Go to: 2007, 2006, 2005

The Buzz - Archives 2004 & Earlier

All About Cowboys for Kids, Part I VHS/DVD (Video Librarian)
That's How We Build A House VHS/DVD (Parenting Magazine)
Ralph's World: Say Hello VHS/DVD (Parenting Magazine)
All By Myself: Taking Care of My Pet VHS/DVD (Parenting Magazine)
That's How We Build A House (Booklist)
Firefighter George & Fire Engines Volumes 1 & 2 (Dr. Toy...)
SafeKids 101 (School Library Journal)
Lucas Miller: The Anaconda La Bamba CD (School Library Journal)
That's How We Build A House VHS & DVD (Chicago Parent)
Be A Hula Girl VHS & DVD - (Parenting Magazine)
Mozart Nature Symphonies VHS - (School Library Journal)
Nature Babies VHS - (School Library Journal)
Be A Hula Girl VHS & DVD - (School Library Journal)
Kids Discover Dolphins VHS - (Video Librarian)
Dan Zanes & Friends: Family Dance CD - (New York Times)
inFINity CD - (Los Angeles Times)
Trout Fishing in America - (Washington Post)
Newton In A Bottle VHS & DVD - (Child Magazine)
Rock 'n Learn: Telling Time VHS & DVD - (Booklist)

An educational and entertaining look at the history and lore of American vaqueros, taped around Cheyenne, Wyoming's Frontier Days rodeo, All About Cowboys for Kids, Part I offers a hodgepodge of Western culture, including roping, stagecoaches, rodeo clowns, and bronc riding (a "cowboy has to stay on a bucking, twisting, highly annoyed horse -- and look good doing it -- for at least eight seconds"). "Rattlesnake Jake" educates young viewers about the old days, warranting a tip of the ten-gallon hat for the discussion on women in Wyoming history, and viewers meet a seven-year-old who is indeed a cow boy (though onscreen graphics warn "KIDS--DON'T TRY THESE TRICKS"--a reminder that regardless of the economy's condition, lawyers are always at work). In addition, the program also includes a good feature-within-the-feature about the importance of railroads in the settlement of the West, as well as some songs (though little buckaroos may be inclined to fast-forward through the music). Presenting quality information in a fun way at a modest price, this is highly recommended for most and a must-purchase for Wyoming libraries. [Note: All About Cowboys for Kids, Part II is also available...] click here for Part II

Tool-toting hosts on a construction site teach key terms while taking a project from blueprint to dream house. Call it Bob the Builder meets Trading Spaces.

Gr. 1-5. Congenial construction workers Gwen and Danny take young viewers through various stages of the home-building process. Beginning with site selection and continuing through architectural drawing, excavation, framing, wiring, plumbing and internal and external finishing, the program shows how a concept evolves into a home. Building terms are introduced and simply explained. Each step of the building process (sometimes in speeded-up footage is demonstrated; film clips include close-ups of tools and equipment and safety information. The editing is very professional, the program moves at a good pace, and Gwen and Danny are occasionally humorous without talking down to the intended audience. And informative choice for curious kids.

-Debra McLeod

These videos (two volumes) were developed by teachers and firefighters to provide children with a better understanding about fire safety with fire Marshall Jerry. The videos feature both women and men firefighters and invite the viewer to get involved in the action. The videos are sure to keep your young child's full attention. each piece of equipment is spelled out at the bottom of the screen and repetition and examples of live action shots reinforce each explanation. The videos have been divided into two twenty-minute lessons and feature lots of detail. A fire equipment board book is included in the slipcover for watch and read instruction. This product will help your child understand fire safety and its value in their lives. This is a fun new addition to your young one's video library!

-Stevanne Auerbach, PhD.

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Designed for use with student workbooks, this live-action video provides a great deal of information. Narrator Julia Hunt uses a lecture and questioning format to talk to parents and children about the responsibilities of being home alone and being safe at home and out in the neighborhood. A fireman and a nurse help with the segments on fire safety and first aid. Ethnically diverse children are shown as examples. Though the information relates to all economic classes, there is definitely a middle class orientation to the setting and approach. The video is organized into segments that include basic guidelines for staying home alone, first aid, fire safety, gun safety, severe weather and emergency preparedness, Internet safety, making good choices, safety in the community, abuse and abduction, teen safety, and dog emergencies. An additional segment describes how to do CPR, more first aid, and the Heimlich maneuver especially for the use of Scouts. This section provides guidelines only and additional specialized training is necessary. Audio and visual aspects are well done, but the conversational/lecture format may be difficult to follow without teacher or adult guidance. Useful for scout and youth groups, families, and schools to make youngsters aware of these safety issues at home and in the community.

-Ann Elders, Mark Twain Elementary School, Federal Way, WA

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The national debut of Lucas Miller, a wacky singer/songwriter who has already made his name as a children's performer throughout Texas, is a reason to celebrate. The nine songs on this joyous album feature environmental themes, with a focus on U.S. wildlife, and combine educational information, hysterical lyrics, and catchy tunes. The title song reworks Richie Vales' hit "La Bamba" into a wild, factual tune about the giant snake. Miller has a gift for cool satire that even older kids won't be able to scoff at; his "Livin' in the Wetland" rap (from the point of view of a reed, a clam, and an alligator) is dead-on, and the "Shrinkin' Habitat Blues" duplicates the feel of Elvis's classic "Heartbreak Hotel" to tell the sad tale of Houston frog. A strong ecological message pervades, with songs mentioning pollution, wildlife life patterns, and even Rachel Carson and the effect of pesticides. Miller delivers education, fun, and funny tunes that will delight and enlighten kids and teachers alike.

-Kathleen Kelly MacMIllan, Maryland School for the Deaf, Columbia

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Local producer and father Bruce Frankel thought a video about how to build a house would be interesting for kids to watch. I think he's right. In fact, "That's How We build a House" rivals any other "how to" video I've seen. One of the first pictures a child draws is a house and in the video Frankel literally brings those pictures to life. It's narrated and hosted by two construction workers, Gwen and Danny, who explain and define the building process using terms such as lot, surveyor, architect, blue prints and excavating with clarity and humor. The video is edited with vintage video clips that keep the 28 minutes light-hearted and fun. But Gwen and Danny do warn kids that construction sites can be a dangerous place and not to enter without permission. Better have those tool belts handy.

-Jennifer Mangan (freelance writer)

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Hula guru Leina'ala Kuloloi whips up a living room luau as she instructs on- and offscreen beginners in the hand-waving, hip-swaying delights of Hawaii's ancient storytelling dance. The lei-of-the-land lesson features such traditional favoirtes as "Pearly Shells" and a performance by Kuloloi's troupe of tiny dancers.

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Enhanced by excellent editing, Mozart Nature Symphonies offers shots of various plants and animals in motion accompanied by snippets of the composer's music. The vibrant, colorful photography brings viewers face to face with a wide assortment of creatures. Jubilant music follows racing rhinos, buzzing bees, and acrobatic gibbons. Slower haunting melodies play as geese soar, sea horses interact, and flowers sway in the breeze. The video's creators have done a remarkable job in matching animals witht he proper musical piece. However, the pieces being played are never identified. The crystal clear videography is often dazzling, with the wonderful colors of parrots and other species jumping off the screen. Each segment runs about two minutes, and some viewers may wish they could have had more time with their favorite animals, from a slithering snake to waddling penguins, from glorious butterflies to a graceful wild horse. Dennis O'Connor's editing is outstanding; the animals appear to be dancing to the wonderful sounds of Mozart. A find addition that will supplement units on music and nature studies.

-Bridan E. Wilson, Evanston Public Library, IL

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Nature Babies features film clips of wild animal babies and their parents. Segment is accompanied by music, either a smooth jazz instrumental, a soothing lullaby ("Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star," "Starlight, Starbright"), or a well-recognized favorite ("All the Pretty Little Ponies," "What a Wonderful World"). Eleven segments show a wide range of animals including elephants, otters, polar bears, lions, seals, and gorillas. The penguins and their babies are especially adorable. Between each segment is a humorous 15-second clip of animals in action, such as a lemur jumping or a bird dancing. The close-up photography of the animal babies makes this video enjoyable to watch. Designed for the youngest viewers and their families to watch together, the producers stress the importance of parent-child interaction while viewing and provide ideas on how to do this at the start of the video. While a variety of song styles would make this video more interesting adnd entertaining, the soothing nature of the music and the singers' voices will make it popular with parents of very young children. Public libraries will find it a worthwhile purchase.

-Shauna Yucko, King County Library System, Bellevue, WA

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Designed to teach young girls how to do the hula, the video opens with a disclaimer that assures adults that all of the movements in the tape are appropriate for children, and encourages viewers who are interested in learning the hual to find a certified instructor. Leina'ala Kuloloio, a master hula dancer, teaches a group of multi=-ethnic children hula dances for two different songs: "Pearly Shells" and "The Hukilau Song." She begins by discussing the importance of warming up, and takes viewers through a series of warmup exercises. Each song is then rehearsed twice by the group, first following the directions of Kuloloio, and then to the music (with vocals). She gently prompts the girls and reminds them to smile. The directions are simple and easy to follow. Much of the video was filmed at the Old Lahaina Luau, and the backdrops are beautiful. The video concludes with an actual performance by the girls at a luau, audience and all. This would be a fun addition to large public and school library collections.

-Maren Ostergard, Bellevue Regional Library, King County Library System, WA

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Who has sensitive skin and sunburns easily? What has 88 teeth, but doesn't chew? What had hair as a youngster, but lost all of it over time? Enough about me, let's move on to dolphins. Flipper was no fluke, so to speak, as these likeable and playful denizens of the deep continue to fascinate adults and children alike. Narrated by kids and backed with footage from marine parks, research centers, and the National Geographic archives, this film covers dolphin facts and trivia -- from identifying different species to how pollution is negatively impacting their survival. Often employing a classical music soundtrack (a la 201: A Spac Odyssey) to enhance slow motion images of dolphins swimming and juming, Kids Discover Dolphins, while aimed at very young children, presents a wide range of information in an entertaining format. Recommended. Aud: K, E, P.

-R. Ray

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If you're of a certain age -- more than 10, say -- you may be excused for missing the current work of Dan Zanes, former leader of the rock band the Del Fuegos. His second album since switching to the cayons-and-apple-juice market is true chidren's music, but executed with such sweet (and un-gooey!) humor, casual multiculturalism and shambling groove that you can call it your own.

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Cool and comical, with a vigorous rock 'n' roll groove and deft jazz licks, the music made by Trout Fishing in America, a.k.a. Ezra Idlet and Keith Grimwood, is never for kids only. This new release is an opportunity for all ages to hear terrific music together and share smiles at the duo's witty lyrics.

A Kid imagines "My Best Day," with fantasies of whipped cream snow and chocolate rain -- and the eviction of his sister. There's a dynamite "Junk Food Jump" ("let's all get hyperactive now") and a wicked nyah, delivered in "You Can't Go," a list of delightful treats for everybody except those who didn't do their chores and homework. "It's Better Than That" is a sardonic affirmative (unlimited trips to Disneyland, no bedtime, chocolate eclairs for breakfast) to any kid who thinks adults have got it made. The album ends with the memorably tasty "Something Sweet" : "Say something sweet to my baby/ (Chocolate custard, pudding and pie)."

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Old hands at making music for young (and not so young) kids, Ezra Idlet and Keith Grimwood of Trout Fishing in America have hauled in another catch of clever tunes. And they've done it the old fashioned way, using lots of sharp pop hooks and a few clobbering wallops of humor.

Take "Sailing," for example. Easily the most "dumbfloundering" tune that appears on "inFINity," it concerns, among other characters, a pelican, his gullfriend and B.B. Kingfish. Or consider the nutritionally incorrect -- and proud of it -- "Junk Food Jump," which celebrates the endless variety of starchy and sugary indulgences. It's also one big excuse for the duo to crank oup a wah-wah pedal-driven guitar and "get hyperactive." The restless spirit carries over to "Are We There Yet?," a million-mile travelogue aimed at piquing the imagination of carbound kids. And then there's the Paul Simonish opening cut, "My Best Day," which finds a boy counting his imagined blessings, including the day his sister is evicted "and now her room is mine."

Some of the songs are instructive ("Everything That's Made of Wood"), others are cautionary ("You Can't Go"), and still others are challenging tongue-twisters ("Your Name Backwards"). Of course, it doesn't hurt that the music, which embraces pop, jazz, folk, fun and world beat, is every bit as engaging as the duo's brand of fun.

-Mike Joyce

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This educational and engaging video introduces toddlers to the simple wonders of 3-D animation and illustrates basic cause-and-effect physics. A lithe yellow cat named Max morphs into a brightly colored ball, which then winds its way through a Rube Goldbergesque machine, sriking other objects that in turn cause other reactions. Set to music ranging from African dumming to Strauss, the video reveals the laws of gravity, light, and projectile motion through elegantly simple demonstrations using pulleys, levers, and wheels.

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Timothy Time, a computer-animated clock, teaches young viewers how to tell time. With catchy rhymes set to throbbing rap background music, Timothy Time and sidekick Kuku describe the parts and layout of the clock. Timothy logically and progressively demonstrates how to tell time in various intervals, with the hlep of an onscreen clock face. Repetitive examples encourage review and skill bu ilding. The program concludes with a quick overview of calendars, days of the week, and months of the year. Although animation is quite basic, the solid information is presented in a kid-friendly manner for young viewers.
-Candace Smith

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