Get Along Monsters

K-Gr 3—This program features three scenarios in which children try to solve common problems they encounter. In "Ask for Help," Ellen accidently kicks over some paint and stains the carpet. Instead of asking for help, she tries to clean it up and only makes matters worse. When Ellen's mother discovers the problem, she inquires why the girl didn't ask for help. In "Learn from Your Mistakes," Andrew uses an improper command for saving his work and loses his story when the computer crashes. Andrew learns from his mistake after his friend gives him the proper command. His teacher allows him extra time to complete his assignment. In "Don't Give Up," Kelsey attempts to assemble a robot from a construction kit. The directions are difficult to understand, and she becomes frustrated but doesn't quit—she walks away from the project and comes back later to successfully complete it. After each vignette, the host emphasizes that the best way to solve a problem is by acknowledging a mistake. The pacing and content is perfect for primary age students. Each scene can be paused for discussion. A "Wrap-Up" segment reviews the points presented in the program. However, there are two glaring errors that viewers will notice. In the first vignette, Ellen's mom calls her Kelsey. Also, Ellen says the spill happened because the doorbell rang, but the narration indicates that it occurred because Ellen kicked over the paint when she went to get a drink of water.—Nancy Baumann, University of Missouri-Columbia