Do Pigs Scratch Their Backs?… And Other Questions on the Farm

A 2002 Parent's Choice Award Winner, this fun title (sixth in a series) filmed at Chris Fesko's rural Discovery Center combines charming live action footage with frequently asked animal-related questions, such as whether pigs really love dirt, and how animals clean themselves, among other topics. A charming opening montage featuring animals (particularly young ones) prancing and playing is especially enjoyable, and many will be wowed by the story about Fesko's dog's pregnancy and the puppies' birth (not actually shown here), but for me the highlight was the demonstration of rocking a chicken to sleep. I've heard my rural-reared mother mention this but had never seen it before (it's funny!). Aside from the often-stilted or rehearsed-sounding questions from farm “visitors,” this tape is a good bet for public libraries planning on circulating the title, though the public performance price is ridiculously steep given the number of similar low-priced kids' titles on the market. Recommended. Aud: K, E, I, P. (R. Reagan)