Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #141 in DVD
• Released on: 2007-09-10
• Rating: Universal, suitable for all
• Format: PAL
• Original language: English
• Number of discs: 1
• Running time: 146 minutes

Amazon.co.uk Review
Chances are there's barely a parent of a toddler in the country who hasn't encountered In The Night Garden in some form over the past few months. The latest BBC-hit from the CBeebies channel, and with a passing resemblance to Teletubbies, this debut DVD for the show brings together five episodes. And many parents already, we suspect, will have their credit cards ready.

In true childrens' television tradition, In The Night Garden is often as alien to adults as it is compelling to its real target audience. But heck, do children love it. Accompanied by the gentle narration of Sir Derek Jacobi, it's billed a nursery rhyme picture book of sorts. This manifests itself in the shape of a wild mix of children and characters, who get up to a mixture of diverse and diverting activities.

And this is one of the many areas where In The Night Garden strikes gold. Not only does it have a distinctive and warm collection of characters, but it does have an educational undercurrent to it all. In short, it engages its target audience particularly well, and teaches them a little in the process.

The DVD is rounded off with special bonus footage and a parents' guide, but it's the five episodes that are set to be spun time and time again. And rightly so. Expect this to be the first DVD release of many, too, for a show with many, many years ahead of it. --Jon Foster

DVD Description
Five episodes of the CBeebies pre-school series narrated by Sir Derek Jacobi. This landmark children's series from the team behind Teletubbies has been specially created to appeal to young children. In The Night Garden... is a thoroughly modern interpretation of a nursery rhyme picture book, and takes children on an imaginative journey to meet a host of wonderfully silly characters living together within a happy and caring community. It is both funny and reassuring, with a capacity to relax and entertain.

Features these episodes:
Makka Pakka Washes Faces
Tombliboos Waving Game
Everybody all aboard the Ninky Nonk
The Prettiest Flower
Makka Pakka's Trumpet Makes a Funny Noise.

Extras: Interactive menus, Bonus footage, Parents' guide.

Synopsis
Includes the episodes: 'Makka Pakka Washes Faces', 'Tombliboos Waving Game', 'Everybody All Aboard The Ninky Nonk', 'The Prettiest Flower' and 'Makka Pakka's Trumpet Makes a Funny Noise'.

Customer Reviews

when we were wise
What age is this extraordinary programme aimed at, I wonder ? Some of the reviews indicate that older children of 5 or 6 love it, as well as pre-schoolers (at which it is aimed) and adults. Ben Bold has his own agenda which made me smile...see his review.

All I can say is that it has a particular quality of excellence that you associate with something of timeless appeal. My 2 year old grandson, his father and mother and I all watch in a state of almost helpless fascination.
It is calming, very surreal, mysterious almost zen-like. Maybe, in the Night Garden, we all return to the old Garden from where we all came.........

its perfect
i think all the in the night garden storys are wonderful. i have three young children and along with my husband we watch as a family. i find their way of kissing and hugging a good way to show young children love and friendship without corrupting their minds. i would much rather see those weird characters hugging and kissing than most thing we see on childrens tv.
some people may find the repeating phrases annoying but it teaches children different sounds very much like the teletubbies did. my two year old son is disabled and has difficulty communicating but since he started to watch it he has been making more sounds and enjoys having them repeated back to him.
also the calming voice of derek jacobi makes it a little bit grown up as he is a great actor and adults can relate to him. my husband noticed it before the kids.
you get used to the names and songs the more you watch. the voices and repetative phrases become conversational to young kids. it sets their imaginations wild and they have more fun with it. i am sure that any young child who watches it will grow up to be talented in some why. painting, writing, things you have to have an imagination for.

thank you for reading my review, i hope you found it useful
ashley charles, wife, mother and fan

Whoever invented this should be knighted for services to parents!!
This is a wonderfully imaginative and beautifully created series for pre-school children. This is the only programme that settles my one year old and keeps his attention for ages- NOTHING else works!! He absolutely loves this series and claps his hands whenever it comes on. I particularly like the part of the DVD where everybody "says goodnight" and its a very good, calming way of getting your child to chill out and unwind to bedtime. Even when in the midst of a screaming tantrum, this dvd turns my child from screaming banshee to mild mannered cutie (its a miracle!!). I'm so happy that they released it on dvd and there are now 3 series of which we have all of them. Its delightfully surreal, wonderfuly calming and I just love the fact that classically trained actor derek Jacobi sings "my name is iggle piggle, iggle piggle, iggle piggle wooo- etc"- utterly brilliant!