Sesame Street - Elmo' Sing-Along Guessing Review

 When my older son--now seventeen--was a toddler, he loved Sesame Street's Elmo's Sing Along Guessing Game. We owned the VHS tape of this funny Elmo special featuring the red, furry monster as a game show host. Now that I have another toddler, I was on the hunt for a fun DVD to give to him as a treat. I spotted Elmo's Sing Along Guessing Game at my local Barnes and Noble, and decided to give it a whirl! Now, this Elmo DVD is a favorite of both of my boys!

Elmo's Sing Along Guessing Gamefeatures Elmo as a host of his own game show. The premise of the game show is for guests to "guess" the answer to a musical question; for example, Elmo asks the "game show audience" to determine what body part Kermit is referencing in his song "I Love My Elbows." When the contestant hears the whole song, he/she jumps on a trampoline, flies through the air, and pushes a large button to answer the question. Of course, since this is a Sesame Street production, a lot of fun mishaps ensue! Elmo starts to answer the questions instead of his contestants--because he loves jumping on the trampoline! Mary and her little lamb are two of the contestants, and the ubiquitous "Blue Man" who is always stymied by Grover's eager attempts to please is the third contestant on the show. The Blue Man is simply waiting for his bus to Cincinnatti, but he is coerced into participating in Elmo's wacky game. It is so funny to see the puppets flying through the air when they jump on the trampoline; crafted in the days before smooth computer animation, Elmo's Sing Along Guessing Game features airborne puppets that really look as though they are tossed into the frame. It is hilarious to watch, and a huge hit with the toddler set, too! Even the cheesy-looking "game show" set is a fun satire of the heyday of prime-time game shows. Produced in 1996, this Elmo's special has a wonderful charm and timeless appeal for all ages.

The thirty minute DVD features fun songs by Sesame Street favorites like Kermit, The Count, Elmo, Ernie, Big Bird, and Snuffleupagus. Some of the best songs on the special are I Love My Elbows, One Fine Face, Elmo's Song, and I Love Trash. Because Kermit isn't featured in contemporary Sesame Street productions, it is wonderful to see that beloved green frog make two musical appearances in this DVD. Timmy, my little guy, loves One Fine Face and he can identify all of the parts of his face named in the song: eyes, nose, mouth, cheeks, chin, and ears. I appreciate that the DVD is both educational and fun! There are songs about counting, best friends, and body parts--you'll find yourself singing along and dancing a bit with your little ones.

For $9.99 at Barnes and Noble (brick and mortar) or less online, such as on Amazon.com, this classic Sesame Street special is a great addition to your DVD collection. The fun, quirky, educational story has definitely stood the test of time in my family!

Song List

I Love My Elbows

One Fine Face

Get Along

Elmo's Song

Alligator King

Eight Balls of Fur

My Best Friend

I Love Trash

The Lambaba