Education/Instructional Titles from KIDS FIRST!

The Education/Instructional category has 551 KIDS FIRST! endorsed titles
Below are records 1 - 50 of them
sorted alphabetically

KIDS FIRST! has linked to external websites through which you may order many of the KIDS FIRST! endorsed titles

20,000 LEAGUES UNDER THE SEA READSPEAK INC. Description - While setting sail in search or a green-eyed sea monster, 11-year-old Beth, her brother, and a skilled harpoonist become unwilling passengers of a futuristic submarine designed and run by 12-year-old Nemo, an eccentric scientist. Captioned with ReadSpeak. KIDS FIRST!® Adult Jurors say - Excellent presentation in movie quality, story, acting, and setting. Wonderful special effects, especially the ReadSpeak captioning which literally has the words appear as they are spoken. Children are encouraged to read and explore classic literature. KIDS FIRST!® Kid Jurors say - Kids loved it. "It was fun. I related with the actors because they're kids." "It was interesting how no one liked Ned until he found a way to save the others. Then, they all became friends." "I liked that the admiral was a girl." Runtime: 48 minutes KIDS FIRST! Juror Recommended Age: 6-13 Suggested Retail Price: $ 19.95 Media: VIDEO

A TO ZAP! SUNBURST TECHNOLOGY/HOUGHTON MIFFLIN Description - Teaches letters and words. Explores concepts such as over and under or quick versus slow. Offers 26 different activities. KIDS FIRST!® Adult Jurors say - Easy to use. Fun, interactive approach. Good characters. Kids liked the orchestra at the beginning and the variety of activities. It does require small-muscle coordination, making it somewhat difficult for the youngest users. KIDS FIRST!® Kid Jurors say - Really nice, especially the orchestra section at the beginning and the various activities throughout. Kids said they would play it at least once or twice. Platform: DUAL platform KIDS FIRST! Juror Recommended Age: 3-7 Suggested Retail Price: $ 14.95 Media: CDROM ISBN # 0-7805-0443-7

ABC'S & SUCH WATERFORD INSTITUTE Series: RUSTY & ROSY Description - Teaches names, shapes and sounds of letters. Contains different versions of the "ABC Song." An animation sequence for each letter forms its shape with objects or animals. KIDS FIRST!® Adult Jurors say - Educational and fun. Good reinforcement. Encourages participation. Good music. Moves a little slowly at times. Uses rote method of learning. KIDS FIRST!® Kid Jurors say - Good for three- to five-year-olds. Has lots of repetition and is easy to understand. Interaction required of kids is well done. Runtime: 35 minutes KIDS FIRST! Juror Recommended Age: 2-6 Suggested Retail Price: $ 24.95 Media: VIDEO

ABC'S OF TEACHING ABC'S, THE SOS VIDEOS Description - How to teach the alphabet while going about daily activities. Puts parents back into the picture by encouraging them to act as their child's first teacher. KIDS FIRST!® Adult Jurors say - Supports concept of "parents as children's first teachers," showing how kids learn through everyday activities. Adults felt there was too much pressure placed on kids to learn without having fun. Some phonics' information is inaccurate. Runtime: 14 minutes KIDS FIRST! Juror Recommended Age: ADULT-ADULT Suggested Retail Price: $ 14.95 Media: VIDEO

ACTIVE PARENTING TODAY ACTIVE PARENTING PUBLISHERS Description - Develop courage, responsibility and self-esteem in your child, using Active Parenting principles. Contains an hour of video illustrating styles of parenting, effective non-violent discipline skills and logical consequences. KIDS FIRST!® Adult Jurors say - Content is very good with realistic lessons that are valuable to any parent. The presentation lacks appeal. The video clips are only a few inches in diameter, the narrator is dull, and it lacks flexibility, forcing constant review of some segments. Platform: WIN platform KIDS FIRST! Juror Recommended Age: ADULT-ADULT Suggested Retail Price: $ 39.95 Media: CDROM ISBN # 1-880283-23-9

ADIBOO: DISCOVER MUSIC, MELODY & RHYME KNOWLEDGE ADVENTURE/VIVENDI-UNIVERSAL Series: ADIBOO Description - Children join Adiboo, their whimsical and inquisitive playmate, on an exciting journey to explore magical play and learning lands. Investigates music, melody and rhyme. KIDS FIRST!® Adult Jurors say - Good visuals, format, content. Music and endearing characters an added bonus. Provides good feedback but relies on the help icon too much. "Kids don't want to read help files and parents don't want to either." KIDS FIRST!® Kid Jurors say - Liked it, easy to operate and follow. "It was fun, and had cool stuff to do." Liked composing music and printing their own artwork. Didn't like the aggressive monster. "We had trouble with the puzzles, but it tried to help us." Platform: WIN/MAC platform KIDS FIRST! Juror Recommended Age: 5-8 Suggested Retail Price: $ 30 Media: CDROM

ADVENTURES IN OZ WITH CHERYL OZSOME ENTERPRISES Series: ADVENTURES IN OZ WITH CHERYL Description - Includes: The Emerald City, Munchkinland, and Yellow Brick Road. Dorothy - played by former American Gladiator Cheryl Silch - and her friends finally meet the Great Oz, only to find that he is couch potato. When they find the (N)Ice Witch, Dorothy uses fitness and exercise to reverse the spell over the Land of Oz. KIDS FIRST!® Adult Jurors say - Fast-paced and bright. Cheerful music and eye-popping graphics. Exercises are more advanced than in parts one and two in the series; story more complex. Emphasizes teamwork and self-improvement. KIDS FIRST!® Kid Jurors say - Sang, exercised and listened. Younger kids were frustrated by advanced exercises; those familiar with Oz were disappointed that the story varied from the original. "The exercises are good." "We learned not to have tantrums." "I set goals for myself, too." Runtime: 46 minutes KIDS FIRST! Juror Recommended Age: 7-10 Suggested Retail Price: $ 29.95 Media: DVD ISBN # 0-971682577       for only $5.95 - You Save $24

ADVENTURES IN THE GREAT STONE BALLOON A FULL SERVICE IMAGINATION Series: ADVENTURES IN THE GREAT STONE BALLOON Description - In this adventure video and activity book, Martha Lambert and her balloon crew take an imaginative ride to learn about dinosaurs. They help prepare a dinosaur picnic, speak to Mother Earth about why dinosaurs are extinct and create stories. KIDS FIRST!® Adult Jurors say - Creative, absorbing, engaging. Excellent animation and production. Fascinating to watch, listen to and think about. Challenging and interactive. Greatly respects children and their abilities. Reading, writing and imagining are explored. KIDS FIRST!® Kid Jurors say - Good and funny. Appealing to both boys and girls, but especially to kids who are already reading. "The singing was good. Mother Earth was cute." "I liked when the dinosaurs fell over and died." "We sang along with the dinosaur song." Runtime: 51 minutes KIDS FIRST! Juror Recommended Age: 7-10 Suggested Retail Price: $ 19.95 Media: VIDEO

ADVENTURES OF COOKIEHOOD, THE SESAME WORKSHOP Click to purchase directly from the producer Series: SESAME STREET Description - Cookie Monster is in search of cookies, but every time he comes upon them he is told he cannot have any. Cookie Monster fights his instincts and refrains from eating the cookies. But someone steals the cookies and Cookie Monster is blamed. KIDS FIRST!® Adult Jurors say - Classic Sesame Street programming. Characters deal with emotionally charged themes kids relate to: lies, honesty, sharing. Educational, challenging and entertaining. Strong diversity. "There are good reasons why Sesame Street has been around for years." KIDS FIRST!® Kid Jurors say - Found it engaging. Maintained a high focus for periods of time if not for the entire hour. Danced and interacted, talking to characters as though they are real. Were very interested in kids bathing outside in buckets. "I want to bake cookies with Mom." Runtime: 58: minutes KIDS FIRST! Juror Recommended Age: 2-5 Suggested Retail Price: $ 19.99 Media: VIDEO This title is available for purchase from SESAME WORKSHOP

ADVENTURES OF TEDDY P. BRAINS, THE FOURTH AND ONE PRODUCTIONS INC. This title has online video! Series: INDEPENDENT SHORT, AGES 5-8 Description - When six-year old Teddy waves a magical diploma, a spaceship appears enabling him, his cousin Tempest and his dog D'Artagnan to travel in time and through space to save the rain forest. KIDS FIRST!® Adult Jurors say - Presentation is just right for the targeted age group. Interesting, educational and includes good questions related to the content. Teddy has great adventures and the program is quite educational. The pace changes continually throughout the presentation making it fun and engaging. Good storyline. Production slightly amateurish. Teddy and Tempest act like typical 6-year-olds. "I loved the brain workout at the end with the other questions about the content." The animation of the animals is also well done. "I would like to see the mouths of the characters match their words." It celebrates diversity, culture, intelligence, movement and environmental consciousness. Kids will relate to the idea of traveling in a spaceship, going on a journey and exploring other "worlds." There are some scenes that might be too scary for younger kids. KIDS FIRST!® Kid Jurors say - Enjoyed it. "I liked watching it because it is funny. I also learned about the rain forest." "It reminds me of Dora the Explorer." "It was like watching cartoons - fun." "Teddy has to find out about some beans and how to use them to make the world a better place - that's cool." "The rain forest looks real, and so do the animals there." "Good sounds." They enjoyed the educational aspect of the show. "I learned that we should all help to keep the rain forests." Runtime: 60 minutes KIDS FIRST! Juror Recommended Age: 5-8 Suggested Retail Price: $ 19.95 Media: DVD

ADVENTURES OF WALKER AND PING PING: THE CHINESE MARKET (LEARN CHINESE) LITTLE EMPEROR LLC Click to purchase directly from the producer Series: SHORT, AGES 2-5 Description - A quick shake of the joss sticks and our heroes Walker and Ping Ping are off on their adventures through China. In this episode, our favorite group of explorers heads to the busy alleyways of a Chinese street market. KIDS FIRST!® Adult Jurors say - Wonderful show that explores Chinese culture and language. The premise of the show, of an American boy moving to China and learning about his new home, provides the perfect opportunity for his exploration. Brilliantly colored, 2D animation. Very engaging. The animation is well done with truly spectacular use of light. The score is wonderful. It is hip with a classic Chinese sensibility to it and the theme song as well as other songs are catchy and well produced. This offers a great way to learn some vocabulary in Mandarin Chinese. The story is fun and the animation beautiful. The key character, Walker provides a good guide for exploring Chinese language and lifestyle. The structure is somewhat like a Chinese version of the best-selling series, Dora the Explorer. The storyline is simple enough for young children to follow and well paced. Excellent production quality. Their website offers additional information and insight. KIDS FIRST!® Kid Jurors say - Outstanding! Kids loved it. They loved learning how to make Chinese food and about Chinese culture, art and language. (They learned how to say "nee hau.") Many repeated the Chinese words throughout the show. They really enjoyed the music and danced around to the song that came on in the middle of the program. They understood that they were learning about things in the Chinese market. The colors and sound were well appreciated, as was the music. One boy had been to the Chinese market and knew how to use chopsticks. Two tried to copy the calligraphy afterwards. Runtime: 24 minutes KIDS FIRST! Juror Recommended Age: 2-8 Suggested Retail Price: $ 11.99 Media: DVD This title is available for purchase from LITTLE EMPEROR LLC

ADVENTURES OF WALKER AND PING PING: THE GREAT WALL (LEARN CHINESE) LITTLE EMPEROR LLC Click to purchase directly from the producer Series: SHORT, AGES 2-5 Description - A quick shake of the joss sticks and our heroes Walker and Ping Ping are off on their adventures through China. In this debut episode, our favorite group of explorers tours the Great Wall of China, from the Gobi Desert to the Bohai Sea. KIDS FIRST!® Adult Jurors say - Wonderful animated exploration of Chinese culture and language, explored through the eyes of an American boy, Walker who has moved to China and is learning about his new surroundings. Brilliantly colored, 2D animation. Very engaging, adorable characters, great animation, excellent musical score. Walker and his dog meet a young girl, Ping Pink who becomes his guide for exploring China and its language. It follows a simple storyline that provides a little adventure young children can relate to. Ping Ping's Grandpa takes the children to the Great Wall of China where they learn about its history. The characters are very respectful and the scenes are very interesting. Very good production quality. Introducing children to a new culture is always a good idea. Since the Beijing Olympics have put China at the top of today's news stories, kids' curiosity is peeked about this country on the other side of the world. What a great opportunity to turn that interest into a lesson that will serve kids well. Learning about China and its culture is a very timely thing. For additional information, visit their website: http://www.walkerandpingping.com KIDS FIRST!® Kid Jurors say - Outstanding. Girls enjoyed it better than boys. They loved learning the Chinese words and seeing the images from China. "Yes, we learned to speak Chinese and we practiced new words." They liked Ping Ping, her grandpa and Walker's dog. They also liked the idea of going off on an adventure, and learning about the Great Wall of China. Runtime: 25 minutes KIDS FIRST! Juror Recommended Age: - Suggested Retail Price: $ 11.99 Media: DVD This title is available for purchase from LITTLE EMPEROR LLC

ADVENTURES WITH WINK & BLINK: DAY IN THE LIFE OF A FIREFIGHTER, A LAUREL HILL ENTERTAINMENT Series: ADVENTURES WITH WINK AND BLINK Description - Join Wink and Blink as they explore the fire department to figure out their pal Magic Door's favorite fire safety lesson. Packed with elarning, laughs and fun, emphasizes essential fire safety lessons that kids can really use. KIDS FIRST!® Adult Jurors say - Lovely presentation about safety. Kids should be able to understand and relate to the characters. Well done. Bright, colorful. Cute characters. Fast past, perfect for holding kids' interest. Very engaging. KIDS FIRST!® Kid Jurors say - Liked it a lot. "It was funny." "The characters all helped one another." "My friends would like it because of the humor." "We learned how to be safe in a fire." This is a funny DVD. The kids were actively involved, talking back to the characters and answering questions. Runtime: 35 minutes KIDS FIRST! Juror Recommended Age: 3-6 Suggested Retail Price: $ 9.98 Media: DVD ISBN # 0-9753885-5-X       This title is available for purchase from Amazon.com

AFTER SCHOOL CHINESE: MANDARIN CHINESE LEVEL 1 MASTER COMMUNICATIONS Click to purchase directly from the producer Series: AFTER SCHOOL CHINESE Description - This all inclusive language course utilizing authentic content and proven methodology will have children speaking Chinese at the very first lesson. The course encourages and engages children to explore the Chinese language and culture filmed in China. KIDS FIRST!® Adult Jurors say - Excellent program. Very well designed. Right away, you get it. This program is very comprehensive, makes good use of repetition. Each word or phrase is spoken by both a man and a woman which helps hear how the pronunciation might vary slightly. Designed to be used by persons who know nothing about the Chinese language. "I would definitely recommend this to someone who is serious about learning Chinese." KIDS FIRST!® Kid Jurors say - We tested this with Chinese speakers as well as non-Chinese speakers. Chinese speakers thought it was simplified and easy to understand. Non-Chinese speakers were definitely challenged but, by the end of the first lesson, they were indeed speaking Chinese. "It is so different from English or Spanish. I thought it would be easier." Our jurors did not get through the entire program, due to its length and complexity but they definitely got a lot out of the portion they did complete. They enjoyed seeing the Chinese people and how they interacted. "They had nice manners. I liked seeing the children at their school. It was cool to see the students." Younger kids enjoyed the Cd-Roms, older ones were very interested in the workbook. Runtime: 120 minutes KIDS FIRST! Juror Recommended Age: 8-18 Suggested Retail Price: $ 195.95 Media: DVD ISBN # 1888194731 This title is available for purchase from MASTER COMMUNICATIONS

ALGEBRA WORLD COGNITIVE TECHNOLOGIES CORP. Description - Highly interactive math-building tools covering equations, ratios, percentages, variables, geometry and negative numbers. Kids solve a mystery while exploring these math challenges. Has three skill levels and a user-tracking feature. KIDS FIRST!® Adult Jurors say - Good teaching tool for difficult concepts. Program offers activities covering skills such as problem-solving and introduces algebraic concepts. Puzzles are difficult. Excellent 3-D graphics, great music. KIDS FIRST!® Kid Jurors say - Challenging and fun on different levels. Made kids think and come up with solutions. Kids enjoyed the graphics. "I like building my own shapes." "I didn't know algebra was fun." The different levels are really useful. Platform: DUAL platform KIDS FIRST! Juror Recommended Age: 12-18 Suggested Retail Price: $ 39.95 Media: CDROM

Watch video of this title: ALL ABOARD AMERICA BALD EAGLE MEDIA, INC. This title has online video! Description - Join Rudy, the giant Bald Eagle, as he flies across America with his friends to visit the country's most awe-inspiring landmarks. KIDS FIRST!® Adult Jurors say - Educational and entertaining. Good music, animation, historical information. Well structured as Rudy, the bald eagle takes the kids on an exploration of America. Traditional songs are played throughout the film. Monumental figures are very descriptive of the roles they played in American history. They are very animated with distinct personalities. The only short-coming is that it lacks information about Blacks, Hispanics, Native Americans, or women in history. More information than a pre-schooler can fully absorb but it is fun, not confusing, and well animated. KIDS FIRST!® Kid Jurors say - A hit with 4 - 6-year-olds. One four-year-old has asked repeatedly to watch it again and again, even though it's a bit long, his attention hasn't wavered during three screenings. "I like the eagle who flew them around and sang. I like everything about it - a lot!." Even the quiz is a hit. "Stuck a feather in his cap and called it macaroni" was a new and humorous idea to some. A special needs child commented, "It was happy." "I want to go to those places." Runtime: 39 minutes KIDS FIRST! Juror Recommended Age: 4-12 Suggested Retail Price: $ 19.98 Media: DVD ISBN # 7/15/2007

ALL ABOUT HEALTH & HYGIENE SCHLESSINGER MEDIA, INC. Series: HUMAN BODY FOR CHILDREN Description - Teaches young students how and why people get sick, and what they can do to help keep themselves strong and healthy. Clear, real-life examples and graphics show kids the value of practicing good hygiene and staying healthy. KIDS FIRST!® Adult Jurors say - Excellent presentation of a relevant topic. Lively and fun, with snappy graphics and good music. Great organization and format. Vocabulary is a little steep but well supported with visuals and explanations. "Our school nurse loved it." KIDS FIRST!® Kid Jurors say - Very enthusiastic responses. "It's fun to know about our bodies." "I liked those kids talking to explain things." Biggest hit of all: animation of microbes multiplying. "I liked when the germs exploded." "We liked when the worms (germs) went into people." Runtime: 23 minutes KIDS FIRST! Juror Recommended Age: 5-10 Suggested Retail Price: $ 29.95 Media: VIDEO ISBN # 1-57225-421-1

ALL BY MYSELF: GETTING DRESSED, VOLUME 1 ALL BY MYSELF, INC. Series: ALL BY MYSELF Description - Created to inspire self-empowerment, self-sufficiency, responsibility and a healthy independence. Kids learn by watching other kids, and they get to see lots of other kids dress themselves with some positive coaching from a narrating animated lady bug. KIDS FIRST!® Adult Jurors say - Helpful concept. Well produced; cute music and animation. Inspiring for little ones. Shows kids trying different ways of getting pants on - hopping, laying down, standing up - and giggling through frustrations. Offers lots of positive re-enforcement. KIDS FIRST!® Kid Jurors say - Some started checking their own clothes for zippers and tags. "It was funny. I saw underwear." "I want to learn how to snap my jeans." "I liked learning how to put my clothes on." "I liked the ladybug." Best watched in segments. Runtime: 30 minutes KIDS FIRST! Juror Recommended Age: 2-4 Suggested Retail Price: $ 15.95 Media: DVD ISBN # 0971543488       This title is available for purchase from Amazon.com

ALL BY MYSELF: TAKING CARE OF MY PET, VOL. 2 ALL BY MYSELF, INC. Series: ALL BY MYSELF Description - Encourages children to get involved and participate in the family responsibilities of having a pet. KIDS FIRST!® Adult Jurors say - Wonderful production that encourages kids to be responsible and motivates them to do the job by themselves which instills a sense of pride and satisfaction of a job well done. Buddy the Ladybug as host is terrific. Content on the mark. Well produced. KIDS FIRST!® Kid Jurors say - Kids loved it. "It taught us how to take care of pets, to be kind, to not hurt the animals." Even the youngest wandered around a bit but became attentive during the animated segments. They tapped their feet, danced, and played drums to the music. Runtime: 30 minutes KIDS FIRST! Juror Recommended Age: 2-5 Suggested Retail Price: $ 15.95 Media: VIDEO ISBN # 0971543453       This title is available for purchase from Amazon.com

ALL CREATURES GREAT AND SMALL GAIAM Series: BABY GOOD SPORTS GANG Description - Introduces eight animals that live in God's world and an opportunity for parents to teach their baby animal names and the concept of large and small. Engaging animation and motion photography of real animals are underscored with classical music. KIDS FIRST!® Adult Jurors say - Beautiful photography of unusual animals. Good music. Opens and closes with a prayer. Vocabulary level a little too high. Specifies that all creatures are created by God. Aside from that there are no specific goals other than to show images of animals. KIDS FIRST!® Kid Jurors say - Pleasant to watch, engaging for kids. Runtime: 30 minutes KIDS FIRST! Juror Recommended Age: 2-3 Suggested Retail Price: $ 17.96 Media: DVD       for only $5.95 - You Save $12.01

ALL DOGS GO TO HEAVEN ACTIVITY CENTER MGM HOME ENTERTAINMENT Description - Teaches language skills, vocabulary and counting, using the characters from the movie and TV series as guides. Develops critical thinking skills, memory and hand/eye coordination. Features multiple skill levels. KIDS FIRST!® Adult Jurors say - Well organized, lots of variety, interactive and entertaining things to do and learn. Some educational benefits are well disguised as games. Visually inviting. Nice introduction to art. Very child-appropriate, kids should enjoy this. KIDS FIRST!® Kid Jurors say - Really fun. Kids enjoyed the different activities, particularly the chase game. Easy to install and play. The dog videos were particularly appealing. "It made me really think." "There are so many things to do. It's the best CD-ROM I have ever used." Platform: DUAL platform KIDS FIRST! Juror Recommended Age: 5-11 Suggested Retail Price: $ 29.95 Media: CDROM ISBN # 0-7928-3677-4

ALLIGATOR TALE, AN NEW DISCOVERIES, INC. Series: AMAZING VOYAGES OF NIKKI PIPER Description - Two young explorers and a cast of puppets go on an adventure to Alligator Island. After one of the crew gets into trouble with an alligator, the others travel to Gatorland to learn all they can from a gator specialist. KIDS FIRST!® Adult Jurors say - The video incorporates factual material into the story, providing good background and resource material about alligators. Reading is necessary. Good diversity and a female role model. Jurors disliked kids traveling without their parents' permission. KIDS FIRST!® Kid Jurors say - They watched it again and again. It provoked questions. Liked the fact that it shows respect. "It's sort of fake but still fun." Some thought that Captain Crab was rude. "It would be cool to live on an island." Runtime: 32 minutes KIDS FIRST! Juror Recommended Age: 5-7 Suggested Retail Price: $ 14.95 Media: VIDEO ISBN # 0-9662825-0-7

ALPHABET ADVENTURE WITH DIGBY AND LYDIA PANASONIC INTERACTIVE MEDIA Series: LEARNING LADDER Description - Teaches the alphabet through storytelling, music and animation. Using Quicktime movies, songs and interactive tests, kids find hidden letters, learn word association and the alphabet. Rewards spelling, reading and perception. KIDS FIRST!® Adult Jurors say - Simple presentation. Great characters, good developmental level. Comes with good adult handbook. Voice-overs are respectful, instructive and reassuring. "Click-and-point friendly." Minimal choice of levels. KIDS FIRST!® Kid Jurors say - Story held interest of five- and six-year-olds; three- and four-year-olds liked the games. Unless computer literate, help is needed to fully utilize the program. Kids liked the lively music and printing out the awards. Platform: DUAL platform KIDS FIRST! Juror Recommended Age: 3-5 Suggested Retail Price: $ 34.95 Media: CDROM

ALPHABET BAND PUBLICATIONS INTERNATIONAL,LTD. Series: MY FIRST INTERACTIVE STORY BOOK Description - See the jazzy jaguars jog the trails with jingle bells around their tails. Look at Piggy play piano songs while penguins lead the sing-along. Join Puppy in this interactive program and storybook that introduces letters of the alphabet. KIDS FIRST!® Adult Jurors say - Cute pictures and engaging rhymes. Installs easily. Does not hold player's place or offer multiple skill levels. Screen changes slowly. Jurors had some technical problems. Puppy gives positive praise such as, "terrific, you did that in a snap." KIDS FIRST!® Kid Jurors say - Loved the music and the games. Stimulated interest in musical instruments. "I want to find the hidden music clues so I can sing along." "I want to play a tuba like the tiger does." "I like the puzzles and printing out the pictures I made." Platform: WIN/MAC platform KIDS FIRST! Juror Recommended Age: 2-5 Suggested Retail Price: $ 9.99 Media: CDROM ISBN # 0-7853-3784-9

ALPHABET GAME, THE SONY WONDER - NYC Series: SESAME STREET HOME VIDEO Description - Sunny Friendly is the host of a new game show with prizes and surprises. The contestants are Big Bird, Gary Grouch and Dimples the Dog. The object of the game is to be the first to find something that starts with the letter of the alphabet shown. KIDS FIRST!® Adult Jurors say - Visually appealing, silly game show format. Funny puppets, lively songs, guest appearances by Kermit, Grover, Cookie Monster, Oscar and Big Bird. Sesame Street follows through with humor and lots of color. KIDS FIRST!® Kid Jurors say - "I Liked it very much." "I liked the talking 'S,' he was funny." I like watching for the letters." "I know my ABC's." Kids sang the Alphabet Song after watching the video. Runtime: 30 minutes KIDS FIRST! Juror Recommended Age: 3-5 Suggested Retail Price: $ 12.98 Media: VIDEO ISBN # 0-394-89885-0

ALPHABET SOUP V.I.E.W. VIDEO Series: LOOK & LEARN Description - This sing-along uses flying pictures and flipping words to help reinforce and retain the alphabet. Jaunty rhymes, spirited music and charming pictures. KIDS FIRST!® Adult Jurors say - Helpful for children who are learning the alphabet. Some words too difficult for audience. Stretches learning in a positive way. Simple production. Starts slow with lots of verbal information, making this best viewed in segments. KIDS FIRST!® Kid Jurors say - A little slow-moving, especially at the beginning. Some kids asked to see it again. Others said they sang the ABC song "wrong." Content suitable for elementary age. Runtime: 30 minutes KIDS FIRST! Juror Recommended Age: 3-6 Suggested Retail Price: $ 14.98 Media: VIDEO ISBN # 0-8030-1605-0

ALPHABET TRAIN, THE SUPERIOR PROMOTIONS/HOME VIDEO, INC. Description - From A to Z, children learn vocabulary and phonics skills while exploring aspects of real trains and concepts such as in and out, over and under, teamwork, off and on. KIDS FIRST!® Adult Jurors say - Concepts are too advanced for two-year-olds, yet the production is too slow for older kids. Has lovely scenery and great footage of trains. Language is not age-appropriate. Limited appeal, no story line, too boring for younger kids. KIDS FIRST!® Kid Jurors say - Boys liked it better than girls. "I like trains." Older children need more of a story to hold their attention. Runtime: 60 minutes KIDS FIRST! Juror Recommended Age: 4-7 Suggested Retail Price: $ 19.95 Media: VIDEO ISBN # 1-58168-110-0

ALPHABET ZOO, THE DOLPHIN COMMUNICATIONS Description - Teaches the alphabet through bright, interactive songs and colorful scenes of animals in their natural habitat. Teaches letter recognition with visuals and sounds. KIDS FIRST!® Adult Jurors say - Multi-sensory with interesting animals. Good repetition and content. Excellent suggestions for parents or caregivers that reinforce the lessons. Attractive settings, good pacing. Stimulates participation. KIDS FIRST!® Kid Jurors say - They sounded out the letters, made animal sounds and learned a lot about the animals after repeated viewings. One of the best alphabet tapes, great for zoo trips. Runtime: 25 minutes KIDS FIRST! Juror Recommended Age: 3-7 Suggested Retail Price: $ 14.95 Media: VIDEO

ALPHABETLAND VIDEO TREASURES Series: REDBOOK LEARNING ADVENTURES Description - The magic power of letters and words through songs and games. Includes other lessons about patience, friendship and imagination. KIDS FIRST!® Adult Jurors say - Reinforces learning alphabet. Songs are creative and catchy. Program links letters to words. Gets off to a slow start and the presentation is jumbled. KIDS FIRST!® Kid Jurors say - Kids listened as soon as the music started. Story line is a little difficult and complicated to follow. They didn't understand references in the songs. Some older children sang the ABC song afterwards. Runtime: 30 minutes KIDS FIRST! Juror Recommended Age: 2-6 Suggested Retail Price: $ 12.98 Media: VIDEO ISBN # 1-5529-894-x

AMAIZING MIRACLE WORKSHOP, THE MAIZ PRODUCTIONS Series: CHILDRENS SELF AWARENESS AND SELF DEFENSE VIDEO Description - Offers suggestions for peaceful conflict resolution, forming friendships, awareness of strangers and self defense in a relaxed way. KIDS FIRST!® Adult Jurors say - Gives tools to deal with problems kids encounter daily. Covers scary issues in a positive way. Presentation lacks pizzazz. Having children act out scenes offers good reinforcement. Respectful of race, culture and gender. KIDS FIRST!® Kid Jurors say - High interest in self-defense, solving problems and recognizing potential dangers such as with strangers, bullies and e-mail. "It made me think about difficult things and talk about them." Children all tried the self-defense part. Runtime: 44 minutes KIDS FIRST! Juror Recommended Age: 5-8 Suggested Retail Price: $ 19.95 Media: VIDEO ISBN # 675163-0144-3

AMERICA'S HEART AND SOUL BUENA VISTA HOME ENTERTAINMENT/DISNEY Description - Filmmaker Louis Schwartzberg packed up his camera and hit the road with a goal of capturing both the unparalleled beauty of the land and the incomparable spirit of the people. Through his movie, you'll have the chance to meet ordinary Americans with extraordinary stories. Louis's gift is his ability to connect with people, honestly capturing their values, dreams, and passion in an awe-inspiring journey that reveals the stories - unusual, captivating, inspiring and emotional- that make us into something more than a collection of individuals. Executive Producer: Jake Eberts (Open Range, Chicken Run, The Legend of Bagger Vance); Producer: Louis Schwartzberg. Director: Louis Schwartzberg. Original Song by: John Cougar Mellencamp. Runtime: 88 minutes KIDS FIRST! Juror Recommended Age: 5-12 Suggested Retail Price: $ 17.99 Media: DVD       This title is available for purchase from Amazon.com

AMERICAN CITIZENSHIP SCHLESSINGER MEDIA, INC. Series: AMERICAN GOVERNMENT FOR CHILDREN Description - What makes an American citizen? How can you be a good one? What are the rights and responsibilities of citizenship? Includes interviews with government officials and other Americans. Shows how contributing is an important aspect of citizenship. KIDS FIRST!® Adult Jurors say - Citizenship through the eyes of yesterday, today and tomorrow is at the core of this quick paced documentary. Includes short original news footage of the suffragettes and Martin Luther King Jr. Gives useful ideas for participating in your community. KIDS FIRST!® Kid Jurors say - Informative, more geared for classroom use than home use. "I never knew woman had to fight to vote." "I know people vote but I didn't know why." "There were kids "just like us" working to help our country be a better and cleaner place for everyone." Runtime: 23 minutes KIDS FIRST! Juror Recommended Age: 7-10 Suggested Retail Price: $ 29.95 Media: VIDEO ISBN # 1 57225 433 5

ANCIENT EGYPT SCHLESSINGER MEDIA, INC. Series: ANCIENT CIVILIZATIONS FOR CHILDREN Description - Travel to ancient Egypt, a civilization that began along the Nile River over five thousand years ago. These early people advanced civilization by building pyramids and temples, establishing a vast trading system, and developing hieroglyphics. KIDS FIRST!® Adult Jurors say - Holds your interest from beginning to end. Flows well from one subject to the next. Topic appealing, very informative, good videography and format. "Provides accurate and factual information in an age-appropriate fashion." Aesthetically pleasing. KIDS FIRST!® Kid Jurors say - "It was gross when they talked about taking the brains out. It was cool seeing inside the tombs." Kids complained about the captions but learned a lot from them. Got them thinking about Egyptians and other cultures." Runtime: 23 minutes KIDS FIRST! Juror Recommended Age: 8-12 Suggested Retail Price: $ 29.95 Media: VIDEO ISBN # 1-57225-138-7

ANIMAL WOW: DOGS WOW DOGS ANIMAL WOW ENTERTAINMENT, INC. Click to purchase directly from the producer Series: ANIMAL WOW Description - Help your child be safe and successful with dogs. Includes safety tips, comedy, 12 original songs, puppet hosts Stately the mutt and Remix the alley cat, plus dozens of real dogs and kids. A portion of every sale funds humane education programs for kids. KIDS FIRST!® Adult Jurors say - Children love animals and seeing other children onscreen and there are plenty of both here. Very suitable for children with good visual examples of feeding, cleaning, and caring for a new dog or sick dog. Shows different types of dogs. Models respect for one's pet dog. Some content is for older kids, yet the puppets are definitely more for younger ones. Information is good and focused on a child's safety and happiness around animals. KIDS FIRST!® Kid Jurors say - Kids loved seeing the dogs onscreen. Kids liked "Super Vet." Youngest ones loved the puppet pet characters; older ones found them too babyish. Kids talked about giving dogs baths, taking them to the vet, and finding kitty a new home. Some suggestions for training and caring for animals requires actions a younger child is incapable of, such as bathiing a dog. They liked the songs and talked about their pets after viewing. Runtime: 60 minutes KIDS FIRST! Juror Recommended Age: 3-6 Suggested Retail Price: $ 14.95 Media: DVD ISBN # 0977247910       This title is available for purchase from ANIMAL WOW ENTERTAINMENT, INC.

ARIEL'S STORY STUDIO DISNEY INTERACTIVE Description - Children create, learn and play with characters from "The Little Mermaid" while building skills in reading, vocabulary and critical thinking. Encourages creativity in music and writing in an enjoyable learning situation. KIDS FIRST!® Adult Jurors say - Program is very entertaining, educational and not at all didactic. Wholesome and life-affirming. Excellent tool for increasing vocabulary while building general reading skills. Allows children to be creative in an enjoyable manner. KIDS FIRST!® Kid Jurors say - Kids enjoyed making up stories and their own music, the animation and learning about sealife. They noticed the stereotypical nasty, bad guys and were frustrated because "you have to go through the same story each time you play." Appeals to girls. Platform: DUAL platform KIDS FIRST! Juror Recommended Age: 5-8 Suggested Retail Price: $ 35 Media: CDROM ISBN # 1-57350-125-5

ARTHUR'S COMPUTER ADVENTURE LEARNING COMPANY Series: ARTHUR Description - Arthur wants to play "Deep Dark Sea" on the computer every chance he gets. When his mom leaves for work and asks him not to touch the computer, Arthur can't resist. Disobedience leads to disaster. Will Arthur be able to fix the computer? KIDS FIRST!® Adult Jurors say - Colorful and child-friendly, though the characters seem stiff compared to those on TV. Offers lots of rewards and treasures. May open discussion about obedience to parents. The game never rises above drill and practice. KIDS FIRST!® Kid Jurors say - Easy to play except that kids had trouble getting out of some parts. Children could use it on their own. Great graphics, color and special effects. Much variety. "I want to try all the page activities. There are lots of hidden surprises." Platform: DUAL platform KIDS FIRST! Juror Recommended Age: 4-8 Suggested Retail Price: $ 29.95 Media: CDROM ISBN # 1-57135-387-9

ARTHUR'S READING RACE LEARNING COMPANY Description - Takes children on a walk around town with Arthur and his little sister, D.W. Children are encouraged to learn words throughout the story and through three additional activities. KIDS FIRST!® Adult Jurors say - Slick, high-quality production. Excellent graphics, fun games. Develops word recognition, increases vocabulary, reading comprehension, computer literacy. "Great early-learning title." Jurors thought Arthur and D.W. were at times rude to each other. KIDS FIRST!® Kid Jurors say - Kids enjoyed playing the "let me write" games, because they make nonsense sentences. They also like the clickable window, ice cream section and enjoyed playing it with their friends. Works best in a situation where kids can play repeatedly. Platform: DUAL platform KIDS FIRST! Juror Recommended Age: 3-6 Suggested Retail Price: $ 29.95 Media: CDROM ISBN # 1-57135-263-5

ASL SIGN LANGUAGE, VOLUME ONE: VOCABULARY, GRAMMAR AND SENTENCES SIGN ENHANCERS, INC. Series: AMERICAN SIGN LANGUAGE CD-ROM SERIES Description - Designed to teach American Sign Language skills, this program is simple to use and has all the features of state-of-the-art multimedia software. KIDS FIRST!® Adult Jurors say - Impressive. A superior instructional program, exceptionally informative. Adults thought children would need to have some motivation to learn sign language in order to enjoy this. Responsive, gives constant positive feedback. Installation difficult. KIDS FIRST!® Kid Jurors say - Children were intrigued and kept going back to this. The video section can be slowed down to see the hand movements clearly. A great tool that could be used in conjunction with live instruction. Platform: WIN platform KIDS FIRST! Juror Recommended Age: 12-18 Suggested Retail Price: $ 95 Media: CDROM

ASTRO ALGEBRA EDMARK Series: MIGHTY MATH Description - Covers major algebraic topics in a game format. Includes negative integers, equivalent expressions, ratio and proportions, exponential notation, and inverse operations. KIDS FIRST!® Adult Jurors say - Awesome. Outer space setting is very imaginative and visually stimulating. Great graphics and sound. Presents algebra painlessly, with positive reinforcement. Challenging content. Excellent teaching tool. Particularly helpful for slow learners. KIDS FIRST!® Kid Jurors say - Much fun with this program. They were challenged, motivated and thought it was fantastic! "I liked solving the problems at the space station." "If you like math, you'll love this." "It was cool, fun and taught me stuff." Platform: DUAL platform KIDS FIRST! Juror Recommended Age: 10-18 Suggested Retail Price: $ 29.95 Media: CDROM ISBN # 1-56926-380-9

ASTRONOMY FOR K-8 COALITION FOR QUALITY CHILDREN'S MEDIA Series: COLLECTIONS Description - Includes: An Eclipse: The Day The Sky Went Dark (201103) $12.00 Pisces and Gemini: a Case of Vanishing Stars (201102) $12.00 Value=$24.00 Runtime: 77 minutes KIDS FIRST! Juror Recommended Age: 5-8 Suggested Retail Price: $ 24 Media: VIDEO

BABES IN TOYLAND: AN INTERACTIVE ADVENTURE MGM HOME ENTERTAINMENT Description - Offers an enchanting magical world inspired by animated, musical film. Join Humpty Dumpty, Jack and Jill and favorite nursery-rhyme characters for action-filled music, games and puzzles that entertain while teaching valuable early-learning skills. KIDS FIRST!® Adult Jurors say - Child-friendly but not very imaginative. Good variety of animals, music, different cultures. Everything was very clear and colorful. Allows child time to think. Develops coordination skills. Reviews nursery-rhyme characters.. KIDS FIRST!® Kid Jurors say - Good graphics but a little too simple. Most kids didn't want to play it again. "The music was putting me to sleep." Children really liked Humpty Dumpty and the puzzles. "I think it's the best CD-ROM for little kids and its okay for me (eleven)." Platform: DUAL platform KIDS FIRST! Juror Recommended Age: 3-8 Suggested Retail Price: $ 29.95 Media: CDROM ISBN # 0-7928-3676-6

BABY & CHILD CPR BABY CPR, INC. Description - CPR and choking relief instruction for parents and other lay rescuers. Step-by-step instructions and demonstrations. Supervised by top medical specialists. KIDS FIRST!® Adult Jurors say - Informative, well organized, easy to follow and understand. Accurate and effective presentation. Includes Spanish version. Designed to be used in conjunction with an accredited instructor. Extremely useful for parents and anyone who works with children. Runtime: 38 minutes KIDS FIRST! Juror Recommended Age: ADULT-ADULT Suggested Retail Price: $ 14.95 Media: VIDEO

BABY ABOUT TOWN - FRIENDLY FACES, BABY PLACES BABY ABOUT TOWN / TALIBECCA Series: BABY ABOUT TOWN Description - Shows happy expressive faces in familiar surroundings to delight and entertain your baby. Exposes viewers to people of all races, sizes, shapes and ages. KIDS FIRST!® Adult Jurors say - Adequate production quality, minor soundtrack problems. Good pace. All encounters are positive, with friendly and happy people. It would hold an infant's attention briefly. Rural infants would be exposed to a diverse population they wouldn't normally see. KIDS FIRST!® Kid Jurors say - Voices and faces attracted their attention, but held it only briefly and intermittently. Some became bored, others overstimulated by the background noises. None cried while it was on. Runtime: 28 minutes KIDS FIRST! Juror Recommended Age: 1-2 Suggested Retail Price: $ 14.95 Media: VIDEO ISBN # 1574265001       for only $4.95 - You Save $10

BABY BABBLE VHS TALKING CHILD LLC Description - Exposes children to early developing sounds and words, as well as introducing them to simple sign language. A 12-step tutorial at the end provides caregivers with ideas to encourage language development. KIDS FIRST!® Adult Jurors say - Uses images of bright colored toys with narrator to teach word development. Accompanied by original music. Interspersed is a head short of a woman saying different words and making facial gestures with sounds. Doesn't repeat sequences, which would enhance its educational value. Very good tutorial at the end that delivers an excellent message to new parents about language development for babies. The end part is definitely geared for adults, not for babies. KIDS FIRST!® Kid Jurors say - Short clips are well timed. The baby watching starts to lose interest just as the clip is changing and her attention is captured again. About fifteen minutes was the total attention span though. They relate to the words offered - eat, more, drink, book, up down, colors. One-year-olds enjoyed watching the toys on screen. Runtime: 45 minutes KIDS FIRST! Juror Recommended Age: adult-adult Suggested Retail Price: $ 16.99 Media: VIDEO

BABY BABBLE TALKING CHILD LLC Description - Exposes children to early developing sounds and words, as well as introducing them to simple sign language. A 12-step tutorial at the end provides caregivers with ideas to encourage language development. KIDS FIRST!® Adult Jurors say - Uses images of bright colored toys with narrator to teach word development. Accompanied by original music. Interspersed is a head short of a woman saying different words and making facial gestures with sounds. Doesn't repeat sequences, which would enhance its educational value. Very good tutorial at the end that delivers an excellent message to new parents about language development for babies. The end part is definitely geared for adults, not for babies. KIDS FIRST!® Kid Jurors say - Short clips are well timed. The baby watching starts to lose interest just as the clip is changing and her attention is captured again. About fifteen minutes was the total attention span though. They relate to the words offered - eat, more, drink, book, up down, colors. One-year-olds enjoyed watching the toys on screen. Runtime: 45 minutes KIDS FIRST! Juror Recommended Age: adult-adult Suggested Retail Price: $ 19.99 Media: DVD

BABY CHINA B ME COMPANY Description - Takes non-Chinese speaking children on a fun journey of the language, culture and music of China. Has three sections: body/sign language; the language of music and expressive language. KIDS FIRST!® Adult Jurors say - Well done. Great continuity. What is terrific is the story that is constructed out of the words so that rather than being a random assortment of disconnected words, they begin to make sense in the context of the storyline. Also great is that many illustrations are given for a single word such as fire truck showing a real fire truck as well as a toy fire truck. We did not have a Chinese speaker evaluate it so we can't judge it in terms of accuracy. However, in terms of child development, it is suitable for young learners and if the words are accurate, presented well. Interactions among the toy characters are respectful. i.e. during the story, the characters help one another. Word choice is good, repetition good. It's a reminder that the toys are in a human context when a human hand moves into the screen to manually manipulate the toys. There was a slight technical problem at the onset of playing it but it straightened out shortly thereafter. At the end is a section for parents that serves as a review for the words. No English words are used in the teaching - only Chinese words. But, they are clearly illustrated. This program appeals to a special audience - those interested in learning Chinese. It is not for general entertainment. Runtime: 36 minutes KIDS FIRST! Juror Recommended Age: 2-6 Suggested Retail Price: $ 19.99 Media: DVD

BABY DOOLITTLE NEIGHBORHOOD ANIMALS THE BABY EINSTEIN COMPANY Series: BABY EINSTEIN Description - Introduces young children to animals that can be found close to home. Hosted by Pavlov the Dog, the program features fun puppet shows accompanied by beautiful footage of animals in their natural environment, accented with classical music. KIDS FIRST!® Adult Jurors say - Professional production that perfectly coordinates music with joyful antics of puppets, toys and animation. Distinctive style intelligently groups subjects, logically breaks for viewing in segments. Visual cues allow children to anticipate changes. KIDS FIRST!® Kid Jurors say - Everyone enjoyed dancing and moving to the music - even parents. Older kids pointed out the animals they recognized. All responded well to familiar animals and toys. Very enjoyable watching. Runtime: 30 minutes KIDS FIRST! Juror Recommended Age: 0-3 Suggested Retail Price: $ 14.98 Media: VIDEO ISBN # 1-892309-59-9

BABY EINSTEIN: BABY BACH (DVD) THE BABY EINSTEIN COMPANY Series: BABY EINSTEIN Description - Introduces infants to the music of J.S. Bach and to eight foreign languages, using concerts, flash cards and study tracks to develop reading and listening skills. KIDS FIRST!® Adult Jurors say - Engaging, colorful, well produced and well-paced for the audience. Wonderful music. Facilitates language development. Contains a "flash card" section which jurors thought wasn't developmentally appropriate. Can be viewed in segments KIDS FIRST!® Kid Jurors say - Captivated. "Kids never seemed to tire of seeing the images." "The toddlers were quite proud of themselves for identifying the objects in the language lab and beamed when proven correct." Children danced with the music. Runtime: 172 minutes KIDS FIRST! Juror Recommended Age: 0-2 Suggested Retail Price: $ 24.98 Media: DVD ISBN # 1-892309-25-4

BABY EINSTEIN: BABY EINSTEIN (DVD) THE BABY EINSTEIN COMPANY Series: BABY EINSTEIN Description - Introduces the sounds of eight foreign languages to infants, using interactive flash cards, familiar nursery rhymes and classical music pieces. KIDS FIRST!® Adult Jurors say - Well produced with highly saturated colors and wonderful music. Images and words don't match. The multiple languages are confusing and detract from the visuals. KIDS FIRST!® Kid Jurors say - Mixed. The preschoolers wanted to show their friends the language lab. The pictures in the theater captured their attention. Youngest kids lost attention with the flash card section. Runtime: 162 minutes KIDS FIRST! Juror Recommended Age: 0-3 Suggested Retail Price: $ 24.98 Media: DVD ISBN # 1-892309-23-8

BABY EINSTEIN: BABY MOZART (DVD) THE BABY EINSTEIN COMPANY Series: BABY EINSTEIN Description - Introduces infants to the music of Mozart and eight foreign languages. Using an interactive format, Baby Mozart contains flash cards, pronunciations by native speakers and study tracks to develop reading skills. KIDS FIRST!® Adult Jurors say - Beautiful resolution and wonderful images. "Theater portion is wonderful." "Flash card section is dry and monotonous." Easily viewed in segments. Supports language development. Great music with a soothing quality. KIDS FIRST!® Kid Jurors say - Inconsistent. Kids really tuned into the theater sections, but the language area lost their attention. Responded well to the music, moving their bodies and focusing in on the image on the screen. Runtime: 170 minutes KIDS FIRST! Juror Recommended Age: 0-3