So Smart & Kingdom of Goode

So Smart!: Musical Instruments

A lumbering elephant made of simple shapes moves to the melodic sound of a guitar. Birds flock together as a violin plays, and a frog hops to the sound of a clarinet. Each instrument is matched to an animal -- a great way to introduce young children to the distinct sounds of different instruments. The DVD includes interactive story cards that can be played on TV with your remote control. Winner of Parenting Magazines Video of the Year.

Kingdom of Goode - A Tale Of Sharing

So Smart!: Spanish

So Smart!: First Words

So Smart - First Words

A delightful addition to the bounty of programs designed to stimulate a baby's brain development, First Words is an animated "board book" that introduces toddlers to familiar words by way of simple, recognizable images. The show differs from other So Smart! programs in that the customary classical music soundtrack is replaced with equally lovely original piano, guitar, and flute compositions. The video's emphasis is not the music but the narrative: "A bug fell on the ground moving her legs busily. Go bug go," and "My daddy sits in a low chair; I sit in a high chair." As each word is introduced (moon, shoe, hat, car, and so forth) a descriptive sentence and visual feast bring the word to life. The 30-minute program, best viewed in short increments, is ideally suited to toddlers who relish stories before sleep. It's serene and gently paced; even the colors are muted for a soothing story-time experience. Ages 1 to 3. --Lynn Gibson

So Smart - Letters

Parent participation is a must for this wordless video, which plays notable pieces by Mozart, Tchaikovsky, Chopin, and other composers while presenting the alphabet one letter at a time. Designed for babies beginning at 9 months up through pre-reading 4-year-olds, this tape adopts a slow pace, starting with the drawing of each letter, forming a single image to go with it and spelling out that word. What separates this tape from other alphabet education materials is that it sometimes chooses verbs and then demonstrates them. For instance, the J begins jumping and the R runs. The simple images will attract babies, and the calm, single-word-per-letter approach will help toddlers focus, rather than be bombarded by too many images. Parents can fill in the rest when necessary. --Kimberly Heinrichs

So Smart!: Shapes

Kingdom of Goode - A Tale of Difference

A Tale of Patience- Kingdom of Goode

Life is tough for a fish out of water, but in the Kingdom of Goode, landlocked fish provide an amusing metaphor for A Tale of Patience. This 35-minute animated parable follows a fish named Phoose and his scaly cohorts as they cope with a nasty drought. Somehow, these ingenious friends manage to "swim" above the broiling desert sands, and complain about their plight in Scottish, Jamaican, and New Jersey accents. Their shared impatience almost leads to their demise. But a friendly flea, well schooled in meteorology, successfully begs them to exercise patience. It's an odd tale with a valuable message, made palpable by layers of bold, hypnotic animation and rousing musical numbers. Preschoolers--who may or may not get the point--find this wild blend of colors, shapes, and sounds oh so enthralling. This video comes from So Smart! Productions, the creative force behind such award-winning child development shows as Musical Instruments and Colors. --Liane Thomas

So Smart!: Letters