More Reviews "The Road to El Dorado": Disappointing animated outing about a pair of bumbling adventurers in the early 16th century who travel to the New World -- one step ahead of Cortes and his Conquistadors -- in search of the mythical city of El Dorado and its gold. It's a buddy movie in the vein of the Bob Hope-Bing Crosby "Road to ..." flicks (but with Rosie Perez thrown in as a way-too-sexy-for-the-kids version of Dorothy Lamour) lacking the great one-liners. Music by Elton John and Tim Rice. Voices of Kevin Kline, Kenneth Branagh, Rosie Perez, Armand Assante, Edward James Olmos, Jim Cummings. From DreamWorks, rated PG, 98 min., VHS $15.95 suggested retail price. DVD day & date. Released December, 2000. "Land Before Time VII: The Stone of Cold Fire": Latest addition to "The Land Before Time Franchise" has Littlefoot the dinosaur witness a "stone of cold fire" blaze through the night sky and land somewhere in the smoking mountains. The only one who believes him is Pterano (voiced by Michael York), the long-lost uncle of Petrie the pterodactyl, who has worrisome reasons for wanting to find the stone. The kid dinos set off on an adventure to find the stone and uncover its strange power. From Universal, 2000, rated G, 75 min., VHS $19.98 suggested retail price. DVD day & date. Released December, 2000. Approved by Lizzy. "Our Lips Are Sealed": The Olsen twins are back for their pre-teen fans, here with the girls witnessing a crime and being whisked away into the FBI's Witness protection Program. Unfortunately, the blabbermouthed girls blow their cover in town after town until there's only one hiding place left -- Australia. For girl viewers there's plenty of super spies and surfer guys. Don't be surprised if your pre- pre-teen girl clamors for this video. Stars: Mary-Kate and Ashley Olsen. From Warner, 2000, rated PG, VHS $19.96 suggested retail price. Released November, 2000. Approved by Lizzy. "Chicken Run": Delightful Aardman studio clay animation (the folks who created the award-winning "Wallace & Gromit" series) about chickens unsuccessfully trying to escape the confines of the English Tweedy Egg Farm. Into their midst flies Rocky, an American rooster with a large ego who eventually helps the confined egg-layers fly the coop -- so to speak -- before the evil Mrs. Tweedy bakes them all into chicken pies. "The Great Escape," anyone? Director: Peter Lord, Nick Park. Voices of Mel Gibson, Julia Sawalha, Miranda Richardson, Jane Horrocks, Tony Haygarth. From DreamWorks, 2000, rated G, 85 min., VHS $16.95 suggested retail price. DVD day & date. Released November, 2000. "Pokemon the Movie 2000": Two Pokemon short films tied together to capitalize on last year's smash hit "Pokemon the Movie" (and fad now fast fading): "Pikachu's Rescue Adventure" (22 minutes) and "The Power of One" (80 minutes); the former about Pikachu's adventures in an underground forest and the latter about Pokemon trainer Ash's attempts to restore the balance of nature set askew by a greedy Pokemon collector. Most definitely for Pokemon kids only. Director: Kunihiko Yuyama (Japanese production), Michael Haigney (U.S. production). Voices of Veonica Taylor, Rachael Lillis, Eric Stuart, Ted Lewis, Ikue Otani. From Warner, 2000, rated G, 102 min. DVD day & date. Released November, 2000. "Joseph: King of Dreams": DreamWorks' first direct-to-video animated feature takes a wonderfully loving look at the biblical tale of Joseph and his rise to power in Egypt. As would be expected, the story line here takes some liberties with the Old Testament, but it's a small price to pay for the overriding educational value of the production. The characters are sympathetic, intelligent and multidimensional; they're thrust into adventures more thought-provoking than sensationalized or stripped of their inherent symbolic meaning. The production pays homage to a great tale and to the tradition of good storytelling. The only shortcoming: some musical numbers that don't quite stand up to the strength of the story and the animation. A must for children -- and adults. Voices of Ben Affleck, Mark Hamill, Steven Weber, Judith Light. From DreamWorks, 2000, rated G, VHS $24.99 suggested retail price. DVD day & date. Released November, 2000. Approved by Lizzy. "Olive, the Other Reindeer": An animated musical adventure based on the children's book of the same name, about a small dog who believes she's been recruited by Santa when one of his reindeers falls ill. The video was originally broadcast on the Fox Television Network during the 1999 holiday season. Voices of Drew Barrymore, Ed Asner, REM's Michael Stipe, Jay Mohr, Joe Pantoliano and Peter MacNicol. From Fox, 1999, not rated, 69 min., VHS $14.98 suggested retail price. DVD day & date. Released October, 2000. "The Life and Adventures of Santa Claus": Animated Christmas yarn that answers such questions as: How does Santa make all the toys? How does he get in and out of a house without being seen? Why do reindeer pull the sleigh? The feature follows the adventures of Nicholas, the only human ever admitted to the magical Forest of Burzee, where he is raised by wood nymphs, knooks and pixies. Eventually he must seek his destiny among humankind, becoming the jolly old man we love at Christmas time. Voices of Robby Benson, Hal Holbrook, Dixie Carter. From Universal, 2000, rated G, 78 min., VHS $14.98 suggested retail price. Released October, 2000. "Casper's Haunted Christmas": CGI-animated direct-to-video feature has Casper the Friendly Ghost being forced by the supreme ruler of all ghosts to scare one person before Christmas. But loveable Casper doesn't want to do it -- so his three cousins -- Fatso, Stinky and Stretch -- hire Casper's look-alike cousin to do the dirty deed. Features songs by Randy Travis. From Universal, 2000, CC, rated G, 80 min., VHS $19.98 suggested retail price. Released October, 2000. "Toy Story 2": The "Toy Story" gang is back in this exceptional sequel in which an obsessive toy collector kidnaps Woody, and Buzz Lightyear, Mr. Potato Head, SlinkyDog, Rex and Hamm set off to rescue him before he's sold to foreign collectors. This time around there's more love interest for Woody: Jessie the cowgirl. Available in VHS sell-through and as DVD 2-disc and 3-disc sets with "Toy Story." Director: John Lasseter. Voices of Tom Hanks, Tim Allen, Joan Cusack, Kelsey Grammer, Don Rickles, Jim Varney, Wallace Shawn, John Ratzenberger, Annie Potts, Wayne Knight. From Disney, 1999, rated G, VHS $26.99 suggested retail price. Released October, 2000. Approved by Lizzy. "Scooby-Doo and the Alien Invaders": One of the best Scooby-Doo adventures yet. Stranded in a remote desert town, Scooby, Shaggy and the Mystery, Inc. kids discover the place is crawling with flying saucer buffs, secret scientists and nasty extra-terrestrials. One night Scooby and Shaggy even get beamed aboard a UFO -- and are discovered abandoned in the desert the next day by a beautiful photographer and her female dog. Love blossoms -- as does the plot, leading to a network of caves hidden under the town as well as other top secrets. Fun for all. Voices of Jeff Glen Bennett, Mary Kay Bergman, Jennifer Hale, Mark Hamill, Scott Innes. From Warner, 2000, VHS $19.98 suggested retail price. DVD day & date. Released October, 2000. Approved by Lizzy. "Tweety's High Flying Adventure": Direct-to-video animated feature featuring Tweety bird's high flying adventures as the beloved canary teams up with a roster of legendary Warner Bros. cartoon characters (50 of them, including Bugs Bunny, Daffy Duck, Tasmanian Devil, Pepe Le Pew, Sylvester) on a trip around the world, from Egypt to Venice to Paris. From Warner, 2000, $19.96 suggested retail price. Released September, 2000. "The Little Mermaid II: Return to the Sea": Direct-to-video sequel to 1989's hit, continuing the saga of the Little Mermaid, now happily married on land to Prince Eric. The pair have a daughter, Melody, who ventures into the water against her mother's wishes and gets everyone involved in another devious plot by Morgana, still trying to overthrow good King Triton. Naturally Ariel must return to her roots and rejoin her old friends Sebastian, Flounder and Scuttle to save the day. Voices of Jodi Benson, Samuel E. Wright, Buddy Hackett, Pat Carroll, Tara Charendoff, Max Cassella. From Disney, 2000, $26.99 suggested retail price. Approved by Lizzy. "The Flintstones in Viva Rock Vegas": A prequel of sorts to the 1994 live action version of animated TV series "The Flintstones." Here Fred and Barney (Mark Addy and Stephen Baldwin) are on the hunt for girlfriends, latching onto Wilma and Betty (Kristen Johnston and Jane Krakowski), whisking them off to Rock Vegas for a weekend of fun. All kinds of subplots get played out here, most resulting in sight gags for the kiddies, featuring the Great Gazoo, a pint-sized visitor from outer space (a delightfully rude Alan Cummimg); Chip Rockefeller, an evil rich dude who will go to no ends to win over wealthy heiress Wilma; and more. Great production design, colors and eye candy. From Universal, rated PG, 91 min., 2000. "The Tigger Movie": This first major big screen Winnie the Pooh feature is just tiggerific. Old-fashioned animation comes to the fore in this adventure that finds Tigger in search of his family tree. Naturally, it takes a while for him to find out that he's the only tigger around, and that his true family are the friends in the Hundred Acre Wood that love him. A wonderful tale for kids and parents alike. Voices of Jim Cummings, Nikita Hopkins, Ken Sansom, John Fiedler, Peter Cullen and Andre Stoja. From Disney, rated G, 76 min., 2000, $24.99 suggested retail price. "Princess Mononoke": Anime -- based on Japanese folklore -- about a young warrior who must fight mythical forest creatures -- and solve the mystery of a curse placed on him by one of those monsters -- in order to save his village -- and his life. Pure of heart, and riding an elk as swift as the wind, he travels far from home, encountering all types of creatures and people on his journey for salvation. Along the way he enlists the aid of Princess Mononoke, half-girl, half-wolf, who has nothing but hatred for all humans, whom she sees as the destroyers of the wild. It's a classic tale of nature vs. encroaching civilization as the forest is being overrun by a group of villagers who are mining iron to make rifles. Their goal -- the destruction of the forest spirit. The lesson here is obvious for adults but is not lost on the youngsters. Voices of Billy Crudup, Billy Bob Thornton, Minnie Driver, Claire Danes, Jada Pinkett-Smith. From Miramax, rated PG-13, 135 min., 1997. Approved by Lizzy. "Dragonheart: A New Beginning": Sequel to "Dragonheart," here about a young dragon named Drake discovered in a forbidden dungeon by a stable boy. When the evil chief advisor to the king finds out about Drake, he seeks the dragon's heart, which will give him invincible powers, and it's up to the stable boy to save the dragon -- and the kingdom. Direct-to-video. Voices of Robby Benson, Chris Masterson, Henry Van Gorkum, Rona Figueroa. From Universal, rated PG, 85 min., 2000. "Buzz Lightyear of Star Command: The Adventure Begins": Direct-to-video adventures of Buzz Lightyear from the "Toy Story" films, with the defender of the universe fending off an attempt by the Evil Emperor Zurg to usurp the Uni-mind -- the mysterious force that lets the Little Green Men think as one -- and take control of the entire galaxy. Buzz is aided in his mission by three intergalactic rookies: Mira Nova, Booster and XR. Voices of Tim Allen, Wayne Knight, Nicole Sullivan, Stephen Furst, Larry Miller, Patrick Warburton. From Disney, 2000, $24.99 suggested retail price. "My Dog Skip": Delightful coming-of-age tale, based on the memoirs of Rhodes scholar Willie Morris, about a young boy -- and his constant companion, a Jack Russell terrier he receives on his 9th birthday -- growing up in Yahoo, Mississippi during WWII. Willie is a shy, sensitive, retiring boy, and his experiences with Skip teach him a variety of life's lessons -- about friendship, bravery and death -- as he grows to become a strong young man. And he realizes that love and loyalty are the most important things that one can nourish in life. A wonderful tale for youngsters and adults alike -- and one guaranteed to bring tears to your eyes and heart. Diane Lane (as the mother) and Kevin Bacon (as dad) turn in their best performances ever. From Warner, rated PG, 93 min., 2000, $22.96 suggested retail price. Approved by Lizzy. "Bicentennial Man": Sci-fi tale based on a short story by Isaac Asimov and the novel "The Positronic Man" by Asimov and Robert Silverberg follows two centuries in the life of a family and their robot, Andrew, who, as the years go by, becomes more and more human. All too predictable and tame for all but the kiddies. Stars Robin Williams (as the emotionally-yearning robot), Sam Neil, Wendy Crewson, Oliver Platt and Embeth Davidtz. Directed by Chris ("Home Alone") Columbus. From Buena Vista, rated PG, 140 min.), 1999. "Stuart Little": This delightful live-action and CGI telling of E.B. White's 1945 kids classic about a family that adopts a mouse as their new son has all the right elements in all the right places for a family classic. All Stuart the mouse wants is to be a part of the Little family, but to do so he first has to win over his new (human) brother with feats of courage and daring. Complicating matters is a jealous house cat who finagles with a gang of shady felines to have Stuart eliminated. Though slow at times, the performances (Stuart voiced by Michael J. Fox and Snowball the cat voiced by Nathan Lane) are terrific. There's a positive lesson here for kids, too -- we all have to learn to accept ourselves for what we are. Stars: Geena Davis, Hugh Laurie, Jonathan Lipnicki, voices of Michael J. Fox and Nathan Lane. From Columbia TriStar, rated PG, 85 min.,1999, $24.96 suggested retail price. Approved by Lizzy. "Switching Goals": Child stars Mary-Kate and Ashley Olsen star as soccer-playing sisters with a different take on the sport: one is a tomboy/star athlete, the other prefers the sport of fashion. When a soccer tournament puts them on opposing teams, they switch places, wreaking all sorts of havoc. From Warner, 2000, $19.96 suggested retail price. "Pokemon: The First Movie": Japanese computer game and collectible figures make it to the big screen in this full-length feature that is just the first of several that will grace U.S. theaters this year. The kids really love Pikachu and the Pokemon minions, making it a multi-billion dollar industry. This rather dark animated adventure -- re- scripted and re-scored for Americans -- revolves around evil Mewtoo as he attempts to become the world's greatest Pokemon master. The film is backed by kid-pop favs such as Christina Aguilera, Blessid Union of Souls and Spice Girl Emma Bunton. Voices of Veronica Taylor, Philip Bartlett, Rachael Lillis, Eric Stuart, Ikue Otani, Addie Blaustein. From Warner, rated G, 95 min., 1999, $26.98 suggested retail price. "A Dog of Flanders": Weak adaptation of the children's novel about a poor Dutch boy and his grandfather who find am abandoned dog and nurture it back to life. This version concentrates more on the lad, who not only aspires beyond his station in life to become an artist but is smitten by a little girl deemed too good for him. He eventually comes under the wing of a real artist, Micel, played by Jon Voight, who tries to nurture the young boy's talent. This boring kids tale -- lacking character or plot depth -- totally misses its intended audience. Stars: Jack Warden, Jeremy James Kissner, Jon Voight, Cheryl Ladd. From Warner, rated PG, 101 min., 1999. "Scooby-Doo Meets the Boo Brothers": Animated feature length direct-to-video Scooby-Doo adventure has Scooby and Shaggy get close-up and spooky with some supernatural siblings. On a scavenger hunt for Shaggy's inheritance in the haunted old Beauregard mansion, the pair enlist the aid of the ectoplasmic Boo Brothers to help find the loot. From Warner, 1999, $14.95 suggested retail price. "An Extremely Goofy Movie": New direct-to-video feature, with Goofy enrolling in college with son Max, bringing along some time-warped 1970s ideas that upsets the campus -- particularly when he teams up with the sultry but shy school librarian. Meanwhile, Max becomes the school's hot new extreme sports star. What happens when dad and son meet on the playing field? Voices of Bill Farmer, Jason Marsden, Pauly Shore, Vicki Lewis, Bebe Neuwirth. From Disney, 79 min., 2000, $24.99 suggested retail price. "American Tale: Treasure of Manhattan Island": A wonderful third act for the American Tail franchise, here with Fievel and friends in New York City at the turn of the 19th century finding a treasure map leading to a magical, secret world under the city inhabited by Native American mice who reveal the gift of hope and the dreams of a better future. Voices of Dom DeLuise, Lacey Chabert, David Carradine. From Universal, rated G. 78 min., 2000, $14.98 suggested retail price. "Tarzan": Animated adventures of Edgar Rice Burroughs' Tarzan -- here in a more pulp-fiction vein than most Disney animated features -- with lively songs by Phil Collins. This is the first full-length animated feature to focus on the loin-clothed jungle hero, an orphaned infant raised by gorillas whose life is changed forever when he meets other humans: Jane, her ditzy scientist-father, and their evil escort. Great old-fashioned storytelling for adults and kids. Voices of Tony Goldwyn, Minnie Driver, Glenn Close, Alex D. Linz, Rosie O'Donnell, Lance Henriksen, Nigel Hawthorne and Wayne Knight. From Disney, rated G, 82 min., 1999, $26.99 suggested retail price. "Inspector Gadget": Based on the 1980s cartoon series, this kiddy comedy revolves around the transformation of a bumbling security guard (Matthew Broderick) -- killed in a car crash engineered by a rich villain (Rupert Everett) --into a super-scientific police robot, Inspector Gadget, whose hands, feet and head sprout all sorts of weapons and utensils as the "future of law enforcement." Gadget must foil the evil mastermind while winning the heart of the scientist (Joely Fisher) who created him. Corny as can be but the kids should love it. Stars: Matthew Broderick, Joely Fisher, Rupert Everett, Michelle Trachtenberg, Andy Dick, Dabney Coleman. From Disney, rated PG, 78 min., 1999, $24.99 suggested retail price. "Dudley Do-Right" is a silly attempt to transfer Jay Ward's classic cartoon character to the big screen in live-action form, with Brendan Fraser as the bumbling Canadian Mountie trying to outwit evil villain Snidely Whiplash (Alfred Molina). The plot is simple: Whiplash wants to take over Semi- Happy Valley by creating a fake gold rush; Do-Right must learn to become a hero to foil the plan and win back his true love, Nell Fenwick (Sarah Jessica Parker). The silly slapstick humor -- mainly a lot of floorboards smacking Do-Right in the head -- is for kids only. Stars: Brendan Fraser, Sarah Jessica Parker, Alfred Molina, Robert Prosky, Eric Idle. From Universal, rated PG, 76 min., 1999. "Jack Frost" is a sentimental, affectionate family film about an up-and-coming rock star who juggles career and fatherhood and doesn't spend as much time with his supportive wife and adoring son as he should. When he's killed in a car accident, he comes back as a snowman, finally learning how to nurture his wife and son and become the father/husband that he couldn't in life. Delightful story is highlighted by the deft camerawork of legendary cinematographer Laszlo Kovacs. Stars Michael Keaton, Kelly Preston, Mark Addy and Joseph Cross. From Warner, rated PG, 108 min., 1998, $19.96 suggested retail price. "The Iron Giant" is a well-executed, fanciful adaptation of British poet laureate Ted Hughes' children's book about a metal giant from outer space who is befriended by a young boy, set in 1957 during the height of Sputnik and the Cold War. The metal-eating behemoth is a "puppy" in the hands of young Hogarth Hughes -- stumbling around the countryside in search of food and playing kids games -- until a paranoid government investigator brings on the Army for a fateful denouement. The moral here is love and trust -- as the boy and monster bond -- and the film imparts a strong anti-violence, anti-gun message. It's part 1950s Action comic book, part Frankenstein, all marvelous. One of the best films of the year. Voices of Eli Marienthal, Vin Diesel, Jennifer Aniston, Harry Connick Jr., Christopher McDonald. From Warner, rated PG, 86 min., 1999, $22.95 suggested retail price. Approved by Lizzy. "Muppets From Space": This latest installment in the Muppet adventures (can it be 20 years since "The Muppet Movie"?) has Gonzo believing aliens -- who seem to be like him -- are bent on invading Earth. With a little help from his friends -- Rizzo the Rat, Kermit and Miss Piggy -- Gonzo goes up against an unfriendly government agent (Jeffrey Tambor) and a flock of UFO kooks. There's also live appearances by Andie MacDowell (as a Miss Piggy-hating newscaster), F. Murray Abraham, David Arquette and Ray Liotta. Voices of Dave Goelz, Steve Witmire, Bill Barretta, Frank Oz. From Columbia TriStar, rated G, 88 min., 1999, $21.95 suggested retail price. "Doug's 1st Movie" is the animated adventures of "Disney's Doug" (originally a Nick staple) come to the big screen, with Doug Funnie and friend Skeeter discovering that Bluffington's mythical monster of Lucky Duck Lake is for real, but is in danger due to pollution. Naturally the pair try to save him, but things get complicated when they uncover an elaborate cover-up by the town's leading citizen, Bill Bluff. And all the while Doug is trying to impress his girlfriend-to-be, Patty Mayonnaise. For kid fans of the show. Voices of Thomas McHugh, Fred Newman, Chris Phillips, Constance Shulman. From Buena Vista, rated G, 84 min., 1999, $22.99 suggested retail price. "The Prince of Egypt" is the beautifully animated story of Moses and his ascension to the leadership of the Hebrews. Based on the Book of Exodus, with a nod to Cecile B. De Mille, this DreamWorks version of Moses' struggle to save his people from the oppression of his brother, Egyptian Pharaoh Rameses, is an energetic visual romp that, although taking some liberties with the Bible for the sake of exposition, comes up a winner. With the voices of Val Kilmer, Ralph Fiennes, Michelle Pfeiffer, Sandra Bullock, Jeff Goldblum, Danny Glover, Patrick Stewart, Helen Mirren, Steve Martin and Martin Short. Voices of Val Kilmer, Ralph Fiennes, Michelle Pfeiffer, Sandra Bullock, Jeff Goldblum, Danny Glover. From DreamWorks, rated PG, 96 min., 1998, $26.99 suggested retail price. Approved by Lizzy. "Shiloh 2: Shiloh Season," is a sequel to 1997's "Shiloh," about a 12-year-old boy who rescues an abused beagle from an abusive owner. Here the bad guy comes back for more: Drinking heavily and ready for any row with the dog's new family, the former owner is hunting illegally on the family property and threatening the boy and his dog. Only by unselfish action on the part Shiloh does an enemy turn into a friend. Based on Phyllis Reynolds Naylor's "Shiloh" trilogy introduced to readers in 1991. Old-fashioned family values, mostly for the boys in the crowd. Stars Zachary Browne, Scott Wilson and Michael Moriarty. From Warner Bros. Family Entertainment, not rated, $19.96 suggested retail price. Here's one I thought my "grown-up" 6-year-old wouldn't like, but was I ever wrong: "Tommy and the Computoys: The Story," an original 3-D animated adventure from Marcel Nottea's M3D Studios aimed at 2- to 8-year-olds. "Tommy" is about the magic virtual world of a computer-animated boy puppet who through imagination and cutting edge-technology is able to bring to life a group of kid-friendly characters. While watching TV Tommy decides to get on to his computer to create a world he can play in, and using a graphics-modeling program, creates all sorts of beings who come to life within and without the computer screen. My daughter was fascinated by the adventures, in particular Tommy's use of wire computer models on which to create his characters (just like they do in real-life); $12.95 VHS, $14.98 DVD. Approved by Lizzy. The Great Mouse Detective: Re-issue of the 1986 Disney animated adventure about super mouse sleuth Basil of Baker Street who matches wits with notorious villain Professor Ratigan. Score by Henry Mancini. Director: John Musker & Ron Clements. Voices of Vincent Price, Alan Young, Barrie Ingham. From Disney, rated G, $26.99 suggested retail price. Madeline: Lost in Paris is a direct-to-video original production based on Ludwig Bemelman's endearing character; here Madeline is whisked away from Miss Clavell's school by a "long-lost uncle" who turns out to be a henchman for the evil Miss La Croque, who forces orphan girls to make lace in a factory. Voices of Jason Alexander, Lauren Bacall, Christopher Plummer. From Disney, not rated, $22.99 suggested retail price. The King and I is the animated version of Rodgers and Hammerstein classic about an attractive English widow who travels to Siam in 1862 to become the proper governess for the king's royal children. Though this could have been a great introduction to one of the great musicals of all time, it's dragged down by silly animated characters (a mango-throwing monkey, for one, as well as martial arts not in the R&H repertoire). Still, there are the great songs -- "Shall We Dance" and "Getting to Know You" -- to turn kids on to the classics. Voices of Miranda Richardson, Martin Vidnovic, Ian Richardson, Darrell Hammond. From Warner, rated G, $22.95 suggested retail price. The 1949 The Adventures of Ichabod and Mr. Toad is Disney's 11th animated feature, here restored to its original length with two tales: Kenneth Grahame's "The Wind in the Willows" and Washington Irving's "The Legend of Sleepy Hollow." Rating G, $22.99 suggested retail price. . The Brave Little Toaster to the Rescue is the second direct-to-video sequel about the brave toaster and his appliance friends -- lampy, radio, blanky, kirby -- here thwarting a plot by their master's sinister lab assistant to sell animals to a lab for experimentation. Voices of Alfre Woodard, Eddie Bracken, Jay Mohr. From Disney, not rated, $22.99 suggested retail price. Babe: Pig in the City: This sequel to the highly successful "Babe" got blind-sided by bad pre-release buzz and poor positioning by Universal: it's a brilliant film, almost surreal in its telling, that follows Babe and farmer Hogget's wife on a misguided journey into the "city" to make money to save the farm. The pair encounter evil humans and evil animals (including a nasty family of chimps) but the pig's "humanness" rises to the occasion and goodness wins out. A tad dark for many kids -- and some adults, evidently -- but the cinematography and fable-like storytelling make a winning combination. Director: George Miller. Stars: Magda Szubanski, Mary Stein, Mickey Rooney, James Cromwell. Voices of E.G. Daily, Danny Mann, Glenne Headly, Steven Wright. From Universal, rated G, $22.98 suggested retail price. Approved by Lizzy. A Bug's Life: Delicious story and fabulous 3-D computer animation made this family feature a smash hit. A group of ants -- toiling for their grasshopper overlords -- enlist the aid of out-of-work bug performers from a second-rate flea circus to save their society from oppression. Spirited and goofy, with the voices of Dave Foley, Kevin Spacey, Julia Louis-Dreyfus, Phyllis Diller, David Hyde Pierce. Directed by John Lasseter of "Toy Story" fame. From Disney, rated G, $26.99 suggested retail price. Approved by Lizzy. The Rugrats Movie: Nick's animated darlings move to the big screen in this splendid full-length feature that follows Rugrats Chuckie, Tommy, twins Lil & Phil and Angelica as they embark on an adventure to return "broke" newborn Dil Pickles (he must be "broke" cause he cries all the time) to the hospital, instead getting lost in the forest and battling a group of monkeys who have escaped from a circus. Wonderful almost surreal humor. Voices of E.G. Daily, Christine Cavanaugh, Kath Soucie, Cheryl Chase. From Paramount, rated G, $26.95 suggested retail price. Approved by Lizzy. Antz: The folks at DreamWorks, Steven Spielberg's film company, came up with a wonderfully hip animated film their first time at bat with this computer-generated feature starring a stellar cast of voice talent (Woody Allen, Dan Aykroyd, Anne Bancroft, Jane Curtin, Jennifer Lopez, Danny Glover, Sylvester Stallone, Sharon Stone, Christopher Walken). The story revolves around a neurotic and self-absorbed ant whose discontent with conformity leads to a subversion of the military-run nest. Tightly drawn characters and plotting make for an above-average adventure for kids and adults alike. From DreamWorks, rated PG, $26.99 suggested retail price. Approved by Lizzy. Disney's best animated musical since "The Lion King," Mulan clicks for all the right reasons: fine songs, luscious animation, luminous story and characters you can care about. Refreshingly, the heroine here (a Chinese girl who saves her kingdom from invading Huns) is more down to earth than most Disney caricatures of females, giving the girls in the audience someone to root for. Voices by Ming-Na Wen, B.D. Wong, Donny Osmond, Harvey Fierstein, Gedde Watanabe and Eddie Murphy (delightful as Mushu, an outcast stone dragon who comes to life to aid the girl). Disney, rated G, $26.99 suggested retail price. Approved by Lizzy. The Rescuers: Re-release of the 1977 animated film about a society of mice that comes to the aid of people in trouble; here they try to save a little girl from an evil woman out after the world's biggest diamond. Voices of Bob Newhart, Eva Gabor, Geraldine Page. From Disney, rated G, $26.99 suggested retail price. Approved by Lizzy. The Secret of NIMH 2 is the sequel to the animated "The Secret of NIMH," about a widowed mouse who becomes a heroine when she saves her threatened homestead. In this feature, when the mice of Thorn Valley need a hero, they turn to brave Timmy to save the day. Direct-to-video. From MGM, not rated, 70 min., $14.95 suggested retail price. Dr. Dolittle is a pleasingly funny remake of 1967 film that starred Rex Harrison as a man who could talk to animals. Murphy here eschews scenery-chewing for a more laid back presence as a physician whose life gets complicated when he finds that denizens of the animal world talk to him -- and he understands and talks back to them. Co-stars Ossie Davis, Oliver Platt, Kristen Wilson. Directed by Betty Thomas. From Fox, rated PG-13, 85 min., $19.98 suggested retail price. Billboard Dad stars the Olsen twins, kid stars of TV's "Full House" and now pre-teen stars of ABC's primetime series "Two of a Kind." Here the sisters are determined to find their single dad a mate via advertising on a billboard in Hollywood. Definitely for pre-teen girls only. Direct-to-video from Warner, $19.96. All Dogs Christmas Carol is the latest in the "All Dogs ..." animated franchise, featuring the voices of Steven Weber, Dom DeLuise, Sheena Easton, Ernest Borgnine, Charles Nelson Reilly and Bebe Neuwirth in a lively retelling of the classic Christmas tale. Direct-to-video from MGM, $14.95. Buster & Chauncey's Silent Night is a direct-to-video animated tale about two mice and a Blue Jay who find the true meaning of Christmas in 19th century Austria; in duracase packaging; with the voices of Phil Hartman, Tom Arnold, Jim Cummings. From Columbia TriStar, $12.95. The animated The Quest for Camelot, released to theatres in early 1998, follows the adventures of a brave young woman and her friends who journey to rescue Camelot from the evil forces who have captured the magical sword Excalibur. The lackluster animation and story line didn't win the film many fans at the boxoffice, but it may do better on video. With the voices of Pierce Brosnan, Gary Oldman, Jane Seymour, Gabriel Byrne, Cary Elwes, Don Rickles. From Warner Bros. Family Entertainment, $22.95. The Lion King: Simba's Pride is a direct-to-video sequel to the best selling video and number one animated film of all time. The story follows the adventures of Simba's daughter, Kiara, who is destined to grow into a heroic young lioness and heal the rift in the Pridelands. Not as original or as exciting as "The Lion King," this sequel nevertheless will satisfy little ones who can't get enough of the adventures of Simba, Timon and Pumbaa. One nice touch, off course: the hero is female. With the voices of Matthew Broderick, Nathan Lane, Robert Guillaume, Ernie Sabella, James Earl Jones, Neve Campbell and Suzanne Pleshette. From Disney for $26.99. Our Friend, Martin, is a unique feature that combines animation and live footage to tell the story of the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. and his leadership of the Civil Rights movement. Endorsed by the King family, the feature follows the adventures of a group of students who magically travel back in time and meet Dr. King at various points in his life, watching the pivotal events of his life and of the era unfold before their eyes. An all-star voice cast includes Ed Asner, Angela Bassett, Lucas Black, LeVar Burton, Danny Glover, Whoopi Goldberg, Samuel L. Jackson, James Earl Jones, Ashley Judd, Susan Sarandon, John Travolta, Jaleel White and Oprah Winfrey. From Fox Home Entertainment, $14.98 suggested retail price. Air Bud: Golden Receiver. Air Bud, that high-flying athletic pooch who captivated audiences in 1997 with his ability to sink baskets, is back, this time on the gridiron as he saves the day for his young master's junior high school football team. There's the obligatory villains to attempt to foil Bud's football victory -- here in the form of two fumbling Russian circus crooks who steal extraordinary pets for their show -- but never fear, the dog conquers all, along the way saving the coach's job as well as mom's romance. Definitely for the kids. Stars: Kevin Zegers, Cynthia Stevenson, Gregory Harrison, Nora Dunn. From Buena Vista, rated G, $14.98 suggested retail price. Madeline That enduring childhood classic "Madeline" finally gets adapted to the big screen and, surprise, its fairly faithful to Ludwig Bemelman's 1930s books about the adventures of the fearless, red-headed little girl who lives "in an old house in Paris that was covered with vines." Newcomer Hatty Jones plays the feisty orphan Madeline, constantly in trouble and testing the mettle of Miss Clavel, the resourceful nun who overseas the boarding house in which "lived twelve little girls in two straight lines." Never mind the plot -- taken from four "Madeline" books -- enjoy the whimsy. For kids of all ages. In clamshell packaging. Stars: Francis McDormand, Hatty Jones, Nigel Hawthorne. From Columbia TriStar Home Video, rated PG, $15.95 suggested retail price. Approved by Lizzy. The Parent Trap is Disney's remake of Disney's 1962 family comedy that starred Hayley Mills, about identical twins, separated at birth when their parents split, who meet up as pre-teens and scheme to reunite their wayward divorced mother and father. Thanks to a witty and literate script, fine acting by Lindsay Lohan (as the twins) and Natasha Richardson (as the mom), and delicious sets, it's a rare case of a remake being better than the original (though Dennis Quaid is only an adequate dad). From Buena Vista, rated PG, $22.99 suggested retail price. Approved by Lizzy. The Land Before Time VI: Secret of Saurus Rock is the latest entry in the "Land Before Time" franchise about dinosaur kids living in the prehistoric Great Valley. This time, Littlefoot and friends explore the myth of the Lone Dinosaur, setting off a series of mishaps in the Valley. Direct-to-video. From Universal, $19.98 suggested retail price. Approved by Lizzy. Richie Rich'$ Christmas Wish is a kid-friendly twist on "It's a Wonderful Life," with Harvey Comics' Richie Rich wishing he was never born. When his wish comes true, he has to get back to his real life and save Christmas for his friends and family. Direct-to-video. Stars: David Gallagher, Martin Mull, Lesley Ann Warren, Eugene Levy, Michelle Trachtenberg. From Warner Home Video, $19.96 suggested retail price. Paulie. This live action adventure features a parrot who can actually talk (and not just mimic words). When Paulie is separated from the little girl who raised him, he gets into a variety of adventures trying to find his way home. Clamshell packaging. From DreamWorks, rated PG, $22.99 suggested retail. Casper Meets Wendy. Wendy the Witch and Casper the Friendly Ghost forge a boo-tiful relationship when they join forces to foil an evil warlock's plot to attack Wendy's family of Witless Witches. Live action and CGI animation. Direct-to-video. Stars: Cathy Moriarty, Terri Garr, Shelly Duvall and George Hamilton. From Fox, $19.98 suggested retail. In Scooby-Doo on Zombie Island, Scooby-Doo, Shaggy Velma, Daphne and Fred reunite to investigate a haunted mansion in the deep bayous of Louisiana. It's a new direct-to-video animated film based on the long-running cartoon series. In clamshell packaging. FromWarner Bros. Family Entertainment, $19.96 suggested retail. Approved by Lizzy. Pocahontas: Journey to a New World reunites the characters (and voice talent) from Disney's "Pocahontas" for another animated adventure into America's past. This time out Pocahontas, aided by her loveable friends Meeko, Flit and Percy, transforms herself into an English lady in London in 1612 in order to convince the powerful King of England that her people are not savages. Pocahontas finds herself in great peril as the scheming Ratcliffe sets a trap that ultimately lands her in a dark, cold prison, where she can only be set free by a mysterious stranger. The adventure is enjoyable despite its garbling of history. From Disney, not rated, $26.99 suggested retail price. Approved by Lizzy. Kiki's Delivery Service is an animated feature about the coming of age of a teen witch, her black cat JiJi and friend Tombo, from acclaimed Japanese animator Hayao Miyazaki, new to video. A smash hit in japan in 1989, now released and dubbed in English. Voices of Kirsten Dunst, Phil Hartman, Debbie Reynolds, Janeane Garofalo. The animation is impeccable and the story line deliciousy gentle. A must for any kids collection. From Buena Vista, $19.99 suggested retail. Approved by Lizzy. Anastasia. Fox's foray into animated feature films was a moderate success, considering it went up against Disney's re-release of "The Little Mermaid." The film is a Hollywood interpretation of the myth of the lost daughter (Princess Anastasia) of Russia's last ruling family, the Romanovs, who were executed during the revolution. There's cute animals, a supernatural villain, romance and singing and dancing, making the film a passable fairy tale for kids. Voices by Meg Ryan, John Cusack, Angela Lansbury, Kelsey Grammer, Christopher Lloyd, Bernadette Peters and Kirsten Dunst.In pan-and-scan and widescreen versions, with clamshell packaging. From Fox, $26.98 suggested retail. Approved by Lizzy. "FernGully 2: The Magical Rescue," is a sequel to 1992's environmentally-themed animated feature, which was sparked by the voices of Samantha Mathis, Christian Slater and Robin Williams, about rain forest sprites who teach a human respect for their habitat. This one is a bit less enthralling, but nevertheless a worthy production, that has Batty, Crysta, Pips and the Beetle Boys trying to save three baby animals that have been captured and taken from the forest by a group of humans. There's original music and songs, and a portion of the proceeds goes to Rain Forest rescue. From Fox Home Entertainment, not rated, $19.98 suggested retail. The Kidsongs PBS TV series was long a favorite of our daughter (though at 6 now she's "too old for that, daddy." Starring the Kidsongs Kids, an energetic and charismatic group of youngsters and their secret fantasy friends Billy and Ruby Biggle, each show saw the kids take over a TV studio and create their own videos. Kid empowerment, as the politically correct would say. Sony Wonder has relaunched the video versions of the series, kicking off with two all-new 30-minute sessions: "I Can Dance!" in which everyone is transported back in time to different countries for a musical tour of dances, and "I Can Do It!" featuring the gang involved in such learning activities as bike riding, sand castle building and kite flying. The company will re-release 15 Kidsongs videos in new packages, as well as tying in new Kidsongs audio titles and a Web site. Not rated, 30 minutes, $12.98 each. "Belle's Magical World" is an original three-cartoon compilation based on the fabulous Disney "Beauty and the Beast" (which brought tears to our eyes when we saw it on the big screen). Here it's as if the original never ended and Beauty and Beast share new adventures around the enchanted castle (with Lumiere the candelabra, Fifi the feather duster, Webster the dictionary and Cogsworth the clock). Voices are by the originals: Robby Benson, Paige O'Hara, Jerry Orbach, JoAnne Worley and David Ogden Stiers. Not as stirring as the feature -- and not as involving for the little ones, though there are some lessons to be learned here (about sharing, friendship, honesty and respect). Not rated, 70 minutes, suggested list price of $22.99. For something really delightful that you'll be able to savor with your kids (pre-schoolers and up), take a look at The Toy Town Story Adventures, a classic British animated series based on the stories of S.G. Hulme Beaman. Originally produced for the BBC since the 1950s, the stop-motion animation featuring figurines in miniature sets has never been released to the States. The folks at American Home Entertainment have changed that with this release, featuring the adventures of Larry the Lamb and Dennis the Daschund. In typical British comedy fashion, the stories feature eccentric plots and dialogue, inventiveness, classic understatement and genteel absurdity. The first volume contains five stories. Not rated, 68 minutes, $9.95. If you can't get this at your local video outlet, AHE can be reached at 800-422-6484. Thanksgiving will never be the same since the introduction of "A Rugrats Thanksgiving," which captivated us with its story of "The Turkey Who Came to Dinner." When Grandpa Lou wins a live turkey for the festivities, the Rugrats -- Tommy, Chuckie, Phil & Lil and Angelica -- decide that they have to protect the bird from being served and teach the adults something about the true meaning of the holiday. Get this one now for next Thanksgiving. Also in the Rugrat's franchise comes "Dr. Tommy Pickles," a two-cartoon tape featuring "Hiccups," in which the Rugrats try to "cure" Tommy's bad case of the hiccups, and "Autumn Leaves," in which the kids try to cure "sick" trees that are shedding autumn leaves. A wonderful kid's eye-view of the world. Both are from Paramount Home Video, not rated, $12.95. Approved by Lizzy. "Maurice Sendak's Little Bear" series is based on the best-selling (for more than 40 years) "Little Bear" books, written by Else Holmelund Minarik and illustrated by Sendak. These gentle, award-wining animated tales about Little Bear, his parents, and friends Cat, Hen, Owl and Duck, stimulate imaginations and encourage creativity, curiosity, adventure and problem solving for pre-schoolers. Two videos are available from Paramount: "Meet Little Bear" and "Family Tales," each 34 minutes long and selling for $9.95. Approved by Lizzy. The latest direct-to-video edition of the "Land Before Time" franchise -- "The Land Before Time V: The Mysterious Island" -- again features the adventures of "kid" dinosaurs Littlefoot, Cera, Spike, Ducky and Petrie in the Great Valley before the dawn of humankind. These anthropomorphic dinos are a treat to watch as they strike out on their own to help their elders solve a problem that threatens their society. This time they travel to the Mysterious Island and meet up with an old friend -- Chomper, a young T-rex who, unlike his parents, would rather play with other dinos, not eat them. The animated lesson: friendship, love and understanding despite differences. And it's great to watch these little dinosaurs team up to get themselves out of trouble. From Universal Studios, rated G, 74 minutes, $19.98. Approved by Lizzy. The animated "Pippi Longstocking" -- based on the 'Pippi" books about a rambunctious 9-year-old who has superior strength and free-spirited ways -- comes with a Pippi doll and rebate tie-ins with other Warner Home Video releases. There's plenty of music and adventure here as Pippi leaves her seafaring adventures behind to settle down in her house, completely upsetting the straight-laced town with her feisty attitude. I'm a bit ambivalent about this 9-year-old living on her own -- especially since in the opening scenes her father is washed out to sea (but returns at the end of the story) -- but her inner strength and positive attitude, providing a good role model, overrides my uneasiness. From Warner Bros. Family Entertainment, rated G, 75 minutes, $19.96. Approved by Lizzy. If you haven't yet seen any of the adventures of Wallace & Gromit (a sassy, eccentric British inventor and his level-headed canine pal) you don't know what you and your children are missing. In three claymation animated adventures (two of which have received Academy Awards) the delightful pair get involved in thrilling and humorous adventures. They blast off in a homemade rocket for a trip to the moon to get some cheese ("A Grand Day Out"), get involved in window cleaning and sheep-rustling ("A Close Shave") and rent a room to a penguin with larceny on his mind ("The Wrong Trousers"). If you think claymation is just Gumby, these complex animated featurettes will please and surprise you. From BBC Video and CBS/Fox, 30 minutes, $9.95. Approved by Lizzy. For more traditional animation, there's "The Swan Princess: Escape From Castle Mountain," a sequel to 1994's "The Swan Princess" (which was loosely based on "Swan Lake"). Here Prince Derek and Princess Odette (and animal friends Jean-Bob the parrot, Speed the turtle and Puffin the frog) must save their kingdom from a fiendish magician searching for a magic orb that will give him ultimate power. Feature songs and humorous action keep the story moving along briskly; although rated G, there is mild violence. From Warner Bros. Family Entertainment, 75 minutes, $19.96. Approved by Lizzy. Pee-wee's back! The fun-loving, wacky Pee-wee Herman hosted the inimitable early-morning, Emmy-award-winning late-1980s children's show, "Pee-wee's Playhouse," combining irreverent humor with a multi-colored almost psychedelic look at the world. Now the Playhouse returns to home video in a spate of releases from MGM Home Video. There are 16 volumes so far, each containing two sublime Pee-wee episodes, 50 minutes, $12.98 each (there are also two neat gift sets, containing Volumes 1-8 and 9-16, $99.92 each). A different take on reality for grown-ups and children of all ages. Approved by Lizzy. "The Land Before Time Sing Along Songs" is the latest installment in the highly successful "Land Before Time" animated feature film franchise. Since it's release in 1988, "The Land Before Time" saga -- featuring the adventures of benign dinosaurs Littlefoot, Cera, Spike, Ducky, and Petrie -- has been followed by three direct-to-video sequels as well as books and CD-ROMS. This latest outing features 10 songs culled from the four features as well as facts about real dinosaurs; for a limited time, a CD-ROM containing a "Land" game and electronic coloring book will be bundled with the $12.98 package. In conjunction with this release, Universal Studios Home Video is packaging all four "Land" features -- "Land Before Time," "The Land Before Time II: The Great Valley Adventure," The Land Before Time III: The Time of the Great Giving" and "The Land Before Time IV: Journey Through the Mists" -- in a colorful slipcase for $79.98. All the videos are housed in clamshell cases. Your kids won't be able to avoid the marketing on this one; thankfully the "Land" videos are a notch above the competition. Approved by Lizzy. Elementary schoolers can look forward to two new episodes of the adventures of Wishbone, the "little dog with a big imagination" who introduces children to literary classics by partaking in fantastic adventures in the fictional town of Oakdale, U.S.A. Each episode has Wishbone playing with his human friends and getting into exciting predicaments; in parallel story lines Wishbone imagines himself as a lead character in a classic work of literature. "Wishbone: A Tail in Twain," has Wishbone taking the role of Tom Sawyer in Mark Twain's "The Adventures of Tom Sawyer" and "Wishbone: Hercules Unleashed" is based on the "Hercules and the Golden Apple Myth," with Wishbone as Hercules. "Hercules" has a running time of 38 minutes, "Twain" is an hour long; both sell for $14.95, from Lyrick Studios. Approved by Lizzy. Britt Allcroft, the producer of the award-winning "Thomas the Tank Engine & Friends" and "Shining Time Station," both longtime staples of PBS, has created a new character, Mumfie, a special little elephant who searches for fun and adventure in his first feature-length outing. Called "Britt Allcroft's Magic Adventures of Mumfie," the video highlights the animated adventures of Mumfie and his friends Scarecrow and Pinky the Flying Pig, as they go on a mission to recapture the stolen Cloak of Dreams and return a magical island to happiness. For some pre-schoolers the movie, at 110 minutes, may be a bit too long for one sitting, the overlapping plots may be a bit confusing and there is some minor violence and the threat of violence, but on a whole it's a captivating and enjoyable project. With 14 original songs, in clamshell packaging, BMG Video, $14.98, available now. Approved by Lizzy. Three new "Winnie the Pooh" videos have been created by the folks at Walt Disney under the banner Pooh Friendship Videos. Each volume features stories aimed at imparting lessons about caring, sharing and the true meaning of friendship as Winnie and his friends travel down the gentle road of adventure created by A.A. Milne in 1924. Each of the volumes -- "Pooh Wishes," "Tigger-ific Tales," and "Clever Little Piglet" -- feature three new adventures, run 44 minutes and sell for $12.99, available now. The never-ending-exploitation of the George Lucas "Star Wars" franchise has now been extended to pre-schoolers with the launch of the "Star Wars Animated Classics" line by Fox Home Entertainment. Two new feature-length films debut with the animated adventures of the Ewoks (those furry little animals in the forests of the Moon of Endor) and R2D2 and C-3PO in situations that may be a confusing and complicated to little ones not yet familiar with the Star Wars characters. And some of the action may be a tad too violent for parents concerned about that area. Still, the characters are charming and kids do like them. "Ewoks: The Haunted Village" and "Droids: The Pirates and the Prince" run 90 minutes and sell for $14.95 each, in clamshell case, available now. Two new volumes have been added to the award-winning "Jane Hissey's Old Bear Stories" series from Sony Wonder. Each video -- featuring state-of-the-art stop-motion animation -- follows the gentle adventures of a menagerie of unforgettable toys set in an enchanted playroom. Each of the new volumes features three stories. "Lost & Found" has episodes that revolve around surprise and mystery: In "Little Bear Lost" Little Bear disappears during a game of hide-and-seek, in "Little Bear's Trousers" Little Bear discovers his pants have been borrowed, and in "Jigsaw," the toys search for a missing piece of a jigsaw puzzle. The second title, "Fun & Games," includes the episodes "The Circus," "The Boat Race" and "Little Bear's Big Race." For preschoolers; each volume runs 30 minutes and sells for $9.98, available now. As most parents of youngsters know, the two Corduroy books by Don Freeman ("Corduroy" and "A Pocket for Corduroy") are a favorite of preschoolers; they're classics in children's literature with their simplicity, humanity and beauty. Now, Paramount Home Video has taken Corduroy and put him in a series of animated adventures with all new stories (Freeman, who also wrote "Beady Bear" and "Dandelion," died in 1978). The first four releases are "Home," "The Dinosaur Egg," "The Puppy" and "The Circus"; each runs around 25 minutes and sells for $11.95, available now. Two years ago, our 4-year-old daughter was in love with "Arthur." Or should we say that she was in love with the characters in "Arthur," especially D.W., Arthur's little sister. This delightfully animated show, based on the books (26 so far, as well as CD-ROMS) by Marc Brown and airing on PBS, is non-violent and emphasizes problem-solving with wit, intelligence, and wisdom. Arthur, an 8-year-old aardvark, along with his friends and family delight kids and grownups with their droll adventures. Solutions to sticky situations (superstitions, monsters, envy, bullies, "mean" teachers, etc.) are worked out and talked out without resorting to inappropriate action. Random House Home Video has just released three volumes of "Arthur," each containing two episodes: "Arthur's Eyes" (Arthur needs glasses) and "Francine's Bad Hair Day"; "Arthur's Pet Business" (Arthur has to prove he can be responsible for a pet) and "D.W. the Copycat"; and "Arthur Writes a Story" (Arthur keeps messing up his writing assignment) and "Locked in the Library!" Each video has a 30-minute running time and sells for $12.98, available now. Approved by Lizzy. Sony Wonder has launched a new home video line especially for babies. Called "Baby, It's You," the label is aimed at babies who love to watch other babies and features babies and toddlers bouncing around to the beat of classic, up-tempo music. The first three releases are: "Multiple Madness," featuring twins and triplets strutting to such hits as "Just the Two of Us," "1-2-3," and "Knock Three Times"; "Giggles & Gurgles has the little ones dancing and laughing to "Diamonds Are a Girl's Best Friend," "Please Mr. Postman," and "Itsy Bitsy Teenie Weenie Yellow Polka Dot Bikini"; and "Dirty Diaper Dancing," with such tunes as "Footloose," "Rock Around the Clock" and "Locomotion." And, oh yes, parents and relatives are invited to take a peek and participate, too. Thirty minutes and $9.98 each. Rupert, the lovable and good-natured bear from the U.K. whose animated series airs daily as part of the Nickelodeon Nick Jr. preschool programming block, made his U.S. home video debut in Sony Wonder's "Rupert: Caring and Sharing With Friends." Rupert first appeared as a cartoon strip in 1920, making him one of the longest running comic characters in the world. His magical, worldwide adventures aim to spark young imaginations with gentle, humorous life lessons about sharing and growing up. His video debut features two episodes: "Rupert and the Dragon Race," about a flying couch that whisks Rupert and friends to the Valley of the Dragons in China, and "Rupert and the Carousel," in which the animals of an abandoned carousel are magically brought to life, are stolen and then recovered. "Rupert" runs 48 minutes and sells for $9.95. Approved by Lizzy. "Homeward Bound II: Lost in San Francisco." This enjoyable sequel features two dogs, Chance and Shadow, and a Himalayan cat, Sassy, (voiced by Michael J. Fox, Ralph Waite and Sally Field, respectively), who get lost in San Francisco when they break out of their cages on the way to the airport to join their humans on a trip to Canada. The threesome isn't prepared for the lurking dangers (none of them scary, however) that cross their path on their way across the Golden Gate Bridge back to the suburbs. A delightful outing for the family. Director: David R. Ellis. Stars: Chance, Sassy and Shadow. CC (G 89 min.) Family 1996 (Walt Disney 7893) $22.99 suggested retail price Available: now Approved by Lizzy. Sony Wonder has released the first all-musical home video compilation from the critically acclaimed and award-winning PBS pre-school series "The Puzzle Place" as well as a video featuring three "Puzzle Place" episodes. "The Puzzle Place Sing-Along Songs" video is a compilation of musical video clips from the series, featuring all of the show's characters performing 14 full-length songs, with the lyrics appearing at the bottom of the screen. The second "Puzzle Place" video, "Accentuate the Positive," features two episodes from the series plus a bonus made-for-video episode. Both releases have a suggested retail price of $12.98. Two installments in the excellent "The Busy World of Richard Scarry" video series are available. Based on the best-selling book series by world-famous author Scarry (his books have sold over 100 million copies worldwide), the animated adventures take place in the world of Busytown and features "day in the life" stories of such characters as Huckle Cat, Lowly Worm and Grouchy Mr. Gronkle. Each episode is designed to teach pre-school children important lessons of life in a fun and exciting way, and each video features three episodes as well as "interstitials" -- one-minute segments offering children tips on safety and how things work. The new titles are "Summer Picnic" and "The Best Babysitter Ever." The PolyGram videos run 25 minutes each and sell for $9.95 each. Approved by Lizzy. Exceeded in popularity only by their lion buddy Simba, the funny "The Lion King" gruesome twosome of Timon and Pumbaa (a wise-cracking meerkat with a worry-free "Hakuna Matata" philosophy and a dim-witted warthog with a large appetite, respectively) come to home video in "Timon and Pumbaa's Wild Adventures" tapes from Walt Disney Home Video. Each of the new video volumes -- "Live and Learn," "Quit Buggin' Me" and "Don't Get Mad, Get Happy" -- features two stories, run approximately 30 minutes, and sell for $12.99. By the way, the voice of Timon is none-other than that of hot movie star Nathan Lane. They crawl on the desert floor, swim in the bottom of the sea, stalk the jungle and climb the trees. They're the young stars Sony Wonder's pre-school "See How They Grow" series. Each title -- "Desert Animals," "Sea Animals," "Jungle Animals" and "Tree Animals"-- follow the lives of baby animals from infancy to young adulthood, using first person narration and fascinating visuals. " "Desert Animals" features a baby tarantula, gerbil, tortoise and gecko; "Sea Animals" watches a ray, pipe fish, cuttle fish and hermit grab grow and glide through their underwater neighborhood; "Jungle Animals" follows the childhood of a scorpion, alligator, snail and tiger; and "Tree Animals" showcases a chameleon, stick insect, buzzard and fruit bat. Each video runs approximately 30 minutes and sells for $12.98. "Friends, Friends, Friends" and "Happy Birthday Bear" are two of Sony Wonder's critically acclaimed family home video series "Jane Hissey's Old Bear Stories." Brought to life by stop motion animation, the all new videos are based on the best-selling series of books set in an enchanted playroom inhabited by a menagerie of unforgettable toys. Each video contains three episodes. "Friends, Friends, Friends" includes "Old Bear," which introduces the character of Old Bear, "Jolly Tall," which finds a giraffe joining the playroom and "Hoot," in which the toys find a new nest for Hoot the White Owl. "Happy Birthday Old Bear" includes "The Fancy Dress Parade," in which Old Bear judges a costume competition, "Ruff," which introduces Ruff the dog, who is welcomed with his first ever birthday party and "The Birthday Band," in which the toys put on a festive musical production to celebrate Old Bear's birthday. The delightful videos run about 30 minutes each and have a $9.98 price tag. Approved by Lizzy.

Other Releases December, 2000: On December 5, Fox will release a DVD containing all 13 episodes of the first season of the animated Fox Kids TV show "Digimon: Digital Monsters," which follows the adventures of seven young friends who team up with a colorful assortment of "monsters" to battle evil; the "Digimon Season 1" DVD will sell for $24.98 ... Available December 12 is "Air Bud: World Pup," the second sequel to "Air Bud." Here the dog with all the right sports moves takes on soccer, with the added attraction of love (with another Golden Retriever) and fatherhood. Stars: Kevin Zegers, Brittany Paige Bouck, Caitlin Wachs, Dale Midkiff, Wally. Rated G, 83 min., from Disney, $19.99 VHS, DVD: Day & Date. November, 2000: Warner will release four Powerpuff Girls videos on November 7: Two VHS releases, "Birthday Bash" and "Dream Scheme," each featuring five-action packed episodes of the Cartoon Network heroes, $14.95; and "Down n' Dirty" and "Powerpuff Bluff," two DVD releases each featuring more than two hours of the Girls' adventures, $19.98 ... Lyrick Studios has released a Christmas- themed video of Australian kids entertainment group The Wiggles, "Wiggly, Wiggly Christmas," featuring the four-man group performing a host of Christmas songs, Down Under style, $14.95 VHS ... From Disney comes "Rolie Polie Olie: A Rolie Polie Christmas," a collection of three animated adventures for the pre-school set, $12.95 VHS ... From Artisan Entertainment comes the direct-to-video animated "The Tangerine Bear: Home in Time for Christmas" (based on the popular children's book "The Tangerine Bear" about a teddy bear whose smile was accidentally sewn on upside down), featuring the voice talent of Jonathan Taylor Thomas, Howie Mandel, Jenna Elfman, David Hyde Pierce, Tom Bosley and Marlon Waylons, and featuring narration and songs by Trisha Yearwood, $14.98 VHS ... And the Teletubbies are back with another Christmas celebration: The exclusive-to-video "Christmas in the Snow" features Tinky Winky, Dipsy, Laa-Laa and Po in interactive snow adventures for pre-schoolers, on two VHS cassettes (with free wrapping paper and gift card), from Warner. October, 2000: Columbia TriStar's "Dragon Tales: Follow the Clues" is the latest outing from the animated TV series "Dragon Tales." In the series, six-year-old Emmy and four-year-old Max discover a magic dragon scale in the playroom of their house that transports them to Dragon Land. Each "Dragon Tales" episode -- co-produced by Sesame Workshop, is designed to help children develop a sense of confidence and help overcome obstacles and face fears. For pre-schoolers. Three episodes, not rated, 40 minutes, $12.95 VHS, due October 3. Paramount's "Blue's Big Musical Movie" is the first feature-length outing for the blue dog and her human friend Steve and follows the adventures of the pair as they prepare for their big backyard musical show. There's six new songs -- featuring the voice of Ray Charles -- that help kids learn the fundamentals of music (the differences between notes, rhythm and tempo, for example). For pre-schoolers. Not rated, $19.95 VHS, $24.99 DVD, due October 3. Halloween has arrived early for the Teletubbies, when Tinky Winky, Dipsy, Laa- Laa and Po discover a fantastic, magical pumpkin in Teletubbyland in "The Magic Pumpkin and Other Stories." For pre-schoolers. From Warner, not rated, $14.95 in a bright orange clamshell case, available now. August/September, 2000: Paramount Home Video will release on September 12 the latest Peanuts special, "It's the Pied Piper, Charlie Brown," in which the Peanuts gang retells the beloved fairy tale; the video also includes an 11-minute retrospective with Peanuts creator Charles M. Schulz; $14.95 VHS, $19.99 DVD. In conjunction with this release, the company is releasing to DVD for the first time "It's the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown," "A Charlie Brown Thanksgiving" and "A Charlie Brown Christmas." $19.99 each (all three titles have been reissued on VHS for $14.95 each). Warner Home Video and PBS Home Video have inaugurated a new exclusive-to-video collection based on the PBS Kids' preschool TV series "Zoboomafoo," about the adventures of a leaping lemur; the videos (a mix of live-action, puppetry, animation and clay animation, with Chris and Martin Kratt of "Kratts' Creatures" on hand to facilitate the fun) celebrate the wonders of wildlife. The first two releases are "Xoboo's Little Pals" and "Play Day at Animal Junction"; available for $14.95 each on September 19. Universal has added two new "Maisy" (a pint-sized mouse who has her own preschool series on Nick Jr. as well as a series of interactive children's books) videos to its collection: "Maisy Makes Music" and "Maisy's Winter Fun," five episodes on each 30- minute, $12.98 cassette. And fans of Pokemon will be pleased to know that Pioneer Entertainment has released two more volumes of Pokemon adventures, from the second season of the Kids WB series: Volume 21, "The PO-KE Corral!" and volume 22, "Hang Ten, Pikachu"; each running 75 minutes and selling for $14.98 VHS and $24.98 DVD, due September 19. July, 2000: "Dragon Tales," the new PBS animated television series for pre- schoolers, has made its way to VHS and DVD. The series, which follows the adventures of a brother and sister who use a magic dragon scale to transport themselves to Dragon Land where they meet up with dragons who possess very human qualities, is a co- production of Sony and the Children's Television Workshop. Three VHS volumes are available for $12.95; each contains three adventures; the DVD ($24.95) contains five adventures. The Fox Family Channel's 3-D animated "Rotten Ralph" -- about a cat who's bad but doesn't mean to be -- based on the popular kids books (for ages 3 to 10), will make its video debut August 22 in two VHS compilations. "Rotten Ralph Vols. 1 & 2" each contain six entertaining episodes that help teach kids important life lessons and has a $9.98 price tag; from 20th Century Fox Home Entertainment. More: Sony Wonder has released "Arthur's Scary Stories," the latest in the adventures of the animated aardvark, featuring three episodes for $9.98; Warner Home Video has released the latest Teletubbies' video, "Bedtime Stories and Lullabies"; "Come on Over to Barney's House," the first direct-to-video release for the purple dinosaur, taking fans somewhere they've never been before: Barney's home, $14.95 VHS and $24.99 DVD (with added features such as a 24-page electronic book, sing-alongs and a bonus video), from Lyrick Studios. June, 2000: Spot, one of the best known preschool characters from the best- selling line of books by Eric Hill, comes to home video in "Discover Spot," following the playful dog's adventures -- such as playing hide-and-seek, preparing his own breakfast, and sharing an outing with his grandpa. Spot is voiced by Haley Joel Osment of "The Sixth Sense" fame. Available now from Disney for $19.99 VHS. A duo of best-selling Teletubbies videos -- "Here Come the Teletubbies" and "Favorite Things" -- have been repackaged in a brightly-colored, fully collapsible case that features two see- through windows with images of Tinky, Winky, Dipsy, Laa-Laa and Po on the sides, and a handle that's just right for little hands; available now from Warner for $29.98 VHS. Paramount Home Video and Nickelodeon have brought a new Blue's Clues title to home video for pre-schoolers: "Blue's Clues: Stop, Look and Listen," in which kids can help Steve, Blue and their friends solve the day's puzzles in two new episodes: "What Did Blue See?" and "What's That Sound?" Also from Paramount is a compilation of new adventures featuring Maurice Sendak's Little Bear: "Little Bear: Rainy Day Tales," featuring "The Rain Dance Play," "Hiccups," "Mitzi's Mess" and "The Puddle Jumper"; both videos sell for $9,95 each. Also for preschoolers is the latest volume in Jim Henson's the Bear in the Big Blue House series: "Bear in the Big Blue House: Visiting the Doctor With Bear," featuring "The Big Blue House Call" and "That Healing Feeling," from Columbia TriStar on July 18 for $12.95 VHS. "The End of Silliness?: More Really Silly Songs" is the 12th installment in the popular VeggieTales series featuring wholesome vegetables that help parents teach kids important life lessons. This edition is the second sing-along for the franchise, and is available from Big Idea (through mass merchandisers such as Target, Wal-mart and online outlets) for $12.95. The latest adventures in the delightful Thomas the Tank Engine & Friends series toots its way to video July 25 with the release by Anchor Bay of "Make Someone Happy & Other Thomas Adventures," featuring six episodes, $12.98 VHS. For older kids there's the first three volumes in the animated "The Morph Files," which features a series of animated desktop adventures with Morph, an ever-changing character created using clay and computer animation, brought to life by two of the founders of Aardman ("Wallace and Gromit" and "Chicken Run") Animations; available now from BBC Video for $9.98 a volume. From Fox Home Entertainment comes the Marvel Superheroes Collection, six videos each featuring two superhero episodes: "Captain America," "The Incredible Hulk," "Iron Man," "The Mighty Thor," "Spider-Man" and "Sub-Mariner," $9.98 VHS due July 4. Pioneer Entertainment will release on July 18 volumes 19 and 20 of the latest Pokemon TV adventures: "Our Hero Meowth" and "The Final Badge," $14.98 VHS and $24.98 DVD. And, hoping to tap into the spirit of "Babe" and "Paulie," Paramount has released "The Real Macaw," which follows the adventures of a 149-year-old wisecracking parrot named Mac (voiced by John Goodman) who retires from his pirate life style to help his new friends Grandpa (Jason Robards) and grandson Sam (Jamie Croft) find South Pacific buried treasure; $19.95 VHS due July 11. May, 2000: Paramount Home Video and Nickelodeon have released "Rugrats: Discover America," an anthology of four Rugrats' adventures. "Discover America" is an entirely new 22-minute episode that won't air on TV until September; also on the VHS release are three previously shown episodes: "The Jungle," "Journey to the Center of the Basement" and "Faire Play." The $12.95 video also includes an exclusive behind-the-scenes feature about the fall theatrical release of "Rugrats in Paris -- The Movie." Cartoon Network's "The Powerpuff Girls" comes to home video for the first time this month. For those unfamiliar with them, the Powerpuff Girls were born when Professor Utonium set out to create the perfect little girls in his lab. But after mixing all the right ingredients -- sugar, spice and everything nice -- he added in a mysterious fourth ingredient, Chemical X, creating the world's "cutest superheroes." Now whenever trouble is brewing, these little crimebusters fly in to save the day -- but always before bedtime. The first two Powerpuff videos are compilations: "Bubblevicious" includes five episodes voted upon by the show's fans and "Monkey See, Doggie Do" contains five episodes chosen by Cartoon Net's animation experts; each sells for $14.95. Parents should know, however, that as nice as these girls are, their videos contain violence. The latest Barney video -- "Barney's Super Singing Circus" -- has been released on VHS and DVD. The VHS version ($14.95) contains the 50-minute "Super-Dee-Duper" circus, featuring Barney's marching band, a car full of clowns, ponies, a lion tamer, a strong-man and 14 Barney songs -- all aimed at entertaining pre- schoolers and helping them with colors, counting, numbers and the concept of cooperation. The DVD ($24.99) features the circus plus "A Tent Too Full," a 20-page electronic book read-along; a Circus sing-along; eight interactive DVD-ROM games; and "More Barney Circus Fun," 45 minutes of circus scenes from other Barney videos. Sony Wonder has three videos and one DVD for pre-schoolers: "Elmo's World: Babies, Dogs & More," highlighted by three self- contained 15-minute segments from "Sesame Street" featuring Elmo, his pet goldfish Dorothy, his friend Mr. Noodle, and others, $9.98; "Rainbow Fish: Fintastic Fish" and "Rainbow Fish: High Tide Heros," featuring four episodes each of the animated adventures of Rainbow, based on the best-selling books by Marcus Pfister, $9.98; and the "Fintastic Fun in Neptune Bay" DVD featuring all eight episodes from the two Rainbow home videos, $19.98. April, 2000: "Tom Sawyer" is a direct-to-video animated version of Mark Twain's celebrated classic, with furry creatures -- including cats and foxes -- as the characters of Tom, Huck and friends. Voiced by top country stars: Waylon Jennings, Hank Williams Jr., Lee Ann Womack, Rhett Akins, Mark Wills as well as Betty White and Don Knotts. From MGM, $14.95 SRP. Larry-Boy and his Veggie friends are back in another Big Idea video production designed to help parents teach children important life lessons ... here about the power of words. In "Larry-Boy and the Rumor Weed," the Veggie kids start a rumor about Alfred the butler and watch in amazement as the story spreads all over Bumblyburg in the form of a mutated, toxic Rumor Weed. It's up to Larry the cucumber to pull out the offending fern; $12.99. For pre-schoolers there's two new episodes in the Theodore Tugboat series -- about the adventures of five tugboats named Theodore, Emily, Foduck, George and Hank who learn about the world through their interactions with neighbors and friends, learning by asking questions, listening to stores, exploring, observing and even making mistakes. The series draws a parallel between the vessels of the Big Harbor and the real-life experiences of young children. The two new editions -- from PBS and Warner Home Video -- are "Theodore's Underwater Mysteries" and "Theodore's Nighttime Adventures"; $12.95 each. For older kids, WGBH Boston has released the entire library of the popular PBS television series "Degrassi" for the first time. The Degrassi series, entertaining fare for pre-teens, teens and parents alike as it discusses the challenges and joys of growing up, follows the Degrassi kids as they grow from elementary through high school. WGBH will release four sets of episodes: "The Kids of Degrassi Street," 23 episodes for $149.95; "Degrassi Junior High," 42 episodes for $199.95; "Degrassi High," 28 episodes for $149.95; and a "Degrassi Health Education Curriculum," 12 episodes and a teachers' guide for $99.95. Individual episodes are available for $19.95 each. March, 2000: More "Blue's Clues" and "Little Bear" episodes arrive this month from Paramount. "Blue's Clues: Magenta Comes Over" features Steve and Blue in two colorful adventures with such preschool themes as visual perception, categorization and classification; $9.95. In "Maurice Sendak's Little Bear: Little Bear's Band," the delightful animated characters sing and perform music for the little ones in four episodes; $9.95. Disney has extended its "Pooh" franchise with "Sing A Song With Tigger," keyed to the recent release of "The Tigger Movie." The $14.95 video features sing-a- long songs from the movie as Tigger bounces through his scrapbook; also included is bonus programming in which Tigger teaches children how to make their own scrapbooks. Several kids perennial favorites are coming home to DVD and VHS. "Scooby-Doo Meets the Boo Brothers" is a brand new direct-to-video animated film featuring the irrepressible dog and his pal Shaggy; $14.95 on VHS. "Scooby-Doo's Original Mysteries" is a two and one-half hour DVD of the first five "Scooby-Doo" episodes ever created; $24.98. "Ton and Jerry's Greatest Hits" is a new DVD compilation of 14 classic cartoons, also $24.98. And an all-new Flintstones video, "The Flintstones Stone-Age Adventures" featuring six pre-historic episodes, arrives for $14.95; all from Warner Home Video. And the inimicable Barney arrives on DVD in "Barney's Rhyme Time Rhythm," featuring the purple dinosaur and friends romping through Mother Goose. In addition to the "Rhyme Time Rhythm" (also available on VHS at $14.95), the $24.99 DVD features eight interactive DVD-ROM games, a "What Can It Be?" 32-page electronic book, a sing- a-long, a Mother Goose medley, and more. Sony Wonders has released a batch of kids videos: animated "Arthur's Famous Friends" and "Arthur Goes to Hollywood" ($9.98 each); a 45-minute video from HBO's "George and Martha" series, "George and Martha's Best Friends" ($9.98); a feature-length animated version of "Jack and the Beanstalk" featuring the voices of Ben Savage, Sara Gilbert and rapper Tone-Loc ($12.98); two videos from PBS' "Wimzie's House" series for preschoolers: "Babies Have It Made" and "Pet Tales" ($9.98 each). February, 2000: The Teletubbies are back on video, this time in "Big Hug!" For the pre-school set, Teletubbies Tinky Winky, Dipsy, Laa-Laa and Po cavort through Teletubbyland, teaching kids about sharing and loving friendships; there's plenty of dancing and singing that kids can play along with. And, as with all the Teletubbies videos, "Big Hug!" has been ActiMate encoded to work with Microsoft ActiMates Teletubbies toys for kiddy interactivity. "Big Hug!" is available now for $14.95. Several new videos from Sony Wonder make their appearance in February. "Elmo's World," containing three complete Sesame Street episodes featuring Elmo, his pet goldfish Dorothy, Mr. Noodle and a host of Elmo's friends, is available now for $9.98. "CinderElmo," a Sesame Street retelling of the classic fairy tale, starring Keri Russell, French Stewart, Kathy Najimy, Oliver Platt and the Sesame Street gang, will be available February 29 at $12.98 VHS, $19.98 DVD. And the first two entries in Sony's new live-action How Does It Work? series that introduces kids to the hows and whys of the world around them are now available: "Works: Fun and Games," which features a tour of a crayon factory, a look at how kites are made, how a block of wood becomes a toy, and more; and "Works: How Do They Do That?" which includes segments on how a road is built, how a foundry forges a metal propeller, how products are recycled, and more; $7.98 each. And don't forget Walt Disney's Gold Collection re-releases of "Toy Story" and "Mulan," simultaneously on VHS for $22.99 and DVD for $29.99. January, 2000: Paramount has released three kids animated compilations: "Maurice Sendak's Little Bear: A Kiss for Little Bear," featuring four tender stories of friendship and love ($9.95); "Blue's Clues: Blue's Safari," highlighted by two episodes that teach children about animal behavior and shows them how animals live, protect themselves and take care of each other ($9.95); and "Rugrats: I Think I Like You," featuring three cartoons and a 22-minute special new-to-video "Be My Valentine" ($12.95). December, 1999: "Babar: The King of Elephants," an all-new animated feature-length film based on the adored series of children's books, from HBO Home Video for $19.96. "Animaniacs: Wakko's Wish," the first feature-length fully-animated "Animaniacs" movie, a direct-to-video Warner Bros. Family Entertainment release for $19.96. "An Extremely Goofy Movie," the latest direct-to-video Goofy movie starring Goofy and his son Max, from the folks at Disney for $24.99 VHS and $29.99 DVD. The interactive "More Barney Songs" on DVD ($24.99) features 23 of the purple dinosaur's favorite songs coupled with a digital jukebox, an electronic read-along, a musical scrapbook and more; the VHS version (minus the interactive features) sells for $14.95. "Annie," the new telefilm adaptation of the comic strip- turned-stage play-turned film, starring Kathy Bates and Alicia Morton, a November ABC/Disney special, arrives on VHS for $19.99. The Olsen twins are back again, this time almost-grown up in a pre-teen romantic adventure "Passport to Paris," highlighting Mary-Kate and Ashley as they travel to Paris to visit their grandfather, falling in love with the City of Lights and falling head over heels for two French boys; $19.96 from Warner Bros. Family Entertainment. November, 1999: "Bartok the Magnificent" is a direct-to-video sequel to 1997's "Anastasia," with the loveable but nasty bat Bartok attempting to prove himself a hero when young Prince Ivan is kidnapped by the evil Russian witch Baba Yaga. The $19.98 video ($29.98 DVD) features the voices of Hank Azaria, Kelsey Grammer, Jennifer Tilly, Tim Curry and Catherine O'Hara. The folks at Disney have pumped out three new videos for the holiday season. "I'll Be Home for Christmas" stars Jonathan Taylor Thomas as a self-absorbed college student who finds out what the holiday spirit is all about when he's faced with one comical adventure after another in his cross-country quest to reach home by Christmas eve, $22.99 VHS, $29.99 DVD. "Mickey's Once Upon a Christmas," billed as a family feature, is actually a compilation of three separate, but new, animated holiday tales, with interludes narrated by Kelsey Grammer: "Donald Duck: Stuck on Christmas," "A Very Goofy Christmas" and "Mickey and Minnie's Gift of the Magi," $22.99 VHS, $39.99 DVD. "Winnie the Pooh: Seasons of Giving" also contains three separate tales, featuring Pooh and his friends from the Hundred Acre Wood learning about sharing with others, being thankful for what they have and the importance of spending the holidays with loved ones, $22.99 VHS. The darlings of the pre-school set, the Teletubbies, arrive this month in their very own Christmas video. Tinky, Winky, Dipsy, Laa-Laa and Po celebrate Christmas Teletubby-style in five special episodes -- marveling at the joys of a Christmas tree growing in Teletubbyland, waking up to bells, receiving presents, hearing Christmas tales such as "Twas the Night Before Christmas," and enjoying Christmas music -- in a double cassette package (one green, one red) for $19.95. This one is for a limited time only -- the release goes on moratorium December 15. The latest addition to the growing line of Veggie Tales is "Madame Blueberry" -- a blueberry with a French lilt -- a quite material "girl" who learns that there's a limit to the accumulation of "stuff." After a whirlwind shopping spree, Madame Blueberry discovers that no matter how much she buys, she's unfulfilled, and that "being greedy makes you grumpy, but a thankful heart is a happy heart." This latest moral tale VHS release from Big Idea Productions -- combining Sunday morning values with Saturday morning fun -- has no suggested retail price. Universal Studios Home Video has released a holiday video featuring Harvey Comics' Casper the Friendly Ghost, Baby Huey and Herman & Katnip: "HarveyToons Presents: A Very Merry Casper Christmas." The 22-minute VHS contains four cartoons: "Mice Meeting You," "True Boo," "Jumping With Toy" and "Ice Cream"; $9.98. Also for pre-schoolers: BBC Video's "Mouse House" contains 11 five-minute stories featuring a group of five adorable and mischievous clay-animated mice and their adventures that teach children lessons about sharing, caring and the ups and downs of friendship; $14.98. For older kids there's the educational "Galileo Smith Visits the Solar System," about three kids who get a special tour of the planets with interstellar explorer Galileo Smith, $39.95 from Salt City Home Video; and "Mystery Kids," about a 12-year-old mystery writer who works out of a tree house to investigate the mystery of a missing girl, $29.98 from A-Pix Entertainment. October, 1999: What has 10 human legs, eight tentacles, four paws, a long green tail with yellow spots and inspires kids to dance and sing? The Wiggles -- four mates from Down Under joined by four loveable costumed characters (Dorothy the dinosaur, Henry the octopus, Wags the dog and Captain Feathersword) -- invaded kids TV on the Fox Family Channel this year and have now come to home video with two releases for the little ones: "Yummy Yummy," featuring 15 tunes about numbers, food and animal friends, and "Wiggle Time," featuring 13 wiggly-giggly songs. Both are $12.99 each from Lyrick Studios (the home of Barney) ... For older kids there's "A Kid Called Danger," an action-adventure about a 13-year-old sleuth who goes after a neighborhood jewel thief; $29.98 from A-Pix Entertainment. "The Nuttiest Nutcracker" is a direct-to-video computer animated musical -- in which all the leading characters are nuts, fruits and veggies -- that follows the adventures of the Nutcracker Prince as he tries to reclaim his rule over his kingdom after Reginald the Mouse King enslaves everyone. Features the voices of Jim Belushi, Cheech Marin and Phyllis Diller; from Columbia TriStar for $14.95 ... Warner Home Video will rerelease this month the Dr. Seuss tale "How the Grinch Stole Christmas" (1957), featuring the bonus Dr. Seuss adventure "Horton Hears a Who," on VHS and DVD; "A Christmas Story" (1983), starring Melinda Dillon and Peter Billinsly, about a 9-year-old boy who yearns for his ultimate holiday gift, on VHS and DVD; and the 1974 claymation tale "The Year Without Santa Claus" ... Columbia TriStar has repackaged four family films into two two-video sets: the live-action "Madeline" and "Matilda" and "Annie" (starring Aileen Quinn, Albert Finney and Carol Burnett) and "Oliver!" (starring Mark Lester, Oliver Reed and Ron Moody) for $24.95 each in back-to-back duracases. September, 1999: "Teletubbies," the first TV series specifically designed for pre-schoolers, celebrates its first video anniversary with the most successful year in the history of an off-TV children's video franchise, selling more units per title than any other kids video franchise (look out, "Barney"). The U.K.-created show -- featuring four fuzzy characters (Tinky Winky, Dipsy, Laa-Laa and Po) with TV sets in their tummies -- debuted on PBS in April 1998 and has taken babydom by storm, tumbling from the TV screen to department store and toy store aisles everywhere (according to the company, the "Teletubbies" book series, party goods and soft goods lines are the number one sellers for the pre-school market). Due this month is the fifth installment in the video series, "Teletubbies Funny Day," featuring the eponymous characters in multiple story lines with their blue friend The Noo-noo vacuum cleaner helping them tidy up their home in Teletubbyland; $14.95 in a clamshell package. And coming November 2 is a special two-cassette "Teletubbies" Christmas video (housed in a bright-red double clamshell package) featuring five holiday episodes that aired on PBS in December 1998 ($19.98). Those irrepressible Olsen twins are back in a new direct-to-video adventure, "Mary-Kate and Ashley's Fashion Party." Here the dynamic duo and their friends decide they want to know the ins and outs of fashion design, so they find a way to tour the Los Angeles Fashion Institute of Design and Merchandising. With what they learn, they eventually model in their school's spectacular fashion show. The popularity of the twins is ever-growing, what with TV series, videos, books and an upcoming set of Mary-Kate and Ashley's Friends of Barbie dolls and accessories. For pre-teen girls and their moms; $12.95. Universal Studios Home Video has released a thoroughly delightful new direct-to-video Alvin and the Chipmunks feature, "Alvin and the Chipmunks Meet Frankenstein." The video -- which includes four songs -- follows the adventures of the three chipmunks at a world-famous movie studio tour where they're one of the featured performing acts. While there they wreak their usual brand of havoc, eventually stumbling into Frankenstein's Castle and meeting and befriending the monster. This is one of our 7-year-old's newest favorites. Rated G, $19.98. Other new releases: "10 Years of Thomas the Tank Engine and Friends Collector's Edition," a collection of some of the best episodes from the series, $12.98 from Anchor Bay Entertainment; "The Adventures of Elmo in Grouchland Sing and Play" features three songs from the upcoming Sony theatrical release as well as six Sesame Street favorites, $12.98 from Sony Wonder; "Barney's Night Before Christmas" follows the purple dinosaur and friends as they take a musical trip to the North Pole, $14.95 VHS and $24.99 DVD from Lyrick Studios. August, 1999: Warner Home Video will release the digitally remastered version of "The Wizard of Oz" -- with a behind-the-scenes special, studio outtakes and original theatrical trailer -- on October 19 in VHS ($16.95) and DVD ($24.98) editions. MGM Home Entertainment has announced the re-release of the Beatles' "Yellow Submarine" (after an 11-year moratorium) on September 14; the movie will be available in VHS for $19.98 and DVD for $29.98 (with behind-the-scenes material, a music only track, interviews, a featurette and more). Columbia TriStar Home Video has released the critically praised "Bear in the Big Blue House" episode "Potty Time With Bear," which deals with the highly sensitive topic of potty training, presented in a fun way for kids to learn about and become comfortable with the potty. In the show, Bear helps Tutter, Ojo and everybody else in the Big Blue House better understand the "whys" and some of the "how-to's" of toilet training by inducting them into the Mystic Order of the Toileteers. From the Jim Henson studios; $12.95. Columbia TriStar has also re-released a 10th anniversary edition of "The Adventures of Milo and Otis," a live-action story about a cat and a dog who befriend each other and embark on exciting adventure in the wilderness. Narrated by Dudley Moore. Remastered and repackaged, $14.95. July, 1999: PolyGram Video (now renamed USA Home Entertainment) to signify PolyGram's takeover by Barry Diller's USA Studios) has released two new videos in the Franklin the turtle series (for ages 2-5) that shows kids how to handle such at-times daunting situations as making new friends, making mistakes, fear of the dark and being bossy: "Franklin Goes to School" and "Franklin and the Tooth Fairy," $12.95 each. Warner's KidVision label has added two new videos to the Scholastic "The Magic School Bus" series: "In a Beehive" and "Spins a Web," with no suggested retail price. WGBH Boston Home Video zooms into action with two new releases from the popular television series "Zoom," which features a cast of kids playing games, performing experiments, tackling brain teasers and just having fun together: "The Making of Zoom" and "Party With Zoom," $12.95 each. In First Run Features' "Champagne and The Talking Eggs," animator Michael Sporn presents two new animated shorts. In "The Talking Eggs," he adapts a Creole folk tale into a richly textured animated fable that encourages children to find their untapped potential and pursue their dreams; it's the story of a young girl who befriends a mystical elderly woman and is rewarded with a magical gift of three talking eggs that transform into beautiful treasures; narrated by Danny Glover. "Champagne" is the true story of a teenage girl whose mother is incarcerated and who finds herself living in a Catholic Children's home and whose dreams of growing up to be a bright, productive person are never diminished. The 38-minute video sells for $14.95. Barney is back ... on DVD. Lyrick Studios' $24.99 "Let's Play School!" DVD contains a 50-minute Barney video of "Let's Play School!" (also available on VHS for $14.95); a "Let's Play School!" sing-along"; "Barney's ABC Animals" read-along; "A Great Day for Learning" audio featuring seven songs; and five DVD-ROM interactive games. June, 1999: Columbia TriStar Home Video has released several kids videos this month. First off there's three new volumes in the company's "Berenstain Bears" series, each containing three episodes, at $9.95 per volume. Next up are reissues of three Jim Henson Muppet movies, "The Muppet Movie," "The Great Muppet Caper" and "The Muppets Take Manhattan," at $14.95 each. The third set of "The Wubbulous World of Dr. Seuss" becomes available this month, featuring two volumes of two episodes, with no suggested retail price. And "Bear in the Big Blue House" contributes two new volumes with two episodes each, also with no suggested retail price. Finally, the company is releasing two volumes in the animated TV series "Godzilla: The Series," from the Fox Kids Network: "Trouble Hatches" and "Monster War," at $9.95 each. From Big Idea Productions comes two new editions of VeggieTales, the series of kids videos that offer non-violent, Christian values for kids: "Josh and the Big Wall" and "Very Silly Songs," available at general nationwide retailers including Wal-Mart, Target, K-mart and Walgreen's. From Warner Home Video comes several excellent videos: "There Goes a Dump Truck," a learning video for preschoolers that transports youngsters to the world of road construction (part of the 17-title series "Real Wheels"), with no suggested retail price; two 70-minute Looney Tunes collections featuring the best of that loveable little bird, Tweety (with at least half the 20 cartoons never before available on video), with no suggested retail price; and "A Day With Bugs" (part of the "Real Animal Series"), which provides an educational and entertaining look at nature's smallest creatures, also with no suggested retail price. From Paramount Home Video comes the primetime TV special "Blue's Big Treasure Hunt," featuring the voice talent of Gregory Hines and a special live-action appearance by Rue McClanahan, for $9.95. From Walt Disney Home Video comes "Flik's Musical Adventure," featuring the hero from Pixar's "A Bugs Life," along with Minnie, Mickey and a host of kids in a live-action/computer-animated musical expedition through Disney's Animal Kingdom, at $12.99. And from Monarch Home Video comes the animated family film "The Tale of Tillie's Dragon," the adventures of a freckle- nosed little girl who lives in a castle with her uncle, a descendent of the famous St. George the dragon slayer, who meets up with a modern dragon named Herman, priced at $14.95. May, 1999: For preschoolers: The latest Barney video from the folks at Lyrick Studios is "Walk Around the Block With Barney," featuring the purple dinosaur and his friends in an exploration of Barney's neighborhood, $14.95. From Warner Home Video comes the fourth video release in the PBS Teletubbies series, this one an exclusive-to-video production called "Teletubbies Favorite Things," $14.95. For older kids (particularly boys) there's "Batman Beyond: The Movie," the latest edition in the Batman cartoon franchise, here taking the caped crimefighter in to the early 21st century for more adventures; the 48-minute long feature sells for $14.95. April, 1999: Youngheart Music has re-released Shari Lewis' "Shari's Passover Surprise," celebrating the Jewish holiday with a traditional Sedar featuring Lamb Chop, Charlie Horse, Hush Puppy and special guests Alan Thicke, Dom DeLuise and Robert Guillaume; $14.95. The inimitable Barney discovers new friends in foreign lands in Lyrick Studios' "What a World We Share," featuring the purple dinosaur, Stella the Storyteller, and Barney's kid friends, $14.95. "Baby Huey's Great Easter Adventure" is a direct-to-video live action musical about the giant diapered duck of Harvey Comics fame (since 1950), here with the innocent character becoming the darling of Bitzville but also running afoul of a conniving impresario who has shady ideas about Huey, in duracase packaging, starring Joseph Bologna, Maureen McCormick, Harvey Korman, David Lander and David Leisure, from Columbia TriStar with an estimated price tag of $14.95. Sony Wonder has two new releases this month for kids: an animated musical version of "Tarzan of the Apes," running 48 minutes and available for $9.98 as part of their "Enchanted Tales" series of animated family classics; and "Mama, Do You Love Me," a 30-minute video adaptation of the international best-selling children's book of the same name, for $12.98, as part of their "Doors of Wonder" series of adaptations of the world's most beloved illustrated children's books (the previous title, "The Rainbow Fish," was an award-winning best seller). Columbia TriStar has released two new volumes in the Jim Henson series "Bear in the Big Blue House," following the adventures of the insatiably curious seven-foot bear along with his colorful friends; Vol. 5 and 6 each contain two episodes, for pre-schoolers, $9.95 each. Also from Columbia TriStar and Henson comes "The Tale of the Bunny Picnic," a hare-raising musical adventure featuring the Muppet Bunnies, $9.95. February, 1999: Anchor Bay has released the latest installment in the Thomas the Tank Engine & Friends series, "Cranky Bugs & Other Thomas Stories," featuring six new episodes and a music video that have never been seen on television (the award-winning Britt Allcroft stop-motion animated series, now in its 10th year, currently runs on "Shining Time Station" on the Fox Family Channel). This volume features storytelling by Alec Baldwin and highlights the adventures of the irrepressible Thomas the Tank Engine and Cranky the crane, Bill and Ben the twin engines, and railroad friends Percy, Gordon and Toad; highly recommended for pre-schoolers. Twins Mary-Kate and Ashley Olsen continue to dominate the pre-teen girl home video front with two new direct-to-video adventures: "You're Invited to Mary- Kate & Ashley's Mall Party" (filmed at the Mall of America) and "You're Invited to Mary-Kate & Ashley's Costume Party." The former has the child stars singing, dancing and shopping their way around the nation's largest mall, while the latter has the girls playing dress-up as they show off the various fashion cycles of the 20th century. Each video sells for $12.95 and is backed by the "Ultimate Mary-Kate & Ashley Sweepstakes" promotion which includes a trip to Hollywood for a lucky family with a 4 day/3 night stay that features a limo tour of L.A., a VIP tour of Warner Bros. studios, an on-camera appearance in an upcoming Mary-Kate and Ashley video, and $1,000 in spending money. The VeggieTales series are unique videos that combine Saturday morning fun with Sunday morning religion, featuring computer-animated vegetables Bob the Tomato, Larry the Cucumber, Jr. Asparagus and others imparting family values through delightful stories and music. The latest two volumes are "God Wants Me to Forgive Them?!?", teaching kids why it's so important to forgive others when they're sorry for their actions, and "Larry-Boy! and the Fib from Outer Space," about how lies can trap you but telling the truth will set you free; $12.99 each. Other kids videos: The folks at Disney are greeting spring with "Sing a Song With Pooh Bear," the first sing-along musical for the company's animated bear franchise, $14.98. "Soccer Dog: The Movie," a clone of "Air Bud" here with a soccer loving mutt, starring James Marshall, Olivia D'Abo and Jeremy Foley, $13.95. "Treasure of Pirate's Point" from A-Pix Entertainment is a modern-day take off on "Treasure Island," about a group of kids who get involved with buried treasure and an evil plot to destroy their town, for rental only. From Columbia TriStar and Scholastic comes "The Invasion Begins," part one in the "Animorphs" video collection "The Invasion Series" (the Nickelodeon TV series "Animorphs" features five kids, who can transform themselves into any animal they touch, on a mission to save the Earth from an invasion by the evil Yeerks); this volume contains three episodes and has no suggested retail price. And from MPI Home Video comes the latest installment in their Show & Tell Series, "New & Comics," a documentary that follows two children as they journey across North America to learn how a paper is produced and recycled, how ink is manufactured, how a news story is written and how a comic strip is created; $12.98. December, 1998: "The Story of Santa Claus" is an animated tale that explains how Santa got his job: An out of work toy maker and his wife are swept up in a storm to the North Pole; there he saves the life of an elf and gets one wish granted: to give every child in the world a toy on Christmas Eve. With the voices of Ed Asner, Betty White and Tim Curry. From CBS Video, $14.98. Columbia TriStar Home Video has scheduled the release this month of two additional volumes of Jim Henson Entertainment's critically acclaimed kids series "Bear in the Big Blue House": Volumes 3 and 4, each containing two episodes aimed at pre-schoolers featuring the insatiably curious and cuddly seven-foot bear; $12.95 each. The folks at Disney have added two titles for families this month: "Summer of the Monkeys," about a young boy who attempts to rescue four monkeys that have escaped from a circus in order to earn money to but a horse, $19.99; and the wonderful "Mr. Toad's Wild Ride," a live-action retelling of "The Wind in the Willows" starring Terry Jones, Eric Idle, John Cleese and Michael Palin, for rental. Columbia TriStar has packed the holiday stockings with three Shari Lewis videos: "101 Things for Kids to Do," "One Minute Bible Story: Old Testament" and "One Minute Bible Stories: New Testament," each featuring 26 of the greatest stories from the bible hosted by Shari and Lamb Chop; $9.95 each. CBS Video has re-issued two Dr. Seuss animated classics in two volumes: "The Cat in the Hat" and "The Hoober Bloob Highway" and "Green Eggs and Ham & Other Stories" and "Grinch Night," $12.98 each. Hallmark Home Entertainment has released three new videos in conjunction with Crayola (each video comes with an eight-page activity book and Crayola crayons): "Percy the Park Keeper" (two wonderful animated episodes featuring Percy's park, where friends are plentiful and the fun never ends); "Tale of the Tooth Fairies," an hour-long adventure that follows the Tooth Fairy's mice messengers as they deliver presents to children); and "The Adventures of Mouse & Mole," based on the best-selling kids books; $9.98 each. "Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer -- the Movie" is a new version of the Christmas classic, with the voices of John Goodman, Eric Idle, Bob Newhart, Sarah Jessica Parker, Debbie Reynolds and Whoopie Goldberg, from GoodTimes, $14.99. Universal has released two volumes of The Spooktacular New Adventures of Casper, that lovable and cuddly phantom of Harvey comics fame. Each volume contains two 22-minute animated episodes, housed in a glow-in-the-dark clamshell case; $12.98 each. The folks at Lyrick Studios have released the latest "Barney" video, "Barney's Halloween Party," a celebration of the fall season featuring the purple dinosaur and friends BJ, Baby Bop, Farmer Dooley and the Barney kids; $14.95. The company has also released five entries in its "American Tall Tales and Legends" line presented by Shelley Duvall: "Ponce de Leon," "John Henry," "Darlin' Clementine," "Pecos Bill -- King of the Cowboys" and "The Legend of Sleepy Hollow"; $9.99 each. 20th Century Fox Home Entertainment has released the first three videos compiled from their hit children's series "Space Goofs," about a group of aliens who crash land on Earth and encounter a host of comic adventures: "Alien Antics" and "Cartoon Tales" (with three episodes each) and "Animal Crack-Ups" (four episodes); $9.98 each. Late 1998 releases: "Barney's Great Adventure: The Movie," from PolyGram, $22.95; "Lady and the Tramp," one of Disney's most memorable (and most requested) animated musicals about an uptown Cocker Spaniel named Lady and her freedom-loving mongrel from the wrong side of the tracks, Tramp, $26.99 full-frame, $29.99 widescreen; "Addams Family Reunion," direct-to-video sequel, with Daryl Hannah as Morticia and Tim Curry as Gomez, $19.96; 1998 theatrical release "Paulie," about a parrot who can actually talk (and not just mimic words), from DreamWorks, $22.99; and "Jungle Book: Mowgli's Story," live-action sequel about a young boy raised by animals in the jungle, from Disney, $22.99. Lyrick Studios has released two titles from the award-winning nature-based children's TV show, "Groundling Marsh." Targeted to 3-8 year-olds, the series reinforces such concepts as respecting the Earth and acting responsibly towards the environment, themes reflected in the comic misadventures of the Groundlings, seven fuzzy and friendly puppet creatures who live in a lush and fantastical natural wetland. Each program finds the Groundlings attempting to resolve amusing conflicts with each, with music, fun and surprises. The two episodes -- "Treasures Are for Sharing" and "Courageous Adventures" -- run 1 hour each and have a suggested retail price of $12.99. The number one kids book series and the number one kids show on television has also become a very popular video series (selling 4.5 million units): "Goosebumps," from prolific writer R.L. Stine. Despite the scary titles ("A Night in Terror Tower" and "The Haunted Mask) the adventures are rather quite mild (our 5 1/2 year-old loves them, though she can't always understand them -- and she's had no nightmares yet). They're enjoyable and fun (for adults, too) and watchable over and over again. And they do impart positive moral stances: love will overcome evil, trust is important, friendship is more powerful than animosity, problems can be solved with hard work. All the protagonists are kids and, unlike other TV series in which parents are treated as dolts, the fathers and mothers here are real and sensible. 20th Century Fox Home Entertainment has repackaged six of the most popular episodes into two specially priced, $24.95 three-packs: "The Haunted Mask," "Stay Out of the Basement" and "A Night in Terror Castle" and "The Werewolf of Fever Swamp," "The Haunted Mask II" and "Welcome to Deadhouse." Kids and Animals: Think nature is well-balanced? Think again. Leslie Nielsen takes viewers on a tour of the untamed wilds of the garden, revealing the utter chaos and violence, action and comedy that all those fire ants, tiger beetles, acorn weevils, praying mantis, and other creepy crawlies enjoy in the National Geographic Explorer series comedy-documentary "Savage Garden," designed to introduce youngsters and grown-ups alike to the wonders of nature (60 minutes, $19.98). A companion volume, "Sea Nasties," takes an equally exaggerated yet wonderful look at poisonous coral, dangerous sea urchins, and spiny devil fish (30 minutes, $12.98). National Geographic Kids Video offers entertainment for kids that's out of this world with the release of "Lava Blast!" and "Shark-A-Thon!" two new installments in the Amazing Planet series that takes National Geographic footage and turns it upside down and inside out in a zany comedy-adventure format as aliens lost in space explore the planet Earth, $12.95 each. Based on the internationally best-selling children's books and popular BBC TV series, the animated "The Animals of Farthing Wood," featuring the voice of Ralph Macchio, follows the adventures of the animal inhabitants of the wood as they find themselves under serious threat when the neighboring human population starts to move in on their territory and are forced to move to White Deer park where they can live their lives undisturbed. From BBC Video, 90 minutes, $14.98. More "Arthur": He's the star of 18 million books and watched on TV by 11 million PBS viewers each week. And he's now a video hit with, according to Random House Children's Media, the previous releases going "platinum" in sales. Six new videos, each with two stories, have been added to the series: "Arthur's New Puppy" and "Buster's Dino Dilemma," "Arthur's Chicken Pox" and "Arthur and the True Francine," "D.W.'s Blankie" and "The Perfect Brother," "Arthur Makes the Team" and "Meek for a Week," "Arthur's First Sleepover" and "Arthur's Lost Dog," and "D.W. Rides Again" and "Arthur's Cousin Catastrophe." Each 30-minute video sells for $12.98. "Bananas in Pajamas," a popular live-action kids TV show from Down Under, features B1 and B2, two mischievous Bananas in Pajamas and their bear friends, the Teddies, in innocuous adventures; for pre-schoolers, four episodes per 25-minute video, from PolyGram Video, $12.95. For older children there's "A Rugrats Vacation," a direct-to-video feature with Nickelodeon's award-winning animated kids on a RV trip to glittering Las Vegas; from Paramount Home Video, 55 minutes, $12.95. For Easter: Paramount Home Video has re-released "It's the Easter Beagle, Charlie Brown," digitally remastered and available for the first time in clamshell packaging, available now, for children of all ages, 25 minutes, $12.95 and "A Rugrats Passover," in which Grandpa Boris spins a riveting Passover tale for Tommy, Chuckie and Angelica on Sedar night, available now, for elementary school ages, 35 minutes, $12.95. Sony Wonder has released two new direct-to-video "Sesame Street" volumes: "Quiet Time" and "Sing Yourself Sillier at the Movies"; each $12.98, 30 minutes. The "Oz Kids Collection" is a series of animated adventures based on the characters in the classic "The Wizard of Oz"; the first nine releases are "Toto, Lost in New York," "Who Stole Santa?" "The Nome Prince and the Magic Belt," "Christmas in Oz," "Virtual Oz," "Journey Beneath the Sea," "The Monkey Prince," "The Return of Mombi" and "Underground Adventure." From Paramount, $12.95 each, for preschool through early elementary ages, from 60 to 90 minutes. MGM/UA's Family Treasures are family adventure films reasonably priced at $14.95 each and include"The Black Stallion Returns," (1983, rated G), starring Teri Garr and Vincent Spano in a story about a boy who embarks on a magical adventure in search of his stolen horse; "Namu, My Best Friend," (1966, rated G), about a scientist (Robert Lansing) who befriends a heartbroken whale; "A Zebra in the Kitchen," (1965, rated G), starring Jay North as a mischievous junior assistant zoo keeper; "Flipper," (1963, rated G), the original film about the unique friendship between a boy and a dolphin. Family Home Entertainment has three titles in the "Littlest Pet Shop" series, from the syndicated children's show that was spawned by a line of top-selling toys by Kenner. Each of the videos contains four stories about the gang at Elwood Funk's Pet Shop, highlighted by the pets, who have been shrunk to teeny weeny size. The titles, "Littlest Pet Shop Wrecking Havoc," "Littlest Pet Shop Treasure of Sierra Pet Shop" and "Littlest Pet Shop Scaredy Dog," each running 45 minutes, at $12.98 each. For ages 4 and up. "Wish Fairies," "Big Parade," "Monster Bananas" and "Special Delivery" are a quartet of releases from the "Bananas in Pajamas" live-action television series. The show feature the mischievous Bananas in Pajamas, affectionately known as B1 and B2, who along with their friends the Teddies and the loveable rogue Rat-ina-Hat encounter all sorts of adventures and challenges. Each 25 minute episode contains four or five self-contained short stories. From PolyGram Home Video, $12.95 each. For pre-schoolers. "The Adventures of Timmy the Tooth" is an original children's series from Universal Studios featuring Timmy the Tooth, his pal Brushbrush and friends Bubbles and Miss Flossy. Each half-hour episode finds the electronically animated puppets using their imaginations to travel from Flossmore Valley to different, sometimes exotic places, for fun and adventure. In this outing, "Big Mouth Gulch," the friends travel to the wild west; $12.98 in clamshell packaging. For ages 2 to 5. "101 Dalmatians: Pongo & Perdita Sing Along Songs" is a live-action musical romp featuring the doggie stars Pongo and Perdita of Disney's live-action version of "101 Dalmatians" as well as canine friends from "Homeward Bound" and "Fluke." The video encourages kids to dance and sing along with such tunes as "Zip-a-Dee-Doo-Dah," "Do Your Ears Hang Low?" "The Hokey Puppy (Hokey Pokey)," "Take Me Out to the Ball Game," "The More We Get Together" and five others. This is 19th addition to the Disney Sing-a-long Song series; the video runs 30 minutes and sells for $12.99. "Party Town Friends: Tea Party Twins" is an original production from Sony Wonder and New World Entertainment "targeted to young girls aged two-to-seven" and focusing on "the importance of cooperation, responsibility and friendship with each episode revolving around a special party theme." The first animated video features "All Gummed Up," in which the stars, the Tea Party Twins, are chosen by the Party Princess to host a 4:00 party but are hindered by the Party Pooper, who clogs the town clock with bubble gum. Available now, 30 minutes, $9.98. The 10th volume in the "Wee Sing" series, "Wee Singdom -- The Land of Music and Fun," features Wee Sing kids Annie and Tim playing the enchanting new game of Wee Singdom, which transports them into the magical, song-filled center of the Wee Sing world, Singalingland, where they encounter familiar songs and a cast of whimsical characters. Sounds silly, but you can't knock success: Wee Sing has been going strong since 1985. From Universal Home Video, 64 minutes, $12.98, available now. Nickelodeon's popular "Rugrats" again make the trip from TV to home video with two more compilations: "Grandpa's Favorite Stories," featuring five episodes starring Grandpa Boris; and "The Return of Reptar," highlighting Tommy, Chuckie and the kids with the Rugrats' favorite dinosaur in five tales. Both are about one-hour long, for elementary school ages, available now, from Paramount at $12.95 each. "Tom Thumb Meets Thumbelina" is an original story in Sony Wonder's line of "Enchanted Tales," animated musical adventures that include retellings of "Snow White," "Peter Rabbit," "Gulliver's Travels" and others. Here classic characters Tom Thumb and Thumbelina unite to battle an evil prince who wants to destroy their land, pitting wit and courage against size and brawn. Available now, 48 minutes, $9.98. "Gullah Gullah Island: Dance Along With the Daise Family" is a new-to-video release from Nick Jr.'s popular and award-winning TV series. This volume features real-life Sea Island, S.C.-couple Ron and Natalie Daise and the fun-loving Binyah Binyah Polliwog leaping and boogieing to 14 hip-hop tunes. From Paramount, for preschool ages, 30 minutes, $9.95.

Comments, questions, help? Send E-mail to OnVideo.

| Home | Contents/Site Map | Resources | Features | VidNews | Calendar | Sell-Through | Reviews | Links | Widescreen | Hot |