Tot TV Watch

Oswald Welcome to the Big City contains 8 episodes of the Nick Jr. show Oswald. A true episode, as shown on Nick Jr. contains 2 half-episodes, so really this is the equivalent of 4 TV episodes of the show minus the commercial time. The episode selection does not really have a particular theme and the name of this DVD allows for the general theme of just introducing kids to the show effective no matter what episodes they put on this DVD. I guess the first episode kind of really sets up the theme, as Henry the Penguin has a cousin visit and they show him around the Big City.

The episodes include “Odd One Out” about Henry’s cousin visiting and Oswald feeling left out, “Goodbye Best Friend” about Henry thinking about leaving to go live in the Big North* with other penguins, “Friends Indeed” about Henry and Daisy fighting and Oswald being stuck in the middle, “Sammy the Starfish Live” about Oswald almost not getting to see the show, “A Day at the Beach” about Henry not wanting to go to the beach and get wet, “The Sand Sculpture Contest” about Oswald judging his friends sand sculptures in a contest, “The Tomato Garden” about Oswald trying to grow tomatoes for himself and his dog and snails always getting to the tomatoes first, and “Bird Watching” about Oswald trying to bird watch and Daisy being too loud.

Overall the episodes are pretty good ones that teach a little bit about handling social relationships, especially friendship. The show’s animation is simplistic, but it works very well for the show. The DVD does have one special feature, but it is pretty pathetic and would be better if it was interactive.

Check out the other TV on DVD reviews I have blogged about here.

Do not forget to comment and get an entry in our February Comment Contest and have a chance to win a TV on DVD.

*Note: I really dislike that they use the word Big North as where Henry the Penguin is going to move to be with other penguins, as it furthers the big misconception that many have, especially kids, that penguins live at the North Pole/Arctic along with polar bears. Penguins do not natively live anywhere north of the equator with the exception of perhaps some Galapagos penguins occasionally venturing a little over the equator. They did not have to say he was going to a real place where penguins live, but they should have at least called it the Big South.