Just in time for Easter, Scholastic has issued The Springtime Collection, a set of three children’s DVDs featuring bunnies, chicks, and various other animals for your children’s enjoyment. There are 12 stories in all.
The first DVD, Max’s Chocolate Chicken and More Stories from Rosemary Wells has a delightful story in which bunny Max and his sister hunt for Easter eggs in order to win a chocolate chicken. It is a bit strange for a springtime collection that there are also two other Max stories about Christmas on the DVD, and one of them is also presented in Spanish, but they are charming stories, and parents can just save them for the appropriate season. The DVD also includes “Max’s Disappearing Dog” and “Otto Runs for President,” plus two interesting interviews with Rosemary Wells.
The second DVD,. The Red Hen and Other Cooking Stories presents the beloved children’s story in a very charming fashion. The DVD also includes a documentary “Bread Comes to Life,” which is more appropriate for school-age children, a cute story called “How Do Dinosaurs Eat Their Food?” and another, “Arnie the Doughnut.” There is also a bonus recipe that even two-year-olds can help with for a delicious cake.
The third DVD is Chicken Little and Other Zany Animal Stories. “Chicken Little” is wonderfully illustrated and will charm and delight children as it has for years. The other stories on this DVD, “The Great White Man-Eating Shark,” “The Three-Legged Cat,” and “Dooby Dooby Moo” will have little ones laughing out loud. My young granddaughter especially enjoyed “Dooby Dooby Moo,” with its singing cow and other animals. For the parents, there is a feature on the illustrators.
As always, the stories are illustrated with a variety of interesting and innovative styles and told by celebrities such as Lily Tomlin and Randy Travis. There are interviews with the authors for the adults. You can always count on Scholastic for quality entertainment for your children, and this collection is no exception. It is highly recommended for ages 2 and up. The collection would also make an excellent Easter present for any family with children.