Two Stanley DVDs

Click to Buy	Ratings Summary (Scored out of a maximum of five)
	Audio		Video
	Goodies		Interface
	Value

The Discs

Of the profuse number of animated television shows that pervade

network, cable, and satellite programming today, there are relatively

few that I, as an adult, can stand to watch with my preschooler.

One of the more enjoyable and educational ones is Stanley.

Stanley is a curious little boy who loves animals and loves to

take his friends and viewers on wonderfully fun and educational

jaunts into his “Great Big Book of Everything.” The

animation is simple, bright, and colorful, and the characters

are easy for preschoolers to relate to. For the adults, the educational

aspect is a definite plus, and the stories are enjoyable and interesting

enough to prevent the show from grating too much on your nerves.

Promotional

image © Disney

Each episode uses a particular animal to teach an everyday life

lesson that preschoolers can relate to. For example, in one show

Stanley needs to clean his room, and he tries to figure out the

best way to go about doing that. After thinking about it for a

while, he thinks about how useful it would be if he had a pouch

to put things in while he picks up the room. This leads Stanley

and his friend Dennis the goldfish to explore kangaroos in “Great

Big Book of Everything,” and while inside the book, they

learn all sorts of facts about kangaroos — like how they

use their pouches.

After learning all about kangaroos, Stanley decides to tie a pillowcase

to himself to help him clean his room, and he quickly cleans his

room by hopping around and stuffing his pouch full of toys. Children

watching the show learn about creative problem–solving, the

relationship between animals and humans, animal habitats and behaviors,

and the lessons we can learn from animals.

Each disc contains four stories, and each story is about 11 minutes

long. Hop To It contains stories featuring kangaroos, ants,

sloths, and anteaters. Spring Fever features groundhogs,

caterpillars, butterflies, and bluebirds.

The Goodies

Since the titles are targeted for preschoolers, the bonus material

is limited and specifically for children. The music video is just

a music video, but my 4½–year–old son really enjoys

the “Great Big Book of Everything” activity, which asks

questions about several pictured animals. The viewer selects which

animal corresponds to the question, then a brief video clip is

played that provides some information about the animal. It is

not much for adults, but it keeps the children busy for a little

while.

Promotional image © Disney.

The Video, Audio and Interface

The video and audio are nothing more than what you get from cable

or satellite, so there is nothing surprising or special there.

The interface is nicely done, with character animation and instructional

narration. This makes it easy, with a little practice, for your

youngsters to navigate the menus and participate in the activities.

The Final Evaluation

If you have a preschooler who loves either Stanley or animals,

these discs warrant your consideration. The shows are smart and

entertaining, and the contents make learning fun. Granted, you

can catch Stanley on the Disney Channel’s Playhouse Disney

block, but I have to admit, having the convenience of being able

to randomly pick episodes makes the discs a better choice than

VHS anytime. Additionally, they are priced lower than most other

Disney DVDs ($19.99 SRP), so even though the discs are relatively

short (46 minutes) and are a bit low on bonus material, they are

still a pretty decent deal.