Readeez Volume One
Pricetag: $16.98
Age Range: Toddler on up to reading age
Running Time: 40 minutes
Official URL: http://www.readeez.com
Rating: 
Our Give-away has ended. Winners announced at the bottom of this review.
Readeez is what is called “edutainment� (well, that’s what the makers of Readeez call it on their site); basically, Readeez are fun videos that are designed to help kids learn to read. The creators of Readeez believe that “to see + to hear = to learn� and use simple, clear animated and filmed vignettes with what is basically large subtitles that help kid identify visual words with aural words.
It’s actually quite clever.
CONTENT
The 30 Readeez that are on the DVD feature either an animated dad and daughter (Julian and Isabel) discussing some pretty funny stuff—ranging from tongue twisters to short stories—or a singer/songwriter singing songs while he plays the guitar or the piano. The songs are very witty and funny, and make my daughter run over to play our piano every time.
I love the clear simplicity of the artwork; the cartoon drawings are very Sunday Comic-ish (if you know what I mean) and the filmed portions are kept very simple and visually clear as well, leaving kids the ability to focus primarily on the words that are tramping across the screen.
My daughter is quite charmed by it, and she’s only two and a half. I think older kids would enjoy this as well. One thing I really like about it is that kids learn by seeing the ENTIRE word at once; I know I learned to read that way and it is part of why I can read so quickly as an adult. It really emphasizes sounds and shapes of words in a direct and simple way, and I think it manages to be educational without making kids that are still learning feel stupid or like a failure for not being able to keep up. Most segments are repeated, anyway, so kids can get a chance to try again.
PACKAGING
The packaging matched the material perfectly; a cardboard instead of plastic DVD box, and I didn’t require an engineering degree to get it open.
NITPICKS
My only complaint was that it worked wonderfully in my computer and in my home DVD player but for some reason didn’t work in the DVD player in the car. Which made my daughter very sad, because she likes this DVD a LOT. And not being able to play it in the car meant a large amount of screaming ensued. For two hours.
I’m just saying.
BOTTOM LINE
Really, my favorite thing is the concept of “whole word� learning instead of the phonic approach that is so popular currently. I don’t know if this was the intent of the makers of the DVD or not, but it seems clear to me that is what they are doing. In a way Readeez feels like the perfect logical step from the Electric Company of my youth (and since they are bringing that back, hey!); it’s an excellent way to help kids process whole words and reading without making them feel like they are learning. I can’t see any kid not liking this DVD!
CONTEST WINNERS
Congratulations to:
#12 Helena Batt-Vesey
#26 Dawn
#6 Kristal
#29 Lily Kwan
#15 Laura G.
We emailed each of you to get your shipping address!
There are *correct answer commented out by site owner pending give-away deadline* free samples. How ’bout that Cow looks interesting.
There are * free samples online. I thought that Sandy Beach looked fun!
I think there are * free samples. And the How ’bout That Cow looks like one my kids would love!
this looks great/
* free samples the cow
** free samples to choose from
And, although they all look great
I’d choose the COW for my son
That song is just top-rate!
There are free samples to choose from.My choice is the Cow.
Love that there are free samples to choose from; I like the cow.
first time to your web site, gonna take me awhile
wow please enter me in for this i think its a realy neet porgram and well i’m new to your site thanks
there are * free samples and I watched seven of them
concensus here seems to agree “How ‘Bout That Cow” looks the most fun and interesting.
“Suse Bee”
There are * samples offered, and “How ‘Bout that Cow” looks like the most fun. Thanks for the giveaway!
There are * samples, Geometreez looks really good.
There are * samples. I really love the Take me out to the ball game. My son loves Baseball.
The are * samples and being huge baseball fans, we love take be out to the ballgame
There are * samples offered – and they all look great, I especially like How ’bout that cow.
There are * samples. Wordeez looks like fun!
*; Sandy Beach
I only checked out seven of the samples – i too liked the cow
Their are * samples.
I loved Circle and Square.
There are * samples to watch… I like the Geometreez but it’s a tad over wee man…. I think How ’bout that cow is fun and wee man would like it….
There are * samples. Geometreez looks the most fun!
I liked Sandy Beach. There are *.
There are * samples!
Free samples…. I think Brrrr would be great! Expecially since it is cold!!
Really like that there are free samples and the Cow is cute.
There are samples and wordeez was my favorite
* samples, I like Circle and Square
* samples are offered. How ’bout that cow! looks the most fun.
There are * free samples offered. How ’bout that cow looks rhe most fun.
There are * samples, and they’re all cute! But I love the Brrrrrr one about winter!
There are * Readeez samples. I liked Wordeez the best.
Out of the 9 samples I liked “A Readee Is” the most.
There are 9 samples and I liked Hangin’ Around best. I think my daugther would find it really funny.
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