Treasures unearthed

Earth Stories: Paleontology

Mazon Productions

Ages 5 to 9; video: $20

(800) 332-4344

www.earthstories.net

This first release in a terrific new series for budding young paleontologists deftly combines real education and entertainment in an imaginative mix of top-notch computer animation with video of real fossil digs in Argentina and the Mazon Creek area of Illinois. The series’ host, an animated rock hammer named Chip, with help from a “magic” display board, gives viewers the lowdown on geologic columns, fossil-finding tools, types of fossils and how they’re formed and dated. A highlight: Rocks called concretions are frozen, heated and cracked open to reveal their miraculous contents -- delicate fossils of ancient plants and animals.

*

Singing American History

Ages 9 to 16; CD: $19.95

(310) 454-3072

www.performinghistory.com

The Constitutional Convention of 1787, the Louisiana Purchase, Lewis and Clark’s expedition to map the newly acquired territory, the roots of the American labor movement in the 1800s and the struggle for integrated public schools are presented as mini-musicals. This creative, quality release is made up of excerpts from full-length educational musical dramas by a Los Angeles-area fifth-grade teacher, Jeff Lantos, and composer Bill Augustine. It scores high marks for informative, expressive lyrics and dialogue; tuneful, varied music; polished vocals; and instrumentals performed by pros, such as Mark Beckwith, a children’s recording artist and album producer.