Gigi God's Little Princess: Gigi and the Royal Circus (DVD)

Released October 2009

www.godslittleprincess.com

Reviewed by Tracy Farnsworth

Sheila Walsh's popular book character, Gigi, appears on several children's DVDs. The latest offering contains two cartoons: The Royal Pink Circus and The Princess Hair Do. The two cartoons take about 40 minutes, but the remainder of the DVD includes trivia, a read-along story, drawing tutorials and a singalong. There is also a DVD-ROM section that children can access on their home computer.

In The Royal Pink Circus, Gigi and her best friend Frances learn there is a circus coming to town. The girls are excited to go, but something happens and Gigi must decide what true friendship means.

The second cartoon, The Princess Hair Do, finds Gigi becoming infatuated with a real-life princess's short hair cut. When Gigi decides short hair would make her the prettiest princess ever, she grabs the scissors. Gigi quickly learns that a hair cut is not the key to true beauty.

The Gigi videos are girly with bright and muted tones of pink (Gigi's favorite color) being clearly apparent throughout the DVD. The stories are great and provide a strong message for the younger crowd.

There were two points that hit me as being items some Christian families would disagree with. I loves cats and have raised my children to be respectful of both people and animals. I found myself concerned that Gigi's poor cat kept getting hit in the head with tennis balls and juggling balls and no one apologized for the accidental head bonks or even took the time to make sure he was okay. Minor point, but in my house if a cat is accidentally stepped on, hit or whatever, my kids know that they should apologize and comfort the cats.

My other concern, again somewhat minor, is one scene Gigi is imagining tigers at a beauty salon getting their fur dyed pink. Everyone in that salon was gossiping. I know many families where gossiping is considered a hurtful act that children should not take part in.