Max & Ruby's Perfect Pumpkin DVD Review
Nick Jr. Show Preschool Halloween Video About Halloween Celebrations
Sep 29, 2009
Parents and fans of Rosemary Wells' Max & Ruby books who are looking for funny and family-friendly Halloween entertainment for preschoolers will like the Max & Ruby Perfect Pumpkin DVD. Collected on this preschool Halloween video are a Max & Ruby episode made up of three related Max & Ruby cartoons about Halloween, as well as several other episodes from this cute Nick Jr. show. Preschoolers will enjoy watching this Max & Ruby DVD both in preparation for Halloween fun and at any time of the year.
Max & Ruby Cartoons About Halloween
The highlight of this funny Max & Ruby video is a Max & Ruby episode consisting of three linked Max & Ruby cartoons about Halloween. Each cartoon shows another aspect of how these bunny siblings prepare for a Halloween celebration, from picking the perfect pumpkin to carving a jack-o-lantern to trying to scare one another.
In Max and Ruby's Perfect Pumpkin, big sister Ruby and little brother Max visit Mr. Piazza's market in search of the best pumpkin for Halloween. Unfortunately, every time Ruby finds a likely candidate in the pumpkin pile, she must leave it for a moment to go stop Max from taking the candy off of the face of the pumpkin-headed scarecrow that is the centerpiece of Mr. Piazza's store Halloween decorations. One by one the good pumpkins are taken while Ruby is busy repairing the damage from her little brother's candy forays. Everything ends happily, however, because when Max's toy helicopter finally succeeds in dislodging the pumpkin head and the candy falls off, Ruby realizes that here at last is the perfect pumpkin.
In Max's Jack-o-Lantern, Max and Ruby model traditional Halloween customs like dressing in costumes and carving jack-o-lanterns to make decorations for a fun Halloween celebration. Whereas in the Max & Ruby cartoon Max's Halloween (found on the Max & Ruby's Halloween DVD), Ruby tried to order Max to dress as a little prince, this Halloween she is graciously allowing him to be a vampire – again – while she herself transforms her old princess costume into a Fairy Godmother costume by adding wings and a wand.
This Halloween, the conflict between siblings Max and Ruby stems from the theme of the decorations for their Halloween party. Predictably, Max wants spooky, scary decorations, while Ruby wants happy Halloween party decorations. Clever Max outsmarts Ruby by drawing a template for what looks like a happy pumpkin face for Grandma to carve on their pumpkin. But once Max sticks the carved jack-o-lantern on his head, it looks terrifying and is nice and scary when their party guests arrive.
In Max's Big Boo, Max attempts over and over to frighten his big sister, but she keeps pointing out that she is on to him and knows all of his tricks, so it is impossible for him to scare her. She is correct, but Max does not know all of Ruby's tricks, and in a fun reversal of roles, by the end of the episode Ruby has successfully hidden and then scared Max. (Preschoolers may also enjoy reading Happy Halloween!, the Max & Ruby book version of this story.)
Max & Ruby DVD About Halloween Customs & Halloween Traditions
Preschoolers will not only be entertained by the funny sibling relationship between Max and Ruby and how the two bunnies work out their conflicts with each other, but will also learn many things about Halloween and how people celebrate it. For example, in Max's Jack-o-Lantern, Grandma models the step by step process people follow when carving pumpkins, and in Max's Big Boo, Ruby reviews ways that trick-or-treaters can stay safe while trick-or-treating.
The other Max & Ruby cartoons collected on this Max & Ruby video are Max's Rocket Racer, Max and Morris Blast Off, Max's Candy Apples (a nice fall-themed cartoon about games played at the East Bunny Hop Fall Fair), Ruby Delivers, Getting Crabby at the Beach, Max Babysits, Max Cleans Up, Max's Cuckoo Clock, and Ruby's Jewelry Box.
Max & Ruby's Perfect Pumpkin DVD Review
The Max & Ruby Halloween episode included on this Max & Ruby video is full of cartoons that introduce preschoolers to Halloween traditions and Halloween customs without being too frightening. After watching these Max & Ruby cartoons, young children may be inspired to design their own funny or scary pumpkin faces or practice hiding and popping out to yell boo and scare their family members. The non-Halloween Max & Ruby episodes are all good fun as well, and overall the preschool Halloween video Max & Ruby's Perfect Pumpkin would make a fine addition to any family home video library.
Families who would like to watch other preschool DVDs about Halloween might try the Dora the Explorer: Dora's Halloween DVD. Parents can also learn more about Rosemary Wells' bunny siblings by reading a review of the Nick Jr. Max & Ruby cartoon series.
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