Luis Santeiro

It’s a Sesame Street Fiesta! Elmo, Rosita, Celia Cruz, and friends are getting together to have a Carnival while learning a few Spanish words, too. But when Elmo crashes into the Carroza (parade float), it breaks into pieces. Will Elmo and his friends find a replacement in time for the parade? In true Sesame Street fashion, the songs are catchy, the puppets are silly, and everyone is having a good time. Though this DVD was released in 2004 and the actual television episode aired in 1994, it’s hard to believe while watching some ancient, grainy stock footage of little children running around a circa 1970s city. As the DVD’s main target audience is quite young, visual quality is probably pretty low on the totem pole. Instead, the show focuses on teaching kids a handful of important, common Spanish words: counting from one to ten, saying “hello” and other greetings, words for “napping” and “parties”, words for “cold” and “hot”, etc. The puppets sing most of these words in a cyclic, repetitive way that should maximize the viewer’s learning and retention. Long-time, repeat host Linda Ronstadt even shows up for a song, cha-cha-ing around on screen in a sparkling mariachi costume (in heavy, neon, 80s make-up, no less). Recommended for ages 3-6.… (mehr)