FAMILY : Video’s Message: Let Them Eat Sweets--but Naturally
If holiday goodies are making it hard to tame the junk-food monsters at your house, a new video can give them a nutritional nudge in the right direction. Juicy apples, strawberries, grapes and just about every other sweet natural treat from melons to mangoes are on display in “Fruit: Close Up and Very Personal,” a mouth-watering new video from Stage Fright Productions for ages 1 to 5.
Accompanied by upbeat keyboard music, this wordless 30 minutes takes viewers on a journey through planting, processing, packing and consuming, lingering lovingly on close-ups of glowing cherries, kiwis, oranges--you name it--sliced and whole, tumbled in water, hanging on branches, being plucked, boxed, squeezed, sniffed and munched.
A mildly amusing running joke throughout is watching a hungry artist continually modify his work-in-progress because he keeps depleting the subject of his work: pineapple, grapes, plums and oranges. Most of the film, however, is simply a mesmerizing parade of fruit, fruit and more fruit. Make sure your own fruit bowl is full; it’s nearly impossible to get through this appetizing video without dipping in.
* $14.95, (800) 979-6800.
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A ‘Cool Christmas’ Here’s one more holiday album to throw into the mix: A cozy, old-time rock ‘n’ roll-style family collection called “Oldies for a Cool Christmas” from Re-Bop Records. Performed by adults and a gaggle of kids, and wrapped up with comic and sweet vignettes of a family at Christmas, songs include the familiar “Jingle Bell Rock,” “Rockin’ Around the
Christmas Tree” and “Little Saint Nick.”
You’ll also find, among other engaging selections, “I Want a Hippopotamus for Christmas” and “Daddy Cool Yule” (“Please, Daddy Cool, wouldja sing me a Yuletide Lullaby?”), with references to Santa’s ’57 “Chevy Sleigh,” Motown and Buddy Holly.
* CD: $12.98. Cassette: $9.98. At retailers or call: (800) 541-9904.
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Music and More: The Da Camera Society’s “Children’s Concerts in Historic Sites” series, family entertainment geared toward children above age 4, kicks off Jan. 13 at the Gene Autry Western Heritage Museum with music, dancing and storytelling from pioneer days celebrating the museum’s special exhibit, “Independent Spirit: Women of the West.”
The series also includes Japanese folk tales and music in a re-created 16th century samurai home at the Aikido Center of Los Angeles (March 16) and a celebration of classic cars and classical music at the Petersen Automotive Museum (May 11).
Each event is presented twice daily, at 1:30 and 3 p.m.
Single-ticket prices are $10 per child, $18 per adult, or $43 for two adults and two children.
A family subscription for all three events is $117 for two adults and two children.
Information: (310) 440-1351.