Review and Giveaway: Scholastic Treasures - The Rosemary Wells Collection CLOSED

Thank you to Weston Woods and Sugar Mountain P.R. for participating in the Bloggy Birthday Blowout Event on Goodie Goodie Gumdrops!

By now, you probably know that my family is a big fan of the Scholastic Storybook Treasures DVD series. Not only do they breathe new life into classic tales, but their special read-along feature aids in comprehension and vocabulary expansion. So, when I heard that they were adapting the works of Rosemary Wells, I was thrilled.

Who is Rosemary Wells, you ask? Well, if you watch Nick Jr., you've probably caught an episode or two of a little show called Max and Ruby. You may not know that the cartoon is actually based on the books by author/illustrator Rosemary Wells. She is also responsible for the award-winning children's book, Noisy Nora. With a career spanning more than four decades and 120 books, Wells has delighted children and adults alike with her unforgettable characters.

Scholastic has brought eight of Rosemary Wells' beloved stories to life in a new 2-DVD collection, featuring original Max and Ruby stories and new family favorites.

Episode Listing:

DVD #1: Max's Chocolate Chicken

1. "Max's Chocolate Chicken" - Will Max or Ruby find the most Easter eggs to win the chocolate chicken? Only the Easter Bunny knows for sure!
2. "Max's Christmas" - Max is told that he can't stay up to see Santa, but he sneaks down anyway. Will Santa still come if Max is awake?
3. "Morris's Disappearing Bag" - Morris thinks his brother and sisters have better Christmas presents. But inside the last box he finds a magical gift that makes all his troubles disappear.
4. "Otto Runs for President" - Who will win the big school election at Barkadelphia School? Popular Tiffany, sporty Charles or good friend Otto?

DVD #2: Noisy Nora

1. "Noisy Nora" - What's a wee little mouse to do when little brother and big sister take up all of Mom and Dad's time? Make noise!
2. "Emily's First 100 Days of School" - As the days and weeks of school go by, Emily and her classmates learn new ideas, expand their world and grow closer together one day at a time.
3. "Voyage to the Bunny Planet" - Three bunnies are whisked off to the gentle Bunny Planet - a place that lies "far beyond the moon and stars."
4. "Reading to Your Bunny" - An original story by Rosemary Wells highlights the importance of reading to little ones.

One of my favorite things about Scholastic is that they always manage to uphold the integrity of the original story and illustrations, as they transform them for the small screen. Each cartoon short has a timeless, vintage quality. No distracting, flashy graphic effects; the stories take center stage. They also feature narration and performances from actors and musicians, to which children may be oblivious but it adds a little something special for parents. This particular collection features narration from actress Maggie Gyllenhaal (Sherrybaby, Crazy Heart, Dark Knight) and a music video by country star Mary Chapin Carpenter ("Reading to Your Bunny").

Being fans of the TV show, I had a feeling this set would become a fast favorite - and I was right! In addition to all of the charming banter between mischievous little brother Max and bossy big sister Ruby, we were also introduced to new lovable friends like Morris, Nora and Emily. Some of the subject matter was a little advanced for Nate, as he didn't full grasp the conflicts between the characters, and he's still a bit too young to know how to read along. But I like that he is becoming familiar with the concept. He never hesitates to crawl into my lap and watch a few episodes as we escape the August heat and humidity.

With Easter, Christmas and school-themed episodes, this collection would make a great educational yet entertaining back-to-school or holiday gift for some-bunny special.

BUY IT: You can purchase the Scholastic Storybook Treasures Rosemary Wells Collection online at www.newkideo.com or Amazon.com. (ARV $17.99)

WIN IT: One lucky reader is going to win this 2-DVD set!

MAIN COURSE (MANDATORY ENTRY): Tell me who you want to win this for. Easy peasy! Remember to please leave your email address in your comment if it isn't visible on your profile to prevent disqualification!

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2.) Follow me on Twitter and tweet about this contest. You may use the following tweet of come up with one of your own:

Win the Rosemary Wells Collection 2-DVD set ft. Max and Ruby @kris10chumley! Ends 8/28 http://bit.ly/b0ev9c

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Giveaway will end on August 28, 2010 at 11:59pm EST. Open to U.S. only. Winners will be chosen via Random.org and will have 48 hours to respond to congratulatory email or prize will be forfeited and another winner will be chosen.

Disclaimer: I received this DVD set from Beth at Sugar Mountain P.R. in exchange for an honest review. I was not compensated in any other way for this post. The thoughts and opinions expressed in my review are purely mine. Your experience may differ.