5 comments about Best of Pooh and Heffalumps, Too.

1. We love listening to this in the car. And it is not so "kidsy" that it drives you nuts. Carly Simon sounds awesome. HIghly reccomend!



2. I bought this CD for my 5 year old daughter. She loved the Heffalump movie and we found ourselves singing the songs, but wishing we could remember all the words. Now we can listen to the songs in the car and she loves it! And you know how sometimes kids CD's can be annoying? Well, this one has Carly Simon singing a few songs so I actually enjoy it, too. There's one song that is so charming, too, called "Little Mr. Roo" and I sing that to my son all the time. Plus, I loaded this CD onto my husband's MP3 player for car trips when I don't want to listen along. :-)



3. My 2 year old loves this CD, and constantly asks me to play it in the car. Songs 1-7 are from Pooh's Heffalump Movie and Piglet's Big Movie, and include a lot of the favorites from the film. There are tons of songs by Carly Simon, and we are constantly humming and singing them. It's a catchy bunch of tunes that I'd highly recommend. There are also some older classics to sing along to.



4. Half of the CD is Carly Simon recordings of Winnie the Pooh music, and the other half are old favorites from Winnie the Pooh. My kids love the songs, and so do I! My boys go around the house sometimes singing the songs, even when we haven't listened to the music for a while. So much fun!



5. I would recommend this collection for anyone with toddlers who enjoy the pooh movies. It has all the catchy favorites mentioned, as well as the song luv-a-bye which I don't recognize from any of the pooh movies- and ultimately may be the best song for parents on the cd and a really nice lullabye that describes every parents wish to their kids as they put them to bed.

5 comments about Mary Poppins (Disney Gold Classic Collection).

1. I did it. I bought a Disney movie -- I mean a kids-oriented one. And then... I actually showed it to my kids (first I watched it again, just to make sure).
   
   This is so totally out of character for me, that it *does* deserve a gasp of surprise.
   
   Because Disney. DISNEY! No positive male role-models DISNEY! Every male character is a fool, a tool, a slob, or a villain DISNEY! Forget about little boys, because only girls are celebrated DISNEY! And yes, I still think that is the case for Disney. And I wonder who all those little girls will grow up to marry, when all the boys are fools, tools, slobs, or villains.
   
   But Julie Andrews. JULIE ANDREWS! Mary Poppins!
   
   So I cracked. And I bought it.
   
   And I had a few twinges on my view-through -- the put-down of men as "rather stupid" in Mrs. Bank's first number; and the presumption that Mr. Banks' flying a kite with his children was somehow MORE valuable than his daily providing for them (I do appreciate the value of kite-flying, just not the value judgment); and the idea that the kids will respect a nanny who is sweet and pretty, but not one who smells weird.
   
   But I went ahead and showed it to the kids, and I'm so glad, because we have been singing the songs like crazy and laughing a lot. The absolute fantasy of it is marvelous, and the songs are beautiful. I like how Bert treats Mary. I like how straight Mary is, as though she isn't magical, when she clearly is.
   
   Very nice.
   
   Now I'm wondering about Bedknobs and Broomsticks. Would anyone be so kind as to enlighten me about whether that one is as good? Thanks!



2. I have numerous happy memories of seeing Mary Poppins since the first time (on its re-release in 1980). I go back to it time and again and have never been bored yet! Highlights - the horse race and the dancing cartoon waiter penguins; Chim Chim Chiree and the acrobatic chimney sweeps; Mrs Banks (Glynis Johns) and her 'Votes for Women'; Reginald Owen's Admiral (with a ship on the roof of his house!); the gorgeous 'Feed the Birds'; the special effects in 'A Spoonful of Sugar'; Ed Wynn as the giggling Uncle Albert; and of course the brilliant performances from Julie Andrews as Mary, Dick van Dyke as Bert/Mr Dawes senior, Karen Dotrice and Matthew Garber as the children Jane and Michael, Hermoine Baddeley as the maid, and David Tomlinson as Mr Banks. Absolutely brilliant and definitely makes you remember being a child with a big smile on your face. Those who don't like it possibly came to it too late in life, but I can't fault it.



3. Fabulous. If you like singing, dancing, life lessons, and have an imagination this is for you



4. Mary Poppins (40th Anniversary Edition)Excellent video; my granddaughter just LOVES it; she has been watching it repeatedly since she received it. Highly recommend this movie for 3 years and up.



5. I have not received the DVD. When I try to make contact with the seller through email, the email address is "no longer available."

1 comments about Baby Einstein: Baby Santa.

1. I gave it as a gift to a relative who has a 8 month old and it is a big hit...

5 comments about Disneymania 2.

1. Disneymania 2 is not just for kids--it's for the child inside of me, too! This album is chock full of peppy tunes that make me smile. The quality of the sound is excellent and the artwork is very nicely done.
   
   "Welcome" by Jump 5 has kids and "tweens" everywhere enjoying their teen pop sound! The percussion helps to mark the beat and Jump 5 sings this upbeat, catchy melody with all their might; and this helps to make "Welcome" a solid introductory number for this album. Great! "True To Your Heart" gets the royal treatment from Raven; Raven sings and plays this to perfection--and wow, what a number! This is yet another upbeat number from the folks at Disney and it really has a great pop beat. "True To Your Heart" is clearly a major highlight on this album. In addition, "It's a Small World" by Baha Men at first sounds quite different from the music you hear on the ride at Disneyworld and Disneyland; but the chorus is very much the same and the reggae treatment is really very well done. "It's a Small World" brings back so many fond memories for me of taking this ride with my mother when we were at Disneyland back in '72. I loved the ride then; and this music reminds me of how much I still love this charming ride even today.
   
   "Zip-A-Dee-Doo-Dah" gets the royal treatment from Stevie Brock; Stevie sings this with passion and the pop flavor of this rendition makes it very strong and yet true to the original arrangement all at once. "Zip-A-Dee-Doo-Dah" is one of my very favorite Disney tunes; and if you're lucky enough to catch the 3 o'clock afternoon parade down Disney's Magic Kingdom Main Street USA you just may hear this tune as the parade passes in front of you! "Circle of Life" is a very beautiful melody with great lyrics performed here by The Disney Channel Circle of Stars. "Circle Of Life" always moves me with its beauty and its message and that's grand.
   
   "Anytime You Need A Friend" by The Beu Sisters has a great pop beat to it that has just a hint of hip hop and this all works very well. The chorus is excellent and The Beu Sisters really make this their own as they sing this one out right! "When You Wish Upon a Star" is another stunning Disney classic tune; Ashley Gearing sings this with lots of feeling and I'm very impressed with this young lady's voice. I hope to hear more from Ashley Gearing very soon!
   
   "A Dream Is a Wish Your Heart Makes" gets a very sensitive arrangement from Daniel Bedingfield. Daniel's incredible sense of timing and his excellent diction bolster his performance; and the CD also ends very nicely with They Might Be Giants performing the "Baroque Hoedown" that you may recognize from Disney's nighttime Main Street electrical parade.
   
   Overall, Disney fans will love this one--and people who like teen pop and today's pop in general will really enjoy this album. Thank you, everyone!



2. My favorite song is welcome by Jump 5 . I love this cd.



3. Perfect gift for a tiny-bopper. I normally dread the idea of finding room for all the gifts after the holidays but the gift of music was the way to go this year. My little girl is almost 8 and Disney is not risky with its music.



4. I purchased this to keep my kids occupied on vacation, and it performed beautifully! I can recommend it fully.



5. This CD must be great, my grandson lost his first one and has to have another. Very charming Disney fare for the young at heart.

3 comments about Higglytown Heroes - To the Rescue.

1. If your kids like Higglytown, they will like this DVD. It has the same episodes as shown on tv. My kids watch it over and over. Well worth the money.



2. This is a good show. It teaches kids what to do when you're in trouble and not to be panic when something happen. I recommended this show for little kids. Even adult like me also love this show.



3. If your children like this show, buy it...it's a good price and there are no commercials...they can watch non-stop!

5 comments about Home At Last.

1. Good for you, Billy Ray! I knew that fella must have another genuine hit in him somewhere, and "Ready, Set, Don't Go" is the one. I absolutely love it! I got both versions, but the duet with Mylie is a real tearjerker.
   
   And hey, how 'bout that cover of "Over the Rainbow," huh? That was a VERY pleasant surprise! (Being a nostalgic sort, I think I like it even more than "Ready, Set, Don't Go.") He was smart to do it his own way, rather than to try belting out the typical power ballad we tend to expect with that number. Being true to himself resulted in a beloved lyric delivered with a comfortable rubato. His gentle rendition of this classic is a pure listening pleasure. I am not ashamed to report that I play it on a loop.
   
   I'm delighted with the three tracks I've downloaded so far. Unlike some reviewers, I actually enjoy well-done cover songs. So, based on the clips, I'll next be getting "You've Got A Friend" and probably "Put A Little Love in Your Heart."



2. I really like Billy Ray, I think his music is great and because of his strong faith in God, he's able to continue to give us great songs. I always buy his CDs as soon as they come out. Loved him in Doc & I love his music, except for the song that made him famous, achy breaky heart.



3. EXCEPT FOR SONG 3, THIS IS THE BEST CD BILLY RAY HAS EVER RECORDED,
   SONG 7 WILL PUT YOU IN HEAVEN!!!! THIS CD SOUNDS LIKE "EVERYONE" HAD A GREAT TIME RECORDING IT, IT IS LIGHT, FUN AND FULL OF ENERGY . HAVE BEEN A BILLY RAY, TRAVIS, KENNY, THIS IS THE VERY BEST!



4. HOME AT LAST is an outstanding collection of Billy Ray's recent works.
   I really enjoyed listening to this CD. His music makes me want to listen
   to him live.
   
   I highly recommend this CD.



5. With a small point on the description above Billy Ray Cyrus was a TV star long before Hannah Montana...being the lead in Doc. However, forget that for a moment. Forget the mullet and the Achy Breaky Heart and all that has come before. Relegating this to being a cd by Hannah Montana's dad is selling it FAR short!
   
   This CD was a Christmas gift indirect from my dad. I've long been a fan of Billy Ray's music. Following an incident in November 2006 (more on the "Some Gave All" vein) I vowed to no matter how "bad" it was that I would support Billy Ray in purchasing cd's even if it sat on the shelf. It's also worth consideration I generally don't like cover songs - often if I hear a song and someone else does it I prefer the original (in some cases this means a cd cut by one artist over a hit song by another). So, with consideration to personal tastes I put this CD in the player.
   
   Ready, Set Don't Go is a highlight for sure. When he did parts of it on an episode of "Hannah Montana" there was clearly not a lot of acting going on. "The Beginning", "The Buffalo" and "Flying By" continued the cd all good solid songs. I sat back and braced..a cover song. "Brown Eyed Girl" is awesome! By the time it got to "Put A Little Love In Your Heart" I'm actually liking it *better* than the original versions. "You've Got A Friend" and "Over The Rainbow" equally covered with his own version, not imitating the original but giving a tip to it and making it his own.
   
   This is a solid hit. Do not get this thinking it's a remake from the Achy Breaky era...it isn't. It's just as at home in the player (no pun intended) driving in the car as it is preparing dinner. Good music is good music, whether you call it country, easy listening, pop - this is just good music. It fits with comfort food, a warm quilt and a fireplace on a cold winter evening. It also fits on a summer day working in the back yard...or many other activities people listen to music while doing.
   
   Never mind the critics, ignore the perhaps lackluster radio coverage of it. Sometimes I wonder if radio would know a real entertainer if he walked in their door (and with a few people in mind I'm sure they don't). Politics aside, TV aside, past acting/song history aside...get this cd! It's one that doesn't sound new or too old - it's original, fresh and is much overlooked. This probably won't be on the award shows - the award is the way the songs and real life weave together. Don't miss this cd!

5 comments about Bear in the Big Blue House - Early to Bed, Early to Rise.

1. Criteria for a children's video:
   
   1. Do kids like it? Yes, my toddler loves this, sings along, and asks me to sing along, too.
   
   2. Can the parents watch it without going bonkers? Yep, so far, so good, every time I see it again I notice new things. The puppets are sophisticated and the characters distinct. The music is fabulous, mostly inspired by modern American folk--how great to hear simple fiddle music and guitar instead of overproduced "showtunes." The simple music also means that if I sing the songs afterward, it sounds close to what my child remembers from the show.
   
   3. Since kids will copy anything they see on TV or in a book, what is going on in this video? Gentle humor, good manners, good music. All things I'm glad to see her emulate.
   
   That's the bare bones (ha!) of liking this series. But it goes beyond the basic. __Bear__ has subtle messages about food, getting along, and social differences. For instance, in one episode, Tutter the mouse is eating a sandwich, which he must learn to share. OK, we could see that coming. BUT! Without making a big deal over, it, the producers made the sandwich on whole wheat bread, quietly supporting good nutrition.
   
   Another example or two; when Ojo the bear cub sleeps over, Bear makes her bed, very cozy, on the couch. When they have a birthday party (in a different episode), it's home made decorations and one meaningful present. A quiet message that you don't have to have a great deal of money to have a good time.
   
   And there are significant female characters (Ojo, Shadow, Luna) who aren't made into gooey subservients as in so many kids videos (or feature films, for that matter).
   
   Bear is the leader of the series, but often sings harmony to some other character, giving a simple message that you don't always have to be number one.
   
   Hooray for Bear!



2. As always bear keeps kids busy and teaches them at the same time. This one is excellent to help get them ready for bed too. Bear is great, he teaches about import things such as brushing teach, combing hair, potty training, the seasons, colors, to share, doctor office visiting, among many other things. The best pre-school has to offer.



3. "Early to Bed, Early to Rise" is another in a series of "Bear in the Big Blue House" video releases ported to DVD. This DVD includes two episodes from the video release --- "Go to Sleep" and "Morning Glory" and adds in "A Winter's Nap."
   
   "Go to Sleep"
   
   Ojo stays over for the night at the Big Blue House. Bear helps her to get to sleep and then decides to turn in himself, when the doorbell rings. It turns out that his friends Jeremiah and Doc Hog have shown up for a card game, which Bear completely forgot about. Now Bear has to take care of them, while also seeing that Ojo isn't disturbed, as well as Tutter, who's sleeping in his mousehole. Featuring a great song from Shadow, "Rockabye," about how shadows watch over you at night.
   
   "Morning Glory"
   
   Bear helps everybody in the Big Blue House to get up in the morning after a sleepover, but some have more trouble rising than others. Once everybody is up, though, they're ready and raring for morning activities --- but not before enjoying a nice breakfast. Treelo just wants to play, play, play, but Bear and everyone else manage to convince him that it would be better to have some breakfast first. Featuring an old-favorite "Bear in the Big Blue House" song --- "Brush Brush Bree."
   
   "A Winter's Nap"
   
   Winter has come to Woodland Valley and Bear would like nothing more than a nice nap. However, he never quite seems to make it to the nap, as he has to help out his friends in the Big Blue House. Sleep evades Bear, but his friends have a nice surprise for him.
   
   
   Like all of the other "Bear in the Big Blue House" DVDs, there aren't really any good special features on this. You only get the option to jump to songs from the episodes and previews for other Disney TV Shows and movies.



4. This is another excellent DVD in the "Bear in the Big Blue House" series. It has episodes concerning: going to sleep, "Go to Sleep"; starting a brand new day, "Morning Glory"; and napping, "A Winter's Nap".
   
   "Go to Sleep" covers ways to lull yourself off to dreamland, even though you may not think you're tired, and the importance of a good night's sleep for a good day tomorrow.
   
   "Morning Glory introduces Ray, the sun, who sings a good morning song with Bear. The episode incorporates the importance of breakfast, brushing your teeth, how different people take different amounts of time to wake up, getting morning chores done and how having a good morning can influence the rest of your day.
   
   The message on the "A Winter's Nap" episode is a little strange, however. The episode is supposed to be about Bear and Tutter, the mouse, trying to take naps during the day, but neither one can seem to manage it due to various things going on in the house. In the end they both throw in the towel and join in the fun in a "if you can't beat 'em, join 'em" mentality. While the rest of the episode talks about naps and how to get cozy and fall asleep, how good they are for you, etc., I really didn't understand the "Oh, well, can't nap? No big deal" message that came out near the end. Other than that though, it was a cute episode.
   
   The character Shadow, whose segments I usually find a little creepy, is more down to earth in these and there are less of the cut-out shadow people scenes and more of Shadow just singing songs.



5. OK, call me selfish, but when looking for a DVD for my son to watch, I am hoping to find something that I can watch over and over again without going crazy. This is it. I love the bear, the big blue house, and all of his friends (coincidentally, so does my son). This one has great messages for kids about bedtime even when you don't want to sleep, the importance of breakfast, cleaning the house, and naptime!

4 comments about Disney Sing Along Songs: Friend Like Me: Volume Eleven.

1. We watched this tape when I was in elementary school a couple of times. One of them was when we had field day and I refused to participate because the games that they had were stupid and for babies. I didn't tell anybody that a couple a games were for babies except for my mom and my older sister another time. The day my teacher a note home to my family about me not doing field day and I was grounded as a result.



2. Of all the Disney Sing Along Songs on video, this is my favorite. As fans of Disney Sing Along Songs on DVD will know, there is a new intro for the DVDs featuring Sebastian the crab and a new theme song. Well on the early VHS versions the theme song featured Mr Owl. Sing Along Songs: Friend Like Me was the first video to revamp the original theme song, and it does such a great job, upping the music tempo and really getting you excited for this latest offering.
   
   The showstopping Disney Sing Along Songs video hosted by Jiminy Cricket from Pinocchio starts off with the showstopper "Friend Like Me" from what was the new big animated feature Aladdin. From here we get the classic song "Best Of Friends" from The Fox & The Hound and "Something There" from Beauty & The Beast. Next we have "How Do You" from the as yet unreleased on video or DVD- Song Of The South. Following this is a new high octane version of the classic song "Friendship", sung this time by Mickey Mouse, Goofy and Donald Duck. "Harmony" from the television series of The Little Mermaid featuring the beautiful voice of Jodi Benson as Ariel is next. Afterwards we're back to the classics with "Let's Get Together" from the original version of The Parent Trap and "That's What Friend's Are For" from The Jungle Book. Finally, we get to sing along with "A Whole New World" from Aladdin, as well as having the opportunity to sing Friend Like Me once more.
   
   This really is showstopping stuff. As a kid I found myself singing alone to many of the Disney Sing Along Songs videos, but this time even the family joined in. They loved it too, as I expect, you and your family will.



3. My grandma got me this video when I was only three years old. But now I gave this video away to someone who could use It. I was too old for this video. My grandma says I used to love this video.



4. We have all the "Disney's Sing Along Songs" videos but my daughters love this particular video the most. I honestly enjoy it very much myself. I also like the theme of the video, which is friendship and getting along. It is really a lot of fun to watch...and sing along.

5 comments about Disney's Karaoke Series: Disney Princess.

1. Very nice visual effects on the tv and some of the songs sound like it is from the movie others are remakes but are good.



2. Most little girls watch the disney films and hope to one day become a princess. Girls know these songs by heart and it is cute to see them dress up in the princess costume and transform into their favorite Disney character by singing these songs. Highly recommend for Disney fans for all ages.



3. This CD is excellent! It has instrumental music and lyrics for all the popular princess songs. It also has the music with the vocalists as well so it is like vocal training that your child can do on their own. My daughter is having so much fun singing all the time. She is singing better than ever and has confidence performing for an audience. She is 7 years old.



4. I don't know why. When I saw he cover of this album, I thought it would be perfect, but when I bought it, I was very disappointed! Because this album was not very different from the album "Sing-along with Disney Princess", many tracks were the same! If you want a cuter cover, buying this one will be better. If you want to listen to the tracks only, you'd better buy the cheaper one, "Sing-along with Disney Princess".



5. This Karaoke disc is better than previous Disney Karaoke as they finally made a true CDG. I've had girls from the ages of 9-17 sing along and love it
   
   NOTE: I, a 43 year old, also enjoyed singing "Part of Your World" as Ariel the Mermaid :-)

5 comments about The Disney Songbook.

1. Sometimes a Jim Brickman composition transcends normal background music and is absolutely heavenly. I was looking for something to send a 3-year-old who loves music, and insists that his parents play him some new and favorite songs every day. I had read other reviewers' notes on this, and thought it might be the perfect thing - great for kids, great for adults. Actually, I have listened to it twice, and it seems like the kind of pleasant, quiet, familiar music that just melts into the background. Not as creative, dramatic, or varied as I was expecting from this marvelous musician. Perhaps I just need to play it a zillion times much louder (to simulate how it will actually be used in the 3-year-old's house!).



2. I work in the infant and toddler room of a daycare and we use Jim Brickman's cds for naptime music all the time. But this cd is without a doubt my favorite. It's mellow enough to play during naptime and the kids enjoy it but the adults in the room enjoy it too. And we don't go crazy from hearing another rendition of something like "5 Little Ducks Went Swimming One Day." The renditions of classic Disney songs include my favorite "Reflection," but then there's the original song "Beautiful" with Wayne Brady that is absolutely Disney like. And the formal American Idols Kimberly Locke and Josh Gracin are wonderful. In short it's a great cd for kids and adults.



3. I highly recommend this to any Disney lover. Jim Brinkman is a master...a delightful collection to have!! My family loves it and wants to hear it many times!! If you love Disney movies....you will love this!!



4. I am a HUGE Jim Brickman fan. I love his music. This CD is probably my favorite.The Disney Songbook



5. I love this CD! Will buy others by this artist...love the Disney music..wonderful to listen to anytime and a great CD to share with others.