King Cole's Party [VHS]
Wee Sing creators Pamela Beall and Susan Hagen created their series of live-action videos to teach families the joy of music while renewing interest in traditional children's songs. Silly, wholesome, and contagiously fun, Wee Sing films combine simple melodies with engaging story lines so younger children can easily sing along. In this episode, more than 20 favorite nursery rhymes accompany a rollicking celebration for King Cole's birthday. Jack and Jill, Little Boy Blue, and Mary (with her little lamb) journey to London for the party, meeting Humpty Dumpty, Six Little Ducks, and Little Bo Peep along the way. The children bring special presents for King Cole, who in turn leaves them with a reminder that "gifts from the heart are the best gifts of all." While parents may cringe at the mawkishly sentimental plot, kids will sit in rapt attention (not unlike the charming spell of a well-known purple dinosaur). And while youngsters sing the folk songs, nursery rhymes, and silly songs, Wee Sing imparts the hidden benefits of music to wee ones: coordination, language, rhythm, melody, matching tones, and thinking skills. (Ages 2 to 8)--Lynn Gibson