Its Friday, so it must be time for a review, right? Right!

This week’s adventure was all about the kids, and being quiet,  and reading… and goldfish. I had the pleasure of watching an episode of Quiet Time Tales featuring Grandpa Read, Sparky & Wanda, Champ and some interesting illustrations. The episode reminded me a lot of when I used to watch “Reading Rainbow” on PBS, so I sat back and enjoyed the stories that Grandpa Read read in his warm and inviting, totally “grandfatherly” voice.

On a side note, my grandfather was totally not like Grandpa Read, and I couldn’t help but imagine Grandpa Reed in a shirt that said, “Raw Oysters a Must So Your Ding-Dong Don’t Rust.” That would have been absolutely incredible, yet highly inappropriate, which kind of sums up my childhood.

The episode I watched featured five stories, my favorite being Thumbelina. The illustrations were “young” enough to appeal to smaller kids, while still portraying the essence of the story.

Quiet Time tales are just that, a way to share stories with kids who may not have heard some of the older classics. It is completely different from many of the other kids’ DVDs out there, it will not impress with its flashy colors or loud music. It simply will give its viewers the serene sense of a Grandfather reading stories.

Now, don’t let the the serenity of the storytelling fool you, because at the end of the DVD is a hilarious surprise… Grandpa Read sings! He sings to his dog, Champ, and to his crazy goldfish, Sparky & Wanda, all of whom are likely singing along. There was also an accompanying music CD with the package I was sent, full of Grandpa Read’s Greatest Hits. If the stories don’t move you, just watching Grandpa Read get down should bring a smile to your face and a chuckle in your voice (and maybe a snarky snicker, but only if you were visualizing the oyster shirt).

The entire series may be seen at QuietTime.com.