Kids & Family

Goodnight Moon and Other Sleepytime Tales

Everybody's favorite bedtime story "Goodnight Moon" comes to life on DVD for the very first time. Along with other beloved animated tales and lullabies children and stars come together in a delightful exploration of the nighttime world. Children offer wise and witty reflections on a host of sleepytime topics from the comfort of "blankies" to Native American dreamcatchers from monsters and nightmares to the mysteries of dreamland. Susan Sarandon narrates "Goodnight Moon" Tony Bennett sings the swing classic "Hit the Road to Dreamland" Lauryn Hill lends a new rhythm to the rhyme "Hush Little Baby" the many voices of Billy Crystal bring "There's a Nightmare in My Closet" to animated life Natalie Coletells the tale of Faith Ringgold's "Tar Beach" Aaron Neville sings "Brahms Lullaby" and Patti LaBelle performs "Twinkle Twinkle Little Star."Format: DVD MOVIE Genre: CHILDREN/FAMILY UPC: 026359170829

Margaret Wise Brown and Clement Hurd's bestselling children's book headlines this winning 25-minute collection of sleepytime tales from HBO. Susan Sarandon narrates the simple story of a bunny readying for bed. Other top entertainers lend their voices to the tape: Tony Bennett sings the story of "Hit the Road to Dreamland"; Lauryn Hill brings rhythm to "Hush, Little Baby" (the best segment); Billy Crystal lends many voices to Mercer Mayer's "There's a Nightmare in My Closet"; and singers Natalie Cole, Aaron Neville, and Patti LeBelle sing other tales. A dandy video for the youngster, punctuated with "interviews" of real kids answering a host of bedtime questions. --Doug Thomas

Classical Baby: The Dance Show

The animal dancers are stretching and getting limber it's going to be a fantastic show featuring some impressive moves inspired by George Balanchine Martha Graham Pilobolus plus many other great choreographers. The warm-up music has stopped the dancers are ready; it's time to begin Classical Baby: The Dance Show!Running Time: 30 min.Format: DVD MOVIE Genre: CHILDREN/FAMILY Rating: NR UPC: 026359291920

Classical Baby: The Music Show

The animal orchestra is warming up and the animals in the audience are buzzing with anticipation about the musical program featuring Tchaikovsky Bach Mozart and Copland plus many other great classical composers. The baby conductor has made his entrance. The maestro is ready to lead the animal orchestra; it's time to begin Classical Baby: The Music Show!Running Time: 30 min.Format: DVD MOVIE Genre: CHILDREN/FAMILY UPC: 026359235528

Classical Baby: The Art Show

The gallery is set: it's time to see some of the world's greatest works of art accompanied by some great classical music. The exhibit features works by Monet Degas Pollock Van Gogh plus many other masterpieces. The music is playing the tour is about to begin; it's time to explore Classical Baby: The Art Show!Running Time: 30 min.Format: DVD MOVIE Genre: CHILDREN/FAMILY UPC: 026359235627

Happily Ever After Collection: Fairy Tales For Every Child (Mother Goose/Pinocchio/The Pied Piper/The Golden Goose)

The award-winning HBO series Happily Ever After: Fairy Tales for Every Child provides updated cartoon versions of the classics that will hold your kids' attention without banging them on the head with themes. Four half-hour tales are included, each with a bevy of well-known vocal talent. A very sweet version of Pinocchio features a star-studded voice cast, including Will Smith, Chris Rock, Charles S. Dutton, and Della Reese. Although this may make the take sound strictly African American, the spin is decidedly multicultural. Geppetto becomes "George" and Pinocchio, being "chips of pine and oak off the old block" is called "Pinoak." The big spin is on Pinocchio's insect friend, who in this version is a termite named "Woody," played with a rascally style well suited to Chris Rock. For Mother Goose Whoopi Goldberg, Jimmy Smits, and Denzel Washington lend voice as the merriment takes place in Mother Gooseberg Land, where Old King Cole reigns over the likes of Little Miss Muffet, Georgie Porgie, and the rest of the gang who take their poetic direction from the grand dame of rhyme herself, Mother Gooseberg. Creativity oozes from this rollicking rhyme fest, an animated retelling of some well-loved classic nursery rhymes. A simple chore of chopping trees turns into a life lesson for a trio of peasant brothers in this fresh take on The Golden Goose. Drexel, Axel, and Simpleton are three strapping boys who live with their father and mother in a small kingdom. When father sends the older sons to clear the forest, they encounter a wizard--dressed as a beggar--who asks them for some food. Woven throughout this simple tale are subtle messages of the benefits of faith and kindness in everyday living, best understood by children ages 4 and older. The seductive music that the Pied Piper played to woo the children of Hamelin was jazz. At least, that's the take in retelling as old tales mix with new world vision. Here, the selfish King of Hamelin (Samuel L. Jackson) loves to dismiss all politics so he can count his money. Unfortunately, the rat problem becomes so severe that plans must be put into action. When a smooth, jazz-playing stranger (Wesley Snipes) wanders into town proclaiming that he can address the problem, the city council is ready to give him riches.

Fairy tales have always been a source of family pleasure, for parents and children alike. Now, some of the best-loved classics are being re-told in this vibrantly original and musical animated series, Happily Ever After: Fairy Tales For Every Child. Each tale features a hip, contemporary all-star cast of voices and all-new songs the entire family will enjoy! Classic fairy tales become fresh and fun, told as if for the very first time. So share the magic and wonder with your children as we invite you to enter the wonder-filled world of Happily Ever After.

From the Earth to the Moon (Four Disc Collector's Edition)

Originally broadcast in April and May of 1998, the epic miniseries From the Earth to the Moon was HBO's most expensive production to date, with a budget of $68 million. Hosted by executive producer Tom Hanks, the miniseries tackles the daunting challenge of chronicling the entire history of NASA's Apollo space program from 1961 to 1972. For the most part, it's a rousing success. Some passages are flatly chronological, awkwardly wedging an abundance of factual detail into a routine dramatic structure. But each episode is devoted to a crucial aspect of the Apollo program. The cumulative effect is a deep and thorough appreciation of NASA's monumental achievement. With the help of a superlative cast, consistent writing, and a stable of talented directors, Hanks has shared his infectious enthusiasm for space exploration and the inspiring power of conquering the final frontier.

NASA's complete participation in the production lends to its total authenticity, right down to the use of NASA equipment, launch locations, and even spacecraft. The re-creation of the lunar landscape is almost as impressive as the real thing and is further enhanced by the use of helium balloons to lighten the actors playing moon-walking astronauts. (These and other backstage details are revealed in the "making of" featurette, along with a wealth of supplemental materials, on a bonus disc in the miniseries' DVD package.) With a fictional, Walter Cronkite-like TV reporter (Lane Smith) serving as the dramatic link for all 12 episodes, this ambitious production may not be a great work of art. But as a generous and definitive example of nonfiction drama, it's full of the same kind of awe, inspiration, and humanity that led to "one giant leap" in the all-too-short history of 20th-century space exploration. --Jeff Shannon

Produced with the cooperation of NASA, we follow the course of the great American dream is it becomes reality through the voyages of the Apollo astronauts in their mission to place a man on the moon. Powerfully told as never before, these are the stories of the men, women and children, who lived breathed, and manufactured from the power of human will one of the greatest achievements in the history of man.

Zeus and Roxanne

Zeus is a rowdy little ruffhouse of a dog but no less rough around the edges than his owner Terry (Steve Guttenberg) and Terry's son Jordan (Miko Hughes). They've moved in Next door to Mary Beth (Kathleen Quinlan) a marine biologist who is more than a little preoccupied with studying Roxanne a delightful dolphin and keeping an eye on her two uncontrollable daughters. But what Mary Beth and Terry are about to discover that Zeus and Roxanne are developing an unexpected relationship. Their communication and bond of friendship and trust will change the lives of both sets of families as they learn that there's more to life than work and nothing so important as love. What happens when the two come together - and the effect they have on the people who love them - is an exciting and unexpected tale of freedom friendship and love.Running Time: 98 min.System Requirements:Interactive Menus Digitally ProcessedFormat: DVD MOVIE Genre: CHILDREN/FAMILY Rating: PG UPC: 026359139222

Too bland for any kid over age 7, Zeus and Roxanne is one of those utterly formulaic family movies that is so harmless it could put even younger kids to sleep. It's really about a cute dog (Zeus) who develops a fun-filled friendship with a clever dolphin (Roxanne) along the tropical coasts of the Bahamas. Zeus's owner is a kid whose bachelor father (Steve Guttenberg) is trying to compose a rock opera, and Roxanne is being lovingly studied by a single marine biologist (Kathleen Quinlan) who's got two young daughters. In true Brady Bunch fashion, they all get together to form a family, but there's danger afoot when another scientist threatens to use Roxanne for unfriendly research. There's plenty of surf and sun to go with this save-the-dolphin sentiment, so Zeus and Roxanne score a few points for being good-natured and adorable. Whether any kid will watch it more than once is another matter entirely. --Jeff Shannon

I Spy - Four-Pack Collection

Animated series produced by Scholastic Entertainment, award-winning producers of "Clifford The Big Red Dog," "Dear America," "Goosebumps" and "Scholastic's The Magic School Bus." This interactive stop motion animated series airing on HBO Family, inspired by the magical book series, brings I SPY to an entirely new audience. Two delightful new "claymation" characters, Spyler and CeCe, lead young viewers through search and find adventures set in an imaginary world. The series' eclectic soundtrack musically complements the visual assortment of bright objects in the series, incorporating sounds made by everyday objects as musical notes, further encouraging young viewers' imaginations and engagement in the game. Includes all four I SPY DVD releases: "A Mumble Monster Mystery," "A Runaway Robot," "A Thing That Flings," and "A Rockin' Bronco."

Babar - King Of The Elephants

For over sixty years children have enjoyed the richly entertaining tales of Babar the elephant and his jungle full of friends. Now these wonderful stories have been brough to animated life in an enchanted and delightful new movie BABAR KING OF THE ELEPHANTS. While still a young elephant in the wild Babar is orphaned and flees the jungle to the big city. There his presence causes an uproar until he is taken in by a thoughtful and sweet-hearted old lady. Educated into the ways and manners of humans it isn't long before Babar becomes a sophisticated elephant-about-town. But Babar is soon drawn back to the jungle where -- with his new education he becomes King of the Elephants making Celeste his queen and building the town Celesteville in her honor. Together they will share many adventures as the story of their lives unfold.Running Time: 79 min.Format: DVD MOVIE Genre: CHILDREN/FAMILY UPC: 026359156724 Manufacturer No: 91567

The elephant king with the upright stance and smashing wardrobe finally has a movie to tell his story from the scampering days of his youth through his adventures in Paris to his days as husband, father, and king. Based on the popular HBO series--which in turn is based on the books of Jean and Laurent de Brunhoff--this 75-minute film features pleasant animation, a quasi-adult contemporary soundtrack, and adventures culled from several of the classic books, including "The Story of Babar" and "Babar and his Children." Celeste and the triplets, as well as Arthur, Cornelius, and Madame, all figure prominently. The resilient elephants face a series of mishaps, including fires, illness, and the battle with the rival rhinos. All tends to end well, except for the initial death of Babar's mother, which happens Bambi's-mother-style about 10 minutes into the movie. (Ages 2 and up) --Kimberly Heinrichs

I Spy - A Thing That Flings and Other Stories

This play-along series airing on HBO Family was inspired by the magical book series. This installment of I SPY adventures follows the successful release of I SPY A Mumble Monster, and I SPY A Runaway Robot. Two delightful characters, Spyler and CeCe, lead young viewers through search and find adventures set in an imaginary world. The series' eclectic soundtrack musically complements the visual assortment of bright objects in the series, incorporating sounds made by everyday objects as musical notes.