Baby Brains, The Smartest Baby in the World
(by Smon James, Candlewick $14.99 Score:)

What a joy to find a tall tale like Baby Brains in a perfect little package with a DVD that reverses to a CD, a hard covered book and play stickers and scene for retelling the Simon James’ funny story. It’s about a precocious baby who grows up very fast and is so smart he is picked to travel to outer space. But smart as he is there is something missing. Baby Brains is taking a space walk when he announces to the world that he wants his Mommy! Early school-aged kids will see the humor and truth in this funny little story.

Age: Preschool, Early School Years. Award Year: 2008. Click here to purchase the product on Amazon.com.

Make Way For Ducklings..and more delightful duck stories
(Scholastic $12.95 Score:)

There is one live action story in this collection, Angus and the Ducks, based on Marjorie Flck’s classic Scottie dog, Angus. All the other well known and award winning storybooks here are done with music and moving camera to enliven the still images. So, for a generation of kids who have grown up on animation, this may look odd. That said, this disk has several storybooks that every child should know. Robert McCLoskey’s Make Way for Ducklings was the winner of the Caldecott award in 1942 and remains a beauty of a book to see on screen and between covers. Also on this DVD, The Story About Ping, a little duck who strays too far from home and lives with the consequences as well as the punishment, he was trying to avoid. This has long been a favorite. 3-8

Age: Preschool, Early School Years. Award Year: 2008. Click here to purchase the product on Amazon.com.

Corduroy...and more stories about caring
(Scholastic $14.95 Score:)

Only one story featured on this DVD is animated, that is the classic tale of The Happy Lion with its jolly illustrations by Roger Duvoisin brought to life with mild animation. The other stories featured, Corduroy, Mike Mulligan and I Love You Like Crazy Cakes are done with moving camea that zooms in and out, but no animated action. For some children this may be a deal breaker. We hope not. This collection of noteworthy picture books includes a read along feature that beginning readers will enjoy. They are paced slow enough so that beginners will have no problem following along.

Age: Preschool, Early School Years. Award Year: 2008. Click here to purchase the product on Amazon.com.

Owl Babies
(Candlewick $14.99 Score:)

Another gem by Martin Waddell and illustrated by Patrick Benson are brought together in a marvelous package that is a perfect take along on trips or for quiet times at home. Three little owls awake to find their Mommy is gone. The three comfort themselves by sitting close to each other in a tree top awaiting her return. All's well that ends well and this small tale of separation is a reassuring one that speaks to a common childhood concern. The story is lightly animated on DVD with art adapted from the original illustrations. Or, flip the disk and open the book and follow along with the narration that has signals for when to turn the page. Like other sets in the Candlewick series there are stickers based on the art and a scene for moving the play pieces about and retelling the story…or making up further adventures. All in all a great play values! 3-6

Age: Preschool, Early School Years. Award Year: 2010. Click here to purchase the product on Amazon.com.

Silent Lotus
(Reading Rainbow / GPN $23.95 Score:) A fascinating video about how people who are deaf communicate. Also, the storybook Silent Lotus is about a girl who cannot hear or talk but learns to communicate through dance. Also includes a section on signing. Closed-captioned SNAP INFO: How people who are deaf communicate is the main thrust of this excellent video from the PBS show "Reading Rainbow." The storybook Silent Lotus is about a girl who cannot hear or talk but learns to communicate through dance. Also includes a section on signing. Closed-captioned

Age: Early School Years,Later School Years. Award Year: 1998.

Where the Wild Things Are
(Scholastic $14.95 Score:) Welcome back! For years Children's Circle videos were the benchmark of excellence in the world of children's videos bringing award winning storybooks classics to the video screen. For the past several years they were only available to libraries. Now part of the collection has been reintroduced at an affordable price for the home market. This represents the best news to the world of children's videos! Where the Wild Things Are and In the Night Kitchen are delightfully narrated by Peter Schickele and The Nutshell Library is sung by Carole King. How wonderful that Sendak's art comes to life for a new generation! 4-8.

Age: Preschool,Early School Years. Award Year: 2003.

Chrysanthemum
(Scholastic $9.94 Score:) Meryl Streep, Sarah Jessica Parker, and Mary Beth Hurt narrate three wonderful picturebooks by Kevin Henkes. Chrysanthemum is a tender tale of a mouse who loves her name until others tease her. Owen is a small mouse whose Mama helps him find a way to leave his security blanket at home when he goes to school. The third tale is about Wendell, a mouse who learns that he can't always be the boss. Also reissued, Where the Wild Things Are (5*'s). 4-8.

Age: Preschool,Early School Years. Award Year: 2003.

Franklin Family Bonds
(USA Home Entertainment $12.95 Score:) There are two solid stories on this video. In "My Franklin," Bear becomes jealous of his baby sister's affection for Franklin. In "Franklin's Rival" he competes for his grandmother's attention when skunk comes to visit. He learns a hard lesson-that grandmas can love more than one child. The pace of these is on the mark. 4-7.

Age: Preschool,Early School Years. Award Year: 2003.

George & Martha Hippo Hoedown!
(Sony $12.95 Score:) This second collection of stories based on James Marshall's characters is more age-appropriate for preschoolers than the first. Nathan Lane and Andrea Martin add their wonderful voices as George and Martha, a pair of best-friend hippos. With pleasing animation, the stories focus on their friendship: "The Sleepwalker," "The Play's the Thing," "Costumed Duo," and "The Dance Recital." They're a little slow in pace. 4-7.

Age: Preschool,Early School Years. Award Year: .

Max
(Reading Rainbow / GPN $23.95 Score:) Max, unlike his super-hero family, couldn't get off the ground as a flyer. A reassuring story about living up to expectations, your own and others'. Host LeVar Burton also explores the many ordinary ways that people of any age can be heroes. Still top rated: Zin! Zin! Zin! A Violin, a musical counting book plus young musicians at Juilliard and a rhythmic percussive performance by Stomp. 5 & up. (800) 228-4630.

Age: Early School Years. Award Year: 2003.