Sing ‘N Sign Holiday Time with Gaia

Regional Emmy-winning children's entertainer Gaia Tossing hosts this open-captioned program that celebrates three major U.S. holidays (Christmas, Kwanzaa, and Hanukkah) through song, dance and sign language. Using ASL to back all of the narration, Gaia and the KidSign Club kids happily work their way through 10 songs, including classics such as “Jingle Bells,” “Up on the Housetop,” “The 12 Days of Christmas,” and Gaia's (along with husband/co-music producer Ed) tunes “Mrs. Claus,” “Silver Star,” and “How Many Candles?” A few special visitors drop by, including hearing-impaired Jonnie (who pops out of a package from Handlandia), and master African drummer Baba Atiba and friends (who explain about Kwanzaa through the song “Nguzo Saba (The Seven Principles)”). The program points out traditions the holidays share (candles, for instance), briefly looks at other celebrations such as Ramadan and Diwali, and provides a positive message about appreciation and respect. Host Gaia is energetic and engaging, and the program dazzles with festive originality and imagination, while also serving as a valuable learning tool. As an added bonus, the DVD includes a training session featuring Gaia and Jonnie teaching viewers to sign (using ASL classifiers) 14 holiday songs. Highly recommended. Editor's Choice. Aud: K, E, P. Aud: (J. Williams)