The Hi-5 gang is back with their usual blend of high energy, funky camaraderie, and carefully designed songs and episodes. As the title suggests, Come On and Party has a party theme, with songs, skits and stories about party games, party food and party planning. Kids love the excitement of parties, and almost all children have had experience with their own, and other’s birthday parties, so this is a theme which is sure to appeal. Hi-5 seems to attract a very wide age range, from babies (my 20 month old won’t watch anything else) to school children (my 7 year old enjoys the glittery clothing, and the young, “cool” presenters). The format is the same as usual, with Kathleen being gently teased by the furry puppet Jup Jup, Tim playing musical instruments, Charli giggling through her exercises and dancing, Nathan playing make-believe games, Kellie giving a lesson to the puppet Chatterbox, and all of them reading and acting out stories and singing and dancing to the big songs. The presenters are just like big kids themselves and they all seem to enjoy what they do, playing games, dancing, singing, telling stories, and playing with real children. Their enthusiasm is obvious.

New big songs destined for teenybopper top 10 include “Build it Up” and “Come On and Party,” as well as a reworked version of the super popular “L-O-V-E.” All of the songs on this DVD (including “Working on the Road,“ which Nathan manages to sing smoothly even while juddering his jackhammer) are catchy enough for children to learn the first time they hear them.

This DVD should inspire lots of copycat pretend activities, and the little in-between words which are animated on the screen will encourage literacy. Don’t let the sparkles, the giggles, or the bright costumes and hair dos fool you. There is serious educational thought behind Hi-4. Kids may thing its cool, and even the older primary students were performing Hi-5 songs at this year’s music festival, but under the fun and catchy pop sound, there are subtle but powerful educational principles at work. For more information on Hi-5, visit: ninemsn.com.au/kids/hi5/

Hi-5 Come On and Party Roadshow Entertainment DVD and Video, July 2004 SRP $A24.95 DVD, Video $19.95

This review first appeared at Preschoolentertainment.com. It appears here with permission.