French for Kids: Dedans et Dehors

Mixing animation and live-action, this playful French-immersion program for preschool and elementary children features human host Marie, who is assisted by Fritzi the animated mouse, a few cuddly hand puppets, and a group of smiling kids as she introduces several basic words and phrases. The short lighthearted sketches and songs here feature hand motions, props, and French subtitles that correspond with each word, making it easy to follow along. The tone is lively, with the youngsters laughing, adopting silly voices, and obviously having a lot of fun. While the presentation is continuous, the content is arranged so that it can be easily played in shorter sections (viewers also have the option to view the musical numbers separately). Packing a lot of information into a compact program, this is an effective immersion program aimed at ages 2–7. The DVD also includes a pamphlet featuring song lyrics and English translations for the words used in the show. Highly recommended. Aud: K, E, P. (K. Cruver)