Product Details

• Actors: Mary Beth Hurt
• Directors: Virginia Wilkos
• Writers: Kevin Henkes
• Producers: Paul Gagne, Melissa Reilly
• Format: Animated, Color, DVD, Full Screen, NTSC
• Language: English (Unknown)
• Region: Region 1 (U.S. and Canada only. Read more about DVD formats.)
  
• Aspect Ratio: 1.33:1
• Number of discs: 1
• Rating: NR (Not Rated)
• Studio: New Video Group
• DVD Release Date: September 24, 2002
• Run Time: 10 minutes
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars See all reviews (8 customer reviews)
• ASIN: B00006CY4S
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #37,713 in Movies & TV (See Bestsellers in Movies & TV)

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  Movies & TV > Kids & Family > 3-6 Years > Scholastic Storybook Treasures

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com
Scholastic videos let big folks rest their reading glasses by adapting Caldecott-winning and other worthy kids books for the small screen, with consistently impressive results. Chrysanthemum, based on Kevin Henkes's adorable stories, focuses on an agreeable mouse who adores her lengthy name until a classroom of regular students, plus the venomous Victoria, pokes fun at her for its floridness. Narrator Meryl Streep flits from valley-girlish Victoria to beloved bully-silencer Mrs. Twinkle with delightful effect. The video also contains "Owen" which is about a mouse who's approaching preschool but can't part with his blankie (Sarah Jessica Parker narrates) and "Weekend with Wendell" which bends our sympathy toward Sophie, who's tired of her two-day-long, trickster play date. The transformation from book to screen will captivate page-flipping preschoolers, and parents will pat themselves on the back for presenting this fine video. --Tammy La Gorce

Product Description
**All stories written and illustrated by Kevin Henkes** CHRYSANTHEMUM (Narrated by Meryl Streep; Music composed by Ernest V. Troost): Chrysanthemum thinks her name is absolutely perfect--until the kids at school make fun of her. It takes a special friend to change her classmates’ minds.

OWEN (Narrated by Sarah Jessica Parker; Music composed by Ernest V. Troost): Owen isn’t happy when his parents won’t let him bring Fuzzy, his beloved yellow blanket, to school. Luckily, Owen’s mother has the perfect solution.

A WEEKEND WITH WENDELL (Narrated by Mary Beth Hurt): Sleepovers are usually fun, but spending a weekend with Wendell is anything but fun and games. Sophie shows Wendell that, sometimes, she has to be boss too.

DVD Features: Bonus Stories "Picnic," "Monty," "The Wizard"; Read Along; Interactive Menus; Scene Selection

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

20 of 20 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars THANK YOU, KEVIN HENKES!!, January 8, 2003

By	KEVIN O'DONOHUE (Avon, IN USA) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

My daughter Molly loved "Owen" when I bought it for her a year ago. Then I got "Chrysanthemum", then more and more of Henkes' wonderfully delightful, stupendously enjoyable, magnificently superb books. Molly liked them so much, she wanted to rent the video... just assuming EVERYTHING must be available as a video!! Good news, Molly. Now it is!

Of course, when I saw this DVD, I had to order it immediately. I was worried that it would just be pictures from the book with a big-name guest reading the story. I'm happy to say that I was wrong! The animation is simple, flowing gently like Henkes' illustrations. Meryl Streep's reading is a reflection of her well-known talent. She and Sarah Jessica Parker give the readings real heart.

5-year old Molly gives this DVD 5-stars, and so does 8-year old big brother. (And he's a Yu-gi-oh playing, GameBoy-toting, sports-playing "tough guy"!!! It proves that Henkes brings out a gentle humor in everyone!)

Sorry to gush, but this DVD is worth twice what I paid for it. In fact, I just ordered 2 more for gifts. I just hope they follow up with a "Lilly's Purple Plastic Purse" DVD. Or--heaven forbid--a TV show! If you liked the "Little Bear" cartoons, you'll like these.

19 of 19 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Loved It!, August 25, 2003

By A Customer

My 4 year old daughter loves all of Henkes' books so when I saw there was a DVD out there with 3 of his stories I snatched it up. Talk about a 3 time winner in our home. My daughter LOVES this DVD, it's her favorite amongst all the other scholastic videos we own and I can see why. Meryl Streep and Sarah Jessica Parker do a wonderful job narrating. I would love to see Sheila Rae the Brave, Chester's Way and any other Henkes book compiled into another DVD.

You get 6 stories: Chrysanthemum, Owen, A Weekend with Wendell (all Henkes), The Picnic, Monty and The Wizard for an hour of enjoyable stories. I highly recommend the DVD for young kids.

14 of 14 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The best kids author, March 13, 2003

By	Shaz "oi-you!" (Naples, FL USA) - See all my reviews (TOP 500 REVIEWER)

Our family has all the Kevin Henkes books, mainly because they appeal to both kids and adults. When I saw that the books were read on DVD, I purchased them without hesitation. These wonderful books are even better when narrated by the likes of Oscar winner Meryl Streep (reading "Chrysanthemum")and Golden Globe winner Sarah Jessica Parker (who narrates "Owen"). Included are a few bonus stories (not Henkes) and an option to read alond with the story (in the same format as a sing-a-long show). A wonderful idea! Also look for books like "Chicka Chicka Boom Boom" and "Goodnight, Gorilla" on DVD published by the same company.