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Children's Video/DVD Review:
Baby
Road Trip: Jungle |
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Baby Road Trip
Released: 2003
Reviewed: June 2004
Our Recommended Age: 1-4
Our Rating: A-
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Buy: Baby Road Trip JUNGLE
(VHS) or Baby Road Trip JUNGLE
(DVD)
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Screenshots:
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Live-action
video, puppets, and toys make up the visuals in this
intriguing video/DVD offering that invites children to
go on a road trip from the comforts of their own
homes.
The
musical soundtrack for Baby Road Trip: Jungle is fresh, fun,
and jungle-themed. Jungle rhythms, "He's Got the Whole
World in His Hands", and melodic sounds of the wild are
a welcome change from the classical music that so often
dominates baby video soundtracks.
Although
the jungle is the destination of choice, the video is broken
down into segments that introduce little viewers to colors. For example,
"orange" is demonstrated with an orange crayon, a
vivid flower, and a child with painted hands. Words like
"lion" and "zebra" are spelled out
onscreen, letter by letter. Children are treated to
beautiful scenes of waterfalls, jungle animals, butterflies,
and more live-action sequences. Funny surprises involving
puppets and toys keep young children's attention. The
narration is somewhat sparse, so parents will need to be
involved to help boost the vocabulary-building value of the
video — which, of course, jives with the producers'
belief that videos should be a shared experience rather than
a babysitter.
In recent
years, the "baby video" market has become vast,
with some series now mass produced. The Baby Road Trip
series is friendly and sincere. Although the basic
"formula" (of puppets, live-action sequences, and
toys) used is not particularly new, the music is
refreshingly original, and the videos work, engaging
children and offering them a fun look at favorite
destinations. We found this series comparatively upbeat and
humorous — and well worth the trip!
Also
available: Baby Road Trip BEACH
and the forthcoming Baby Road trip CIRCUS.
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Buy: 
Buy: 