Billy Blue Hair: Why Do Giraffes Have Long Necks?

It is a truth universally acknowledged that children will adore a video that sets a parent's teeth on edge. In Billy Blue Hair: Why Do Giraffes Have Long Necks?, the animated title character and his dog Doogie visit widely varied ecosystems where they “interact” with live-action animals, including American bison, Siamang apes, red-ruffed lemur monkeys, zebras, lions, and of course, giraffes. Billy Blue Hair presents disjointed factoids about each creature, while the script strains for laughs at every point (“Boy, you are one long drink of water, my friend,” BBH says to a giraffe—as if the giraffe hasn't heard that one before). Still, my five-year-old and two-year-old sons both enjoyed this half-hour of reasonably-priced edutainment. Optional. Aud: K, P. (R. Reagan)