 | ON: Content is age-appropriate for kids this age. |
 | PAUSE: Know your child; some content may not be right for some kids. |
 | OFF: Not age-appropriate for kids this age. |
 | NOT FOR KIDS: Not appropriate for kids any age. |
The Shelly T. Turtle Show: Ant's Life and Other Bugs
- Review Date: April 18, 2005
- NR
- Genre: Family and Kids
- 1991
Common Sense Media says
Educational, funny nature show.
Parents say
Kids say
What parents need to know
Parents need to know that young audiences will see all kinds of bugs -- real and animated -- along with original rhymes, songs, and dialogue. Then, kids learn about a whole spectrum of animals, from barking dogs to seal families. This is definitely educational, and comparable to Sesame Street, the mixture of basic concepts with animation and funny narration makes this video a "must-see" for young children. Songs, rhymes, and interactive narration will work their imaginations, but it may not appeal to those above first or second grade.
What's the story?
First shown on PBS stations, The Shelly T. Turtle Show releases two of its best episodes on this educational and tuneful video. Audiences will be amused by one beetle's plight to turn back over onto its tummy. Ants chew away at leaves, only to find themselves flying to the ground. Buzzy the Bee searches for nectar in pretty flowers. Bear cubs wrestle with each other, while we learn about their paws and claws. Cheetahs' spots are another hot topic, as well as the shells of tortoises. Most of all, interesting animation, dialogue, and narration create a dynamic video that kids of younger age groups will enjoy.
Is it any good?
At first glance, adults will most likely think of THE SHELLY T. TURTLE SHOW: ANT'S LIFE AND OTHER BUGS as another rendition of Sesame Street -- that is, perhaps a little more interesting than most children's television. No problem! For television-savvy kids, this mix of interesting animation and funny narration is just what they need. One 2-year-old viewer became a copycat of the dialogue being used. Visual footage is emphasized as well, with the pace fast enough for a preschooler's/kindergartner's attention span, yet slow enough for them to learn a few things. Not only is real footage used, but also some decent animation.
In addition, there is nothing like original rhymes and songs to nail down the importance of language use. Educational concepts are brought into the video and then reinforced with quality rhymes and songs. Thanks to the producers, there is also a review of each episode's content at the end. Obviously, they know that kids need a little repetition in order to fully learn a concept.
What families can talk about
Families can talk about whether they think this series is fun, if they learned new things from them, and why a video like this one can make learning so much fun.
There aren't any reviews yet. Be the first to review this title below.
| Genre: | Family and Kids |
| Run time: | 60 minutes |
| Theatrical release date: | January 1, 1991 |
| DVD release date: | January 1, 1991 |
| MPAA rating: | NR |
| MPAA explanation: | not rated |
Review It
Great alternatives handpicked by our editors
vote now
Will you see The Shelly T. Turtle Show: Ant's Life and Other Bugs?
Already seen it? What do you think?
More from Common Sense Media
Top advice and articles
