Country Baby!

Promising “a stimulating introduction to country music and the world of colors,” this toddler tape offers close-ups of toys in action, puppets, and video of live animals that do not always fit the “color” theme (primary and secondary colors are covered, but not brown, which is pretty standard pigmentation in animals). The “country music” consists of twangy wordless renditions of “Old MacDonald,” “She'll Be Comin' Round the Mountain,” “On Top of Old Smokey,” “Dixie,” and “Twinkle Twinkle Little Star.” Tykes are urged to sing along with the songs, but not only are the tunes wordless, they're not even subtitled. (I know all the words to “Camptown Races” but how many two-year-old fans of Shania, Wynonna or Garth do?) As for country music then, this is hardly an introduction (and the claim that this musical program "encourages imagination" simply begs for a joke about rednecks and lightbulbs). In terms of color instruction, the program is less comprehensive than Brainy Baby: Shapes and Colors (reviewed VL-1/03), which also includes brown, black, white, pink, gold, and silver. Optional. Aud: P. (R. Reagan)