Bedtime Story

From a mischievous monkey to children-turned-dinosaurs, bedtime proves a time of tiredness, tricks, and tirades in this collection of famous bedtime stories. The animated "Goodnight Gorilla" remains true to Peggy Rathman's irresistible artwork and features an adorable monkey who outsmarts the Zookeeper by unlocking all the animals cages and then following him home to bed. The addition of a jazzy "Variations on Brahms Lullaby" and understated narration by Anthony Edwards enhance an already terrific story. "How Do Dinosaurs Say Goodnight" takes a humorous look at the striking similarities between children's behavior when bedtime arrives and that of roaring dinosaurs and "Happy Birthday, Moon" is a sweet story about a little boy who wants to buy the moon a birthday present. "The Napping House" features still pictures of illustrator Don Wood and the repetitive verse of Audrey Wood depicting a pile-up of creatures on Grandma's bed that ends with the tiniest creature setting off a huge chain reaction. Bonus stories include "The Paperboy," a romantic vision of a day in the life of a Paperboy; "Patrick," a tribute to the restorative power of music; and "The Hat," an exploration of chance and good fortune. A read-along feature is available for all stories. The Scholastic Video Collection has once again succeeded in bringing classic children's literature to life on the television screen. (Ages 1 to 7) --Tami Horiuchi