Parents need to know that this straight-to-video story of friendship among young dinosaurs feels like what it is, the twelfth attempt to wring life out of the charming movie that started it all, The Land Before Time. Themes of friendship, being true to yourself, and learning to cope with the arrival of a new sibling are always welcome for the preschool set this movie targets. But it's a hard slog for parents and kids older than 6.

Families can talk about how Petrie the pterodactyl finds the courage to fly in his own style. How did his friends Cera, Littlefoot, and especially Guido give him encouragement? Have you ever encouraged your friends to do something they were scared to do? For families with new younger siblings on the way, Cera's story is a good opportunity to talk about how life may change when the new baby arrives. Since many preschoolers are fascinated by dinosaurs, they may want to look up the real names of the "long neck," "sharptooth," and "three horn" characters.