It’s Time for A to Z with the AWESOME ALAPHABET COLLECTION

Jeri Jacquin

Coming to DVD from Sesame Street and Shout! Factory Kids is a collection that shares so much learning for kids with AWESOME ALPHABET COLLECTION.

It begins with Ernie sharing how to use the letter A in a drum beating rhyme. The beat is kickin’ and the words begin to flow in fun. The songs are easy for kids to learn quickly and share with the family. That’s not all as guests like Pharrell Williams share that it is quite easy to travel without ever leaving town with the letter B for book!

There is the fun of learning about C for cake, and the letter of the day with a song even I know and D, Guy Smiley hosts ‘What’s My Letter?’, the letter E makes Elmo smile as well! Grover gives an F demonstration and even though he’d rather be doing a G for Grover, he teaches so well.

The G is turned over to two very cute imaginary girls who take you on their adventure of a letter, H finds itself in a beautiful garden, of course ice cream starts with the letter I and its delicious, of course its one big juggle with the letter J, singer Tori Kelly gives us a little vocal kindness, and Kermit gives us a lesson on how to use lines to make a K.

Bert and Ernie show us all how easy it is to musically la-la-la our way into the letter L and of course the letter M is one that each of the Muppets can understand and gladly will sing about it! Ricky Gervais teaches Elmo what it means to have a Celebrity Lullaby visit you before bed with the letter N.

The letter O teaches about opposites, the ocean, ostriches, octopus and all things fun, P is the favorite letter of one particular street and one of the most comfortable things to lay our head on. Who would have thought that a song could be made from the letter Q? Cookie Monster decides to try his furry paw at rap with the letter R.

Sia joins the group to sing about the letter S! Chance the Rapper is going to star with Cookie Monster in a theater production with the letter T, the letter U is worth singing about; V is all about vegetables, violins and a vase of violets. The letter W brings Larry King to ask his audience what their favorite ‘w’ word is.

The letter X can be found with an ox, fox so say hurray! The letter Y is taking us on a wild yo-yo chase that Elmo loves to sing about along with Norah Jones. Finally, there is a musical Z that rocks out leading to little Zelda looking for words that start with her name.

Of course Kermit is going to have the best way to speed through the alphabet in the best way possible.

The DVD includes Norah Jones, Tori Kelly, Pharrell Williams, Sheryl Crow, Ricky Gervais and the most wonderful Maya Angelou.

The spectacular DVD also contains a bonus feature of the ABC-themed printable activities with Elmo’s Amazing Alphabet Race and Printable Alphabet Activity Sheets.

SHOUT! Factory has grown into a tremendous multi-platform media company. Releasing new animated features such as the exquisite Long Way North, and the epic fantasy Beauty And The Beast. Also their own original horror film, Fender Bender gives fans a good scare. For more of what SHOUT Factor has to offer please visit www.shoutfactory.com.

AWESOME ALPHABET COLLECTION is being released during Sesame Street’s yearlong 50^th anniversary celebration. The anniversary will celebrate the timeless lesson that Sesame Street has always taught: everyone, no matter who they are or where they are from, is equally deserving of respect, opportunity, and joy. Throughout 2019, families everywhere can join their favorite furry friends in celebrating Sesame Street as well as a star-studded primetime special that will kick off the show’s 50^th season.

Fans are encouraged to share their favorite Sesame Street memory across social media this year using the hashtag #ThisIsMyStreet.

This DVD is just amazing and so much fun. Filled with songs, laughter, games and guests that want to teach kids how to be creative, thoughtful, and filled with imagination. That is what makes Sesame Street everybody’s street. We all want to explore and have colorful adventures – yes, even us older folks!

This is 130-minutes of Sesame Street Workshops best and you can actually find more fun and learning at www.sesamestreet.org.

In the end – this is a street where learning is always fun!

SING Does Exactly That with an Amazing 4K, Bluray and DVD Pack!

Jeri Jacquin

This week on 4K Ultra HD, Bluray3D, Bluray and DVD as well as On Demand from directors Christophe Lordelet and Gareth Jennings along with Universal Pictures Home Entertainment is a story about those who have a dream to SING.

Buster Moon (voiced by Matthew McConaughey) is a koala with a dream! Given a theatre by his father, Buster has been busting his furry self trying to bring in talent that will bring people in. The theatre has fallen into some disrepair and he doesn't have money to pay anyone so he is one step ahead of falling into a pit. His one solid employee is Ms. Crawley (Gareth Jennings) who is probably older than the theatre itself! 

Buster has the brilliant idea to hold a contest with the winner receiving $1,000 but Ms. Crawley makes an error on the flyer putting the winnings much higher. The next day the theatre is filled with the brim with performers wanting their chance at the cash but some are actually there to be heard!

When Buster begins to whittle down the talent his top contends include Eddie (Seth MacFarlane) a mouth with a crooners song and an attitude for trouble, shy Meena (Tori Kelly) the elephant who can't seem to find her voice in the crowd, Rosita (Reese Witherspoon) who is a Mom of 25 piglets needing to remember herself in the chaos of family life, Ash (Scarlett Johansson) the rocker porcupine who discovers she is just fine making music on her own and Johnny (Taron Egerton) the singing gorilla thug who wants more than the illegal family business.

Now the show can be put together but they need help as Buster turns to his friend Eddie (John C. Reilly) to talk his rich Nana (Jennifer Saunders) into investing in the show. When Buster puts together a dry run show for Nana, it is Eddie whose shenanigans bring in angry animals to tear up the theatre bringing it down to the ground. Sometimes you have to fall down hard to get back up - when you do make sure you SING!

McConaughey as Buster is a smooth talking koala who just wants to keep the theatre that he considers to be his whole life. Jumping through hoops to make that happen, it is those same hoops that trip him up. The good news is that this isn't a koala that is going to go down easy. This character is so enjoyable and funny and if vocals are any indication, McConaughey sounded like he had a very good time doing this animated film.

MacFarlane as Eddie is everything cool in a white suit and bow tie. He can sing and schmooze the lady's all at the same time. Now if he'd just lay off the gambling things might have gone a little easier for everyone. Kelly as Meena is shy, sweet and doesn't want to let down her very proud family so finds another way to become an indispensable part of the group.

Witherspoon as Rosita is going to be very wife/Mom-relatable in that sometimes being those two important things leaves out individuality so when Rosita lets loose - look out! Johansson as Ash is a pure rocker chick who discovers that she doesn't need anyone to rely on her talents, just a belief in herself. Egerton as Johnny is such a sweet gorilla who happens to be in a family of very large and very loud criminals. He wants more in life and finding a way to make the family understand that may take a trick or two.

Reilly as Eddie is as laid back as any spoiled kid would be but at least he stays true to his life long friendship with Eddie. Now Saunders as Nana is hilarious and I just loved watching her be grumpy and stubborn. Saunders gives her character grit and a bit of no-nonsense that keeps everybody but Buster at furs length.

Other characters include: Jennifer Hudson as Young Nana, Peter Serafinowicz as Big Daddy, Nick Kroll as Gunter, Beck Bennett as Lance, Jay Pharaoh as Meena's Grandfather and Nick Offerman as Norman.

Universal Studios Home Entertainment has just added an amazing film to their library and making it available for us all to experience and re-experience in our own home theatres. There are films of every genre available from scary to drama to family films. For more of what they have to offer please visit www.uphe.com.

The SING Bonus Features include the Mini-Movies Gunter Babysit as Gunter offers to watch all of Rosita’s 25 piglets for the night and tries to prove he is the best babysitter ever, Love At First Sight while during a piano lesson with Johnny, Miss Crawly becomes nostalgic about the dancing and romancing of her youth as Johnny convinces her it’s not to late to find love and sets up a profile on a dating site and finally Eddie’s Life Coach as Eddie’s mom signs her slacker son up for a digital training seminar to get his life back on track!

There is also the Don’t Worry ‘Bout a Thing Music Video and more music to sign along to. The Making of Sing, Finding the Rhythm, Character Profiles, SING & Dance, The SING Network, The Best of Gunter, The Making of the Mini-Movies and much, much more!

SING is definitely a family film filled with every family issue imaginable! It must be said first off that the animation is absolutely gorgeous and the characters are loveable and talented. My granddaughter is a toddler who loves music and loves animation so anytime you can put those two together I can absolutely guarantee you she will be thrilled with the results and SING is no exception. The songs are recognizable yet when these characters sing them it is a whole new look, sound and feel. 

It is fanciful, very charming and there isn't anyone that isn't going to see this film for the first time or again without a smile on their face. This is a wonderful example of the work that Illumination Entertainment puts into their animated films with a resume that includes DESPICABLE ME and THE SECRET LIFE OF PETS (both of which are on full rotation in my house). SING brings comedy, friendship, love and music through amazing characters that are going to be loved by everyone. 

Gather up the family and make it a night of fun as SING gets everyone toe tapping and hand clapping.

In the end - let the auditions begin!