‘Singing for Freedom’ Celebrates Unity

Sweet Honey in the Rock’s new feel-good video, “Singing for Freedom: A Concert for the Child in Each of Us,” from Music for Little People, is the result of a January 1995 concert at the Glide Memorial Church in San Francisco, performed for a rainbow audience of all ages.

Celebrating unity and freedom through song, with a bit of civil rights history thrown in, the acclaimed a cappella group, led by founder Bernice Johnson Reagon, gets the crowd paired off and moving. Selections include “Down in the Valley, Two by Two,” “Juba,” “Freedom Now,” the “We Shall Overcome” civil rights anthem, an inspirational rap “(I Am) Young and Positive” and other joyful tunes that make you want to move your feet to the beat. The inclusive songs are American Sign Language-interpreted for the hearing-impaired.

* Sweet Honey in the Rock, “Singing for Freedom,” Music for Little People, 45 minutes, all ages, $14.98 plus shipping, (800) 346-4445, (707) 923-3991. Release date: Jan. 16.

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Up, Up and Away: The latest release in the “You Can” children’s video series from Blackboard Entertainment, “You Can Fly a Kite,” is a colorful live-action introduction to the joys of kite flying and building aimed at both boys and girls. Against a blue, blue sky, homemade kites and slick professional models soar in the breeze and young, would-be kite enthusiasts get pointers on construction and flying. There’s even a bit of information about historical kite flyers, from ancient Chinese warlords to Benjamin Franklin.

Novices of any age will need extra help to get started, though, and for further instruction, the video recommends several books.

* “You Can Fly a Kite,” Blackboard Entertainment, 30 minutes, $12.95 plus shipping, (800) 968-2261.

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Fun and Games: If you have a baby or toddler to amuse and you’re not sure how to go beyond “Peek-a-Boo” and “Pat-a-Cake,” you might want to check out “Baby Play,” a simple video primer that demonstrates interactive play using real moms and their offspring.

You’ll soon be able to get through all the intricacies of “The Wheels on the Bus,” “Where Is Thumbkin?” and a raft of other baby games without blushing as Joy Christensen and her infant daughter demonstrate each song and verses scroll across the screen. You and your child can play along during musical segments with other parents and babies as well.

Don’t expect high-tech frills--the film’s home video style and electronic-sounding, recorded music are decidedly unmemorable. The rewards are in the mom-to-mom, caring instruction for gentle, developmental play.

* “Baby Play,” the Christensen Collection, 25 minutes, $14.95 (with shipping), (800) 626-8750.