This mesmerizing new video from the Baby Einstein
series offers both visual and audio treats to the youngest of viewers. Intended
as a "video board book", Baby Beethoven features a parade of interesting
objects, puppets, and toys set to highlights from five of Beethoven's nine symphonies
(played on toys).
This latest video follows the same basic format of many of the previous video
offerings in the series. This one is broken down into segments, defined by the
musical selection. The visuals include a creative mix of intriguing toys, live-action
clips starring children at play, and hand puppet sequences. The toys-in-motion
(some of which will be familiar to parents) include a toy centipede, spinning
top, plush animals, pull-along toys, and puzzles. Some of the developmental
toys featured are demonstrated — such as the stacking rings (babies watch
as one ring is placed atop another) and a wooden door puzzle. This latter toy
is demonstrated especially creatively — the doors of a puzzle are opened
one at a time to reveal images underneath and silly sound effects are added
for extra interest. Other intriguing objects, such as motion or lava lamps,
are added.
The transitions between scenes are creative and smooth. Colorful screens introduce
each symphony and act as video chapters. At one point, a series of stills of
real-life baby close-ups breaks up the action. We love the choreography in the
video! The music and visuals support each other well, and the mix of scenes
seems to be perfectly timed to hold a young child's attention.
The Symphony #5 segment is perhaps the most lively of the "chapters", and
the video ends with the appropriately triumphant Symphony #9. The series' trademark
hand puppets offer some slapstick and an especially fun sequence involves a
toy crab — at first, only its eyes "peek" at viewers from the bottom of
the screen before the crab finally wiggles into full view.
On an educational front, Baby Beethoven offers young viewers opportunities
to predict (such as the door puzzle sequence), watch other children at play,
view real-world objects in action, and more. When used as an interactive board
book experience, in which parent and child actively enjoy the video together,
Baby Beethoven offers plenty of opportunities to explore basic concepts
like colors and vocabulary.
