A three DVD collection, part of Scholastic' "Storybook Treasures" series, which includes "I'm Dirty! & I Stink!", "Jorge El Curioso" is a great learning tool for parents, tykes looking to learn English or Spanish. It's also a great tool for me, a childless DVD reviewer, since it proved mildly entertaining and taught me a couple of new words. The design here can't be faulted, and you are offered all possible options - you can listen to the story in English while subtitles highlight in time, word by word, and you can do the same thing in Spanish. The menu design features both languages, so that parents whose English may be a little shaky would be still be able to put this on for their kids.
Although it is marketed under "Jorge el Curioso", the collection includes three DVDs, which feature multiple stories entering on the same character. "Jorge El Curioso," which incidentally only presents one story in English, "Curious George Rides A Bike," and the rest in read-along Spanish, including "Jorge, El Monito Ciclista" "Crisantemo", "La Maravillosa Grace," "Por Que Los Mosquitos Zumban En Los Oidos De La Gente," "Silvestre Y La Piedracita Magica," and "El Punto" The second disc, focusing on Harry, The Dirty Dog, includes "Harry, El Perrito Sucio/Harry, The Dirty Dog" and "Que Bonito es Panama/Panama." The third, and my personal favorite, concerns Chato, the coolest cat around, and includes stories "Chato Y Su Cena/Chato's Kitchen," and "Chato Y Los Amigos Pachangueros/Chato And The Party Animals."
It's a fine collection, handsomely packaged in three thin DVD cases. Video quality varies depending on how old the animation is, and most of it is pans across storybook pictures, but I can honestly say it's not an effect that gets old. The splashes of color and art in the various stories are welcome and if they could keep an adult interested, a child certainly could benefit from the language options varied. The stories are predictable, but occasionally manage to surprise you with personality and decent voice acting, including Cheech Marin and Luis Guzman. Highly recommended.
"Jorge, el Monito Ciclista" is on sale August 16, 2011 and is rated G. Animation, Children & Family, Education. Written and directed by Various. Starring Luis Guzman.
