This new Yo Gabba Gabba DVD titled "New Friends" hit the stores in early April 2009. My 5yr old was so excited that he received a copy to review because he has been seeing and hearing the name Jack Black on the Yo Gabba Gabba website and on Nick Jr. He didn't know who Jack Black was exactly, but he was extremely excited to meet him.The Yo Gabba Gabba!: New Firends DVD contains four episodes:
New Friends - This is the episode in which Jack Black makes his debut on Yo Gabba Gabba. He ends up in Gabbaland after he gets lost.
Find- This episode shows how discovery applies to different aspects of a child's life, whether it be finding something completely new or searching for something cherished that has been lost or misplaced.
Greetings - In this episode, your child learns to interact politely with both strangers and friends.
Share - In this particular episode, the Gabba characters learn that sharing is more fun than playing by themselves.
What I thought about this DVD as a parent:
1) I like how all the characters are so different. It really helps to promote that people who are different can be the best of friends.
2) I liked how the music was fun, upbeat, and each song delivers a message pertaining to whatever lesson is being taught for that episode. The music reminds me of the 80's with a pop/hip hop flair.
3) I think the Yo Gabba Gabba show, in general, is perfect for preschoolers who are at the age when they are learning to interact socially and deal with their feelings in a productive way.
4) Seeing the "New Friends" episode made me an even bigger fan of Jack Black.
What my 5yr old son thought about this DVD:
1) He is already a big fan of Yo Gabba Gabba and knew all the characters by name . . . Brobee, Foofa, Muno, Toodee, and Plex.
2) He said that out of the four episodes, the first one (New Friends) was his favorite.
3) When I asked him if he thought Jack Black was funny, he said, "No, he's not funny. He's cool!"
Overall, I think the Yo Gabba Gabba show successfully makes learning about how to deal with everyday situations entertaining. This type of learning is just as important as grasping the concepts of reading, writing, and addition for children my son's age. Although the themes are too advanced for my 2yr old twins, they also enjoy this show because it is colorful, lively, and they enjoy the singing and dancing.
