"DINOSAUR TRAIN: DINOSAURS TAKE FLIGHT" on DVD

PBS Distribution announced today it is releasing eight episodes from PBS KIDS’ popularDINOSAUR TRAIN series from The Jim Henson Company on the new DVD “DINOSAURS TAKE FLIGHT.” Join the Pteranodon family on high-flying adventures! In four of the eight episodes on this DVD, viewers take to the sky with Buddy and his family as they ride in one of Dinosaur Train Industry’s newest creations – the Dinosaur Train Zeppelin. As they soar above the clouds, the Pteranodon family visits a waterfall, explores a crater made by an asteroid, and more!

RS TAKE FLIGHT” will be available on DVD June 13, 2017. The DVD running time is approximately 120 minutes and its SRP is $12.99. The episodes included on this DVD are below.  

The five-time Emmy-nominated DINOSAUR TRAIN, created by Craig Bartlett (“Hey Arnold!”), is set in a whimsically realistic, prehistoric world of jungles, swamps, active volcanoes and oceans. Each day, DINOSAUR TRAIN helps kids ages 3 to 6 apply scientific thinking as they discover new types of dinosaur species, compare and contrast dinosaurs to today’s creatures and embrace the living sciences of paleontology and natural science. DINOSAUR TRAIN airs weekdays on PBS KIDS (check local listings).

“Zeppelin: Waterfall”

The Pteranodon kids are riding the Dinosaur Train with friend and fellow pterosaur, Quincy Queztalcoatlus. When they pass by a waterfall, Buddy comments on how big it is!  Quincy’s dad mentions a giant waterfall at the edge of the Western Interior Sea. Mr. Conductor gives a lesson about waterfalls and then suggests a unique and amazing way to view the giant falls – from above! They can fly in the experimental Dinosaur Train Zeppelin…if Thurston Troodon will agree to take them all there on the zeppelin’s maiden voyage. Thurston does and our Pteranodon family gets to experience a spectacular zeppelin ride! The Queztalcoatluses fly alongside, impressing everyone with their flying abilities. After learning more about waterfalls, the Pteranodons catch lots of fish and dine before heading back to the Train via the one-of-a-kind Dinosaur Train Zeppelin!

“Zeppelin: Atoll”

An atoll is a ring-shaped coral reef including a coral rim that encircles a lagoon partially or completely. Reef-building corals will thrive only in warm tropical and subtropical waters of oceans and seas, and therefore atolls are only found in the tropics and subtropics. When the Pteranodon family spots Annie and her T. rex herd migrating to follow the food, the Pteranodon kids wonder if other creatures, even marine mammals, also migrate. The Conductor flies the Pteranodon family over the ocean in the Dinosaur Train Zeppelin to look for Polycotylus, a type of marine reptile that does migrate in the ocean. After spotting a pod of migrating Polycotylus from the sky, the Zeppelin lands in an atoll and our family meets Paulette and Polly Polycotylus, a mother and daughter (from what is modern-day Australia). Our Pteranodon kids, and Mom, Dad and the Conductor learn all about Polycotylus migration and the reptile’s features. Then the whole group of new friends enjoys a fish-picnic on the reef of the atoll before the Pteranodon clan heads back home in the zeppelin.

“Zeppelin: Pangaea”

When the Pteranodon kids decide to draw some maps, Don’s map of one big land mass for “the whole Mesozoic” triggers a discussion on whether the Mesozoic is “one big place that’s all connected” or comprised of a bunch of smaller, interconnected land masses. On the Dinosaur Train, the Conductor explains that millions of years ago there actually was just one big land mass called “Pangaea”!  Then, over a long period of time, it started to drift apart and form separate, smaller landmasses, or continents. Our family can’t believe it! The Conductor offers to take the Pteranodons up in the Zeppelin and through a Sky Time Tunnel, back to the time of Pangaea. At the Zeppelin Station, they meet up with Tricia Troodon, who helps pilot the Zeppelin on their journey. Once in the sky and through the time tunnel, our family is able to see Pangaea, the one giant landmass, just as it’s starting to break apart. Then the family travels forward in time and views the continents separating more as oceans and seas move in between the land. Looking down at how their coastline looks in the Cretaceous, Buddy, Tiny, Shiny and Don all agree that seeing Pangaea breaking apart is one of the coolest things ever!

“Zeppelin: Crater”

As the Pteranodon kids are playing outside their nest, a few seedpods fall from a nearby tree, bonking Don on the head. This leads to a discussion about how far away things can fall from…maybe even from space?? Buddy hypothesizes that perhaps if a star came close enough, it could land on Earth! On the Dinosaur Train, the Conductor explains that things actually do fall from space. Big space rocks, called “asteroids,” sometimes land on Earth, and when they occasionally do, they make a big hole, called a crater. Don perks up at this – he’d love to see a crater! So the Conductor takes the Pteranodon Family up in the Zeppelin to see a giant crater from above! On the ground, they explore the crater and find fragments of “space rocks” from the former asteroid. As evening falls and our family flies back home, the Conductor and Mom and Dad surprise the kids with a picnic dinner on the Zeppelin – hurrah!

“Petey the Peteinosaurus”

Buddy and Tiny ride the Dinosaur Train to meet Petey Peteinosaurus, a “flying lizard,” who is fun, funny, and friendly, and has some features similar to both Buddy and Tiny!

“Pterosaur Flying Club”

Tiny and Shiny practice their swoop-de-loops and other flying moves in anticipation of their play-date with fellow Pterosaurs Petey Peteinosaurus and Quincy Quetzalcoatlus. With Buddy helping with the choreography, the Pterosaur Flying Club puts on a flying show!

“The Lost Bird”

Buddy and Tiny ride the Dinosaur Train for a playdate with their old friend Petey Peteinosaurus, and learn that the train has added a new Aviary Car, for their various flying passengers. Suddenly, they are joined by a lost bird named Judy Jehelornis, who was displaced by the recent forest fires, and can’t remember where her home is. Buddy, Tiny, and Petey act as detectives to figure out from clues where Judy’s home is, and the Conductor makes sure she’s brought safely home on the train.

“Don’s Dragonfly”

When the Pteranodon family goes on an outing to the Big Pond, Don makes a new friend with red feet: a dragonfly named Howard.

My Thoughts

My kids have always loved Dinosaur Train. Buddy and the Pteranodon family go off on a variety of exciting adventures on the Dinosaur Train. Along the way, they meet lots of other friends and always discover new things. This DVD includes eight exciting episodes that focus on flying through the air.

Zeppelin: Waterfall
Zeppelin: Atoll
Zeppelin: Pangaea
Zeppelin: Crator
Pterosaur Flying Club
Pterosaur Flying Club
The Lost Bird
Don’s Dragonfly

My children just loved the selection on this DVD.  This is a great series and this DVD is a great addition to our collection. It has tons of great scenes and we can watch it over and over again.   In addition to lots of action, kids always learn some dinosaur facts in every episode.