Calling Dr. Caillou & Other Adventures

Broadcast on PBS, this award-winning series combines animated stories with puppet, live-action, and musical segments that reinforce the basic concepts of positive character development. This disc contains two "Caillou" collections available separately on VHS, Dr. Caillou and Caillou's Reading Adventures. "Dr. Caillou's" reassuring stories should help anxious young patients overcome doctor shock: in the first of three episodes, a friendly physician helps Caillou realize that the dentist isn't really all that scary; Caillou pitches in to take care of his dear old sick Dad; and gets "a frog in his throat" himself, but feels better after taking his medicine. In "Caillou's Reading Adventures," reading opens up new chapters for Caillou as he reads the Saturday morning newspaper with his father, and enjoys story time at the library (but frets over returning books he accidentally drew on). Caillou's plaintive, often whining voice is enough to make some parents yearn for Barney, but kids do identify with this popular four-year-old as he learns about the world around him. Recommended. [Note: DVD extras include games and a message for parents.] Aud: K, P. (K. Lee Benson)