Movie Details
Starring
Genre
More details

A Very Brave Witch and More Great Halloween Stories for Kids (NR)

common sense media says

Animated Scholastic stories spook preschoolers just a tad.


parents & educators say

What parents need to know

Parents need to know that spooky music and exaggerated voices are the only potentially frightening elements of this Halloween-themed collection of short films. Witches, ghosts, and robbers all make appearances, and while their presence might raise tensions for the youngest children, nothing truly scary happens.

Positive messages: "A Very Brave Witch" teaches that assumptions and stereotypes are often wrong when a little witch ventures out to meet some "scary" humans. "Georgie" explores the feeling of being unwanted. "The Three Robbers" subtly explores repentance when the bad guys become good and rescue orphans.
Positive role models: Several characters show bravery, empathy, good friendship skills, and smarts, but the characters are not explicitly designed to be role models.
Violence: It's more the concept of witches and ghosts that provides the fright in these stories rather than any specific scary event. In "A Dark, Dark Tale" viewers are led through a spooky house by a deep-voiced narrator who builds tension with each step until the climax -- a mouse hiding in a box! "The Three Robbers" briefly shows an ax and some threatening behavior with a "blunderbuss."

More on A Very Brave Witch and More Great Halloween Stories for Kids

What to talk about

Talk to your kids
  • Families can talk about real and pretend. What kinds of characters in the movies are real and which are pretend?

  • Why do people dress up on Halloween and other occasions?

  • Which story was your favorite, and why?

What's the story?

What's the story?

Eight Halloween-themed stories bring popular and lesser-known books alive for children. The DVD includes a read-along option where kids can follow the text at the bottom of the screen. The stories -- "A Very Brave Witch," "By the Light of the Halloween Moon," "A Dark, Dark Tale," "Georgie," "The Witch in the Cherry Tree," The Three-Legged Cat," "The Three Robbers," and "Little Tim and the Brave Sea Captain" -- cover the familiar spooky territory of witches, ghosts, the dark, and storms in a variety of ways. "A Very Brave Witch," narrated by Elle Fanning, tells the story of a girl witch who explores stereotypes about humans and is pleasantly surprised. "The Witch and the Cherry Tree" features a sneaky witch who tries to trick a boy into giving her cupcakes.

Is it any good?

Is it any good?
 

With eight stories in the collection, quality and kid-appeal varies from story to story, but each has some charming or attractive element. Some stories, like "A Dark, Dark Tale" and "By the Light of the Halloween Moon," involve very little narrative, but offer sweet introductions to sprites, witches, and other traditionally scary characters. The variety in animation (three stories feature only still illustrations), narration, and music make this a pleasant mix of simple and more complex seasonal tales that most kids will enjoy throughout the year.

Movie themes & details

Movie Details
Studio: Scholastic
Cast: Elle Fanning
Genre: Family and Kids
Run time: 69 minutes
DVD release: September 29, 2009
MPAA Rating: NR

This review was written by Sierra Filucci
 
 

Review It

 

Review A Very Brave Witch and More Great Halloween Stories for Kids





Hang on! You need to be a member to post your review.
A safe community is important to us. Please observe our guidelines.
 

There aren’t any reviews yet. Ask your friends to review this title.

An independent voice for families
Age-appropriate reviews
 

vote now

Will you see A Very Brave Witch and More Great Halloween Stories for Kids?


Already seen it? What do you think?

 

About our rating system
ON: Content is 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