Customer Reviews

Richard Scarry's Best Busy People Video Ever!: (Kids First Award winner) [VHS]

5 star:		(22)
4 star:		(0)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

What I like about this video is the diversity of careers that it shows. Besides doctor, police and fire people --which are very predictable-- the video demonstrates that it is possible to make a living by being a grocer, pilot, farmers, builder, plumber, painter, or even travel agent.

What my 3 and 1 year olds like about it are the songs, the neat characters like Huckle the cat and Henrietta Hippo, and the silly situations that Richard Scarry is renown for. In one part, the baker (Able Baker Charlie) mixes in too much yeast into his dough and the situation quickly escalates into total mayhem in the bakery.

All in all, if I were to sum this video up I would say that it is downright fun as well as educational.

Pam T~

What a captivating and delightful video for young children! The artwork is adorable without being precious. The music is lilting and catchy, with clever lyrics. The video cheerfully presents the many different kinds of jobs that are necessary to keep our "busy world" going - showing grand careers like doctor and architect, as well as less glamorous ones, like electrician and ditch-digger. All of the jobs are treated with matter-of-fact respect, with the underlying message being that everyone's contribution to society is worthwhile and important. Almost every child will see a job that he/she can identify with (except, interestingly, lawyer and stay-at-home mom, both roles that I have filled in my life!). Another plus is the video's complete lack of stereotype. Animals of all colors and sizes play the characters, and there is no stereotyping of gender roles (for example, Rhonda want to become a truck driver while Freddy wants to be a baker). Best of all, it is a video that you can watch with your child and enjoy each time.

Richard Scarry has created a world of variety, humor and niceness. His videos and books are richly detailed at the same time that the images' linear quality is rather spare, the colors simple. I mention the amount of detail because it may be over-whelming for very young kids. Our son could not really watch it until he was about 1-year old. In what amounts to a lot of mini-episodes the students in Miss Honey's class (children who are actually all different animals) dream of what they will do when they grow up. The video is one of Richard Scarry's that could appeal to a pre-talking child as many of the jobs are of a very visual nature--baker, truckdriver, firefighter, etc. A lot of information is packed into very short segments, but done in a humorous and enjoyable manner. Pacing is perfect for the very young. If you have never seen a Richard Scarry book or video you are in for a treat. He has really created a tangible, sweet world. I wonder if I am the only one that has compared it to the Andy Griffith show. Both paint the world as a welcoming place where people treat each other with respect and kindness. And who wouldn't want to live in a place whose buildings are human scale and which boasts an elementary school with a dramatic clocktower?

Our two-year-old loves this video. He wants to watch it several times a day (we permit one or maybe two viewings). This is the only video we have that our son watches without being in a trance....he is singing along, shouting out his favorite lines, and laughing. This is a nice gentle video for young toddlers to watch. There's action, but it's not face-paced or violent. Richard Scarry's characters are so engaging and humorous. Mr. Frumble's not in this one, but Huckle and Lowly Worm are. It's great fun. Other adults (parents, grandparents, and childless people) who've watched it with us get a kick out of it, too...it's not annoying (and believe me, we see it quite often!). We've seen one other of the Random House Richard Scarry videos....the Best Counting Video Ever. That one's good too (but not as loveable as Busy People). There's another production company that makes Richard Scarry videos, but those aren't as good for young toddlers as the Random House videos (IMHO). One thing we appreciate about this video -- at least the version we have, there are no previews at the beginning of the tape. :-) So you don't have to sit through a bunch of commercials before getting to the good stuff. There are a few previews at the end, but they're short and kind of fun (there's one for the Best ABC Video Ever that has helped my son learn his alphabet).

This video is well worth purchasing. It is a refreshing break - even though you will see it alot. My husband and I constantly throw busy people trivia questions at each other. It has great songs and nice lessons about what grown up people do all day, and how things work. Simple enough for little ones to understand, yet entertaining enough to keep interest time and time again.

My almost two year old could watch this video over and over. It moves at a good pace for toddlers with lots of interesting characters. It's funny and entertaining for adults who are subjected to it over and over as well. It's a great video to introduce kids to the concept of "what I want to be when I grow up" without gender stereotypes (there are female building contractors and male bakers, etc.) The silly short stories are adorable and teach great lessons at the same time (look before you cross the street, etc.)

My son is almost two and he loves Richard Scarry. The videos are great, his favorite. They are educational and fun. I think Busy Town is his favorite. He loves everything that goes on around town, just like are little town. Banannas Gorilla in his Bananna mobile is his favorite. Try the books as well!

My three years old son falls in love with Richard Scarry's stories. The video arouses little toddlers' curiosity to think about the topic: What would you like to do when you grow up. Same as the great Richard Scarry's stories, the artwork is adorable and the presentation is fantastic. With different characters, the toddlers can realise that there are many different jobs in the world. Everyone's job and contribution is very important in the BUSY TOWN.

Our son was passed down this video, along with the Counting, ABC's and Mother Goose tapes. He loves all of them, especially Busy People. It teaches about community, work ethic, teamwork and careers. This older series of Richard Scarry is a classic, as are the books that are also out. Highly recommended.

Both our 2.5 yr-old and 5-year-old love this video. It has simple, gentle dialogue, and the characters from books that our kids love.