ALSC announces Notable Children's Videos for 2001

Contact: Laura Schulte-Cooper


312-280-2165

ALA News Release


For Immediate Release


January 2001

ALSC announces Notable Children's Videos for 2001

The Association for Library Service to Children (ALSC), a division of the American Library Association (ALA), has named 14 videos as 2001 Notable Videos for Children.

The selections are:

• "Antarctic Antics: A Book of Penguin Poems"
  
  
  VHS production by Weston Woods Studios, Inc.
  
  
  Playful penguins slip and slide and dive and jive to original musical tempos in Judy Sierra's delightful collection of poems about a colony of emperor penguins living in Antarctica. Each poem is enhanced by charmingly animated interpretations in this 2001 Andrew Carnegie Medal winner.
• "Black Cat"
  
  
  VHS production by Spoken Arts
  
  
  With New York City as his home, Black Cat roams through neighborhoods and streets to the rhythms of original music in a classical jazzy style. The voice of Avery Brooks narrates this outstanding iconographic video of Christopher Myers' award winning book (Coretta Scott King Honor and ALA Notable Book.)
• "Bully Dance"
  
  
  VHS production by Bullfrog Films
  
  
  The universal problem of bullies is powerfully illustrated through the interactions of stick people and a pulsating beat that intensifies as a bully relentlessly stalks his victim. Wordless animation explores the complexities of conflict resolution. Produced by the National Film Board of Canada.
• "Cuckoo, Mr. Edgar!"
  
  
  VHS production by the National Film Board of Canada
  
  
  Mr. Edgar, a cuckoo clock bird, lives an extremely orderly, yet lonely life, until three orphaned baby birds find their way into his home and his heart. Outstanding computer animation and a lively soundtrack enhance this touching story of hope and love.
• "Duke Ellington"
  
  
  VHS production by Weston Woods Studios, Inc.
  
  
  Duke Ellington's biography and legacy as "King of the Keys" is brought to life in the swing and sway of an edited soundtrack that features some of the original music of Duke Ellington and his Orchestra. Forrest Whitaker narrates this iconographic version of the award-winning book (Coretta Scott King and Caldecott Honor) written by Andrea Davis Pinkney and illustrated by Brian Pinkney.
• "George and Martha"
  
  
  VHS production by Sony Wonder
  
  
  Like all best friends, George and Martha occasionally struggle to maintain their harmonious friendship, especially when having to deal with hurt feelings, jealousies, divergent interests and misunderstandings. Using James Marshall's beloved hippopotamus characters, four original animated short stories are brought to life through the voices of Nathan Lane and Andrea Martin.
• "Korea: Yu Sings Pansori"
  
  
  VHS production by New Dimension Media, Inc.
  
  
  Yu, a six and one-half year old boy, provides a fascinating look at Korean opera known as Pansori. In this lively documentary film with rich rhythmical background music, Yu shares his life of study and training as he learns from his master to sing, act and play percussion instruments for Pansori. One of thirty videos in the "I Love Music" series.
• "Mary Cassatt: American Impressionist"
  
  
  VHS production by Devine Productions Ltd.
  
  
  American artist, Mary Cassatt's artistic solitude in Paris in 1878, is interrupted by the arrival of her teenage niece and two younger siblings. Disruption turns into inspiration as Cassatt begins using the young people as models for her artwork. This fictionalized biography featuring period detail and starring Amy Brenneman offers a glimpse into the life of an independent and talented woman ahead of her time. Part of The Artists' Specials series.
• "Peter Pan"
  
  
  VHS production by A & E Home Video c/o New Video
  
  
  With attention to details, this skillfully filmed version of a family classic is more than a taping of a smash-hit Broadway musical. An outstanding and dynamic state-of-the-art production provides each viewer with a choice seat in a very magical performance by Cathy Rigby as Peter Pan.
• "The Scrambled States of America"
  
  
  VHS production by Weston Woods Studios, Inc.
  
  
  The states decide to take a vacation from their fixed locations and swap spots. Using a wealth of unique regional voices and witty animation, this fast-paced video includes facts and fun in a highly original geography lesson.
• "Strega Nona" (Spanish Language Version)
  
  
  VHS production by Weston Woods Studios, Inc.
  
  
  Narrated in Spanish, Tomie dePaola's beloved story of Strega Nona, Big Anthony and the magic pasta pot comes alive in this delightfully animated video. Originally produced background music enhances this high quality production of the Caldecott Award winning book.
• "Tiny's Hat"
  
  
  VHS production by Spoken Arts
  
  
  A young girl misses her traveling dad, a trumpet player. The healing part music plays in our lives is conveyed through Ann Grifalconi's luminous pastels glowing with warmth and vibrant color. Ruby Dee's mellow narration compliments Wayne Abravanel's blues musical score in this iconographic production.
• "Winslow Homer: An American Original"
  
  
  VHS production by Devine Productions Ltd.
  
  
  Meet Winslow Homer as he tries to refocus his painting career following the horrors he witnessed during the Civil War. Two local teenagers disrupt his isolation and pave the way for a change in Homer's painting focus. Lush scenery, period costumes and accurate decor make this a high-quality fictionalized biography. Part of The Artists' Specials series.
• "Yo! Yes?"
  
  
  VHS production by Weston Woods Studios, Inc.
  
  
  Basketball for one is a lonely game. Basketball for two unites two boys from disparate urban backgrounds. Chris Raschka's Caldecott Honor Award winning book Yo! Yes? is enhanced by animated characters using evocative body language and facial expressions and an infectious street smart soundtrack with a bouncy beat.

  Members of the 2001 ALSC Notable Children's Videos Committee are: Elizabeth B. Miller, chair, University of South Carolina; Pamela Petrick Barron, University of North Carolina-Greensboro; Diana M. Berry, Dekalb County (Ga.) Public Library; Paula Brehm-Heeger, Public Library of Cincinnati and Hamilton County; Dorothy J. Evans, Chicago Public Library; Debra S. Gold, Cuyahoga County (Ohio) Public Library; April L. Judge, West Caldwell (N.J.) Public Library; Walter Metz, S.C, Marilyn P. Phillips, University City (Mo.) Public Library; Bettye L. Smith, District of Columbia Public Library; Deanna Christine Wolf, Queens Borough Public Library.