REVIEWS+

Debbie and Friends

Story Songs & Sing Alongs
NOT- -AVAIL-ABL-E.
COPY ISBN
PreS-Gr 2—This collection of animated videos featuring the music of Debbie Cavalier and her back-up band of friends is fun for the whole family. Some of these original story songs are based on folk and fairy tales such as "Little Red Riding Hood," "Goldilocks," and "Jack and the Beanstalk." While the main story lines remain the same, little twists such as a Fairy Godfather in "Cinderella" and the wolf's modern dialogue at the Three Little Pigs door give the tales an edge that will appeal to children. Other videos highlight songs that tell the stories of a boy who refuses to smile for the camera and the baseball player homerun Ronnie as well as the concept of opposites. Many of the songs have interactive choruses that encourage children to act out the words or sing along. "So, So Happy" and "Simon Says" were recorded during a live performance by Debbie and Friends. This delightful assortment of songs and videos will keep viewers coming back again and again. A must have for all collections.—Veronica De Fazio, Plainfield Public Library District, IL
In this beautiful, heartrending, yet horrifying film, North Koreans tell their stories of imprisonment, sexual slavery, torture, murder, and escape to China or South Korea during the nearly 50-year regime of Kim Il Sung (1912—94). The interviews are illustrated through the interspersion of dance sequences, archival news footage, and drawings. Particularly interesting are the North Korean propaganda films celebrating Kim Il Sung as God and showing in the face of mass starvation happy workers, elaborate military displays, and the creation of a new flower in 1988 in honor of the 46th birthday of Kim's son and successor, Kim Jong Il. A valuable time line traces 20th-century events in Korea. Bonus features include previously unreleased footage of camp refugees. This mesmerizing film displays excellent production values and is highly recommended for Asia collections.—Kitty Chen Dean, formerly with Nassau Community Coll., Garden City, NY
Reviewed by Kitty Chen Dean , Oct 01, 2011

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