Toddler

In its Veggie Tales stories, Big Idea Productions uses the unique innovation of computer animation to create stories that teach children values such as forgiveness, honesty, and kindness. In the first of its video series, Where's God When I'm S-Scared, Bob the Tomato and Larry the Cucumber teach lessons in handling fear. They help Junior Asparagus get to sleep after watching a scary movie by reminding him that "God is always watching out for us!" and in a zany rendition of the well-known Bible tale of Daniel in the lions' den, viewers learn how Larry the Cucumber makes it through a night spent with some scary lions. ~ Kathryn Tamms, All Movie Guide

The Bible story of Joshua and the battle of Jericho is cleverly told by the computer-animated Veggie Tales. Best for ages five to eight. ~ Heather M. Fierst, All Movie Guide

Parents can introduce children to the spirit of the season with Barney's Halloween Party. Barney uses his usual squeaky-clean energy to infuse fall with a wholesome air. Fourteen songs are included in Barney's celebration and all are designed to stick in the brain. In lieu of haunted houses and ghoulish masks, the Barney team have fun with pumpkin carving and paper-bag owls, while spiders and piñatas serve as substitutes for trick or treating. In a side story, BJ and Baby Bop try their hand at door-to-door begging, but end up regretting the whole thing. Overall, Barney gets down with his fellow costumed guests and teaches viewers the value of old-fashioned fun. ~ Sarah Ing, All Movie Guide

If rhyming is your child's bag, this Barney video is a must-have. When Emily can't seem to figure out how to rhyme, Barney and Mother Goose whisk the kids off to her magical house and garden, where they learn everything there is to know about inspiration and rhyming verse. This video packs in over 35 nursery rhymes. Although parents and older children may find it tedious, two- to five-year-olds will be singing poetry till the cows come home. ~ Heather M. Fierst, All Movie Guide

VeggieTales is a series of videos designed to teach children about dealing with various challenges in life through a Christian point of view. In this 30-minute story, host Bob the Tomato helps Larry the Cucumber address the need of standing up against peer pressure by telling him a tale of three vegetables -- Rack, Shack and Benny -- who are forced to make chocolate bunnies against their will and are offered a promotion in the factory if they only worship a giant chocolate rabbit or face a fiery furnace. Based on the Biblical book of Daniel, where three friends confront King Nebuchadnezzar and refuse to worship a false idol. Songs to help teach these life lessons to kids accompany this story. ~ Forrest Spencer, All Movie Guide

Produced by Gullane Entertainment and distributed by Anchor Bay Entertainment, this collection features six episodes and one music video from the acclaimed Thomas the Tank Engine series. Thomas the Tank Engine and Friends: Spills & Chills & Other Thomas Thrills features characters such as Rusty, Toby, Duncan, Stepney, Henry, and of course, Thomas in several adventures aimed at children, preschool age and up. Directed by David Mitton, the programs are narrated by Alec Baldwin with music by Junior Campbell and Mike O'Donnell. ~ Matthew Tobey, All Movie Guide

Anchor Bay Entertainment presents another episode in the long-running series of children's programs based on the Thomas the Tank Engine books. Narrated by actor Alec Baldwin, Thomas the Tank Engine and Friends: Cranky Bugs features Thomas, Gordon, and Sir Topham Hatt in several adventures. The stories are "Cranky Bugs," "Lady Hatt's Birthday Party," "Double Teething Troubles," "Thomas, Percy and Old Slow Coach," "Busy Going Backwards," and "A Better View for Gordon." Also included is a music video for "Night Train." ~ Matthew Tobey, All Movie Guide

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: The Movie is the live-action, feature film adaptation of the cult comic book and the popular animated television show. After prolonged exposure to radiation, four teenage turtles--Michelangelo, Raphael, Leonardo, and Donatello--have mutated into ninjas and have begun living in the sewers of a large city. Under the guidance of a ninja master Splinter the Rat and television reporter April, the Turtles embark on a mission to run crime out of the city and battle the warlord Shredder. The Turtles have been designed by Jim Henson Productions and effortlessly fit into the live-action surroundings. ~ Stephen Thomas Erlewine, All Movie Guide

This feature-length tale finds Pooh and all the characters in the Hundred Acre Wood preparing for the holidays. When a gust of wind changes Rabbit's calendar, everyone thinks that they've missed winter, and it's time for spring cleaning. But when it starts to snow, the gang realizes that Thanksgiving is just around the corner, and when Pooh and Piglet are in charge of the turkey, things go awry. The Christmas story is a touching reunion between Rabbit and Cassie, a little bird he helped years ago. Featuring the voice talents of Paul Winchell as Tigger and Jim Cummings as Pooh, this video is a great addition to the children's video library. ~ Heather M. Fierst, All Movie Guide

Bob The Tomato (voice of Paul Vischer) and Larry the Cucumber (voice of Mike Nawrocki) are your hosts for this lively and quick-witted look at one possible scenario of the future of entertainment, as imagined by the Veggie Tales gang. In Veggie Tales: Larry's Wonderful World Of Auto-Tainment!, Larry sells Bob on his idea of presenting the comedy show of the future today, complete with robotic supporting acts, jokes generated at random, and extremely silly versions of old favorite songs. Bob, however, is dubious, and becomes more so as the show rolls on. ~ Mark Deming, All Movie Guide

This entry in Big Idea's morally conscious animated series Veggie Tales finds the gang of singing vegetables putting an Easter spin on Charles Dickens' classic novel A Christmas Carol. When the curmudgeonly Ebenezer Nezzer begins using mechanical chicken to unleash plastic Easter eggs on London, it's up to Bob and Larry, as Londoners Cavis and Millward, to teach Nezzer about the true meaning of the holiday. Along to help them is an angel called Hope, voiced by Grammy-winner Rebecca St. James. ~ Matthew Tobey, All Movie Guide

Another entry in Big Idea's long-running morally-conscious Veggie Tales series, this animated program offers lessons on self-esteem and loving one's self. Veggie Tales: A Snoodle's Tale stars Bob The Tomato and teaches young viewers to understand that we are all beautiful despite what others might try to convince us. In addition, there is a short comedic segment based on Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde called Dr. Jiggle and Mr. Sly. Veggie Tales: A Snoodle's Tale features the silly song "Sport Utility Vehicle." ~ Matthew Tobey, All Movie Guide

This video, aimed at children age five and under, offers beginning lessons in number recognition, number sequencing, and counting. Favorite children's characters Winnie the Pooh and his friends Tigger, Piglet, and Roo all appear in order to make these important lessons more palatable to youngsters. ~ Perry Seibert, All Movie Guide