While Mother Badger occupies the usual gently maternal role, (albeit one updated with new-agey child-empowerment attitudes) and thus isn't too grating, the other characters will test your patience. Whiny or simpering characterizations, weird use of music, and disturbing animation make this collection a chore for adults, even though my little Frances has latched on to this DVD like a tenacious limpet. Lastly, the titular tale follows the furry scamp as a variety of factors keep her from getting a good night's sleep. A Cupcake For Frances finds the precocious weasel lying about eating a cupcake, much to everyone's chagrin. The first story, A Whiny Sister For Frances lays the whining on thick as Frances and family can't go to Lizard Land due to little sister Gloria's illness. These three 14-minute episodes, including the title story and two new ones, leach all the charm out of the badger and her family while robbing readers of any chance of creative interpretation.

In the case of the Jim Henson Company's motion-capture CGI adaptation of the classic Hoban story, things don't look too good.īut you must admire the courage of packaging this DVD in a small, hardcover version of the actual book, inviting comparisons that parents best not make. The bad thing is, if the product is bad, developing an unreasonable hate is quite easy. The nice thing about reviewing kids' DVDs with a three-year-old in the house is that you get to watch them 18 or 19 times before writing, especially if it's 100 degrees outside and sitting in the cool, dark TV room seems OK.

Bedtime for frances book