When Baby Einstein started its "video board books" in 1997, the company was virtually alone in the field of baby development. By its sixth video, the field has become crowded with similar-sounding titles. Now scientists might be able to analyze what a baby will get out of a video like Baby Dolittle compared to Baby Van Gogh, but is it worth getting more baby videos? Absolutely--babies love variety as much as their adult counterparts. On that level, Baby Dolittle scores. The theme of animals is a natural, and this show should cause squeals of delight from little ones 1 to 4 years old. Using a stimulating mix of brightly colored toys, whimsical puppets (including your host, Pavlov the Dog), and lots of pictures, Baby Dolittle takes the viewer on a 30-minute tour of commonly found animals. Help your little pal spot a pig on the farm or a dog in the house. Baby Dolittle uses animals' sounds, kids' drawings, and photography for each animal in four habitats. The natural settings and original, bright recordings of Beethoven, Rimsky-Korsakov, Vivaldi, and others should make this a favorite every time you want to visit Old MacDonald's Farm. Followed by a companion production, Baby Dolittle World Animals. --Doug Thomas Price: $19.99
There's no denying a youngster's attraction to water, and the folks at Baby Einstein tap into that natural interest--and broaden it. They take babies and toddlers from bathtime to the beach, from tap water to waterfalls and geysers. A puppet octopus and duck serve as guides through clearly labeled sections: Ocean, Rivers and Lakes; Rain Drops and Puddles; Water at My House. A child speaks the title at the beginning and end of each unit, but those are the only words in this 24-minute "video board book." The rest of the sounds come courtesy of Handel, Telemann, Beethoven, and Johann Strauss. Both toy animals and real ones swim through the scenes and the footage of dolphins, sea turtles, and marina fish are fascinating enough that preschoolers won't mind sitting in with younger siblings. (Ages 1-3) --Kimberly Heinrichs
For newborn and up.