These episodes contain the same eye-popping style of clean, colorful animation seen throughout the show. The tools are featured quite a bit, such as episodes like "Bloomin' Tools" or "Science Fair." Like characters in their own right, the tools hang back and support Manny until the time comes to do the work. Kids will love the anticipation of waiting for that special job that requires their favorite tool, and Manny is consistently the kind of kid you hope yours will grow up to be. Themes like helping people and animals are here, as well as ideas for different uses of solar and wind energy that help the environment. Nothing preachy, mind you. Manny's Green Team is too cool for that.
Special features go a bit deeper into the conservation theme, with a "Green Checklist" kids can use with their parents to determine where the household can make some positive changes for the environment. Parents may not be thrilled to go out and pay 3x more for incandescent bulbs, but any fool knows by now that the long-term savings is there. Other ideas on the list help to conserve energy and leave a smaller footprint. The more typical feature is "Livin' La Vida Verde," or "Living the Green Life," where Manny spends some time on the words behind that famous triangle, "Reduce, Reuse, Recycle!" It works for Manny's Green Team, so why not in your house?
The show's music and bilingual approach is good crossover material for both Anglo and Hispanic kids. Parents actually interested in teaching their child Spanish will find good resources here in the alternate language track running through each episode. Even in the English version, Manny drops lots of little phrases in Spanish that you may hear your kid rattling off later... Unlike the rather stilted and simplistic world of Bob the Builder, Handy Manny: Manny's Green Team showcases an active youngster doing good work that is likely to inspire your toddlers and kindergartners alike.
