You're Always Welcome

When Justin and Kelli are both spurned by a kid clique on the playground, they band together to form the Lonely Club, which later grows into a multicultural group of kids who sing about various personal and social problems under the guiding hand of teacher Mr. Howard. Although well-intentioned, You're Always Welcome suffers from obviously platitude-laden scripted dialogue between the kids and songs given more to moralizing than imaginative or engaging stories. In fact, one of the six song/vignette segments even seriously stretches credulity: a father and daughter out walking spy a family on the street (holding a sign that says "stranded, please help") and the pair immediately head for the store to purchase groceries and blankets before transporting the family to a "place where they could stay." You can't squeeze a complex social issue into a 3-minute song, and the sad truth is that most people are neither that naturally benevolent, nor are situations with strangers always as simple as the "stranded, please help" sign seems to suggest. An optional purchase. [Note: a 26-page activity book for classrooms is also included with the video for the rather high price of $79.95 (10 books) or $119.95 (25 books).] Aud: K, E. P. (R. Pitman)