Super-dee-duper! Barney: Let's Go to the Fire House is an entertaining (for young, young kids) and educational trip with that rockstar purple dinosaur, Barney. Packed with information on a variety of subjects, including fire safety, Barney: Let's Go to the Fire House is a can't miss addition to your youngster's DVD collection.

I didn't realize that Barney has been around for twenty years now. It debuted on local Texas TV in 1987, and then went national on Public Broadcasting in 1992. I don't know how popular he is today, but I do remember that back in the mid-90s, a couple of my kids were crazy about him, and watched his show, Barney & Friends religiously. Featuring that obscenely cheerful and good-natured Tyrannosaurus Rex, Barney & Friends took a lot of flack from critics - and quite a few parents - who frankly were bored to tears with the show. And truthfully, I found it a pain to get through at times, as well. When it's 7:30 on Saturday morning, and it's your only day off, it can be a little alarming hearing that doofus voice yukking it up on a blaring TV. Same thing when you're coming home from a rotten day at work, and Barney is telling you "I love you; you love me."

But, Barney & Friends wasn't made for us; it was made for little kids, and they loved him. It's just one of those things that parents have to suffer through (like school concerts), with a sickly smile pasted on their faces. Actually, I'm being a little harsh on Barney & Friends (but not school concerts). It's not that much of a trial to get through, especially if you own child is really into it. It's fun to watch them sing along with Barney, and to jump around and dance when it's exercise time. And Barney is such a sweet-natured, kindly character, it's almost impossible not to understand what a good role model he can be in your child's life. Critics may contend that children watch entirely too much TV, and that may be true, but shows like Barney & Friends certainly offer valuable lessons that kids need to hear. I still remember episodes of Mister Rogers that imparted some worthwhile message that has stuck with me to this day (okay, the one I really remember is when they visited the factory that made bowling shoes, but you know what I mean). In a world full of crap like Bratz: Fairie Pixiez, there's plenty of room - and plenty of need - for a show like Barney: Let's Go to the Fire House.

Barney: Let's Go to the Fire House starts with the real-life firefighters from Frisco, Texas, going on a call for a woman who's caught her leg in a wooden footbridge. Scout, the whipsmart firehouse mascot tracks her down, but then runs off and disappears. He winds up at Barney's playground, of course, and BJ takes a liking to him, renaming him Snuffles. When the smoke alarm at the playground goes off, Fire Chief Arnett (Sonny Franks) comes to check on everybody. Seeing that there's no fire, he invites Barney, Baby Bop, BJ, and Riff, as well as all the kids, to a fire safety show at the fire house (filmed at the actual Frisco fire house). The gang gets a tour of the fire house, and then performs for a packed house of kids and parents.

Barney: Let's Go to the Fire House gets in quite a bit of information for young children in its speedy 56 minutes. Subjects such as what children want to be when they grow up, and how they need to believe in themselves, caring for a dog, fire safety, and what it means to be a hero, are covered here in an entertaining manner. Songs are the backbone of any Barney episode, and there are lots of them here. Kids naturally gravitate towards shows with music and songs, and Barney: Let's Go to the Fire House is no different. Particularly valuable here are the various lessons in fire safety - something you can't start teaching too young. And coming from Barney and his friends, it's a lesson that's likely to stick with young children. Exciting scenes for young children include a ride on the big fire truck, and the rescue of a small dog from a drain pipe by Scout. The value of naps, reading books, and getting information off a computer are also touched on in song, as well as a short exercise period at the halfway mark of the show. Benefitting from the extensive location shooting, Barney: Let's Go to the Fire House is a speedy, fun show that will teach your youngest children beneficial lessons - without them even knowing it.

The DVD:

The Video:
The full-screen video image for Barney: Let's Go to the Fire House looks bright and shiny with its primary colors and cheery location shooting.

The Audio:
The English and Spanish 1.0 mono soundtracks are adequate, if unexciting, mixes for Barney: Let's Go to the Fire House.

The Extras:
There are no extras for Barney: Let's Go to the Fire House.

Final Thoughts:
Okay, so he's goofy and purple, and that excessive mood of sunshine might grate on you at first. But remember, it's all about the kids, right? And very young children love Barney. Perfect for preschoolers who are just getting acquainted to learning lessons about their surrounding world, Barney: Let's Go to the Fire House gives you a powerful tool in helping them understand the importance of fire safety. I recommend (for preschoolers) Barney: Let's Go to the Fire House.