Kiwi: 20 Phonics Adventures – Great Way to Learn New Language Skills
In this collection of twenty episodes, Twiki and Twini take the viewer on adventures to discover new words and new sounds. Each episode features a handful of words spelled out by the Kiwi birds Twiki and Twini. Your little one will learn how to spell fun words such as “clown” and animal words like “dog”. Get ready to enter into an unexpected universe comprised of sounds, words and images. Filmed in HD Stop Motion Animation. KIDS FIRST! Film Critic Benjamin P. comments, “The claymation is very lush and colorful and stands out in this quirky series. The animation brings the kiwi birds to life and, even though they never talk, you understand their personalities and relationship. I really like watching the two buddies, the short, round and sometimes grumpy Twiki and his tall cheery yellow sidekick, the clumsy, easygoing Twini. Additional fun side characters throughout the series keep the stories lively.” KIDS FIRST! Adult Juror Juanita S. adds, “Great way to learn new language skills! Each story is simple and to the point. Twiki and Twini present the concepts, sounds and spelling in entertaining ways. Each story introduces new words and can be viewed independently.” See their full reviews below.
Kiwi: 20 Phonics Adventures
By Benjamin P, KIDS FIRST! Film Critic, Age 10
Kiwi: 20 Phonics Adventures is a fun, educational, colorful and well-animated series on DVD that does a good job of teaching young children about phonics and word building.
Kids can learn phonics along with Kiwi birds, Twiki and Twini, as they go on adventures including making a movie and trying to find a magic compass. My favorite episode in this volume, the latest in the Kiwi series, is The Little Robot. Twiki and Twini meet a blue robot in desperate need of energy and they have to go to the moon to find moon rocks to power him.
Another episode I enjoyed is The Magic Compass. The Kiwis find a magic compass that can change the seasons but a mischievous skunk steals it and Twiki and Twini need to find it so they can change the season back.
Each short episode of Kiwi: 20 Phonics Adventures teaches a few words revolving around a specific topic. For instance, one episode centers on housecleaning and another on art. The narrators spell and sound out the words used in each episode and review all of them at the end. Every episode is very playful and bright and the words stay in your mind because they use shapes and objects from the episode’s theme to spell out the words on your screen and make it more memorable.
The claymation is very lush and colorful and stands out in this quirky series. The animation brings the kiwi birds to life and, even though they never talk, you understand their personalities and relationship. I really like watching the two buddies, the short, round and sometimes grumpy Twiki and his tall cheery yellow sidekick, the clumsy, easygoing Twini. Additional fun side characters throughout the series keep the stories lively.
Kiwi: 20 Phonics Adventures was originally a French series and it’s fun to spot clues from European culture in the animation in some of the episodes. For example, when showing you how to spell coin, they use European money to make the letter “o.”
Kids will have a great time learning about phonics with Twiki and Twini. I give Kiwi: 20 Phonics Adventures an age rating of 3 to 6 or for anyone trying to learn to read and rate it 4 out of 5 stars.
Kiwi: 20 Phonics Adventures
By Juanita S., KIDS FIRST! Adult Juror
Great way to learn new language skills! This series features 20 stories following Twiki and Twini, the colorful, claymation Kiwi bird characters who help young children develop language skills using phonics. Each story is simple and to the point. Twiki and Twini present the concepts, sounds and spelling in entertaining ways. Each story introduces new words and can be viewed independently. Each story has a theme with related sounds and words. The menu allows you to select a particular story or view them all. Children 2 to 6 years old will enjoy watching this series and their parents can easily enjoy watching it with the children.
