Product Details

• Format: Color, NTSC
• Rated: Unrated
• Number of tapes: 1
• Studio: Family Home Ent
• VHS Release Date: April 4, 2000
• Run Time: 30 minutes
• Average Customer Review: 4.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (119 customer reviews)
• ASIN: B0000296Q3
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #309,832 in Movies & TV (See Top 100 in Movies & TV)

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com

The fourth "video board book" from the Baby Einstein folks is their most engaging product yet. Aimed at slightly older audiences (ages 1 to 4), Baby Shakespeare combines poetry with the usual mix of festive classical music, bright objects, and happy thoughts designed to stimulate young minds. This video is aimed at exposing little tykes to the language context. Twelve words (grass, tree, etc.) are explored in pictures and poem form with plenty of playful stops for kids singing their ABC's and close-ups of brightly colored toys in action. Older kids can follow the poetry in a beautiful enclosed picture book of poem text and sharp outdoor photography. We even meet Baby Einstein's first host: a dragon puppet named Bard, who (along with his friends) playfully participates in the action. He deserves a repeat performance. --Doug Thomas

Additional Features

Poems featured:

"Custard the Dragon," Ogden Nash
"A Modern Dragon," Rowena Bastin Bennett
"Mid-Summer Night's," William Shakespeare
"The Apple Tree," Galway Kinnell
"The Cat and the Moon," W.B. Yeats
"Heavenly Grass," Tennessee Williams
"Wadasa Nakamoon," Ray A. Young Bear
"Nothing Gold Can Stay," Robert Frost
"Revival," Steve Crow
"Loveliest of Trees," A.E. Housman
"The Calf-Path," Sam Walter Foss
"The Butterfly," William Wordsworth
"My Loves," Langston Hughes

Beethoven music featured:

Rondo a Capriccio, Op. 129
Rondo in C
"Für Elise," WoO 59
"Allegro for a Flute Clock"
Military March No. 1, WoO 18
The Ruins of Athens, Op. 113
Symphony No. 9, Op. 125

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

58 of 58 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Superb!, December 6, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: Baby Shakespeare (Video & Book) [VHS] (VHS Tape)

Our 14 month old adores Baby Einstein and Baby Mozart. Baby Shakespeare now ranks as her favorite video to watch. She giggles so much while watching the "star" puppet, Bard. It's nice to see that the creators put a variety of girls in the video rather than just their own children this time. However, there are only girls - no boys. If you were disappointed in Baby Bach, don't let that discourage you from buying this video. It is back to the quality of the first two. And this video is helpful for teaching your little one new words. My husband and I both think this is the best video of the whole series. Enjoy!

56 of 58 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The best Baby Einstein video yet!, January 27, 2000

By 

Mark Kittel (Pleasanton, California) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Baby Shakespeare (Video & Book) [VHS] (VHS Tape)

Hands down, this is not only the best of the Baby Einstein series but it is also one of the best children's videos ever created. Our nine-month old daughter laughs at the silly puppet shows, listens intently to the music and poetry, and watches raptly as the brilliant graphics and toys dance on-screen. Nearly everything in this video is also entertaining for the adults; my wife and I will be watching this one with our baby for years to come. It is rare to see a children's video that is made with such love and attention to entertaining and educating children, and that is not made with the sole intent of making a fast buck off our child. We can't wait for Baby Van Gogh!

56 of 59 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent Educational Tool!, July 17, 2002

By 

History_of_Art_Geek (Phoenix, AZ) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Baby Shakespeare VHS (VHS Tape)

As one who strongly supports reading to children, I was a "little" anti-TV for my youngster, until watching "Baby Van Gogh," which is another video produced by the same company. Julie Aigner-Clark is a genius! Her innovative products, exceptionally creative, are designed to entertain children while they learn. "Baby Shakespeare," is no exception. With an imaginative approach, this instantly engaging video teaches language (12 words) through cleverly written text, and real world objects, while stimulating auditory senses with classically arranged musical pieces. My son was immediately mesmerized from the first viewing, two-months old, and remains fascinated to this day, now fourteen months old.

I heard about Baby Einstein products from friends, but did not become interested until I learned of the company's dedication to providing financial support to MANY children's charities such as the Autism Society of America, Ronald McDonald House, The Eden Institute, a leading school for educating autistic children, and a host of other organizations committed to children with special needs. I now own several Baby Einstein videos and most of the companion books - they are excellent educational tools.

Additional recommendations - "Baby Mozart," "Baby Van Gogh," "Baby Dolittle Neighborhood Animals," also, Richard Scarry's "BEST" videos are excellent for children 1 year and up.