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Angelina is a little mouse who
dares to dream--of being a prima ballerina--and who always has a
few life lessons to learn. Based on the stories by Katherine
Holabird and illustrated by Helen Craig, this video features four
animated stories all about Angelina and her many escapades.
The stories emphasize social
interactions. The value of teamwork and playing fair are
underlying themes throughout. There is quite a bit of
"nasty" behavior -- bragging parents, aggressive
children, name-calling, and so forth. Of course, the problems
generally get resolved and the overall message is positive, but
parents of preschoolers may want to take note.
Angelina in the Wings is
beautifully animated and the British voiceovers are
well-acted.
When Wilbur is big and strong,
Fern's father decides that it is time for Wilbur to live the life
of a pig. At the same time, Fern learns one of the "hard
facts" of farm life. The farmer sells Wilbur to Fern's uncle.
In his new home, Wilbur discovers his voice (and breaks into a
celebration song upon his discovery), then bemoans the loss of his
full-time friend in Fern. At this new farm, kids watch as the
talking animals do their thing. Wilbur's farm-mates include a
mother goose, who doesn't understand what Wilbur means when he
wants to "play", a rat named Templeton (who is voiced by
the unmistakable Paul Lynde), and a father sheep who tells his son
that "sheep do not play with pigs" (it's a status thing,
you see). When Wilbur meets a friendly and wise spider named
Charlotte, whose favorite expression is an
encouraging "Chin up!", his life changes completely.
Children will enjoy this classic
video, especially its tender and silly moments. Charlotte's death,
however, is very sad. Parents may want to be sure their kids are
ready for this scene. This movie was originally released in 1973,
so expect some older-style animation. However, kids won't mind one
bit.
For more information, user reviews, or to buy, follow these
links:
Angelina Ballerina - Angelina in the...
(VHS)
Pros:
- Beautiful animation
- Features 4 satisfying
stories for a total of approximately 48 minutes.
- Aspiring ballerinas will
likely enjoy Angelina's escapades.
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Cons:
- The stories, in their
attempts to identify social interactions, present quite
a bit of undesirable behavior, such as name-calling.
Although these are generally resolved, the video may not
be as suitable for preschoolers.
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