Brainy Baby - Jingle Bells ($16.95 for DVD or $12.95 for VHS) is a festive DVD full of the sights and sounds of Christmas for young children. My toddlers were fascinated as the movie moved from one scene to the next showing glittering ornaments, trains, Christmas trees, a horse-drawn sleigh, families skiing or baking cookies, and a great tour of a candy cane factory (my favorite part). A gentle female voice unobtrusively narrates the scenes. Upbeat Christmas music plays in the background, accenting the joy of the season. While the 30-minute movie is designed for toddlers, babies and young kids would also likely enjoy the visual frolic through Christmas.

I was very disappointed that this sweet movie is completely secular with no mention or images that I could find of the reason we celebrate Christmas, namely Christ. It does a good job of avoiding the commercialization of Christmas and focusing on the joy of the spirit, but completely leaves out any reference to Christ. Santa Claus is present, but not overly emphasized. My kids enjoyed watching and pointing out what they saw. The scenes move at a good pace to hold a child's interest, without rushing from place to place. The scenes are bright, cheerful and interesting. I would recommend this video for families who want an upbeat secular Christmas video for young children that is fun and interesting.

-- Product Review by Dr. Anne Margaret Wright, The Old Schoolhouse® Magazine, LLC, April, 2006