Top Kids' DVD or Blu-ray Collectible Releases (2009)

Fans of The Wizard of Oz are easy to shop for this holiday season, with the newly released 70th Anniversary edition of The Wizard of Oz, which includes hours of bonus features and historic presentations. The Blu-ray version of the movie is remastered with twice the resolution seen in the previous release. A wealth of bonus features offer a look at the making of the movie as well as silent films that inspired the movie. Also, this edition comes with a Wizard of Oz watch and small coffee table book. Great for Wizard of Oz fans of all ages, but don't forget about the scary scenes with the witch and her monkeys. The flying monkeys are almost always a problem for little ones.

Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs: Diamond Edition uses Blu-ray technology like you've never seen it before, offering a fun and memorable viewing experience for the whole family. I can't even begin to describe here all of the bonus features and the historic look at the making of the movie. Little princesses will get a huge kick out of taking the quiz to see which princess they are most like, and then getting a phone call from that very princess! Disney has gone above and beyond with this release, and it is well worth the money.

SpongeBob's fans range from ages 2-100. The series has a following like no other animated kids' show, and this collection is the ultimate gift for fans of the nautical nonsense. 14 discs contain 38 hours of SpongeBob. Plus, there are exclusive bonus features and "The Story of SpongeBob SqarePants." The episodes cover 10 years of under the sea adventures, including many classic moments and lots of celebrity guest stars.

There's a lot to celebrate on Sesame Street this year. For 40 years the show has been offering preschoolers fun-filled and educational shows that have set the standard for educational programming for children. The beloved characters are still as popular today as they have ever been, and that is quite something. To commemorate the 40-year milestone, this new DVD features memorable moments on Sesame Street from the past 40 years, featuring stories, songs, Muppets and celebrity segments, and more. The collectible set also includes never-before-seen archival footage and a limited-edition hard covered commemorative book. Happy Birthday Sesame Street!

The TREASURY OF 100 STORYBOOK CLASSICS is being re-released in 2009 just in time for the holiday season with more stories translated into Spanish and French and a new read-along activity book that includes story-related activities for kids to do. The set contains 100 classic, award-winning storybooks on 16 DVDs -- nearly 20 hours. The new Where the Wild Things Are movie might be too scary for young children, but kids can see Maurice Sendak's classic story come to life on this DVD collection. Kids will also enjoy the adventures of Curious George, Corduroy, and many more. Check out the Scholastic website to view trailers of the movies or get coloring sheets for the kids.

This holiday gift set features three DVDs from Leap Frog: Letter Factory, Talking Words Factory, and Lets Go to School (new this year), plus a learning flashcards pack. This DVD set is perfect for preschoolers, and parents appreciate them too. I hear parents swear by Leapfrog Letter Factory all the time. Tad's adventure at the talking letter factory teaches kids the letters and their sounds in a fun and effective way.

Turtles fans will go nuts over this collection of all four original films on Blu-ray: Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles 2, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles 3, and TMNT. The discs include bonus features, alternate endings, deleted scenes and more. These movies will appeal to the kids who are just getting into Turtle Mania, and to many dads who loved them as kids.

Run for cover! The action just doesn't stop with this 17-disc collector’s set containing over 36 hours of content (all 95 episodes including the final episodes that have never been available on DVD before). The G.I. JOE team faces off against the venomous COBRA organization and their bid to rule the world in the original animated television show that was a pop-culture phenomenon for a generation of kids in the 1980’s. With the new movie that came out in theaters this year, G.I. Joe has stepped into the lime light again, and kids (or adults) who love Joe will be blown away by this collector's set.

This limited edition set includes 16 DVDs, 98 restored episodes, exclusive voice cast reunion, a collectible 60-page book and more. Witness the digitally restored battles between the heroic AUTOBOTS and the evil DECEPTICONS as the fate of the Earth hangs in the balance. The Transformers series is a great option for kids who are old enough to love the mighty machines but are not quite ready for the theatrical movies.

Experience six years at Hogwarts in Hi-def with this DVD collection of the first six Harry Potter movies: Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone, Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets, Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban, Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire, Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix, and Harry Potter and the Half-blood Prince. Some of these movies are rated PG-13, so this set is ideal for tweens and teens who are big fans of Harry. (Available on December 8, 2009)