Booklist Online Gives Fascinating World of Birds A Great Review

The Booklist Online is part of the American Library Association. BrainFood Learning was recently notified The Fascinating World of Birds has received a favorable review with the review published in January 2013. We are really excited to receive a wonderful review by such a highly regarded organization. The entire review is below.

birds_front_500__46168.1322240558.1280.1280Following an introduction to bird basics (all birds are vertebrates, lay eggs, and have feathers and hollow bones), this instructional program focuses on 10 species of birds, beginning with ostriches, the largest and fastest bird. Characteristics of all featured birds, including penguins (males incubate eggs), Canada geese (fly in V formations), and eagles (the symbol of the U.S.), are included. The program also highlights the hummingbird (the smallest species, ability to fly backward), woodpecker (pecks up to 10,000 times per day), macaw (screeches very loudly), pelican (scoops fish with throat pouch), American robin (migrates and returns to the U.S. in spring), and owl (quietly sneaks up on prey). Live-action footage shows the avian species in their native habitats, and onscreen captions highlight bird names and other terms. Colorful nature footage, kid-friendly trivia, and review questions accent this solid, well-priced video for classroom use.

— Candace Smith

Video Librarian Highly Recommends The Fascinating World of Insects

Fascinating World of Insects
Fascinating World of Insects

Video Librarian is the video review magazine for public, school, academic, and special libraries, as well as video fans who are interested in a wider variety of titles than what’s found in the average video store. The reviews are written by staff, librarians, teachers, and film critics. Video Librarian recently reviewed the Fascinating World of Insects in the September/October 2012  issue and gave the video 3 1/2 out of 4 stars with the Highly Recommended designation. The review is below:

Colorful still  photos, microphotography, and live-action footage are combined to illustrate a  variety of bugs in action—accompanied by cheerful background music—in this  handsomely produced nature documentary. A female narrator introduces young  viewers to the fascinating world of insects: what they eat, how they benefit  humans, and how they respond to threats. Many will recognize several of the 11  featured specimens: grasshopper, ladybug, rhino beetle, firefly, mosquito,  honeybee, water strider, ant, praying mantis, dragonfly, and butterfly. Although  the squeamish may cringe at close-up shots of eyes, proboscises, and larvae, the  program avoids scary depictions of insects devouring each other or being  consumed. Body parts are clearly illustrated—legs, wings, horns, and so on—while  new vocabulary words such as “entomologist” and “species” appear onscreen  against a vivid green forest background as definitions are given. Five quizzes  provide opportunities to recognize and name insects (or parts thereof), test  one’s knowledge of characteristics, and choose (from multiple choices) the  meanings of the “big words” introduced in the film. Also newly available is The Fascinating World of Mammals. Highly recommended. Aud: E, I, P.  (M. Puffer-Rothenberg)

The Fascinating World of Birds Wins Dr. Toy 10 Best Audio-Visual Award

Dr. Toy's 100 Best Toys for 2012
Dr. Toy’s 100 Best Toys for 2012

The Fascinating World of Birds was awarded Dr. Toys 100 best products of the year award. The video also won the distinction of Dr. Toy’s 10 Best Audio-Visual products for 2012. This award for the Birds video comes after our Insect and Mammal videos won Dr. Toy’s 2012 Best Vacation products award earlier this year. It is great to see BrainFood Learning DVDs win such prestigious awards.

The Dr. Toy’s program is produced by experienced toy industry professional, Dr. Toy, well-qualified Child Development Specialist (MA and Ph.D. in Special Education and Child Psychology) who focuses on unique, high quality, active, creative, and educational products. The Dr. Toy’s program is now in its 20th year. As an award winner, BrainFood Learning is  recognized by Dr. toy as one of the “cutting edge” companies providing the most innovative, developmentally appropriate products for children.

About The Fascinating World of Birds :

The Fascinating World of Birds is part of an outstanding DVD series designed by BrainFood Learning to build confidence in science through fun and interesting content. The video advances a child’s education by showing amazing video footage along with narration describing bird features and abilities. It is appropriate for kids of all ages. Each bird is clearly identified and shown in their natural habitat keeping children engaged. More advanced children will enjoy learning more complicated concepts such as depth perception. It helps answer questions such as, Why an ostrich eats rocks? How a robin gets its worm? Which bird’s call is as loud as a chainsaw? Your young ornithologist will learn the answers to these questions and more. Birds featured in the video include ostrich, penguin, Canada goose, owl, hummingbird, woodpecker, macaw, pelican, American robin, and eagle. This well made and informative video is ideal for home and school. A multi-section review reinforces information presented earlier in the video. This is a great educational tool. The beginner level reviews show bird flash cards and points out what features are common among all birds. The more advanced levels quiz children on bird facts and broader scientific terms related to birds.

The Fascinating World of Mammals Receives a Very Favorable Review by School Library Journal

The August 2012 issue of the School Library Journal has a very favorable review of The Fascinating World of Mammals. The review is written by a Linda Teel an Associate Professor in the Academic Library Services department at East Carolina University. The review is below:

A narrator introduces ten incredible mammals via beautiful live-action videography. Close-ups of a giraffe, moose, lion, dolphin, elephant, beaver, chimpanzee, bat kangaroo, and bear quickly engage viewers as each mammal is clearly identified by name using a subtitle. The animals are presented in their natural habitat, offering an accurate perspective of their everyday lives. For example, beavers are shown building a dam and a kangaroo boxing match is filmed. Interesting and amazing facts cover such topics as size, diet, care of young, community living, life span, and other unique features. Unfamiliar vocabulary words are shown on-screen as an age-appropriate youth presents each definition. The second part of the program provides a five-part review ranging from flash cards to multiple choice questions. A valuable acquisition for public libraries and elementary school media collections.–Linda M. Teel, East Carolina University, Greenville, NC

Momma’s Bacon Reviews The Fascinating World of Mammals

Jeanna with Momma’s Bacon reviewed The Fascinating World of Mammals.  We’re thrilled that she and her daughter enjoyed it!

“This Innovative Series Builds Confidence in Science through Fun and Interesting Content

The Fascinating World of…..Series has just begun to produce high quality science DVDs that children will relate to such as insects, birds and mammals.  I was more interested in reviewing the mammals DVD since Brooke is all about animals like bears, kangaroos, elephants – well, pretty much any mammal you can find at our local zoo.  I knew she would love to hear and see more about the mammal’s natural habitat and see the various continents in which these animals originate (Africa and Asia to name a few).

The Fascinating World of Mammals DVD is a useful and interesting guide for children and adults alike and is the perfect video for home education or home schooling.  Many items are said over many times for repetitive learning and similarities are talked about between the different mammals.  Interesting facts are injected throughout the video including how a beaver builds a dam and which mammal is the only flying mammal.  The website talks about this being a perfect review before your family checks out a zoo or wildlife park. It is a very useful guide and one that you will want to watch again and again which has been Brooke’s request.  Oh, one thing I love and had to mention is that it isn’t a mind-numbing hours long DVD.  It’s a great length for young children and enough time to get a special dinner ready without little ones stepping underfoot.  Highly recommended!”

The Fascinating World of Mammals and Insects Wins Dr. Toy’s Best Vacation Product Award

It is nice to see our work has been selected by a toy expert known for choosing products focused on child development and learning. BrainFood Learning has been recognized for its work on the first two videos released in the “Fascinating World of..” series. Dr. Toy Best Vacation Product

The Fascinating World of Mammals and The Fascinating World of Insects have been awared Dr. Toy’s Best Vacation Products Award.

Dr. Toy’s Best Vacation Children’s Products Awards were developed by noted child development authority, Stevanne Auerbach, Ph.D. (a.k.a. Dr. Toy), as a valued service to consumers who desire to purchase safe, affordable, educationally-oriented, and stimulating toys and play products for children for vacation time at home or on the road. “As a childhood specialist for more than 40 years,” says Dr. Toy, “I have seen the continuous, essential need for more year-round resources for consumers to identify and choose the most appropriate products for all children.”

Products are carefully selected from among many hundreds Dr. Auerbach reviews at toy fairs, catalogs and through many sources, and by using extensive criteria developed over many years (including safety, age-appropriateness, design, durability, play value, cultural and ethnic diversity, transition from home to school, educational value, learning skills, creativity, understanding community and world, good value for price, and, naturally, fun).

Dr. Toy reports that in the years the innovative on-line magazine, Dr. Toy’s Guide, has been available, “thousands of visitors daily from around the world have accessed its information.” It was the first web site to evaluate toys and children’s products and now the site is newly updated. The report is being released, according to Dr. Toy, to “encourage parents and teachers to focus on the value of play during the summer as essential to the overall learning process.”

About the Fascinating World of Insect:

The Fascinating World of Insects advances a child’s education by showing amazing video footage along with narration describing insect features and abilities. This format is designed to expand a child’s vocabulary as the video content grabs the viewer’s attention and the vocabulary is absorbed and is appropriate for kids of all ages. Each insect is clearly identified and shown in their natural habitat keeping children engaged. More advanced children will enjoy learning larger concepts such as metamorphosis.

The video is the perfect companion for trips to the zoo, park or even the backyard and is perfect for home and school and answers some of these questions: How do bees make honey? How is the light from a firefly different from that of a lightbulb? How does a caterpillar become a butterfly? Insects featured in this animal video include grasshopper, ladybug, rhino beetle, firefly, mosquito, honey bee, water strider, ant, praying mantis, dragonfly, and butterfly. A multi-section review reinforces information presented earlier. The beginner level reviews show insect flash cards and parts of an insect. The more advanced levels quiz children on insect facts and broader scientific terms related to insects.

About the Fascinating World of Mammals:

This new and innovative video series builds confidence in science through fun and interesting content with amazing content along with narration describing mammal features and abilities. This format is designed for all ages as it helps to expand a child’s vocabulary as the video content grabs viewers Each mammal is clearly identified and shown in their natural habitat and as child grows will learn larger concepts such as echolocation and many interesting facts about mammals from Africa, Asia and Alaska.

This is a useful guide in preparation for a trip to the zoo or wildlife park.   The vidoe helps to answer questions like: How does a beaver build a dam? Which mammal wears velvet? Which animal is the only flying mammal? Mammals include beaver, kangaroo, moose, dolphin, lion, giraffe, elephant, bat, chimpanzee, and bear and is ideal for home and school. The beginner level reviews show mammal flash cards and what features are common among all mammals. The more advanced levels quiz children on mammal facts and broader scientific terms related to mammals.

A Child’s Review of the Fascinating World of Insects

At BrainFood Learning we always look forward to feedback about our animal videos. The feedback usually comes from parents or grandparents of young children after watching our animal DVDs.  However, we received a nice letter from an eleven year old after she and her siblings watched the Fascinating World of Insects DVD. This type of review affirms our belief that our animal videos appeal to kids across a broad age range. We are excited to see that this age range extends from 2 up to 11 years of age. The review is below.

The Fascinating World of Insects: I loved everything about this film! The voiceover was great, both voices were really friendly. I thought the big words were really cool, I learned a lot of new words today! I loved the pictures, they were really big and colorful and you could really see what the insects look like up close. The video clips were so amazing; I really enjoyed watching all the insects up close. I learned a lot with this video, I think it’s really educational. Teachers should definitely use this video in the classroom. The quiz at the end was a really good idea. When kids watch this, they will be able to refresh their memory of all the new things they learned! My favorite part was the music! The music was so cute and happy it was really cute; Kids are going to love this video!

Sincerely,

Peyton (Age 11)