The Book of Pooh - Fun With Words (2001)

Where do words go when they are not spoken? Such elegant Pooh ponderings are what make Book of Pooh vintage A.A. Milne, though it is not Milne at all but Disney's nostalgic nod to the classic British characters of the Hundred Acre Wood. Fun with Words is equally as magical as its predecessor, Stories from the Heart, featuring lifelike puppetry in a sparkling setting (reminiscent of Bear in the Big Blue House, which shares the same executive producer, Mitchell Kriegman). Though the title suggests a grammar lesson, there are no alphabet exercises or word games here. Rather, four heart-warming episodes delve into the amusing mysteries of speech from the perspective of Pooh, Eeyore, Tigger, and the gang. In one tale, "The Words Are Out," Piglet's case of laryngitis is of great concern to Pooh who believes Piglet's words have either run away or are simply stuck inside of Piglet. In another story, Owl believes Eeyore has a "Brain Drain" when he momentarily forgets how to voice his thoughts. And laughter is the theme of "Isn't That Funny," when Tigger tries on various laughing styles to see which suits him best. A dozen musical numbers cap the 88-minute program. --Lynn Gibson Amazon.com

these are great videos!

i think these videos are great! my daughter is only 5 months old and loves looking at all the bright colors. she also smiles whenever they all start to sing. they are also very educational for older children. my nephew likes them too and he is 3 yrs. old. i would highly recomend them. January 14, 2004

Toddler appeal with a twist

I found this video on clearance at a drug store and wasn't expecting much for my $4. Since this was my first exposure to the Book of Pooh, it took me a little time to get used to the puppet animation. We have some of the cartoon animated Pooh stories, and at first I was a bit of a snob about them being more "true to the original." Now I'm shifting my efforts to find more videos in the Book of Pooh series.

I think this is an original twist on a classic, and the animation is well done. I can't figure out exactly how they blend the puppets and computer animation, but it's like eye candy for my toddler. I'm also happy that the voices in this video are identical to those in the classic series. The character voices really add a lot to the Pooh stories.

Fun With Words is a great way to get toddlers more aware of language. It's not a phonics lesson, so put away your flash cards. Instead, language is presented as one of many ways to express one's self. I like this approach to pre-reading skills a lot.

One thing I find particularly notable about this video is that the songs are refreshingly different than the usual mass-produced children's fare. "Where Do Words Go?" is an interesting harmony piece that sounds like it's sung by a contemporary group (though I'm not sure who sings it). The video also features a funk piece that really turned my head the first time I heard it. It's fun and somewhat comical, and I like the fact that my son can listen to the same genre of music I listen to in a friendly context. Also, I find it very amusing to watch the puppets dance to this music, especially Rabbit, because it's a little out of character.

All in all, I really like this video, and I'm not tired of it yet, even though my almost 3 year old wants to watch it several times a week. December 6, 2003

Excellent Purchase, Kid loves it

While it's not as good as Book of Pooh's "Fun with Friends" or "Stories from the Heart," it is still an excellent video. It teaches basic word comprehension and it's fun. My son loves it and I enjoy watching it with him. And, as always with Book of Pooh, the songs are fantastic. I would definitely recommend this video. April 9, 2002

Awful

Although I haven't had cable TV for some time now, it seems that Disney has decided to bring Pooh & Co. back in yet another incarnation, this time as a series on the Disney Channel and as puppets with computer-generated backgrounds. Kanga and Roo are MIA, but the rest of the gang (Pooh, Piglet, Rabbit, Tigger, Owl and Eeyore) are still around, and are joined by a newly generated (and blandly generic) bluebird character named Kessie. Each "episode" (of which there are four on this release) claims to have a lesson to impart, but these are pitifully simple lessons, such as that everyone has a special sort of laugh, or that communication can be accomplished without words. Perhaps the developmental psychologists can do better than I can in determining how all of this educates our youngsters--for my part, I think it's probably as worthless as all television, if (in this case) relatively harmless.

Regardless, my daughter loves all the "Book of Pooh" tapes (there are, as of this writing, three of them, including this one, "Fun with Friends," and the "Book of Pooh" general release). Viewers should be warned of the high variability in quality among these tapes--and also that this tape in particular is by far the worst of them. "Fun with Words" is from a different world than the worthwhile "Fun with Friends"--the stories are pointless, the songs forgettable. One musical number in particular is astonishing, a faux-soul bit called "Make a Sign" that has these beloved characters grinding their hips like dance-floor divas; one can only hope the puppeteers were doubled over laughing as they did it.

I would advise any self-respecting adult to avoid this; on the other hand, any adult interested in purchasing it is doing so with a very young child in mind. A very young child will not realize how bad this video is--certainly mine doesn't, and while this is not her favorite video, the fact that it has Pooh in it means she'll watch it through with rapt attention. Go ahead, if you must. March 10, 2002

Fantastic stories! Very educational!

I have nothing but praise for this new video. Not only are the puppets fun to watch (my daughter keeps watching it over and over again) but the stories encourage reading and teach some basic reading skills in a fun way. The songs are super, too! My daughter has memorized two already, and is working on a third. What else can I say? I am completely satisfied and my daughter is extremely happy with "Book of Pooh." October 5, 2001

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