Red Hat, Green Hat

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While children’s librarians are very familiar with the highly-acclaimed Between the Lions reading series, here's a quick overview for those unfamiliar with the NEA endorsed, multi-award-winning PBS-aired show, which revolves around the adventures of a family of puppet lions who live in and run the Barnaby B. Busterfield III Public Library. Parents Theo and Cleo and cubs Lionel and Liona are joined by the Information Hen on the reference desk; Click the Mouse, who has the head of a rodent and the body of a computer mouse; and various humans who intermingle with the library puppet staff. Acting out stories based on books in the library--tales that literally come alive, with characters leaping off the page and vowels singing--the literary lions spotlight a particular phonics concept in each episode, which combines animation, marionettes, and wry humor (refreshingly appreciable by adults). In Red Hat, Green Hat, young viewers learn about the short “e” sound while the titular classic African tale teaches them about how one’s point of view can make all the difference in a given situation. A winner of numerous major awards, including the Outstanding Achievement in Children’s Programming Award from the Television Critics Association and a Parent’s Choice Gold Award, this is highly recommended. Editor's Choice. Additional available episodes in the series include: Little Big Mouse, The Lucky Duck, The Lost Rock, and The Ram in the Pepper Patch.

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PreS-Gr 2 - This episode of the popular PBS series stars the short "e" sound. The series follows a family of lions who live in a library. Each episode features puppets, animation, and some human characters. Skits, music, and literature are used to teach phonics skills and other valuable lessons along the way. The approach is fast-paced and humorous. In this episode, young Leona has made a hat that is green on one side and red on the other, based on an African folktale. This means that some people think she has a red hat, while others think she has a green one. An argument ensues in the library, and Leona and her brother, Lionel, have to find a solution. In the meantime, there are other things going on. Will Busterfield the statue be wed? What about the Great Smartini and his Smartypants? Will Cliff Hanger ever get off that cliff? What happens in "Gawain's Word" when two jousting knights, Sir SL and Sir EEP, collide? (Did I mention that double "e" makes a brief appearance as well?) How about the country-western song bemoaning the weirdness of "W"? It sounds a little frenetic, and it is, but it's all a great deal of fun and children will love it. This program not only makes phonics painless, it makes it fun!

Copyright 2001 School Library Journal. Used with permission.

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