Customer Reviews

Little Bear - Feel Better Little Bear

5 star:		(26)
4 star:		(5)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

I was introduced to Little Bear through the network Noggin. My son (now 3.5) has been watching little Bear for about a year now and loves these quiet, happy tales. They are so calming and soothing. I find myself being drawn into them just like my son. Adorable!!

This DVD is great. With 12 individual vinettes the watching goes on for 2 hours. That is a deal!!

I wish they would bring out the box set of all the Little Bear episodes. I would buy it in a heartbeat!!

I suspect that most parents of young children in North America are well aware of Little Bear from Noggin or Nick Jr. Based on the book series of the same name published in the 1950s-60s and illustrated by Maurice Sendak (most famous for "Where the Wild Things Are"), this program is outstanding for preschool-aged children for a number of reasons.

1) First off, each story is only 7 1/2 minutes long + a 1-minute intro. This is ideal for the short attention spans of the target audience.
2) Secondly, the pacing and tone are fun, but very mellow. The music is soothing, the mood is very happy throughout, and the end result is a calm, peaceful viewer.
3) The stories specifically target the development stage of the preschool age group. No matter what the plot, the stories always capture the sense of curiosity and adventure of that age. Little Bear lets his imagination soar, plays make believe, and dreams wonderful dreams. The writers nail the curiosity, exploration, and discovery that are so wonderful in pre-schoolers.
4) Each story also demonstrates the value of family and friendship. Little Bear's parents interact with him in a meaningful, playful way on his level. And his friends are true friends, sharing many of their adventures together, solving problems together, and evincing real empathy for one another.

Regarding this specific DVD, as the title suggests, the four main stories focus on the various symptoms and experiences of common childhood illnesses (colds, flu, mumps, frog in the throat). Family and friends help ease Little Bear's loneliness and the result is a lot of fun. But the disk also includes 8 "Bonus" stories about various other topics.

If you select the "Play All" option on the DVD, you will see the 4 main stories (about 34 minutes), but you'll miss out on two-thirds of the total material on this disk. To access the other 8 stories, choose the "Episode Selection" option, scroll past the two pages with the main stories, and then select Bonus Episodes to see a list.

I do not know why Nelvana chose to bury the other 8 episodes this way. Maybe I should just chalk that up to my own laziness for always selecting Play All and not discovering the others for several months. Ah well, my boys have forgiven me. Hopefully, I can not help others to avoid the same mistake.

Enjoy the DVD. The stories are wholesome enough that you can put them on and let the children watch on their own for a few minutes if you need a break, but they're also fun to watch together. The show demonstrates and, thus, encourages healthy interaction between parents and their preschoolers.

Each story is loaded with laughs and lessons for Little Bear and our little viewers.

Is there a better childrens show out there? No, there isn't. LB, Duck, Cat and Owl define what childhood should be...living life in the moment, knowing you are loved. Magnificent simplicity! My daughter continues to be enchanted, it's been 4 years now since we started watching these episodes....bring on all the shows on a complete set. Highly reccomended...lose the ritalin, bring on Little Bear.

These stories are so simple and sweet. Our daughter is completely entranced everytime LB and his friends are on an adventure. It is the only thing besides Maisy that holds her captivated. Lovely concepts and stories. If only the real world were more like the Little Bear world...

My 6-year old still loves to watch Little Bear. She owns a book treasury of all the original Minarik/Sendak stories and a Little Bear Preschool computer game. I am glad this DVD is being offered, and intend to purchase it for my Daughter. I like the Little Bear episodes shown on TV because they are gentle and slow-paced, but still very imaginative and full of fun. They offer a Magical view of childhood and teach lessons about friendship and family. Some other children's shows are too fast-paced and chopped into lots of short segments. I feel this encourages a short attention span and overstimulates children. This is an excellent purchase and would make an appropriate gift for any 2 to 6-year old.

The stories are great(as usual), but the DVD is not very user friendly. You have to access different menus to view the bonus episodes.

The familiar Little Bear music introduces each episode. Every story addresses a series of common child ailments, including flu and sweet-induced indigestion. I have noticed that young people are quite attracted by "medical topics": It makes them feel comforted that they are not alone when they get ill, and somehow calms and reassures them. With such a sweet character, these Little Bear episodes are a sure winner. We can even get ready or cook in the meantime!

Excellent show - perfect for toddlers. Very sweet stories with undertones of morality, kindness and respect for others without smacking you in the face with it. The only drawback here is that you can't play the bonus episodes straight through - you have to click on each one from the menu. And, because each "episode" is only 7-8 minutes long, you have to be right there or, in my case, you have a toddler demanding "More Little Bear please Mommy!"

My 4 and 5 year olds love watching it. They don't make them like they used to.

My 3 year old daughter loves Little Bear. It airs on Noggin just in time for me to make dinner and it is her wind down time during the day. When she is feeling sleepy or just needs some quiet time, Little Bear always does the trick. The DVD is great with so many episodes. My daughter and I were more than happy with it. I would recommend this for any child between 2 and 6. (Actually I catch my older kids watching sometimes too!!)