Release Info:
DVD Release Date: September 9, 2008
Online Availability: Amazon

From all I have seen, parents have either a love or hate relationship with the Doodlebops. I have heard complaints that one of the characters is a homosexual in real life. I have also heard complaints that the show does not offer real educational value. However, despite these claims, which I will address in a moment, small children absolutely adore this show and with good reason!

It is true that Chad McNamara is a homosexual. However, in this instance he is not playing one on television. McNamara plays the role of Rooney Doodle and he does a good job. It should not matter that he identifies as homosexual in his personal life no more than it should matter than Anne Heche kissed Harrison Ford in a movie when she was claiming to be a lesbian. It’s acting. He acts like a character that probably has little to do with his real life. Furthermore, most kids don’t even understand what homosexuality is and even less of them can spot it in a children’s show character that is playing a part, like McNamara is here.

It’s also true that the academic value of Doodlebops is low. However, the creativity value is high. Not only that, but with all the singing and dancing kids are encouraged to get on their feet, which will be good for their health. Kids also learn some type of lesson, a la Barney that may not be educational, but is still important to learn. These lessons vary depending on the episode and range from things like sharing and being a good friend to the importance of being truthful.

I wouldn’t end up watching this all on my own, but with young children it’s an incredibly fun experience. The kids adore the show and dance and sing along with the television. The characters are harmless and good natured, not to mention amusing in many different ways. It makes for a great show for young children.

The Doodlebops: We Love our Friends Plot
There are four episodes on Doodlebops: We Love our Friends . These episodes are all listed below with brief descriptions about each one.

“All By Myself”: Jazzmin has a hard time handling her too long to-do list so she enlists Audio Murphy to help her out. Unlike Jazzmin, Audio Murphy thinks that he can get the list done all alone. It doesn’t take long for him to learn it’s better to ask for help than it is to try and tough it out alone.

“Bring-A-Sound-Arounder”: Rooney invents the Bring-a-Sound-Arounder and it’s a hit. The invention gives you the opportunity to listen to sounds that occur far away. While this invention is great, Rooney isn’t able to hear his friends that are close to him, wishing that he had time to spend with them again.

“The Chicken and the Egg”: Much to the shock of the Doodlebops they learn that the resident chicken is able to answer yes or no questions based on the color of eggs that she lays. This obviously means that the chicken is a genius so they begin to look to her for answers to every question.

“Rhymes with Orange”: Jazzmin is challenged by the Doodlebops to create rhymes for a variety of words. Everyone has a great time until Moe stumps her with the word, orange. When that happens Jazzmin is unable to rhyme anything at all! Everyone has to work together to help Jazzmin get her rhyming skills back.

Storyline/Plot: 4.5 out of 5 stars
Replayability: 5 out of 5 stars
Acting: 4 out of 5 stars
Directing: 4 out of 5 stars

Audio/Visual:
Doodlebops is available at a standard 1.33:1 aspect ratio and is viewable in fullscreen mode. This is about average for a children’s show, so it’s not a problem. There are minor instances of fuzz, and slight compression errors but nothing much that the kids noticed and nothing that made viewing a problem. Overall, this was a fair visual presentation. The colors were bright and the kids loved watching it.

The audio is available in Dolby Digital Stereo with Closed Captioning. The songs are vibrant and exciting and the dialogue comes through clear and easy to hear. The levels are well balanced so volume toggling was not necessary. This was a good presentation for both audio and visual presences.

Visual: 3.5 out of 5 stars
Audio: 4 out of 5 stars

Bonus Features:
Doodlebops: We Love our Friends offers a couple of bonus features, which is nice because so many children’s DVDs leave bonuses behind. This DVD offers Direct-Play, which is similar to Disney’s Fast Play. Parents can put this DVD into the player and not have to worry about hitting play when the time comes. The DVD will start on its own. So if you happen to be in the other room you won’t have anything to worry about and the kids won’t have to fiddle with the remote.

The other special features aren’t incredibly intensive, but the kids will be sure to love them. Included in the bonuses section are four songs that the kids can sing along with and two dance along songs. These provide plenty of fun and activity for the kids after the episodes are over. While these may not be the kids of bonus features you would expect to see on a standard DVD for young kids they are absolutely perfect.

Bonus Features: 4 out of 5 stars

Bottom Line:
Doodlebops: We Love our Friends may not be the most educational show out there, but there tends to be a lesson learned regardless of whether or not it’s an academic one. Young children love the show because it’s high energy and there is plenty of music and dancing to enjoy. The characters may be live action, but they are certainly colorful and animated. This DVD only features four episodes, but would make for a great filler for children that can’t get enough of the show when it’s on television or for parents that want to introduce their children to the show. I wouldn’t recommend this for kids over six, but the small children really do love it.

Overall Rating: 4.14 out of 5 stars

Technorati Tags: DVD Review, Lionsgate, Doodlebops, All by Myself, Bring-A-Sound-Arounder, The Chicken and the Egg, Rhymes and Orange, Jazzmin, Audio Murphy, Rooney, Kids, Music, Dancing

Release Info:
DVD Release Date: September 9, 2008
Online Availability: Amazon for $17.99

For the last twenty or so years, one of the most popular kids shows has been Thomas & Friends. While Thomas can be a hit or miss with parents, most adults seem to be able to at least tolerate it and the kids all seem to really enjoy it. It’s surprising that this is the first full length movie to come out of the show since it has been on the air.

While the show has had a couple of narrators in its day, this time around the narrator is Pierce Brosnan. This may not be that impressive to the kids, but parents should appreciate the big name, talented celebrity. He also does a pretty good job here, which will add to the pleasing nature of the film.

The animation here is a little different than the average cartoons of today. It’s live action-ish animation. You can see the trains moving more than anything, but the people rarely move. It is the sharp writing and witty storytelling that will please children more than anything. It’s also this very thing that will help adults watch the show without getting the boredom effect that sometimes happens with other shows.

The Thomas and Friends: The Great Discovery Plot
Thomas is on the Island of Sodor doing his thing when he ends up getting lost. He is in the mountains, unsure of where he is when he comes across an old town off the beaten path. The town, Great Waterton, is a great discovery so when Thomas informs Sir Topham Hatt he orders the restoration of the town. As Thomas found the town, Sir Topham is nice enough to allow Thomas to oversee the restoration.

Thomas takes his job very seriously and begins working on things immediately with plans of making the town better than it’s ever been. While Thomas oversees the project in the mountains, a new train makes his way to the island to take over Thomas’ duties.

The new train, Stanley, is shiny, new, and bigger than Thomas. He not only replaces Thomas in his job, since Thomas is away, he also begins to get close to all of Thomas’s friends, too. Thomas gets upset and starts to feel like he’s been replaced when he finally meets Stanley and sees that he has taken over his old life. Being jealous is a dangerous thing, which Thomas learns when he tries to show everyone how weak Stanley really is.

Once he realizes he has done wrong he goes about trying to fix the situation, but he ends up creating even more danger in the process. Thomas cannot believe what has happened or that he is to blame for it, but when all hope is lost, an unlikely person rushes in to save the day, if Thomas will accept his help that is.

Storyline/Plot: 4 out of 5 stars
Replayability: 5 out of 5 stars
Acting: 4.5 out of 5 stars
Directing: 0.4 out of 5 stars

Audio/Visual:
Thomas and Friends: The Great Discovery offers an aspect ratio of 1.33:1. Shown with fullscreen visual capabilities, things like good overall. The colors here are bright without being annoying. It is about what you would expect from a children’s show, if not nicer than that. There were no major visual problems. I did not notice any compression errors or problems with noise. The kids will love it and the more discriminating eyes of adult viewers will find this to be suitable, as well.

Audio comes in Dolby Digital Stereo in English, French, and Spanish. The soundtrack here is clear for the most part. I did not spend time playing with my volume and everything was easy to understand. The kids enjoyed the sound effects and the dialogue came through like a charm. Everything was acceptable on this end, much like the visual presentation.

Visual: 4 out of 5 stars
Audio: 4 out of 5 stars

Bonus Features:
Thomas and Friends: The Great Discovery has a couple of bonus features available on this disc. “You’re the Leader” offers an entertaining music video and a chance for the kids to join in with Karaoke. There are also two other featurettes that come on this disc. The first is called “Learn with Thomas” and the second is a “Behind the Scenes with Pierce Brosnan.” The kids won’t find the last featurette nearly as fun or entertaining as the first two, but as far as special features go, these certainly serve their purpose.

Bonus Features: 3 out of 5 stars

Bottom Line:
Thomas and Friends: The Great Discovery is a cute movie. Kids that love Thomas are simply going to adore this movie. Meanwhile, mom won’t mind the inclusion of Pierce Brosnan. If your child is a big Thomas fan this is going to be a must have DVD. This will be perfect for a special gift or a Christmas present. If you are not sure how well your child likes Thomas you might want to rent this, but be prepared because if your child loves it, they will bug you until you finally get them their own copy!

Overall Rating: 3.56 out of 5 stars

Technorati Tags: DVD Review, Hit Entertainment, Thomas, Stanley, Island, Friends, Jealousy, Cartoon, Thomas & Friends, Mountains, The Great Discovery

Release Info:
Original Air Dates: June 25, 2007-Present
Season Air Dates: June 25, 2007 – December 24, 2007
DVD Box Set Release Date: August 19, 2008
Online Availability: Amazon for $17.99
Episodes: 13 episodes from Season One

I reviewed Wayside: The Movie last year when it first came to DVD. I had heard buzz about a television show being planned. At the time I wasn’t sure if I was going to be a fan or not. In cases like that, where I am not fond of a cartoon, I usually let my girls decide. If they like it, I will begrudgingly watch it for them, but that doesn’t mean I look forward to the process. However, I was pleasantly surprised to learn that I like Wayside School a lot more than I did the movie version.

The premise of the show is still the same, based on a series of books that offer a unique spin on the classroom environment. Kids really do seem to like this and after giving it a second try I have to admit it’s not a bad show. The main difference between the movie and the show is that many of the voice actors are different. The most noticeable difference is the teacher; Mrs. Jewls is no longer voiced by the talented Kathy Najimy. The new Mrs. Jewls, Julie Lemieux, is equally as amusing, but it would have been nice to see Najimy stick around.

The Wayside School: Season One Plot
Rather than take about the inner workings of the plot, I have decided to offer a plot synopsis for each episode. This gives you, as parents, the chance to see what each show is about and it will help you decide if you feel the show is right for your kids.

“Pull My Pigtail”/”Class Cow”: Dana wants to force Todd to love Maurecia because it’s Valentine’s Day. She plans to make Todd fall in love by having him pull on Maurecia’s ponytail. Next up, Mrs. Jewls is away from class on a faculty retreat and while she’s gone a cow wonders into class! The students assume that it is their substitute teacher and wouldn’t you know it, they end up learning more from the cow than their own teacher!

“Meet the Pets”/”Oh, Great Leader”: The pets come to school and Todd is assigned the job of watching them to ensure that he becomes more responsible. In the other half of the episode, principal Kidswatter is surprised by the birthday party the kids throw for him, especially since he thinks the kids are trying to get rid of him.

“Honors Class”/”Cabbage, My Boy”: In honors class Maurecia is sent to the special, honors class instead of Dana. While she spends her time getting out, Dana spends all her time trying to get in. Next up, Myron adopts a head of lettuce and makes it his younger brother. Mrs. Jewls creates a new assignment that is all about family.

“Mascot Madness”/”He is It!”: The teetherball team thinks that Todd should be the team mascot, but Todd thinks it’s a bad idea. This leads Dana to creating a giant Todd head so that Myron can become the mascot. In the next segment, Todd is it during a game of tag, but when Myron is tagged he demands special treatment and complete obedience.

“Best Friendzzz”/”Kindergarten King”: Myron and Dana get into a fight and decide they cannot be best friends anymore. Myron becomes best friends with Shari (while she is sleeping) and Dana is Todd’s new bff. In the next episode, Todd is sent home early and is forced to ride the kindergarten bus. While on the way home, Todd helps out a kindergartener and becomes the king of the small children.

“Myron Vs. Normy”/”Age of Aquarium”: Myron pretends to be his made up twin brother Normy in order to avoid getting in trouble. Everyone likes him so much that they want him to be class president. Todd is the only one that realizes that Normy is really Myron and tries to convince him to do the right thing. In “Age of Aquarium”, the kids get to experience a field trip, but instead of the kids going to the aquarium, the fish come to the classroom!

“Channel Kidswatter”/”The Elevator”: The principal decides to run a home shopping channel out of his office. The students begin to supply plenty of trinkets, claiming they are from the new art curriculum. The stairs aren’t working in the second part of the episode, but when Todd and Principal Kidswatter get stuck in the elevator a bunch of kids calling themselves Louis have to work together to get them out.

“Mad Hot”/”Mamaland Blues”: The principal challenges a neighboring school to a dance competition. He then decides the team to represent Wayside will be Todd, Maurecia, Myron, and Dana. Next up, Dana discovers a marriage certificate and begins to think that her and Miss Mush might be related.

“Principles of Principals”/”Teacher’s Parent Conference”: Not knowing that Principal Kidswatter was trying to set people up, Todd wins the principal for a day contest only to end up with tons of work to do. In the next episode, It’s grading day and the kids need to submit a report card for Mrs. Jewls. Todd gives Mrs. Jewls bad marks causing her to need to stay after school. When her father threatens to make her teach at a private school, the kids ban together to help Todd and keep Mrs. Jewls at Wayside.

“Rat in Shining Armor”/”Mrs. Gorf”: During the spring Halloween dance, the kids need to dress up as something. Maurecia wants Todd to dance with her and when he won’t do it Miss Mush puts a rat in a knight suit to give Maurecia a dance partner. Next up, the kids will be going on a camping trip on the 18th floor. Maurecia wants Todd to sit next to her, but he’s afraid that she will want to punch him in the arm. This leads to a discussion about their old teacher Mrs. Gorf.

“Todd Falls in Love”/”French Fried”: Todd learns that Maurecia posted love posters about him all over the place. In retaliation, Todd eats Mush’s mushroom surprise, which makes him fall in love with an unlikely suspect. The next episode has a new chef working in the teacher’s lounge. This makes Miss Mush incredibly jealous and leads to a cooking challenge!

“Music Lessons”/”Todd and Bull Story”: Myron uses a nose flute to control his friends, but he learns that the sound also makes cows tear down the school. In “Todd & Bull Story”, the kids mistake a pile of props for a Wishing Well. Little do they know, Todd is the one making their wishes come true.

“Louis Gets Some Class”/”My Fluffy Hair”: When the principal learns that Louis never graduated he makes him go back to class. Myron doesn’t like this though because Louis is more popular. Next up, Fluffy thinks Maurecia pays more attention to Todd, so he runs away. Fluffy is later mistaken for a wig and decides to use this new power to bring down Todd.

Storyline/Plot: 4 out of 5 stars
Replayability: 4.5 out of 5 stars
Acting: 4.5 out of 5 stars
Directing: 4.5 out of 5 stars

Audio/Visual:
It states on the box that Wayside School: Season One is available in 1.33:1 standard full frame video. However, the specs must be wrong because mine looked much nicer than I expected it to look given the circumstances. No matter the specs, Wayside looks great with a beautiful, bright color blend and nothing negative to report in the way of compression errors or picture deformities.

The audio is offered in Dolby Digital 2.0 and it sounds just fine the way it is. Actually, it sounds much better than I expected from a children’s cartoon. The music is fun and lively and the dialogue is easy to understand. In addition to an English track, audio is available in both French and Spanish. Closed Captioning is also added for those with hearing impairments.

Visual: 4 out of 5 stars
Audio: 4 out of 5 stars

Bonus Features:
There is only one true bonus feature, as I am not counting the before the series Wayside: The Movie preview. The one real feature available is not really a feature at all, but an added gift. Wayside is packed with one of the books that the series is based on, Sideways Stories. This is a great book that kids will love to read. My oldest daughter spent plenty of her free time reading this to her younger sister with only the occasional need for help from me. I was thrilled to receive a book with this set as I knew that it was based on the books, but my children hadn’t read them yet. So, while there were no real special features, this book made the set much better than some commentaries or games would have.

Bonus Features: 4 out of 5 stars

Bottom Line:
While I had reserved feelings for Wayside: the Movie, I have to say that Wayside School has come to grow on me. The animated characters are unique and things move quickly enough to keep even an adult at least mildly entertained. Most importantly, the kids love it and it’s not anything that I have to worry about them watching. Wayside School is all in good fun and it’s pretty safe television watching for youngsters. There isn’t much here for a parent to complain about!

Overall Rating: 4.21 out of 5 stars

Technorati Tags: Wayside School, Season One, Two Disc Set, TV on DVD, Kids, Cartoons, Nickelodeon, Wayside the Movie, Sideways Stories, Paramount Home Entertainment

With all of the Hannah Montana gang ready to hit the beach it only seems fitting that the Hannah Montana Summertime Surf Shop would be included in this set. While other reviewers had the chance to check out the Oliver and Hannah dolls, Maddie was thrilled that we received the Lilly doll with the surf shop. In the time since we’ve received these toys to review, Maddie has played non-stop with her Hannah Montana toys. She’s already begging me for the three other dolls that would complete this set. With her birthday coming up, there’s a great possibility she’ll be receiving them!

Positives & Negatives:

Positives
-Inspires Creative Play
-Fun for Hannah fans
-Somewhat Durable
-Easy to Assemble
-Allows for solo or ensemble play

Negatives
-Sometimes falls over
-Seems to be made of flimsy materials
-Small Parts

Pricing & Availability:
The Hannah Montana Summertime Surf Shop is not that expensive. I’ve found this available at Wal-Mart. I’ve found it online at Amazon. It can also be purchased at Toys R Us. You should be able to find the Surf Shop and all of the Hannah Montana dolls at your favorite toy retailer. At Amazon, the surf shop is available for $30. Meanwhile, at Toys R Us online, the Surf Shop can be purchased for just under $21.

Requirements & Instructions:
The surf shop is easy to assemble. Your child will be able to set up the various pieces and put them together. You might have to help with some of the parts, merely because the materials have a tendency to tip over if the set isn’t put together correctly. The lights on the Tiki Hut at Rico’s Surf Shop really light up, and included in the package are batteries for this.

Overall, this is one of those toys, which does not take very long to set up. What should be noted is that there are many pieces to this set and some of them are quite small. Like the dolls, which are recommended for children six and up, the Surf Shop shouldn’t be purchased for a young child. Many of the parts present a choking hazard. Maddie is six and she was fine with the Surf Shop. Then again, she knows better than to put toys, especially small pieces, in her mouth. Since I have two other little ones, I made sure to watch them around the toys and Maddie made sure not to leave anything out when putting the toy back in its box.

Durability:
The Surf Shop isn’t nearly as durable as the Hannah Montana dolls that accompany this set. I was slightly disappointed in how flimsy the material was for part of the Tiki Hut. Dropping this toy may cause it to come apart, and the set’s tendency to fall over just adds to minor frustration levels. This is another reason why smaller children may not want to own this. While Maddie can move things around and put things together on her own, younger children may be frustrated when/if this play set were to fall over or come apart.

Ease of Use:
This toy is fairly easy to play with and Maddie had a lot of fun. Since she had a few other Hannah dolls, she was able to have Lilly play with Hannah. They ate food, went surfing and had a great time at the beach. She was able to act out many of her favorite scenes from the Hannah Montana Disney show. I really enjoyed seeing her eyes light up as she played with the Surf Shop, Lilly and the rest of her dolls. As a mom, this toy is a winner.

I just hope it’s able to withstand the length of time Maddie will want to play with it, without it falling apart. While putting the set together was easy, I’m not sure how long the set will hold up. I blame this primarily on the material (cheap plastic) that was used to make the Hannah Montana Surf Shop.

Fun Factor & Overall Appeal:
The Hannah Montana Summertime Surf Shop comes with the Tiki style bar, which is lined with real working lights. The Tiki Hut also features swing away doors. There is a removable surfboard that can be used by any of the Hannah Montana dolls your child owns. The Palm Tree and stand is located near the surfboard. Other things that come with this set include a sticker sheet, cell phone, plastic popcorn, a comb, a lounge chair, one Tiki stool, a hot dog maker with hot dogs, a drink machine, a blender, a plate of nachos, headphones, a CD player, a portable music player, three pairs of sunglasses, sunscreen and two drinking glasses.

As you can see, this Surf Set is quite comprehensive. Maddie had hours of fun with this toy and she was sad when we had to put the surf shop and her dolls away. Since Hannah Montana is so popular, this is the perfect summer gift to get your child. This is one of those fun toys that will entertain your child for an extended period of time. I highly recommend this for all young Hannah Montana fans who can handle the small parts that are included.

Bottom Line:
The Hannah Montana Summertime Surf Shop isn’t going to be suitable for every Hannah Montana fan. The older fans (six and up) will find the most enjoyment and having Hannah Montana dolls to accompany this set is a must. With dolls, a little imagination and the surf shop, your child will be able to spend many hours enjoying this toy and you’ll certainly get your money’s worth. I know that my daughter is enjoying her Surf Shop and with so many toys not suitable for children these days, it is nice to have the familiar face of Hannah Montana and Disney toys to entertain my child.

Price: 4.5 out of 5 stars
Durability: 3 out of 5 stars
Ease of Assembly: 4 out of 5 stars
Fun Factor: 4 out of 5 stars
Child Readiness: 3.5 out of 5 stars
Lasting Appeal: 4 out of 5 stars
Overall Rating: 3.83 out of 5 stars

Technorati Tags: Hannah Montana, Disney, Disney Channel, Rico’s Surf Shop, Tiki Hut, Bar, Summertime, Summer Fun, Hannah Montana Dolls

With a six year old daughter, Maddie, who is obsessed with everything Hannah Montana, I knew that the Lilly Summertime doll would be a hit. Maddie received Lilly along with the Surf Shop to review for LI Kids. All I have to say is that I haven’t seen her since I gave her the doll to play with! She’s been that enthralled in playing Hannah games and re-enacting scenes from the show. The nice thing is that she can play at the surf shop with her other Hannah dolls and she’ll have the opportunity to spend the entire summer playing with Hannah and her pals thanks to this doll!

Positives & Negatives:

Positives
-Inspires Creative Play
-Positive Girl Role Model
-Comes with Multiple extras to inspire different adventures
-Something a wide age group can enjoy
-Fun and Engaging Toy
-Realistic-looking doll
-Affordable

Negatives
-Small Parts
-Younger Kids will want to play with it, but might only be allowed limited access

Pricing & Availability:
You should be able to pick up the Lilly doll at any major retailer both online and off. I checked on Wal-Mart, where Lilly is listed as the Hannah Montana Beach Fashion Doll, Lilly. The dolls should all be readily available at other stores like Toys R Us, Target, and online at Amazon. The dolls aren’t just readily available, they’re also affordable. At Wal-Mart you can purchase Lilly for just under $10 and the other stores selling the dolls have them priced in the same range! The price, especially in a time where people don’t have a lot of money, is perfect!

Requirements & Instructions:
There really aren’t any requirements for this doll. Lilly doesn’t talk or do anything where you might need batteries. She comes with everything your child will need to play with her Hannah Montana friend. Lilly comes with a beach towel, a hairbrush, a magazine (which is named “Surf Beach”), a four-leaf clover charm and bracelet, little pink sandals and an adorable outfit! Her sandals match her top perfectly.

I barely had Lilly out of the box before Maddie had snatched her up and was off to the races, playing with her. The instructions are pretty simple. You just need to take her out of the box, take out the accessories and playtime can begin!

Durability:
Lilly is about as durable as any other doll out there. I’m sure, just like Barbie, if you wanted to rip off her arms, legs, and head you could, but who does that other than annoying older brothers? Even then, you can usually snap the arms, legs, and head back on, so the trauma of losing the doll is limited. Lilly can be dropped without breaking. She’s pretty indestructible unless you’re truly attempting to tear her apart. There has to be an effort to do this though. Otherwise, Lilly is pretty much your average doll in this department.

Ease of Use:
Lilly is a doll. I don’t know how much easier playing with a doll could be. You take her out of the box and playtime can begin. Your child doesn’t need instructions to play with Lilly. Maddie loves her doll. She brings her to dinner. She takes her to bed. Lilly goes everywhere with Maddie. I can’t stress how much this toy inspires the imagination. Lilly does everything from skydiving to scuba diving (which Maddie attempted to have her do in the fish tank)! Still, you do have to be careful with these dolls. When Maddie knocked over the lamp (luckily it didn’t break) because Lilly was bungee jumping, I really had to consider whether I’d end up punishing Lilly for her misdeeds or not!

Fun Factor & Overall Appeal:
The Lilly Summer Stufftime is recommended for ages 6 and up. I know that this doll would be suited for girls that are in their tween years. I would also say a responsible 4-5 year old might be able to play with this doll. You know your child best so use your best judgment before purchasing the doll. For those in the age range, Lilly is great. She’s fun, adorable, and a great asset to any little girl’s (or boy’s) doll arsenal.

Lilly is a doll so there is an immeasurable amount of opportunity for play with her. You can keep Lilly in the setting of the beach or play with her at a Hannah concert. You can put any type of doll’s clothes and/or add other Hannah Montana accessories with Lilly. The opportunities are endless and the lasting appeal of this will ensure your daughter will get years of play with Lilly and her Hannah friends.

Bottom Line:
The Lilly Summertime doll is a must have for your favorite Hannah Montana fan. Even girls who may not be overly familiar with Hannah Montana will like the beach theme associated with Lilly. I don’t recommend you purchase this for a child under 5 or if you do, you only let her play with the doll and not the accessories. Overall, this was one of the best toys we’ve had the chance to review. Lilly comes highly recommended!

Price: 5 out of 5 stars
Durability: 4 out of 5 stars
Ease of Assembly: 5 out of 5 stars
Fun Factor: 5 out of 5 stars
Child Readiness: 4.5 out of 5 stars
Lasting Appeal: 5 out of 5 stars
Overall Rating: 4.75 out of 5 stars

Technorati Tags: Hannah Montana, Lilly, doll, Disney, toy, beach doll, summertime stuff, affordable toy, playalong toys, jakks

Positives & Negatives:

Positives:
-Inspires Creative Thinking
-Inspires Logical Thinking
-Multiple Games in one Tin (more bank for your buck)
-Eight Different Learning Solutions in Four Games
-Graphically and Aesthetically Pleasing
-Keeps the Interest of a Young Child
-Ease of Use
-Use is Possible Right out of Box

Negatives:
-None that I’ve Found

Pricing & Availability:
You shouldn’t have any trouble finding the Brainy Baby Tin online. Just put the term Brainy Baby Tin into your favorite search engine. From there, you should be able to find numerous stores that are selling this play tin. One of the first links you’ll come across is the official Brainy Baby website. At the website, you can use the Retail Locator search feature to find a store in your area that is selling Baby Brainy toys. While I didn’t find very many in my specific area, there was a store just 30 minutes away selling these toys.

If you aren’t located near a Brainy Baby store, you can purchase the Brainy Baby Tin easily online. At the Brainy Baby website, the Brainy Baby Tin is available for $19.99. You can find the Tin for a similar price on multiple websites across the internet.

Requirements & Instructions:
The four games in the Brainy Baby Tin require no additional items to play with the games. This is what I like to call a straight out of the box toy. These are the toys I like the best. If you have little ones, you know how impatient they can get when you struggle with batteries and putting things together before they can play with them. The Brainy Baby Tin requires nothing of the sort so your little one can start playing with it immediately.

The games aren’t anything you’re going to need instructions to figure out. Just in case you need a little help in figuring out how to play with the four games, there are some brief instructions on the back of the tin. You should be able to set your baby up at any flat surface such as a table, the floor or otherwise. From there, they can begin playing with each of the puzzles, which is bound to keep them amused and challenged for an extended period of time.

Durability:
The puzzle pieces are made of hard cardboard so for a small child, they are going to be hard to break. Emma plays rough with her toys and she didn’t have a problem playing with the Brainy Baby Tin. Safety isn’t an issue because the pieces all have the rounded edges and the pieces are all big enough so they aren’t going to be a choking hazard.

An adult or an older kid might be able to bend or break these pieces, but it’s going to have to be something that is done more deliberately, as opposed to just accidentally dropping the piece. While these toys are durable, I don’t know a puzzle piece that is infallible. It’s just how puzzle pieces are made.

Ease of Use:
The games are all puzzles. I don’t feel the children in the recommended age range (which is 1-4 years old) will have problems with these puzzles. Miss Emma is 3 years old. She loved the pictures and the larger than life aspect to the look of the pieces. She also had a lot of fun playing “school” as she calls it, because all of these toys are obviously educational. After playing and completing a puzzle she would grin and clap her hands together, proud of herself. Then she would take the puzzle apart and do it all over again.

Fun Factor & Overall Appeal:
The games that are included in the Brainy Baby Tin are available in four sets. Each set has two games, so there are eight games in total. The first two sets are Animal Pictures and Word Puzzles. The second two sets are Color and Word Snap Cards. Your child can play a number, letter, and color memory game. They can also play picture, letter and number dominos with the pieces. The snap cards serve as puzzles and so do the animal pictures.

Kids love animals. Little kids, especially toddlers and preschoolers, love to learn. I know Emma loves reciting her numbers and colors. This is a child’s dream when it comes to puzzle playing, recitation and memory games. Emma was so happy to play with the puzzles she played “teacher” with Little J. She would show him a picture and then tell him what the card meant. Of course, Little J didn’t do much in return, except for maybe drool!

This game will last your child for 2-3 years. I know that by the time Emma is going to be too old for this tin, Little J will be ready to begin learning with it. This game is excellent for getting down the fundamentals of teaching a potential preschooler. This works on many of the important learning skills that will help your child get ready for more complex processes and problems they’ll see once they enter Kindergarten.

Bottom Line:
The Brainy Baby Tin is not only educational it is fun. It makes you interested as a parent, in finding out what else Brainy Baby has in store for your children. With so many different games in one tin, your small child will be enthralled in this set for hours. While your child can enjoy this tin for just a few years, if you have younger children, this is one of those toys you can pass on and still keep the interest in these games going. This toy comes highly recommended!

Price: 4.5 out of 5 stars
Durability: 4 out of 5 stars
Ease of Assembly: 5 out of 5 stars
Fun Factor: 4.5 out of 5 stars
Child Readiness: 5 out of 5 stars
Lasting Appeal: 4 out of 5 stars
Overall Rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars

Technorati Tags: Brainy Baby Tin, Brainy Baby, Toys, Games, Dominos, Puzzles, Eight Games in One, Animal Cards, Numbers, Colors

Underdog presents a live action version of the popular 60s cartoon. This is one of those situations where parents might automatically be skeptical about whether or not this is going to be any good and kids and going to want to see it as soon as they hear about it. What got me excited about this movie was the option of hearing the large number of stars that offer voiceovers and traditional performances for this film.

Jason Lee is the star of the show as Underdog. Even though I am a fan of the original Underdog cartoons there were elements of this movie that I found enjoyable, as well. Additional talent is handled by the likes of James Belushi and Peter Dinklage amongst others. None of the performances are truly awful, though you will not find any Oscar contenders in the bunch.

While this is not the worst children’s movie I have come across in my years, it is certainly not the best either. The kids seemed to like it a little more than the adults in the room. On the family fun meter it will pass quite well because while I was not always in love with the movie I was not rushing to turn it off either. I felt it tended to dumb things down for the kids more than I normally like, but the younger ones seemed more interested in the flying dog than the older ones so I wasn’t too worried.

Release Information:
Walt Disney Video released Underdog on DVD on December 18, 2007. Prior to this release, in August the movie was at theaters. I am not sure if the release was limited or it just had a short run because I do not remember it showing in my area, but either way this is not a direct to DVD release, though it could have easily passed for one.

The Underdog Plot
As Underdog begins you see portions of the actual cartoon. I am not sure of the purpose of this, but I would assume it is an attempt to get parents into the upcoming film and to set the mood. The film revolves around a police beagle named Shoeshine (Jason Lee – Dogma). Having had some problems on the force (he is not taken seriously and the policemen end up laughing him off the force), this disgraced animal has now been picked up by the sinister Simon BarSinister, played by Peter Dinklage. BarSinister picked up Shoeshine because he needed some dogs for a SNA experiment on dogs that he was working on.

Shoeshine manages to get away, but before he goes he is doused with a special potion that changes him considerably. While trying to get away, Shoeshine ends up at the home of young Jack (Alex Neuberger) and his father (James Belushi – Return to Me). Jack finds that he likes having Shoeshine around and though the family environment seems tense at times, they all seem to care about one another, so it seems that all is well.

Of course, the time at the lab, thanks to BarSinister, has changed this former police pooch. Shoeshine now has special powers that will give him the ability to stop crime better than he ever could before. He realizes there is much more to do though, so all of his time is now spent on the common criminal. Also on the agenda for Shoeshine is to woo a love interest, Polly Purebred (Amy Adams – Charlie Wilson’s War) and to stop the devastating plans of BarSinister to take over the city.

If you are a Underdog cartoon purist then you might have a problem with this release. It is somewhat like the Garfield movies in that line of thought. These movies are not for everyone. While they have the ability to be funny, family films, they are not meant to be taken too seriously or they might end up ruined for those watching them. I was glad to see that the story here was actually an original, despite being based on the cartoon. While this was good, I am not sure how I feel about the option of a sequel to this movie, despite the fact that the movie was left open, allowing the possibility to occur.

Some of the commentary will have the kids laughing and the parents rolling their eyes. The jokes about eating poop, vomit, and other dog problems aren’t that interesting for the intellectuals in the room. Kids will like the constant commentary by Lee who informs people what it’s like to be a dog. When it comes to the actual acting performances Belushi and Neuberger manage to pull of standard performances with little complaint. Dinklage as the villain was not nearly as believable in his role, though the entire movie is unbelievable and over the top, so it could have been much worse.

Storyline/Plot: 2.5 out of 5 stars
Replayability: 3 out of 5 stars
Acting: 3.5 out of 5 stars
Directing: 3 out of 5 stars

Audio/Visual:
The audio and video quality for Underdog is nothing to complain about. The video is available in anamorphic widescreen with an aspect ratio of 2.35:1. Full screen options are also available with a 1.33:1 ratio. The colors here are very vibrant and cartoon-friendly. The video remains good throughout, offering a stable video presentation for viewers. The audio is done in Dolby Digital 5.1 Surround Sound. It’s one of the best audio options for standard DVDs out there, so there are no complaints involved in the crisp audio presentation that is offered.

Visual: 5 out of 5 stars
Audio: 5 out of 5 stars

Bonus Features:
There are a few special features that are available on this Disney feature. The features include four minutes worth of deleted scenes, a two minute blooper reel, a music video, “Underdog Raps”, and several sneak peeks for upcoming movies. Other included features are “Sit. Stay. Act. Diary of a Dog Actor”, which details the life of an animal performer and “Safe Waif”, which is the first episode of the actual Underdog cartoon from the 60s.

Bonus Features: 4 out of 5 stars

Bottom Line:
Underdog works well as a family film for people that have younger children. Teenagers may or may not find interest in this and parents will vary depending on their fan feelings concerning Underdog. You should rent this if the family wants to see it and then you can decide from there whether or not it is worth the purchase.

Overall Rating: Overall Rating: 3.71 out of 5 stars

I have two little girls, both near the preschool age. Madison is five and Emma is three. Both of my girls absolutely adore Dora. Choosing to review Dora Saves the Mermaids was a no-brainer for our family because had we not received the DVD for review we would have definitely purchased the DVD on our own. The girls love Dora so much they have many of the Dora products that Nickelodeon has released from the dolls to Dora outfits. It is nice to have such a positive role model for my girls at a time when so many non-animated females are setting a bad example for their young fans.

Release Information:
Dora Saves the Mermaids was released through Nickelodeon and Paramount Home Video on September 25, 2007. The video was a part of Nickelodeon’s list of fall titles that came out. Dora Saves the Mermaids is a double length episode with 92 minutes of fun for children to enjoy on this DVD. It comes in the standard DVD case, with a cute picture of Dora as a mermaid on the front cover.

Dora Saves the Mermaids is the length of two regular episodes of the Dora the Explorer TV show. This never been seen before double length episode has come out direct to DVD.

The Dora Saves the Mermaids Plot
In every episode of Dora the Explorer, Dora teaches children multiple lessons as well as new Spanish words and phrases, all as she travels around with her best friend, Boots, helping others around the world. In Dora Saves the Mermaids, as the title implies, Dora and Boots are on a mission to help save the mermaids. This extra long episode, plus the two additional episodes included on the DVD, all revolve around water.

Dora Saves the Mermaids has Dora and Boots travelling to the Mermaid Kingdom to help save it from an octopus that is not only mean, it’s ruining the Kingdom with its garbage dumping ways! They learn about the Kingdom and its plight from a clam they meet on the beach when they are there to help clean up the trash littered along the shore. The duo will travel on both the land and by sea as they search for the mermaid, Mariana’s magical crown. With the crown, Mariana can save the Mermaid Kingdom before it becomes so littered with trash that it disappears.

The second episode on the Dora Saves the Mermaids DVD is “Fish out of Water”. This is an older episode that aired in 2000. In the episode, Boots and Dora discover a baby fish that is in trouble. To help the baby fish, they need the help of backpack and map. They will travel across King Crab’s sandcastles and ride with Val the octopus on the submarine to save the baby fish from a tide pool.

In the third and final episode on this DVD, “Treasure Island” Dora and Boots are hunting for treasure. It is Pirate Pig’s treasure chest to be exact. With the help of the map, the two can travel to Treasure Island to find and claim their treasure. Of course, they have plenty of fun along the way.

Audio/Visual:
The visual quality for Dora Saves the Mermaids was as good if not better as what you see on Nickelodeon. The DVD was transferred at an aspect ratio of 1.33:1. The colors are incredibly vibrant. The show is vibrant and lively anyway so the clear and crisp picture just adds to the enjoyment factor when watching this DVD. The audio for Dora Saves the Mermaids is available in both English and Spanish. I’m not sure what the exact audio transfer quality is, but I found the volume to be normal. No fiddling with the volume controls was necessary. The sound was clear and it balanced out with the music.

Bonus Features:
On the Dora Saves the Mermaids disc you receive the movie as well as two additional episodes of the Dora the Explorer television show. The episodes included on this DVD are “Fish out of Water” and “Treasure Island”. The only other bonus features on this DVD are a music video for the Nick Jr. television show Yo Gabba Gabba! and trailers for upcoming Nick Jr. titles. This DVD is in the format of most of the other Nick Jr. DVDs with the main movie complimented by additional, unrelated episodes.

This is a nice way for Nick Jr. to add in bonus features without having to go all out and make additional featurettes every time a DVD for the Nick Jr. show is released. Since so many Dora DVDs come out each year it would get a little repetitive to see “The Making of Dora the Explorer” on every DVD Nickelodeon puts out.

Technorati Tags: Dora the Explorer, Dora Saves the Mermaids, Nick Jr., Nickelodeon, Preschool, Adventure, TV Show, DVD review

Creators:

As Christmas approaches, parents are clamoring to find the perfect presents, including DVDs for their children. Recommended for children between the ages of 2-7, the Wonderpets! is one of the most popular cartoons on Nick Jr. Kids love the Wonderpets! and it is easy to see why. These adorable animals are fun, entertaining, and help kids learn about various types of animals and different locations all while enjoying singing and dancing by three animals that are the pets in a elementary school classroom.

We had a Christmas party with Emma, Madison, and Lil B, three of our children reviewers. The OG Kid, one of our teen reviewers, also got the chance to check out the latest Wonderpets! DVD, Wonderpets!: Save the Reindeer. Emma is 2, Lil B is 3, Madison is 5, and the OG Kid is 13. Despite the age differences, nobody was totally bored. Even the OG Kid begrudgingly admitted he like the show. It’s hard to be a teen who likes a preschool aged show, but the Wonderpets! are just so darn cute. How could anyone not love them?

Release Information:
Wonderpets! first aired on Nick Jr. on March 3, 2006. Fans of the show have been waiting nearly a year for new episodes. This DVD features the double length Save the Reindeer episode as well as three additional, regular sized episodes. It also includes a few different bonus features. This translates to 97 minutes worth of Wonderpets! fun.

This is the first Wonderpets! offering from Nickelodeon in a year, though this and the other episodes included on this DVD aired previously on Nick Jr. However, Wonderpets!: Save the Reindeer is just in time for the holiday season.

Wonderpets!: Save the Reindeer is available in a standard DVD case. It was released by Nickelodeon and distributed by Paramount Home Video on October 2, 2007. We’ve chosen to review this a little closer to Christmas due to the holiday theme of the main episode on this DVD.

The Wonderpets!: Save the Reindeer Plot
Wonderpets! is a Nick Jr. show that teaches young children about teamwork. In the process, children learn problem solving skills, creativity, and about various types of animals and geographical locations. The show happens to have a bit of a cult following with adults and teenagers also regularly watching and enjoying Wonderpets!. This is akin to another Nick Jr. television show that also has a cult following, The Backyardigans.

I love the Wonderpets!. Emma and Madison watch them whenever they can on Nick Jr. I know that Lil B is also a fan of the show. While our teen reviewer had never seen the show, he was obliged to watch it for his young cousin, Lil B’s sake. He ended up saying it was one of the most enjoyable shows he had seen for a preschool age group. Unlike other shows (the OG Kid specifically mentioned Barney – though a tidbit from his mother Ashtyn tells us he loved Barney at Lil B’s age) for children in the 3-7 year old age group, this show wasn’t overly annoying. I have to agree, though I have watched my fair share of Barney, as well.

Nevertheless, Wonderpets! is just too darn adorable to be offensive or annoying. It isn’t just the characters, Linny the Guinea Pig (voiced by Sofie Zamchick), Tuck the Turtle (voiced by Teala Dunn), and Ming-Ming Duckling (voiced by Danica Lee), but the entire story, the singing, the songs, and the things that children will learn from this show that make it so endearing. Sure, it is a bit repetitious from show to show, but that’s what makes it so fun. Children memorize, learn, and sing along with each episode, as they learn about new places and animals, in the process.

Each episode of Wonderpets! has a formula. The three main characters, Linny, Tuck and Ming-Ming are pets in an elementary school classroom. Once the student’s leave for the night, weekend or holiday (depending on the show) the Wonderpets receive a call on their special phone. As they sing about answering the phone they already know a baby animal is in trouble. The three sneak out of their enclosures and put on their Wonderpets! gear. Linny has a blue cape and a yellow (sometimes it looks orange) cap. Ming-Ming wears a green cape with her leather pilot helmet and goggles. Tuck’s outfit is a red cape with blue sneakers and a French sailor’s cap in white. After changing and getting into their flyboat (a flying sailboat they make from objects they find around the classroom) the three head out to save the baby animal (or animals) that need their help.

In Wonderpets!: Save the Reindeer, the Wonderpets have to save a baby reindeer that is stuck on a patch of ice that could crack at any second. This isn’t any baby reindeer. It is the reindeer that is going to help lead Santa’s sleigh. Without the reindeer, all the children in the world will be disappointed as Santa will be unable to make his flight. Part of this episode also deals with the true meaning of Christmas. Ming-Ming, the funniest Wonderpet, is obsessed with presents, but she realizes the mission comes before presents. In doing so, she learns an even more valuable lesson then she could have ever realized.

The other three episodes on this DVD are “Save the Camel/Save the Ants”, “Save the Egg/Save the Flamingo”, and “Save the Goldfish/Save the Baby Birds”. In “Save the Camel/Save the Ants”, the Wonderpets use the flyboat to travel to the desert where they will guide a thirsty, baby camel back to the desert oasis where it can get a much needed drink of water. Then they have to fly to a picnic to stop a fight between two groups of ants fighting over the fruit. “Save the Egg/Save the Flamingo” has the trio going to Yellowstone National Park where they must rescue something inside the egg. From there, they must save a flamingo that is a coloring book drawing. “Save the Goldfish/Save the Baby Birds” has the Wonderpets travelling to save a goldfish in a child’s bedroom. Finally, it’s off to Canada, where the threesome helps three baby birds and moose.

Audio/Visual:
Wonderpets! is a form of mixed-media. This means that some of the animation is hand drawn and some uses the manipulation of photographs of real animals. This gives the picture a sort of collage art style reminiscent of elementary school. This type of animation is called photo-puppetry and it was invented specifically for Wonderpets! For those who have never seen the show, no screen adjusting is needed. At first, I thought the characters in the Wonderpets! looked like crudely cut up photographs, but this just adds to the charm of the show. Otherwise, the video quality is impeccable. With a full screen transfer at an aspect ratio of 1.33:1, Wonderpets!: Save the Reindeer looks exactly like it would, if not better, then when seen on a Nickelodeon television broadcast.

The audio comes through loud and clear on the Wonderpets!: Save the Reindeer DVD. The audio is available in Dolby Digital Stereo sound in English, Spanish and French. I didn’t have any problems hearing anything that was going on and the singing wasn’t too much of a contrast with the talking the characters do on this DVD.

Bonus Features:
Nick Jr. included a few special features with the Wonderpets!: Save the Reindeer DVD. Normally, a Nick Jr. DVD just features trailers for other Nick Jr. shows and their upcoming DVD releases. Wonderpets!: Save the Reindeer offers trailers for Dora the Explorer, Go, Diego, Go!, The Backyardigans, Max & Ruby and other cool, new Nick Jr. shows, such as Blue’s Room.

Unlike the other Nick Jr. DVDs I’ve had the chance to review, this DVD also includes a special Blue’s Room featurette and a music video for Jack’s Big Music Show. These extras were a nice touch when comparing the bonus features to other, recently released Nick Jr. titles.

Technorati Tags: Wonderpets, Save the Reindeer, Nick Jr, Nickelodeon, Cartoon, Animated, TV Show, Review

Release Information:
Peppa Pig Muddy Puddles and Other Stories was released by Lionsgate on September 25, 2007. The DVD includes 12, five minute Peppa Pig episodes and a few special features. Peppa Pig runs for one hour for all of the episodes. The features are detailed below and include two games that kids will be sure to love.

The Peppa Pig Plot:
Peppa is just plain adorable. She is certainly the cutest pig in cartoon form currently. This sweet little pig lives in a land of color. The pig family is a rosy pink color and they live in a bright yellow house. The house is on a deep green hill with the occasional colored flower. The family includes Peppa, younger brother George, Mummy, and Daddy.

In the first episode, “Muddy Puddles”, Peppa and George aren’t able to go out and play because it’s raining. When they are able to go outside, Mummy tells them to put on their boots if they are going to jump in the puddles. The kids put on their boots and go tromping through the mud puddles, getting completely covered in mud.

Emma, who is getting ready to turn three, loved Peppa Pig. From the minute I put in the DVD she was sitting still and entranced by the entire show. She watched the DVD the entire way through and then she wanted to watch it again. Even when she was playing with her sister, she wanted it on because she would take little breaks during her favorite parts to stop and laugh at the television.

One of her favorite episodes was “Mr. Dinosaur is Lost”. In this episode, George loses Mr. Dinosaur. As you can imagine, George is upset, but Mummy and Daddy assure him that they will find Mr. Dinosaur along with special detective, Inspector Peppa.

The other episodes involve themes including parrots, Peppa’s best friend Suzy Sheep, playing hide and seek, going to a playgroup, camping, gardening, and having a Mummy that works. Snow, bikes, and a new family car are also themes that are explored in the course of each episode.

Every episode is adorable. Emma simply adored the DVD and I found it incredibly cute, too. Most of the parents that I know seem to hold the same viewpoint. This DVD is perfect for younger children and it’s certainly a welcome change from the traditional cartoons on the market for preschoolers.

Audio/Video:
Peppa Pig is available in widescreen format and has been enhanced for 16×9 televisions. While the animation is on the simpler end when compared to something like Pixar, the drawings are still adorable and the visual quality and colors have transferred beautifully. The audio quality comes through beautifully and manages to compliment the video quality all the way.

Special Features:
The special features for Peppa Pig are offered in the form of two games. The first game, “Jumping into Muddy Puddles” allows your child to choose between Peppa and George with the goal of jumping in the puddles. The second game, “Happy Mrs. Chicken Game” gives the kids a chance to have a chicken laying eggs so they can watch them hatch. Other special features are fairly standard offerings.

Technorati Tags: Peppa Pig, Muddy Puddles and Other Stories, Children’s DVD, Preschool Cartoon, Toddler Television, Kid’s DVD Review