December Reviews

After a decade on the air, Blue's Clues celebrates its anniversary with a new milestone: the introduction of its canine star's new sibling. Eschewing the typical child-eagerly-awaits-the-birth-of-a-new-addition- to-the-family storyline, the plot begins with Blue's brother already in existence—only she's never met him. The long-lost sibling still resides in Puppyville, a mystical land inhabited entirely by, well, puppies. Blue and her trusty human, Joe (Donovan Patton), skidoo to Puppyville and must solve the Gold Clues (the ultimate game of Blue's Clues) in order to figure out which of the myriad doggies is Blue's relation. Along the way, there are lessons in letters, numbers, colors, and shapes—plus some funky musical numbers that your child will be singing along with before the credits even roll.

Big trucks and construction rigs are almost always a hit with young children. Here, along with Virginia Lee Burton's classic 1939 title story, kids also get animated renditions of three others centering around loud engines and oversize tires. The touching underdog tale of Mike Mulligan and his outdated rig, Mary Anne, is done justice here. But the highlight of the disc might be Kate and Jim McMullan's day-in-the-life-of-a-garbage-truck story, "I Stink!," thanks to the enthusiastic narration by comedian Andy Richter. And don't miss the excellent bonus feature, a live-action short from the 1970s called "The Remarkable Riderless Runaway Tricycle."

Season two of Noggin's runaway hit show centers on the rhythmic exploits of Jack, a young, well, puppet (honestly, we're not sure what kind of animal he is); his equally ambiguous-looking friend, Mary; and his dog (definitely a dog), Mel, all of whom are wildly passionate about making music—be it sweet and melodious or loud and raucous. The characters are endearing and relatable for preschoolers, but what really makes the show such a smash is the all-star lineup of kiddie musicians who show up to perform. Actually, it would be more accurate to say that appearing on Jack's Big Music Show is precisely what vaults children's artists to all-star status: With the exception of powerhouse Laurie Berkner (who has appeared in almost every episode of the show), the musical guests have mostly been up-and-coming groups who suddenly become preschool favorites after their guest spots. In a way, Jack's Big Music Show is to children's musicians what Saturday Night Live is to grown-up artists—being a guest means you're hitting the big time. Season two's performers include next-big-thing AudraRox, the already-on-the-way-up Dirty Sock Funtime Band, and lesser-known but equally talented groups like The Quiet Ones and The Mighty Weaklings—all of which will continue to expand the musical horizons of the Not Ready for Kindergarten Players.

Arthur Rankin Jr. and Jules Bass defined Christmas in the '60s with their earnest, adorable holiday television specials, many of which are still in regular circulation today. Six Rankin/Bass extravaganzas, of varying levels of fame, are gathered together in this beautifully packaged DVD box set, which looks and feels like an old-timey storybook. The big guns are here, of course: Rudolph and Frosty. "Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer" may be the quintessential modern alienation fable, but this special also has almost unbearably likable protagonists in Herbie the Elf and the outcast reindeer himself (and both are made even more appealing by their rendering in stop-motion animation). And "Frosty the Snowman," which uses standard cel animation, is no less endearing for it—the big guy is so sweetly naive, he's hard not to love. (The 1992 follow-up, "Frosty Returns," also included here, doesn't hold up quite so well—it's the sour apple of the bunch.) Also included in this set are "Santa Claus is Comin' to Town," the fun "biopic" that explains everything from how Kris Kringle got his name to why he wears a red suit; "The Little Drummer Boy," the only decidedly nonsecular story in the set; and "Cricket at the Hearth" (billed as "the forgotten classic"), which animates the melancholy but eventually uplifting Charles Dickens tale about a toymaker whose family is stricken by tragedy and then turned around by a visit from a compassionate cricket. "Cricket on the Hearth" also contains a couple of very nice songs courtesy of Danny and Marlo Thomas.