November 2008 Notable Toys — Videos & DVDs

Bob the Builder and his Can-Do Crew welcome two new members, Gripper and Grabber, as they hurry to finish a new sports stadium in time for the Sunflower Valley Games. Launch date: January 6, 2009.

Designed for children ages 15 months to 6 years, this DVD features more than 15 Kindergarten sight words — including of, I, have, said and is — to help little ones be able to recognize them while reading.
— Kim Pagliarini of Teach! LLC http://catalog.teachcharlestoncatalog.com/ in Mt. Pleasant, S.C., sells about 15 to 20 per month, she told TDmonthly in autumn 2010.

This DVD pairs colorful music videos with 12 songs from the "That Baby CD," which offers acoustic versions of songs by Joni Mitchell, The Youngbloods and Fleetwood Mac, including "Circle Game," "Get Together" and "Songbird." It was created by Rob and Lisi Wolf.

Based on the hottest selling video game of the season, "Guitar Hero," this collection features 6" scale articulated figures that each come with a character-specific guitar. The line-up includes Lars Ümlaut, Johnny Napalm, God of Rock and Axel Steel. Launch date: October 30, 2008.

This four-DVD set includes 20 award-winning and best-selling children's stories colorfully adapted for the small screen. It provides hours of educational fun, with a helpful Read-Along option. From recent children’s best-sellers like "Karma Wilson’s Bear Snores On" and "Bear Wants More," to classic tales like Beverly Clearly’s "The Mouse and the Motorcycle," this value-priced gift set offers parents and children true storytelling treasures, expertly designed to enhance the reading experience. Together, these stories-on-video have won 35 awards including the Caldecott Medal, the NAPPA Gold Award and the Parents’ Choice Gold Medal. "The Scholastic Storybook Treasures series is produced by Weston Woods Studios. The stories are carefully adapted from the original books, and producers work with authors and illustrators to be sure the productions are faithful to the original stories," Beth Blenz-Clucas of Foundry Communications told TDmonthly. Launch date: November 18, 2008.

The Scholastic Storybook Treasures™ DVD series continues to rack up awards and acclaim!  With two newly announced Gold Awards from NAPPA and Parents’ Choice in hand, the #1 award-winning kidvid series will soon be enhanced by the "Treasury of 20 Storybook Classics," a wonderful, value-priced boxed set collecting 20 of the best-loved stories from this amazing collection.  From adaptations of recent children’s best-sellers like Karma Wilson’s "Bear Snores On" and "Bear Wants More," to classic tales like Beverly Clearly’s "The Mouse and the Motorcycle," this soon-to-be-classic gift set offers parents and children true storytelling treasures, expertly designed to augment the reading experience. Run time: 4 hours, 15 minutes; 4 discs. Launch date: November 2008.

Shout! Factory releases the ground-breaking collectible 6-DVD box set "Liberty's Kids: The Complete Series" packed with colorful and entertaining bonus features. The DVD brings America's history to life and depicts key events from the American Revolution as seen through the eyes of kids  who work in Benjamin Franklin's print shop. The kids may be fictional, but all of the history is accurate and authentic. Walter Cronkite, Annette Bening, Whoopi Goldberg, Dustin Hoffman, Billy Crystal, Ben Stiller, Liam Neeson, Michael York, Arnold Schwarzenegger, Sylvester Stallone and General Norman Schwarzkopf headline the all-star voice cast. Launch date: October 14.
 

"The Night Before Christmas," based on Clement C. Moore’s beloved and timeless poem, has been adapted from Jan Brett’s exquisitely illustrated book which, to date, has sold more than one million copies.  With festive music and narration by the talented Edwards, this version is sure to  warm the cockles of any grinch’s heart!  Six additional colorfully animated holiday stories add to the storytime fun: In the Month of Kislev (adapted from a story by Nina Jaffe and narrated by Theodore Bikel), Seven Candles for Kwanza (adapted from a story by Andrea Davis Pinckney and Brian Pinckney, narrated by Alfre Woodard), Too Many Tamales (presented both in English and Spanish, and adapted from a story by Gary Soto), The Little Drummer Boy (with animated illustrations by Ezra Jack Keats) and two Rosemary Wells classics, Max’s Christmas (narrated by Jenny Agutter and Rex Robbins) and Morris’ Disappearing Bag. 60 minutes. Launch date: October 28, 2008.

On this 30-minute personalized DVD, blue-haired Billy speaks directly to the child who owns the DVD, educating him or her as he interacts with wild animals and encourages use of the imagination. A non-personalized version is also available. "We have over 400 unique names in stock, so product ships within 48 hours," Kris Olson, president of Kayo Media LLC, told TDmonthly.  This product received an iParenting Media Award. Launch date: October 14, 2008.

This DVD presents personal safety instructions to be shared by children and parents. Also included with the DVD is a booklet to catalog and store child’s vital information.

This 30-minute DVD contains a variety of educational rap, dance and music.

Based on the popular comic books "Grabouillon" by Alexis Nesme, "Loopdidoo," an animated children's program, features a goofy dog named Loopdidoo and his 5-year-old owner and best friend, Petunia, who find everyday life to be one big adventure. Seemingly harmless situations soon turn into breakneck adventures, especially when Loopdidoo throws his well-meant enthusiasm in the balance.

From the award-winning Belgium television producer and best-selling author An Vrombaut, "64 Zoo Lane" follows the adventures of little Lucy who lives next door to a zoo. Every night, she climbs out of her window, slides down the long neck of a giraffe and listens to the animals at the zoo tell her a story. The characters entertain as children explore social and emotional issues and learn about language and vocabulary. The charming animated series combines intelligent storytelling with a timeless picture-book quality and features a range of diverse characters from many parts of the world. Launch date: July 29, 2008.

Safer Me TV presents NOT ME!, a by-kids-for-kids proactive abduction prevention DVD targeted towards school-aged children grades 3 to 9. It’s new, it’s different, it’s fun, and it’s a grass-roots effort with the aim of spreading the knowledge of abduction prevention nationally. "It is by kids for kids with professional advice from field experts," affirmed Tim Reca, co-owner of Safer Me TV. This product won 2008 Parents' Choice Approved, 2008 Telly, 2007 Arora Best of Show and 2007 Accolade Honorable Mention awards. Launch date: 2007

Students can explore the sun, moon, stars, clouds and astronauts as The Launch Pad for Learning™ engages them in hands-on "missions." It includes 30 Missions — Jr. Cadet (PreK-K) and Cadet (Grades 1-2) Activity Guides with 15 missions each; Classroom Posters — Spanish and English; Zula Bingo; and The Zula Patrol® 15 Missions DVD. "The Zula Patrol® is a popular children’s education program on PBS, and has exciting new educational programs and products that promote science and astronomy learning through engaging character-driven stories and activities," Program Manager Kristen Mayfield of Carolina Biological Supply Company told TDmonthly. Launch date: August 2008.

Based on the No.1 bestseller by William J. Bennett, "Adventures From the Book of Virtues" reaches out to children to teach important life lessons and morals, illustrating a central theme through classic international heroes and stories and illuminating the core virtues of honesty, compassion, responsibility, courage, self-discipline, work, friendship, loyalty, perseverance and faith. Stories are seen through the eyes of young Zach and Annie, who live in Spring Valley and deal with the same pressures and situations faced by kids everywhere.