Castle Farm: Volume 1

This sweet and lively British animation series for preschool children has the appearance of chalk drawings come to life, its short stories set—as the show's title implies—on a farm surrounding a friendly-looking castle. Here, a handful of human and animal characters keep the working operation running with daily chores, which are frequently interrupted by such charming (and often silly) distractions as a big wind that carries Piggy away just as she's bringing in the laundry with Farm Girl. In “Snails,” confusion about the silvery sheen left by the slithery creatures leads chief cowhand Leonard to believe there must be valuable treasure all around—a mistake he frequently makes in Castle Farm's vignettes. “The Carrot Thief” finds Farm Girl and Piggy investigating the disappearance of carrots freshly pulled from a garden, while “Ball Games” sees boss Farmer (a female character) creating a bit of havoc with her tennis racket. Serving up gentle lessons in friendship, responsibility, and problem-solving couched in delightful tales backed with pleasing visuals, this is highly recommended. Aud: K, E, P. (T. Keogh)