• Home
• Past Reviews
• About
• Ad Rates
• Buzz
• Contact
• Linky Goodness
• PR & Review Submissions

Scholastic 100 Storybook Classics on DVD

I love books. I once told a friend that I was a bibliophile (someone who collects books). She gave me a horrified look and asked, “What exactly is it you DO to books?!?”
So, while I am not so eager to use that term anymore, my love for books has endured. My preschooler likes to be read to, but like most children, he becomes entranced by television and would sit, staring, for hours if allowed.

Scholastic Treasury of 100 Storybook Classics (Scholastic Video Collection) first came onto my radar when I checked out the Scholastic DVD Where the Wild Things Are from the library.

I expected a “slide show” video quality, but was instead surprised that the stories and animation were quite engaging. Jojo fell in love with the story Where the Wild Things Are (short video clip here), prompting me to check out the book on my next library trip. Other stories by Maurice Sendak on this DVD include musical vignettes from the Nutshell Library (Caldecott Collection). Jojo loves these songs, his favorite being Pierre, the boy who learns a lesson about always saying “I don’t care,” cavalierly. For me, the song most likely to get stuck in my head is Chicken Soup with Rice.

After enjoying watching the DVD versions of classic works by Maurice Sendak, we methodically borrowed each of the six books from the library until we had read them all.

After Jojo “read” Where the Wild Things Are to me several times in a very dramatic narrative voice (mimicking the DVD), I eventually put the book Where the Wild Things Are on my list to purchase.

Fast forward to September, when Thingamababy had a contest to “create a new story title that combines words from 2 to 3 titles from the list of 100 Scholastic stories in the DVD pack”. The prize, for 5 winners, was the Scholastic Treasury of 100 Storybook Classics! This was one of those contests I checked every day with anticipation! And? I won, with my entry
A Weekend With The Harry Fairy. Judging from the post announcing the winners, I was the only ecstatic one. No matter; the DVD’s were MINE!

In my perfect parenting world, Jojo wouldn’t have such a love for television, but I have no problem at all with allowing him to have a daily TV diet of 100 Storybook Classics!
The animation (or in some cases live action, like Corduroy and Angus and the Ducks) is engaging and interesting without being mile-a-minute. Watching these stories is like having these wonderful classic books read aloud to your child.
I love this collection because it opens up my child’s mind so that he appreciates great books.
It makes sense, if you think about it; when he watches TV shows, it makes him ask for toys of the licensed characters. But if he watches DVD’s about BOOKS, then he is excited about BOOKS!
I have since bought many of the titles in book form after noticing my son showing interest in the DVD stories.
Jojo loves “scary” stories, so the first book I bought was The Teacher from the Black Lagoon. Gradually, I have added Goodnight Gorilla, Corduroy,Officer Buckle & Gloria, Make Way for Ducklings, Click, Clack, Moo: Cows That Type, The Snowy Day, There Was An Old Lady Who Swallowed a Fly(I went the extra mile and got a felt set to go along with the book!), Whistle for Willie, and Why Mosquitoes Buzz in People’s Ears.
I was also excited to purchase the book Antarctic Antics: A Book of Penguin Poems, because the DVD puts the poems to music (so they become songs!). This is a fun way to introduce a young child to poetry!
When we watch the DVD’s I like to have the corresponding book near by whenever possible. A love of reading is one value that I strive to instill in my children.

Scholastic Treasury of 100 Storybook Classics (Scholastic Video Collection)is normally $89.99 on Amazon, and I honestly think it is worth every penny.
BUT, today must be a special day because when I checked Amazon just now, this set is on sale for $49.99! If you think you might purchase this set DO IT at this price! That is 16 DVD’s for $50.
These DVD’s were on my Amazon Wish List for a long time, and this is the lowest price I have seen. I’m so excited! What perfect timing!

Submit Article: Digg | Del.icio.us | Google Bookmarks | Technorati | kirtsy | Stumble It!

Comments