Jesus, The Early Years

The initial volume in the Bible Stories for Bedtime series, this talking-head video features the Good Book Storyteller Rhonda Wilson reading to a pair of children the story of Jesus' life. Beginning with the angel Gabriel's announcement of immaculate conception to Mary and concluding with Christ's moving to Capernaum to begin his ministry, the video tells the story of the early years of Jesus in simple fashion. Choral music in the background swells and ebbs throughout, and the camera shots alternate between Wilson and the listening children. Neither an effective use of the video medium (some of the shots, including sudden extreme close-ups of Wilson's face, are quite jarring) nor a likely candidate for holding children's attention, this is not recommended. Sony Wonder's Beginner's Bible series entry The Story of the Nativity (VL-9/96) would be a better choice here. Aud: P. (R. Pitman)