Customer Reviews

Between the Lions - Little Big Mouse [VHS]

5 star:		(2)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

I would highly recommend purchasing the Between The Lions vowel video tapes. As a mother of 3 young boys and an elementary school teacher, I fell in love with this video. Not only has it captured the attention of my 3 year old preschooler, but it has also drawn my 1st grader to the TV for some educational fun and phonics review. I teach early balanced literacy and I recognize the need for authentic, thematic and motivating material to grasp a child's attention and willingness to learn. Between the Lions does just that. I initially purchased this video as an Easter present for my 3 year old. Both of us were immediately drawn to it, so I decided to purchase the two others that were available. This video's focus is on the short vowel 'i'. The others focus on short vowels 'a' and 'e'. All of the videos also feature some long vowel examples too. I cannot wait until the remaining videos in the series are released on June 12, 2001.

My preschooler use to watch the television show while getting ready for preschool in the morning. Then the local PBS scheduling changed. Since I am a working mom, graduate student and sports chauffer for my boys, I found that I was not disciplined enough to consistently tape the shows daily episodes. It made much more sense for me to purchase and own the tape(s). I am thrilled with the investment and payback. I spend daily reading time with all of my children and I naturally focus on in an authentic way, the skills that 3 years old should be learning,i.e. shapes, colors, numbers, counting, letters, etc. within the context of read alouds, bedtime stories and just daily life. This video is such a great reinforcement. It shares some aspects of Sesame Street, a show which both my children and I have enjoyed over the years.

My 3 year is often caught uttering songs, phrases, words, and letter sounds from the show, so that I know that it is enjoyed by him. I feel that by the time he reaches the primary grades, this video will have helped him with a better grasp of language besides all of the other ways that he is acquring language.

Kudos to the crew, the cast and all of their creativity. I hope that other children, parents and teachers can reap the benefits that our family has shared!

These videos break down reading so well it is amazing. I think anyone can learn to read.
I promised my son who has a dx of DS/autism that we would help him read.
I have purchased many of these videos and am looking for the books to match.
Recommend to anyone who wants their preschooler to have a jump on reading.
Recommend to parents of special needs kids who like videos and who are extreme with their VISUAL learning.

If you aren't familiar with Between the Lions, I suggest you go to the PBS website and check the show out. [pbskids.org/lions]

In general, the show revolves around a library and a family of lions. The lions and a host of other `eccentric' characters teach phonics and basic reading by sketches, songs, storytelling and graphic art.

This particular show treats the short `i' sound. The key word is "little". Aesop's story of the `Lion and the Mouse' is read.

Four Stars. Excellent educational fair that we wish was only longer. My 3 and 5 year old children and I love it.

Research by Deborah L. Linebarger, Ph.D. at the University of Kansas has shown that : [pdf file available at pbs too.]

"Kindergarten children who watched [Between the Lions] outperformed kindergarten children who did not watch [Between the Lions] by nearly 4 to 1 on measures of specific program content.

Books recommended by the PBS Between the Lions site to accompany this video:
A Mouse Called Wolf - By Dick King-Smith (Alfred A. Knopf)
Mouse Soup - By Arnold Lobel (HarperTrophy)
The Selfish Crocodile - By Faustin Charles (Little Tiger Press)
The Story of Jumping Mouse - John Steptoe (Mulberry Books)
Watch Out! Big Bro's Coming!- Jez Alborough (Candlewick)