Curious George Rides a Bike... and More Tales of Mischief (Scholastic Video Collection)
Children's book publisher Scholastic has bundled video adaptations of five award-winning picture books on Curious George Rides a Bike... and come up with a treat for youngsters 4 to 9. Kids-lit purists will appreciate the spare animation; the title story and Flossie and the Fox, in fact, are not animated but rather proffer the books' original illustrations accompanied by a narrator's enjoyable readings. Curious George Rides a Bike is a classic episode in H.A. Rey's series in which George rides a bicycle into several misadventures. The Great White Man-Eating Shark, about a boy who uses his resemblance to a shark to scare swimmers, is even more witty with a touch of animation. The aforementioned Flossie is a cute tale about a girl who outwits a vain fox, while the ironic The Cat and the Canary and The Happy Lion, the latter about a Parisian lion who takes a stroll, both look wonderful here. --Tom Keogh Bark, George... and More Doggie Tails (Scholastic Video Collection)
Dog lovers will delight in this Scholastic Video Collection compilation of classic canine stories. "Bark, George" is a whimsical story by Jules Feiffer about a dog that meows, oinks, and generally does everything but bark. Feiffer's simple drawings are nicely animated and viewers can't help but chuckle while watching the Veterinarian's comic efforts to cure George. "Dot the Fire Dog" features Lisa Desimini's original still drawings and explores just what firefighters and firedogs do all day and night. An animated "No Roses for Harry" (Gene Zion) follows a cute little white dog with black spots as he cavorts and schemes to get rid of the hand-knit sweater that Grandma made for him. The DVD includes three bonus stories: Mercer Mayer's "A Boy, A Dog, and A Frog" is a classic, wordless, real-life photography piece about a young boy's amusing attempts to catch a frog. Ezra Jack Keats' animated "Whistle for Willie" features a boy intent on learning to whistle for his dog and Marjorie Flack's "Angus Lost," while a dated, real-life photography piece, nonetheless tells a charming story about the wanderings of a mischievous black Scottie dog. (Ages 3 to 9) --Tami Horiuchi
Curious George Rides a Bike
CURIOUS GEORGE RIDES A BIKE (By H.A. Rey)
The man in the yellow hat gives Curious George a brand new bicycle. What adventures are ahead for this little monkey and his new bike? THE GREAT WHITE MAN-EATING SHARK (By Margaret Mahy; Illustrated by Jonathon Allen)
Norvin, a boy who closely resembles a shark, uses his talents to scare away all the swimmers at Caramel Cove - except for one female shark in love.
FLOSSIE & THE FOX
(By Patricia McKissack, Illustrated by Rachel Isadora; Narrated by Patricia McKissack) Flossie meets up with a clever fox who has been making trouble around town. Can Flossie outfox a fox, even if she's never seen one before?
Bark, George...and more doggie tails
Delightful doggie stories will have the little ones howling for more!
BARK, GEORGE (By Jules Feiffer)
When George, a dog, is told to bark he says "meow" and "quack-quack" and "oink" and "moo." Can the vet help George get his bark back?
DOT THE FIRE DOG (By Lisa Desimini)
Dot knows exactly what to do when the alarm bell rings at the fire station. When she goes to a burning building, the firemen aren't the only ones saving lives.
NO ROSES FOR HARRY! (By Gene Zion, Illustrated by Margaret Bloy Graham) Harry is determined to lose his new sweater. He tries leaving it all over town, but it is always returned--until a bird catches sight of a loose thread and Harry's luck finally changes.
Danny and the Dinosaur...and more friendly "monster" stories
Don't be scared! These monster stories just want to have a little fun!
DANNY AND THE DINOSAUR (By Syd Hoff)
When Danny visits the museum, he thinks it would be nice to play with a dinosaur. Well, the dinosaur is as eager to play with Danny, and they spend a whole day together.
THE ISLAND OF THE SKOG (By Steven Kellogg, Narrated by Anthony Edwards, with Diana Canova, Steven Kellogg and Mary Beth Hurt)
A band of mice and their leader set sail to an island inhabited by a hostile Skog with gigantic feet. But when the two parties finally meet face to face, they find they have a lot in common.
THE BEAST OF MONSIEUR RACINE (By Tomi Ungerer)
Monsieur Racine lays a trap and catches a marauder, a strange but harmless-looking beast, who has been stealing his prize pears. What happens when Monsieur Racine presents his catch to the Academy of Science throws Paris into an uproar.
