Disney's Little Einsteins: Rocket's Firebird Rescue

Once again, the Little Einsteins series cleverly weaves light-hearted, kid-friendly fun with educational cultural elements. Like other movies in the Little Einsteins series, Rocket's Firebird Rescue introduces kids to classical music, cultural themes, and exotic locations. Set in Russia, the animated DVD touches on a Russian folk tale about a magical firebird. It also features the music of Igor Stravinsky, who composed a ballet called The Firebird.

Kids will especially enjoy participating in the fast-paced sequence where Quincy wards off a pack of villains by playing a variety of musical instruments. Indeed, audience participation is highly stressed in this series, and the characters often invite young viewers to dance, sing, or "conduct" along with the action on-screen. Meanwhile, the scares are mild; the villains, innocuous. The Little Einsteins battle sweet-faced soldiers by dancing them to sleep, and they sing to melt a snowstorm that threatens to bury their rocket. In the process, kids learn the meaning of terms like "adagio" and "arabesque."