What’s more fun than a library full of books? Why, a library run by lions, of course! And not just lions, but pigeons, a talking statue, and a computer mouse who really is a mouse. Not to mention the Information Hen or the Thesaurus, a dinosaur who can help you find alternate words.
This crazy assortment of animals is just one reason why Between the Lions is one of the most beloved educational television shows currently airing. My children love “Cliff Hanger,” the unfortunate fellow who is literally hanging from a cliff. (And that’s why he’s called Cliff Hanger) In each episode, as his grip loosens and he finds himself in immediate peril, a solution presents itself and he is free for a blissful five seconds before fate deals him a dirty blow and sends him right back to his cliff. Who knows if the poor man will ever escape that perilous mountainside, but it’s sure fun to watch him get stuck there time and time again.
Another favorite segment is “What’s Cooking with Leo and Cleo,” where the mom and dad lion prepare tasty new recipes. After patiently adding all the ingredients, the lions discover that the required cooking time is much longer than they had anticipated, so they eat it raw. And who can forget “Gwain’s Word,” where two knights in shining armor joust and create word blends.
Children learn how to read while watching the zany antics of the characters on this show. They are taught how to sound out words, how changing the letter at the beginning of the word creates a whole new word, and how to put sentences together. They learn the definitions of words and are introduced to Greek mythology as well as books that are being currently sold on the market. The show portrays legends from all over the world, and so it is a cultural lesson as well as a reading show. I highly recommend this program for educational and entertainment value, and it’s one that parents will enjoy watching as well.
Tristi’s Score: 10 for Education, 9 for Entertainment, and the Parent Annoyance Factor is 0.