Arthur: Big Brother Binky

Featuring episodes from the PBS Kids series based on the children's books by author Marc Brown, this program's titular two-parter “Big Brother Binky” finds protagonist aardvark Arthur's bulldog buddy Binky warming up to the idea of an adopted sister. Being a big brother himself two times over, Arthur's advice consists of tips concerning controlling the TV remote and hogging cookies, but Binky's case is a bit different: his parents are adopting a baby from China, and the months of excitement about forms, interviews, and preparations begin to wear on the youngster. From losing his game room to getting travel shots, Binky's trepidation grows, but his fears are quelled by gentle assurances from his parents, and of course, finally meeting and showing off little Mei-Lin. Also included on the disc are “Phony Fern,” in which Muffy's bad cell phone etiquette rubs off on Fern, who begins texting and adding personal ringtones to her “for-emergency-only” cell phone; and “Brain's Shocking Secret,” which finds smart kid Brain worrying that his pals will find out he's going back to kindergarten (due to being a “crier”). Featuring “Postcards from You” vignettes with clips of real-life kids, as well as downloadable teaching materials for building cultural awareness, this is recommended. [Note: Arthur: Season 10, compiling 19 adventures on a five-disc set, is also newly available, priced at $49.95.] Aud: K, E, P. (J. Williams-Wood)