KidCrunch

With apologies to 30 Rock, The Office and other Emmy-nominated comedies, I think the funniest show on television might be SpongeBob SquarePants.

So, while there were a handful of good kids DVDs released this week, for me, it’s all about SpongeBob.  The newly released DVD collection  SpongeBob SquarePants: The First 100 Episodes includes every episode from the first five seasons on 14 discs.  That is just awesome. 

Although it is not educational programming, there is something to be learned from SpongeBob.  The show offers an occasional tidbit of nautical terminology and sometimes randomly delves into the obscure - like when the staff of the Krusty Krab goes on strike carrying signs made from “picket” fences.  I turned that into a teachable moment.

Also, try this with your kids - ask them to tell you about their favorite SpongeBob episodes.  They may not tell you a lot about the books they read or what they learn at school, but even the most reticent of kids will go on and on and on about SpongeBob.  Everyone has a favorite SpongeBob episode.  My favorite is when SpongeBob and Patrick become hysterical when their new friend “Wormy” is consumed, apparently, by a very scary butterfly.  Eric Carle’s The Very Hungry Caterpillar ain’t got nothin’ on The Wormy Episode, a SpongeBob classic.

For more fun and enrichment, ask your kids to name a family member or close friend who reminds them of a SpongeBob character.  All of my kids see themselves as SpongeBob and see their best friend in Patrick.  Our dog Nellie is everyone’s choice to be SpongeBob’s pet Gary the Snail.  And, if you know my kids, you can guess who reminds us of Squidward and who is so Mr. Krabs.

Your kids will love SpongeBob SquarePants: The First 100 Episodes and, if they are looking for entertainment outside of Bikini Bottom, they may also enjoy these these new kids DVDs:

• Jonas: Rockin’ the House (Volume 1)
• Scooby-Doo: The Mystery Begins
• Wizards on Deck with Hannah Montana
• Wallace and Gromit: A Matter of Loaf or Death and
• Wallace and Gromit: The Complete Collection

Buy these new kids DVDs through Amazon at the KidCrunch Store and remember to ask your kids about their favorite SpongeBob episode.

Two star-filled, G-rated Disney movies were released on DVD today:

• Hannah Montana The Movie (Rated G)  Hit Disney film starring Miley Cyrus as herself and her other self, Hannah Montana.  Miley returns to her roots in this wholesome movie with a message about remaining true to your family and friends.  Also includes must-have How to Do the Hoedown Throwdown line dance instructions!
• Pete’s Dragon (Rated G) Another Disney movie with even more star power (in its day) than Hannah Montana.  This often overlooked Disney classic features the talents of Helen Reddy, Jim Dale, Shelley Winters, Red Buttons, Jim Backus, Mickey Rooney and even a young Jeff Conaway.  The animation seems a bit primitive by today’s standards, but the live action/cartoon combination was ground-breaking when released in 1977.  A great movie for the whole family, including the grandparents.

Shop for these kids DVDs and other new kids DVD releases at the KidCrunch Store.

Related posts:

• New Kids DVDs:  Super Heroes and Sci-Fi
• Best G-Rated Movies Since 2000
• Best G-Rated Movies of the 1990s

Good news for parents stockpiling kids DVDs for a late summer road trip - there are plenty of new kids DVD releases to keep your kids entertained in the back seat: 

• Barney: Sharing is Caring  Everyone’s favorite plush purple dinosaur promotes generosity.
• Daffy Duck’s Quackbusters  This Looney Tunes cartoon movie is an overdue tribute to Daffy Duck.
• The Tigger Movie (2-Disc 10th Anniversary Edition)  Tigger bounces along and discovers the true meaning of family.
• VeggieTales: Minnesota Cuke and the Search for Noah’s Umbrella  The veggies teach little ones to do the right thing in this Indiana Jones-like adventure.
• Super Friends: The Lost Episodes  Almost 3 hours of Super Friends shorts from the 1980s - that’s a lot of driving time.  Thanks, Superman.
• Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles (25th Anniversary Collector’s Edition)  Re-release of three fun TMNT movies.  Yet another renaissance for Leonardo, Raphael, Michelangelo and Donatello.
• The Last Starfighter: 25th Anniversary Edition  Greetings, Starfighter!  Today’s young gamers should still appreciate this one.
• Race to Witch Mountain (Single-Disc Edition)  I liked the original movies better, but my kids are Dwayne Johnson fans.
• Sea Monsters: A Prehistoric Adventure 3-D  Top quality underwater prehistoric tour from National Geographic.  So cool.

Shop for these kids DVDs and other new kids DVD releases at the KidCrunch Store.

Related posts:

• Kids Movie Review: Race to Witch Mountain

My kids are bugging me to see Ice Age: Dawn of the Dinosaurs (PG, 93 minutes) which opened today.  I did a little legwork so I could share a sampling of the reviews from my favorite movie critics:

The best of the three Ice Age films, involving the best use of 3-D I’ve seen in an animated feature.  Roger Ebert 

What? Dawn of the dinosaurs? In the Ice Age? You’ve got to be kidding.  New York Times

With appreciably greater emphasis on action than its predecessors, and clever use of 3-D trickery to enhance storytelling as well as offer spectacle, Ice Age: Dawn of the Dinosaurs could prove the third time really is the charm…  Variety

Ice Age: Dawn of the Dinosaurs seems to be suffering from freezer burn.  Once fresh, the story is now buried under a hoary coating.  USA Today

A diverse bunch of kids DVDs were released today.

• The Diary of Anne Frank  This is the 50th anniversary edition of the original film by George Stevens which won three Oscars in 1959.  The film is an excellent choice for homeschooling or enrichment for older kids.
• Garfield’s Pet Force  In this straight-to-DVD movie, Garfield and pals turn into superheroes to defeat the alien who interrupts Garfield’s cookout.  No homeschool value in this one, but Garfield is one of my favorites.
• Tommy and the Cool Mule  This movie, with Kevin Sorbo and the voice of Ice-T as the mule, has a cheesy trailer and earned some awful reviews, but is reportedly a good family film.
• Transformers: The Complete First Season  For fans of The Transformers, the 25th anniversary DVD set includes the complete first season of the 1980s animated series.

Shop for these new releases and other kids DVDs at the KidCrunch Store.