We all have them – our top choices for babysitting DVDs. These are the ones you pop into the DVD player when you’re desperate for 30 minutes of relatively interruption-free time to get some work done. Rock ‘N Learn’s Dance with the Animals DVD for preschoolers is at the absolute top of my list for times when I need to keep my crew occupied.

My children love live-action footage of animals, and animals in general, so the combination of computer animated hosts (Katie Cat, Rex Rooster, Freddy Fox), with real footage of animals, and children dancing in front of colorful backgrounds really fits the bill in our house. They don’t need any encouragement from me they’re soon clapping their hands, imitating animal noises, and prancing around our living room to the lively songs.

Simple animal facts are related in song and through the interaction of the hosts, and animal sounds are also presented for most of the animals (it’s funny listening to my toddler trying to imitate all of their noises). The live footage includes more than 60 creatures, and when they come on screen my 20-month old squeals, points, and jabbers excitedly – this is definitely her favorite part of the DVD, though she loves the dancing songs as well. Animals are presented from the farm, forest, and zoo, as well as common domestic animals and African wildlife.

I was surprised to see how much my older children enjoyed the DVD as well. My three-year-old had actually asked for me to get her a copy, and she loves to dance with her sisters, but even my six-year-old jumps into the action as soon as I pop the disc in. Recommended for children age two and over, the children on-screen correspond with the ages and sizes of my own children – an assortment of preschool and early elementary aged little ones.

The main portion of the DVD is 35 minutes long (my toddler just watched through 27-minutes of it without needing me once.) Two bonus segments are also included, “Where are the Farm Animals?” and “The Sound Farm”. These are a bit corny as they include static images of live animals against a colorful background. These pictures are rocked back and fort to suggest movement. My kids really like “The Sound Farm Song” though the very simple animal location game in “Where are the Farm Animals?” is something of a miss.

The computer-graphics are somewhat simplistic; textures are flat, and colors tend to be simple bold blocks of color. Honestly though, I don’t care! My children adore this DVD; they go absolutely wild for it. That combined with an emphasis on education and movement makes it a winner in my book. Parents may also want to note that this disc presents no information related specifically to either evolution or creation.

This disc won’t give you a quiet time to get some work done – your children will be squealing, laughing, and making animal sounds – but it will certainly keep your children occupied, happy, and they even get to pick up some simple educational information about animal habitats, caring for pets, and other informative tidbits.

A video sample from this DVD can be found on the Rock ‘N Learn website. U.S. readers can use coupon code JQ7711 for a 25% discount there.

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Life sciences are a fascinating field, and many children are entranced by the study of human anatomy – my six-year-old certainly is. However, the complex body systems, difficult to visualize positioning of organs within three-dimensions, and confusing terminology can make anatomy a difficult subject to master for children.

Rock ‘N Learn’s Human Body DVD is designed to make the study of anatomy, and the reviewing of key facts easy and fun. Designed for children in grades four through eight focuses on exploring the main body systems: skeletal, nervous, muscular, circulatory, urinary, respiratory, digestive, and an overview of the five senses.

The main portion of the DVD “Science Station” follows Kevin as Marko the talking pencil helps him study and review key facts about the human body in preparation for a test. The computer-animated models of various body systems are an incredible improvement on the flat, 2-D diagrams up using. Finally, children can easily picture the workings of the inner ear. A great deal of basic anatomical detail is covered in this 30-minute segment.

A “Practice Test” segment works students through four questions of a multiple choice sample exam (five minutes in length). The DVD’s characters reason through the questions aloud, providing a model for students to follow in their own thinking when facing standardized tests.

Along with a standard scene selection menu, a stand-alone of the “Alimentary Canal Song” which also appears in the main portion of the disc features words at the bottom of the screen. A bonus segment on the “Food Pyramid” is also included to provide basic information about a balanced diet. One of features I appreciated in the “Science Station” segment was an inclusion of health-related information and guidance there as well, expanding the versatility of this DVD beyond the realm of strict anatomy.

Concerned parents should note that no mentions of evolution or creation are mentioned – the DVD sticks to anatomical facts. The DVD also doesn’t cover or mention the reproductive system. Unlike other Rock ‘N Learn titles, there isn’t a strong emphasis on song in Human Body. The strength of this title is including spoken explanations, humor, and easy to understand visual models.

Most exciting however is how much children enjoy this DVD. Though my oldest is well below the age recommendation for this disc she repeatedly asks to watch it. That being said, the presentation isn’t childish, it is animated, and includes talking pencils and a talking butterfly, but Kevin is always treated respectfully as an independent learner.

The Human Body is an excellent supplement to any introductory study of anatomy. If a child masters the facts presented on this disc they’ll have a solid foundation of anatomical knowledge to build upon in more advanced courses of study.

A video sample from this DVD and a full list of the science vocabulary presented on this disc can be found on the Rock ‘N Learn website. U.S. readers can use coupon code JQ7711 for a 25% discount there.

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CONTEST DETAILS:

I have 1 copy of ANY Rock ‘N Learn DVD to give away to one blessed winner in the U.S. or Canada!  To enter, visit Rock ‘N Learn, and tell me which DVD you’d like to win!

For additional entries:

1. Subscribe to this blog for updates – see the left hand sidebar. Leave an additional comment letting me know you’ve subscribed (or if you already subscribe).

2. Write a post on your blog promoting and linking to this contest. Leave an additional comment with a link to your post.

3. Add the Quiverfull Family button (see the code box in the right hand sidebar under BUTTON UP!) to your blog’s sidebar, or let me know if you already have the button displayed. Leave an additional comment with a link to your post.

4. Digg, Stumble, Tweet, Facebook or otherwise share this post on a social networking site. Leave an additional comment indicating how you shared this post.

5. Follow me on Twitter or let me know if you are an existing follower.

Each additional step taken counts for 1 additional entry. A total of 6 entries are available if you complete all of these steps. Please leave a separate comment for each entry!

The contest will close at 12 a.m. MST on Wednesday, March 24th, 2010. One (1) winner will be randomly drawn for the Rock ‘N Learn DVD on Thursday, March 25th, 2010 and notified by email. Please fill your email address in the comment form when you are completing your comment so that I can contact you. The winners must respond with a mailing address within 72 hours of my email, or a new winner will be chosen. This contest is open to those living in the US/Canada.

I look forward to seeing God bless a reader with a great educational DVD!

Israel, the holy land for all of the world’s mainstream monotheistic religions, is a major center for pilgrimage and sightseeing. However, it’s doubtful that I’ll ever personally visit the geographical birthplace of my Christian faith. As a result, I have a keen interest in films and books that seek to take readers to biblical sites, while offering educational and spiritual insight.

In a personal journey to uncover some of these treasures for himself, Brandon Trones set out for the holy land, planning a series of four 10-day fasts of various types (water only, bread only, fruit and vegetables only, liquids only) while he seeks to capture rarely filmed sites of biblical repute. Billed as something of a voyage that takes you to forbidden, secretive, or closed locations, Trones offers a lightning speed tour through both the well known tourist locales and those off the beaten track.

Trones covers a great amount of ground over his 40-day journey, but each site is covered in such a compressed amount of time (most often less than one minute, with around four minutes maximum) that it was difficult to take away any real feeling of educational value or spiritual depth. The pace is so rapid that the journey seems disjointed and often choppy, leaving viewers without a sense of purpose, plan, or cohesion. His ‘dangerous’ exploits amount to filming in tourist locations where recording devices are forbidden, jumping over a closed fence, and sneaking into a cave section that is off limits. Personally, I found these exploits somewhat tame and less than the life-threatening adventures Trones would have us believe they are.

At least as much time is dedicated to the challenges experienced by Trones as he fasts – his weekly weigh-ins, his struggles, and the delight of the solid meals he experiences when he switches to the Daniel fast. I wasn’t expecting so much emphasis on the fasting aspects, which lend themselves more to a Super Size Me documentary-style film, and served more to take valuable time away from exploring the target destinations in my mind.

Trones largely fails to incorporate biblical references and proof texts for the sites he visits, instead relying mainly on hearsay and tradition. He visits churches that supposedly contain the bones of saints, works his way through the Catholic (at times extra-biblical) stations of the cross while lugging a wooden one on his shoulders, and is often heard saying, “This is where they say [insert event that may or may not be recorded in the Bible] occurred.” Personally, I was looking for more proof of authentication, and more historical detail than Trones provided.

Providing all of the commentary himself without the aid of a narrator actually works to the film’s detriment. At times Trones’ comments are somewhat rude, and downright inaccurate. For example, in his commentary on the Church at Cana he claims that Jesus turned water into a whole lot of “hooch,” and makes comments about how many people would be able to get drunk on that. Jesus actually turned water to wine (which was commonly consumed), and since Christians are advised not to be drunk in the New Testament, I don’t believe that was His intent. Comments such as these left me wondering if Trones was a believer in the earlier portions of the film.

For what was obviously produced on a slender budget (a few plane tickets to Israel, some equipment, and travel expenses), the production values are very respectable. Blending Indiana Jones-style design with cartoon introductions and transitions reminiscent of Monty Python, the film has a lot of visual appeal. Standard scene selection is provided, along with 15 production stills and 12 “Lost Sites” that weren’t included in the main film (from the cutting room floor) as bonus features.

Overall, I was left with the impression that The Road Less Traveled is more about a young man’s personal travelogue than it is about any deep historical or spiritual exploration. Most of my mental visual images from the film involve Trones scrambling around tourist sites and caves exclaiming, “Wow, isn’t this neat?” which is fine in and of itself. I was just expecting more.

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When Nelson Mandela was released from prison in 1990 I was 11 years old. It was difficult for me to understand the scope of the event, what it signified in the history of South Africa’s people, and what the impact would be worldwide. Still, despite the fuzziness of childhood memories, Mandela’s face has remained an icon of liberty, a symbol of the breaking of bonds, of reconciliation, and of freedom.

It is only natural then, that Mandela should be counted amongst the Lives That Changed the World in Smithsonian Networks release this month of their 2007 documentary of his life on DVD. Lives That Changed the World: Nelson Mandela is a 45-minute homage to the man who was so instrumental in building peace in the apartheid-torn country of South Africa.

Having inspired countless individuals with his journey from terrorist to Nobel Peace Prize recipient, Mandela’s personal influence on ten people is explored alongside historical footage in this exploration of his life’s impact. Among these individuals are his daughter Zindzi, who spent her formative years apart from her father due to his imprisonment, his former prison guard, a South African musician who was influenced by Mandela’s revolutionary vision, a Canadian schoolteacher who shares about the impact of Mandela’s release on his teaching, and others. Perhaps the most touching however is the testimony of Adriaan Vlok, former minister of law and order during apartheid rule.

Vlok shares his experiences seeking forgiveness and reconciliation for his sins both publicly and privately – the only apartheid-era minister to do so. His humble and heartfelt thoughts on the process of reconciliation brought me to tears.

The DVD features a standard scene selection menu, stereo and surround sound audio options, and optional English subtitles. The compact running time of Nelson Mandela makes it an easy-to-schedule supplementary learning opportunity for Black History Month for junior and senior high students. Younger children may be disturbed by the historical footage of the civil unrest and violent governmental retribution that took place in South Africa.

How can such a man’s life be measured within the span of a brief documentary? Simply put, it can’t be. Nelson Mandela does not touch upon Mandela’s early life, nor does it speak to his relational ties with any apart from those interviewed in the film. As such, the DVD can’t be considered a true biography. What we can glimpse however, is a part of what Nelson Mandela has meant to this world, and pass on his vision of peaceful equality to our own children.

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Having long been a fan of Regency-era costume dramas that tend toward the romantic, my journey into the small English town of Cranford, circa 1842 — with a passion for the smaller domestic dramas of life — was a fresh and uncharted voyage. Based upon 19th century novelist Elizabeth Gaskell’s work, this BBC mini-series is a conglomeration of Gaskell’s adapted novellas; not only Cranford itself, but also My Lady Ludlow, and Mr. Harrison’s Confessions.

The town of Cranford in the North West of England in 1842 is poised on the brink of change. Long governed by an unusually high population of older, single women, its culture revolves around propriety and social calls. The slightest hint of change in fashions, residence, or circumstance prompts a torrent of talk. Still, despite the oft-times virulent stream of misunderstandings and troubled times, Cranford is a town with deeply held friendships and strong loyalties.

Cranford: The Collection is a beautiful two-volume boxed set that includes both the original Cranford with five parts on two DVDs, and the two parts of Cranford: Return to Cranford on a single DVD. With each episode running approximately 1 hour and 20 minutes, this is no lightweight drama; Cranford: The Collection boasts a total running time of 468 minutes, excluding each volume’s “making of” segment with insights into the writing process, filming, period costumes, and more.

Performed by an absolutely dazzling cast of British talent, Cranford fairly soars on the wings of its talented ensemble. Peopled with many well-recognized actors – Eileen Atkins, Alex Jennings, Michael Gambon, and many others – the centerpiece of Cranford’s heart is Judi Dench’s portrayal of Miss Matty. Dench is absolutely luminous in her tender portrayal of the uncertain, loyal, and incredibly tender Matty

When a new, young, bachelor doctor arrives in Cranford, the residents are atwitter with flights of romantic speculation both actual and unfounded. Dr. Harrison is certainly a central focus of the original Cranford but the complex and rich sub-plots involving Captain Brown and his daughters, the plight of Harry’s impoverished family, Matty’s losses and discoveries, and the lively antics of Mrs. Forrester and Miss Pole create a vibrant tapestry of the timeless concerns of life.

Return to Cranford further explores the lives of the town’s beloved residents though some characters seem to be missing with little explanation. A new set of troubles besets the residents with the rapidly approaching railway, the demise of Lady Ludlow, and the troubled courtship between William Buxton (son of the local salt mine owner) and Peggy Bell. Featuring much of the core cast of the originalCranford some favorites are now missing due to demise or supposed relocation. This second series is somewhat darker than the first, with less outright jollity and absurdity – nothing can replace or supersede the original.

While the core of Cranford’s life is a core of spinsters and widows who thrive on propriety, stability, and social niceties, it would be a misconception to believe that the series is anchored in the lives of the town’s older citizens. Rather, a broad spectrum of players are present from the youthful and romantic to the passed by and disappointed.

The emotional depth of the series encompasses both fresh undertakings and bittersweet reminiscences as seen through the town’s wealth of female citizens. This balanced, broad perspective prevents Cranford from becoming a period Grumpy Old Men for women, and dramatically transcends it, becoming a deeply felt, authentic drama that appeals to all ages; it is truly excellent family viewing.

I regularly discard DVD packaging in order to save shelf space, but Cranford: The Collection is so beautifully packaged that I doubt I’ll be able to part with this sturdy box set. Not only is the box itself sturdier than most, but each DVD case resembles a hardcover book – truly lovely.

A voyage to the reclusive town of Cranford is a richly rewarding experience. The combination of jaunty humor, small-town community spirit, and thrumming emotional undercurrents result in a captivating small-screen experience that rivals that of any large-screen production. It is in the details that Cranford truly comes to life, the small yet meaningful gestures of kind-heartedness, historical authenticity, and care for the smallest nuances. I highly recommend you to experience this special community for yourself.

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With each new year bringing advances in special effects and computer animation, it may be difficult to believe that the very foundations of creating scenes that trick the eye are found in the Renaissance. There the mathematical and observational principles were established that allow two-dimensional images to appear three-dimensional, adding depth to paintings, architecture, and later the motion picture.

Empire of the Eye: The Magic of Illusion takes viewers on a 50 minute survey of the development and implementation of a range of revolutionary artistic techniques: linear perspective, systematic perspective, atmospheric perspective, anamorphic art. Host Al Roker steps into computer renderings and analyses, three-dimensional models, and into the paintings, sculptures, and buildings themselves to point out the techniques and trickery used to create an artificial sense of depth, height, distance, and more.

The Magic of Illusion is a wonderful choice for Christian families who wish to explore artistic principles through the religious art and architecture of the Renaissance. Though not all of theobjets d’art examined are Christian, a good majority of them are. Among the most notable is Massacio’s fresco, “The Trinity” — the first known painting to demonstrate linear perspective in the fifteenth century is explored in depth. Mantegna’s religious art is surveyed with an eye for perspective and points of view. Church architecture and the techniques used to create a sense of artificial space are also examined.

Roker’s journey of discovery begins in Italy, but ranges abroad to Europe and on to the new world in the many examples he explores. While the greatest emphasis is on works of the Renaissance, Roker also takes us into the modern age with a brief tour through some examples of modern architecture and film that have dramatically used the foundational concepts of perspective examined in the film.

As a bare bones DVD there is chaptered navigation available when the film is playing, but that is all. A standard scene navigation menu would be an incredible boon to teachers wanting to zoom in on particular topics, but this is sadly unavailable.

A natural choice as a supplement to art curriculums dealing with the topic of perspective, The Magic of Illusion should also hold interest for the general viewer with an interest in art history, and how we see the world around us. Learning about the intricacies of the perspective necessary to achieve realistic has certainly begun to develop in me a deeper appreciation of the realistic, depth-filled art that we now take for granted.

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Martin Luther King Jr., Rosa Parks, Henry Box Brown — these are names that bring tears to our eyes, make our hearts swell in appreciation for courageous sacrifice, and make us incredibly grateful for the freedom we’ve been blessed with here in North America. March On! The Day My Brother Martin Changed the World is a new release in the Scholastic Storybook Treasures collection which presents beloved modern classic picture books in DVD adaptations complete with narration.

Four picture book adaptations are included on the DVD with 15 awards between them. March On! is written by King’s sister, Christine King Farris, and focuses tightly upon King’s unforgettable “I Have a Dream” speech. Martin’s Big Words places the passionate defender of equal rights in the larger setting of the civil rights movement and draws more of his childhood upbringing into his adult character. Rosa shares the story of Rosa Parks, the bus incident, and the ensuing protests in a warmly personal way that children can relate to. Henry’s Freedom Box is the tremendously sad, and equally jubilant story of Henry Box Brown and his unusual escape to freedom.

Overall the Christian background of many influential figures in the civil rights movement is prominently mentioned throughout the DVD. I truly appreciated this accurate depiction of the faith and motivation for these individuals, free from secular re-writing. The shorts are also often accompanied by moving gospel singing in the background as appropriate.

Unlike some of the other installments in the Scholastic Storybook Treasures read-along DVD series, March On! consists of modern storybook adaptations, all hailing from within the last decade. Like the other DVDs in the collection, March On! includes optional English read-along subtitles which are highlighted as each word is read by the narrator.

The shorts are uniformly composed of panning across, zooming in on, layering, and moving the original illustrations work with no animation (some minor exceptions). The title short March On! also includes black and white photographs from the civil rights protests of 1963 and Martin Luther King Jr.’s speech preparations and presentations, just as Rosashares archival photographs.

Running approximately 69 minutes in length, the DVD also features two wonderful extra features, interviews with Martin Luther King Jr.’s sister, the author of March On! and Ellen Levine, the author of Henry’s Freedom Box.

Selling for approximately $15.00, March On! The Day My Brother Martin Changed the World is an affordable choice for parents and educators. An excellent range of high-quality picture books dealing with the quest for equal rights for people of all colors is provided for the cost of a single picture book, and the production quality is excellent. This DVD can easily be used for supplemental teaching or introductions to Martin Luther King Jr. Day and Black History Month.

It is easy for our young children to take the lack of segregation and abundance of freedom in our society for granted. I doubt any of us can argue that we’ve fully arrived, but still, my young children have had a difficult time wrapping their heads around concepts such as slavery, segregation, and racial discrimination. Forays into a history not long past can ensure that we don’t forget the legacy begun by the works of courage of African Americans such as those we meet on this DVD.

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As a child one of my favorite television genres was the nature documentary. Our family didn’t seem to have any on video (nor did we have cable), so trips to the grandparents were always a delight when a nature show would pop onto the screen. Thankfully nature documentaries have come a long way in the past 30 years, and have come into their own, even achieving popularity as feature length theatrical releases.

Smithsonian Networks’ Wildlife Collection gives a new spin on the nature documentary by not only exploring the animals themselves, but by giving insight into the lives of the researchers and filmmakers who seek to capture animals in the wild. This box set includes three DVDs:Pandas in the Wild, The Big Blue, and Wanted: Anaconda.

Pandas in the Wild follows a team of researchers into the Chinese highlands in search of the giant panda. Finding a small group of individuals, the team is able to capture scenes rarely filmed in the wild – panda mating rituals, the secluded dens where the mothers nurse their young, and the cub’s first forays into the world around it. Because these scenes are captured in the wild and on the run, or crawl in some cases, the dense bamboo and rock outcroppings often obfuscate the view. You might not realize the pandas are mating without the help of the female narrator, for example. You’ll be hearing a lot of cooing from your children as the mother and cub snuggle and nurse – if you’re not careful, you might even join in!

The Big Blue is the slowest paced of the triad. Featuring the search for blue whales feeding on krill, much of the screen time is devoted to waiting, speculating on the whales’ possible location, and exploring the currents that bring the whales to the coast of Australia. This film also features more of the surrounding ecosystem than the other two. The birds, seals, fish, and krill that benefit from deep, nutrient-dense ocean currents are all prominently featured as well. My conceptions of the feeding and hunting of baleen whales has been forever changed (and corrected) by the insights and footage shared in this title.

The disc also includes an additional 40-minute documentary Footprints on the Water: The Nan Hauser Story which explores the life work of a scientist dedicated to the conservation of beaked whales. Hauser’s life in the Cook Islands and work in whale acoustics, humpback research, and more are all touched on in this further exploration of the limits of modern whale knowledge.

Wanted: Anaconda is the glossiest production of the three – featuring huge, rippling snake muscles in dramatic lighting. It also includes the most high-tech gadgetry such as a remotely controlled plane equipped with size-measuring photographic equipment, mobile submersible video cameras, and a heat sensor equipped, remotely operated car. An international team treks through the rainforest of Guyana in search for the world’s longest anaconda – a type of snake believed to grow to over 30 feet in length and as wide around as a man’s body.

In their travels they get up close and personal with these huge reptiles, and footage of a dead anaconda, a female giving birth underwater, her small and numerous prodigy, and a snake breeding ball are all included. This is my six-year-old’s favorite by far; the snake sightings are frequent and highly visible. Personally I had to ponder the wisdom of baiting heat-seeking predators with synthetic stuffed animals filled with balloon heat-packs presented as a tasty treat. Otherwise the documentary has both eye appeal and interesting content.

Each title runs approximately 45 minutes, and features crisp, clear cinematography (with the exception of a few scenes of crawling through bamboo in China where some debris appears on the camera lens), and vivid portrayal of the subject animals in their native environments. Like most nature documentaries, old earth timelines are sprinkled throughout the series, with a section devoted to evolutionary theories presented as fact on Pandas in the Wild. Potential buyers should also note that there is no significant financial benefit to buying the titles boxed as opposed to singly, so if there’s one single title you’re interested in you can buy it independently without experiencing a loss of savings.

After watching this series of researchers and scientists working in the field in search of answers and data to fill in their many gaps in understanding, it’s undeniable how much territory has yet to be uncovered in the world of biology. Young science and animal lovers, take note! While it can seem that there are no new discoveries to be made, this assumption can’t be further from the truth. The world still contains many mysteries yet to be solved.

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There’s something about wildlife photography that stirs the imagination. Pictures of wild, exotic animals in vivid, true-to-life poses bring the fauna of far-off locations into the hands of children and adults alike through nature magazines, picture books, calendars, and more.

French photographers Christine and Michele Denis-Huot have made wildlife photography their career and life. This married couple alternates between their home in Le Havre, France and a wildlife reserve in Kenya. Offering glimpses into all aspects of their calling, the couple speaks candidly of their work as video cameras follow them in Wildlife Photographers from France to Africa under the talented direction of Jean-Thomas Renaud.

Making a film about photography is an interesting undertaking, and Renaud successfully captures the sequence of images being taken in a rapid, shutter-like clicking as the Denis-Huot’s snap their way through the scenes of carnivorous frenzy and familial affection that their animal subjects provide. The landscape is breathtaking, and the scenes of animal activity fascinating.

Truly, the Denis-Huot’s are as much hunters as they are photographers. They stalk their prey, lying in wait for hours at a time, waiting for the serendipitous conditions of lighting, activity, and angle to combine to make photos worthy of publishing. They also motor towards scenes of activity, jumping from their vehicle and taking photos in a flurry of motion as exciting panoramas unfold before their lenses.

Christine and Michele provide nearly all of the verbal commentary apart from general introductions and transitions. Separate male and female narrators provide overdubbing of an English translation of the Denis-Huot’s words over muted French. They describe their work, their equipment, their lifestyle in a custom-built four-wheel drive vehicle in the African wilds, and more in their native French. When they occasionally speak in English, the couple speaks for themselves apart from the narrators. Parents and educators should note that in the heat of the moment some mild French curse words are uttered, and are translated into their English equivalents in the overdubbed translation.

Wildlife Photographers provides enough of an overview to give a feel for the entire process of animal photography – from taking pictures on site, living conditions, image selection, composition, image processing, and more. If you’re looking for technical details about cameras and lenses, you won’t find much of that information included; Renaud instead focuses on the flow of photography in the wild.

Our small children were all enthralled by the animal action on the screen, and the stunning photographs displayed throughout the film, even our one and three-year-olds. My six-year-old is now fascinated by the prospect of wildlife photography as a lifestyle. With a 51-minute running time, she didn’t hesitate to ask for an immediate replay. For viewers with a general interest in African wildlife and nature photography, Wildlife Photographers provides a broad, interesting survey of the profession from a hands-on point of view.

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Ancient Lives is a documentary unlike any other I’ve watched. Viewing this passionately presented 200 plus minute voyage through the lives of a village of Egyptian tomb-makers living in the small village of Deir al Medina from approximately 1275 – 1080 B.C. is comparable to indulging in a vibrantly written biography as opposed to a committee-compiled, dry textbook.

John Romer is the driving force behind the series, his desire to conserve the great archeological sites in the Valley of the Kings leading him to present these Egyptians as people with rich thriving lives. Their love lives, family dramas, occupations, and so much more are explored with Romer as an expert guide. Watching Ancient Lives is like having a legitimate Egyptologist guiding you through museum exhibits, on-site hieroglyphics and tomb art, ruins, tombs, and so much more.

Part of the great charm of the series is seeing a man deeply immersed in his element and sharing his deep love for the subject matter with us as he moves through on-site explorations. We get to see Romer crawling up toppled statuary and searching through the Valley of the Kings for burial chambers that have yet to be discovered for example. Where else can you watch an Egyptologist finding himself stuck in possible tomb openings? (There are some occasional mild epithets in the series.)

Ancient Lives is generally acceptable viewing for all ages. Our children have watched the series with us and our oldest (six) finds it quite fascinating. It was much to our surprise when a scene entitled “Erotic Papyrus” in the scene index came on-screen. The graphic nature of what amounts to Egyptian pornography in the second episode is definitely outside the limits of general family viewing. Parents and educators, consider yourself forewarned –have your remote handy to skip this brief scene.

Perhaps as fascinating as the documentary itself is the success the series enjoyed. It both drew attention to the Valley of the Kings and Deir al Medina, spurring an upswelling of further scholarly research, but the inclusion of film snippets from an Egyptian film in episode four represent perhaps the earliest use of reenactments in documentaries – a highly effective technique that modern documentary viewers now take for granted.

Originally filmed for British television in the ‘80s, the series has been resurrected on DVD under the Athena Learning division of Acorn Media. I’m incredibly thankful. The need for entry-level documentaries is well filled with introductions to the pyramids, to mummies, and so on – but Romer’s vision of the everyday life of the Egyptian tomb builders is incredibly valuable for those seeking to go deeper in their understanding of the history of this mysterious country.

As a result of age, there are some minor flaws in the film’s appearance that couldn’t be repaired in its translation to DVD (a disclaimer is included). The color and film quality is also par for the course for the early ‘80s. Volume 1 includes the first two episodes and includes on-screen text descriptions of major Egyptian deities, biographical sketches of notable archeologists of ancient Egypt, and show host John Romer as additional special features. Volume 2 includes episodes three and four along with a bonus 23-minute documentary that chronicles a quest to recreate Egyptian beer from archeological findings.

Navigation through the two-disc set is easy and efficient – viewers can select which of the two episodes they’d like to view on the disc, or use standard scene selection menus. Subtitles are also included. A 16-page viewer’s guide includes a map of the region, summaries of the episode, questions for further reflection, additional insights on life as a scribe and Egyptian hieroglyphics, and entries from John Romer on his recommended resources for further learning and how the series was made.

Romer is always completely at ease, warm, and enthusiastic as he moves through the Egyptian landscape. Older students ready for a deeper exploration of Egyptian life, filled with rich detail will gobble up the wealth of knowledge that’s found in Ancient Lives. The opportunity to sit at the feet of a renowned Egyptologist as he shares his knowledge on film is simply too good to pass up.

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