Harriet, You'll Drive Me Wild!

Centering around an afternoon of endearing escapades featuring the title character, this iconographic animated adaptation of author Mem Fox and illustrator Marla Frazee's 2000 Parents' Choice Honor Book is geared toward ages 3-7. “Pesky” Harriet never means to cause mischief, but when it happens “just like that,” her mild-mannered mama offers up a little rhyme of forgiveness: “Harriet, my darling child; Harriet, you'll drive me wild!” However, after every mishap, Harriet's mom gets just a little bit testier, and although she maintains her cool through a juice spill, jam drips, pulled tablecloth (crash!), and paint trickles, the mess made when Harriet rips open a feather pillow finally pushes her mother to the boiling point. Of course, Harriet's mom is immediately regretful and apologizes to her whimpering daughter that “sometimes it happens just like that,” after which the duo clear the air with a giggly cleanup-fest. Sweet, but not cloying, this program—which should strike a chord with both parents and young Harriet-esque viewers alike—is highly recommended. Aud: P. (J. Williams-Wood)