Round-up review of family videos about dinosaurs
by Shannon Maughan
for Real Families, Real Fun
inosaurs fascinate kids--and plenty of adults, too. Since these awesome creatures stir up so much curiosity and awe, RFRF recommends popping in an educational and entertaining dinosaur video to learn more about these varied extinct species.
Lynda Hannan enthusiastically confirms that the videos are "fun to watch, and you can always pick up a new dino species here and there."
Dinosaurs and Other Creature Features (National Geographic Kids, dist. by Warner Home Video, ages 3-up)
A part of the Really Wild Animals series, and it's perfect for kids who love dinosaurs -- and anything else scaly or slithery. Narrator Dudley Moore as Spin, the animated globe, delivers fun facts about T. rex and other prehistoric creatures. Enlightening comments from a real paleontologist are also included. Younger children may be surprised to learn that reptiles such as alligators, crocodiles, and snakes are related to the dinosaurs. There's more than just dinosaur information here. You'll get the lowdown on creepy crawly bugs and spiders, too. Snappy music and fast-moving footage add to the fun.
The Land Before Time (Universal Home Video, rated G)
This heartwarming story tells how Littlefoot, an orphaned brontosaurus, and other young dinosaurs make the dangerous but necessary journey to the Great Valley to look for food, safety, and protection. A fine score by James Horner and a gentle storytelling pace are great for young dinosaur aficionados. As is often the case, the many direct-to-video sequels now available don't live up to the original. But diehard dinosaur fans might still enjoy the sequels.
Eyewitness: Dinosaur (DK Vision, ages 4-up)
If you're familiar with the sharp looking Eyewitness nonfiction books that became wildly popular in the late '80s and early '90, then this title may ring a bell. You'll find the same high-quality visuals in this video as in the book. As narrator, Martin Sheen provides loads of information; a great resource for school reports or just plain entertainment.
Walking with Dinosaurs (BBC Video, ages 7-up)
This video captures the excellent documentary series that originally aired on British television. With spectacular animatronics and computer animation, you'll feel as if you're really observing dinosaurs in prehistoric times. You'll follow some individual dinosaurs and their families, making these creatures seem even more real. You may want to divide this two-volume set into more than one sitting because it runs 180 minutes; perhaps a tad too long for younglings.
And if you're watching with younger children, you may want to fast forward or skip a couple of the hunting, chomping/eating scenes. Otherwise, it's hard to beat the footage here, which features British actor/director Kenneth Branagh as narrator.
Amy Mayfield says her kids claimed they didn't learn anything new, "but that was only because they like to think they already know everything. I loved the videos, too, and of course learned a ton about dinosaurs since I seem to have forgotten everything!"
Remember all the fuss over the unveiling of Sue the T. rex in Chicago? Some of these videos inspired RFRF families to head to the museums. Alison K. reports, "My kids are so into dinos that we do this stuff anyway. Recently, however, my son (5) studied dinosaurs at school. He later wanted to re-watch all the videos so he could identify them by name. Dinosaurs are second only to bugs and pets in general."
TAKE IT FROM ME:
Ryan's (12) favorite shows now are the Discovery Channel series, Walking with Dinosaurs. And there's a new episode called 'Allosaurus.' I think dinosaurs will always be popular with kids of all ages. --Peggy L.
This article © 2001-2004 Studio One Networks.
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