This is a book I had as a child, and was just found again in time to share with my 3-year old son! While we mostly speak English at home, he has had exposure to French at preschool, but I think his appreciation of this book is also to do with the colours and the fact that Barbapapas can change their shape into almost anything. Moreover, it shows them overcoming adversities and making themselves a harmonious home on their own accord. I recommend this to families where at least 1 parent speaks French (so they can read it), and where children are interested in things that can transform their shape (ie: Transformers, but without the violence!).

I first saw this film about 8 years ago, and was really impressed.

You don't get to see many documentaries about transpeople, and even less focused on transmen. This one is focused on the last year of Robert Eads life, as he deals with life, love, family, and friendships, and his ever-growing cancer (of the ovaries and uterus).

I showed this film to my university class (Intro Anthropology), and they were amazed with how 'normal' trans-folks can be. Moreover, they commented on how much they insight they got to why people transition and the discrimination they face.

While the film lacks 'high energy', it is filled with love, real relationships, and real situations. It breaks my heart every time I watch it, but there is nothing else out there that shows this subject matter with such respect and passion.

(In terms of a documentary about a transwoman, I recommend Gwen Haworth's 'She's A Boy I Knew'.)

I saw this film in the theatre and couldn't wait to buy it.
But before I could, I ran into someone who hadn't enjoyed it in the theatre. They said they kept waiting to see what the 'nineth film' would be about. Well, it isn't that kind of film, so don't just wait for it to start.

Instead, sit back, suspend reality, and take it all in.
As an academic, I don't normally allow myself to do this. I sit through films critiquing them, analyzing them, seeing what their comment on society is. But I knew this was going to be eye-candy, so I let it be that. I enjoy musicals, and know they aren't typically comments on society. I was shocked and am ever impressed with Kate Hudson's singing and dancing. I love Daniel Day-Lewis in anything he acts in - he can't go wrong. Dame Judy Dench, Nicole Kidman, etc, etc = bonus, bonus, bonus. It is a hot movie. So, suspend reality and ... just sit back and enjoy!!!

I bought this book because my son absolutely loves the couple of Jan Brett books that we previously owned (especially "The Mitten" and "The Gingerbread Boy"). I thought this would be a good melding of fairytale and Jan Brett's artistic talents - and I am so glad I was right!!!
While my son loves the pictures for their attention-grabbing qualities, I appreciate them for their ability to reflect Inuit culture. (I should note as a grad student in Anthropology, I get picky about how cultures are portrayed, so it really says something when I think someone has done an outstanding job, such as Jan Brett has done with the art in this book.)
Brett based this well-known "Three Bears" story in the Canadian North after living there herself for 3-years. (I think that is how long it said she lived there.) Moreover, she notes how the dress of the bears reflects traditional Inuit art's use of Northern animals dressed in Inuit-dress.
So, while it tells the "well known story", its situatedness in Canada's North provides an education to children of what life is like up there. For me this is much better for my child to learn from than a book depicting some blonde "Goldilocks" in a random forest, in the land of (Western) Folktales. And the ending fits the story... ;-)

I ordered this book thinking it would be a good addition to our home collection, as I take pride in having stories from as many cultures as possible represented in my son's literature. While I (and my son) really love "Raven: a trickster tale" by Gerald McDermott, due to its bright pictures, indigenous-style illustrations, and great, encapturing of the First Nation's Legend, I find "The Monkey's New Drum" to be incredibly moralistic, wordy, and actually I think the "teasing" the monkey does plays a bigger role than the moral of the story. (So, by the time the child has the attention span to have the book read to them, and/or the skills to read, the book's "message" would actually be shadowed by the "teasing", and I think all the children would remember is the teasing and not the message, despite its incredibly moralistic tone.)
Further, while the cover page seems quite attention-grabbing artistic, the inside pages loose their appeal due to the amount of words on them. (Normally when a picture book has this many words, pictures are only on one page, with words on the facing page.)
I give it 2 stars (instead of only 1) because I still think there is value in having books from various cultures represented in children's personal/home library collections, although I think McDermott's collection does a much better job, on so many levels!!!

I purchased this book because my toddler son loves the other 3 Martin/Carle books (Panda Bear, Panda Bear What Do You See?; Polar Bear Polar Bear What Do You Hear?; and Brown Bear Brown Bear What Do You Hear?). This book not only did not disappoint, my son or myself, but is his new favourite!!!
It is the first book he attempts to read by himself - due to the repetitive nature, just like the other books - and he loves that there is a Baby Bear and a Mama Bear! I love that the animals that are featured are all 'local' animals to the US & Canada!
I love it and would recommend it for all toddlers, preschoolers, and kids in Kindergarten and Grade 1 (to help them learn reading skills). The images are realistic and eye-catching, the repetition is catchy for kids, and while we read them over and over again (due to my son's love of them), I don't get tired of them!!! (added bonus!) ;-)

We first borrowed this book from the library, and my toddler son wouldn't go to bed without reading it, so I realized we needed our own copy.
Without looking too much at it, I had originally hoped it would help with bedtime, and was so glad it did. But it did more than that. It provided a loving, rhythmic story with humour and an ending (to a somewhat fairytale story) that I corresponds with my values (reading!!!).
The art is great to look at. It engages both adult and child - as you both will continue to find new things to look at as you read it over and over again.
While the Prince protests at bedtime, this is not what kids take from this story. Instead, they take to heart the fact that eventually the Prince does fall asleep, and more willingly (than before) follow suit! ;-)

Great illustrations, great rhythm and rhyme, and great ending and value.
Recommended to all kids - but toddlers and preschoolers who are into sitting for more than just board books will really appreciate it!

I am always apprehensive when it comes to films for kids. Will there be violence or jokes that aren't appropriate?

But this one is just enjoyable over and over again - as that is how often my 2-year old son wants to see this movie. And I willingly play it for him, myself, and my partner. We all love it - which can't be said of many movies - plus I don't find it offensive or violent. The voices aren't irritating, and there isn't any underlying theme that I am uncomfortable with, for myself or my son.

This movie is like no other I have seen - in terms of storyline, and the amount that it is heartwarming while at the same time (if you really need to 'think' in your movies) it critiques our current society.
We get to sit, laugh, smile, and talk about the film together. While I wouldn't normally say movie time is family time, this provides both.

If you enjoy Happy Feet and Finding Nemo, you are very likely to love this film too!!!

My son is 15 months old and has lots of books, but he and I keep coming back to this one. While some books get tiring after repeated readings, this one with beautiful photographs of people (mostly babies) and scenery, together with the flow of rhymes full of love means that I love reading it to him as much as he loves reading it over and over.