The Land Before Time (G, 2003)

While scores of dinosaurs are on the move to find food during a massive drought, a baby long-necked dinosaur is born. His mom and grandparents, coo and ahh and name him Littlefoot. When a rambunctious little three-horned dinosaur named Cera (Candace Hutson) tries to engage the newborn in play, Littlefoot's family discourages him from consorting with her kind of dinosaur. But the kid dinosaurs must unite when a ferocious T-rex kills Littlefoot's mother and an earthquake creates a massive schism separating them from loved ones. Littlefoot and Cera are joined by Petrie, Ducky, and Spike in their journey to the Great Valley, where food and families are sure to await them.

THE LAND BEFORE TIME is a very simple story, nicely animated, that both gives kids some perky characters to follow and shows them the kind of earth dinosaurs roamed. Viewers see how changes in the earth's climate forced dinosaurs to roam long distances to find food, and how earthquakes, volcanoes, and even other dinosaurs made survival difficult. In the beginning we learn that Littlefoot is the only hope for future generations of longnecks. His friends represent different types of dinosaurs -- such as those that could fly or swim.

Apart from the factual-based content, the movie conveys lessons kids will relate to. The baby pterodactyl Petrie finds flying too difficult, but with courage finally achieves it. Stubborn Cera thinks she doesn't need any help from anyone else, but sees that she does need her friends and they need her, too. Although he's told that dinosaurs stick with their own kind, Littlefoot is a friend to everyone. Each kind of dinosaur has unique abilities that help the group survive.