| 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. |
Parents need to know that these animated versions of children's books are about as close to reading as you can get without a book. The stories are simple and sweet, and the animation is nicely done but not overpowering. Families can watch together and can "read" the stories using the "read along" feature on the extras menu.
SCHOLASTIC VIDEO COLLECTION: TIKKI TIKKI TEMBO features three unique stories. Set in China, "Tikki Tikki Tembo" centers on a boy whose parents gave him a very auspicious name, one that causes him a bit of trouble. In "The Tender Tale of Cinderella Penguin," every character, from the fairy godmother to the mice, are penguins. And a hippo pleads with the god of Everything and Everywhere for permission to live in the cool water instead of the hot land in "Hot Hippo."
Watching this disc is like being read to. The best story is one with no words at all -- "The Tender Tale of Cinderella Penguin" is full of funny details (a unicorn tapestry on the wall features a penguin with a long horn) and wonderful animation. "Hot Hippo" is another outstanding offering.
Two bonus stories are not as top quality -- the version of "Little Red Riding Hood" isn't anything special, and a West African folklore story about Anansi isn't well-animated. But for the most part these are lovely stories, turned into lovely animations. All the stories here will encourage discussion and comparison to other books, making them perfect for families to watch together.
Families can talk about how these stories compare to other books.
| Studio: | Scholastic |
| Director: | Syd Hoff |
| Cast: | Karma Wilson |
| Genre: | Family and Kids |
| Run time: | 52 minutes |
| Theatrical release date: | June 12, 2005 |
| DVD release date: | June 26, 2005 |
| MPAA rating: | NR |
| MPAA explanation: | not rated |