Barney's Let's Play School [DVD]

Barney, the ubiquitous magical purple dinosaur, can elicit violent hatred and fierce loyalty. You are likely to get the latter from the average toddler, weaned on the inexplicably popular (to some) American series. Parents may want to first teach their children the original classic songs before they are invariably introduced to Barney and his lyric-altering renditions. (By now countless children think "This Old Man" is the "Barney I Love You" song.) This 50-minute video, never seen on television, focuses on Baby Bop (Barney's yellow baby dino friend), envious and curious about school. Barney and friends Ashley, Hannah, Robert and Jeff offer to play school, with Baby Bop as teacher. Their songs include the Barney versions of "The Alphabet Song", "One, Two, Buckle My Shoe", "The Itsy Bitsy Spider", "Where Is Thumbkin?" and more. Let's Play School! offers a gentle introduction to toddlers curious about pre-school and may waylay any apprehensions. With its emphasis on how school is both fun and educational it also entices its youngest audience by showing that Ashley, Hannah, Robert and Jeff (who are about eight or nine) represent those awe-inspiring older kids. They like school. Therefore, it can't be that bad. And neither is this video's ultimate message. --N.F. Mendoza, Amazon.com