Education/Instructional Titles from KIDS FIRST! and the Coalition for Quality Children's Media

The Education/Instructional category has 375 KIDS FIRST! endorsed titles
Below are records 1 - 50 of them
sorted alphabetically

KIDS FIRST! has linked to external websites through which you may order many of the KIDS FIRST! endorsed titles

NEW YORK STREET GAMES
FALCO INK / HIGHBROW ENTERTAINMENT
Series: INDEPENDENT DOCUMENTARY, ADULT
Description - Covers the origins of the street games that were played and shared by all children within inner city neighborhoods. It's narrated by Hector Elizondo and features interviews with Regis Philbin, Ray Romano and Keith David, among many others.
Runtime: 76 minutes
KIDS FIRST! Juror Recommended Age: ADULT-ADULT
Suggested Retail Price: $ 29.95
Media: DVD

LIL' IGUANA BE SMART, STAY SAFE
LIL' IGUANA'S CHILDREN'S SAFETY FOUNDATION
Series: INDEPENDENT SHORT AGES 5-8
Description - Come join Lil' Iguana and his friends as they have fun learning important safety lessons. Learn about getting permission before going anywhere, never going anywhere alone, knowing who is a stranger and what to do if a stranger tries to make you go with them. Includes one DVD and three music CDs.
KIDS FIRST!® Adult Jurors say - A good piece to have in your video arsenal of learning about safety. It takes a subject that can be hard to explain to children and turns it into fun. Shows situations, stories, games and songs that get the message across. Different aged kids will pick up on different things, but the pace is slow enough for even the youngest. Use of children and puppets, music and dancing, will help kids relate to the stories.
KIDS FIRST!® Kid Jurors say - Kids enjoyed this. "The songs taught us a lot and were fun to sing." "Teaches us how to be smart about strangers." "I liked when they were on the farm with the chicken." "This movie taught us how to be safe - that's really important!" Kids seemed to enjoy the music and the scenery and understood most of the lessons imparted.
Runtime: 22 minutes
KIDS FIRST! Juror Recommended Age: 4-7
Suggested Retail Price: $ 29.95
Media: DVD

SAFARI ANIMAL DISCOVERY
KIDZ ON SAFARI NEW YORK INC
Series: INDEPENDENT DOCUMENTARY, AGES 5-8
Description - Two brothers, Mugo and Tugo, go on Safari to discover the magic of Africa, from animals to culture and their roots. They discover more than they expected.
KIDS FIRST!® Adult Jurors say - Follows two little brothers on a safari trip, learning about the animals they encounter. There are two short quizzes to help children remember what they learned. The next best thing to going on a real safari. Great for building excitement prior to a visit to the zoo. Educational as well as entertaining. Kids will enjoy the ABC song, sung by African children. Promotes a positive view of Africa and their animals. Enjoyed the use of nicknames for animals to engage the kids - "Here comes Mr. Temper." Pop-ups appear on screen with "fun facts" so kids can put information together with the animal they are viewing on-screen. African music enhanced the theme. Some adults appreciated the border that sometimes appeared on the screen, saying it helps to draw attention of pre-schoolers, other found it detracted from the film. A good media tool to introduce young children to the conservation and appreciation of wildlife. After viewing with children, one juror said, "Yeah, this is definitely a keeper."
KIDS FIRST!® Kid Jurors say - The children love the musical exploration of some of Africa's safari animals. It really makes kids want to know more. Children are engaged and full of questions/comments throughout, "Can I pet a flamingo," "Tortoises are good animals," "My favorite animal is the snake." They like the African children singing the ABC song about the animals, learning that there are at least as many animals as there are letters in the alphabet. Some try to guess which animal will be chosen for each letter in the song. "Beautiful, I like how the giraffe stands when he is drinking water." "The brothers were excited and followed the rules of the safari - be good to each other." "I really liked the question and answer part." "It taught me about animals I didn't know - I never saw a water buffalo before," "It told me some names of animals I didn't know, but didn't show a picture of them, so I want to look them up." "Press the PLAY button again!"
Runtime: 25 minutes
KIDS FIRST! Juror Recommended Age: 4-10
Suggested Retail Price: $ 20
Media: DVD

KUNG FU FOR KIDS
YMAA PUBLICATION CENTER, INC
Series: INDEPENDENT FEATURE, AGES 8-12
Description - An instructional program teaching kids the basics of traditional Kung Fu. Simple follow-along workout featuring cartoon segues with Shing. Training tips for parents, teachers. Features Ben Warner, Nicholas Yang, Cameo by Dr. Yang, Jwing Ming.
KIDS FIRST!® Adult Jurors say - Very informative. An excellent tool to teach the importance of health and exercise. Most useful broken up into segments for better learning results. Interactive format allows for kids to participate in the movements while watching. Promotes health and wellness. Positive and respectful.
KIDS FIRST!® Kid Jurors say - Kids liked it, "it taught me that Kung Fu can by anything. When you work hard and reach your goals you can tell your friends you have done Kung Fu." Fun and motivating, the kids got up and moved around. "I learned that Kung Fu is about more than fighting. It is about discipline, practice and hard work." "Kung Fu can develop your body and mind." "It was fun and had a lot of activity." "It taught us the basics stances, punches, blocks and kicks. It was easy to follow." "Ben, the instructor, was friendly and playful." "It made me think about humility, respect, trust, courage and loyalty." "It made me think bout fitness." "Kung Fu is a fun work out."
Runtime: 75 minutes
KIDS FIRST! Juror Recommended Age: 4-12
Suggested Retail Price: $ 19.95
Media: DVD ISBN # 978154391880

SO SMART: BABY'S FIRST WORD - HOUSE
ECHO BRIDGE HOME ENTERTAINMENT
Series: SHORT, AGES 0-2, ANIMATED
Description - So Smart! is an award-winning brand trusted by parents for over a decade. This new animated series, Baby's First-Word Stories, is created especially for 1 to 3 year-olds, who are beginning to explore the rich world of language. In this baby DVD, So Smart! friends Edward, Iggy, Larry and Dee Dee will first introduce your little one to simple words about objects in the home, and then build sentences and stories around them. A deliberately gentle pace, engaging imagery, and soothing music make So Smart! a winner for both children and parents.
KIDS FIRST!® Adult Jurors say - Lovable, non-frightening characters, easy-to-understand stories with gentle humor and great educational value for developing early language skills. The video encourages engagement and participation with its questions such as, "What sound is that?" "What words do you remember?" There are 4 vignettes: Bath time, Who's Hiding in the House, Sounds in My House and Clean-up Time. The total time of the video is 30 minutes but each story can be viewed separately. The content is suitable for very young children with friendly characters, relatable stories, lovely cadence of voice-over narration. Its gentle humor and positive messages are just right for this age. The four characters include two male characters and two female characters. The characters' genders are recognizable, race is not a factor and the characters are typically middle class as each has its own home, clean clothes and toys. The stories respect the fact that children can get dirty (while eating or painting) but lets children know its okay to get dirty and that one must later take a bath to clean up. The stories have gentle humor as the characters get dirty all over again even after they take their baths. There are no repercussions if one gets dirty again which is a forgiving, accepting message. The simple animation style is appropriate for very young children as is the use of simple sentence structure. The voice over by the narrator is warm and loving. The use of sound effects is education and gentle such as the sound of the phone ringing, the doorbell, birds chirping, splashing water, bounding of a ball. The use of color adds to the visual experience and is not glaringly brilliant. In all four stories, repetition is used. Vocabulary is appropriate to this age with a recap at the end of each vignette when the narrator asks, "What words do you remember?" For example, in thee Bath time vignette, the new words that are emphasized are bath, bubbles, boat and soap. The interaction between the characters is cooperative, kind, and friendly.
KIDS FIRST!® Kid Jurors say - The kids giggled, danced, clapped their hands and were all engaged. They repeated the new vocabulary words such as door, couch, chair, table. Some growled and made claws with their hands and pretended to be Larry the Lion. Some, who had watched other titles in the series, recognized the characters and called out the names of Larry, Iggy Dee-Dee and Edward. They responded to the narrator's questions, "What words do you remember?" with their new vocabulary words. Kids loved the "Sounds in My House" section. When a visual of a phone appeared onscreen, they spontaneously said, " phone." When the narrator says bye bye to Larry, they repeated it and waved as well. This is obviously well planned out for this age group, who loved it, learned new words and found reinforcement for social skills they are developing. It encourages cooperation and friendship.
Runtime: 30 minutes
KIDS FIRST! Juror Recommended Age: 0-2
Suggested Retail Price: $ 15.99
Media: DVD

SO SMART: BABY'S FIRST WORD - PETS
ECHO BRIDGE HOME ENTERTAINMENT
Series: SHORT, AGES 0-2, ANIMATED
Description - So Smart! Is an award-winning brand, trusted by parents for over a decade. In this DVD, So Smart! Friends Edward, Iggy, Dee Dee and Larry will first introduce your little one to simple words about pets, then build sentences and stories around them. A deliberately gentle pace, engaging imagery and soothing music, make So Smart! A winner for both children and parents.
KIDS FIRST!® Adult Jurors say - This DVD provides an entertaining supplemental to children's language development. The narration and animation is sweet and simple. Use repetition but keeps it to a level that we don't lose interest. Very predictable, which is good for this age group. It offers a way to watch and hear things, that if not familiar, can become so and a nice easy to watch pace. Allows for interaction, asking questions that little ones can easily answer. Pets are a great topic of interest for toddlers.
KIDS FIRST!® Kid Jurors say - Enjoyed it though some needed some prompting to engage in the interactive sections. With adult interaction, kids repeated words and responded with answers. When they saw a cat, one child yelled "kitty" and another one "meow", using the language skills they already had and applying them to the situation. All the kids who paid attention seemed to enjoy the animation and sounds. Got less attention from the kids who were not really ready for language development of this kind. Overall a nice video for kids ready to learn new words and interested in watching media on TV.
Runtime: 30 minutes
KIDS FIRST! Juror Recommended Age: 0-2
Suggested Retail Price: $ 15.99
Media: DVD

SO SMART: BABY'S FIRST WORD - WE GO!
ECHO BRIDGE HOME ENTERTAINMENT
Series: SHORT AGES 0-2, ANIMATED
Description - From the So Smart! Series which teaches children key words using an easy-to-follow, present-tense narrative and repetition. In this DVD, So Smart! Friends Edward, Iggy, Dee Dee and Larry will first introduce your little one to simple words about things that go, then build sentences and stories around them. A deliberately gentle pace, engaging imagery and soothing music make this suitable for ages 1-3.
KIDS FIRST!® Adult Jurors say - Wonderful stories, animation, characters and music, blended with an appropriate pace. Teaches and entertains at the same time. High quality animation kids will love and keep parents interested as well. Featured pictures of things kids love - cars, trucks, trains, boats and other transportation vehicles. Broken down into five smaller stories so you can easily watch a little at a time. Stories are more simplistic at first, then with more problem-solving, such as the story about the chicken who has a piano and wants to take it home, but she needs a truck first. Each story highlights a different character and kids are given the opportunity to participate by saying what they learned.
KIDS FIRST!® Kid Jurors say - Children really enjoyed interacting, with younger children yelling "doggie" or "chicken" at the animals they recognized. Boys especially liked the vehicles and yelled out the answers at the end of each section. Loved to yell out during the "what words did you learn" sections. Kids noticed the colors of the backgrounds and it created a ton of discussion between all of the children, even the one-year old!
Runtime: 30 minutes
KIDS FIRST! Juror Recommended Age: 1-3
Suggested Retail Price: $ 15.99
Media: DVD

SO SMART: BABY'S FIRST WORD - NIGHTTIME
ECHO BRIDGE HOME ENTERTAINMENT
Series: SHORT, AGES 0-2, ANIMATION
Description - So Smart! is an award-winning brand trusted by parents for over a decade. This new animated series, Baby's First-Word Stories, is created especially for 1 to 3 year-olds, who are beginning to explore the rich world of language. In this baby DVD, So Smart! friends Edward, Iggy, Larry and Dee Dee will first introduce your little one to simple words about nighttime, and then build sentences and stories around them. A deliberately gentle pace, engaging imagery, and soothing music make So Smart! a winner for both children and parents.
KIDS FIRST!® Adult Jurors say - Lovely, simple animation and calm tone by the narrator. Flows nicely and has good predictability which children this age love. Offers a way for children to watch and hear things that, if unfamiliar, can become familiar. The video uses words that the children should already be hearing and mixes them with words that may be unfamiliar. This may help their vocabulary grow, particularly if a parent or caregiver watches along and emphasizes the words in other contexts, outside of the video itself. The animal characters are very cute. The colors are bright but not over the top. The use of the music is thoughtful and suitable to the program and audience. This video makes a good supplement to a child's learning development and is repetitive and predictable enough to work and yet not become tedious. Among the very best of DVDs for the 1-3 year old group.
KIDS FIRST!® Kid Jurors say - Very engaging. Easy to play in segments. The 2 and almost 2's stayed focused for the entire show, saying words for objects they knew. As each segment began, one 2-year-old would say, "Ooh! More!" The 10-month-old looked up now and then but was more interested in his toys than the DVD. The 2's enjoyed a second viewing as much as the first. One 22-month-old, who is more verbal than the 25-month-old, said words without prompting - from the beginning he said, "moon, star, night night, book, light, etc." There are really no opportunities for singing, dancing, playing along, but the 2-year-old oohed and smiled when he liked something. When the narrator asked, "Let's see what we can remember�" they didn't respond. When the adult facilitator asked the same thing, they did. They didn't grasp the idea of someone onscreen asking them a question. Some 4 and 5-year-olds also viewed it, found it darling. But, of course, they already knew these words.
Runtime: 30 minutes
KIDS FIRST! Juror Recommended Age: 1-3
Suggested Retail Price: $ 15.99
Media: DVD

SO SMART: BABY'S FIRST WORD - OUTSIDE
ECHO BRIDGE HOME ENTERTAINMENT
Series: SHORT, AGES 0-2, ANIMATION
Description - So Smart! is an award-winning brand trusted by parents for over a decade. This new animated series, Baby's First-Word Stories, is created especially for 1 to 3 year-olds, who are beginning to explore the rich world of language. In this baby DVD, So Smart! friends Edward, Iggy, Larry and Dee Dee will first introduce your little one to simple words about being outside, and then build sentences and stories around them. A deliberately gentle pace, engaging imagery, and soothing music make So Smart! a winner for both children and parents.
KIDS FIRST!® Adult Jurors say - Really loved this DVD. Great music. Loved the piano music. Nice uses of pauses to catch a child's attention. For example, pause then say "leaves fall" and then see them fall. The music is toe-tapping. Pace is great, moves very smoothly and logically from one story to the next. Coloration is pleasant. Some infant DVDs are just blasting full of brilliant colors, this is much more subtle and thus, more enjoyable. There are a couple of instances where the backgrounds blended too well with the characters but that was infrequent. Great use of repetition. Words are restated, then shown again with an image. The producers seem to respect that babies and toddlers need to have their attention caught, then caught again. The pause effect addresses this well. Good use of exercises to encourage memory skills for what was shown. This worked particularly well for slow learning children or a child who takes longer to express himself verbally. The activity guide that comes with it can be printed out and used to reinforce what has been watched. There is also a website to go to for more information about the video and the company. All of our jurors said they would buy this for their own use.
KIDS FIRST!® Kid Jurors say - The children were very engaged, particular the 2-year-olds. They laughed at some parts and repeated words from the video. All the children liked the segments with the animals in it best. The boys in particular liked the animals and the girls liked repeating the words they heard. All enjoyed counting along. It was a bit slow for some of the 2's but the 6 month old enjoyed it a lot until he lost interest at the end. A couple of 5-year-olds watched it but didn't find it interesting enough to stay with it. They went on to other things.
Runtime: 30 minutes
KIDS FIRST! Juror Recommended Age: 0-4
Suggested Retail Price: $ 15.99
Media: DVD

SO SMART: BABY'S FIRST WORD - GET DRESSED
ECHO BRIDGE HOME ENTERTAINMENT
Series: SHORT AGES 0- 2, ANIMATION
Description - So Smart! is an award-winning brand trusted by parents for over a decade. This new animated series, Baby's First-Word Stories, is created especially for 1 to 3 year-olds, who are beginning to explore the rich world of language. In this baby DVD, So Smart! friends Edward, Iggy, Larry and Dee Dee will first introduce your little one to simple words about getting dressed, and then build sentences and stories around them. A deliberately gentle pace, engaging imagery, and soothing music make So Smart! a winner for both children and parents.
KIDS FIRST!® Adult Jurors say - Sweet, easy to understand, simple stories, some gentle rhymes (day/hurray), lovely production values and delightful, upbeat music. The narrator is easy to listen to, the characters are non-threatening. The DVD encourages the child to participate by asking questions such as, "What words do you remember?" There are a series of short vignettes including: Iggy Gets Dressed, Let's Play in the Snow, Hats for Everyone, Edward Finds an Umbrella, and Edward's New Shoes. The use of repetition helps children learn new words. Participation is encouraged by asking the viewer questions they can easily answer. This is an easy re-introduction to colors, seasons, numbers, seasonal activities and getting dressed. The characters are very likable, they behave in friendly and caring ways toward one another. They resemble children and genders are portrayed by the little girl wearing the color pink and the boy wearing the color blue. The stories are gentle and portray simple frustrations such as a child might experience in life: a button falling off, the rain coming, the snow melting, a zipper breaks. Characters are shown dealing with these little inconveniences in such a way that we can see how easy it is to replicate. Very nicely done, a plus for any toddler library.
KIDS FIRST!® Kid Jurors say - Loved it. A multicultural group of Hispanic, Asian and Caucasian kids all enjoyed it. The girls seemed more transfixed than the boys but both clapped, pointed and waved at various times. Several children remembered and called out the characters' names. Several called out "Hello" when the characters said, "hello." Many counted along with the onscreen counting. Most responded when the narrator asked, "What words do you remember?" They answered, "snow, umbrella, etc." When asked how much they liked it, all said, "Great!"
Runtime: 30 minutes
KIDS FIRST! Juror Recommended Age: 0-2
Suggested Retail Price: $ 15.99
Media: DVD

MY DAISY DAYS, VOL. 3
MY DAISY DAYS, INC Click to purchase directly from the producer
Series: INDEPENDENT SHORT, AGES 2-5
Description - Includes 3 episodes: "Daisy Goes to the Zoo" - Daisy learns about the animals; "Daisy Watches Big Trucks" - Daisy discovers the wonders of big trucks; "Daisy's Winter Play date" - On a winter day, Daisy romps with her toddler friend and canine chum.
KIDS FIRST!® Adult Jurors say - Non-narrative film with mediocre production levels. The dog, Daisy is cute and the segment at the zoo the most appealing of the three. The audience for this is limited - dog lovers would probably enjoy it most.
KIDS FIRST!® Kid Jurors say - Kids liked the animals and the trucks. And, of course Daisy was a hit.
Runtime: 41 minutes
KIDS FIRST! Juror Recommended Age: 2-5
Suggested Retail Price: $ 19.95
Media: DVD

This title is available for purchase from MY DAISY DAYS, INC

MY DAISY DAYS VOL. 2
MY DAISY DAYS, INC Click to purchase directly from the producer
Series: INDEPENDENT SHORT, AGES 2-5
Description - Includes 3 episodes: "Daisy Goes to the Fire Station" - Daisy gets a warm welcome at her local fire station; "Daisy Counts to 10" - Daisy learns numbers from 1 to 10; "Daisy Goes to the Park" - Daisy visits her favorite park and sees some friends.
KIDS FIRST!® Adult Jurors say - From the adult perspective, this is a bit tough to get into. There is no dialogue; it's just music and watching the dog. Daisy goes to different places - the fire station, the park. And, she counts to 10. Very mediocre production levels.
KIDS FIRST!® Kid Jurors say - Most appropriate for the 2-year-olds. It's a bit long even for them. They enjoyed seeing the fire truck, pointed to the squirrel, the ducks. Definitely the kids enjoyed this more than the adults.
Runtime: 33 minutes
KIDS FIRST! Juror Recommended Age: 0-3
Suggested Retail Price: $ 19.95
Media: DVD

This title is available for purchase from MY DAISY DAYS, INC

MY DAISY DAYS VOL. 1
MY DAISY DAYS, INC Click to purchase directly from the producer
Series: INDEPENDENT SHORT, AGES 2-5
Description - Includes 3 episodes: "Daisy Goes to the County Fair" - Visit the County Fail through Daisy's eyes; "Daisy Learns The ABCs" - Join Daisy as she learns the alphabet; "Daisy Goes on a Boat Ride" - Daisy takes in a host of water activities.
KIDS FIRST!® Adult Jurors say - Daisy is cute but even our dog lovers found this a bit slow moving. It can be fun to watch shows like this with very young children as it shows some everyday activities that they might recognize or call out the names for. However, doesn't hold children's attention for long. There is no real story being told. Daisy, the dog visits places and the story evolves from where she goes.
KIDS FIRST!® Kid Jurors say - Mixed reactions from kids. "Daisy visits places but there is no real story" Some kids liked the images of balloons, sailboats, and the ABCs. They did enjoy seeing the dog. "It's a happy dog who shows you what happy is." They seemed to like parts of it, especially the dog, Daisy. That is the one thing that holds it together.
Runtime: 34 minutes
KIDS FIRST! Juror Recommended Age: 0-3
Suggested Retail Price: $ 19.95
Media: DVD

This title is available for purchase from MY DAISY DAYS, INC

EPLANET: RAINFOREST QUEST
FINK PRODUCTIONS
Series: INDEPENDENT FEATURE, AGES 8-12
Description - Join Timo and Dina as they explore Earth's rainforests. Together they'll discover the science behind the scenery; why jungles are so important and what people are doing to protect and preserve them.
KIDS FIRST!® Adult Jurors say - Great video of the rainforest areas. Excellent clips of different topics and regions. Brief but full of information. Nice music, good voice overs. Computer animated hosts were a bit corny. Many other important science concepts are covered as well such as conservation and ecology. Teaches about different plants and animals found in the rainforests. Children learn about the four layers in the rainforest, how animals and plants have adapted to their particular habitats and alerts them to the fact that rainforests are endangered. It illustrates how deforestation is injuring our planet and looks at how groups are attempting to preserve areas of land and water. It also teaches about the medicinal properties of the trees and plants of the rainforests and presents the challenge that people may have to make in order to heal and preserve our planet. Encourages viewers to learn more about the rainforest and think about how we are caring for the earth. Visually appealing. Wonderful cinematography. Offers a huge dose of facts in an interesting format that should hold a child's attention.
KIDS FIRST!® Kid Jurors say - Enjoyed it. "I liked the animals and plants. We got to see lots of cool places." The maps and animals drew their interest. "They showed very colorful forests and interesting animals." "The sounds let you know what a real rainforest would sound like. That was neat." Kids didn't like the computerized hosts. "Those computer graphics people were annoying." "I would show it to friends who like science." "We enjoyed this and thought it has All-Star qualities. The only thing we didn't like were the animated hosts."
Runtime: 75 minutes
KIDS FIRST! Juror Recommended Age: 8-14
Suggested Retail Price: $ 0
Media: DVD

YOUNG MINDS - NUMBERS AND COUNTING
MATHTUTORDVD.COM
Series: INDEPENDENT SHORT, AGES 0-2
Description - Teaches children numbers and counting from 1-10 through animation and images of nature.
KIDS FIRST!® Adult Jurors say - As a program designed to teach pre-verbal children the numbers one through ten, it does a pretty good job. The classical background music is pleasant enough but after a while it begins to feel like I'm listening to elevator music. It is well produced with clear images and audio and a pleasant narration by a child. However, I am convinced that unless this is watched together with an adult, a child under the age of 2 would not get much out of it.
KIDS FIRST!® Kid Jurors say - Mixed reviews. "It was happy." "It was pretty nice." "I counted with it." "I liked the lions." "I wanted to see sharks." One 4-year-old counted along and easily named all the objects. After a while however, she asked to watch a different DVD. Some two-year-olds started recognizing numbers. One two-year-old lost interest in a few minutes and was quite verbal about not wanting to watch more. End result of our testing with kids - some liked it, some didn't. None wanted to watch the entire thing.
Runtime: 54 minutes
KIDS FIRST! Juror Recommended Age: 1-3
Suggested Retail Price: $ 19.99
Media: DVD

SCRIBBLENAUTS (NINTENDO DS)
WARNER BROS INTERACTIVE ENTERTAINMENT
Series: VIDEOGAME, AGES 8-12
Description - Scribblenauts for Nintendo DS is a videogame where players use their imagination. Players jot down the word for any object that comes to mind in order to help their character Maxwell solve a series of puzzles. Write anything; solve everything!
KIDS FIRST!® Adult Jurors say - Very entertaining. The main character locates the little stars and has to figure out how to get to them by using tools and overcoming obstacles. You feel good for getting through the obstacles and finding the stars. This game definitely encourages planning and strategy and using tools on hand. The levels get more difficult and challenging. The child loses information from the level they are on, but can start the level again when they restart without having to repeat the lower levels. Provides hours of entertainment that is engaging, creative and wholesome. Good value. This is a terrific problem solving game. Really encourages "out of the box" thinking. Cause and effect is easily and readily seen. Encourages creative use of everyday items. Offers pracr5tice in spelling in a fun way. It is not only inventive but is highly entertaining, with a bit of learning thrown in. It is actually very clever and requires the player to not only figure out how to get out of situations or solve puzzles but also requires them to be creative and to be able to spell words. If a player spells something wrong, then they are shown several options, so they actually learn spelling along with the normal game play and problem solving. Like most games for the 10-14 age group, the player can choose more violent methods of solving problems such as using a gun to stop an animal from attacking you, although the animal poofs away and there are bonus points given for selecting non-violent methods. Graphics are pretty standard for current DS games although what is unique is that you can write almost any word down and that object will appear on the screen.
KIDS FIRST!® Kid Jurors say - Enjoyed it. It is a very fun game where you get to draw things that come to life. It's really cool. Awesome!" "I can control the game with my clicks and it is very easy to get started. "You just type things and they come to life. Love that." "Maxwell, the main guy who you are, during missions sometimes helps save cats and stuff like that." "I would definitely play this again."

KIDS FIRST! Juror Recommended Age: 8-12
Suggested Retail Price: $ 0
Media: Videogame

MORE FAMILIES OF MEXICO
MASTER COMMUNICATIONS Click to purchase directly from the producer
Series: INDEPENDENT SHORT, AGES 8-12
Description - Guadalupe is eight years old and lives with her parents and grandparents near the top of a small mountain in the state of Veracruz. The whole village, surrounded by coffee trees, is built on land that used to be part of a large hacienda. Spend a day with Guadalupe as she visits the hacienda and goes to school.
Twelve-year-old Maurice lives in the city of Jalapa, the capital of the state of Veracruz on the Gulf of Mexico. Join Maurice as he goes to school, takes karate lessons and goes to a birthday party complete with pi�ata.
KIDS FIRST!® Adult Jurors say - The simple narrative format with the video of the children's day is informative and interesting. We follow them to school and the doctor and see them interacting at social events with their families. Two children share their days with us. We learn some of the similarities and differences between daily life in their country and ours. The contents flows well and holds your interest. Everyone behaves respectfully. The narratives are easy to follow and the addition of Spanish words, in context, aids in exposing kids to another language. It is fun being part of the children's lives. The narrative reading on the second portion is a bit stilted but the content is good. Nicely paced, not too fast or slow. Holds your interest. Broadens a child's global perspective.
KIDS FIRST!® Kid Jurors say - Enjoyed it. "Yes, we liked it very much." "Definitely above average." "My friends would find it interesting to learn about Mexico." "It shows how boys and girls live in Mexico." "The main characters are Guadalupe, her sister Ingrid, Marius and Marius and his sister, Caroline." "I liked the housekeeper, Eloise. That is the name of my cat." "I am eight, like Guadalupe and I also have a sister who is four." "They treat each other great. You can tell they care about each other." "The parts of the day that were filmed tell the story and show the different lives the kids have." "I liked seeing the mountain above Guadalupe's home." "I was curious about how washboard the mother used and how she hung up the clothes because I have that job at my house." "the medicine in a straw was near." "We liked the Karate class and seeing Eloise wash the dishes."
Runtime: 30 minutes
KIDS FIRST! Juror Recommended Age: 5-12
Suggested Retail Price: $ 0
Media: DVD

This title is available for purchase from MASTER COMMUNICATIONS

FAMILIES OF PANAMA
MASTER COMMUNICATIONS Click to purchase directly from the producer
Series: INDEPENDENT SHORT, AGES 12-18
Description - Very nice video that teaches about the country and culture of Panama. We learn about the school system, games children play there and what their life is like. This is educational and entertaining. It flows easily. It follows the day in the life of a family based on a child's point of view. Very appropriate language for the audience. Nicely done, beautifully shot. Contains a bit of history.
KIDS FIRST!® Adult Jurors say - Liked it. "Panama is very colorful. We saw the city and country." "I enjoyed the scenes where the children were swimming. " "I didn't know anything about Panama. Now I do." "I learned a lot about the land and that the children live far from the United States." "I liked seeing the parents at work." "I liked seeing Grandma spend time with the boys after school."
KIDS FIRST!® Kid Jurors say - Liked it. "I thought it would be boring but it wasn't." All said they may watch it again, especially if doing a report for school. They related to Raisa and Juan, the on-air hosts. "I have the same things going on in my life - school, weekend activities, parties, etc." "I liked seeing where they lived and what their school looked like. It's different from outs." They enjoyed the costumes at the school festival and noted, "we wear school uniforms too." "We liked it and learned about a new place." "I didn't know anything about Panama before. It is really beautiful." Most thoroughly enjoyed the movie. It is well paced, very informative and shows both traditional and non-traditional families.
Runtime: 30 minutes
KIDS FIRST! Juror Recommended Age: 5-8
Suggested Retail Price: $ 0
Media: DVD

This title is available for purchase from MASTER COMMUNICATIONS

IF THE WORLD WERE A VILLAGE
MASTER COMMUNICATIONS Click to purchase directly from the producer
Series: INDEPENDENT SHORT, AGES 8-12
Description - There are more than six billion people in the world. Though it's hard to imagine so many people at one time, what if we imagine the whole world as a village of just 100 people? Children discover that life abroad can be very different from their own.
KIDS FIRST!® Adult Jurors say - Very different way of showing things. They break down the world population into 100 people, then take percentages of how many people have the internet, have 2 cars, would cook with electricity, have running water. Very informative. Animated.
KIDS FIRST!® Kid Jurors say - Kids enjoyed it. "We liked it because it talks about different lives of people around the world in a fun way." Most said they would watch it again. "I think our friends would enjoy this if they were in school because it teaches you about geography." "It talks about how many people are from different parts of the world and how they live." "It's easy to understand." "There are LOTS of different types of people from all over the world. Maybe too many to count." "The picture is clear. The music is okay. It doesn't really add a lot to the video but it's not bad either." "I liked seeing what people wear in other countries."
Runtime: 25 minutes
KIDS FIRST! Juror Recommended Age: 5-12
Suggested Retail Price: $ 29.95
Media: DVD

This title is available for purchase from MASTER COMMUNICATIONS

FAMILIES OF GUATEMALA
MASTER COMMUNICATIONS Click to purchase directly from the producer
Series: INDEPENDENT SHORT, AGES 8-12
Description - Mariaelena is seven and lives on a farm. Watch how coffee is roasted and macadamia nuts are shelled. Jorge, 9, lives in the city of San Marcos. See how his Dad, a doctor, finds a kidney stone using an ultrasound. Share in the Family Day festival.
KIDS FIRST!® Adult Jurors say - Love this series. Kids get to see how other children lead their lives in another country. The way that we are led to understand a country through the eyes of a child is really a great way to enhance cultural understanding. Parents and teachers provide excellent role models for the children. The content helps a child understand what life is like in another country. The very straightforward approach works well.
KIDS FIRST!® Kid Jurors say - Mixed responses. Most really enjoyed it though some found it too slow and lacking in storyline. "I liked seeing the farm and listening to the music." "It's good cause kids get to see how these kids go to school for only a half a day." "The first kids got up and went to school right away in the morning and then a different group of kids was there in the afternoon. The boys in the second part lived in town." "Marialena and Jorge were a little older than I am and lived in a different country but were a lot like me because they went to school and played sports and had to do chores and stuff." "Everyone was nice to each other in their families. They played together." "It showed where the kids were going and what they were doing - like you were going with them." "You saw their country." "I thought about their half day of school and how they play sports like I do but in a different country." "I liked it pretty much."
Runtime: 30 minutes
KIDS FIRST! Juror Recommended Age: 8-12
Suggested Retail Price: $ 29.95
Media: DVD ISBN # 978-1-60480-050-0

This title is available for purchase from MASTER COMMUNICATIONS

SIGNING SAFARI: ALL ABOUT ME! DAILY LIFE AND FAMILY SIGNS
SIGNING SAFARI Click to purchase directly from the producer
Series: INDEPENDENT SHORT, AGES 2-5
Description - Emphasizes the beauty and accessibility of American Sign Language for parents and their children by highlighting 15 family life signs through upbeat original rhymes. Signs for potty, bath, grandmother and grandfather are included.
KIDS FIRST!® Adult Jurors say - Very engaging, well produced video which teaches what it sets out to do very well. A good variety of visual strategies are used, both with people in a studio and footage of the actual thing or activity we are learning to sign. Nicely paced and good length. It is simple. Takes things one at a time. Isn't too slow or too fast. Gives us a sign to learn, and reinforces it by showing the thing or activity. Great content. Keeps you engaged. Visuals are well shot and well edited. Different races, ages and genders are well represented. The time spent on each item is appropriate and gives audiences of all ages the opportunity to absorb the material. Uses a variety of strategies to get the lessons across. It ends a bit abruptly. Definitely leaves you wanting to learn more signs.
KIDS FIRST!® Kid Jurors say - A bit hit! "Yeah! It's really special. I like all the things they talked about with the signs, especially the doggie." "It's great. I like this movie." "My friends would like cuz it's great and I think they would want to learn about signs too." "I liked learning the signs." "I want to learn sign language. I liked the diaper change one. I liked the doggies having a bath." One two-year-old pointed excitedly to the twin brothers when they were hugging. Both two year olds moved closer to the TV once they started really watching it. The four and five-year-olds were doing the signs as they saw then. One five-year-old said, "That is true" when they said Grandpas teach you to fish. "Mama, I want a (signs bath)." After watching, everyone continued to do the signs they had just learned. Socks, sister, change, kitty and potty were popular.
Runtime: 28 minutes
KIDS FIRST! Juror Recommended Age: 1-5
Suggested Retail Price: $ 19.95
Media: DVD ISBN # 9780980218008

This title is available for purchase from SIGNING SAFARI

SIGNING SAFARI: BEGINNER SIGNS & ALPHABET
SIGNING SAFARI Click to purchase directly from the producer
Series: INDEPENDENT SHORT, AGES 0-2
Description - Introduces families to 15 of the most common signs used with young children. Children will enjoy learning ASL signs through original rhymes, live child models and playful puppets. Signs like, I Love You, hurt and pacifier are featured.
KIDS FIRST!® Adult Jurors say - Very nice with catchy rhymes. Presentation is very professional. Content is geared at pre-verbal children. Engaging and entertaining for both children and adults. Appropriately paced, teaches life skills of signing as a way to communicate feelings. It may stimulate language development and improve manual dexterity and coordination. It is filled with excellent demonstrations of sign language by both kids and adults. Great rhythms, use of children's voices. Each sign is taught by first demonstrating it by an adult or child as a close up. After demonstration, there is a montage presenting situations where signing could be used, followed by a repeat of the original demonstration. Very suitable for babies 6 months of age up to first graders. The visuals and rhymes are arresting even without understanding what sign language is all about. In truth the video does not refer to the hearing impaired at all, the signs are simply presented as another form of body language. All races and ages of children and adults are represented, including a Downs Syndrome child. It does make one want to learn more about signing and its uses.
KIDS FIRST!® Kid Jurors say - Kids paid attention to the rhyming and watched the people in the video making the signs. They were prompted to say the words they knew. Most of the children loved the video and called out various names of things they saw. They moved along to the music, clapping hands and swaying. They responded to their teacher as she reinforced the images and sounds onscreen. Most kids tried to sign along with the show. When the video shows the sign for "eat," the teacher called out "eat." in English and Spanish and replicated the actions onscreen. The children replicated as well. Pace is lively for a first time viewing. However, to master the signs one would have to watch each segment repeatedly and practice. The entire video can be viewed in one showing. However, in order to master each sign, the segments can be viewed separately. In addition, the alphabet can be viewed on its own. Excellent.
Runtime: 38 minutes
KIDS FIRST! Juror Recommended Age: 1-3
Suggested Retail Price: $ 19.95
Media: DVD ISBN # 9781933973008

This title is available for purchase from SIGNING SAFARI

DWIZZLE DEE - COLORS, SIZES, SONGS & IMAGINATION!
CINEMA WERX LLC
Series: INDEPENDENT SHORT, AGES 2-5
Description - Mrs. Ashley is ready to teach fundamentals like colors, sizes and more! Your child will go along with Lenny, Penny & Gifford on fun and stimulating adventures!
KIDS FIRST!® Adult Jurors say - Fun to watch. The place is appropriate for younger ones; slow enough that they can easily catch on and participate. It shows the viewer what it is like to be inside a classroom then goes into a classroom lesson. The lesson about colors and flowers has good stick ability including the game to find and match the colors to the flowers. The teacher's interactions with her students is exemplary. There is a point when the teacher shows the children how to be respectful of one another after one of the students tells the other that he is doing something wrong. Production quality is good, with fun songs included. The design of the sets has bright colors that are suitable for its audience.
KIDS FIRST!® Kid Jurors say - Enjoyed it. "It is pretty fun. I like the flowers." "They treated each other nicely because they are happy." "I think my friends would like it like I do." " I think I want to learn about sunflowers." 2-year-olds pointed to the screen and wanted to eat the apple onscreen. They shouted out words along with the show and moved along to the songs. "I liked the blue flower the best."
Runtime: 30 minutes
KIDS FIRST! Juror Recommended Age: 1-3
Suggested Retail Price: $ 14.95
Media: DVD

BILLY BLUE HAIR: WHY ARE FIRE TRUCKS RED?
KAYO MEDIA
Series: INDEPENDENT SHORT, AGES 2-5
Description - Billy Blue Hair has lost his dog Doogie. As animated Billy searches for Doogie within the live action video, he becomes your guide and educator as you learn fun and quirky facts about fire fighters, fire engines and how to battle a fire.
KIDS FIRST!® Adult Jurors say - For children interested in learning more about fire trucks and firefighters, this is perfect. You learn all kinds of facts about fire truck and how firemen respond to emergency situations. It is probably too detailed to appeal to the average preschooler, unless they are very interested in the topic. The content is extremely accurate. It is about people who put their lives on the line to help others in need showing men and women from various backgrounds working as firefighters. It uses an animated character which is appropriate for this age range and never talks down to kids. It explains the way firefighters work using verbiage that young children can easily understand, even expanding their vocabulary a bit as it explains aobut ladder trucks and aerial ladders. Very clear images and narration.
KIDS FIRST!® Kid Jurors say - Kids liked this. "I liked it because there are two drivers and the one in the back is COOL!" "I liked it because it shows lots of fire engines, cars and fire stations." The most animated watcher was the youngest - a two-year-old who pointed and made excited noises. It is a bit long and works best when viewed in segments. Since its all facts, not many kids could watch it all the way through in one sitting. One seven-year-old said, "I've been to the fire station about 100 times. This is all stuff I already know." An eight-year-old said, " I saw a couple of things I didn't know before."
Runtime: 30 minutes
KIDS FIRST! Juror Recommended Age: 2-5
Suggested Retail Price: $ 14.95
Media: DVD

ROCK N' LEARN: EARTH SCIENCE
ROCK 'N LEARN, INC
Series: INDEPENDENT FEATURE, AGES 8-12
Description - Marko the Pencil take learners to his Super Science Station to learn about the Solar System, weather, water cycle, geology, volcanoes, plate tectonics, weathering, alternative energy and more. Meets National Science Education Standards.
KIDS FIRST!® Adult Jurors say - This animated science series tackles a wide range of topics and does a pretty good job of explaining them. Useful for science studies by home schoolers as well as classroom supplement. It moves very quickly and doesn't explore every topic thoroughly which is why we recommend it as a supplement rather than a core learning video. One adult jurors said, "I believe this is one of the best educational tools I have seen. All teachers, or at least science teachers, need this DVD. They could spend more time on projects and not have to worry about making the tests."
KIDS FIRST!® Kid Jurors say - Mixed reviews. "Some parts were good, other parts I wasn't interested in. Overall, it was good for leaning about science." "Don't think I'd watch it again unless I was studying for a test." "It helped to see the illustrations of things like the Mohs scale, planets and other things." "I need to learn more about a lot of things such as space and volcanoes." "I'd watch it again." "It was not too appealing but was really engaging and helps you to learn about science."
Runtime: 61 minutes
KIDS FIRST! Juror Recommended Age: 8-12
Suggested Retail Price: $ 19.99
Media: DVD ISBN # 978-1-934312-05-6

ROCK 'N LEARN: LIFE SCIENCE
ROCK 'N LEARN, INC
Series: INDEPENDENT FEATURE, AGES 8-12
Description - Marko the Pencil and his friends take learners to his Super Science Station to learn about photosynthesis, plant parts, butterfly lifecycle, plant and animal cells, food chains, food webs and more! Meets National Science Education Standards.
KIDS FIRST!® Adult Jurors say - This animated science video offers a wide range of information in one show. At the beginning, the information and terms are introduced so quickly that it's difficult to grasp them all. As the show progresses, the hosts repeat key points, diagrams are used and the pace of the teaching becomes a bit more balanced with the wealth of information. The animation is two dimensional. One problem is that the visuals are more suited for younger viewers yet the content is more suitable for older ones. It is a good resource for home schoolers or as adjunct materials for science lessons.
KIDS FIRST!® Kid Jurors say - Kids enjoyed this. "Pretty good because the focus was on topics that interest me." They had mixed reactions to the animated characters. "I didn't care for the characters that much. Kevin was okay." "Mostly, the characters made me laugh." "The characters were sort of distracting." "They added majorly to make the information more interesting." They did enjoy the music, especially the Rubbert Plant song. And, they liked learning about eco-systems, life cycles and the differences between animal and plant cells. Overall, some would watch it again, some liked parts of it, and everyone found something they liked.
Runtime: 59 minutes
KIDS FIRST! Juror Recommended Age: 8-12
Suggested Retail Price: $ 19.99
Media: DVD ISBN # 978-1-934312-06-3

ROCK 'N LEARN: PHYSICAL SCIENCE
ROCK 'N LEARN, INC
Series: INDEPENDENT FEATURE, AGES 8-12
Description - Marko the Pencil takes learners on a journey to his Super Science Station where it's easy to grasp science concepts. Includes lab safety, scientific method, molecules, electricity, energy and more. Meets National Science Education Standards.
KIDS FIRST!® Adult Jurors say - An animated instructional video that introduces basic concepts about physical science. It covers a wide range of ideas on a very elementary level and makes use of good illustrations and music to keep it entertaining. Since it meets the National Science Standards, it could be useful for home schooling or for classroom use. It's weakest point is that it tries to cover a lot of territory without really bringing the lesson home in terms of practical applications.
KIDS FIRST!® Kid Jurors say - Loved it. "Cool. Great music. Fun." Kids said they would watch it again. They liked it and found it fun and interesting. "It is about science and a boy who was having trouble with it." "It's cool how they make the characters move." "It moves around to different places so they don't watch the same thing all the time." "I learned how science can be fun." "The pencil is the funniest character."
Runtime: 55 minutes
KIDS FIRST! Juror Recommended Age: 8-12
Suggested Retail Price: $ 19.99
Media: DVD ISBN # 978-1-934312-04-9

ROCK 'N LEARN: DIVISION RAP
ROCK 'N LEARN, INC
Series: INDEPENDENT SHORT, AGES 8-12
Description - Positive lyrics, cool music, and high-energy action generate excitement as students learn to solve division fact. Kids discover what division is all about, solve story problems, use remainders, and even work long division problems.
KIDS FIRST!® Adult Jurors say - Interesting concept. This video could be used to help children who have a hard time conceptualizing the math problems in a book. The signs reinforce the first half of the video. It's a big long. Would work best in segments. It offers good explanations of math concepts. Doesn't talk down to the kids.
KIDS FIRST!® Kid Jurors say - Mixed reactions. "The songs were funny but slow." "If I had a problem with math, I might watch it again. I don't and I won't." "It could help kids understand division." They explain division and then do different division problems." "The characters are all animated. They were nice to each other." "The music was okay." "It didn't show me anything new, just helped explain math in a different way." Overall, most kids enjoyed the songs. The beginning of the show actually made them sit down and pay attention because the concepts are presented differently from how they learned math in school. Might help kids who are having difficulties in math.
Runtime: 55 minutes
KIDS FIRST! Juror Recommended Age: 5-12
Suggested Retail Price: $ 19.99
Media: DVD ISBN # 978-1-878489-80-7

SPANISH FOR BEGINNERS: ADENTRO Y AFUERO (INSIDE AND OUT)
WHISTLEFRITZ LLC
Series: INDEPENDENT SHORT, AGES 2-5
Description - Teacher Maria and the Whistlefritz kids search for Fritzi, inside and outside.
KIDS FIRST!® Adult Jurors say - Lovely immersion video which gets right to it, without a lot of explanation. It flows nicely, the cast is engaging and it is definitely appropriate for the age group. There are sections where objects are introduced with their Spanish names and then there are fun songs to help break it up and move things along. It deals with concepts and words that the kids are already familiar with so it's introducing vocabulary that makes sense. The mouse animations are cute. You should know that there is no English so young viewers might have a difficult time understanding what is going on.
KIDS FIRST!® Kid Jurors say - Liked it. "I really liked the counting part." "My friends would like this because they would like the songs." "I danced along to it." "I think it was really beautiful." ="I liked when they were counting." (This really stuck out to one four-year-old who has been learning to count in Latin and saw a direct connection.) The 2's asked for "more" after each song. All the kids paid attention, especially to the parachute sequence.
Runtime: 30 minutes
KIDS FIRST! Juror Recommended Age: 2-5
Suggested Retail Price: $ 19.99
Media: DVD

ROCK 'N LEARN: MULTIPLICATION RAP
ROCK 'N LEARN, INC
Series: INDEPENDENT SHORT, AGES 8-12
Description - Each set of facts through twelve has its own cool video song. Memorization becomes a game when answers are delayed the second time facts are presented. Includes bonus section of "What is Multiplication" and skip counting.
KIDS FIRST!® Adult Jurors say - Watching this DVD may help some kids learn their multiplication tables. Unfortunately, it relies heavily on memorization and flash card techniques, which are not the preferred way to teach subjects according to current educational research. However, if you skip the rap section, which comes up automatically when you play the DVD, there is a section on "What is Multiplication" where Marko the Pen guides children through a general description of how multiplication works and some easy tips for multiplying certain numbers. Adult jurors recommend that you skip to this section if your child is struggling with multiplication, and only use the rap section as an addendum for kids who enjoy memorizing.
KIDS FIRST!® Kid Jurors say - Most of the kids found the material boring and repetitious. A few thought the characters looked like gangsters. Some children rapped along with the video. Kids said they might want to watch it again if they were having trouble with multiplication.
Runtime: 39 minutes
KIDS FIRST! Juror Recommended Age: 7-9
Suggested Retail Price: $ 19.99
Media: DVD ISBN # 978-1-878489-21-0

DESIGN SQUAD SEASON 2
WGBH EDUCATIONAL FOUNDATION Click to purchase directly from the producer
Series: TV SERIES, AGES 8-12
Description - A reality competition series to inspire a new generation of engineers, as eight high-schoolers contend with a wild array of engineering challenges for real-life clients. Episodes include: "Gravity Bikes" - the Design Squad teams build high-speed gravity bikes; "Water Dancing" - dancer and performance artist Lisa Bufano, a bilateral leg and finger amputee, challenges the teams to build specialized prostheses for an underwater performance; "Cardboard Furniture" - the Design Squad teams create innovative, yet practical, cardboard furniture for the home goods superstore, IKEA.
KIDS FIRST!® Adult Jurors say - Reality shows have appeal but this is particularly engaging as kids are split into teams to solve problems, build their ideas using sophisticated engineering principles and power tools, and then compete with one another. The teams are well mixed, boys and girls, different ethnic groups and skill levels. Kids watching this series should feel inspired and confident to try new ideas. Some of the challenges are quite remarkable. For example, In Water Dancing, the teams must make water prosthesis for a woman with no legs and limited hands. The task is not only to make her swim better, but to be innovative in the design. Technical aspects of the program are very good with clear audio and video and lots of interesting camera shots. With each episode, the teams are given pretty sophisticated challenges. They must solve them as a team which has the added challenge of working together.
KIDS FIRST!® Kid Jurors say - Loved it! "Those bikes were so cool. I could see myself riding one." "I would definitely watch this series if I can find it." "My friends would love it because its so cool that they made their own bikes and got to race it." "The two teams had a challenge to make the fastest gravity bike. I liked watching the two teams compete." "We want to ride gravity bikes." "Everyone was nice to the other kids and they were also safe." "I would have liked to have seen more of the race." "We liked the riding suit." "We never imagined that a kid could make a bike." "Absolutely loved it and would watch it again. Wish this was on TV on a Saturday when we could watch it."
Runtime: 120 minutes
KIDS FIRST! Juror Recommended Age: 8-12
Suggested Retail Price: $ 0
Media: DVD

This title is available for purchase from WGBH EDUCATIONAL FOUNDATION

SECRET ANGEL
JUST 4 GIRLS ENTERTAINMENT, LLC
Series: INDEPENDENT SHORT, AGES 12-18
Description - A motivational anti-bullying film. A popular 13-year-old's life-changing journey from "follower and bullying bystander" to "empowered secret leader."
KIDS FIRST!® Adult Jurors say - Very well done. Good topic. Bullying is a real problem including the name calling and "your mama" stuff that goes on in schools. This helps illustrated how to address this problem and emphasizes that you don't need to give in to peer pressure. Very timely and accurate. Sometimes students don't realize how bad their behavior is until they are exposed. This is a much needed tool for schools. It is very well done. This is suitable for 12-18 year olds because this group has a difficult time balancing the pressure from their peers, what they have been taught at home, and the way they perceive the person they hope to become. The heroine, India, is just beginning to question the actions of her group against what she feels is right. She makes several choices, like lying, that are not ideal. But, she seems to be on the right track. She is encouraged that her actions helped Rayna and her last statement, "I'm Secret Angel, the original," hints that she feels a stronger sense of self that may aid her in her future decisions.
KIDS FIRST!® Kid Jurors say - Kids definitely could relate to this. "I have seen things like this happen. I know someone like the bully Tasha." "Tasha was a big bully and there are several girls like her at my school. I have been like India where I have been put in situations where I had to make a decision what group to go with." "I liked the rapping and the way the DVD started. The music was loud but got your attention." "I have gone along with groups when I didn't really want to. I need to stand up for myself and my friends and do what is right."
Runtime: 20 minutes
KIDS FIRST! Juror Recommended Age: 12-18
Suggested Retail Price: $ 0
Media: DVD

This title is in the KIDS FIRST! Film Festival - it may not be a regular, endorsed title

GLOBAL WONDERS AFRICAN-AMERICAN
GLOBAL WONDERS
Series: INDEPENDENT SHORT, AGES 2-5
Description - Embarking on an exciting treasure hunt using the power of imagination, the playroom is transformed into a world of dreams and discoveries highlighting the fascinating and influential culture of the African-American family.
KIDS FIRST!® Adult Jurors say - The live action pieces, where we see actual people-le doing things, are the best and the most engaging. The animated sequences are a bit two dimensional. It moves from section to section smoothly though the storytelling is a bit weak. Still , it gives a broad introduction to a culture. For preschoolers, it might attempt to take on too much, such as explaining the hardships that Martin Luther King Junior endured. The audience for this type of content is older.
KIDS FIRST!® Kid Jurors say - Enjoyed it. "It was nice." "People treated each other nicely. They shared paints and crayons." "It made me smile." "I want to know more aobut the game they played and the drums." The younger ones really enjoyed the live action section in Africa with the animals and pointed at the screen and asked for more. They were more engaged during the live action sections and pretty much tuned out the animated sections. The four-year-olds giggled during the talk about the blues.
Runtime: 38 minutes
KIDS FIRST! Juror Recommended Age: 4-6
Suggested Retail Price: $ 0
Media: DVD

GLOBAL WONDERS AROUND THE WORLD
GLOBAL WONDERS
Series: INDEPENDENT SHORT, AGES 2-5
Description - Join in on a fun day at the park and discover cultural wonders from around the world. Build a Blarney Castle, sing happy birthday in Spanish and taste Japanese karaage. When Lorenzo's soccer ball is missing, team up on a ball hunt to save the day.
KIDS FIRST!® Adult Jurors say - Nice mix of animation and live action. It presents a variety of places and cultures that are fun to share with children. Good length of segments, enough action to maintain interest. The live action segments give nice exposure to real people from the various cultures. It is very respectful of children's thinking and language skills. It does a lot to stimulate language by introducing words from many languages and the content stimulates conversation.
KIDS FIRST!® Kid Jurors say - Liked it for the most part. Kids tended to stop watching during the live action segments. Stimulated discussion about family birthdays and places everyone had been or would like to go after seeing it on the video. "Yes, we talked about birthdays." "I liked that girl and the soccer playing." Kids asked to watch it two more times after their initial viewing. They talked about many things they saw such as why the girl needed to take the special ball from the dog to give it back to its owner. The oldest child thought that people wanting to kiss a rock that lived in a castle (Blarney Stone) was funny. One boy, who is not very verbal, perked up when he heard "Shalom" in the video because it is a word he hears at Temple and at home. Overall, very good and appreciated by the children.
Runtime: 31 minutes
KIDS FIRST! Juror Recommended Age: 2-6
Suggested Retail Price: $ 0
Media: DVD

GLOBAL WONDERS INDIA
GLOBAL WONDERS
Series: INDEPENDENT SHORT, AGES 2-5
Description - Danny and Marisa visit Raj and Asha for a play date where they are introduced to Indian customs like removing their shoes before entering the home, naan flatbread, and Diwali, the festival of lights. Join the safari search for Asha's lost stuffed tiger and discover more cultural wonders along the way.
KIDS FIRST!® Adult Jurors say - Nice interaction between the characters. The way the video is broken into segments make it great for classroom use or to pause for discussion. The repetition of the foreign words is good too. It describes the culture of India in a way that children can understand. By using themes that all children can relate to such as holidays, spots, clothing and food, it shares a lot of new information in an understandable way. All the characters are polite and enjoy spending time together. The older children help the younger one find her toy. The mix of animation with actual video footage from India is nice. The pace holds your interest.
KIDS FIRST!® Kid Jurors say - Very entertaining as well as educational about the culture in India. "I liked learning about the Taj Mahal." "The kids enjoyed repeating the words at the end of each segment." "My friends would like to learn how to play cricket and carrom." The kids asked to learn more about the Taj Mahal, dwali and other holidays. "I'd watch it again."
Runtime: 33 minutes
KIDS FIRST! Juror Recommended Age: 2-5
Suggested Retail Price: $ 0
Media: DVD

GLOBAL WONDERS MEXICO
GLOBAL WONDERS
Series: INDEPENDENT SHORT, AGES 2-5
Description - Trey and Brianna visit Marisa's home which is buzzing with activity as her family prepares for a Quincea�era celebration for her sister Anna.
KIDS FIRST!® Adult Jurors say - Very enjoyable. The historical information about Mesoamerica is very interesting though definitely more suited to 5-8 year olds than pre-schoolers like the company suggests. The "language jam" reinforcement is engaging. Some of the live action stills and action shots seem to be promotion in nature rather than educational. Also, the transitions between animation and live action lack fluidity. Overall, it is informative about many aspects of the Mexican culture and shows a plethora of cross culture interaction in a positive way. As far as respect goes, there was a bit of a nasty undertone in the way the kids made fun of one another. On two occasions, one of the characters made fun of another for falling down. We felt this wasn't negative enough to disqualify it, but something to be aware of and so unnecessary.
KIDS FIRST!® Kid Jurors say - Kids enjoyed the sports and the animations. "I liked the girls' dresses for the Mexican party." It didn't hold the attention of all the kids. At 20 minutes, it's a big long for this type of film and age group. They did notice how the kids laughed at the boy when he fell. They particularly enjoyed the music. "My friend would like all the fun music because she likes to dance." None of the kids participated in the vocabulary repetitions. The worlds were a bit advanced for them.
Runtime: 33 minutes
KIDS FIRST! Juror Recommended Age: 5-8
Suggested Retail Price: $ 0
Media: DVD

BOOKBOX STORIES FROM AROUND THE WORLD
MASTER COMMUNICATIONS Click to purchase directly from the producer
Series: INDEPENDENT SHORT, AGES 5-12
Description - Gold Award, KIDS FIRST! Best 2009. Conceived by child literacy expert Dr. Brij Kothari and his team, at Stanford University, BookBox Stories entertain children and improve their reading skills at the same time. Using scientifically tested SLS (same language subtitling), children will improve their listening comprehension, reading skills and foreign language skills by watching these fascinating 'Stories from Around the World' that bring cultural and educational values to children. BookBox uses Same Language Subtitling (SLS) synchronizing the text, audio and visual components of a story shown on screen or 'reading Karaoke style.' SLS is the simple idea of subtitling music videos, film, television and DVDs in the same language as the audio. Word for word, what is heard is what will be read on screen. BookBox Stories from Around the World is a compilation of five short animated films which has been proven to aid early readers in developing their reading skills. Stories included are:: The First Well - A magical tale from a kingdom far, far away about how the very first well was created. The Boo in the Shoe - Meet playful Boo creatures who hide under beds at night and come out to play during the day. The Whispering Palms - A charming tale about Mori, who lives with her parents in a coconut grove and helps her father who goes fishing every morning. A random dream changes their lives forever and they decide to live in harmony with nature and find alternative methods of earning their living. The Little Pianist - Azul loves to play the piano and practices regularly. His piano teacher confuses him one day when she asks him to play from his heart for the upcoming recital. How can you play piano with your heart and not your fingers? Azul nervously begins to play at the recital and magically his fingers move by themselves, thus finding the true meaning of playing from the heart. Elephant Goes to the City - Rosa, a baby elephant is terribly unhappy as she lives all alone in her cage at the zoo. A chance escape gives her the freedom to explore the city and raise a bit of havoc! When the zoo keeper finds her, he realizes she would be best living with other elephants in the freedom of a forest reserve. Stories From Around the World is available in English only, English/Spanish, English/French, English/German, English/Italian, English/Mandarin Chinese, English/Hindi, English/Gujarati, English/Russian and English/Portuguese.
KIDS FIRST!® Adult Jurors say - Unique and moving. The stories have nice messages and are simple and well-told. Kids can enjoy them just as they would a short bedtime book. These are re-enactments of stories from other countries. They are done in a literary style, showing pictures like drawings in a book. They are easy to follow and bring us closer to understanding people from other places in the world by sharing their lessons with us. For example, the elephant story helps children see why animals don't like to live in cages and how to treat the ones we love well. The well story tells about optimism and hope. They are suitable for a wide range of children though the younger ones won't be able to read along and the older ones might not like the slow pace. They are respectful of animals and other people. The king treats his warriors well; the zookeeper treats his animals well.
KIDS FIRST!® Kid Jurors say - Enjoyed them a lot. "I liked the characters because they are very funny." Kids stayed engaged while watching the stories and, since they were unfamiliar with the stories, were curious to find out what happened at the ending. "It was funny how they planted a piece of ice and thought it was a water seed and funny when they dug a hole to look for it and woke up the next morning to find a well full of water. It was also funny when the elephant ate all the ice cream and kicked the coconut." "My friends would like the elephant." "It made me think about what the elephant would do when she gets out of her cage." All the kids liked the elephant story best.
Runtime: 26 minutes
KIDS FIRST! Juror Recommended Age: 5-12
Suggested Retail Price: $ 24.95
Media: DVD

This title is available for purchase from MASTER COMMUNICATIONS

IT'S FUN TO BE NICE
KIDADDLES
Series: INDEPENDENT SHORT, AGES 2-5
Description - Promotes social and inter-personal skills, targeting some of the toughest behavioral problems parents are faced with. Each video is personalized with your child's photos.
KIDS FIRST!® Adult Jurors say - Short, attractive bright images, good lesson about being nice to everyone. This is set up as if it is a slide show with a narrator saying things such as "my parents will be proud of me" if the children are nice to everyone. Biggest problem with this DVD was that we had problems playing it on every machine in our office. It froze up, the audio track was uneven.
KIDS FIRST!® Kid Jurors say - Kids liked the pictures of the animals being nice to each other and those of all the pretty plants. "It teaches us to be nice and how to treat other people." "It made me think about being nice and how I want other people to be nice to me." The kids enjoyed the animals in the video.
Runtime: 11 minutes
KIDS FIRST! Juror Recommended Age: 2-5
Suggested Retail Price: $ 0
Media: DVD

IT'S MONKEY TIME! - MEET THE MONKEYS
WILLMOSS FILMS
Series: INDEPENDENT SHORT, AGES 2-5
Description - Welcome to the Happyland Zoo, where Sue and her seven colorful monkeys live, learn and play. Each day at the zoo is a magical adventure of music, laughs and discovery of how we can grow together and learn from one another. Introduces letters, numbers, shapes and colors, and stresses responsibility and other important character traits.
KIDS FIRST!® Adult Jurors say - Fun way for kids to learn some ideas such as dental hygiene and passing along what they have learned. Brightly colored 2D animation with silly characters that will appeal to the kids. Flows well and contains subjects appropriate to preschoolers. Models good social interactions, manners and teamwork. Promotes health life style - encouraging kids to want to brush their teeth and move along to the music. It is easy to understand with vocabulary appropriate for preschoolers.
KIDS FIRST!® Kid Jurors say - Pretty enthusiastic response from the kids. They particularly enjoyed the knock knock jokes. "I thought it was funny." "I liked the funny jokes." The monkeys were a big hit - they talked about how cute they right after the screening. "The monkeys were silly. They were all nice." They sang along with the songs. The dental hygiene message seemed to have been absorbed. "What is that ugly monster in the teeth?" Everyone loved the catchy music.
Runtime: 51 minutes
KIDS FIRST! Juror Recommended Age: 2-5
Suggested Retail Price: $ 11.98
Media: DVD ISBN # 978-60673-000-3

YOGA WITH YOUR BABY
YOGA WITH LOVE AND SPECIALTY STUDIOS
Series: INDEPENDENT FEATURE, AGES 0-2
Description - Playful, easy poses for the whole family. Helps parents consciously connect with their baby/toddler. Cultivate mindfulness and compassion while interacting with children through yoga and music.
KIDS FIRST!® Adult Jurors say - Good advice for a mom who wishes to practice yoga with her infant or toddler as part of the practice. The child benefits from the bonding experience of being held while Mom exercises. Mom benefits by tuning into her body in a new way. Well paced, this is definitely designed for a very specific audience. The music is very soothing, as is the host's voice. If you are looking for something to bring some peace into your life as a new Mom, go no further - this is it! Very sweet.
Runtime: 100 minutes
KIDS FIRST! Juror Recommended Age: Adult-Adult
Suggested Retail Price: $ 19.95
Media: DVD

JOURNEYS TO THE EAST - THE RIVER DRAGON KING

JOURNEYS TO THE EAST - THE RIVER DRAGON KING
MANDARIN ADVANTAGE
Series: INDEPENDENT SHORT, AGES 5-8
Description - Learn Chinese by going on an exciting adventure through ancient China. Children will learn more than fifty vocabulary words and sentences as they follow Jason and Jenny in their quest to help The River Dragon King.
KIDS FIRST!® Adult Jurors say - Teaches Chinese words and phrases while it tells a light and enjoyable story. The animation is simple but effective and consistent throughout the movie. The simplicity allows the viewer to focus on the language rather than being swept away by fantastic animation. It is age appropriate and the language learning is slow and consistent enough for actual learning. Social interactions are very respectful. The story is simple and is told as though it is a Chinese fable. Very respectful of kids' ability and propensity to learn new languages. It repeats the words enough so that kids can mimic them and become part of the story. Good quality production, though very simple. Good starter to learning Asian languages. The words are simple and repeated a number of times. The viewer is encouraged to learn the words and repeat them through the movie.
KIDS FIRST!® Kid Jurors say - The kids had trouble understanding a lot of the Chinese words. The characters are endearing and fun and their adventure is fun but the sound quality was not always up to par as it was difficult to hear the pronunciations. It is fun for kids to learn some basic words in a different language. Kids wanted to learn more.
Runtime: 40 minutes
KIDS FIRST! Juror Recommended Age: 4-7
Suggested Retail Price: $ 12.95
Media: DVD

CHARACTER CHRONICLES: THE RESPECT CONNECTION
LIVE WIRE MEDIA Click to purchase directly from the producer
Series: INDEPENDENT SHORT, AGES 8-12
Description - Benjy, a 14-year old boy, is presenting his classroom video blog on respect. Through a combination of skits, group discussions, commentaries, and a short documentary, Benjy's blog reveals how young people think about and practice respect for others.
KIDS FIRST!® Adult Jurors say - Very enjoyable. Seeing how involved the young people are is compelling. They share their views on respect in a variety of ways. The format is engaging as it switches formats, using skits, discussions, and other examples. Students can easily see what it means to show disrespect. The production is wonderfully assembled with excellent video and audio quality. Many children are not being taught good values today. Respect is such a basic quality that children need to learn and would eliminate a lot of problems in the world that emerge from lack of it. What is great about this short film is how the children talk about this subject and give their views.
KIDS FIRST!® Kid Jurors say - Liked it. "It makes us aware of how bad it is to disrespect someone." "Although it is not entertaining, it helps us improve ourselves and the different activities are fun." "It points out how bad it is to participate in disrespectful behavior and how hurtful it is." "It made us think about always being respectful to ourselves, to others and to the Earth. "It takes a difficult issue and makes it interesting."
Runtime: 25 minutes
KIDS FIRST! Juror Recommended Age: -
Suggested Retail Price: $ 69.95
Media: DVD ISBN # 1-57348-033-9

This title is available for purchase from LIVE WIRE MEDIA

CHARACTER CHRONICLES: THE TRUST CONNECTION
LIVE WIRE MEDIA Click to purchase directly from the producer
Series: INDEPENDENT SHORT, AGES 8-12
Description - Blogger Judy presents trust through a video vignette, teen discussions and a skit about lying to fit in. This combination of elements is bound to provoke moving discussions about honesty and trustworthiness.
KIDS FIRST!® Adult Jurors say - Great video that shares kids' perspectives on trusting each other. Offers wonderful interviews with children about why you can and can't trust others. Excellent examples to illustrate the points. The style of the interviews is excellent for kids because they get the information in many ways. Kids need to know why they are and aren't trusted. The kids in the video do a good job of making it pertinent to many age groups.
KIDS FIRST!® Kid Jurors say - Enjoyed it. The students liked the scenario about trusting drivers when you cross the street. They thought that was a good example because we all trust those people, but usually don't them at all. The group discussion didn't hold their interest. They said that it seemed as if the same people got to talk all of the time and others didn't participate.
Runtime: 25 minutes
KIDS FIRST! Juror Recommended Age: 8-12
Suggested Retail Price: $ 69.95
Media: DVD ISBN # 1-57348-032-0

This title is available for purchase from LIVE WIRE MEDIA

CHARACTER CHRONICLES: THE RESPONSIBILITY CONNECTION
LIVE WIRE MEDIA Click to purchase directly from the producer
Series: INDEPENDENT SHORT, AGES 8-12
Description - Responsibility, one of the six pillars of character, is presented by our video blogger in a dynamic combination of teen discussion and two moving documentaries that truly show responsibility in action.
KIDS FIRST!® Adult Jurors say - Nicely done. Particularly impressive is the Win Team and their efforts to rid their area of e-waste. The program addresses the issue of irresponsibility by contrasting responsible and irresponsible children and the outcome of their choices. The story moves from everyday responsibilities of teenagers towards their parents and each other to their responsibilities as a resident of this planet. Children depicted seem to be in high school and their discussions are appropriate to the 12-18 year old group. The e-waste portion of the program stands out and would be an inspiration to any age child. The children demonstrate consideration and empathy for one another. The irresponsible choices were looked upon as negative and the kids who chose to be more responsible were held up as a positive example. The first child choosing to be responsible, Veronica, gives concrete examples about how she re-ordered her life which gives the viewer practical applications for their own situations. The discussion group shows how it is sometimes difficult to do the "right" or responsible thing but their experiences relate the negative consequences of choosing to be irresponsible.
KIDS FIRST!® Kid Jurors say - Kids enjoyed this to some degree. "Pretty good. The kids' comments are funny." "At times it's annoying." "Liked it a lot. It was like a really good Hanna Montana episode." "I enjoyed the part about recycling computers." "Irresponsible people became responsible - I liked that." Kids talked afterwards about responsibility and how they failed at it and wanted to do better. "I liked the Win Team's I AM ON A MISSION t-shirts. It added to the idea that they were serious about their cause." "The idea of being responsible is a good thing to learn and some parts were really funny."
Runtime: 25 minutes
KIDS FIRST! Juror Recommended Age: 8-18
Suggested Retail Price: $ 69.95
Media: DVD ISBN # 1-57348-034-7

This title is available for purchase from LIVE WIRE MEDIA

CHARACTER CHRONICLES: THE CARING CONNECTION
LIVE WIRE MEDIA Click to purchase directly from the producer
Series: INDEPENDENT SHORT, AGES 8-12
Description - Indian blogger, Shiv, shows inspiring stories and teen discussions to demonstrate that caring is about doing, not simply feeling. He encourages other kids to become caring people by doing caring things.
KIDS FIRST!® Adult Jurors say - The Character Chronicles is an ideal film that KIDS FIRST! stands behind because it dispels rumors about youth being selfish and lazy and it shows a sense of equality towards the gap between child versus adult. Particularly enjoyable is the youthful approach in this informative video. The topics discussed are simple themes such as the importance of caring, however the kids' passion towards the subjects and examples they talked about held a certain depth and power. The example at the beginning in which the boy rushes off to meet his friends and ignores his little brother is a good example that hooks the viewer. It's something we've all been guilty of. However, the boy handles the situation and fixes his mistake in a way that sends the message that even though we're all imperfect, we still have the chance to fix our mistakes through caring and kindness. Excellent editing and use of effects. The pacing is fast with plenty of attention to details and cutaways, which make it a wholly interesting piece. Highly suitable for children because the content is about children taking a stand to better society. It puts children in a position of positive power and expels negative stereotypes. As an educational video, the compositions and b-roll are highly beneficial to the production quality. Again, the editing was really good and no shot was too long or too little. The picture quality, audio, and overall design of the video are clear, engaging , and interesting. This video gives children hope that they can make good things come out of bad situations. The little boy who lost his leg could've chosen to be angry and depressed because of the misfortune, however instead he chose to accept his loss, work a little harder, and start living his life again and helping other kids do the same.
KIDS FIRST!® Kid Jurors say - It is good because it shows how we can care about others. "Nick and Kassandra showed what they did to help other people and that we should show people we care by helping them." "It made me think about what I can do to help other people or to show them that I care." "It was motivating to see Nick with his handicap and how he didn't give up but started helping others. Also, Kassandra was very smart to come up with the idea to help foster children. It was interesting and held out attention."
Runtime: 25 minutes
KIDS FIRST! Juror Recommended Age: 8-12
Suggested Retail Price: $ 69.95
Media: DVD ISBN # 1-57348-036-3

This title is available for purchase from LIVE WIRE MEDIA

CHARACTER CHRONICLES: THE CITIZENSHIP CONNECTION
LIVE WIRE MEDIA Click to purchase directly from the producer
Series: INDEPENDENT SHORT, AGES 8-12
Description - African American blogger, Malik, shows citizenship in action through a combination of teen discussions and documentaries. This program is designed to show other young teens that they have the power to make a difference in their communities.
KIDS FIRST!® Adult Jurors say - This is a positive episode demonstrating that even though kids under 18 are barred from doing normal things a good citizen do, such as vote, they can do their own part to help their communities - feeding the elderly, testing toys for lead, etc. The film is not just educational but an inspiration to kids to educate them in how they can help others. The fact that the film does not just preach about HOW to be a good citizen but shows kids who are actually DOING community service is inspirational. Well structured, good production quality, positive message.
KIDS FIRST!® Kid Jurors say - It's inspiring because kids are talking for themselves about the projects they are doing and the choices they have made, on their own, not because their parents told them to do it. It's very likely that kids who watch this will be motivated to do something in their own community. "I was impressed to see the control the teens took over their lives to help others when they could have been playing video games or doing something less challenging. "
Runtime: 25 minutes
KIDS FIRST! Juror Recommended Age: 8-12
Suggested Retail Price: $ 69.95
Media: DVD ISBN # 1-57348-037-1

This title is available for purchase from LIVE WIRE MEDIA

I CAN BE A VETERINARIAN OR WORK WITH ANIMALS
DYNAMIC DIGITAL PICTURES, LLC
Series: INDEPENDENT SHORT, AGES 8-12
Description - This DVD tells you what you need to know to become a Veterinarian. You'll hear tips and advice from a working Veterinarian, students at a college of Veterinary Medicine and the dean of the college. You'll get to see what a typical day as a Veterinarian is like.
You'll find out about careers working as an animal keeper at the zoo and how to prepare for a career as a zoo keeper. Animal Keepers featured are, Koala, Giraffe, Zebra and Nubian Ibex and Orangutan.
You'll learn about careers in animal conservation as you get a close up view of the California Condor which is an endangered species. This program takes you to a government protected preserve where Fish and Wildlife Service Staff and Interns work to study and protect this incredible bird. Their diligent efforts have helped nurse the California Condor population from 22 to 275.
KIDS FIRST!® Adult Jurors say - Good introduction to help children start thinking about what they want to do when they grow up and how to get started. It moves a bit slowly and has a lot of talking heads. It highlights a particular career, veterinarians - and answers many questions about working with animals. Most kids love animals which adds to its appeal. It covers a broad area and suggests that they might start by volunteering - a good idea. The surgery for spaying was interesting but may not be appropriate for younger kids.
KIDS FIRST!® Kid Jurors say - Kids enjoyed it. "It made me start thinking about what we want to be when we grow up." "My friends would think it is interesting and educational." "It told me about what I had to do it I wanted to become a veterinary." "It takes you to different places where you might work with animals." It was a bit slow though. "I got tired of watching people talk."
Runtime: 29 minutes
KIDS FIRST! Juror Recommended Age: 8-12
Suggested Retail Price: $ 19.95
Media: DVD

MY MAGICAL WORLD
CLEARGATE PRODUCTIONS
Series: SERIES, AGES 2-5
Description - A place where fantasy and reality unite. A vibrant wonderland and a magical cast invite viewers to play along in educational adventures. Live action song and dance, mystery and magic.
KIDS FIRST!® Adult Jurors say - Colorful with good messages but the production is somewhat amateurish - enough for adults to notice but probably kids will overlook. Each selection offers a journey with a moral lesson at the end. The lessons are kid-appropriate - sharing, cleaning up, eating healthy�. The characters treat each other will and when they disagree, they find amicable solutions. The hosts are adults who act and dress like children and their singing is not particularly good. While not inappropriate, it is often difficult to hear the narration, the words are too small and too numerous to read, and the content does not flow well.
KIDS FIRST!® Kid Jurors say - Mixed responses. Some kids enjoyed part of it but others were less generous and wandered off. They did enjoy seeing the animals and wanted to see more. Seeing the animals made them talk about the zoo and their visits there. Overall, it didn't score high.
Runtime: 68 minutes
KIDS FIRST! Juror Recommended Age: 2-5
Suggested Retail Price: $ 14.99
Media: DVD

KIDS MAKING BETTER CHOICES
CONCRETE DREAM INC. Click to purchase directly from the producer
Series: INDEPENDENT SHORT, AGES 5-8
Description - Fun, funny, and magical tips designed to help kids make better eating and exercise choices and inspire them to become the best they can be. World Famous Magician - Steve Trash - illustrates these tips through magic tricks and slapstick humor.
KIDS FIRST!® Adult Jurors say - Cute and funny. Clearly an educational piece and most kids probably wouldn't want to watch it at home. It would make a good accompaniment to a school health or PE program. Maybe some school nutritionists would watch it as well. The magician host, Steve Trash, has a funny and engaging personality. This DVD uses a specific model for decision making. Steve gives kids two choices and asks which is the better one. It's repetitive in that way but it works. Steve does some tricks that kids shouldn't but it's pretty obvious for the intended age group. Many kids will relate to him because of his profession. The tips are clear and easy to follow and promote a balanced life. For instance, should you walk your dog for 1/2 hour and play 1/2 hour video or play a 1 hour video game. This keeps it real and realistic allowing kids to make better choices without giving up everything they like to do. The social interactions are really between Steve and the viewer. He invites interaction from the viewer throughout the show. Over all, it's cute, educational and promotes making healthy decision about food, exercise and lifestyle.
KIDS FIRST!® Kid Jurors say - Kids enjoyed it but were not overly enthusiastic. It's not the kind of show that they would watch over and over. They loved the magician because "he is funny and does crazy stuff." They got the message - better eating and exercise choices every day. They enjoyed the music. Many were still dancing to the music after it was over. Favorite part: "I learned to make better choices."
Runtime: 30 minutes
KIDS FIRST! Juror Recommended Age: 5-8
Suggested Retail Price: $ 10
Media: DVD

This title is available for purchase from CONCRETE DREAM INC.

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Education/Instructional Titles from KIDS FIRST!

The Education/Instructional category has 375 KIDS FIRST! endorsed titles Below are records 1 - 50 of them sorted alphabetically

The Education/Instructional category has 375 KIDS FIRST! endorsed titles
Below are records 1 - 50 of them
sorted alphabetically