On the “Merry Christmas, Splat…And More Winter Stories” DVD, the Scholastic Storybook Treasures series brings Rob Scotton’s eponymous book to life with a faithful adaptation and comic narration by John Keating. Recommended for kids ages 3 to 7, the whole family found this DVD to be the perfect excuse to take a break from the whirlwind of holiday preparations and park it on the couch with a cup of cocoa. Our marshmallows bobbed with our laughter as we watched Splat the cat’s awkward attempts to help his mother, so he could rake in the gifts at Christmas.
The DVD also includes “Fletcher and the Snowflake Christmas” and a behind-the-scenes bonus feature demonstrating how the animators brought Julia Rawlinson’s picture book to life; Jacqueline Briggs Martin’s “Snowflake Bentley,” a story chock full of fascinating observations about nature’s prettiest form of precipitation and the inspiring life of snowflake expert Willie Bentley; and “Owl Moon,” Jane Yolen’s classic tale about a child and his reserved father venturing out into the cold, snowy, moonlit woods, hoping to catch a glimpse of the great horned owl. These winter stories reminded us to enjoy the season’s natural beauty, too.
“Merry Christmas, Splat…And More Winter Stories” DVD, $14.95, www.scholastic.com.
