WFMW: Backseat Entertainment!

We have enjoyed "Jungle Jam and Friends the Radio Show" for years. It is absolutely hilarious! It is a Christian program with great messages, but without being the least bit preachy or hokey. If your kids like Veggie Tales, they will love Jungle Jam. It is great for those long trips to Grandma's house!

Most episodes have two stories. One story is set in the jungle with funny characters such as Nozzles the Elephant, Millard the Monkey and Sully the Aardvark. The dialogue is a riot. It reminds me a lot of Rocky and Bullwinkle (without the political overtones).

The other story centers around a boy named Marvy Snuffleson. The story usually begins with Marvy being sent to his room for misbehaving (for instance, refusing to do his math homework). Something always happens (a window left open while raining, etc.) and Marvy's bed washes out of the window and onto the high sea, taking him to Razzleflabben Island. While there, he visits with the Razzleflabbens (large furry creatures) and something happens that is connected to his misbehavior. For instance, the Razzleflabbens need Marvy's help figuring out how many slices of delightful cheese bread need to be prepared so there is enough for everyone. A comedy of errors ensues, and Marvy learns a lesson. Again, the dialogue is hysterical. There's no way to do it justice; you'll just have to hear it for yourself.

The acting and production are superb; the characters are well-developed and very funny. The narrator is great. Fun sound effects and catchy songs are sprinkled throughout. The scripts are well-written with engaging plots and loads of laughs. Like Veggie Tales, there are lots of subtle jokes thrown in just for the adults. I love it as much as the kids do!

Here's where it gets good: you can download a show in MP3 form (with two stories) from their website for only $3.95! There are also single CD's for $9.95, and 4-disc collections for various prices. They are all well worth every penny!

If you would like to try out one of the $3.95 downloads, I highly recommend the one called "The Grandfather". It is absolutely my favorite. It's a story about gossip and is followed by "Katie Sings the Blues," a story about being content. Click here to hear a sample.

The way their website is set up, I can't link directly to each thing I've told you about. Their web address is www.fancymonkey.com. Just mouse over "Jungle Jam," and you'll find all kind of neat things, including a list of radio stations that carry the show.

One more thing - one of my favorite Jungle Jam episodes was also made into a children's Christmas musical. It's called "Three Wise Men and a Baby." When I directed a children's choir at a church we attended in Kentucky, we put this on two separate times. It brought down the house! Out of the many musicals I directed, this was hands-down my favorite (and the most reminisced-about by the parents). It is still available; you can download the entire script for free on the website and purchase a split-track CD for $9.95. Also, the radio version is available in 2 downloads of $3.95 each.

Here are my previous WFMW posts:

Gifts to Spark Your Child's Imagination
Reading Motivation
Finding a Babysitter
Charging a Cell Phone
Swim/Shower with a Cast
Free Tech Support
Calming Injured Children
Choosing a Phone Number
What NOT to Soak Contacts In
Broken Glass Cleanup
Cheap Rolling Cart for Conventions
Chocolate Recipes
Tooth-Tugging Tip for Terrified Tots
Handy Earache Relief
Uses for Leftover Bread
Leaky Diaper/Pull-up Fix
Snack Mix Recipe (at the end of the post)
Awesome Stain Recipe (at the end of the post)
"Fun"damentals of Family Life
Removing Wite-Out from Everything
When NOT to Save Money
Public Service Announcement

For more WFMW tips, stop by Shannon's blog!