KNUFFLE BUNNY . . . AND MORE GREAT CHILDHOOD ADVENTURE STORIES! - DVD review

This latest entry from Scholastic/Weston Woods features one of the most honored children's books of all-time: Mo Willems' "Knuffle Bunny," which won 10 awards, including Caldecott Honor Book and the Andrew Carnegie Medal.

It's joined here by three other stories and two bonus tales. But while the title tries to tie them together by calling them "great childhood adventure stories," I think that's a stretch. They're all over the map--in the case of one story that offers up a geography lesson on Australia, quite literally! The stories are mostly well-done, but because they'll appeal to different age ranges, this one is recommended for families with multiple children. If you've got a toddler and one who's about to enter kindergarten, this DVD might be a good choice for a stocking stuffer.

Knuffle Bunny (2004) is a warm-hearted story within a story that captures children's interest (adults, too!) in a number of ways. We watch as young Trixie looks at a family photo scrapbook and hears the story of "Knuffle Bunny." The animation is minimalist, which puts the focus squarely on the relationship between the father and daughter. And you know what? They really model the perfect relationship. It's like watching "The Cosby Show" all over again, with that winning combination of humor, warmth, and closeness that makes dad seem like a friend as much as he is a parent. Then the story gets going, and we learn how one day Knuffle Bunny was lost at the laundromat, and how everyone scrambled to get Trixie's favorite stuffed animal back again. The tale itself is one that just about every child can identify with, but it's the animation and voiceover narration from the author himself that make this so spellbinding. Willems uses actual black-and-white photos of old brownstones and parks as backgrounds for his drawings. To see a hand-drawn color squirrel scampering up a black-and-white photographic tree is arresting, and so is the rest of the drawing and animation. It's one of the finest stories I've seen produced in this series. A 10, folks, and you know how stingy I can be. But it's going to appeal mostly to toddlers. Though all ages should be able to enjoy it, the subject matter will be quickly dismissed by older pres-schoolers (boys especially) as "too babyish."

Shrinking Violet (2001), written by Cari Best and illustrated by Giselle Potter, offers a style of drawing that's much harsher because of its neo-Gothic elements and a look that's not unlike paper collages in motion. Narrated by Calista Flockhart ("Ally McBeal"), this one concerns a girl named Violet who's the shyest girl in school. When she has to act in a school play, she panics. But of course it turns out the stage is the one place where Violet can be somebody else . . . somebody who's not so shy. It's a story that will resonate with children who have already been put in the position of forced performance and socialization--pre-school, possibly, but I'm guessing more like kindergarten and first grade. More than the other stories on this disc, this one will appeal mostly to girls because of the point of view and emphasis. A 7 out of 10.

Possum Magic (1983) is the most curious of all. Illustrated by Julie Vivas and written and narrated by Mem Fox, the story concerns a possum family. It turns out that Grandma Poss has used magic to make Hush invisible, and when she wants to see what she looks like Grandma Poss has to search the continent for the right ingredients to reverse the spell. Children see a map of Australia with cities shown, and also learn about Australian food staples and treats along the way. This one I can see shown during a rainy recess or used to augment lessons on Australia, but it's a noticeably older style of illustration. Does it work for home schooling? Yes, but it's the only "lesson" oriented story on this disc, which makes it a little weird. Another 7 out of 10.

Planting a Rainbow (1988) is one long extended metaphor, really, about planting a garden that erupts into a "rainbow of color" quite literally in this story. A mother and her child plant and tend a garden and watch it erupt. Nothing much more happens. Call it the equivalent of a non-rhyming poem that, with its bright primary colors, will appeal mostly to toddlers. The story is written and illustrated by Louis Ehlert. Another 7 out of 10.

(See below for bonus stories)

Video:
The video quality is up to par, with bright colors, very little grain, and a sharpness that's pleasing to the eye. It's not HD by any means, but for juvenile video the quality has always been good in this series, and this disc is no exception. The stories are presented in 1.33:1 aspect ratio.

Audio:
Stories in this series are presented in English Dolby Digital 2.0 Stereo, and while there's nothing in the sound to blow anyone away, there's no distortion and the sound seems clear and pure. Good balance of bass and treble, too, with bright high-notes.

Extras:

Brave Irene (1986) has already made an appearance on another Scholastic release, and is recycled here presumably because someone thought they needed another "adventure" story. Well, this one at least qualifies. Though the character is a girl, the challenge is enough to where pre-school boys might also find the story fascinating. It's a simple one, really, from William Steig. Lindsay Crouse narrates the story of young Irene, who has to rise to the occasion and brave a snowstorm in order to deliver a dress that her mother had made for the Duchess. The style of drawing is a nice blend of quaintness and warmth, which really complements the frigid thematics. An 8 out of 10.

Will I Have a Friend? (1967) is the oldest story on the disc, a simple fears-not-realized tale that will speak to pre-schoolers who are anxious about entering kindergarten. Miriam Cohen's story, which is illustrated by Lillian Hoban and narrated by David de Vries, takes the right direction when it makes the main character a boy, because it ensures that both genders will find the story useful. At this age, girls are much less apt to jettison any story featuring the opposite gender. Though it shows its age, this story is still a good one. It's just that, as with "Possum Magic," it seems so geared toward a very specific age range. A 7 out of 10.

Bottom Line:
For many parents, the title story will be enough of a reason to buy this DVD. It's a wonderful film adaptation of a beloved children's book. "Brave Irene" is the other gem here. But as I said, because the stories are all over the map when it comes to target ages, this DVD will get the most play in families that have a toddler AND a child ready to enter kindergarten.