Iris the Happy Professor, Vol. 3

PreS-Gr 1— Lively music introduces an amusing way to explore simple scientific topics featuring Professor Iris, a bird-like teacher designed by Henri Desclez using Fraggle Rock puppetry. Six rudimentary science lessons are provided: "Seasons," "Fruits & Vegetables," "Hot & Cold," "Nature, Earth & Sky," and "Minerals." Professor Iris takes a page from Ms. Frizzle's playbook (in Joanna Cole's "Magic School Bus" science series) and wears an oversized bow tie with a pattern colorfully depicting the current lesson's theme. Amid pratfalls, puns, sound effects, and a mighty musical racket, Iris manages to make some points. "Nature" is the best segment for facts, and speaks coherently about living in harmony with the natural world around us. Iris uses a magic board behind her to display visual images and a pointer that operates more like a magic wand. The production is quite theatrical, populated by costumes, props aplenty, and three students who consist oddly of a piano, a skeleton, and a plant. Miss Principle serves as straight man and wet blanket, alternating with a clown horn sound. Overall, the presentation offers more entertainment than science. While attractive with catchy original songs and visual effects with pizzazz, this is really for very young children.—Lonna Pierce, MacArthur and Thomas Jefferson Elementary School, Binghamton, NY