Happy Birthday Barney!

PreS-Gr 1—Barney is a purple and green stuffed dinosaur who comes to life through the imaginations of children and engages them in song and play. Young viewers will easily relate to his simple personality and modest dialogue. He is sometimes joined by his dinosaur friends Baby Bop, BJ, and Riff. These secondary characters are intended to appear younger than Barney, and they should appeal to very young viewers. In the first part of this DVD, the children help Barney celebrate his birthday. The second half explores cultural diversity. The messages focus on fairness and friendship, and the songs are sometimes entertaining or educational. Song topics range from instructional (how to clean up a room) to observational (about the colors in the environment). However, many viewers may find Barney's appearance and saccharine sweetness to be unsettling. The child actors have clearly been coached to exaggerate their emotions and singing voices, and though this makes the message more obvious, it can be a turn-off. The set backgrounds are contrived and overly colorful, but could appeal to some viewers. Fans of Barney will enjoy this feature.—Jenny Ventling, Greene County Public Library, OH