Kiki And The Cuckoo

A filmed picture book, Kiki and the Cuckoo is an inventive story about competition. When Kiki the Meadowlark spies a prime summer home on a Kansas farm, puts down roots, and begins singing for a "wife," he's surprised to find that he's not alone. Somewhere inside the farmhouse, a competitor offers up his song, every hour on the hour. Eventually, the jealous Kiki picks a fight with his opponent (a cuckoo clock), and even tries his hand at being a cuckoo, before he finally realizes that being one's self is what's important. Although there are added sound effects and voice-over narration, the actual filming is very simple, essentially panning over the book's illustrations. The one new feature is a bouncy rap song appended to the close of the film. Although priced higher than similar fare, Kiki and the Cuckoo would still make a pleasant addition to any larger children's video collection. Recommended. (Available from: MarshMedia, P.O. Box 8082, Shawnee Mission, KS 66208; (800) 821-3303)