TV Educational Movies

A presentation of the daily PBS Kids programming block, Maya & Miguel was a Latino-flavored educational cartoon series geared for children aged 5 through 11. Maya Santos was a lively 10-year-old Hispanic girl who was insatiably curious about the world around her, and who also came up with a million and one ideas to help those around her--in short, a well-meaning busybody, who invariably learned an important Life Lesson, or a new aspect of Latino culture and history, the end of each half-hour episode. Maya was accompanied in her exploits by her twin brother Miguel, her 7-year-old Mexican cousion Tito, and her ethnically diverse friends, among them Chrissy, Maggie, Theo and Andy. The adult characters included Maya and Miguel's incredibly supportive parents Miguel and Rosa, the kids' warm-hearted grandmother Abuela Elena, and friendly neighborhood mailman Senor Felipe. The Hispanic characters all spoke bilingually, switching from English to Spanish and back again with exhilarating abandon. Produced by Scholastic Productions and funded in part by a cooperative agreement between PBS, the Corporation for Public Broadcasting and the US Department of Education, Maya & Miguel debuted October 1, 2004. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

Everybody has heard the name, the controversy, and the mysticism in regards to the tropical rainforest. With this documentary from National Geographic, the kids get an early education with a look into the magical world of the earth's most precious natural resource -- the tropical rainforest and the ecosystem it supports. Starring such fascinating creatures as the spotted jaguar, the poison-arrow frog, and the chatty howler monkeys, this informative video is narrated by Spin, the animated talking globe, (voiced by actor Dudley Moore). From the National Geographic Really Wild Animals collection. ~ C. Dwayne Smith, Rovi

The Teletubbies urge kids to get up off the couch and join them in some fun, energetic exercises. This 80-minute video features stretching, calisthenics, and other low-impact activities. The Teletubbies take turns demonstrating the selected movements as the others follow along. An exuberant version of "Head, Shoulders, Knees and Toes" is a highlight, as well as the endearing "group hug" that Tinky-Winky, Laa-Laa, Po, and Dipsy engage in after each activity is complete. After the initial exercise session, the Teletubbies break into some freestyle dancing with silly hats, urging kids to dance along. Also featured on the video is footage of real people participating in different forms of exercise, including firefighters, rugby players, and other real children around the world. ~ Sarah Block, Rovi

When the Constitution of the United States was written in 1787, several political leaders of the time like Thomas Jefferson and Samuel Adams devised an additional protective measure for the document. The Bill of Rights is what resulted, ten amendments that added basic legal protections to ensure individual rights. This program examines these human rights, from their inception to the continued impact they have on the citizens of the country. In addition, the subsequent constitutional amendments are also analyzed, addressing such important national issues as slavery, Prohibition, and voting rights. Noted American political science experts contribute their insights and comments, making this video a fast-paced, easy way to learn about the basic rights of the citizens of the United States.


~ Sarah Block, Rovi

Intended to stimulate babies' brains and exercise their memories, this first volume of the So Smart! series is designed on the basis of studies that have tried to identify what babies like to hear and see. Accompanied by pleasant, soothing music by great composers such as Bach and Beethoven, a series of animations containing simple colors, shapes, contrasting patterns, and geometric forms are presented for small children (3 months to 3 years old) - to help increase their concentration skills and accustom them to recognizing objects. Some parents have reported that their babies imitate the motions of the objects and faces, laugh at the pictures, and love to move with the music. Participating in these activities together may be another way for parents and small children to have fun. ~ Alice Duncan, Rovi

Featuring the colorful, cherubic denizens of Teletubbyland -- Tinky Winky, Dipsy, Laa-Laa, and Po -- this short feature offers educational lessons directed toward young pre-school children. Teletubbyland is a place beyond the hills where anything can happen, and when the wind blows, a magical windmill presents pictures from far-off places, allowing the Teletubbies to play with the children of the real world. On this video the Teletubbies, who speak like babies and heavily employ repetition of their words, use ordinary events like taking a nap, eating toast, playing in the rain, and discovering a puddle to examine and communicate the various needs of children within their homes, schools, and society. The Teletubbies' adventures are told in fantastical terms, stimulating a child's senses through colorful costumes, a baby's face in the sun, the playfulness of youth, and the computer-generated animal parade.
~ Forrest Spencer, Rovi

This video is another release from The Baby Einstein Company, a group that is dedicated to introducing cultural concepts to infants and very small children. Bold patterns, colors, toys, and other basic objects are shown onscreen and are designed to teach abstract ideas like prediction and object permanence. Parents are encouraged to interact with the video by pointing to the objects on the screen and repeating or explaining them to the child. Baby Einstein focuses on phonemes, or the sounds of human language. The idea of teaching such a concept to very young children is based on research showing that infants have a natural ability to distinguish and absorb the sounds of all languages, but gradually lose this ability as they grow older. Repeated exposure to basic sounds of foreign languages at a young age may help form connections in the brain that allow them to be retained for a longer period of time. Included in the video are simple words, phrases, and numbers in the languages of English, Spanish, French, German, Hebrew, Russian, and Japanese. ~ Sarah Block, Rovi

This video is another release from The Baby Einstein Company, a group that is dedicated to introducing cultural concepts to infants and very small children. Real-world toys and art are superimposed over sharp black-and-white backgrounds, then set to the strains of classical music, assisting parents or caregivers in teaching the baby about the images and concepts included on the video. Baby Bach introduces the music of Johann Sebastian Bach, the late 17th century composer whose works are often considered to be the most complex and mathematical ever written. Three sets of scales demonstrate timbre, the quality of sound that is unique to each musical instrument. Many of Bach's most popular pieces are featured in the program, including Brandenburg Concerto No. 2, Minuet in G, and the Goldberg Canons. Recommended for children one to 36 months old. ~ Sarah Block, Rovi