Scholastic Video // 2010 // 60 Minutes // Not Rated
Reviewed by Judge David Johnson // May 26th, 2010
...and more stories to celebrate the environment.
Here's Scholastic with another batch of read-along stories, plucked from the vaults and tied together with the tenuous theme of environmentalism that doesn't quite shake out. The title segment is more a sing-along than a read-along. He's Got the Whole Word in His Hands is a song I remember singing in Sunday School and I don't quite see how it reflects the disc's synopsis, that calls it "the beloved folk song that celebrates the connection between people and nature." Who's the "He" in that sentence? Jake from Avatar? Still, catchy tune and it features easy to follow lyrics on the screen.
The fun continues with three more stories:
"Giving Thanks: A Native American Good Morning Message"
Written and performed by Chief Jake Swamp (awesome name!), this recitation comes
complete with authentic Native American verbiage and a reverence to Mother
Earth.
"Come On, Rain"
Tess is a little girl who can't take the
scorching summer heat and bellows out to nature for some refreshing rain and
SPOILER! it rains,
"Owl Moon"
This might the fiftieth time I've seen "Owl
Moon" on one of these Scholastic compilation discs, but what do you expect?
It's a classic.
In addition, you get three more stories that are barely about the environment: "The Tale of the Mandarin Ducks," "Patrick," and "A Boy, a Dog and a Frog." Sixty minutes worth of entertainment, presented in boilerplate full frame and 2.0 stereo.
Not Guilty. All hail Mother Earth!
Review content copyright © 2010 David Johnson; Site layout and review format copyright © 1998 - 2013 HipClick Designs LLC
Scales of Justice
Judgment: 80
Perp Profile
Studio: Scholastic Video
Video Formats:
* Full Frame
Audio Formats:
* Dolby Digital 2.0 Stereo (English)
Subtitles:
* English
Running Time: 60 Minutes
Release Year: 2010
MPAA Rating: Not Rated
Distinguishing Marks
* Read-Along
Accomplices
* None