Baby Einstein - On the Go - Riding, Sailing and Soaring
Baby Einstein celebrates things that go--from trains and planes to boats and bikes--in this 40-minute foray into the world of transportation for the toddler set. Called a "digital board book," the film is divided into segments of land, air, and sea. The deliberately paced scenes feature classical music by great composers (such as Haydn and Mozart) integrated with puppets, live action, and computer animation. Early learning words scroll across the screen with voice-overs available in three language tracks. In one scene, a pastel-colored animated rowboat morphs into an open sea adventure of speedboats, cruise ships, and sailboards. In another, three kids sing the familiar "Wheels on the Bus" as puppets step onboard a brightly colored coach. The train sequence starts with a child pushing a toy choo-choo before expanding into footage of steamers, locomotives, and high-speed trains. Such a visual feast not only entertains young ones but also helps them make critical brain connections, say experts. The Baby Einstein Company has grown up from its 1997 beginnings, having been acquired in 2001 by Disney and its behemoth marketing savvy. While the film is as high quality and interactive as ever, the content gives greater emphasis to computer graphics (with spin-off merchandising opportunities) and lesser attention to its original cornerstones of stylish imagery, art, poetry, and singularly classical compositions. "The Wheels on the Bus" is hardly Beethoven, though youngsters certainly won't complain. (Ages 2 to 4)--Lynn Gibson