Shana Banana: Music & Fun for Kids

Shana Smith, a.k.a. Shana Banana, is the energetic host of this children's program set in a computer-animated jungle land. Joined at her “banana shack” treehouse hideaway by a dozen cute, genuinely excited kids, Shana encourages the kids to “go bananas,” while she herself slips on a banana peel (still funny!), and makes monkey noises. Performing nine wacky, moral-filled songs--including “Ooga Booga Dance,” “Trash Rap,” “Black Beetle,” and “Pirate Scooterdoo”--Shana also serves up a colorful hand puppet tale detailing the adventure-filled journey of her canine pals Hal and Henson. While Music & Fun for Kids! is definitely low-budget, it's also full of infectious fun, cool tunes (my favorite was “Popcorn Song”), and solid guidance lessons on everything from reading and tolerance to problem-solving and using one's imagination. Shana Banana, though impractically shod in high heels (in a treehouse?!?), is both attentive and silly in a female-Jim Carrey sort of way that will definitely appeal to kids. Recommended. Aud: K, E, P. (J. Williams)