Big Mouth, Bouche Décousue 2013
Distributed by National Film Board of Canada, 1123 Broadway, Suite 307, New York, NY 10010; 800-542-2164
Produced by Kent Martin, Ravida Din
Directed by Joel Heath
DVD, color, 8 min.
K-6
Animation, Early Childhood, Etiquette, Family, Humor, Parenthood
Date Entered: 05/21/2014
Reviewed by Hope Marie Cook, Curriculum Center Librarian, Eastern Connecticut State UniversityThis charming brief animated cartoon film explores what it means to speak the truth and how children can filter their communications. It also delves into the reality that words hurt, especially if language is used in a blunt manner. The short story revolves around Trudy, a school aged child who is always quick to notice and comment on an individual’s physical features. Some of her words come across as rude and hurtful, causing others to be offended by her statements which appear to be excellent observations, but come across as insensitive and mean spirited. Trudy’s parents are at a loss as to what to do with a child who is brutally honest and lacks the maturity and skill to monitor her speech. Their advice to her is to not open her mouth for at least one day and keep her comments to herself. Of course old habits die hard, and Trudy can’t resist commenting when she meets a stranger with a big eye. The stranger thanks her for her observation and teaches her a valuable lesson regarding how our individual differences make us special and how we can use our words to compliment others.
This short animation is highly recommended for elementary school aged children, teachers, parents and can be viewed in both English and French languages. Teachers can use this video as a prompt to start a dialog about empathy, appropriate speech and self-censorship.