Search - Veggietales :: Very Veggie Easter

Overall Enjoyable

blbooks | 03/09/2006

(4 out of 5 stars)

"Veggie Tales' A VERY VEGGIE EASTER is the first exclusively Easter album by the Veggies. (There were some Easter songs on Veggie Tunes 4). The album has twelve songs (including narration by Bob, Larry, and other Veggie friends) and a playing time of almost forty-five minutes.



Like many Veggie albums, the songs are loosely woven together by narration and a story. In this instance, Bob the Tomato is getting ready to teach his Sunday School kids (and presumably Veggies) about Easter.



Hosanna Loud Hosanna is the opening song and intro to the story. All Around the World, the second song, is sung by Archibald Asparagus who has volunteered to be an assistant to Bob. It is about how Easter is celebrated all around the world. For example, Poland, Germany, England, etc. Christ the Lord Is Risen Today is introduced (and led by) Madame Blueberry. Easter Bunny Hop is the latest "Boys in the Sink" song. Easter Song features Matthew Ward. (The song was written and performed by Keith Green orginally). How Now Easter Cow is a silly song sung by Larry. Count Your Eggs is sung by a multitude of Veggies including Junior and Annie. It is a song about the Veggies' egg hunt. An Empty Egg sung by Annie about how empty eggs remind us about the empty tomb on Easter morning. Hope's song is a new version of a song that originally appeared in AN EASTER CAROL. First Things First is sung by Junior. (One of the album's subplots is that Junior has been missing his dad who has been out of town.) Very sweet and adorable song. Christ the Lord (Reprise) and I Know That My Redeemer Liveth complete the album. (I Know that My Redeemer Liveth is led by Junior).



While this album won't appeal to everybody, the album is fun and spirited and enjoyable to those of us who can't get enough of singing veggies."

Join Bob and Larry for Easter Sunday School

Mark Baker | Santa Clarita, CA United States | 04/02/2006

(4 out of 5 stars)

"I have often bemoaned the lack of Easter albums. It seems to me that Christians especially should truly celebrate this holiday because it means so much to us. Obviously, the guys at Big Idea agreed with me because they gave us this entry in the VeggieTales CD library.



Since this release is aimed at kids, there is a story to go along with the songs. Bob the Tomato and Larry the Cucumber are all set to teach Easter Sunday Sunday School, but Bob is overwhelmed by the number of new kids they have. In fact, they haven't had this many kids since Christmas Eve. How can he teach the Easter story to so many kids?



Fortunately, there are lots of friends around to help. Archibald Asparagus has prepared a song or five about Easter traditions all around the world. Madame Blueberry leads the kids in an upbeat version of the classic hymn "Christ the Lord is Risen Today." The Boyz in the Sink premier this new song "Easter Bunny Hop." And Larry finally gets to tell the kids the sad story of the Easter Cow.



When Bob finally does come up with an idea, it's an Easter egg hunt. But how can that teach the kids about the first Easter?



As always, the Veggies have produced a fun CD. While the lead vocals are the cartoon voices from the videos, a kid's choir backs them on this CD. The song styles range from boy band on "Easter Bunny Hop" to a western feel for the silly "How Now Eater Cow," but most stick with a contemporary sound.



Of special note, Second Chapter of Acts member Matthew Ward makes an appearance to teach the kids "The Easter Song," a song that was a huge hit for his group over 30 years ago.



Maybe I was expecting too much from the CD, but I felt it dropped the ball when it came to explaining the Easter story. I'm sure part of it is because EASTER CAROL did such a great job of it and I thought they'd do it again. "An Empty Egg" and a new recording of "Hope's Song" from that video do discuss the empty tomb, but I expected more from the dialog. And Junior Asparagus' sub-plot of missing his dad didn't work to highlight the story for me either.



On the other hand, the first half of the CD is fun. The songs are upbeat, and the dialog appropriately silly. The serious Easter songs are treated as such, but they really let loose and have fun with the fun songs.



This won't join the list of top VeggieTales projects, but it is still a release kids will love and their parents enjoy. I fully intend to pull it out every Easter as part of my celebration of the holiday."