Common Sense Media Review
By Carrie R. Wheadon
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Globetrotting dino treats tots to dynamite dances.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 2+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Watch
What's the Story?
Barney's friends Tracy and Ben want to have a party and are looking for some inspiration. Lucky for them the Imagination Train is on hand to whisk them around the globe where they see all kinds of celebrations and meet new friends. In Brazil kids dance the samba in their carnival costumes; in Ireland Barney shows St. Patrick's Day dancers he can keep up with the Lord of the Dance any day; in Japan new kimono-ed friends celebrate the Cherry Blossom Festival; in Kenya families hold a lively music festival; and in India it's time for Diwali with dancing and treats. When Ben and Tracy return to plan their party they finally agree on a theme: friendship.
Is It Any Good?
Barney on TV may be tough for parents to sit through, but this DVD makes the task a little easier, thanks to all the lively international dancing -- mostly by kids in traditional dress. Kids love the big purple guy and he's always passing on such nice lessons for kids to hear, so we make the effort to hang in there, even though and it's impossible to get that "I love you, you love me" song out of your head days later.
Mixed in with all the jigging and samba-ing there are still a number of ditties on ice cream, taking turns, playing outside, trying new things, and more. They really pack in the songs to the point where this is a bit long for kids to sit through. Better to take it a few countries at a time, getting up to samba whenever the mood strikes.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about dancing. What dances did you like? Can you dance like the kids from Kenya or from India? Can you put on loud shoes and make tapping noises with your feet like the dancers from Ireland?
Movie Details
- In theaters : October 24, 2008
- On DVD or streaming : January 29, 2008
- Cast : Brenna Demerson , Emilio Mazur , Sophia Ali
- Director : Fred Holmes
- Inclusion Information : Female Movie Actor(s) , Middle Eastern/North African Movie Actor(s)
- Studio : Twentieth Century Fox Home Entertainment
- Genre : Family and Kids
- Topics : Animals ( Dinosaurs ) , Friendship , Arts ( Music and Sing-Along )
- Run time : 54 minutes
- MPAA rating :
- Last updated : October 1, 2025
Did we miss something on diversity?
Research shows a connection between kids' healthy self-esteem and positive portrayals in media. That's why we've added a new "Diverse Representations" section to our reviews that will be rolling out on an ongoing basis. You can help us help kids by
Suggest an Update
Common Sense Media's unbiased ratings are created by expert reviewers and aren't influenced by the product's creators or by any of our funders, affiliates, or partners.
See how we rate