Happy Birdy

From the creators of the award-winning Infantastic Lullabyes, this re-release is termed a "birthday video songfest," and is designed to be used at birthday parties. Original songs and puppet animation are creatively used, along with colorful animated backdrops, as Happy Birdy presents his gifts, the tunes, to the birthday kid: "Hey! It's Your Birthday," "Good Friends," "Good Health," "Curiosity," and "A Gift of Love." On the plus side, the songs are catchy, and the lyrics--which emphasize the importance of friends, maintaining good health, learning through curiosity, and that love is the greatest gift of all--are instructive without being pedantic. On the minus side, only one song ("Good Friends") features onscreen printed lyrics, and the show is basically repeated following the final song (i.e., it's a 15-minute show done twice, not a 30-minute show). Excusing the rather pointless repetition of the program, Happy Birdy is a cut above most "music videos" for children, and will certainly appeal to pre-school through early elementary children. Recommended. (Available from: V.I.E.W. Video, Inc., 34 East 23 St., New York, NY 10010; 1-800-843-9843.)