Calm Baby: Water

“There is no joy but calm” said Alfred Lord Tennyson--quoted on the box copy--and parents of squalling babies would be the first to agree. Similar to other entries in the home-video-for-babies genre, with live-action footage mixed with close-ups of colorful toys and basic puppetry performances, Calm Baby: Water has a slight edge on the competition since a) it features more outside-the-studio, real-world images of waterfalls, sunlight on water, etc., and b) the music cues (a mix of classical and childhood favorites) are both pertinent to the images and don't arbitrarily begin and end. Admittedly, viewing this didn't calm my bouncy toddler, but it may work on a less excitable infant in the recommended age range of 0-36 months. As a bonus, a 23-track audio CD also comes bundled with the program. Recommended. Aud: P. (R. Reagan)