Children’s Holiday Collection: Ten animated classic stories

This wonderful collection of animated classic stories is a perfect stocking-stuffer for children of all ages. Created by Billy Budd Films in New York City, the films are child-friendly and most are done in wonderful claymation. The entire collection runs for 247 minutes allowing for variety and guaranteeing return visits by youngsters. Of all the films “Martin the Cobbler” by Leo Tolstoy is my favorite. Tolstoy’s daughter Alexandria, is the narrator.

The Christmas stories on the DVD are:

The First Christmas – the Gospel accounts from Matthew and Luke, narrated by Christopher Plummer

A Christmas Gift – based on the ballad “A Christmas Dinner” by Peter, Paul, and Mary

The Chimes by Charles Dickens, narrated by Sir Derek Jacobi

Other animated films are:

Martin the Cobbler, by Leo Tolstoy narrated by Alexandria Tolstoy and includes a clip of Alexandria talking about her father’s favorite stories as “something for your soul”

Michael the Visitor, by Leo Tolstoy, narrated by Stockard Channing

The Velveteen Rabbit by Margery Williams, narrated by Jennifer Shapiro

God’s Trombones by James Weldon Johnson, narrated by James Earl Jones; a trilogy of African-American poetry

The Star Child by Oscar Wilde, narrator unknown

The Little Prince by Antoine de Saint-Exupery, narrated by Cliff Robertson

Rip Van Winkle by Washington Irving, narrator Will Geer (this film was nominated for an Academy Award, short subject category)

Billy Budd Films has a reputation for excellent films that tell enduring stories with Scripture connections.

Here’s what the company believes about story-telling and it’s good for all seasons:

» sharing is always in season

» values are better caught than taught

» classic stories are timeless

» animation is evergreen

» the answer to how claymation is done, is, very slowly

» our purpose is to inspire, educate and entertain

» clay animation is a warm and welcoming medium

and finally,

BILLY BUDD FILMS strongly believes that

» guns, explosions, car chases and violence dampen the burgeoning spirits of youngsters!!

You can order the DVD directly from the company website, Amazon, and if you are a K-Mart shopper you might be able to find it right on the shelf. Cover price is $10.00.