Each 3-D animated reading adventure lasts approximately 25 minutes and begins in Storybook Village (which exists behind a shelf of books in a classroom). The four main characters are: Whyatt (Super Why), Red (from Little Red Riding Hood ), Pig (from The Three Pigs ), and Princess (from The Princess and the Pea ).

In the adventure "Jack and Beanstalk," Whyatt , his fairytale friends, and the viewer must find the answer to the question: Why is Joy (Whyatt's baby sister) having a tantrum? In order to do this, the four friends and the viewer transform into Super Readers. They then uncover the answer, one letter at a time, as they work their way through the story.

Along the way, Pig builds an alphabet ladder so the Readers can climb the beanstalk, Princess spells the word "open" to lower the drawbridge, and Whyatt (along with the help of the viewer) uses the "power of reading" to solve problems by zapping new words into a sentence to change the story. The answer, we find, turns out to be . . . music.

The teachers and students who previewed the Super Why adventures were all in agreement: Super Why is superb! The adventures are developmentally appropriate and have as their basis sound, research-based, early literacy skills: the alphabetic principle, phonemic awareness, fluency, vocabulary, and comprehension. These are woven through the adventures in a most creative, clever, and fun way. The viewer is encouraged to make predictions, simple inferences, and engage in problem-solving.

The students who watched the video were highly engaged and delighted by the characters and the adventures—singing along, chanting the alphabet, and answering Whyatt's questions. Don't miss this one!

Special features included: interactive games, music videos, printable activities and coloring pages, and resources for parents.

Highly recommended. District-wide purchased encouraged.

Reviewed by the teachers at Education Oasis
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