Elmo’s World: Elmo Explores!

The latest collection featuring Sesame Street‘s furry red monster preschooler compiles 13 episodes that combine real-life footage—especially of kids acting out something pertaining to the selected topic—animation, puppetry, and Elmo’s "Happy Dance" song. Each vignette kicks off with Elmo asking his pal Smartie (an anthropomorphic smartphone) about subjects including "Painting," "Cooking" (with viewers using matching and counting to help Elmo create a mushroom avocado quesadilla), "Homes," "Habitats" (with brief cameos from Big Bird and Oscar the Grouch), "Books," "Seasons," "Siblings," and more. Also featuring intercut segments in which Elmo visits with mute wacky neighbor "Mr. Noodle" (played by several actors, including Hamilton‘s Grammy and Tony-winning Daveed Diggs), the standout episodes here are "Father’s Day" (with the inclusion of stepdads or two dads), "Skin" (very carefully done), and "Colors" (fun with mixing primary paints). Bonus features include two episodes of the British spin-off series The Furchester Hotel, and three classic episodes of Elmo’s World. Recommended. Aud: K, P. (J. Williams-Wood)