WeeBee Tunes Travel Adventures: The Journey Continues!

Blending lively animation, catchy original tunes, and fact-filled lyrics, this second volume of the WeeBee Tunes Travel Adventures is an absolute winner. History, culture, flora, fauna, language, religion, climate, landmarks, geographical features--all are cleverly packed into each creative three-minute song. The music reflects each of the 15 countries featured--oom-pah-pah music for Germany, or didgeridoo sounds in the Australian Outback--while the excellent English vocals are inflected with local accents. Even the host animal characters remain consistent with their region; the South American "Osvaldo the Soccer Otter," for example, always has a ball with him. Sometimes funny in classic slapstick cartoon style, and sometimes rather politically sophisticated (for example, the song about Jerusalem mentions that "three faiths still work to find peace"), this wonderful program encourages global curiosity, appreciation of diversity, and retention of geographical facts. The DVD has interactive extras and activities, while the program's website features free downloadable materials. Educational, entertaining, and affordable, this is enthusiastically recommended. Editor's Choice. Aud: E, I, P. (E. Gieschen)