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Where the Red Fern Grows

Childrens Toy Shop > VHS > Kids and Family
starring: James Whitmore, Beverly Garland, Jack Ging, Lonny Chapman, Stewart Petersen
directed by: Norman Tokar

June 27, 1995
This is simple, well intentioned and instantly likeable film. Made in 1974, there are evident signs of the age of the film, but this works to its advantage. This is one of the classics. Perhaps not as famous as Old Yeller, it's "older brother", which also hailed from the Disney studio's, it is equally as likeable.
Stewart Petersen does a terrific job as young Billy Coleman, and makes the character immensely likeable.

The film follows Billy's life, as he desperately saves money to buy a pair of hunting dogs. It is evident that he leads a fairly poor, but honest life, and struggles with his decision to buy the dogs, as opposed to giving the money to his Father. On going to collect the dogs, he is stared at by the local folk, ... Read More:

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Balto II Wolf Quest

Childrens Toy Shop > VHS > Kids and Family
from: Mca (Universal)

June 03, 2003
Balto was the malamute who led the last leg of a husky-malamute team some 53 miles in 1925 during the Diptheria Epidemic. The beautiful Eskimo dog has been immortalized in statue as a testament to his bravery in getting the team through so the medicine could be provided to the people needing it.

Although this fictionalized account of Balto's life off duty is just that, it does have some appealing qualities. The animation of Balto's mate, the beautiful husky Jenna; Balto's lineage revealing him to be a wolf-hybrid and the story of his beautiful, curly-tailed daughter, Aleu are all literary license that make the story appealing.

Although many disliked this film, it is deeper than it appears on the surface. Aleu is the only ... Read More:

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Love Bug 02

Childrens Toy Shop > VHS > Kids and Family
starring: Bruce Campbell, John Hannah, Alexandra Wentworth, Kevin J. O'Connor, Dana Gould
directed by: Peyton Reed

March 27, 2001
A friend and I rented this movie to get up to speed on Bruce Campbell's work (of Evil Dead fame, among countless other movies and TV shows), and did all we could to keep from turning the thing off. It's an entertaining family film and it's simple storyline, humorous scenes and "gee whiz" happy ending will please the youngsters. But if you are looking for a good plot and solid acting, forget it. A highpoint of the film comes with the cameo appearance of Dean Jones, and it was interesting to see John Hannah and Kevin J. O'Connor before they were in The Mummy. As for Campbell, it was probably one of his worst lead performances I've ever seen. But in the end, it's Herbie...and everyone love Herbie.

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Snow Dogs

Childrens Toy Shop > VHS > Kids and Family
from: Buena Vista

August 03, 2004
My 6-year-old is obsessed with this film. It seems like every time I hear the TV turn on, my daughter's got "Snow Dogs" popped into the VCR...again (sigh...)! It's harmless good fun and I certainly don't mind hearing her gleeful laughter resounding through the house. The only thing that gets on my nerves are the Michael Bolton references. Michael Bolton's music is used in the film soundtrack. Michael Bolton is a White recording artist, but his most successful releases have consistently been cover versions of songs by Black artists. The central character in "Snow Dogs" finds out that he's not only adopted but also only half-Black. His foster mother promptly quips that maybe this is the reason he likes Michael Bolton's music so much. Then ... Read More:

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Bump in the Night Squishington

Childrens Toy Shop > VHS > Kids and Family
from: Obsolete

September 26, 1995
My 6-year-old is obsessed with this film. It seems like every time I hear the TV turn on, my daughter's got "Snow Dogs" popped into the VCR...again (sigh...)! It's harmless good fun and I certainly don't mind hearing her gleeful laughter resounding through the house. The only thing that gets on my nerves are the Michael Bolton references. Michael Bolton's music is used in the film soundtrack. Michael Bolton is a White recording artist, but his most successful releases have consistently been cover versions of songs by Black artists. The central character in "Snow Dogs" finds out that he's not only adopted but also only half-Black. His foster mother promptly quips that maybe this is the reason he likes Michael Bolton's music so much. Then ... Read More:

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S.L.B.:Candles Snow...

Childrens Toy Shop > VHS > Kids and Family
directed by: Michael McNamara

September 24, 1996
Our kids love Sharon Lois and Bram, but we were unprepared for the quality and repeat viewing aspects of this wonderful Christmas special - and it's probably the only Christmas Special ever made that has a gorgeous Chanakah song in it! The singing and music is great, the choreography is sophisticated and the comedy is first class. It has become a Christmas must see around our house - in the ranks with Charlie Brown's Christmas and It's a Wonderful Life.

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Maisy Winter Fun

Childrens Toy Shop > VHS > Kids and Family
from: Mca (Universal)

September 12, 2000
The title to the review says it. I'm a big Maisy fan. I insisted on ordering some Maisy videos for our 19 month old daughter (my wife tends to prefer Elmo ). Although she now loves Maisy, too... wading through all the ads and junk at the beginning of the video after each rewind is annoying (it is much worse on the Maisy vids than on others, like Sesame Street vids). I'm sure this is the production company, not the artist, and it's a shame. DVD's would be a nice development for this poor mouse, so one can more easily skip this junk.

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Fun and Fancy Free

Childrens Toy Shop > VHS > Kids and Family
starring: Cliff Edwards, Billy Gilbert, Walt Disney, Clarence Nash, Anita Gordon
directed by: William Morgan, Bill Roberts

July 15, 1997
In this film Disney dishes out two more stories that are very charming. In feature one you meet lovesick Bongo the Bear, and in the second feature Mickey fills Jack's shoes and climbs the beanstalk with Donald and Goofy behind him. The animation is good, and the music is great. A definate must see. I reccomend this film.

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Maisy Makes Music

Childrens Toy Shop > VHS > Kids and Family
from: Mca (Universal)

September 12, 2000
There are better Maisy tapes. "Maisy's Birthday" is our favorite. Plus, one of the shorts is repeated on this tape ("Maisy had a motorcar but it wouldn't go..."). Still, it's Maisy and that means it's ten times better than the usual preschooler products.

Included are: "Dancing," "Train," "Stick" and "Parade." Surprisingly, one of the segments actually has some sounds that are annoying, I think it's Parade. Train is more about counting than music, and it's repeated on another Maisy video. The short segments between the longer ones are fun too.

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Maisy Play With Maisy

Childrens Toy Shop > VHS > Kids and Family
from: Mca (Universal)

July 25, 2000
My two year old absolutely loves Maisy. The video is made up of 6 short clips with musical segway's which is perfect for a child's attention span. The simple, bright characters be-bop around to catchy music and lyrics that stick in your head. My daughter needs quiet time to calm down before her nap and she loves to "mellow with Maisy". It is wonderful to have an interseting, educational video that is more low key than some of the other current favorites out there. I would recommend this video (and series) to anyone with young children. WE LOVE MAISY!