Big Cook Little Cook: Christmas Puddings (DVD)

Big Cook Little Cook
Christmas Puddings



Perhaps an unusual DVD to be writing a review on as we have only just reached the end of summer and it is still quite warm out there though as many of you with children will know and understand - children of a young age will watch their DVD's and favourite programmes over and over until you really can not stand another merry song and dancing character any longer! My daughter ...
...CHRISTMAS PUDDINGS

Big Cook Ben and Little Cook Small appear in six lovely episodes on this one DVD all covering the most magical time of the year for children - Christmas. The DVD was released in 2006 though is timeless so it does not matter if you buy it years later as we did. The DVD also comes with added recipie book and game (see below for more details).

EPISODES

As mentioned above, there are six episodes ... more

Big Cook Little Cook
Christmas Puddings

Perhaps an unusual DVD to be writing a review on as we have only just reached the end of summer and it is still quite warm out there though as many of you with children will know and understand - children of a young age will watch their DVD's and favourite programmes over and over until you really can not stand another merry song and dancing character any longer! My daughter is no different.

We brought this particular DVD for her last Christmas as she was just beginning to get into watching CBeebies at the time and she has now watched it more times than I can remember.

CHRISTMAS PUDDINGS

Big Cook Ben and Little Cook Small appear in six lovely episodes on this one DVD all covering the most magical time of the year for children - Christmas. The DVD was released in 2006 though is timeless so it does not matter if you buy it years later as we did. The DVD also comes with added recipie book and game (see below for more details).

EPISODES

As mentioned above, there are six episodes on this DVD;

Father Christmas
Ben and Small are decorating their Christmas tree though are missing something to go on top of the tree. After a visit from Father Christmas they are given a special star to hang on the top of the tree.
This episode is a great first one and combines the excitement of christmas with a great child friendly (as all recipies are though some are a little weird to say the least!) recipie to follow step by step of meringue snowmen. We havent tried this recipie yet though this Christmas I think we will!

Mole
An unusual title for a Christmas DVD I agree and the episode is not as festive as the first though my daughter still loved it (and it shows it can be watched any time of the year!)
This episode shows Small and Ben trying to get into a locked cupboard to get Smalls scooter though find the key missing. It is not until two lovely moles (yes moles!) come and help them find it under the floorboards that Small is once again happy.
Not as good an episode as the first from an adult point of view though again, a firm favourite with my daughter.

Yeti
Back to the festive season as a yeti visits Ben and Small in the café and they take the usual step by step guide to making Christmas pudding with a yeti theme! A lovely adult style recipe with the great child twist to it that my daughter loved.
This was a lovely episode once again full of laughter and festive fun.

Cinderella
And what Christmas DVD would be complete without its own version of a pantomime?!
No, its not really a full pantomime episode unfortunately and it even has more of a feel of Halloween that Christmas as Cinderella arrives at the Café as Small goes to find out where pumpkins come from to make his own pumpkin pie.
A very informative and fun episode with the usual laughs. Another favourite of my daughter.

Fashion Designer
Again, not so much a festive episode unless you look at it as Small Christmas shopping for clothes for himself! Not the greatest one on the DVD from my own point of view as by this time you do want more festive episodes though it is in the usual fun style with a great gingerbread clothes recipe to follow and copy.

Magpie
The last on the disc and again not so much festive. Ben has lost his ring and gets the help from Magpies to find it. Funny and full of laughs though certainly not festive.

Each episode on the disc features Ben and Small making innovative and fun recipes for each special customer to the café, a story from Small’s book in lovely cartoon book style and also a ‘real world’ location in which Small takes the audience to learn about the theme of each episode which is informative not just for the children! And let us not forget the catchy songs in each episode that before long both you and your child will be dancing along to. The recipe ideas are really great and fun to try with your child. Some episodes in the series have very unusual recipes though this DVD selects some great ones that soon your children will be begging you to try.

BONUS

There are two added extras with this DVD. A guess who game and a recipe book of your very own.

The recipe book comes in paper form inside the DVD case full of every single recipe seen on the DVD with wonderful pictures and step by step instructions easy for a child at reading age to understand and follow.
The Guess Who game is on the actual DVD under Special Features (and is the only special feature on the disc). It is a good exciting game for the younger children though not so fun for the slightly older ones really (as tested on my 7 year old brother who soon asked if he could play on the Wii!).

PRESENTERS

Some children’s programme presenters can, if we are honest, get on your nerves and after seeing them for the 100th time you just want to throw your shoe at the screen, though Ben and Small are wonderfully entertaining (if not a little over the top at times) though children love them. They get down to a child’s level without being patronizing or annoying which is great, and even as an adult you don’t mind watching this with your children as you get drawn into the fun as well.

EDUCATIONAL VALUE

We all worry that too much television is bad for our children, though if you want an educational DVD with practical fun added to it then this is the one for you. Not only will your child sing and dance to the songs, they will also want to cook the food seen on the episodes after bringing in a whole new practical aspect of learning. Each episode as mentioned above also has a ‘real life’ aspect where Small takes a journey into the real world to find out such things as how certain food are made, how it is grown, the process of making things etc.
So yes, as far as educational value goes, this DVD is great.

QUALITY
The quality of the DVD as a whole is great, with colourful episodes and great sounds from both characters and special sound effects.

FINAL WORD

Do I recommend this DVD?
Yes is the simple answer. The quality is good and the episodes are fun, exciting and informative and there are some great recipes to watch and copy. The music is great and very catchy and although there are not many bonus features and the ones that are there are not brilliant (though the recipe book is great for the children and makes them feel grown up!), you buy a DVD for the main content and not really for the special features so no worries there. Yes, if you are looking for a full DVD of festive episodes you will find that it isn’t overly festive through the most of it, though there are some great festive episodes and the ones that are not festive the children love anyway.

As from the BBC write up;
“It’s not just children who love the hit CBeebies series – its popular with mums and dads too. It aims to encourage a child and their parents or carers to share an activity whilst learning and gaining and interest in food and its origin.”

PRICE

You can pick up this DVD for under £3.00 at Amazon and most DVD stores online. Great value!

ADDITIONAL INFO

www.bbc.co.uk/cbeebies
www.bbcshop.com/childrens

Run time: 114 minutes approx

 

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