Fun and educational? It's true!
Written: Apr 28 '00
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Product Rating:
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Pros: Fun to watch, provides the fundamentals of reading
Cons: Kids might not get all the jokes
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| atara's Full Review: Between the Lions |
They needed shows like this when I was learning to read. Combining live action puppetry, animation, songs and a cast of entertaining characters, Between the Lions teaches children the basics of reading.
I stumbled across this show once day while looking for something other than daytime shock shows to watch. On my screen I saw a family of lions running a library. "This looks fun," I thought, and sat down to watch.
It was great. I watched the episode all the way through, and now try to catch it whenever I can. Although I already know how to read, I found the show's segments engaging and entertaining. A part called "Gawain's Word" features two knights in armor, riding stick horses, galloping towards each other to form a word. (Sir St and Sir Uck formed the word stuck.) Then the show takes a journey inside the fridge to visit Sam Spud, Par-Boiled Potato Detective, who types away on his typewriter. "The neon sign outside my window blinked on, off, driving me crazy, when there was a knuck at my door... Knuck? That's not right... That u should be an o..."
There is a walking, talking thesaurus, and a talking bust (with no arms or legs, of course). The real stars of the show are the lions. The lions in the title are puppets, masterfully played. Their eyes blink, their ears wiggle, and each has a unique personality. The parents are always hungry, and the cubs try to stay out of trouble. And while the show is designed for kids, some jokes aimed at adults have been thrown in here and there.
Through the perilous adventure of Cliff Hanger, to story time with Chicken Jane, I found myself amused and entertained. But will the show help kids to read? I think it will help. No TV show can be a substitute for parent involvement in a child's education. Between the Lions is a fun supplement, no more than that. But isn't that how it should be?
Recommended:
Yes
Type of Program: Educational
Program Quality: Thought-provoking, original material
Best Suited For: 6 to 8 years
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Epinions.com ID:
atara
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Reviews written: 26
Trusted by: 12 members
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