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Audience Rating: NR (Not Rated) Binding: VHS Tape EAN: 9780792232681 Format: Closed-captioned, Color, Original recording reissued, NTSC ISBN: 6304474768 Label: Nat'l Geographic Vid Manufacturer: Nat'l Geographic Vid Number Of Items: 1 Publisher: Nat'l Geographic Vid Release Date: January 01, 1998 Running Time: 35 minutes Sales Rank: 772 Studio: Nat'l Geographic Vid Theatrical Release Date: 1994
Description: In CAMOUFLAGE, CUTTLEFISH AND CHAMELEONS CHANGING COLOR, the fun begins with a wacky game of "I Spy", as Sunny Honeypossum spots a sticklike bug crawling up Bobby Bushbaby's arm, prompting Uncle Balzac to tell about the many special animals that use camouflage. When Bobby and Sunny lose the twiggy-looking walking stick in the forest, Uncle Balzac de Chameleon explains that the insect is hard to find because he's naturally camouflaged and blends in with all his surroundings. This leads to a fascinating look at nature's many camouflaged animals, including three-toed sloths, arctic foxes, hermit crabs, and the octopus. Bobby and Sunny also discover that chameleons like Uncle Balzac can change color with their mood, as Uncle Balzac sings a song called "I'm Moody". Meanwhile, animated Francisco Flamingo flaps in with a fascinating "Flamingo Fact" about the camouflaged scorpionfish and the "Find the Hidden Animal" game. Plus, "Animal Doo-Wop" introduces the fun of rock 'n roll phonics. Each GeoKids puppet character is based on a real animal - Sunny, the Australian honey possum; Bobby, the African bush baby; and Uncle Balzac, a chameleon from Madagascar. Created by Emmy winner Hank Saroyan of Jim Henson's Muppet Babies, GeoKids is certain to entertain and enrich the whole family.
Amazon.com: Sunny the Australian honey possum and Bobby the African bush baby are playing a game of "I Spy" in the forest. When Sunny tells Bobby that she sees something brown and twiggy with long legs, Uncle Balzac (a chameleon from Madagascar) rescues a confounded Bobby by explaining that the insect is a walking stick. Uncle Balzac then introduces the concept of camouflage in the wild, citing examples such as a butterfly hiding on a leaf and an owl hidden in a tree. Sunny, Bobby, and Uncle Balzac are, by the way, adorable puppets created by Emmy winner Hank Saroyan of Muppet Babies fame.
What really makes this 35-minute video work for kids is its fast pace and variety of rhyming verses, songs, animation, and live nature photography. Children's participation is actively encouraged as an animated Francisco Flamingo challenges kids to find the hidden animal (like the scorpion fish) and a singer beckons kids to create and sing their very own "Animal Doo-Wop." Also sprinkled throughout are "fashion updates" discussing things like a Ptarmigan's ability to change its feather colors depending upon the weather. Uncle Balzac even sings a blues rendition of "I'm Moody" in which he changes color according to his mood.
This entertaining video captivates even the youngest of children and does a great job of explaining the concept of camouflage. Parents are likely to learn something too! --Tami Horiuchi
